cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel Measuring System of ATP-Induced Transmembrane Potential Change of Nucleus Pulposus Cells

Low back pain is a serious concern in industrialized societies that affects millions of people around the world [1]. It can be attributed to several spine disorders; intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration being one of the most common causes [2]. IVDs are the largest avascular tissue in the body and are composed of two differentiated anatomical structures: the nucleus pulposus (NP) and the annulus fibrosus (AF). The ability to withstand compressive loads due to weight and bending is provided by the swelling of the NP structure, while the ability to resist tensile forces during bending and twisting is provided by the AF fibers [3]. The biomechanical functions of NP and AF rely on their extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and composition. Previous studies have demonstrated that static and dynamic compressive loading alters ATP production, which may have an effect on ECM synthesis [2]. In addition, dynamic loading has shown an increase in ATP release from NP cells, which may contribute to endplate calcification and therefore to IVD degeneration [2, 4]. When tissue is damaged, ATP, which is found in millimolar concentrations in all cells, leaks or is released into the extracellular milieu [5, 6]. Extracellular ATP is a powerful signaling molecule that can regulate cell metabolism, survival, and growth [7]. However, IVD cell response to ATP has not been investigated. The receptors involved in transducing responses to ATP are found in many tissues throughout the body and are responsible for different kinds of intercellular communication. ATP receptor subtypes are ligand-gated ion channels (P2X) and G-protein coupled receptors (P2Y). P2X receptors show calcium permeability while P2Y receptors mediate calcium release from intracellular stores in response to ATP [6]. Direct ATP application to the cell has been reported to cause a change in membrane conductance in a variety of tissues [8]. The voltage sensitive dye di-8-ANEPPS allows for a noninvasive method of measuring fluorescence changes of the cell membrane, which are proportional to variations of the transmembrane potential [8]. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (1) to develop a novel transmembrane potential measuring system using di-8-ANEPPS dye and (2) to investigate the response of NP cells to ATP by measuring the change in transmembrane potential.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
cAMP signaling mechanisms with aging in rats

Blunted cAMP responses to beta-adrenergic agonists play a major role in diminished smooth muscle relaxation in blood vessels from older animals, although the mechanisms remain uncertain. A diminished cAMP response could potentially arise from changes in the expression of adenylyl cyclase-coupled G proteins, such as a diminished expression of Gs or an increased expression of Gi. We tested the hypothesis that a loss in Gs or increased expression of Gi could occur in tissues such as the aorta, heart and kidney with aging, which would provide a unifying explanation for blunted cAMP responses to many hormones with aging in a variety of cells. Using Western blotting with specific antibodies, we found no generalized changes in G protein expression with aging. Also, injection of pertussis toxin (which functionally inactivates Gi) into older animals did not restore vascular relaxation mediated by beta-adrenergic receptors. We previously found an elevated ratio of regulatory to catalytic subunits of protein kinase A in the aorta of older rats, which would tend to impair activation of the catalytic unit; this alteration was not generalized to other organs such as the heart and kidney. Old rats fed a low salt diet did not show the restored beta-adrenergic agonist-induced vasodilation previously found in elderly humans, suggesting that there are species differences in the development of this deficit. Altogether, these results suggest that altered G protein expression does not provide a general explanation for blunted activation of adenylyl cyclase with aging.
Production of circular Rydberg states with circularly polarized microwave fields

We describe an experimental method of producing circular Rydberg states using a circularly polarized microwave field. A Na $s$ state is excited in the circularly polarized microwave field, and as the field is turned off, it makes an adiabatic rapid passage through a multiphoton resonance and evolves adiabatically into the circular state. Minimal optical selectivity is required and the field can be turned off quickly.
How much can we know about acute pancreatitis

Excerpt How much can we know about a disorder whose very diagnosis cannot be established clearly? Acute pancreatitis is often such a disorder. If the diagnosis of pancreatitis has a "gold standard"...
Changes in the abundance and distribution of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the western Gulf of Alaska (1961–1984)

Abstract Changes in the abundance and recruitment of western Gulf of Alaska walleye pollock ( Theragra chalcogramma ) during 1961–1984 were examined. Bottom trawl survey CPUE estimates increased between the early 1960s and early 1970s. Independent biomass estimates from acoustic surveys and catch-at-age analyses of foreign and joint venture fisheries indicate that another increase in abundance occurred during 1978–1981, but that stock size has declined since 1981 or 1982. Biomass was estimated at 950 000 metric tons (t) in 1973–1974, 2.3–3.8 million t in 1981 and 1.8 million t in 1984. The fluctuations in stock size reflect substantial changes in year-class strength. These include the occurrence of strong year classes in 1967, 1970, 1972 and 1975–1979. Weak year classes apparently occurred in 1980–1982. Based on spawner-recruit estimates since 1976, pollock recruitment may be strongly density dependent. It is believed that there has been a shift, since 1977, in the abundance of pollock from the Kodiak-Chirikof area, westward towards the Shumagin Islands.
A comparison of methods for analysis of tidal records containing multi-scale non-tidal background energy

Abstract Many tidal phenomena, including river tides, estuarine currents, and shelf and fjord internal tides, are non-stationary. These tidal processes are poorly understood and largely beyond the realm of practical prediction, even when the perturbing phenomenon causing the non-stationary behavior is itself fairly predictable. Our inadequate understanding of these phenomena has been exacerbated by an absence of a self-consistent procedure for analysis of the entire spectrum of non-stationary motions, tidal and non-tidal. The most difficult methodological situation occurs when the disturbing non-tidal signal is stronger than the tidal one and has an event-like character. Such sharp changes in forcing are multi-scale, containing energy at tidal frequencies, as well as at larger sales. Because of the distinct response of different parts of the tidal spectrum to non-tidal perturbations, multi-scale forcing events have the potential to provide a valuable new generation of tests of tidal dynamics models. This paper compares three techniques for the analysis of such signals, using artificial tidal records of known frequency content to ascertain which method most accurately represents evolving frequency content. The methods are: (a) conventional least-squares, short-term harmonic analysis (STHA); (b) a modified STHA (or mSTHA) that uses a smoothing window and augments the frequency structure of the analysis wave; and (c) linear convolution analysis in the form of continuous wavelet transforms (CWT). Results show that STHA and mSTHA lack a definable frequency response and mix energy between tidal and non-tidal signals in an unpredictable manner. STHA also effectively imposes a boxcar window on the data, the effects of which can be serve for short records. In general, STHA and mSTHA results using short windows will be least reliable in the circumstances where short windows are most desired—when the signal is highly non-stationary. There is, moreover, no simple way to set a minimum window length for STHA/mSTHA that will produce stable results, except to make the window too long to capture the fluctuating variance being sought. In contrast, CWT correctly recovers both tidal and non-tidal variance, as long as resolution limits set by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle are respected. Whatever method is chosen, use of window lengths less than ∼4–6 d requires great care, unless diurnal and subtidal energy are insignificant.
Bimodal Energy Distributions in the Scattering of Ar+ Ions from Modified Surfaces at Hyperthermal Energies

Collisions of Ar + ions with three different surfaces have been studied by mass and energy resolved ion-scattering spectrometry. Kinetic energy distributions of scattered ions measured as a function of ion energy and scattering angle show two energetically and spatially distinct peaks corresponding to a low energy loss process and a very high energy loss process. The low energy loss peak is interpreted as due to the interaction of the Ar + ions with the self-assembled monolayer surface acting as a bulk surface.
Behavior Recognition in Human Object Interactions with a Task Model

Behavior recognition can be greatly levitated by a model of the task with which the behavior is associated. We present a Markovian task model that captures the temporal relations between subtasks, and provides prior information that helps behavior recognition from simple and noisy sensory data. A Dynamic Bayesian Network is used to integrate multi-model evidence and infer underlying task states. Experiments demonstrate that this system can recognize human behavior in everyday tasks such as making sandwiches.
Comments on Sign detection in residue arithmetic units [Journal of systems architecture 45 (1998) 251-258]

It has been shown that the hardware architecture of sign detector presented in [G. Alia, E. Martinelli, Sign detection in residue arithmetic units, Journal of Systems Architecture 45 (1998) 251] is incorrect because the interpretation and the derivation of the rank function is wrong.
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS AND GAS EXCHANGE IN EXTREMELY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (ELBW) AND VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (VLBW) INFANTS. † 1890

The purpose of this study was to determine whether resting energy expenditure (REE), VO2 or VCO2 differed among extremely low birth weight (ELBW: ≤ 1 kg) and very low birth weight (VLBW: 1.01-1.5 kg) infants.
Socialized medicine and mortality

Over the last century life expectancy has increased substantially and so has the share of health care expenditures financed by governments. In cross-country comparisons, the US, which has the lowest government health expenditure share, often has the poorest health outcomes. Is there a plausible connection between health outcomes and government financing of health care? This paper addresses this question with panel data from 20 developed countries from 1950 to 2010. I review the history of government involvement in health care financing over this period. Then I use panel regression methods to examine whether a variety of mortality based outcome measures are correlated with the extent of government involvement. The answers are robustly negative.
An oxygen cathode operating in a physiological solution.

We report the electroreduction of O2 to water under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 0.15 M NaCl, 37.5 °C) at a current density of 5 mA cm-2 and at a potential only 0.18 V reducing versus that of the reversible O2/H2O electrode at pH 7.4. The immobilized electrocatalyst enabling the reduction is the electrostatic adduct of bilirubin oxidase from Myrothecium verrucaria, a polyanion at pH >4.1, and the polycationic redox copolymer of polyacrylamide and poly (N-vinylimidazole) complexed with [Os (4,4‘-dichloro-2,2‘-bipyridine)2Cl]+/2+, cross-linked on carbon cloth. The current density of the rotating electrodes was O2 transport limited up to 8.8 mA cm-2; their kinetic limit was reached at 9.1 mA cm-2. The operational life of the electrodes depended on their angular velocity, which defined not only the current density but also the mechanical shear stress stripping the electrocatalyst. When the electrodes were rotated at 300 rpm and were poised at −256 mV versus the potential of the reversible O2/H2O electrod...
Organoboron compounds as durable flame retardants for cotton fabric

Twenty-five organoboron compounds were evaluated for their ability to impart flame retardancy properties to a cotton twill fabric. Only those organoboron compounds in which the carbon-to-boron atom ratio was 4 or less imparted flame retardancy at an approximate 20% add-on level; if a halogen atom was also present in the molecule this ratio could be higher than 4. Washfast finishes with six different compounds were developed by either γ-radiation grafting of a vinyl organoboron compound or by chemical curing with hexamethylenediisocyanate, trimethylolmelamine or urea-formaldehyde.
A vector potential and exact flux through surfaces using Lagrange and Stokes stream functions

A vector potential is obtained for two–dimensional flow fields using the Lagrange stream function, and for axisymmetric flow fields using the Stokes stream function. The flux through surfaces bounded by straight–line segments with arbitrary orientation is obtained using the line integral of the tangential component of the vector potential along the boundary of the surface. Integration of the Lagrange stream function results for surfaces in two–dimensional flow; a Cauchy integral of the Stokes stream function follows for axisymmetric flow. The process of assembling vector potentials and developing closed–form expressions to provide exact flux through surfaces is illustrated for a partially penetrating well with uniform flow in a horizontal aquifer. A virtual flux is generated through vortex sheets where the Lagrange stream function is discontinuous, and through singular vortex lines where the Stokes stream function is non–zero on the axis of symmetry. This virtual flux must be accounted for to obtain exact flux. The unifying framework presented here to assemble vector potentials obtained using Lagrange and Stokes stream functions and to compute flux is applicable to three–dimensional divergence–free, steady flow fields that can be decomposed into two–dimensional and axisymmetric components.
Stimuli from pups of adrenalectomized and malnourished female rats

Abstract The present study was designed to examine the effects of maternal adrenalectomy on pup cues. In Experiment 1, pituitary-adrenal activity of test mothers was differentially affected by cues from handled and shocked pups of adrenalectomized (ADX) and control (CON) mothers. The results suggest that the cues provided by pups of ADX mothers are less arousing to lactating females than are cues from pups of CON mothers. In Experiment 2, ultrasonic vocalizations in response to handling and shock were measured in pups of CON, ADX and malnourished (MAL) mothers. For all types of pups, shocking evoked more signaling than did handling on postnatal Days 8, 9 and 11. Pups of CON mothers showed a peak of vocalizations on Day 4. Pups of ADX and MAL mothers vocalized as frequently as did pups of CON mothers, but did not reach their peak of signaling until Day 11. This experiment demonstrates a retardation in the development of ultrasonic signaling in pups of ADX mothers. This effect appears to be due to the pup malnutrition that maternal adrenalectomy produces because pups of MAL mothers show a similar retardation.
Wrist circumference is related to patellar tendon thickness in healthy men and women

The efficacy of dominant wrist circumference measurements to predict dominant lower extremity patellar tendon thickness at regions of interest for bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft harvest was studied among 24 healthy men and women. Dominant wrist circumference displayed good relationships with dominant lower extremity patellar tendon thickness as determined by two-dimensional diagnostic ultrasound. This initial screening method may assist surgeons as they consider graft selection for patients who may be at risk for developing or exacerbating preexisting patellofemoral joint or knee extensor mechanism conditions with BPTB autograft harvest.
An analysis of the effects of community leadership education program content on six outcome indices of community leadership

This study examined the relationships between community leadership education program design and structure (contact hours and content) and six leadership outcome indices including personal growth an...
Comparison of CD1 monoclonal antibodies on bovine cells and tissues.

Abstract A comparison was made of six mAbs within temporary clusters TC19 and TC28 that were previously established, or considered from unpublished data, as recognizing bovine and ovine CD1. All six immunoprecipitated a molecule of 46 kDa from iodinated thymocytes together with a second molecule of 12 kDa that appeared to be β2 microglobulin. mAb 20–27 (Workshop code 038) recognized a molecule expressed on bovine monocytes and B cells from bovine peripheral blood as well as thymocytes and cells with a dendritic morphology in sections. mAb CC20 (033) was shown to stain COS cells transfected with human CD1b cDNA and this mAb together with CC14 (not in workshop panel) and CC90 (007), which gave identical staining by flow cytometry and immunohistology, should all be regarded as being bovine CD1b mAb. The bovine CD1b molecule is expressed on bovine thymocytes and a proportion of cells with a dendritic morphology in tissue sections. Flow cytometric data with mAbs CC40 (039) and CC122 (043) were not sufficiently similar to data with mAb CC20 to allow the two mAbs to be regarded as CD1b although they did appear to be directed against bovine CD1 molecules. Furthermore, CC122 recognized a molecule expressed by a high proportion of cells in the lamina propria of the gut that was not recognized by the other mAbs. The findings indicate that the six mAbs recognize at least two and possibly four CD1 antigens.
Characterization of Yttrium Phosphate and a Yttrium Phosphate/Yttrium Aluminate Laminate

Single-phase yttrium phosphate (YPO4) and a YPO4/yttrium aluminate (Y3Al5O12) laminate were studied. Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, Vickers hardness, and coefficient of thermal expansion of YPO4 sintered bodies were measured. YPO4 and Y3Al5O12 are chemically compatible and morphologically stable up to at least 1600°C. The fracture behaviour was studied by four-point flexural testing on bars with ground or notched tensile surfaces, and by the indentation method. Noncatastrophic fracture could be seen in these specimens. In flexural testing, cracks could be bridged by YPO4 layers, followed by some interfacial debonding. Indentation responses also consistently showed some interfacial delamination in the YPO4/Y3Al5O12 laminate.
Induction of protoplasts of Schizo-saccharomyces octosporus by magnesium sulfate and 2-deoxy-D-glucose.

Induction of viable protoplasts of both haploid and diploid vegetative cells of Schizosaccharomyces octosporus without added enzyme was best achieved in Sabouraud dextrose broth plus 1.2-1.8 M MgSO...
Effects of carbon dioxide and ozone treatments on the volatile composition and sensory quality of dry-cured ham.

Randomized complete block designs with 3 replications were utilized to evaluate the effects of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) (0% at 96 h, 60% at 48 h, and 60% at 96 h) and ozone (O(3)) (0 and 175 ppm for 48 h) on the volatile flavor compound concentrations in dry-cured ham. Minimal differences existed in the presence and concentration of aroma active compounds in both CO(2) and O(3) fumigated hams but phenols were slightly more prevalent (P 0.75) between the control hams and the hams that were fumigated with CO(2) and O(3), respectively. This study revealed that there were minimal aroma/flavor differences among the ham treatments between 0 and 60% CO(2) for 96 h; and also between 0 and 175 ppm O(3).
Physician Substance Use by Medical Specialty

Self-reported past year use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, and two controlled prescription substances (opiates, benzodiazepines); and self-reported lifetime substance abuse or dependence was estimated and compared for 12 specialties among 5,426 physicians participating in an anonymous mailed survey. Logistic regression models controlled for demographic and other characteristics that might explain observed specialty differences. Emergency medicine physicians used more illicit drugs. Psychiatrists used more benzodiazepines. Comparatively, pediatricians had overall low rates of use, as did surgeons, except for tobacco smoking. Anesthesiologists had higher use only for major opiates. Self-reported substance abuse and dependence were at highest levels among psychiatrists and emergency physicians, and lowest among surgeons. With evidence from studies such as this one, a specialty can organize prevention programs to address patterns of substance use specific to that specialty, the specialty characteristics of its members, and their unique practice environments that may contribute risk of substance abuse and dependence.
Emergent Substances, Physical Properties, Action Explanations

This paper proposes that if individual X ‘inherits’ property F from individual Y, we should be leery of explanations that appeal to X’s being F. This bears on what I’ll call “emergent substance dualism”, the view that human persons or selves are metaphysically fundamental or “new kinds of things with new kinds of causal powers” even though they depend in some sense on physical particulars (Baker in Persons and bodies: a constitution view. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000, 22, 20; Lowe in Erkenntnis 65(1):5–23, 2006; Personal agency. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2008). Two of the most prominent advocates of this view, Lynne Rudder Baker and E.J. Lowe, suggest that emergent particulars have physical properties in virtue of the relations they bear to physical particulars—they ‘inherit’ their physical properties. In Sect. 1, I argue that having a property F this way is not instantiating F. In Sect. 2, I raise concerns that if emergent particulars don’t instantiate physical properties, then facts about emergent particulars don’t explain intentional actions. I suggest that emergent dualism would be more attractive if it could avoid this apparent consequence. In Sect. 3, I propose a view according to which some instances of physical properties are instantiated by both an emergent particular and its body.
Comparison of Breast Parenchymal Pattern on Prior Mammograms of Breast Cancer Patients and Normal Subjects

We are investigating the feasibility of predicting the risk of developing breast cancer in future years by analysis of breast parenchymal patterns on mammograms. A data set of CC-view mammograms from prior exams of 96 cancer patients and 491 normal subjects was collected from patient files. The prior mammograms were obtained at least one year before diagnosis for cancer patients and two-years of cancer-free follow-up for normal subjects. The percent dense area was estimated by automated gray-level histogram analysis. Texture features were extracted from a region of interest in the retroareolar area. A feature space was constructed by using the percent dense area and texture features in combination with patient age. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier with stepwise feature selection was trained to evaluate whether the breast parenchyma of future cancer patients can be distinguished from those of normal subjects in the selected feature space. The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (Az) were 0.90±0.02, 0.86±0.02, and 0.69±0.02 for the classification of future cancer patients and normal subjects by using the breast that would develop cancer (M-vs-N), the contralateral breast (CoM-vs-N) and the patient age only (C-vs-N-with-Age), respectively. The difference in the Az values between the M-vs-N and CoM-vs-N approaches did not achieve statistical significance (p=0.11) by using ROC analysis. The performances of M-vs-N and CoM-vs-N were significantly better than that of C-vs-N-with-Age (p<0.05). Our preliminary result indicates that computerized mammographic parenchymal analysis might be useful for predicting the elevated risk of developing breast cancer in future years.
The politicization of place in Italy

Abstract In electoral geographic studies, the role of the political party is frequently overlooked in favor of analyses that concentrate on the attributes of voters. This research examines the organizational evolution of the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS) in Italy, and in particular, the geographic structure and organization of the PDS. Analyses of a 500-respondent survey show how the geographic variation of party activities corresponds to electoral support, and underscore the significance of informational networks to the continued success of the Italian Left within its territorial stronghold referred to as la zona rossa, or ‘the red zone’.
Complementary Series and Exotic Sobolev Norms

Abstract Complementary series representations of the Lorentz groups can be realized on eigenspaces of the Laplacian on hyperbolic space. Here we give an explicit formula for the norm on the eigenspace, at least for the K-finite eigenfunctions and a portion of the complementary series. The norm is given by a variant of the usual Sobolev norm involving two derivatives in L2 with the "exotic" feature that the integrand assumes both positive and negative values, namely Q(ƒ, ƒ) = ∫ (〈∇ 2 ƒ, ∇ 2 ƒ〉 − a〈∇ƒ, ∇ƒ〉 + b |ƒ| 2 ) dx, where the positive coefficients a and b are "tuned" to the particular complementary series representation. An equivalent formula is Q(ƒ, ƒ) = ∫ p(Δ)ƒ2dx, where p is a certain quadratic polynomial. Similar results are obtained for the groups SO(p, q) in terms of eigenspaces of the Laplacian on semi-Riemannian spaces of constant curvature.
Toward implementing a mobile collaborative system

Advances in the mobile communication technology has increased the possibility of linking interdependent or individual decision making units together in an organization, and providing them with tools to facilitate decision support and problem solving. This paper explores how we align a mobile system with collaborative decision support as a critical enhancement. The designer of mobile collaborative systems architecture (MoCoSA) should consider making the communication patterns and protocols in different ways, thus creating realistic system architecture for decision support and problem solving within the resource constraints. The effectiveness of a MoCoSA system depends upon a number of factors such as the task characteristics, the decision maker characteristics, the nature of the system, and application environment. This study develops a design framework of a general collaborative decision support system in a mobile environment and demonstrate its prototype implementation.
Optical character recognition for typeset mathematics

There is a wealth of mathematical knowledge that could be potentially very useful in many computational applications, but is not available in electronic form. This knowledge comes in the form of mechanically typeset books and journals going back more than a hundred years. Besides these older sources, there are a great many current publications, filled with useful mathematical information, which are difficult if not impossible to obtain in electronic form. What we would like to do is extract character information from these documents, which could then be passed to higher-level parsing routines for further extraction of mathematical content (or any other useful 2-dimensional semantic content). Unfortunately, current commercial OCR (optical character recognition) software packages are quite unable to handle mathematical formulas, since their algorithms at all levels use heuristics developed for other document styles. We are concerned with the development of OCR methods that are able to handle this specialized task of mathematical expression recognition.
Principles of a new method in the study of irregularities of distribution

The concept of irregularity o f distribution (or discrepancy) is difficult to define precisely, but its spirit is much easier to describe because it springs directly from Hermann Weyl's influential paper [W]. Here Weyl discusses uniform distribution of sequences in the unit interval. Among other things, he develops several of the standard criteria for what is now known as the weak convergence of measures, including the test that now defines this important concept. Weyl was concerned with the weak convergence of sequences of atomic measures to Lebesgue measure. The study of discrepancy revolves about the problem of estimating how rapidly a sequence of atomic measures can converge to a given continuous measure. Included is the closely related second problem of determining how well an atomic measure with n freely placed atoms can approximate a given continuous measure. The classical problem of discrepancy as posed by Van der Corput concerns the unit interval. If r i is a fixed sequence in [0, 1 ], define the signed measure v, = v + v~by letting v + be Lebesgue measure and v~ be the atomic measure that assigns weight l/n to r i for i<n. The problem is to estimate how small nD(n) can remain ifD(n) is defined by
Responses to requests for clarification by older and young adults with mental retardation

This study compared the ability of young (mean chronological age = 29 yrs., SD = 3.67 yrs.) and older adults (chronological age = 63 yrs., SD = 5.54 yrs.) with mild to moderate mental retardation to respond to stacked requests for clarification in conversation. Data were collected in dyadic conversations between subject and investigator. During the course of the conversation, the investigator introduced stacked sequences of three requests for clarification of the same message ("Huh?", "What?", "What?"). Neither group of subjects was as responsive to the requests for clarification as would have been predicted based on their general cognitive and linguistic levels of functioning. Few significant differences were observed between the young and older groups.
Aprosencephaly: review of the literature and report of a case with cerebellar hypoplasia, pigmented epithelial cyst and Rathke's cleft cyst.

Aprosencephaly is a very rare brain malformation that occurs in isolated and sydromatic forms. The syndromatic form has been named “XK-aprosencephaly”, and is characterized by near total absence of prosencephalon with a midline oculofacial defect similar to the most severe forms of holoprosencephaly, in association with limb and genital anomalies. We present a case of syndromatic aprosencephaly with absence of thumb and abnormal external genitalia. A previously undescribed finding was a Tathke's cleft cyst. Two other cystic structure were also identified — an ependymal cyst, which may represent a dorsal cyst as in holoprosencephaly, and a pigmented epithelial cyst, which may represent a rudimentary eye. Additional findings were extensive calcific vasculopathy in the rudimentary prosencephalon, absence of pituitary gland, forking of the aqueduct of Sylvius and marked cerebellar hypoplasia. Since calcific vasculopathy is a common accompaniment of other inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, its presence in this case suggests that destructive processes may be involved in the genesis of some cases of aprosencephaly.
Correlation of the Secretion of Ovarian Steroids with Function of a Single Generation of Corpora Lute a in the Immature Rat1

Ovulation and luteinization have been artificially induced in prepuberal rats by the administration of 4 IU PMS. Evidence for luteal function was provided by the establishment of pseudopregnancy and the induction of deciduomata. The animal preparation has been successfully used to determine the secretory pattern of ovarian steroids during the first ovulation cycle and pseudopregnancy, to obtain quantitative data on the “functional” capacity of the first generation corpora lutea, and to relate ovarian 20α-OH-steroid dehydrogenase activityactivity to luteal function. Preovulatory secretion of progesterone has been related to the discharge of the ovulating hormone. Post-ovulatory secretion of progesterone has been correlated with luteal function. Ovarian 20α-OH-steroid dehydrogenase activity, localized biochemically in the corpora lutea, provided an index of luteolysis. Increasing enzyme activity resulted in increased 20α-OH-pregn-4-en-3-one and reduced progesterone concentrations in ovarian effluent blood a...
Performance and production requirements for the optical components in a high-average-power laser system

Optical components needed for high-average-power lasers, such as those developed for Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS), require high levels of performance and reliability. Over the past two decades, optical component requirements for this purpose have been optimized and performance and reliability have been demonstrated. Many of the optical components that are exposed to the high power laser light affect the quality of the beam as it is transported through the system. The specifications for these optics are described including a few parameters not previously reported and some component manufacturing and testing experience. Key words: High-average-power laser, coating efficiency, absorption, optical components
Housewives, Chosen Women, Skilled Men: Cloth Production and Social Identity in the Late Prehispanic Andes

Cloth was the most economically, politically, and rituaUy valuable item in the late prehispanic Andes, and it might be expected that producers, distributors and consumers of this valuable would compete to capture the symbolic significance of these goods as an attribute or identity for themselves. Much has been said of the elite patrons of the textile arts in the Andes; far less has been said of the producers. Cloth production traditionally employed domestic – largely female – labor for both utilitarian and wealth production. The Inka state expanded textile production by taxing conquered households and by developing two new categories of specialist weavers. In reorganizing the economy, the Inka redefined the social identities of cloth producers to ensure that the symbolic significance of cloth accrued to the state, rather than to producers. The traditional category of domestic producers were dissociated from their products, likely seeing their own status diminish as the value of their products increased. The aqUakuna category of female specialist weavers enjoyed an idealized high status commensurate with the value of the exquisite cloth they wove, but at a high personal cost, as they remained sequestered virgins under control of the state.
Autonomy in collaborative manufacturing networks

A collaborative manufacturing network is an alliance of business entities (mostly manufacturers and suppliers) who collaborate on the production of complex products. An essential element of this type of collaboration is that the participating entities are allowed to retain some measure of autonomy. In this paper we examine different approaches to collaborative manufacturing that support different levels of cooperation and autonomy.We identify three major architectures for collaborative manufacturing networks, and we describe a design for a single platform that supports all three architectures. The platform is based on three major components: an information repository, a service repository and a workflow repository. We also address several challenging issues, such as collaboration failures, management of supply capacities and order quantities, and risk estimation.
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of potent discodermolide fluorescent and photoaffinity molecular probes.

The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of (+)-discodermolide molecular probes possessing photoaffinity and fluorescent appendages has been achieved. Stereoselective olefin cro...
Nitrogen and Tillage Management Affect Corn Cellulosic Yield, Composition, and Ethanol Potential

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover and cobs remaining after grain harvest can serve as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. Field trials were conducted at two locations in Minnesota over three years to determine how corn cellulosic yield composition and ethanol yield are influenced by tillage system [chisel tillage (CT), strip-tillage (ST), and no-tillage (NT)] and fertilizer N rate (0, 45, 90, 134, 179, and 234 kg N ha−1). Stover biomass yield, C and N concentrations and content, and potential ethanol yield increased with increasing fertilizer N rate. Stover biomass yield, C content, and potential cellulosic ethanol yield were less with NT than CT and ST by ≥9, 8, and 8 %, respectively. Theoretical ethanol yield of stover was maximized at a fertilizer N rate lower than the economically optimum N rate (EONR) for grain yield. Cob biomass yield, C concentration and content, N concentration, and potential ethanol yield increased with fertilizer N rate, but not at the same magnitude observed for stover. Tillage system did not influence cob biomass yield, C and N concentrations and content, or potential ethanol yield. These results demonstrate that biomass and ethanol production of stover and cobs can be affected by N and tillage management. Cobs may be a more viable feedstock option than stover because nearly all measured variables were less sensitive to management and their harvest removes less C and N from a field compared to full harvest of combined cobs and stover.
The death of Judaism in German protestant thought from Luther to Hegel

Le protestantisme allemand du XIX e siecle est travaille par le theme de la mort du judaisme qui pourtant demeure bien vivant grâce a la Diaspora allemande. Malgre le processus de reinterpretation qui a traverse le discours chretien du XVI e au XIX e siecle en Allemagne, il semble que le mythe de la mort du judaisme ait la vie dure a tel point que le discours est en rupture avec l'existence d'une vie juive. Bien plus, cette periode est une reformulation du mythe motivee par la volonte de faire s'accorder la realite juive a une vision protestante du monde
Bakeout Effects on Dynamic Response of Spaceflight Cables

Spaceflight cables are investigated to determine the effect of bakeout on their dynamic response, including resonant frequencies and damping ratios. The addition of cable harnesses to spacecraft structures can affect the dynamic response of the entire structure, especially for lightweight structures with high cable mass ratios. Bakeout, a heat and vacuum treatment that spaceflight components must undergo, may change the dynamic stiffness of flight cables and thus the dynamics of the cabled host structure. Bakeout effects are examined by experimentally identifying natural frequencies and damping values for spaceflight cables before and after the bakeout process. After bakeout, the first natural frequency decreases by an average of 14% for all single-strand cables and by 24% for multistrand cables. The second natural frequency decreases by 8 to 17% for all cables. Bakeout also increases the damping percentage for single and multistrand cables. These results show that bakeout affects the dynamic response of ...
The Impact of Categorical Status, Numeric Representation, and Work Group Prestige on Preference for Demographically Similar Others: A Value Threat Approach

It is a popular assumption that women and racial minorities who are numeric minorities in high-prestige work groups will advocate for a demographically similar other as a potential work group peer. However, these individuals may face special challenges in fulfilling this role. We discuss how three factors—the general social status associated with a specific demographic characteristic, the demographic composition of the work group, and the differential prestige accorded within organizations to work groups—interact to impact individuals' concerns about being considered valued members of work groups to which they belong (i.e., value threat). Based on an integration of sociological and psychological theories, we argue that value threat adversely affects individuals' propensity to support demographically similar others in selection and promotion processes. We identify three forms that value threat may take in situations involving such personnel decisions: collective threat, favoritism threat, and competitive threat, and we specify factors that may shape the intensity of each form.
Best Practice—Hype or Hope?

What is best practice? How did the idea originate and mature? How is it applicable to education? What can TESOL professionals learn from best practice in other fields? Why is the best practice approach worth examining? How might TESOL professionals strengthen best practice models to increase their viability? In this conceptual analysis I offer some answers (although clearly not the only ones) to these questions and discuss best practice as it originated and as it might be strengthened in education.
Pitting corrosion by bacteria on carbon steel, determined by the scanning vibrating electrode technique.

Abstract The scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) has provided a non-destructive, on-line method for locating the presence and position of anodic electrochemical activity on the surface of carbon steel coupons. Using the SVET, changes in current densities over the steel with time were mapped in the presence and in the absence of bacteria. In a sterile liquid medium, the maps showed highly localized anodic current densities, which subsequently became inactive. Analysis of current maps and the open circuit potential (OCP) showed the potential transients were due to pit initiation and repassivation processes. When in the same bulk fluid, an aerobic bacterium, isolated from a corrosion tubercle, was grown, similar trends of pit initiation and repassivation were observed for several hours. However, after extended exposure to bacteria, local anodic activity did not repassivate. The corrosion then propagated and spread, until a large area of the sample was anodic. Recovery of the spent growth medium after growth of the bacteria, when used as the bulk solution, did not induce this irreversible pitting. These results indicated that the growth of bacteria altered surface conditions and prevented the initiated anodic sites from repassivating. The on-line non-destructive localized measurements possible by SVET can provide insight into the mechanisms of microbial influenced corrosion (MIC).
Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer: FRET Studies of Ligand Binding to Cell Surface Receptors

We describe a simple optical system employing fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to identify potential binding domains on the macrophage scavenger receptor for the ligand maleylated bovine serum albumin (mal-BSA). Using a plasma membrane vesicle system, we placed donor probes on the ligand and acceptor probes in the membrane to determine the distance of bound ligand from the cell surface. Two donors and three acceptors were employed. Transfer between ligand covalently modified with multiple dansyl molecules and hexadecanoylaminoeosin in the membrane yielded a distance of 46.5 ± 7.5 a; transfer from the same type of donors to octadecylrhodamine B in the membrane gave a distance of 58.5 ± 3.0 a. No transfer was observed between ligand mono-labeled with fluorescein and l,l′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanineperchlorate in the membrane. This suggests that the orientation of mal-BSA bound to the receptor places the fluorescein probe too far from the lipid surface to experience energy transfer. The distance information identifies a potential location for the binding site, which can be compared to structural information about the receptor and used to extract a binding sequence.
cDNA cloning of a novel cell adhesion protein expressed in human squamous carcinoma cells.

Abstract A novel protein (SQM1 protein) present in human squamous epithelial cells has been found to be involved in cell adhesion in squamous epithelial cells, endothelial cells and extracellular matrix proteins. The corresponding cDNA that encodes a 135-residue polypeptide has been isolated. Sequence analysis indicates that the encoded polypeptide is distinct yet related to the β subunit of integrins. A new sequence motif consisting of a heptadic repeat of positively-charged residues present in the polypeptide has been identified and is proposed to be important in protein-protein interaction. These results suggest that SQM1 protein, a new cell adhesion molecule expressed in squamous epithelial cells, may play an important role in tumor metastasis.
Screening for Alzheimer’s Disease Inspiration and Ideas From Breast Cancer Strategies

Screening rates for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and memory impairment are low. There is misinformation, fear, and stigma associated with memory loss and aging. Physicians are slow or reluctant to screen for memory impairment in older adults. The challenges to effective screening for AD are not unique. Thirty years ago, screening for breast cancer also suffered from low participation, fear, stigma, and misinformation. Targeted public health strategies increased disease awareness and early detection for breast cancer, and today, breast cancer screening is generally accepted by health care providers and the public. Strategies used to increase breast cancer screening can serve as examples for the promotion of screening and early detection for AD.
High voltage production from shaped piezoelectric transformers and piezoelectric transformer based circuits

Compact ion and electron beam sources are potentially useful for many applications. Compact beam generators require both compact charged particle diodes and compact high voltage generators. Piezoelectric transformers are currently being developed at the University of Missouri to convert medium voltage at radio frequency to high voltages. Piezoelectric transformer geometries, including tapered and wedge shaped crystals operated in bipolar output mode, are being studied. Results demonstrating resonant properties of these crystals will be presented. High voltage operation, in excess of 25 kV peak voltage, will also be presented. Additionally, various voltage multiplying circuit topologies and crystal geometries are being studied to maximize the voltage output from piezoelectric transformer systems.
Rethinking LDA: Why Priors Matter

Implementations of topic models typically use symmetric Dirichlet priors with fixed concentration parameters, with the implicit assumption that such "smoothing parameters" have little practical effect. In this paper, we explore several classes of structured priors for topic models. We find that an asymmetric Dirichlet prior over the document-topic distributions has substantial advantages over a symmetric prior, while an asymmetric prior over the topic-word distributions provides no real benefit. Approximation of this prior structure through simple, efficient hyperparameter optimization steps is sufficient to achieve these performance gains. The prior structure we advocate substantially increases the robustness of topic models to variations in the number of topics and to the highly skewed word frequency distributions common in natural language. Since this prior structure can be implemented using efficient algorithms that add negligible cost beyond standard inference techniques, we recommend it as a new standard for topic modeling.