cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial Variables as Mediators of the Relationship Between Childhood History of Emotional Maltreatment, Codependency, and Self-Silencing

This study investigated the role of psychosocial variables as mediators of the relationship between a childhood history of emotional maltreatment and codependency and a childhood history of emotional maltreatment and self-silencing in a sample of upper division female nursing students. Depression, self-esteem, self-differentiation, and self-concealment were considered as possible mediators of the relationship. Multiple regression analyses revealed that each psychosocial variable partially mediated the relationship between a history of emotional maltreatmentand codependency, and emotional maltreatment and self-silencing.
A Detailed Comparison of Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph and IUE Ultraviolet Spectra of Selected Seyfert Nuclei

Despite the contributions of the Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) to the archive of UV observations of active galactic nuclei, the vast majority of UV reference data were obtained using the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite. These data remain important since they provide historical information about the intensities of the UV continua and emission lines that is needed to constrain models of the active nucleus. A detailed comparison of the FOS and IUE data is critical to understanding how the measurable quantities depend on the individual instrumental calibrations, and how any conclusions derived from modeling the observations may vary depending on the source of the UV data. Rigorous comparison of FOS and IUE spectra have so far been performed only for spectrophotometric standard star observations that are acquired accurately and have high signal-to-noise ratios. We compare typical FOS spectra that were not acquired and observed with the strict regimen that is used for standard-star observations, especially in the pre-COSTAR era. All nonproprietary UV FOS spectrophotometric archival data for the Seyfert 1 galaxies Mrk 509, NGC 3783, and NGC 5548 that have near-simultaneous (within 24 hr) IUE observations are used in the analysis. These data demonstrate that the absolute photometric calibrations of the FOS and IUE agree within ~5% in absolute flux for two of the objects. For NGC 5548, the FOS and IUE flux data disagree by ~50% in the 1200-2000 A region. In this object there may be evidence for flux nonlinearity of the IUE detector and a contribution from the host galaxy redward of 2800 A. Cross-correlation of the FOS and IUE spectra reveals no zero-point wavelength shift larger than the IUE wavelength calibration errors. Comparison of line flux measurements from both the FOS and IUE spectra show that for strong emission lines (e.g., Lyα, C IV, and Mg II) the measured intensities always agree within 15%, while for moderately strong lines (e.g., N V, Si IV/O IV, He II, and C III]) the agreement is ~30% (1 σ). Weak lines (e.g., O I, C II, N IV], O III], and N III]) may not even be detected in the IUE spectra, and when they are detected the disagreement between the measured fluxes can be very large.
Development of a k-ε Model for Bubbly Two-Phase Flow

An extension of the k-[epsilon] model for bubbly two-phase flow is proposed and tested against experimental data. The basic assumption made is that the shear-induced turbulence and bubble-induced turbulence may be linearly superposed. This assumption results in a model with two time constants that matches both homogeneous two-phase turbulence data (Lance and Bataille, 1991) and pipe data (Serizawa, 1986). The coefficients of the single-phase k-[epsilon] model have not been modified and only one additional coefficient is required: the virtual volume coefficient of the bubbles, which may be determined from first principles. This model not only agrees with the data trends, but it also predicts the turbulence suppression which has been measured for high Reynolds number bubbly air/water flows in pipes.
Testing scanners for the quality of output images

Document scanning is the means through which documents are converted to their digital image representation for electronic storage or distribution. Among the types of documents being scanned by government agencies are tax forms, patent documents, office correspondence, mail pieces, engineering drawings, microfilm, archived historical papers, and fingerprint cards. Increasingly, the resulting digital images are used as the input for further automated processing including: conversion to a full-text-searchable representation via machine printed or handwritten (optical) character recognition (OCR), postal zone identification, raster-to-vector conversion, and fingerprint matching. These diverse document images may be bi-tonal, gray scale, or color. Spatial sampling frequencies range from about 200 pixels per inch to over 1,000. The quality of the digital images can have a major effect on the accuracy and speed of any subsequent automated processing, as well as on any human-based processing which may be required. During imaging system design, there is, therefore, a need to specify the criteria by which image quality will be judged and, prior to system acceptance, to measure the quality of images produced. Unfortunately, there are few, if any, agreed-upon techniques for measuring document image quality objectively. In the output images, it is difficult to distinguish image degradation caused by the poor quality of the input paper or microfilm from that caused by the scanning system. We propose several document image quality criteria and have developed techniques for their measurement. These criteria include spatial resolution, geometric image accuracy, (distortion), gray scale resolution and linearity, and temporal and spatial uniformity. The measurement of these criteria requires scanning one or more test targets along with computer-based analyses of the test target images.
To Get What You Need: Healthy and Pathological Internet Use

One's passion for the Internet can be healthy, pathologically addictive, or somewhere inbetween. Where a person falls on that continuum is determined by the cluster of needs that are being fulfilled by his or her Internet use and how the internet addresses those needs. This article suggests eight factors that can help clarify the healthy or unhealthy qualities of one's commitment to cyberspace activities, as well the effect of those activities on the person's underlying needs. It then explores the types of needs addressed by internet use. The "integration principle" is proposed as a rule of thumb for assessing pathological and healthy Internet use.
Changes in coronary anatomy and physiology after heart transplantation.

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a progressive process involving the epicardial and microvascular coronary systems. The timing of the development of abnormalities in these 2 compartments and the correlation between changes in physiology and anatomy are undefined. The invasive evaluation of coronary artery anatomy and physiology with intravascular ultrasound, fractional flow reserve, coronary flow reserve, and the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) was performed in the left anterior descending coronary artery during 151 angiographic evaluations of asymptomatic heart transplant recipients from 0 to >5 years after heart transplantation (HT). There was no angiographic evidence of significant CAV, but during the first year after HT, fractional flow reserve decreased significantly (0.89 +/- 0.06 vs 0.85 +/- 0.07, p = 0.001), and percentage plaque volume derived by intravascular ultrasound increased significantly (15.6 +/- 7.7% to 22.5 +/- 12.3%, p = 0.0002), resulting in a significant inverse correlation between epicardial physiology and anatomy (r = -0.58, p or =2 years after HT (24.1 +/- 14.3 vs 29.4 +/- 18.8 units, p = 0.05), suggesting later spread of CAV to the microvasculature. As the IMR increased, fractional flow reserve increased (0.86 +/- 0.06 to 0.90 +/- 0.06, p = 0.0035 comparing recipients with IMRs or =40), despite no difference in percentage plaque volume (21.0 +/- 11.2% vs 20.5 +/- 10.5%, p = NS). In conclusion, early after HT, anatomic and physiologic evidence of epicardial CAV was found. Later after HT, the physiologic effect of epicardial CAV may be less, because of increased microvascular dysfunction.
Pathways mediating abdominal phasic flexor muscle activity in crayfish with chronically cut nerve cords.

1. Nerve cord transection abolishes the ability of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) to produce tailflips in response to gradually applied tactile or proprioceptive stimulation of the abdomen, but this ability eventually returns. To determine the time-course of this return and to analyze its underlying neural pathways, we made behavioral observations, electromyographic recordings from abdominal phasic flexor muscles, and intracellular recordings from motoneurons in crayfish with cord lesions between the thorax and the abdomen. 2. Abdominal stimulation activated the phasic flexor muscles in the rostral 5 abdominal segments and their homologs in the 6th segment, the posterior telson flexor muscles. Nearly one-quarter of cord-transected animals responded to the stimuli with phasic flexor muscle activity by one week after the lesion, and almost 90% were responsive by 3 weeks. 3. Regeneration of axons across the lesion played little or no role in the recovery of phasic flexor muscle responsiveness. In addition, the lateral giant axons were not activated by the gradually applied stimuli that triggered phasic flexor muscle contractions. These results suggest that non-giant pathways confined to the abdominal nervous system become functional following chronic cord transection. 4. Retransection of the nerve cord below the original lesion showed that smaller subsets of the abdominal cord, including a single ganglion, could develop the ability to generate phasic flexor muscle contractions in response to gradually applied stimuli. 5. Phasic flexor motoneurons in cord-transected animals could be excited by stimulation of afferents throughout the abdomen. The sensory pathways producing this activation appear to project through the nerve cord without much cross-over between left and right sides.
Source process of the 21 April, 1997 Santa Cruz Island Earthquake (Mw 7.8)

We apply an Empirical Green's function method to recordings of teleseismic body waves from the April 21, 1997 Santa Cruz Island earthquake. The far-field moment rate functions reveal that rupture occured on a shallow dipping fault plane (dip 17°). The main rupture consists of 6 large subevents and covers a total area of about 5000 km². While the hypocenter is fixed at 33 km depth, the main slip is located above 20 km depth within the accretionary wedge. The source duration is about 70 sec and the average rupture velocity is found to be 1.9 km/sec. This event caused a local tsunami and although it is not possible to determine whether it was caused by tectonic faulting or submarine shaking the fact that most of the moment release occured at shallow depths is consistent with either of these possibilities, and points to the utility of the procedure outlined here in possible rapid characterization of tsunami potential.
State enterprise performance and soft budget constraints: The case of Bulgaria

This paper analyses the performance of state enterprises in Bulgaria during 1992-94. Consistent with the literature on other transitional economies, this paper finds that one key factor underlying (the lack of) enterprise adjustment in Bulgaria during this period was the availability of financing. Empirically, the (lack of) past adjustment and the softness of finance are the best predictors of current adjustment. Many state enterprises, mostly smaller ones, appear to have adjusted to the new economic structure, partly in response to tighter budget constraints. However, a number of large, hard-core lossmaking state enterprises did not adjust, due primarily to the soft budget constraints that they faced. These enterprises crowded out profitable enterprises, both public and private, through their large financing requirements, adversely affecting economic growth. Moreover, continued bank financing of these large loss-makers decapitalized the banking system, and budgetary financing of their losses, largely through tax arrears, has undermined fiscal policy. This lack of enterprise adjustment and the resulting financial indiscipline lies at the core of the macroeconomic difficulties that Bulgaria has recently faced.
Building economies from the bottom up: (mis)representations of poverty in the rural American Northwest

This paper examines interconnected processes of economic restructuring and representations of poor subjects that rely on imaginaries of race, ethnicity, class and rural space. We argue that poverty and privilege are mutually produced and so we focus on the representational practices of White leaders in persistently poor counties across the American Northwest. We draw from case study research to understand region-wide material and discursive processes that are contributing to economic distress and social marginalization. We interrogate the range of representational practices that White leaders employ to explain, deny and/or racialize poverty in their communities. We also draw attention to how poverty emerges from the intersection of political, economic and cultural processes operating across a range of scales and sites. We further analyze how representations of the poor and poverty rest on a host of imaginary landscapes about who belongs, who is an outsider and who has a right to a place and its services. ...
Picklex® as a non-polluting metal surface finishing pretreatment and pretreatment/conversion coating

Picklex (International Chemical Products, Huntsville, Alabama), a proprietary formulation, is an alternative to conventional metal surface pretreatments and is claimed not to produce waste or to lower production with no loss in performance. A laboratory program was designed to evaluate Picklex in common, large scale, polluting surface finishing operations against conventional processes, using steel and aluminum panels, measuring product coating properties, process operability, and costs. Twenty-one surface finishing combinations were tested under both "contaminated" and "noncontaminated" conditions with respect to finish adhesion, bending, impact, hardness, and corrosion resistance. Results indicate that Picklex-pretreated panels performed as well as panels that were conventionally pretreated, and with a simpler process. Picklex is particularly acceptable for powder coated steel or aluminum, but may not be suitable for certain metal plates. The results are interpreted in terms of the surface film produced by Picklex. A rate of use of 5,400 ft2/gal was estimated. Picklex did not generate by-product waste solids, was effective at room temperature, used short processing times, and was easy to use. An engineering assessment indicated that Picklex can have cost advantages as well. The economics of Picklex depend on minimizing dragout. These results suggest that Picklex is a promising alternative in some metal surface pretreatments.
Action of phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C on platelets: Nonlytic release of acetylcholinesterase, effect on thrombin and PAF induced aggregation

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) specific phospholipase C treatment of rabbit platelets caused 95% release of acetylcholinesterase in the supernatant and 4 to 6% hydrolysis of membrane PI in 2 min. Under these conditions there was no cell lysis as monitored by lack of lactate dehydrogenase activity in the medium. The phospholipase C had no activity towards phosphatidylinositol-4- phosphate and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bis phosphate. Platelets pretreated with the phospholipase C responded normally to thrombin and platelet activating factor. It is concluded that acetylcholinesterase exists in specific interaction with PI in platelet membranes. Further, the membrane protein release phenomenon caused by the PI-specific phospholipase C did not effect the physiological responsiveness of platelets. Possible implications of these findings to the linkage between PI and membrane enzyme are also discussed.
Adolescent Psychopathology: III. The Clinical Consequences of Comorbidity

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the clinical consequences associated with the lifetime occurrence of comorbid psychiatric disorders. Method In a community sample of 1,507 older adolescents (aged 14 through 18 years), subjects with “pure” and comorbid forms of four major psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety, substance use, and disruptive behavior) were compared on six clinical outcome measures. Results The impact of comorbidity was strongest for academic problems, mental health treatment utilization, and past suicide attempts; intermediate on measures of role functioning and conflict with parents; and nonsignificant on physical symptoms. The greatest incremental impact of comorbidity was on anxiety disorders; the least was on substance use disorders. Although some patterns of comorbidity were much more common in boys (e.g., substance use and disruptive behavior disorder) or in girls (e.g., depression and anxiety), the impact of specific comorbid disorders on the clinical measures was not different for females and males. The effect of comorbidity was not due to current psychopathology. Conclusions The significance of comorbidity differs across specific comorbid disorders and across outcome measures, with some comorbid disorders being much more detrimental, and some outcome measures much more affected, than others.
INTERGRANULAR FRACTURE IN METALS

Revue a partir de resultats experimentaux obtenus sur differents aciers allies de la rupture intergranulaire. La cause principale de ce type de rupture est la segregation des impuretes. Cette cause peut etre modifiee par differents facteurs: l'orientation des joints de grains, leur structure, la presence de particules de seconde phase et la reponse mecanique generale du materiau. La rupture intergranulaire peut etre consideree comme une simple reaction chimique dissociative. Discussion des modeles expliquant l'affaiblissement des liaisons du aux impuretes
Species and organ specificity of fumonisin-induced endothelial alterations: potential role in porcine pulmonary edema.

Abstract Fumonisins, mycotoxins that commonly contaminate corn, induce cardiovascular toxicity and pulmonary edema in pigs, leukoencephalomalacia in horses, and nephropathy in rats, rabbits, and lambs. The mechanisms of these species-specific target organ toxicoses are poorly understood. We have previously reported perinuclear accumulation of membranous material in pulmonary capillary endothelial cells of pigs fed fumonisin-containing culture material. We hypothesized that these endothelial accumulations may be important in the pathogenesis of fumonisin-induced pulmonary edema and target organ toxicity in other species. Both target and non-target tissues from fumonisin-exposed pigs, sheep, rabbits, and rats were examined ultrastructurally. Specifically, lung, liver, heart and kidney were examined. In agreement with our previous work (Gumprecht, L.A., Beasley, V.R., Weigel, R.M., Parker, H.M., Tumbleson, M.E., Bacon, C.W., Meredith, F.I., Haschek, W.M., 1998. Development of fumonisin-induced hepatotoxicity and pulmonary edema in orally dosed swine: morphological and biochemical parameters. Tox. Pathol. 26, 777–788), endothelial alterations were present in the pulmonary capillary endothelial cells of pigs fed fumonisin-containing culture material, but at doses that did not induce pulmonary edema, as well as in pigs injected intravenously with purified fumonisin B 1 . These alterations were present only in the pulmonary capillary endothelium of pigs and not in other species. In addition, these endothelial alterations were not present in any other organ of pigs or other species examined. Thus, these endothelial alterations are induced by fumonisin B 1 , but only in pulmonary capillary endothelium and only in pigs. Although evidence that these alterations play a role in fumonisin-induced pulmonary edema is limited, other endothelial functions may be affected by fumonisin treatment.
Skin Blisters And Hair Loss In A Rat Mutant Called Vibrissaeless(vb)

A radiation-induced autosomal recessive mutant in the rat called vibrissaeless (vb), has been described and studied. Mutants have abnormal hair growth, the hairs being reduced in number and length. Mutant animals form blisters which then erode, crust, and heal without scars. The blisters can be artificially produced by friction and result from intraepidermal separation which is suprabasilar in position. To date, we cannot correlate this abnormality in rats with any known inherited human blistering disease.
Elimination of Rat Spinal Substance P Receptor Bearing Neurons Dissociates Cardiovascular and Nocifensive Responses to Nicotinic. Agonists

Intrathecal (IT) delivery of nicotinic agonists evokes dose dependent nocifensive behavior and cardiovascular responses. Previous studies suggested that these effects may be attenuated by the loss of substance P positive (sP(+)) primary afferents. To further characterize these cell systems, we examined the effect of selectively destroying neurokinin 1 receptor bearing (NK1-r(+)) dorsal horn neurons on IT nicotinic agonist evoked responses. In the dorsal spinal cord, confocal immunohistochemical microscopy revealed that nAChR subunits (alpha3, alpha4, alpha5, beta2 and beta4), NeuN B (neuronal marker) and NK1-r were all co-expressed in the superficial dorsal horn; however alpha3, alpha5, beta2 and beta4 exhibited the highest degree of colocalization with NK1-r expressing neurons. After intrathecal substance P-saporin (sP-SAP), NK1-r(+) cell bodies and dendrites in the superficial dorsal horn were largely abolished. The greatest loss in co-expression of nAChR subunits with NK1-r was observed with alpha3, alpha5, beta2 and beta4 subunits. Following intrathecal sP-SAP, the nocifensive responses to all nicotinic agonists were reduced; however, in contrast, while cardiovascular responses evoked by IT nicotine were unaltered, IT cytisine and epibatidine exhibited enhanced tachycardia and pressor responses. These results indicate subunit-specific relationships between the NK1-r and nicotinic receptor systems. The loss of nocifensive activity after destruction of the NK1-r bearing cells in spite of the persistence of nicotinic subunits on other cells, emphasizes the importance of the superficial marginal neuron in mediating these nicotinic effects. Further, the exaggerated cardiovascular responses to cytisine following loss of NK1-r bearing cells suggest the presence of a nicotinic receptor-mediated stimulation of inhibitory circuits at the spinal level.
Myelodysplastic syndromes and the role of iron overload

Purpose The epidemiology of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and iron overload, recent clinical findings that highlight the importance of actively managing iron overload, and recommendations for initiating and maintaining iron chelation therapy (ICT) are summarized. Summary MDS are a variety of hematological disorders with differing time courses. Disease morbidities are primarily due to cytopenias and evolution to acute myeloid leukemia. Iron overload is a serious complication in patients with MDS due to the long-term use of red blood cell transfusions in patients with symptomatic anemia. Clinical consequences of iron overload include end-organ damage and dysfunction, an increased frequency of transplant-related complications, and reduced survival rates. To prevent these complications, recommendations for initiating and maintaining ICT should be followed by clinicians caring for patients with MDS and iron overload. Conclusion As current therapeutic options for patients with MDS do not always reduce the transfusion burden, many patients will still need long-term transfusion therapy. Strategies for the management of iron overload in MDS should be considered early in the disease course and in appropriate patients in order to prevent negative clinical outcomes associated with excessive iron accumulation.
Effect of questions on visual learning.

The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness with which different types of visual displays facilitated S's achievement of different learning objectives when these were used to complement oral instruction. Questions preceded each display and were designed to direct S's attention to relevant learning cues. Each S received a pretest, participated in his respective visualized presentation, and received 5 individual criterial measures. Analyses indicated that (a) the use of questions to complement the more realistic visuals is not an effective technique for improving S's achievement and (b) all types of visual displays are not equally effective in facilitating S's achievement of different learning objectives.
The role of acid in upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to ulcer and stress-related mucosal damage

A peptic ulcer is a lesion in which acid and pepsin are essential components of pathogenesis. Regardless of the type of patient or the setting in which the ulcer presents, the basic pathogenetic scheme is the same. The primary event is disruption of mucosal integrity. In the presence of acid and pepsin, such disruption of integrity leads to an ulcer. While rarely sufficient by itself to cause ulceration, the presence of acid is a necessary cofactor. The causes of disruption of mucosal integrity include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Helicobacter pylori and critical illness. With the latter, tissue ischaemia may be the primary event, leading to back-diffusion of H+ ions through increased membrane permeability. Impaired mucosal buffering then leads to intramural acidosis and cell death. Risk factors for bleeding peptic ulcer in the intensive care unit (ICU) include severe trauma, sepsis, respiratory failure, and coagulopathy. Potential roles for decreasing gastric acidity in the treatment of bleeding peptic ulcer include cessation of active bleeding, prevention of rebleeding in hospital and primary prevention of bleeding. Most published studies dealing with the first two situations suggest no benefit with antisecretory therapy. However, the optimal pH for clot and platelet function may be > or = 7.0. Can such pH levels be maintained with antisecretory agents such as the proton pump inhibitors? Are the published trials adequate to demonstrate any benefit from antisecretory agents? Primary prevention of bleeding ulcer in the outpatient setting includes avoidance of NSAIDs, use of antisecretory agents and eradication of H. pylori.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
SPATIAL ORIENTATION IN A SUBWAY SYSTEM

The absence of a clear structural legibility within the New York City subway system tends to make its users dependent on other informational aids about its structural design and operations-such as ...
Mechanistic roles of lipoprotein lipase and sphingomyelinase in low density lipoprotein aggregation

The initiation of atherosclerosis involves retention of colloidal atherogenic lipoproteins, primarily low density lipoprotein (LDL), in the arterial intima. This retention occurs when LDL binds to smooth muscle cell extracellular matrix (SMC ECM), and is enhanced by lipoprotein lipase (LpL) and sphingomyelinase (Smase). Here we use a fluorescence assay and dynamic light scattering to study the individual and combined effects of these two enzymes on LDL aggregation. Our results show: (1) LpL is self-sufficient to induce LDL aggregation with aggregate sizes up to ~400 nm; (2) Smase induces LDL aggregation due to generation of ceramide and subsequent hydrophobic interactions; (3) Smase hydrolysis of LpL-induced LDL aggregates does not cause further aggregation and results in a ~3-fold diminished production of ceramide, while LpL treatment of Smase-induced aggregates does enhance aggregation; (4) The simultaneous addition of LpL and Smase causes increased variability in aggregation with final sizes ranging from 50 to 110 nm. Our data suggest a new proatherogenic function for LpL, namely, bridging between LDL particles causing their aggregation and consequently enhanced retention by SMC ECM. The mechanism of LpL-and-Smase-mediated LDL aggregation and binding to SMC ECM provides specific points of intervention to design novel effective antiatherogenic therapeutics.
The NIAID Integrated Research Facility at Frederick, Maryland: a unique international resource to facilitate medical countermeasure development for BSL-4 pathogens

Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland, coordinate and facilitate preclinical research on infectious diseases to develop medical countermeasures for high-consequence pathogens. This facility is unique in that it is the only maximum containment laboratory in the world where conventional and molecular medical imaging equipments are incorporated into the design of the facility. This capability provides investigators with unique tools to dissect disease pathogenesis, evaluate the ability of animal models to recapitulate human disease, and test candidate countermeasures. Importantly, advanced molecular imaging has the potential to provide alternative endpoints to lethality. Using these alternative endpoints, investigators can reduce the number of animals used in experiments and evaluate countermeasures in sublethal models. With the incorporation of medical imaging modalities, a clinical laboratory modeled after those existing in hospitals, and a highly trained veterinary medicine team, IRF-Frederick is uniquely suited to advance our understanding of emerging infectious diseases and to facilitate the development of medical countermeasures and clinical care paradigms previously considered impossible.
Desensitization of angiotensin receptor function.

Desensitization of angiotensin receptor function. Angiotensin II is an eight amino acid peptide which plays a major role in the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis. The physiologic effects of angiotensin (Ang) II are mediated by a G-protein coupled receptor, termed AT 1 , which activates phospholipase C. A major factor regulating angiotensin II receptor function is the rapid desensitization following agonist stimulation. However, despite years of investigation, the mechanism by which the angiotensin receptor is regulated remains unclear. The cloning of the AT-1 receptor and the availability of cell lines which stabily express this receptor has helped elucidate these mechanisms. In this paper, we review the data from our laboratory concerning the post-translational regulation of the angiotensin receptor function.
Acute Activation of the Renal Betaine/GABA Transporter in Response to a Decrease in Extracellular Calcium

The betaine/GABA transporter (BGT1) is important for osmoprotection in kidney medullary cells. We previously reported an acute (30 min) increase in extracellular Ca2
Potential for estimating cloud liquid water path over sea ice from airborne passive microwave measurements

[1] In this paper we investigate the feasibility of determining cloud liquid water path from passive microwave measurements over sea ice. Simulations using a 32-stream plane-parallel microwave radiative transfer model indicate a consistent increase in brightness temperature attributable to cloud liquid water for conditions observed in the Arctic during the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic (SHEBA) experiment. Uncertainties in brightness temperature simulations due to variations in surface emissivity, surface temperature, cloud temperature, and atmospheric water vapor are investigated. Surface emissivity variations are found to cause the largest uncertainties in top-of-atmosphere brightness temperature over the range of liquid water paths examined. An algorithm previously developed for estimating liquid water path over oceans from SSM/I data is adapted for retrievals over sea ice. The algorithm is applied to brightness temperature measurements from airborne microwave radiometers. Mean retrieved liquid water path (LWP) is compared to in situ measurements from airborne cloud microphysical probes. The correlation coefficient for the two data sets is found to be 0.989 with an RMS error of 14 g m � 2 , although the retrieved LWP values show a high degree of variability. Accuracy is highest when LWP values are 100 g m � 2 and above. Poorest accuracies are obtained for small LWP (<50 g m � 2 ) where errors in the specification of surface emissivity have a large effect. These case studies provide evidence that liquid water clouds over sea ice produce detectable changes in microwave brightness temperature and suggest that interpretation of sea ice properties using certain microwave frequencies may be affected by the presence of liquid water clouds. INDEX TERMS: 0320 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Cloud physics and chemistry, 3349 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Polar meteorology, 3360 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Remote sensing, 3394 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Instruments and techniques; KEYWORDS: cloud physics, microwave remote sensing, arctic clouds, liquid water path, airborne measurements
Re-engineering the resident applicant selection process in ophthalmology: a literature review and recommendations for improvement.

The current resident selection process for ophthalmology has undergone little change over the last several years and remains highly dependent on the traditional selection factors (i.e., grades, honors, letters of recommendation, and an interview). Unfortunately, these selection factors have not been shown to be consistently predictive of future resident performance. In addition, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has mandated implementation of six new competencies in resident training in the USA and the current selection process does not directly recruit for these competencies. We propose an implementation strategy to re-engineer and improve the resident selection process in ophthalmology and potentially develop assessments that would be predictive of actual downstream resident performance that would encompass the ACGME related competencies. An intra-departmental Task Force for the ACGME Competencies reviewed a PubMed literature search regarding resident selection. A content expert (AGL) gleaned selected “good practices” from the literature review and summarized the results. Specific recommendations were reviewed for topicality to ophthalmology and where possible for feasibility, reliability, and validity. We summarize several good practices identified from the literature review and propose an implementation matrix for aligning the resident application process with the ACGME competencies that might include: using a standardized and consolidated academic score for the cognitive domains; converting the letter of recommendation format into a letter of evaluation; standardizing the letters of evaluation, including the “Dean's letter”; using behavior specific interview techniques with standardized questions; and developing a specialty based consensus for the selection of traits specific to ophthalmology that might predict success. The resident selection process for ophthalmology might be improved by implementation of specific good practices from the literature. Ophthalmology should strive to develop applicant selection tools that might be useful for predicting residency performance and that would align with the ACGME competency mandate for tools to predict future performance as a physician.
History of pediatric neurosurgery in the United States and Canada.

Neurosurgery was sporadically practiced on children from prehistoric times until the Harvey Cushing era. The formal development and teaching of the specialty was begun by Franc Ingraham under Cushing's direction in 1929. The growth of pediatric neurosurgery at Boston Children's Hospital under the direction of Franc ingraham and Donald Matson until the late 1960s is described, as is its subsequent spread throughout the United States and Canada. More recently, a number of societies and journals have played important roles in shaping and advancing the specialty. Currently, a proposal to require additional training for certification in pediatric neurosurgery is being considered by several organizations in North America.
Understanding Brain Damage and Sleep Apnea: A Review

Abstract Sleep disturbances affect practically every segment of society, permeating across all ethnic, socioeconomic, and age groups. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, there are more than 90 different sleep disorders. One of the most commonly diagnosed sleep disorders is sleep apnea. There are 3 types of sleep apnea: central, mixed, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep-disordered breathing is extremely prevalent in the brain-injured patient population. OSA is the most common type of apnea and is easily alleviated with continuous positive airway pressure. However, if left untreated, OSA can induce and exacerbate cognitive deficits and other metabolic disorders. It has been established that OSA is a risk factor for cerebrovascular accidents and cardiovascular outcomes. Patients with brain injury have existing lesions that are exposed to episodic/intermittent hypoxia if accompanied by OSA. The ubiquitous nature of OSA poses a threat to brain-injured patients, and treatment of sleep apnea is warranted to avoid further complications that might prolong recovery and time in rehabilitation. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness among physicians in order to improve the management of patients with brain injury and OSA. We will review the current concepts, prevalence, and ramifications of sleep apnea in brain-injured patients and their cognitive function.
Sequestration of Protein by the Fat Body of an Insect

THE fat body in an insect commonly contains a single cell type which is functionally diverse. At various times it stores and mobilizes fat, protein and glycogen which it may have synthesized or sequestered. In general the fat body becomes filled with reserves as metamorphosis approaches1. Larvae of Aedes fed on casein build up reserves of protein granules in the fat body2, and in Drosophila larvae, protein granules are induced to form in the middle of the third stadium by a hormone from the ring gland3. In Calpodes larvae the protein granules are probably translocated endocuticle. They arise suddenly within the Golgi vesicles 30–35 h before pupation, at a time when the thick larval endocuticle is being resorbed by the moulting fluid. At about 10 h before pupation other granules containing both protein and ribosomes arise from the isolation of endoplasmic reticulum in cytolysomes4. Although the formation and occurrence of protein granules in the fat body are well documented, there is little information on the origin of the protein.
PTSD and coping resources among survivors of a kamikaze attack: the role of character strength.

Summary 33 survivors of the U.S.S. Emmons (M age = 79.7 yr., SD = 2.3), which was sunk by kamikaze attacks during World War II, were given an adapted form of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian and a set of questions regarding 8 coping resources they may have used during the war. Participants were categorized into three groups: those who served on the Emmons at any given time during World War II (Any Service), those who experienced combat while aboard the Emmons or another ship during World War II (Any Combat), and those who were serving on board the Emmons when it was sunk during the battle for Okinawa island (Okinawa). Analyses using a one-tailed Spearman rank-order correlation indicated that scores on only one coping resource, Character Strength, were significantly correlated with lower symptoms of PTSD for all three groups (Any Service: rs = −AG, p <.01; Any Combat: rs = −.47, p <.01; Okinawa: rs = −.45, p <.05). The findings suggest that, for the survivors of the Emmons, psychologica...
Current progress in cryosurgery.

Abstract The 4-day sessions of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the American College of Cryosurgery in New Orleans, February 18–21, 1988, provided an intense overview of the position of cryosurgery in modern day medical practice. The variety of speakers demonstrated that interest in the therapeutic technique of cryosurgery remains high and that usage is greater, more diversified, and more selective than in past years. Emphasis at the meeting was placed on the selective use of cryosurgery, that is, defining the terms under which the physician would choose between diverse methods of local therapy, such as excision, electrosurgery, laser surgery, and cryosurgery. Most of the presentations were oriented clinically with emphasis on the results of cryosurgery. This brief report is intended to mention the important new developments in cryosurgery and to focus on some of the issues and needs that affect the future of the technique.
Double cantilever shear beam model of dynamic fracture in duplex fiber composites

A duplex orthotropic double cantilever shear beam model is analyzed to study Mode 1 dynamic fracture and arrest in fiber composites. The duplex specimen consists of a primary section containing a blunt pre-crack and an arrester section toward which the crack propagates. The crack-tip propagation variables and the arrest conditions are determined for both the primary and arrester materials. The crack may arrest at the materials interface. If it does not, it may arrest when the reflection of the initial disturbance catches the crack tip. If it does not arrest at this second location, it is concluded that the presence of the “arrester” section may have degraded the structural integrity of the specimen. The shear beam model of the duplex orthotropic double cantilever predicts that there will be residual motion in the arms of the specimen after crack arrest.
The Performance of greedy algorithms for the on-line steiner tree and related problems

We study the on-line Steiner tree problem on a general metric space. We show that the greedy on-line algorithm isO(log((d/z)s))-competitive, wheres is the number of regular nodes,d is the maximum metric distance between any two revealed nodes, andz is the optimal off-line cost. Our results refine the previous known bound [9] and show that AlgorithmSB of Bartalet al. [3] for the on-line file allocation problem isO(log logN)-competitive on anN-node hypercube or butterfly network. A lower bound of Ω(log((d/z)s)) is shown to hold.
A comparative electrochemical study of LiMn2O4 spinel thin-film and porous laminate

Novel Electrostatic Spray Deposition (ESD) technique was used to fabricate LiMn2O4 spinel thin-films. Cyclic voltammograms of both the ESD and porous laminate films show the double peaks in the 4.0 V range characteristic of the LiMn2O4 spinel materials. The porous laminates exhibit two semicircles in the impedance spectra while the ESD films show only one single semicircle. The diffusion time constant in the laminate films was typically one order of magnitude larger than that in the ESD thin-films. The apparent lithium-ion chemical diffusion coefficient in LiMn2O4 was found to be of the order of 10−9 cm2/s for both the porous laminate film and the ESD films despite the difference in the diffusion time constants.
Comparison of numerical, analytical, and empirical models to estimate wetting patterns for surface and subsurface drip irrigation.

Due to increasing competition for water resources by urban, industrial, and agricultural users, the proportion of agricultural water use is gradually decreasing. To maintain or increase agricultural production, new irrigation systems, such as surface or subsurface drip irrigation systems, will need to provide higher water use efficiency than those traditionally used. Several models have been developed to predict the dimensions of wetting patterns, which are important to design optimal drip irrigation system, using variables such as the emitter discharge, the volume of applied water, and the soil hydraulic properties. In this work, we evaluated the accuracy of several approaches used to estimate wetting zone dimensions by comparing their predictions with field and laboratory data, including the numerical HYDRUS-2D model, the analytical WetUp software, and selected empirical models. The soil hydraulic parameters for the HYDRUS-2D simulations were estimated using either Rosetta for the laboratory experiments and inverse analysis for the field experiments. The mean absolute error (MAE) was used to compare the model predictions and observations of wetting zone dimensions. MAE for different experiments and directions varied from 0.87 to 10.43 cm for HYDRUS-2D, from 1 to 58.1 cm for WetUp, and from 1.34 to 12.24 cm for other empirical models.
Effect of varying crosslinking density on polyacrylamide gels

Abstract The copolymerization of acrylamide and N, N′-methylene bisacrylamide has been investigated over a wide range of total monomer concentration (T) and with the proportion of the crosslinking monomer (C) varying from 0 to 100%. The threshold value of the total monomer concentration above which gel formation becomes possible decreases as C increases. Gels with high C (>4%) become turbid and eventually opaque. An analogous phase separation is observed in the sol phase, where actual precipitation of a branched polymer takes place. The gelation curve continues into the phase separated region. Raman spectroscopy of gels with different values of C indicates that the opacity is related to the formation of cluster of varying sizes, with varying amounts of the monomers. The spectral data also shows that the BIS molecules may aggregate and that some unreacted vinyl groups of the BIS molecules are incorporated into the polymer network.
Central Heating for Caligula's Pleasure Ship

AbstractAlmost two thousand years ago, the Roman Emperor Caligula ordered the construction of a floating pleasure barge that he used for entertaining. For the comfort of his passengers, he installed a hypocaust heating system. The ship was destroyed shortly after his death and nothing remains of this heating system or the ship design. A hypothetical design was developed and analysed to show that this type of heating could be used effectively and safely on a wooden ship. Various floor materials and designs were analysed to gain an understanding of how heat was delivered through the floor into the living area. It was found that a hypocaust could be built that would provide 140 W/m2 of floor space consuming 2 kg/hr of wood to heat a 5 m by 10 m floor.
Polymorphisms β2-glycoprotein. I: phospholipid binding and multimeric structure

Abstract β2-glycoprotein I is a phospholipid-binding protein of 326 amino acids and is found in plasma at a concentration of ∼200 μg/ml. It has a sequence of positively charged amino acids located at the carboxy terminus that mediates anionic phospholipid binding. Two polymorphisms (306Cys→Gly and 316Trp→Ser) located at the phospholipid-binding site have been described. Homozygous state for either mutation and a compound heterozygous state show no phospholipid binding. Interestingly, heterozygotes for either 306Cys→Gly or 316Trp→Ser mutation have normal cardiolipin binding suggesting that β2-glycoprotein I may circulate as a multimeric structure where wild-type subunits compensate the defective binding of the mutant ones. We investigated the effect of these mutations on quaternary structure of β2-glycoprotein I and phospholipid binding. As previously reported, under native conditions, β2-glycoprotein I shows an apparent molecular weight of ∼320 kDa and it can be dissociated into subunits of lower molecular weight by boiling in 6 M urea. We show that the multimeric structure is not affected by the presence of mutations in the phospholipid-binding domain. β2-glycoprotein I induces aggregation of anionic phospholipid vesicles suggesting again a multivalent interaction where at least two binding sites are required to bridge adjacent vesicles. β2-glycoprotein I-induced aggregation does not cause vesicle fusion or damage as demonstrated by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) or encapsulated calcein release. In conclusion, the normal cardiolipin binding in heterozygous state for mutations at phospholipid-binding domain may be due to the multimeric structure of β2-glycoprotein I.