cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin receptor activity of sialoglycopeptides isolated from the surface of Novikoff hepatoma cells

Abstract Novikoff ascites hepatoma cells were highly agglutinable by the plant lectins concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin. Treatment of the intact cells with papain released from the cell surface a glycopeptide fraction which possessed concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin receptor activity, as judged by its ability to inhibit lectin-induced hemagglutination. A component of the cell-surface glycopeptide fraction, excluded from Sephadex G-50, possessed lectin receptor activities reflecting the cytoagglutination properties of the intact cells from which it was derived. Further resolution of this component by pronase digestion, gel filtration, and ion-exchange chromatography resulted in the isolation of sialoglycopeptides which exhibited potent and specific concanavalin A receptor activity.
Double Standards: Bringing Task Parallelism to HPF Via the Message Passing Interface

High Performance Fortran (HPF) does not allow efficient expression of mixed task/data-parallel computations or the coupling of separately compiled data-parallel modules. In this paper, we show how a coordination library implementing the Message Passing Interface (MPI) can be used to represent these common parallel program structures. This library allows data-parallel tasks to exchange distributed data structures using calls to simple communication functions. We present microbenchmark results that characterize the performance of this library and that quantify the impact of optimizations that allow reuse of communication schedules in common situations. In addition, results from two-dimensional FFT, convolution, and multiblock programs demonstrate that the HPF/MPI library can provide performance superior to that of pure HPF. We conclude that this synergistic combination of two parallel programming standards represents a useful approach to task parallelism in a data-parallel framework, increasing the range of problems addressable in HPF without requiring complex compiler technology.
‘To all kinde of estates I meane for to trudge’: Making Room for the Commoners in Cambises

Thomas Preston’s Cambises combines the tale of a sixth-century Persian tyrant from Herodotus’s History with a series of low-born characters and comic interludes that derive from morality plays and mystery cycles. Despite the presence of elite and popular elements in the text, studies have focused chiefly on the nature of aristocratic resistance to the monarch. When considered in this context, Cambises’s accidental death at the play’s conclusion implies that an anointed ruler could only be removed through divine intervention; his subjects could reprimand him for his cruelty, but they could not depose him. I argue in this essay that the play’s commoners challenge the prevailing discourse of passive resistance by undermining Cambises’s military campaign in Egypt, calling on him to execute his corrupt deputy, and contemplating his death when he fails to meet their expectations. In doing so, they demonstrate that political protest is not limited to the nobility, but available for appropriation by ‘all estates’.
Connectivity and the fracton dimension of percolation clusters

The vibrational density of states of percolation clusters at threshold has been calculated for scalar models in two space dimensions. The effective fracton dimension is found to increase significantly with the spread of the short-range interactions. This is attributed to the gain in connectivity associated with an increased spread. Although the simulations do not ascertain the asymptotic scaling behavior, they are of direct relevance to experiments which are always performed on samples that are fractal over a limited range of scales.
Origin specification by use of phases

Abstract The specification of an origin in a crystal can be accomplished by assigning values to an appropriate set of phases. In order to accomplish this, use is made of linear combinations of phases whose values are invariant with respect to arbitrary choices among the permitted origins. The space groups are divided into types with each type associated with particular linear combinations of seminvariant phases. Examples of the kind and number of phases that may be specified and suitable values for them are included in the tables. Conventionally centered cells are treated in terms of corresponding primitive unit cells. Specification of enantiomorph or axis-direction or both, when appropriate, is also discussed.
Electronic Polarons in Nonmetals

We use the techniques of perturbation theory and the electronic polaron to classify and obtain explicit formulas for electronic correlation in nonmetals. We consider explicitly the case in which the highest valence band is $p$ type and the lowest conduction band is $s$ type or vice versa, a situation which holds for all rare-gas solids, alkali halides, and most semiconductors of the types II-VI and III-V. We consider the case of an electron in a filled band as well as that of an electron in an otherwise empty band. In the case of the electron in an otherwise empty band our formulas are the expression found previously by Inoue, Mahutte, and Wang. Numerical results are presented for electrons both in occupied and otherwise empty bands for a number of crystals.
Program directors in surgery agree that residents should be formally trained in business and practice management

Abstract Background Surgical residents typically receive limited exposure to business and practice management during their training. As a result, residents are ill-prepared for issues related to starting a practice, coding, collecting, and taking a meaningful role within the medical community in promoting quality and safety and in containing health care costs. With the introduction of the core competencies and the current overhaul of surgical education, we believe there is an opportunity to include business and practice management into resident training. Methods Program directors in general surgery (189 of 242) responded to a 9-question mailed survey inquiring about their opinions regarding training surgical residents in business and practice management. Results Most program directors agreed or strongly agreed (87%) that residents should be trained in business and practice management. Seventy percent believed that their current trainees were inadequately trained in this area. Over half (63%) believed that this training should begin during postgraduate years 2 to 5. Conclusions Development of simple curricula aimed at preparing surgical residents for business and practice management could promote the contemporary education of surgeons.
Poland ten years after: the church

Abstract Ten years after the collapse of communist rule, church-state relations in Poland present a mixed picture. On the one hand, the Roman Catholic church continues to enjoy a privileged position in the country and has achieved most of its cherished goals. On the other hand, its very success carried with it seeds of its future decline. This was particularly true in several areas where the church's aggressive and arrogant behavior has proved counter productive: religious education, anti-abortion legislation, Christian values in mass media, antisemitism, murky church finances, the concordat with the Holy See, and the debate on the new constitution. As a result, there has been a steady decline in popular support for the church which itself has developed some serious rifts in its supposedly united posture. It may be hypothesized that the power and influence of the church actually peaked in the early 1990s and that, having absorbed some of the lessons from its decline, its future policies may well be less triumphalist and controversial, and more accommodating.
Support for Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling among the California Public

This report describes Californians’ opinions about offshore oil and gas development. The report begins by describing the trends in support for offshore drilling since 1977. It then focuses on explaining the surge of support for offshore oil drilling that accompanied the rapid increase in gasoline prices in 2000 and 2001. In this report, we present data from a series of public opinion polls of Californians, which were conducted between 1977 and 2001. The surveys were conducted by the Field Institute, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit public opinion research organization established by the Field Research Corporation. The samples were representative cross-sections of California adults with sample sizes ranging from 485 to 1,034 (See the data appendix for details). We should also note that this study updates some of the information published in a previous MMS report, Trends in Public Opinion on Offshore Oil Development in California (Smith 1995), and in the recently published book, Energy, the Environment, and Public Opinion (Smith 2002).
Fiction in the Classroom: Literature and History

Schwebel, Sara L. (2011). Child-Sized History: Fictions of the Past in U.S. Classrooms. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University Press. 255 pp., $69.95, hardback and $34.95, paperback, ISBN-13 978-0-82...
Comparison of chilled-mirror measurements and filter paper estimates of total soil suction

A comparison of chilled-mirror total suction measurements with those estimated from filter paper total suction data show general agreement. However, there are significant discrepancies that are similar to those previously reported by others. The nature and magnitude of the discrepancies are consistent with: (a) possible errors in chilled-mirror total suction measurements due to incomplete equilibration in the sealed test chamber of the chilled-mirror device, and (b) possible errors in estimated filter paper total suction values due to natural variations of the zero-water-content intercept in the log total suction versus water content relationship. The possible errors in chilled-mirror measurements are easily avoided. The possible errors in estimated filter paper measurements can only be minimized by avoiding the need for an assumed zero-water-content intercept. This can be accomplished far more easily with the chilled-mirror device than with the filter paper method.
Angiographic Patterns of In-Stent Restenosis Classification and Implications for Long-Term Outcome

Background—The angiographic presentation of in-stent restenosis (ISR) may convey prognostic information on subsequent target vessel revascularizations (TLR). Methods and Results—We developed an angiographic classification of ISR according to the geographic distribution of intimal hyperplasia in reference to the implanted stent. Pattern I includes focal (≤10 mm in length) lesions, pattern II is ISR>10 mm within the stent, pattern III includes ISR>10 mm extending outside the stent, and pattern IV is totally occluded ISR. We classified a total of 288 ISR lesions in 245 patients and verified the angiographic accuracy of the classification by intravascular ultrasound. Pattern I was found in 42% of patients, pattern II in 21%, pattern III in 30%, and pattern IV in 7%. Previously recurrent ISR was more frequent with increasing grades of classification (9%, 20%, 34%, and 50% for classes I to IV, respectively; P=0.0001), as was diabetes (28%, 32%, 39%, and 48% in classes I to IV, respectively; P<0.01). Angioplasty...
Incidence of and Risk Factors for Change in Urinary Incontinence Status in a Prospective Cohort of Middle-Aged and Older Women: The Reproductive Risk of Incontinence Study in Kaiser

Purpose: Urinary incontinence is a dynamic condition that can progress and regress but few groups have examined risk factors for change in incontinence status.Material and Methods: We used stratified random sampling to construct a racially and ethnically diverse, population based cohort of 2,109 women 40 to 69 years old. Data were collected by questionnaires and medical record review. A second survey approximately 5 years later was completed by 1,413 women (67%) from the original cohort. The frequency of urinary incontinence was categorized as less than weekly, weekly and daily. Change in incontinence status was defined as new onset incontinence, incontinence progression or regression between frequency categories and resolution of incontinence. Predictor variables were demographics, body mass index and other medical conditions. We used logistic regression to estimate the adjusted OR and 95% CI.Results: Compared to white nonHispanic women, black women were less likely to have incontinence progression (OR 0...
Subcellular Distribution of Normal and Mutant Vitamin D Receptors in Living Cells: STUDIES WITH A NOVEL FLUORESCENT LIGAND *

To understand the subcellular localization of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and to measure VDR content in single cells, we recently developed a fluorescent labeled ligand, 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY)-calcitriol. This tagged hormone has intact biological activity, high affinity and specific binding to the receptor, and enhanced fluorescent emission upon receptor binding. Using BODIPY-calcitriol, here we monitored the subcellular distribution of VDR in living cultured cells by microscopy. Time course studies showed that an equilibrium between the cytoplasmic and nuclear hormone binding developed within 5 min and was maintained thereafter. We found a substantial proportion of VDR residing in the cytoplasm, colocalized with endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi complex, and microtubules. Confocal microscopy clarified the presence of VDR within discrete regions of the nucleus and along the nuclear envelope. There was no VDR in the plasma membrane. Low affinity BODIPY-calcitriol binding sites were in the mitochondria. Mutations in the VDR gene selectively and specifically altered BODIPY-calcitriol distribution. Defects in the hormone binding region of VDR prevented both nuclear and cytoplasmic hormone binding. Defects in the DNA binding region decreased the nuclear retention of VDR and prevented localization to nuclear foci. These results with BODIPY-calcitriol reveal cytoplasmic VDR localization in living cells and open the possibility of studying the three-dimensional architecture of intranuclear target sites.
Development of Pheidole megacephala (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) colonies following ingestion of fenoxycarb and pyriproxyfen.

Laboratory-reared Pheidole megacephala (F.) colonies were fed 2% pyriproxyfen (5umitomo 5-31183) or 2% fenoxycarb, ethyl [2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)ethyll carbamate, in soybean oil. Queens in colonies treated with pyriproxyfen laid significantly fewer eggs than controls 2 wk after treatment. Oviposition ceased in all pyriproxyfen-treated queens at 6 wk after treatment, with no recovery during the 15 wk of the study. Brood volumes in pyriproxyfen-treated colonies declined after 2 wk because of pupal death. No brood was found after 4 wk. Fenoxycarb-treated queens laid significantly fewer eggs than controls after 2 wk. Fenoxycarb-treated colonies shifted caste differentiation from workers to males at 3 wk after treatment. At 5 wk, 90% of larvae were male; the remaining 10% developed into intercastes.
The role of nutritional supplements and feeding strategies in equine athletic performance

In human and animal nutrition, much interest has been focused on the potential role of dietary supplements in promoting health, athletic performance and disease mitigation. Supplements may include essential nutrients provided in amounts greater than required to prevent a deficiency state, or substances purported to have a role in metabolism or tissue function but that are not recognized as an essential nutrient. This review aims to provide the rationale and scientific evidence for use (or not) of some of the supplements marketed for use in horses, with emphasis on supplements purported to directly boost performance, such as creatine, carnitine and branched-chain amino acids. It also discusses the so-called ‘joint supplements’ (or slow-acting, disease-modifying osteoarthritis agents), such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate. The effects of selected feeding strategies on performance, including fat supplementation, are also examined. It is concluded that although the use of nutritional supplements is commonly alleged to boost performance or health in horses, for most, if not all, of these supplements there is little or no scientific evidence of efficacy.
Genetic programming of an artificial neural network for robust control of a 2-D path following robot

Genetic Programs that have phenotypes created by the application of genotypes comprising rules are robust and highly scalable. Such encodings are useful for complex applications such as controller design. This paper outlines an evolutionary algorithm capable of creating a controller for 2 DOF, path following robot. The controllers are embodied by Artificial Neural Networks capable of full functionality despite multiple failures.
Psychiatric presentation of medical illness

Abstract A 37-year-old woman was seen in the emergency department for symptoms of depression. A careful mental status examination resulted in the discovery of an organic basis for the “psychiatric” presentation. As with any patient demonstrating behavioral abnormalities, this case illustrates the importance of an adequate history, physical, and mental status evaluation in ruling out organic etiology prior to labeling a patient's complaints as functional. Medical illnesses that can present as apparent psychiatric disease and the clinical clues that lead to the diagnosis of such cases are discussed.
Modeling the chlorine nitrate ν4 vibration-rotation band

Abstract Changes in rotational constants for the v4 band of 35ClONO2near 780 cm-1 were determined using a computer program for asymmetric top molecules. Using known ground-state rotational constants, the upper-state rotational constants were determined to be A'=0.40361(4), B'=0.0923(4) and C'=0.07532(4) cm-1. Line wavenumbers and J quantum numbers for the modeled spectrum were correlated with experimental room-temperature i.r. spectra of ClONO2 at 0.1 cm-1 resolution. There was good agreement found between the modeled and experimental results.
Constituents of Leonotis leonurus flowering tops

Abstract Phytochemical investigation of flowering tops of Leonotis leonurus , yielded a new diterpene ester, 1,2,3-trihydroxy-3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecan-1-yl-palmitate along with five known metabolites. The structures of all compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D NMR spectroscopy. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for antimalarial, cytotoxicity and for antimicrobial activities. Antimalarial activity for luteolin 7- O -β- d -glucopyranoside ( 4 ) (IC 50 = 2.2 μg/mL for the D6 clone and 1.8 μg/mL for the W2 clone) was observed. Chloroquine and artemisinin were used as positive controls which showed IC 50 of 0.016 and 0.0048 μg/mL for the D6 clone, respectively, and IC 50 of 0.14 and 0.0047 μg/mL for the W2 clone, respectively. None of the compounds were cytotoxic to Vero cells up to a concentration of 4.76 μg/mL.
On the integrability cases of the equation of motion for a satellite in an axially symmetric gravitational field.

The projection of an axially symmetric satellite's orbit on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis (z=const.) is given by the second-order differential equation. $$\frac{{y''}}{{1 + y'^2 }} = \bar \Psi _y - y'\bar \Psi _{x,}$$ where the prime denotes the derivative with respect tox and $$\bar \Psi (x,y)$$ is a known function. Two integrability cases have been investigated and it has been shown that for these two cases the integration can be carried out either by quadratures or reduced to a first-order differential equation. Analytical and physical properties are expressed, and it is shown that the equation can be derived from the calssical plane eikonal equation of geometric optics.
The mixed standard rating scale: An evaluation

Abstract Supervisory and peer ratings obtained on mixed standard scales ( Blanz, F., & Ghiselli, E. E. Personnel Psychology , 1972, 25 , 185–199 ) were compared with ratings obtained on behaviorally anchored scales with respect to leniency and halo errors and interrater reliability. The ratees were all police patrol officers; peer raters were also patrol officers, while supervisory raters were first-line supervisors (usually sergeants). Supervisory and peer ratings were obtained in 10 and 7 different municipal police agencies, respectively. Mixed standard scales generally resulted in less positive leniency error and less halo error, but concomitant interrater reliabilities were frequently lower than those associated with behaviorally anchored scales. Logical and technical strengths and weaknesses of the mixed standard rating scale are discussed.
Finite-amplitude, neutral baroclinic eddies and mean flows in an internally heated, rotating fluid: 2. Effects of spatially varying N2

The analytical model of finite-amplitude, quasi-geostrophic ‘free mode’ baroclinic eddies and mean zonal flows in a Cartesian channel, presented recently by Read, is extended to take account of vertical variations in the buoyancy frequency N. A series of exact solutions is presented to illustrate the effect of monotonically varying static stability on the structure and properties of the flow. The analytical solutions are then compared with a corresponding series of numerical simulations of steady wave flows in a rotating fluid annulus subject to internal heating and sidewall cooling. By suitable choices of internal heating distributions and boundary conditions, several different forms of N2 profile could be obtained in the simulated flows, in which N2 was concentrated to a greater or lesser extent towards the upper boundary. The resulting steady flows exhibited strong qualitative similarities in their structure and dependence upon the form of N2(z) to that of the analytical solutions when realistic profiles of N2 were included in the latter, especially when an equivalent-barotropic component was included, although the latter component is unable to satisfy the simplest (internal jet) form of horizontal boundary condition as usually applied to Rossby waves. The relatively weak, though crucially important, forcing and dissipation processes in the annulus are examined using approximate quasi-geostrophic diagnostics of the major terms in the budget of potential enstrophy for the numerical simulations. Internal heating is found to be the major source of potential enstrophy for the mean zonal flow, solely by virtue of the variation of N2 with height, but has only a minor direct effect upon the eddy flow component. Because of the presence of critical layers in the flow, all non-linear terms (including the third-order potential enstrophy flux divergence) are found to be significant in certain regions. Some implications for the value and applicability of EP flux diagnostics are discussed. Potential enstrophy budgets for horizontal regions enclosed by geostrophic streamlines are used to shed further insight into the maintenance of the flow against ‘friction’, and on the form of the potential vorticity-streamfunction relationship. Some implications of the results for other systems of geophysical interest are also discussed.
The outlook for US oil dependence

Abstract Oil dependence is defined as a dynamic problem of short- and long-run market power. The potential monopoly power of an oil cartel depends on its market share and the elasticities of oil supply and demand, while the economic vulnerability of oil-consuming states depends most directly on the quantity of oil imported and the oil cost share of gross domestic product (GDP). Of these factors, only the market share of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cartel and the rate of growth of world oil demand are clearly different than they were 25 years ago. OPEC still holds the majority of world oil and, in the future, will regain market share. A hypothetical 2-year supply reduction in 2005–2006, similar in size to those of 1973–1974 or 1979–1980, illustrates the potential benefits to OPEC and harm to the US economy of a future oil price shock. OPEC's revenues are estimated to increase by roughly $0.7 trillion, while the US economy loses about $0.5 trillion. Strategic petroleum reserves seem ineffective against a determined, multi-year supply curtailment. Increasing the market's price responsiveness by improving the technologies of oil supply and oil demand can greatly reduce the costs of oil dependence. Each element of this interpretation of the oil dependence problem is well supported by previous studies. This paper's contribution is to unite these elements into a coherent explanation and to point out the enormously important implications for energy policy.
Copper(II) and iron(II) ion sensing with semiconducting polymer dots

This communication describes a simple platform that employs carboxyl functionalized semiconducting polymer dots as a fluorescent probe for sensitive ratiometric Cu2+ and Fe2+ detection, in which the sensing mechanism is based on aggregation-induced fluorescence quenching.
New perspectives on coccidioidomycosis.

Coccidioidomycosis is a growing problem in the endemic regions of Arizona and California. The reasons for its increase are unclear, but may relate to an influx of nonsusceptible individuals into the endemic regions, construction and dust, and climate. Most cases of coccidioidal infection are completely asymptomatic, but approximately 40% present as a pulmonary process that may be difficult to distinguish from a bacterial community-acquired pneumonia. This has led to underdiagnosis of coccidioidomycosis and inappropriate antibacterial therapy. Serology has been the mainstay of diagnosis, but its sensitivity has not been established. A commercial enzyme immunoassay appears more sensitive than the traditional tube precipitin and complement fixation tests and the immunodiffusion assays, but concern about specificity lingers. Newer tests, including detection of coccidioidal antigenuria and genomic assays, offer promise of greater sensitivity, specificity, and rapidity. The treatment of coccidioidomycosis has m...
Biochemistry: favouring the unfavoured.

The naturally occurring antibiotic lasalocid A contains a chemical structure that is not expected to form readily. The enzyme that catalyses the formation of this structure has been identified, and its activity is a revelation. See Letter p.355 Polyethers are among the most complex chemical structures found in nature, and include products with anticancer, antibiotic and neuroprotective activity. The precise mechanism by which natural enzymes achieve the disfavoured cyclizations required in synthesis of such products remains obscure, but now Chu-Young Kim and colleagues characterize an epoxide hydrolase from a soil bacterium that catalyses the epoxide-opening cyclization of bisepoxyprelasalocid A to form the polyether lasalocid A. The reaction violates rules set out by Jack Baldwin in 1976 that are still used as guidelines for designing cyclization reactions. On the basis of structural and computational studies, the authors propose a general mechanism for the enzyme-catalysed formation of polyether natural products.
Composite operators in the perturbation theory of renormalizable interactions

In perturbation theory the Green’s functions of composite operators are constructed by applying Bogoliubov’s method of renormalization. Normalization conditions for the composite operators are derived, as well as identities which relate composite operators of different degree.
Geometric analysis of tooth arrangement

Abstract Based on the principles of solid geometry and projection geometry, a mathematical system can be used to indicate any positional change of tooth arrangement on a trial denture. To summarize: 1. When you move a tooth, you have to know whether you move the tooth toward the patient's left side or right side (↑↓ x ), upward or downward (↑↓ y ), anteriorly or posteriorly (↑↓ z ), and how many millimeters in each component dimension. 2. If rotatory movements are involved, you must know whether the tooth rotates around the mesiodistal axis (± M ), around the faciolingual axis (± F ), or around the gingivo-occlusal axis (± G ) You must know the degrees of rotation around each of the component axes and whether the movement is clockwise or counterclockwise. Most students will easily follow this systemic approach and readily understand the complexity of the problem.
Cell death and changes in the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase in rubrospinal neurons following spinal cord hemisection in the adult rat

Most of the hypotheses that have been proposed to explain why the injured mammalian spinal cord is not capable of extensive regeneration have suggested that the internal milieu of the injured spinal cord is not conducive to repair. Relatively little attention has been directed toward neuronal cell death as being contributory to the minimal amount of spinal cord regeneration. The present study suggests that the availability of regenerating axons in the injured spinal cord may be limited by the death of axotomized supraspinal neurons in the adult mammal. Adult rats were subjected to a right spinal cord hemisection at T1 followed by a second, more rostral right hemisection at C2 Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected into the rostral hemisection site to acquire information on the metabolic changes that occur in HRP-labeled rubrospinal neurons after axotomy. In the experimental animals, a delay of 9-219 days occurred between the two operations whereas there was no delay between the two procedures in the control animals. An analysis of neuronal counts indicated that although there was a statistically significant (P < 0.01) decrease in the number of labeled rubrospinal neurons in the contralateral red nucleus of the experimental animals compared to controls, there was also a smaller, yet significant (P < 0.01) increase in the number of nonlabeled neurons in the experimental animals. The mean total number (both labeled and nonla beled) of neurons in the experimental animals (2,269 ± 348 cells), however, was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than the mean total number of neurons in the control animals (3,473 ± 488 cells). Thus, it is concluded that extensive cell death occurs in the red nucleus of the adult rat following spinal cord hemisection. The increase in the number of nonlabeled neurons coupled with an overall decrease in the intensity of the HRP reaction in labeled neurons of the experimental animals indicates that HRP retrograde transport is reduced in chronically axotomized rubrospinal neurons. This suggests that the retrograde axonal transport system may be used as an instrument to gauge the metabolic state of injured CNS neurons. This technique may enable us to gain a better understanding of degeneration and regeneration in the injured mammalian spinal cord.
High Altitude Cirrus Effects On Spectral Measurements

The Kuiper Infrared Technology Experiment (KITE) program has operated over the last two years (1985-1987). Characteristics of atmospheric background radiance levels related to seasonal, diurnal, geographic and altitude effects are currently being studied because these effects are of interest to programs where the atmospheric background limits sensor performance. Correlating data from the KITE program with archived spectral data and model code predictions has established a number of important facts. First, the 11 pm window in the infrared appears to be "filled-in", i.e., the predicted troughs are not seen. This contributes to the second point: the background radiance levels predicted by the LOWTRAN model code in a window band centered at 11.2 pm appear to be too low by a factor of 2-3 or more. The high backgrounds observed are for the quiescent atmosphere in the south Pacific (Marshall Islands); clouds are highly variable and very difficult to predict due to convective processes (the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) borders the area). There appears to be little diurnal variability in the 11 pm window band in the tropics; however, seasonal effects are plausible, i.e., variation of the ambient atmospheric background radiance levels in response to the seasonal temperature dependence. Moreover, there appears to be a seasonally dependent linear relation between the 7.2- and 11.2- μm data. Persistence of "holes" in high altitude .thin cirrus cloud layers is a feature of primary concern in the area of forecasting. These optically thin cirrus clouds, sometimes called "cirrus evadus", may be the prime contributor to elevated background radiance levels by providing a means for thermal scattering of energy radiated by the Earth. They are often detected by means of a ground-based lidar; however, prediction capabilities do not exist at present. A full-scale climatology study to determine the growth of cloud formations and to establish a statistical database is recommended.© (1988) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Matrix assisted growth of nanoparticles and nanoporous films

Since the inception of matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE), a large body of research has focused on the structure and property preservation of soft materials. Departing from this precedent, a variation of MAPLE to grow complex inorganic nanoparticles and nanoporous thin films from acetate precursors is presented. While some aspects of MAPLE are retained, a weakly absorbing matrix solvent is used to promote absorption by the precursors, leading to photothermal decomposition. The diffusion of ions within the laser interaction volume results in the formation of nanoparticles, which are then ejected by subsequent pulses. The acetate precursors were processed into colloidal suspensions in deionized water and frozen to form solid targets, followed by irradiation with a pulsed excimer laser at fluences ranging from 0.25 to 0.75 J/cm2. Nanoparticles and nanoporous films of unary, binary, and ternary metallic and oxide systems were deposited at room temperature onto substrates of Si and electron-transparent grids. Size distributions varied between different material systems with negligible pressure and energy effects, with distribution extrema ranging from 2 to 100 nm in diameter. Characterization of the nanoparticles was performed by high resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy.
Artifacts introduced by ion milling in Al-Li-Cu alloys

Ion milling is commonly used to prepare specimens for observation under transmission electron microscope (TEM). This technique sometimes introduces artifacts in specimens contributing to misleading interpretation of TEM results as observed in the present investigation of Al-Li-Cu alloys. This type of alloy, in general, contains several kinds of precipitates, namely delta', T1, and theta'. It is found that ion milling even for a short time produces drastic changes in the precipitate characteristics as compared to standard electropolishing methods of specimen preparation for TEM. Careful analysis of selected area diffraction patterns and micrographs shows that after ion milling delta' precipitates are very irregular, whereas other precipitates coarsen and they are surrounded by misfit dislocations. In situ hot-stage TEM experiments were performed to relate the microstructure to that observed in the ion-milled specimen. Results and causes of ion milling effects on the microstructure are discussed in relation to standard electropolishing techniques and in situ hot-stage experiment.
Lack of gastrointestinal enhancement of the insulin response to glucose in newborn infants

Forty-five normal newborn infants were infused with glucose at constant rates by intravenous or nasogastric routes. Blood glucose rose to higher levels during IV than during NG infusions at identical rates; however, the glycemic responses were similar when NG glucose infusions at 12 mg/minute/kg were compared with IV infusions at 6 mg/minute/kg. The plasma insulin responses to glucose were not enhanced by NG administration. Thus, enterohormonal responses to glucose may not affect pancreatic beta cell regulation of glucose assimilation in the newborn period.
The impact of sperm morphology evaluated by strict criteria on intrauterine insemination success

Objective: To determine the relationship between IUI success and the level of morphologically normal sperm, evaluated using strict criteria, in the raw semen. Design: Evaluation of semen quality characteristics and pregnancy results for 538 stimulated IUI cycles. Setting: University medical center infertility clinic. Patient(s): Women undergoing IUI with their partner's semen as treatment for infertility (n = 193). Intervention(s): Ovulation induction using clomiphene citrate, hMG, or both; preparation of raw semen using wash and swim-up or Percoll; deposition of prepared semen at the uterine fundus. Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy status after IUI. Percentage morphologically normal sperm in raw semen, evaluated using strict criteria. Sperm concentration and percentage motile sperm in raw and prepared semen. Result(s): Pregnancy rates (PRs) per cycle were not different when the percentage of morphologically normal sperm in raw semen was Conclusion(s): The percentage of morphologically normal sperm in the raw semen, as judged by strict criteria, did not affect IUI PR. Intrauterine insemination appears to be a successful treatment modality for male factor infertility, even when the percentage of morphologically normal sperm in raw semen is very low.
Effects of buprenorphine on candy and sweetened fluid self-administration by rhesus monkeys

Abstract Rationale. Previous studies have shown that buprenorphine differentially suppresses the reinforcing effects of different drugs (cocaine, alfentanil), drug versus nondrug reinforcers (food, drug), and the same reinforcer (food) maintained under different schedules of reinforcement. Objectives. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether buprenorphine (0.03, 0.1, 0.3 mg/kg) differentially affects candy versus sweetened fluid self-administration. The hypotheses were that (1) candy would maintain higher rates of responding and would be chosen on more occasions than sweetened fluid, and (2) buprenorphine would produce smaller disruptions in responding for the more-preferred reinforcer. Methods. During separate sessions, rhesus monkeys self-administered candy alone, sweetened fluid alone, or had the opportunity to choose between candy and sweetened fluid. Monkeys responded under a second order, two-chain schedule of reinforcement. Results. Candy was a more-preferred reinforcer than sweetened fluid. Buprenorphine significantly decreased rates of responding for fluid, but increased rates of responding for candy. Although buprenorphine significantly decreased both candy and fluid intake, it produced a more robust, and longer-lasting suppression of sweetened-fluid intake than candy. Choice to self-administer candy or fluid was not affected by buprenorphine. Conclusions. These results demonstrate that behavior maintained by a less-preferred reinforcer is more easily disrupted by buprenorphine than is behavior maintained by a more-preferred reinforcer.
Scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis (SEMPA) — studies of domains, domain walls and magnetic singularities at surfaces and in thin films

Abstract Scanning Electron Microscopy with Polarization Analysis (SEMPA) is used to investigate the surface magnetic microstructure of domain walls in thin permalloy films and the domain structure of magneto-optic TbFeCo alloys. Domain wall measurements confirm the results of micromagnetic theory.
Desensitization to norepinephrine includes refractoriness of calcium release in myocardial cells.

Abstract Localization of myoplasmic free calcium was measured in fura2-loaded single rat myocardial cells to determine whether the mechanism of norepinephrine desensitization includes redistribution of calcium. Fluorescence intensities at each pixel were quantitated by use of a photon-counting, microchannel plate camera. From these images, values of calcium-dependent fluorescence intensity averages in whole cells, areas of calcium release (as zones of high inracellular calcium concentrations), and ratios of fluorescence intensity in central vs. peripheral sites were determined. Stimulation by 1 nM norepinephrine caused an increase in total free intracellular calcium and an activation of intracellular calcium release sites from subsarcolemmal pools initially and later from centrally located calcium pools. Subsequent addition of 100 nM norepinephrine failed to cause significant intracellular calcium release from centrally located pools. In contrast, forskolin exposure still released high concentrations of calcium from these central pools. These results indicate that pretreatment with even a relatively small concentration of norepinephrine causes markedly decreased subsequent intracellular calcium release from centrally located sarcoplasmic reticulum because of a refractoriness of the link between receptor activation and calcium release.
Assessing physical activity in persons with knee osteoarthritis using accelerometers: data from the osteoarthritis initiative.

Objective Physical activity measured by accelerometers requires basic assumptions to translate the output into meaningful measures. We used accelerometer data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative to investigate in the context of knee osteoarthritis (OA) the following data processing assumptions derived from the general US adult population: nonwear (a period the monitor was removed), based on zero activity exceeding 60 minutes; and a valid day of monitoring, based on wear time evidence exceeding 10 hours. Methods We examined the influence of nonwear thresholds ranging from 20 to 300 minutes of zero activity on mean daily activity minutes (counts >0), mean daily activity counts, and mean daily moderate to vigorous physical activity minutes. The effect of selecting minimums of 8, 10, or 12 wear hours to signify a valid day of monitoring on data retention was examined. Results Our sample of 3,536 days of accelerometer data from 519 persons with knee OA showed that mean daily activity minutes increased with the nonwear threshold until stabilizing at 463 minutes per day, corresponding to the 90-minute nonwear threshold. Similar patterns were observed for mean daily activity counts. Varying the nonwear threshold had no effect on mean daily moderate to vigorous physical activity minutes. Choosing the 90-minute nonwear threshold and a minimum of 10 wear hours to constitute a valid day provided 94% data retention. Conclusion Data supported applying the 90-minute nonwear threshold to the knee OA population instead of the 60-minute threshold for the general population, while retaining the 10-hour valid day threshold.
Money and Specialization in a Neoclassical Growth Model

This paper studies the links between money, specialization, and capital accumulation in a neoclassical growth framework. For tractability, the transactions role of money is introduced through a cash-in-advance constraint. In contrast to the standard cash-in-advance model, an individual's reliance on money balances for transactions is endogenous through the choice of specialization. Although the cash-in-advance constraint only applies to consumption, the model exhibits a reverse-Tobin effect.We conclude by discussing the implications of the model for the welfare costs of inflation.
Applying ROI Analysis to Support SOA Information Security Investment Decisions

Offering functionality and data in a secure manner poses significant challenges for Government enterprises that are embracing approaches, such as Service- Oriented Architectures (SOA), especially when there is a desire to promote information sharing across functional, organizational, or Community of Interest (COI) boundaries. Many Government organizations evaluate Implementation of security measures against the risk that a particular vulnerability will be exploited by a particular threat. Informed Information security Investment decisions are made based upon analysis of cost, benefit, schedule, performance, and risk tradeoffs. The Investment decision-making space for Information security In a web-based, service-oriented environment is explored in this paper, and methods for evaluating operational, economic and performance implications are considered. This paper discusses the value and practicality of applying Return-on-Investment (ROI) analysis for Government information security investment decision-making, especially when information sharing is a key success driver. Recommendations are based upon preliminary findings of a MITRE Mission-Oriented Investigation and Experimentation (MOIE) effort related to SOA Performance Measures Expression In Performance-Based Acquisition (PBA) Vehicles.
Socio-economic effect of seismic retrofit of bridges for highway transportation networks: a pilot study

A simulation-based study is performed to evaluate the socio-economic effect of seismic retrofit of bridges using the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Los Angeles area highway network as the testbed. 47 scenario earthquakes that represent the regional seismic hazard, consistent with the US Geological Survey (USGS) hazard map, are considered. Two sets of bridge fragility curves, before and after seismic retrofit, are used to simulate the seismic performance of the network in both cases. Analysis estimates the total social cost arising from driver delay and loss of opportunity in the degraded network. The benefit of seismic retrofitting is computed in present values as equal to the total future economic losses avoided from social cost and repair/restoration cost over the remaining bridge service lives. Estimated benefit is compared with the retrofit cost to investigate the benefit-cost ratio. Study shows that from the Caltrans point of interest, bridge seismic retrofit is cost-effective whe...
Increased Plasma Levels of MMP-9 are Associated with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Previous investigators have identified disease-specific elevations of the metalloelastase, MMP-9, in aneurysm tissue biopsies. We hypothesized that circulating MMP-9 might also be elevated in patients with aneurysms. The purpose of this study was to compare plasma and aortic tissue MMP-9 levels in patients with infrarenal aneurysms (AAA), patients with symptomatic aortoiliac occlusive disease (AOD), and normals (NA). Methods Sandwich ELISA was used to measure plasma MMP-9 in patients with AAA (n = 22; mean age, 72.7 years), AOD (n = 9; 60.5 years), and NA (n = 8; 35.3 years). MMP-9 levels were also measured in 48-hour superna-tants of organ culture tissue explants from patients with AAA (n = 10; 66.2 years), AOD (n = 5; 50.4 years), and organ donors (n = 7; 48.1 years). Results were reported as mean ± SE and analyzed using ANOVA with multivariate regression. Results Plasma MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in patients with AAA (85.66 ± 11.64 ng/ml) than in AOD patients (25.75 ± 4.159 ng/ml; p p p p Conclusions Plasma MMP-9 levels are significantly higher in AAA patients than AOD patients or normal volunteers. Patients with multiple aneurysms have higher levels than those with an isolated AAA. Organ culture studies suggest that diseased aortic tissue is the source of MMP-9.