cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular cloning of developmentally regulated neonatal rat submandibular gland proteins.

At birth, the rat submandibular gland (SMG) contains two transient secretory cell types that produce several characteristic salivary proteins. Proteins SMG-A, B1, and B2 (23.5, 26 and 27.5 kDa) are products of the neonatal type III cells, but not the adult acinar cells. Protein C (89 kDa), a major product of the neonatal type I cells, is either absent or present at greatly diminished levels in the secretory cells of the adult gland. The decrease in biosynthesis of these neonatal salivary proteins occurs concomitantly with the increase in levels of characteristic adult SMG products. In order to understand these developmentally regulated changes in SMG salivary protein gene expression, we have initiated the molecular cloning and characterization of neonatal submandibular gland proteins from a 5-d-old rat submandibular gland cDNA library. Clones encoding SMG-A were isolated by homology to the mouse parotid secretory protein (PSP). SMG-A was shown to be derived from a salivary protein multigene family that al...
Obesity and the Natural Environment Across US Counties

Objectives. We estimated the association between obesity and features of the natural environment. We asked whether the association is mediated by diet or by physical activity.Methods. Using county-level data from the contiguous United States, we regressed adult obesity prevalence on 9 measures of the natural environment. Our regression model accounted for spatial correlation, and controlled for county demographics and the built environment. We included physical activity and diet (proxied by food purchases) as potential mediators.Results. Obesity was more prevalent in counties that are hot in July or cold in January. To a lesser degree, obesity was more prevalent in counties that are dark in January or rainy (but not snowy) year-round. Other aspects of the natural environment—including wind, trees, waterfront, and hills and mountains—had little or no association with obesity. Nearly all of the association between obesity and the natural environment was mediated by physical activity; none was mediated by di...
Operating System Considerations in the Multiprocessor MIDAS Environment

The operating system for MIDAS provides interfaces for custom hardware, debugging facilities, and runtime support. The MIDAS architecture uses various specialized hardware devices for controlling the multiple processors and to achieve high I/O throughput. The operating system interfaces with the custom hardware for diagnostics, problem setup, and loading the processors with user code. After the code is loaded, a debugging facility may be used to examine or modify the program in any of the processors, or all the processors simultaneously. During execution of the code, the operating system monitors the processors for exceptional conditions, detects hardware failures, and gathers statistics on performance. This performance information includes histograms depicting instruction execution frequency and analysis of data flow.
HARD PROTECTIVE OVERLAYERS ON VISCOELASTIC-PLASTIC SUBSTRATES

A simple superposition solution for a point-loaded elastic plate on a soft substrate is proposed. The solution considers a “drumhead” being elastically bent into a compliant substrate that is viscoelastic-plastic. With simplifying assumptions it is found that the drumhead and substrate support loads proportional to δ1/2 and δ3/2, respectively, where δ is the vertical point displacement. At fixed displacement, relaxation proceeds at high loads, but if sufficiently unloaded, recovery or increased load results with time. Qualitative verification of the time-dependent drumhead solution is shown by relaxation and recovery data on polycarbonate covered by polysiloxane, composite or diamondlike carbon (DLC) coatings, and films.
Ultraviolet-B phototoxicity and hypothetical photomelanomagenesis: intraocular and crystalline lens photoprotection.

Purpose Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation can cause phototoxic macular injuries in young people who have been sunbathing but not sungazing and in welders. Welders have a reportedly increased risk of uveal melanoma. We analyze phakic and pseudophakic risks for solar and welding arc UV-B exposure. Design Optical radiation measurement, analysis, and perspective. Methods Spectral transmittances were measured for UV-transmitting, UV-blocking, and blue-blocking intraocular lenses (IOLs). The photoprotective performances of crystalline and intraocular lenses were analyzed using relevant epidemiologic and laboratory data and action spectra for acute retinal phototoxicity and melanoma photocarcinogenesis. Results Crystalline lens UV-B retinal protection is deficient in children and young adults, increasing their potential susceptibility to acute retinal phototoxicity and hypothetical photomelanomagenesis. UV-B radiation has sufficient energy/photon to induce primary melanomagenic DNA lesions, unlike blue light or UV-A radiation. UV-blocking and blue-blocking IOLs have negligible UV-B transmittance. UV-transmitting IOL transmittance of UV-B radiation is equivalent to that of a 15-year-old crystalline lens. Conclusions If optical radiation exposure is responsible for welders' increased risk of uveal melanoma, then UV-B radiation is the most probable causative agent and spectacle wear is a potential confounding factor in epidemiologic studies of ocular melanoma. Welders under 30 years of age are at greater risk for welding maculopathy than older welders. Children, adults under 30 years of age, and pseudophakic individuals with UV-transmitting IOLs should wear sunglasses in bright environments because of the UV-B window in their crystalline lenses or IOLs.
An extremal optimization search method for the protein folding problem: the go-model example

The protein folding problem consists of predicting the functional (native)structure of the protein given its linear sequence of amino acids. Despite extensive progress made in understanding the process of protein folding, this problem still remains extremely challenging.In this paper we introduce, implement and evaluate the Extremal Optimization method - a biologically inspired approach which has been applied very successfully to other optimization problems - for the protein folding problem using a widely studied Gō-model of folding.Standard methods based on the variants of the Monte Carlo method have difficulty exploring low-energy regions efficiently due to the ruggedness of the search landscapes. Most computational methods in the protein folding literature do not keep track of which interactions remain unsatisfied during the search. Instead, in this paper, we propose an adaptive meta-search method which ensures that unexplored promising parts of the search landscape are visited. This is achieved by implementing an adaptive Extremal Optimization meta-search that guides a standard Monte Carlo sampling.We demonstrate that our Extremal Optimization meta-search compares favorably with currently best-performing Replica Exchange Monte Carlo method in reaching the native state for long proteins under the Gō-model potential. Additionally, we show that our novel approach samples larger ensembles of near-native structures by plotting parts of the energy landscape sampled during the search. Furthermore, we find that it scales well with the increasing sequence length. To our best knowledge this is the first application of Extremal Optimization to the protein folding problem.
Comparative Toxicity of Ochratoxin A and Crude Aspergillus ochraceus Culture Extract in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract High mortalities were noted in groups of Japanese quail fed 4, 8 and 16 p.p.m. pure ochratoxin A added to an experimental diet. A chloroform extract of A. ochraceus cultures added to the diet in amounts containing comparable ochratoxin A levels resulted in similarly high mortalities. Since mortalities and weight gains were nearly the same in birds fed these two experimental diets, it is concluded that ochratoxin A accounts for the majority of the toxic response elicited by the compounds in the chloroform extract of the cultures.
Molecular-dynamics simulation of compressible fluid flow in two-dimensional channels.

We study compressible fluid flow in narrow two-dimensional channels using a molecular-dynamics simulation method. In the simulation area, an upstream source is maintained at constant density and temperature while a downstream reservoir is kept at vacuum. The channel is sufficiently long in the direction of the flow that the finite length has little effect on the properties of the fluid in the central region. The simulated system is represented by an efficient data structure, whose internal elements are created and manipulated dynamically in a layered fashion. Consequently the computer code is highly efficient and manifests completely linear performance in simulations of large systems. We obtain the steady-state velocity, temperature, and density distributions in the system. The velocity distribution across the channel is very nearly a quadratic function of the distance from the center of the channel and reveals velocity slip at the boundaries; the temperature distribution is only approximately a quartic function of this distance from the center to the channel. The density distribution across the channel is nonuniform. We attribute this nonuniformity to the relatively high Mach number, approximately 0.5, in the fluid flow. An equation for the density distribution based on simple compressibility arguments is proposed; its predictions agree well with the simulation results. The validity of the concept of local dynamic temperature and the variation of the temperature along the channel are discussed.
“Fixing” hunger in the 21st century: How food sovereignty might turn agriculture “Right-side Up”

Continued reliance on science, technology, and industrialization decoupled food from nature which in turn significantly increased global food insecurity. Two main concepts are used by international NGOs to describe linkages between persistent poverty and hunger: the right to food and food security. The “Right to Food” was conceptualized through the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and updated in 1999 as the right to adequate food. Rights-based approaches rely on States to provide quality food and sufficient quantity ensuring that individual rights are met. However, trade agreements, food aid, structural adjustment policies, and internal conflict are all barriers to implementation. During the 1996 World Food Summit, Via Campesina presented a set of conditions that met goals for food rights by reconfiguring world trade. Its 1996 statement noted food sovereignty as a precondition of food security and the right to food as the tool to achieve it. Discussion of food sovereignty is now increasing to larger and more influential groups such as the FAO and Greens/European Free Alliance. The FAO now includes food sovereignty within discussion of hunger, replacing the term security with sovereignty. Beyond definitions lie policy and implementation, which is where organizations differ. As a concept, food sovereignty channels goals of food security, farmers’ rights and agrarian reform into an agriculture model without legal boundaries. Two case studies show how food sovereignty works in different parts of the world through work of two NGOs, US-based First Nations Development Institute (FNDI) and UBINIG in Bangladesh. Work by each organization fits into a food sovereignty framework and shows different methods for achieving food security at a local level without government or foreign aid. It is hoped that these two interpretations can be useful for future analysis and discussion.
Microsatellite primers designed from pyrosequences to compare two subspecies of surf clam, Spisula solidissima

It was recently discovered that two cryptic subspecies of surf clam co-occur in near-shore waters of southern New England, Spisula solidissima solidissima and Spisula solidissima similis. The latter form was previously known only from south of Cape Hatteras. We developed and multiplexed nine fluorescent microsatellite markers that can be scored in both subspecies to compare genetic diversity, test for hybrids, or inform assignment tests.
Asthma due to sensitization to a mushroom fly (Aphiochaeta agarici)

Abstract 1.1. There is reported the first case of asthma that has been found due to sensitization to a species of mushroom fly, Aphiochaeta agarici. 2.2. Symptoms occurred in the early spring and late fall at periods when the fly is plentiful. 3.3. An extract of these flies not only gave positive skin tests but was efficacious in treatment. 4.4. Specific reagin in the patient's serum was demonstrated by passive transfer technique. 5.5. The significant entomologic data are presented.
Monitoring atmospheric particulate matter through cavity ring-down spectroscopy

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy was explored as a means to measure atmospheric optical extinction. Ambient air was sampled through a window on the campus of the University of Florida and transported to a ring-down cell fashioned from standard stainless steel vacuum components. When a copper vapor laser operating at 10 kHz is employed, this arrangement allowed for nearly continuous monitoring of atmospheric extinction at 510 and 578 nm. We have characterized the system performance in terms of detection limit and dynamic range and also monitored a change in atmospheric extinction during a nearby wildfire and fireworks exhibition. The sensitivity and compatibility with automation of the technique renders it useful as a laboratory-based measurement of airborne particulate matter.
Omalizumab in the Treatment of Allergic Respiratory Disease

Originally described in 1967 ([1]), the importance of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in atopic disorders has since been established by the work of numerous investigators. An elevation of total serum IgE is...
Importance of Hepatic Glucoreceptors in Sympathoadrenal Response to Hypoglycemia

To ascertain whether hepatic glucoreceptors are important to hypoglycemic counterregulation, a localized euglycemic clamp was employed across the liver during general hypoglycemia. Dogs were infused peripherally with insulin (18–21 pmol · kg−1 · min−1) for 150 min to induce systemic hypoglycemia. During the liver-clamp (LC) protocol, glucose was infused via the portal vein to maintain euglycemia at the liver. In control experiments, i.e., matched infusion (Ml), glucose was infused peripherally at a rate determined to yield similar arterial glycemia levels in the two protocols. Arterial glucose concentrations were not different between protocols during the final hour of insulin infusion (3.26 ± 0.21 and 3.25 ± 0.21 mM during LC and MI, respectively; P = 0.91). Calculated hepatic glucose concentrations during the same period were significantly higher for LC (5.22 ± 0.23 mM) than for MI (3.25 ± 0.21 mM). During MI, both epinephrine and norepinephrine rose significantly from basal values of 562 ± 87 pM and 1.21 ± 0.19 nM to plateaus of 3691 ± 1097 pM ( P = 0.0001) and 2.38 ± 0.35 nM ( P = 0.0002), respectively. However, during LC, the elevation in epinephrine was suppressed by 42 ± 8% ( P = 0.015) relative to MI. Six of seven animals demonstrated a suppression in the norepinephrine response, averaging 32 ± 13% (NS, P = 0.068). The glucagon response to hypoglycemia was unaffected by the level of hepatic glycemia. Hepatic hypoglycemia is essential to produce the full sympathoadrenal response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia.
The geographies of a more just food system: Building landscapes for social reproduction

Abstract Within the lifetime of a generation of people now involved in work in the cattle and beef industry in South Dakota, the landscapes of social reproduction that support and give shape to life for people there have been rearranged. Many of the social and physical relationships that developed to support smaller-scale, diverse farms and their surrounding communities are being made redundant by a new system of beef production and retailing. The costs of these redundancies are felt in dwindling small towns and an ever sparser rural population. Considering these changes as parts of landscapes of social reproduction is a means to connect the political and corporate logic driving our food systems to the spatial production of difference in the conditions for livelihood, as well as the spatial production of livelihood itself for both producers and consumers. Such an analysis is necessary in order to address the injustices inherent within our current food system.
Inner-shell excitations and ionizations of atomic ions by high-energy electron impact

Cross sections for the inner-shell ionization of argon ions by high- energy-electron impact are estimated. An improved form of the single-particle model with varying degrees of ionization is used in the calculation of the excitation amplitudes. Partial sums over the allowed final states are carried out using the semiclassical projection operator. This operator depends on a spectral cutoff parameter e/subb/, and a method for its determination is examined for the case of hydrogenic transitions. The ionization cross section incorporates both the direct excitation to the continuum and the Auger emission following the inner-shell excitations. For electron energies in the keV range and for atomic targets with the core charges Z/subC/ less than 20, the direct ionization dominates, with the excitation Auger-emission mode making a small but appreciable contribution. The ionization cross sections for the neutral neon and oxygen targets are also estimated. (AIP)
Developmental Pathways in Youth Sexual Aggression and Delinquency: Risk Factors and Mediators

Childhood exposure to violence against females and male-modeled antisocial behavior were examined as risk factors for sexual aggression, and nonsexual aggression and delinquency, in a sample of 182 adolescent male sex offenders using structural equation modeling. Both risk factors produced direct and indirect effects on nonsexual aggression and delinquency with Psychosocial Deficits and Egotistical–Antagonistic Masculinity playing important mediating roles. Exposure to violence against females helped explain sexual aggression through the mediating role of Psychosocial Deficits. As hypothesized, youth who sexually offended against prepubescent children manifested greater deficits in psychosocial functioning, committed fewer offenses against strangers, and demonstrated less violence in their sexual offending than offenders against pubescent females. Findings are discussed within the context of two major evolutionary psychological concepts for explaining human sexual behavior: intrasexual selection and intersexual selection.
Behavioral responses of prejuvenile red hake, Urophycis chuss , to experimental thermoclines

Prejuvenile red hake, Urophycis chuss, that had reached the developmental interval where they normally descend from the planktonic to the benthic environment, were tested for their responses to experimental thermoclines. Laboratory thermoclines were created that simulated natural field conditions of late summer/ early fall (20°C at the surface and 10°C at the bottom). Prejuveniles did not descend immediately through the thermocline; rather, they remained in the water column at temperatures above 15°C. Results indicated that fish in the sea that do eventually reach the bottom despite the presence of a thermocline, must undergo an acclimation period while descending through the thermocline. The timing of prejuvenile descent may depend on a variety of factors including optimal growth conditions, susceptibility to predation, and competition for resources.
A low hippocampal dynorphin A (1–8) immunoreactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract Dynorphin A (1–8)-like immunoreactivity (DN-LI A(1–8)) was determined by radioimmunoassay in the brains of age matched spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and two normotensive control groups consisting of Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) strain rats. A significantly lower DN-LI A(1–8) was found in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of the SHR compared with the WKY groups. DN-LI A(1–8) was 24% of control WKY levels in hippocampus and 79% of that in WKY hypothalamus at 16 weeks. Similar lower levels of DN-LI A(1–8) were also observed in SHR at 4, 8, and 12 weeks during the development of hypertension when compared with both WKY and SD groups. We failed to find significant differences in brain stem DN levels between the groups. The relationship between the low hippocampal dynorphin levels in SHR and the hypertension is problematical because the differences were present before (4 wks), during (8 and 12 wks) and after (16 wks) its development.
Neuroblastoma in the adult. Effective combination chemotherapy

Although neuroblastoma occurs most frequently in children, it also may occur in adults and has been considered of poor prognosis. Six adult patients (greater than 16 years of age) with widespread neuroblastoma diagnosed between 1974 and 1976 are described. Five were treated with a combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin and dimethyl triazeno imidazole carboxamide (CYVADIC). The sixth received a similar regimen in which actinomycin D was substituted for dimethyl triazeno imidazole carboxamide (CYVADACT). There were two complete responses and three partial responses. The median duration of survival is in excess of 11 months. The results indicate that effective chemotherapy is now available for these patients and the achievement of remission and prolongation of survival are realistic goals in neuroblastoma.
Evaluation of a final cover slide at a landfill with recirculating leachate

Abstract A forensic investigation was conducted to determine the mechanism causing the slide of a final cover on a 4:1 (horizontal: vertical) slope at a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill where leachate had been recirculated. The slide occurred as a veneer displacement along the interface between the geomembrane (GM) and geosynthetic clay liner (GCL). Site observations suggested that elevated gas pressures were a significant contributor to the failure. Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the shear strength parameters of the GM–GCL interface and the reduction in normal stress required to cause displacement of the GM–GCL interface. Hydraulic conductivity and gas permeability of the GCL were also determined. Slope stability analyses were conducted to determine the gas pressure required to cause a slide and the factor of safety that would have existed if the gas pressures was at zero gage. Good agreement was obtained between gas pressures measured in the field, measurements of the reduction in normal stress required to cause sliding on the GM–GCL interface in a large-scale direct shear test, and the gas pressures corresponding to FS = 1 (imminent sliding) from the slope stability analysis. The findings from this study, and a similar case history, illustrate the importance of managing gas at an acceptable level beneath the cover at MSW landfills.
Cross-resistance to β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor combinations and clindamycin among cefoxitin-resistant and cefoxitin-susceptible strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group

Abstract In the present study the cross-resistance rates of cefoxitin-resistant and cefoxitin-susceptible strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group were compared with regard to β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor combinations and clindamycin. Piperacillintazobactam was the most active agent tested with an overall resistance rate of 0.2% and no resistance among cefoxitin-resistant strains. Ticarcillin-clavulanate was the least active combination with an overall resistance rate of 1.6% but a resistance rate of 13.1% among cefoxitin-resistant strains. For ampicillin-sulbactam, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and clindamycin resistance, rates of cefoxitin-resistant versus cefoxitin-susceptible strains were 9.1% and 0.4%, 8.3% and 0.9%, and 28% and 12.9%, respectively.
Marginal ulceration after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: characteristics, risk factors, treatment, and outcomes.

Background and study aims: Marginal ulcers are one of the most common complications after gastric bypass. Reported incidence varies widely (0.6–16 %) and pathogenesis is unclear. The aim of the present study was to describe characteristics, risk factors, management, and outcomes of endoscopically documented ulcers. Patients and methods: Data from all patients diagnosed with marginal ulcers at endoscopy between 2003 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 103 patients with marginal ulcers presented with pain (63 %) and/or bleeding (24 %), a median of 22 months after surgery. Ulcers were located on the anastomosis (50 %) or the jejunum (40 %); sutures were visible in 35 %, and gastrogastric fistulae in 8 %. The mean pouch length was 5.6 cm. Diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 2.5; P = 0.03), smoking (OR 2.5; P = 0.02), and gastric pouch length (OR 1.2; P = 0.02) were significantly associated with marginal ulcer formation on univariate analysis; diabetes was significantly associated on multivariate analysis (OR 5.6; P = 0.003). The risk of developing a marginal ulcer decreased with time (OR 0.8; P Conclusions: The vast majority of marginal ulcers had a favorable outcome after medical treatment. However, 9 % of patients eventually required surgical revision. Therefore, endoscopic follow-up is essential. Diabetes, smoking, and long gastric pouches were significant risk factors for marginal ulcer formation, suggesting increased acid exposure and mucosal ischemia are both involved in marginal ulcer pathogenesis. Management of these factors may prove effective in managing marginal ulcers, and tailoring postoperative proton pump inhibitor therapy to patients with multiple risk factors could be effective.
Correspondence and canonical analysis of relational data

Correspondence analysis, a data analytic technique used to study two‐way cross‐classifications, is applied to social relational data. Such data are frequently termed “sociometric” or “network” data. The method allows one to model forms of relational data and types of empirical relationships not easily analyzed using either standard social network methods or common scaling or clustering techniques. In particular, correspondence analysis allows one to model: —two‐mode networks (rows and columns of a sociomatrix refer to different objects) —valued relations (e.g. counts, ratings, or frequencies). In general, the technique provides scale values for row and column units, visual presentation of relationships among rows and columns, and criteria for assessing “dimensionality” or graphical complexity of the data and goodness‐of‐fit to particular models. Correspondence analysis has recently been the subject of research by Goodman, Haberman, and Gilula, who have termed their approach to the problem “canonical analy...
Understanding the Impact of Micro-Aggressions on the Engagement of Undocumented Latino Immigrant Fathers: Debunking Deficit Thinking

This article attempts to refute the deficit-thinking perspectives that permeate the parent involvement literature to better understand the micro-aggressions experienced by undocumented Latino immigrant fathers as they engage with their children. We explore the following 3 questions: (a) What types of micro-aggressions do undocumented Latino immigrant fathers endure on a daily basis? (b) How do these micro-aggressions impact their lives and their engagement with their children? (c) How do fathers counter micro-aggressions?
FREQUENCY OF MAUNDER MINIMUM EVENTS IN SOLAR-TYPE STARS INFERRED FROM ACTIVITY AND METALLICITY OBSERVATIONS

We consider the common proposition that the fraction of chromospherically very inactive stars in a solar-type sample is analogous to the fraction of the Sun's main-sequence lifetime spent in a grand minimum state. In a new approach to this proposition, we examine chromospheric activity log R'{sub HK} in a stellar sample having Hipparcos parallax measurements, and having spectroscopically determined metallicity close to solar (-0.1 {<=} [Fe/H] {<=} 0.1). We evaluate height above the Hipparcos main sequence, and estimate age using isochrones, to identify the most Sun-like stars in this sample. As a threshold below which a star is labeled very inactive, we use the peak of the HK activity distribution mapped over the quiet Sun during the 1968 epoch. We estimate the fraction of Maunder Minimum (MM) analog candidates in our sample at 11.1%. Given the 70 yr duration of the historical MM, this suggests that in any given year there is a 1/630 chance of entering a similar grand minimum. There are three important cautions with this type of estimate. First, recent investigation using actual activity and photometric time series has suggested that very low activity may not be a necessary criterion for identifying a non-cycling MM analog candidate.more » Second, this type of estimate depends very strongly on the choice of very low activity threshold. Third, in instantaneous measurements of log R'{sub HK}, it is not always clear whether a star is a viable MM analog candidate or merely an older star nearing the end of its main-sequence lifetime.« less
Electrokinetic properties of particles in concentrated suspensions

The electrokinetic behavior of concentrated suspensions is studied under conditions where the double layer is thin. Bulk electrical conductivity and single particle electrophoretic mobilities were studied as functions of the particle concentration in the suspension. It is found that the interactions between particles affect the conduction processes.
Abstracts of the 8th Meeting of the Italian Peripheral Nerve Study Group: 27

It is well known that exposure to toxic substances may induce peripheral and central neurological complications but no cases of acute cranial nerve involvement are reported after single, although massive, exposure to toxic agents. Cranial multineuropathy is an uncommon occurrence. We observed two atypical cases of multinevritis of cranial nerves with mild sensory symptoms at limbs. Both patients had many common features: acute onset, occurrence of neuropraxic block in cranial nerves, and rapid clinical and neurophysiological recovery after corticosteroid therapy. In both cases, the strict time correlation between substance inhalation and acute onset of symptoms suggested a toxic origin of the disease. We emphasize that multinevritis of cranial nerves could be related to acute exposure of toxic substances. Missing this diagnosis could lead to a delay in treatment.
Action potential duration restitution and electrical excitation propagation in a ring of cardiac cells

The propagation of electrical excitation in a ring of cells described by the Noble, Beeler-Reuter, Luo-Rudy I, and third-order simplified mathematical models is studied using computer simulation. For each of the models it is shown that after transition from steady-state circulation to quasiperiodicity achieved by shortening the ring length (RL), the action potential duration (APD) restitution curve becomes a double-valued function and is located below the original (that of an isolated cell) APD restitution curve. The distributions of APD and diastolic interval along a ring for the entire range of RL corresponding to quasiperiodic oscillations remain periodic with the period slightly different from two RLs. The sigmoidal shape of the original APD restitution curve determines the appearance of the second steady-state circulation region for short RLs. For all the models and the wide variety of their original APD restitution curves, no transition from quasiperiodicity to chaos was observed.
CALIBRATION OF RESISTANCE FACTORS FOR RELIABILITY BASED DESIGN OF EXTERNALLY-BONDED FRP COMPOSITES

This paper describes a methodology for the calibration of preliminary resistance factors for the design of externally-bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite renewal strategies for reinforced concrete structures using the load and resistance factor design (LRFD) approach. Reinforced concrete T-beam bridge girders rehabilitated flexurally with field-manufactured, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites are the specific example case studied. The calibration process is briefly described and then followed in a step-by-step manner to arrive at preliminary values for resistance factors. Continued deterioration of the existing structure due to loss of steel reinforcement is considered through use of a simple corrosion model. The work described herein is largely consistent with existing specifications for new design of bridges, including the use of the load models used to calibrate the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. Resistance factors are calibrated to meet three possible target reliability levels, β = 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5, and are found to depend on the amount of steel lost relative to the amount needed to carry the design load. Degradation of the FRP layer due to environmental exposure over time is considered as well, and a summary of the proposed design procedure is presented.
Melting and Resolidification of a Two-Component Metal Powder Layer Heated by a Moving Gaussian Heat Source

Melting and resolidification of a subcooled mixed metal powder layer that contains a mixture of two metal powders with significantly different melting points heated by a moving Gaussian heat source is investigated numerically. The phase change is modeled using a temperature-transforming model and shrinkage induced by melting is also taken into account. The problem appears to be steady-state since it is formulated in a coordinate system moving with the Gaussian heat source and the size of the powder is much larger than that of the heat source. The results show that the powder layer thickness, moving heat source intensity and scanning velocity have significant effects on the sintering depth.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Potential Benefits of Seasonal Inflow Prediction Uncertainty for Reservoir Release Decisions

Abstract This paper examines the conditions for which beneficial use of forecast uncertainty may be made for improved reservoir release decisions. It highlights the parametric dependencies of the effects of uncertainty in seasonal inflow volumes on the optimal release and objective function of a single reservoir operated to meet a single volume target at the end of the season under volume and release constraints. The duration of the “season” may be one or several months long. The analysis invokes the application of Kuhn–Tucker theory, and it shows that the presence of uncertainty introduces complex dependence of the optimal release and objective function on the reservoir parameters and uncertain inflow forcing. The seasonal inflow volume uncertainty is represented by a bounded symmetric beta distribution with a given mean, which is considered to be unbiased, and a half-range QR. The authors find that the use of predicted inflow uncertainty is particularly beneficial during operation with a volume target t...
Social withdrawal and violence--Newtown, Connecticut.

An important dimension of the Newtown tragedy is social withdrawal and isolation, within and beyond the confines of mental illness. Withdrawn and isolated people face deep-seated barriers to care, and some may be uniquely vulnerable to the seductive power of violence.
On the relative strength of different generalizations of split-cuts

Split cuts are among the most important and well-understood cuts for general mixed-integer programs. In this paper we consider some recent generalizations of split cuts and compare their relative strength. More precisely, we compare the elementary closures of split, cross, crooked cross and general multi-branch split cuts as well as cuts obtained from multi-row and basic relaxations.We present a complete containment relationship between the closures of split, rank-2 split, cross, crooked cross and general multi-branch split cuts. More specifically, we show that 3-branch split cuts strictly dominate crooked cross cuts, which in turn strictly dominate cross cuts. We also show that multi-branch split cuts are incomparable to rank-2 split cuts. In addition, we also show that cross cuts, and hence crooked cross cuts, cannot always be obtained from 2-row relaxations or from basic relaxations. Together, these results settle some open questions raised in earlier papers.
Local measurements in a turbulent flame by hot-wire anemometry

An iridium hot-wire probe has been developed which can measure the local properties of a premixed, free, turbulent, stoichiometric methane-air flame. Measurements indicate that there is no turbulence generated by the flame in the unburned gas. Comparison of normalized velocity and temperature spectra in the burned and unburned gas shown that they are identical when expressed in terms of wavenumbers. Cold spots are observed in the burned gas at least 1 cm downstream of the visible flame front.
Ion‐neutral momentum coupling near discrete high‐latitude ionospheric features

A two-dimensional numerical model is developed to study the momentum coupling between the ionosphere and neutral atmosphere in the vicinity of discrete high-latitude features, such as convection channels and plasma density troughs. Based on generalized magnetohydrodynamic equations the model takes account of global pressure gradients, viscous dissipation, ion drag, the Coriolis force, and electrodynamic drifts. Among the findings of an initial steady state investigation are the following: (1) in convection channels, significant shears and rotations of the thermospheric flow can occur below 200 km if a minimum in the electron density profile is present between the E and F regions; (2) in convection channels, the thermospheric wind decreases with height in the F region owing to the effects of horizontal viscosity; and (3) at low altitudes, the boundaries of convection channels may produce Ekman spirals.
A p38α-Selective Chemosensor for use in Unfractionated Cell Lysates

Recent efforts have identified the p38α Ser/Thr kinase as a potential target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases as well as non-small cell lung carcinoma. Despite the significance of p38α, no direct activity probe compatible with cell lysate analysis exists. Instead, proxies for kinase activation, such as phosphospecific antibodies, which do not distinguish between p38 isoforms, are often used. Our laboratory has recently developed a sulfonamido-oxine (Sox) fluorophore that undergoes a significant increase in fluorescence in response to phosphorylation at a proximal residue, allowing for real-time activity measurements. Herein we report the rational design of a p38α-selective chemosensor using this approach. We have validated the selectivity of this sensor using specific inhibitors and immunodepletions and show that p38α activity can be monitored in crude lysates from a variety of cell lines, allowing for the potential use of this sensor in both clinical and basic science research applications.
The liberal critique of the harm principle

(1998). The liberal critique of the harm principle. Criminal Justice Ethics: Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 3-18.
Calcium signaling in individual BC3H1 cells: Speed of calcium mobilization and heterogeneity

Receptor/ligand binding on a cell surface may activate the calcium signal transduction cascade, resulting in the release of calcium from intracellular stores into the cytosol. Changes in intracellular free calcium, [Ca2+]i, following ligand stimulation have been linked to a variety of cell responses, from muscle contraction to hormone secretion. We have monitored changes in [Ca2+]i in single smooth muscle-like BC3H1 cells following stimulation by the vasoconstrictor phenylephrine, using the fluorescent calcium probe, fura-2, in a digital fluorescence imaging system. We find that not all cells respond to ligand stimulation with changes in [Ca2+]i. In addition, cells which respond to ligand stimulation exhibit considerable heterogeneity in the speed of calcium mobilization for a given ligand concentration. Both the population-averaged speed for calcium mobilization and the fraction of cells which respond to ligand stimulation are increasing functions of the ligand concentration. In contrast, the magnitude of the ligand-stimulated increase in [Ca2+]i from basal to peak levels in responding cells is independent of ligand concentration. We postulate that the heterogeneity seen in the ligand-induced mobilization of calcium among single cells is a function of distinct differences between cells, such as number of receptors, size of the intracellular calcium store, or phospholipase C activity. We have developed a mathematical model, based on the calcium signal transduction cascade, to predict single-cell calcium responses to ligand stimulation. We have systematically incorporated cell-to-cell parameter heterogeneity into the model by randomly selecting single-cell parameter values from a Gaussian distribution. Model simulations predict both single-cell and population-averaged trends that we have observed experimentally. The results of this work suggest that increases in a population response may be the result of increased participation in the response as opposed to increases in the magnitudes of individual cell responses.
A two-dimensional array for B-mode and volumetric imaging with multiplexed electrostrictive elements.

A 2:1 multiplexed 2-D array has been developed that has a sparse element pattern designed for real time volumetric imaging and an alternate element pattern designed for B-mode imaging. For volumetric imaging, a small aperture was used to provide a wide transmit beam, allowing multiple beams to be received simultaneously. For B-mode imaging, a larger aperture with a more narrow transmit beam was used to improve image quality. Sparse random element patterns were evaluated by beamplot and cyst image simulations. Using the alternate element pattern for B-mode imaging, simulated cyst contrast was improved by 28%. The multiplexed transducer was fabricated using an electrostrictive material in which array elements were activated and deactivated by a dc bias field. The transducer had a 3.4 MHz center frequency with 46% bandwidth, which was consistent with KLM simulations. The high dielectric constant of the electrostrictive material resulted in an element clamped capacitance of 14.3 pF versus 2 pF for a conventio...
Challenges and opportunities for optical amplifiers in metro optical networks

Metro optical networks have undergone changes in design in recent years, driven by growing traffic demands and the establishment of new technologies driving network architectures. In this paper the drivers are described and the implications for optical amplifiers used in metro optical networks are discussed. Challenges for performance improvements and cost reduction in current networks driving metro amplifiers today, together with opportunities for future metro amplifiers are discussed.
Effect of xenon on fullerene reactions.

Solutions containing 3He@C60, 129Xe@C60, and varying amounts of 9,10-dimethylanthracene (DMA) were allowed to reach equilibrium, and the 3He and 129Xe NMR spectra were taken at the same temperature. Each spectrum showed peaks for the unreacted X@C60 and for the monoadduct. The ratios of the peak heights show that the included xenon atom substantially changes the equilibrium constant. This change is temperature dependent, meaning that the xenon atom changes both ΔH and ΔS for the reaction. DMA is more reactive with He@C60 at low temperatures and with Xe@C60 at higher temperatures. The difference in chemical shift between the monoadduct and the unreacted X@C60 is more than twice as large for Xe than for He and in the opposite direction. Calculations show that the electron density in Xe@C60 is higher than that in empty C60 on the outside of the cage.
On the Role of Strong Winds in Damage to Crops by Hail and Its Estimation with a Simple Instrument

Abstract Surface winds which accompany the fall of hail have a profound effect on crop damage. Quantitative estimates of the horizontal and total flux of hailstone kinetic energy can be made with simple theoretical considerations using data obtained from a hailcube. A hailcube is a box with aluminum foil wrapped styrofoam pads on four sides and the top. The analytical procedure for obtaining the energy estimates from cubes is described. Results show that the total kinetic energy, which includes the effect of the wind speed, can be up to five times greater than the vertical kinetic energy—the energy imparted without the effect of the wind.
Allometry, sexual dimorphism, and phylogeny: a cladistic analysis of extant African papionins using craniodental data.

Abstract This study conducts a phylogenetic analysis of extant African papionin craniodental morphology, including both quantitative and qualitative characters. We use two different methods to control for allometry: the previously described narrow allometric coding method, and the general allometric coding method, introduced herein. The results of this study strongly suggest that African papionin phylogeny based on molecular systematics, and that based on morphology, are congruent and support a Cercocebus/Mandrillus clade as well as a Papio/Lophocebus/Theropithecus clade. In contrast to previous claims regarding papionin and, more broadly, primate craniodental data, this study finds that such data are a source of valuable phylogenetic information and removes the basis for considering hard tissue anatomy “unreliable” in phylogeny reconstruction. Among highly sexually dimorphic primates such as papionins, male morphologies appear to be particularly good sources of phylogenetic information. In addition, we argue that the male and female morphotypes should be analyzed separately and then added together in a concatenated matrix in future studies of sexually dimorphic taxa. Character transformation analyses identify a series of synapomorphies uniting the various papionin clades that, given a sufficient sample size, should potentially be useful in future morphological analyses, especially those involving fossil taxa.
Successful management of paraprotein‐associated peripheral polyneuropathies by immunoadsorption of plasma with staphylococcal protein A

Two patients with paraprotein-associated peripheral polyneuropathy were treated successfully using immunoadsorption of patient's plasma with staphylococcal protein A. Both had previously been treated with immunosuppressive agents or plasma exchange, and were rapidly relapsing at the time of their protein A immunoadsorption therapy. One patient was treated “on-line” with a blood cell separator, and one was treated “off-line.” Both responded well to therapy with minimal toxicity. Serum levels of circulating immune complexes were elevated in one patient and remained so during and after therapy. Immunoadsorption with protein A should be investigated as a therapeutic option for patients with paraprotein-associated peripheral polyneuropathy. The therapy is relatively easy to administer, particularly “off-line,” and was well tolerated by our patients. More experience, including formal clinical trials, will be required to properly define the indications for, and mechanism of response to, this therapy. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.