cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single versus repeated dose human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation in the differential diagnosis of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

The responses of serum testosterone (T), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) to four im injections of hCG (5000 IU/1.7 m2) given on days 0, 4, 7, and 10 were studied in 10 prepubertal and 10 pubertal boys with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (groups O and P, respectively). Serum was obtained before each injection and on day 14. The results were compared with those of controls, 16 prepubertal boys with incomplete testicular descent and 6 pubertal boys with constitutional delay of puberty. Serum T levels increased significantly in groups O and P to 2.0 and 4.6 nmol/liter, respectively, after the first injection, then progressively to 5.8 and 11.2 nmol/liter. Basal T levels of group O did not differ from those of the controls, but were subnormal for group P (P less than 0.001). Stimulated T levels were subnormal in both groups (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001), but repeated doses increased the difference from the control value only in group P. A difference in E2 response between patients and controls appeared in puberty; only the pubertal control boys had substantial increases in E2 (P less than 0.001). Our results show that the optimal protocol for a diagnostic hCG test in prepubertal boys is a single dose of hCG, with determination of T levels 4 days later. In puberty, if the basal T levels are inconclusive, repeated doses of hCG should be given with determination of both T and E2. These findings also suggest that the full inhibitory effect of E2 on T synthesis results from a pubertal maturation process, possibly induced by endogenous gonadotropins, which cannot be induced by two weeks of hCG stimulation in prepubertal boys or those with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
928 X-LINKED HYPOGONADISM, GYNECOMASTIA, MENTAL RETARDATION, SHORT STATURE AND OBESITY. A NEW SYNDROME

Five male members in four generations of the same family presented with hypogonadism, micropenis, mental retardation and short stature. The adults had gynecomastia, obesity and normal size hands and feet. Four had small head, with narrow forehead in two. History of neonatal hypotonia with difficulty in feedings was obtained in two. A variety of structural abnormalities of the hand and other skeletal defects were observed in some. Chromosomal studies including banding were normal. Serum LH and FSH were normal in three adults (12.3 and 4.5 mIU/ml; 9.0 and 7.0 mIU/ml and 22.5 and 18.1 mIU/m1). Serum testosterone levels were low (90 ng/d1; 54 ng/d1 and 75 ng/d1) and responded to hCG with at least doubling of the initial value. Testicular biopsies in two adults showed patchy involvement with tubular shrinkage, folding of the basement membrane, thickening of the tunica propria and loss of germinal epithelium in some areas. Other tubules were less affected and showed spermatogenesis. Leydig cells were present. The findings suggest partial hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Their phenotype and the abnormalities in their sexual development are most likely the result of a developmental anomaly of the CNS. The mode of inheritance, gynecomastia and absence of small hands and feet suggest that this disorder represents a new syndrome resembling but distinct from that described by Prader and Willi. Supported in part by John W. Champion Center.
Mechanisms of Slow Sorption of Organic Chemicals to Natural Particles

The use of equilibrium expressions for sorption to natural particles in fate and transport models is often invalid due to slow kinetics. This paper reviews recent research into the causes of slow sorption and desorption rates at the intraparticle level and how this phenomenon relates to contaminant transport, bioavailability, and remediation. Sorption kinetics are complex and poorly predictable at present. Diffusion limitations appear to play a major role. Contending mechanisms include diffusion through natural organic matter matrices and diffusion through intraparticle nanopores. These mechanisms probably operate simultaneously, but the relative importance of each in a given system is indeterminate. Sorption shows anomalous behaviors that are presently not well explained by the simple diffusion models, including concentration dependence of the slow fraction, distributed rate constants, and kinetic hysteresis. Research is needed to determine whether adsorption/desorption bond energies may play a role alon...
Microscale carbon isotope variability in ALH84001 carbonates and a discussion of possible formation environments

Abstract The carbonates in martian meteorite ALH84001 preserve a record of aqueous processes on Mars at 3.9 Ga, and have been suggested to contain signatures of ancient martian life. The conditions of the carbonate formation environment are critical for understanding possible evidence for life on Mars, the history of water on Mars, and the evolution of the martian atmosphere. Despite numerous studies of petrographic relationships, microscale oxygen isotope compositions, microscale chemical compositions, and other minerals associated with the carbonates, formation models remain relatively unconstrained. Microscale carbon isotope analyses of ALH84001 carbonates reveal variable δ13C values ranging from +27 to +64‰. The isotopic compositions are correlated with chemical composition and extent of crystallization such that the Mg-poor, early-formed carbonates are relatively 13C depleted and the Mg-rich, later forming carbonates, are 13C enriched. These data are inconsistent with many of the previously proposed environments for carbonate formation, and a new set of hypotheses are proposed. Specifically, two new models that account for the data involve low temperature (
Discrimination of crossed and uncrossed disparities.

Tanner’s theory of recognition [ J. Acoust. Soc. Am.28, 882 ( 1956)] was applied to the discrimination of retinal disparity stimuli for both diplopic and fused images. The results for diplopic stereopsis suggest a two-channel model with separate encoding of crossed and uncrossed disparities, similar to the model proposed by Richards [ Exp. Brain Res.10, 308 ( 1970)]. For fused images the results were consistent with a multichannel model with overlapping disparity sensitivities.
Intensity correction by subtraction for phased-array MRA images

A method of intensity correction is described that is particularly useful for magnetic resonance angiography images acquired with phased-array coils. In this method a low-pass filtered version of the image is subtracted from the original image to remove signal variations due to the phased-array coil. This avoids the noise amplification caused by division correction and enhances the signal-to-noise ratio of small arteries in maximum intensity projections. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000;12:501-504.
The morphology of cells in duodenal-drainage smears: histologic origin and pathologic significance.

Duodenal-drainage smears from 301 patients were examined. Of these, 73 patients had pancreatic carcinoma, while 32 patients had malignant tumors at other sites. Malignant tumor cells were found in 23 cases of pancreatic carcinoma and in 7 patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder and common duct. Atypical cells of pancreatic ductal origin and having neoplastic significance were present in 16 cases of 13 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Malignancy-associated changes in cells of undetermined origin were seen in 29 patients with pancreatic carcinoma and in 19 with malignant tumors at other sites. Of 25 specimens with equivocal cells, carcinoma of the pancreas and common duct was present in 4 patients. Three patients of 135 with negative cytologic specimens had pancreatic carcinoma.
Solubility Properties of Chlorhexidine Salts

Chlorhexidine (CHX) is effective in treating oral bacterial infections. The solubility was shown to be highly dependent on the salt present in solution. Gluconate enhances the amount of CHX diacetate in solution possibly through mixed micelles formation, because the solubility product is such that the concentration of CHX will exceed the critical micelle concentration. However, only low concentrations of CHX dichloride can be obtained, which is not appreciably solubilized by gluconate ions. The low concentration of CHX that can be achieved in physiological concentrations of chloride in the oral cavity may be problematic for dental, slow release formulations.
A Method for Extraction and Enumeration of Teliospores of Tilletia indica, T. controversa, and T. barclayana in Soil.

ABSTRACT A sucrose-centrifugation method was developed to extract teliospores of Tilletia indica, T. con-troversa, and T. barclayana from soil. Six soil types were artificially infested with teliospores of each of the three fungi separately to produce 102, 103, 104, or 105 teliospores per 10 g. Each 10 g of infested soil was suspended in 200 ml of water with one drop of Tween 20 and shaken for 30 s. The soil suspension was first passed through a 117-μm sieve and then through a 53-μm mesh filter, and the filtrate was collected. The filtrate was then passed through a 20-μm mesh filter, and materials caught on the mesh were washed into two 50-ml centrifuge tubes and spun for 3 min (1,200 × g). The pellet was suspended in 1.6 M sucrose solution and centrifuged for 40 s (200 × g). The supernatant was passed through a 20-μm mesh filter. The materials caught on the 20-μm mesh were collected, and the number of teliospores was determined. This procedure was initially used to extract teliospores of T. indica in soi...
Quality control problem in printed circuit board manufacturing—An extended rough set theory approach

Abstract This paper presents a new heuristic algorithm, called extendedrough set theory, for reduct selection in rough set theory (RST) applications. This algorithm is efficient and quick in selecting reducts especially if the problem size is large. The algorithm is able to derive the rules and identify the most significant features simultaneously, which is unique and useful in solving quality control problems. A detailed comparison between traditional statistical methods, the RST approach, and the extended RST approach is presented. The developed algorithm is applied to an industrial case study involving quality control of printed circuit boards (PCBs). The case study addresses one of the common quality problems faced in the PCB manufacturing, namely, solder ball defects. Several features that cause solder ball defects were identified and the features that significantly impact the quality were considered in this case study. Two experiments with equal and unequal weights were conducted and the results were compared. The end result of the extended RST investigation is a set of decision rules that shows the cause for the solder ball defects. The rules help to discriminate the good and bad parts to predict defective PCBs. A large sample of 3,568 PCBs was used to derive the set of rules. Results from the extended RST are very encouraging compared to statistical approaches. The rules derived from the data set provide an indication of how to effectively study this problem in further investigations. This paper forms the basis for solving many other similar problems that occur in manufacturing and service industries.
Disease ontogeny overshadows effects of climate and species interactions on population dynamics in a nonnative forest disease complex

This work was partially supported by the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Research Station, grant 04-JV-11242328- 122.
Simultaneous In-Situ Synthesis and Characterization of Co@Cu Core-Shell Nanoparticle Arrays

Core-shell nanostructures have attracted much attention due to their unique and tunable properties relative to bulk structures of the same materials, making core-shell nanoparticles candidates for a variety of applications with multiple functionalities.[1,2] Intriguing magnetic behavior can be tailored by variation of size, interface, crystal orientation, and composition, and core-shell nanostructures with noble-metal shells yield novel optical responses[3] and enhanced electrocatalytic activity.[4]
Impact of Knowledge and Age on Tip-of-the-Tongue Rates

Older (50-82), middle age (30-49), and younger (17-29) adults were asked to answer 57 general knowledge questions about words, objects, and people that were used to generate tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) experiences; none required a proper name answer. Middle age and older participants correctly answered more of the general knowledge questions and received higher scores on a vocabulary test than the younger participants. An analysis of variance of the number of positive TOTs indicated a significant main effect of age; older adults experienced more TOTs than younger and middle aged adults, but an analysis of covariance conducted to statistically control for the level of knowledge showed no significant differences between the age groups. Level of knowledge, and not age, contributed to the amount of TOTs experienced; those people with higher levels of knowledge experienced more TOTs. The implications of these results for the transmission deficit hypothesis are discussed.
Examination of the effects of computationally determined network topology on an analytical constitutive model for bimodal elastomers

Bimodal elastomer networks, so called due to their nominal bimodal molecular weight distribution of starting oligomers, are of continued interest due to the enhanced strength and toughness seen in certain mixtures. Researchers have suggested that the enhanced properties stem from the particular micromechanics of the networks formed by these systems at these optimal compositions. This work extends an existing analytical constitutive model for bimodal elastomer networks by incorporating aspects of network topology, including network connectivity patterns and realistic chain length distributions, determined through computational simulations of the formation of the network structure. These factors are included as functions of bimodal composition and are shown to affect the predicted mechanical, optical, and orientation responses of the network. The extended model elucidates how the naturally occurring doubled connection topology creates a micro-mechanism that lowers overall chain orientation in the lower molecular weight component and recreates experimentally observed optical response phenomena. Specifically, the model predicts that the presence of the stiff, contractile, doubled connections forces the rest of the network to conform more to the macroscopic stretch ratio while reducing the measured average orientation of the lower molecular weight component in the system; the effect diminishes as the composition-dependent population of doubled connections in the system decreases.
Pharmacological and Host Considerations in the Selection of Dose and Duration of Azole Therapy for Adult Patients

Azole antifungals are used to treat a myriad of fungal infections in diverse patient populations. As a result, it becomes clear that use of one size fits all azole dosing regimens is illogical. Three general variable categories are essential to consider when developing an approach the management of fungal infections with the azoles. These categories are the pharmacological, microbiological, and host. In the clinical setting information regarding microbiological variables if often lacking; however, host and pharmacological data are abundant. Unfortunately, these available data are not always used to construct individualized dosing strategies. In this review, host and pharmacological factors that can influence azole activity will be presented. Additionally, recommendations will be provided to help the clinician optimize azole dosing regimens based on these variables.
Vitamin B12 sparing action of aureomycin in the rat.

SummaryAureomycin can replace vit. B12 in the purified diet of the rat. A possible explanation for these findings must consider the influence of the antibiotic on intestinal synthesis in the rat. When the antibiotic activity is destroyed, the growth response is not observed.
Some Problems of Design for Nano-Manufacturing: Present and Future Aspects

This presentation contains introductory information about the possibility of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) of nanomachines and nanomechanisms. Some consideration was also given to the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) of mechanical nanosystems. It was written with two goals in mind: first, in order to promote discussion and a deeper understanding of nanomanufacturing problems and to shed some light on these “nano” challenges. The object of the second goal was to assist manufacturing engineers in facing and understanding the problems, methods, and procedures for the Design For Manufacturing (DFM) of nanomachines.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Antepartum management of triplet gestations

Abstract OBJECTIVE : We evaluated an alternative approach to the management of triplet gestations that did not include home uterine monitoring, prophylactic tocolysis, or routine antepartum hospitalization. STUDY DESIGN : Fifteen patients were managed over a 42-month period by an antepartum protocol that emphasized patient education regarding signs and symptoms of preterm labor, weekly prenatal visits after 24 weeks' gestation with cervical examination, and increased rest in an outpatient setting. Tocolytic therapy was only used for regular uterine contractions when cervical change was documented. RESULTS : Nine of 15 (60%) patients with management in this uniform manner were delivered at ≥35weeks' gestation, and six patients (40%) completed 37 weeks of pregnancy. Only five patients (33%) received tocolytic therapy. The mean birth weight was 1957 ± 488 gm, and only 19 of 45 neonates (42%) were admitted to the intensive care nursery. CONCLUSION : This management scheme was effective in reducing preterm delivery and thereby optimizing perinatal outcome. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;167:1117–20.)
Epistasis in Monkeyflowers

Epistasis contributes significantly to intrapopulation variation in floral morphology, development time, and male fitness components of Mimulus guttatus. This is demonstrated with a replicated line-cross experiment involving slightly over 7000 plants. The line-cross methodology is based on estimates for means. It thus has greater power than the variance partitioning approaches historically used to estimate epistasis within populations. The replication of the breeding design across many pairs of randomly extracted, inbred lines is necessary given the diversity of multilocus genotypes residing within an outbred deme. Male fitness is shown to exhibit synergistic epistasis, an accelerating decline in fitness with inbreeding. Synergism is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for a mutational deterministic hypothesis for the evolutionary maintenance of sexual reproduction. Unlike male fitness measures, flower morphology and development time yield positive evidence of epistasis but not of synergism. The results for these traits suggest that epistatic effects are variable across genetic backgrounds or sets of interacting loci.
Crystalline Boron Carbide Encapsulated Into Carbon Nanoclusters from ARC-Discharge Soot

Using a boron-containing composite anode in an arc discharge, we found in the soot on the reactor walls graphitic multiwalled carbon clusters that contained boron carbide crystals, as identified by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and electron diffraction. The encapsulants are compounds of the lightest element that has yet been encapsulated, and the first of the non-metallic. The multiwalled graphitic cages partially encapsulating the boron compounds have rarely been observed in the soot of arc-discharge material produced from anodes not containing boron. We explain this exception by the known tendency of boron to catalyze graphitization.
Radioautographic studies of reticular and blast cells in the hemopoietic tissues of the rat.

The rates of proliferation and developmental capabilities of reticular cells in the hemopoietic tissues of the rat were studied after administering single and multiple injections of tritiated thymidine. Radioautographic analyses were made using both smears and sections of the various hemopoietic tissues. Liquid scintillation counting of tissues was also employed. Sublethal gamma irradiation was administered to animals previously labeled with H3-thymidine in order to evaluate the role of reticular cells during the repopulation of the marrow. The labeling patterns (per cent label and average grain count) of reticular cells, both phagocytic and non-phagocytic types, are compared with the labeling patterns of blast cells. It is shown that reticular cells are proliferating at a slow rate and do not demonstrate the labeling patterns expected of stem cells for the rapidly proliferating myeloblasts, pronormoblasts, lymphoblasts and megakaryoblasts. The labeling patterns of cells which are generally believed to precede the committed blast cells, the hemo-cytoblasts, are also discussed and are contrasted with the labeling patterns of the reticular cells. During recovery from sublethal irradiation there was no evidence of differentiation or transformation of labeled reticular cells into blast cells of the various blood cell lines. The labeling patterns of blast cells suggest that the great majority are derived from members of their own group and that any proposed precursors of these blasts would need to be relatively few in number, rapidly proliferating and highly radiosensitive.
Performance of the Directigen EZ Flu A+B rapid influenza diagnostic test to detect pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009

Abstract The Directigen EZ Flu A+B rapid influenza diagnostic test, as compared to real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, demonstrated suboptimal performance to detect pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009. Age- and viral load–stratified test sensitivity ranged from 33.3 to 84.6% and 0 to 100%, respectively.
Evaluation of the time-domain approach for crosstalk-free communication in photonic switches

First-order crosstalk in Multistage Interconnection Network (MINs) can be avoided by ensuring only one input of each switch is active at a given time, in other words, no two connections can use the same switch simultaneously. A space domain approach dilates an N- by-N network into one that is essentially equivalent to a 2N-by-2N network. The time domain approach proposed extends the `dilation' concept from space to time to avoid crosstalk by establishing the connections sharing the same switch in different time slots. This paper studies the tradeoffs of these two approaches in two different MINs, namely, Banyan and Benes, under both individual and stage switch control. Theoretical analysis showed that in a Banyan with stage control, the set of N-by-N permutations whose connections can be established crosstalk free in two time slots using the time domain approach is more than the set of permutations that can be realized in one time slot using the space domain approach. In addition, simulation results showed that given the same set of one-to-one or one-to-many connections, the number of time slots needed by the time-domain approach is less than twice of that needed by the space-domain approach.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hypertension in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Hypertension in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) has been shown to be associated with a greater than 50 percent incidence of hypertension prior to deterioration in renal function as assessed by glomerular filtration rate. The present study provides evidence for increased cardiac pre-load, as assessed by plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and cardiac index, in hypertensive as compared to normotensive ADPKD. The hypertensive ADPKD patients exhibited an increased renal vascular resistance as compared to the normotensive patients in spite of comparable glomerular filtration rates. It is hypothesized that the renal involvement of hypertensive ADPKD patients causes an impaired renal response to the observed increase in cardiac index, and also may release a venoconstrictor (such as angiotensin) which contributes to the enhanced cardiac pre-load and thus the hypertension.
Metastable structures and critical thicknesses: Ag on Si(111)-7×7

Abstract Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to investigate recrystallization of nonequilibrium thin films of Ag grown on Si(111)-7×7 at 50 K. At this temperature, diffusion is limited and highly unstable microstructures are produced. Warming to 300 K allows atom redistribution and recrystallization that produces flat, pinhole-free films when the amount of material deposited exceeds 6 ML but multilayer pits are observed for thinner films. This planar film structure is stabilized by electronic contributions to the free energy. Growth at 300 K produces three dimensional structures that are constrained from interrogating the planar configuration.
Planning, Discourse Marking, and the Comprehensibility of International Teaching Assistants

An examination of the planned and unplanned production of 24 nonnative-speaking teaching assistants indicates that there is a greater difference between the 2 conditions in the degree of discourse marking than in grammatical accuracy. In planned production, discourse moves were more likely to be marked overtly and explicitly than in unplanned production, whereas the level of syntactic and morphological errors differed only slightly. This increased marking in the planned condition appeared to contribute significantly to comprehensibility, suggesting that explicit marking of discourse structure is a crucial element of the comprehensibility of nonnative-speaker production.
Constructing Professional Resource Networks from Career Biographical Database

Advances in technology and its usage have resulted in vast quantities of information being available on the public domains accessible via the internet. In this study, we explore the viability of one method of using information that has already been collated, to construct a network of the professional resources of a population not easily accessible viz., corporate directors.
Prediction of Compressor Stall for Distorted and Undistorted Inlet Flow

A simulation technique is presented for the prediction of compressor stall for axial-flow compressors for clean and distorted inlet flow. The simulation is implemented on the digital computer and uses stage stacking and lumped-volume gas dynamics. The resulting nonlinear differential equations are linearized about a steady-state operating point, and a Routh-Hurwitz stability test is performed on the linear system matrix. Parallel compressor theory is utilized to extend the technique to the distorted inlet-flow problem. The method is applied to the eight-stage J85-13 compressor. Analytical stall prediction for the undistorted stall line shows good agreement with experimental results. The predicted stall line for distorted inlet flow is in agreement with experimental results only for large distortion extends and/or low distortion levels. Results for low distortion extents and high distortion level do not agree with experimental results.
A comparative study of mist and bubble column reactors in the in vitro production of artemisinin

Artemisia annua hairy roots grown in nutrient mist reactors produced nearly three times as much artemisinin as roots grown in bubble column reactors, 2.64 µg/g DW and 0.98 µg/g DW, respectively.
New alkaloids from Delphinium elatum L.

Abstract A study of the alkaloids present in the seeds of Delphinium elatum L. has led to the isolation of three new C 19 -diterpenoid alkaloids: elasine ( 1 ), isodelpheline ( 3 ) and eladine ( 5 ), besides seven known alkaloids: delpheline ( 7 ), deltaline ( 8 ), methyllycaconitine ( 10 ), nudicauline ( 11 ), 14-deacetylnudicauline ( 12 ), lycoctonine and elatine ( 13 ). The structures of these alkaloids were determined by spectral data and correlation with alkaloids of established structures. Thus methylation of elasine ( 1 ) and eladine ( 5 ) yielded deltaline ( 8 ) and delpheline ( 7 ), respectively.
Thymidine kinase and thymidylate kinase in the silkworm, Antheraea pernyi.

1. Thymidine kinase (ATP: thymidine-5′-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.21) and thymidylate kinase were extracted from the wing epidermis of developing adults of Antheraea pernyi and partially characterized. 2. Activity of both enzymes was low in dialysed extracts unless Mg2+ was added. Non-dialysed extracts contained sufficient Mg2+ for the full activation of thymidine kinase but not for full activation of thymidylate kinase. 3. High concentrations of Mg2+ or of ATP inhibited thymidine kinase but this inhibition disappeared when both cofactors were added in equimolar concentrations. High concentrations of thymidine also inhibited thymidine kinase; this inhibition was diminished by lowering the concentration of ATP. 4. Thymidine kinase was inhibited about 45 % when thymidine and deTTP were equimolar. deCTP also inhibited thymidine kinase but to a lesser degree; i.e. by about 50 % when the deCTP concentration was 10 times that of thymidine. deGTP and deATP caused to detectable inhibition. However, to a certain extent, these factors were able to satisfy the requirements for ATP.
What Does Reputation Buy? Differentiation in a Market for Third-Party Auditors

We study differences in quality in the market for third-party environmental auditors in Gujarat, India. We find that, despite the low overall quality, auditors are heterogeneous and some perform well. We posit that these high-quality auditors survive by using their good name to insulate select client plants from regulatory scrutiny. We find two pieces of evidence broadly consistent with this hypothesis: (i) though estimates are not precise, higher-quality auditors appear to be paid more both in their work as third-party auditors and in their complementary work as consultants; and (ii) plants with high-quality auditors incur fewer costly penalties from the regulator.
Robustness of centipede-inspired millirobot locomotion to leg failures

This paper explores the use of mechanical redundancy to enhance robustness to leg failures in miniature ambulatory robots. Graceful degradation, rather than immediate catastrophic failure, is exhibited experimentally in 10-20 leg centipede-inspired millirobots as legs are removed without altering the gait, using speed and radius of curvature as performance metrics. Static stability retention is examined as a function of the nominal number of legs, and for cases where static stability is lost, two gait options are tested. The effect of location of missing legs on performance is also described.
Adenosine in myocardial protection in on-pump and off-pump cardiac surgery

Adenosine is most well known for its potent vasodilation of the vasculature. However, it also promotes glycolysis, and activates potassium-sensitive adenosine triphosphate (K(ATP)) channels. Adenosine also strongly inhibits neutrophil function such as superoxide anion production, protease release, and adherence to coronary endothelial cells. Hence adenosine attenuates ischemic injury as well as neutrophil-mediated reperfusion injury. Adenosine has also been implicated in the cardioprotective phenomenon of ischemic preconditioning. Accordingly experimental evidence shows that adenosine reduces postischemic injury when administered before ischemia and at the onset of reperfusion. Clinical studies in cardiology and cardiac surgery show cardioprotective trends with adenosine treatment but the effects are not as dramatic as those reported by experimental studies.
Scalable manipulation of archival web graphs

In this paper, we study efficient ways to construct, represent and analyze large-scale archival web graphs. We first discuss details of the distributed graph construction algorithm implemented in MapReduce and the design of a space-efficient layered graph representation. While designing this representation, we consider both offline and online algorithms for the graph analysis. The offline algorithms, such as PageRank, can use MapReduce and similar large-scale, distributed frameworks for computation. On the other side, online algorithms can be implemented by tapping into a scalable repository (similar to DEC's Connectivity Server or Scalable Hyperlink Store by Najork), in order to perform the computations. Moreover, we also consider updating the graph representation with the most recent information available and propose an efficient way to perform updates using MapReduce. We survey various storage options and outline essential API calls for the archival web graph specific real-time access repository. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of ideas for interesting archival web graph analysis that can lead us to discover novel patterns for designing state-of-art compression techniques.
The mitotic oscillator in Physarum polycephalum

This article reports evidence that mitosis in the syncytial plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum is controlled by a continuous biochemical oscillation. In the Introduction, inferences drawn from past experiments are evaluated. Results of experiments fusing two plasmodia at most possible phases and phase differences are reported. These include phase specific fusions inducing marked mitotic delays and abortive prophases. In section 3, a topological property of continuous oscillators related to the phase of a fused plasmodial pair as a function of phases fused is defined and used to show that the wave form of the Physarum mitotic oscillation corresponds to a moderate relaxation oscillator. In section 4, we propose a moderate relaxation oscillator for control of Physarum mitosis and use it to explain our plasmodial fusion results. In section 5, we test the model by predicting from it and confirming: Mitotic delay for short heat shocks, reaching a maximum in late G 2 then declining; mitotic advance for brief heat shocks just after mitosis; shortening of the second mitotic cycle after heat shock delays the first mitosis; a discontinuity in the mitotic delay, jumping from a slight to a full cycle delay, as a function of heat shock duration in late G 2 but not at other phases; and evidence that mitosis is triggered by but not part of the mitotic clock. Our results suggest that critical macroscopic properties of cells such as phase resetting after perturbations, or contact inhibition of growth and its malignant failure, may be due to dynamic properties of mitotic oscillators and their coupling between cells.
Accessory and cavitated uterine mass with functional endometrium in an adolescent: diagnosis and laparoscopic excision technique.

Abstract Study Objective Accessory and cavitated uterine masses (ACUM) with functional endometrium can be treated successfully with laparoscopic excision. The objectives of this report are to illustrate the surgical technique used for the removal of this uterine wall mass and to discuss the patient's clinical course and outcomes. Design Surgical technique and description of 1 case. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Participant(s) A 16-year-old adolescent presented with severe dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain. Ultrasonographic examination and MRI demonstrated a cystic uterine wall mass distinct from the endometrial cavity. Intervention(s) Laparoscopic excision of uterine mass. Results Pathologic examination of the mass was consistent with an accessory and cavitated uterine mass. A 9-month follow-up after surgical excision of the mass confirmed complete symptom resolution. Conclusions ACUM is a unique and not uncommon pathologic category in the adolescent and young adult population. It is associated with severe and intractable dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain. Laparoscopic excision of these masses is justifiable, safe and feasible.
Motivational Antecedents: A Test of Predictor Models

This paper reports the results of a study of motivational antecedents of military noncommissioned officers (NCOs). The antecedent variables examined included individual characteristics, organizational factors, and task characteristics. The results, which were based upon estimates of multiple regression equations predicting NCOs' estimates of expectancy and instrumentality, indicated several individual characteristic, organizational, and total characteristic variables were potentially important predictors of NCOs' estimates of job-related expectancy and instrumentality.
The Edison magnetite deposits in the context of pre-, syn-, and post-orogenic metallogenesis in the Grenville Highlands of New Jersey

Most of the magnetite deposits of the eastern Grenville Province have been described as precipitates from hydrothermal solutions derived from metamorphic processes, from early, late, or post-Grenville granites, or as metasediments. Granites host many of these deposits, but others, including the historic Edison iron mines of New Jersey, are hosted by potassium-feldspar gneiss, commonly interpreted as meta-arkose. Our new geochemical data indicate, however, that the protolith of the potassium-feldspar gneiss is rhyolite, not arkose. Supporting evidence includes (i) the absence of an underlying potassic provenance for arkosic sediment, (ii) potassium and sodium contents among host rocks that exceed the range of arkose but are consistent with A-type rhyolite, and (iii) a close chemical resemblance of the potassium-feldspar gneiss to an A-type granite (Byram granite) that is closely associated in time and space. As the ore zone through the Edison mines is approached, the K/Na ratio of the host rocks undergoes ...
Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of related Cu(I) and Cu(II) chelates

Abstract The reactions of a series of Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes containing pyrazolyl or dimethylpyrazolyl residues in the ligands during the ionization process were studied by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Complexes with a +1 charge produce intact cations. Those with a higher charge yield +1 cations by formal reduction or by clustering with anions, sometimes by several simultaneous processes. Neutral complexes are protonated to give +1 ions.
Elevation of serum cholesterol levels in mice by the antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole

Abstract The food antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are structurally related to the hypocholesterolemic drug probucol. The purpose of this study was to determine if BHA can lower serum cholesterol levels as is observed with probucol. Treatment of mice with 0.75% BHA in their feed for 10 days resulted in a significant (P ≤ 0.01) elevation of serum cholesterol levels. This effect contrasts with the cholesterol-lowering effect of probucol. Further, the degree of cholesterol elevation was comparable to that observed in mice administered 3% cholesterol in their feed for 7 days. The enzyme acyi CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) was decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in liver microsomes from BHA-treated mice. In contrast, hepatic microsomal ACAT activity was increased significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in cholesterol-fed mice. These results suggested that the increased serum cholesterol observed in BHA-treated mice was not accompanied by an increase in hepatic cholesterol levels. Indeed, hepatic microsomal cholesterol levels were reduced in BHA-treated mice, but were increased significantly (P ≤ 0.01) in cholesterol-fed mice. These results demonstrate that the common food additive BHA elevates serum cholesterol levels by a mechanism that apparently involves the decreased uptake of cholesterol by the liver.
Role of USF1 phosphorylation on cardiac α-myosin heavy chain promoter activity

Contractile activity of the cardiac myocyte is required for maintaining cell mass and phenotype, including expression of the cardiac-specific α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) gene. An E-box hemodynamic...
Occipital bone graft for atlantoaxial fusion.

Background. Instability of the atlantoaxial segment is frequently encountered in neurosurgical practice. Numerous fusion techniques have been employed at this level. Most commonly, arthrodesis is achieved through bone and wire techniques. We have employed the use of suboccipital bone in lieu of iliac crest autograft in order to avoid the significant morbidity associated with iliac crest graft harvest. Methods. Twenty one patients suffering instability from various etiologies underwent C1–C2 fusion at our institution using occipital bone graft and wire fixation. A small craniectomy was performed near the foramen magnum, and the bone graft was notched and secured in place using wire fixation. Patients were placed in a Philadelphia or Aspen collar for 6–12 weeks postoperatively, and flexion/extension plain film of the cervical spine were used to evaluate fusion. Results. Long term follow up was available on all patients (mean 32 months, range 12–48 months). Fusion was achieved in 81% of patients within 12 weeks. Specifically, 71% (5/7) of rheumatoid patients were successfully fused. All patients with traumatic C1–C2 instability were fused. No complications were associated with the harvest of the occipital bone. Conclusion. The results of fusion via this technique are comparable to other reported series of C1–C2 fusion. Additionally, the complications associated with iliac crest graft harvest were avoided by the use of occipital bone graft. Occipital bone appears to be a suitable bone graft substance for fusion of the C1–C2 level.
Possible nuclear structure effects seen in (6Li, d) f-p shell reactions

Abstract A finite range DWBA analysis has been made of ground state angular distributions from ( 6 Li, d) experiments on twelve fp shell nuclei at 28 or 32 MeV. Good fits were obtained. A systematic variation in bound-state radius was required. The interpretation of this effect using microscopic wavefunctions suggests that four-nucleon structure information may be obtained from the shapes of the angular distributions.
Landau levels in a band-inverted junction and quantum well.

The Landau levels pertaining to a symmetric band-inverted junction and quantum well are calculated in the presence of a magnetic field parallel to the interface. It is shown that the effective band gap is widened at the interfaces, the Landau eigenenergies vary nonmonotonically with distance of the orbit's center from the structure interfaces and that these levels have a noninteger number of harmonic-oscillator energy quanta. The Landau levels in the presence of a magnetic field perpendicular to the interfaces are briefly discussed.
Models in a behavioral theory of the firm

How do business organizations make decisions? What process do they follow in deciding how much to produce? And at what price? A behavioral theory of the firm is here explored. Using a specific type of duopoly, a model is written explicity as a computer program to deal with the complex theory implicit in the process by which businesses make decisions. This model highlights our need for more empirical observations of organizational decision-making.
Essential Roles of the Tap42-Regulated Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) Family in Wing Imaginal Disc Development of Drosophila melanogaster

Protein ser/thr phosphatase 2A family members (PP2A, PP4, and PP6) are implicated in the control of numerous biological processes, but our understanding of the in vivo function and regulation of these enzymes is limited. In this study, we investigated the role of Tap42, a common regulatory subunit for all three PP2A family members, in the development of Drosophila melanogaster wing imaginal discs. RNAi-mediated silencing of Tap42 using the binary Gal4/UAS system and two disc drivers, pnr- and ap-Gal4, not only decreased survival rates but also hampered the development of wing discs, resulting in a remarkable thorax cleft and defective wings in adults. Silencing of Tap42 also altered multiple signaling pathways (HH, JNK and DPP) and triggered apoptosis in wing imaginal discs. The Tap42RNAi-induced defects were the direct result of loss of regulation of Drosophila PP2A family members (MTS, PP4, and PPV), as enforced expression of wild type Tap42, but not a phosphatase binding defective Tap42 mutant, rescued fly survivorship and defects. The experimental platform described herein identifies crucial roles for Tap42•phosphatase complexes in governing imaginal disc and fly development.
Thermal stress analysis of laminate using higher-order theory in each layer

Thermal stresses along the bonded interfaces in a multilayer beam, caused by the different thermal expansion coefficients of the layers, are investigated. The present theory treats each layer as a higher-order beam-type plate with appropriate interface and surface conditions. As an example, numerical results are shown for the two-layer beam problem and compared to finite-element results and numerical results from other approximate theories.
Microenzymatic Fluorescence Assay for Serum Cholesterol

Abstract An enzymatic assay using fluorometric detection for cholesterol determination in serum is described. Results were compared to a conventional enzymatic colorimetric procedure and to the definitive method, which is based on isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Fluorescence detection enhances sensitivity over current colorimetric methods by approximately two orders of magnitude, and the assay response is linear over three orders of magnitude of cholesterol concentration. The reaction is performed in a single step and can be performed with small sample (1 μl) and reaction (200 μl) volumes. The fluorescence intensity is stable after a 30-min sample incubation at room temperature. The sensitivity of this fluorescence assay makes it possible to measure subnanomoles of cholesterol, allowing accurate measurement of total cholesterol in 1 μl of serum or less. This level of sensitivity will also allow measurement of cholesterol in various isolated lipoprotein fractions.
The effects of carbon dioxide on measuring cerebral spinal fluid pressure

Purpose The effects of pCO2 on cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) pressure measurement were observed in four patients.
Comments on the structure of myosin.

Abstract 1. 1. The purpose of the present study was to determine which of the possible structures of myosin are, in the light of hydrodynamic theory, consistent with the following considerations: first, that myosin is composed of heavy- plus light-meromyosin molecules in the ratio of 1 to 2; and, second, that the sedimentation coefficient of myosin is about 10% less than that of the heavy-meromyosin. 2. 2. The conventional equation relating the frictional ratio of elongated ellipsoids of revolution to their axial ratio was rearranged into a form which shows the mean coefficient of friction of the elongated ellipsoid of revolution in terms of the major semiaxis and the minor semiaxis of the ellipsoid. 3. 3. Limiting coefficients of friction were calculated for various models made up of four light meromyosin molecules plus two heavy-meromyosin molecules on the assumption of no change in shape of the meromyosins. Of the various models considered, the only one investigated which satisfies the conditions stated above in 1 consists of the four light-meromyosin molecules and the two heavy-meromyosin molecules arranged in a straight line. 4. 4. Limiting coefficients of friction were also calculated for various models made up of two light- and one heavy-meromyosin molecules, on the assumption of no change in shape of the meromyosins. The only model considered which satisfies the sedimentation and diffusion data obtained in experiments carried out in the cold is one in which the two light- and the one heavy-meromyosin molecules are arranged in a straight line. This consideration and that stated in 3 lead to the conclusion that, if myosin at room temperature is a polymer of two particles of the type existing in the cold, the polymerization must be end-to-end.