cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Surgical Management of Megaureters in Duplex Systems: The Efficacy of Ureteral Tapering and Common Sheath Reimplantation

AbstractWe describe 6 children with renal duplication associated with megaureter(s) who underwent ureteral tapering and common sheath reimplantation. Of the patients 4 had complete duplication with reflux into 1 or both ureters and 2 had incomplete duplication with a short distal segment that was obstructed at the ureterovesical junction. All obstructed or refluxing ureteral segments were dilated to a degree that tapering was required at the time of common sheath reimplantation. Megaureter repair in the presence of a duplicate collecting system proved to be safe and reliable.
Fundamentals of Spectroscopy of Collective Excitation in Solids

Collective excitations are the intrinsic excitations of solids. A study of their physical properties is necessary for an adequate understanding of solid state systems. The purpose of this article is to examine the basic aspects of collective excitations and of their spectroscopic properties; it will introduce the fundamental concepts and will lay down the background material useful for the treatment of the subject of this book.
Modeling the Intestinal Crypt Abscess—A Characteristic Lesion of Acute Intestinal Inflammation

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the modeling of intestinal crypt abscess. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) migrate across the intestinal epithelium in a variety of inflammatory diseases afflicting the small intestine and colon. Subsequent collection of PMN in crypt lumens to form so-called crypt abscesses is a histologic finding used by pathologists to determine disease activity. Purified human peripheral blood PMN can be stimulated to cross the human intestinal epithelial cell line (T84) monolayers in response to transmonolayer gradients of the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). On the basis of intestinal epithelial permeability studies performed on first-degree relatives of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, it has also been recently suggested that such patients may have, as a primary defect, increased junctional permeability. Such abnormal baseline permeability could promote detection of lumenal chemotactic peptides by subepithelial PMN, thereby promoting PMN transmigration, inducing further enhancement of permeability and thus, stimulating a positive feedback loop resulting in clinical disease. Once PMN migrate across intestinal epithelia and collect in crypt lumens as crypt abscesses, they are bathed in activating agents.
Homogenization of Random Structures: a Closer View

As we have seen in Sect. 17.4, the averaged Lagrangian and the local fields in random structures are determined by Kozlov’s cell problem (17.97)
Forecasting crude oil price volatility

Abstract We use high-frequency intra-day realized volatility data to evaluate the relative forecasting performances of various models that are used commonly for forecasting the volatility of crude oil daily spot returns at multiple horizons. These models include the RiskMetrics, GARCH, asymmetric GARCH, fractional integrated GARCH and Markov switching GARCH models. We begin by implementing Carrasco, Hu, and Ploberger’s (2014) test for regime switching in the mean and variance of the GARCH(1, 1), and find overwhelming support for regime switching. We then perform a comprehensive out-of-sample forecasting performance evaluation using a battery of tests. We find that, under the MSE and QLIKE loss functions: (i) models with a Student’s t innovation are favored over those with a normal innovation; (ii) RiskMetrics and GARCH(1, 1) have good predictive accuracies at short forecast horizons, whereas EGARCH(1, 1) yields the most accurate forecasts at medium horizons; and (iii) the Markov switching GARCH shows a superior predictive accuracy at long horizons. These results are established by computing the equal predictive ability test of Diebold and Mariano (1995) and West (1996) and the model confidence set of Hansen, Lunde, and Nason (2011) over the entire evaluation sample. In addition, a comparison of the MSPE ratios computed using a rolling window suggests that the Markov switching GARCH model is better at predicting the volatility during periods of turmoil.
MACHADO'S ORGANIC SENSE: AN OUTLINE OF APPROACHES TO LIÇÃO DE BOTÂNICA

Abstract Machado de Assis frequently relies on controlling metaphors, which provide a unifying plan for an entire work. His play Licao de botânica is an example of this practice, where human progress is compared to the life of plants or other simpler organisms. The play contains echoes of the seventeenth-century notion of vegetable love, as seen in Robert Burton and Andrew Marvell. It follows the norms of classical comedy, which has its roots in the celebration of fertility. It illustrates the central ideas of Henri Bergson's philosophy of laughter, which opposes the organic to the mechanical. From a national perspective, it exemplifies the cultural characteristics of cordiality and preference for the jeitinho. The common denominator for all these perspectives is the rejection of rigidity in favor of organic elasticity.
Validation of protein backbone structures calculated from NMR angular restraints using Rosetta

Multidimensional solid-state NMR spectra of oriented membrane proteins can be used to infer the backbone torsion angles and hence the overall protein fold by measuring dipolar couplings and chemical shift anisotropies, which depend on the orientation of each peptide plane with respect to the external magnetic field. However, multiple peptide plane orientations can be consistent with a given set of angular restraints. This ambiguity is further exacerbated by experimental uncertainty in obtaining and interpreting such restraints. The previously developed algorithms for structure calculations using angular restraints typically involve a sequential walkthrough along the backbone to find the torsion angles between the consecutive peptide plane orientations that are consistent with the experimental data. This method is sensitive to experimental uncertainty in interpreting the peak positions of as low as ± 10 Hz, often yielding high structural RMSDs for the calculated structures. Here we present a significantly improved version of the algorithm which includes the fitting of several peptide planes at once in order to prevent propagation of error along the backbone. In addition, a protocol has been devised for filtering the structural solutions using Rosetta scoring functions in order to find the structures that both fit the spectrum and satisfy bioinformatics restraints. The robustness of the new algorithm has been tested using synthetic angular restraints generated from the known structures for two proteins: a soluble protein 2gb1 (56 residues), chosen for its diverse secondary structure elements, i.e. an alpha-helix and two beta-sheets, and a membrane protein 4a2n, from which the first two transmembrane helices (having a total of 64 residues) have been used. Extensive simulations have been performed by varying the number of fitted planes, experimental error, and the number of NMR dimensions. It has been found that simultaneously fitting two peptide planes always shifted the distribution of the calculated structures toward lower structural RMSD values as compared to fitting a single torsion-angle pair. For each protein, irrespective of the simulation parameters, Rosetta was able to distinguish the most plausible structures, often having structural RMSDs lower than 2 A with respect to the original structure. This study establishes a framework for de-novo protein structure prediction using a combination of solid-state NMR angular restraints and bioinformatics.
Decomposition of industry structural shifts and reconstruction research based on share analysis

The current stage of economic development is characterized by the need to adjust the structural proportions of the development of individual industries. Particular attention should be paid to priority sectors, in particular, industries in the manufacturing sector, the ones changing the development trajectory from the raw material concept to the innovation model. The research also highlighted high-income and low-income activities, as well as the industry differentiation in terms of the level of concentration and labour resources, the dynamics of changes in structural proportions was investigated. The goal of the article is to decompose structural changes in sectors of the economy in certain regions of the Russian Federation by elements of employment, output and residual component. On the basis of a modified structural share analysis, decomposition of the structural elements of economic development was carried out on the basis of an analysis of structural proportions. As a result, the authors determined the relationship between economic growth and structural shifts for individual components. Approbation of the research conducted on the example of the regions of the Russian Federation. The calculation of shifts in the industry due to changes in the share of employment by type of activity and due to changes in the structure of output has been carried out. A mapping of changes in the structural proportions of the regional economy was also carried out, and changes in the structural proportions in individual sectors of the industrial and non-industrial sectors were analyzed on the basis of selected components.
Quantitative Benefit–Risk Assessment of P-gp–Mediated Drug–Drug Interactions of Dabigatran Coadministered With Pharmacokinetic Enhancers in Patients With Renal Impairment

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between dabigatran and ritonavir/cobicistat are of major concern in people living with HIV, particularly in those with impaired renal function, because they can result in increased dabigatran exposure and thus an increased risk of major bleeding events. However, the extent of this interaction and subsequent need for dose adjustment in subjects with varying degrees of renal function is currently not yet fully understood. To close this knowledge gap, we conducted an integrated population physiologically-based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis linking changes in dabigatran exposure due to DDIs and varying degrees of renal function to the probability of experiencing an ischemic stroke or major bleeding event within 1 year. The results of our analysis suggest that coadministration of dabigatran etexilate (dabigatran prodrug) and ritonavir/cobicistat should be avoided in subjects with severe renal impairment. A 2-hour dose separation or dabigatran etexilate dose reduction to 110 mg b.i.d. (twice daily) should be considered in subjects with moderate renal impairment when coadministered with ritonavir, while the dabigatran etexilate dose should be further reduced to 75 mg b.i.d. when coadministered with cobicistat. No dabigatran etexilate dose adjustment is needed in subjects with normal renal function receiving ritonavir, but dabigatran etexilate dose reduction to 110 mg b.i.d. should be considered when coadministered with cobicistat.
Studies toward the Synthesis of Amphidinolide C1: Stereoselective Construction of the C(1)–C(15) Segment

An enantioselective synthesis of the C(1)–C(15) segment of the marine natural product amphidinolide C has been accomplished by a route that includes a stereoselective boron–Wittig reaction to furni...
Analysis of surgery rates among 25 national collegiate athletic association sports.

Objectives: While injuries among collegiate athletes are common and well-studied, there have been no studies comparing which sports and injury types have the highest operation rates. This informati...
Racial Differences in In-Hospital Outcomes after the Use of Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support as a Bridge to Heart Transplant

Purpose The use of temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) as a bridge to heart transplant (HTx) (BTT) has increased over time, especially after implementation of the new adult heart allocation system. We sought to assess if racial differences existed in in-hospital outcomes among patients BTT with a tMCS. Methods The National Inpatient Sample was queried for all patients who were BTT with a tMCS [intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP), percutaneous left-ventricular assist device (PVAD), or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)] between 2008 and 2017. Patients were stratified by race and evaluated for in-hospital, death, MACE, discharge disposition, and costs. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality for each of the tMCS devices. Results Out of 5,063 HTx, 17.8% (901) who were bridged with a tMCS (IABP 577, ECMO 366, PVAD 80). The incidence of MACE (9.7% White vs. 8.6% Black vs. 9.0% Hispanic vs. 7.6% Others; p value 0.520), non-home discharge (17.5% White vs. 17.1% Black vs. 12.6% Hispanic vs. 15.5% Others; p value 0.056) and procedural costs [White $354,406.72 vs. Black $329,752.47 vs. Hispanic $482,146.45 vs. Others $384,841.00; p value p Conclusion Among patients BTT with a tMCS, there was no racial difference in in-hospital complications or death, irrespective of the type of tMCS used. With the recent change in the transplant allocation system, the use of tMCS as a BTT has increased, and the results herein highlight that in-patient outcomes prior to the allocation system change are similar among racial groups and may ensure equitable access to transplantation in the new system.
Dorsal root ganglion stimulation for refractory post-herpetic neuralgia.

Post-herpetic neuralgia is a chronic neuropathic pain disorder that is the sequela of the varicella zoster virus reactivation in the dorsal root ganglion. A variety of treatment modalities have been implemented, but pharmacologic treatments are often limited due to side effects and interventional procedures have yielded mixed results without promising long-term benefits being consistently seen. A dorsal root ganglion stimulator for treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia is a novel treatment option as it is able to specifically target the area affected. We present 3 patients who underwent implantation of permanent dorsal root ganglion stimulators and had a greater than 50% decrease in scoring on numerical rating scale (NRS) up to 18 months post-procedure and significantly reduced analgesic requirements.
Increased Depression Screening and Treatment Recommendations After Implementation of a Perinatal Collaborative Care Program.

Objective: The study evaluated whether implementation of perinatal collaborative care is associated with improvements in screening and treatment recommendations for perinatal depression by obstetri...
A closer look at urban development under the emergence of autonomous vehicles: Traffic, land use and air quality impacts

Abstract Autonomous vehicles (AVs) hold great promise for increasing the capacity of existing roadways and intersections, providing more mobility to a wider range of people, and are likely to reduce vehicle crashes. However, AVs are also likely to increase travel demand which could diminish the potential for AVs to reduce congestion and cause emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and other air pollutants to increase. Therefore, understanding how AVs will affect travel demand is critical to understanding their potential benefits and impacts. We evaluate how adoption of AVs affects travel demand, congestion and vehicle emissions over several decades using an integrated travel demand, land-use and air quality modeling framework for the Albuquerque, New Mexico metropolitan area. We find that AVs are likely to increase demand and GHG emissions as development patterns shift to the region's periphery and trips become longer. Congestion declines along most roadways as expanded capacity from more efficient AV operation outpaces increasing demand. Most of the population can also expect a reduction in exposure to toxic vehicle emissions. Some locations will experience an increase in air pollution exposure and traffic congestion from changes in land-use and traffic patterns caused by the adoption of AVs.
Canonical Relativized Cylindric Set Algebras and Weak Associativity

Canonical relativized cylindric set algebras are used to sharpen the relative representation theorem for weakly associative relation algebras, that every complete atomic weakly associative relation algebra is isomorphic with the relativization of a set relation algebra to a symmetric and reflexive binary relation, by insuring that the atoms of the set relation algebra and its relativization are orbits of single sequences under a group of permutations of the underlying set. This sharpening of the relative representation theorem was first proved for the Resek-Thompson Theorem in 1989.
Neural Networks for Transient Modeling of Circuits : Invited Paper

Theoretical analyses as well as case studies have established that behavioral models based on a recurrent neural network (RNN) are suitable for transient modeling of nonlinear circuits. After training, an RNN model can be implemented in Verilog-A and evaluated by a SPICE-type circuit simulator. This paper describes hurdles that have prevented wide-scale adoption of the RNN as an IP-obscuring behavioral model for circuits and presents recent advances. A new stability constraint is formulated and demonstrated to guide model training and improve performance. Augmented RNNs that can accurately capture aging effects and represent process variations are presented.
Evolution of the lymphoid system: IV. Murine T-independent but not T-dependent antigens are very immunogenic in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Abstract Adult rainbow trout (RBT) were found to respond well to murine T-independent antigens but not to T-dependent antigens. In addition, the ability of RBT to respond with adult intensity to at least one murine T-independent antigen occurred very early in their ontogenetic development. Finally, subsequent to antigenic challenge, it was observed that while large numbers of plaque-forming cells appeared in the spleen and anterior kidney, none were found in the thymus.
Azaguanine inhibition of protein synthesis: II. Effects of poly (U) in Bacillus cereus

Abstract 1. Synthetic exogenous messenger RNA (poly (U)) was added to extracts of control and azaguanine-treated Bacillus cereus to see if the inhibition of polypeptide synthesis would be abolished, thus indicating that azaguanine was inhibiting protein synthesis at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level. 2. Using [ 14 C]phenylalanine as a substrate, azaguanine extracts incorporated 3–5-fold more label than control cells in the presence of poly (U). The site of this stimulation was found to be in the ribosome-free supernatant (S-150) of the azaguanine extract. When control [ 14 C]phenylalanyl transfer RNA from B. cereus was used, the stimulation of phenylalanine incorporation by azaguanine extracts in presence of poly (U) was abolished. Dialysis or passage of the S-150 fractions through Sephadex G-25 also eliminated the stimulation. Finally, using control [ 14 C]phenylalanyl-tRNA as substrate, azaguanine extracts showed 10 % incorporation of phenylalanine into proteins compared with control extracts; poly (U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis in azaguanine extracts was again unimpaired. 3. It is concluded that azaguanine inhibits protein synthesis by its effect on mRNA, since addition of exogenous messenger reverses inhibition of polypeptide synthesis. The stimulation of phenylalanine incorporation in azaguanine extracts when [ 14 C]phenylalanine was the substrate appears to be due to a decrease in the endogenous pool of phenylalanine which diluted added [ 14 C]phenylalanine less than in the control extract.
Receptor-type Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase-κ Regulates Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Function *

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the prototypic receptor protein tyrosine kinase, is a major regulator of growth and survival for many epithelial cell types. We report here that receptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase-κ (RPTP-κ) dephosphorylates EGFR and thereby regulates its function in human keratinocytes. Protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitors induced EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation in intact primary human keratinocytes and cell-free membrane preparations. Five highly expressed RPTPs (RPTP-β, δ, κ, μ, and ξ) were functionally analyzed in a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell-based expression system. Full-length human EGFR expressed in CHO cells, which lack endogenous EGFR, displayed high basal (i.e. in the absence of ligand) tyrosine phosphorylation. Co-expression of RPTP-κ, but not other RPTPs, specifically reduced basal EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation. RPTP-κ also reduced epidermal growth factor-dependent EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation in CHO cells. Purified RPTP-κ preferentially dephosphorylated EGFR tyrosines 1068 and 1173 in vitro. Overexpression of wild-type or catalytically inactive RPTP-κ reduced or enhanced, respectively, basal and EGF-induced EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation in human keratinocytes. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of RPTP-κ increased basal and EGF-stimulated EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and augmented downstream Erk activation in human keratinocytes. RPTP-κ levels increased in keratinocytes as cells reached confluency, and overexpression of RPTP-κ in subconfluent keratinocytes reduced keratinocyte proliferation. Taken together, the above data indicate that RPTP-κ is a key regulator of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and function in human keratinocytes.
Nondestructive damage detection in Euler–Bernoulli beams using nodal curvatures—Part I: Theory and numerical verification

SUMMARY This paper deals with the problem of nondestructively detecting, locating, and quantifying damage in beam-type structures. To achieve this objective, structural responses collected prior and subsequent to damage are related to the changes in physical properties of the structure. The proposed methodology is based on the moment–curvature relations of the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and the assumption that internal stress resultants are invariant before and after damage. Damage is expressed in terms of local decreases in the flexural stiffness of structural members. These decreases are shown to cause singularities in the curvature profile of the beam. Utilizing fundamental equations of solid mechanics, we relate discontinuities in the flexural stiffness distribution to the pre-damage and post-damage nodal curvatures. The resulting system of linear equations can be solved to obtain specific element damage indices. The performance of the proposed methodology is evaluated using numerically generated experiments. It is shown that the location, the extent, and the severity of damage in beams may be successfully identified with the proposed technique provided that the structure conforms to the deformations dictated by the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. The practicality of the methodology under field conditions is demonstrated in the accompanying paper Nondestructive damage detection in Euler-Bernoulli beams using nodal curvatures-Part II: Field measurements. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PASCAL, BOURDIEU Y LA SOCIOLOGÍA

?Que debe a Pascal la gran obra de Bourdieu, las Meditaciones Pascalianas ? ?Como presentar la referencia a Pascal en un sociologo como Bourdieu?...
Adaptive neural control for flexible aerospace systems: progress and prospects

This paper discusses the adaptive neural control (ANC) architecture for online system identification and adaptive control. We describe the basic architecture and summarize the test results obtained to-date.
Quantitative Determination of the Ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid Content of Liver and Novikoff Hepatoma from Fed and from Fasted Rats

Although never demonstrated unequivocally, it has been generally accepted that the largest fraction of the ribonucleic acid of mammalian cells is ribosomal. However, it has been reported recently that about 65% of rat liver RNA has a nonribosomal sedimentation coefficient in the range of 4 S. To resolve the question of the ribosomal RNA content of rat liver and to examine the validity of the assumption that the total RNA content of mammalian tissue can be taken as an approximate measure of ribosome content, isotope dilution analysis has been used in the present study for quantitative determination of ribosomal RNA, since this technique yields valid minimal values in this application. These measurements indicate that, of total rat liver RNA, the ribosomal fraction constitutes 85 to 90%, and 4 S RNA, about 7%. The fraction of ribosomal RNA relative to the total remained unchanged despite a period of fasting sufficient to reduce the RNA per hepatic cell to about half the normal value. A rapidly growing neoplasm, the Novikoff hepatoma, was found to contain the same amount of ribosomal RNA, relative to total, as did the liver.
A calibration technique for measurements of reflection from an open-ended waveguide

A simple calibration technique is presented for the measurement of the reflection coefficients of an open-ended waveguide. The accuracy of this calibration can be improved by using a waveguide isolator or attenuator between the adapter and the directional coupler. This calibration technique can be further improved by using the time domain gating feature of a vector network analyzer. The admittance of the open-ended waveguide has been measured using this calibration technique at X band and Ku band. The measured results show good agreement with the calculated ones and with those measured using waveguide calibration kits or TRL calibration kits. The calibration technique can be extended to other frequency bands provided that waveguide directional couplers and isolators at those frequency bands are available. The calibration technique can be used for measurements of dielectric permittivity and permeability using an open-ended waveguide system.
Low energy analysis of ν N → ν N γ in the standard model

The production of single photons in low energy ($\ensuremath{\sim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$) neutrino scattering off nucleons is analyzed in the standard model. At very low energies, ${E}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}\ensuremath{\ll}\mathrm{GeV}$, a simple description of the chiral Lagrangian involving baryons and arbitrary $SU(2{)}_{L}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}U(1{)}_{Y}$ gauge fields is developed. Extrapolation of the process into the $\ensuremath{\sim}1--2\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ region is treated in a simple phenomenological model. Coherent enhancements in compound nuclei are studied. The relevance of single-photon events as a background to experimental searches for ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}$ is discussed. In particular, single photons are a plausible explanation for excess events observed by the MiniBooNE experiment.
A meta-analysis of spinal surgical site infection and vancomycin powder.

Object Surgical site infection (SSI) is a serious and costly complication of spinal surgery. There have been several conflicting reports on the use of intrawound vancomycin powder in decreasing SSI in spine surgery. The purpose of this study is to answer the question: “Does intrawound vancomycin powder reduce the rate of SSIs in spine surgery?” Methods A comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases and bibliographies was conducted to identify clinical studies that evaluated the rates of SSI with and without the use of intrawound vancomycin powder in spine surgery. Independent reviewers extracted data and graded the quality of each paper that met inclusion criteria. A random effects meta-analysis was then performed. Results The search identified 9 retrospective cohort studies (Level III evidence) and 1 randomized controlled trial (Level II evidence). There were 2574 cases and 106 infections in the control group (4.1%) and 2518 cases and 33 infections (1.3%) in the treatment group, yielding a poole...
An open architecture testbed for real-time monitoring and control of machining processes

This paper presents an open architecture controller (OAC) for machining systems and describes the OAC testbed at the University of Michigan. Because our OAC is designed for fully open systems, it does not depend on any specific hardware or software components. This openness includes software reusability which enables integration of a wide range of monitoring and control features. In addition to openness, our OAC system provides guaranteed real-time performance, an important requirement for advanced manufacturing.
Isoelectric focusing of tubulin in a new type of charge-balanced agarose.

Abstract Tubulin was purified from the brains of newborn and 3-week-old rats, fed diets differing in protein content, by two cycles of polymerization. The tubulin subunits were analyzed by isoelectric focusing in a new, commercially available, charge-balanced agarose in the presence of 6 m urea. This focusing technique resolved protein bands differing in charge by 0.02–0.04 pH unit. An increase in tubulin heterogeneity was observed due to the stage of development, not dietary protein. Isoelectric focusing in agarose is a rapid, sensitive technique and may replace other isofocusing support media in many applications.
Alcohols as solvent for the generation and reaction of allylic zinc halides with aldehydes and ketones

Abstract Alcohols can serve as solvent for the generation and addition of allylic zinc halides to aldehydes and ketones. In the absence of a reactive carbonyl compound reactive allylic halides undergo coupling when treated with zinc and ethanol.
A Spectral Analysis Approach for Acoustic Radiation from Composite Panels

A method is developed to predict the vibration response of a composite panel and the resulting far-field acoustic radiation due to acoustic excitation. The acoustic excitation is assumed to consist of obliquely incident plane waves. The panel is modeled by a finite element analysis and the radiated field is predicted using Rayleigh's integral. The approach can easily include other effects such as shape memory alloy (SMA) ber reinforcement, large detection thermal postbuckling, and non-symmetric SMA distribution or lamination. Transmission loss predictions for the case of an aluminum panel excited by a harmonic acoustic pressure are shown to compare very well with a classical analysis. Results for a composite panel with and without shape memory alloy reinforcement are also presented. The preliminary results demonstrate that the transmission loss can be significantly increased with shape memory alloy reinforcement. The mechanisms for further transmission loss improvement are identified and discussed.
Estrogen-induced progestin receptors in the brain and pituitary of the South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis

High-affinity progestin binding sites were found in the brain and pituitary of the female South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis . Cytosol progestin receptors in the hypothalamus-
“This passage can also be read differently … :” How Jews and Christians censored Hebrew texts in early modern Modena

This article focuses on the impact exerted by the promulgation of the Index of Prohibited Books by Clement VIII in 1596 on the Jews in early modern Modena. In order to explore diverse cultural perspectives among Jews and Christians, it considers how they read, interpreted, and censored controversial passages in the commentary of Rashi (Solomon ben Isaac of Troyes, 1040–1105) on the Pentateuch. It shows parallels between censorship and the expurgation of Hebrew books, as well as the physical ghettoization and expulsion of Jews from Italian cities enacted by Church authorities, on the one hand, and political and cultural negotiations conducted by the Jews themselves, on the other. Just as the city could be protected from Jewish pollution only through the segregation and expulsion of Jews, so too could the Catholic community be effectively shielded from the contamination of Jewish blasphemies only through banning the Talmud and expurgating other Jewish texts. At the same time, Jews developed means of self-vindication, including a straightforward defense of the principal tenets of Judaism and a stratagem of avoiding discussions that referred to the superiority of Jews over Christians in some interpretations of Rashi. These methods enabled Jews to engage in social and political negotiations with Church and ducal institutions.
The elution centrifuge applied to countercurrent chromatography

Abstract The elution centrifuge presented here is characterized by a flowthrough system using fine lead tubes without rotating seals. The system involves a horizontally placed cylindrical column holder, which revolves around the center of the apparatus and simultaneously rotates around its own axis at the same angular velocity so as to avoid twisting the lead tubes. Mathematical analysis of the system has revealed a peculiar fluctuation of the centrifugal acceleration field in which stability of the field is a function of radii of both revolution and rotation. Countercurrent chromatography applied with our test system shows a high efficiency comparable to that of refined gas chromatography.
Relative Efficiency of Several Methods of Direct Observation

The relative efficiency of several observational sampling plans for assessing classroom behavior in an individualized classroom was investigated. A criterion measure was obtained by cumulating all of the recorded activity measurements on a class of thirty-three pupils over twenty class periods. Various designs were built through sampling the "pool" of activity measurements on the following dimensions: 1. ) the length of the obser vation period; 2. ) the time interval between recordings; 3. ) the number of days (replications) of observing; and, 4. ) the number of pupils observed each day. The combinations or designs that evolved from manipulating these four variables were then compared to the criterion measure, thus permitting an examination of the relative offerings of the different sampling plans.
The measurement of amino acid specificity of transfer ribonucleic acid

Abstract 1. 1. Although it is generally accepted that a particular s-RNA molecule is specific for a particular amino acid, it is not known how effectively “wrong” amino acids are excluded from “right” s-RNA's. It is difficult to measure the relative rates of aminoacylation of s-RNA using conventional methods. 2. 2. The competition method of Ingold and Shaw has been applied to the determination of the relative rates of aminoacylation of mammalian s-RNA by leucine, isoleucine, valine and alloisoleucine. 3. 3. Alloisoleucine may substitute for isoleucine once in 20 times; for valine once in 300 times. 4. 4. The natural amino acids substitute for each other less than once in 10 000 times.
Intrauterine growth retardation and the circulatory responses to acute hypoxemia in fetal sheep

Intrauterine growth retardation has been produced experimentally by umbilical placental embolization for 9 days (early intrauterine growth retardation) in pregnant sheep. Fetuses with early intrauterine growth retardation had a 20% decrease in mean body weight and 33% decrease in placental blood flow. However, the regional blood flow distribution was not significantly different at rest between the embolized and normally grown fetuses despite the 39% decrease in fetal arterial oxygen content. The purpose of this study was to determine the circulatory responses to acute hypoxemic stress in the early development of intrauterine growth retardation. We found that the regional blood flow distribution was not significantly different during imposed acute hypoxemia between the seven fetuses with early intrauterine growth retardation and seven nonembolized normally grown fetuses. We conclude that growth-retarded fetuses are able to meet basal metabolic oxygen requirements and to respond normally to imposed acute hypoxemia until the placental circulatory reserve capacity is depleted.
Nucleate boiling in thin liquid films

A test of the hypothesis that bubble venting during nucleate boiling in a liquid film generates additional nuclei was performed. A simple experiment was devised. A film of water was allowed to flow down the outside of a copper tube internally heated with steam. Close-up, high-speed motion pictures were taken of the boiling. Bubbles travel down the tube with the water flow and away from their own nucleation sites. Thus, nucleation following their venting cannot be attributed to the initial site. Examination of these pictures provided ample support for the hypothesis. New bubbles do grow from the disturbances in the liquid film where venting has occurred. The photographs demonstrate that there is nucleation associated with bubble venting when boiling in thin liquid films. This has previously gone unrecognized. This nucleation is in addition to that from the usual sites on the surface. This additional nucleation can be expected to enhance the heat transfer. How much the lower temperature differences during nucleate boiling in thin liquid films depends on nucleation from this newly recognized source remains to be determined.
Diffuse X-ray emission from the NGC 2300 group of galaxies - Implications for dark matter and galaxy evolution in small groups

The discovery of diffuse X-ray emission from the NGC 2300 group of galaxies using the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter is reported. The gas distributions is roughly symmetric and extends to a radius of at least 0.2/h(50) Mpc. A Raymond-Smith hot plasma model provides an excellent fit the X-ray spectrum with a best-fit value temperature of 0.9 + -/15 or - 0.14 keV and abundance 0.06 + 0/.12 or - 0.05 solar. The assumption of gravitational confinement leads to a total mass of the group of 3.0 + 0.4 or - 0.5 x 10 exp 13 solar. Baryons can reasonably account for 4 percent of this mass, and errors could push this number not higher than 10-15 percent. This is one of the strongest pieces of evidence that dark matter dominates small groups such as this one. The intragroup medium in this system has the lowest metal abundance yet found in diffuse gas in a group or cluster.
The ontogenesis of lithium-induced effects on suckling: inhibition and facilitation.

The ontogenesis of the effect of lithium on suckling behavior was assessed by administering lithium carbonate directly and actuely to 15-, 20-, 30-, and 35-day-old rat pups. Lithium significantly interfered with nipple attachment in 15-day-old rat pups in a dose-dependent pattern, but it facilitated attachment at some doses (40, 60, 80 mg/kg) in weanling-age rat pups. Furthermore, lithium pretreatment reversed quipazine-induced interference of attachment in weanling-age rats. These effects are similar to those previously reported with serotonergic anatagonists, suggesting a similar mechanism, perhaps via the inositol phosphate second messenger system.
Spontaneous metastasis, proliferation characteristics and radiation sensitivity of fractionated irradiation recurrent and unirradiated human xenografts☆

Abstract Purpose : Do tumor cells which survive high dose fractionated irradiation exhibit modified metastasis activity, proliferation kinetics, and/or radiation sensitivity? To address this question experimentally, we have studied three recurrent human tumor xenograft systems. Methods and materials : Three models were derived from a soft tissue sarcoma (HSTS26T), a colon adenocarcinoma (HCT15), and a glioblastoma (HGL21) which had recurred after 90 Gy, 109 Gy, or 77.4 Gy administered in 30 equal doses, respectively. Their production of spontaneous metastasis and cell proliferation characteristics were studied in early generation xenografts in SCID mice, and were compared to those in their previously unirradiated counterparts. As a control, we have also studied each tumor as a post-surgical recurrence. Specimens from the irradiated recurrent and their unirradiated primary tumors were cultured in vitro and their radiation sensitivity determined by clonogenic assay. Results : The three irradiated recurrent tumor systems retained the individual histological features of their unirradiated primary xenografts. A lower metastatic incidence was observed in two of the three irradiated recurrent tumor lines in comparison with their unirradiated control tumors and their surgical recurrent counterparts. No significant differences were found between the irradiated recurrent tumors and their unirradiated counterparts with respect to: volume doubling time, growth time, potential doubling time, mitotic index, PCNA index, and SF 2 values. Conclusions : High dose irradiation given in 30 fractions did not increase the metastatic activity in the three human tumor xenograft systems. Furthermore, the fractionated irradiation did not significantly change their proliferation characteristics and cellular radiation sensitivity.
Effects of deuterium substitution on the tumorigenicity of 4-(metlhylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol in A/J mice

Bioassays and DNA-binding studies of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and its analogs with deuterium substitution at the positions alpha to the nitrosamino group ([4,4-D2]NNK and [CD3]NNK) were carried out in A/J mice in order to assess the potential importance of DNA methylation or pyridyloxobutylation in lung tumor induction. The tumorigenic activities of the major NNK metabolite, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and its analog with deuterium at the carbinol carbon ([1-D]NNAL) were also determined. Groups of A/J mice were given single i.p. injections of either 10 or 5 mumol of NNK, [4,4-D2]NNK, [CD3]NNK, NNAL and [1-D]NNAL, and were killed 16 weeks later. Lung tumor multiplicities were as follows in mice treated with 10 mumol: NNK, 7.3 +/- 3.5; [4,4-D2]NNK, 1.4 +/- 1.6; [CD3]NNK, 11.7 +/- 5.4; NNAL, 3.2 +/- 2.0; [1-D]NNAL, 3.2 +/- 2.0. Similar relative tumorigenic activities were observed in mice treated with 5 mumol of these compounds. These results demonstrated that [4,4-D2]NNK was less tumorigenic than NNK and [CD3]NNK was more tumorigenic than NNK. NNAL was less tumorigenic than NNK; substitution of deuterium at the carbinol carbon did not affect its activity. Levels of O6-methylguanine (O6-mG) were measured in pulmonary DNA of A/J mice treated with 10 mumol of NNK, [4,4-D2]NNK or [CD3]NNK, and killed 2 or 24 h later. O6-mG levels were lower in mice treated with [4,4-D2]NNK than in those treated with NNK; no difference in O6-mG levels was observed between those treated with NNK and [CD3]NNK. The results of this study support the hypothesis that O6-mG formation in pulmonary DNA is the key step in lung tumor induction by NNK in A/J mice.
The prevalence and correlates of echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy among employed patients with uncomplicated hypertension

To determine the prevalence and correlates of echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy among subjects in a general population, we studied 621 employed subjects. Patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension in a worksite-based treatment program included 145 with borderline hypertension and 316 with sustained hypertension by World Health Organization criteria. Normotensive subjects were randomly selected from members of the same unions. M-mode echocardiographic left ventricular dimensions were used to calculate left ventricular mass and other indexes of left ventricular anatomy. The specificity of 13 echocardiographic criteria of left ventricular hypertrophy was determined in normotensive individuals, and the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy by each criterion was assessed in patients with borderline or sustained essential hypertension. The results suggest that the most suitable reference standard for detection of left ventricular hypertrophy in a heterogeneous urban population utilizes sex-specific cutoff values for left ventricular mass index of 110 g/m2or greater for women and 134 g/m2or greater for men. With 97% specificity, the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy by these criteria is approximately 12 % among patients with borderline hypertension and 20% among patients with relatively mild, uncomplicated sustained essential hypertension. Wall thickness measurements performed slightly less well. At similar levels of blood pressure, black patients were more likely than white patients to exhibit concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, especially among borderline hypertensive patients. Left ventricular hypertrophy occurred in patients with sustained hypertension who also exhibited increased cardiac output, strongly associated with low plasma renin activity.
Delocalization in the vibrational spectrum of benzine

Abstract The role of delocalization in the vibrational spectrum of benzene is examined. A previous calculation of resonance force constants is observed to be only partially in agreement with experiment and is corrected in accordance with the observations of others with regard to this type of calculation. The results are ϱ 1 = 0.548, ϱ 2 = −0.366, ϱ 3 = 0.276 millidyne/A. The vibrational intensities are compared with force parameters for related delocalization effects. It is found that the e 1 u contribution to delocalization, overemphasized in previous calculations, may be correctly estimated as negligible from analysis of intensity data. A selection rule is formulated for delocalization intensity in even-alternant hydrocarbons that predicts only small effects for these molecular systems.
The Alternative Vote and Coombs Rule versus First-Past-the-Post: a social choice analysis of simulated data based on English elections, 1992–2010

This paper presents a social choice analysis, using simulated data based on English general elections from 1992 through 2010, of the properties of three voting rules: First-Past-the-Post, the Alternative Vote, and the Coombs Rule. More specifically, the paper examines (1) the plurality, anti-plurality, and Condorcet status of candidates in each election and the interrelationships among these statuses, (2) the effects of strict and partial single-peakedness of voter preferences, and (3) the identity of winners, Condorcet efficiency, and the relationship between votes and seats under the three voting rules. The analysis considers only the case of three candidates and, in the manner of basic social choice theory, the set of candidates and voter preferences over them are taken to be fixed.
Outpatient mental health care, self-help groups, and patients' one-year treatment outcomes.

Objective: To examine the association between the duration and amount of outpatient mental health care, participation in self-help groups, and patients' casemix-adjusted one-year outcomes. Methods: A total of 2,376 patients with substance use disorders, 35% of whom also had psychiatric disorders, were assessed at entry to treatment and at a one-year follow-up. Information about the duration and amount of outpatient mental health care was obtained from a centralized health services utilization database. Results: Patients who obtained regular outpatient mental health care over a longer interval and patients who attended more self-help group meetings had better one-year substance use and social functioning outcomes than did patients who were less involved in formal and informal care. The amount of outpatient mental health care did not independently predict one-year outcomes. Conclusions: The duration of outpatient mental health care and the level of self-help involvement are independently associated with less substance use and more positive social functioning. The provision of low intensity treatment for a longer time interval may be a cost-effective way to enhance substance abuse and psychiatric patients' long-term outcomes. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 57: 273–287, 2001.
The flavonoid constituents of Spirodela oligorrhiza. II. The flavone constituents.

Abstract Spirodela oligorrhiza contains a number of flavonoid substances, several of which are glycosides of or are closely related in structure to vitexin, a derivative of apigenin. One of the compounds is the known 7-glucoside, saponarin, and another is the new 4′-glucoside. This compound has been named isosaponarin. The positions of the sugar residues in saponarin and isosaponarin have been demonstrated by spectral studies. Some observations are made concerning the relationship between the structures of saponarin and the products of its hydrolysis, vitexin and saponaretin.