cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scientific Metaphysics and Ontology

The phrase scientific metaphysics is controversial and reveals some of the key developments in twentieth-century analytic philosophy and philosophy of science. This entry reviews some of the major arguments concerning scientific metaphysics in the twentieth century. The logical positivists thought that metaphysics was meaningless and, as such, could have only a pernicious role in science. However, with the demise of logical positivism, other philosophers—that is, Karl Popper (1902–94), Imre Lakatos (1922–74), and W. V. O. Quine (1908–2000)—had much more positive conceptions of the role of metaphysics in science. Other scholars have explicated the more specific roles of metaphysical statements in science. Keywords: falsification; logical positivism; metaphysics; Popper; Quine; abnormal; acculturation; addiction
Reflections on Ethics and Game Theory

Applications of game theory to moral philosophy are impededby foundational issues and troublesome examples. In the first part of this paper,questions are raised about the appropriate game-theoretical frameworks for applications to moralphilosophy and about the proper interpretations of the theoretical devices employed inthese frameworks. In the second part, five examples that should be of particular interest to thoseinterested in the connections between ethics and game theory are delineated and discussed. Thefirst example comprises games in which there is an outcome unanimously preferred to the``solution'' of the game, appropriately defined. The second comprises games whose solution callsfor different players to employ different strategies. The third comprises games whosesolution calls for players to adopt mixed strategies. The fourth comprises games whose solutionrequires players to cycle among a variety of strategies. The fifth comprises games whose solutionrequires players to discriminate in morally inappropriate ways.
Evaluating Electronic Referrals for Specialty Care at a Public Hospital

Poor communication between referring clinicians and specialists may lead to inefficient use of specialist services. San Francisco General Hospital implemented an electronic referral system (eReferral) that facilitates iterative pre-visit communication between referring and specialty clinicians to improve the referral process. The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of eReferral (compared with paper-based referrals) on specialty referrals. The study was based on a visit-based questionnaire appended to new patient charts at randomly selected specialist clinic sessions before and after the implementation of eReferral. Specialty clinicians. The questionnaire focused on the self-reported difficulty in identifying referral question, referral appropriateness, need for and avoidability of follow-up visits. We collected 505 questionnaires from speciality clinicians. It was difficult to identify the reason for referral in 19.8% of medical and 38.0% of surgical visits using paper-based methods vs. 11.0% and 9.5% of those using eReferral (p-value 0.03 and <0.001). Of those using eReferral, 6.4% and 9.8% of medical and surgical referrals using paper methods vs. 2.6% and 2.1% were deemed not completely appropriate (p-value 0.21 and 0.03). Follow-up was requested for 82.4% and 76.2% of medical and surgical patients with paper-based referrals vs. 90.1% and 58.1% of eReferrals (p-value 0.06 and 0.01). Follow-up was considered avoidable for 32.4% and 44.7% of medical and surgical follow-ups with paper-based methods vs. 27.5% and 13.5% with eReferral (0.41 and <0.001). Use of technology to promote standardized referral processes and iterative communication between referring clinicians and specialists has the potential to improve communication between primary care providers and specialists and to increase the effectiveness of specialty referrals.
Propagation of LF/VLF radio waves below a nonuniform ionosphere

A simple approach to LF/VLF field calculations for a nonuniform, isotropic ionosphere is developed. The theory introduces two modifications to the standard wave hop theory: namely the use of local reflection coefficients and the use of an average reflection height for the path integrals. Sample calculations, including a comparison with measured results, are presented.
Identification of a region in the vitamin D-binding protein that mediates its C5a chemotactic cofactor function.

The vitamin D-binding protein (DBP), also known as group-specific component or Gc-globulin, is a multifunctional plasma protein that can significantly enhance the leukocyte chemotactic activity to C5a and C5a des-Arg. DBP is a member of the albumin gene family and has a triple domain modular structure with extensive disulfide bonding that is characteristic of this protein family. The goal of this study was to identify a region in DBP that mediates the chemotactic cofactor function for C5a. Full-length and truncated versions of DBP (Gc-2 allele) were expressed in Escherichia coli using a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein expression system. The structure of the expressed proteins was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting, whereas protein function was verified by quantitating the binding of [3H]vitamin D. Dibutyryl cAMP-differentiated HL-60 cells were utilized to test purified natural DBP and recombinant expressed DBP (reDBP) for their ability to enhance chemotaxis and intracellular Ca2+ flux to C5a. Natural and full-length reDBP (458 amino acid residues) as well as truncated reDBPs that contained the N-terminal domain I (domains I and II, residues 1–378; domain I, residues 1–191) significantly enhanced both cell movement and intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in response to C5a. Progressive truncation of DBP domain I localized the chemotactic enhancing region between residues 126–175. Overlapping peptides corresponding to this region were synthesized, and results indicate that a 20-amino-acid sequence (residues 130–149, 5′-EAFRKDPKEYANQFMWEYST-3′) in domain I of DBP is essential for its C5a chemotactic cofactor function.
On Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC)

This article surveys the research and development of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) over the last decade since its invention in the early 1990's. The importance of micromechanics in the materials design strategy is emphasized. Observations of unique characteristics of ECC based on a broad range of theoretical and experimental research are examined. The advantageous use of ECC in certain categories of structural, and repair and retrofit applications is reviewed. While reflecting on past advances, future challenges for continued development and deployment of ECC are noted. This article is based on a keynote address given at the International Workshop on Ductile Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites (DFRCC) - Applications and Evaluations, sponsored by the Japan Concrete Institute, and held in October 2002 at Takayama, Japan.
Spatial filters for pattern detection and image enhancement

A theory of spatial frequency domain filters is presented from the standpoint of leastsquare linear estimation. The general expression of this filter is obtained with few assumptions, thus allowing considerable flexibility in its application. Noise common to pictorial information usually can be described as a mutually exclusive process, whereas much of the available signal processing theory assumes additive noise. Types of pictorial noise discussed in this paper include the background of signal patterns, pattern obscurity, and image modulation due to the recording process. It is shown that the additive noise assumption is valid under certain conditions. The general filter is described in terms of spatial frequency estimates which are conveniently expanded for particular applications. A detection filter for determinative patterns is obtained and compared to the matched filter. A filter is derived to restore patterns degraded by noise and a linear distortion filter.
31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies of phosphate condensations with trichloroacetonitrile. I: Condensation to the meta composition

Abstract The condensation of phosphoric acids by trichloroacetonitrile in tetramethylurea, with or without tri- n -butylamine, was studied in considerable detail, using 31 P and 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance for quantitatively analyzing the various compositions studied as a function of time. It was found that the only phosphate species observed in the condensation process were the ortho-, pyro-, tripoly-, tetrapoly-, and trimetaphosphates, with occasional small amounts of the two larger cyclic species tetrameta- and hexametaphosphate. The results could be accounted for adequately in terms of the following reactions: (1) two orthophosphates condensing to a pyrophosphate, (2) ortho and pyro to tripoly, (3) ortho and tripoly to tetrapoly, (4) two pyros to tetrapoly, (5) cyclization of tripoly to trimeta, and (6) cyclization of tetrapoly to trimeta plus ortho. With a stoichiometric amount (or an excess) of trichloroacetonitrile, the condensation of any of these phosphates occurs in a stepwise manner to give all of the phosphorus in the form of the cyclic trimetaphosphate. The amine acts primarily to speed up the reaction, by approximately 10,000-fold, when going from no amine to 1 equivalent of amine for each equivalent of phosphorus. When the mole ratio of amine to phosphorus was increased beyond unity, however, the added amine did not cause the reactions to accelerate. When the concentrations of the various phosphate species were plotted as a function of time in the condensation of orthophosphoric acid, it was found that pyrophosphate was first produced at a high rate with the concentration going through a maximum. This concentration maximum was followed by another for the tripolyphosphate, and then by yet another for the tetrapolyphosphate. Throughout the course of the reaction the trimetaphosphate was found to increase continuously. Detailed kinetic studies were carried out on these rate curves according to the mechanism of Cramer and Weimann [ Chem. Bio. 94, 966 (1961)]. The condensations are interpreted as involving chainphosphate terminal groupings (including the orthophosphate) reacting with the trichloroacetonitrile. At the conclusion of the condensations, a much slower reaction sets in. This slower reaction involves the exchange of parts between the various phosphate species to approach a redistribution equilibrium.
Response of Plodia interpunctella and Ephestia cautella Larvae to Spores and Parasporal Crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis

Parasporal crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner were 30X as toxic to larvae of Ephestia cautella (Walker) as were spores. The toxicity of spore-crystal mixtures was predictable from the number of crystals in the mixture. Parasporal crystals were only 3X as toxic as spores to Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) larvae, and a 50:50 mixture of spores and crystals was more toxic than crystals alone.
Naturally processed measles virus peptide eluted from class II HLA-DRB1*03 recognized by T lymphocytes from human blood

Abstract This is the first report of the direct identification of a HLA-DRB1*03 measles-derived peptide from measles virus infected EBV-transformed B cells. We purified HLA-DR3-peptide complexes from EBV-B cells infected with measles virus (Edmonston strain) and sequenced the HLA-DR3-peptides by mass spectrometry. A class II peptide, derived from a measles phosphoprotein, ASDVETAEGGEIHELLRLQ (P1, residues 179–197), exhibited the capacity to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells to proliferate. Our data provides direct evidence that the antigenic peptide of measles virus was processed by antigen-presenting cells, presented in the context of HLA class II molecules, and was recognized by peripheral blood T cells from healthy individuals previously immunized with measles vaccine. The approach described herein provides a useful methodology for the future identification of HLA-presented pathogen-derived epitopes using mass spectrometry. The study of cell-mediated immune responses to the measles-derived peptide in immune persons should provide significant insight into the design and development of new vaccines.
Prostate-specific antigen immunoassays on the BioCD

The BioCD is a spinning-disc interferometric biosensor on which antibodies are immobilized to capture target antigens from biological samples. In this work, BioCDs measured the interferometric response to prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The ideal detection limit for PSA was determined using a BioCD with 12,500 printed target antibody spots with a corresponding number of reference protein spots. Statistical analysis projects the detection limit of PSA as a function of the number of spots included in the average. When approximately 10,000 spot pairs were averaged, the 3σ detection limit was 60 pg/ml in a 2 mg/ml simple protein background. A standard format for BioCD immunoassays uses 96 wells with 32 target spots paired with reference spots. In serum, the detection limit for this format was 1 ng/ml in 3:1 diluted female human serum using a sandwich assay with a nonfluorescent mass tag.
Quantitative contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of peripheral arterial disease: A comparative study versus standard digital angiography

Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of semiautomated analysis of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in patients who have undergone standard angiographic evaluation for peripheral vascular disease (PVD).
Food and agriculture in the next quarter century

In 1972 the world food situation made an about‐face, turning from surpluses and low prices to relative scarcity and high prices. Those of a Malthusian persuasion judged that we had entered a period of chronic food scarcity in which demand, spurred by population growth and rising affluence, had begun to outrun the productive capacity of the world's farmers. Other, more sanguine, observers pointed out that man had thus far avoided the Malthusian specter and would somehow have the ingenuity, foresight, or luck to continue to “muddle through,” excepting, of course, the occasional national or regional famine.
Antithrombin III in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Many of the serious, potentially fatal complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have similarities to the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in critically ill nontransplant patients. One of these similarities is the alteration in the hemostatic system in such a way as to lower the levels of the naturally occurring anticoagulant proteins, especially antithrombin III. As in MODS, the outcome of transplant patients with these complications correlates with the degree of change in antithrombin III levels. Preliminary studies suggest that antithrombin III concentrate in pharmacologic doses along with intensive supportive care efforts can improve the clinical outcome of patients with these transplant-related complications. Further work to confirm these findings and, it is hoped, provide insight into the mechanism of action of antithrombin III in this setting is obviously warranted. Until such studies are completed, however, the preponderance of evidence suggests that when subjected to a risk-benefit analysis, patients in the early stages of transplant-related complications would be better off receiving antithrombin III supplementation than not.
Research opportunities for reducing the burden of menopause-related symptoms

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) State-of-the-Science (SoS) Conference on the Management of Menopause-Related Symptoms identified a number of important gaps in our understanding of the natural history of the menopausal transition and the etiology and course of menopause-related symptoms. Updated information is needed from prospective studies of reproductive aging in diverse populations of women, especially of younger women in their mid reproductive years, to better understand the underlying biology of ovarian aging as well as the etiology of conditions leading to premature spontaneous or surgical menopause. To facilitate this goal, a number of methodologic issues must be addressed, including the development of (1) consensus definitions of menopause-related terms and stages, and (2) standard measures and methods for assessing progression through the menopausal transition and related symptoms and outcomes. Estrogen therapy is highly efficacious in relieving menopausal symptoms and was the treatment of choice until 2002, when findings of unexpected harm from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) were published. Consequently, there has been a burgeoning interest in a number of botanical products as well as other complementary and alternative medicine strategies, such as acupuncture, magnets, homeopathy, and behavioral regimens. However the benefits of most of these strategies are either very limited or equivocal, and related safety issues are poorly understood. Future research is needed to identify new efficacious strategies, to understand side effects and safety issues, and to provide new options to women who are burdened by bothersome menopause-related symptoms.
Children';s physical activity and sedentary time and cardiometabolic risk factors

Objective To examine the associations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and time spent sedentarily with cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents. Design The data from 14 studies were pooled. This summary is of the associations between baseline activity levels and cardiometabolic risk factors measured in the cohort that was followed for a mean 2.1 years. Setting The data were drawn from studies (1998-2009) in Australia, Brazil, Europe, and the United States by the International Children's Accelerometry Database (ICAD) Collaborators. Participants At baseline, the 20,871 participants in 14 studies were 4 to 18 years of age. Baseline and follow-up data on waist circumference were available for 6413 participants from 7 studies. Assessment of risk factors The children's time spent in activity and time spent sedentarily were objectively measured through the use of accelerometers (actigraphs) from which physical activity counts per minute (cpm) could be obtained in a standard way. Sedentary time was defined as all minutes showing 3000 cpm. Anthropometric and cardiometabolic measures were initially recorded at baseline. Main outcome measures The main end points were the cardiometabolic outcomes of abdominal adiposity (waist circumference), glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism (fasting insulin, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol), and resting systolic blood pressure (SBP). In each study the relations between cpm, MVPA, and sedentary time were adjusted for each other. Regression coefficients were calculated to allow cross-sectional random effects meta-analysis adjusted for sex, age, and monitor-wear time, and further adjusted in the prospective study by baseline values and follow-up time. Main results At a median of 2.1 years of follow-up (range, 0.3-8.0 years), time spent in MVPA at baseline was not associated with waist circumference (β = 0.00024; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.0057 to 0.0062). Similarly, baseline sedentary time was not associated with follow-up waist circumference (β = -0.0024; 95% CI, -0.0057 to 0.0010). A greater waist circumference at baseline was not associated with time spent in MVPA at follow-up (β = -0.0037; 95% CI, -0.60 to 0.052), but was associated with more sedentary time at follow-up (β = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19-0.61). At baseline, total physical activity cpm and MVPA were negatively associated with baseline waist circumference, SBP, and serum levels of fasting insulin and triglycerides. Baseline time per day in sedentary activity was positively associated with fasting insulin level but not with any other cardiometabolic risk factor. Conclusions Although children's level of physical activity and time spent sedentarily were cross-sectionally related to some baseline cardiometabolic risk factors, they did not predict waist circumference measured at follow-up. However, waist circumference at baseline did predict more sedentary time at follow-up.
Second order partial derivatives for NK-landscapes

Local search methods based on explicit neighborhood enumeration require at least $O(n)$ time to identify all possible improving moves. For k-bounded pseudo-Boolean optimization problems, recent approaches have achieved $O(k^2*2^{k})$ runtime cost per move, where $n$ is the number of variables and $k$ is the number of variables per subfunction. Even though the bound is independent of $n$, the complexity per move is still exponential in $k$. In this paper, we propose a second order partial derivatives-based approach that executes first-improvement local search where the runtime cost per move is time polynomial in $k$ and independent of $n$. This method is applied to NK-landscapes, where larger values of $k$ may be of particular interest.
On selection of candidates for opportunistic anypath forwarding

Opportunistic routing schemes that exploit the broadcast nature of wireless transmissions for selecting the best next-hop at that instant among a set of candidates are being actively explored [1-3]. These schemes which we refer to as opportunistic any-path forwarding (OAPF), reduce the number of transmissions needed for reliable packet delivery.
Electrical properties of mixed-conducting oxides having high oxygen-ion conductivity

Abstract Significant electronic conductivity is introduced into yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) by the dissolution of titania. The important factors establishing the electronic conductivity at a constant temperature include the solid solubility of the multivalent metal oxide in YSZ, the impurity content of YSZ, and the oxygen pressure. The La 1− x Sr x Fe 0.2 Co 0.8 O 3− d perovskites are high p -type electronic conductors which can also exhibit an oxygen-ion conductivity higher than that of YSZ. The major factors establishing the oxygen-ion conductivity in these oxides are the amount and type of cation substitution and the oxygen pressure. Measurements of the oxygen-ion conductivity in these high electronic conductors will provide essential information for modeling and optimizing their oxygen-ion conductivity.
Nonlinear feedforward/feedback control structures designed by reference system synthesis

Abstract Reference system synthesis, an equation-based method for designing nonlinear feedforward/feedback controllers for general dynamic systems is presented. The control objective is expressed as a desired closed-loop behavior in the form of a set integro-differential equations which can, by design, be nonlinear. Realization of the desired closed-loop behavior depends upon the solution of an operator equation relating the open-loop system to the desired closed-loop system for computing the necessary manipulated variable action. Analytical solutions of this operator equation can be found for simple systems. In general, numerical solutions can be determined using Newton's method, for example. The advantages of reference system synthesis are: (i) it provides a general method for designing nonlinear feedforward/feedback controllers, (ii) it is simple, and (iii) its loop-shaping capabilities allow for the design of deliberately nonlinear closed-loop behavior for higher performance and constraint-avoiding control. In this paper, we introduce the reference system synthesis procedure, illustrate its application to simple dynamical systems, and discuss the relationship of reference system synthesis to PID control and other linear and nonlinear control design procedures.
Identification of the Oxidized Products Formed upon Reaction of Chromium(V) with Thymidine Nucleotides

Two pathways have been observed for Cr(V)-mediated nucleotide oxidation in reactions of bis(2-ethyl-2-hydroxybutyrato)oxochromate(V) [CrO(ehba)2]- with thymidine nucleotides dTMP, dTDP, and dTTP. The extent of Cr(V)-induced nucleotide oxidation was greatest for thymidine diphosphate (dTDP), as measured by the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS; indicative of pathway 1) and thymine release (indicative of pathway 2). The nucleoside thymidine showed no reaction, suggesting a phosphate-dependent oxidation. Amounts of TBARS and thymine were maximal at a pH range of 6.0−6.5, and both TBARS formation and thymine release correlated with decay of the Cr(V) EPR signal. Formation of TBARS was maximal in 100% O2 but decreased markedly under argon, whereas thymine release was maximal under argon, but remained the major product observed under aerobic conditions. Pathway 1 for the reaction of Cr(V) with dTDP led to formation of glycolic acid and trans-thymine propenal at approximately equimolar am...
The growth and patterns of international trade

Over the last 40 years, there has been an unprecedented growth in trade amongst countries, and the growth in trade shows no sign of slowing down. The increases in trade have put tremendous pressure on the maritime and port industries, and these industries have responded with innovations, investment, and greater productivity. International trade and maritime trade are synonyms, and an understanding of the determinants of international trade is central to understanding maritime trade. In this paper, we provide a review of the international trade literature with a focus on the determinants of trade and the evolution of trade modeling. We then present a broad overview of the extent and growth of trade in the context of primary determinants. The basic results are: (1) Trade is growing at a phenomenal rate; (2) Trade is dominated by relatively few countries who tend to remain dominant; (3) While trade of all products is growing, there are large differences in the growth rates, but yet, there is stability in the...
Observations of aerosol‐induced convective invigoration in the tropical east Atlantic

Four years of CloudSat data have been analyzed over a region of the east Atlantic Ocean in order to examine the influence of aerosols on deep convection. The satellite data were combined with information about aerosols taken from the Global and Regional Earth-System Monitoring Using Satellite and In Situ Data model. Only those profiles fitting the definition of deep convective clouds were analyzed. Overall, the cloud center of gravity, cloud top, and rain top were all found to increase with increased aerosol loading. These effects were largely independent of the environment, and the differences between the cleanest and most polluted clouds sampled were found to be statistically significant. When examining an even smaller subset of deep convective clouds likely to be part of the convective core, similar trends were seen. These observations suggest that convective invigoration occurs with increased aerosol loading, leading to deeper, stronger storms in polluted environments.
Group theoretical nature of Bäcklund transformations

The purpose of this paper is to establish the group theoretical nature of Backlund transformations admitted by evolution equations. This result can be easily extended to other types of equations.
The significance of trace metal speciation for water, sediment and soil quality criteria and standards

Abstract Metals enter into a number of reactions, including complexation, precipitation and sorption, in the environment. These reactions affect their mobility and bioavailability. Standards for water quality have not yet included speciation of metals although the effect of complexation to reduce metal toxicity is well known. Sediment quality standards are presently under development in the United States. The ability of acid volatile sulfide to stoichiometrically react with cadmium and nickel has been established. When the concentration of added metal is less than the molar concentration of acid volatile sulfide (AVS), the sediments are not toxic. Modeling frameworks are available to permit the evaluation of metal binding in sediments that are oxic, and in contaminated sediments where the concentration of metal exceeds that of AVS. It appears that organic matter controls the sorption of metal under these circumstances. The primary variable of soils contributing to metal mobility and availability to plants is pH. This has not been incorporated into soil standards. A framework for the consideration of pH has been developed.
Perspectives on Marital Love and Satisfaction in Mexican American and Anglo-American Couples

Aspects of intimacy and satisfaction were explored for a volunteer sample of 54 Mexican American (classified as either Hispanic-oriented or bicultural) and 30 Anglo-American married couples. Data were collected by questionnaire through network sampling. Measures included the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans, a background inventory, the Love Attitudes Scale, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Ethnic differences occurred for 3 love attitudes and 2 sex attitudes (e.g. Hispanic-oriented respondents were more pragmatic about love and less idealistic about sex). Passionate love was correlated with marital satisfaction for Anglo-Americans and both groups of Mexican Americans. Partner similarity was evident in all 3 groups, and marital satisfaction was best predicted for all groups by passionate love scores. Implications for counseling are discussed.
Investigation of the Mobile Regions of GM2 Activator Protein Using Continuous Wave and Pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Fluorescence Spectroscopy

GM2AP is an 18kDa protein that is involved in the catabolism of the ganglioside GM2. GM2AP is thought to bind GM2 in intralysosomal vesicles and present the oligosaccharide head group for hydrolytic cleavage. Mutations in GM2AP lead to an accumulation of GM2 in the lysosomes, causing the lysosomal storage diseases Tay Sachs or the AB variant of Sandhoff's disease. The crystal structure of GM2AP revealed the protein in five different crystal forms, with large differences in the diameter and area of the opening to the lipid binding cavity differences can be attributed to the flexibility of the mobile loops. Site directed spin-labeling combined with continuous wave and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance methods has been used to investigate the intramolecular distances between the mobile loop regions of GM2AP. Distance profiles are obtained with and without the physiological ligand GM2 as other phospholipids.The functional significance for the mobility of loop regions of GM2AP was probed using crosslinking agents to tether the two mobile loops via disulfide crosslinking to cysteine residues which were incorporated into each of the mobile loops of GM2AP. The tethered GM2AP constructs were functionally evaluated using fluorescence spectroscopy. Danysl-DHPE a fluorescently labeled lipid substrate was utilized to analyze the ability of the crosslinked GM2AP to extract the fluorescent lipid from large unilamellar vesicles containing POPC:dansyl DHPE. A blue shift in the wavelength of maximum emission for the dansyl-DHPE extracted by GM2AP allowed the amount and kinetics of lipid extraction to be assayed. The tethered constructs were also assayed for their ability to bind and sediment with a lipid membrane. Results indicate that tethering of the mobile loops mitigate the ability of GM2AP to extract its lipid ligand substrate.
STIMULATION AND RELEASE OF PROSTAGLANDINS AND THROMBOXANE FROM MACROPHAGES BY COTTON DUST ASSOCIATED LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES

Decreases in the ventilation capacity of human lungs foliowing the inspiration of cotton dust correlates more closely with the concentration of endotoxin in the dust than with any other parameter measured thus far. A lipopolysaccharide isolated from the endotoxin of Enterobacter agglomerans, a common bacterial contaminant of cotton fiber, stimulated isolated rat macrophages to produce and release prostaglandins 6 keto-PGF1α, PGF2α, PGE2, PGD2, PGA2, and PGB2 and thromboxane B2. If in vivo human pulmonary macrophages respond in a similar fashion by releasing these arachidonic acid metabolites or their immediate precursors in response to stimulation by cotton dust associated lipopolysaccharides, some of the acute pulmonary changes observed in humans following inspiration of cotton dust could be caused by increased release of these biologically active compounds. Daily release of arachidonic acid metabolites at concentrations significantly above normal homeostatic levels could produce some of the pathophysiol...
Polymerization of silicate and aluminate tetrahedra in glasses, melts and aqueous solutions—II. The network modifying effects of Mg2+ , K+, Na+, Li+, H+, OH−, F−, Cl−, H2O, CO2 and H3O+ on silicate polymers

Abstract The effect of the group IA and VIIA ions, as well as Mg2+, and the molecules H2O, CO2, H3O+ and OH− on the energy of the Si-O bond in a H6Si2O7 cluster has been calculated using semiempirical molecular orbital calculations (CNDO/2). Three types of elementary processes, i.e. substitution, addition, and polymerization reactions have been used to interpret data on the dynamic viscosity, surface tension and surface charge, hydrolytic weakening, diffusivity, conductivity, freezing point depression, and degree of polymerization of silicates in melts, glasses, and aqueous solutions. As a test of our calculational procedure, observed X-ray emission spectra of binary alkali silicate glasses were compared with calculated electronic spectra. The well known bondlength variations between the bridging bond [Si-O(br)] and the non-bridging bond [Si-O(nbr)] in alkali silicates are shown to be due to the propagation of oscillating bond-energy patterns through the silica framework. A kinetic interpretation of some results of our calculations is given in terms of the Bell-Evans-Polanyi reaction principle.
Effect of Fibrinogen and Thrombin Concentrations on Mastectomy Seroma Prevention

Seroma formation remains a significant clinical problem which increases morbidity and hospital costs in patients undergoing mastectomy operations. This study evaluated the effect of varying the concentrations of fibrinogen and thrombin in fibrin sealant on successfully preventing seroma formation in a rat model. After axillary dissection, control animals (Groups I and II) had 1 ml of either normal saline or thrombin (100 U/ml) applied to the axilla while treated animals (Groups III-VIII) had increasing concentrations of 0.5 ml of fibrinogen (25, 50, or 100 mg/ml) and 0.5 ml of thrombin (10 or 100 U/ml) applied. Seroma volumes (means +/- standard deviation) were measured on Postoperative Day 5. They were largest in Group I (3.1 +/- 1.9 ml, n = 13) and Group II (3.9 +/- 2.7 ml, n = 15) and then decreased from a high in Group III (2.5 +/- 2.4 ml, n = 15) using fibrinogen, 25 mg/ml, and thrombin, 10 mg/ml, to a low in Group VIII (0.8 +/- 1.0 ml, n = 15) using fibrinogen, 100 mg/ml, and thrombin, 100 U/ml. Analysis of variance revealed a statistically significant difference in the mean seroma fluid volumes between the groups (P = 0.0021), while Scheffe's comparison showed a specific significant difference (P = 0.028) between the thrombin control (Group II) and the highest concentration fibrin sealant (Group VIII). The difference in seroma volumes for all control animals (Groups I and II), 3.5 +/- 2.4 ml, and all treated animals (Groups III-VIII), 1.7 +/- 2.1 ml, was highly significant by unpaired t test. (P < 0.0001). Thus, fibrin sealant was useful in reducing seroma formation in this rat model with the highest concentration of fibrinogen and thrombin appearing most effective. These data may be useful in guiding future clinical trials in humans.
Fasting exacerbates and feeding diminishes LPS-induced liver injury in the rat.

Introduction Enteral nutrition improves clinical outcomes. The effects of feeding on LPS induced liver injury are unknown. We hypothesized that feeding would attenuate liver injury from LPS. Methods Fasted or fed rats were given LPS (20 mg/kg ip) or saline for 5 h and sacrificed. Serum aminotransferases and cytokines (immunoassay) were measured. Oxidative stress protein (iNOS, COX2, and HO1) assessments (Western immunoblot) were also obtained. Results In fasted rats, LPS significantly increased serum aminotransferase levels, enhanced hepatic COX2, iNOS, and HO1 immunoreactivity, and increased serum cytokine levels when compared to controls. While feeding diminished liver enzymes, attenuated expression of COX2 and iNOS, and blunted production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, it did not modulate LPS-induced expression of the anti-inflammatory markers HO1 and IL-10. Conclusion These data suggest that feeding decreases liver injury by attenuating expression of pro-inflammatory mediators while maintaining expression of anti-inflammatory mediators, both systemically and locally.
Contourites in Lake Superior

Contour currents influence sedimentation in an area 15 km wide and 65 km long at the base of the slope off the Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior, northwestern Michigan. Seismic-reflection profiles (3.5 kHz) from this area show distinct wavy reflectors in a scoured trough at a depth of 200 m at the base of the slope, hyperbolic echoes adjacent to the trough, and overlapping echoes farther lakeward. These acoustic features are identical to those in marine environments where contourites are deposited. Box cores from the lakeward margin of this area contain what appear to be contourites: irregular, thin sand layers with sharp upper and lower contacts, interbedded with sandy clay. The sandy clay layers are trough cross-laminated in some places and plain laminated in others. This is the first report of contourites in a lacustrine environment.
A finite difference scheme for solving parabolic two‐step micro‐heat transport equations in a double‐layered micro‐sphere heated by ultrashort‐pulsed lasers

Ultrashort-pulsed lasers with pulse durations of the order of sub-picosecond to femtosecond domain possess exclusive capabilities in limiting the undesirable spread of the thermal process zone in the heated sample. Parabolic two-step micro heat transport equations have been widely applied for thermal analysis of thin metal films exposed to picosecond thermal pulses. In this study, we develop a three-level finite difference scheme for solving the micro heat transport equations in a double-layered micro sphere. It is shown by the discrete energy method that the scheme is unconditionally stable. Numerical results for thermal analysis of a gold layer coated on a chromium padding layer are obtained. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2006
Homeland defense: looking back, moving forward

A concern for homeland defense has been with us since the inception of the Republic. However, it has changed in focus and emphasis depending on the nature of the threat we perceived. In the earliest decades the threat was from invasion by a Britain that still did not accept the results of the Revolutionary War. Later the focus shifted to concern about possible attack by ships, and during WW I and WW II, by submarines. With the advent of the intercontinental nuclear-armed bomber in 1950, our focus changed again. When we could be attacked by ballistic missiles after 1960, our concern focused on that threat. Now that we have seen that damaging attacks can be brought to the homeland 'under the radar screen', by terrorist operations, the focus has shifted again. We are now entering an era when we must address potential homeland attacks with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) that may be delivered by a range of means, depending on the source of the attack. In response to this full spectrum of attack modes, the U.S. has implemented a three-stage defense policy that integrates overseas 'offense' and homeland 'defense'. This framework for defense analysis and planning is likely to be with us into the indefinite future.
A probabilistic approach to estimate particle size distribution without shape assumption. Part I: Theory and Testing on spherical particles

Abstract This is the first part of a series of studies on a probabilistic approach to estimate particle size distribution without any shape assumption, as long as the shape can be simulated in a computer. A computer experiment is designed to test this method by using the sphere as a model shape for simplicity. Testing of this method on nonspherical particles, particles of unknown shape, and particles with more than one shape will be addressed in subsequent presentations. A software system can be developed for estimating particle size distribution from two-dimensional measurement in practice.
Forensic Neuropsychology in the Real World

Forensic Neuropsychology Casebook . Robert L. Heilbronner (Ed.). 2005. New York: The Guilford Press. 370 pp., $50.00 (HB). The chapters in Forensic Neuropsychology Casebook read like a collection of short stories. An experienced forensic neuropsychologist authors each chapter and each case is presented from a personal point of view, a viewpoint generally not found in mainstream textbooks. The case background, test results, and legal proceedings are described along with the neuropsychologist's thoughts, feelings, insights, and lessons learned. The practitioners and topics were well chosen to display the diversity of forensic neuropsychology. Included are adult, pediatric, civil, and criminal cases. Besides the more common cases such as traumatic brain injury, medical malpractice, and workers' compensation, more esoteric topics are covered such as electrical injury, sexual consent capacity in an Alzheimer's patient, and competence to confess.
Elementary factorization in π-regular rings

This paper extends the results of A. L. Foster (1) on elementary factorization in Boolean-like rings to commutative π-regular rings. After proving some preliminary lemmas we proceed to the partition of the set of non-units of a π-regular ring into irreducible and composite elements. Finally, we prove a number of theorems concerning factorization rings, weakly unique factorization rings, principal ideal rings, etc. The principal result is that a π-regular ring is a weakly unique factorization ring if and only if it is a principal ideal ring.
The value of gallium imaging after therapy for Hodgkin's disease.

BACKGROUND Although it is used widely, the value of gallium imaging in managing Hodgkin's disease remains unclear. METHODS A retrospective review of gallium imaging and treatment outcome in 60 patients with Hodgkin's disease treated between January 1990 and July 1995 was conducted. The minimum follow-up was 1 year. RESULTS Based on gallium imaging, 46 patients were in complete remission (CR) after initial treatment, 10 were in partial remission (PR), and 4 had persistent or progressive disease (NR). Ten of 29 patients (34%) with gallium CR after chemotherapy subsequently recurred, compared with no recurrences in 17 patients receiving initial radiotherapy or combined chemoradiation. Eight of ten patients received further therapy after gallium PR, and nine patients remained disease free at last follow-up. Survival did not differ in patients achieving a gallium CR or PR. CONCLUSIONS Gallium-67 imaging may help confirm the presence of active Hodgkin's disease, but was unreliable in defining disease remission after chemotherapy in this study population. Patients with a gallium PR may still have a good prognosis after additional therapy. Cancer 1998;82:754-9. ©; 1998 American Cancer Society.
The effects of phosphorus depletion, and of calcium and phosphorus intake, on the endogenous excretion of these elements by sheep.

1. Injections of 32P and 45Ca were used to study the influence of phosphorus depletion and repletion on the rates of endogenous calcium and P excretion in fifteen P-depleted and eighteen control sheep. 2. When given adequate P, there was a marked increase in the rate of excretion of metabolic faecal P in sheep which previously had been depleted. In control sheep a decrease was found in metabolic faecal P excretion with a diet deficient in P. 3. From the values for metabolic faecal P an indirect estimate of total intestinal secretion was made. The estimate was found to be in approximate agreement with values derived from published values for total daily digestive secretions in sheep. 4. The estimated rates of secretion of intestinal P suggest that after the addition of P to the diet the changes in the rate of excretion of metabolic faecal P in P-depleted sheep were the result of a decreased reabsorption of intestinally secreted P rather than of a change in the rate of secretion into the intestine. After a diet low in this element the decrease in metabolic faecal P excretion by control sheep appeared to be the result of a decreased rate of intestinal P secretion. 5. The possible significance of changes in metabolic faecal P excretion in relation to body P homoeostasis in the ruminant animal is discussed.
Tooth microwear and premaxillary shape of an archaic antelope

Extant ungulates can be divided into three dietary categories: browsing feeders, grazing feeders, and mixed feeders. Dietary adaptations can be differentiated in extinct ruminants based upon tooth microwear analysis as well as evaluation of premaxillary morphology. Tooth microwear shows that the extinct bovid Kipsigicerus labidotus from the Miocene of Fort Ternan in Kenya (14 million years old) was most likely a grazing feeder, with mixed-feeder tendencies, while morphologically the premaxilla most closely resembles that of a mixed feeder. Because the paleoenvironment at Fort Ternan was likely to have been forested, as shown by paleosol isotopic studies, grazing in this particular ruminant evolved within a forested environment preceding the origin of savanna. □Tooth microwear, premaxilla, Miocene, Kenya, bovid, paleodiet.
Virus-Vectored Influenza Virus Vaccines

Despite the availability of an inactivated vaccine that has been licensed for >50 years, the influenza virus continues to cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. Constant evolution of circulating influenza virus strains and the emergence of new strains diminishes the effectiveness of annual vaccines that rely on a match with circulating influenza strains. Thus, there is a continued need for new, efficacious vaccines conferring cross-clade protection to avoid the need for biannual reformulation of seasonal influenza vaccines. Recombinant virus-vectored vaccines are an appealing alternative to classical inactivated vaccines because virus vectors enable native expression of influenza antigens, even from virulent influenza viruses, while expressed in the context of the vector that can improve immunogenicity. In addition, a vectored vaccine often enables delivery of the vaccine to sites of inductive immunity such as the respiratory tract enabling protection from influenza virus infection. Moreover, the ability to readily manipulate virus vectors to produce novel influenza vaccines may provide the quickest path toward a universal vaccine protecting against all influenza viruses. This review will discuss experimental virus-vectored vaccines for use in humans, comparing them to licensed vaccines and the hurdles faced for licensure of these next-generation influenza virus vaccines.
An electron microscopic study of the human infundibulum

An electron microscopic analysis was performed on biopsies of the infundibulum from humans undergoing hypophysectomy. Two types of nerve fibers can be distinguished by their dense core vesicles, both of which terminate in the perivascular space of small vessels within the infundibulum. Type A fibers contain dense core vesicles measuring 1,500–3,000 A in diameter; type B fibers contain dense core vesicles measuring 500–1,000 A in diameter. Smaller clear vesicles (200–500 A) are found within the nerve endings in an inverse proportion to dense core vesicles. Herring bodies contain either type A or type B dense core vesicles, but frequently are filled with non-neurosecretory elements (mitochondria, dense bodies) which can also be found in nerve endings. These observations support other evidence that two types of neural control are involved in anterior pituitary regulation, but a more precise correlation between structure and function is not possible. The vascular bed of the neural infundibulum is characterized by blood vessels whose structure ranks them with venules. Short amuscular capillary segments show a cuff formed by pituicytes reminiscent of that formed by astrocytes around cerebral capillaries.