cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
β-catenin Signaling Regulates Cell Fate Decisions at the Transition Zone of the Chondro-Osseous Junction During Fracture Healing

Chondrocytes within the fracture callus transform into osteoblasts during bone regeneration, but the molecular mechanisms regulating this process are unknown. Wnt ligands are expressed within the fracture callus, and hypertrophic chondrocytes undergoing transformation to osteoblasts exhibit nuclear localization of {beta}-catenin, indicating active Wnt signaling in these cells. Here, we show that conditional knock out (cKO) of {beta}-catenin in chondrocytes inhibits the transformation of chondrocytes to osteoblasts, while stabilization of {beta}-catenin in chondrocytes accelerates this process. After cKO, chondrocyte-derived cells were located in the bone marrow cavity and upon re-fracture formed cartilage. Lineage tracing in wild type mice revealed that in addition to osteoblasts, chondrocytes give rise to stem cells that contribute to repair of subsequent fractures. These data indicate that Wnt signaling directs cell fate choices of chondrocytes during fracture healing by stimulating transformation of chondrocytes to osteoblasts, and provide a framework for developing Wnt-therapies to stimulate repair.
Society, Culture, and Communication

LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this chapter, you should be able to do the following: • Define culture and society in such a way as to distinguish them clearly from each other. • Describe the problems that can result from using the term “culture” inaccurately. • Understand the difference between terms like language and languaging. • Contrast the American idea of ritual with that of social scientists, especially anthropologists. • Define signs in relation to metasigns and language in relation to metalanguage. • Understand communication-centered approaches to culture. Introduction In this first chapter, we explore the argument for studying communication from the perspective of culture and society – which is another way of saying that we explore languages as “forms of life” (Wittgenstein 1958). We begin by defining culture and society in such a way as to carefully distinguish between the two as different but interacting types or orders of reality. Along these lines, this chapter explores speaking as a social activity and language as a cultural resource (Duranti 1997:1–2). In this chapter, I also advocate studying what we often call “identity” or even “identities” – social, cultural, and personal – from the perspective of identification (meaning actions, often laden with emotion, linking oneself to another individual, group, or practice ). I further call for the processualization of not just identity, but culture, society, and language. That does not mean I completely eliminate these more familiar terms, but I do emphasize them as denoting the products of processes because it is crucial to give process its due. With all of that in mind, let's get back to directly considering the terms culture and society. Both are notoriously difficult concepts to pin down – even before processualizing these concepts (for instance, by replacing “culture” with “enculturate/enculturation”). Thus, the distinction between culture and society can easily be blurred. By taking care to avoid such blurring, I aim to help you understand the intersection of culture, society, and communication as a foundation for understanding the rest of this book.
Cognitive and Physiological Intent for the Adaptation of Motor Prostheses

Motor prostheses act to restore function to persons with movement disability through device actions trigged by command or intent of the user. There are various modes by which device actions may power or inform the person’s movement. For any device mode, actions are based on what the person is intending to do. Regardless of the device, user, or method for restoring function, it is critical to optimize how the device and user respond to one another to maximize the capabilities of the person. In this chapter, we discuss approaches to develop assistive devices and rehabilitation paradigms that restore function to those with movement disabilities through greater cognitive and physiological integration. Mainly, these approaches fall along two lines: (1) adapting devices to facilitate greater agency, or sense of control, of the user and (2) training a user to produce consistent responses that the device can readily recognize and assist.
Energy Transfer to Non-Newtonian Fluids in Laminar Flow

ABSTRACT An Arrhenius type function is used to introduce the temperature-viscosity dependency into a non- Newtonian flow relationship. This relationship is combined with the differential equation describing laminar flow and energy transport in laminar flow. The resulting equations are solved numerically for energy transfer to a non-Newtonian fluid in laminar flow inside a tube of circular cross-section with constant wall temperature. The results are compared with experimental data.
The 3 Bs of cancer care amid the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: “Be safe, be smart, be kind”—A multidisciplinary approach increasing the use of radiation and embracing telemedicine for head and neck cancer

Because of the national emergency triggered by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, government-mandated public health directives have drastically changed not only social norms but also the practice of oncologic medicine. Timely head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment must be prioritized, even during emergencies. Because severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 predominantly resides in the sinonasal/oral/oropharyngeal tracts, nonessential mucosal procedures are restricted, and HNCs are being triaged toward nonsurgical treatments when cures are comparable. Consequently, radiation utilization will likely increase during this pandemic. Even in radiation oncology, standard in-person and endoscopic evaluations are being restrained to limit exposure risks and preserve personal protective equipment for other frontline workers. The authors have implemented telemedicine and multidisciplinary conferences to continue to offer standard-of-care HNC treatments during this uniquely challenging time. Because of the lack of feasibility data on telemedicine for HNC, they report their early experience at a high-volume cancer center at the domestic epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis.
From Dyspepsia to Diagnosis: A Rare Gastric Subepithelial Lesion Definitively Diagnosed via Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection and Immunohistochemistry.

INTRODUCTION Peripheral nerve sheath tumors, known as perineuriomas, are typically found on the trunk and extremities. They are less commonly described in the gastrointestinal tract (GI), and extremely rarely are described in the stomach. CASE PRESENTATION We present a case of a 2-cm gastric perineurioma in a 42-year-old patient with nonspecific GI complaints of chronic dyspepsia and epigastric discomfort. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, followed by endoscopic ultrasound, revealed a 2-cm umbilicated lesion in the stomach, which was subsequently removed with endoscopic submucosal dissection and sent for pathology. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a rare entity known as a gastric perineurioma. CONCLUSION Since the first case of gastric perineurioma was first described in 2004, there have only been 4 reported cases in the English literature. This case highlights the crucial interdisciplinary multidisciplinary effort between pathologists and GI specialists required to reach this diagnosis and showcases endoscopic diagnosis using endoscopic dissection, which allows for complete lesion resection and complete resolution of the patient's symptoms.
Fraud in grains and cereals

Abstract Grains and cereals provide a great deal of the global population’s calories and are immensely important to many countries’ economies. Much of the adulteration that takes place in different grain crops is primarily of economic concern, such as varietal or species substitution, organic fraud, and genetically modified organism adulteration. However, some issues exist that also have human health implications, namely, the adulteration of protein products with toxic melamine, or the mixing of gluten-containing cereals with nongluten products (a threat to celiac individuals). Several different analytical methods have been evaluated for grain quality control, including spectroscopies, analyte separation techniques, types of mass spectrometry, stable isotope measurements, immunosorbent assays, DNA methods, or combinations thereof. When industry combines appropriate analytical testing with preventative risk mitigation plans that are based on known vulnerabilities to fraud, quality grain products can make it from the farm to the hands of consumers.
Breaking atomic-level ordering via biaxial strain in functional oxides: A DFT study

Oxygen vacancies are found to play a crucial role in inducing many functional properties at the heterointerfaces in complex oxides. Gaining better control over the properties requires an understanding of the atomic structure of oxygen vacancies at the heterointerfaces. In this paper, we elucidate the effects of the interfacial strain on the oxygen-vacancy ordering in fluorite δ-Bi2O3 and perovskite LaNiO2.5 using first-principles calculations. By applying biaxial strains, we find that the 〈110〉−〈111〉 oxygen vacancy order in δ-Bi2O3 is broken, resulting in a faster diffusion of oxygen ions. Similarly, the biaxial strain is used to leverage both ordered and disordered arrangements of vacancies in LaNiO2.5. Besides the vacancy order, we find that the biaxial strain can also be used to break the cation order in Gd2Ti2O7, where Gd and Ti antisites can be created on the cation sublattice, which leads to enhanced radiation tolerance and higher oxygen diffusivity. These results indicate that the biaxial strain that is commonly present at heterointerfaces can be used to gain control over both ordered and disordered arrangements of defects, potentially opening new opportunities to functionalize complex oxides.
Integrative RNA-omics discovers GNAS alternative splicing as a phenotypic driver of splicing factor-mutant neoplasms.

Mutations in splicing factors (SFs) are the predominant class of mutations in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), but convergent downstream disease drivers remain elusive. To identify common direct targets of mis-splicing by mutant U2AF1 and SRSF2, we performed RNA-Seq and eCLIP in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) derived from isogenic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models. Integrative analyses of alternative splicing and differential binding converged on a long isoform of GNAS (GNAS-L), promoted by both mutant factors. MDS population genetics, functional and biochemical analyses support that GNAS-L is a driver of MDS and encodes a hyperactive long form of the stimulatory G protein alpha subunit, Gas-L, that activates ERK/MAPK signaling. SF-mutant MDS cells have activated ERK signaling and consequently are sensitive to MEK inhibitors. Our findings highlight an unexpected and unifying mechanism by which SRSF2 and U2AF1 mutations drive oncogenesis with potential therapeutic implications for MDS and other SF-mutant neoplasms.
Enthalpy of Formation of Barium Lanthanide(IV) Oxides: BaCeO3, BaPrO3, and BaTbO3

The perovskites BaCeO3, BaPrO3, and BaTbO3 have been prepared and the stabilization of the lanthanide(IV) ions in these oxides has been determined as a function of their structures.
ERTS-1 data applied to strip mining

Two coal basins within the western region of the Potomac River Basin contain the largest strip-mining operations in western Maryland and West Virginia. The disturbed strip-mine areas were delineated along with the surrounding geological and vegetation features by using ERTS-1 data in both analog and digital form. The two digital systems employed were (1) the ERTS analysis system, a point-by-point digital analysis of spectral signatures based on known spectral values and (2) the LARS automatic data processing system. These two systems aided in efforts to determine the extent and state of strip mining in this region. Aircraft data, ground-verification information, and geological field studies also aided in the application of ERTS-1 imagery to perform an integrated analysis that assessed the adverse effects of strip mining. The results indicated that ERTS can both monitor and map the extent of strip mining to determine immediately the acreage affected and to indicate where future reclamation and revegetation may be necessary.
Ecological comparison of sympatric populations of sand lizards ( Cophosaurus texanus and Callisaurus draconoides )

Sympatric populations of Cophosaurus texanus and Callisaurus draconoides were periodically sampled from March 1973 through April 1974 at Burro Creek, Mohave County, Arizona. Callisaurus were also sampled at Rock Valley, Nye County, Nevada. Sex ratios were skewed in favor of males in the adult Cophosaurus but were equal in both adult populations of Callisaurus. Both species became sexually mature as yearlings. Mean clutch sizes were 3.55 (±0.83) for Cophosaurus, and 4.25 (±1.08) and 5.07 (±1.33) for Callisaurus at Burro Creek and Rock Valley respectively. Evidence of multiple clutches was exhibited by both species. Egg weight/body weight ratios for both species and clutch weight/body weight ratios for Cophosaurus were notably smaller than previously reported. At Burro Creek both species were highly insectivorus, with orthopterans comprising the largest food group of each. Niche overlap for food was high at the ordinal level, but at the familial level it is apparent that Callisaurus probably fed in the more xeric areas of the riparian habitat. No differences were found in the temperature responses of these two lizards. However, minor temporal separations and substantial spatial partitioning were observed. Callisaurus preferred sandy open areas, while Cophosaurus preferred the presence of some rocks and boulders.
Prostaglandin levels in seminal plasma and sperm extracts of the domestic turkey, and the effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors on sperm mobility

Turkey reproduction is by artificial insemination using pooled semen so there is interest in storing semen. Fertilizing capacity declines after six hours storage, possibly due to poor sperm mobility. Prostaglandins (PG) affect mammalian sperm motility, but avian sperm has not been widely studied. For this study, levels of PG E1, E2, and F2 alpha in turkey seminal plasma and sperm extract, and effects of cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors on sperm mobility were determined. Seminal Plasma and sperm extract PG E1, E2, and F2 alpha, from 1.0 mL pooled semen, were measured by ELISA. In Trial 1, PG were determined from 122 wk old toms (n = 4). Trial 2 used 36 wk old toms (n = 7). For Trial 3, PGE2 only was measured from 48 wk (n = 6) and 154 wk old toms (n = 3). The effects of non-specific COX inhibitors indomethacin, diclofenac, tolmetin, or aspirin (n = 10), or specific COX-1 or COX-2 inhibitors (n = 3) on sperm mobility were measured (Accudenz swim-down test). Seminal plasma PG (pg/mL) in Trials 1 and 2, respectively, were 185.2 ± 88.4 and 187.2 ± 33.7 for PGE1; 141.4 ± 43.1 and 100.4 ± 14.6 for PGF2 alpha; and 431.0 ± 155.1 for PGE2 (Trial 1 only). Sperm extract PG (pg/10 billion cells) in Trials 1 and 2, respectively, were 215.1 ± 38.1 and 208.9 ± 41.5 for PGE1; 133.7 ± 51.7 and 49.8 ± 8.3 for PGF2 alpha; and 52.3 ± 8.6 for PGE2 (Trial 1 only). In Trial 3, seminal plasma PGE2 (pg/mL) in older versus younger males was 1097.9 ± 99.3 versus 853.2 ± 144.6 and sperm extract PGE2 (pg/10 billion cells) was 208.0 ± 56.1 versus 102.4 ± 14.8. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors (0.001 to 10 mM) decreased sperm mobility: indomethacin 15 to 100%; diclofenac 4 to 100%; tolmetin 27 to 74%; aspirin (tested at 0.01 to 15 mM) 22 to 42%; resveratrol (COX-1) and NS-398 (COX-2), both tested at 0.1 to 10 mM, 38 to 98% and 44 to 85%, respectively. These results indicate that PG are present in turkey seminal plasma and sperm, and COX inhibitors decrease turkey sperm mobility.
Comparison of disinfectant efficacy when using high‐volume directed mist application of accelerated hydrogen peroxide and peroxymonosulfate disinfectants in a large animal hospital

Summary Reasons for performing study Effective decontamination of animal holding environments is critical for providing high quality patient care and maintaining a safe working environment. Disinfection of animal holding environments is a significant challenge during times of epidemic disease. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the disinfectant efficacy of 3 strategies for high-volume directed mist application of accelerated hydrogen peroxide and peroxymonosulfate disinfectants; 4.25% accelerated hydrogen peroxide (Accel®; AHP) at a 1:16 dilution and single and double applications of 2% peroxymonosulfate solution (Virkon-S®; VIR-1 and VIR-2) for decontamination of a large animal hospital environment. Study design Experiment. Methods After cleaning and disinfection of the hospital environment, transparencies experimentally contaminated with known concentrations of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were placed on vertical surfaces. Disinfectant solution was applied by directed mist application and, after 30 min of contact time, transparencies were collected and individually placed into tubes containing 10 ml Dey-Engley broth. The process was repeated for each disinfectant. Tenfold dilutions of each sample were plated onto tryptic soy blood agar with 5% sheep blood. Bacterial counts from transparencies exposed to disinfectants were compared with counts from control transparencies (unexposed to disinfectants) to evaluate reduction in colony forming units. Results The least squares mean reduction (log10) in colony forming units (CFUs) for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was 1.5–2.5 logs and approximately 0.8–1.0 logs for S. enterica. Reductions were generally largest for VIR-2 and smallest for AHP, although these differences were not all statistically significant and the magnitude of differences may not be clinically relevant. Conclusions For the organisms evaluated, all 3 disinfectants applied as a directed mist were effective at reducing CFUs in a veterinary hospital environment. Effective disinfection using this method of application is dependent on adequate cleaning prior to application, and use of adequate volumes of disinfectant.
The Patterns of Collaboration in hands-on and Computer-Automated Labs

Learning in the laboratory is a discovery process where students learn by physically manipulating the laboratory apparatus and collaborating with team members. However, the development of new information technology makes new types of labs available but also presents a paradox. Advocates and detractors of different lab modalities can be found. A full-text review of sixty articles indicates that group collaboration might be very important to explain the debate over different labs but often ignored. In this research, I focus on identifying behavioral patterns of small groups in performing laboratory activities. Founded on activity theory, I proposed a conceptual model describing the relationship among group collaboration patterns, the openness of the lab instruction, the closeness of the group, the interactivity of the lab interface, and students’ learning performance. Hypotheses are developed and research methodologies are introduced to test these hypotheses. This research has a broader implication for theories, education, and the industry.
Verification theories for XML schema

XML Schema types and structures are represented as theories of a verification system, PVS, for proving properties related to XML schemas. Type derivations by restriction and extension as defined in XML Schema are represented in the PVS type system using predicate subtyping. Availability of parametric polymorphism in PVS makes it possible to represent XML sequences and sets via PVS theories. Transaction verification methodology is based on declarative, logic-based specification of frame constraints and the actual transaction updates. XML applications, including constraints typical for XML schemas, such as keys and referential integrity, have been verified.
The Influence of Long-Term Performance Plans on Earnings Management and Firm Performance

Boards of directors often implement long-term performance plans (LTPP) to focus management's attention on enhancing long-term shareholder value instead of concentrating their efforts on short-term earnings. This study provides estimation results suggesting that firms that compensate managers with LTPP are associated with lower levels of managed earnings than firms that have only short-term bonus plans. In addition, we find evidence that suggests that firms with long-term performance plans have significantly higher annual returns than firms that have only short-term bonus plans. We also find that firms with long-term performance plans are typically larger firms with smaller managerial ownership and larger institutional ownership than firms without long-term performance plans.
Fabrication of La2Ti2O7 thin films by a sol-gel technique

Abstract Sol-gel thin films of La2Ti2O17 were deposited on fused silica and Si( 100) substrates by a spin-coating process. The La2Ti2O17 precursor solution for the spin-coating was prepared from lanthanum acetylacetonate and titanium iso-propoxide dissolved in 2-methoxyethanol. Crystalline and crack-free films of ∼ 0.3 μm thickness were deposited on the above sulastrates using a single coating and followed by annealing at a temperature of 800 "C. Microstructural studies revealed that these films contained extremely fine grains of ∼ 0.1 μm. Thin film X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the formation of grain oriented films along [100] direction on these substrates.
The Largest Stability Hypercube for Families of Polynomials with Linear Uncertainty

Let ?(s) = ? 0 (s) = ? 0 (s) + a 1 ? 1 (s) + a 2 ? 2 (s) +...+ a k ? k (s) be a polynomial with coefficients that depend linearly on real parameters a i , 1 ? i ? k. Let ? 0 (s) be stable of degree n and ? i , 1 ? i ? k, of degree less than n. Assume that the a i are allowed to take values in the k dimensional hypercube ? ?a = {(a 1 ,...,a k )?Rk: a- i ? a i ? ? a+ i }, where a-1 i ≪ 0, a+ i ≫ 0, 1 ? i ? k are fixed and ? ? 0. In this paper we consider the problem of how to compute the largest value ?* such that the family is stable in ? ?a for 0 ? ? ≪ ?*. Considering the problem in the frequency domain, a function of frequency can be constructed whose infimum is ?*. In this paper we show that to compute ?* one need only consider the values of this function at a finite number of frequencies. The number of frequencies is polynomial in k, and the frequencies themselves are explicitly determined from the given data.
A distribution function for particle populations having a finite size range and a mode independent of the spread

Abstract A distribution function and its cumulative form are described and their mathematical properties analyzed. Since f(0) = f(a) = 0, this function can be applied to real particle populations, having a definite size range 0 a 2 , μ > a 2 or μ a 2 , respectively. This permits the simulation of extreme changes in particle size distribution patterns without changing the model format. The parameter B is an arbitrary constant whose effect on the distribution curve shape is of little significance as long as its magnitude remains small relative to that of a. Although the integrals that appear in f(x) and F(x) cannot be easily solved analytically, their values can conveniently be computed by standard numerical methods employing a microcomputer.
Unsymmetrically substituted dimethylplatinum(II) complexes

cis-(Dimethyl)(tri-p-tolylphosphine)(ligand)platinum(II) complexes (ligand  substituted pyridine or amine) have been prepared from PtMe2(1,5-COD) (COD  cyclooctadiene), Ptol3 (tol  tolyl) and the N-donor ligand. For ligand  4-(5-phenyl-2-oxazolyl)pyridine the crystal and molecular structure has been determined: space group R3−, a  b  34.295(5), c  14.198(2) A (− 100°C), γ 120°, V 14459 A3, Z  18. For 379 variables and 4977 reflections with I > 2σ(I) R  0.034, Rw  0.042. PtC bond lengths are 2.082(7) (rans to P) and 2.059(8) A (trans to N). Amine ligands are displaced by ethylene to form an unstable ethylene adduct.
Born to rebel: Birth order, family dynamics, and creative lives.

Why do people raised in the same families often differ more dramatically in personality than those from different families? What made Charles Darwin, Benjamin Franklin and Voltaire uniquely suited to challenge the conventional wisdom of their times? This pioneering inquiry into the significance of birth order answers both these questions with a conceptional boldness that has made critics compare it with the work of Freud and of Darwin himself. During Frank Sulloway's 20-year-research, he combed through thousands of lives in politics, science and religion, demonstrating that first-born children are more likely to identify with authority whereas their younger siblings are predisposed to rise against it. Family dynamics, Sulloway concludes, is a primary engine of historical change. Elegantly written, masterfully researched, BORN TO REBEL is a grand achievement that has galvanised historians and social scientists and will fascinate anyone who has ever pondered the enigma of human character.
A stereospecific total synthesis of waburganal

Abstract A stereospecific, efficient synthesis of the potent insect antifeedant, waburganal, 1 , is described.
Roles of SWI/SNF and HATs throughout the dynamic transcription of a yeast glucose‐repressible gene

Eucaryotic gene expression requires chromatin-remodeling activities. We show by time-course studies that transcriptional induction of the yeast glucose-regulated SUC2 gene is rapid and shows a striking biphasic pattern, the first phase of which is partly mediated by the general stress transcription factors Msn2p/Msn4p. The SWI/SNF ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complex associates with the promoter in a similar biphasic manner and is essential for both phases of transcription. Two different histone acetyltransferases, Gcn5p and Esa1p, enhance the binding of SWI/SNF to the promoter during early transcription and are required for optimal SUC2 induction. Gcn5p is recruited to SUC2 simultaneously with SWI/SNF, whereas Esa1p associates constitutively with the promoter. This study reveals an unusual transcription pattern of a metabolic gene and suggests a novel strategy by which distinct chromatin remodelers cooperate for the dynamic activation of transcription.
Evidence of nonphononic superconductivity in Nb 3 Ge

We present the results of a quantitative test to separate phononic from nonphononic contributions to the superconductivity in A15 Nb/sub 3/Ge. This test is based on analysis of heat capacity and tunneling ..cap alpha../sup 2/F(..omega..) data and neutron-scattering data. We obtained evidence for a substantial contribution of a nonphononic mechanism to the superconducting state in Nb/sub 3/Ge. In contrast, our results suggest the superconducting state in Pb and V/sub 3/Si is due to phonons.
Observability of High-Altitude Atmospheric Scattering Layers

The observability of high altitude aerosol and atmospheric scattering layers by a satellite-mounted optical detector was considered. In particular the detectability of a 50 km layer with a wide-angle receiver was investigated. It was found that a layer possessing an optical depth greater than approximately 0.0002 at 3000 A (i.e. strong enough to affect BUV measurements of ozone) should be detectable with such an instrument provided that the system can be constructed so as to be sensitive to a signal of only 0.0001 of the sunlight directly incident on the instrument. However it was concluded that a narrow field-of-view satellite-mounted telescope used to scan the earth's horizon has a more general applicability for the detection of high altitude aerosol layers.
Fourier transform IR spectroscopic observation of propylene ozonide in the gas phase reaction of ozone—cis-2-butene—formaldehyde

Abstract IR spectroscopic evidence has been found for the gas phase formation of propylene ozonide via the homogeneous bimolecular reaction of the cis-2-butene ozonolysis intermediate with formaldehyde.
A free calcium wave traverses the activating egg of the medaka, Oryzias latipes.

Aequorin-injected eggs of the medaka (a fresh water fish) show an explosive rise in free calcium during fertilization, which is followed by a slow return to the resting level. Image intensification techniques now show a spreading wave of high free calcium during fertilization. The wave starts at the animal pole (where the sperm enters) and then traverses the egg as a shallow, roughly 20 degrees-wide band which vanishes at the antipode some minutes later. The peak free calcium concentration within this moving band is estimated to be about 30 microM (perhaps 100-1,000 times the resting level). Eggs activated by ionophore A23187 may show multiple initiation sites. The resulting multiple waves never spread through each other; rather, they fuse upon meeting so as to form spreading waves of compound origin. The fertilization wave is nearly independent of extracellular calcium because it is only slightly slowed (by perhaps 15%) in a medium containing 5 mM ethylene glycol-bis[beta-aminoethyl ether]N,N9-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and no deliberately added calcium. It is also independent of the large cortical vesicles, which may be centrifugally displaced. Normally, however, it distinctly precedes the well-known wave of cortical vesicle exocytosis. We conclude that the fertilization wave in the medaka egg is propagated by calcium-stimulated calcium release, primarily from some internal sources other than the large cortical vesicles. A comparison of the characteristics of the exocytotic wave in the medaka with that in other eggs, particularly in echinoderm eggs, suggests that such a propagated calcium wave is a general feature of egg activation.
ANALYSIS OF RADIATION DAMAGE IN SILICON BY THERMAL ANNEALING OF SOLAR CELLS.

Abstract Thermal annealing of the photovoltaic parameters of silicon solar cells irradiated at room temperature by electrons (15 to 45 MeV), protons (5 MeV) and fast neutrons has been studied up to a temperature of 500 °C. The cells were prepared from single crystals grown by the Czochralski process (oxygen ∼1018/cm3) by the float-zone technique (oxygen ∼ 1016/cm3), each doped with boron or aluminum. The radiation damage was observed to anneal in two characteristic stages. The first stage occurs between 50° and 200°C and is independent of dopant type, of dopant concentration, and of the concentration of oxygen impurity. It is suggested that this stage is due to the breaking-up of clusters of recombination centers. In the second stage, observed between 275° and 450°C. the remaining damage produced by bombardment is removed. Unlike the low temperature stage, it is strongly dependent on the nature of the dopant and oxygen impurity concentration and bears a close resemblance to the annealing of 1-MeV electron...
Generalized Model For Wire Grid Polarizers

A generalized optical model for wire grid polarizers is derived based on the form birefringence of composite media of either parallel slabs or cylinders. It is shown that a wire grid polarizer can be represented by a thin sheet of uniaxially anisotropic material with complex refractive indices. This model also applies to sheet polarizers.
Parallel-Modulated Neural Network Friction Component Model for Automotive Powertrain Systems

In this paper, a new hybrid neural network friction component model is developed for dynamic powertrain (PT) analysis. With improvement over the previous hybrid network modeling techniques, the structural information of the available physical and empirical correlations is utilized to construct a parallel-modulated neural network (PMNN) architecture. The new neural network consists of small-sized parallel subnetworks reflecting specific mechanisms of the friction component engagement process. The network is successfully trained and tested using both experimental and analytical data. The PMNN-based friction component model isolates the contribution of engagement pressure on engagement torque while identifying the nonlinear characteristics of the pressuretorque correlation. Furthermore, it provides a simple torque formula that is scalable with respect to engagement pressure. All these features make the PMNN model a better tool for the purpose of powertrain system simulation and controller design, as compared to a conventional neural network model.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Primary monolayer cell culture of bovine parathyroids: effects of calcium, isoproterenol and growth factors.

Abstract Cell aggregates of bovine parathyroid tissue were prepared by limited collagenase digestion and placed in culture in weymouth's MB752/1 (calcium = 3.3 mg/100 ml) containing 5% fetal bovine serum and supplemented with insulin alone, or insulin, hydrocortisone, transferrin and epidermal growth factor. Only insulin was required for the maintenance of PTH secretion over a 9-day period. The cell aggregates spread to form monolayer in 3–5 days. The majority of the cells in monolayer were polygonal with well-defined borders. Nuclei were round and the cytoplasm was free of vacuoles. Cell cultures responded to secretory stimulation by low calcium or by isoproterenol with increases in the secretion of PTH and sp-1. At low calcium, about 18% of both the cellular PTH and SP-1 was secreted per hour, and up to 50% of the cell content of these proteins was released per hour upon stimulation by isoproterenol and low calcium combined. The responses to calcium and isoproterenol decreased as a function of time in culture, and calcium responses often disappeared completely by 10 days of culture. When cells were cultured in medium containing a higher (5 mg%) than standard concentration of calcium between days 3–6 of culture, the degree of secretory inhibition attainable with high calcium was greater than that of cells cultured in the standard medium. When secreted hormonal peptides were separated by SDS-gel electrophoresis prior to RIA, it was found that the secretion of intact hormone was sensitive to calcium. For every molecule of PTH secreted into the medium, 1.5–2 mole-equivalents of carboxyl fragments were also released. Calcium control of fragment release was not as stringent as that of PTH release.
Selective anion exchange membranes for high coulombic efficiency vanadium redox flow batteries

Abstract A quaternary ammonium functionalized poly(fluorenyl ether) anion exchange membrane (AEM) with extremely low VO2 + permeation was characterized for vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) application. One hundred percent coulombic efficiency (CE) was achieved for the AEM-based VRFB at all the current densities tested. Comparatively, the CE of a N212 membrane-based VRFB was lower than 94% and varied with charge/discharge current density. At current densities lower than 60 mA cm− 2, the energy effiency of the AEM-based VRFB was higher than that of a device with N212. The cycling performance demonstrated that the AEM-based VRFB was free of capacity fade, which is a consequence of its low VO2 + permeability. These observations are of significant importance for flow batteries that operate intermittently or at moderate current densities.
On the efficiency with which aerosol particles of radius less than 1 μm are collected by columnar ice crystals

A theoretical model is presented which allows computing the efficiency with which aerosol particles of 0.001 ≤r≤1 μm are collected by columnar ice crystals in air of various relative humidities, temperatures, and pressures. Particle capture due to Brownian diffusion, thermo- and diffusiophoresis is considered. It is shown that phoretic effects importantly determine the particle capture process of 0.01≤r≤1 μm. The various pressure-temperature levels studied are found to affect the collection efficiency only ifr>0.1 μm. Comparison shows that water drops generally are better aerosol particle scavengers than columnar ice crystals.
A case of intestinal obstruction by a fruit pit in a healthy individual leading to the diagnosis of Crohn's disease

A case of intestinal obstruction by a fruit pit in a healthy individual leading to the diagnosis of Crohn's disease
In utero exposure of bovine fetuses to polychlorinated biphenyls.

Abstract Pregnant mature beef cows more than 6 mo from parturition were fed whole plant corn silage from either a silo (contaminated) that had been coated with a plastic containing polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1254) or from a silo (clean) that had not been coated with the plastic. In addition, a third group of cows was fed silage from the clean silo plus 200mg Aroclor 1254 per head daily (added polychlorinated biphenyls). After 30 days on treatment, one cow from each of the three treatments had her fetus removed by Caesarean section for assay of liver, thyroid, and fat for polychlorinated biphenyls content. Tissue content of polychlorinated biphenyls for fetuses from cows fed clean silage, contaminated silage, or added polychlorinated biphenyls was ( μ g/g): liver, 3.6, 4.7, and 54.1; thyroid, 2.3, 19.4, and 121.1; fat, .65, 18.1, and 130.6, indicating polychlorinated biphenyls cross the placenta readily. Cow milk (colostrum) contents of polychlorinated biphenyls on the 1st day following parturition for the three respective treatments were .54, 8.5, and 96.4 μ g/g (clean silage, contaminated silage, and added polychlorinated biphenyls). Fetuses taken from cows that had been removed from polychlorinated biphenyl exposure for 6 mo reflected previous treatments of dams by increased fetal fat stores of polychlorinated biphenyls.
Predictors of Health resource use by disabled older female Medicare beneficiaries living in the community

OBJECTIVES: To identify specific clinical factors that could best predict resource use by disabled older women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Urban community in Baltimore, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand two community-dwelling, moderately to severely disabled, female Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older, from the Women's Health and Aging Study I (WHAS). MEASUREMENTS: WHAS data were merged with participants' 1992–1994 Medicare claims data for the year after baseline evaluation, reflecting inpatient, outpatient, home-based, and skilled-nursing services. The independent contributions of factors hypothesized to predict health expenditures were assessed, using chi-square and regression analyses, with the logarithm of Medicare expenditures as the primary outcome. RESULTS: Demographic factors were not associated with Medicare expenditures. Factors associated with expenditures in bivariate analyses included heart disease (1.4x), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.3x), diabetes mellitus (1.1x), smoking, comorbidity, and severity of disability, as well as low creatinine clearance, serum albumin, caloric expenditure, or skinfold thickness. Heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and low skinfold thickness remained significant after adjustment for other factors. CONCLUSION: Heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and low skinfold thickness are important independent predictors of 1-year Medicare expenditures by disabled older women. Many other variables that reflect disease, disability, nutrition, or personal habits have less predictive ability. Most demographic factors are not predictors of expenditures in this population. Focusing on the best predictors may facilitate more-effective risk adjustment and creation of related health policies.
Finite element methods with user-controlled meshes for fluid-structure interaction

Abstract A quasi-Eulerian finite element formulation for the analysis of transients in a fluid with a pressurized bubble is developed in both two and three dimensions. In these methods the mesh can be programmed to move independent of the material, so that the method lends itself well to the treatment of fluid-structure problems. Time integration is performed by an explicit method, and one point quadrature is used in the fluid elements. To eliminate hourglass modes, an hourglass control which is orthogonal to straining and rigid body modes is used. Several examples are described.
Optical Rotatory Dispersion Studies, LXXXVIII. Vergleichende Messungen der Optischen Rotationsdispersion und des Zirkulardichroismus der N ‐Phthalyl‐Derivate von Aminen und α‐ Aminosäuren

Messungen der Optischen Rotationsdispersion und des Zirkulardichroismus von N-Phthalyl-aminen beweisen die Existenz von mindestens einer optischaktiven Absorptionsbande im Bereich oberhalb von 300 mμ, die im UV-Spektrum nicht erkennbar ist. Aus dem Vorzeichen der zugehorigen Cotton-Effekt-Kurve kann die absolute Konfiguration bestimmt werden: N-Phthalyl-Derivate optisch-aktiver Amine der (R)-Reihe zeigen einen negativen Cotton-Effekt, solche der (S)-Reihe einen positiven. Entsprechende Messungen an N-Phthalyl-Derivaten von α-Aminosauren fuhrten zum Nachweis von mindestens zwei optischaktiven Absorptionsbanden, die wiederum im UV-Spektrum nicht erkennbar sind. Die vorliegende Untersuchung stellt ein weiteres Beispiel dar fur die Anwendung der Optischen Rotationsdispersion und besonders des Zirkulardichroismus zur Ermittlung verdeckter Absorptionsbanden.
Effect of the surface on charge reduction and desorption kinetics of soft landed peptide ions.

Charge reduction and desorption kinetics of ions and neutral molecules produced by soft-landing of mass-selected singly and doubly protonated Gramicidin S (GS) on different surfaces was studied using time dependant in situ secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) integrated in a specially designed Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR MS) research instrument. Soft-landing targets utilized in this study included inert self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 1-dodecane thiol (HSAM) and its fluorinated analog (FSAM) on gold and hydrophilic carboxyl-terminated (COOH-SAM) and amine-terminated (NH2-SAM) surfaces. We observed efficient neutralization of soft-landed ions on the COOH-SAM surface, partial retention of only one proton on the HSAM surface, and efficient retention of two protons on the FSAM surface. Slow desorption rates measured experimentally indicate fairly strong binding between peptide molecules and SAM surfaces with the binding energy of 20–25 kcal/mol.
Carbon monoxide treats experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension via nitric oxide synthase

RESULTS: As seen in Table 1, on post-operative day 1, there was a decrease in the relative percentage of VEGF188, and an increase in the relative percentage of VEGF164. These percentages had reversed by three days post-pneumonectomy with VEGF164 showing decreased expression and VEGF120 revealing increased expression. Isoforms in the pneumonectomy animals were not different from sham animals by the seventh day.
Determining the minimum-area encasing rectangle for an arbitrary closed curve

This paper describes a method for finding the rectangle of minimum area in which a given arbitrary plane curve can be contained. The method is of interest in certain packing and optimum layout problems. It consists of first determining the minimal-perimeter convex polygon that encloses the given curve and then selecting the rectangle of minimum area capable of containing this polygon. Three theorems are introduced to show that one side of the minimum-area rectangle must be collinear with an edge of the enclosed polygon and that the minimum-area encasing rectangle for the convex polygon is also the minimum-area rectangle for the curve.
Millimeter wave radio telescopes: Gain and pointing characteristics

The basic gain and pointing characteristics of millimeter-wave radio telescopes are described in this paper. Formal definitions of relevant telescope parameters are given. Performance limits set by conventional technology are discussed and compared with measurements of existing telescopes. Methods are also suggested for minimizing pointing errors.
Relationship of Fertility to Day of Insemination During the Laying Sequence

Fertility among hens artificially inseminated (AI) at different stages of the laying sequence were compared in two experiments with broiler breed (Experiment 1) and egg-type hens (Experiment 2). The different stages of the laying sequence were prepause (PP)-oviposition without ovulation, pause (P)-no oviposition with or without ovulation, and nonpause (NP)-oviposition with ovulation. There were no significant differences among PP, P, and NP groups for duration or percent fertility in Experiment 1. Fertility and duration were significantly lower in PP than NP in Experiment 2. However, these differences were most likely caused by 36% of the PP hens ovipositing during the time of AI. Time of AI seems to be a more important factor in determining subsequent fertility than the day of AI during the laying sequence.
Chain retraction potential in a fixed entanglement network.

When a chain, tethered at one end, is immersed in a fixed entanglement network, the mobile tip of the chain encounters an entropic potential barrier that penalizes deep fluctuations needed to bring the tip close to the tethering point. Using the tube model, Doi and Kuzuu [J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Lett. Ed. 18, 775 (1980)] estimated that this potential, which is crucial to describe the rheology of branched polymers in fixed networks and melts, has a quadratic form with a prefactor $\ensuremath{\nu}=1.5$. Later calculations based on regular lattices indicated that the potential is nonquadratic, and its steepness depends on the lattice coordination number. In this Letter, we analyze the primitive paths obtained using the bond-fluctuation model for chains with up to 12.5 entanglements. Our simulations confirm a quadratic form for the potential with a prefactor close to the Doi-Kuzuu value, $\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\approx}1.5$.
Two-Dimensional Photonic Band-Gap Defect Mode Laser

A laser cavity formed from a single defect in a two-dimensional photonic crystal is demonstrated. The optical microcavity consists of a half wavelength–thick waveguide for vertical confinement and a two-dimensional photonic crystal mirror for lateral localization. A defect in the photonic crystal is introduced to trap photons inside a volume of 2.5 cubic half-wavelengths, approximately 0.03 cubic micrometers. The laser is fabricated in the indium gallium arsenic phosphide material system, and optical gain is provided by strained quantum wells designed for a peak emission wavelength of 1.55 micrometers at room temperature. Pulsed lasing action has been observed at a wavelength of 1.5 micrometers from optically pumped devices with a substrate temperature of 143 kelvin.
The effects of radiation heat transfer on catalytic combustion

Abstract The impact of radiation heat transfer on heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of a fuel on a flat plate is studied. The boundary layer equations are solved numerically for an adiabatic plate. The important nondimensional groups are identified and the results are presented over wide ranges of all these parameters. The results show that depending on other parameters, even small plate emissivitives can significantly alter the results. In general, radiation heat loss increases the ignition distance and ignition delay time and also lowers the plate temperature, while an energy addition by radiation results in the opposite trends.
Limited Diagnostic Value of Routine Cord Blood Bilirubin Determinations

In a retrospective study, cord blood bilirubin levels of 87 neonates who received standard phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia were compared with the cord bilirubin levels of 95 neonates without neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, none of whom received phototherapy. There were no significant differences in the cord bilirubin levels between the two groups. These results suggest that routine determination of cord blood bilirubin levels is neither necessary nor cost effective.