cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Family traits in business objects and their applications

The business information system of the future will take the form of a swarm of business objects that are event-driven, concurrently executing, and running in a heterogeneous distributed environment. The inherent complexity of the business-object development process requires a difficult-to-find combination of skills in its developers. This complexity needs to be reduced to enable the participation of typical developers and to yield more successful projects. Fortunately, there are many common aspects among business objects. This paper describes a development approach that exploits these commonalities, reducing complexity through systematically defined, separate layers. The approach was developed in a research effort performed by the Application Development Effectiveness practice of the IBM Consulting Group in the Netherlands. It was subsidized by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs as an information technology innovation project. A “proof of concept” was obtained in a joint project with Rabobank in the Netherlands. The result is a component-based development process with well-defined reuse points and rapid-application-development (RAD) characteristics. With this approach, robust business objects can be developed and tested individually and concurrently in large teams, then dynamically assembled into business applications and work-flows as desired.
Attainable Regions for Polymerization Reaction Systems

A method is described for determining the limits of number-average molecular weights, polydispersities, monomer conversions, residual initiator concentrations, and reactor network residence times that are possible in isothermal polymerizations. The general approach provides a visual representation of the “attainable region” and reactor networks which achieve the attainable limits. The approach is based on an extension of the work of Glasser et al. (1987) to polymerization systems and is illustrated with a specific example of the free-radical polymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate). The results show how design conditions affect the range of attainable number-average molecular weights; the results indicate that much higher molecular weights than those typically produced in industry are feasible. The results also demonstrate that while many reactor networks can produce a desired molecular weight, only a few carefully selected networks can yield the narrowest molecular weight distributions. These include ...
Focusing on Process To Improve Learning: A Case Study of Instructional Research and Development.

This article describes a project undertaken to create a faculty resource guide, Environmental Ethics in Practice. We focus on the instructional research and development (IRD) process we employed and the resulting instructional product. Although IRD is an established process, it is largely underutilized in favor of an artistic/intuitive approach to instructional design and development. Our purpose is to show faculty and administrators the practical application of IRD and its relevance to similar educational projects in all disciplines.
Particulate component of plasma from fowls with avian erythro-myeloblastic leucosis.

SummaryA particulate material has been isolated by ultracentrifugal procedures from the filtered plasma of chickens diseased with avian erythro-myeloblastic leucosis. The particles were either spheroid in shape and of size varying from 60 to 100 mμ diameter or tailed structures with spheroidal heads and tails of 100 to 200 mμ lengths. Preliminary studies on small amounts of material yielded sedimentation diagrams showing definite, though diffuse, boundaries and an approximate sedimentation rate of 630 S. The ratio of nitrogen to desoxyribonucleic acid of the concentrates indicated a low content of the latter. Material of this sort was not found in the plasma of either normal chicks or chicks refractory to infection with the blood or plasma from birds with avian leucosis. The significance of the component in relation to the etiological agent of avian leucosis is discussed.
The interactions of solar arrays with electric thrusters

The generation of a charge-exchange plasma by a thruster, the transport of this plasma to the solar array, and the interaction of the solar array with the plasma after it arrives are all described. The generation of this plasma can be described accurately from thruster geometry and operating conditions. The transport of the charge-exchange plasma was studied experimentally with a 15 cm thruster. A model was developed for simple thruster-array configurations. A variety of experiments were surveyed for the interaction of the plasma at the solar array.
Increasing Women's Participation in Mathematics: An Intervention Study.

The limited participation of women in mathematics-related occupations is well documented. One major reason why women are underrepresented in such occupations is that many of them have received inadequate preparation in mathematics and are unable to enter educational programs or careers that require mathematics. This is partially the result of a decision made by many high school females to stop studying mathematics after minimal high school graduation requirements are met. A first step toward increasing opportunities for women in scientific and technological careers is ensuring that female students obtain the high school mathematics required to prepare for and to enter mathematics-related occupations. To this end, funds to develop intervention programs have been awarded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Education, and the Women's Educational Equity Act Program. Whether or not the resulting programs have made a difference is a growing concern. The purpose of this study was to determine whether one such program, Multiplying Options and Subtracting Bias (Fennema, Becker, Wolleat, & Pedro, 1980), was an effective intervention. (Multiplying Options and Subtracting Bias was developed and evaluated with funding from the U.S. Office of Education's Women's Educational Equity Program.) Multiplying Options and Subtracting Bias was designed specifically to increase females' election of high school mathematics courses. It is based on two assumptions: (a) If females' knowledge about sex-related differences in mathematics was increased and certain attitudes toward mathematics were
Thrombin-induced rabbit platelet microbicidal protein is fungicidal in vitro.

Abstract Platelet microbicidal protein (PMP) is released from platelets in response to thrombin stimulation. PMP is known to possess in vitro bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and viridans group streptococci. To determine whether PMP is active against other intravascular pathogens, we evaluated its potential fungicidal activity against strains of Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans. Anionic resin adsorption and gel electrophoresis confirmed that the fungicidal activity of PMP resided in a small (approximately 8.5-kDa), cationic protein, identical to previous studies of PMP-induced bacterial killing (M.R. Yeaman, S.M. Puentes, D.C. Norman, and A.S. Bayer, Infect. Immun. 60:1202-1209, 1992). When assayed over a 180-min period in vitro, the susceptibilities of these fungi to PMP varied considerably. Generally, Candida albicans strains (mean survival, 33.5% +/- 6.9% [n = 6]) as well as isolates of Candida glabrata (mean survival, 50.8% +/- 2.9% [n = 2]) were the most susceptible to killing by PMP, while Candida guillermondii and Candida parapsilosis were relatively resistant to PMP-induced killing. Compared with C. albicans, C. neoformans was relatively resistant to the fungicidal activity of PMP, with a mean survival among the isolates studied of 77.4% +/- 12.4% (n = 6). Against C. albicans, PMP-induced fungicidal activity was time dependent (range, 0 to 180 min), PMP concentration dependent (range, 10 to 150 U/ml), and inversely related to the fungal inoculum (range, 5 x 10(3) to 1 x 10(5) CFU/ml). Scanning electron microscopy of PMP-exposed C. albicans and C. neoformans cells revealed extensive surface damage and collapse, suggesting that the site of PMP fungicidal action may directly or indirectly involve the fungal cell envelope.
Do Privacy Statements Really Work? The Effect of Privacy Statements and Fair Information Practices on Trust and Perceived Risk in E-Commerce

Companies today collect, store and process enormous amounts of information in order to identify, gain, and maintain customers. Electronic commerce and advances in database and communication technology allow business to collect and analyze more personal information with greater ease and efficiency than ever before. This has resulted in increased privacy concerns and a lack of trust among consumers. These concerns have prompted the FCC to call for the use of Fair Information Practices in electronic commerce. Many firms have added privacy statements, formal declarations of privacy and security policy, to their e-commerce web sites in an attempt to reduce privacy concerns by increasing consumer trust in the firm and reducing the perceived risk associated with e-commerce transactions. This article describes an experiment designed to determine the efficacy of that strategy.
Complete blow-up of solutions for degenerate semilinear parabolic first initial-boundary value problems

Let q be a nonnegative real number, and tb be a positive constant. This paper studies integral solutions of the following degenerate semilinear parabolic first initial-boundary value problem: xqut-uxx=f(u),0<x<1,0<t<tb,u(x,0)=u0(x),0⩽x⩽1,u(0,t)=0=u(1,t),0<t<tb, where f(0) ⩾ 0, f′(0) ⩾ 0, f″(u) > 0 for u > 0, f(u) = o(u3) as u → ∞, and u0(x) ∈ C2+α([0, 1]) for some constant α ∈ (0, 1) is a nontrivial and nonnegative function such that u0″+f(u0)⩾0 in (0, 1), and u0(0) = 0 = u0(1). The complete blow-up of the integral solutions in the interval (0, 1) is investigated.
PPAR Ligands as Potential Modifiers of Breast Carcinoma Outcomes

Chemically synthesized ligands for nuclear receptors of the PPAR family modulate a number of physiological functions, particularly insulin resistance in the context of energy homeostasis and the metabolic syndrome. Additionally, these compounds may treat or prevent the development of many secondary consequences of the metabolic syndrome. Many PPAR agonists are also known to influence the proliferation and apoptosis of breast carcinoma cells though the experiments were carried out at suprapharmacological doses of PPAR ligands. It is possible that the breast epithelium of diabetics exposed to PPAR agonists will experience perturbation of the corresponding signaling pathway. Consequently, these patients' lifetime breast carcinoma risks could be modified, as their breast lesion incidence or the rates of the conversion of these lesions to carcinomas might vary upward or downward. PPAR activating treatment may also influence the progression of existing, undiagnosed invasive lesions. In this review, we attempt to summarize the possible influence of chemical PPAR ligands on the molecular pathways involved in the initiation and progression of breast carcinoma, with a major emphasis on PPAR agonists thiazolidinediones (TZDs).
Influence of sports participation and menarche on bone mineral density of female high school athletes

Weight-bearing exercise during adolescence may enhance peak bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce osteoporosis risk. The association of sports participation before and after menarche with areal BMD (by central DXA) was investigated in 99 female high school athletes (age 15.5+/-1.3 year). The frequency and duration of structured sports (school-based or other organized team) were assessed using an interviewer-assisted questionnaire. Overall, the average number of years of weight-bearing sport participation was 7.4+/-3.4 years; 72% of the athletes began sport participation before menarche. Training patterns and BMD were examined by tertiles of yearly weight-bearing sport participation (hours/year) before (WBpre), after (WBpost) menarche, and in total (WBtotal). After adjusting for chronological age, gynecological age, and BMI, compared to athletes in the WBtotal low tertile, athletes in the WBtotal high tertile had significantly greater BMD at the spine (p=0.009), total hip (p=0.03), trochanter (p=0.03), and total body (p=0.009). Similar patterns were found by WBpre or WBpost status, separately, with the exception of spine BMD which was significantly different across tertiles in WBpost only (p<0.01). While the number of years of participation was similar across tertiles of WBtotal, the number of months/year was significantly greater among athletes in the high tertile than athletes in the low tertile (9.2+/-3.4 month/year versus 5.0+/-2.9 month/year, respectively (p<0.001)). These results indicate that near year-round participation in structured weight-bearing sports during early adolescence may help young girls optimize bone mineral accrual during these critical years, and may decrease their risk of osteoporosis with advancing age.
Use of Capecitabine After Renal Allograft Transplantation in Dog Erythrocyte Antigen‐Matched Dogs

Objectives— To investigate the use of a capecitabine (CAP)-based regimen after renal transplantation in dogs. Study Design— Prospective, pilot study. Animals— Healthy, unrelated, dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA)-matched, adult beagles. Method— Standard heterotopic renal transplantation with native nephrectomy was performed in 7 dogs. Dogs received oral, twice daily, CAP (250 mg/m2), cyclosporine-A (CsA) (4 mg/kg), ketoconazole (5 mg/kg), and prednisolone (0.25 mg/kg). After 90 days the surviving dogs were euthanatized and complete necropsy was performed. Results— Seven transplants were performed. All dogs survived surgery. Six dogs had acute neurotoxicity, which resulted in death or euthanasia of 2 dogs within 2 days of surgery. In the remaining dogs, toxicity resolved rapidly with cessation of drug administration. Thereafter, modification of the regimen minimized toxicity. The 5 remaining dogs survived to study end; 4 dogs had no evidence of graft rejection. Necropsy examination was mostly unremarkable in all dogs. There were no major changes in CBC or biochemical values, except for a significant increase in serum calcium. Conclusions— CAP appeared well tolerated in most dogs. Toxicity occurred but abated with modification of the drug regimen. Efficacy for postoperative immunosuppression cannot be determined by this study, although results are promising. Clinical Relevance— CAP-CsA-prednisolone is an effective, oral immunosuppressive regimen for prevention of acute allograft rejection in DEA-matched beagles. Further studies on dose, toxicity, and efficacy compared with current immunosuppressive regimens are needed before use in clinical practice.
Modified assay methods for crude drugs involving the removal of interfering substances by enzymatic digestion. II. Modified assay method for belladonna root

The N. F. method for the determination of the alkaloid content was modified by digesting the drug with a mixture of “Taka-Diastase” and pancreatin. After digestion, the mixture was extracted with chloroform and the official method was carried oat to completion. Satisfactory results were obtained with a material improvement in the procedure from the standpoint of decreasing the time, equipment involved, and the facility of operation.
Electrophysiology of bioluminescent excitable epithelial cells in a polynoid polychaete worm

1. An electrophysiological study was made of the bioluminescent epithelial cells (photocytes) of the wormHesperonoe complanata (Polychaeta: Polynoidae.) 2. Resting photocyte membrane potential is −72±2 (s.d.) mV and decreases by 55 mV as external K concentration is increased from 10 to 100 mM. 3. Depolarization activates two separate regenerative inward currents, both resulting in all-or-none action potentials. The action potential with the lower threshold has an amplitude of 43±4 (s.d.) mV, is Na-dependent but tetrodotoxin-insensitive and is not associated with luminescence. The action potential with the higher threshold overshoots the reference potential by 13±6 (s.d.) mV, increases by 29 mV for a tenfold increase in Ca concentration and persists in Na-free solution. Under some conditions this spike is followed by a low conductance, Ca-dependent depolarized plateau which abruptly terminates after 274±17 (s.d.) s. 4. Luminescence accompanies each Ca spike. Reducing Ca influx reduces light emission. Depolarization in Ca-free medium does not produce light. It is therefore concluded that the intracellular light producing mechanism is Ca-activated and that Ca ions mediate excitation-luminescence coupling. 5. Photocytes receive direct excitatory innervation. Large depolarizing postsynaptic potentials occur upon nerve stimulation. 6. These electrical properties adequately explain in vivo bioluminescence.
Effects of a high-fat diet and L364,718 on growth of human pancreas cancer

The effects of a high-fat diet and the CCK-receptor antagonist, L364,718, were examined on growth of human pancreas cell line SW-1990 xenografted to nude mice. Sixty animals were fed either low-fat (4.3%) or high-fat (20.25%) diet. Fifteen mice in each diet group were treated with L364,718 (2 mg/kg) subcutaneously twice daily for 23 days. On day 24 the animals were sacrificed. Tumor and animal pancreases were dissected and evaluated for weight, protein, and DNA content. When comparing within each diet group, L364,718 significantly decreased tumor volume, weight, protein, and DNA content compared to untreated mice (P less than 0.005). Tumor volume and protein content were significantly larger in untreated animals on the high-fat diet (P less than 0.05) compared to the low-fat diet. Mouse pancreatic weight, protein, and DNA content per kilogram of animal weight were all significantly lower (P less than 0.005) in mice on the low-fat diet treated with L364,718. Pancreatic DNA content was also decreased in both groups of animals on the high-fat diet compared to untreated mice on the low-fat diet. These findings suggest that diets high in unsaturated fat promote the growth of human pancreatic cancer. Since both tumor and pancreas growth are inhibited by the specific CCK-antagonist, L364,718, it is possible that endogenous CCK promotes the growth.
Periods of mixed automorphic forms and differential equations

Abstract We construct mixed automorphic forms associated to a certain class of linear ordinary differential equations and establish a relation between the monodromy of such a differential equation and the periods of the corresponding mixed automorphic form.
Chronic diarrhea and weight loss.

Question: A 61year-old black man with a past medical history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery disease presented in January 2013 for evaluation of chronic nonbloody diarrhea and weight loss of 60 pounds over the past 2 years. Associated symptoms included abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Current medications included amlodipine, budesonide, pravastatin, olmesartan, and aspirin. An extensive evaluation including routine laboratory tests, stool cultures, stool ova þ parasites, stool analysis, Clostridium difficile polymerase chain reaction, celiac panel (immunoglobulin A/TTG), thyroid-stimulating hormone, immunoglobulin, serum protein electrophoresis, plasma peptides (gastrin, calcitonin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, somatostatin), urine 5-hydroxy-indole-acetic acid, and tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen19-9, alfa fetoprotein) were unremarkable. Fecal fat was 19 g over 24 hours. He was started on trial of pancreatic enzymes without clinical benefit. Glucose breath test was negative for small bowel bacterial overgrowth. Further diagnostic testing including computed tomography of the abdomen and small bowel follow through excluded structural disease. He was subsequently diagnosed with lymphocytic colitis as per biopsies done on colonoscopy in October 2012 and was treated with oral budesonide. He noticed slight improvement in diarrhea, but continued to experience loss of weight and decreased appetite. Endoscopic ultrasonography, to rule out chronic pancreatitis, was normal. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with gastric and duodenal biopsies done in 2012 are shown in Figures A and B, respectively. What is the diagnosis? Look on page 591 for the answer and see the Gastroenterology web site (www.gastrojournal.org) for more information on submitting your favorite image to Clinical Challenges and Images in GI.
Correlates of Loneliness in Nonreferred and Psychiatrically Hospitalized Children

We investigated psychosocial correlates of loneliness using self- and caretaker-reports in 6–12 year old nonreferred and psychiatrically hospitalized children. In Phase 1, 109 nonreferred children completed self-report measures of internalizing problems, mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and teachers completed the CBCL-Teacher's Report Form. In Phase 2, a similar assessment battery was completed for 109 psychiatrically hospitalized children. Results indicated a moderate to strong relationship between loneliness and self-reported depression, hopelessness, low self-esteem, and anxiety. Children reporting high and low levels of loneliness were not differentiated by parent or teacher reports. Lonely children had lower IQs than their non-lonely peers.
The minerva multi-microprocessor

A multiprocessor system is described which is an experiment in low cost, extensible, multiprocessor architectures. Global issues such as inclusion of a central bus, design of the bus arbiter, and methods of interrupt handling are considered.The system initially includes two processor types, based on microprocessors, and these are discussed. Methods for reducing processor demand for the central bus are described.
The sound of music: Constructing science as sociocultural practices through oral and written discourse

In this article, we examine the oral and written discourse processes in a high school physics class and how these discourse processes are related to sociocultural practices in scientific communities. Our theoretical framework is based on sociological and anthropological studies of scientific communities and ethnographies of classroom life. We review the use of discourse analysis as a methodological orien- tation in science education and provide a logic-of-inquiry framing how we used discourse analysis in our ethnographic research. Our ethnographic analysis showed that, through students' participation in creating scientific papers on the physics of sound, their appropriation of scientific discourse was related to the fram- ing activities of the teachers and the social practices established over time in the classroom. Our textual analysis of the student papers focused on how they used evidence to make claims. We explore the lessons learned from participating in the classroom of these students. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 36: 883 - 915, 1999
Children's Appraisals of their Experiences in Out-of-Home Care

Few studies have asked children directly about their experiences in out-of-home care. This study uses data collected from 180 nine- to-11-year-old children currently in out-of-home care who were asked about their perceptions and appraisals of out-of-home care. Analysis of variance and chi-square analyses were used to examine whether children's appraisals of their lives following removal from their families of origin differ as a function of age, gender, race/ethnicity, type and severity of maltreatment, length of time in out-of-home care, placement type, attachment to current caregivers, and rating of current caregiver/home. Youth who were sexually and emotionally abused, youth who were satisfied with their current caregivers and placements, and girls were more likely to state that their lives would have been worse had they remained with their families of origin. Youth who were physically abused were more likely to report that their lives would have remained the same. Children living in group care were more likely than those living in family foster care or with kin to report that their lives would have been better had they remained with their families of origin. Differences were not found between children living in family foster care and those living with kin nor did children's appraisals differ based on age, race, ethnicity, length of time in out-of-home care, neglect, or severity of maltreatment.
Sputtering of Group-IIIa elements. Properties of the metal cluster formation mechanism

Abstract Neutral and positively charged clusters have been produced by 4 keV argon ion bombardment of liquid gallium and the liquid gallium-indium eutectic alloy. The yields, kinetic energy distributions, and the abundance distributions have been studied by time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled with single photon post-ionization of the neutrals. The results are compared to experimental data on cluster sputtering from polycrystalline aluminum and indium previously obtained in our laboratory. The abundance distributions of the neutral and ionic mixed gallium-indium clusters with equal number of atoms are found to be statistical. Since the first atomic layer of the gallium-indium system is labeled due to surface segregation, the depth of origin of these clusters becomes experimental assessable. An increasing depth of origin was found for increasing cluster size. While 94% of the sputtered atoms originate from the first atomic layer, only 68% of the atoms comprising clusters containing eight atoms come from this outermost layer. A comparison of the relative yields and kinetic energy distributions for clusters sputtered from the alloy and from the two pure constituents indicates that these parameters are not controlled by the first atomic layer (indium rich) but by the bulk (gallium rich) . The kinetic energies of neutral clusters sputtered from pure aluminum, gallium and indium reveal a correlation between this property and the binding energies of the materials. The mean kinetic energy of the clusters is largest for aluminum followed by gallium and indium. The relative cluster yields decrease with increasing cluster size, the slope of which is least for indium, followed by gallium and aluminum.
Shock-induced vaporization in metals

Abstract Results of well-controlled experiments on shock-induced vaporization studies in zinc, indium, and aluminum are presented. A titanium alloy impact at a velocity of 10.4 km/s will melt these materials totally. The expansion products upon release will consist of liquid–vapor mixtures. The ratio of liquid to vapor in the mixture depends on the material and also on the degree of expansion upon release. The impact generated debris propagates a gap dimension up to 125 mm before it stagnates against a stationary witness plate. The non-uniform spatial loading on the witness plate is determined using multiple velocity interferometers. Radiographic measurements of the debris cloud are also taken before it stagnates against the witness plate. Both radiographic and the velocity interferometer measurements suggest lateral and axial expansion. We have identified that the kinetics of the vaporization process can be related to the energy of the material shocked to the high-pressure state. In particular, the energy E of the material in the shocked state is expressed in units of the energy E v required to vaporize a gram of material from room temperature. Results of these experiments indicate that the rate of vaporization is strongly dependent on E/E v as it is increased by an order of magnitude from 1 to 10.
Relating Polymer Indentation Behavior to Elastic Modulus Using Atomic Force Microscopy

The atomic force microscope (AFM) has become a popular tool for characterizing surfaces of many different types of materials. In this paper, an AFM is used to probe the mechanical properties of polymer samples through examination of force curves produced during tip-sample contact and indentation. Three types of cantilever probes with spring constants estimated to be 1–5 N/m, 20–100 N/m, and 400–500 N/m respectively, were used to study different polymer samples with known modulus values ranging from 20 MPa to 3 GPa. A technique is developed that relates the measured sample response to elastic modulus, and illuminates the importance of the relative stiffnesses of the cantilever probe and the sample to the material response.
Pregnancy and Fetal Loss Reported by Methamphetamine-Using Women

To better understand substance use disorder treatment needs of pregnant and parenting women who use methamphetamine (MA), this paper describes pregnancy histories and fetal losses for women who were treated for MA use (N = 153) with reference to a national sample, and describes their drug use, sexual risk behaviors, and mental health status. MA users reported an average of 4.6 total pregnancies and 2.1 fetal losses, whereas women in a general population survey reported 3.2 and 1.2, respectively. Higher numbers of pregnancies and fetal losses were correlated with specific substance abuse and mental health problems including early sexual abuse and cognitive problems. The combination of MA users' especially high numbers of pregnancies, fetal losses, and rates of risk behaviors suggest high social and health care costs for this population. Prenatal care may provide a vector through which women can be connected to risk reduction interventions and gender-responsive treatment services addressing substance use and mental health needs.
A Web-Based Product Modelling Tool – A Preliminary Development

This paper presents the preliminary development of a Web-based Product Modelling Tool (WPMT) aimed at enabling collaborative design through the Internet using JAVA 3D with dispersed team members. It is motivated by the emerging need of distant collaborative design required among R&D centres and manufacturers of global-based enterprises, simply to shorten product cycle time and, hence, to enhance their world-wide competitiveness. In this paper, current web 3D technologies are discussed first, then the general architecture of the underlying WPMT is introduced. The proposed WPMT is developed to allow designers/users to create, view, and manipulate product models through the World Wide Web. The main architecture of the proposed WPMT uses a Java servlet embedded in an HTML web page, which can be viewed and edited by authorised users with a Java/Java 3D enabled browser through the Internet. The developed WPMT is to be run on a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), so it is independent of the operation system and computer platform. Since the WPMT is a web-based modelling tool, some handy built-in primary features such as block, wedge, rim, hole, pocket, etc. are included for users to develop their product models. The users can also create their own features as so-called user-defined features. In addition, viewing operations such as rotation, zooming, panning, orthographic projections and so on, are also made available for comprehensiveness in the integrated web-based solid modelling tool. Finally, the proposed WPMT is experimentally implemented.
Traction Patient Venous Studies

A routine preoperative lower extremity venous study on a traction patient can present many challenges. The use of some proven techniques can greatly enhance the outcome of the exam and the comfort of the patient.
Lunar sample return via the interPlanetary superhighway

The Lunar Sample Return mission consists of two spacecraft, a communications module, and a lander/sample return module carried to the Moon by another ship. Knowledge of the InterPlanetary Superhighway tunnels and their dynamics provided a quick back-of-the-envelope estimation of the timing and costing of such libration missions which compared well with fully integrated solutions.
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHITE FILM FORMATION ON CUT SURFACES OF DRYCURED HAMS

White surface film that forms on cut surfaces of country-style ham was identified as crystalline L-tyrosine. Free L-tyrosine averaged 287.3 μmoles/g (5.2% by weight) in the film and 6.1 μmoles/g in ham tissue from which film had been removed. It is concluded that the film forms because the concentration of free L-tyrosine and certain other free amino acids in ham is greater than solubility levels; therefore, crystals form on the cut surface. The absence of surface film on knuckle muscles and film formation on other muscles of the same slice was attributed to higher NaCl (P < 0.05) of the former which decreased catheptic activity.
Ventilation and Ventilatory Pattern During Sleep in Aborted Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Summary: To assess ventilatory control during sleep in infants at risk for the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), we made serial measurements of resting tidal volume (Vt), respiratory cycle time (Ttot), and the ventilatory changes resulting from inhalation of 2% CO2 in aborted SIDS infants in rapid eye movement and quiet sleep and compared them to a group of normal infants during the first 4 months of life. Ventilation was measured by the barometric method, and sleep was staged using electroencephalogram, electrooculogram, and electromyogram and behavioral criteria. Although resting instantaneous minute ventilation (Vt/Ttot) was virtually the same in both groups of infants, Vt tended to be smaller (by up to 50% in the first 2 months) and Ttot tended to be shorter in aborted SIDS than in normal infants in both rapid eye movement and quiet sleep. The increase in the mean Vt/Ttot with 2% CO2 is greater by about 5 to 20% in aborted SIDS than in normal infants at 3 and 4 months of age in both sleep states. These findings, together with our previous findings that aborted SIDS infants have an increase in heart rate and a shortening of the QT interval, provide indirect evidence that infants at high risk for SIDS may have increased sympathoadrenal activity. Speculation: We speculate that cardiorespiratory collapse in SIDS is the result of an imposition of a stress, such as transient hypoxia, on an infant with a developmental abnormality in the sympathetic nervous system in whom the maturation of protective mechanisms against such an abnormality is not yet fully completed.
Isolation of carbohydrate-specific CD4 + T cell clones from mice after stimulation by two model glycoconjugate vaccines

Here we describe how to isolate carbohydrate-specific T cell clones (for which we propose the designation 'Tcarbs') after stimulation by two glycoconjugate vaccines. We describe how to prepare, purify and characterize two model glycoconjugate vaccines that can be used to generate Tcarbs. These glycoconjugate vaccines (GBSIII-OVA and GBSIII-TT) are synthesized by conjugation of type III group B streptococcal polysaccharide (GBSIII) to ovalbumin (OVA) or tetanus toxoid (TT). Upon immunization of mice with GBSIII-OVA, carbohydrate epitopes are presented to and recognized by CD4(+) T cells. Subsequently, polysaccharide-recognizing CD4(+) T cells are expanded in vitro by stimulating splenic CD4(+) T cells with GBSIII-TT. The sequential use of two distinct glycoconjugate vaccines containing the same polysaccharide conjugated to heterologous carrier proteins selects for and expands carbohydrate-specific T cells. This protocol can readily be adapted to study the stimulation of the immune system by alternative glycoconjugate vaccines. This protocol takes 1-2 years to complete.
Vortex Breakdown on Pitching Delta Wing: Control by Intermittent Trailing-Edge Blowing

To retard the onset of vortex breakdown on a half-delta wing subjected to periodic, large-amplitude maneuvers to high angle of attack, controls were applied in the form of a deflectable flap at the leading edge and variable blowing at the trailing edge of the wing. Intermittent blowing, applied during the upstroke part of the pitching cycle, appears to be the most energetically efficient means of retarding the onset of breakdown. Corresponding values of a dimensionless blowing coefficient are an order of magnitude smaller than those traditionally employed. Particle image velocimetry measurements of the velocity field in the plane of the leading-edge vortex show that blowing-induced changes of the velocity field propagate upstream along the lower surface of the wing. Intermittent blowing produces a radical change in the velocity distribution near the surface of the delta wing that persists throughout the entire pitching cycle. The phase lag of the blowing-induced velocity appears to be central to maintaining retardation of the onset of breakdown
Hybrid Simulation of a Variable Transport Lag

The object of this paper is to present a hybrid solution to the problem of simulating an ideal transport lag hav ing a variable time delay. The dynamic range over which the allowable time delay may be realized by this tech nique is limited on the low end by the sampling rate and execution time of the digital computer, and on the high end by the memory capacity of the digital computer. Experimental results using signals consisting of either sinusoidal waveforms or random noise are presented.
Effect of Protons on the NR1/NR2A NMDA Receptor Kinetics

NMDA receptors are glutamate-activated ion-channels that mediate fast excitatory transmission, synaptic plasticity and excitotoxicity. They assemble as heterotetramers of two NR1 and two NR2 subunits. Multiple isoforms with distinct kinetics, pharmacology and physiologic roles are differentially expressed in the central nervous system. Of these the NR1/NR2A and NR1/NR2B isoforms are most abundant. They are both inhibited by physiological proton concentrations but so far, the kinetic mechanism of proton inhibition has been characterized only for the NR1/NR2B isoform. To determine the mechanism of proton inhibition of NR1/NR2A receptors we recorded single-channel currents from cell-attached patches of HEK 293 cells transfected with NR1-1a, NR2A and GFP. The patch pipette contained saturating concentrations of glutamate and glycine and several proton concentrations in the range: pH 6.5 to 8.5. These records confirmed that protons do not change the channel's conductance and act solely by decreasing channel open probability (IC50 = 7.3). Kinetic analyses of our single-channel data showed that with increasing proton concentrations (pH 8, n = 5 vs. pH 6.5, n = 4) the mean channel open time decreased (7 ± 1.3 ms to 1.7 ± 3 ms) and the mean channel closed time increased (12 ± 0.1 ms to 94 ± 16 ms). To identify the rate constants affected by proton-binding we used best fit kinetic models to our single channel data. Results showed that similar to the mechanism previously reported for NR1-1a/NR2B receptors, protons inhibit NR1-1a/2A receptors by increasing the stability of two pre-open conformations. The rate constants we report here will help understand the role of protons in regulating synaptic transmission, plasticity and neuroprotection.
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor and Vasculitis

Excerpt To the Editor:Recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF) is now being widely used in clinical trials. Reported toxic effects include fever, nausea and vomiting, ...
Automated rainfall manipulation system: a reliable and inexpensive tool for ecologists

Water availability is the major limiting factor of the functioning of deserts and grasslands and is going to be severely modified by climate change. Field manipulative experiments of precipitation represent the best way to explore cause-effect relationships between water availability and ecosystem functioning. However, there is a limited number of that type of studies because of logistic and cost limitations. Here, we report on a new system that alters precipitation for experimental plots from 80% reduction to 80% increase relative to ambient, that is low cost, and is fully solar powered. This two-part system consists of a rainout shelter that intercepts water and sends it to a temporary storage tank, from where a solar-powered pump then sends the water to sprinklers located in opposite corners of an irrigated plot. We tested this automated system for 5 levels of rainfall, reduction-irrigation (50–80%) and controls with N = 3. The system showed high reduction/irrigation accuracy and small effect on temperature and photosynthetically active radiation. System average cost was $228 USD per module of 2.5 m by 2.5 m and required low maintenance.
Influence of geometry on unipolar space-charge-limited current in solids and in vacuum

Die Verteilung der Ladungstragerkonzentration, des elektrischen Feldes und des elektrostatischen Potentials fur den stationaren Zustand von raumladungsbegrenzten Stromen in drei verschiedenen Medien wird berechnet und graphisch wiedergegeben fur Strukturen von ebener, zylindrischer und spharischer Geometrie. Die drei betrachteten Medien sind das Vakuum und zwei Festkorper, in denen entweder die Beweglichkeit oder die Bahngeschwindigkeit der Ladungstrager von der Feldstarke unabhangig ist. Die Ergebnisse sind von Bedeutung im Zusammenhang mit Durchschlags-und Einschwingvorgangen in raumladungsbegrenzten Stromen.
Autoimmune neutropenia of childhood.

Autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) of infancy is an underreported disease because of its benign nature. In addition, the relative unavailability of neutrophil antibody testing prevents confirmation of suspected diagnoses. Small children do not have life-threatening infections, do not have associated diseases, respond to i.v. gamma globulin with increased neutrophil counts, and tend to improve on their own. Older children with AIN have associated diseases such as hepatitis or Hodgkin's disease, often have other immune cytopenias, and respond poorly to any therapy. Immune deficiency states, especially those of the humoral arms, are associated with development of AIN.
Mechanism of 3-(Glutathione-S-yl)-Benzidine Formation

The formation of thioether conjugates is an important mechanism for inactivation of carcinogens. 3-(Glutathion-S-yl)-benzidine (BZ-SG) formation prevents benzidinediimine and peroxidase-mediated benzidine binding to DNA. Benzidinediimine is the two-electron oxidized product of benzidine thought to be the reactive intermediate involved in peroxidase-mediated binding of benzidine to DNA. Diimine interacts with benzidine to form a dimeric complex known as the charge-transfer complex. The latter is in equilibrium with the cation radical. This study evaluated the mechanism by which BZ-SG forms. Benzidinediimine was synthesized and used to study the formation of BZ-SG. With 0.05 mM benzidinediimine, BZ-SG formation was optimum at pH 4.5 and with glutathione at 0.05 to 0.1 mM. By monitoring specific absorption spectra, the reduction of benzidinediimine at pH 4.5 was evaluated. The t1/2 for diimine decay (425 nm) and maximum absorbance of the charge-transfer complex (600 nm) were each at approximately 5 min. Within 10 min, the maximum amount of benzidine had formed from diimine. BZ-SG formation followed the decay of diimine. The relationship between benzidinediimine and benzidine, with respect to BZ-SG formation, was assessed at a fixed concentration of glutathione (0.05 mM) and a fixed total concentration of amine and diimine (0.05 mM). In three separate experiments, each of these three components was radiolabeled independent of the other two components. Experiments with [3H]glutathione indicated that conjugate formation was dependent upon diimine, and not benzidine. With [3H]benzidinediimine or [3H]benzidine, two different calculations were necessary to assess conjugate formation. For [3H]benzidinediimine, the calculation considered that only the radiolabeled diimine formed conjugate, while with [3H]benzidine, a specific activity calculation was necessary to demonstrate that conjugate formation was dependent upon diimine. With 0.05 mM [3H]benzidine, horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed formation of BZ-SG was optimum between 0.05 and 0.0625 mM H2O2. The latter is consistent with conversion of benzidine to diimine before formation of BZ-SG. Specific inhibitors and the absence of oxygen uptake indicated the lack of involvement of cation, thiyl, and carbon-centered radicals. The results are consistent with the existence of the charge-transfer complex and with benzidinediimine reacting with glutathione to form BZ-SG.
Differentiation of uric acid versus non-uric acid kidney stones in the presence of iodine using dual-energy CT

In this study, the feasibility of differentiating uric acid from non-uric acid kidney stones in the presence of iodinated contrast material was evaluated using dual-energy CT (DECT). Iodine subtraction was accomplished with a commercial three material decomposition algorithm to create a virtual non-contrast (VNC) image set. VNC images were then used to segment stone regions from tissue background. The DE ratio of each stone was calculated using the CT images acquired at two different energies with DECT using the stone map generated from the VNC images. The performance of DE ratio-based stone differentiation was evaluated at five different iodine concentrations (21, 42, 63, 84 and 105 mg/ml). The DE ratio of stones in iodine solution was found larger than those obtained in non-iodine cases. This is mainly caused by the partial volume effect around the boundary between the stone and iodine solution. The overestimation of the DE ratio leads to substantial overlap between different stone types. To address the partial volume effect, an expectation-maximization (EM) approach was implemented to estimate the contribution of iodine and stone within each image pixel in their mixture area. The DE ratio of each stone was corrected to maximally remove the influence of iodine solutions. The separation of uric-acid and non-uric-acid stone was improved in the presence of iodine solution.
Earth Rotation and Polar Motion: Measurements and Implications

Earth rotation and polar motion studies are embarking on a new era with the advent of highly accurate space geodetic techniques and the availability of global atmospheric angular momentum measurements. Space geodesy is opening new doors, answering old questions, and posing new ones. The angular momentum balance and the transfer of angular momentum between the solid Earth, atmosphere, and oceans are emerging as a problem of great scientific interest overlapping many areas, such as atmospheric science, oceanography, geodesy, and geodynamics. Here, the measurements of Earth rotation and polar motion (collectively referred to as Earth orientation) are described; the combination, smoothing, and intercomparison of these results from various techniques are presented. The calculation of atmospheric angular momentum (AAM) excitation functions are outlined; comparisons of the AAM excitation functions with variations in the length of day (LOD) and polar motion results are discussed. The associated geophysical implications (e.g., J2, 50-day oscillations) are stressed; anticipated advances and prospects for the future are high lighted.
The effects of protein kinase-C agonists on parathyroid hormone release and intracellular free Ca2+ in bovine parathyroid cells.

High extracellular Ca2+ stimulates the accumulation of inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol in parathyroid cells and suppresses PTH release. Since diacylglycerol is an endogenous activator of protein kinase-C, these observations would suggest that activation of protein kinase-C is associated with inhibition of PTH release. However, phorbol esters, which stimulate protein kinase-C activity, have been reported to enhance PTH release. To clarify the role of protein kinase-C in the regulation of PTH secretion, we studied the responses of parathyroid cells to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), bryostatin- 1, and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol (diC8). PMA and bryostatin-1 translocated protein kinase-C activity from the soluble to particulate fractions of cell homogenates. Phosphotransferase activity in the particulate fractions increased from 21 ± 4% to 93 ± 6% of the total activity after 10 min of exposure to PMA (10-6 M) and from 21 ± 2% to 69 ± 2% after 5 min of exposure to bryostatin-l (10-7 M). These three stru...