cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testicular and epididymal percutaneous sperm aspiration in men with either obstructive or nonobstructive azoospermia.

Abstract Objectives To investigate our experience with epididymal and testicular sperm obtained by percutaneous aspiration to determine the effectiveness of these procedures in patients with obstructive or nonobstructive azoospermia. We also report on the pooled outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection, performed at six in vitro fertilization centers, using sperm from these two patient populations. Methods A method of percutaneous aspiration of sperm was developed to facilitate diagnostic biopsy and therapeutic aspiration. A total of 265 aspirations were performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes from August 1995 through July 2001. Results Mature sperm were found in 34 (47%) of 73 men with nonobstructive azoospermia, who underwent testicular sperm aspiration for diagnostic purposes. In 56 procedures for men with nonobstructive azoospermia who underwent testicular sperm aspiration for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, an adequate number of viable sperm was obtained from 46 (82%), with an oocyte fertilization and clinical pregnancy rate of 55% and 44%, respectively. In men with obstructive azoospermia who underwent percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration, viable sperm were found in 91 (97%) of 94 procedures, with an oocyte fertilization and clinical pregnancy rate of 58% and 39%, respectively. Sperm were obtained in 18 (100%) of 18 procedures in men with obstructive azoospermia who underwent testicular sperm aspiration, with a corresponding fertilization and clinical pregnancy rate of 51% and 38%, respectively. A small (less than 1 cm in diameter) subcapsular hematoma was the only complication. Conclusions Percutaneous aspiration of sperm is an effective, safe, and reproducible means of obtaining adequate sperm for diagnosis or intracytoplasmic sperm injection in patients with obstructive or nonobstructive azoospermia. Our experience indicates that similar results can be obtained in both patient groups.
Uncovering Young Children's Psychological Selves: Individual and Developmental Differences.

3 major goals were addressed: (1) to examine whether 3 1/2-7 1/2-year-old children have consistent and meaningful concepts that reflect psychological self-understanding, (2) to uncover individual differences in young children's self-concepts, and (3) to determine whether any observed differences are stable over time. A new method was developed for assessing young children's self-concepts. 180 children between 3 and 8 years of age were presented with pairs of statements representing the high and low end points of 10 psychological dimensions. For example, the statements "It's not fun to scare people" and "It's fun to scare people" represent the low and high ends of the psychological dimension of aggression. Children were then asked to pick the statement that best described themselves. The dimensional scores were factor analyzed and higher-order factor scales were constructed. These factor scales were found to be internally consistent and psychologically meaningful in each age group, indicating that even young children have psychological concepts of themselves. Moreover, substantial individual differences were demonstrated on the scales even among the youngest children. Finally, these differences were found to be moderately stable over a 1-month test-retest.
ISOBARIC, ISOCHORIC AND SUPERCRITICAL THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE IN R134a

The effective thermal energy density of R134a subjected to an isobaric or isochoric process is determined and evaluated in the two-phase and supercritical regimes. The results are qualitatively extended to other fluids via the principle of corresponding states. It is shown that substantial increases in volumetric energy density can be realized in the critical region for isobaric processes. Also, for isobaric processes which utilize the full enthalpy of vaporization at a given pressure, there exists a pressure at which the volumetric energy density is a maximum. For isochoric processes (supercritical and two-phase), it is found that there is no appreciable increase in volumetric energy density over sensible liquid heat storage; the effective specific heat can be enhanced in the two-phase, isochoric regime, but only with a significant reduction in volumetric energy density.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE SHIFTS IN THE NORMAL AND ADRENALECTOMIZED RAT AFTER THE INTRAPERITONEAL INJECTION OF ISOTONIC SUGAR SOLUTIONS1

THE INTRAPERITONEAL GLUCOSE injection technicof Schecter and coworkers (1) and Darrow and Yannet (2) induces, by virtue of the difference between the absorption rate of glucose from the peritoneal cavity and the diffusion of electrolyte into it, a temporary dehydration of the extracellular fluid through an increase in ascitic and intracellular volume. As pointed out by Gilman (3), the responses to such treatment resemble, in many respects, features of adrenal insufficiency. In both cases there is a hemoconcentration of the blood (3–7), a decrease in total extracellular electrolyte (3–6) and volume (8), a fall in blood pressure (3, 5), and a sensitivity to hemorrhage and like conditions of circulatory stress (3, 5). The response to glucose injections is unlike adrenal insufficiency in that there is no rise in blood potassium or non-protein nitrogen levels (4).
Plant tissue optics: micro- and nanostructures

Plants have evolved unusual tissue optical properties, not surprising as creatures of light. These are astonishingly sophisticated, involving both micro- and nanostructures. Microstructures refract, scatter, and channel light in plant tissues, to produce concentrations and gradients of light within, and to remove undesired portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Nanostructures use the different refractive indices of both cellulosic walls and bi-lipid membranes to interfere with light, multiple layers producing intense constructive coloration and reduced fluxes within tissues. In a tropical sedge now under analysis, structures may include silica. Recently discovered surface diffraction gratings produce strong directionally sensitive coloration that assist in pollinator visitation. Although some of these properties have obvious applications, most await appreciation by creative scientists to produce new useful devices.
Hemoglobin–ligand binding: Understanding Hb function and allostery on atomic level

The major physiological function of hemoglobin (Hb) is to bind oxygen in the lungs and deliver it to the tissues. This function is regulated and/or made efficient by endogenous heterotropic effectors. A number of synthetic molecules also bind to Hb to alter its allosteric activity. Our purpose is to review the current state of Hb structure and function that involves ensemble of tense and relaxed hemoglobin states and the dynamic equilibrium of the multistate due to the binding of endogenous heterotropic or synthetic allosteric effectors. The review also discusses the atomic interactions of synthetic ligands with the function or altered allosteric function of Hb that could be potentially harnessed for the treatment of diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein Structure and Function in the Crystalline State.
The role of the innate and adaptive immune responses in Acanthamoeba keratitis

Infections of the corneal surface are an important cause of blindness. Protozoal, viral, bacterial, and helminthic infections of the cornea account for up to 9 million cases of corneal blindness. Free-living amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba produce a progressive infection of the cornea called Acanthamoeba keratitis. Disease is usually transmitted by Acanthamoeba trophozoites bound to soft contact lenses. Infection of the cornea is initiated when the parasite binds to the corneal epithelial surface. Recrudescence can occur and suggests that the adaptive immune response is not aroused by corneal Acanthamoeba infections. Systemic immunization with Acanthamoeba antigens elicits robust Th1 cell-mediated immunity and serum IgG antibody, yet fails to prevent the development of Acanthamoeba keratitis. However, immunization via mucosal surfaces induces anti-Acanthamoeba IgA antibodies in the tears and provides solid protection against the development of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Unlike other immune effector mechanisms that rely on cytolysis, inflammation, release of toxic molecules, or the induction of host cell death, the adaptive immune apparatus prevents Acanthamoeba infections of the cornea by simply preventing the attachment of the parasite to the epithelial surface. The beauty of this mechanism lies in its exquisite simplicity and efficacy.
Characterization of Two Kinases Involved in Thiamine Pyrophosphate and Pyridoxal Phosphate Biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis: 4-Amino-5-Hydroxymethyl-2-Methylpyrimidine Kinase and Pyridoxal Kinase

Two Bacillus subtilis genes encoding two proteins (currently annotated ThiD and YjbV) were overexpressed and characterized. YjbV has 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine and 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine pyrophosphate kinase activity and should be reannotated ThiD, and B. subtilis ThiD has pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine kinase activity and should be reannotated PdxK.
VSD following blunt cardiac trauma: MRI findings

In this report, we describe the clinical and radiographic findings of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) following blunt cardiac trauma in two patients. VSDs following either penetrating or blunt cardiac trauma are a rare occurrence. The variable presentation and timing of symptom onset along with the common association of other injuries can make the diagnosis of a posttraumatic VSD difficult. Therefore, investigation should be initiated when elements from the history and physical examination (e.g., new onset murmur), laboratory tests (e.g., cardiac enzymes), EKG, and CT or echocardiography warrant it. The first patient was a 19-year-old male who was hemodynamically stable on initial presentation to this trauma center after a motor vehicle collision. A posttraumatic VSD was found by echocardiography on the day of admission and further defined on cardiac MRI (CMRI). The second patient was a 31-year-oid male who presented after a high-speed motorcycle accident and was found to have a VSD 40 days later on CMRI after a fluctuating clinical course and multiple normal echocardiograms. Both patients had good outcomes with subsequent surgical closure.
Electric stimulation with sinusoids and white noise for neural prostheses

We are investigating the use of novel stimulus waveforms in neural prostheses to determine whether they can provide more precise control over the temporal and spatial pattern of elicited activity as compared to conventional pulsatile stimulation. To study this, we measured the response of retinal ganglion cells to both sinusoidal and white noise waveforms. The use of cell-attached and whole cell patch clamp recordings allowed the responses to be observed without significant obstruction from the stimulus artifact. Electric stimulation with sinusoids elicited robust responses. White noise analysis was used to derive the linear kernel for the ganglion cell’s spiking response as well as for the underlying excitatory currents. These results suggest that in response to electric stimulation, presynaptic retinal neurons exhibit bandpass filtering characteristics with peak response that occur 25ms after onset. The experimental approach demonstrated here may be useful for studying the temporal response properties of other neurons in the CNS.
Ionosphere of venus: first observations of day-night variations of the ion composition.

Preliminary observations of day-night variations in the ion composition of the ionosphere of Venus, obtained by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter ion mass spectrometer experiment, are reported. A remarkable abundance and extent of ionization in the deep regions of the nightside ionosphere was observed, in spite of the long Venus night. A comparison of dayside and nightside ion distributions reveals a nightside composition similar in several respects to that of the dayside, with the ions O(+) and O2(+) forming the nightside F 2 and F 1 regions, respectively, as in the dayside. Important differences include a greater abundance of low-latitude ionization in the nightside, a significant increase of H(+) and NO(+) ions with increasing solar zenith angle, and extreme dynamic variability of the nightside region above 160 km. Ion composition data support the view that the nightside ionosphere can be maintained by the transport of ionization from the dayside.
Cysteines in yeast enolase.

Contrary to previous reports, yeast enolase was found to contain one cysteine per subunit (44 000 mol. wt). These residues do not readily react with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) except in 8 M urea suggesting the cysteines are “buried” within the subunits, 5,5′-Dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) or Hg2+ prevent recovery of enzyme activity normally achieved on dilution from urea solution into assay medium. However, the cysteines are apparently not at the active sites. The enzyme was labelled with iodo[14C]acetamide in 8 M urea. Two 14C-labelled tryptic peptides were obtained. Their sequences were found to be → Ile → Gly → Leu → Asp → Cm Cys → Ser → Ala → Ser → Glu → Phe → Phe → Lys → and → Val → Glu, (Ile, Gly, Leu), (Asp → Cm Cys → Ser → Ala), (Ser, Glu), Phe → Tyr → Lys. The former peptide is apparently from enolase A and the latter presumably from the B isozyme.
The pressure dependence of the elastic constants of dental amalgam.

The pressure dependence of the elastic constants of dental amalgam has been examined in the 0–50 kilobar range using a solid media, pressure apparatus coupled with an ultrasonic interferometer. Computer analysis of the measured longitudinal and shear ultrasonic wave velocities yields the pressure dependence of the bulk, shear and Young's moduli and Poisson's ratio. Samples were prepared with varying compositions from micro-cut and spherical dental alloys. The elastic behavior of these samples can be directly related to the sample structure and composition as well as to the manipulation during preparation. In addition, an estimate can be made of the volume concentration of porosity.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Quantitative Cell Microculture as a Measure of Antiviral Efficacy in a Multicenter Clinical Trial

A quantitative cell microculture assay (QMC) was used to measure the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-associated titer in 109 subjects rolled in an open-label phase I/II study of didanosine monotherapy or combination therapy with zidovudine. The titer was inversely correlated with CD4+ cell count at baseline (r = .37, P = .001). After 12 weeks of therapy, subjects showed a significant decreases in virus titer and those with the highest baseline virus titers had the greatest increase in CD4+ cell number (r = .430, P = .002). The QMC assay was more sensitive (98%) for assessing the antiretroviral effect of therapy than was immune complex-dissociated HIV p24 antigen (32%) or plasma culture (3.4%). Estimated sample sizes for phase I/II clinical trials were derived using the within-subject QMC SD of .72 log10 infectious units per 10(6) PMBC.
Time finite element methods for structural dynamics

SUMMARY Time finite element methods are developed for the equations of structural dynamics. The approach employs the time-discontinuous Galerkin method and incorporates stabilizing terms having least-squares form. These enable a general convergence theorem to be proved in a norm stronger than the energy norm. Results are presented from finite difference analyses of the time-discontinuous Galerkin and least-squares methods with various temporal interpolations and commonly used finite difference methods for structural dynamics. These results show that, for particular interpolations, the time finite element method exhibits improved accuracy and stability.
A feasibility study of the case hierachy model for the construction and porting of natural language interfaces

Abstract The Case Hierarchy model describes the case system of unconstrained natural language and the ways in which the case system is specialized in a restricted domain. It is the basis of a procedure for the analysis of such restricted domains. The resulting representations can be used to determine the case related requirements of a case grammar based natural language interface for the domain, either for initial development or for adapting an existing interface to a new domain. This paper briefly describes the Case Hierarchy and presents the results of a feasibility study that examined the utility of the Case Hierarchy and the Case Hierarchy Tool, an intelligent editor that supports the domain analysis process. The study showed that the representations and procedures do provide some constraint and guidance for an otherwise unconstrained task.
Boundaries of the nutL antiterminator of coliphage lambda and effects of mutations in the spacer region between boxA and boxB.

Abstract To study the relationship of sequence to function for the phage λ nutL transcriptional antiterminator, we cloned the 354-bp HincII λ DNA fragment (coordinates 35261–35615; Daniels et al., in Lambda II, 1983, pp. 485–486 and 618–619) between the plac promoter and Rho-dependent or Rho-independent terminators (t) in the plac-t-galK plasmid derived from vector pKO3, and assayed the galK expression in Escherichia coli hosts in the presence or absence of the N gene product. The 354-bp fragment displayed the complete antitermination activity, as did several shorter fragments obtained by restriction cutting, exonucleolytic deletions and ligations. The minimal length of cloned and fully active nutL comprises 43 bp and consists (in the 5′-to-3′ order) of (i) a 10-bp sequence upstream from boxA, (ii) the 8-bp boxA (5′-CGCTCTTA-3′), (iii) the 7-bp A-B spacer between boxA and boxB; (iv) the 17-bp boxB-(nutL core; 5′- -3′) and 1-bp downstream from the nutL core. Deletion of the 10-bp sequence upstream from boxA reduces anti-termination by 40%. Deletion of both that sequence and boxA reduces antitermination by 90% at both 30°C and 42°C. Most of the deletions entering boxB abolish antitermination. Also, some of the small internal deletions within the 7-bp A-B spacer region have a strong negative effect on the nutL function, when transcription is from the plac promoter.
How relevant is food craving to obesity and its treatment

Cravings represent strong motivational states that are characterized by intense desires typically relating to the anticipation of consuming pleasure-producing substances or engaging in hedonic behaviors. In considering food craving and the extent of its applicability to food, a brief review of the history of craving within a culture-sensitive framework appears warranted. Many cultures appear to have considered cravings in different contexts over time, although it has been contended, based on analyses of translations and lexicalization across languages, that craving may fail to translate outside of Europe and North America, although there are similarities in the use of craving and addiction across domains of use (1). The word “crave” is derived from the Old English crafian meaning to beg1. Over time, the term craving became linked to excessive patterns of substance use. For example, in the early nineteenth century, in conceptualizing excessive patterns of alcohol consumption, the term dipsomania (translated from the German term Trunksucht, or drinking addiction) was described to define alcoholism as a condition characterized by a craving for continued intoxication (2). In Buddhism, the term tan.hā is commonly translated to mean craving (although its literal translation is “thirst”), with kāmatan.hā (sense-craving) describing strong motivations to experience pleasant feelings or sensory pleasures2. In Buddhism, tan.hā is seen as a type of ignorant desire and a cause of suffering and negative affective states, and some current approaches to understanding treatment mechanisms and promoting treatment development in addictions have involved considering craving within a Buddhist context (3, 4). Thus, links between cravings and negative processes including addictions have a longstanding history across multiple cultures.
Do soil surveys and terrain analyses identify similar priority sites for conservation

Terrain analyses may help target conservation practices, but soil survey is the traditional basis for conservation planning. This study's objective was to identify correspondence between terrain and soil survey attributes. Iowa's South Fork (78 000 ha) and West Nishnabotna (64 000 ha) watersheds provided example datasets. Major resource concerns are soil wetness in the South Fork's glacial terrain, and soil erosion in the West Nishnabotna's loess hills. Slope, contributing area, curvature, and wetness (W) and erosion (E) indices, calculated from National Elevation Database (30-m) data, were each divided into two groups according to highly erodible land (HEL), hydric-soil, drainage-class, topsoil-thickness, clay, and organic matter content attributes from soil survey delineations. All groupings had different means (p < 0.001), but proportions of captured variance ranged from <0.1 to 22%. Critical values of slope and W segregated hydric, drainage, and topsoil-thickness groups with 66 to 74% accuracy in both watersheds, and slope and E segregated HEL groupings with 71 to 76% accuracy. Finer detail in terrain data appeared realistic in dissected terrain, but artificial in near-level terrain. The largest 20% of W values were about 80% hydric soils in the South Fork, and the largest 20% of E values were about 80% HEL in the West Nishnabotna. However, similar statements on E and HEL in the South Fork, and W and hydric soils in the West Nishnabotna, applied to few cells (<2%) with <70% accuracy. Therefore, targeting of conservation practices based on 30-m grid terrain analysis can be consistent with soil survey information, but to a degree that varies by landscape and resource concern.
Blind FROG pulse characterization for quantitative differential multiphoton microscopy

Quantitative multiphoton microscopy requires knowledge of the spatio-temporal characteristics of the excitation electric field. With a unique multifocal system, we completely characterize the excitation intensity at the full numerical aperture of the excitation objective.
Aroma composition of a white wine of vitis vinifera L. cv. Emir as affected by skin contact

Free and glycosidically bound flavor compounds of a white wine from cv. Emir were analyzed by GC-MS, and 75 compounds were identified. The wine was high in volatile phenols. Skin-contact with the juice before fermentation increased amounts of free and glycosidically bound flavor compounds. Quantities of certain compounds were significantly different between control and skin-contact wines.
Method to predict cropland ephemeral gully erosion

Abstract Erosion of farmland due to concentrated flow is very severe on many unprotected fields across the United States. Small channels can turn into large gullies if not controlled. These small channels are routinely obliterated by tillage of the field and other routine farm operations only to be reformed again. Opposing slopes adjacent to an ephemeral gully allow runoff to reestablish a channel in approximately the same location. Since the 1960s, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) has been used to estimate rill and sheet erosion. This paper describes the Ephemeral Gully Erosion Model (EGEM). EGEM is a modification of the Agricultural Research Service Ephemeral Gully Erosion Estimate (EGEE) computer model to meet the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) needs. Limited field data obtained by NRCS were used to validate the single event component of EGEM. This paper presents a summary of these studies. There were no data available at the time of the model development to validate the average annual concept of the model. ARS conducted validation studies for the EGEE model.
Determination of the Local Quench Curve for Spray-Cooled Metallic Surfaces

An experimental study of heat transfer from hot metallic surfaces to water sprays was conducted in the single-phase, nucleate boiling, and transition boiling regimes of the quench curve for surface temperatures below 400° C. Heat transfer measurements were made locally in the spray field using a heater surface area of 0.5 cm2. The hydrodynamic properties of the sprays such as drop diameters, drop velocities, and volumetric spray flux were also measured independently at a position in the spray field identical to that of the heater. The test conditions included variations in volumetric spray flux, mass mean drop diameter, and mean drop velocity of 0.6 × 10-3 to 9.96 × 10-3 m3s-1/m2, 0.434 to 2.005 mm, and 10.6 to 26.5 m/s, respectively. Correlations are presented for water temperatures from 23 to 80° C. These correlations constitute a universal approach to the development of quench curves for industrial sprays commonly employed in materials processing.
On the role of orientation in reducing photoinhibitory damage in photosynthetic-twig desert shrubs

Quantum yields for O2 evolution were measured in photosynthetic twigs and leaves of Hymenoclea salsola and Senecio douglasii, two common shrubs of the deserts of western North America. When exposed to long-term drought, quantum yields of leaves and twigs remained constant up to the point of leaf abscision in both species. As water stress developed further, quantum yields began to decline in twigs; the extent of this quantum yield reduction was dependent on incident photon flux density. The reduction in quantum yield in twigs, which have a near-vertical orientation, was greatly accelerated when twigs were reoriented to the near-horizontal inclination typical of leaves. The reductions in quantum yield were not rapidly reversible and are interpreted as indicating photoinhibitory damage. The results are discussed in terms of the role that a near-vertical orientation might serve in maintaining photosynthetic structures through a drought period.
Near-field calibration of an objective spectrophotometer to NISTradiometric standards for the creation and maintenance of standardstars for ground- and space-based applications

NIST-calibrated detectors will be used by the ground-based 100mm diameter Astronomical Extinction Spectrophotometer (AESoP) to calibrate the spectral energy distributions of bright stars to sub-1% per 1nm spectral resolution element accuracy. AESoP will produce about a hundred spectroradiometrically calibrated stars for use by ground- and space-based sensors. This will require accurate and near-continuous NIST calibration of AESoP, an equatorially mounted objective spectrophotometer operating over the wavelength range 350nm – 1050nm using a CCD detector. To provide continuous NIST calibration of AESoP in the field a near-identical, removable 100mm diameter transfer standard telescope (CAL) is mounted physically parallel to AESoP. The CAL transfer standard is calibrated by NIST end-to-end, wavelength-by-wavelength at ~ 1nm spectral resolution. In the field, CAL is used in a near-field configuration to calibrate AESoP. Between AESoP science observations, AESoP and CAL simultaneously observe clear sub-apertures of a 400mm diameter calibration collimator. Monochromatic light measured simultaneously by AESoP and CAL is dispersed by the objective grating onto the AESoP pixels measuring the same wavelength of starlight, thus calibrating both wavelength and instrumental throughput, and simultaneously onto a unique low-noise CAL detector providing the required throughput measurement. System sensitivity variations are measured by vertically translating the AESoP/CAL pair so that CAL can observe the AESoP sub-aperture. Details of this system fundamental to the calibration of the spectral energy distributions of stars are discussed and its operation is described. System performance will be demonstrated, and a plan of action to extend these techniques firstly into the near infrared, then to fainter stars will be described.
Sex and Menstrual Cycle Effects on Progressive Ratio Measures of Cocaine Self-Administration in Cynomolgus Monkeys

Fluctuations in ovarian steroid hormones across the menstrual/estrous cycle influence the abuse-related effects of acute cocaine administration in women and chronic cocaine self-administration in rodents, but there have been no comparable studies in non-human primates. The interactions among sex, menstrual cycle phase, and cocaine self-administration (0.0032, 0.01, and 0.032 mg/kg/injection (inj)) under a progressive ratio schedule were investigated in four female and two male cynomolgus monkeys. Females were given unrestricted access to cocaine across 54 menstrual cycles, and males were studied over 23 pseudo-cycles of 30 days duration. Ovulatory cycles were defined by luteal phase elevations in progesterone and 44 cycles were ovulatory. During ovulatory menstrual cycles, females reached significantly higher progressive ratio break points than males at all three unit doses of cocaine (P<0.001). During anovulatory cycles, females also reached significantly higher break points than males for 0.032 mg/kg/inj cocaine (P<0.01). Progressive ratio break points for cocaine (0.01 and 0.032 mg/kg/inj) did not vary significantly as a function of ovarian steroid hormone levels during the follicular and the luteal phase of ovulatory menstrual cycles, or during anovulatory cycles. Progressive ratio break points for 0.0032 mg/kg/inj cocaine were significantly higher during the follicular phase than during the late luteal phase (P<0.05-0.001). There were no systematic changes in progressive ratio break points in male pseudo-cycles. Significant cocaine dose-related sex differences were observed, but no consistent changes in cocaine self-administration as a function of menstrual cycle phase, or levels of estradiol and progesterone, were detected in female cynomolgus monkeys.
TRANSPLANTATION OF PERITONEAL CELLS.

Serological methods were used to establish the strain of origin of erythrocytes and leukocytes in mice given a lethal dose of irradiation and a single injection of peritoneal cells. F/sub 1/ hybrid mice were used as donors, and cells were obtained by washing the peritoneal cavity with heparinized saline. The usual yield was 3 to 5 million cells per young adult donor. In all experiments /sup 59/Fe uptake was measured within the second week after transplantation. When appreciable uptake was found, reaction of the cells with donor-specific antisera released the label into the lysate, whereas reaction with nonspecific antiserum or nonimmune sera released none of the label. Histologic studies were made on spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes obtained at autopsy from transplanted, as well as control, irradiated mice. Transplanted mice showed microscopic evidence of erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis in spleen red pulp and bone marrow. Lymphatic tissue proliferation was noted in spleen white pulp and cortex of lymph nodes. Thus, stem cells of the hemopoietic and lymphatic systems are normally present in the peritoneal cavity as well as in bone marrow, spleen, and circulating blood of mice. (auth)
A low mortality rat model to assess delayed cerebral vasospasm after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective: To characterize and establish a reproducible model that demonstrates delayed cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats, in order to identify the initiating events, pathophysiological changes and potential targets for treatment. Methods: Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 - 300 g) were arbitrarily assigned to one of two groups - SAH or saline control. Rat subarachnoid hemorrhage in the SAH group (n=15) was induced by double injection of autologous blood, 48 hr apart, into the cisterna magna. Similarly, normal saline (n=13) was injected into the cisterna magna of the saline control group. Rats were sacrificed on day five after the second blood injection and the brains were preserved for histological analysis. The degree of vasospasm was measured using sections of the basilar artery, by measuring the internal luminal cross sectional area using NIH Image-J software. The significance was tested using Tukey/Kramer's statistical analysis. Results: After analysis of histological sections, basilar artery luminal cross sectional area were smaller in the SAH than in the saline group, consistent with cerebral vasospasm in the former group. In the SAH group, basilar artery internal area (.056 μm ± 3) were significantly smaller from vasospasm five days after the second blood injection (seven days after the initial blood injection), compared to the saline control group with internal area (.069 ± 3; p=0.004). There were no mortalities from cerebral vasospasm. Conclusion: The rat double SAH model induces a mild, survivable, basilar artery vasospasm that can be used to study the pathophysiological mechanisms of cerebral vasospasm in a small animal model. A low and acceptable mortality rate is a significant criterion to be satisfied for an ideal SAH animal model so that the mechanisms of vasospasm can be elucidated 7, 8. Further modifications of the model can be made to adjust for increased severity of vasospasm and neurological exams.
Death Shall have no Dominion: The Passing of the World of the Dead in America

The dead have largely lost their social importance, visibility, and impact in American society. This event is essentially a phenomenon of the present century. For three centuries prior, the dead world occupied a significant and readily recognizable place in the living world. Indeed, that place was growing rapidly through much of the 19th century. Causes of the reversal in relationship between the two worlds are examined and consequences of the present radical withdrawal from the dead are suggested.
Elevated risk of thrombosis in neonates undergoing initial palliative cardiac surgery.

Background Thrombotic events cause significant morbidity and mortality in children who undergo surgery for complex congenital cardiac disease. We prospectively evaluated the incidence of thrombosis and examined preoperative and postoperative laboratory tests of coagulation and inflammation in neonates experiencing initial surgical palliation for variations of single ventricle physiology. Methods Neonates ( Results Twenty-two neonates, age 1 to 11 days (mean 4 ± 2.5) were studied. Follow-up ranged from three hours to 18 months (median, 212 days). Eight infants died. Four of the 14 subjects who survived (28%), and one of the eight who died (12.5%), had evidence of thrombosis identified over a range of four hours to nine months postoperatively (median 14 days). When compared with reference values established in healthy children, preoperative subject hematocrit (Hct), platelet count, factors II, V, VII, VIII, and X, antithrombin, protein C, and soluble CD40 ligand measures were significantly lower, and the prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time were significantly higher. Postoperative C reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher, and Hct and platelet count significantly lower, than preoperative values. Thrombotic events were significantly related to high preoperative CRP ( p = 0.02). Conclusion Thrombotic complications occur frequently in neonates undergoing initial palliative surgery, suggesting that aspirin therapy alone may constitute inadequate protection. Elevated preoperative CRP appears to be associated with increased thrombotic risk.
Axial and radial thermal expansions of single-walled carbon nanotubes

This paper examines the thermal expansion of single-walled carbon nanotubes. The vibrational frequencies of carbon atoms are calculated by applying the molecular structural mechanics approach. The entropy of a nanotube is obtained by the quantization of vibrational frequencies. The coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of single-walled carbon nanotubes in the axial and radial directions are then obtained by the differential of entropy with respect to the applied pressure. The computational results indicate that both the axial and radial CTEs are positive and increase with increasing temperature. The nanotube diameter has an insignificant effect on the axial thermal expansion. But the radial thermal expansion increases significantly with increasing tube diameter. The effect of nanotube length on radial CTE is larger than that on axial CTE and becomes more pronounced at high temperatures. The nanotube chirality has a slight effect on both of the axial and radial CTEs.
Trace Element Microanalysis in Iron Meteorites by Laser Ablation ICPMS

A laser ablation microanalysis system has been developed that can analyze trace elements with a sensitivity in the ppb range, using a CETAC LSX-200 laser ablation system with a Finnigan Element. This capability has been applied to a set of iron meteorites to demonstrate the laser microprobe's analytical capability for the determination of platinum group elements (PGEs) with a spatial resolution of ∼20 μm, comparable to that of dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The laser is shown to provide an accurate means of solid sampling for magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), allowing the determination of bulk metal composition, chemical zoning within the sample, and depth profiling. Recovery of the chemical zoning in taenite lamellae was achieved for Ru, Rh, and Pd, which was not previously possible using SIMS. The methods presented here show that magnetic sector ICPMS can be successfully coupled to a laser ablation system, providing the advantages of higher sensitivity of the sector instrument, low background count rates (<0.1 counts/s), and flat-topped spectral peaks, while minimizing tradeoff against the speed of data acquisition required to handle the transient signals from the laser ablation system.
VGF Ablation Blocks the Development of Hyperinsulinemia and Hyperglycemia in Several Mouse Models of Obesity

Targeted deletion of the gene encoding the neuronal and endocrine secreted peptide precursor called VGF (nonacronymic) produces a lean, hypermetabolic, hyperactive mouse. Because VGF mutant mice are resistant to specific forms of diet-, lesion-, and genetically induced obesity, we investigated the role that this polypeptide plays in glucose homeostasis. We report that VGF mutant mice have increased insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp analysis, and by insulin and glucose tolerance testing. Blunted counterregulatory responses in VGF-deficient mice were likely influenced by their significantly lower liver glycogen levels. VGF deficiency lowered circulating glucose and insulin levels in several murine models of obesity that are also susceptible to adult onset diabetes mellitus, including A(y)/a agouti, ob/ob, and MC4R(-)/MC4R(-) mice. Interestingly, ablation of Vgf in ob/ob mice decreased circulating glucose and insulin levels but did not affect adiposity, whereas MC4R(-)/MC4R(-) mice that are additionally deficient in VGF have improved insulin responsiveness at 7-8 wk of age, when lean MC4R(-)/MC4R(-) mice already have impaired insulin tolerance but are not yet obese. VGF mutant mice also resisted developing obesity and hyperglycemia in response to a high-fat/high-carbohydrate diet, and after gold thioglucose treatment, which is toxic to hypothalamic glucose-sensitive neurons. Lastly, circulating adiponectin, an adipose-synthesized protein the levels of which are correlated with improved insulin sensitivity, increased in VGF mutant compared with wild-type mice. Modulation of VGF levels and/or VGF signaling may consequently represent an alternative means to regulate circulating glucose levels and insulin sensitivity.
A diffraction spectrometer for studies of particle excited radiative transitions

Abstract The installation and operation of a curved crystal diffraction spectrometer to measure prompt gamma radiation generated by charged particle beams is described. Germanium [422] and [220] planes have been used; a comparison over a limited energy range of measured reflectivity is made with theory. Several examples of spectra generated by (p, x n x ) reactions indicate that the technique is well suited to studies of gamma rays with energy E less than 500 keV.
Inactivation and stabilization of stabilisins in neat organic solvents

The stability of the serine proteases from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (subtillisin BPN') and Bacillus licheniformis (subtilisin Carlsberg) was investigated in various anhydrous solvents at 45 degrees C. The half-life of subtilisin BPN' in dimethyl-formamide dramatically depends on the pH of the aqueous solutions from which the enzyme was lyophilized, increasing from 48 min to 20 h when the pH is raised from 6.0 to 7.9. Both subtilisins exhibited substantial inactivation during multihour incubations in tert-amyl alcohol and acetonitrile when enzymatic activities were also measured in these solvents; however, when the enzymes were assayed in water instead, hardly any loss of activity was detected. This surprising difference appears to stem from the partitioning of the bound water essential for catalytic activity from the enzymes into the solvents. When assayed in organic solvents, this time-dependent stripping of water results in decay of enzymatic activity; however, when assayed in water, where the dehydrated subtilisins can undergo rehydration thereby recovering catalytic activity, little inactivation is observed. In agreement with this hypothesis, the addition of small quantities of water tert-amyl alcohol stabilized the subtilisins in it even when enzymatic activity was measured in the nonaqueous solvent. Ester substrates (vinyl butyrate and trichloroethyl butyrate) greatly enhanced the stability of both subtilisins in organic solvents possibly because of the formation of the acyl-enzymes.
Mechanistic study in catalysis using dynamic and isotopic transient infrared spectroscopy: CO/H2C2H4 reaction on MnRh/SiO2

Abstract In situ infrared (IR) spectroscopy coupled with dynamic and steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis permits observation of the transient response (i.e., dynamics) of IR-observable adsorbates as well as gaseous reactants and products. This technique was used to examine the reaction pathway, reactivity of adsorbates, and nature of sites for the CO/H2/C2H4 reaction on Mn Rh/SiO2. Dynamic infrared study reveals that Rh0 sites which chemisorb linear CO actively catalyze CO insertion, a key step for the formation of propionaldehyde from the CO/H2/C2H4 reaction. Tilted CO on Mn Rh/SiO2 is not active for the reaction, demonstrating a lack of connection in reactivity between the low wavenumber CO on metal surfaces and in metal complexes. Steady-state isotopic transient IR studies by pulse injection of D2 and13CO produce transient responses which carry mechanistic information for elucidation of catalysis of the CO/H2/C2H4 reaction. The broad response of D-containing propionaldehyde reveals that multiple pathways for hydrogenation take place simultaneously with a wide distribution of the reactivity of adsorbed deuterium or hydrogen; the sharp response of C2H513CHO unravels the narrow distribution of reactivity of adsorbed CO for CO insertion.
Dynamics and control of orbiting flexible beams and platforms under the influence of solar radiation and thermal effects

Expressions for thermal deflections of uniform thin beams and plates exposed to solar heating are obtained as a function of the properties of the material and the solar incidence angle. The major effect of the solar radiation pressure interacting with the thermally deformed structure is found to give rise to disturbance moments on the structure. The thermal deformations of the structures are assumed to be within 0.1 percent of the characteristic length of the structure. With the assumed thermal deformations, the resulting uncontrolled transient responses of these geosynchronous orbiting structures to the solar radiation pressure induced disturbances are simulated. The resulting rigid modal oscillations are found to be an order of magnitude larger than for those cases previously considered in which only the solar radiation pressure effect on vibrating structures was treated. Modifications of control laws and/or the feedback gain values are considered in order to improve the transient response characteristics under the thermally induced disturbances.
Heavy-Higgs-boson resonance.

We study the use of the standard Higgs boson, with {ital m}{sub {ital H}}{gt}700 GeV, as a model for a resonance in longitudinal-vector-boson scattering. We focus on the constraint placed upon the modulus of the amplitude by unitarity. We show that it is better to use the energy-dependent width {Gamma}({ital s})={Gamma}{sub {ital H}}{times}({ital s}/{ital m}{sub {ital H}}{sup 2}){sup 2} in the Higgs-boson propagator, rather than the usual approximation {Gamma}({ital s})={Gamma}{sub {ital H}}. The {ital s}-channel approximation, the effective-{ital W} approximation, and the full electroweak {ital qq}{r arrow}{ital qqVV} process are discussed.
News & Notes: Nucleotide Sequence of a DNA Fragment from Buchnera aphidicola (Aphid Endosymbiont) Containing the Genes aspS–trxB–serS–serC–aroA–rpsA–himD–tpiA

Buchnera aphidicola is an endosymbiont of aphids. The nucleotide sequence of an 11.5-kilobase DNA fragment from this prokaryotic organism was determined. Eight open reading frames were found coding for putative proteins involved in protein synthesis, serine and aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, as well as thioredoxin and carbohydrate metabolism. These results indicate that B. aphidicola has many genetic properties of free-living bacteria.
Interaction of thyroid-hormone receptor with a conserved transcriptional mediator.

THE thyroid-hormone receptors are hormone-dependent transcription factors that control expression of many target genes1,2. This regulation is presumably a consequence of hormone-dependent contacts between the receptors and the basal transcription machinery3. We used the yeast two-hybrid system4,5 to identify a candidate human transcriptional mediator that interacts with both the thyroid-hormone receptor and the retinoid-X receptor in a ligand-dependent fashion. This protein, Tripl (for thyroid-hormone-receptor interacting protein), shares striking sequence conservation with the yeast transcriptional mediator Sugl (refs 6, 7). Here we show that Tripl can functionally substitute for Sugl in yeast, and that both proteins interact in vitro with the thyroid-hormone receptor, and with the transcriptional activation domains of yeast GAL4 and of herpes virus VP16.
Granular-rod model for electronic conduction in polyaniline.

We present here a granular-rod model for the metallic state of the conducting polymer, polyaniline. In this model the metallic islands correspond to single strands of the polymer. The macroscopic conductivity results from anisotropic three-dimensional variable-range hopping in the network of metallic rods. We incorporate the experimentally observed temperature dependence of the charge carrier density and show that this model is capable of explaining (1) the temperature dependence of the conductivity \ensuremath{\sigma}=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{0}$exp[-(${\mathit{T}}_{0}$/T${)}^{1/2}$], (2) the doping dependence of ${\mathit{T}}_{0}$, (3) the anomalous 1/T dependence of the thermoelectric power, as well as (4) the linear increase of the Pauli susceptibility with dopant concentration. We show that the quantitative agreement between our predictions for the doping dependence of ${\mathit{T}}_{0}$, the temperature dependence of the thermoelectric power, and the experimental data is excellent. We also illustrate that the temperature range where variable-range hopping is valid is decreased below the experimentally observed temperature range over which \ensuremath{\sigma}=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{0}$exp[-(${\mathit{T}}_{0}$/T${)}^{1/2}$] if the metallic islands correspond to three-dimensional bundles of the polymer strands. It would appear then that a single strand model of the metallic state of polyaniline is more consistent with a variable-range hopping picture.