cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling and Estimation of Friction, Extension, and Coupling Effects in Multisegment Continuum Robots

The prevalence of wire-actuated mechanisms and continuum robots (CRs) for surgical applications stems from several advantages due to the remote location of actuators from the end-effectors (e.g., improved down scalability and sterilization). These advantages, however, come at the expense of inherent uncertainties due to backlash effects, compliance, and friction in the actuation lines, which in turn, limit their precision. In addition, multisegment CRs suffer from actuation coupling, diminishing the accuracy of their kinematic model. This paper aims to address these two gaps by presenting a model-based estimation and actuation compensation framework enabling the online estimation of modeling uncertainties and friction, despite possible temporal changes in these parameters and cross coupling between segments. A capstan friction model accounting for friction-induced actuation line extensions in both fixed and variable geometry conduits is presented. A modified statics model for multisegment robots is presented to account for cross-coupling effects between subsequent CR segments. A sequential estimation approach using the robot inverse kinematics, statics, and measurements of actuated joint positions and forces is then presented. These approaches are then validated experimentally on a two-segment single port access surgery CR.
Development of a combined Mr Fingerprinting and Diffusion examination for Prostate cancer

This study demonstrates the feasibility of MR fingerprinting in the characterization of prostate disease and indicates that MR fingerprinting–derived T1 and T2 with standard apparent diffusion coefficient can help differentiate peripheral zone cancer from normal prostate tissue and has the potential to help separate high- or intermediate-grade tumors from low-grade malignancy.
Changes in lean mass and serum myostatin with habitual protein intake and high-velocity resistance training

Examine the associations between dietary protein intake, lean mass (LM), and serum myostatin (Mstn) levels among community-dwelling older adults participating in a 20-week high-velocity resistance training (HVRT) program. This longitudinal study consisted of 33 community-dwelling, older adults (mean age 77.0 years, SD = 6.4); all of which obtained physician clearance prior to study participation. Twenty-five females and eight males were randomized to a control (CON) or HVRT group. Anthropometric measures were obtained via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral venous blood draw used for serum myostatin analysis. Exercise was performed twice per week for 20 consecutive weeks. Food intake estimation with a diet history questionnaire (DHQ) was used for protein intake comparison to the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). All measures were recorded both prior to and following study participation. Altogether, protein was consumed in amounts more generous (1.01 ± 0.47 g·kg-1·d-1) than that of the RDA (0.8 g·kg-1·d-1). As a result of significant LM differences among men and women (p < 0.01), additional data were analyzed specific to sex. Serum myostatin was greater among females (6681.8 ± 3155.0 pg·mL-1) than males (5560.0 ± 2946.1 pg·mL-1); however, these values were not significantly different (p = 0.39). Combined, protein consumption and serum myostatin did not significantly influence LM among males (p = 0.09) or females (p = 0.71). Irrespective of training group, significant changes were not exhibited in dietary intake patterns, LM, or serum myostatin. Contrary to the proposed hypothesis, results suggest protein consumption and circulating serum myostatin levels did not significantly influence LM among older adults. Although HVRT positively impacts LM, neither exercise group displayed significant changes in LM. Therefore, further research is needed examining dietary intake, exercise modality, and myostatin downregulation as non-pharmacological approaches to combating sarcopenia..
Getting Research Data by Group Conference

NE serious problem in research is to obtain useful, reliable ideas and data at a reasonable cost. In farm management research, we have used several methods. The most common have been the survey or personal interview, records kept by farmers, and secondary data such as the census and experimental work done by workers in other fields. We must add to this the direct observations and experiences of the research workers. We might profitably make use of group interviews or conferences as an additional method. I would like to evaluate this method on the
A Mask-Based Post Processing Approach for Improving the Quality and Intelligibility of Deep Neural Network Enhanced Speech

In this paper, we propose a method for post-processing of deep neural network (DNN) enhanced speech. The method, which is simple and does not require additional training or expansion of the feature or target vectors, can be viewed as a mask-based approach in which a noisy speech signal is processed by a time-frequency (T-F) weighting derived from the noise-free spectral estimate of a DNN. A series of experiments and statistical analyses of results are carried out to compare the performance of the proposed approach to a baseline DNN enhancement system that features no post processing. Objective tests show that the proposed approach always improves both speech quality and intelligibility, and it outperforms a corresponding baseline system in both matched and mismatched noise conditions. Analysis of the enhanced speech shows that post processing reduces severe amplification distortions in the magnitude spectrum of the enhanced speech at the cost of a slight increase in severe attenuation distortions.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy vs. surgery in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer: lessons learned, current recommendations, future directions.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States (1). Early stage (T1–T2N0) nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) accounts for 16% of new diagnoses, a proportion that is expected to rise with the implementation of low-dose CT screening programs (2).
Neuroimaging of Tourette’s Syndrome Neurobiologic Substrate

Neuroimaging studies have largely corroborated clinical and pre-clinical evidence for the involvement of corticostriatal circuitry in the pathophysiology of Tourette’s syndrome (TS). Relative to normal controls, TS basal ganglia appear to be reduced in volume, and they have reduced blood flow and metabolism. These abnormalities may be more prominent on the left, thereby contributing to abnormal cerebral asymmetries that may implicate the involvement of certain pathogenic influences on the developing cerebrum of children who are genetically predisposed to the disorder. Evidence for the involvement of similar neural circuitry in obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may account for the prevalence of these illnesses as TS comorbidities.
Comparison of Intracranial Pressure Transducers

Initial experience with intracranial pressure depended on a catheter which was volume-coupled to an external strain gauge transducer. Lundberg (1960), Lundberg et al. (1965) demonstrated the safety and efficacy of intraventricular catheters. Vries et al. (1973) subsequently devised a skull bolt which communicated with the subarachnoid space. Both systems required free communication with an intracranial fluid space, and failure of the recording system was associated with obliteration of these fluid spaces or obstruction of the catheters. Volume-coupled systems were also limited by noise due to movement of the fluid path and difficulties in maintaining consistent calibration. The frequency response of volume coupled systems is also poor, restricting its use with certain mathematical techniques. A technique utilizing cotton wicks for measuring brain tissue pressure has also been described (Marmarou et al. 1975), but this method was the least reliable of all volume-coupled approaches.
Improving autism perinatal risk factors: A systematic review

Abstract Background Current understanding of the etiology of autism is based on the interaction of multiple genes with each other and with environmental factors, leading to a neurodevelopmental process that results in the expression of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the child. This suggests that it might be possible to strengthen resilience to environmental stressors during the perinatal period to improve outcomes and possibly prevent the development of ASD. Methods We searched the MEDLINE database for multiple perinatal factors associated with the development of ASD published between January 1, 2005 and July 1, 2018. The search terms used were “autism” crossed with either “perinatal,” “prenatal,” “gestational,” or “pregnancy,” and crossed again with each perinatal risk factor highlighted in this review including topics on parental health, infections, medications, and environmental stressors. We then searched interventions that may improve neurodevelopmental outcome before and during pregnancy, including supplements, breastfeeding, and postpartum stress reduction. We identified recent or unique metanalyses and systematic reviews of the identified focus and on randomized controlled trials and summarized these using the most recent and comprehensive reviews. Results Folate, omega-3, vitamin D3, environmental toxin avoidance, correcting deficiencies, immune boosting, and prolonged breast feeding are all reported to be linked to the possible reduction of adverse pregnancy outcomes including ASD. Conclusions Studies of individual components for improving pregnancy outcomes and several uncontrolled preconception to infancy medical practices suggest that multiple interventions might improve the outcomes of pregnancies where there is risk for developing ASD.
The Case against the Conventional Publication of Academic and Scientific Books

An essay that weighs the main factors that lead authors of academic and scientific books to consider conventional publication of their work, with realistic and practical recommendations for these authors so they may avoid the contractual “imprisonment” of their books after the period of initial active sales has passed.
Physiological ecology of howlers (Alouatta) : Energetic and digestive considerations and comparison with the Colobinae

Remarkably little attention has been focused on the physiological ecology of free-ranging primates. Yet without such information, it may prove difficult to advance our understanding of factors influencing the dietary behavior of wild primates much beyond its present state. Mantled howlers (Alouatta palliata) have been studied in terms of some features of physiological ecology. Results of this work have helped to clarify some factors influencing howler and other primate food choices in the natural environment and have called into question various assumptions about leaf-eating primates. For example, though howlers eat considerable foliage, they do not exhibit a lower than predicted basal metabolic rate, nor do available data suggest that secondary compounds strongly influence howler food selection. Comparison of howlers with members of the Colobinae reveals some differences in features of their respective energetic and digestive physiology and raises timely issues for future research.
A Robotic Cell for Multi-Resolution Additive Manufacturing

Extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM), also known as fused deposition modeling (FDM) extrudes filaments through a heated nozzle and builds a part layer-by-layer. Using a smaller diameter nozzle can achieve better surface finish. However, there is a trade-off between surface finish and build times as using a small diameter nozzle leads to smaller layer thickness and long build times. Traditional FDM printers create a part with planar layers, and this restricts control over fiber orientations. This paper presents a robotic cell for multi-resolution AM. The cell consists of two 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) robot manipulators capable of printing non-planar and/or planar layers. We describe algorithms for decomposing parts into multi-resolution layers and generating collision-free trajectories for the robot manipulators. We validate our approach by printing five parts with multi-resolution.
Cognitive Task Analysis for Implicit Knowledge About Visual Representations With Similarity Learning Methods.

Visual representations are prevalent in STEM instruction. To benefit from visuals, students need representational competencies that enable them to see meaningful information. Most research has focused on explicit conceptual representational competencies, but implicit perceptual competencies might also allow students to efficiently see meaningful information in visuals. Most common methods to assess students' representational competencies rely on verbal explanations or assume explicit attention. However, because perceptual competencies are implicit and not necessarily verbally accessible, these methods are ill-equipped to assess them. We address these shortcomings with a method that draws on similarity learning, a machine learning technique that detects visual features that account for participants' responses to triplet comparisons of visuals. In Experiment 1, 614 chemistry students judged the similarity of Lewis structures and in Experiment 2, 489 students judged the similarity of ball-and-stick models. Our results showed that our method can detect visual features that drive students' perception and suggested that students' conceptual knowledge about molecules informed perceptual competencies through top-down processes. Furthermore, Experiment 2 tested whether we can improve the efficiency of the method with active sampling. Results showed that random sampling yielded higher accuracy than active sampling for small sample sizes. Together, the experiments provide the first method to assess students' perceptual competencies implicitly, without requiring verbalization or assuming explicit visual attention. These findings have implications for the design of instructional interventions that help students acquire perceptual representational competencies.
Tabular Web Data: Schema Discovery and Integration

Web data such as web tables, lists, and data records from a wide variety of domains can be combined for different purposes such as querying for information and creating example data sets. Tabular web data location, extraction, and schema discovery and integration are important for effectively combining, querying, and presenting it in a uniform format. We focus on schema generation and integration for both a static and a dynamic framework. We contribute algorithms for generating individual schemas from extracted tabular web data and integrating the generated schemas. Our approach is novel because it contributes functionality not previously addressed; it accommodates both the static and dynamic frameworks, different kinds of web data types, schema discovery and unification, and table integration.
Improving firefighters hazard recognition with energy based hazard recognition training

Abstract Firefighting is dangerous work that includes assessing fire grounds to recognize hazardous conditions. Due to the high fatality rate and danger of the occupation, the industry is constantly striving to uncover knowledge to reduce the inherent risks of firefighting. To advance theory and application of hazard recognition in the fire service industry, a multiphase research project was conducted with the following objectives: 1) perform a two group pre-test/post-test design, 2) deliver energy based hazard recognition training as an intervention, 3) empirically measure improvement in hazard recognition performance, and 4) perform 3-month downstream assessments to evaluate retained knowledge of the treatment group. A total of 43 firefighters across Eastern North Carolina participated in the study. ANOVA analysis and t-test statistics were used to determine if the provision of energy based hazard recognition training affects firefighters hazard recognition performance. The ANOVA results show that there was a statistically significant 21.02% increase (p
A Crossover Randomized Trial of Visual Abstracts Versus Plain-Text Tweets for Disseminating Orthopedics Research.

Abstract Background Scientists, surgeons, and trainees are increasingly taking an active role on Twitter to find, disseminate, and exchange knowledge. The purpose of this study was to determine if peer-reviewed journal articles shared on Twitter using visual abstracts (VAs) improve user engagement compared with plain-text tweets. Methods A two-arm randomized controlled trial with crossover was performed. Manuscripts from the Journal of Arthroplasty were allocated to one of two arms and disseminated via the journal Twitter account (@JArthroplasty) as either a text-based tweet or a VA. The primary outcome was online engagement (a composite of retweets, replies, and likes) at 7 and 30 days after posting. Univariate analysis for nonparametric and parametric data was performed using Mann-Whitney test or Student t-tests, respectively; alpha was set at 0.05. Results 20 in-press manuscripts were randomized to standard tweets (10) or VAs (10) the same day of online publication. The mean number of engagements was higher in the VA group at seven (412 ± 216 vs 195 ± 133; P = .016) and 30 days (495 ± 204 vs 244 ± 162; P = .007). After the crossover, similar results were reported. Overall, VAs attracted a significantly greater number of engagements than standard tweets. Most engagement for both plain-text tweets and VAs occurred shortly after the tweet is posted. Conclusion Online, public engagement with orthopedic research is generally low. However, when VAs are used to communicate research through social media outlets such as Twitter, the overall research engagement significantly increases compared with plain-text tweets.
Abstract 274: Identifying the Optimal Cerebral Perfusion Pressure Following Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury

Introduction: The optimal cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) is currently unknown. We retrospectively analyzed intracranial monitoring data from a coho...
High-Throughput Measurement and Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Collision Cross Sections for Drugs and Drug Metabolites

Abstract Drug metabolite identification is a bottleneck of drug metabolism studies. Ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) enables the measurement of collision cross section (CCS), a unique physical property related to an ion’s gas-phase size and shape, which can be used to increase the confidence in the identification of unknowns. A current limitation to the application of IM-MS to the identification of drug metabolites is the lack of reference CCS values. In this work, we present the production of a large-scale database of drug and drug metabolite CCS values, assembled using high-throughput in vitro drug metabolite generation and a rapid IM-MS analysis with automated data processing. Subsequently, we used this database to train a machine learning-based CCS prediction model, employing a combination of conventional 2D molecular descriptors and novel 3D descriptors. This novel prediction model enables the prediction of different CCS values for different protomers, conformers, and positional isomers for the first time.
Expanding Hospital Capacity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Family Voice Matters

During the initial COVID-19 response, this children's hospital reduced its inpatient capacity by 52 beds with double rooms' conversion to single patient occupancy, causing significant capacity constraints. To solve this challenge, the family perspective was engaged to safely redouble patient rooms and expand capacity as clinical activity increased during the COVID-19 response. Methods The team conducted qualitative descriptive interviews with parents of children undergoing congenital heart surgery admitted to the inpatient cardiac unit in a 404-bed free-standing children's hospital. A 2-week pilot study utilizing patient-specific inclusion criteria, newly developed patient room guidelines, universal masking, physical distancing, and inpatient room enhancements with parent COVID-19 testing was conducted. Results Interviews were conducted [pre (n = 7) and post (n = 6)] regarding patient room redoubling. Participants perceived utilization of double rooms as safe with increased protection, including universal masking, physical distancing, room enhancements, and increased bathroom cleaning. However, some families verbalized anxiety regarding visitation restriction to one parent at a time at the bedside. Additional concerns were voiced around the timing of communication about the need to be placed in a double room. In response, visitation increased to 2 parents at bedside and communication of utilization of double rooms was included in preoperative preparations postpilot. Inclusion criteria were expanded to patients of all ages and included full use of shared in-room bathrooms by parents and patients. Conclusions Parents perceived patient room redoubling as safe and family centered. Findings from the pilot study were used to scale broad utilization and increase access to care across the institution.
Currency Futures-Spot Basis and Risk Premium

This paper explores the usefulness of currency futures-spot basis in predicting spot rate changes and currency futures returns. We conjecture that the currency risk premium may be an important component of the basis for long-maturity futures contracts, but may not be so for short-maturities. Thus, the basis of long-maturity contracts cannot predict the spot rate changes between now and maturity, rejecting uncovered interest rate parity (UIP), but can predict currency futures returns, which are solely determined by the risk premium. Conversely, the basis of the short-maturity contracts can predict the spot rate changes between now and maturity, validating the UIP, but cannot predict currency futures returns. Empirical tests support these conjectures for the Japanese, British, Swiss, and German currencies over the last two decades. The results are also consistent with Longstaff [Longstaff, F., 2000. The term structure of very short-term rates: new evidence for the Expectation Hypothesis. Journal of Financial Economics 58, 397-415], who shows that the Expectations Hypothesis holds at the very short end of the term structure of interest rates.
Urban, Low-Income, African American Well-Child Care: Comparison of Parent and Healthcare Provider Experiences and Expectations

Urban, low-income, African American children and parents report lower quality primary care and face negative social determinants of health. High-quality well-child care is critical for this population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to compare and contrast parent and health care provider experiences of well-child care for urban, low-income, African American families to better understand the complex factors involved in care quality and health outcomes. Two data sets were analyzed using conventional content analysis, parent focus group data, and provider interviews. After analysis, results were sorted into similar categories, and convergence coding was completed to identify areas of agreement, partial agreement, dissonance, and silence. Thirty-five parents took part in four focus groups, and nine providers were interviewed. Following convergence coding, five categories and 31 subcategories were identified. The five categories included: social determinants of health, sources of advice and support, challenges with the healthcare system, parent-provider relationships, and anticipatory guidance topics. Triangulation demonstrated convergence between parents and providers understanding of the concepts and functions of well-child care, however the prominence and meaning varied within each category and sub-category. The variance in agreement, areas of silence, and dissonance shed light on why the population reports lower overall quality primary care.
Next Generation Antiobesity Medications: Setmelanotide, Semaglutide, Tirzepatide and Bimagrumab: What do They Mean for Clinical Practice?

A new generation of anti-obesity drugs is in development or just arriving on the scene. The first, setmelanotide, has been approved for three ultrarare genetic conditions that cause obesity: pro-opiomelanocortin deficiency, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1, which encodes an important enzyme in the melanocortin pathway) mutation, and leptin receptor deficiency. Setmelanotide marks the initiation of a personalized medical approach to obesity. The second, 2.4 mg semaglutide once weekly, has been submitted to regulators in the United States and the European Union for approval in overweight patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥27 kg/m2), and those with both obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) and at least one weight-related comorbidity. This drug has been studied in five phase 3 clinical trials, four of which are discussed herein: semaglutide produces roughly double the weight loss that typically occurs in patients prescribed older anti-obesity medications. Semaglutide is already approved for treatment of diabetes, and this glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor analog is part of a class of drugs used widely in diabetes. The third, tirzepatide, is a glucose-insulin peptide and GLP-1 dual agonist in phase 3 trials for obesity management, and the fourth, bimagrumab is a new agent with a unique mechanism of action currently being assessed in phase 2 trials; both are generating much interest. The purpose of this narrative review is to lay the groundwork for a discussion of the clinical impact of these new medications on the clinical management of obesity. Further, we discuss the likely impact of these new anti-obesity medications on the future of obesity pharmacotherapy.
Excess branched-chain amino acids alter myotube metabolism and substrate preference which is worsened by concurrent insulin resistance.

Purpose Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) have been shown to enhance several cellular signaling pathways including protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis, yet population data demonstrate a correlation between circulating BCAA and severity of insulin resistance which has been hypothesized to be, in part, a byproduct of BCAA inhibition of mitochondrial function. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of a BCAA mixture on muscle metabolism and related gene expression in vitro. Methods C2C12 myotubes were treated with a BCAA mixture containing leucine:isoleucine:valine at a ratio of 2:1:1 at 0.2, 2, or 20 mM (based on leucine content) for 6 days. qRT-PCR was used to measure metabolic gene expression. Oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification were used to assess mitochondrial and glycolytic metabolism, respectively. Mitochondrial content was determined via mitochondrial-specific staining. Results Despite significantly elevated mitochondrial staining, 6-day BCAA treatment reduced basal mitochondrial metabolism at a supraphysiological concentration (20 mM) in both insulin sensitive and resistant cells. Peak mitochondrial capacity was also reduced in insulin-resistant (but not insulin sensitive) cells. Conversely, basal glycolytic metabolism was elevated following 20 mM BCAA treatment, regardless of insulin resistance. In addition, insulin-resistant cells treated with 20 mM BCAA exhibited reduced gene expression of Ppargc1a, Cytc, Atp5b, Glut4, and several glycolytic enzymes versus insulin sensitive cells treated with 20 mM BCAA. Conclusions Collectively, these findings suggest BCAA at supraphysiologically high levels may negatively alter mitochondrial metabolism, and concurrent insulin resistance may also diminish peak mitochondrial capacity, as well as impede molecular adaptations that support a transition to a glycolytic preference/compensation.
Comments on "On Slip-Flow Heat Transfer to a Flat Plate"

FIG. 3. Effect of injection of helium upon velocity profiles for several values of Cw. to the wall is zero. Calculations were made for hydrogen and helium as the injected gases. The fluid properties were obtained from the work of Carlson and Schneider; for the case of hydrogen, these properties are the same as those of reference 2. The velocity and concentration profiles are given in Figs. 1 and 2 for hydrogen, and in Figs. 3 and 4 for helium, for several wall concentrations Cw; for comparison, the corresponding results of reference 2 for hydrogen are given in Figs. 1 and 2. In general, the results obtained here are in good agreement with those of reference 2 except a t the higher wall concentrations. The local skin-friction coefficient c/ for hydrogen and helium obtained herein and the corresponding results of reference 2 for hydrogen are given in Fig. 5 as a function of Cw. The values of c/ by the integral method are about 20 per cent higher than those of reference 2, an agreement somewhat less than that corresponding to the velocity profiles. The lesser accuracy for the derivatives of the velocity than for the velocity is general^ to be expected with the integral method.
Biologic aspects of endodontics: IV. Periapical tissue reactions to root-filled teeth whose canals had been instrumented short of their apices

Pulp extirpations and root canal instrumentation shy of the apices of the teeth were performed on thirty-four human anterior teeth and on thirty-two roots of sixteen teeth of Macaca rhesus monkeys. The root canals were then filled short of the apices of twenty-four human teeth and twenty-two roots of eleven monkey teeth. Root canal fillings were purposely forced beyond the apices of nine human teeth and ten roots of five animal teeth. Observations were made of the periapical tissue reactions to those procedures after time intervals ranging from 6 to 270 days in the human groups and 14 days to 270 days in the animal series. Comparisons were made between the periapical tissue reactions of the two groups. Periapical tissue reactions were similar in both groups, initially. There was an acute inflammatory response in the apical pulp and periapical tissues, which was gradually superseded by chronic inflammation. Dentine filings were found to have been impacted on the remaining apical pulp stump in the group in which the canals had been filled shy of the apex. When the filling material had been pushed beyond the apex, the dentine debris and root canal filling materials were found in the periapical tissues. In both groups, periapical inflammation was accompanied by root end and alveolar bone resorption. Within 3 to 6 months, repair of the resorptions by secondary cementum and bone elaboration occurred routinely in most of the teeth. From 6 to 12 months later such repair was generally complete in the group in which the canals were filled shy of the apices. Repair was delayed in the group in which the canals had been overfilled. In addition, in this group there was a greater tendency toward proliferation of cell rests of Malassez. Foreign filling material in the periapical tissues tended to become encapsulated by collagen fibers. It was concluded that, in cases of vital pulp extirpation, optimum results, in terms of tissue repair, were obtained when root canals were instrumented and filled short of the apices of the teeth.
Death Through Respiratory Failure of a Fraction of Ultraviolet-Irradiated Escherichia coli B/r Cells

Escherichia coli B/r cells grown on a glycerol-containing medium and ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated to about 0.5% survival respire for about 1 hr and then cease for several hours. The cells that have completed repair and recovery processes begin to divide about 120 min after UV treatment, but this division is completely inhibited in liquid medium by caffeine, which delays repair of the irradiated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). When 5-fluorouracil (FU) is used to maintain respiration, the number of cells which form colonies when plated increases about 60-fold within 1 hr after irradiation. At least part of this increase does not involve repair while the cells are in the liquid medium because when caffeine is present there is still a 20-fold increase in colony formation. We conclude that many irradiated cells, although capable of carrying out complete and accurate repair of their DNA, die of respiratory failure; only when continuance of respiration is favored by FU treatment is their colony-forming potential realized. After an early increase, the number of cells able to form colonies in medium that contains FU remains constant while the completion of repair and recovery occurs. After these processes are completed, the number of cells able to form colonies increases slowly, except in the presence of caffeine, presumably because the late increase requires that repair steps take place while the cells are in liquid medium prior to cell division.
Experimental infection of calves and adult cattle with Escherichia coli O157:H7

Preweaned calves and adult cattle were inoculated with 10(10) CFU of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain 3081, a calf isolate which produces Shiga-like toxin, to define the magnitude and duration of fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 for each age group. Fecal samples of eight of eight, eight of eight, three of eight, and two of eight calves were positive at 2, 7, 14, and 20 weeks, respectively. In contrast, nine of nine, two of nine, and one of nine steers were positive at 2, 7, and 14 weeks, respectively. The magnitude of shedding (CFU per gram) by individual animals at any one time postinoculation varied widely within each age group but was greater for calves as a group. The differences in shedding patterns between adults and calves were statistically significant. After inoculation, 25 of 29 animals remained healthy and 4 of 17 calves had transient diarrhea. Histologic sections of the brain, kidney, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon taken at necropsy from nine calves either 3, 14, or 18 days postinoculation or three adults either 2, 3, or 4 days postinoculation were normal. E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from the alimentary tracts of all of the animals necropsied, and there was no evidence of spread to the liver, spleen, or kidneys. Four calves that had ceased shedding were reinfected when inoculated again with the same strain. E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from none of five and two of five adults inoculated with 10(4) and 10(7) CFU, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Analysis of a ‘turn-key’ no hardware space mission using the orbital services model

Many applications that would benefit from access to space cannot afford the cost of spacecraft development, launch and operations. Other operations require only a fraction of a spacecraft or complete use of a spacecraft for a limited period of time. This paper considers the value of a ‘turn-key’ style space mission. It considers what types of missions could be reasonably conducted using this approach. The economics of being a service provider are considered. Then, a prospective mission concept for one OSM ‘turn-key’ mission is presented. The value proposition of this mission is assessed and the hardware and other capabilities required for it are discussed. Then, a discussion of the economics for orbital service providers is presented, using the prospective mission as an illustrative example. Finally, prospective pathways to the technological and commercial points required for OSM ‘turn-key’ missions to become a reality are discussed, before concluding.
Recurrent Isolated Sixth Nerve Palsy in Relapsing-Remitting Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.

Introduction Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an immune-mediated sensory and motor demyelinating polyneuropathy that typically presents as a relapsing-remitting or progressive disorder. Cranial neuropathies infrequently occur in association with other more typical symptoms of CIDP. Case report We report a case of CIDP with recurrent isolated sixth nerve palsy. Her physical examination showed a right sixth nerve palsy and absent deep tendon reflexes as the only indicator of her disease. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed thickening without enhancement of the trigeminal and sixth cranial nerves. Nerve conduction study (NCS) revealed a sensory and motor demyelinating polyneuropathy with conduction block and temporal dispersion in multiple nerves consistent with CIDP. Cerebrospinal fluid demonstrated albuminic-cytologic dissociation. She had a remarkable response to intravenous immunoglobulin and remains asymptomatic without any additional immunomodulating therapy. Conclusions Isolated cranial neuropathies can rarely occur as the sole manifestation of relapsing-remitting CIDP. The profound demyelination found on NCS in this case demonstrates that there can be a dramatic discordance between the clinical and electrodiagnostic findings in some patients with this disorder.
N-Acetylglucosamine Assimilation in Escherichia coli and Its Relation to Catabolite Repression

The ability of N-acetylglucosamine to enhance catabolite repression by glucose was studied by using cultures grown on a combination of these substrates. Under these conditions, it was shown that two-thirds of the N-acetylglucosamine utilized was routed into dissimilatory pathways, whereas the remaining one-third was channeled into biosynthesis. It was established that over 50% of the N-acetylglucosamine assimilated was incorporated directly into amino sugar polymers. It was also shown that this exogenous supply of N-acetylglucosamine was in fact used preferentially over glucose as the precursor for amino sugar polymer biosynthesis. These findings provided support for the prediction that catabolite repression in Escherichia coli may be interrelated with certain reactions involved in amino sugar biosynthesis.
Globalization, Psychology, and Social Issues Research:An Introduction and Conceptual Framework

This manuscript provides an introduction to the JSI special issue on The Intersection of Psychology and Globalization. We provide both theoretical and applied rationale for why the discipline of psychology would be well served by entering into the academic discourse on globalization. We present a multifaceted definition of globalization and review extant social science research on globalization that speaks to the psychological implications of globalization. We also discuss Bronfrenbrenner's ecological model as an appropriate theoretical framework to link individual health, behavior and attitudes to macro socioeconomic processes. With this as a backdrop we introduce each of the manuscripts in this special issue with a focus on their specific contributions to developing a theoretical and empirical foundation for understanding and responding to the relationship between psychology and globalization.
Characterization of a radio frequency glow discharge emission source

Abstract A radio frequency glow discharge atomic emission source is described. This source incorporates two optical windows, one positioned such that both the glow region of the discharge and the sample surface may be viewed simultaneously, and the other positioned such that only the glow may be viewed. Preliminary signal-to-noise ratios obtained with the two optical geometries are compared and found to be similar. However, optical monitoring of both the glow and sample surface results in significantly higher emission intensities, owing to the more complete viewing of the energetic regions of the discharge. As a result, this geometry may be considered to be analytically more advantageous. Additionally, data are presented to illustrate the dependences of the dc self-bias potential, excitation temperature, sputter rate, and emission intensities of sputtered species on discharge pressure and generator output power. Scanning electron micrographs of the surface of a machinable glass ceramic (MACOR) sample indicate that appreciable sputtering of electrically nonconductive solid samples occurs in the rf glow discharge. Comparison of data acquired with conductive and nonconductive samples is made to show the similar behavior of the discharge in the presence of the two sample types. Exemplary spectra are presented to illustrate the potential usefulness of the source for the emission spectrometric analysis of both electrically conductive and nonconductive solids.
Glucose-induced phospholipid hydrolysis in isolated pancreatic islets: quantitative effects on the phospholipid content of arachidonate and other fatty acids

Our recent findings indicate that glucose-induced insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets is temporally associated with accumulation of substantial amounts of free arachidonic acid and that arachidonate may serve as a second messenger for intracellular calcium mobilization in islets. In an effort to determine the source of this released arachidonate, the endogenous fatty acid composition of phospholipids from islets has been determined by thin-layer chromatographic separation of the phospholipids, methanolysis to the fatty acid methyl esters, and quantitative gas chromatographic analyses. The relative abundance of phospholipids in islets as judged by their fatty acid content was phosphatidylcholine (PC), 0.63; phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), 0.23; phosphatidylinositol (PI), 0.067; phosphatidylserine (PS), 0.049. Arachidonate constituted 17% of the total islet fatty acid content, and PC contained 43% of total islet arachidonate. Islets incubated with [3H]arachidonate in the presence of 28 mM D-glucose incorporated radiolabel into PC with a considerably higher specific activity than that of PE, PS or PI. The total fatty acid content of PC from islets incubated with 28 mM glucose for 30 min was significantly lower than that of islets incubated with 3 mM glucose, and smaller effects were observed with PE, PS and PI. The molar decrement in PC arachidonate was 3.2 pmol/islet under these conditions, which is sufficient to account for the previously observed accumulation of free arachidonate (2 pmol/islet). A sensitive method involving negative ion-chemical ionization-mass spectrometric analyses of the pentafluorobenzyl esters of fatty acids derived from trace amounts of lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC) was developed, and glucose-stimulation was found to reduce islet lyso-PC content by about 10-fold. These findings indicate that the insulin secretagogue D-glucose induces phospholipid hydrolysis in islets and suggest that PC may be the major source of free arachidonate which accumulates in glucose-stimulated islets.
Disruption of Four Kinesin Genes in Dictyostelium

Kinesin and dynein are the two families of microtubule-based motors that drive much of the intracellular movements in eukaryotic cells. Using a gene knockout strategy, we address here the individual function(s) of four of the 13 kinesin proteins in Dictyostelium. The goal of our ongoing project is to establish a minimal motility proteome for this basal eukaryote, enabling us to contrast motor functions here with the often far more elaborate motor families in the metazoans. We performed individual disruptions of the kinesin genes, kif4, kif8, kif10, and kif11. None of the motors encoded by these genes are essential for development or viability of Dictyostelium. Removal of Kif4 (kinesin-7; CENP-E family) significantly impairs the rate of cell growth and, when combined with a previously characterized dynein inhibition, results in dramatic defects in mitotic spindle assembly. Kif8 (kinesin-4; chromokinesin family) and Kif10 (kinesin-8; Kip3 family) appear to cooperate with dynein to organize the interphase radial microtubule array. The results reported here extend the number of kinesin gene disruptions in Dictyostelium, to now total 10, among the 13 isoforms. None of these motors, individually, are required for short-term viability. In contrast, homologs of at least six of the 10 kinesins are considered essential in humans. Our work underscores the functional redundancy of motor isoforms in basal organisms while highlighting motor specificity in more complex metazoans. Since motor disruption in Dictyostelium can readily be combined with other motility insults and stresses, this organism offers an excellent system to investigate functional interactions among the kinesin motor family.
Conventional and multiple trellis-coded 8-PSK on EHF mobile satellite channels

Conventional and multiple trellis-coded 8-PSK modulation schemes designed for a Rician fading environment are evaluated over the EHF (20 GHz) mobile satellite channels. The propagation characteristics of the EHF mobile satellite channels are estimated and modeled. Computer simulation results of different trellis-coded modulation schemes are presented for performance comparison. >
The earliest Helicosalpinx from Canada and the global expansion of commensalism in Late Ordovician sarcinulid corals (Tabulata)

Abstract Spiral embedment cavities that formed around metazoan endosymbionts are preserved in the septa and intercorallite spaces of Columnopora and Calapoeciacorals from Manitoulin Island, Ontario. These are the oldest described Helicosalpinx asturiana, and this report extends the range of these trace fossils from the Richmondian (Ashgill, Upper Ordovician) to the Givetian (upper Middle Devonian). The sinistrally coiled traces show regular morphology, suggesting a physiological basis for their shape. Coral growth parameters are not affected by the presence of Helicosalpinx, suggesting that the endosymbiont was not parasitic and not in direct competition for resources with the host. H. asturiana is interpreted as trace fossil evidence of commensalism. Two additional endosymbiotic traces occur in Late Ordovician Columnopora. The particular association of straight, cylindrical Chaetosalpinx with Columnopora is widespread during the Richmondian. A dependent association is suggested to have originated between the endosymbiont and Columnopora prior to the Richmondian expansion and to have continued into the Hirnantian (latest Ordovician). The association between this endosymbiont and host is the earliest known temporally and globally significant inter-metazoan symbiosis. Although host corals, Columnopora and Calapoecia, did not survive the end-Ordovician mass extinction events, both Chaetosalpinx and Helicosalpinx occur in other host corals during the Silurian and Devonian.
Multiple chirp sparse frequency LFM ladar signals

We show through numerical modeling that the range resolution of a multi-band, sparse frequency CW-LFM chirped signal has an effective bandwidth related to the modulation bandwidth and the band frequency offsets of all bands. The range resolution predicted from the effective bandwidth of our sparse CW-LFM signal is comparable to that of standard continuous bandwidth CW-LFM signals. We also discuss unique issues that arise from the use of sparse frequency CWLFM chirped signals, such as ambiguity and peak to side-lobe ratio fluctuations, and how they are related to the multiple frequency components of the signal.
Sleep-disordered breathing and blood pressure in children.

The article by Bixler et al in this edition of Hypertension 1 adds to a growing body of evidence that risk factors associated with abdominal obesity in adults, namely, sleep-disordered breathing (apnea-hypopnea), occur in children as well. Specifically, sleep-disordered breathing appeared to be more strongly associated with waist circumference, a surrogate marker for abdominal obesity, than with body mass index, a more generalized or global obesity marker. Although body mass index in children and youth is strongly related to prevalent metabolic syndrome,2 …
Miscibility studies on blends of Kraton block copolymer and asphalt

Miscibility phase behavior in blends of SBS copolymers (Kraton 1101) and asphalt has been investigated through establishment of thermodynamic phase diagrams. The observed phase diagram of the SBS/asphalt blend is an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) type with a maximum at about 20% copolymer and around 200 °C. The study on kinetics of phase decomposition has been carried out by means of time resolved light scattering at the 6/94 Kraton 1101/asphalt composition. Time-evolution of structure factor has been analyzed in the context of temporal scaling laws. The growth regime is seemingly dominated by the late stage of phase decomposition where the hydrodynamic effect is dominant. As typical for a deep off-critical quench, the cessation of domain growth occurs presumably through physical pinning.