cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Broadband receiver-based distortion elimination in phase-modulated analog optical links using four-wave mixing

We present a method for full distortion elimination in phase-modulated analog optical links using the nonlinear optical process of four-wave mixing (FWM). Phase-modulated links consist of a laser and phase modulator in the transmitter and an interferometer (or local oscillator) and photodiode in the receiver. Phase modulation is a linear process, so distortion is introduced in the interferometric detection process. Quadrature biasing eliminates even-order distortion products, leaving only odd-order distortion. Here we introduce a method for eliminating these odd-order distortion products in the receiver. A small portion of the phase-modulated signal is tapped and combined with an unmodulated CW laser to seed a cascaded FWM comb source. This process generates an array of lightwaves with integer multiples of the signal’s phase modulation. By suitably scaling and combining these lightwaves with the original signal the overall transfer function of the interferometric receiver can be linearized (or given another tailored shape) through a Fourier synthesis approach. By combining a single lightwave from the generated comb with the original signal, we demonstrate the complete elimination of third-order distortion from the phase-modulated link leaving fifth-order distortion as the dominate source of distortion. We show a 17.6-dB SFDR improvement (1-Hz bandwidth) for a 6 GHz link operating at 5-mA total photocurrent and a 16.4-dB SFDR improvement (1-Hz bandwidth) for a 15 GHz link operating at 10-mA total photocurrent. By appropriately combining additional lightwaves from the generated comb, higher-order distortion products can be eliminated to produce an ideal linear (or custom shaped) transfer function.
Design for Mass Customization in the Early Stages of Product Development

This paper describes a method for the early stages of new product development that supports the conceptual design of modular, platform-based, and customizable components. The method includes up-front product planning encompassing definition of customer requirements, market segmentation, and competitive product analysis, ultimately leading to product specifications. The results from product planning are combined with tools for developing a product platform architecture with easily customizable customer interface components, which are based on well-defined interfaces. The method and tools are applied to a family of bactericidal door handle products. The major elements of the customizable door handle product architecture are defined, and several concepts are generated that utilize modularity, customization, and product platforms within a single design. The results are discussed in detail with specific comments on applying up-front planning and design tools in terms of modularity and customization for commercialization based on well-defined interfaces. Finally, we conclude with comments on the limitations of the method, proposed improvements, and future work.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Co-infection of primary human adenoid epithelial cells with Influenza A and Streptococcus pneumoniae

Abstract Human adenoid epithelial cells (HAEC) from adenoids were used as a model for exploring potential viral/bacterial synergy. Methods: HAEC were grown on a collagen, matrix-coated tissue culture plate until the monolayer became confluent. A differentiated cell population with secretory component, mucin production, and ciliary activity was seen with histochemical staining. Cells were infected with Influenza A/Beijing/H3N2 at an MOI of 0.01 PFU for 24 h. The monolayer was washed and 107 Streptococcus pneumoniae added. After a 3-h pneumococcal infection, pneumococci were titered in the supernatant, in the cells after washing (adherent and intracellular bacteria) and in cells treated with antibiotics to destroy adherent bacteria followed by lysis (intracellular bacteria). Results: Over the 3-h infection period, neither pneumococci type 14 (encapsulated) and R6× (unencapsulated) influenced the titer of influenza released nor did influenza affect the bacterial growth. Co-localization of pneumococcal and influenza infection in individual cells was not evident. The capacity varied of pneumococcal strains to adhere and invade the epithelial surface. Encapsulated type 14 from the bloodstream was less invasive than an unencapsulated laboratory strain R6×. Conclusion: The propensity for bacterial superinfection, based on increased adherence or invasion of pneumococci to influenza-infected epithelial cells, could not be explained in the HAEC model.
Conditioning of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) nictitating membrane response as a function of trials per session and ISI with a short intersession interval

The nictitating membrane response of the rabbit was conditioned using either 15 or 60 trials per session at interstimulus intervals of either 250 or 1,000 msec. The intertrial interval was 30 sec, and the intersession interval was 2 h for all groups. Acquisition was superior at the lower number of trials per session for each ISI, but the effects of the trials per session variable were greater at 1,000-msec ISI. This pattern of results paralleled the pattern found in other studies when animals are conditioned using a 24-h intersession interval.
Voice in EFL Education in a Japanese Context: Makiguchi's Perspectives in the Concept of “Voice”

This theoretical article explores the Bakhtinian concept of voice from the perspective of Makiguchi's philosophy of value in the context of Japanese EFL (English as a Foreign Language) education. Bakhtin conceptualized a dialogic process of multiple voices within an individual or a society. For the conflict between different voices in a particular power relation to give rise to positive development of the individual or the society, authoritative discourse, a voice backed by authority, has to be dialogically challenged by internally persuasive discourse, a voice that is not supported by authority but which is persuasive to the individual. Makiguchi's theory of value resonates with this idea in that the relationship between the object (environment) and the subject (human life) must be dialogically grasped to create value. Arguing that the Japanese government and the business world serve as an authoritative discourse in Japanese EFL education, this article asserts that the learner's (subject) own voice as in...
Current View of miRNA with Tumor Suppressor Function, Exploring MDS and AML as Models

Since the discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) in 1993, their role in controlling a wide variety of complex and seminal cellular functions through control of gene expression continues to be elucidated. Studies of the past decade have shown that miRNAs are able to activate or suppress target genes that are key players in the molecular pathways found to be deregulated in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The ability of miRNAs to act as tumor suppressor genes has been demonstrated in a number of studies in both human samples and cell lines as well as in murine models of AML and MDS. The focus of this review will be to examine the complex interaction of specific miRNAs with genes that have been implicated in MDS/AML and which may eventually become therapeutically relevant.
Preference for Na+−π Binding over Na+−Dipole Binding in Na+−Arene Interactions

The cation binding of dipolar aromatics was investigated employing computational techniques. In most cases, cation binding at the pi region of the aromatic (the cation-pi interaction), which can be thought of as a cation-quadrupole interaction, is preferred over cation binding at the negative end of the dipole moment. Surprisingly, in some cases, the cation-dipole complex is not even a minimum on the potential energy surface.
Reading, Writing, and Running: Literacy Learning on the Playground

Although providing print-related props in early childhood learning centers is a well-established practice for increasing young children's literacy experiences, providing opportunities for literacy development during outdoor play is not as common. Teachers can quickly address this missed opportunity with a few simple additions to their outdoor play area. These practical and economical outdoor activities described in this article require negligible or no expense, minimal preparation, and little clean-up. In contrast, they provide abundant motivation and continuous inspiration for reading and writing. These suggestions, which are accompanied by a list of books for outdoor reading, are meant to serve as a springboard for other original ideas. Because the only boundaries are one's own resourcefulness and creativity, there is no limit to the number of possibilities for taking literacy learning outdoors.
Thermal expansion of amorphous metals

Abstract The thermal expansion of three commercial amorphous metals has been measured from room temperature to above the crystallization temperature. The results clearly demonstrated the glassy nature of these materials and show the reduction in volume which results from crystallization. The glass transformation temperature is more evident here than on the usual differential scanning calorimeter curves. The activation energies associated with the glass transformation and crystallization are derived from data taken as a function of heating rate. The measured temperatures for the glass transformation and crystallization from the thermal expansion measurements are the same as those obtained from DSC measurements at the same heating rate.
Evidence for preferential breakage of the minus strand of ΦX174 replicative form DNA by a T4-induced endonuclease

Abstract 1. 1. A comparison of the actions of pancreatic deoxyribonuclease and a partially purified T4-induced endonuclease on the superhelical ФX174 replicative form (RF I) is presented. Pancreatic deoxyribonuclease appears to introduce single-stranded breaks into RF I without discriminating between the two strands, whereas the T4-induced endonuclease shows a pronounced preference for the “ minus ” strand. 2. 2. The viral or “ plus ” strand of RF I is normally about two and a half times as infective in spheroplasts as the complementary “ minus ” strand.
Doping of ferroelectric solutions of (Ba, Sr Ti O3) with In2 O3 to improve the RC time constant

Abstract The principle of conversion of solar energy into electrical energy using ferroelectric materials has been discussed by Hoh [1]. A capacitor made of ferroelectric material is subjected to heat cycling above the Curie temperature. During heating the permittivity across the ferroelectric material decreases and hence the voltage across a charged capacitor increases. The heat energy supplied to the capacitor is converted into electrical energy and could be obtained by discharging the capacitor. It is known that the Curie temperature of Ba Ti O3 can be decreased by doping it with Sr TiO3. It has been observed by us that each 1 per cent by weight of Sr Ti O3 lowers the Curie temperature of Ba Ti O3 by 3·5 deg. It has been pointed out by Hoh [1] that Ba Ti O3 is not suitable for ferroelectric energy conversion devices because of semiconduction. Solid solutions of various percentages of Sr Ti O3 in Ba Ti O3 are also not suitable for such devices because of semiconduction. The efficiency of the device depends upon the RC time constant of the capacitor. The larger the RC time constant, the more efficient is the device. The product RC = ϱe, where ϱ is the resistivity in Ω-m and e is the permittivity in F/m. Since changes of e in orders of magnitude are not conceivable, it is essential that the resistivity determines the RC time constant. In this work a method for increasing the resistivity of (Ba, Sr) Ti O3 solid solutions was developed by utilizing the principles of electrical compensation. It was found that (Ba0.77, Sr0.23) Ti O3 solid solution with a Curie temperature of nearly 30°C showed an N-type of conduction. To neutralize the excess free electrons, an appropriate amount of indium was added in the form of In2 O3. The resistivity was observed to increase by two orders of magnitude with optimum doping. Excess doping impaired the compensation.
Abstract B18: Expression of CTIP2/Bcl11b is linked to disease progression in head and neck cancer and is a critical mediator of epithelial cell migration and motility during wound healing processes

We have previously shown that transcriptional regulator Ctip2 controls epidermal homeostasis during skin morphogenesis and plays a crucial role in epidermal permeability barrier (EPB) formation (1,2). In a recent study we have shown that CTIP2 expression is upregulated in human head and neck tumors and in atopic dermatitis (3,4). It is known that “cancers are wounds that do not heal” and genes implicated in wound healing are known to influence cancer progression. Interestingly, Ctip2 expression was also induced in mouse skin following tape stripping (mild injury by abrasion) and in cutaneous full thickness wounds. We therefore investigated function of Ctip2 during cutaneous wound healing using both in vitro scratch assay and in vivo full thickness wound healing assay. In the present study we looked at the Ctip2 expression levels by immunohistochemical (IHC) and western blot on wild-type mice skin after inducing mild abrasion injury by tape stripping and in full thickness wounds by punch biopsy. We have also analyzed the effect of Ctip2 deletion in the epidermis of mice skin using Ctip2ep-/- mice in these two processes using histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blotting. Our data on in vitro scratch migration assay demonstrated a delay in keratinocyte migration and wound closure in mutant keratinocytes. Similarly, healing of cutaneous wounds was significantly delayed by 2-3 days in Ctip2ep-/- mice (selectively lacking the gene for Ctip2 in epidermal keratinocytes) in comparison to wild-type control (Ctip2L2/L2) mice where wounds closed much faster. Histological analyses of skin wounds revealed that the distance between the two migratory tongues of epithelial cells was larger in the mutant mice [1.2 fold (p References 1. Golonzhka O, Leid M, Indra G, Indra AK. Expression of COUP-TF- interacting protein 2 (CTIP2) in mouse skin during development and in adulthood. Gene Expr Patterns. 2007;7:754-60. 2. Golonzhka O, Liang X, Messaddeq N, Bornert JM, Campbell AL, Metzger D, Chambon P, Ganguli-Indra G, Leid M, Indra AK. Dual role of COUP-TF-interacting protein 2 in epidermal homeostasis and permeability barrier formation. J Invest Dermatol. 2009;129:1459-70. 3. Ganguli-Indra G, Liang X, Hyter S, Leid M, Hanifin J, Indra AK. Expression of COUP-TF-interacting protein 2 (CTIP2) in human atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis skin. Exp Dermatol. 2009;18:994-6. 4. Ganguli-Indra G, Wasylyk C, Liang X, Millon R, Leid M, Wasylyk B, Abecassis J, Indra A. CTIP2 expression in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is linked to poorly differentiated tumor status. PLoS ONE. 2009;4:e5367. Citation Information: Clin Cancer Res 2010;16(14 Suppl):B18.
On commutativity in certain rings

I.N. Herstein has shown that an associative ring in which the nilpotent elements are “well-behaved”, and such that every element satisfies a certain polynomial identity, is commutative. This result is generalized here. Specifically, it is shown that an alternative ring R which satisfies the following three properties is commutative: (i) for x ∈ R , there exists an integer n(x) and a polynomial p x (t) with integer coefficients such that x n+1 p(x) = x n ; (ii) for a fixed positive integer m, a a nilpotent and b an arbitrary element of R, a - a m commutes with b - b m ; (iii) for the same m, a and b , (ab+b) m = (ba+b) m and (ab) m = a m b m . Examples are given to show that all three properties are essential, and it is shown that for associative rings certain modified versions of these properties are individually enough to assure that the commutator ideal of the ring is nil.
Cloning and Characterization of the Promoter Region of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene

Activation of telomerase is one of the rate-limiting steps in human cell immortalization and carcinogenesis Human telomerase is composed of at least two protein subunits and an RNA component. Regulation of expression of the catalytic subunit, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), is suggested as the major determinant of the enzymatic activity. We report here the cloning and characterization of the 5'-regulatory region of the hTERT gene. The highly GC-rich content of the 5' end of the hTERT cDNA spans to the 5'-flanking region and intron 1, making a CpG island. A 1.7-kb DNA fragment encompassing the hTERT gene promoter was placed upstream of the luciferase reporter gene and transiently transfected into human cell lines of fibroblastic and epithelial origins that differed in their expression of the endogenous hTERT gene. Endogenous hTERT-expressing cells, but not nonexpressing cells, showed high levels of luciferase activity, suggesting that the regulation of hTERT gene expression occurs mainly at the transcriptional level. Additional luciferase assays using a series of constructs containing unidirectionally deleted fragments revealed that a 59-bp region (-208 to -150) is required for the maximal promoter activity. The region contains a potential Myc oncoprotein binding site (E-box), and cotransfection of a c-myc expression plasmid markedly enhanced the promoter activity, suggesting a role of the Myc protein in telomerase activation. Identification of the regulatory regions of the hTERT promoter sequence will be essential in understanding the molecular mechanisms of positive and negative regulation of telomerase.
The effects of obesity on skeletal muscle regeneration.

Obesity and metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus are accompanied by increased lipid deposition in adipose and non-adipose tissues including liver, pancreas, heart and skeletal muscle. Recent publications report impaired regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle following injury in obese mice. Although muscle regeneration has not been thoroughly studied in obese and type 2 diabetic humans and mechanisms leading to decreased muscle regeneration in obesity remain elusive, the initial findings point to the possibility that muscle satellite cell function is compromised under conditions of lipid overload. Elevated toxic lipid metabolites and increased proinflammatory cytokines as well as insulin and leptin resistance that occur in obese animals may contribute to decreased regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle. In addition, obesity-associated alterations in the metabolic state of skeletal muscle fibers and satellite cells may directly impair the potential for satellite cell-mediated repair. Here we discuss recent studies that expand our understanding of how obesity negatively impacts skeletal muscle maintenance and regeneration.
Cryptococcus albidus Infection in a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

Sporadic cases of cryptococcosis have been reported in marine mammals, typically due to Cryptococcus neoformans and, more recently, to Cryptococcus gattii in cetaceans. Cryptococcus albidus, a ubiquitous fungal species not typically considered to be pathogenic, was recovered from a juvenile California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) rescued near San Francisco Bay, California. Yeast morphologically consistent with a Cryp-tococcus sp. was identified histologically in a lymph node and C. albidus was identified by an rDNA sequence from the lung. Infection with C. albidus was thought to have contributed to mortality in this sea lion, along with concurrent bacterial pneumonia. Cryptococcus albidus should be considered as a potential pathogen with a role in marine mammal morbidity and mortality.
Neonatal diabetes mellitus

Neonatal diabetes mellitus is an uncommon disorder of unknown cause that can be encountered in the first days to weeks of life. Two forms—transient and permanent—have been described. Signs and symptoms of both forms are identical with the ongoing need for insulin therapy past the neonatal period the only method to distinguish between them. This article describes the infant with transient neonatal diabetes and reviews the clinical characteristics of both the transient and permanent forms. The role of the nurse practitioner in the care and management of these infants is also addressed.
High resolution imaging of optical modes in silicon microdisk cavities based on near-field perturbation

We demonstrate high resolution near-field imaging of the optical modes profile in high Q silicon microdisks. A spatial resolution of ∼20nm is obtained by characterizing the perturbative effects of a scanning AFM tip on the microdisk transmission.
Microbiology and Chemistry of Fermented Fish

SUMMARY The microbiology and chemistry of Thai fish sauce was investigated in relation to the development of flavor and aroma. Total viable count decreased steadily as fermentation time advanced. The counts were higher when media containing 10% NaCl were used than when media containing 0.5% NaCl were used. Approximately 70% of the bacterial isolates from a nine-month-old fish sauce were halophiles of Bacillus types. These bacteria produced volatile acids from cultures in a medium prepared by hydrolyzing rockfish (Sebastodes sp.) with a mineral acid. A diethyl-ether-ethanol-soluble fraction contained the typical aroma of fish sauce. This extract could be separated further by column chroma tography (AGl-X8, formate form) into a fraction containing amino compounds and a second fraction containing weakly acidic compounds. The amino acids, principally glutamic acid, histidine, proline, etc., and other amines were identified by thin-layer chromatography. The identification of acidic compounds has not been completed.
The Cornell program synthesizer: a syntax-directed programming environment

Programs are not text; they are hierarchical compositions of computational structures and should be edited, executed, and debugged in an environment that consistently acknowledges and reinforces this viewpoint. The Cornell Program Synthesizer demands a structural perspective at all stages of program development. Its separate features are unified by a common foundation: a grammar for the programming language. Its full-screen derivation-tree editor and syntax-directed diagnostic interpreter combine to make the Synthesizer a powerful and responsive interactive programming tool.
Driver distraction: effects of text entry methods on driving performance

This research investigates the effect of cell phone interface design on simulated driving performance. The effects of three text message conditions (no text, touch screen keyboard, physical keyboard) on lateral vehicle control and operator workload (mental and physical) were evaluated. Twenty three participants performed a lane change task for each of the text message conditions. The results indicate that drivers had greater lane variability and reported higher workload when using a touch screen compared to physical keyboard. The findings of this study suggest that a touch screen interface may exacerbate the effects of a secondary task (e.g. texting) on driving performance. Language: en
An efficient distributed channel allocation algorithm based on dynamic channel boundaries

In a mobile computing environment efficient allocation of wireless channels is consequential to the system performance. This paper presents a distributed channel allocation algorithm based on the concept of dynamic channel boundaries. Under this scheme, each mobile service station (MSS) is assigned a contiguous range of channel not overlapping with those of its neighbors. Channel boundaries between adjacent MSSs are dynamically adjustable through voluntary withdrawals. High efficiency is provided by two important features: early boundary expansion and need-based boundary redrawing. This algorithm imposes a low message volume on the fixed network, has short response times to connection requests and achieves high channel utilization under both evenly and unevenly distributed loads. Channel utilization is further improved if a MSS may borrow channels from its neighbors. Simulation results indicate this algorithm outperforms other distributed channel allocation algorithms.
On Moist Instability

Abstract An argument is made that the concepts of conditional instability and conditional symmetric instability need to be revisited. Confusion in the profession has led to two extant definitions of conditional instability that are superficially similar but fundamentally inconsistent. Only one definition corresponds to a real instability. Further, spillover of this confusion into the analysis of slantwise instability mechanisms appears to be producing inappropriate diagnosis of conditional symmetric instability. Concepts from hydrodynamic stability theory are helpful in discussing the situation.
Impact of partial volume effects on visceral adipose tissue quantification using MRI.

Purpose: To quantitatively estimate the impact of partial volume effects on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) quantification using typical resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: Nine normal or overweight subjects were scanned at central abdomen levels with a water-saturated, balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) sequence. The water-saturation effectiveness was evaluated with region-of-interest analysis on fat, muscle, bowel, and noise areas. The number of full-volume (FV) and partial-volume (PV) fat pixels was estimated based on a gray-level histogram model of water-saturated images. Both FV and PV fat amounts were quantified. Results: High-quality, fat-only images were generated with the b-SSFP imaging method. Fat SNR was 77.7 ± 25.6 and water-saturation was effective, with the average fat-to-water signal intensity ratio = 20.7 ± 3.8. The average ratio of partial- to full-volume fat amounts was 104.0%. The ratio was higher with lower body mass index (BMI) and PV fat amount only increased slightly when BMI increased. Conclusion: PV fat contributes a significant amount of fat to fat measurements on typical spatial resolution MRI on normal and overweight subjects. The relative PV fat contribution is markedly higher in slimmer patients. Inclusion of this portion of the adipose tissue will increase overall accuracy and decrease variability of VAT quantification using MRI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High-bandwidth measurement of low-level prebreakdown currents in liquid dielectrics

The development of a measurement system optimized for making low-noise, high-bandwidth measurements of prebreakdown currents in liquid dielectrics under DC stress is described. The system consists of a 90-MHz bandwidth transimpedance amplifier with a 5000-V/A gain, two wideband buffer amplifiers, a 200-Msample/s transient digitizer, and waveform reconstruction software. The system has an overall bandwidth of 65 MHz, including the digitizer, and a minimum detectable current of 300 nA for a signal-to-RMS noise ratio of five. Waveform reconstruction software is used to quadruple the effective sampling rate from 5 ns per point to 1.25 ns per point. Initial experimental results from the use of this measurement system are presented. Prebreakdown currents were measured in hexane using a point-plane electrode geometry with the needle connected to the preamplifier input and either positive or negative high voltage applied to the plane. Pulses with extremely short durations ( >
A generalized role of interhemispheric interaction under attentionally demanding conditions: evidence from the auditory and tactile modality.

Abstract The present study investigated whether dividing critical information across the hemispheres in the auditory and tactile modalities aids performance more for computationally complex rather than computationally simpler task—a pattern previously observed in the visual modality [Cortex 26 (1990) 77; Neuropsychology 12 (1998) 380; Neuropsychologia 30 (1992) 923]. We conducted two experiments, one in the auditory and one in the tactile modality, that were analogous to those previously performed in the visual modality. In agreement with previous findings, for both modalities we observed that the performance advantage exhibited for within-hemisphere processing in the computationally simpler condition (that required fewer steps to reach a decision) was diminished in the computationally more complex condition. In the auditory experiment we also manipulated computational complexity by varying the amount of time available for processing information. The within-hemisphere advantage in performance was also significantly reduced when complexity was increased through temporal manipulations. These findings suggest that the brain may use interhemispheric interaction as a general strategy to increase computational resources, independent of sensory modality and the manner in which computational demands are increased.
Annular Column Enzyme Reactors

Many porous particulate materials have shown promise in research as carriers of immobilized enzymes in tubular reactors. However, when the particle size is small enough to minimize the problem of diffusion of substrate into the center, the pressure drop through the reactor usually becomes excessive. Annular reactors offer the possibility of reducing this pressure drop without increasing diffusional problems.
Validation of SoC Firmware-Hardware Flows: Challenges and Solution Directions

In SoC, key infrastructure/backbone flows are distributed across many IPs and involve tight firmware and hardware interaction. Examples include resets, power management, security, and more. Traditional hardware validation techniques are no-longer adequate for such flows, due to the short time-to-market requirements, in particular, for mobile devices. In this paper, we articulate the challenges and discuss a few solution directions that are being pursued in this space at Intel.
Engineering Aspects of Office Balance

Office balance, as applied to the toll telephone network, can be divided into two major divisions, those of through and terminal balance. Through balance concerns the connection of one 4-wire intertoll trunk with another, switched on a 2-wire basis. Terminal balance is required for the interconnection of an intertoll trunk with a toll connecting trunk to the subscriber's central office. Because of the extent of private networks presently being engineered, it is necessary to balance the interconnection of calls within these networks. This paper is concerned with the basic principles of through and terminal balance, but primarily centers on terminal balance in the private and DDD networks, because that is the area of the majority of engineering problems.
Arachidonic acid stimulates protein kinase C-epsilon redistribution in heart cells.

Arachidonic acid is elevated in a variety of cell types in response to extracellular stimuli, and has been hypothesized to exert at least some of its intracellular actions via activation of protein kinase C. Here we show that arachidonic acid stimulates a unique pattern of translocation of the e-isoform of protein kinase C in isolated adult rat cardiac myocytes. Using western blot analysis, the majority of e-protein kinase C was found in a cytosolic fraction in unstimulated cells. Treatment with 50 μM arachidonic acid caused a transient increase of e-protein kinase C in a membrane fraction within 1 minute, then after 5-20 minutes most was found in a filament/nuclear fraction. Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy of the filament fraction revealed a striated staining pattern with e-protein kinase C localized near the Z-line where actin filaments are anchored and where transverse tubules are closely apposed to the myofilaments. δ-Protein kinase C, another isoform highly expressed in these cells, did not redistribute significantly in response to arachidonic acid, but in response to phorbol ester displayed a predominantly nuclear localization. Arachidonic acid also stimulated phosphorylation of the thin filament protein, troponin I, consistent with a filament localization for activated PKC. The physiological relevance of these findings was supported by the observation that 50 μM arachidonic acid promoted a 2.3-fold enhancement of myocyte twitch amplitude, an effect that was significantly blocked by the protein kinase C antagonist chelerythrine. Moreover, the onset of this physiological response correlated in time with translocation of e-protein kinase C to the filaments. The results suggest that arachidonic acid initiates a redistribution of e-protein kinase C to myofilament structures at or near the Z-line where this isozyme would be strategically located to regulate myofilament function and excitation-contraction coupling. SUMMARY
Primary steps in the energy conversion reaction of the cytochrome bc1 complex Qo site.

The primary energy conversion (QO) site of the cytochrome bc 1 complex is flanked by bothhigh- and low-potential redox cofactors, the [2Fe–2S] cluster and cytochrome b L, respectively.From the sensitivity of the reduced [2Fe–2S] cluster electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)spectral g x-band and line shape to the degree and type of QO site occupants, we have proposeda double-occupancy model for the QO site by ubiquinone in Rhodobacter capsulatus membranevesicles containing the cytochrome bc 1 complex. Biophysical and biochemical experimentshave confirmed the double occupancy model and from a combination of these results and theavailable cytochrome bc 1 crystal structures we suggest that the two ubiquinone molecules inthe QO site serve distinct catalytic roles. We propose that the strongly bound ubiquinone,termed QOS, is close to the [2Fe–2S] cluster, where it remains tightly associated with the QOsite during turnover, serving as a catalytic cofactor; and the weaker bound ubiquinone, QOW,is distal to the [2Fe–2S] cluster and can exchange with the membrane Qpool on a time scalemuch faster than the turnover, acting as the substrate. The crystallographic data demonstratesthat the FeS subunit can adopt different positions. Our own observations show that theequilibrium position of the reduced FeS subunit is proximal to the QO site. On the basis of this, wealso report preliminary results modeling the electron transfer reactions that can occur in thecytochrome bc 1 complex and show that because of the strong distance dependence of electrontransfer, significant movement of the FeS subunit must occur in order for the complex to beable to turn over at the experimental observed rates.
Phospholamban: a major determinant of the cardiac force-frequency relationship

The cardiac force-frequency relationship has been known for over a century, yet its mechanisms have eluded thorough understanding. We investigated the hypothesis that phospholamban, a potent regulator of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA), determines the cardiac force-frequency relationship. Isolated left ventricular papillary muscles from wild-type (WT) and phospholamban knockout (KO) mice were stimulated at 2 to 6 Hz. The force-frequency relationship was positive in WT but negative in KO muscles, i.e., it was inverted by ablation of phospholamban (P < 0.01, n = 6 mice). From 2 to 6 Hz, relaxation accelerated considerably (by 10 ms) in WT muscles but only minimally (by 2 ms) in KO muscles (WT vs. KO: P < 0. 0001, n = 6). To show that the lack of frequency potentiation in KO muscles was not explained by the almost maximal basal contractility, twitch duration was prolonged in six KO muscles with the SERCA inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid to WT values. Relaxation still failed to accelerate with increased frequency. In conclusion, our results clearly identify phospholamban as a major determinant of the cardiac force-frequency relationship.
A Hemophilia-Like Disease in Swine.

During the last few years a number of swine in the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station† herd have died from hemorrhage, either spontaneous or as a result of minor wounds. All of the affected animals are closely related. It is evident that the blood-clotting mechanism is seriously defective, and a study was initiated in an attempt to classify the abnormality.Bleeding Time. If determined by Duke's method1 the bleeding time is within the normal range. As shown in Table I though, if an incision of any extent is made the bleeding time is prolonged indefinitely.Coagulation Time. The procedure followed is essentially the same as the Lee-White2 modification of Howell's method. The blood sample is taken from an ear vein, collected in cold paraffin coated tubes, and placed in an ice bath. The results reported in Table I show that the coagulation time was 5 times that of normal blood. The blood clots slowly, but after it forms it retracts in normal time.According to the prevailing theory at least 4 components o...
Direct Percutaneous Determination of Systemic Blood Pressure and Production of Renal Hypertension in the Cat.

SummaryThe percutaneous, direct method for determination of the blood pressure was applied in the cat, without and with anesthesia. In one group of 5 males and 5 females, single determinations were made, to determine the feasibility of the method. In these animals the blood pressure was measured by 2 means—direct mean pressure with a mercury manometer, and systolic and dia-stolic pressures with a strain-gauge manometer. In this group the single pressures were generally high, and usually higher in the males. In another group, 2 males and 2 females, determinations were made weekly for 7 to 24 weeks. In these cats the initial pressures were also high, but similar in both sexes, but, in all the animals, gradually decreased and became stabilized at a lower level in about 4 weeks. In one male and in one female the production of unilateral renal ischemia, due to moderate constriction of the main renal artery, was followed by the development of hypertension, and, as in other species, the exclusion of the ischemic...
Imported Fire Ant Toxic Bait Studies: Further Tests with Granulated Mirex-Soybean Oil Bait

Additional tests with granulated mirex-soybean oil bait for control of the imported fire ant, Solenopsis saevissima richteri Forel, were conducted. An aerial application was made to a 960-acre plot containing land of variable terrain and ground cover. Eight months later 1 colony of ants was found on 1 of thirty-three ½- to 1½-acre observation plots. The total pretreatment count of ant colonies on these plots was 750, or an average of 23 per plot. Applications of bail made during the cooler part of the year (November-April) to open land in sunny weather gave good control (96-100%). However, fast and complete kills of ants was dependent upon warm weather. The bait in the previous tests contained 0.075% mirex, 14.925% soybean oil, and 85% corncob grits, and was applied at the rate of 12½ lb/acre. Bait containing 0.075, 0.15, or 0.3% mirex and applied at the rates of 3, 5, or 10 lb/acre all gave excellent control of ants. In general, observations have shown that areas treated with bait in the first half of the year become reinfested the next fall, while areas treated during the last half of the year will not become reinfested until the fall of the next year. In either case, the actual reinfestation appears to coincide with the period of greatest mating flight activity (May-June).
Fetal Adrenal Development: Implications For Lung Development and Postnatal Disease

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the effects associated with increased glucocorticoid exposure during gestation. 2. Describe the association of chorioamnionitis with acute respiratory distress and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the preterm infant. 3. List the conditions to which immaturity of the adrenal cortex may predispose preterm infants. The adrenal glands undergo a remarkable metamorphosis during gestation and early postnatal life. The fetal glands grow exponentially, reaching a combined weight at term that equals the weight of the adult adrenal glands (about 8 g). This increase in weight is almost entirely due to hypertrophy of the “fetal zone” of the adrenal gland, which does not produce cortisol, but instead produces weak androgens (dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA] and DHEA-sulfate [DHEAS]) that serve as precursors for placental estrogen production. Therefore, during normal gestation, fetal exposure to cortisol remains low until about 32 weeks, when fetal cortisol production begins to increase in preparation for extrauterine life (Fig. 1). After delivery, the adrenal glands involute rapidly as the fetal zone disappears, losing perhaps 75% of their weight in the first postnatal months before resuming growth at a much slower rate. Figure 1. Composite data for fetal cortisol concentrations during gestation compared with composite data reported in critically ill adults and data obtained from extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants during the first and third weeks after birth. (1) Fetal life is a time of rapid growth and cellular proliferation. Glucocorticoids, on the other hand, promote “maturation” (ie, cellular differentiation) (Fig. 2). Disruption of growth and proliferation by early exposure to excess glucocorticoid has both immediate and long-term growth-restricting effects and potentially alters the “fetal programming” that may affect future functioning of many organ systems. Animal studies have shown that fetuses exposed to abnormally high glucocorticoid concentrations are born with reduced brain, organ, and total body weights, as …
A knowledge-attitude-pehavior investigation on H7N9 avian Influenza among poultry practitioners in farmers' markets in Nanning

Objective To investigate the knowledge,attitude and practice( KAP) concerning H7N9 avian influenza among poultry practitioners in farmers' markets in Nanning so as to explore the potential risk factors and the prevention and control measures of H7N9 infection. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among the poultry practitioners in 36 farmers' markets,which were randomly selected from seven districts in Nanning. Results One hundred and ninety-nine out of 209 questionnaire were valid,with the response rate of 95. 22%. The median KAP score concerning H7N9 avian influenza was 5. 00 in the 199 poultry practitioners in farmers' markets.86. 93% of the respondents had poor knowledge of H7N9 avian influenza( ≤9). Age and educational background were the influencing factors for KAP score of H7N9 avian influenza( P 0. 05). 18. 09% of the respondents thought that H7N9 avian influenza was dangerous to human-being. The male proportion of thinking the vaccine was the effective means to prevent H7N9 infection and it was necessary to propagate H7N9 knowledge was higher than the female's( P 0. 05). 84. 92% of the respondents took the preventive measures,but a few respondents wore the masks and spectales,accounting for 19. 53% and 0. 59%,respectively. The respondents whose KAP score concerning H7N9 avian influenza 5 achieved higher proportions of wearing masks and washing hands often and a lower proportion of wearing protective clothing or waterproof shoes compared with the respondents whose KAP score≤5( P 0. 05). Conclusion Poultry practitioners in farmers' markets in Nanning lack of H7N9 avian influenza-related knowledge and protection consciousness. The corresponding prevention and control work as well as health education should be developed based on the different characteristics of these persons.
NOVEL LEAD STRUCTURES AND FEED-THROUGH COMPUTATION OF MULTIPLE MR/SINGLE-POLE HEADS FOR PERPENDICULAR RECORDING

We introduce a novel vertically stacked lead structure for multiple head/track systems which can reduce inductive coupling between lead pairs by several orders of magnitude. We develop an analytical expression for the coupling of both vertically stacked and conventional side-by-side lead pairs, and compute the inductive couplings. The sign as well as the magnitude of the mutual inductance between lead pairs depends on their relative displacement. This dependence provides opportunities for cancellation. Also, because of the balance between positive and negative contributions to the mutual induction, the coupling between lead pairs does not necessarily decrease monotonically with distance. The results presented here provide design information for the tradeoffs between crosstalk, spacing, and fabrication costs.
Osteopenia Of Prematurity Prevention And Treatment

This paper examines Osteopenia of Prematurity (OOP) in a triplet child born at 24 3/7 weeks gestation. The infant required an extensive hospitalization in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to his prematurity. During his hospitalization, he was diagnosised with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, experienced multiple episodes of sepsis, and required long-term total parenteral and diuretic therapy. The differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, and prevention and treatment regarding insufficient bone mineralization in premature infants are discussed.
Computed tomography. An effective technique for mediastinal staging in lung cancer.

Computed tomographic scans of the chest were utilized to stage mediastinal disease in 148 instances of bronchogenic carcinoma considered for resection in 146 patients. Nodes ≥ 1.5 cm in diameter were interpreted as abnormal. All nodes positive by computed tomography were evaluated by mediastinoscopy, anterior mediastinotomy, or thoracotomy. All patients with negative computed tomographic findings underwent thoracotomy without prior surgical staging. Patients undergoing thoracotomy were divided into two groups. In Group I (first 51 instances) routine mediastinal exploration was not carried out; in Group II (last 97 instances) the mediastinum was explored in every patient and nodes were submitted for histopathological study. The computed tomographic and pathological findings on the mediastinal lymph nodes were compared. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of computed tomography in Group I were 88%, 94%, and 92%, respectively, in Group II 75%, 89%, and 86%, and in the combined group, 80%, 91 %, and 88 %. The positive predictive index in Group I, Group II, and in the combined group was 88%, 69 %, and 77 %, respectively. It was lower for central than peripheral lesions (74 % versus 88 %) and was lowest for lesions in the right upper and left lower lobes. The negative predictive index was greater than 90% for all groups and all tumor sites except the left upper lobe, where it was 89%. Ten patients had false-positive scans, three with old mediastinitis and seven with postobstructive pneumonia; nine of the 10 had central lesions, and seven of these lesions were located in the right upper lobe. Eight patients had false-negative scans; six had para-aortic, subaortic, or postsubcarinal nodes. These nodes would not have been accessible to mediastinoscopy. In only one patient with false-negative nodes would routine mediastinoscopy have prevented thoracotomy and resection. Computed tomographic staging of mediastinal disease is indicated for all patients with lung cancer in whom operation is contemplated. Computed tomography directs the most appropriate staging procedure for patients with positive findings and obviates invasive staging for patients with negative findings.
Superstability from categoricity in abstract elementary classes

Abstract Starting from an abstract elementary class with no maximal models, Shelah and Villaveces have shown (assuming instances of diamond) that categoricity implies a superstability-like property for nonsplitting, a particular notion of independence. We generalize their result as follows: given any abstract notion of independence for Galois (orbital) types over models, we derive that the notion satisfies a superstability property provided that the class is categorical and satisfies a weakening of amalgamation. This extends the Shelah–Villaveces result (the independence notion there was splitting) as well as a result of the first and second author where the independence notion was coheir. The argument is in ZFC and fills a gap in the Shelah–Villaveces proof.