cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of bioimpedance spectroscopy-based volume estimation with postdialysis hypotension in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Clinical examination to determine the dry weight of patients on hemodialysis (HD) has been problematic, with studies showing discordance between physician assessment and objective measures of volume status.We studied the association between predialysis bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS)-based estimates of fluid overload and postdialysis hypotension in 635 patients in the United States Renal Data System ACTIVE/ADIPOSE (A Cohort study To Investigate the Value of Exercise/Analyses Designed to Investigate the Paradox of Obesity and Survival in ESRD) study receiving HD in 2009-2011. We recorded predialysis and postdialysis weight and blood pressures over 3 consecutive HD sessions and performed BIS before a single session. Using a previously reported method of estimating normohydration weight, we estimated postdialysis fluid overload (FOpost ) in liters. We used logistic regression with extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) or estimated FOpost as the primary predictor and 1 or more postdialysis systolic blood pressures less than 110 mmHg as the dependent variable. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, ultrafiltration rate per kilogram of body weight, end-stage renal disease vintage, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and albumin. Higher ECW/TBW was associated with lower odds of postdialysis hypotension (odds ratio [OR] 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15-0.84 per 0.1, P = 0.02). Every liter of FOpost was associated with lower adjusted odds of postdialysis hypotension (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.79-0.95, P = 0.003). Prospective studies are needed to determine whether this application of BIS could improve current clinical efforts to minimize episodes of postdialysis hypotension without leading to volume overload.
Use of Seismic Refraction Techniques for Investigating Recent Landslides in a Tropical Rain Forest in Puerto Rico

Seismic refraction surveys were conducted on two recent landslides (one translational slide and one rotational slump) that damaged a highway in the Caribbean National Forest, Puerto Rico. These surveys on recent landslides provided insight into the dimensions and depths of their failure planes. Field observations and drill hole data were used to verify the accuracy of refraction data. The seismic velocity measured in the overlying colluvium and saprolitic soils at a translational slide was 350 m/sec. The seismic velocity of the saprolite below the failure plane ranged from 1,000 to 1,500 m/sec. The velocity in the deeper weathered-bedrock measured about 7,300 m/sec. The thickness of colluvium ranged from 3 to 5 m at the toe of the slump, and the thickness of saprolitic soil above the head scarp ranged from 4 to 8 m. Estimated depth to the top of the quartz-diorite bedrock ranged from 12 to 24 m. The partially exposed failure plane was at the top of the saprolitic layer with velocities in the 1,000 to 1,500 m/sec range. A rotational slump at a second site had a measured seismic velocity of 200 m/sec in a 6-m thick layer of colluvium and saprolite which, based on drill-hole data, graded to saprolite at a depth of Ito 2 m. A seismic velocity contact in the saprolite was found at this 6 m depth; the seismic velocity in the saprolite below this contact was 870 m/sec. The seismic velocity of weathered quartz-diorite bedrock underlying the saprolite was 2,040 m/sec. Depth to bedrock from seismic data was calculated to be 20 m, which compared reasonably well with the depth of exposed bedrock (15 m) in an adjacent slump. Drill-hole data obtained from other surveys confirmed the depth to bedrock at 20 m. The possible failure plane of this rotational slump was revealed in a velocity contact within the saprolite. The surface, as noted above, was 6 m deep and was confirmed with drill-hole data, which indicated a two-to three-fold increase in blow counts; this represents an increase in saprolite density below the contact. The presence of a perched water table was observed overlying this surface.
Diagnosing Tropical Cyclone Sensitivity

Using sensitivity calculations, it's possible to better understand complex influences on typhoon evolution from organized convection to larger-scale weather systems. With Typhoon Lupit, for example, the rapid growth of small perturbations led to multiple errors that limited the accuracy of path and intensity forecasts.
Cortexolone: Binding to glucocorticoid receptors in rat thymocytes and mechanism of its antiglucocorticoid action

Abstract In rat thymocytes, cortexolone (11-deoxycortisol) competes for binding to glucocorticoid receptors, as identified on sucrose density gradients, and blocks the effect of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on 2-deoxyglucose uptake. The cellular distribution and sedimentation coefficients of 3H-TA-receptor complexes are dependent on the incubation temperature and ionic strength of the extraction buffer. In contrast, the single receptor complex formed by 3H-cortexolone has a sedimentation coefficient of 3.5S, and is unaffected by changes in temperature and salt concentration.
Storm-controlled oblique dunes of the Oregon coast

The large (mean height 25 m, spacing 300 m), relatively straight-crested dunes of the central Oregon coast migrate an average of 3.8 m/yr toward an azimuth of 26°. The dunes are transverse to the strong, south-southwesterly winter storm winds that are responsible for their basic form, orientation, and migration. The dry, moderate, north-northwesterly summer winds modify the dune form but not the dune trend. Comparison of the sand transport calculated from wind data and the transport measured from dune migration indicates that the actual transport by the wet southerly winds is only one-third of the amount calculated assuming dry conditions. The resultant (vector-mean) transport rate, as recalculated by comparison of the measured and initially calculated rates, is 34 m 3 /m·yr toward an azimuth of 45°. The dunes are thus oblique by our definition of an oblique dune (angle between dune trend and resultant transport direction between 15° and 75°). The internal structures of the dunes confirm northward migration during wet conditions. Evidence for deposition during wet conditions includes slipface deposits deformed mostly by sliding and various structures formed by the adhesion of sand grains to wet surfaces. Most summer deposits are not preserved, but those on the basal apron (the gentle north slope at the base of the winter slipface) have a high preservation potential. A depositional model based on dune climbing predicts that the preserved record of oblique dunes formed by an obtuse-bimodal wind regime would consist of tabular sets of crossbeds in which the dip angles increase upward from the base of each set.
How to Use Creative Dramatics in the Classroom

(1998). How to Use Creative Dramatics in the Classroom. Childhood Education: Vol. 75, No. 1, pp. 2-6.
Epitaxial growth of anatase by reactive sputter deposition using water vapor as the oxidant

Abstract The growth of TiO2 films in the anatase crystal structure was investigated using reactive sputter deposition with H2O serving as the oxidizing species. With water vapor, the formation of phase-pure anatase TiO2 thin films via epitaxial stabilization on (001) LaAlO3 was achieved, although crystallinity was slightly inferior to that obtained when O2 was employed. Films grown using water vapor exhibited a rougher surface morphology indicating a difference in growth mechanisms. At low H2O pressure, the formation of a TinO2n−1 Magneli phase was observed. When hydrogen was employed during growth, mixed phase films of rutile and anatase resulted. The development of crystallinity and phase as a function of deposition temperature and oxidant pressure are discussed.
Occupational Possible Selves: Fears and Aspirations of College Women

Using possible selves as a theoretical basis, this study examined self-perceptions of occupational futures by asking 98 undergraduate women to rate feminine, masculine, and neutral jobs as to how e...
Impact of women's experiences during mammography on adherence to rescreening (United States)

Objective To examine the relationship between womens’ experiences during mammography and their likelihood of being rescreened after receiving a negative or benign mammogram.
SOLVENT SENSITIVITY OF TYPE II PHOTOREACTIONS OF KETONES AS A DEVICE TO PROBE SOLUTE LOCATION IN MICELLES

. The solvent sensitivity of the Type II reaction is employed as a device to investigate the properties of detergent solutions. The quantum yield for Type II reaction and the ratio of cleavage to cyclization are used as specific monitors of local solvent properties of micelles. Our results indicate that the average position of phenyl alkyl ketones is either on the micelle surface or in the Stern layer. The absence of significant residence time of the excited ketone in the aqueous phase is confirmed by the lack of quenching of Type II reaction by Eu3+ in micellar solutions.
Observations of Brillouin Sidescatter in Laser-Produced Plasmas

This experiment shows that scattering of light in laser-illuminated spherical targets at up to 56\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} was dominated by the stimulated Brillouin process. The energy and spectrum of both sidescattered and backscattered light were measured. When a target was irradiated by a one-beam Nd: glass laser (${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{L}=1.054$ \ensuremath{\mu}m) with a shaped pulse at an intensity of 7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{15}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, the stimulated Brillouin sidescatter contained up to 55% of the incident energy.
The Public Health Implications of Fast-Food Menu Labeling

Excessive fast-food intake and the entire fast-food industry have been the source of strong criticism for pricing policies that enhance the purchases of large portion sizes; promotion of unhealthful foods high in sodium, saturated fats, and calories and depleted of many important minerals and vitamins; and seductive marketing that brings young children into fast-food– dependent diets at an early age. 1–7 Indeed, cultural anthropologists studying the impact of McDonald’s introduction into Asia note the profound effects of fast-food company practices and policies on the entire culture of eating. 8 The word fast food is viewed with such disdain in some articles and websites that objective analysis of the fast-food sector, its dynamics, and its roles in the diet of Americans
Anatomy is not destiny: A feminist analysis of the scholarship on women's leisure

Abstract The extent of the scholarship on women has accelerated over the past 20 years, yet many questions remain unanswered concerning what is known about women and their leisure behavior. Social science research about women and leisure that analyzes the interaction between the environment and biological sex has aided in understanding leisure behavior more completely and has enabled researchers to conclude that anatomy is not destiny. An analysis focusing on the critical corrective, and transformative aspects of feminist research provides a way to examine the trends in research on women specifically concerning women and leisure. The purpose of this article is to examine the foundations of the emerging scholarship on women and leisure, especially the research on gender differences, from a feminist perspective. The emerging trends in feminist research and the “state of the art” concerning scholarship on women as it is occurring in other disciplines is examined in light of how research in other fields may o...
Stem cell therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus

The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine holds great promise for the cure of many diseases, including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Any potential stem-cell-based cure for T1DM should address the need for beta-cell replacement, as well as control of the autoimmune response to cells which express insulin. The ex vivo generation of beta cells suitable for transplantation to reconstitute a functional beta-cell mass has used pluripotent cells from diverse sources, as well as organ-specific facultative progenitor cells from the liver and the pancreas. The most effective protocols to date have produced cells that express insulin and have molecular characteristics that closely resemble bona fide insulin-secreting cells; however, these cells are often unresponsive to glucose, a characteristic that should be addressed in future protocols. The use of mesenchymal stromal cells or umbilical cord blood to modulate the immune response is already in clinical trials; however, definitive results are still pending. This Review focuses on current strategies to obtain cells which express insulin from different progenitor sources and highlights the main pathways and genes involved, as well as the different approaches for the modulation of the immune response in patients with T1DM.
STUDIES ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE PEPTIDE RELEASED DURING THE FIBRINOGEN-FIBRIN CONVERSION.

Abstract The thrombin (EC 3.4.4.13) catalyzed conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin results in the release of several peptides. The peptides have been isolated from the interaction of human thrombin with human fibrinogen. Two of the acidic peptides (α and β) released from human fibrinogen contain 16 amino acids each and differ only in that the α-peptide containis a phosphate group covalently bound to a serine residue. The β-peptide is physiologically active in that it possesses the ability to potentiate the bradykinin-induced contraction of rat-uterus muscle. The α-peptide is inactive when tested in a similar manner. Structural modifications may be performed on the β-peptide without loss of physiological activity. This acitivity is not diminished by the removal of the carboxyl end-group or by a selective enzymic cleavage of the peptide. It is suggested that the β-peptide, which is released during the blood-clotting process, may play a vital role in the regulation of the microcirculation of the blood.
Unit cell parameters, compositions and 2V measurements of selected lunar plagioclases

Unit cell parameters of 12 selected lunar plagioclase specimens have been obtained using least-squares refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data. Compositions of splits of 11 of these plagioclase specimens were determined using the electron microprobe. Optical axial angles were measured on analyzed spots for nine of the probed specimens. Analyses cluster about An 96.5 ± 1.0 and unit cell parameters and 2Vx fit the values for this composition obtained in other studies.
Democracy from Above: The Political Origins of Military Dictatorship in Brazil

The argument of this paper is that the emergence of military dictatorships, such as the Brazilian regime of 1964, is not caused by an economic crisis of dependent capitalist development. Rather, it results from a polarization and radicalization of the democratic regime by which it is preceded. Democracies handed down from above, like that in Brazil and other South American democracies, lend themselves to polarization and radicalization. They therefore favor the emergence of modern forms of autocracy.
Photoluminescence study of Er-doped AlN

Abstract We present a photoluminescence (PL) study of Er-doped AlN epilayer on sapphire substrate. The AlN : Er film was grown by metalorganic molecular beam epitaxy and an Er concentration of 2–5 × 1019Er/cm3 was obtained. Following the excitation of an argon ion laser at 488 nm, we observed a strong 1.54 μm Er3+ luminescence, which is quenched by only a factor of two between 15 K and room temperature. The photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectrum, as well as PL lifetime measurement suggest that at 488 nm, Er3+ is excited through a photo-carrier mediated process. In contrast, exciting AlN : Er at ~525 nm seems to result in the direct excitation of an intra-4f transition of Er3+.
Lake deoxygenation after herbicide use: A simulation model analysis

Abstract A simulation model is developed to predict oxygen concentrations in littoral zones of shallow unstratified lakes after macrophytes have been killed by herbicides. Oxygen dynamics are determined by four processes: diffusion; advection; respiration; and, photosynthesis. Analysis of the model focused on the roles of seven factors in deoxygenation: average water temperature, the turnover rate of littoral water, depth of the littoral zone, depth of the pelagic zone, biomass of macrophytes, macrophyte shoot nitrogen concentration, and the source of advective inputs to the littoral zone. Model results indicate that none of the factors considered alone is an adequate predictor of deoxygenation. Rather, several factors and their interactions must be considered. The risk of deoxygenation is minimal at low water temperatures, rapid littoral flushing rates, deeper littoral depths, low levels of macrophyte biomass, and low tissue nitrogen concentrations. Unanticipated increases in water temperature or decreases in water turnover rates after herbicide application can lead to drastic declines in dissolved oxygen concentrations.
The ideal Craik-Leibovich equations

Abstract We show that the Craik-Leibovich (CL) theory of Langmuir circulation in an ideal incompressible fluid driven by rapidly fluctuating surface waves due to the wind may be formulated in terms of Eulerian mean fluid variables as a Hamiltonian system. This formulation is facilitated by first determining Hamilton's principle for the CL equations. The CL Hamilton's principle is similar to that for a fluid plasma, driven by a rapidly varying external electromagnetic field via “ J · A ” minimal coupling, after averaging the plasma action over the fast phase of the (single frequency) driving field. This similarity leads to a precise analogy between the CL vortex force and the Lorentz force on an electrically charged fluid due to an exernally imposed electromagnetic field. We determine the effect of this force on the inflection point criterion and the Richardson number criterion for stability of planar CL flows. The Noether symmetries of Hamilton's principle for the CL equations (under fluid particle relabeling) lead to conservation laws for Eulerian mean potential vorticity and helicity, and generate the steady Eulerian mean flows as canonical transformations. The generalized Lagrangian mean theory is discussed from the same viewpoint.
Structuring n-way trip distribution matrices using standardization and hierarchical clustering procedures☆

Abstract Trip distribution matrices can be used to study functional relationships between origin-destination zones and modes of travel. The tables are first standardized so that comparisons can be made across zones and modes of differing overall size. Graph-theoretic clustering procedures can then be applied to the standardized tables to produce groups with strongly interacting units. This two-stage methodology (standardization and clustering) is illustrated through the analysis of a 1970 2-way journey-to-work table for Los Angeles, and a 1970 3-way mode-specific table for New York City.
Age of greatest risk for victimization by forced sexual intercourse: Vulnerability of high school women

Abstract Data were collected from three studies over an eight–year period, which produced a sample of 868 female college students at a southern university. The three data sets were combined to permit an assessment of the extent to which reported victimization occurred among students before coming to the university rather than during their college experience, and to examine the nature of force in intimate relationships among maturing adolescents. About half of the subjects reported that their last victimization occurred while in high school, thus they were younger and less mature at the time of their victimizations. The researchers note that these two factors raise concern as adolescent girls may not be prepared to adequately define or protect themselves from inappropriate use of force in dating relationships, as the literature reports that both the development of sexuality and a redefinition of the use of force in childhood play are occurring at this point in their development, increasing the potential for victimization.
An alternative to enhanced quantum diffusion in solid H2 below 0.3K

Abstract In samples of bulk solid H2 having orthohydrogen concentration (xo) below 3.1% that are cooled quickly at higher temperatures, it is found that the nmr lineshape and intensity are not time dependent at fixed temperature below 0.3K. Also, it is found that it is unnecessary to assume enhanced quantum diffusion rates to explain the temperature dependent lineshape changes observed, as they can be accounted for by changes in the transition rate between the rotational sublevels of unpaired oH2 molecules. Measurements of the relative signal amplitudes of various parts of the NMR spectrum as a function of xo are consistent with the assumption that the narrow line spectrum near the Larmor frequency is due to HD impurities.
A Nonlinear Model Predictive Observer for Smart Projectile Applications

Abstract : The work reported here presents a nonlinear model predictive observer specialized to smart projectiles. The observer is based on a two-step process consisting of an initial state predictor followed by a state estimate corrector. We generate the predictor state by simply integrating the projectile's fixed plane equations of motion forward in time while the corrector step updates the state estimate by the minimization of the difference between measurements and model-predicted measurements over a finite duration of time in the past. Since the proposed method permits a general nonlinear representation of the projectile, the corrector step requires the solution of a nonlinear minimization problem which is subsequently solved with the use of a damped Newton procedure. The nonlinear model predictive observer is exercised on a smart projectile that employs a typical array of sensors including global positioning system, a three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometers, and a three-axis magnetometer. Results with this smart weapon observer are promising since the observer is capable of estimating the full state of the projectile, including orientation and translational velocity, when realistic noise and bias errors are included in the sensor measurements. Relative to other existing observers, the proposed observer is computationally intensive because of the need to solve a nonlinear minimization problem at each computational cycle of the observer.
Generating Productive Learning Issues in PBL Tutorials: An Exercise to Help Tutors Help Students

The development of productive, manageable, appropriate learning issues is central to students’ achievement of content objectives in problem-based learning. Students’ reflection on their learning issues is also an important part of the development of their self-directed learning skills. The use of an exercise to support tutors in helping students develop and apply criteria for productive learning issues is described and analyzed. According to feedback from tutors, the forty five minute preparatory workshop for tutors, followed by a 15 to 20 minute “miniworkshop” with students in their tutorials was a successful format for achieving the objectives of the exercise in a first year problem-based learning course. By integrating the activity into the tutorial process, the student participation rate was much higher than previous, stand-alone workshops for students on educational process. Several modifications to the exercise and proposals for related future research are offered. Key words: problem-based learning, faculty development, medical students, medical education, veterinary education
Enthalpies of Dilution of Aqueous Solutions of LiCl, KCl, and CsCl at 300, 325, and 350°C

Dilution enthalpies, measured using isothermal flow calorimetry, are reported for aqueous solutions of LiCl, KCl, and CsCl at 300°C and 11.0 MPa, 325°C and 14.8 MPa, and 350°C and 17.6 MPa. The concentration range of the chloride solutions was 0.5 to 0.02 m. Parameters for the Pitzer excess Gibbs ion-interaction equation were determined from the fits of the experimental heat data. Equilibrium constants, enthalpy changes, entropy changes, and heat capacity changes for ion association of the chloride salts were estimated from the heat data. For all systems, the enthalpy and entropy changes were positive and had accelerating increases with temperature. The resulting equilibrium constants show significant, but smaller, increases with temperature.
Role of cytokines in the modulation of neutrophil chemotaxis in localized juvenile periodontitis

Decreased neutrophil chemotaxis has been implicated in the pathophysiology of the disease, localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP). The biological basis for the altered neutrophil function in LJP has been suggested to be an intrinsic cellular defect, involving a decrease in the number of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) receptors on the cell surface. We have investigated the relative contribution of serum-borne factors in the modulation of neutrophil functions in LJP, in a large population of LJP patients and healthy control subjects (HS). Treatment of HS-neutrophils with LJP-sera, resulted in a decreased neutrophil chemotactic response, and down regulation of FMLP receptors on the cell surface. Pretreatment of LJP-sera with anti-TNF and anti-IL-1 antibodies effectively, although incompletely, neutralized the ability of LJP-sera to modulate chemotaxis and FMLP receptor levels in HS-neutrophils. The changes induced by LJP sera were specific and sustained and could not be reversed by placing LJP-serum treated neutrophils in HS-serum. Sera obtained from HS and patients with adult periodontitis (AP), both of which exhibit normal chemotaxis, and patients with clinically diagnosed LJP with normal neutrophil chemotaxis (LJP-nctx) did not modulate HS neutrophil chemotaxis or FMLP receptors. Furthermore, recombinant human TNF-alpha, rhIL-1 alpha and rhIL-1 beta, at very low concentrations (15 pg/ml to 150 pg/ml), modulated the chemotactic response as well as FMLP receptor numbers on HS-neutrophils, in a manner similar to those observed in LJP. The present findings demonstrate that the biologic basis for the altered neutrophil function may not be an intrinsic cellular defect in neutrophils, but at least in part due to quantitatively small but biologically significant elevations in the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 in the serum.
Effects of discourse context on the intelligibility of synthesized speech for young adult and older adult listeners: applications for AAC.

The use of speech synthesis in electronic communication aids allows individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to communicate with a variety of partners. However, communication will only be effective if the speech signal is readily understood by the listener. The intelligibility of synthesized speech is influenced by a variety of factors, including the provision of context. Although the facilitative effects of context have been demonstrated extensively in studies with young adults, there are few investigations into older adults' ability to decode the synthesized speech signal. The present study investigated whether discourse context affected the intelligibility of synthesized sentences for young adult and older adult listeners. Listeners were asked to repeat 15-word sentences that were either presented in isolation or preceded by a story that set the context for the sentence. Participants correctly repeated significantly more words in the sentences when they were preceded...
A 40-Day Water-Only Fast by a Pentecostal Woman: Clinical and Religious Observations

A 57-year-old woman presented to the hospital after a 40-day acaloric (water-only) fast, which was motivated by her Christian beliefs and Pentecostal affiliation. She exhibited hyponatremia on admission, and developed hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesemia during refeeding. The authors are unaware of other published case reports describing medical and religious aspects of prolonged fasting by Christians for spiritual reasons. Nevertheless, this practice is advocated by some Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal sources, and may be more common than is widely recognized.
Exact aggregate solutions for M/G/1-type Markov processes

We introduce a new methodology for the exact analysis of M/G/1-type Markov processes. The methodology uses basic, well-known results for Markov chains by exploiting the structure of the repetitive portion of the chain and recasting the overall problem into the computation of the solution of a finite linear system. The methodology allows for the calculation of the aggregate probability of a finite set of classes of states from the state space, appropriately defined. Further, it allows for the computation of a set of measures of interest such as the system queue length or any of its higher moments. The proposed methodology is exact. Detailed experiments illustrate that the methodology is also numerically stable, and in many cases can yield significantly less expensive solutions when compared with other methods, as shown by detailed time and space complexity analysis.
Maximizing electronic reliability

Every piece of military electronic equipment passes through various phases in its normal life cycle. These are planning, design and development, pilot production, manufacture, transportation, storage, operation and maintenance. Each of these stages is replete with opportunities for the introduction of unreliabilities. The paper points out the pitfalls which may be encountered and makes specific recommendations to avoid these so that the full amount of potential reliability may be realized in the final equipment.
A rapid procedure for the large scale purification of elastase and cathepsin G from human sputum.

Abstract A procedure is described which permits the rapid isolation of large amounts of elastase and cathepsin G from purulent sputum. This procedure involves: (1) digestion of sputum with DNase, (2) extraction of the insoluble residue that remains with 1 M NaCl, pH 8, (3) affinity chromatography on Sepharose-bound Trasylol, and (4) separation of the two enzymes by chromatography on CM-Sephadex. Starting with 500 g of sputum it was possible to isolate 175 mg of each of these two enzymes within 7 to 10 days. Active site titration indicated both enzymes to be at least 97% pure. Disc gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of SDS and amino acid sequence of the N-terminal region support the conclusion that the elastase and cathepsin G isolated from sputum a re identical to the same enzymes isolated directly from the leukocytes of human blood.
Self-interest among Kansas farm operators: survey results on agricultural and public policy issues.

Results from a recent survey of farm operators in Kansas (March 1989) indicate that the respondents as a group (a) support agricultural and other policies that yield direct benefits to those involved in production agriculture, (b) are less enthusiastic about policies that have less direct effects, and (c) are opposed to policies that have a negative economic impact on themselves. The overall results of the survey are presented and discussed, followed by a multinomial logit analysis of the relationships between operator characteristics and survey responses.
Heartbeat dynamics in adrenergic blocker treated conscious beagle dogs.

Abstract Introduction Adrenergic blockade as a treatment for chronic heart failure (CHF) has proved effective, but its pharmacological mechanism on CHF remains unclear. In the past two decades, studies on heart rate variability (HRV) have reported that CHF patients generally have a reduced temporal complexity in heart rate variability. On the other hand, adrenergic blockers have been shown to restore such complexity. Fractal analysis is a novel and efficient tool to explore the adrenergic blockade effect on HRV. This paper applies the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and multifractal DFA (MF-DFA) methods in an attempt to understand the effect of adrenergic blockade on cardiac dynamics in conscious beagle dogs. Methods DFA and MF-DFA analysis are conducted on RR interval data generated from telemetry instrumented dogs receiving a combination of 15 mg/kg nadolol and 5 mg/kg phenoxybenzamine orally administered at the 22nd and 34th hour in a parallel design ( n = 12). All dogs had approximately 48 h of beat-to-beat heart rate measurements recorded in the left ventricle. Complexity measures for heartbeat series are compared between the blocker and vehicle group. We also compute traditional statistics for HRV and spectral parameters and examine their correlation with fractal analysis. Results When compared to the vehicle group, the adrenergic blocker group had: 1) longer RR intervals ( p = 0.02) and lower beat-to-beat variability ( p = 0.04); 2) decreased low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) power ( p = 0.03), and higher LF-to-HF ratio; 3) larger middle-range scaling exponents ( p p = 0.03) with higher dominant singularity indices ( p = 0.02). Discussion Our results show that 1) adrenergic blockade alters the sympathovagal balance; 2) adrenergic blockers enhance the complexity of the cardiac dynamics; 3) the adrenergic blockade effect on cardiac dynamics is primarily the attenuation of small fluctuations in RR intervals. Fractal analysis also has the potential to be applied to early QT diagnosis.
Anomalous far-infrared absorption in random small-particle composites

The frequency dependence and magnitude of the far-infrared absorption of a small-metal-particle composite material has been measured over the range of 4-100 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The composite samples consisted of spherical metal particles, with radii varying from 100-1000 \AA{}, randomly dispersed in an insulating host. In some samples, a nonlinear dependence of the absorption on the metal-particle concentration was observed, indicating that interparticle interactions can play an important role. It is shown that the magnitude of the absorption cannot be explained by classical electromagnetic theory.
Simultaneous scattering and absorption images of heterogeneous media using diffusive waves within the Rytov approximation

ABSTRACT In this work we compare the Born and Rytov approximations for frequency-domain diffusing wave tomography.We confirm that the Rytov approximation gives a more accuate reconstruction of the absorptive properties. Inaddition, the natural separation of amplitude and phase within the Rytov approximation presents the possibility for image reconstruction algorithms which use either the phase shift or the amplitude decay of the diffusive waves. We demonstrate this effect, and apply these algorithms to simultaneously reconstruct the scattering andabsorption properties of heterogeneous turbid media. 1 Introduction Near infrared diffusing light probes offer new possibilties for medical applications such as the non-invasive mea-surement of tissue oxygenation' in homogeneous tissues. Direct imaging of the optical properties of heterogeneoustissue is an important potential improvement to these schemes that has only recently been considered.2'3In this study we employ amplitude modulated (frequency-domain) sources of photons which are injected intoa scattering medium to generate diffuse photon density waves4 (DPDW's). The diffusive waves are composed ofrandomly walking photons, that collectively produce an exponentially damped spherical wave of photon densitypropagating outward from the source with well defined amplitude and phase at each position in the medium. Inour work, measurements of the phase and amplitude of DPDW's are used to derive images of objects embeddedwithin tissue phantoms.The equations used for frequency-domain diffusing-wave tomographic imaging are approximations to the het-erogeneous light diffusion equation. In the Born approximation, the amplitude of the perturbation is assumed tobe small, and in the Rytov approximation, the perturbation is assumed to be slowly varying.5 We have previouslyiresentecl experinnta.l images of absorbing or scattering heterogeneities using the Born approximation.6 In thiswork we demonstrate the relative advantages of working in the Rytov approximation for frequency-domain mea-surements and image reconstruction. We then use the Rytov approximation to create maps of both the absorptionand scattering properties of a turbid sample. Finally, we demonstrate that we are able to use the amplitude and
A quantitative characterization of water masses in the Weddell sea during summer

Abstract The volume, mean depth of occurence, mean oxygen content, and mean silicate concentration of Weddell Sea water in bivariate classes determined by potential temperature and salinity have been determined from 65 hydrographic stations occupied during the southern summer. The waters of the continental shelf domain (234 × 10 3 km 3 ) and of the deep oceanic domain (6880 × 10 3 km 3 ) were considered separately. Several water masses stand out either as modes (Antarctic Bottom Water, Shelf Water and Winter Water) or cores (Warm Deep Water, Ice Shelf Water). The volumetric distributions support earlier proposals that bottom water is probably formed in the south-western Weddell Sea by the mixing of cold Shelf Water and Warm Deep Water.
mGluR antagonists and GABA agonists as novel pharmacological agents for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders

Introduction: The CDC currently estimates the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at 1 in 88 children. Though the exact etiology of ASD is unknown, recent studies implicate synaptic maturation and plasticity in the pathogenesis of ASD leading to an imbalance of excitation and inhibition, and specifically a disproportionately high level of excitation. Pharmacological agents that modulate excitation and inhibition are currently in clinical trials for treatment of ASD and show promising preliminary results. Areas covered: This paper reviews the literature implicating the role of glutamate and GABA pathways in the pathophysiology of ASD. It also provides a review of the current results from both animal models and human clinical trials of drugs aimed at normalizing the imbalance of excitation and inhibition through the use of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonists and GABA agonists. Expert opinion: Both mGluR antagonists and GABA agonists have promising preliminary data from animal model...
Sub-nm resolution cavity enhanced microspectrometer.

A novel on-chip spectrometer device using combined functionalities of a micro-ring resonator and a planar diffraction grating is proposed. We investigate the performance of this architecture by implementing it in a silicon-on-insulator platform. We experimentally demonstrate such a device with 100 channels, 0.1 nm channel spacing and a channel crosstalk less than -10 dB. The entire device occupies an area of less than 2 mm2. Based on our initial results we envision that this device enables the possibility of the realization of low-cost and high-resolution ultra-compact spectroscopy.
Urban growth controls: transitional dynamics of development fees and growth boundaries

Abstract This paper investigates how development fees and urban growth boundaries affect urban development when the short run construction supply function is upward sloped (i.e., convex development costs). Whereas the policies are equivalent in the traditional static model, dynamic analysis reveals important differences out of the steady state. In particular, the development fee that is efficient in the steady state is also dynamically efficient. In contrast, the long run efficient urban growth boundary generates inefficiently fast development out of the steady state. The results are robust with or without location rents and perfect or myopic foresight assumptions.
Absorption, effectiveness and side effects of highly purified porcine NPH-insulin preparations (Leo).

The clinical characteristics of highly purified porcine NPH-insulin (Insulin Retard RI®) were investigated, including absorption from the subcutaneous tissue, blood glucose-lowering effect, stability of mixtures of NPH and regular insulin and measurement of circulating porcine proinsulin and insulin antibodies in diabetics. The absorption of NPH-insulin followed first order kinetics. The half time was 6.9±2.6 h, with an intraindividual coefficient of variation of 26% and an interindividual coefficient of variation of 55%. After 24 h 90% of the injected insulin had disappeared from the subcutaneous tissue. The plasma insulin concentration was maximal 4–5 h after the injection and 24 h after the injection it was not significantly higher than before the injection. The blood glucose-lowering effect was significant 2.5 h after subcutaneous injection of NPH-insulin and was maximal after 5.5 h. The blood glucose-lowering effect of a pre-prepared mixture of 70% NPH and 30% regular insulin was not significantly different from the effect of 70% NPH and 30% regular insulin injected separately, which indicates the stability of mixtures of NPH and Regular insulin. Porcine proinsulin disappeared from the serum of patients switched to treatment with highly purified porcine NPH insulin and the insulin antibody titer fell. It was concluded that insulin Retard RI® has a well-defined, reproducible effect with a clinically useful time course.
Strategies to Maximize the Competitiveness of Cancer Survivorship Grant Applications : A Report from the American Society of Preventive Oncology's Survivorship Interest Group

In 2008, an estimated 1.4 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States ([1][1]). More than two-thirds of these individuals will experience a “cure” due to improvements in early detection and treatment ([2][2]). Overall, the number of cancer survivors in the United States now
Nitric oxide regulation of superoxide-dependent lung injury: oxidant-protective actions of endogenously produced and exogenously administered nitric oxide.

The influence of endogenous cell ·NO production and ·NO derived from exogenous sources on oxidant injury to cultured fetal rat lung alveolar epithelium and an animal model of pulmonary oxidant injury was examined. Confluent fetal rat alveolar epithelial cell monolayers were stimulated to produce ·NO after treatment with a combination of cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ), LPS and zymosan-activated serum (CZ). Cell injury, assessed by 14C-adenine release, was significantly increased compared to basal and CZ-induced cells after inhibition of ·NO synthesis by L-NMMA. Cell monolayer macromolecule barrier function was determined by the rate of diffusion of 125I-albumin from the apical to basolateral side of monolayers. Following exposure to CZ and/or O2- generated by xanthine oxidase + lumazine (XO), endogenous cell ·NO production and exogenously administered ·NO (from ·NO donors S-nitrosyl-glutathione and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine) significantly inhibited the increased monolayer permeability induced by exposure to reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, inhalation of 5–10 ppm of ·NO significantly reduced the toxicity of > 95% oxygen to adult rats. We conclude that when cultured pulmonary epithelial cells and lung tissue in vivo are subjected to inflammatory mediators or acute oxidative stress, ·NO can play a protective role by inhibiting O2·−--dependent toxicity.
Aspergillus osteomyelitis: review of 12 cases identified by the Prospective Antifungal Therapy Alliance registry

A review of 12 patients with proven Aspergillus osteomyelitis was undertaken between July 2004 and October 2007. Aspergillus fumigatus was most commonly identified (n = 9). Voriconazole was commonly administered (11/12; 91.7%), and 9 (75.0%) underwent surgery. Seven (58.3%) responded to treatment, and 12-week mortality was 25.0% (3/12). Survival was improved with surgical intervention (P = 0.05).
Quantum-Noise-Randomized Data Encryption: Comparative Analysis of M-ary PSK and M-ary ASK Protocols for Long-Haul Optical Communications

An M-ary PSK protocol for quantum-noise randomized encryption enables 10 Gb/s encrypted data transmission over 5000 km in dispersion-compensated fiber links, which is 7 times longer than using an equivalent ASK protocol in the same data links.
Postulated role of intrinsic contact-angle hysteresis in mercury porosimetry

Abstract Mercury-porosimetry hysteresis, previously recognized to be related to contact-angle hysteresis, is equivalent to the irreversibility of the work cycle of immersion followed by emersion of the surface of a sample by mercury. There are several implications to recognizing that this work cycle is irreversible. For example, the validity of surface areas calculated from this pressure—volume work requires examination. Several past models for mercury-porosimetry hysteresis and for contact-angle hysteresis are also examined. The conclusion reached in the present work is that irreversible work is converted to heat in a manner that is completely analogous to friction. Regardless of the direction of motion, a portion of the mechanical work involved in moving the three-phase boundary is converted to heat, even if the surface is smooth and homogeneous. This intrinsic contact-angle hysteresis may be present not only in the mercury-porosimetry experiment, but also for other contact-angle phenomena, such as measurements involving sessile droplets.
The effects of transformational and transactional leadership styles on the influencing behaviour of subordinate police officers

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influencing behaviour of subordinates as a function of supervisor leadership style within a law enforcement setting. Fifty-three subordinate police officers returned one of four randomly distributed scenarios depicting either a male—female transformational or male—female transactional leader (supervising officer). The subordinate police officers then completed the Profile of Organizational Influence Strategies—Form M (Kipnis & Schmidt, 1982) indicating the extent to which they would use rational, soft and hard approaches to influence their supervising officer as illustrated in the scenario. It was hypothesized that transactional leadership would be more closely associated with the three police officer influencing approaches than transformational leadership. Contrary to the prediction, transformational leadership was determined to be more closely related with subordinate rational influencing behaviour than transactional leadership. The findings are discussed in terms of the nature of transformational leadership and the unique characteristics of the police officer culture.
Innate Immunity in a Pyralid Moth FUNCTIONAL EVALUATION OF DOMAINS FROM A β-1,3-GLUCAN RECOGNITION PROTEIN

Invertebrates, like vertebrates, utilize pattern recognition proteins for detection of microbes and subsequent activation of innate immune responses. We report structural and functional properties of two domains from a β-1,3-glucan recognition protein present in the hemolymph of a pyralid moth, Plodia interpunctella. A recombinant protein corresponding to the first 181 amino-terminal residues bound to β-1,3-glucan, lipopolysaccharide, and lipoteichoic acid, polysaccharides found on cell surfaces of microorganisms, and also activated the prophenoloxidase-activating system, an immune response pathway in insects. The amino-terminal domain consists primarily of an α-helical secondary structure with a minor β-structure. This domain was thermally stable and resisted proteolytic degradation. The 290 residue carboxyl-terminal domain, which is similar in sequence to glucanases, had less affinity for the polysaccharides, did not activate the prophenoloxidase cascade, had a more complicated CD spectrum, and was heat-labile and susceptible to proteinase digestion. The carboxyl-terminal domain bound to laminarin, a β-1,3-glucan with β-1,6 branches, but not to curdlan, a β-1,3-glucan that lacks branching. These results indicate that the two domains of Plodia β-1,3-glucan recognition protein, separated by a putative linker region, bind microbial polysaccharides with differing specificities and that the amino-terminal domain, which is unique to this class of pattern recognition receptors from invertebrates, is responsible for stimulating prophenoloxidase activation.