cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Life-History of the Flagfin shiner, Pteronotropis signipinnis , from a Blackwater Stream in Southeastern Mississippi

– Flagfin shiners, Pteronotropis signipinnis, were collected from Sweetwater Creek, a second-order blackwater stream in southeastern Mississippi, during each month of 1996. Analysis of length frequency histograms indicated a life span of 1 to 2 years. Sex ratio was not different from a 1:1 ratio. Adult males were larger and more heavily pigmented near the abdomen than females. Females were reproductive from April to mid-August. All females attained sexual maturity by 27 mm SL and produced multiple clutches of ova. Clutch size varied from 12 to 101 ova and was correlated with SL. Mean mature oocyte diameter was 0.88 mm (range 0.76–0.96). Despite the relationship between clutch size and body size, P. signipinnis may be selected to invest in early reproduction rather than growth. This idea is supported by the small size at maturity in this species and is consistent with an opportunistic life-history strategy.Note
The right to ignore genetic status of late onset genetic disease in the genomic era; Prenatal testing for Huntington disease as a paradigm

During the last decade, the field of human genome research has gone through a phase of rapid discovery that has provided scientists and physicians with a wide variety of research tools that are applicable to important medical issues. We describe a true case of familial Huntington disease (HD) in which we modified personal details to protect patient's privacy, where the proband at risk preferred not to know his disease status but wanted to know the status in his unborn child. Once we found the father to be negative, the case raised an important ethical question regarding the management of this as well as future pregnancies. This article discusses the arguments for and against the right not to know of one's carrier status, as well as professional obligations in the context of withholding unwanted information that may have direct implications not only for the patient himself but also for other family members. HD has served as a model for many other adult onset genetic diseases in terms of carrier testing guidelines. Hence, we feel it is time to revisit the issue of prenatal testing for HD and consider updating the current recommendations regarding the patient's right to "genetic ignorance", or the right not to know genetic information.
On Interpreting the Random Walk and Unit Root in Nominal and Real Exchange Rates

The random walk property of exchange rates is regarded as carrying implications for the kinds of shocks that have driven exchange rates and the models appropriate for analyzing their behavior. This paper describes the results of stochastic simulations of Dornbusch's (1976) sticky-price monetary model, calibrated for representative parameter values for the United States. The paper shows that when all shocks are nominal, the model generates time series for real and nominal exchange rates that are statistically indistinguishable from random walks and that cointegration tests can provide misleading information about long-run relationships between the variables in the model.
The ouabain inhibition of sugar transport in kidney cortex cells.

The inhibitory effect of ouabain on the active, Na-dependent transport of α-methyl- d -glucoside by slices of rabbit kidney cortex was studied: A Ki of 0.13 m m was found. The inhibition at low ouabain concentrations (0.02 m m ) could be abolished by increasing [K+]0 to 25 m m , whereas at higher concentrations of ouabain (up to 0.5 m m ), increased [K+]0 was ineffective. Evidence for binding of ouabain by kidney cortex was obtained: (a) preincubation of slices in the presence of ouabain produced a subsequent inhibition of cation and α-methyl-glucoside transport in ouabain-free media; (b) more than 80% of ouabain-3H taken up by the tissue could not be washed out. Binding of ouabain by the tissue showed the following characteristics: (a) at low concentrations of the cardiac glycoside (1–100 μ m ) the saturable binding component was depressed by the absence of Na+, and was abolished by increased [K+]0, 0o, and denaturation of tissue proteins at 80°; (b) binding of ouabain by the nonsaturable tissue component was linearly related to the concentration of the substance in the medium. The maximum number of ouabain-binding sites in rabbit kidney, cortex, corrected for the nonspecific binding of the glycoside, was determined to be 6×1015/g wet wt, and the association constant was of the order of 3×105 m −1; in rats, the value for the maximum number of ouabain-binding sites was at least one order of magnitude lower than in rabbits. The above results correlate with the characteristics of the interaction of ouabain with the (Na++K+) ATPase. It is concluded that the membrane ATPase participates (directly or indirectly) in the Na-dependent transport system for α-methylglucoside.
Sensitivity and predictive value of ultrasound in pediatric cholecystitis.

* Corresponding author. Division of General a OH 45242. Tel./fax: þ1 5136808819. E-mail address: sundeepkeswani@gmail. 0022-4804/$ e see front matter a 2014 Elsev http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.06.050 Gallbladder disease is a common cause of abdominal pain in both adult and pediatric populations. Since the advent of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy over 20 years ago, the management of adult gallbladder disease has been well studied and a fairly uniform standard of care has been developed. In contrast, pediatric gallbladder disease is an evolving pathology with evidence that the disease is increasing in prevalence. Fifty years ago, the prevalence of gallstones in children was noted to be 0.15%. In comparison, more recent studies report the prevalence to be as high as 4% with suggestions that this significant increase is linked to the concurrent rise in childhood obesity [1,2]. Effective and efficient diagnosis is one of the main challenges in the management of pediatric cholecystitis. In adult patients with cholecystitis, ultrasound is a highly effective initial diagnostic tool, and the criteria to sonographically define cholecystitis are well described in the adult literature. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of sonographic evaluation have been reported as high as 92% and 98%, respectively [3]. Commonly evaluated ultrasound signs include sonographic Murphy’s sign, gallbladder wall thickening, gallbladder sludge, cholelithiasis, and enlarged or distended gallbladder [4]. An important consideration in
Rapid, non-radioactive detection of virus infection by polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract Background: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnosis of infectious diseases, especially virus diseases, offers a very sensitive and specific technique for clinical diagnosis. However, detection systems for amplified DNA requiring radioactive probe hybridization or signal development using blot transfer or nucleotide capture require overnight incubation or specially labeled probe molecules for analysis of amplified DNA. Objectives: To place this technology in the clinical laboratory, rapid and sensitive methods are needed for the detection of amplified DNA which are applicable to the assay of multiple specimens representing many different organisms and requiring a minimum of manipulation. Study Design: Electrophoretic separation of amplified DNA fragments, stained with the fluorescent dye SYBR Green I, and laser scanning of the gels for detection of virus-specific PCR products was compared with detection of amplified DNA by liquid hybridization with radioactive probes and gel retardation analysis of labeled probe molecules. Results: Fluorescent scanning methodology was applied to the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This method was at least 10 times more sensitive than radioactive probe hybridization in the detection of CMV-specific PCR products. This method also required less time and avoided the use of radioactivity. Conclusions: Clinical diagnosis of virus infections can be conveniently and rapidly accomplished, while avoiding the dangers of radioactive probe handling, by fluorescence staining and laser scanning of specifically amplified gene fragments. This technology is applicable to the detection of genes from many different organisms, without specially synthesized and/or labeled oligonucleotide primer or probe sequences.
A second generation nonequilibrium model for computer simulation of multicomponent separation processes

Abstract Nonequilibrium models combine material and energy balances for each phase with properly formulated models of simultaneous mass and energy transfer in multicomponent systems. An improved nonequilibrium stage model has been implemented for simulating multicomponent separation processes and is described in this paper. The improved model adds to an existing model the phenomena of entrainment and weeping in tray columns and the calculation of the pressure profile. A design mode has been implemented to eliminate the need for equipment design data to be specified in advance. Numerical results show that design mode does not impose an unnacceptable computational penalty. Design mode allows nonequilibrium models to be used for simulating single columns still under consideration or as part of a flowsheet simulation of an entire plant. Nonequilibrium simulations sometimes converge more easily in design mode.
Finding story chains in newswire articles

Massive amounts of information about news events are published on the Internet every day in online newspapers, blogs, and social network messages. While search engines like Google help retrieve information using keywords, the large volumes of unstructured search results returned by search engines make it hard to track the evolution of an event. A story chain is composed of a set of news articles that reveal hidden relationships among different events. Traditional keyword-based search engines provide limited support for finding story chains. In this paper, we propose a random walk based algorithm to find story chains. When breaking news happens, many media outlets report the same event. We have two pruning mechanisms in the algorithm to automatically exclude redundant articles from the story chain and to ensure efficiency of the algorithm. Experimental results show that our proposed algorithm can generate coherent story chains without redundancy.
Use of renewable resource vanillin for the preparation of benzoxazine resin and reactive monomeric surfactant containing oxazine ring

A renewable natural resource, vanillin, is used to synthesize polybenzoxazine with the expected desirable benzoxazine properties as well as a high char yield of 55.3%. The synthesized monomer provides an unused aldehyde group from vanillin. The aldehyde can be further reacted with other materials to enhance properties. As a model, the unused aldehyde is reacted with amine terminated poly(ethylene oxide) to form a surfactant which retains 1,3-benzoxazine’s reactivity. The chemical structure of the synthesized monomers, surfactant and polymers are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H NMR). Thermal properties are also characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Miniemulsions with stability up to 2 weeks are created with the newly synthesized surfactant and polystyrene. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicates 627 nm as the average diameter of the emulsion droplets.
Field-aligned and ionospheric currents

Abstract Zmuda and Armstrong (1974) showed that the field-aligned currents consist of two pairs; one is located in the morning sector and the other in the evening sector. Our analysis of magnetic records from the TRIAD satellite suggests that in each pair the poleward field-aligned current is more intense than the equatorward current, a typical ratio being 2:1. This difference has a fundamental importance in understanding the coupling between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. We demonstrate this importance by computing the ionospheric current distribution by solving the continuity equation ▽ . I = j ∥ using the “observed” distribution of j∥ for several models of the ionosphere with a high conductive annular ring (simulating the auroral oval). It is shown that the actual field-aligned and ionospheric current system is neither a simple Birkeland type, Bostrom type nor Zmuda-Armstrong type, but is a complicated combination of them. The relative importance among them varies considerably, depending on the conductivity distribution, the location of the peak of the field-aligned currents, etc. Further, it is found that the north-south segment of ionospheric current which connects the pair of the field-aligned currents in the morning sector does not close in the same meridian and has a large westward deflection. Thus, it has an appreciable contribution to the westward electrojet. One of the model calculations shows that the entire north-south closure current contributes to the westward electrojet.
Implementing lean production systems: barriers to change

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is help understand why implementing continuous improvement (CI) strategies can be difficult at times. It also addresses the problem of resistance to change within even those firms whose CEO is most fully committed to implementation of CI programs.Design/methodology/approach – The study focuses on a Fortune 500 manufacturing plant located in the Eastern USA. A survey was distributed to both salaried and unionized hourly employees.Findings – Results from the survey show that the problem lies primarily with an aging and high seniority hourly workforce and a lack of committed leadership at this research site. For example, salaried employees consistently provided higher positive ratings of CI initiatives. In addition, higher seniority was directly correlated with negative ratings. Finally, the study found that employees do not feel valued when they contribute to the improvement processes and that 100 per cent of the hourly male employees disagreed that “The Company considers...
The advantage of spacing-out.

Abstract A model is presented which illustrates the advantage of spacing-out for prey of randomly searching predators. The advantage is greater for small or cryptic animals than for more perceivable ones; consequently, selection for low perceptibility to predators should also involve selection for spacing-out.
Information aggregation in a noisy rational expectations economy

Abstract This paper analyzes a general equilibrium model of a competitive security market in which traders possess independent pieces of information about the return of a risky asset. Each trader conditions his estimate of the return both on his own private source of information and price, which in equilibrium serves as a ‘noisy’ aggregator of the total information observed by all traders. A closed-form characterization of the rational expectations equilibrium is presented. A counter-example to the existence of ‘fully revealing’ equilibrium is developed.
Decoding word and category-specific spatiotemporal representations from MEG and EEG.

Abstract The organization and localization of lexico-semantic information in the brain has been debated for many years. Specifically, lesion and imaging studies have attempted to map the brain areas representing living versus nonliving objects, however, results remain variable. This may be due, in part, to the fact that the univariate statistical mapping analyses used to detect these brain areas are typically insensitive to subtle, but widespread, effects. Decoding techniques, on the other hand, allow for a powerful multivariate analysis of multichannel neural data. In this study, we utilize machine-learning algorithms to first demonstrate that semantic category, as well as individual words, can be decoded from EEG and MEG recordings of subjects performing a language task. Mean accuracies of 76% (chance = 50%) and 83% (chance = 20%) were obtained for the decoding of living vs. nonliving category or individual words respectively. Furthermore, we utilize this decoding analysis to demonstrate that the representations of words and semantic category are highly distributed both spatially and temporally. In particular, bilateral anterior temporal, bilateral inferior frontal, and left inferior temporal-occipital sensors are most important for discrimination. Successful intersubject and intermodality decoding shows that semantic representations between stimulus modalities and individuals are reasonably consistent. These results suggest that both word and category-specific information are present in extracranially recorded neural activity and that these representations may be more distributed, both spatially and temporally, than previous studies suggest.
ENZYMES OF THE HUMAN ERYTHROCYTE. V. PENTOSE PHOSPHATE ISOMERASE, PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES.

Abstract Pentose phosphate isomerase has been prepared from the human erythrocyte in a highly purified form. The procedures, which are described in detail, essentially involved chromatography on cellulose columns to remove hemoglobin, followed by ammonium sulfate, heat, and calcium phosphate gel fractionations. Based upon the analyses of its reaction products, the purified enzyme preparation was found to contain only a negligible amount of epimerase activity and to be free of transketolase, phosphoribomutase, phosphatase, and hexose phosphate isomerase activities.
Enhanced phosphorylation of 65 and 74 kDa proteins by tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Abstract Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) enhanced the phosphorylation of identical cytosolic 65 kDa protein (P65 or 1-plastin) and 74 kDa protein (P74) at serine residues in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The isoelectric points of P65 and P74 were 5.6 and 4.7 to 5.0, respectively. The phosphorylation of these proteins increased with a few minutes and reached maximal levels of approximately 3 times the unstimulated levels by 10 minutes. The phosphorylation of P65 and P74 was extensively enhanced by a potent protein kinase C (PKC) activator, PMA. However, there was no translocation of PKC from cytosol to membrane in PBMC that was stimulated with either TNF or IL-1, which suggests that PKC does not participate in TNF or IL-1 signal transduction. cAMP dependent protein (PKA) activators, forskolin and PGE2, failed to increase the phosphorylation, which is in agreement with the data showing that neither TNF nor IL-1 increased cAMP levels in PBMC. These results suggest that induction of phosphorylation of P65 and P74 by TNF and IL-1 is not mediated by PKC and PKA but may be mediated by another protein kinase and result in overlapping of biological activities between TNF and IL-1.
Refreshing: a minimal executive function.

Executive functions include processes by which important information (e.g., words, objects, task goals, contextual information) generated via perception or thought can be foregrounded and thereby influence current and subsequent processing. One simple executive process that has the effect of foregrounding information is refreshing ‐ thinking briefly of a just-activated representation. Previous studies (e.g., Johnson et al., 2005) identified refresh-related activity in several areas of left prefrontal cortex (PFC). To further specify the respective functions of these PFC areas in refreshing, in Experiment 1, healthy young adult participants were randomly cued to think of a just previously seen word (refresh) or cued to press a button (act). Compared to simply reading a word, refresh and act conditions resulted in similar levels of activity in left lateral anterior PFC but only refreshing resulted in greater activity in left dorsolateral PFC. In Experiment 2, refreshing was contrasted with a minimal phonological rehearsal condition. Refreshing was associated with activity in left dorsolateral PFC and rehearsing with activity in left ventrolateral PFC. In both experiments, correlations of activity among brain areas suggest different functional connectivity for these processes. Together, these findings provide evidence that (1) left lateral anterior PFC is associated with initiating a non-automatic process, (2) left dorsolateral PFC is associated with foregrounding a specific mental representation, and (3) refreshing and rehearsing are neurally distinguishable processes.
Experimental evaluation of electrocoagulation and fulguration of dog colon mucosa

Colon injury was produced by monopolar electrocoagulation and fulguration using 2 power units (Cameron-Miller, Valleylab) and the Cameron-Miller electrode and the Olympus hot biopsy forcep. Submucosal and muscular injury occurred at settings 4.5 to 6 Cameron-Miller and 3 to 6 Valleylab for a 1-second application. At all other settings and times, transmural injury occurred. The size of the lesion did not correlate with depth of injury.
Measurement of the compressive creep strain rates of the individual phases within a lamellar microstructure

Abstract A fuducial line technique has been developed to determine the creep properties of the constituent phases within a lamellar composite subject to compression creep deformation. The technique can yield information on the total strain, creep rate, and the stress exponent and activation energy for creep of the individual phases within a lamellar microstructure. The contribution of interphase interfacial sliding to the strain of lamellar composites can also be evaluated by using the fiducial line technique. Application of the fiducial line analysis to a two-phase TiAl/Ti3Al lamellar alloy deformed in compression at 1080K and 380MPa yields good agreement between the creep strain determined using the fiducial line analysis and the value directly measured from the crept specimen. The fiducial line analysis reveals that the TiAl phase within the two-phase TiAl/Ti3Al lamellar microstructure creeps 2.2 times faster than the Ti3Al phase and that interfacial sliding does not contribute to creep deformation of this alloy, within the resolution limit of the fiducial line experiment.
Photovoltaics: Separating multiple excitons

Scientists have demonstrated an efficient process for generating multiple excitons in adjacent silicon nanocrystals from a single high-energy photon. Their findings could prove useful for a wide range of photovoltaic applications.
Measuring the human pelvis: A comparison of direct and radiographic techniques using a modern United States–based sample

Seven measurements were taken on a sample of 50 human cadaveric pelves, all white Texans born in the 20th century. Two separate methodologies were used to obtain these data: radiographs and direct measurements. These two methodologies were compared and contrasted, with the relative advantages and disadvantages of each explored. Results indicate that significant differences exist between the two methodologies. Pelvic height, breadth of symphysis, sacro-iliac breadth (P = 0.0001) and anterior upper spinal breadth (P = 0.0002) were larger when measured directly. Pelvic breadth, transverse diameter of the pelvic brim, and height of the ilium did not significantly differ between methodologies (P = 0.2037, P = 0.5253, P = 0.1752). Due to secular changes and inherent intrapopulational variation, taking measurements either directly from modern cadaveric specimens or radiographically on living volunteers in a limited geographic or socioeconomic grouping, rather than from skeletal collections or archived radiographs, may be more appropriate for providing data for current anthropometric applications.
A historical perspective on special education reform

(1996). A historical perspective on special education reform. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 35, Inclusive Schools: The Continuing Debate, pp. 12-19.
Communication Challenges and Needs: Perceptions of MBA Students:

We asked each student enrolled in a graduate-level management communica tion course to describe in wrzting a work-related communication episode that had challenged him or her. Students reported mos...
On Double Eigenvalues of Schrödinger Operators on Two-Dimensional Tori

Abstract An abstract result concerning double eigenvalues of seif-adjoint operators is presented. It is applied to Schrodinger operators −Δ + V on a generic flat torus R 2 /Γ with V ∈ C ∞ ( R /Γ): Given N ≥ 1 and ϵ > 0 there exists a potential W in C ∞ ( R 2 ,Γ) such that (i) −Δ + V + W has at least N double eigenvalues and (ii) ||W|| L ∞ ≤ ϵ. It is also explained why a similar result for Schrodinger operators on S 2 is unlikely to hold.
Quality of life after islet transplantation.

This study analyzed quality of life in patients with type 1 diabetes that received islet transplantation. Twenty-three subjects were followed over 3 years. In addition to an interview, patients self-completed two standardized psychometric questionnaires, HSQ 2.0 and DQOL, before and after transplant, and scores were compared. Analysis was also adjusted for potential “confounders” such as graft dysfunction, insulin therapy and adverse events. DQOL: the Impact score significantly improved at all time points of the follow-up; satisfaction and worry scales also significantly improved at selected time points. Longitudinal analysis demonstrated that reintroduction of insulin had a negative effect on all three scales, but significant improvement in Impact scale persisted even after adjusting for this factor. HSQ 2.0: only the Health Perception scale preliminarily showed significant improvement at most time points. Longitudinal analysis showed loss of significance when insulin therapy was considered. Other scores were improved only at selected time points or not affected. Bodily pain scale showed deterioration at selected times. Interview: glucose control stability, not insulin independence, was reported as the main beneficial factor influencing QOL. In conclusion, islet transplantation has a positive influence on patients' QOL, despite chronic immunosuppression side effects. Re-introduction of insulin modifies QOL outcomes.
Slowed picosecond kinetics of hot photogenerated carriers in GaAs

Abstract The hot photoluminescent kinetics of GaAs under intense picosecond excitations (1028 photons/cm2 sec) have been measured. A slow risetime of the near bandedge luminescence has been observed arising from a slowed cooling of the electron distribution. The slowed electron kinetics of over 50 fold are attributed to the screening of the electron-phonon interaction. Carrier densities at these excitation intensities are limited by saturation of the absorption. These results are important for understanding and may help clarify the mechanisms of laser annealing.
Stepwise group sparse regression (SGSR): Gene-set-based pharmacogenomic predictive models with stepwise selection of functional priors

Complex mechanisms involving genomic aberrations in numerous proteins and pathways are believed to be a key cause of many diseases such as cancer. With recent advances in genomics, elucidating the molecular basis of cancer at a patient level is now feasible, and has led to personalized treatment strategies whereby a patient is treated according to his or her genomic profile. However, there is growing recognition that existing treatment modalities are overly simplistic, and do not fully account for the deep genomic complexity associated with sensitivity or resistance to cancer therapies. To overcome these limitations, large-scale pharmacogenomic screens of cancer cell lines – in conjunction with modern statistical learning approaches - have been used to explore the genetic underpinnings of drug response. While these analyses have demonstrated the ability to infer genetic predictors of compound sensitivity, to date most modeling approaches have been data-driven, i.e. they do not explicitly incorporate domain-specific knowledge (priors) in the process of learning a model. While a purely data-driven approach offers an unbiased perspective of the data – and may yield unexpected or novel insights - this strategy introduces challenges for both model interpretability and accuracy. In this study, we propose a novel prior-incorporated sparse regression model in which the choice of informative predictor sets is carried out by knowledge-driven priors (gene sets) in a stepwise fashion. Under regularization in a linear regression model, our algorithm is able to incorporate prior biological knowledge across the predictive variables thereby improving the interpretability of the final model with no loss – and often an improvement - in predictive performance. We evaluate the performance of our algorithm compared to well-known regularization methods such as LASSO, Ridge and Elastic net regression in the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (Sanger) pharmacogenomics datasets, demonstrating that incorporation of the biological priors selected by our model confers improved predictability and interpretability, despite much fewer predictors, over existing state-of-the-art methods.
Modeling Recrystallization in Aluminum Using Input from Experimental Observations

A model has been constructed for the microstructural evolution that occurs during the annealing of aluminum alloys. Geometric and crystallographic observations from two orthogonal sections through a polycrystal using automated Electron Back-Scatter Diffraction (EBSD) were used as an input to the computer simulations to create a statistically representative threedimensional model. The microstructure is generated using a voxel-based tessellation technique. Assignment of orientations to the grains is controlled to ensure that both texture and nearest neighbor relationships match the observed distributions. The microstructures thus obtained are allowed to evolve using a Monte-Carlo simulation. Anisotropic grain boundary properties are used in the simulations. Nucleation is done in accordance with experimental observations on the likelihood of occurrences in particular neighborhoods. We will present the effect of temperature on the model predictions.
Upward cocurrent annular flow of air and water in smooth tubes

Two-phase fluid flow is distinguished from single-phase flow in two respects: (1) the cross section for flow of either fluid is not defined by the conduit alone and (2) not only the extent but the manner of frictional energy exchange for each fluid depends on the individual rates of flow for both fluids. It was believed therefore that an empirical approach would not adequately describe the various situations encountered in two-phase flow, and so study was undertaken to obtain some understanding of the mechanisms of the flow of liquid with a free surface and the momentum exchange between fluids at that surface. It resulted in the development of a method of predicting liquid holdup and pressure drop for flowing systems in which the liquid, lifted by the gas flowing as a central core, moves upward as an annular film along the pipe wall. In order to clarify the relationship of annular flow to the entire range of vertical two-phase flow modes, a discussion of vertical two-phase flow is presented, followed by an analysis of the special case of vertical, upward, annular flow; a description of the experimental work; and a comparison of experimental data with predictions.
Kinetics of interleukin-1 secretion by murine macrophages recovered from the peritoneal cavity after surgery

Macrophages play a central role in wound healing after surgical injury possibly through the secretion of soluble factors like interleukin-1 (IL-1). IL-1 has many biological activities which regulate most of the cell types that appear in postsurgical wounds. In this study, we determined the levels of IL-1 production by murine macrophages harvested from postsurgical exudate at several time points after standardized peritoneal surgery. To further characterize the level of functional activities of postsurgical macrophages, the IL-1 levels were determined with or without stimulating the cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). After surgery, the number of macrophages harvested by peritoneal lavage increased, reached peak levels on Postsurgical Day 3, and then decreased. IL-1 levels secreted by macrophages cultured without stimuli gradually increased after surgery, reaching peak levels on Day 10. In conditioned media from LPS-PMA-stimulated macrophages, IL-1 levels were significantly greater than in media from unstimulated macrophages and peaked on Postsurgical Day 3. These data suggest that the susceptibility of postsurgical macrophages to stimuli changes during the postsurgical wound healing process. Accordingly, IL-1 may play an important role in the late rather than in the early phase of peritoneal repair.
Characterization of lead-bismuth eutectic target material for accelerator driven transmuters

Abstract Lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) is under consideration as a target material with high-energy protons for generating neutrons to drive actinide and fission product transmuters. A characterization has been performed to study the performance of this target material as a function of the main variables and the design selections. The characterization includes the neutron yield, the spatial energy deposition, the neutron spectrum, the beam window performance, and the target buffer requirements. The characterization has also considered high-energy deuteron particles to study the impact on the target neutronic performance. The obtained results quantify the LBE target material performance with proton or deuteron particles as a function of the target variables and selections.
Inhibitory binding of adenosine diphosphoribosyl transferase to the DNA primer site of reverse transcriptase templates

Purified adenosine diphosphoribose transferase protein binds to RNA-DNA hybrid templates of reverse transcriptase at the DNA primer site and inhibits RT activity of HIV and MMu RTs. This action is prevented by auto-poly-ADP-ribosylation of the transferase but is reinduced by inhibitory ligands of the enzyme.
Analysis of Pervaporation-Aided Esterification of Organic Acids

Reactors coupled with membrane separation, such as pervaporation, can help enhance the conversion of reactants for thermodynamically or kinetically limited reactions via selective removal of one or more product species from the reaction mixture. Efficacy of pervaporation in driving esterification of lactic and succinic acids with ethanol, which are both reversible reactions, to near completion by stripping water has been established in the author's previous experimental studies. A detailed analysis of reversible condensation reactionswhere one of the products (water) is removed via membrane separationis presented in this work for different reactor−separator configurations. Appropriate numerical illustrations are provided to supplement the analysis. The role of resistances for reaction and membrane separation is investigated, including comparison to perfect membrane, and performance of the reactor−separator systems is compared.
Computation of the one-dimensional free-space periodic Green's function for leaky waves using the Ewald method

This paper examines an extension of the Ewald method for evaluating the periodic free-space Green's function due to an array of point sources, when the wavenumber of the phased sources is allowed to be complex. This makes the Ewald method useful for treating leaky modes on periodic structures.
The stem cell niche

Virtually every tissue of the adult organism maintains a population of putatively slowly-cycling stem cells that maintain homeostasis of the tissue and respond to injury when challenged. These cells are regulated and supported by the surrounding microenvironment, referred to as the stem cell ‘niche’. The niche includes all cellular and non-cellular components that interact in order to control the adult stem cell, and these interactions can often be broken down into one of two major mechanistic categories—physical contact and diffusible factors. The niche has been studied directly and indirectly in a number of adult stem cell systems. Herein, we will first focus on the most well-understood niches supporting the germline stem cells in the lower organisms Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster before concentrating on the more complex, less well-understood mammalian niches supporting the neural, epidermal, haematopoietic and intestinal stem cells. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Online Fluency Disorders Resources for School-Based Clinicians

Speech-language clinicians working in a school setting are some of the busiest people I know. They see a full caseload of children with a variety of communication disorders, keep data for each sess...
Functional assessment of a Multigrasp Myoelectric prosthesis: An amputee case study

This work presents a functional assessment of the Vanderbilt Multigrasp Hand prosthesis and Multigrasp Myoelectric Control method which the authors have previously described. In the study, a transradial amputee utilized the prosthetic system to perform the Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure (SHAP), which involves manipulation tasks designed to simulate the activities of daily living. The results of the study indicate 81% restoration of typical hand function and compare favorably to recently published SHAP results for commercially available single-grasp and multigrasp prosthetic hands. A video of the assessment is included as supplementary material.
Transcatheter renal artery embolization in treatment of ureterocutaneous fistula

We report a case of a critically ill patient who had a ureterocutaneous fistula develop after placement of a Dacron bypass graft from the aorta to the right popliteal artery and the left femoral artery. We describe a successful nonsurgical method to terminate renal function in this patient, who was a poor operative risk.
Fiber bias effect on characterization of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites by nanoindentation testing and modeling

Fiber bias effect on characterization of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites by nanoindentation testing has been investigated by computer modeling and validated by experiments. IM7/PEEK composite was selected as a case study material. Nanoindentation tests using Berkovich indenter were carried out on fiber longitudinal direction and in the near fiber region of the matrix to attempt to determine the nanomechanical properties of the fibers and the interphase. A 3D finite element analysis model for simulating nanoindentation was developed, taking into account the carbon fibers’ transversely isotropic properties. A fiber bias effect inducing a gradient in modulus in fiber–matrix interphase region was observed from tests and confirmed by modeling, and this property transition thickness induced by the fiber bias is about 1–2 µm depending on the indentation depth, which suggests an inherent difficulty when attempting to determine the true interphase properties experimentally using the nanoindentation testing.
Origin of second-harmonic generation enhancement in optical split-ring resonators

Abstract : We present a study of the second-order nonlinear optical properties of metal-based metamaterials. A hydrodynamic model for electronic response is used, in which nonlinear surface contributions are expressed in terms of the bulk polarization. The model is in good agreement with published experimental results, and clarifies the mechanisms contributing to the nonlinear response. In particular, we show that the reported enhancement of the second harmonic in split-ring resonator based media is driven by the electric rather than the magnetic properties of the structure.
Engaging students and teaching modern concepts: literate, situated, object-oriented programming

This paper describes our experience in using situated programming to deliver modern computer science concepts in the introductory programming course at Carnegie Mellon University. We used an artificial life simulation and taught object-oriented programming as well as more traditional material. The course was an experience, not an experiment, since many aspects of the course simultaneously changed from prior offerings. Nevertheless, what we saw was fundamental and potentially far-reaching. The most important result was that students were intellectually engaged. They came to grips with basic object-oriented programming, they mastered the topics of procedural programming, they learned first hand about computer simulation, they learned perhaps a bit about biology. Most importantly, through it all they used programming to express and explore their own powerful and novel ideas.
Comparative Toxicity of Mycotoxins to Navel Orangeworm (Amyelois transitella) and Corn Earworm (Helicoverpa zea)

Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins and ochratoxins, are widely distributed in nature and are frequently problematic crop contaminants that cause millions of dollars of annual losses in the United States. Insect infestations of crop plants significantly exacerbate mycotoxin contamination. Damage to a variety of nut species by Amyelois transitella Walker (navel orangeworm, NOW) is associated with infection by Aspergillus species and concomitant production of aflatoxins and ochratoxins. Resistance to aflatoxins in this lepidopteran is compared here with the levels of resistance in Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm, CEW), another lepidopteran that routinely encounters aflatoxins in its diet, albeit at lower levels. Measured as the developmental delay caused by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), it is apparent that the LC(50) (defined as the concentration preventing 50% of newly hatched larvae from entering the 2nd instar within 48 h) for AFB1 is 100 times greater for A. transitella than for H. zea. Similarly, A. transitella 1st instars display substantially higher tolerance to ochratoxin A, another mycotoxin contaminant produced by Aspergillus species, than do H. zea. Our studies indicate that A. transitella, although a hostplant generalist, may well be highly specialized for mycotoxin detoxification.
Pharmacokinetics of Antituberculosis Drugs in Patients

The pharmacokinetics of rifampin, isoniazid, and ethambutol were determined in 26 ambulatory male patients (aged 49.5 +/- 9.9 yr) with tuberculosis. Rifampin and isoniazid were given individually or together, with or without ethambutol; studies were done after a single dose and after chronic administration. Under the study conditions, with large variability in the extent of disease and physical status and history of alcohol and tobacco abuse and narrow age range, the pharmacokinetics of these three antituberculosis drugs were not modified significantly by patient age. Furthermore, appreciable drug-drug interactions did not occur when the three drugs were administered concurrently. Self-induction of rifampin clearance by chronic dosing with the drug may lead to subtherapeutic levels of rifampin. Administration of isoniazid and ethambutol in two divided doses resulted in peak plasma concentrations below the accepted therapeutic levels of the two drugs. Our findings indicate that at least in the middle-aged patients with tuberculosis, the current single daily dose, multiple-drug regimen is therapeutically sound pharmacokinetically, and clinicians do not have to make adjustments in dosages of these drugs for age and the extent of disease.
INTERCROP RELATIONSHIPS AND SPIDER MITE DISPERSAL IN A CORN/PEANUT AGRO‐ECOSYSTEM

Crawling was determined to be an important dispersal mechanism for spider mites leaving border vegetation and entering corn fields early in the season. This dispersal did not appear important in peanut fields. Large populations of spider mites in field corn were found responsible for subsequent infestations in peanuts. As corn plants senesced, mites began crawling to the periphery of the corn plant and grouping in masses on leaf tips, tassels and silks. During this period of mite movement, large numbers of mites were dispersed from the corn on wind currents and carried to nearby host plants. Aerial trapping verified this dispersal of mites and their subsequent colonization of previously uninfested peanut fields. Mites labelled in corn with a fluorescent powder were later found on peanut plants confirming the interhost movement. RESUME Dispersion des tetranyches et relations entre champs voisins de mais et d'arachide Dans le S. E. des U.S.A. Tetranychus urticae Koch est un ennemi severe de nombreuses cultures. Il attaque souvent le mais le N. E. de la Caroline du Nord en juin et juillet: cependant les pullulations sur arachide se produisent generalement en aout et septembre. Les tetranyches peuplent la vegetation sauvage sur les bords des champs chaque printemps, quelle que soit la nature de la culture. Ces acariens penetrent dans le champ a partir de cette vegetation limitrophe et commencent a consommer le mais. Les degats sont plus severes le long des bords. A cette epoque, pour des raisons inconnues, tres peu d'acariens ont emigre dans les champs d'arachide. Quand les acariens attaquent les arachides (aout — septembre), il y a rarement cet effet de bordure. L'absence d'effet de bordure est du au fai que les acariens se deplacent dans la culture d'arachide de differentes facons. L'eloignement des acariens de la plante a ete observe quand le mais se desseche en juillet. Pendant ce deplacement, de nombreux acariens sont disperses par le vent. La capture de tetranyches sur des lames de microscope engluees suspendues au-dessus du mais et des arachides, confirme cette dispersion aerienne. Ces acariens abandonnent un hote deperissant (le mais) pour coloniser les champs anterieurement sains d'arachide. L'utilisation de poudre fluorescente pour marquer les acariens sur le mais permet de les recuperer sur les champs adjacents d'arachide, ce qui confirme le changement d'hotes. 86% des acariens captures sur les lames engluees sont des femelles; ceci montre l'utilisation maximale du comportement de dispersion pour liberer les elements reproducteurs.
High-resolution endoscopic imaging of the GI tract: A comparative study of optical coherence tomography versus high-frequency catheter probe EUS

Abstract Background: Both optical coherence tomography (OCT) and catheter probe EUS (CPEUS) are candidates for high-resolution imaging of the GI wall, but their potential roles in this clinical context have not been investigated. Methods: OCT and CPEUS were used to image normal-appearing portions of the GI tract at the same sites. CPEUS was performed with a 20-MHz or a new 30-MHz catheter probe. Results: Forty-four histologically confirmed normal sites in 27 patients were evaluated. With OCT, mucosa and muscularis mucosa were clearly seen at all sites. Except for stomach, OCT demonstrated the submucosa in all sites. OCT penetration ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 mm. Microscopic structures such as esophageal glands, intestinal villi, colonic crypts, and blood vessels were easily identified. CPEUS penetration ranged from 10 mm to 20 mm, and 5 to 7 distinct layers were discernible. However, both mucosa and submucosa were seen as thin layers without microscopic detail. Conclusion: OCT resolution is superior to high-frequency CPEUS, but depth of penetration is limited to mucosa and submucosa. OCT images the major structural components of the mucosa and submucosa whereas CPEUS does not. Potentially, OCT and high-frequency CPEUS may be complementary for clinical imaging. (Gastrointest Endosc 2001;54:219-24.)
Internationalized Civil War: A Dynamic Analysis of the Syrian Intervention in Lebanon

This study involves a longitudinal investigation of the short-term and long-term effects of the Syrian military intervention (June 1976) on Lebanese domestic conflict. The inquiry also includes an ...