cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Miniature Enzyme-Based Electrodes for Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Release from Alcohol-Injured Hepatocytes

Alcohol insult to the liver sets off a complex sequence of inflammatory and fibrogenic responses. There is increasing evidence that hepatocytes play a key role in triggering these responses by producing inflammatory signals such as cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the present study, we employed a cell culture/biosensor platform consisting of electrode arrays integrated with microfluidics to monitor extracellular H2O2, one of the major ROS types, produced by primary rat hepatocytes during alcohol injury. The biosensor consisted of hydrogel microstructures with entrapped horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilized on an array of miniature gold electrodes. These arrays of sensing electrodes were integrated into microfluidic devices and modified with collagen (I) to promote hepatocyte adhesion. Once seeded into the microfluidic devices, hepatocytes were exposed to 100 mM ethanol and the signal at the working electrode was monitored by cyclic voltammetry (CV) over the course of 4 h. The CV experime...
Genetic, developmental and hormonal aspects of gonadal dysgenesis and sex inversion in man.

ABNORMALITIES of sex in man, as seen in clinics and extensively described in the medical literature, show a great variety of manifestations which have long defied attempts at rational classification. However, the discovery by Barr (1) of a sexual dimorphism in the chromatin of resting cell nuclei now permits a clear separation of the cases involving sex inversion from those that merely present forms of under- or over-development of sex organs (2). In the present discussion we shall speak of sex inversion and of contrary sex development whenever the appearance of gonads or somatic organs obviously conflicts with the chromosomal or constitutional sex. Complete sex reversal including the capacity for reproduction may occur spontaneously and can be produced experimentally in fishes and amphibians (3, 4) but, so far, is not known in any of the higher vertebrates. Yet, the observation of full spermatogenesis in an individual with female sex chromatin (Fig. 5) indicates that, even in man, functional sex reversal...
A New Theoretical Approach to the Hydrogen-Bonded Fluids Based on the Conformal Solution Concept

In this work, a new generalized chemical theory of association is developed and is used to derive the distribution function of associated species formed due to hydrogen bonding in a pure associating fluid. The concepts of conformal solution theory are extended to consider the pure associating fluids, and the derived distribution function is used to obtain the conformal parameters. A general procedure is proposed for computing the parameters of any cubic equation of state based on the conformal solution theory developed in this work. As an example, the parameters of van der Waals equation of state are obtained. The PVT calculations for three associating fluids (water, ammonia, and methanol) substantiate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
DNA binding compatibility of the Streptococcus pneumoniae SsbA and SsbB proteins.

Background Streptococcus pneumoniae has two paralogous, homotetrameric, single-stranded DNA binding (SSB) proteins, designated SsbA and SsbB. Previous studies demonstrated that SsbA and SsbB have different solution-dependent binding mode preferences with variable DNA binding capacities. The impact of these different binding properties on the assembly of multiple SsbAs and SsbBs onto single-stranded DNA was investigated. Methodology/principal findings The complexes that were formed by the SsbA and SsbB proteins on dT(n) oligomers of defined lengths were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Complexes containing either two SsbAs or two SsbBs, or mixed complexes containing one SsbA and one SsbB, could be formed readily, provided the dT(n) oligomer was long enough to satisfy the full binding mode capacities of each of the bound proteins under the particular solution conditions. Complexes containing two SsbAs or two SsbBs could also be formed on shorter dT(n) oligomers via a "shared-strand binding" mechanism in which one or both proteins were bound using only a portion of their potential binding capacity. Mixed complexes were not formed on these shorter oligomers, however, indicating that SsbA and SsbB were incompatible for shared-strand binding. Additional experiments suggested that this shared-strand binding incompatibility may be due in part to differences in the structure of a loop region on the outer surface of the subunits of the SsbA and SsbB proteins. Conclusion/significance These results indicate that the SsbA and SsbB proteins may co-assemble on longer DNA segments where independent binding is possible, but not on shorter DNA segments where coordinated interactions between adjacent SSBs are required. The apparent compatibility requirement for shared-strand binding could conceivably serve as a self-recognition mechanism that regulates the manner in which SsbA and SsbB interact in S. pneumoniae.
Q-function approach to a two-photon laser.

A quantum theory of a two-photon laser is developed by making use of the antinormal-ordering Q function. Starting from the microscopic atom-field interaction Hamiltonian for cascade three-level atoms and including saturable absorbers, we first present a master equation for the field-density operator, and then transform the master equation into a Fokker-Planck equation for the Q function. The Q-function approach enables us to study the two-photon laser analytically, obtaining simple expressions for nonlinear gain, mean photon number, frequency pulling, natural linewidth, and photon-number variance in a unified method. We find that the field in a two-photon laser will build up from a vacuum without triggering if its linear gain is larger than the cavity loss. Also hysteresis can occur in the two-photon laser even without triggering. With an overall two-photon resonance, the normalized photon-number variance approaches a common value 11/8 well above ``threshold,'' independent of the one-photon detuning. We compare these results with previous results obtained from an effective interaction Hamiltonian. We find that the domain of validity of the effective Hamiltonian for the photon-number variance is much smaller than that for the mean photon number. Well above ``threshold'' the effective Hamiltonian overestimates both the natural linewidth and the photon-number variance.
Fracture mode and toughness vs temperature (−20–22°C) for UNS-S15500 (15-5 PH) stainless steel

Abstract An investigation was undertaken to establish a relationship between fracture mode and toughness ( K Ic ) vs temperature for UNS-S15500 (15-5 PH) in the H583dgC (H1080°F) condition. It was found that the mechanical properties such as yield strength were temperature insensitive in the range -20–22°C. Tensile rupture was by microvoid initiation and coalescence. In contrast, fracture toughness values showed a slight decrease with a temperature decrease. Over the temperature range investigated fracture was a mixed mode containing quasi-cleavage and microvoid coalescence. No single microstructural characteristic distance or model was found to correlate with the fracture toughness decrease.
Language alternation and choice in a formal register: Spanish and English in bilingual Catholic services

Language alternation tends to be proscribed in formal speech situations and registers; in bilingual communities, however, the use of two languages may be observed in formal speech events and registers. This article investigates the use of Spanish and English in a formal speech event, the religious ceremony performed in the Catholic mass, which is governed by prescribed rules of linguistic conduct, in order to examine the factors that constrain language alternation and choice. A quantitative analysis of six 60-minute services was used to determine the frequency of the two languages, both overall and in ritual versus non-ritual talk, and establish an empirical basis for describing the markedness of the two languages (Myers-Scotton, 2000, 2002). Patterns of language alternation are examined both at the macro level of the mass, from section to section, and at the micro level, within sections, and languages choices are explained using the Rational Choice model described by Myers-Scotton and Bolonyai (2001).
"Internal Waves" Advancing along Submarine Canyons.

Patterns of alternating up- and downcanyon currents have been traced along the axes of submarine canyons off California. The patterns arrive later at stations nearer the heads of coastal canyons. Where a canyon heads between two islands, the patterns advance down the axis. The propagation speeds of these patterns were estimated as 25 to 88 centimeters per second. Internal waves are the probable explanation.
Complex Coordinates in Near Hovering Rotor Dynamics

The application of complex coordinates to the study of the dynamic characteristics of the tip-pathplane of a helicopter rotor is considered. The coordinates describing rotor blade motions can be transformed from individual blade flapping angles to linear combinations of flapping angles. Two of the transformed coordinates can be interpreted as describing the tilting motion of the tip-path-plane. In a stationary reference frame, these two new coordinates are coupled. However, by defining a set of complex coordinates, for near hovering flight these two coupled differential equations can be combined into a single second-order differential equation describing the tilting motion of the tip-path-plane. This formulation provides a convenient and natural framework for investigation of the response characteristics of fully articulated and hingeless rotors. Considerable insight into the influence of various physical parameters on the behavior of the tip-pathrplane can be gained. The approach is illustrated by consideration of the transient and frequency response characteristics of the tip-pathplane and the influence of flapping feedback. An extension of the root locus method is described which makes the investigation of flapping feedback convenient. Nomenclature! a - rotor blade lift curve slope b = number of blades A(s) = transfer function c = rotor blade chord Ci = rotor hub rolling moment coefficient, positive for right roll, Ci = L/pKR2(VR)2R Cm — rotor hub pitching moment coefficient, positive nose up, Cm = M/pirR2(QR)2R Cmz = complex rotor hub moment coefficient, Cmz— Cm + iCi /i = rotor blade flapping moment of inertia j = constant of proportionali ty between complex inflow and complex rotor aerodynamic hub moment coefficient KH = gain parameter associated with integral flapping feedback Kp,e = parameters associated with proportional flapping feedback mz — dimensionless aerodynamic moment acting on rotor blade due to forward speed. Effect of cyclic pitch, angular rates and flapping not included p = rotor blade natural frequency in flapping divided by rotor rpm, also roll rate nondimensionalized by rotor rpm, positive roll right q = pitch rate nondimensionalized by rotor rpm, positive nose up
Experimental evidence leading to an alternative explanation of why D-tyrosine sometimes crystallizes faster than its L-enantiomer.

On the occasions when D-tyrosine is observed to crystallize faster than its L-enantiomer, it is the result of a diastereomeric interaction between an airborne, non-racemic, chiral influence—probably a fungal spore—and the tyrosine enantiomers, enhancing the degree of crystal nucleation of D-tyrosine over L-tyrosine. This explanation, supported by experimental evidence, is presented as a more plausible alternative to the Shinitzky–Deamer hypothesis (Shinitzky et al., Progress in biological chirality, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 329–337, 2004; Deamer et al., Chirality, 19:751–763, 2007) which relies on the parity violation energy difference between enantiomers, a femtojoule to picojoule per mole theoretical energy range.
Relations of word information and word length to stuttering disfluencies

Abstract Effects of word information and length on stuttering disfluencies were investigated. 19 stutterers recorded a 141 word passage, and unitary disfluencies of prolongation and repetition types were judged from the playbacks. Word information was determined by forward word-by-word guessing; greater percentages of nonstutterers (40) predicting words incorrectly reflected higher information loadings. Word length was number of letters. Words with greater information or length were independently related to stuttering disfluencies, but long words interacted with information (low and high) to have differential effects on repetition and prolongation. This interaction effect was considered the primary factor accounting for previous discrepant findings.
Enteral glutamine does not enhance the effects of hepatocyte growth factor in short bowel syndrome.

Abstract Purpose: This study was designed to determine if luminally administered glutamine alone functions as a growth factor or is synergistic with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) after massive small bowel resection (MSBR). Methods: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats underwent an 80% small bowel resection and jejunostomy tube placement. Seven days later the rats were divided into four groups: group 1, control, no further treatment (n = 5); group 2 received glutamine (4% of total food intake per day) via an orogastric tube (n = 5); group 3 received intraluminal HGF via a jejunostomy tube at 75 μg/kg/d (n = 5); and group 4 received glutamine and HGF at the same doses, respectively. After a 14-day HGF infusion, glutamine feeding, or both combined, [C 14 ] glycine absorption (μmol/L/cm 2 intestine) and mucosal DNA and protein content (μg/mg mucosa) were measured in the remaining small bowel. Results: Glutamine alone had no effect on substrate absorption and protein or DNA content. HGF increased galactose absorption (106% increase over control, P P P P Conclusions: These data demonstrate that in this short bowel model, glutamine alone did not enhance intestinal function. Furthermore, glutamine is not synergistic with HGF. This study suggests that glutamine alone may not be useful clinically in patients with inadequate intestinal function.
ENERGY EFFICIENT STRATEGIES FOR SCHEDULING TRAINS ON A LINE

Abstract Scheduling trains on a single railway line is treated by converting the scheduling problem to a discrete event dynamic system, and converting a greedy time-efficient strategy to an energy efficient schedule. While such a schedule cannot be referred to as a strategy dependent solely on the state of the system the strategy is easily re-computed when perturbations in the nominal schedule occur.
Differential requirement for CD18 in T-helper effector homing

To understand the integrin requirements of T-helper (TH) effector subsets, we investigated the contribution of CD18 (β2 integrin) to TH1 and TH2 function in vitro and in relevant disease models. CD18-deficient (Itgb2−/−) T cells showed largely normal in vitro function. Compared with wild-type mice, Itgb2−/− mice were better able to resolve Leishmania major infection and generated a superior TH1 immune response, as assessed from draining lymph nodes. In contrast, TH2-dependent allergic lung disease was markedly impaired in mutant mice. In both models, development of TH1 and TH2 cells in spleens was normal, but accumulation of TH2 (not TH1) cells at inflammatory sites was reduced. Thus, CD18 is selectively required for TH2, but not TH1, homing and has a minimal influence on T-effector development. These findings suggest a new integrin-based therapeutic approach in which the outcomes of diverse diseases may be favorably influenced by altering the homing of TH2 cells.
Severe and selective deficiency of interferon‐γ‐producing invariant natural killer T cells in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

Here we show that patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have a severe deficiency of glycolipid reactive Valpha24+/Vbeta11+ natural killer T (NKT) cells, but not NK cells or CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. Neither the blood nor marrow of MDS patients had detectable interferon-gamma-producing NKT cells in response to the NKT ligand, alpha-galactosyl ceramide, although influenza-virus-specific effector T-cell function was preserved. This severe and selective deficiency of an important immune regulatory cell may contribute to the pathogenesis of MDS.
REVIEW ESSAY ON SCIENCE POLICY

Romesh Diwan and Dennis Livingston, Alternative Development Strategies and Appropriate Technology Charles Kidd, Manpower Policies for the Use of Science and Technology in Development Robert Morgan with Ellen Irons, Eduardo Perez, Theodore Souie, and Ava Fried, Science and Technology for Development: The Role of U.S. Universities
Effects of Cross-Age Tutoring on Word-Recognition Performance of Learning Disabled Students

Research has suggested that cross-age tutoring strategies facilitate individualized instruction for children with learning disabilities. Using a multiple-baseline design and direct, daily measures as the dependent variable, the present study evaluated the effects of four fifth-grade LD students tutoring one third-grade and three second-grade LD students on word-recognition skills. The results indicated that the cross-age tutoring procedure was mutually beneficial for the tutors and the tutees. During the intervention phase, all tutees improved their performance on reading sixty morphemes, while all tutors showed impressive gains in reading multisyllable words containing one or more of the morphemes they had taught. The implications of the findings for programming within LD classrooms are discussed.
Improved detection of cardiac confusion with cardiac troponin I

Detecting cardiac injury in patients with chest trauma is difficult because the level of the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (MBCK) can be elevated from skeletal muscle injury alone. However, the level of cardiac troponin I (cTnl) is not elevated by skeletal muscle injury. To determine whether its measurement would improve the ability to detect cardiac injury in patients with blunt chest trauma, 44 patients were studied. Serial echocardiograms and serial blood samples were obtained. Six patients had evidence of cardiac injury by echocardiography; all had elevations of MBCK and cTnl. One patient had elevations of both MBCK and cTnl with only a pericardial effusion. Twenty-six of the 37 patients without contusion had elevations of MBCK; none had elevations of cTnl. The ratio of MBCK to total creatine kinase improved specificity at the expense of sensitivity. Measurement of cTnl accurately detects cardiac injury in patients with blunt chest trauma and should facilitate the diagnosis and management of such patients.
An intensive lifestyle intervention reduced weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors in overweight and obese people with type 2 diabetes.

M Espeland Correspondence to: Dr M Espeland, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; mespelan@wfubmc.edu In overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes, does an intensive lifestyle intervention reduce weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors? ### Design: randomised controlled trial (Action for Health in Diabetes [Look AHEAD] trial). ### Allocation: {concealed}.* ### Blinding: {data collectors and outcome assessors}.* ### Follow-up period: 1 year. ### Setting: 16 centres in the US. ### Participants: 5145 participants 45–75 years of age (mean age 59 y, 60% women) with type 2 diabetes and body mass index >25 kg/m2 or >27 kg/m2 if taking insulin. ### Intervention: intensive lifestyle intervention (n = 2570) or diabetes support and education (n = 2575). The lifestyle intervention combined calorie restriction (⩽30% fat; …
Cutaneous sarcoidosis of childhood

leukemic lymphoblas t s of the T cell var ie ty? It is of interest that as the pa t ient went into remission the blood mononuc lea r cell E-rosettes [ost their heat stabil i ty and showed improved responsiveness to PHA indicat ing a d isappearance of the abno rma l lymphoblas ts , The designation of the leukemia in our pa t ient as T cell in nature is of interest because of the previously descr ibed funct ional and morpholog~c thymic abnormal i t i e s in ataxia-telangiectasia. As indicated above the pa thogenes is of the thymic abnormal i t ies is not known a l though it has been postulated that a defect in the thymic ep i the l ium may be responsible for the a b n o r m a l lymphocyte function. It is interest ing to speculate that the he igh tened susceptibility of A T lymphocytes to neoplast ic t ransformat ion may be secondary to the chronic inabi l i ty of the T cells to undergo complete matura t ion .
Experimental evidence that oxygen is the principal impurity in natural diamonds

IN virtually all treatments of the physical properties of natural diamonds, nitrogen is considered to be a major impurity and is used to explain many properties (see ref. 1). This is true because of the analysis of ref. 2 where a good correlation between nitrogen concentration and optical spectra was found. Those results were obtained from the conversion of diamonds to graphite in a carbon crucible. The report that nitrogen is the major impurity in type 1 diamonds can be tested indirectly and qualitatively by analysing occluded gases released by crushing such diamonds. Numerous experiments in this laboratory on diamonds from Africa, North and South America have failed to show that nitrogen is the major impurity in natural diamonds3,4 and we decided to reinvestigate the composition of gases released by the conversion to graphite of natural diamonds. We found oxygen and hydrogen to be the major impurities, and nitrogen to have only a minor role.
The electronic structures of commensurate Ru(0001)–(3 × 3)–4Kr and Ru(0001)–(5 × 5)–Kr using density functional theory☆

Abstract We have calculated the minimum energies for each of three positionings of the adatom unit cells for Ru(0001)–(3 × 3)–4Kr (high Kr coverage) and for Ru(0001)–(5 × 5)–Kr (low Kr coverage). The differences between the results for the low and high-coverage cases may clarify puzzles posed by the experimental results of Narloch and Menzel. The low-coverage solution converges to a structure having Kr in the top site at a height of 3.09 A above the substrate with the adsorption energy 185 meV. In the high-coverage case, adatom unit cells with a corner Kr at top, fcc hollow, and hcp hollow locations are found to have nearly the same adsorption energy of 175 meV. The height of the corner atom above the substrate is found to be 3.35, 3.54, and 3.50 A for the top, fcc hollow and hcp hollow sites, respectively. These results are explained by demonstrating that there is an enhancement of the substrate electronic density of states at krypton orbital energies in the low-coverage case.
Determination of gases in plutonium, uranium and zirconium by vacuum fusion

Abstract A vacuum fusion system suitable for routine'analysis of gases present in plutonium, uranium, and zirconium was built and acceptable results were obtained with the exception of the determination of nitrogen in zirconium. Hydrogen is evolved by heating the metal in a vacuum while all gaaua are released by fusing the sample at 1900° in a metal bath contained in a graphite crucible. Tho gases evolved from each sample are collected in individual bulbs for later mass spcctrometric analyses. Hydrogen values within 5% and oxygen values within 10% are obtained on zirconium. standards. The results for plutonium samples analyzed by the iron and platinum bath techniques are in satisfactory agreement. The apparatus and techniques described provide a method whereby the gases present in 5 separate metallic samples may be collected in one melting operation of leas than two hours duration.
Near complete rescue of experimental Parkinson's disease with intravenous, non-viral GDNF gene therapy.

Purpose Rats with experimental Parkinson’s disease (PD) are treated with intravenous glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plasmid DNA and non-viral gene therapy using Trojan horse liposomes (THLs) targeted with a monoclonal antibody (MAb) to the rat transferrin receptor (TfR). The GDNF transgene expression is under the influence of the rat tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) promoter.
The Impact of Gender and Early Delinquency on Reoffending: A Life History Perspective

AbstractIn New Jersey, conversations within a statewide antiviolence initiative stimulated the idea to begin interviewing local repeat offenders to uncover the root of their criminal trajectories. Capturing the life histories of recidivists provides a rich understanding of how these individuals entered and remained in a criminal lifestyle. Employing qualitative methods, 20 men and women were interviewed in a local county jail and asked to describe numerous aspects of their lives that may have contributed to their criminal outcome. Similarities and differences are described between and among the men and women.
Electroretinographic findings in human oculocutaneous albinism

Electroretinograms (ERGs) were obtained under dark- and light-adapted conditions from 15 human oculocutaneous albinos and compared with the results from a group of 30 normally pigmented subjects. Amplitude and implicit time measures of the ERG recordings obtained from six autosomal recessive and three autosomal dominant tyrosinase-positive albinos fell within the normal range. The six tyrosinase-negative albinos examined also had normal ERGs at low-to-moderate flash luminances. However, at the highest flash luminances, the dark-adapted ERGs of five such subjects were at or just above the normal range in amplitude, and were shorter than normal in implicit time. The dark-adapted luminance-response functions of these subjects were positioned normally on the luminance axis; light-adapted functions were shifted slightly to the left of normal. The possibility that anterior parts of the retina responding to light passing through the anterior eyewall may contribute to the ERGs obtained from tyrosinase-negative albinos was examined by recording dark-adapted ERGs with the sclera occluded. Amplitudes were reduced compared with those obtained with the sclera unoccluded, suggesting that responses to transscleral illumination contributed to the ERG in this type of albinism.
Sinusoidal flicker characteristics of the color-sensitive mechanisms of the eye

THERE is a body of literature suggesting that temporal factors are of importance in the processing of color information by the visual system. Perhaps most striking, and likewise most difficult to understand in physiological terms, are the illusions of color elicited by flickering achromatic stimuli such as in the well-known Benham’s top illusion. More directly, there is evidence that the temporal integrating properties of the three cone systems of trichromatic color vision are different. IKEDA and BOYNTON (1962) have shown that the spectral sensitivity of the eye depends on flash duration, and KELLY (1962) has similarly demonstrated that frequency of flicker is an important variable in determining the photopic spectral sensitivity of the eye. DE LANGE (1958) reported that when ,red and green stimuli are sinusoidally alternated in exact antiphase, the eye detects a residual brightness flicker that cannot be eliminated by varying the relative intensities of the stimuli. However, if both the relative proportions of the two lights in the mixture and the phase relations between them are varied, this residual flicker can then be eliminated. It has been suggested by WALRA~EN and LEEBFZK (1964) that these findings reflect frequency-dependent differences in the attenuation and phase characteristics of the color-mediating systems. Using techniques developed by STILES (1939, 1949) wherein a test stimulus, that chiefly stimulates one class of cone, is superimposed on a background which favors the other two, it is possible to arrange matters so that the test stimulus excites only a single cone mechanism. The two-color incremental threshold approach and various modifications, in which the dark light of bleached pigment is substituted for a real light background, have been used to determine the spectral sensitivities (Snrss, 1939,1949; BRINDLEY, 1953; WALD, 1964), dark adaptation properties (Du CROZ and RUSHTON, 1965), spatial integrating properties (BRINDLEY, 1954; GREEN, 1968) and after-flash interactions (ALPERX and RUSHTON, 1965) of the separate red, green, and blue mechanisms of color vision. Recently, using on-off blue flicker superimposed on a yellow background, BRINDLEY, Du CROZ and RUSHTON (1965) have shown that the blue cone mechanisms have a greatly depressed critical flicker fusion frequency. The experiments presented here were designed to extend these observations by measuring the flicker thresholds for sinusoidally modulated red, green, and blue stimuli superimposed on bright backgrounds of a complementary color. The object of these experiments was the determination of the temporal frequency response curves, the so-called de Lange characteristics, of the separate cone mechanisms.
Endonasal Access to the Upper Cervical Spine: Part 2-Cadaveric Analysis.

Objectives The study aims to determine factors that augment endonasal exposure of the cervical spine. Setting We used fluoroscopy and endoscopy to study endonasal visualization of the upper cervical spine. Participants Ten cadavers with normal anatomy were studied. Main Outcome Measures Endoscopic visualization was simulated with projected lines from an endoscope to the cervical spine in multiple positions. Results Neck position alone did not affect the extent of endonasal exposure of the upper cervical spine, although there was a trend correlating the extended neck position with more caudal exposure. The greatest impact was with concurrent use of a 30-degree endoscope and neck extension, and more caudal access was achieved by tilting the endoscope against the piriform aperture, using the posterior tip of the hard palate as the fulcrum. Conclusions Concurrent use of a 30-degree endoscope and neck extension increased the degree of exposure down the cervical spine. Maximum endonasal exposure of the upper cervical spine was obtained by maneuvering instruments at the fulcrum of the posterior hard palate and the nares, rather than changing the position of the neck alone. These results complement radiographic morphometric data in Part 1 of this study for preoperative assessment and surgical planning.
A rotating torsion balance experiment to measure Newton's constant

We have developed a new method to determine the gravitational constant. This method severely reduces the sensitivity to the leading sources of error in previous torsion balance measurements: it is mostly free of uncertainties due to anelastic torsion fibre properties. The torsion pendulum mass density distribution does not have to be known accurately. Gravitational effects due to mass distribution changes in the vicinity are reduced. The apparatus is currently under construction.
Filomicelles in nanomedicine – from flexible, fragmentable, and ligand-targetable drug carrier designs to combination therapy for brain tumors

Nanoparticles that are made by self-assembly into non-spherical shapes are promising as drug delivery vehicles. This review focuses on flexible and fragmentable filamentous micelles referred to as filomicelles made of degradable block copolymer amphiphiles. They are inspired by filoviruses and also by tubular proplatelets that break up into smaller platelets in blood flow. The synthesis and assembly of the constituent block copolymers are described together with ligand targeting and fragmentation as well as drug release in therapeutic applications to model tumors and most recently brain tumors.
The dendritic morphology of hippocampal dentate granule cells varies with their position in the granule cell layer: a quantitative Golgi study

The dendritic morphology of Golgi-stained hippocampal dentate granule cells was evaluated by measuring the amount and location of dendrite, and the number of length of dendritic branches. Granule cells with somata in the superficial third of the granule cell layer has substantially more dendritic material than those with somata in the deep portions of the cell layer; this difference occurred throughout the extent of the molecular layer. Superficial cells also had different dendritic branching patterns and wider dendritic fields than did cells located in the deeper two-thirds of the granule cell layer. These results indicate that the position of neurons within the cell layer should be taken into account when quantifying the dendritic fields of dentate granule cells.
Finite-range gain of sectoral and pyramidal horns

Finite-range effects are incorporated into Schelkunoff's pyramidal-horn gain formula, which is arranged as the product of in-phase aperture gain and E and H plane range and slant-length gain-reduction factors. These factors, readily computed, permit the on-axis gain of a horn to be obtained from two single-line curves.
Signal processing using surface-acoustic-wave and digital components

The high performance of currently available digital components now permits the efficient coupling of surface-acoustic-wave and digital technologies. Hybrid circuits can be built which benefit from both the flexibility of the digital circuits and the high processing speed of the s.a.w. devices. Further, such circuits offer reduced volume and reduced power consumption. The compatibility of these two technologies, the resulting advantages and the coupling methods are discussed. System examples are presented which relate to the sonar and the radar fields – pulse compression, beam forming, 2-dimensional analysis, spectrum analysis and correlation processing.
Masking of alphabetic character recognition by ultrahigh-density dynamic visual noise

In this paper the results of an experiment measuring the masking effects of ultrahigh-density dynamic visual noise (DVN) on character recognition are reported. It is shown that the period in which DVN acts as a mask is not extended beyond that measured with less dense DVN, even when the interval between the DVN dots is as small as 32 μsee. This result permits the rejection of the notion that there are sub threshold “tails” to the period of persistence of the visual store of the DVN dots. These results thus confirm the measurements made with less dense DVN of the duration of the period of persistence that allows confusion between sequential stimulus and mask dots to occur.
Adjustment of High-Precision Frequency and Time Standards

High-precision frequency and time standards are becoming more and more widely used in many technical fields. The basic equipment used by the Central Radio Propagation Laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards in providing and broadcasting standard frequency and time signals is discussed. Mention is made of the manner in which it is adjusted and the corrections which may be applied to make use of the ultimate accuracy that may be expected in using these signals for measuring and calibrating similar equipment. Several methods are given for checking the frequency of precision oscillators and precision clock performance. Suggestions are given as to methods of recording and evaluating performance data for such standards. Expected improvements in constancy and accuracy and possible future changes in the types of standards used in physical time measurements are considered.
Study of UV-bleached channel-waveguide performance in nonlinear optical polymer films

We report studies on UV-photobleached optical channel waveguides in nonlinear optical polymer films. The nonlinear optical polymer used is poly(methyl methacrylate)/DR1 side-chain polymer. The effective indices of the channel waveguides are measured with the prism-coupling technique, along with the effective indices of bleached and unbleached polymer films. The effective-index method was used to predict the effective indices of the channel waveguides from measurements of the slab waveguides, without detailed knowledge of the index distributions in the polymer films. Some local stress-related effects on the boundaries of the channel waveguides caused by the UV-bleaching process are identified by comparison between direct channel measurement and prediction. It is found that the technique used in this study can be employed to predict the performance of channel waveguides processed such that they have no excessive internal stress distributions.
CARBON CONTROLS ON NITROUS OXIDE PRODUCTION WITH CHANGES IN SUBSTRATE AVAILABILITY IN A NORTH AMERICAN GRASSLAND

Fluxes of nitrous oxide (N2O) are governed by the availability of substrate nitrogen (N), soil moisture, and soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration. Grassland management techniques such as fertilization and haying can influence both SOC and soil N transformations. In mesic grasslands, where SOC can
N-Terminally PEGylated Human Interferon-β-1a with Improved Pharmacokinetic Properties and in Vivo Efficacy in a Melanoma Angiogenesis Model§

PEGylation of IFN-α has been used successfully to improve the pharmacokinetic properties and efficacy of the drug. To prepare a PEGylated form of human interferon-β-1a (IFN-β-1a) suitable for testing in vivo, we have synthesized 20 kDa mPEG-O-2-methylpropionaldehyde and used it to modify the N-terminal α-amino group of the cytokine. The PEGylated protein retained ∼50% of the activity of the unmodified protein and had significantly improved pharmacokinetic properties following intravenous administration in rats. The clearance and volume of distribution at steady state were reduced ∼30-fold and ∼4-fold, respectively, resulting in a significant increase in systemic exposure as determined by the area under the curve. The elimination half-life of the PEGylated protein was ∼13-fold greater than for the unmodified protein. The unmodified and PEGylated proteins were tested for their ability to inhibit the formation of radially oriented blood vessels entering the periphery of human SK-MEL-1 melanoma tumors in athy...
Ab initio calculation on crystal fields of Sm 2+ in solids with Cl and F ligands

The linear combination of atomic orbitals (-molecular orbitals) crystal-field theory in the context of the superposition model was used to calculate the intrinsic crystal-field parameters for ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{2+}$ ions in solids with Cl and F ligands at different interionic distances. The five main contributions: point charge, charge penetration, exchange, overlap, and covalency considered in the present work can reasonably describe the experimental results. A direct comparison between divalent and trivalent lanthanide ions leads to the conclusion that the initial intrinsic crystal-field parameters and the power-law exponents corresponding to the distance dependence for divalent lanthanide ions are larger than those for trivalent lanthanide ions.
Association of Campylobacter spp. levels between chicken grow-out environmental samples and processed carcasses

ABSTRACT Campylobacter spp. have been isolated from live poultry, production environments, processing facilities, and raw poultry products. Environmental sampling in a poultry grow-out house, combined with carcass rinse sampling from the same flock, may provide a relative relationship between pre- and postharvest Campylobacter contamination. Air samples, fecal/litter samples, and feed/drink line samples were collected from 4 commercial chicken grow-out houses in western Virginia between September 2011 and January 2012. Birds from each sampled house were the first flock slaughtered the following day and were then sampled by postchill carcass rinses. Campylobacter, from postenrichment samples, was detected in 27% (32/120) of house environmental samples and 37.5% (45/120) of carcass rinse samples. All environmental sample types from each house included at least one positive sample except the house 2 air samples. The sponge sample method was found to have a significantly higher (P
Civic Education in Emerging Democracies: Lessons from Post-Communist Poland and Romania.

The 1999 International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Civic Education Study revealed that most countries having recently undergone political and social transformations had lower civic knowledge scores than more stable nations. However, Poland, which instituted policies aimed at educating citizens for democratic participation after the fall of Communism, scored above international means. This article examines these educational policy initiatives and compares Poland with Romania, where fewer curricular initiatives were undertaken. Using 1999 IEA data, the article evaluates civic education’s potential for promoting civic knowledge in transitioning nations and finds that successful programs tend to pay attention to national context, provide for teacher professional development, engage students in active learning and collaborate with established democracies to create curricula. Other factors that might have contributed to the differing scores are also explored, including the tw...
Introduction to the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (Fdtd) Method for Electromagnetics

Introduction to the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) Method for Electromagnetics provides a comprehensive tutorial of the most widely used method for solving Maxwell's equations -- the Finite Difference Time-Domain Method. This book is an essential guide for students, researchers, and professional engineers who want to gain a fundamental knowledge of the FDTD method. It can accompany an undergraduate or entry-level graduate course or be used for self-study. The book provides all the background required to either research or apply the FDTD method for the solution of Maxwell's equations to practical problems in engineering and science. Introduction to the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) Method for Electromagnetics guides the reader through the foundational theory of the FDTD method starting with the one-dimensional transmission-line problem and then progressing to the solution of Maxwell's equations in three dimensions. It also provides step by step guides to modeling physical sources, lumped-circuit components, absorbing boundary conditions, perfectly matched layer absorbers, and sub-cell structures. Post processing methods such as network parameter extraction and far-field transformations are also detailed. Efficient implementations of the FDTD method in a high level language are also provided. Table of Contents: Introduction / 1D FDTD Modeling of the Transmission Line Equations / Yee Algorithm for Maxwell's Equations / Source Excitations / Absorbing Boundary Conditions / The Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) Absorbing Medium / Subcell Modeling / Post Processing
Manipulating midbrain stem cell self-renewal.

In this issue of Cell Stem Cell , Falk and colleagues (Falk et al., 2008) demonstrate that differential responsiveness to TGF-β signaling selectively modulates self-renewal of dorsal midbrain stem cells. This observation may lead to strategies for expanding specific neural stem cell subtypes.
Hydrodynamic behavior of triplet excitons

In this work we consider the many triplet exciton states of molecular crystals. A model Hamiltonian, which is isomorphic to an anisotropic Heisenberg spin Hamiltonian axially symmetric about a uniform magnetic field, is introduced. This Hamiltonian can be viewed as a quasiparticle Hamiltonian in which the excitations are neither Fermion nor Boson but are so called Paulion operators. This Hamiltonian possesses conservation laws of exciton number and energy, and when Umklapp processes can be neglected it conserves exciton momentum. As a consequence of these conservation laws the long‐wavelength collective behavior of triplets can be described by a picture very similar to ordinary particle hydrodynamics. However, because of kinematical differences it is necessary to introduce two additional transport coefficients.
Pinning, ordering, and dynamics of vortices in conformal crystal and gradient pinning arrays

We numerically investigate magnetization, pinning, ordering, and dynamics of vortices interacting with pinning arrangements which have a density gradient. We focus on conformal crystal structures obtained by conformally transforming a spatially uniform periodic array, as well as nonconformal gradient structures and structures with quasiperiodic order. The conformal structures feature a density gradient and local ordering. Using magnetization simulations we find that conformal pinning arrays exhibit enhanced pinning compared to nonconformal gradient arrays as well as compared to random, periodic, and quasiperiodic arrays, for a broad range of fields. The effectiveness of conformal arrays arises from the continuum of length scales introduced into the arrays by the conformal transformation, allowing for a broad range of local commensuration effects. At higher vortex fillings above the range of conformal effectiveness, we show that a nonconformal rectangular gradient array exhibits strong pinning due to a novel commensuration effect and vortex ordering. Using transport simulations where vortices are driven along the gradient and at an angle to the gradient, we confirm the effectiveness of conformal pinning at increasing the critical current. For a rotated drive, the gradient arrays produce a strong vortex guidance effect in the direction perpendicular to the gradient.
Acute trauma in adulthood in the context of childhood traumatic experiences

In this paper I will present the case of Paul, who survived an assault as a young adult, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic epilepsy. Paul's reactions to this traumatic event in adulthood are considered in the context of his earlier traumatic experiences, his psychodynamic conflicts, and his characteristic defense patterns. Transference and countertransference will be considered from the viewpoint of psychodynamic therapy with a traumatized patient who has been in a complex, dependent relationship with one of the perpetrators. Paul's progress in therapy will be reviewed, including his realization of the profound impact of trauma on his life and his strong will to work through his issues.
Effective non-oscillatory propagator for Feynman path integration in real time

Abstract By exploiting the momentum space boundedness of wavefunctions an effective system-specific real-time propagator is constructed, which is localized and devoid of fast oscillations. Numerical examples are presented, which show that this effective propagator can be used successfully for studying the dynamics of quantum systems with the standard Monte Carlo path integration methodology.
Environmental Ngos in Brussels: How powerful are their lobbying activities?

(1999). Environmental Ngos in Brussels: How powerful are their lobbying activities? Environmental Politics: Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 173-182.
An improved simultaneous feasibility test to alleviate revenue inadequacy in FTR markets

Financial transmission rights (FTRs) are financial instruments that aid participants in hedging against uncertainty in congestion cost. FTRs are funded by congestion rent from the physical market. ISOs ensure financial revenue adequacy by running a simultaneous feasibility test (SFT) to guarantee that available funds cover FTR payments. However, the ability of SFT to guarantee this revenue adequacy is contingent upon a static system topology. Consequently, topology changes in real time could cause revenue inadequacy. Past literature focuses on addressing this issue by policy modifications to real-time topology control. This paper attempts to resolve the revenue inadequacy issue by proposing modifications directly to the SFT.
The Variations of Cn2 Between 4 and 18 km above Sea Level as Measured over 5 Years

Abstract We computed the monthly average backscattered power over a five-year period for the Fleming 50 MHz wind profiler, which is proportional to CN2. We found that in addition to seasonal cycle in CN2 below the tropopause, there was a year-to-year variation as well. Above the tropopause, the seasonal variations were almost gone; however, there were significant changes with periods longer than one year. We examined a shorter back-scattered power record from the Stapleton wind profiler and found similar longer-term trends. These long-term trends will affect the performance of wind profilers.