cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Utilization during Mitotic Cell Division of Loci Controlling Meiotic Recombination and Disjunction in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

ABSTRACT To inquire whether the loci identified by recombination-defective and disjunction-defective meiotic mutants in Drosophila are also utilized during mitotic cell division, the effects of 18 meiotic mutants (representing 13 loci) on mitotic chromosome stability have been examined genetically. To do this, meiotic-mutant-bearing flies heterozygous for recessive somatic cell markers were examined for the frequencies and types of spontaneous clones expressing the cell markers. In such flies, marked clones can arise via mitotic recombination, mutation, chromosome breakage, nondisjunction or chromosome loss, and clones from these different origins can be distinguished. In addition, meiotic mutants at nine loci have been examined for their effects on sensitivity to killing by UV and X rays.—Mutants at six of the seven recombination-defective loci examined ( mei-9, mei-41, c(3)G, mei-W68, mei-S282, mei-352, mei-218 ) cause mitotic chromosome instability in both sexes, whereas mutants at one locus ( mei-218 ) do not affect mitotic chromosome stability. Thus many of the loci utilized during meiotic recombination also function in the chromosomal economy of mitotic cells.—The chromosome instability produced by mei-41 alleles is the consequence of chromosome breakage, that of mei-9 alleles is primarily due to chromosome breakage and, to a lesser extent, to an elevated frequency of mitotic recombination, whereas no predominant mechanism responsible for the instability caused by c(3)G alleles is discernible. Since these three loci are defective in their responses to mutagen damage, their effects on chromosome stability in nonmutagenized cells are interpreted as resulting from an inability to repair spontaneous lesions. Both mei-W68 and mei-S282 increase mitotic recombination (and in mei-W68 , to a lesser extent, chromosome loss) in the abdomen but not the wing. In the abdomen, the primary effect on chromosome stability occurs during the larval period when the abdominal histoblasts are in a nondividing (G2) state.—Mitotic recombination is at or above control levels in the presence of each of the recombination-defective meiotic mutants examined, suggesting that meiotic and mitotic recombination are under separate genetic control in Drosophila.—Of the six mutants examined that are defective in processes required for regular meiotic chromosome segregation, four ( l(1)TW-6 cs , ca nd , mei-S332, ord ) affect mitotic chromosome behavior. At semi-restrictive temperatures, the cold sensitive lethal l(1)TW-6 cs causes very frequent somatic spots, a substantial proportion of which are attributable to nondisjunction or loss. Thus, this locus specifies a function essential for chromosome segregation at mitosis as well as at the first meiotic division in females. The patterns of mitotic effects caused by ca nd , mei-S332 , and ord suggest that they may be leaky alleles at essential loci that specify functions common to meiosis and mitosis. Mutants at the two remaining loci ( nod, pal ) do not affect mitotic chromosome stability.
Pulmonary Embolism and SVC Syndrome

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially fatal condition caused by embolic occlusion of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches due to thrombotic material that has traveled through the bloodstream from elsewhere in the body. The majority of emboli are thrombi from the deep veins of the legs; less likely causes can be fat, air or amniotic fluid emboli. PE is a highly lethal condition that affects more than 600,000 patients annually in the United States and is responsible for 150,000 to 200,000 deaths every year.
DOES FOREIGN AID REDUCE POVERTY

This paper examines the effect of foreign aid on poverty. The impact of aid on poverty is assessed using dynamic panel estimation techniques, which enable us to control for time-invariant country-specific effects and endogeneity of aid. The results suggest that aid has a significant poverty-reducing effect even after controlling for average income. Specifically, foreign aid is associated with a decline in poverty as measured by the poverty rate, poverty gap index and squared poverty gap index. We also find that the composition of aid matters—multilateral aid and grants do better in reducing poverty than bilateral aid and loans. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A study of indoor carbon dioxide levels and sick leave among office workers.

A previous observational study detected a strong positive relationship between sick leave absences and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in office buildings in the Boston area. The authors speculated that the observed association was due to a causal effect associated with low dilution ventilation, perhaps increased airborne transmission of respiratory infections. This study was undertaken to explore this association. We conducted an intervention study of indoor CO2 levels and sick leave among hourly office workers employed by a large corporation. Outdoor air supply rates were adjusted periodically to increase the range of CO2 concentrations. We recorded indoor CO2 concentrations every 10 minutes and calculated a CO2 concentration differential as a measure of outdoor air supply per person by subtracting the 1–3 a.m. average CO2 concentration from the same-day 9 a.m. – 5 a.m. average concentration. The metric of CO2 differential was used as a surrogate for the concentration of exhaled breath and for potential exposure to human source airborne respiratory pathogens. The weekly mean, workday, CO2 concentration differential ranged from 37 to 250 ppm with a peak CO2 concentration above background of 312 ppm as compared with the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommended maximum differential of 700 ppm. We determined the frequency of sick leave among 294 hourly workers scheduled to work approximately 49,804.2 days in the study areas using company records. We found no association between sick leave and CO2 differential The CO2 differential was in the range of very low values, as compared with the ASHRAE recommended maximum differential of 700 ppm. Although no effect was found, this study was unable to test whether higher CO2 differentials may be associated with increased sick leave.
Mesolimbic dopamine in obesity and diabetes

monoaminergic neurotransmitter dopamine plays a critical role in various vital functions, including hormonal regulation, reward, emotions, and food intake. Multiple aspects of food intake that include food selection, satiety, and energy expenditure could be modulated by changes in central
Induction of primary and inhibition of secondary antibody response to hapten by hapten conjugates of type III pneumococcal polysaccharide

Abstract Tri- or dinitrophenylated pneumococcal polysaccharide type III (TNP- or DNP SIII)) induced a primary 19S anti-TNP response without generating immunological memory to the hapten in LAF 1 mice. Hapten-hemocyanin (TNP-KLH) or hapten conjugates of B. abortus organisms (DNP-BA) induced both 19S and 7S primary responses and memory to the hapten. Spleen cells from mice immunized with TNP-KLH or DNP-BA did not give adoptive memory responses upon challenge with hapten-SIII and, in fact, were inhibited from responding to their homologous hapten conjugates by simultaneous injection of hapten-SIII. Incubation of TNP-KLH-primed spleen cells for as short as 5 min at 0 °C with 10 μg of TNP-SIII per milliliter virtually abolished their ability to give 19S and 7S memory responses to TNP-KLH upon transfer into irradiated recipients. It is suggested that a difference in avidity and/or number of anti-TNP receptors per cell between virgin and primed B cells may be an important factor in determining whether the cells will be stimulated or inhibited by exposure to hapten-SIII. Another factor may be a difference between virgin and memory cells in their requirement for T-cell help.
Discrete Groups of Motions

This paper deals with the discrete groups of rigid motions of the hyperbolic plane. It is known (12) that the finitely generated, orientation-preserving groups have the following presentations: Generators: . Defining relations: where km = ambmam -1bm -1 . We shall denote this group by F(p; n1 , … , nd; r). In particular, the finitely generated free groups are contained among these. Indeed, one purpose of this paper is to indicate some geometrical methods for investigating free groups.
Effects of High-Rate Pulse Trains on Electrode Discrimination in Cochlear Implant Users

Overcoming issues related to abnormally high neural synchrony in response to electrical stimulation is one aspect in improving hearing with a cochlear implant. Desynchronization of electrical stimuli have shown benefits in neural encoding of electrical signals and improvements in psychophysical tasks. In the present study, 10 participants with either CII or HiRes 90k Advanced Bionics devices were tested for the effects of desynchronizing constant-amplitude high-rate (5,000 Hz) pulse trains on electrode discrimination of sinusoidal stimuli (1,000 Hz). When averaged across the sinusoidal dynamic range, overall improvements in electrode discrimination with high-rate pulses were found for 8 of 10 participants. This effect was significant for the group (p = .003). Nonmonotonic patterns of electrode discrimination as a function of sinusoidal stimulation level were observed. By providing additional spectral channels, it is possible that clinical implementation of constant-amplitude high-rate pulse trains in a signal processing strategy may improve performance with the device.
Influence of diphenylhydantoin on the inotropic and potassium-losing effects of acetyl strophanthidin

Abstract Experiments have been carried out to determine the influence of diphenylhydantoin (DPH) on the inotropic and potassium-losing effects of acetyl strophanthidin. The glycoside was administered to the same heart before and following the administration of DPH. It was found that DPH had no influence on either the inotropic or potassium-losing effects of acetyl strophanthidin. The experiments further indicate that the DPH agent does not elicit its antiarrhythmic property through changes in total myocardial potassium balance.
Specification and loss of melanocyte stem cells

The melanocyte stem cells of the hair follicle provide an attractive system for the study of stem cells. The stem cells exist in an anatomically defined niche clearly separated from their differentiated progeny, differentiated progeny can be selected against by treatment with an inhibitor of Stem Cell Factor signaling, perturbations which affect survival and differentiation have clearly visible pigmentation phenotypes, and genetic mutations can impair or completely abolish this lineage without lethality. In mice several coat color mutants have been shown to have impaired specification or survival of melanocyte stem cells. Furthermore understanding of the normal regulation and behaviors of melanocytes and melanocyte stem cells will allow development of better strategies for cancer treatment. This article will review the discovery and behaviors of melanoctye stem cells as well as some aspects of melanocyte biology.
Bi-modal triggering for LVSCR ESD protection devices☆

Abstract This paper addresses three aspects of LVSCR protection devices namely, LVSCR layout optimization, triggering techniques, and the impact of stress signal slew-rate on ESD performance. Circuit techniques to achieve bi-modal triggering for LVSCR ESD protection schemes are presented. The low voltage trigger mode operates when the chip is in packaging and assembly while the high voltage mode operates when the chip is in the final product board with the power supplies applied. The triggering techniques discussed here are particularly useful in conjuction with high speed I/Os and interface ICs. The paper also reports the impact of stress slew rates on the failure thresholds. In particular, it is shown that when the slew rate is increased from 0.2 to 0.4 A/ns, the SCR failure threshold decreases from that given by a second breakdown failure mode to the one dictated by an early oxide failure. The paper concludes with an analysis of the LVSCR layout parameters on its trigger and ESD clamping effectiveness.
Advanced MEMS-based infrared imager

Infrared radiation imager is of important for a wide range of applications. IR infrared imagers have not been widely available due to cost and complexity issues. A major cost of IR imager is associated with the requirements of cooling and pixel-level integration with electronic amplifier and read-out circuitry that are often incompatible with the detector materials. Recent research activities have lead to a new class of IR imager based on thermally isolated MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) arrays whose bending can be directly detected by optical means. This approach eliminates the need for cooling and complex electronic multiplexers, holding the potential to drastically reduce IR imager cost. However, MEMS based IR imaging devices demonstrated to date are less sensitive than the commercially available ones. We have established a comprehensive finite element model (FEM) using Ansys tool. An accurate computer model for the proposed MEME IR detector is critical for the device development and fabrication. The model greatly enhanced our capability to cost effectively optimize the design from concept to fabrication layout. Our model predicts the deformation of this pixel structure under a surface stress for both thermal and photo-induced effects under various conditions. This simulation model provided a design base for new generation of optical MEMS IR sensors that has higher sensitivity and the potential of incorporating passive thermal amplification. Our simple MEMS design incorporates optical read-out, which eliminates the drawback of electronic means that inevitably introduce additional signal loss due to thermal contact made to the detector element. When packaged under vacuum environment, significant sensitivity improvement is anticipated. The deflection of a cantilever as a function of a rise in its temperature is determined by the classical thermomechanical governing equation for a bimaterial cantilever beam. Our finite element model is established using brick element to mesh the structure for good accuracy. Numerical simulation procedures are as following:
Deficiency of current methods in assaying endochitinase activity.

Abstract Since chitin is degraded by a combination of both endo- and exochitinases, it is likely that both enzymes will be present in a crude extract. Currently used substrates for detecting endochitinase activity suffer from the fact that they could easily be digested by the contaminating exochitinase, thus giving either a false-positive or an inaccurate reading of the endochitinase activity. Using Photorhabdus luminescens, a bacterium symbiotically associated with insect-parasitic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora as an exemplary system, we have identified these two chitinases by a simple “fluorimetric zymography” procedure. The exochitinase is a metalloenzyme and its activity is inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline. Once the exochitinase activity is detected in a crude extract, its contribution must be eliminated before accurate determination of the endochitinase activity can be carried out. Specific properties of these enzymes including the pH activity profile, the requirement of metal ions for activity, and the molecular weight of the enzymes are among the factors to be considered in developing assaying procedures for endochitinase.
MAXENT: consistent cardinality estimation in action

When comparing alternative query execution plans (QEPs), a cost-based query optimizer in a relational database management system needs to estimate the selectivity of conjunctive predicates. To avoid inaccurate independence assumptions, modern optimizers try to exploit multivariate statistics (MVS) that provide knowledge about joint frequencies in a table of a relation. Because the complete joint distribution is almost always too large to store, optimizers are given only partial knowledge about this distribution. As a result, there exist multiple, non-equivalent ways to estimate the selectivity of a conjunctive predicate. To consistently combine the partial knowledge during the estimation process, existing optimizers employ cumbersome ad hoc heuristics. These methods unjustifiably ignore valuable information, and the optimizer tends to favor QEPs for which the least information is available. This bias problem yields poor QEP quality and performance. We demonstrate MAXENT, a novel approach based on the maximum entropy principle, prototyped in IBM DB2 LUW. We illustrate MAXENT's ability to consistently estimate the selectivity of conjunctive predicates on a per-table basis. In contrast to the DB2 optimizer's current ad hoc methods, we show how MAXENT exploits all available information about the joint column distribution and thus avoids the bias problem. For some complex queries against a real-world database, we show that MAXENT improves selectivity estimates by orders of magnitude relative to the current DB2 optimizer, and also show how these improved estimate influence plan choices as well as query execution times.
Realism, Naturalism, and Moral Semantics

The prospects for moral realism and ethical naturalism have been important parts of recent debates within metaethics. As a first approximation, moral realism is the claim that there are facts or truths about moral matters that are objective in the sense that they obtain independently of the moral beliefs or attitudes of appraisers. Ethical naturalism is the claim that moral properties of people, actions, and institutions are natural, rather than occult or supernatural, features of the world. Though these metaethical debates remain unsettled, several people, myself included, have tried to defend the plausibility of both moral realism and ethical naturalism. I, among others, have appealed to recent work in the philosophy of language—in particular, to so-called theories of “direct reference” —to defend ethical naturalism against a variety of semantic worries, including G. E. Moore's “open question argument.” In response to these arguments, critics have expressed doubts about the compatibility of moral realism and direct reference. In this essay, I explain these doubts, and then sketch the beginnings of an answer—but understanding both the doubts and my answer requires some intellectual background.
A Modular Assembly Strategy for Improving the Substrate Specificity of Small Catalytic Peptides

In contrast to large proteins, small peptide catalysts typically display limited specificity for small molecule substrates. This is presumably a result of the limited opportunities small peptides have to fold in a manner that provides for the formation of an isolated reaction vessel that effectively binds and sequesters substrates from bulk solvent while at the same time catalyzing their transformation. For the preparation of small peptide catalysts that possess improved substrate specificity, we have developed a modular assembly strategy that involves appending phage display-derived substrate binding-domain modules to catalytically active peptide domains. We demonstrate the potential of this strategy with the construction of a small 35-amino acid residue aldolase peptide with improved substrate specificity. The advantages of this approach are that it reduces the demand on the functionalization of the catalytic site and it is modular, therefore making its adaptation to a variety of specificities rapid. Th...
Does Quality of Life Have to be Quantified

It is argued that quality of life is primarily a matter of aesthetics and that aesthetics has been ignored in the process we call "development". It is further argued that the aesthetic function has two complementary aspects: the creative and the recreative. The creative subfunction is to provide inspiration, the desire for and commitment to pursuit of ideals; the recreative subfunction is to provide satisfaction during this pursuit. The latter is based on stylistic (non-efficiency related) preferences among ways of doing things. Measurement of progress towards ideals and of stylistic satisfaction, though helpful, is not essential to development planning. It is argued that participative planning that begins with design of an ideal-state can provide those involved with an opportunity to incorporate both their ideals and their stylistic preferences into designs of the future and development of ways of bringing it about.
Prolactin receptors on human lymphocytes and their modulation by cyclosporine

Abstract Prolactin receptors have been identified for the first time on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. These receptors are present on T- and B-cells as well as monocytes. The specific binding of [ 125 I]prolactin to these cells can be selectively enhanced at certain concentrations and blocked by higher concentrations of cyclosporine, a known immunosuppressive agent which inhibits the mitogenesis of T-cells. Prolactin also induces ornithine decarboxylase, a key growth regulatory enzyme, in lymphocytes. Therefore, we suggest that the lymphocyte prolactin receptor may be involved in regulating lymphocyte function, and that one of the actions of cyclosporine is to block this rather ubiquitously occurring receptor.
Long-term urodynamic follow up in pediatric spinal cord injury

Less than 5% of all spinal cord injuries occur in children under 16 years of age. We have followed up 40 children with spinal cord injury at our medical center. The patients have an average age at presentation of 9.0 years (range newborn to 17 years) and have a mean follow up of 46.1 months (range 1 to 240 months). Twenty-two patients have cervical injuries, 13 thoracic and five have lumbar injuries. Bladder management in this group includes 11 patients with reflex voiding and 29 patients combining anticholinergic medication with intermittent catheterization. Twenty-eight patients have a follow up for more than 1 year. Review of the video urodynamics in this group has shown good function and preservation of the urinary tract in 25 of 28 patients. Treatment failures can be attributed to noncompliance with recommended voiding regimens. Upper tract surveillance using intravenous pyelogram or renal ultrasound has shown preservation of the upper tracts in all patients with anatomically normal lower tracts. We recommend aggressive follow up in this group of patients with yearly renal ultrasound and video urodynamics every 1-2 years to monitor urinary tract function.
Renal ultrasound using parametric imaging techniques to detect changes in microstructure and function.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Signal processing techniques have been used to generate parametric ultrasound images that describe properties of tissue microstructure. METHODS: Images of the average scatterer size (D) and integrated backscatter coefficient (IBC) for normal dog kidneys were examined. RESULTS: With parametric ultrasound the authors identified sources of cortical backscatter and observed microanatomical changes corresponding to ischemia. In particular, scatterer size images acquired in vitro and in vivo show it is possible to rapidly assess changes and differences in the average glomerular diameter and the average arteriolar cross-sectional diameter. CONCLUSIONS: A more direct interpretation of sonographic image data is possible with this new type of imaging. Parametric imaging may have a diagnostic role as a means to differentiate among conditions producing increased cortical echogenicity and to detect important structural indicators such as glomerular hypertrophy.
Energy barriers for bit-encoding states based on 360° domain walls in ultrathin ferromagnetic nanorings

A numerical thermal stability study of the bit-encoding states in a proposed multi-level magnetic storage element based on an ultrathin ferromagnetic nanoring is presented. The material parameters and the ring dimensions for which there are five distinct metastable magnetization configurations separated by energy barriers exceeding 50kBT at room temperature are identified. The results are obtained, using the string method for the study of rare events to locate the transition states separating the metastable states and to identify the most likely thermally activated pathways.
Submicron Grating Fabrication On GaAs

The laboratory techniques used for the fabrication of submicron gratings in GaAs are presented. A thin (≈1250 A) film of Shipley AZ1450B photoresist on GaAs is exposed holographically with the use of the 4579 A line of an argon ion laser to produce gratings with a period of approximately 0.35 μm. Data are presented that demonstrate the effects of variation of the following parameters: developer type, developer time, laser intensity, exposure time, photoresist thickness, and ion beam etching parameters. Relative grating efficiency measurements as a function of parameter variations indicate an optimum set of parameters for grating fabrication.
A Constructive Comment on “Rematches in Boxing and Other Sporting Events”

In the following note, I derive part of the boxing contest model developed by Amegashie and Kutsoati (2005), correct an error in its solution, and show that their main result may extend to a larger set of boxing contests. Specifically, there may well be a class of boxing matches in which two competitors will put forth greater aggregate efforts in response to a greater likelihood of a rematch, regardless of the degree to which their abilities differ. The revised solution is constructive in the sense that it builds upon the main result of Amegashie and Kutsoati.
Regional distribution of mRNA for a putative kainate receptor in rat brain.

Abstract A cDNA clone which encodes a putative kainate receptor was prepared with the polymerase chain reaction; from this ‘antisense’ RNA fragments were produced and used to evaluate the distribution of mRNA for the kainate-receptor in rat brain with in situ hybridization techniques. The data demonstrate marked regional differences in the abundance of kainate receptor mRNA with highest levels present in the granule and pyramidal cell layers of hippocampus, the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum, and all cell layers of the olfactory bulb.
Altruistic organizational citizenship behavior: context, disposition, and age.

The authors proposed employee age as moderating the structural stability of altruistic organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) with regard to the influence of context-relevant attitudes and dispositional variables. Analyses of peer ratings of altruistic OCB in a sample of 96 U.S. nurses showed that the contextual variables of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and trust in management were germane for the younger participants. The dispositional variable of moral judgment was a unique predictor of altruistic OCB among the older participants.
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells: more mechanisms for inhibiting antitumor immunity.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) accumulate in most cancer patients and experimental animals with cancer. They accumulate in response to pro-inflammatory mediators and they use a variety of mechanisms to block both innate and adaptive antitumor immunity. Because of their critical role in obstructing immune responses, MDSC are a strategic obstacle to immunotherapies that require activation of the host’s cell-mediated and innate immune responses. Following a brief description of the factors that induce MDSC accumulation, this article reviews two newly discovered mechanisms that MDSC use to suppress the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The first mechanism is MDSC sequestration of cysteine, an amino acid that T cells are unable to synthesize de novo and that they require for activation. The second mechanism is MDSC-mediated down-regulation of l-selectin. T cells must have an l-selectinhigh phenotype to home to lymph nodes and inflammatory sites where they encounter antigen and are activated. By down-regulating l-selectin on T cells, MDSC perturb T cell trafficking patterns and thereby inhibit T cell activation. Given the complexity of conditions that regulate MDSC accumulation and the variety of suppressive mechanisms used by MDSC, it is essential to understand which conditions and mechanisms are dominant so MDSC accumulation and/or activity can be targeted in individual patients to minimize MDSC-induced immune suppression.
Growth of Coliform Bacteria in Estuarine Waters

Growth of coliform bacteria,Escherichia coli, E. freundii, andAerobacter aerogenes, isolated from the soft-shelled clam,Mya arenaria, in estuarine water samples, were compared with growth in distilled water. The possible antibacterial properties exhibited by the sediment-water interface as compared to the same properties in the overlying waters were also measured. Water samples were taken from the same habitat as the clam in late July and early August in the lower Patuxent River estuary.
The Pharmacodynamics of Ascorbic Acid in Cattle. II. in Vivo and in Vitro Loss

Summary 1.The ascorbic acid content of rumen juice, intestinal juice, colon and cecal contents, and feces was determined during ascorbic acid absorption studies with steers. 2.Ascorbic acid was recovered from rumen juice for 2 hours following rumen administration of 16g. of ascorbic acid. The vitamin was recovered for 4 and 24 hours, respectively, from colon and cecal contents after placing 4g. of the vitamin directly into these regions. 3.The average ascorbic acid content of feces, cecal, and colon contents was approximately twice as high as jejunal or rumen juice during periods when ascorbic acid was not administered. 4.Placing chlorobutanol in the digestive tract or giving ascorbic acid subcutaneously or intravenously had no apparent effect on the level of ascorbic acid in digestive tract materials. 5.Some fecal elimination of ascorbic acid was evident following administration of ascorbic acid into the digestive tract. 6.In vivo and in vitro studies on rumen and jejunal juice and on colon contents indicated ascorbic acid was quite labile in these media, even though considerable quantities were recovered in vivo several hours after treatment. In vitro samples incubated at 37° C. lost ascorbic acid less rapidly. 7.Some ascorbic acid administered into the rumen, colon, and cecum was eliminated in the feces, with the latter showing the greatest elimination. 8.Autoclaving or preparing bacteria-free filtrates of rumen juice greatly retarded loss of ascorbic acid as compared to untreated rumen juice.
Salvage of proximal tibial malunion or nonunion with the use of angled blade plate

Introduction: Single buttress plating laterally was sometimes performed by a few orthopedists to treat complex tibial plateau fractures with medial compartment involvement. However, we might encounter cases with medial compartment collapse due to such treatment. The causes of failure, the technique of the revision surgery, and the methods of prevention were investigated retrospectively. The purpose of this study was to report our clinical results of a retrospectively followed series of patients treated with blade plate fixation for proximal tibial metaphyseal nonunions and malunions which were treated with unilateral plating. Materials and methods: Twenty-eight patients with failed treatment of complex tibial plateau fractures due to single buttress plating laterally underwent the revision surgeries. Removal of the buttress plate, proximal tibial corrective osteotomy, and insertion of an angled blade plate medially were performed. Postoperatively, exercise of the range of motion of the knee was encouraged as early as possible. Results: Twenty-five patients were followed-up for a median of 4.8 years (range, 1.2–6.8), and all fractures healed at a median of 4.0 months (range, 3.0–6.0). The proximal medial tibial angle (PMTA) was corrected to the acceptable range (80–99°) in all 25 patients (P<0.001) and knee function improved in 22 out of 25 patients (P<0.001). Conclusion: For clinical and biomechanical considerations, single buttress plating laterally was unsuitable for complex tibial plateau fractures with medial compartment involvement due to relatively huge compressive loads on the medial compartment. The stability provided by a few screws of the buttress plate laterally was normally insufficient. An angled blade plate could be a useful armament in the management of metaphyseal nonunion and malunions of the proximal tibia. Its better stabilization could normally provide a high success rate.
Control of Postharvest Diseases of Sweet Cherry with Ethanol and Hot Water

Complete inhibition of the germination of spores of Penicillium expansum occurred after 10 s exposure to 40% ethanol or more at ambient temperature, while spores of Botrytis cinerea were completely inhibited by 30% ethanol or more. Mortality of the spores of P. expansum and B. cinerea in heated 10% ethanol was higher than in water at the same temperatures. Immersion of naturally inoculated fruit in 20, 30, 40, or 50% ethanol reduced the decay present after storage for 10 days at 20°C similarly and by approximately 60-85%. Immersion of fruit that had been inoculated with the spores of P. expansum and B. cinerea reduced decay by both pathogens after storage for 30 days at 0°C and 5 days at 20°C when 30% or higher concentrations of ethanol were used. The incidence of decay after immersion in water alone for 30 s at 24, 50, 55, or 60°C was 57.7, 44.7, 46.2, and 35.7%, respectively, while 10% ethanol at these temperatures the decay incidence to 52.2, 33.9, 32.8, or 14.7%, respectively. Water treatments at 50, 55, or 60°C alone were not effective against P. expansum, while their efficacies were significantly increased by the addition of 10% ethanol. The most effective treatment was immersion in 10% ethanol at 60°C. Ethanol treatments at 20, 30, 40, or 50% and water treatments at 55 or 60°C significantly reduced natural fungal populations on the surfaces of fruit in all of the experiments. Addition of 10% ethanol to water significantly increased the efficacy of water in reducing the fungal populations at elevated temperatures. None of these treatments caused surface injuries to the fruit or adversely affected stem colour.
Invivo regulation of apolipoprotein A-I gene expression by estradiol and testosterone occurs at the translational level in inbred strains of mice

Abstract Testosterone and estrogen alter the hepatic synthesis of apoA-I in castrated inbred strains of mice, but apoA-I mRNA levels remain unaltered, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation of apoA-I production in liver. To test this hypothesis, females of the C3H HeJ and C 57 BL 6 J strains of mice were castrated and after 2 weeks were given testosterone propionate (Testo 1 μg/g body weight/day,), 17β-estradiol (0.16 or 5 μg/g/day, E2L, E2H, respectively) or vehicle (placebo) for 14 days (n=5/group). Liver polysomes were isolated from pooled livers of each group and “run-off” assays were performed. Testo increased apoA-I gene translation to 124% and 171% of controls in C3H and C57BL strains, increased polysomal mRNA levels to 276% and 438% and increased apoA-I synthesis to 181% and 269% of respective controls. Decreases in polysomal “run-off”, mRNA levels and apoA-I synthesis were produced by E2H. E2L produced non-parallel changes, i.e., it raised apoA-I synthesis and polysomal apoA-I mRNA, but did not affect rates of translation. The data suggest that sex hormones exert their effects on apoA-I gene expression at the translational level.
Fatigue Behavior of Some Filled Polymers

A Maxwell rotating beam apparatus was used to measure the dynamic mechanical properties as well as the fatigue life of nylon 6 filled with glass beads or fine silica powder, a nylon 66 filled with calcined clay, an epoxy filled with glass beads, and high-impact polystyrene. Attempts to monitor damage by changes in the dynamic mechanical properties failed; the properties remained essentially constant until only a relatively few cycles before failure occurred. The decrease in modulus and increase in damping with increasing maximum cyclic stress were due mostly to heat build-up rather than to any permanent damage. The fatigue life can be drastically decreased by small surface scratches.
Estimation of Still Trajectory for Batch Reactive Distillation Systems

This work addresses a new method for estimating the liquid still composition trajectory of batch reactive distillation systems based on material balance and reaction equilibrium data. The still tra...
Improved numerical algorithm for exploring block copolymer mesophases

We present an improved algorithm of the self-consistent mean-field implementation that has been recently proposed for the calculation of block copolymer self-assembly. Without requiring prior knowledge of the symmetry of the mesophase segregation, the algorithm is numerically stable and significantly faster than previously proposed methods. These advantages provide a valuable tool for combinatorial screening of novel stable and metastable structural phases of block copolymers. We apply the method and demonstrate complex mesophases in linear, asymmetric triblock copolymer melts. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1777–1783, 2002
Improved proof of the no-ghost theorem for fermion states of the superstring

Abstract The purpose of this note is to extend the improved proof of the no-ghost theorem for the bosonic and Neveu–Schwarz dual resonance models, presented in my article [C.B. Thorn, Nucl. Phys. B 286 (1987) 61], to cover the Ramond fermion string. As in that paper, the improvement involves the identification of an efficient basis for string state space and a self-contained proof, based on the super-Virasoro algebra, of the linear independence of the basis elements. We use our results to calculate the BRST cohomology for this system.
Passive infrared thermographic imaging for mobile robot object identification

The usefulness of thermal infrared imaging as a mobile robot sensing modality is explored, and a set of thermal–physical features used to characterize passive thermal objects in outdoor environments is described. Objects that extend laterally beyond the thermal camera's field of view, such as brick walls, hedges, picket fences, and wood walls, as well as compact objects that are laterally within the thermal camera's field of view, such as metal poles and tree trunks, are considered. Classification of passive thermal objects is a subtle process because they are not a source for their own emission of thermal energy. A detailed analysis is included of the acquisition and preprocessing of thermal images, as well as the generation and selection of thermal–physical features from these objects within thermal images. Classification performance using these features is discussed, as a precursor to the design of a physics-based model to automatically classify these objects. Published 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.
FILTERED BREMSSTRAHLUNG FOR PHOTONUCLEAR REACTIONS.

Abstract The use of graphite filtering of bremsstrahlung to reduce pile-up in detectors is highly desirable as the low-energy portion is greatly reduced relative to the useful photons. To compare yields observed with filtered beams to those obtained with unfiltered beams, photon spectra for equal response of a standard monitor are needed. As earlier experiments used a Victoreen thimble in a standard lucite block, the response of this standard was investigated with filtered and unfiltered bremsstrahlung with the aid of a transmission ion chamber. The measurements agree well with calculations based on the theoretical response.
Demand for nonalcoholic beverages: The case of low‐income households

Household beverage consumption is investigated using data from the National Food Stamp Program Survey conducted in the United States. A censored Translog demand system is estimated with the full-information maximum-likelihood procedure. All own-price effects are negative and significant, and whole milk, reduced-fat milk, juice, coffee, and tea are found to be net substitutes for soft drink. Thus, prices provide a partial answer to the declining consumption of milk and rising consumption of soft drink. Nutrition information and dietary beliefs also play important roles, highlighting the importance of an effective nutrition education program directed toward the low-income households. [JEL citation: C34 (Truncated and Censored Models), D12 (Consumer Economics: Empirical), Q18 (Agricultural Policy; Food Policy).] © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 20: 309–321, 2004.
Multigram Synthesis of a Chiral Substituted Indoline Via Copper-Catalyzed Alkene Aminooxygenation.

(S)-5-Fluoro-2-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yloxymethyl)-1-tosylindoline, a 2-methyleneoxy-substituted chiral indoline, was synthesized on multigram scale using an efficient copper-catalyzed enantioselective intramolecular alkene aminooxygenation. The synthesis is accomplished in four steps and the indoline is obtained in 89% ee (>98% after one recrystallization). Other highlights include efficient gram-scale synthesis of the (4R,5S)-di-Ph-box ligand and efficient separation of a monoallylaniline from its N,N-diallylaniline by-product by distillation under reduced pressure.
1,2,4‐Triazines X: Dimerizations of 1,2,4‐triazmes

5,5′-Bi-1,2,4-triazinyl compounds are obtained by the treatment of 5-unsubstiluted 1,2,4-triazines with either sodium methoxide or with aqueous potassium cyanide. 5,5′-Bi-1,2,4-triazinyl is also obtained by the reaction of 1,2,4-triazine with potassium cyanide. It is proposed that the sodium methoxide catalyzed dimerizations occur via a carbanionic intermediate; the aqueous potassium cyanide catalyzed reactions via a cyanide addition product and the potassium in liquid ammonia reaction via a free radical dimerization process.
Persistent current states in rotating superfluid helium

Persistent current states in superfluid helium contained in a rotating superleak are studied for various velocities and initial conditions. The change in the superfluid component velocity as the normal component velocity changes is interpreted in terms of a circulation-free potential flow and the entrance of vortices. The appearance of vortices of opposite sign to that of preexisting ones in the superleak is discussed and this is related to the history-dependent nature of persistent currents. An analogy between a superfluid helium system such as ours and a highly irreversible type-II superconductor is made.
THE AREA OF THE INTERNAL EXPOSED SURFACE OF DICOTYLEDON LEAVES

THE SIGNIFICANCE of an internal aerating system and internal exposed surface of foliage leaves has been emphasized by a number of botanists. Stahl (I894), Barnes (1910), Haberlandt (1928a), and Bower (1930) have commented on the importance of this interior moist surface. Several investigators, including Nius (1931) and Takenouchi (1933), have measured the volume of the intercellular space in the leaves of a number of species. Barnes (1910) estimated the internal surface of a hypothetical leaf by analogy. Wlodek (1923), working with Trifolium praetentse, calculated the surface of single palisade cells by measuring their length and diameter, and counted the number of palisade cells per unit area; but he did not calculate the exposed surface of this tissue. This study was undertaken to develop a method for the measurement of the internally exposed surface of dicotyledon foliage leaves, and to determine the extent of this physiologically important area for a number of species. The writer wishes to express his thanks to Professor R. B. Wylie, who suggested the problem, for his assistance throughout the work, and for the use of his slides from which most of the material has been drawn; to Dr. J. A. Yarbrough, who loaned his slides of Bryophylzlum; and to Professor R. P. Baker, of the Department of Mathematics, for checking the method.
3-Oxo-5β-24-norcholanic acid: acid-to-acid hydrogen-bonding catemers employing the rare anti carboxyl conformation in the aggregation of a steroid keto acid

The title ketocarboxylic acid [systematic name: (5R,8R,9S,10S,13R,14S,17R,20R)-3-oxo-24-norcholanic acid], C(23)H(36)O(3), forms acid-to-acid hydrogen-bonding chains [O...O = 2.620 (2) A and O-H...O = 163 (3) degrees ] in which all carboxyl groups adopt the rare anti conformation, while the ketone group does not participate in the hydrogen bonding. The occurrence and energetics of this conformation are discussed. One intermolecular C-H...O close contact exists, which plays a role in stabilizing the hydrogen-bonding arrangement.
“I believe I will go out of this class actually knowing something”: Cooperative learning activities in physical chemistry

The purposes of this study were to describe the structure of events during cooperative learning activities—Friday discussion sessions—in a graduate-level thermodynamics course and to understand what these activities meant to the students. First, we describe the structure of Friday discussion sessions in our classroom, which were used to focus student attention on conceptual issues rather than algorithmic problem solving. Second, we delineate findings which emerge from the perspective of the students. We found that cooperative learning activities move students away from rote learning strategies and toward more meaningful strategies which allowed them to integrate concepts over the entire semester. In addition, we discovered that the sharing of insights and ideas between students leads to the development of interpersonal skills and communication skills which the students perceive as an important component of the Friday discussion sessions. Implications for further classroom use, low-status versus high-status students, and assessment are discussed. J Res Sci Teach 34: 819–835, 1997.
Availability of Drugs in the Presence of Surface-Active Agents I: Critical Micelle Concentrations of Some Oxyethylene Oxypropylene Polymers

The critical micelle concentrations (CMC's) of the three nonionic surface-active agents—oxyethylene oxypropylene polymers known as Pluronic L 62, Pluronic L 64, and Pluronic F68—were determined by the surface-tension method and two spectral absorption methods—one employing iodine and the other benzopurpurine 4B. The CMC's for these agents were found to be 2.40 Gm./dl., 2.20 Gm./dl., and 0.1 Gm./dl., respectively.