cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytokines in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: A New Insight Into Obstructive Nephropathy

Purpose: Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is the final common pathway to end stage renal disease. The pathophysiology of renal fibrosis involves fibroblast proliferation, macrophage infiltration, the elaboration of cytokines and other proinflammatory mediators, and an imbalance in extracellular matrix deposition and degradation. Although the exact origin of activated fibroblasts remains uncertain, emerging evidence indicates that mature tubular epithelial cells are capable of transforming into myofibroblasts under pathological conditions, a process that is called epithelial-mesenchymal transition.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the pertinent literature from January 1980 through June 2007 with regard to the contribution of epithelial-mesenchymal transition to renal fibrogenesis.Results: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is an orchestrated, highly regulated process that proceeds in stepwise fashion and appears to contribute significantly to renal fibrosis and the progression of chronic renal disease. Several ...
Energy absorbed by longitudinally splitting a tibialis anterior allograft: implications for double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Purpose Split tibialis anterior (TA) allografts have been proposed as a source for double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. We sought to determine whether longitudinally splitting a TA tendon leads to a change in the mechanical properties of the tendon. Methods Seven cadaveric matched pairs of TA tendons were procured. One member of each pair was longitudinally pierced in its midportion and then bluntly split, creating 2 longitudinally divided grafts. The other member of the pair remained intact. Each tendon was then frozen into thermoelectrically cooled clamps and loaded to failure on an MTS machine (MTS Systems, Eden Prairie, MN) at a displacement of 1 mm/s. The area under the force-versus-displacement curve was calculated as an indicator of energy absorbed by the tendon before failure. The energy absorbed by the intact tendon was then compared with the summed energy absorbed by the 2 specimens obtained by splitting the sibling specimen. Results Energy absorbed by the intact tendon was 10,300 ± 3,433 Nmm, whereas total energy absorbed by the 2 longitudinally split tendons was 10,530 ± 2,095 Nmm ( P = .78). Conclusions Longitudinal splitting of a TA allograft by the technique described does not significantly affect the graft's ability to absorb energy. Clinical Relevance The splitting technique described can safely be used to create 2 grafts if surgeons wish to use a TA graft for a double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction or for reconstruction by use of fixation devices requiring 2 looped tendon grafts.
Effects on the surface structure of organic energetic materials using spin coating

Abstract Thin films of energetic materials are widely studied to understand thermodynamic properties, sensitivity, nanodetonics and coarsening. In this work we investigate the fabrication of thin film energetic materials through spin coating to yield reproducible materials to study. The crystalline structure of these energetic materials is found to have a strong dependence on experimental parameters, such as the rotational speed and solution concentration. In this study, thin films of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) produced by spin coating have been systematically investigated giving films with controlled morphology.
The Black Regulars: Buffalo Soldiers during the Indian war era as crime fighters and peacekeepers on the Western frontier, 1866–1892

Abstract The purpose of this review of the Buffalo Soldier is to explore their peacekeeping and crime fighting duties on the Western frontier during the period of 1866–1892. The Army was called upon to play a role in a number of controversial areas of American life and society: Southern Reconstruction fighting against the Native Americans, strikebreakers; and finally the railroad strikes of 1877. Following the Civil War, while performing some of these roles, the Army faced a great deal of hostility. It is one of the ironies of American History, as historians Foner [Foner, J. D. (1970). The United States soldier between two wars: Army life and reforms, 1865–1898. New York: Humanities Press] and Jackson and Katz [Jackson, S. D., & Katz, W. L. (1969). Preface of the Arno edition in under fire with the tenth U.S. cavalry. New York: Arno Press] have noted, that the Buffalo Soldier to earn their esteemed reputation as honorable fighting men, had to assist in the suppression of the Native American people and to act as strikebreakers. However, the literature shows that they also brought peace and civilization to the West through their law enforcement and other peacekeeping duties.
Petiole nitrate concentration as an indicator of geranium nitrogen status

Abstract Pelargonium hortorum ‘Sincerity’ plants were grown at various levels of nitrogen to determine the response of foliar nitrogen and petiole nitrate concentrations to changes in nitrogen supply. Total nitrogen in the upper leaf blades and petiole nitrate concentrations were both highly correlated with nitrogen supply. However, changes in the concentrations of petiole nitrate reflected changes in nitrogen supply over a wider range of concentrations. The minimum critical concentrations associated with a 10% reduction in yield (dry weight) were 2.9% and 5,000 ppm for foliar nitrogen and petiole nitrate nitrogen, respectively.
Obtaining informed consent for HIV antibody testing: the decision making process.

Abstract All patients referring themselves for HIV antibody testing must receive pre-test counselling and must give their informed consent before testing can proceed. All patients being referred by their doctors for HIV antibody testing must also receive pre-test counselling and must give their informed consent before testing can proceed, except in very unusual circumstances. This paper is written primarily for medical and nursing staff who are considering referring a patient for testing and it is particularly relevant to those staff working in the field of mental health. This paper draws on professional guidelines and suggests that staff use a two-part decision making process. In the first part die referrer decides whether there are substantial clinical grounds for needing the test result immediately. If there are, the referral is made for pre-test counselling and testing, for example at the local Genito-Urinary Medicine (GU) clinic. In the second part experienced AIDS counsellors try to enable the patie...
Cyclical strain effects on production of vasoactive materials in cultured endothelial cells.

Mechanical forces due to fluid flow and cyclical strain can alter endothelial cell morphology and function, including the release of vasoactive materials endothelin, prostacyclin (PGI2), and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). In this study, effects of cyclical strain were modeled by culturing bovine aortic endothelial cells on fibronectin-coated elastic membranes of silicone rubber (Silastic®) or poly-etherurethane urea (Mitrathane™). After growing to confluence under static conditions of 37°C in humidified air with 5% CO2, cells were strained cyclically at membrane elongations of 5% or 10% for 24 hours at 1 Hz. Controls were maintained under static conditions or were exposed to fluid motions similar to the strained cells but without stretching. Secretion rates were constant throughout experiments in the strain chamber with no initial burst in metabolism associated with the initiation of strain. Secretion rates were not altered by choice of elastic membrane. At a physiological level of 10% cyclical strain, prostacyclin and endothelian secretion rates were increased by 2.5-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively, above stationary controls. Endothelin production demonstrated a dose-dependent response with cyclical strain, while PGI2 appeared to require a threshold strain before an increase in secretion occurred. No significant differences in t-PA levels were seen in cyclically strained cells compared with controls. These results indicate that endothelial cells respond metabolically to cyclical strain and suggest that mechanical strain may modulate secretion of selective vasoactive materials by vascular endothelial cells. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
August Weismann (1834–1914) und das unsterbliche Leben

Der Freiburger Zoologe und Evolutionstheoretiker August Weismann war einer der einflussreichsten Biologen seiner Zeit. Seine allgemeinen Schlussfolgerungen zur biologischen Evolution (Neodarwin'sche Theorie), der Vererbung (Keimplasma-Konzept, Keimbahn-Soma-Differenzierung) sowie zu Altern und Tod (Zellteilungs-Limit) fanden weltweite Anerkennung. Weismann zahlt neben Charles Darwin und Alfred R. Wallace zu den Pionieren der Biowissenschaften; seine Theorien, insbesondere zur potenziell unsterblichen Keimbahn, leben noch 100 Jahre nach seinem Tod fort.
Experimental Study of the Dry and Near-Dry Electrical Discharge Milling Processes

This study investigates the dry and near-dry electrical discharge machining (EDM) milling to achieve a high material removal rate (MRR) and fine surface finish for roughing and finishing operations, respectively. Dry EDM uses gas and near-dry EDM applies a liquid-gas mixture as the dielectric medium. Experimental studies leading to the selection of oxygen gas and copper electrode for high MRR dry EDM and the nitrogen-water mixture and graphite electrode for fine surface finish near-dry EDM are presented. Near-dry EDM exhibits the advantage of good machining stability and surface finish under low discharge energy input. A 2 5-1 fractional factorial design is applied to investigate the effect of discharge current, pulse duration, and pulse interval on the MRR and surface finish in dry and near-dry EDMs. Lower pulse duration and lower discharge current are identified as key factors for improving the surface finish in near-dry EDM.
Approximation of boundary conditions for mimetic finite-difference methods

Abstract The numerical solution of partial differential equations solved with finite-difference approximations that mimic the symmetry properties of the continuum differential operators and satisfy discrete versions of the appropriate integral identities are more likely to produce physically faithful results. Furthermore, those properties are often needed when using the energy method to prove convergence and stability of a particular difference approximation. Unless special care is taken, mimetic difference approximations derived for the interior grid points will fail to preserve the symmetries and identities between the gradient, curl, and divergence operators at the computational boundary. In this paper, we describe how to incorporate boundary conditions into finite-difference methods so the resulting approximations mimic the identities for the differential operators of vector and tensor calculus. The approach is valid for a wide class of partial differential equations of mathematical physics and will be described for Poisson's equation with Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin boundary conditions. We prove that the resulting difference approximation is symmetric and positive definite for each of these boundary conditions.
Hydrodynamic consequences of maintaining an upright posture by different magnitudes of stiffness and buoyancy in the tropical alga Turbinaria ornata

An upright posture in the water column exposes benthic marine organisms to faster flow than near the substratum, potentially increasing rates of mass exchange while also exposing the organisms to higher hydrodynamic forces. Benthic organisms maintain upright postures in the water column by two mechanisms, being stiff or being buoyant. This study compared how different relative magnitudes of buoyancy and flexural stiffness (EI) affect hydrodynamic forces on, and flow velocity relative to the surfaces of the tropical alga, Turbinaria ornata. Thalli of T. ornata from wave-exposed forereef environments lack pneumatocysts (air bladders) and are negatively buoyant, but have higher EI than buoyant thalli with pneumatocysts from calm lagoon environments. Simultaneous measurements of water velocity, horizontal force and algal motion were recorded for pairs of thalli of the same height-positioned side by side on the reef at a site exposed to moderate wave action. To examine the effect of buoyancy alone, lagoon thalli with intact air-filled pneumatocysts were compared with lagoon algae that were made non-buoyant by replacing the air in their pneumatocysts with water. The non-buoyant thalli experienced higher water velocities and hydrodynamic forces than lagoon thalli with bladders. To test the effect of EI alone, flexible lagoon algae with water-filled pneumatocysts were compared to non-buoyant, stiff forereef algae and there was no difference in the relative water velocity or force they experienced. To compare thalli held upright by possessing a high EI to those held upright by buoyancy, lagoon algae with pneumatocysts were compared to forereef algae. Stiff forereef algae deflected very little in moving water. Water velocities relative to their surfaces and the peak horizontal forces they experienced were higher than those on more flexible lagoon algae, which bent easily and moved with the flow. Thus, buoyant, flexible thalli of T. ornata that move with the flow experience lower relative velocities and lower forces than stiff, non-buoyant thalli that do not move with the flow.
Modulation of the synaptic drive to respiratory premotor and motor neurons

The characteristics of GABAergic inhibitory modulation of respiratory bulbospinal neuronal activity and short-term potentiation (STP) of phrenic motoneuronal activity were studied. Extracellular unit recording and picoejection techniques in anesthetized dogs showed that both the spontaneous rhythmic and reflexly induced discharge patterns of inspiratory (I) and expiratory (E) premotor neurons were proportionately amplified by the localized application of picomole amounts of bicuculline (Bic), a competitive GABAA antagonist. Intracellular recording and paired-pulse stimulation techniques in anesthetized rats demonstrated an STP of phrenic motor output that appears to be mediated by NMDA receptors and is associated with facilitation of EPSPs and prolonged depolarization of individual phrenic motoneurons. We speculate that both GABAergic gain modulation of premotor neuronal activity and NMDA-mediated STP of phrenic activity may be neural substrates which are involved with the optimization of respiratory and non-respiratory behaviors, via adaptive and/or differential control of breathing.
Immunoglobulin Light Chains and the Kidney: An Overview

Monoclonal immunoglobulins and free immunoglobulin light chains are produced by plasma cells as a result of their clonal expansion in plasma cell dyscrasia. These proteins are pivotal in the development of pathologic and clinical symptoms of plasma cell dyscrasia and renal manifestations are frequently the presenting and leading features of this process. The spectrum of pathology associated with monoclonal light chains includes light-chain cast nephropathy and tissue deposits derived from the monoclonal light chain, ie, amyloid derived from the light chains and nonamyloidotic light chain deposition disease. The main diagnostic features, differential diagnosis, and pathogenesis are briefly reviewed.
Immune tolerance: mechanisms and application in clinical transplantation

The achievement of immune tolerance, a state of specific unresponsiveness to the donor graft, has the potential to overcome the current major limitations to progress in organ transplantation, namely late graft loss, organ shortage and the toxicities of chronic nonspecific immumnosuppressive therapy. Advances in our understanding of immunological processes, mechanisms of rejection and tolerance have led to encouraging developments in animal models, which are just beginning to be translated into clinical pilot studies. These advances are reviewed here and the appropriate timing for clinical trials is discussed.
Compressive Temporal Higher Order Cyclostationary Statistics

The application of nonlinear transformations to a cyclostationary signal for the purpose of revealing hidden periodicities has proven to be useful for applications requiring signal selectivity and noise tolerance. The fact that the hidden periodicities, referred to as cyclic moments, are often compressible in the Fourier domain motivates the use of compressive sensing (CS) as an efficient acquisition protocol for capturing such signals. In this paper, we consider the class of Temporal Higher Order Cyclostationary Statistics (THOCS) estimators when CS is used to acquire the cyclostationary signal assuming compressible cyclic moments in the Fourier domain. We develop a theoretical framework for estimating THOCS using the low-rate nonuniform sampling protocol from CS and illustrate the performance of this framework using simulated data.
Mechanical performance of wound closure tapes.

The selection of a wound closure tape should be based on comparative mechanical performance data. In this study the performance of Shur-Strip™, Steri-Strip ® , and Clearon™ wound closure tapes was evaluated by a battery of performance tests that measured tape adhesion, porosity, breaking strength, and elasticity. On the basis of these in vivo and in vitro measurements, Shur-Strips™ are recommended for wound closure.
Estrogen decreases corpus striatal neurotoxicity in response to 6-hydroxydopamine

Ovariectomized rats treated or not with an estradiol pellet were subjected to an unilateral intrastriatal infusion of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Various parameters of nigrostriatal dopaminergic function as derived from measurements of dopamine and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) concentrations were determined from the 6-OHDA lesioned and non-lesioned sides of the corpus striatum in these animals. Dopamine concentrations within the 6-OHDA lesioned striatum of estrogen-treated rats were significantly greater than non-estrogen-treated rats. There were no differences in striatal dopamine concentrations between estrogen- versus non-estrogen-treated rats on their non-lesioned side. In contrast to that of dopamine, no differences in DOPAC concentrations between estrogen and non-estrogen-treated rats were obtained within the 6-OHDA-lesioned side. The DOPAC concentrations on the non-lesioned side of the striatum were significantly greater in the non-estrogen-treated rats. These results demonstrate that estrogen significantly diminishes the depletion of striatal dopamine resulting from the neurotoxin 6-OHDA. The data obtained from the DOPAC determinations imply that this capacity of estrogen may be exerted through actions upon uptake processes of striatal dopaminergic neurons. Such findings suggest that estrogen may function as an important modulatory factor capable of attenuating degeneration within the corpus striatum, and in this way serve as a neuroprotectant of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system.
In vitro phosphorylation of sea urchin sperm adenylate cyclase by cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase

Addition of [gamma -32P]ATP to a 2% Brij-78 40,000g supernatant of sea urchin sperm results in the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of eight to ten proteins. One phosphoprotein of Mr 190 kD is sperm adenylate cyclase (AC). An antiserum to the AC immunoprecipitates the Mr 190 kD protein. Peptide maps of immunoprecipitates show that the AC is the only phosphoprotein present in the Mr 200 kD range. With respect to the in vitro phosphorylation of AC, the endogenous kinase has a Km for ATP of 5.2 microM and is maximally stimulated by 4-8 microM cAMP. The protein kinase inhibitors H8 (9 microM) and PKI (30 U/ml) inhibit the phosphorylation of the AC. The catalytic subunit of bovine cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates the AC on the same peptides as the endogenous protein kinase. Cyanogen bromide generated peptide maps of the phosphorylated AC show a minimum of five sites of phosphorylation. No change in the Km or Vmax of the sperm AC resulted from the additional phosphorylation by bovine kinase. Calcium ions at submicromolar concentrations completely block the in vitro phosphorylation of the AC, suggesting the presence in the preparation of a Ca2(+) -activated protein phosphatase. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the phosphorylation of an AC by cAMP-dependent protein kinase.
Positive selection of EqCD8+ precursors increases equine lymphokine-activated killing

Lymphokine activated killing (LAK) is an example of natural cytotoxicity, and as such is a critical means of defense against diseases such as viral infection and neoplasia. Despite this important role, the specific molecular interactions involved in LAK or other forms of natural cytotoxicity are only partially understood. In some species, cells capable of mediating natural cytotoxicity express the CD8 molecule, although no specific role has been demonstrated for CD8 in non-MHC restricted cytotoxicity. In this study the role of the EqCD8 equine homolog of CD8 in LAK cell activity was examined. A series of LAK assays were performed using equine lymphocyte populations enriched or depleted for EqCD8 expression by positive or negative selection. The results indicate that positive selection of LAK precursors using an anti-EqCD8 (CVS8) antibody greatly increases LAK cytotoxicity. The implications for the role of the EqCD8 molecules in LAK are discussed.
Building agent-based corporate information systems: An application to telemedicine

Abstract Rapid advances of the Internet, multimedia technology and virtual reality have opened new opportunities for organizations to re-design their traditional functional units often separated by vast distances into a virtually cohesive enterprise capable of responding quickly to market changes. This paper proposes an agent-based framework for supporting collaborative work among human and non-human teleworkers, namely, software agents. The proposed framework enables the geographically dispersed organization to distribute work across the Internet and embed intelligent software agents capable of supporting decision to facilitate implementation of complex and distributed decision making. The development of agent-based corporate information systems is a process of putting together a coordinated workflow of collaborating agents. The proposed framework is currently being simulated on a telemedicine project.
Electrical resistivity of single crystal arsenic at very low temperatures

The authors have carried out high-precision measurements of the electrical resistivity on very high-quality arsenic single crystals along the binary direction below 4K. The results show that rho approximately Tn with n increasing from 3 to 4 below 2K. This strong temperature dependence is a signal of carrier-phonon scattering in this temperature regime. No evidence of a superconducting transition was observed down to as low as 15 mK on the samples.
Undercooling and contact resistance in stagnation-flow solidification on a semi-infinite substrate

Abstract The inviscid stagnation-flow solidification problem in studied numerically including the effect of contact resistance and undercooling during solidification. The effect of contact resistance at the initial liquid-solid contact plane is demonstrated by comparing the solidification behavior for cases with different contact heat transfer coefficient. The effect of undercooling is examined by comparing model predictions including this effect with those obtained when equilibrium solidification with interface temperature at the thermodynamic equilibrium temperature is used. The study shows that undercooling delays the start of solidification but has a negligible effect on the long time behavior of the process. A sufficiently large contact resistance may prevent solidification when undercooling is included in the model.
Designing and implementing brand architecture strategies

Given the importance of brands as intangible assets for organizations, the ability to strategically manage those brands is critical. A well-designed and well-implemented brand architecture strategy can provide a product roadmap to the future for a brand, clarifying where it can go and how it can get there. The brand architecture strategy of a firm determines which brand elements a firm should apply across new and existing products and services. It is virtually impossible to manage and maximize the value and equity of a brand without a clear, compelling brand architecture strategy, whether explicitly written down or not. Toward that goal, we outline a three-step process by which a firm can design and implement their brand architecture strategy. Throughout our discussion, we introduce key concepts, provide insights and guidelines, and offer illustrative examples.
Gender Segmentation of Craft Workers by Race in the 1970s and 1980s

Unpublished data from the CPS were used to compare the rates of change in women's employment and female representation in craft occupations during periods of growth and recession in the 1970s and 1980s. Separate rates of change were computed for white and black women. Contrary to the expectations of "reserve army" or "buffer' theories, integration of elite blue-collar occupations continued despite economic downturn and the erosion of state support for affirmative action and nontraditional training. In fact, during the recession of the early 1980s, the pace of integration increased for both white and black women. Nevertheless, there was evidence of segmentation of women by race within skilled blue-collar work.
Social skill assessment and training for children: an evaluative review.

Abstract Techniques employed in the behavioral assessment and treatment of socially deficient children are reviewed. General definitions and components of assertion and social skill in children are presented. While considerable data attest to the potential efficiency of behavioral approaches with this population, several methodological problems prevent any definitive conclusions from being drawn at this time. Some of these include: (1) lack of an accurate classification system of socially isolated children, (2) need for an empirical determination of skill components, and (3) the paucity of data concerning generalization and maintenance of treatment effects. The utility of incorporating developmental and social psychological methods into behavioral programs also is discussed. Suggestions for future directions of research are offered.
Worms: Cultivate Our Curriculum: A Long-Term, Theme-Based Unit.

This article provides basic information on how a common species of earthworm, Eisenia fetida, can be used in the biology classroom as well as a discussion of how to establish and care for a vermicompost bin. We discuss ideas for inquiry activities with the organism and provide a sample-guided inquiry that demonstrates how a long-term, theme-based unit involving earthworms can address a wide variety of content from the National Science Education standards.
OH laser-induced fluorescence velocimetry technique for steady, high-speed, reacting flows

A high-resolution OH laser-induced fluorescence velocity measurement technique was developed for use in steady, high-speed, reacting flows. A narrow-linewidth laser source was tuned through an isolated OH absorption line to measure the Doppler-shifted line center frequency relative to an iodine reference line. A counterpropagating beam approach was used to eliminate the collisional impact shift and minimize systematic errors. Results from pointwise measurements of velocity in a unique reacting underexpanded jet facility are compared to an axisymmetric Navier-Stokes calculation with finite-rate chemical kinetics as a test of the technique over a wide range of flow conditions. The measured and calculated velocities in the supersonic jet core agree on average to within 1.3%. The uncertainty in the velocity measurement in the jet core was on average +/- 6.0% for a single measurement and +/- 3.5% for the average value of three scans. Potential errors caused by absorption effects were not detected in these measurements. 50 refs.
Aqueous processing of U–10Mo scrap for high performance research reactor fuel

Abstract The Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) Conversion program, which is part of the US government’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), supports the conversion of civilian use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU) for reactor fuel and targets. The reason for conversion is to eliminate the use of any material that may pose a threat to the United States or other foreign countries. High performance research reactors (HPRRs) cannot make the conversion to a standard LEU fuel because they require a more dense fuel to meet their performance requirements. As a result, a more dense fuel consisting of a monolithic uranium–molybdenum alloy containing 10% (w/w) Mo with Al cladding and a Zr bonding-layer is being considered. Significant losses are expected in the fabrication of this fuel, so a means to recycle the scrap pieces is needed. Argonne National Laboratory has developed an aqueous-processing flowsheet for scrap recovery in the fuel fabrication process for high-density LEU-monolithic fuel based on data found in the literature. Experiments have been performed to investigate dissolution conditions for solutions containing approximately 20 g-U/L and 50 g-U/L with and without Fe(NO3)3. HNO3 and HF concentrations have been optimized for timely dissolution of the fuel scrap and prevention of the formation of the U–Zr2 intermetallic, explosive complex, while meeting the requirements needed for further processing.
Computing Riemann theta functions in Sage with applications

A new implementation for the computation of the Riemann theta function in the open-source mathematical software Sage is discussed. This implementation is used in two applications. The first is the computation of three-phase solutions of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation using an algorithm due to Dubrovin, originally implemented by Dubrovin et al. Our implementation is significantly easier, due to our more straightforward computation of the theta function. The second application is that of the computation of the bitangents of a quartic plane algebraic curve, relevant in convex optimization. Since Sage currently lacks the tools for computing with Riemann surfaces, this second application relies partially on results obtained using Maple's algcurves package. The current manuscript is the first step towards porting the functionality of the algcurves package to Sage as well as other scientific Python distributions.
Preoperative Cardiovascular Evaluation in Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery

Vascular surgery is associated with a higher incidence of perioperative cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared with other noncardiac surgeries. Patients undergoing vascular surgery represent a higher-risk population, usually because of the presence of generalized arterial disease and multiple comorbidities. The overwhelming perioperative cardiac event is myocardial infarction. This article offers a tailored approach to preoperative cardiovascular management for patients undergoing vascular surgery. The use and limitations of well-established guidelines and clinical risk indices for patients undergoing noncardiac surgery are described as it pertains to vascular surgery in particular. Furthermore, the role and benefit of noninvasive stress testing, coronary revascularization, and medical therapy before vascular surgery are discussed.
The Possible 'Impossible' Turn

Turning back after engine failure during the take off phase of flight in a single engine aircraft is examined using a simplified analytical model. The important parameters are identified. The analysis shows that the optimum flight path is teardrop shaped with a 45 ◦ bank angle at stall velocity during the turn. The effects of engine failure altitude, wind direction and velocity, and bank angle on the required runway length are examined. The results show that the typical recommendations for general aviation single engine aircraft are not optimum.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Secretion into Third-Ventricle Cerebrospinal Fluid of Cattle: Correspondence with the Tonic and Surge Release of Luteinizing Hormone and Its Tonic Inhibition by Suckling and Neuropeptide Y

Objectives of the current studies were to characterize the pattern of GnRH secretion in the cerebrospinal fluid of the bovine third ventricle, determine its correspondence with the tonic and surge release of LH in ovariectomized cows, and examine the dynamics of GnRH pulse generator activity in response to known modulators of LH release (suckling; neuropeptide Y [NPY]). In ovariectomized cows, both tonic release patterns and estradiol-induced surges of GnRH and LH were highly correlated (0.95; p < 0.01). Collectively, LH pulses at the baseline began coincident with (84%) or within one sampling point after (100%) the onset of a GnRH pulse, and all estradiol-induced LH surges were accompanied by corresponding surges of GnRH. A 500- microg dose of NPY caused immediate cessation of LH pulses and lowered (p < 0.001) plasma concentrations of LH for at least 4 h. This corresponded with declines (p < 0.05) in both GnRH pulse amplitude and frequency, but GnRH pulses were completely inhibited for only 1.5-3 h. In intact, anestrous cows, GnRH pulse frequency did not differ before and 48-54 h after weaning on Day 18 postpartum, but concentrations of GnRH (p < 0.05) and amplitudes of GnRH pulses (4 of 7 cows) increased in association with weaning and heightened secretion of LH. We conclude that the study of GnRH secretory dynamics in third-ventricle CSF provides a reasonable approach for examining the activity and regulation of the hypothalamic pulse generator in adult cattle. However, data generated using this approach must be interpreted in their broadest context. Although strong neurally mediated inhibitors of LH pulsatility (suckling; NPY) had robust effects on one or more GnRH secretory characteristics in CSF, only high doses of NPY briefly abolished GnRH pulses. This implies that the GnRH signal received at the hypophyseal portal vessels under these conditions may differ quantitatively or qualitatively from those in CSF, and theoretically would be undetectable or below a biologically effective threshold when LH pulses are absent.
Equally Unprepared: Assessing the Hurricane Vulnerability of Undergraduate Students

AbstractStudents have been described as being both particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and highly resilient in recovery. In addition, they often have been treated as a distinct, homogeneous group sharing similar characteristics. This research tests these ideas through an examination of hurricane-related perceptions and preparations of students in a hurricane-prone area. A survey of over 500 undergraduate students (15% on-campus residents, 85% off campus) was conducted at the University of South Florida, a large, metropolitan-based university located in Tampa Bay, Florida, near the Gulf Coast. Following Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests, results showed that students were ill prepared for hurricanes and lacked specific knowledge of the risk. There were small but statistically significant differences in mean responses with respect to gender, age, and ethnicity on specific questions, while ethnicity most strongly warrants future research. Whether the magnitude of statistical differences results i...
Transport of giardia and manure suspensions in saturated porous media

Experiments were conducted to elucidate the transport behavior of cysts of Giardia and manure suspensions through several aquifer sands. Decreasing the median grain size of the sand resulted in lower peak effluent concentrations and increased deposition of the Giardia and manure particles in the sand near the column inlet. The effluent concentration curves for the manure suspensions also exhibited asymmetric shapes that tended to include larger particle sizes as the manure suspension was continuously added. Simulations of the transport of Giardia and manure particles using a simple and flexible power law model for the solid-water mass exchange term provided a satisfactory description of the effluent and spatial distribution data. The cumulative size distribution (CSD) of manure particles in the suspension initially and after passage through the packed columns was used to identify the mechanisms that were controlling the deposition of manure particles and Giardia. The CSD data indicated that manure particles were completely removed at early times by mechanical filtration and/or straining when the ratio of the particle to the median grain diameter was greater than 0.003 to 0.017. However, the CSD changed with increasing time due to deposition-induced filling of straining sites. The Giardia transport was controlled by straining. For a given sand, higher effluent concentrations of Giardia were observed in the presence than in the absence of manure suspension. The relative increase of Giardia in the effluent concentrations varied from 75 to 172%. Hence, pathogen transport studies conducted in the absence of manure suspension may underestimate transport potential in manure-contaminated environments.
Evaluating Postharvest Sugarcane Residue Amendment and Broadcast Fertilizer Application as Techniques to Enhance Dune Grass Establishment and Expansion

Coastal dunes are valuable components of barrier shorelines, but establishing the appropriate vegetation to facilitate the growth and maintenance of this important habitat is difficult due to the presence of consistent stressors, including nutrient, water limitation, and salt spray. We examined whether the amendment of dune soils with postharvest sugarcane residue and broadcast fertilizer would enhance the establishment and growth of two key dune grass species, bitter panicum ( Panicum amarum ) and sea oats ( Uniola paniculata ), in natural and created sand dunes in coastal Louisiana in a short-term field study. The benefit of broadcast fertilizer addition to the growth of both species was evident, as was a tendency for greater establishment and growth of bitter panicum than sea oats. The created dune environment was significantly less favorable than the natural dune system in terms of soil characteristics and plant growth responses. Interestingly, postharvest sugarcane residue, which we hypothesized would improve dune grass establishment and growth by increasing soil organic matter and thereby soil moisture retention, failed to enhance dune grass growth. We conclude that dune restoration efforts in coastal Louisiana would benefit from the inclusion of a broadcast fertilizer regime, particularly in terms of accelerating bitter panicum growth and establishment. However, application of postharvest sugarcane residue does not appear to provide the same benefits to dune grass establishment and expansion as has been shown with other organic amendments.
The conserved transmembrane RING finger protein PLR-1 downregulates Wnt signaling by reducing Frizzled, Ror and Ryk cell-surface levels in C. elegans

Wnts control a wide range of essential developmental processes, including cell fate specification, axon guidance and anteroposterior neuronal polarization. We identified a conserved transmembrane RING finger protein, PLR-1, that governs the response to Wnts by lowering cell-surface levels of the Frizzled family of Wnt receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans. Loss of PLR-1 activity in the neuron AVG causes its anteroposterior polarity to be symmetric or reversed because signaling by the Wnts CWN-1 and CWN-2 are inappropriately activated, whereas ectopic PLR-1 expression blocks Wnt signaling and target gene expression. Frizzleds are enriched at the cell surface; however, when PLR-1 and Frizzled are co-expressed, Frizzled is not detected at the surface but instead is colocalized with PLR-1 in endosomes. The Frizzled cysteine-rich domain (CRD) and invariant second intracellular loop lysine are crucial for PLR-1 downregulation. The PLR-1 RING finger and protease-associated (PA) domain are essential for activity. In a Frizzled-dependent manner, PLR-1 reduces surface levels of the Wnt receptors CAM-1/Ror and LIN-18/Ryk. PLR-1 is a homolog of the mammalian transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligases RNF43 and ZNRF3, which control Frizzled surface levels in an R-spondin-sensitive manner. We propose that PLR-1 downregulates Wnt receptor surface levels via lysine ubiquitylation of Frizzled to coordinate spatial and temporal responses to Wnts during neuronal development.
A transformational approach to GIS operations

GIS research has a continuing thread devoted to classifying the operations performed by analytical software. Prior efforts to classify GIS operations have limitations and inconsistencies, often arising from an attempt to establish overly direct links between geographic procedures and arithmetical operations. The transformational view of cartography provides a more solid basis for classifying GIS operations. This paper presents a new scheme for geographical transformations based on measurement frameworks as the principal distinction. Transformations between measurement frameworks can be summarized in terms of a spatial neighbourhood and a rule to process attribute information. This scheme organizes most analytical GIS operations by their geometric and attribute assumptions.
A general technique to correct probe position errors in planar near-field measurements to arbitrary accuracy

A general theoretical procedure is presented to remove known probe-position errors when planar near-field data are transformed to the far field. The measured data are represented as a Taylor series whose terms contain the error function and the ideal spectrum of the antenna. This representation is then assumed to be an actual near-field existing on an error-free regularly spaced two-dimensional scan plane. By inverting the Taylor series, the ideal spectrum in terms of the measured data and the position errors is obtained. The solution is given by an infinite series of an error operator acting on data containing errors of measurement. This error operator is the Taylor series without the zeroth-order term. The nth order approximation to the ideal near-field of the antenna can be explicitly constructed by inspection of the structure of the error operator. Convergence of the approximation is examined. Computer simulations are used to demonstrate the excellent results obtained with this technique, as well as to demonstrate the convergence of the error-corrected fields to the true solution. >
Towards the use of inferred cognitive states in language modeling

In spoken dialog, speakers are simultaneously engaged in various mental processes, and it seems likely that the word that will be said next depends, to some extent, on the states of these mental processes. Further, these states can be inferred, to some extent, from properties of the speaker's voice as they change from moment to moment. As a illustration of how to apply these ideas in language modeling, we examine volume and speaking rate as predictors of the upcoming word. Combining the information which these provide with a trigram model gave a 2.6% improvement in perplexity.
Antibody-Mediated Modification of the Binding Properties of a Protein Related to Galactose Transport

A galactose-binding protein related to the mglP transport system of Escherichia coli increases its affinity and binding capacity for the substrate when exposed to both d-galactose and specific antibodies. For this increase to occur, the binding protein has to be in contact with d-galactose for at least 2 min prior to the addition of the antibodies. This reaction was used to show that other substrates of the mglP transport system compete with galactose for a site(s) of the binding protein and that the degree of competition is comparable to that observed in vivo. A model for substrate translocation is presented postulating a cellular component that can induce conformational changes in the galactose-binding protein similar to those caused by antibodies.
Development and Testing of an Expectations Survey for Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spine Surgery

Background: Patients’ expectations of lumbar spine surgery have not been obtained with valid and reliable scales derived from patients’ perspectives. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to develop and to test a patient-derived expectations survey. Methods: The survey was developed in three phases. Phase 1 involved interviews with patients with open-ended questions about expectations and assembly of a draft survey. Phase 2 involved administering the survey twice to assess test-retest reliability. Phase 3 involved selection of final items based on concordance of responses and clinical relevance, and the development of a scoring rubric. Results: In Phase 1, 118 preoperative patients with diverse lumbar spine diagnoses volunteered 583 expectations, from which thirty-one discrete categories were discerned and became the items for the draft survey. In Phase 2, another fifty-six preoperative patients completed the draft survey twice, four days apart. In Phase 3, twenty-one items were retained for the final survey addressing symptom relief, return to basic mobility, resumption of activities, and improvement in psychosocial well-being. An overall score was calculated on the basis of the number of expectations and amount of improvement expected and ranged from 0 to 100 points; a higher score indicates more expectations. For patients in Phase 2, the mean scores for both administrations were 66 and 65 points, the Cronbach alpha coefficients for both administrations were 0.90 and 0.92, and the intraclass correlation coefficient between scores was 0.86. Conclusions: We developed a patient-derived survey that is valid, reliable, and applicable to diverse diagnoses and includes physical and psychosocial expectations. The survey generates an overall score that is easy to calculate and to interpret, and thus fills a gap in the assessment of lumbar spine surgery by offering a practical and comprehensive way to record patients’ expectations.
Cellular Signaling Pathways and Cytoskeletal Organization

We describe a possible mechanism by which the amyloid precursor protein (APP) may be linked to the intraneuronal pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Extracellular proteolytic products of APP may directly or indirectly transduce signals to cells under normal as well as pathological conditions. This activity appears to reside in the cysteine-rich amino terminus of APP. How APP or its metabolic products may affect the phosphorylation of tau is considered.
Mound Microclimate, Nutrients and Seedling Survival

Abstract Mounds formed by pocket gophers (Geomys pinetis) in a longleaf pine—wiregrass savanna had larger daily soil temperature fluctuations than surrounding matrix locations. Microsite temperature differences persisted for more than a year, but were largest during summer months. Mound soil also had lower total carbon, total nitrogen, available ammonium, available phosphate and slightly lower soil moisture than matrix locations. These differences occurred in the context of an ecosystem where frequent fire consumes organic matter and removes herbaceous cover. The distinct microclimate and nutrient characteristics of gopher mounds did not significantly influence wiregrass germination, wiregrass seedling survival or longleaf pine seedling survival. Wiregrass germination and seedling survival in the first growing season was low and did not differ between mound and matrix locations. Longleaf pine seedling survival in the first growing season was 64–77% in the absence of fire, but no more than 15% in blocks th...