cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Different Sera in the Culture Medium on the Behavior of Plasmodium berghei Following Serial Passage Through Tissue Culture

SYNOPSIS. A previous study has shown that a strain of Plasmodium berghei had become modified following serial passage through rats and tissue culture in a medium containing lamb serum. Mice infected with this strain showed a longer survival time and some of the mice recovered. The recovered mice developed a true immunity to reinfection with the modified strain and the parent strain. It was thought that this effect was due to the serum contained in the culture medium. Consequently the experiments were repeated and other strains developed using rat and calf serum. The strain derived, after 10 serial passages alternately through rats and tissue culture containing rat serum, retained the characteristics of the parent strain, i.e., all mice infected with this strain died; the majority within 19–21 days. Mice infected with a strain derived from the series utilizing calf serum showed a significantly longer survival time and 8 mice out of 87 survived. The strain derived by using lamb serum yielded results similar to those previously reported and after 8 serial passages 20 mice out of 65 survived infection. The hypothesis is advanced that P. berghei is antigenically heterogeneous, much as has been shown for the trypanosomes. It is thought that opsonins contained in the serum of the tissue culture medium render certain antigenic types more liable to phagocytosis and therefore the in vitro treatment acts as a screening process, as the case might be, leaving those types most easily recognized by the mouse and hence evoking an effective immune response.
The effect of hog gastrin on gastric secretion in chronic gastric fistula rats.

L'action de la gastrine de porc a ete etudiee chez des rats mâles munis de fistules gastriques. La gastrine etait injectee par voie s.c. a des doses de 1–2 ml: 1 ml equivalant a l'activite de 10 g de muqueuse de porc. Le volume de suc gastrique, le volume de suc gastrique par 100 g, l'acidite totale et le debit d'acide accuserent une pointe dans la premiere h, alors que la concentration en acide atteignit son maximum vers la troisieme h. Le debit de la pepsine diminua entre la troisieme et la cinquieme h et augmenta legerement entre la cinquieme et la sixieme h.
Influence of hydration on fiber geometry in electrospun scaffolds.

Finite element models of tissue engineering scaffolds are powerful tools to understand scaffold function, including how external mechanical signals deform the scaffold at the meso- and microscales. Fiber geometry is needed to inform finite element models of fiber-based tissue engineering scaffolds; however, the accuracy and utility of these models may be limited if they are informed by non-hydrated geometries. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy, coupled with Fourier analysis of the resulting images, were used to quantify how hydration alters fiber geometry in electrospun collagen and polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds. The results also quantify how image size affects fiber geometry. Hydration is demonstrated to increase fiber tortuosity, defined as the ratio of actual fiber length:end-to-end fiber length. For collagen scaffolds, hydration increased the mean tortuosity from 1.05 to 1.21, primarily from large ∼2- to 10-fold) increases in smaller ( 100μm) wavelength amplitudes. The results demonstrate that mechanical simulations of electrospun scaffolds should be informed with hydrated scaffold geometries of at least 200μm scale, in order to capture geometrical effects associated with fiber straightening.
Dynamical Extended-Range Forecasts of the Lower Tropospheric Thickness

Abstract National Meteorological Center dynamical extended-range forecasts of daily as well as time means of lower tropospheric thickness (700 mb height minus 1000 mb height) are analyzed in this paper. Daily forecasts show significant skill until about 11 days when they are in distinguishable from randomly selected states. Forecasts of time averages show significant skill for almost all averages, especially if the appropriate averaging period of the forecast is selected. The correlation between the forecast average over the first 10 days and the observed average over the 30-day period starting at the same time is about 0.25. No better way of forecasting the 30-day average, on average, was found for this data. Large variations in skill occur with the most skilful periods corresponding to decreased baroclinicity. Composite states of high and low skill show that over the United States 30-day means that have a warm west coast with high pressure aloft and a cold cut coast with low pressure aloft is predicted ...
Relation between the transfer matrix method and case's method

Abstract The relation between the Transfer Matrix for radiation transport and Case's method is elucidated. Completeness of the Case eigenfunctions is shown to be equivalent to the statement that the transfer matrix can be diagonalized. It is demonstrated that there is a one-to-one relation between the basic equations of the two methods. The implications of a symmetric scattering kernel are studied.
Practical approach to metabolic assessments in the pediatric human immunodeficiency virus outpatient clinic.

BACKGROUND Metabolic assessment is not a routine part of the care of pediatric HIV-positive patients in the outpatient setting, although research studies are demonstrating an increasing prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in this population. Addition of metabolic assessments to routine clinic care can be hindered by the perception that collection of the data needed for the assessments will need too much clinic time and too many clinic resources to be practical. METHODS A method to provide metabolic assessments using minimal clinic resources while offering educational opportunities for university students was developed and implemented at the University of Florida Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases weekly clinic. The success rate of metabolic assessment data collection from all clinic patients and the impact of data collection on the flow of clinic activity were monitored for a 12-month period. RESULTS The metabolic assessment team interviewed 87% of all patients who came to the 454 clinic during the 12-month period and performed a complete metabolic assessment for 75% of the HIV-positive patients interviewed. Addition of metabolic assessments to the routine care of each patient did not result in any noticeable adverse effect on the functionality of the clinic. CONCLUSIONS Addition of metabolic assessments to the routine clinic care of pediatric HIV positive patients can be an educational opportunity for university students and provide the clinic staff with changes in parameters indicative of metabolic abnormalities and without noticeable changes in maintaining the patient schedule at each clinic.
Polarized solar radio emission at mm wavelengths associated with sunspot magnetic fields

THE analysis of the enhanced radiation observed by us at 9, 3.5 and 3.3 mm wavelengths from sunspot magnetic fields leads to the conclusion that the physical parameters necessary to explain the observations are compatible with emission from the chromosphere or chromosphere-corona transition region, with magnetic fields of the order of a few hundred Gauss. These results can therefore be contrasted with the concept of emission from coronal condensations contributing to the cm and dm wavelength emission of the slowly varying component. Furthermore, the mechanism of resonance absorption1,2 at harmonics of the gyromagnetic frequency, which has been used to explain the observed polarization between 3 cm and 20 cm wavelengths, fails to explain the mm wave polarized components.
Time-varying turbo codes

Turbo codes typically utilize time-invariant component codes whose total encoder memory is no greater than 4. In this letter, turbo codes with time-varying component codes are studied via EXIT analysis, distance spectrum analysis and simulation. Turbo codes with time-varying component codes and memory 6 are shown to have similar performance in the waterfall region and superior performance in the error floor region when compared to both the original memory 4 Berrou turbo code and the memory 8 big numerator-little denominator turbo codes.
Response-guided telaprevir therapy in prior relapsers? The role of bridging data from treatment-naïve and experienced subjects.

The purpose of this report is to illustrate the US Food and Drug Administration's rationale for approving response-guided therapy (RGT) for telaprevir (TVR) in combination with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin (P/R) for the treatment of adults with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C who were prior relapsers. RGT was prospectively evaluated in two registration trials of treatment-naive subjects. In these studies, RGT allowed subjects who achieved undetectable hepatitis C virus RNA from weeks 4 and 12, known as extended rapid virologic response (eRVR), to stop all treatments at 24 weeks. A patient without eRVR received an additional 36 weeks of P/R after 12 weeks of a TVR triple regimen (total of 48 weeks). However, RGT in prior P/R relapsers was not prospectively evaluated. Empirical cross-trial data indicated high sustained virologic response rates (>90%) in prior relapsers achieving eRVR, irrespective of P/R duration (24 or 48 weeks). Further analyses demonstrated that interferon responsiveness does not change in P/R-experienced subjects with a second round of P/R. The comparability in interferon responsiveness across treatment courses allowed us to bridge data between treatment-naive and P/R-experienced subjects to support the approval of RGT in prior relapse subjects. (HEPATOLOGY 2013)
Optimum M-step, step-stress design with K stress variables

Most of the available literature on accelerated life testing deals with tests that use only one accelerating variable and no other explanatory variables. Frequently, however, there is a need to use more than one accelerating or other experimental variables. Examples include a test of capacitors at higher than usual levels of temperature and voltage, and a test of circuit boards at higher than usual levels of temperature, humidity, and voltage. M-step, step-stress models are extended to include k stress variables. Optimum M-step, step-stress designs with k stress variables are found. The polynomial model is considered as a special case, and a lack of fit test is discussed. Also a goodness-of-fit test is proposed and the appropriateness of using its asymptotic chi-square distribution for small samples is shown.
Quasi-frequency independent high power sinuous antenna

Analysis, modeling, design, fabrication, and performance of a flush-mountable cavity-backed lens-loaded sinuous antenna operating in the frequency range from 500 MHz to 3 GHz are discussed. Antenna is subjected to high power tests to evaluate its viability for high power applications. More than 10× higher power rating than that of traditional sinuous antennas and preserved quasi-frequency independent performance are demonstrated. Presented results pave the way for the use of sinuous antennas in many non-traditional applications requiring higher powers and high-quality of the radiated field over very wide frequency ranges.
Some observations on Gauss-Legendre quadrature error estimates for analytic functions

Abstract This paper is concerned with estimates for the error when a Gauss-Legendre quadrature rule is used to numerically integrate an analytic function. The error in a standard approximation to the kernel function, which appears in a contour integral representation for the quadrature error, is investigated for this purpose. Applications to meromorphic functions with simple poles are discussed.
High-speed receiver based on waveguide germanium photodetector wire-bonded to 90nm SOI CMOS amplifier

The performance of a receiver based on a CMOS amplifier circuit designed with 90nm ground rules wire-bonded to a waveguide germanium photodetector is characterized at data rates up to 40Gbps. Both chips were fabricated through the IBM Silicon CMOS Integrated Nanophotonics process on specialty photonics-enabled SOI wafers. At the data rate of 28Gbps which is relevant to the new generation of optical interconnects, a sensitivity of −7.3dBm average optical power is demonstrated with 3.4pJ/bit power-efficiency and 0.6UI horizontal eye opening at a bit-error-rate of 10−12. The receiver operates error-free (bit-error-rate < 10−12) up to 40Gbps with optimized power supply settings demonstrating an energy efficiency of 1.4pJ/bit and 4pJ/bit at data rates of 32Gbps and 40Gbps, respectively, with an average optical power of −0.8dBm.
Maternal behaviors during pregnancy impact offspring obesity risk.

This study investigated the effects of maternal changes during pregnancy in diet, exercise, and psychosocial factors on offspring weight parameters at birth and 6 months. In overweight/obese (OW/OB; n = 132 ) mothers, greater % kcal from sweets early in pregnancy was the strongest, independent predictor of higher weight for age (WFA) (beta = 0 . 19 ; P = 0 . 004 ), higher odds of macrosomia (OR = 1.1 (1.0–1.2); P = 0 . 004 ) andWFA >90th percentile at birth (OR = 1.2 (1.1–1.3); P = 0 . 002 ) and higher WFA at 6 months (beta = 0 . 30 ; P = 0 . 002 ). In normal weight ( n = 153 ) mothers, higher intake of soft drinks was the strongest predictor of higher offspring WFA at birth (beta = 0.16; P = 0 . 04 ) but not at 6 months. Prenatal physical activity, depressive symptoms, and sleep-related variables did not significantly predict offspring weight outcomes. Mothers’ eating behaviors during pregnancy, especially intake of sweets in OW/OB mothers, may have a lasting effect on child weight.
Psychometric Properties of Raw and Scale Scores on Mixed‐Format Tests

This paper illustrates that the psychometric properties of scores and scales that are used with mixed-format educational tests can impact the use and interpretation of the scores that are reported to examinees. Psychometric properties that include reliability and conditional standard errors of measurement are considered in this paper. The focus is on mixed-format tests in situations for which raw scores are integer-weighted sums of item scores. Four associated real-data examples include (a) effects of weights associated with each item type on reliability, (b) comparison of psychometric properties of different scale scores, (c) evaluation of the equity property of equating, and (d) comparison of the use of unidimensional and multidimensional procedures for evaluating psychometric properties. Throughout the paper, and especially in the conclusion section, the examples are related to issues associated with test interpretation and test use.
Further investigation on the tribological behavior of Cu-20% Nb in situ composite

Abstract Sliding friction and wear behavior of Cu-20 vol.% Nb in situ composite sliding against a tool steel disk was studied under dry ambient conditions. Studies were directed towards the understanding of the roles of the filament and the matrix materials during sliding. It was found that Nb filaments underwent reorientation, shearing and refinement. Irrespective of their prior orientation, Nb filaments close to the contact surface were oriented along the sliding direction. These processes resulted from friction-induced surface deformation and led to the strengthening of the subsurface layer of the composite. There was no separation of Nb filaments from Cu matrix observed in the sliding process. The effects of annealing, sliding speed and filament orientation on the friction and wear behavior of the composite were also investigated. The micromechanisms of wear were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Surface deformation, filament reorientation and refinement, and oxidation seemed to play important roles in the friction and wear processes.
Spectral CT of the Extremities with a Silicon Strip Photon Counting Detector.

Purpose: Photon counting x-ray detectors (PCXDs) are an important emerging technology for spectral imaging and material differentiation with numerous potential applications in diagnostic imaging. We report development of a Si-strip PCXD system originally developed for mammography with potential application to spectral CT of musculoskeletal extremities, including challenges associated with sparse sampling, spectral calibration, and optimization for higher energy x-ray beams. Methods: A bench-top CT system was developed incorporating a Si-strip PCXD, fixed anode x-ray source, and rotational and translational motions to execute complex acquisition trajectories. Trajectories involving rotation and translation combined with iterative reconstruction were investigated, including single and multiple axial scans and longitudinal helical scans. The system was calibrated to provide accurate spectral separation in dual-energy three-material decomposition of soft-tissue, bone, and iodine. Image quality and decomposition accuracy were assessed in experiments using a phantom with pairs of bone and iodine inserts (3, 5, 15 and 20 mm) and an anthropomorphic wrist. Results: The designed trajectories improved the sampling distribution from 56% minimum sampling of voxels to 75%. Use of iterative reconstruction (viz., penalized likelihood with edge preserving regularization) in combination with such trajectories resulted in a very low level of artifacts in images of the wrist. For large bone or iodine inserts (>5 mm diameter), the error in the estimated material concentration was <16% for (50 mg/mL) bone and <8% for (5 mg/mL) iodine with strong regularization. For smaller inserts, errors of 20-40% were observed and motivate improved methods for spectral calibration and optimization of the edge-preserving regularizer. Conclusion: Use of PCXDs for three-material decomposition in joint imaging proved feasible through a combination of rotation-translation acquisition trajectories and iterative reconstruction with optimized regularization.
Optimizations in GPU: Smart compilers and core-level reconfiguration

Summary form only given. Graphics processing units (GPUs) are increasingly critical for general-purpose parallel processing performance. GPU hardware is composed of many streaming multiprocessors, allowing GPUs to execute tens of thousands of threads in parallel. However, due to the SIMD (single-instruction multiple-data) execution style, resource utilization and thus overall performance can be significantly affected if computation threads must take diverging control paths. Meanwhile, tuning GPU applications' performance is also a complex and labor intensive task. Software programmers employ a variety of optimization techniques to explore tradeoffs between the thread parallelism and performance of a single thread. New GPU architecture also allows concurrent kernel executions which introduces interesting kernel scheduling problems. In the first part of the talk, we will mainly introduce our recent studies on control flow optimization, joint optimization of register allocation and thread structure, and concurrent kernel scheduling, for GPU performance improvements. Energy efficiency of GPUs for general-purpose computing is increasingly important as well. The integration of GPUs onto SoCs for use in mobile devices in the last 5 years has further exacerbated the need to reduce the energy foot print of GPUs. In the second part of the talk, we propose a novel GPU architecture that makes use of reconfiguration to exploit ILP and DVFS (Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling) techniques to reduce the power consumption, without sacrificing the computational throughput. We expect that applications with large amounts of ILP should see dramatic improvements in their energy and power, when compared to nominal CUDA-based architectures. In addition to this, we foresee interesting challenges with respect to scheduling of threads and the re-organization of CUDA warp structures and schedules. We also note that dynamic reconfiguration of cores within a SIMD unit (SM in CUDA), affects the number of threads that can execute concurrently and thus would change the number of effective warps in flight, which may affect the capability to overlap execution time and memory latency.
Relics of the Primordial Origin of Space and Time in the Low Energy World

In the earliest stage of cosmological evolution due to high matter densities space and time most likely admitted a very complex geometrical and topological structure. After themalization, statistical averaging and cooling, flat Minkowski space developed but statistical fluctuations from this “averaged out space-time” may still exist in the low energy world. In the following, we explore the consequences of these fluctuations in the low energy world based on a “microscopic uncertainty principle for time”. Phenomena such as spin polarization precession, spectral shifts, spin flips, C.P. violating phenomena and neutron interferometry may all be influenced by these fluctuations and we discuss just how the conventional theory of these temporal phenomena could be affected by fluctuations away from Minkowski space-time. We also discuss the experimental limits on the discrete time interval setting the scale of these fluctuations along with possible temporal changes of the discrete time interval over cosmological time scales in the spirit of Dirac’s “Large number hypothesis”.
From the Politics of Development to the Challenges of Globalization

Abstract During the 1970s, the United Nations was the central front in the G-77's struggle to realize a ‘New International Economic Order’ (NIEO). A key plank in the NIEO platform was the regulation of multinational corporations; this objective was pursued via a draft Code of Conduct on Transnational Enterprises, formulated by a UN Commission created largely for that purpose. Although the Code was abandoned in 1992 after 14 years of negotiations, multinationals were back on the UN agenda later that same decade. As then Secretary-General Kofi Annan observed when announcing this new initiative between the United Nations and corporate partners, the Global Compact recognizes that a fundamental shift has occurred in recent years in the attitude of the UN towards the private sector. This paper explores the rehabilitation of the multinational corporation implied in the journey from Code to Compact as a way to understand the transformation of development discourse that occurred during the last quarter of the twen...
Why should you write about Eastern Europe, or: Why should you write about “the Other”?

Much recent cultural criticism points out the ways in which “writing about ‘the Other’” perpetuates, justifies and participates in the creation of “real-life” relations of domination and oppression between the “authors” (located in the center(s) of power and knowledge) and their “subject matters.” This paper takes a different approach and explores theliberating potentials of “writing about ‘the Other.’” Completed in the spring of 1991, in the wake of changes in Eastern Europe from the fall of 1989, this paper gives a loose mapping of the nascent Eastern European cultural constellations, as well as an elaboration of the position of a “native” intellectual, in order to circuitously come to the point from which it can articulate the ways in which “Western” writing about “Eastern Europe” can create liberating interventions in the struggles going on in Eastern Europe.
Sliced mean variance-covariance inverse regression

Inverse regression methods have gained popularity over the last 10 years or so. More recently these methods have been applied to the classification problem. Sliced inverse regression (SIR) is equivalent to linear discriminant analysis and as such it detects mean differences between the classes. Sliced average variance estimation (SAVE) is designed to detect differences between the means, variances and covariances of the predictors across the classes. However, in SAVE each difference in variance across the groups takes up a dimension, and hence SAVE can have difficulty detecting mean differences and covariance differences. In this paper, we propose a new data analytic method, called sliced mean variance-covariance regression (SMVCIR) which can readily detect both first and second order differences between the classes even when many variance differences exist. Further, our procedure is based on an ordering of the dimensions based on their relative importance which is quite beneficial to interpretation. In particular, we demonstrate that useful data-analytic information about mean and covariance differences can be obtained from SMVCIR when SAVE finds many dimensions due to variance differences. Finally, the advantages of SMVCIR over SIR and SAVE are exemplified using a new data set from the enology literature.
Ecophysiological consequences of non-random leaf orientation in the prairie compass plant, Silphium laciniatum

The prairie compass plant (Silphium laciniatum L.) has vertical leaves that are characteristically oriented in a north-south plane (i.e., the flat surfaces of the lamina face east and west). We explored the consequences of this orientation by determining basic photosynthetic and water use characteristics in response to environmental factors and by determining total daily photosynthesis and water use of leaves held in different orientations. Average maximum CO2 exchange rate (CER) of leaves near Ames, IA was constant at 22 micromol m−2 s−1 from May through August and then declined. CER did not exhibit a distinct lightsaturation point. CER at photon flux densities near full sunlight was constant from 22 to 35°C leaf temperature but declined at higher temperatures. However, leaf temperatures rarely exceed 35°C during the growing season. There was no change in the pattern of response of CER to temperature over the growing season. We constrained leaves to face east-west (EW,=natural), to face north-south (NS), or to be horizontal (HOR) on eight days in 1986–1988. EW leaves had the highest light interception, leaf temperatures, CER, and transpiration early and late in the day, whereas HOR leaves had the highest values in the middle of the day. Integrations of CER and transpiration over the eight daytime periods showed EW and HOR leaves to have equivalent carbon gain, higher than that of NS leaves. HOR leaves had the highest daily transpiration. Daily water use efficiency (WUE, carbon gained/water lost) was always highest in EW leaves, with the HOR leaves having 16% lower WUE and NS leaves having 33% lower WUE. The natural orientation of compass plant leaves results in equivalent or higher carbon gain and in increased WUE when compared to leaves with other possible orientations; this is likely to have a selective advantage in a prairie environment.
Spin-Phonon Interaction in Ryby

An attempt was made to observe the spatial transfer of spin temperature in synthetic ruby crystals containing 0.05 and 0,005% Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/ at 1.7 and 20 K. The experiment consisted of observing the resonance absorption, in one end of a crystals at a power level well below saturation as a function of the saturation power level applied to the other end. (W.D.M.)
Soil-structure interaction analyses by finite elements — State of the art

Abstract In this paper the authors have attempted to summarize the current capability for evaluating soil-structure interaction effects during earthquakes using finite element procedures. A concise summary of methods available, together with their capabilities and relative costs is presented. It is suggested that finite element procedures provide a powerful tool for use in the design of nuclear plants, especially for embedded structures, and their applicability in this respect is illustrated by comparing computed results with those recorded in a nuclear plant during a strong motion earthquake. It is concluded that when the methods are used in conjunction with good engineering judgment and with full recognition of their limitations, they provide evaluations of response with a level of accuracy entirely adequate for engineering design.
High-index-contrast, photonic-band-edge waveguides for tunable time delays

We describe the use of high-index-contrast, photonic-crystal wavegides for tunable time delays. The waveguide is designed such that the operating frequency is near a photonic band edge. In this slow light region, a small change in index yields a large change in group velocity, and consequently in time delay. Figures of merit for tunable time delay devices are introduced, including sensitivity, length, and dispersion. We show that a simple quadratic band model is a good predictor of the figures of merit for realistic, 3D, high-index-contrast structures. By cascading two grated waveguides, we can obtain a flat tunable time delay across the operating bandwidth.
The dynamics of the bacterial population associated with a salt marsh

Abstract The distribution and temporal fluctuations in the density of bacteria in the water covering a high-salinity marsh were investigated employing epifluorescence microscopy for quantification as well as by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The observed densities ranged from about 1 to 19 × 10 6 bacteria/ml during the course of the study. High-marsh sampling sites had an average population level of 7.8 × 10 6 bacteria/ml which was more than double the mean density recovered from large creeks near the mouth of the marsh system. Bacteria associated with seston varied tidally and seasonally, whereas the population of free planktonic bacteria varied only seasonally. Very small fluorescing bodies were commonly observed during epifluorescent observation of samples. These small bodies were observed at densities two orders of magnitude higher than easily recognized bacteria. In a salt marsh, the relative density of epibacteria was influenced by short-term tidal effects, and the population of planktobacteria was apparently controlled by long-term seasonal phenomena.
Quantitative stratigraphic inversion: Case study using Jurassic tank data

We develop a methodology for systematic inversion of quantitative stratigraphic models. Quantitative stratigraphic modeling predicts stratigraphy using numerical simulations of geologic processes. We tested the inversion scheme on the topography dataset obtained from the eXperimental EarthScape facility simulation. The excellent result of the piecewise inversion, which used different parameterizations for different time intervals, demonstrate the need for development or incorporation of time-variant parameterizations.
HUMAN UTERINE AND OVARIAN EXPRESSION OF GROWTH HORMONE-RELEASING HORMONE MESSENGER RNA IN BENIGN AND MALIGNANT GYNECOLOGIC CONDITIONS

Abstract Objective: To determine uterine and ovarian expression of growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) messenger RNA (mRNA) in benign and pathologic gynecologic states. Design: Case–control study. Setting: Tertiary-care academic department. Patient(s): Women undergoing hysterectomy for benign or malignant gynecologic conditions. Intervention(s): Ovarian and uterine tissue was obtained for measurement of GHRH mRNA levels by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Main Outcome Measure(s): Levels of GHRH mRNA in normal tissues were compared with those in tissues with pathologic abnormalities. Result(s): Growth hormone–releasing hormone mRNA was detectable in the ovary, endometrium, myometrium, fallopian tubes, and placenta. Levels of GHRH mRNA were significantly increased in secretory endometrium compared with proliferative endometrium. Hormone replacement therapy did not affect endometrial GHRH mRNA levels. Uterine myomas expressed similar levels of GHRH mRNA as normal myometrium. No changes in endometrial GHRH mRNA were detected in endometrial cancers compared with normal endometrium or myometrium obtained from the same patient; however, these levels were higher than those in noncancerous myometrial tissue obtained from other patients with benign gynecologic disease. In ovarian tissue, no differences in GHRH mRNA were found between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Ovarian GHRH mRNA was significantly decreased in endometriotic cysts, whereas significantly greater GHRH expression occurred in ovarian cancer compared with normal ovarian tissue. Conclusion(s): Endometrial and ovarian GHRH gene transcription are altered in selective physiologic and pathologic states and are influenced by such factors as ovarian hormones. Because it is a growth factor, GHRH may promote endometrial proliferation and may be involved in the pathogenesis of ovarian and endometrial cancer and endometriosis.
Landscape diversity enhances biological control of an introduced crop pest in the north-central USA.

Arthropod predators and parasitoids provide valuable ecosystem services in agricultural crops by suppressing populations of insect herbivores. Many natural enemies are influenced by non-crop habitat surrounding agricultural fields, and understanding if, and at what scales, land use patterns influence natural enemies is essential to predicting how landscape alters biological control services. Here we focus on biological control of soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matumura, a specialist crop pest recently introduced to the north-central United States. We measured the amount of biological control service supplied to soybean in 26 replicate fields across Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota across two years (2005- 2006). We measured the impact of natural enemies by experimentally excluding or allowing access to soybean aphid infested plants and comparing aphid population growth over 14 days. We also monitored aphid and natural enemy populations at large in each field. Predators, principally coccinellid beetles, dominated the natural enemy community of soybean in both years. In the absence of aphid predators, A. glycines increased significantly, with 5.3-fold higher aphid populations on plants in exclusion cages vs. the open field after 14 days. We calculated a biological control services index (BSI) based on relative suppression of aphid populations and related it to landscape diversity and composition at multiple spatial scales surrounding each site. We found that BSI values increased with landscape diversity, measured as Simpson's D. Landscapes dominated by corn and soybean fields provided less biocontrol service to soybean compared with landscapes with an abundance of crop and non-crop habitats. The abundance of Coccinellidae was related to landscape composition, with beetles being more abundant in landscapes with an abundance of forest and grassland compared with landscapes dominated by agricultural crops. Landscape diversity and composition at a scale of 1.5 km surrounding the focal field explained the greatest proportion of the variation in BSI and Coccinellidae abundance. This study indicates that natural enemies provide a regionally important ecosystem service by suppressing a key soybean pest, reducing the need for insecticide applications. Furthermore, it suggests that management to maintain or enhance landscape diversity has the potential to stabilize or increase biocontrol services.
Biochemical correlates of progesterone-induced plasma membrane depolarization during the first meiotic division in Rana oocytes

Changes in protein synthesis, protein phosphorylation and lipid phosphorylation in the amphibian oocyte plasma membrane have been correlated with electrical changes following steroid induction of the completion of the first meiotic division. The oocyte first depolarizes from about −60 mV (inside negative) to about −25 mV 1 to 2 hr before breakdown of the large nucleus followed by a further depolarization beginning 3 to 6 hr after nuclear breakdown. The initial depolarization is associated with appearance of previously described cycloheximide-sensitive cytoplasmic factor(s) which induce both nuclear breakdown and plasma membrane depolarization. We found a similar ED50 (0.4 μm) for cycloheximide inhibition of nuclear breakdown, membrane depolarization, and [3H]-leucine incorporation. Emetine (1nm to 1mm) was inactive. The period of cycloheximide sensitivity (first 5 hr) is essentially the same for plasma membrane depolarization phase following nuclear breakdown is associated with a marked increase in the rate of [3H]-leucine and [32PO4] incorporation into membrane protein and lipid. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of membrane protein and lipoprotein indicated that a major newly synthesized membrane component is proteolipid. An increase in [32PO4] incorporation into membrane phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine (with a decrease in phosphatidylcholine [32PO4] begins during the second depolarization phase and coincides with the appearance of excitability in the oocyte plasma membrane. In toto, the bulk of the biochemical changes (proteins, phosphoproteins, proteolipids, phospholipids) appear to be associated with plasma membrane components and coincide with stepwise changes in membrane permeability to specific ions (e.g. Cl−).
Fabrication of micro/nano structured aluminum–nickel energetic composites by means of ultrasonic powder consolidation

Abstract Al–Ni energetic composites, applicable to localized heating, were fabricated from atomized powders and hammer-milled flakes by means of ultrasonic powder consolidation, a novel low-temperature rapid powder consolidation technique. Full-density consolidation was achieved in 1 s of consolidation time at temperatures as low as 573 K without causing appreciable reactions between Al and Ni. The consolidated composite structure consists of Ni powder particles or flakes uniformly distributed in a metallurgically consolidated Al matrix. Consolidated materials were evaluated using spark and continuous-heating ignition tests. Ultrasonic powder consolidation is potentially applicable to the fabrication of a wide range of metastable materials that cannot be processed at elevated temperatures.
Circadian aspects of mammalian parturition: A review

The identification of circadian clocks in endocrine tissues has added considerable depth and complexity to our understanding of their physiology. A growing body of research reveals circadian clock gene expression in the uterus of non-pregnant and pregnant rodents. This review will focus on the mammalian uterus and its rhythmicity, particularly as it pertains to the circadian timing of parturition. This key event in the reproductive axis shows dramatic species-specific differences in its circadian phase. It is proposed here that these differences in the phasing of mammalian parturition are likely a function of opposite uterine cell responses to humoral cues. The argument will be made that melatonin fulfills many of the criteria to serve as a circadian signal in the initiation of human parturition, including specific actions on uterine smooth muscle cells that are consistent with a role for this hormone in the circadian timing of parturition.
Decision Making as a Function of Locus of Control and Cognitive Dissonance

Students with internal, as contrasted with external, locus of control showed greater difficulty arriving at decisions when those decisions had serious consequences for someone else.
Vapor–liquid phase equilibria of triacontane isomers: Deviations from the principle of corresponding states

Abstract Coupled–decoupled configurational–bias Monte Carlo (CD-CBMC) simulations in the Gibbs ensemble were carried out to determine the vapor–liquid coexistence curves for n-triacontane and 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosane (squalane). The transferable potentials for phase equilibria-united atom (TraPPE-UA) force field was used for these simulations. The simulated systems consisted of 200 molecules and the production periods extended to 100,000 Monte Carlo cycles, a system size about twice as large and a simulation length about one order of magnitude longer than used in previous simulations. The simulation results are in satisfactory agreement with the available experimental data. Examination of the coexistence curves in reduced units for the two triacontane isomers and for n-octane and 2,5-dimethylhexane shows that both molecular weight and branching can lead to deviations from the principle of corresponding states. Analysis of the molecular structures in the vapor and liquid phases points to a partial collapse (self-solvation) of the triacontane isomers as the likely origin of the deviations from the principle of corresponding states.
Fenestration of the lamina terminalis as a valuable adjunct in aneurysm surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Hydrocephalus, vasospasm, and frontobasal injury are common complications after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from anterior communicating artery aneurysms. Previous studies have suggested that fenestration of the famina terminalis (FLT) during surgery may be associated with reduced rates of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus and vesospasm. We report 106 patients affected by anterior communicating artery aneurysms and Fisher Grade 3 aneurysmal SAH and the affect of FLT on shunt-dependent hydrocephalus, vasospasm, and frontobasal injury. METHODS: During a 3-year period, 53 patients underwent FLT and 53 did not. We prospectively evaluated admission and discharge clinical grades, hydrocephalus at admission, occurrence of clinical vasospasm, need for interventional vasospasra therapy, frontobasal hypodensity incidence, and permancent ventriculoperitoneal shunting repruirement. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 35 months (mean, 17.9 mo). RESULTS: Shunting incidence after aneurysmal SAH with hydrocephalus was 4.25% in patients who underwent FLT and 13.9% in patients who die not (P < 0.001). Clinical cerebral vasospasm occurred in 29.6% of patients who underwent FLT and in 54.7% of patients who did not (P < 0.001). Frontobasal hypodensity was identified postoperatively in 0% of patients who underwent FLT and in 5% of patients who did not. Good outcome was reported in 69.81% of patients who underwent FLT and in 33.96% of patients who did not (P<0.001). Poor outcome was associated with higher Hunt and Hess grades, need for ventricular drainage, elevated intracranial pressure, and multiple interventional vasospasm therapies. No complications were linked to FLT. CONCLUSSON: FIT was associated with statistically significant decreases in shunting rates, incidence of vasospasm, and better outcomes. We recommend its routine use in patients with Fisher Grade J anterior communicating artery aneurysmal SAH.
Tenofovir-Associated Fanconi Syndrome: Review of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is a commonly used HIV antiretroviral. A relatively uncommon adverse effect of this drug is Fanconi syndrome. What is known about this toxicity, especially in regards to concomitant medication use and outcomes, is limited to isolated case reports and small case series. Therefore, a retrospective review of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System from 2001 through 2006 was conducted to examine demographics, concomitant medication use, outcomes, and temporal trends in reporting of Fanconi syndrome associated with TDF use. In this large case series of 164 subjects who met the case definition for Fanconi syndrome, the majority (83%) of the subjects received protease inhibitors (PI) with TDF; specifically, 74% of the total received a ritonavir-boosted PI. Didanosine was the most commonly (43%) prescribed nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). The combination of didanosine with boosted PI was frequently observed (34%), and in particular, didanosine plus lopinavir/ritonavir was documented for 22%. Nearly half (46%) of the total were hospitalized. Fracture (2%) and requirement for dialysis (2%) were infrequent while Fanconi syndrome contributed to death in 2% of these subjects. Patients receiving ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors or didanosine with tenofovir should be closely monitored for development of nephrotoxicity. Although reporting biases and the exclusion of reports with serious confounding conditions likely affected the estimation of outcomes in this case series, severe complications of tenofovir-associated Fanconi syndrome were uncommon.
The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Continuing to unfold the president's panel on Ocean Exploration recommendations for ocean literacy

Technology enables each advancement made in exploration, from the poles to the deepest reaches of the ocean, to the moon and beyond. Discovery of new life forms at hydrothermal vents was made possible by submersible vehicle technology, and continued enhancements in satellite sensor technologies provide ever-improving discoveries of planetary scale changes like those due to El Nino and those talking place in the deepest parts of the ocean. It is cutting-edge technology that enables us to expand the boundaries of the known world while engaging all who wish to be involved in these discoveries in real-time. At the same time, these ever-emerging technological capabilities provide compelling incentives for students to get close-up looks at scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics ocean-related careers. With the unprecedented advancements in all areas of technology, learning is no longer restricted to a place and time, and students are perhaps the most profoundly affected by this evolution in how they learn and where they learn than any other segment of our society.
Performance dependences on multiplication layer thickness for InP/InGaAs avalanche photodiodes based on time domain modeling

InP/InGaAs avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are being widely utilized in optical receivers for modern long haul and high bit-rate optical fiber communication systems. The separate absorption, grading, charge, and multiplication (SAGCM) structure is an important design consideration for APDs with high performance characteristics. Time domain modeling techniques have been previously developed to provide better understanding and optimize design issues by saving time and cost for the APD research and development. In this work, performance dependences on multiplication layer thickness have been investigated by time domain modeling. These performance characteristics include breakdown field and breakdown voltage, multiplication gain, excess noise factor, frequency response and bandwidth etc. The simulations are performed versus various multiplication layer thicknesses with certain fixed values for the areal charge sheet density whereas the values for the other structure and material parameters are kept unchanged. The frequency response is obtained from the impulse response by fast Fourier transformation. The modeling results are presented and discussed, and design considerations, especially for high speed operation at 10 Gbit/s, are further analyzed.
Inverse Eigenvalue Problems

A collection of inverse eigenvalue problems are identified and classified according to their characteristics. Current developments in both the theoretic and the algorithmic aspects are summarized and reviewed in this paper. This exposition also reveals many open questions that deserve further study. An extensive bibliography of pertinent literature is attached.
Effects of Image–Issue and Positive–Negative Scene Orders in Broadcast News

The effects of image–issue scene orders and positive–negative scene orders in a broadcast news story on viewers’ memory, attitudes, and voting intention are examined. The 2 different orders of image–issue and positive–negative scenes are independent variables, whereas free recall, recognition memory, attitudes toward candidates, and voting intention are the dependent variables for this study. An experiment with broadcast news stories about political candidates was carried out. Two main discoveries are made in this study. First, no main order effect of image–issue and positive–negative scenes is found. This illustrates that the order of 2 viewpoints presented in a news story does not influence viewers’ memory or perception of the issue discussed in the story, perhaps due to primacy and recency effects. Second, interaction effects have been observed so that those stories with positive image and negative issue scenes elicit more positive attitudes toward the candidates and higher voting intention than those ...