cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU(3) limit of the U(6/12) boson-fermion symmetry and the Nilsson model

It is shown that it is possible to establish a clear correspondence between bands in the $\mathrm{U}(\frac{6}{12})$ SU(3) symmetry scheme and the Nilsson orbits stemming from the $2{p}_{\frac{1}{2}}$, $2{p}_{\frac{3}{2}}$, and $1{f}_{\frac{5}{2}}$ shell-model states. The best empirical example of the specific single-particle structure and Coriolis coupling of rotational bands implicit in the symmetry is found in the low-lying states of $^{185}\mathrm{W}$.
Decidable Discrete Linear Orders

Three classes of decidable discrete linear orders with varying degrees of effectiveness are investigated. We consider how a classical order type may lie in relation to these three classes, and we characterize by their order types elements of these classes that have effective nontrivial self-embeddings.
THE RELATION BETWEEN THE ACCUMULATION OF GLOBULINS AND THE APPEARANCE OF AGGLUTININS IN THE BLOOD OF NEW-BORN CALVES

A comparison of the appearance of the agglutinins for Bacillus abortus in the blood of new-born calves with the first appearance of globulins in the same blood following the ingestion of colostrum indicates that the agglutinins are associated with the globulins. These observations are supported by the removal of the agglutinins from serum or colostrum with concentrations of sodium sulfate which precipitate globulins present in the blood of calves which have ingested colostrum, but which are not present at birth. Neither the association of immune bodies with globulins nor the direct absorption of protein by new-born animals is a new fact. The evidence presented is of particular value, however, in associating the appearance of certain protein fractions in the blood of the new-born animal with the simultaneous absorption of agglutinins.
Adaptations in tip posture and pressure following orthognathic surgery

Lip pressures before and after orthognathic surgery were studied to evaluate the relationship between posttreatment soft-tissue adaptation and incisor stability. After all surgical procedures, physiologic adaptation resulted in the maintenance of pressures during speech and swallowing. When the maxilla was advanced by LeFort I osteotomy, a significant decrease in resting pressure of the upper lip was observed instead of the expected increase and incisor stability did not seem related to soft-tissue influences. When the mandible was advanced by sagittal split osteotomy, resting pressure did not increase as expected, but there was a tendency for incisors to become more upright after fixation release, perhaps as a rebound from labial tipping in fixation. When soft tissues were relaxed as the mandible rotated forward following superior repositioning of the maxilla, resting pressures decreased and lower incisors tended to be positioned forward as predicted by equilibrium theory.
Pituitary Hormones Affecting Adrenal 5α-Reductase Activity: ACTH, Growth Hormone and Prolactin1

Adrenal 5α–reductase activity in cortisone—treated rats is increased 2.5–fold after hypophysectomy. Treatment of hypophysectomized rats with either TSH or FSH plus LH did not affect reductase activity whereas ACTH, prolactin or growth hormone each exerted an inhibitory effect. When ovariectomized rats were treated either with TSH, ACTH, growth hormone or prolactin, only prolactin lowered reductase activity. Ovariectomized rats responded to prolactin at doses as low as 10 μg/lOOg bw. The hormone was also effective in orchiectomized animals. Treatment of ovariectomized rats with prolactin also enhanced the output of corticosterone by adrenal slices in vitro while not affecting the production of total corticosteroids. The data suggest that the stimulation of reductase activity after hypophysectomy results from the withdrawal of prolactin and growth hormone, as well as ACTH. In the gonadectomized rat, however, prolactin is the only effective pituitary hormone. Prolactin apparently stimulates the output of cor...
Institutional Obstacles to Partisan Mobilization? Another Look at the ‘Franchise Factor’ in British Party Development*

In attempting to account for the relatively late emergence of a powerful workers’ party, students of British political development have advanced two competing explanations. A cultural approach, based on a conversion model of electoral change, argues that Labour's emergence was hindered by the low level of political consciousness among the British working class prior to World War I. According to the contrasting structural approach, which follows a mobilization model of electoral transformation, Labour's slow progress before the war can be attributed to various restrictive features of the electoral system that excluded the party's natural constituency. Through ecological analysis of a set of 'surrogate’ constituencies in the pre-war electoral system, this paper examines the social contours of political incorporation, and analyses the probable partisan impact of restricted participation. The results reveal deficiencies in the structural approach that can be remedied by reconciling the insights from conversion and mobilization theory.
The advantages of a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (leuprolide acetate) in conjunction with gonadotropins for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in IVF and GIFT cycles.

Since the incorporation of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) regimes with various combinations of gonadotropins, there is evidence that specific advantages are obtained from using these agonists in invitro fertilization (IVF) and gamete intrafallopian tube transfer (GIFT) procedures. There is evidence that the increased efficiency rate in terms of pregnancy per IVF & GIFT cycle initiated, stems largely, from a reduced treatment cycle cancellation rate prior to oocyte harvest due to a relative increase in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration and the inhibition of a preovulatory LH rise, resulting in improved follicle growth, endocrine responses and more healthy oocytes available for fertilization.
Altered expression of synapse and glutamate related genes in post-mortem hippocampus of depressed subjects

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been linked to changes in function and activity of the hippocampus, one of the central limbic regions involved in regulation of emotions and mood. The exact cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying hippocampal plasticity in response to stress are yet to be fully characterized. In this study, we examined the genetic profile of micro-dissected subfields of post-mortem hippocampus from subjects diagnosed with MDD and comparison subjects matched for sex, race and age. Gene expression profiles of the dentate gyrus and CA1 were assessed by 48K human HEEBO whole genome microarrays and a subgroup of identified genes was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Pathway analysis revealed altered expression of several gene families, including cytoskeletal proteins involved in rearrangement of neuronal processes. Based on this and evidence of hippocampal neuronal atrophy in MDD, we focused on the expression of cytoskeletal, synaptic and glutamate receptor genes. Our findings demonstrate significant dysregulation of synaptic function/structure related genes SNAP25, DLG2 (SAP93), and MAP1A, and 2-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-oxo-1,2-oxazol-4-yl)propanoic acid receptor subunit genes GLUR1 and GLUR3. Several of these human target genes were similarly dysregulated in a rat model of chronic unpredictable stress and the effects reversed by antidepressant treatment. Together, these studies provide new evidence that disruption of synaptic and glutamatergic signalling pathways contribute to the pathophysiology underlying MDD and provide interesting targets for novel therapeutic interventions.
Determination of the Ni3(Ti, Al) dissolution boundary in a directionally solidified superalloy

The microstructure of most as-cast superalloys is highly anisotropic and inhomogeneous. In precipitation hardenable materials it is desirable to know the precipitate dissolution temperature to homogenize the microstructure and tailor the size and distribution of the precipitates to obtain the optimal material properties. Differential thermal analysis, heat treatments followed by microstructural characterization and a dilatometry technique were used to determine the dissolution temperature of the precipitate phase. The values obtained for the dissolution temperature from the three methods are all in agreement and indicate that the dissolution temperature for a nominal superalloy is approximately 1200 °C.
Electric analogs for difficult problems

When the mathematical solution of a problem is so difficult as to be impracticable it sometimes is possible to obtain the desired answer from the behavior of an analogous electric circuit. This article presents an analog of “coulomb friction,” and demonstrates the application of this analog to the previously unsolved problem of the torsional-vibration damper.
Role of Alzheimer's disease models in designing and testing experimental therapeutics

The principal goals of investigating the models for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are to reproduce the amyloid/tau-related pathologies and the memory deficits occurring in patients. Recent models do allow crucial examinations of disease mechanisms and will be of great value in testing new therapeutic strategies including inhibition of BACE1 and β-secretase activities, modulators of γ-secretase and Aβ immunotherapies. Presently available mouse models can achieve a high degree of predictive validity for positive outcomes of experimental therapies, but they have been less successful in identifying potential adverse outcomes that can occur in human trials.
Low thermal expansion of alkali-zirconium phosphates

Abstract The thermal expansion of all the alkali members of the [NZP] family has been studied using high-temperature x-ray measurements at the back diffraction angles and dilatometry. The discrepancy between the results obtained with both methods is discussed. Some of the phases studied showed very low thermal expansion coefficients (
Weber's force and Maxwell's equations

We explore the mathematical connection that exists between Weber's force and Maxwell's equations. The Weber force is shown to be compatible with Maxwell's equations when expressed in relative coordinates with the time dependence determined by the source motion.
Circumscription of Ericaceae (Ericales) as determined by preliminary cladistic analyses based on morphological, anatomical, and embryological features

Cladistic analyses of selected taxa of Ericaceae (and potential relatives) suggest that the family, as traditionally circumscribed, is paraphyletic. The traditionally recognized groups, Monotropaceae, Pyrolaceae, Epacridaceae, and Empetraceae, are nested within the cladistic structure of Ericaceae, and it seems reasonable to expand the circumscription of the latter. Preliminary analyses suggest thatActinidia (Actinidiaceae) likely is cladistically basal within Ericales, withCyrilla (Cyrillaceae) andClethra (Clethraceae) positioned, respectively, as second and first outgroups to Ericaceae. Generic relationships within Ericaceae are highly unresolved due to extensive homoplasy, butEnkianthus appears to be the sister group of the remaining ericad genera. The current division of the family into five subfamilies, i.e., Rhododendroideae, Ericoideae, Vaccinioideae, Pyroloideae, and Monotropoideae, very likely is not in accordance with phylogenetic relationships.
An Unusual Case of Spontaneous Healing of a Proximal Pole Scaphoid Non-Union

Minimally displaced scaphoid fractures may be treated effectively with non-operative treatment strategies [1, 6]. However, delayed diagnosis of a scaphoid fracture may frequently lead to non-union, especially if the fracture is in the proximal portion of the scaphoid [4, 11]. Proximal pole scaphoid fractures commonly result in non-unions secondary to disruption of the retrograde blood flow. Although proximal pole scaphoid fractures may heal spontaneously, the fracture location leads to non-union in the majority of the cases without surgical intervention. Based on our literature review, there has not been a report of spontaneous healing of an established proximal pole scaphoid non-union. Here, we present an unusual case of healing of a proximal pole scaphoid fracture without surgical intervention or immobilization.
Trends in Anticoagulation Management Across Community-Based Practices in the United States: The Anticoagulation Consortium to Improve Outcomes Nationally (ACTION) Study

Randomized trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of warfarin in preventing thromboembolism. Translating the results of randomized trials into usual care is difficult, however, as trial patients are highly selected and closely monitored. The Anticoagulation Consortium to Improve Outcomes Nationally (ACTION) study is a prospective observational assessment of anticoagulation care in 98 office-based practices and 3 hospital-based clinics in the United States. Site enrollment began in August 2000 and ended in February 2002 with 6761 patients recruited. The goals of this large prospective cohort study are (1) to gather data on complication rates associated with warfarin therapy across a broad range of patient ages and indications; (2) document trends in anticoagulation management and treatment practices; and (3) establish quality benchmarks for anticoagulation control and frequency of monitoring. This report describes the methodology and preliminary results. Analysis is ongoing, and full results will be reported in the future.
Production and regulation of ingestive consummatory behavior in the chronic decerebrate rat

Abstract A given taste does not always elicit the same response be it ingestion or rejection. Rather, the afferent-efferent relationships yielding these responses are regulated by neural signals deriving from the organism's physiological state and experience. By examining preparations with increasing degrees of ablation, it is not only possible to establish the neural boundary conditions for the production of ingestive consummatory behavior but also for its regulation. A comparison of the capacity of brain levels for regulating palatability provides an alternative approach to the prevalent single integrator hypothesis. Ablated preparations, like chronic decerebrate rats, do not spontaneously eat or drink. Nevertheless, we have developed methodologies for examining the topography of ingestion and rejection responses and fluid intakes of decerebrate rats. Using these methods we have shown that the discriminative responses to tastes of decerebrates do not differ from those of intact rats. The decerebrate rat can not only produce ingestive consummatory responses, but can also regulate these responses as a function of deprivation-repletion. This demonstration coupled with the evidence for sympathoadrenal function in the decerebrate rat leads us to conclude that neural mechanisms caudal to the forebrain are sufficient for production of ingestive consummatory responses as well as aspects for its regulation.
The Near Infra-Red Absorption Spectra of Some Organic Liquids

Near infra-red absorption spectra of thirty-one organic liquids to 2.5\ensuremath{\mu}.--- $A$ self-recording prism spectrograph, Littrow mounting, with dispersion equivalent to two 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} flint glass prisms---considerably greater than had hitherto been used in this region---was arranged so-that the spot of light from the mirror of the galvanometer in the thermopile circuit, was focused on a sheet of bromide paper on a drum rotated in gear with the prism table. Curves thus obtained are reproduced which show the transmission through 11 mm of certain organic liquids: ethyl, methyl, propyl, butyl, ethylene and methylene halides, butyl nitrite, benzene, toluene, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, mesitylene, paraxylene, chloroform and bromoform. In a table are given the wave-lengths of the absorption maxima accurate to about.01\ensuremath{\mu}, and, in many cases, the percentage absorption, accurate to five per cent. Curves obtained by visual observations, are also given for eight of the above compounds and for acetone and ethyl ether. Bands near 0.90, 1.02, 1.17, 1.38 and 1.70\ensuremath{\mu} occur in most if not all of these spectra. Hence these bands are attributed to the $C\ensuremath{-}H$ bond, and appear to be, respectively the 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, and 3rd harmonics of a fundamental frequency found by Coblentz at 6.9\ensuremath{\mu}. There are also bands at 1.81, 1.91, 2.00 and 2.10\ensuremath{\mu} which occur for several liquids. Shifts in the positions of the bands for different liquids, which may amount to \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}.03\ensuremath{\mu}, are not understood, but may be due to a change in the relation intensity of the two components of the band; for some of the bands are clearly double, like the infra-red bands due to gaseous compounds. The simple quantum theory of such gaseous spectra does not seem to hold directly for these liquid spectra, however, since the separation of the components of 1.38\ensuremath{\mu} and also of 1.7\ensuremath{\mu} is greater for the iodides than for the corresponding chlorides.
SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM TO VARIOUS TYPES OF INTERFERENCES AND THREATS

This paper is devoted to the problem of the GPS navigation system’s susceptibility to various types of interferences and indicates in what way they may influence on navigation parameters. Basic principles of working of GPS receivers and possibilities of the influence on navigation parameters are discussed. Main advantages and disadvantages of using the navigation systems are indicated. In particular, moments of reception of satellites’ signals in relation to the distance of a satellite, diagram presenting the generation process of a signal emitted by a satellite, spectrum of the interfering electromagnetic wave with constant frequency and amplitude, failure to identify location in the GPS receiver, results of the studies concerning the influence of interference with the wave having constant frequency and amplitude, results of the studies concerning the influence of interference with the wave having constant frequency and changing amplitude, spectrum of the interfering signal – constant narrow-band sweeping wave, GPS receiver’s application after input of a real signal with correct identification of the location, GPS receiver’s application after input of the simulated signal of the satellite are presented in the paper.
Near-Term Implications of a Ban on New Coal-Fired Power Plants in the United States

Large numbers of proposed new coal power generators in the United States have been canceled, and some states have prohibited new coal power generators. We examine the effects on the U.S. electric power system of banning the construction of coal-fired electricity generators, which has been proposed as a means to reduce U.S. CO2 emissions. The model simulates load growth, resource planning, and economic dispatch of the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (ISO), Inc., Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and PJM under a ban on new coal generation and uses an economic dispatch model to calculate the resulting changes in dispatch order, CO2 emissions, and fuel use under three near-term (until 2030) future electric power sector scenarios. A national ban on new coal-fired power plants does not lead to CO2 reductions of the scale required under proposed federal legislation such as Lieberman-Warner but would greatly increase the fraction of time when natural gas sets the price of electricity, even with aggressive wind and demand response policies.
Reactivity and models for anion distribution: specific iodide binding to sulfobetaine micelles.

The reaction of I− with methyl naphthalene-2-sulfonate (MeONs) is accelerated by the micellized sulfobetaine surfactants N-decyl, N-dodecyl, N-tetradecyl, and N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethylammonio-1-propanesulfonate. Concentrations of micellar-bound I− were determined by using ion-selective electrodes (ISE), and capillary electrophoresis. At low concentrations, I− incorporation fits Langmuir isotherms and is related to changes in micellar surface potentials. Rate effects of dilute KI are fitted quantitatively by a pseudophase model that describes I− binding in terms of a sorption isotherm, but at higher [KI], where the simple model predicts saturation, rates increase due to electrolyte invasion. This model considers transfer equilibria of both reactants between water and micelles and second-order rate constants in each pseudophase. Estimated second-order rate constants for reaction of MeONs with I− in the micellar pseudophase are 3.2- to 3.5-fold higher than the second-order rate constant, k2w, in water, depend...
Participation of primary motor cortical neurons in a distributed network during maze solution: representation of spatial parameters and time-course comparison with parietal area 7a

Traditionally, primary motor cortex (M1) has been thought to be involved solely in planning and generating movements. Recent evidence suggests that the arm area of M1 plays a role in other functions, such as the representation of serial order (Pellizzer et al. 1995, Science 269:702–705; Carpenter et al. 1999, Science 283:1752–1757) and spatial processing (Georgopoulos et al. 1989, Science 243:234–236). Previous studies of such cognitive processes have used tasks in which a directed arm movement was required, raising a question as to whether this brain area is involved in cognitive processing per se, or whether such cognitive signals may be gated into the arm area of M1 only when arm movements are required. To study this question, we developed a task that required a spatial analysis of a complex visual stimulus, but required no arm movement as a response. In this task, monkeys were shown an octagonal maze. After an imposed delay of 2 to 2.5 s, they indicated whether a path that emanated from the center of the maze exited at the perimeter (exit maze) or terminated within the maze (no-exit maze) by pressing a pedal with their left or right foot, respectively. We recorded from 785 cells from the arm area of M1 from two monkeys during the delay period of the maze task. We found that cell activity was influenced by both the exit status and the direction of the path, beginning soon after the maze was displayed. This activity was not related to the activation of arm muscles, suggesting that the directional signals observed represented abstract spatial aspects of maze processing. Finally, we compared maze-related activity of M1 neurons with those recorded from posterior parietal area 7a, reported previously (Crowe et al. 2004). Interestingly, cells from each area exhibited similar properties. Both the exit status and path direction were encoded by cells in M1 and 7a, although to different extents. An analysis of the time-course of the neural representation of these factors revealed that area 7a and M1 begin to encode these factors at the same time, suggesting these brain areas are part of a distributed system performing the spatial computations involved in maze solution.
Unpacking the Black Box of Implementation: The Next Generation for Policy, Research and Practice

The Author(s) 2013. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com It was, as best as we can recall, a late spring afternoon and the three of us were completing another of our semi-regular phone calls. As each of us is directing NIMH-funded Services Research Centers related to children’s mental health research, we often sought each other’s advice and feedback on the direction of our work. We saw the complementarity of our work: We all focused on low income and largely inner city populations; we all focused on schools and community agencies; we all focused on improving effective services via training, consultation, and fitting effective practices into natural community ecologies. We all brought different strengths: Nick’s work on specific evidence-based preventive services and their installation with fidelity; Marc’s work on building onto existing naturalistic supports in schools and agencies, rather than superimposing packaged practices; and Kimberly’s work on studying feasible and practical implementation strategies that can be adopted widely by states and healthcare systems. On one of our calls among the three of us, we were discussing the need for synergy among our Centers and
The Good Judge of Personality: Characteristics, Behaviors, and Observer Accuracy

Personality characteristics and behaviors related to judgmental accuracy following unstructured interactions among previously unacquainted triads were examined. Judgmental accuracy was related to social skill, agreeableness, and adjustment. Accuracy of observers of the interactions was positively related to the number of good judges in the interaction, which implies that the personality and behaviors of the judge are important for creating a situation in which targets will reveal relevant personality cues. Furthermore, the finding that observer accuracy was positively related to the number of good judge partners suggests that judgmental accuracy is based on more than detection and utilization skills of the judge.
Drug- or hormone-induced adaptation: Model of adrenergic hypersensitivity

A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model of hypersensitivity to adrenergic stimulation following abrupt withdrawal of chronic β blockade was developed. The model employs the Hill equation, a term which describes the competition between isoproterenol and l- propranolol for β receptors, and a kinetic term which characterizes the appearance and disappearance rates of up-regulated β receptors. The model predicted peak chronotropic hyperresponsiveness to isoproterenol 48 hr following abrupt withdrawal of chronic treatment with daily propranolol doses of 160 mg, and a drug half-life of 3.5 hr. The model also predicted that increasing the dose rate and prolonging the half-life of propranolol delayed and decreased the extent of adrenergic hypersensitivity. The time-course of adrenergic hypersensitivity simulated by our model was in excellent agreement with that observed in studies which were published earlier by our laboratory. The model underestimated the extent of adrenergic hypersensitivity. The results of our simulation are consistent with a β agonist-receptor-effector system, which involves spare receptors, amplification of response by second and third messengers, and β agonist-antagonist-induced receptor regulation.
Training Balance and Strength in the Elderly to Improve Function

Short-term exposure to altered sensory input or destabilizing platform movement results in significant improvement in sway control and inhibition of inappropriate motor responses, resulting in improved balance during repetitive testing. In addition, there is recent evidence that strength and function can be increased in both active and frail elderly who participate in strength training programs. Therefore, the hypotheses to be tested are that (1) balance training alone, or (2) strength training alone will each be capable of significantly improving balance, gait, and functional mobility, and that (3) a combined program of balance and strength training will be more effective than either approach alone. These hypotheses will be tested relative to a control group, using a 2 x 2 design (30 subjects per group), in a community-dwelling elderly at least 75 years of age. Intervention sessions of at least 45 minutes will occur three times per week for 3 months, with 6 months of follow-up, home-based Tai Chi training. The primary outcome variable is a basic measure of functional balance, ie, the occurrence of loss of balance during tilts of the support and/or movement of the visual surround. Language: en
Quantum theory of an atom near partially reflecting walls.

We consider first a dielectric medium of identical two-state atoms coupled by the radiation field to an initially excited atom outside the dielectric. From the Schr\"odinger equation follows a delay-differential equation describing how the atom interacts with the dielectric by virtual photon exchanges. In the macroscopic limit of a continuous distribution of atoms in the dielectric, we derive a simpler delay-differential equation in which a Fresnel reflection coefficient appears. We apply our results to a model of an atom in a multimode Fabry-Perot resonator, and obtain a general delay-differential equation for the probability amplitude of the initially excited state. This equation predicts well-known Rabi oscillations when the round-trip photon propagation time is negligible compared with the inverse of the Rabi frequency and the mirrors are highly reflective. For low mirror reflectivities we recover Purcell's prediction that the emission rate is enhanced by the cavity Q factor. When the photon bounce time is large compared with the inverse Rabi frequency, Rabi oscillations do not occur. We discuss the Ewald-Oseen extinction theorem from the standpoint of quantum mechanics.
Upregulation of human angiotensinogen (AGT) gene transcription by interferon–gamma: Involvement of the STAT1-binding motif in the AGT promoter

Abstract Mechanisms to maintain blood pressure in the face of infection are critical to survival. The angiotensinogen (AGT) gene locus is an important component of this response. Thus the AGT gene, expressed predominantly by liver cells, is known to be a positive acute phase reactant. We have previously demonstrated activation of the AGT promoter in hepatocytes through the IL6/STAT3 signaling mechanism. We have now investigated whether IFN-gamma, a cytokine also induced in response to diverse infections, can regulate AGT gene expression, and have elucidated the molecular mechanism involved. IFN gamma treatment up-regulated AGT mRNA level and promoter activity in Hep3B hepatocytes. Sequential deletion of the promoter from the 5′ side suggested the major IFN gamma responsive DNA element to be between − 303 and − 103. This region contained a candidate STAT1-binding site between − 271 and − 279. EMSA and chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP) assays confirmed that IFN-gamma treatment induced the binding of STAT1 to this element. Reporter constructs containing this AGT promoter derived element in a multimerized context but not a mutant version were responsive to IFN gamma. Moreover mutating this STAT1 element in the context of the wild-type AGT holo promoter reduced responsiveness to IFN gamma. In contrast to the clear synergism between dexamethasone and IL 6 in the upregulation of the AGT promoter (through interaction between GR and STAT3), the combination of IFN gamma with IL 6 or with dexamethasone did not further increase AGT promoter activity suggesting that the IFN gamma/STAT1 pathway represents a separate signaling mechanism. These data highlight the redundancy in cytokine-mediated host response pathways aimed at the maintenance of blood pressure during infection.
Comparative voltammetric study of methanol oxidation and adsorption on noble metal electrodes in perchloric acid solutions

Abstract Periodic current/potential curves were measured potentiostatically on smooth electrodes of platinum, iridium, rhodium, and gold at 30 mV/s in perchloric acid solutions with different additions of methanol (10−3 M to 1 M). Information on methanol adsorption was obtained from impedance measurements at 1000 c/s by volcammetry with superimposed a.c. voltage. The current/potential curves look similar on Pt and Pd on the one hand, and on Ir and Rh on the other hand. There is no noticeable methanol oxidation on gold. The peak current of the first wave during the anodic sweep decreases considerably in the order Pt > Pd > Rh > Ir. The capacitive component of the impedance shows methanol adsorption in the hydrogen and double layer region. The shape of the current/potential curves and the methanol adsorption are strongly influenced on platinum metals by oxygen layers which are formed or reduced electrochemically during the sweeps in different potential ranges.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF PLASMODIUM BERGHEI. I. ON THE MIGRATION OF TROPHOZOITES FROM INFECTED ERYTHROCYTES IN THE RAT.

Abstract Electron microphotographs are presented of trophozoites of Plasmodium berghei migrating from parasitized rat erythrocytes. The structure of the merozoite (young trophozoite) is compared with that of the maturing trophozoite containing pigment and forming rings. The significance of trophozoite migration, regarding the extracellular viability and infectivity of the trophozoite form, remains to be investigated.
Yearly rupture or dissection rates for thoracic aortic aneurysms: simple prediction based on size.

Abstract Background . Prior work has clarified the cumulative, lifetime risk of rupture or dissection based on the size of thoracic aneurysms. Ability to estimate simply the yearly rate of rupture or dissection would greatly enhance clinical decision making for specific patients. Calculation of such a rate requires robust data. Methods . Data on 721 patients (446 male, 275 female; median age, 65.8 years; range, 8 to 95 years) with thoracic aortic disease was prospectively entered into a computerized database over 9 years. Three thousand one hundred fifteen imaging studies were available on these patients. Five hundred seventy met inclusion criteria in terms of length of follow-up and form the basis for the survival analysis. Three hundred four patients were dissection-free at presentation; their natural history was followed for rupture, dissection, and death. Patients were excluded from analysis once operation occurred. Results . Five-year survival in patients not operated on was 54% at 5 years. Ninety-two hard end points were realized in serial follow-up, including 55 deaths, 13 ruptures, and 24 dissections. Aortic size was a very strong predictor of rupture, dissection, and mortality. For aneurysms greater than 6 cm in diameter, rupture occurred at 3.7% per year, rupture or dissection at 6.9% per year, death at 11.8%, and death, rupture, or dissection at 15.6% per year. At size greater than 6.0 cm, the odds ratio for rupture was increased 27-fold ( p = 0.0023). The aorta grew at a mean of 0.10 cm per year. Elective, preemptive surgical repair restored life expectancy to normal. Conclusions . This study indicates that (1) thoracic aneurysm is a lethal disease; (2) aneurysm size has a profound impact on rupture, dissection, and death; (3) for counseling purposes, the patient with an aneurysm exceeding 6 cm can expect a yearly rate of rupture or dissection of at least 6.9% and a death rate of 11.8%; and (4) elective surgical repair restores survival to near normal. This analysis strongly supports careful radiologic follow-up and elective, preemptive surgical intervention for the otherwise lethal condition of large thoracic aortic aneurysm.
Electrophilic asymmetric syntheses of α-hydroxy carboxylic acids

Abstract Asymmetric electrophilic synthesis of α-hydroxy carboxylic acids from chiral amide derivatives of tert -butyl- and trialkylsilyl- protected glycolic and lactic acids are described which lead to chiral α-hydroxy carboxylic acids in 60–95% diastereomic excess.
Altered entrainment to the day/night cycle attenuates the daily rise in circulating corticosterone in the mouse.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a circadian oscillator entrained to the day/night cycle via input from the retina. Serotonin (5-HT) afferents to the SCN modulate retinal signals via activation of 5-HT1B receptors, decreasing responsiveness to light. Consequently, 5-HT1B receptor knockout (KO) mice entrain to the day/night cycle with delayed activity onsets. Since circulating corticosterone levels exhibit a robust daily rhythm peaking around activity onset, we asked whether delayed entrainment of activity onsets affects rhythmic corticosterone secretion. Wheel-running activity and plasma corticosterone were monitored in mice housed under several different lighting regimens. Both duration of the light∶dark cycle (T cycle) and the duration of light within that cycle was altered. 5-HT1B KO mice that entrained to a 9.5L:13.5D (short day in a T = 23 h) cycle with activity onsets delayed more than 4 h after light offset exhibited a corticosterone rhythm in phase with activity rhythms but reduced 50% in amplitude compared to animals that initiated daily activity <4 h after light offset. Wild type mice in 8L:14D (short day in a T = 22 h) conditions with highly delayed activity onsets also exhibited a 50% reduction in peak plasma corticosterone levels. Exogenous adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) stimulation in animals exhibiting highly delayed entrainment suggested that the endogenous rhythm of adrenal responsiveness to ACTH remained aligned with SCN-driven behavioral activity. Circadian clock gene expression in the adrenal cortex of these same animals suggested that the adrenal circadian clock was also aligned with SCN-driven behavior. Under T cycles <24 h, altered circadian entrainment to short day (winter-like) conditions, manifest as long delays in activity onset after light offset, severely reduces the amplitude of the diurnal rhythm of plasma corticosterone. Such a pronounced reduction in the glucocorticoid rhythm may alter rhythmic gene expression in the central nervous system and in peripheral organs contributing to an array of potential pathophysiologies.
Interannual Rainfall Variations in the North American Summer Monsoon Region: 1900-98*

The following questions are addressed in this study using an array of data and statistical methods: 1) does the North American monsoon region have a single dominant monsoon system; 2) if it has more than one, what are they; and 3) what are major causes of interannual monsoon rainfall variations in these systems? Results showed two dominant summer monsoon systems in the region: one in south-central Mexico, south of the 268N, and the other in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Monsoon rainfall variations in these regions are usually opposite to each other and have different causes. The interannual variations in monsoon rainfall in south-central Mexico were highly affected by interannual variations in the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) in the eastern tropical Pacific. A northern (southern) position of the ITCZ, often related to cooler (warmer) than normal sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, corresponded to strong (weak) monsoon. The ‘‘land memory effect’’ was evident in interannual variations of monsoon rainfall in the southwestern United States, shown by strong correlations of the summer rainfall variation versus antecedent winter precipitation anomalies in the western United States. However, the effect was not robust but varied fairly regularly. It was strong from approximately 1920 to 1930 and disappeared from 1931 to 1960. It regained its strength from 1961 to 1990 but has weakened again since 1990. The forcing of this variation was identified as a multidecadal variation in atmosphere circulations in the North Pacific‐North American sector and the land memory effect was part of this variation. This multidecadal variation has to be included in prediction methods in order for them to correctly describe seasonal and interannual variations in summer rainfall in the North American monsoon region.
Green’s functions for transversely isotropic piezoelectric functionally graded multilayered half spaces

By virtue of two systems of vector functions and the propagator matrix method, Greens functions for transversely isotropic, piezoelectric functionally graded (exponentially graded in the vertical direction), and multilayered half spaces are derived. It is observed that the homogeneous solution and propagator matrices for each functionally graded layer in the transformed domain are independent of the choice of the two systems of vector functions. For a point force and point charge density applied at any location of the functionally graded half space, Greens functions are expressed in terms of one-dimensional infinite integrals. To carry out the numerical integral involving Bessel functions, an adaptive Gauss quadrature approach is introduced and modified. The piezoelectric functionally graded Greens functions include those in the corresponding elastic functionally graded media as special results with the latter being also unavailable in the literature. Two piezoelectric functionally graded half-space models are analyzed numerically: one is a functionally graded PZT-4 half space, and the other a coated functionally graded PZT-4 layer over a homogeneous BaTiO3 half space. The effects of different exponential factors on Greens function components are clearly demonstrated, which could be useful in the design and manufacturing of piezoelectric functionally graded structures. � 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Analysis of yolk syncytium behavior in Salmo and Catostomus

The formation and early behavior of the yolk syncytial layer (YSL) of selected representatives of the teleost orders Clupeiformes and Cypriniformes are described, contrasted, and correlated with normal embryonic staging sequences. Movements of the cytoplasmic syncytium in Catostomus commersoni have been mapped by implantation of chalk particles and correlated with the morphogenetic movements of the blastodisc. The chalk particle experiments show for the first time that YSL cytoplasm which reaches the yolk plug during epiboly is not a part of the syncytium when gastrulation begins. Furthermore, there is a distinct convergence of YSL cytoplasm toward the dorsal midline during epiboly which mimics the motion of the cells at this time.
CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATICS: ETHICS, EVALUATION AND STANDARDS

This article discusses the ethical issues involved in consumer health informatics -specifically those issues surrounding the provision of medical information for patients on the World Wide Web. The discussion includes concerns and suggestions relating to: quality control and error avoidance, Internet governance and Web site responsibility, and intellectual property and control. These issues are argued to be of exceptional importance in the developing world, including Latin America and the Caribbean.
Measuring Information Understanding in Large Document Collections

We present a method for testing subject's performance in a realistic (end-to-end) information understanding task-rapid understanding of large document collections-and discuss lessons learned from our attempts to measure representative information-understanding tools and behaviors. To further our understanding of this task, we need to move beyond overly constrained and artificial measurements of easily instrumented behavior. From observations, we know information analysis is often performed under time pressure and requiring use of large document collections. Instrumenting people in their workplace is often untenable, yet oversimple laboratory studies often miss explanatory richness. We argue that studies of information analysts need to be done on tests that are closely aligned with their natural tasks. Understanding human performance in such tasks requires analysis that accounts for many of the subtle factors that influence final performance, including the role of background knowledge, variations in reading speed, and tool use costs.
Ritual, Blood, and Shiite Identity: Ashura in Nabatiyya, Lebanon

Lebanon is a small country, roughly the size of Connecticut, but the venerable southern city of al-Nabatiyya seems a continent away from the fussy lifestyles, the bustling restaurants, and the Hard Rock Cafes of cosmopolitan Beirut. The minute or so drive from Beirut to Nabatiyya is not just a departure from the capital’s sensual delights but a sojourn to a part of the country that lived in the vortex of conflict for more than three decades. Many Beiruti bon vivants are aghast at the prospect of making the southward trek. Yet, for Lebanon’s largest sect, the . million or so Shiite Muslims (about  percent of the total population), Nabatiyya is the commercial center in Jabal Amil, the Shiite heartland that extends from the wadis and hills of southern Lebanon to the southern Biqa valley. In fact, every weekend there is what seems a tidal flow of people from the overwhelmingly Shiite Muslim suburbs of Beirut southward as Shiites head to the al-dai ah, “the village,” which is usually taken to mean “going to the countryside” where life is simple, wholesome, and unblemished by urban vices. Except during the bone-chilling, often icy winter in Jabal Amil, when people stay in Beirut and its environs, hundreds of thousands of people move back and forth weekly. From the s to the s, the flow often reversed as the people of the South sought refuge from bombardment and conflict with relatives in the comparative safety of the city. While the precise advent of Shiism in Jabal Amil is in dispute, there is no question that the community predates the introduction of Shiism to Persia (Iran) in the th century. Certainly, Jabal Amil was a center for scholarship at least by the late th century. Indeed, scholars from Jabal Amil (as well as from Iraq and Bahrain) assisted in the installation of Shiite Islam in Safavid Persia (–). This was well before the Persian cities of Mashhad, Shiraz, or Qum emerged as major centers of Shiite scholarship. Jabal Amil has long been eclipsed by al-Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, the two great Iraqi shrine cities, and since the th century by the now famous Persian (Iranian) cities of Shiite learning. Regardless, Jabal Amil continues to be revered by Shiites, especially during Muharram, the first month of the Muslim calendar.
Permeability study of cracked concrete

Cracks in concrete generally interconnect flow paths and increase concrete permeability. The increase in concrete permeability due to the progression of cracks allows more water or aggressive chemical ions to penetrate into the concrete, facilitating deterioration. The present work studies the relationship between crack characteristics and concrete permeability. In this study, feedback controlled splitting tests are introduced to generate crack width-controlled concrete specimens. Sequential crack patterns with different crack widths are viewed under a microscope. The permeability of cracked concrete is evaluated by water permeability tests. The preliminary results indicate that crack openings generally accelerate water flow rate in concrete. When a specimen is loaded to have a crack opening displacement smaller than 50 microns prior to unloading, the crack opening has little effect on concrete permeability. When the crack opening displacement increases from 50 microns to about 200 microns, concrete permeability increases rapidly. After the crack opening displacement reaches 200 microns, the rate of water permeability increases steadily. The present research may provide insight into developing design criteria for a durable concrete and in predicting service life of a concrete structure.
Self-contained powered knee and ankle prosthesis: Initial evaluation on a transfemoral amputee

This paper presents an overview of the design and control of a fully self-contained prosthesis, which is intended to improve the mobility of transfemoral amputees. A finite-state based impedance control approach, previously developed by the authors, is used for the control of the prosthesis during walking and standing. The prosthesis was tested on an unilateral amputee subject for over-ground walking. Prosthesis sensor data (joint angles and torques) acquired during level ground walking experiments at a self-selected cadence demonstrates the ability of the device to provide a functional gait similar to normal gait biomechanics. Battery measurements during level ground walking experiments show that the self-contained device provides over 4,500 strides (9.0 km of walking at a speed of 5.1 km/h) between battery charges.