cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term tillage effects on a Mollic Ochraqualf in north-west Ohio. III. Soil nutrient profile.

Abstract Soil chemical analyses were performed 12 years after initiating a tillage experiment on a poorly drained clay soil in north-west Ohio. There were four tillage treatments: (A) continuous no-till for 12 years; (B) no-till for 10 years followed by plow-till for 2 years; (C) plow-till for 10 years followed by no-till for 2 years; (D) continuous plow-till for 12 years. Tillage methods had significant effects on soil pH, cation exchange capacity, Bray-P, exchangeable Ca and K, and base saturation of Ca, Mg and K. Tillage effects on soil properties were significant for the top 0–30-cm layer. Two years of plow-till following 10 years of no-till resulted in about 5% reduction of soil organic matter in the 0–10-cm layer. In comparison, 2 years of no-till following 10 years of plow-till resulted in about 15% increase in organic matter content of the surface layer. No-till plots had high concentration of P in the surface layers — 460, 330, 252 and 190 ppm in Treatments A, B, C and D, respectively. Two years of plow-till following 10 years of no-till increased P content of 0–10-cm layer by 28%. In contrast 2 years of no-till following 10 years of plow-till increased P content of the surface layer by 33%. The surface layer of no-till plots had lower pH and exchangeable Ca, but higher concentration of P, exchangeable K and exchangeable Mg than plow-till treatments. In general, tillage treatments had lesser effects on chemical properties of this clay soil of high inherent fertility than drastic long-term effects usually reported for some coarse-textured soils of low fertility.
Evidence for visual function of corneal interference filters

Corneal interference filters are more than just a device to influence the external appearance of the head by creating coloured eye patterns. They are also optical components of the compound eye. Measurements of reflectance spectra from corneal filters on single facets of living flies from four families are presented. They show that in localized regions of an eye that contains a mixture of filter colours, the reflectance characteristics often ‘fit’ in the sense that one type of filter is maximally reflecting at a wavelength where another type is minimally reflecting. In long-legged flies of the genus Condylostylus, which have alternating rows of two filter types, despite large variability in wavelength for maximal reflectance within a species the ‘fit’ of the two reflectance characteristics is preserved. Intersections between facets are often highly reflecting at a wavelength where the facet surface has low reflectance. They may serve to reduce glare caused by sources outside of the ommatidial visual field. These findings together with strong correlations between habitat and eye pattern support the hypothesis that corneal interference filters optically enhance contrast for coloured objects in a background of dissimilar colour, but do not exclude the possibility that they also could be part of a colour-vision system.
Some challenges in designing a lunar, Martian, or microgravity CELSS.

Abstract The design of a bioregenerative life-support system (a Controlled Ecological Life-Support System or CELSS) for long-duration stays on the moon, Mars, or in a space craft poses formidable problems in engineering and in theory. Technological (hardware) problems include: (1) Creation and control of gas composition and pressure, temperature, light, humidity, and air circulation, especially in microgravity to 1 3 xg and in the vacuum of space. Light (energy demanding), CO2 levels, and the rooting media are special problems for plants. (2) Developing specialized equipment for food preparation. (3) Equipment development for waste recycling. (4) Development of computer systems for environmental monitoring and control as well as several other functions. Problems of theory (software) include: (1) Determining crop species and cultivars (some bred especially for CELSS). (2) Optimum environments and growing and harvesting techniques for each crop. (3) Best and most efficient food-preparation techniques and required equipment. (4) Best and most efficient waste-recycling techniques and equipment. This topic includes questions about the extent of closure, resupply, and waste storage. (5) How to achieve long-term stability. (6) How to avoid catastrophic failures-and how to recover from near-catastrophic failures (for example, plant diseases). Many problems must be solved.
Life on the Borderlands: Action Research and Clinical Teacher Education Faculty.

Abstract Seeking to soften the gap between clinical and tenure-track teacher education faculty, a year-long action research seminar was conducted. Using data from observation notes, interviews and a taped seminar session, the authors explore the seminar from its very rocky beginning to its conclusion. Drawing on the concept of ‘communities of practice’, the authors explore reasons for the hesitancy of the clinical faculty to share the results of their studies and their struggle to find legitimacy within the university.
Numerical Modeling of Pulverized Charcoal and Hot Oxygen Co-Injection in a Blast Furnace Tuyere

Pulverized Coal Injection (PCI) is a technique that has been applied to blast furnaces over the last several decades. Due to the increased fuel economy seen in furnaces utilizing pulverized coal technology, several companies are in the process of developing a new hot oxygen injection technology in a charcoal based blast furnace. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been employed to obtain a better understanding of this new technique. In the current study, a 3D multiphase reacting CFD model had been developed to evaluate the utilization of a very high temperature, high velocity stream of oxygen in a PCI tuyere. With the use of hot oxygen, both the injection and combustion rates of the charcoal fines in the blast furnace tuyere have been dramatically increased and contribute to the reduction of the lump charcoal consumption rate of the furnace. Parametric studies of different oxygen and PCI lance locations have also been conducted. The simulation results provide insight into optimization of the lance configuration to achieve maximum combustion performance and avoid overheating of the tuyere.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Ludwig Edinger: The Vertebrate Series and Comparative Neuroanatomy

At the end of the nineteenth century, Ludwig Edinger completed the first comparative survey of the microscopic anatomy of vertebrate brains. He is regarded as the founder of the field of comparative neuroanatomy. Modern commentators have misunderstood him to have espoused an anti-Darwinian linear view of brain evolution, harkening to the metaphysics of the scala naturae. This understanding arises, in part, from an increasingly contested view of nineteenth-century morphology in Germany. Edinger did espouse a progressionist, though not strictly linear, view of forebrain evolution, but his work also provided carefully documented evidence that brain stem structures vary in complexity independently from one another and across species in a manner that is not compatible with linear progress. This led Edinger to reject progressionism for all brain structures other than the forebrain roof, based on reasoning not too dissimilar from those his successors used to dismiss it for the forebrain roof.
Clinical efficacy of gabapentin versus tiagabine for reducing cocaine use among cocaine dependent methadone-treated patients

Background GABAergic medications appear to reduce the reinforcing effects of cocaine by attenuating cocaine-induced dopamine release. This study evaluated gabapentin and tiagabine compared to placebo in reducing cocaine taking behavior. Methods A total of 76 treatment seeking, cocaine dependent, methadone-treated, predominately Caucasian male subjects were randomly assigned to tiagabine 24 mg/day (N = 25), gabapentin 2400 mg/day (N = 26) or placebo (N = 25) in a 10-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Study medications were slowly increased to their full dosages by the end of week 5 and maintained through week 10. The primary outcome measure was thrice-weekly drug free urine samples. Results Treatment retention was significantly less for the gabapentin group relative to the other groups (log rank = 5.29, d.f. = 1, p = 0.02). The proportion of cocaine-free urine samples during weeks 6–10 was significantly larger in the tiagabine treated group (p < 0.05). The longitudinal data showed significant change in thrice-weekly cocaine free urines that reached a greater abstinent rate for the tiagabine treated group (22%) compared to gabapentin (5%) or placebo (13%) treated groups. Mixed-effects ordinal regression models showed a significant tiagabine by time interaction compared to gabapentin (Z = 2.48, d.f. = 1, p = 0.01) and placebo (Z = 3.90, d.f. = 1, p = 0.0001). The gabapentin group did not differ from placebo. Conclusion Gabapentin showed poor treatment retention and ineffectiveness in reducing cocaine use. Tiagabine significantly reduced cocaine taking behavior compared to placebo or gabapentin among methadone-stabilized cocaine abusers.
Grain Growth in Dense Cadmium Oxide

The grain size in dense cadmium oxide was found to increase with the one-third power of time. The apparent activation energy was 134+.17 kJ/mol and the grain size distributions were lognormal.
Infrared absorption study of neutron-transmutation-doped germanium

Using high-resolution far-infrared Fourier transform absorption spectroscopy and Hall effect measurements, the evolution of the shallow acceptor and donor impurity levels in germanium during and after the neutron transmutation doping process was studied. The results show unambiguously that the gallium acceptor level concentration equals the concentration of transmutated Ge-70 atoms during the whole process indicating that neither recoil during transmutation nor gallium-defect complex formation play significant roles. The arsenic donor levels appear at full concentration only after annealing for 1 h at 450 C. It is shown that this is due to donor-radiation-defect complex formation. Again, recoil does not play a significant role.
Assessment of the Impact of Renal Impairment on Systemic Exposure of New Molecular Entities: Evaluation of Recent New Drug Applications

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently developing a guidance for industry to replace a previous guidance, "Pharmacokinetics in Patients With Impaired Renal Function--Study Design, Data Analysis, and Impact on Dosing and Labeling" (renal guidance) issued in May 1998. The impact of the 1998 renal guidance was assessed following a survey of 94 new drug applications (NDAs) for small-molecule new molecular entities (NMEs) approved over the past 5 years (2003-2007). The survey results indicate that 57% of these NDAs included renal impairment study data, that 44% of those with renal data included evaluation in patients on hemodialysis, and that 41% of those with renal data resulted in recommendation of dose adjustment in renal impairment. In addition, the survey results provided evidence that renal impairment can affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs that are predominantly eliminated by nonrenal processes such as metabolism and/or active transport. The latter finding supports our updated recommendation to evaluate pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic alterations in renal impairment for those drugs that are mainly eliminated by nonrenal processes, in addition to those that are mainly excreted unchanged by the kidney.
An electromyographic analysis of the upper extremity in pitching

The upper extremity is vulnerable to injury during the baseball pitch because of the repetitious nature of the action, the extremes in range of motion, and the high angular velocities and torques generated at the shoulder and elbow. Hence this study was designed to describe the muscle-firing patterns through fine-wire electromyography in 29 muscle bellies in the upper extremities of skilled pitchers during the fastball pitch. The results demonstrated that the muscles functioned with precise timing for joint stabilization to prevent injury, joint activation to transfer forces to the ball, and joint deceleration to dissipate forces after ball release. The synchrony of reciprocal and sequential muscle contraction necessary to accomplish these functions was clearly evident. This study provides a better understanding of the coordinated sequence of muscle activity during the throwing motion; this understanding is crucial to the development of exercise protocols and surgical procedures used for treatment and prevention of shoulder and elbow injuries in the throwing athlete.
Flow Visualization for Pulsatile Vortex Ring Actuators

Formation and evolution of vortex rings produced from pulsatile vortex ring thrusters are studied using flow visualization techniques. A vortex ring thruster consists of a cavity with an orifice at one end and an oscillating plunger at the opposite end which periodically creates a volume change in the cavity forcing a jet emission of fluid through the orifice into the surrounding reservoir. The ratio of the cylindrical jet length to its diameter, known as the stroke ratio, is a primary factor in the vortex ring formation characteristics. Flow visualization is employed in order to measure the translational velocity of the leading vortex ring for the range of stroke ratios of 2.96–5.92. The velocity time history of the vortex rings is studied with the results comparing well with theoretical approximations. Additionally vortex ring dimensions, including semimajor axis, semiminor axis, the ratio of these dimensions, and core to core radius, are considered. Also the volume of the vortex ring atmosphere is studied. The variations of these parameters with respect to stroke ratio, time, and distance from the orifice are investigated.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Levi’s Auschwitz and Dante’s Hell

On reading Primo Levi’s Holocaust memoir If This is a Man, one is immediately struck by its literary quality, and especially its generous use of Dante’s Inferno, both of which point to the more general problem of Holocaust witnessing. This paper focuses on Levi’s reasons for using Dante’s poem in particular to communicate his experience. Levi’s choice of Inferno is pointed, not only because of the obvious trope of existence in Hell, but also because Levi conceived of Auschwitz as an experiment designed to destroy the “human,” created in part, at least in the West, by Dante’s poem. What I will be suggesting is that Levi emphasizes the distinctions between his and Dante’s experiences by including in his conversation with Dante’s Inferno (paradoxically) his rejection of that conversation. There may or may not be something “human” which persists after Auschwitz, and the only way to ask this question, without preconceiving an answer, is to dramatize silence. The resultant ambiguity urges readers to, as Levi puts it, “participate in” the events described and/or dramatized.
Optimizing Blood Pressure Control in Patients With Nondiabetic Glomerular Disease

Hypertension is a common problem among patients with glomerular disease and CKD. Optimal blood pressure targets for these patients have been the source of much debate. Careful review of the available data supports a blood pressure target of less than 140/90 mmHg. Consideration for a lower goal of less than 130/80 mmHg should be given for patients with heavy proteinuria. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors should be used as the cornerstone of therapy for all patients with glomerular disease and CKD.
Impact of tropical instability waves on nutrient and chlorophyll distributions in the equatorial Pacific

This work quantifies the role of tropical instability waves (TIWs) in modulating nutrient and chlorophyll distributions in the equatorial Pacific through an analysis of satellite data and a case study of in situ observations. A TIW index is constructed to differentiate periods of strong and weak TIW activity. TIW impacts are first examined in monthly averaged satellite SST and chlorophyll data for three distinct regions north of the equator where TIWs are most active. The chlorophyll data are high-pass filtered to preserve the seasonal cycle and remove long-term trends. Although SST follows a predictable relationship with the TIW index, chlorophyll concentrations do not. Periods of high TIW activity are characterized by cooler SSTs but consistently low chlorophyll. A case study of individual TIW vortices demonstrates that their impact on nutrients and chlorophyll is a function of intensity. Strong TIWs drive reductions in nutrients and chlorophyll due to the subduction of nutrient-replete water north of the equator and the advection of nutrient-poor water toward the equator from adjacent to the upwelling zone. Weak TIWs do not drive these advective processes to the same degree, so retain elevated nutrients that fuel chlorophyll increases. The most positive effect on nutrients and chlorophyll by TIWs was observed during boreal winter, likely owing to thermocline topography. A shallower thermocline in combination with weak TIWs results in elevated nutrients and chlorophyll north of the equator. Given the variability associated with TIW intensity and season, generalizing TIW effects has proven difficult, but targeted Lagrangian studies will better characterize these dynamic features and their impact on elemental fluxes.
Impact of Van Jacobson header compression on TCP/IP throughput performance over lossy space channels

The impact of Van Jacobson header compression (VJHC) on the throughput performance of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) over lossy space channels is studied in an experimental manner using a test-bed. The experimental results show that VJHC benefits the transmission at bit error rates (BERs) around 10/sup -6/ or less, but also results in performance degradation in an environment with higher BER.
Computationally Directed Axisymmetric Aspheric Figuring

This paper presents a simple method of axisymmetric wear pattern calculation covering all cases normally encountered on con-ventional polishing machines. The techniques were developed for use with small programmable calculators to make them available to the small-shop personnel for whom this paper is written. Polishing pad design and drives are also discussed.
Interconnections between the prefrontal cortex and the premotor areas in the frontal lobe

We examined interconnections between a portion of the prefrontal cortex and the premotor areas in the frontal lobe to provide insights into the routes by which the prefrontal cortex gains access to the primary motor cortex and the central control of movement. We placed multiple injections of one retrograde tracer in the arm area of the primary motor cortex to define the premotor areas in the frontal lobe. Then, in the same animal, we placed multiple injections of another retrograde tracer in and around the principal sulcus (Walker's area 46). This double labeling strategy enabled us to determine which premotor areas are interconnected with the prefrontal cortex. There are three major results of this study. First, we found that five of the six premotor areas in the frontal lobe are interconnected with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Second, the major site for interactions between the prefrontal cortex and the premotor areas is the ventral premotor area. Third, the prefrontal cortex is interconnected with only a portion of the arm representation in three premotor areas (supplementary motor area, the caudal cingulate motor area on the ventral bank of the cingulate sulcus, and the dorsal premotor area), whereas it is interconnected with the entire arm representation in the ventral premotor area and the rostral cingulate motor area. These observations indicate that the output of the prefrontal cortex targets specific premotor areas and even subregions within individual premotor areas.
Designing a high throughput refolding array using a combination of the GroEL chaperonin and osmolytes.

Although GroE chaperonins and osmolytes had been used separately as protein folding aids, combining these two methods provides a considerable advantage for folding proteins that cannot fold with either osmolytes or chaperonins alone. This technique rapidly identifies superior folding solution conditions for a broad array of proteins that are difficult or impossible to fold by other methods. While testing the broad applicability of this technique, we have discovered that osmolytes greatly simplify the chaperonin reaction by eliminating the requirement for the co-chaperonin GroES which is normally involved in encapsulating folding proteins within the GroEL–GroES cavity. Therefore, combinations of soluble or immobilized GroEL, osmolytes and ATP or even ADP are sufficient to refold the test proteins. The first step in the chaperonin/osmolyte process is to form a stable long-lived chaperonin–substrate protein complex in the absence of nucleotide. In the second step, different osmolyte solutions are added along with nucleotides, thus forming a ‘folding array’ to identify superior folding conditions. The stable chaperonin–substrate protein complex can be concentrated or immobilized prior to osmolyte addition. This procedure prevents-off pathway aggregation during folding/refolding reactions and more importantly allows one to refold proteins at concentrations (~mg/ml) that are substantially higher than the critical aggregation concentration for given protein. This technique can be used for successful refolding of proteins from purified inclusion bodies. Recently, other investigators have used our chaperonin/osmolyte method to demonstrate that a mutant protein that misfolds in human disease can be rescued by GroEL/osmolyte system. Soluble or immobilized GroEL can be easily removed from the released folded protein using simple separation techniques. The method allows for isolation of folded monomeric or oligomeric proteins in quantities sufficient for X-ray crystallography or NMR structural determinations.
LIBMAN-SACKS ENDOCARDITIS: DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION BY REAL TIME THREE-DIMENSIONAL TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Libman-Sacks vegetations (LSV) are independent predictors of cerebrovascular disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and can be complicated with infective endocarditis, severe valve regurgitation, need for high risk valve surgery, and increased mortality. Thus, accurate detection
Tyrosine Tolerance Test in Pregnancy and the Puerperium.

Conclusions1. The fasting blood tyrosyl level is significantly lowered during normal pregnancy, but not in the puerperium.2. The reduced tyrosine tolerance curve during pregnancy suggests an increased rate of metabolism for this amino acid. There is an immediate reversal of this effect after delivery.3. Unlike histidine. the renal tubular reabsorption of tyrosine appears to be as complete in pregnant as in non-pregnant subjects.4. No alterations in tyrosine tolerance were noted in a case of preeclampsia nor in a case of eclampsia.5. The observed shifts in tyrosine metabolism, possibly concerned with similar shifts in rates of protein synthesis, would probably invalidate the tyrosine tolerance test as a measure of liver function in pregnant and puerperal women.
Upregulation of estrogen receptor expression in the uterus of ovariectomized B6C3F1 mice and Ishikawa cells treated with bromoethane

In a 2-year NTP bioassay, Bromoethane (BE) was found to induce endometrial neoplasms in the uterus of B6C3F1 mice [; ]. In women, hormonal influences, such as "unopposed" estrogenic stimulus, have been implicated as important etiologic factors in uterine cancer. BE, however, does not affect the serum concentrations of sex hormones in female B6C3F1 mice [] and the mechanism of BE-induced uterine carcinogenesis still remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the estrogenic effects of BE on the uterus of ovariectomized B6C3F1 mice and on Ishikawa cells. Groups of 6 mice were given daily s.c. injections of 0, 100, 500 or 1000 mg BE/kg for 3 consecutive days. Mice treated with 17beta-estradiol served as positive controls. Mice were necropsied 24 h after the final injection, and uteri were weighed and examined histologically and immunohistochemically along with the vagina. Changes observed in the estrogen-treated mice included increased uterine weights, edema and inflammation of the endometrium, increased epithelial layers of the uterine and vaginal lumens and keratinization of the vaginal epithelium. In the BE-treated mice, no such changes occurred; however, immunohistochemical staining of the uterus revealed a significant increase in immunoexpression of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) in the two higher dose groups. Analysis of mRNA also showed slightly increased uterine ERalpha expression in these groups. Upregulated expression of ERalpha was confirmed in BE-treated Ishikawa cells, in which Western blotting analyses identified an intense signal at approximately 66 kDa, which is consistent with ERalpha. These data suggest that upregulated expression of ERalpha may be important in the induction of endometrial neoplasms in BE-treated mice.
The contrast-response of the periphery effect.

Abstract This report examines the effect of varying the contrast of a flickering remote surround on thresholds for flicker detection, and color detection in rapidly flickering red and green foveal test targets, presented on a steady white background. Flicker in the surround reduced flicker sensitivity for the foveal test stimuli and yielded a periphery effect (PE), whereas it had no effect on color sensitivity (no PE). The magnitude of the PE increased non-linearly as a function of increasing surround flicker contrast. Much of the increase took place at low contrasts (
A viral protease-mediated cleavage of the transmembrane glycoprotein of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus can be suppressed by mutations within the matrix protein.

Abstract The envelope glycoprotein precursor of retroviruses undergoes proteolytic cleavage in the Golgi complex to yield the mature surface and transmembrane (TM) glycoproteins of the virus. We report here that the TM glycoprotein of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus undergoes a second proteolytic processing event during a late maturation step that can follow virus release and Gag polyprotein cleavage. Cleavage results in the conversion of the cell-associated TM glycoprotein (gp22) to a virus-associated gp20. Processing continues after virus release and yields virions that contain predominantly gp20. A mutation within the active site of the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus aspartyl protease was shown to block both TM glycoprotein cleavage and the processing of the Gag polyprotein precursor. The role of the viral protease in cleavage of the TM glycoprotein localizes the cleavage site to the cytoplasmic domain of this protein. Surprisingly, point mutations within the matrix (MA) coding region of the gag gene can affect the extent to which gp22 is processed to gp20 and in one case [p10(MA)-A79V] results in greater than 90% inhibition of gp22 cleavage. The data provide genetic evidence of a specific interaction between the capsid proteins and the cytoplasmic domain of the TM glycoprotein of a retrovirus. This interaction is required for cytoplasmic domain cleavage to occur and may play a critical role in virus assembly and viral infectivity.
Confirmatory factor analysis of the validity of the SF-12 for persons with and without a history of stroke

Purpose To assess the validity of the Physical and Mental Component Summary scores (PCS and MCS) of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), among persons with a history of stroke.
Francis Hutcheson: Why Be Moral?

Like all theories that account for moral motivation, Francis Hutcheson's moral sense theory faces two related challenges. The skeptical challenge calls into question what reasons an agent has to be moral at all. The priority challenge asks why an agent's reasons to be moral tend to outweigh her non-moral reasons to act. I argue a defender of Hutcheson can respond to these challenges by building on unique features of his account. She can respond to skeptical challenge by drawing a direct parallel between an agent's reasons to pursue natural, self-directed goods and her reasons to pursue moral goods. This parallel, however, makes establishing the significance of morality difficult. Given this difficulty, a separate aspect of Hutcheson's account, the additional weight given to benevolence in our assessment of mixed actions, can be used to respond to the priority challenge.
Cytokine markers as predictors of type of respiratory infection in patients during the influenza season

Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to characterize the cytokine response among patients presenting with an influenza-like illness who are infected with the influenza virus, a bacterial pneumonia, or another viral infection. We hypothesize that there are differences in proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in relation to cytokines associated with the humoral response during viral and bacterial respiratory infections. Methods We enrolled adults who presented to an urban academic emergency department during the 2008 to 2011 influenza seasons with symptoms of fever and a cough. Subjects had nasal aspirates tested by viral culture, and peripheral blood drawn to quantify cytokine concentrations. Cytokine concentrations were compared between groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, and receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated. Results A total of 80 patients were enrolled: 40 with influenza infection, 14 patients with a bacterial pneumonia as determined by infiltrate on chest x-ray, and 26 patients negative for influenza infection and infiltrate. There were differences between the bacterial pneumonia group, and all other viral infections grouped together with regard to interleukin (IL) 4 (2.66 vs 16.77 pg/mL, P P = .006), IL-6 (403.06 vs 52.69 pg/mL, P P γ (0.0 vs 830.36 pg/mL, P P = .003). Conclusion Cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interferon γ may serve as distinct markers of bacterial infection in patients with an influenza-like illness, whereas IL-10 is uniquely elevated in influenza patients.
Construction of a Human Cytochrome P450 1A1:Rat NADPH–Cytochrome P450 Reductase Fusion Protein cDNA and Expression inEscherichia coli,Purification, and Catalytic Properties of the Enzyme in Bacterial Cells and after Purification

A plasmid (pCW) was modified to code for a fusion protein consisting of the complete sequence of human cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A1 (with only the second amino acid changed) in the N-terminal portion connected by a Ser-Thr linker to the portion of rat NADPH-P450 reductase beginning at amino acid 57. This plasmid was used to express the fusion protein in Escherichia coli DH5alpha cells and the protein was purified from detergent-solubilized bacterial membranes using DEAE and 2',5'-ADP agarose chromatography. The purified fusion protein catalyzed benzo[a]pyrene 3-hydroxylation, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation, and zoxazolamine 6-hydroxylation. Catalytic activity was not increased in the presence of added NADPH-P450 reductase, cytochrome b5, or phospholipid. The fusion protein could also transfer electrons to cytochromes c and b5 but not P450 lA2. The same oxidation products of benzo[a]pyrene were formed with the purified fusion protein and the fusion protein functioning in bacterial cells. The catalytic activity of the human P450 1A1 fusion protein toward several substrates is markedly less than that of a similar fusion protein constructed with rat P450 1A1, in line with the reported differences in catalytic activities of the rat and human P450 1A1 enzymes. The purified fusion protein also oxidized (+)- and (-)-benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiols and eight aryl and heterocyclic amines to genotoxic products, in the absence of added NADPH-P450 reductase. The demonstration of catalytic activities of the human fusion protein within bacterial cells suggests the prospect of utilizing such cellular systems for production of human P450 metabolites.
Coordinatization of affine and projective space

In this paper, the author gives an elementary proof of the theorem that each Desarguesian affine space is a vector space over a division ring and each Desarguesian projective space is the subspaces of a vector space over a division ring and conversely. A geometric characterization of the characteristic of a division ring is also given.
CHILD MIGRATION FROM PUERTO RICO TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES: SAMPLING A DIFFICULT‐TO‐REACH POPULATION

A study is reported, illustrating the methodological and practical challenges of sampling a difficult-to-reach population and of studying a population defined by criteria other than the standard demographic categories. In order to help inform the development of a sampling plan and a research design for a larger scientific investigation of preadolescents who migrate to the United States from Puerto Rico, a study of 286 public and private schools in the United States (New Jersey) was conducted, ascertaining students' migratory movements. Examined are the distribution of arrivals (i.e., transfers-in from Puerto Rico) among districts and among schools in particular geographic areas, the stability of in-migration patterns and numbers over time, and the post-migration mobility. Although focused on this population, the study addresses issues likely to be encountered generally by researchers who study “nonstandard” or difficult-to-reach populations. Considered are both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs.
The Parker spiral configuration of the interplanetary magnetic field between 1 and 8.5 AU

The magnetic field data from the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft show that the field directions between 1 and 8.5 AU are in accordance with the Parker spiral directions within quiet and interaction regions. The included angle between the inward and outward sectored field directions is near 180 deg; the field direction manifests greater variability in quiet regions than in interaction zones. The fractional polarities below 10 deg heliographic latitude are dominated by temporal variations; however, dual-spacecraft investigations permitted a significant latitudinal gradient to be extracted. The sector structure extended occasionally to 16 deg heliographic latitude during the period of average current sheet inclination in 1976; it is proposed that the fast streams associated with interaction regions may move the current sheet to higher latitudes when the source of the fast plasma is in the southern solar hemisphere.
Phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in freshly isolated human T lymphocytes

Antigen receptor-mediated activation of T and B lymphocytes results in activation of phospholipase C-gamma isozymes with subsequent hydrolysis of membrane inositol phospholipids. As a method of screening autoimmune or immunodeficient patients for early receptor signaling defects, we have developed a rapid technique for studying phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis in cultured cells and fresh clinical specimens resulting from surface receptor crosslinking. Using staphylococcal alpha-toxin, we permeabilized freshly isolated, purified human T lymphocytes to facilitate incorporation of [3H]myoinositol into membrane phospholipids. Aggregation of surface antigen receptors (TCR-CD3 complex and CD28 on T cells) with specific antibodies produced extensive ATP and Mg(2+)-dependent hydrolysis of the membrane inositol phospholipids as measured by release of water soluble inositol phosphates. Anti-human CD3 antibody produced 18.5 +/- 1.6 net % PI hydrolysis and anti-human CD28 antibody produced 4.6 +/- 0.2 net % PI hydrolysis. Simultaneous anti CD3/CD28 crosslinking produced 30.8 +/- 1.2 net % PI hydrolysis, an increase over either stimulus alone (p = 0.0013 two tailed t test). Isotype matched control antibodies produced 11.6 +/- 0.4% PI hydrolysis. The tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor orthovanadate (Na3VO4) was used as a positive control because it induces maximal protein tyrosine kinase-dependent PI hydrolysis in permeabilized cells. Na3VO4 consistently induced hydrolysis of > 50% of the membrane inositol phospholipid pool. These data indicate that costimulation of T cells with antibodies to CD3 and CD28 is synergistic and reinforces the importance of CD28 as an accessory T cell stimulus. This easy technique allows quick evaluation of the integrity of the early signaling cascade in lymphocytes as a screen for autoimmune and immunodeficiency diseases.
Effects of essential oils on in vitro ruminal fermentation and ammonia release

Abstract Ruminal inoculum enriched with particle-associated microorganisms was collected from two lactating dairy cows fed an alfalfa hay/cereal silage/concentrate diet 1 h before feeding and used to evaluate effects of essential oils (EO) on ruminal fermentation in short-term in vitro incubations. Ruminal ammonia N was labeled with 15N and native and hydrolyzed casein were provided as sources of amino acids. Forty EO were tested at 10 and 100 mg/l final medium concentration. Monensin-Na, and sodium laurate were also incubated at 5 and 2000 mg/l, respectively. Compared with blanks (i.e., no addition of EO), sodium laurate increased medium pH and a number of EO reduced medium pH. Both sodium laurate and monensin reduced ammonia concentrations compared to the blank. Only one of the tested EO (i.e., Caraway) slightly reduced ammonia concentration, by 8%, compared with the blank. Monensin and sodium laurate resulted in higher (i.e., 9–34%, monensin, and 29–47%, sodium laurate) 15N enrichment of ammonia N, an indication of reduced deamination of amino acids in these treatments versus the blank. Several EO (i.e., FrankMyrrh, Gardenia, Hibiscus, Eucaliptus, and Peppermint) had similar effects, but of a smaller magnitude (i.e., 5–12%). Some EO increased medium total VFA concentration, primarily through an increase in acetate concentration. Overall, effects of EO on fermentation were subtle, and it is unlikely that these moderate in vitro effects would correspond to any substantive impact on ruminal fermentation in vivo.
Laparoscopic esophageal myotomy for achalasia: factors affecting functional results.

Background We reviewed our experience and analyzed factors affecting functional results after laparoscopic esophageal myotomy (LEM) for achalasia. Methods From January 1996 through October 2003, the records of 211 patients (110 men and 101 women) who had LEM for achalasia were reviewed, and factors affecting morbidity and functional results were analyzed. Results Median age was 47 years (range, 12 to 85). One hundred and twenty-five patients (59%) had prior esophageal dilatation and/or botulinum toxin injection and 19 (9%) had a prior myotomy. A partial fundoplication was performed in 198 patients (94%); posterior in 135 and anterior in 63. Median operative time was 208 minutes (range, 90 to 527). Intraoperative complications occurred in 37 patients (17.5%), and included mucosal perforation in 32, pneumothorax in 2, and retained needle, splenic capsular tear, and gastric short vessel bleeding in 1 each. Five patients (2%) required conversion to an open procedure. Postoperative complications occurred in 17 patients (8%) including 2 patients who required reoperation for leak. There were no perioperative deaths. Median hospitalization was 3 days (range, 1 to 48). Follow-up was complete in 167 patients (79%) and ranged from 1 to 70.5 months (median, 5.3). Functional results were classified as excellent in 105 patients (63%), good in 43 (26 %), and fair or poor in 19 (11%). Previous esophageal surgery for achalasia adversely affected functional results ( p = 0.0139). Preoperative bougie dilatation ( p = 0.9851), pneumatic dilatation ( p = 0.8548), botulinum toxin injection ( p = 0.1724), and the type of fundoplication ( p = 0.5904) did not affect functional results. Preoperative bougie dilatation ( p = 0.441), pneumatic dilatation ( p = 0.1060), and botulinum toxin injection ( p = 0.3938) did not affect the incidence of intraoperative perforation. As experience is gained, the incidence of intraoperative complications has decreased significantly ( p = 0.0075). Conclusions Laparoscopic myotomy for achalasia is safe and effective in the majority of patients. The incidence of intraoperative complications decreases as experience is gained. Preoperative endoscopic treatment does not preclude successful surgical outcome. Excellent or good functional results are achieved in the majority of patients although previous surgical treatment adversely affects functional results.
Reversible sidewall functionalization of buckytubes

Abstract Single-wall fullerene nanotubes have been made soluble in various organic solvents, including chloroform, methylene chloride, and tetrahydrofuran by covalently attaching alkanes to their sidewalls. Sidewall-alkylated nanotubes are obtained by reacting sidewall-fluorinated nanotubes with alkyl magnesium bromides in a Grignard synthesis or by reaction with alkyllithium precursors. Covalent attachment to the sidewalls was confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy, which is also used to show that the alkane sidewall groups can be removed by oxidizing them in air to recover pristine nanotubes.
Decreased ability in the segregation of dynamically changing vowel-analog streams: a factor in the age-related cocktail-party deficit?

Pairs of harmonic complexes with different fundamental frequencies f0 (105 and 189 Hz or 105 and 136 Hz) but identical bandwidth (0.25-3 kHz) were band-pass filtered using a filter having an identical center frequency of 1 kHz. The filter’s center frequency was modulated using a triangular wave having a 5-Hz modulation frequency fmod to obtain a pair of vowel-analog waveforms with dynamically varying single-formant transitions. The target signal S contained a single modulation cycle starting either at a phase of - π /2 (up-down) or π /2 (down-up), whereas the longer distracter N contained several cycles of the modulating triangular wave starting at a random phase. The level at which the target formant’s modulating phase could be correctly identified was adaptively determined for several distracter levels and several extents of frequency swing (10-55%) in a group of experienced normal-hearing young and a group of experienced elderly individuals with hearing loss not exceeding one considered moderate. The most important result was that, for the two f0 differences, all distracter levels, and all frequency swing extents tested, elderly listeners needed about 20 dB larger S/N ratios than the young. Results also indicate that identification thresholds of both the elderly and the young listeners are between 4 and 12 dB higher than similarly determined detection thresholds and that, contrary to detection, identification is not a linear function of distracter level. Since formant transitions represent potent cues for speech intelligibility, the large S/N ratios required by the elderly for correct discrimination of single-formant transition dynamics may at least partially explain the well-documented intelligibility loss of speech in babble noise by the elderly. [Work supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging and the Veterans Affairs Medical Research.]
Correlation analysis for alleviating effects of inserted data in wireless sensor networks

This paper introduces a new approach that addresses data contamination problems from attacks in unattended wireless sensor networks. We propose a sliding-window based spatio-temporal correlation analysis called "Abnormal Relationships Test (ART)" to effectively detect, respond and immune to inserted spoofed data from both various-ID impersonators and compromised nodes. Also a systematic approach is given to identify the appropriate sliding window size and correlation coefficient threshold. Our study shows that correlation property of observed phenomenon is not always transitive, different phenomenon from same set of nodes at the same or different period of time can have different correlation coefficients. Our simulation results reveal interesting relationships of outlier percentage and correlation coefficient. With proper parameter setting ART achieves high attack detection rate (90% for correlated attacks and 94% for random attacks even with 100% data insertion).
Measurement of finger posture and three-axis fingertip touch force using fingernail sensors

When the human fingertip is pressed against a surface or bent, the hemodynamic state of the fingertip is altered due to mechanical interactions between the fingernail and bone. Normal force, shear force, and finger extension/flexion all result in different patterns of blood volume beneath the fingernail. This phenomenon has been exploited in order to detect finger forces and finger posture by creating a photoplethysmograph "fingernail sensor," which measures the two-dimensional pattern of blood volume beneath the fingernail. In this paper, a filter is designed to predict the normal force, lateral shear force, longitudinal shear force, and bending angle based on readings from the fingernail sensor. Linear, polynomial, and neural network models relating the bending angle and touch forces to optical sensor outputs are developed and tested. A method is developed to uniformly calibrate the predictor for each user. Calibration experiments are performed to train and validate the predictor for seven human subjects. Results show that on average, shear forces can be predicted with 0.5 N root mean square (rms) error, normal force with 1 N rms error, and posture angle with 10 degrees rms error. Applications and methods for improving performance are discussed.
Cooperative multi-agent mobile sensor platforms for jet engine inspection - concept and implementation

Cooperative behavior algorithms utilizing swarm intelligence are being developed for mobile sensor platforms to inspect jet engines on-wing. Experiments are planned in which several relatively simple autonomous platforms will work together in a coordinated fashion to carry out complex maintenance-type tasks within the constrained working environment modeled on the interior of a turbofan engine. The algorithms will emphasize distribution of the tasks among multiple units; they will be scalable and flexible so that units may be added in the future; and will be designed to operate on an individual unit level to produce the desired global effect. This proof of concept demonstration will validate the algorithms and provide justification for further miniaturization and specialization of the hardware toward the true application of on-wing in situ turbine engine maintenance.
Behavior analysis in the era of medicalization: the state of the science and recommendations for practitioners.

Recent decades have witnessed an increase in biological explanations of common disorders such as depression and anxiety, a phenonmenon termed “medicalization” (Conrad, 2007). Behavior analysts may find it difficult to implement non-drug treatment with a populace that has become inundated with biological explanations and a preference for medication as the treatment of choice. Research frequently cited in support of medicalization includes studies of drug effectiveness, as well as family studies and studies of brain structure and function. Methodological and interpretation difficulties within those bodies of research are described and recommendations are made so that behavioral practitioners may function optimally within the culture of biological causation.
Trends in Understanding and Addressing Domestic Violence

This article is a response to three questions posed by the editor about past and future research on interpersonal violence by focusing in this essay on domestic violence:(a) What is the most important thing we have learned about this social problem in the last 20 years, (b) what is the most important thing we need to learn about it in the next 10 years, and (c) what is the most promising methodological innovation in the last 20 years for the study or treatment of domestic violence? This assessment suggests that the field has witnessed considerable advances in domestic violence research and policy but that many as yet untapped opportunities exist to improve both knowledge and practice.