cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospective study of immune response to hydralazine and development of antideoxyribonucleoprotein in patients receiving hydralazine

To examine the relationship between the immune responses to hydralazine, a drug known to induce systemic lupus erythematosus, and to deoxyribonucleoprotein (DNP) we followed prospectively 21 hypertensive patients treated with hydralazine for the first time. Within one year, antibodies to hydralazine developed in 16 of these patients and anti-DNP in seven of these. In one patient whose serum had a positive antinuclear antibody test prior to treatment, a mild hydralazine systemic lupus erythematosus syndrome developed preceded by rises in the levels of both anti-hydralazine and anti-DNP. Studies by radioimmunoassay on serums of three additional patients, not followed in this study but known to have hydralazine-induced systemic lupus erythematosus, revealed no evidence for either (1) cross-reactivity between anti-DNP and anti-hydralazine or (2) antibodies specific for a hydralazine-DNP complex. In some way, perhaps related to the mechanism by which carrier molecules enhance the immunogenuity of haptens, hydralazine increases the antigenicity of DNP. This effect depends on the development of immunity to hydralazine as well.
Strategic Voting in Plurality Elections

This paper extends the Calculus of Voting of McKelvey and Ordeshook, providing the first direct derivation of the conditions under which voters will vote strategically: choose their second-most preferred candidate in order to prevent their least-preferred candidate from winning. Addressing this theoretical problem is important, as nearly all empirical research on strategic voting either implicitly or explicitly tests hypotheses which originate from this seminal model. The formal result allows us to isolate the subset of voters to which strategic voting hypotheses properly apply and in turn motivates a critical reevaluation of past empirical work. In making this argument, we develop a unified and parsimonious framework for understanding competing models of tactical voter choice. The typology helps to elucidate the methodological difficulties in studying tactical behavior when faced with heterogeneous explanatory models and suggests the need for both theoretical caution and more precise data instruments in future empirical work.
Reproductive dependence of a branchiobdellidan annelid on its crayfish host: confirmation of a mutualism

The ectosymbiotic branchiobdellidan Cambarincola ingens Hoffman, 1963 can increase the growth and reduce mortality of the crayfish Cambarus chasmodactylus James, 1966. These results suggest that these two species are engaged in a cleaning symbiosis mutualism. However, the potential benefits C. ingens derives from the association, specifically its reproductive dependence on the crayfish, have not been examined experimentally. We conducted two experiments to determine if C. ingens was reproductively dependent on C. chasmodactylus. In the experiments, worms only laid cocoons on live crayfish. Also, significantly more cocoons were laid on larger crayfish which was consistent with a survey of worm and cocoon abundance on crayfish collected from a local river. These results suggest that C. ingens is dependent on its crayfish host for reproduction. The association between C. chasmodactylus and C. ingens is a mutualism, at least under environmental conditions in which crayfish survival and growth are enhanced by the worms.
Control of thermotactic behavior via coupling of a TRP channel to a phospholipase C signaling cascade.

Drosophila larvae maintain a very precise ability to sense small environmental temperature differences, influencing thermotactic behavior. Kwon et al. suggest a requirement for TRPA1 activation in mediating this sensitivity, but with channel responses arising from a PLC-based signaling cascade, not by direct thermal activation of the channel.
Free vibration of cylinders containing liquid

Series of displacement functions for three-dimensional motion are assumed for a cantilevered circular cylindrical shell. The classical Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to obtain a set of equations describing the behavior of the vibrating shell. Solution of the system reduces to a standard eigenvalues problem. Computer solutions give numerical results for natural frequencies. Some mode shapes are illustrated. A potential function is developed for a liquid contained in the shell. Its coefficients insure compatibility of the shell-liquid interface. The liquid kinetic energy is computed and added to that of the shell. Resulting natural frequencies are compared with some experimental data.
Comparative Evaluation of Four Bacterial Assays for the Detection of Genotoxic Effects in the Dissolved Water Phases of Aqueous Matrices

The aim of this study was to evaluate the perfomance of four bacterial short-term genotoxicity assays (Salmonella/microsome assay, SOS Chromotest, Microscreen phage-induction assay, differential DNA repair test) that are widely used and/or have a promising potential for the genotoxicity testing of water samples. Twenty-three samples of different origins (drinking and bathing water, surface water, municipal and industrial wastewater, pulp mill effluents, groundwater, and landfill leachates) were tested in these assays. In total, 20 samples were genotoxic: 13 in the Salmonella/microsome assay, 13 in the SOS Chromotest, 8 in the Microscreen phage-induction assay, and 19 in the differential DNA repair test. Although the differential DNA repair test was the most sensitive system, positive results were obtained also with some of the negative control samples, and it had the least power to detect different genotoxic potencies. The Microscreen assay was the least sensitive system due to nonlinear results and samp...
Hormone replacement therapy and sexual response in postmenopause and geripause

Objective: Sexual responses in postmenopause and geripause (beyond the postmenopause) require clarification. Data from both mental and physical sex responses are needed to determine whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) enhances sexuality. Methods: Thirty women treated with estrogen alone or combined estrogen and progestin and 30 parallel controls, ages 53–80 years, were evaluated over 3 months. Subjective information and objective data were obtained by routine questions and clinical examination. Results: Geripause transition was observed after age 64.4 years. Women treated with HRT were compared with controls: discomfort was less (P <0.01); less lubricant was necessary (P<0.001); fewer women discontinued vaginal intercourse (16%); desire and arousal continued to be present (P <0.02). Orgasmic responses through intercourse or masturbation were diverse (NS). Conclusions: This preliminary study indicated a positive effect by HRT on maintaining desire and arousal during geripause: prolongation of tissue protection was evident. Dose–response and time/duration correlations are needed.
Some dynamic properties of linear, hyperbolic and sigmoidal multi-enzyme systems with feedback control.

Abstract Numerical solutions of equations (3) (see scheme I) have been obtained for a wide range of parameters. For cases wherein limit cycles arise, the relationships between the amplitude, the period, the nature of the rate laws for the enzyme-catalyzed reactions (e.g. linear, hyperbolic, or sigmoidal), the number of kinetically important steps, the metabolic flux into the system, and the stoichiometry of the feedback were determined. Periods and amplitudes for systems with hyperbolic rate laws usually exceed periods and amplitudes for systems with corresponding linear rate laws, and periods and amplitudes for systems with sigmoidal rate laws are usually less than the periods and amplitudes for corresponding linear or hyperbolic systems. Furthermore, limit cycles can arise in hyperbolic systems which, if linear, would possess global asymptotic stability; limit cycles can arise in linear systems which, if sigmoidal, would possess global asymptotic stability. These results have been observed for systems wherein all the rate laws have been changed in the indicated manner, and in systems where some of the rate laws have been changed. The effect is usually (but not always) a monotonic function of the number of altered rate laws. The rate law for the last step is usually the most important, and the rate law for the first step can be much more important than the rate law for the steps between the first and the last. The rate laws for all these intermediate steps are usually of approximately equal importance. A striking feature of these results is that there are exceptions to all the “rules”. The waveforms of the oscillations can be “smooth” or “squared”, depending upon the parameters (including the nature of the rate laws) used. The period and the amplitude usually increase or decrease together, but in certain cases the amplitude increases as a function of a parametric variation that causes the period to decrease. Even the individual relationships between the amplitude or the period and certain parameters is not always the same. For example, the amplitude is usually an asymptotic function of the flux into the system, but in some systems there is an optimum amplitude at an intermediate flux. The period can be nearly independent of the flux, or it can depend nearly linearly on the flux. One important aspect of this result is that the period can be in the range of a day or two, or in the range of seconds, but the period is most likely to be insensitive to the flux when the flux is high and the period long. At the end of this paper I have included some speculative remarks about how these results might relate to biological timing mechanisms or to cellular differentiation.
Infants' sensitivity to familiar size: the effect of memory on spatial perception.

Two experiments investigated infants’ sensitivity to familiar size as information for the distances of objects with which they had had only brief experience. Each experiment had two phases: a familiarization phase and a test phase. During the familiarization phase, the infant played with a pair of different-sized objects for 10 min. During the test phase, a pair of objects, identical to those seen in the familiarization phase but now equal in size, were presented to the infant at a fixed distance under monocular or binocular viewing conditions. In the test phase of Experiment 1, 7-month-old infants viewing the objects monocularly showed a significant preference to reach for the object that resembled the smaller object in the familiarization phase. Seven-month-old infants in the binocular viewing condition reached equally to the two test phase objects. These results indicate that, in the monocular condition, the 7-month-olds used knowledge about the objects’ sizes, acquired during the familiarization phase, to perceive distance from the test objects’ visual angles, and that they reached preferentially for the apparently nearer object. The lack of a reaching preference in the binocular condition rules out interpretations of the results not based on the objects’ perceived distances. The results, therefore, indicate that 7-month-old infants can use memory to mediate spatial perception. The implications of this finding for the debate between direct and indirect theories of visual perception are discussed. In the test phase of Experiment 2,5-month-old infants viewing the objects monocularly showed no reaching preference. These infants, therefore, showed no evidence of sensitivity to familiar size as distance information.
An analysis of fretting fatigue cracks during loading phase

Abstract An elastic half-plane, subjected to loading by uniform tractions over a given length of its surface, is considered. The tractions consist of pressure, constant in time, and a shear load, varying sinusoidally in time. The plane also contains a surface-breaking crack, normal to the free surface and located at the edge of the pressurized region. This geometry approximates the classical fretting problem with a resulting fatigue crack. The faces of the crack are allowed to transmit Coulomb friction. In this study, the first quarter cycle of loading (shear tractions monotonically increased from zero) is considered. Stress intensity factors are computed for various crack lengths, friction coefficients, and ratios of applied loads.
Tryptophan Fluorescence Quantum Yield Predictions in the Study of Protein Folding. Ac-Trp-Ala-Ala-Ala-His-NH2 and Villin Headpiece Subdomain

In the study of protein folding dynamics followed by tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence, a common motif has emerged. This motif has the following amino acid sequence, Trp-X-X-X-His+. Two examples are the villin headpiece subdomain (HP35) (PNAS 2005 102, 7517) and a synthetic peptide Ac-Trp-(Ala)3-His+-NH2 (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 5628). The common assumption is that the strongly quenching His+ contacts the Trp in the helical folded form, leading to a lower fluorescence intensity. For HP35, however, both experiment and our 12 ns QM-MM simulation show that the quenching is mostly by the Trp backbone amide. The electronic coupling between the Trp ring and amide is constantly large and the energy gap between the fluorescent state and the amide charge transfer state is small. In contrast, quenching by electron transfer to His+ in the folded form of HP35 is often diminished due to large Trp-His distances when the His+ is salt bridged with Glu72 or Trp is in a cation-pi stacking with Lys65. Preliminary MD simulations on Ac-Trp-(Ala)3-His+-NH2, on the other hand, show that in the helical form, Trp and His+ are virtually always in close contact. We are currently investigating the ratio of amide vs His+ quenching in the folded and unfolded forms.
Ultrastructure of Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) (Braconidae : Hymenoptera) teratocytes

Abstract The developing embryo of the braconid, Microplitis croceipes (Braconidae : Hymenoptera), is encased in an extraembryonic serosal membrane. Hatching of the parasitoid within the larva of its habitual host, Hehothis virescens (Noctuidae : Lepidoptera), is initiated about 40 hr after oviposition when held at 25 ± 2°C. At this time, the monolayered serosal membrane begins to dissociate into individual cells (teratocytes). After dissociation, teratocytes become dispersed in the hemolymph of the host. The average number of teratocytes released from each parasitoid embryo is 914 ± 43. Teratocytes average 14.1 ± 2.4 μm in diameter when first released, and reach a maximum average diameter of 68.1 ± 4.6 μm 6 days after liberation. Newly released teratocytes have ovoid nuclei, simple mitochondria and a limited number of profiles of the endoplasmic reticulum, all of which indicate relative metabolic inactivity. The ramified nuclei, extensive endoplasmic reticulum, polymorphic mitochondria and accumulation of glycogen granules and lipid droplets observed in older teratocytes provide circumstantial evidence that protein synthesis is occurring. Within hours after dissociation, microvilli begin to cover the surface of the teratocytes. Anatomical deformation (blebs) that occurred on some older (8-day-old) teratocytes probably resulted from enlargement or expansion of microvilli.
Robust stabilization of linear systems with norm-bounded time-varying uncertainty

Abstract In this paper, robust stabilization of a class of linear systems with norm-bounded time-varying uncertainties is considered. It is shown that for this class of uncertain systems quadratic stabilizability via linear control is equivalent to the existence of a positive definite symmetric matrix solution to a (parameter-dependent) Riccati equation. Also, a construction for the stabilizing feedback law is given in terms of the solution to the Riccati equation.
Cell biology: Short RNAs and shortness of breath

The simultaneous deletion of six RNA molecules in mice has been found to cause respiratory and fertility defects, owing to improper assembly of structures called cilia on the cell surface. See Article p.115 The six microRNAs (miRNAs) of the miR-34/449 family are highly similar. Their functions overlap, so it is difficult to determine their specific biological roles. Lin He and colleagues present data obtained from mice deficient for all six miR-34/449 miRNAs. These animals exhibited frequent postnatal mortality, respiratory dysfunction — resembling respiratory complications seen in some patients with primary cilia dyskinesia — and infertility. The main underlying defects were shorter and fewer cilia in the cells of the respiratory tract, largely due to defects in basal body docking to the apical membrane. Of the 57 potential targets of miR-34/449 miRNAs that the authors identify, one is Cp110, a centriolar protein that suppresses cilia assembly. Interestingly, aberrant Cp110 levels in association with respiratory illness have already been uncovered.
Utility of neuroradiographic imaging in predicting outcomes after neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Abstract Background The need for routine neuroimaging after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and the optimal radiographic study remains unclear. We sought to evaluate the correlation between findings on head ultrasound (HUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and determine the association of these findings to neurodevelopmental outcome. Methods A retrospective review was performed (2003-2010) to identify neonates who had a MRI after ECMO. Each MRI was reviewed by a single pediatric neuroradiologist. Neurodevelopmental data was collected from the high-risk neonatal follow-up clinic. Results Fifty neonates had a MRI (venoarterial 37, venovenous 13) after ECMO. HUS was abnormal in 24%, whereas MRI was abnormal in 62%. All infants with an abnormal HUS had an abnormal MRI, but an additional 50% of patients with a normal HUS had an abnormal MRI. Venoarterial ECMO was significantly associated with an abnormal MRI. Follow-up data was available for 26 neonates. The only predictor of abnormal neurodevelopment was the need for supplemental tube feeds at discharge. Conclusions MRI identified significantly more abnormalities compared to routine HUS after neonatal ECMO. However, neither MRI nor HUS findings correlated with early neurodevelopmental outcome. Feeding ability at discharge was the overall best predictor of neurologic impairment in survivors.
Ferroelectricity in the ReBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductors

Abstract Several independent pieces of physical evidence lead us to propose that the recently discovered high-temperature superconductors transform to a ferroelectric state prior to the onset of superconductivity.
Cytomorphologic features of Merkel cell carcinoma in fine needle aspiration biopsies. A study of two atypical cases.

OBJECTIVE: To report atypical cytomorphologic features in fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) from two cases of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a primary neuroendocrine neoplasm of skin. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of FNABs with histologic correlation from six patients with MCC and a report of findings from two whose smears showed atypical features. RESULTS: Typically the aspirates produce highly cellular smears of loosely clustered and individual, relatively monomorphic, small tumor cells with round to oval, regularly contoured nuclei. In two of our cases, the tumor cell nuclei exhibited a spectrum of pleomorphism ranging from moderately complex nuclear membranes with cleaves, indentations and protrusions in one case to large, markedly bizarre, convoluted nuclei and multinucleate tumor cells in the extreme case. Both cases were primary neoplasms, and the diagnosis was based on clinical, histologic and immunohistochemical data. Additionally, electron microscopy was performed on the tumor with bizarre nuclei and demonstrated rare, dense core neurosecretory granules and paranuclear bundles of intermediate filaments. CONCLUSION: FNAB of MCC may exhibit highly atypical morphologic features that could present difficulty in diagnosis even in patients with a previous history of the neoplasm.
Implant-supported prosthesis in posterior crossbite

PATIENT The patient presented with skeletal class III malocclusion and posterior edentulism. The patient had difficulty in chewing and wanted to improve his chewing ability. DISCUSSION Implant-supported prostheses lack periodontal mechanoreceptors and therefore tend to be subjected to excess lateral force, which may cause clinical complication. To minimize heavy lateral force the implants were placed so that they could be vertically loaded . To achieve this, a cross-bite was established in the posterior. Occlusal adjustment was performed carefully to guide the chewing force to the axis of the prosthesis. CONCLUSION In a case of skeletal class III malocclusion, the establishment of a cross-bite using implants is biomechanically rational and therefore produces a predictable outcome.
Isolation of major pancreatic cell types and long-term culture-initiating cells using novel human surface markers.

Abstract We have developed a novel panel of cell-surface markers for the isolation and study of all major cell types of the human pancreas. Hybridomas were selected after subtractive immunization of Balb/C mice with intact or dissociated human islets and assessed for cell-type specificity and cell-surface reactivity by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Antibodies were identified by specific binding of surface antigens on islet (panendocrine or α-specific) and nonislet pancreatic cell subsets (exocrine and duct). These antibodies were used individually or in combination to isolate populations of α, β, exocrine, or duct cells from primary human pancreas by FACS and to characterize the detailed cell composition of human islet preparations. They were also employed to show that human islet expansion cultures originated from nonendocrine cells and that insulin expression levels could be increased to up to 1% of normal islet cells by subpopulation sorting and overexpression of the transcription factors Pdx-1 and ngn3, an improvement over previous results with this culture system. These methods permit the analysis and isolation of functionally distinct pancreatic cell populations with potential for cell therapy.
Total positivity, spherical series, and hypergeometric functions of matrix argu ment

Abstract Given a totally positive function K of two real variables, is there a method for establishing the total positivity of K in an “obvious” fashion? In the case in which K(x, y) = f(xy), where f is real-analytic in a neighborhood of zero, we obtain integral representations for the determinants which define the total positivity of K. The total positivity of K then follows immediately from positivity of the integrands. In particular, we analyze the total positivity of classical hypergeometric functions by these methods. The central theme of this work is the circle of ideas that relates total positivity to “spherical series” on the symmetric space GL(n, C ) U(n) , and classical hypergeometric functions to hypergeometric functions of matrix argument.
Creative Thinking, a Cognitive Aptitude, and Integrative Joint Gain: A Study of Negotiator Creativity

Creativity in a negotiation situation is described as a unique construct. The use of creative decision-making skills such as fluency, flexibility, and originality are hypothesized to allow negotiators to find tradeoffs and maximize joint gain. The relation between creativity and negotiation success is further complicated by the dyadic nature of the negotiation situation. Results show that although the additive creativity of both members of a negotiating dyad is a significant predictor of integrative joint gain, the higher individual creativity score of the negotiating dyad is an even stronger predictor of joint gain. This indicates that one highly creative individual is sufficient to recognize the potential for integrative joint outcomes. Graduate Management Admission Test scores were also found to be a significant predictor of integrative joint gain. These findings tie the theoretical work on creativity of Torrance and others to the art of negotiation.
Temporal analysis of fingerprint impressions

Fingerprint analysis has been performed on static images since the establishment of friction-ridge patterns as a reliable human trait for identification. The image of a fingerprint can vary considerably, however, as a result of such factors as skin elasticity and pressure on the imaging surface. With today's live-scan imaging devices, changes in appearance are notable as a finger presses against the scanning during acquisition. During the brief imaging period, fingerprint ridges stretch and compress, while some portions of the fingertip display varying levels of visibility and quality. Imaging systems select a single static image frame, thereby ignoring information that is absent from a particular image but present in others. This paper presents a novel approach that employs temporal analysis to a sequence of images captured during enrollment. Minutiae are extracted and tracked throughout the sequence to build a composite template that contains more genuine minutia than are found from simple static analysis. It was discovered, through temporal analysis, that 18.2% of minutiae changed type throughout a single impression sequence. The proposed method led to an increase in the number of minutiae detected by 25% and an improvement by 9.3% in the rank-1 identification rate of a set of partial prints, when using an imposter database of temporal composite templates over static templates.
Mesozoic/cenozoic calcite compensation depth and the global distribution of calcareous sediments

Abstract From late Jurassic to early Cenozoic time the calcite compensation depth (CCD) in the world oceans was shallow (above 4000 m). About 40 m.y. ago it dropped to about 4500 m, sharply in the Indian and Pacific oceans and gradually in the Atlantic. In the early Miocene it began to rise again, reaching a very shallow peak 10–15 m.y. ago, then descended to its present deep position. In the Pacific, fluctuations during the last 40 m.y. appear to result mainly from changes in bottom-water structure related to the progressive glaciation of the Antarctic and Arctic regions. Analogous explanations hold for CCD fluctuations during this period in the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The very shallow CCD prior to about 50 m.y., on the other hand, cannot be explained in this manner but must be attributed either to a low input of calcium in the oceans from deeply weathered continents or, more probably, to large changes in the distribution of carbonate deposition between shallow and deep seas.
An Ethical Assessment of Structured Intervention with Chemically Dependent Clients

ABSTRACT Structured intervention is a widely accepted approach to helping the chemically dependent client get treatment. Because this method departs from the tradition of the client directly seeking help, it raises unique ethical diletnmas-for both client and practitioner-including issues of self-determination, secrecy, coercion, environmental manipulation, and “fair exchange.” Analysis of these issues using a model for ethical decision-making is followed by discussion of four ethical options for the practitioner. The authors identify a preferred emical position based on theoretical and practice knowledge plus professional and personal values.
Effect of a single ECS on extinction of a bar-press.

Summary.-36 rats were trained to press a bar for food and were subsequently extinguished on this mk. During extinction, an electr~onvulsive shock (ECS) was administered. ECS animals responded at a higher rate in a delayed test than did controls. This supports che view that ECS interferes with memory storage processes rather than results in a general inhibition of responding. A large number of studies have shown that an elecuoconvulsive shock (ECS) delivered within 2 short time after a learning experience prevents the learned response from recurring when S is again placed in the learning situation (Duncan, 1949; Glickman, 1961; Heriot & Coleman, 1962). These studies have generally been taken as support for a consolidation hypothesis, which posits a post-trial period during which a memory trace is being formed and is amenable to interference. While alrernative interpretations of the ECS as a fear-producing agent have been proposed (Coons & Miller, 1960; Lewis & Adams, 1963), they have generally been sllown to hold only in those cases in which several ECS treatments are delivered to S (McGaugh & Madsen, 1964; Hudspeth, McGaugh, & Thompson, 1964). Recently, Lewis and Maher (1965) proposed that the amnesic effect of ECS is due to an unconditioned inhibitory response to the ECS which "will become conditioned to whatever external stimuli preceded the onset of the coma." This learned inhibition is assumed to interfere with the previously learned responses when the stimuli which preceded the convulsion are again presented. The present study used an extinction situation to compare the consolidation and the conditioned inhibkion hypotheses. To test these hypotheses, ECS was given to rats following extinction of a previously learned bar-press response. If ECS produced conditioned inhibition, this might be expected to summate with the learned tendency not to respond and cause ECS recipients to respond at a lower rate in a delayed tes-r than non-ECS Ss. If, however, ECS interfered with memory storage, retrograde amnesia for the extinction might be expected to result, causing ECS rats to respond at a higher rate than controls.
Influence of electric current on the quench aging of a low carbon steel

Interest in this subject was stimulated by the results of Erdmann-Jesnitzer et al, who reported that a d.c. current density of 1,115 A/cm[sup 2] enhanced the rate of precipitation of C in quenched [alpha]-iron at 80 C determined by resistivity measurements, whereas an a.c. current (50 Hz) of the same magnitude completely suppressed the precipitation. Somewhat similar behavior was observed by Koppenaal and Simcoe for the aging of an Al-4 wt.% Cu alloy at 75 C in that a d.c. current enhanced the rate of precipitation of Cu, whereas a 25 Hz a.c. retarded it. No change in the rate occurred for a 100 Hz a.c. current. If an electric current can either enhance or retard the aging process in alloys depending on its frequency, this offers the potential for exerting additional control over such phenomena during processing. For example, an enhanced aging rate might be desired for increasing the efficiency of the process, whereas a retardation or suppression would be desirable in processing non-equilibrium structures. The objective of the present investigation was therefore to investigate further the effects of an electric current on the quench aging of a low-carbon steel, focusing on the frequency of the current. Hardness measurementsmore » were here employed to follow the aging process, compared to the resistivity measurements of Erdmann-Jesnitzer et al.« less
Vertical gradational variability of fines deposited in a gravel framework.

Vertical gradational structures develop as sand infiltrates into static gravel beds. Understanding the vertical distribution of interstitial sand deposits will improve predictions of ecological suitability and hyporheic hydrodynamics. A series of flume experiments was performed to investigate fine infiltration processes. Four sand distributions were introduced into flows over gravel beds. After each experiment, bed cores were extracted and analysed in vertical layers to examine the gradational trends with depth. Vertical trends of fine content were highly sensitive to the relative grain-size distributions of the gravel bed and the introduced sand. For experiments with d15gravel/d85sand ratios 15·4 and larger unimpeded static percolation was observed, where sand filled the voids relatively uniformly from the bottom of the gravel layer to the top. Experiments with ratios 10·6 and smaller bridged. Sand clogged a thin layer of gravel pores near the bed surface, precluding subsequent infiltration. Interstitial sand deposits fined with depth of penetration for all experiments which was the result of three distinct but overlapping processes. (i) Granular sorting: As particles fell through the substrate, smaller material preferentially passed through the voids deeper into the gravel. (ii) Bed-load sorting: Size segregation occurs in the wake of the leading bed form as smaller particles saltate further and settle first. (iii) Hydraulic sorting: Smaller sand was transported preferentially as suspended load filling the deep voids of the furthest flume positions downstream. Finally, when the experiments that formed a bridge layer were replicated with higher bed shear stresses, less interstitial sand deposition was observed. Higher shear stresses transported coarse particles downstream more efficiently causing bridge layers to form earlier and allowing less time for suspended load to settle into the deeper substrate pores before the pathways were closed.
Progress in Aeroengine Technology (1939--2003)

Second only to the invention of an airplane by the Wright Brothers 100 years ago, the jet engine has revolutionized both military and civil aviation. We present a survey of the key aeroengine technology trends. Since 1939, engine thrust has increased over 100-fold and the (thrust/weight) ratio to 7. Whereas the early jet engines barely lasted for less than 10 hours, today's civil engines can stay on wings for up to 10,000 hours, and high-performance military engines can last several hundred hours. Advances in blade cooling technologies and high-temperature materials have permitted an increase in turbine inlet temperature from 1280 to 3200°F. Today, engine thermal efficiency is approaching 50%. Also, today's most powerful aeroengines already meet the International Civil Aviation Organization ultra-low gaseous and smoke requirements. Finally, civil and military technology is moving along the direction set by the versatile affordable advanced turbine engines (VAATE) propulsion capability goals. The spectacular achievements of the last century truly provide an outstanding start for many future achievements to come in the field of aeroengine technology, along the lines of the VAATE goals
Zero-overhead self test and calibration of RF transceivers

In this paper we present a self-test method for RF transceivers to determine IQ imbalance, time skews, IIP3, IIP5, AM/AM, and AM/PM distortion with no hardware overhead. The analysis is done through the loop-back set-up over two frames, each of which is 200us in duration. The overall measurement time is less than 10ms including the computation time. The determined parameters can be used for digital calibration, which greatly enhances reliability and yield by widening the tolerance of the parameters. We show through hardware measurements that the target performance parameters can be determined accurately and the EVM can be reduced more than 5 folds, making even highly impaired systems usable. The only additional component to enable our approach is an attenuator in the loop-back path, which can be placed outside the chip. Hence, we call this self test and calibration approach a zero overhead approach.
Trap-depth measurements using ultracold collisions

We measure the depth of an optical atom trap using repulsive trap-loss collisions. These collisions involve excitation by a laser tuned to a frequency above the atomic resonance. Simple conservation of energy considerations give direct quantitative measurements of the trap depth. Further analysis allows measurement of the escape probability as a function of energy. We apply the methods to Rb traps, and use the results to form conclusions about ground-state hyperfine-changing collisions.
Fibre-optic double ring resonator

A novel device is described which can be used as an optical fibre sensor. The device is formed by leading two of the three output ports of a 3×3 fused optical fibre directional coupler back to two of the three input ports to form a doubly resonant structure. This produces two rings, one of which can be used as the reference arm while the other can be used as the signal arm. The theory and some experimental results with the device are presented.
Images in emergency medicine: left atrial myxoma.

A 64-year-old white male presented to the Emergency Department with complaints of 24 hours of right lower quadrant abdominal pain. The patient was without past medical or surgical history. Review of systems was remarkable for nausea without vomiting and absence of urinary symptoms or change in bowel habits. Physical examination was significant for a blood pressure of 136/76 mm Hg, a heart rate of 95 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute, and temperature of 98.7 degrees Fahrenheit. Pulse oximetry was recorded at 100% on room air. Patient was an alert, well-appearing adult male with exquisite tenderness to palpation over the right lower quadrant without guarding, rebound, or rigidity. The rest of the physical examination and the laboratory evaluation were without significant findings or abnormalities. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis (Figure 1) with P.O. and I.V. contrast is shown demonstrating an intra-cardiac soft tissue mass (closed dark arrow). No intra-abdominal/pelvic radiographic findings to explain the patient’s abdominal pain were found. Subsequent bedside echocardiography demonstrated a 1.5cm × 2.5 cm left-sided atrial myxoma that extended into left ventricle during systole (Figure 2, white arrow). Atrial myxomas are rare, benign, intra-cardiac tumors with a wide spectrum of symptoms related to location, embolization, and propensity to obstruct blood flow through the heart.1,2 These are often difficult to diagnose. Most commonly, left-sided atrial myxomas present with dyspnea on exertion, dizziness, syncope, neurological signs and symptoms as a result of systemic embolization.1,2 Right-sided atrial myxomas present with easy fatigability, peripheral edema and ascites, or pulmonary embolism.3,4 Additionally, pain resulting from embolic infarction of solid and hollow organs has been reported in the literature.5,6 Figure 1 Figure 2 Subsequent to resection of the myxoma, the patient had complete resolution of the abdominal pain. No cause was ever identified.
Clinical efficacy and tolerability of grepafloxacin in lower respiratory tract infection

Studies in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) have compared grepafloxacin, 600 mg o.d. for 7-10 days, with amoxycillin, 500 mg t.d.s., cefaclor, 500 mg t.d.s, or clarithromycin, 250 mg b.d. Grepafloxacin appeared to be clinically as effective as the comparators. In CAP caused by Haemophilus influenzae , grepafloxacin was significantly superior to amoxycillin ( p = 0.005) and cefaclor ( p = 0.003) and equivalent to clarithromycin in eradicating the infecting organism. Bacterial eradication with grepafloxacin in CAP caused by Moraxella catarrhalis or Streptococcus pneumoniae was effective and equivalent to the comparator antibiotic. In an open study, grepafloxacin was also effective in treating atypical pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila. In acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (ABECB), studies have found once-daily treatment with grepafloxacin, 400 mg or 600 mg for 7-10 days, to be equivalent to amoxycillin, 500 mg t.d.s., or ciprofloxacin, 500 mg b.d. In patients with documented infections, bacteriologic eradication with grepafloxacin, 400 mg or 600 mg o.d., was superior to amoxycillin, 500 mg t.d.s. Results from clinical trials so far indicate that grepafloxacin has a broad spectrum of activity covering all important community-acquired respiratory pathogens, and may be suitable for the empirical treatment of respiratory infection.
Health in Child Day Care: The Physician—Child-Care-Provider Relationship

Health promotion and disease prevention strategies for child day-care have not kept pace with the needs of children. One example is the inconsistent interaction between community physicians and child-cane providers. Although there isn9t yet data documenting benefits of increased communication between health practitioners and child-care professionals, there is speculation by many that these sorts of physician-community liaisons will help to close serious gaps in current health-care practices.1-3 This paper reviews how increased physician involvement could improve the health situation in child day care and explores ways physicians can become more involved. THE HEALTH NEEDS Need for Consultants There are basic and predictable health issues that arise from grouping young children together. They are topics for research and discussion among epidemiologists, medical investigators, and other health professionals. The issues include exclusion criteria for attendance in day care, spread of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections,4 the potential for childhood viruses to affect unborn children of pregnant care givers,5 medication policies,6 and the pros and cons of "sick-care" centers.7 Other health issues such as child development and emotional, behavioral, and nutritional health of children are also under study.8 This body of literature has served to define most health consultation needs of child day-care programs. Few day-care centers on family day-care homes actually use a health consultant.9 It is hoped that publication of the American Public Health Association9s and American Academy of Pediatrics9 (APHA/AAP9s) National Health and Safety Performance Standards10 and its distribution to health professionals and child-care providers will help to change that. Its success depends partly on whether health professionals will be available, willing, and trained to serve as health consultants.
Bovicin HC5, a Lantibiotic Produced by Streptococcus bovis HC5, Catalyzes the Efflux of Intracellular Potassium but Not ATP

Bovicin HC5, a broad-spectrum lantibiotic produced by Streptococcus bovis HC5, catalyzed the efflux of intracellular potassium from Streptococcus bovis JB1, a sensitive strain. The level of ATP also decreased, but this decline appeared to be caused by the activity of the F(1)F(0) ATPase rather than efflux per se.
Inducible expression of the alpha2-macroglobulin signaling receptor in response to antigenic stimulation: a study of second messenger generation.

Thioglycollate (TG)-elicited murine, peritoneal macrophages express two receptors for activated forms of the proteinase inhibitor α2-macroglobulin (α2M*)—namely, the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) and the α2M signaling receptor (α2MSR). We now report that resident peritoneal macrophages express only 400 ± 50 α2MSR receptors/cell compared to 5000 ± 500 receptor/TG-elicited macrophage. By contrast, LRP expression is only 2–2.5-fold greater on elicited cells. The low level of α2MSR expression by resident cells is insufficient to trigger signal transduction in contrast to TG-elicited cells which when exposed to α2M* demonstrate a rapid rise in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and a concomitant increase in cytosolic free Ca2+. We then studied a variety of preparations injected subcutaneously for their ability to upregulate α2MSR. Macroaggregated bovine serum albumin (macroBSA) injection upregulated α2MSR and triggered signaling responses by splenic macrophages. Nonaggregated BSA injection alone or in the presence of alum, by contrast, did not alter α2MSR expression. Recombivax (hepatitis B antigen adsorbed to alum) injection also upregulated α2MSR on splenic macrophages while the alum carrier had no effect. We conclude that macrophage α2M* receptors are inducible and their expression may be regulated, in part, by potential antigens. J. Cell. Biochem. 82: 260–270, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Moving an Initial Manuscript to Publication: Lessons Learned.

In this article the four coauthors share the process of moving a paper from a conference presentation to a manuscript that is acceptable for publication. The first two authors discuss the ways in which an experienced teacher educator mentored an emerging scholar through the submission process. The last two authors discuss the editors’ role in shaping the final version.
Challenges and opportunities for tobacco control: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation agenda

On behalf of my colleagues at the Robert Wood Johnson foundation, let me say that we are very pleased to help support this conference—the first in a series of conferences to recognise and stimulate innovation in the prevention and treatment of tobacco addiction in managed care. It is gratifying to see so many people here who share the vision of an expanded role for managed care in tobacco control. I should like to examine, from the perspective of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation tobacco portfolio, where managed care interventions fit in the larger national tobacco control agenda, and why we at the foundation see them as integral to improving health and health care for all Americans. I shall also briefly describe some of the foundation programmes that have laid the groundwork for our new initiative, Addressing Tobacco in Managed Care. Our most recent annual report focuses specifically on the opportunities and challenges that a market-driven healthcare system present for funding in each of our three major goal areas—assuring access to basic health care; improving care for chronic disease; and reducing the harm caused by substance use. The report notes that the explosive growth in managed care, with its interest in keeping people healthy to contain cost and its ability to institutionalise change, brings new opportunities, especially for grant-making in the field of substance abuse. Although it is our newest goal, reducing the harm caused by substance abuse has reached parity, accounting last year for fully a third of the foundation’s grants. The sum of our active and committed funds in tobacco control totals a little over $120 million. Tobacco control has been a priority for the foundation because tobacco use and addiction remain the United States’ number one cause of preventable death and disease. Tobacco not only causes more than …
Experimental bacillary hemoglobinuria. II. Pathogenesis of the hepatic lesion in the rabbit

Bacillary hemoglobinuria was expertmenially induced in rabbits by intravenous inoculation with Spores of Clostridium bemolyticum and subsequent hepatic biopsy. The biopsy wound disrupted the hepatic vasculature and damaged the adjacent parenchyma. This damage and the resulting hypoxia created conditions favorable for the germination of the inoculated spores. As the bacteria proliferated, their exotoxin lysed the hepatocytes and the erythrocytes in the immediate area. The bulk of the hepatic necrosis in bacillary hemoglobinuria was due to this exotoxin. Vascular thrombi caused by the exotoxic damage enhanced the development of the lesion.
Visual Prognosis for Corneal Transplantation Based on Preoperative Visual Evoked Potential and Electroretinogram

Abstract Thirty-one corneal transplant cases underwent a visualevoked potential and electroretinogram examination prior to keratoplasty. There were 12 cases that had a good visual prognosis and 19 cases with a poor visual prognosis based on the preoperative diagnosis and clinical examination. The addition of electrophysiologic testing in the good prognosis cases did not provide additional information, but produced one false negative, whereas tests in poor prognosis cases were helpful in predicting the visual outcome after transplant. These tests were predictive of visual outcome in 71% of all cases and in 58% of the poor prognosis group.