cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CHOLESTEROL PERICARDITIS WITH EFFUSION

In this communication we describe cholesterol pericarditis with massive effusion in a 13 year old girl who presented initially with hypertension, peripheral edema, albuminuria and hematuria. Family history was consistent with Type II hyperlipoproteinemia. On cardiac examination the heart sounds were muffled and distant. No murmur was heard. The liver was enlarged and firm. The electrocardiogram showed generalized low voltage. Chest rontgenogram revealed a large cardiac shadow. The echocardiogram suggested the presence of massive pericardial effusion. Cardiac catheterization with angiography confirmed such a diagnosis. Serum cholesterol varied from 600 to 900 mgm.% Pericardiocentesis yielded one litre of bloody fluid which did not clot on standing. The cholesterol content of the fluid was 315 mm.%. Repeated tappings were followed with rapid accumulation of the fluid. Subtotal pericardiectomy was done. The pericardium was markedly thickened and the heart was covered with a golden flaky exudate which was easily peeled off. Smear and culture of the fluid and flakes were negative for bacteria and fungi. Her blood pressure returned to normal after the pericardiectomy. The patient was placed on low cholesterol diet and cholysteramine. Cholesterol pericarditis is a rare entity and to our knowledge it has not previously been described in the pediatric age group.
JUPITER, rosuvastatin, and the European Medicines Agency

As the principal investigator (PMR) and independent academic statistician (RJG) for the JUPITER trial, we note with interest that, on the basis of our trial data, the European Medicines Agency recently approved the use of rosuvastatin for the “prevention of major cardiovascular events in patients who are estimated to have a high risk for a fi rst cardiovascular event”. This approval was based on post-hoc subgroup observations from the trial in which rosuvastatin was associated with a 50% reduction in myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death among those with baseline Framingham risk scores of more than 20% (hazard ratio 0·50, 95% CI 0·27–0·93; p=0·02) and a 47% reduction for the same endpoint among those with a SCORE model of more than 5% (0·57, 0·43–0·78; p=0·0003). In these subgroups, substantial reductions in LDL and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were noted, consistent with the main trial. Although we believe this expanded indication for statin therapy to be a move in the right direction, it should be noted that this regulatory recommendation was not made on the basis of the trial’s prespecifi ed primary endpoint, did not take into account the enrolment criterion in JUPITER that required all participants to have an hsCRP of 2 mg/L or greater, which augmented absolute risk, and does not address most of the patients actually studied. For example, among the 7340 men and women with elevated hsCRP and Framingham risk scores of 11–20% where the 4·5-year absolute risk of a primary endpoint was 10·6% in the placebo group, rosuvastatin was associated with a 49% reduction in risk (0·51, 0·39–0·68; p<0·0001). Similarly, among the 6091 participants with entry Framingham scores of 5–10% where the 4·5-year absolute risk was 5·3%, a 45% reduction was seen (0·55, 0·36–0·84; p=0·005). Finally, among trial participants with elevated hsCRP and SCORE less than 5%, rosuvastatin was associated with a 56% reduction in vascular risk (0·44, 0·29–0·68).
New insights into lung surfactant monolayers using vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy.

Abstract At the air–water interface, interfacial molecular structure, intermolecular interactions, film relaxation and film respreading of model lung surfactant monolayers were studied using vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy combined with a Langmuir film balance. Chain-perdeuterated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC-d62), palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylglycerol (POPG), palmitic acid (PA) and tripalmitin were investigated. In the DPPC-d62–PA binary monolayer, PA showed a condensing effect on the DPPC chains. On the contrary, in the DPPC-d62–POPG binary monolayer, POPG showed a fluidizing effect on the DPPC chains. In the ternary monolayer system of DPPC-d62–POPG–PA, the balance between the fluidizing and the condensing effect was also observed. In addition, the film relaxation behavior of DPPC-d62 and the enhanced film stability of DPPC-d62 caused by the addition of tripalmitin were observed. Real-time VSFG was also employed to study the respreading properties of a complex lung surfac...
Binding of calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide to calvarial cells and renal cortical membranes

Binding of calcitonin (CT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to rat hemicalvariae and renal membranes was examined in an effort to determine whether CT and CGRP interact with the same bone cell binding site, and to see whether the binding pattern was similar for bone and renal cortex. Specific binding of 125I-salmon CT to rat calvariae was inhibited by unlabeled salmon, porcine, or human CT, but not by rat CGRP. Binding of 125I-rat CGRP to calvariae was inhibited by CGRP and high doses of salmon CT, but not by human or porcine CT. Binding of 125I-salmon CT to renal membranes was inhibited by unlabeled salmon CT or rat CGRP, but no specific binding of 125I-rat CGRP could be detected. The results suggest that separate bone cell receptors for CT and CGRP exist and that CGRP can interact with renal receptors for CT.
Thermo-fluid characteristics of a minichannel heat sink cooled with liquid metal

Liquid metals, such as Galinstan, a gallium, indium and tin eutectic, may be exploited for enhanced cooling of microelectronics due to their favorable thermophysical properties. Hodes et al. [1] discussed the properties of Galinstan compared with those of water and provided a first-order model for minimizing the total thermal resistance of Galinstan-based heat sinks under form factor and pressure drop constraints. This paper, as a follow up, describes the fabrication and assembly of water-based microchannel and Galinstan-based minichannel heat sinks.1 The authors also discussed the flow loop has been designed and commissioned to characterize the heat sinks and report flow and thermal resistance data and compare them to theory.
Demystifying flash temperatures II. First-order approximation for plastic contact spots

Abstract In the accompanying paper, Part I, expressions for the flash temperatures ΔT e at elliptical contact spots were derived. They were uniformly found to be proportional to q, the rate of heat evolution per unit area of contact. For frictional heat, q is proportional to the velocity v of sliding and also depends on the total force P exerted between the two relatively sliding objects and the number N of contact spots at which they touch. For plastically deformed contact spots (which is by far the most frequent case) the following expressions are found. The characteristic velocity is given by The flash temperature in general is given by The flash temperature at very low speeds for circular contact spots is given by the flash temperature at very high speeds for circular contact spots by and the flash temperature of circular contact spots at v r = 1 by Lastly, when the contact spot moves relative to both sides, with speeds v 1 and v 2 , i.e. relatie velocities v r1 = κ 1 / r and v r2 = κ 2 / r where r = (F/π) 1 2 , the flash temperature is, in general, given by The model is expanded in an effort to take account of the fact that the heat is evolved in a narrow zone in the softer material just below the contact spot rather than in the interface. For this case a maximum attainable temperature (if below the melting point) is found of roughly attained at a speed of the order of 100v 0 . In order to assist in the practical application of the above equations, tables are presented of approximate values of the parameters p, j, g, b and f for a number of metals and four non-metals. Pin and disks asymmetries arise because at high speeds the heat flow is almost independent of the pin material but is determined by the substrate, unless it is a poor heat conductor compared with the pin.
Teaching computing with the IPython notebook (abstract only)

The IPython Notebook is an interactive browser-based environment where you can combine code execution, text, mathematics, plots, and rich media into a single document. Originally designed for use as an electronic lab notebook for computational science, it is increasingly being used in teaching as well, and a rich ecosystem of open source plugins and extensions for teaching is growing around it. The first half of this hands-on workshop will introduce the Notebook and present examples of lessons and instructional materials built around it. In the second half, attendees will explore future directions for the Notebook as a teaching platform. For more information, please view our GitHub repository online at https://github.com/gvwilson/sigcse2014-ipython-workshop.
Biomechanical Strain Analysis at the Interface of Brain and Nanowire Electrodes on a Neural Probe

The viability of neural probes with microelectrodes for neural recording and stimulation in the brain is important for the development of neuroprosthetic devices. Vertically aligned nanowire microelectrode arrays can significantly enhance the capabilities of neuroprosthetic devices. However, when they are implanted into the brain, micromotion and mechanical stress around the neural probe may cause tissue damage and reactive immune response, which may degrade recording signals from neurons. In this research, a finite-element model of the nanowire microelectrode and brain tissue was developed. A rigid body method was provided, and the simulation efficiency was significantly increased. The interface between the microelectrode and brain tissue was modeled by contact elements. Brain micromotion was mimicked by applying a displacement load to the electrode and fixing the boundaries of the brain region. It was observed that the vertically aligned nanostructures on the electrode of the neural probe do increase the cellular sheath area. The strain field distributions under various physical coupling cases at the interface were analyzed along with different loading effects on the neural electrode.
Elasto-plastic analysis for cyclic loading and tresca yield condition

Incremental theory of plasticity along with the finite element direct stiffness method is used for inelastic structural analysis. Tresca yield surface suitable for kinematic hardening formulation of the incremental theory of plasticity is presented. A uniaxial symmetric Tresca yield condition is used to formulate a small displacement theory of the incremental plasticity for material with both equal and unequal tension and compression yield strength.
D1 dopamine receptors and the reversal of isolation-induced behaviors in mice

In a previous study, it was demonstrated that the high rates of social reactivity exhibited by isolated male mice in a dyadic encounter were mediated, at least in part, by an increased sensitivity of the D1 dopamine receptors. The present research was guided by the hypothesis that the behavioral effects of isolation are reversible, and that changes in dopaminergic function support this reversibility. To this end, mice selectively bred for high and low levels of aggression were reared in isolation from weaning (21 days) to puberty (45 days), at which point they were either assigned to groups or left in isolation until day 69. By comparison to the continuous isolation condition, mice that eventually formed groups exhibited significantly less reactivity in a dyadic test conducted on day 69, showed a reduced response to dihydrexidine (DHX), and a decreased density of D1 dopamine receptors. This experiment provided evidence for the plasticity of the neurobiological system supporting reactive responses, and confirmed the view that its functional organization is open to experientially-induced changes.
Repeatability of ETDRS Visual Acuity in Children

Purpose To evaluate repeatability of the best corrected log minimum angle of resolution (MAR) Early-Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) acuity in a group of 6- to 11-year old children with myopia. Methods Best corrected monocular visual acuity (VA) of a subset of children (n = 86) enrolled in the Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial (COMET; mean spherical equivalent refractive error -2.35 D with no more than 1.25 D astigmatism) was measured at baseline and 1 month later with ETDRS logMAR charts. Children started with logMAR 0.4 (6/15 or 20/50) and read each letter on all subsequent lines until they missed all letters in 1 line. Results At baseline, the mean best corrected logMAR VA was 0.003 +/- 0.076 (6/6 or 20/20 +/- 3.8 letters) in the right eye and 0.008 +/- 0.059 (6/6 or 20/20 +/- 2.95 letters) in the left eye. The signed difference between VA measured at baseline and that measured at 1 month was not significantly different from zero in either eye. Repeatability was not associated with age, but a small, statistically significant association with gender was detected in the left eye, with boys approximately 2 letters more variable than girls. The kappa statistic (agreement within 1 line) was good to excellent. Conclusions Based on the 95% limits of agreement, the criterion for a statistically significant change in VA is no more than +/-0.15 logMAR (or +/-8 letters). This value is similar to those reported for adults and indicates that logMAR VA provides a repeatable measure of acuity in children.
Simulation of nitrate-nitrogen dynamics for cropping systems with different rooting depths

Most agricultural systems in the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado include rotations that have crops with different rooting depths. The previous version of Nitrate Leaching and Economic Analysis Package (NLEAP), 1.10, was only capable of simulating the effect of management practices on the rooting zone of each crop to the nearest 0.30-m increment. Therefore, a new version of NLEAP was needed to simulate the effect of best management practices (BMPs) on residual soil NO - 3 -N (RSN) for the root zone of each crop grown in the region and for a similar soil depth for these systems (e.g., 0-0.91 m). The improved NLEAP version 1.20 simulates maximum rooting depth to the nearest 0.03 m and RSN in multiple soil depths. These new features allowed us to simulate the effect of BMPs on RSN for the root zones of shallower-rooted crops such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) (0-0.37 m), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) (0-0.40 m), and deeper-rooted crops such as small grains (0-0.61 to 0-0.84 m). NLEAP simulated RSN for a soil depth identical for all of these cropping systems (0-0.91 m) (P < 0.001). This new version can be used by extension agents, farmers, consultants, and others to evaluate the effect of BMPs on soil NO - 3 -N dynamics for different rooting zones and for similar soil depths in the agricultural system, a capability that was not available with the previous version of NLEAP.
Rotation-induced heat transfer in a radial flow passage in a rotating shaft

Abstract Experiments have been performed to determine the heat transfer characteristics for rotationinduced flow in a radial passage in a shaft rotating about its own axis. The experiments encompassed passages whose ends were either flush with the surface of the shaft or protruded beyond the surface. For the latter, the passage was either centered in the shaft or else was offset such that the respective ends protruded different distances from the shaft surface. In the main body of experiments, both ends of the passage were open. Supplementary experiments with only one open end and others with an internal blockage were carried out to gain insight into the pattern of fluid flow. When the passage was centered in the shaft, there was negligible fluid throughflow, but even a small offset gave rise to a significant throughflow. For the centered case, the heat transfer coefficient was insensitive to whether the passage did or did not protrude beyond the shaft. Offsetting of the passage provided significant heat transfer enhancement relative to the centered case, and even a slight offset doubled the heat transfer coefficient.
Emission from within mode conversion regions in multi-dimensions: a new diagnostic probe for non-uniform media

Abstract The emission of multi-component waves by sources in non-uniform media of arbitrary spatial dimension is discussed. If the emission occurs in the vicinity of a mode conversion region, i.e. a region where the local dispersion relations for two polarizations become nearly degenerate, the far field is very complex. The special case of plane-wave sources can be analyzed in detail and it is shown that the qualitative nature of the far field is completely determined by the ray geometry of the uncoupled modes. If the source is tunable, then, by varying the source and observing the associated changes in the emitted waves, one can extract a great deal of information about the background medium.
Histology of normal aortas in birds with emphasis on intimal thickening

Abstract Published studies of normal aortic structure have been infrequent in birds despite a high prevalence of spontaneous atherosclerosis relative to mammals, and, a feeling that this prevalence of atherosclerosis might be related to the pecularities of aortic structure in birds. We describe aortic structure in 26 birds, including 22 species and 12 families. All aortas had a complex structure similar to that of the White Carneau pigeon which has been carefully studied. Diffuse intimal thickening (DIT) was found in the elastic zones in 22 of the 26 aortas. This lesion has not been previously described as such, and consisted of multiple longitudinally oriented elastic laminae apparently synthesized by interlamellar connective tissue cells, the latter being peculiar to the avian aorta. Focal intimal thickenings were very common in the non-elastic zones of the aortas, and were composed of smooth muscle cells and elastic laminae similar to the DIT of mammals. Their location suggested that blood flow patterns might be an important influence in their development. The fact that atherosclerotic lesions usually occurred in the non-elastic zones of the avian aorta suggested that some property of the elastic zone or the interlamellar connective tissue cells might inhibit the development of atherosclerosis.
Restoration of rotational symmetry for triaxial Hartree-Fock solutions

Abstract A variational principle is used to extract states of good angular momentum from intrinsic wave-functions which are not axially symmetric. It generates a diagonalization between bands on top of the usual projections. The procedure is applied to the triaxial Hartree-Fock solution for 24 Mg. The resulting spectrum is too much compressed with respect to the experimental one.
Anger in children: A cognitive behavioral view of the assessment-therapy connection

Difficulty controlling anger and aggression pose significant problems for many children. The focus of research has been primarily on aggression, although understanding the role of anger may be at the essence of developing more effective treatment interventions for aggression and/or conduct disorder. The present article describes the cognitive-behavioral view of anger, and provides a detailed description of the Children's Inventory of Anger (CIA), a self-report inventory designed to assess a child's experience of anger. A review of the psychometric properties of the CIA is presented, along with a discussion of its clinical utility. The need for a more precise definition of anger is apparent in order to improve assessment and treatment of anger in children.
Moral criteria and character education: a reply to Welch

Most of the views ascribed to us we do not recognise and suggest that several misunderstandings flavour Welch’s commentary. We clarify some of our position here and recommend further collaboration among philosophers and psychologists.
Landslide hazard potential determination along a shoreline segment

Abstract Landslide hazard zoning is gaining importance in recent years. In such endeavours one deals with areas of large extent with limited data on material properties and certain other controlling factors. However, zoning is not a site-specific design activity and requires certain generalizations to be made. While field observations are essential, analytical procedures, where applicable, are of tremendous help in assessing the level of hazard potential. A probabilistic approach, used in assessing the slumping hazard of bluffs along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Superior is described. In this approach, those factors which are to be estimated, such as internal friction angle, cohesion intercept, position of stratigraphic unit interfaces, and ground-water table, based on limited actual data are generated in random combinations using the Monte Carlo method. Twenty conventional slip circle analyses using these sets of random combinations suffice to provide an assessment of landslide probability. Segments of the shoreline are classified on the basis of three probabilistic classes and the landslide probability thus assigned is compared with the hazard potential determined using the conventional deterministic method. The probabilistic approach is found to be a useful tool which minimizes the pressure to make arbitrary decisions while not eliminating engineering judgement and use of all existing information. There is some correspondence between the hazard classification given by the deterministic and the probabilistic methods; however, the correlation is not a good one. The probabilistic approach provides a more rational basis for determining the landslide hazard potential and for hazard zoning.
Whole brain irradiation for patients with metastatic melanoma : A review of 87 cases

Purpose: We have conducted a retrospective study of the use of whole brain irradiation (WBI) for melanoma patients with brain metastases. The purpose of the study was to obtain a description of the population offered this form of treatment, an overview of radiation doses and schedules, an assessment of palliative effect, and survival. Methods and Materials: A database of melanoma patients diagnosed with brain metastases was searched to identify patients who had received WBI and for whom adequate documentation existed. Data regarding demographics, treatment, and survival were compiled. Results: Information was obtained for 87 patients. Ninety-five percent of the patients received total doses of at least 30 Gy. The frequent use of corticosteroids during treatment made it difficult to assess palliative effect. However, 52% of all patients and 48% of symptomatic patients were able to discontinue corticosteroid therapy upon completion of irradiation, suggesting that some degree of control or palliation had been obtained. In the small number of patients with postradiotherapy imaging studies, it was not uncommon to see stability or shrinkage of tumors. The median survival of the entire group was 19 weeks. Improved survival was noted for patients who underwent resection of all brain metastases (45 weeks) and for those with no extracranial disease (54 weeks). Conclusion: WBI may provide palliation for a portion of melanoma patients with brain metastasis. The outcome of these patients, however, is dominated by the aggressive nature of their systemic disease. These data serve as a baseline for comparison of new approaches for management of brain metastases from melanoma.
Georgia on My Mind

In a big win for libraries, a court decision has extended &#x0093;fair use&#x0094; and provided publishers with an incentive to offer more digital products. The good news for library patrons is that they should have a larger selection of products; however, they face will yet another, perhaps unexpected, decrease in privacy.
Polarizer requirements for fiber gyroscopes with high-birefringence fiber and broad-band sources

Polarizer requirements for fiber-optic gyroscopes with high-birefringence fiber and broad-band sources are investigated theoretically by employing a model with a single coupling center between polarization modes. The phase bias offset due to a finite polarizer extinction ratio is greatly reduced by incoherent effects, and may be further reduced by using a depolarized source or by appropriate orientation of the polarizer transmission axis. Some experimental data is presented which supports the theoretical model.
Venus: lower atmosphere not measured.

The common ranges of pressure and temperature of the atmosphere of Venus measured last October establish the connection between the Soviet Venera 4 altitude scale and the United States Mariner V radial scale. But if the Venera 4 measurements extended to the surface, as claimed, this comparison implies a radius of the planet which is about 25 kilometers greater than the radius deduced from Earth-based radar data. This impasse has been resolved in favor of the smaller value by a new determination of the radius which is more direct than the method used in deriving the radar radius, and which involves concurrent ranging from Earth both to Mariner V near encounter and to the surface of Venus. It is concluded that neither spacecraft reported on atmospheric conditions near the level of the mean surface, but extrapolations of the measurements yield surface values for mid-latitudes of 100 atmospheres pressure (within a factor of 1.5) and 700°K temperature (within 100°), in distinction to the Soviet values of 19±2 atmospheres and 544°±10°K. The higher values support radiometric and radar data on temperature and atmospheric absorption. It appears that the Soviet probe was not designed to work through such a thick atmosphere. A particularly simple (times two) ambiguity in the Venera 4 altimeter reading suggests itself, since this would bring all other data into excellent agreement and would explain the reason for the supposition that the probe reached the surface.
Design of a fast inner product processor

This paper presents the design of a fast inner product processor, with appreciably reduced latency and cost The inner product processor is implemented with a tree of carry propagate or carry save adders; this tree is obtained with the incorporation of three innovations in the conventional multiply/add tree: (1) The leaf-multipliers are expanded into adder subtress, thus achieving an O(logNb) latency, where N denotes the number of elements in a vector and b the number of bits in each element (2) The partial products, to be summed in producing an inner product, are reordered according to their "minimum alignments", bringing approximately a 20% saving in hardware. (3) The reordering also truncates the carry propagation chain in the final propagation stage by 2 log b − 1 positions, significantly reducing the latency further. A form of the Baugh and Wooley algorithm is adopted to implement two's complement notation with changes only in peripheral hardware.
Aspirin-sensitive versus non-aspirin-sensitive nasal polyp patients: analysis of leukotrienes/Fas and Fas-ligand expression.

Abstract Objective: The goal of the present study was to identify levels of leukotrienes released by leukocytes and nasal polyps from aspirin-sensitive patients (ASPs) and non-aspirin-sensitive patients (NASPs) after exposure to various concentrations of aspirin. Eosinophil expressions of apoptosis regulators were also compared. Study Design and Setting: Leukotriene release from nasal polyps and leukocytes of ASPs and NASPs was measured after exposure to differing concentrations of aspirin. Eosinophils were analyzed for Fas and Fas ligand receptors using flow cytometry. Results: NASPs showed increased leukotriene release from nasal polyps on increased aspirin exposure. Polyps from ASPs did not show any change. ASPs showed greater leukotriene release from blood on increasing aspirin exposure compared with NASPs. Flow cytometric analysis showed eosinophils in the peripheral blood of ASPs have decreased Fas expression compared with those of NASPs. Conclusions: This study showed differences in leukotriene release and eosinophil apoptosis between ASPs and NASPs. Significance: These findings suggest a role of leukotrienes and eosinophils in aspirin sensitivity mechanisms in blood. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;126:141-6.)
The 3-ketodihydrosphingosine synthetase of Bacteroides melaninogenicus: Induction by vitamin K☆

Abstract An enzyme present in cell-free extracts of B. melaninogenicus grown with vitamin K is described which catalyzes the synthesis of 3-ketodihydrosphingosine from palmitoyl CoA and l -serine. Activity of the 3-ketodihydrosphingosine synthetase was measured as a function of time, palmitoyl CoA concentration, and serine concentration. The Bacteroides synthetase differs from corresponding enzymes from brain microsomes and from yeast in that it is present in the 100,000g supernatant of sonicated cells and is not associated with any particulate fraction. Extracts prepared from cells depleted of vitamin K showed only slight 3-ketodihydrosphingosine synthetase activity. Neither vitamin K1, menadione, nor pyridoxal phosphate were effective in enhancing the activity in cell-free extracts of vitamin K-depleted B. melaninogenicus. However, induction of the enzyme activity in intact cells was demonstrated by the addition of vitamin K to a vitamin K-depleted culture. Synthetase activity was found to be increased 15 min following the addition of the vitamin, reached a maximum at 75 min, and thereafter remained constant. Both puromycin and rifampcin inhibit induction of the enzyme by vitamin K1 suggesting that vitamin K induces de novo synthesis of the synthetase.
Superfluid 3He-A in a cylindrical pore

Abstract The Ginzburg-Landau free energy for superfluid 3 He is reexpressed in arbitrary curvilinear coordinate systems. Application to 3 He-A in a long cylindrical pore with large and small radii yields quantitative predictions for the stable configurations.
The Beholder's Eye: Vision and Perception in Afterimage Studies of Attitude Change

Prominent studies using the afterimage in attitude change were reviewed and critiqued using a closer understanding of the physiology of the eye. Given the way that the eye creates afterimages, it is suggested that Moscovici and Personaz’ (1980) original findings could be re-interpreted. Using evidence from subsequent work on the afterimage effect, the author suggests a re-interpretation using Nemeth's (1986) divergent thinking hypothesis. Possible explanations of blue-green afterimage experiments and opportunities for future research are explored.
Evaluation of eddy current and magnetic techniques for inspecting rebars in bridge barrier rails

This paper reports on a feasibility study of using eddy current (EC) and magnetic flux leakage (MFL) methods to detect corrosion damage in rebars that anchor concrete barrier rails to the road deck of bridge structures. EC and MFL measurements were carried out on standalone rebars with and without artificial defects of 25% and 50% material loss, using a commercial EC-based rebar locator and a MFL system that was developed using giant magnetoresistance sensors to detect leakage fluxes from the defects. Both techniques can readily detect the defects at a distance of 2.5″ (63.5 mm). The amplitudes of the EC and MFL signals vary monotonically with the amount of material loss, indicating the potential of using the techniques to quantify material loss of standalone rebars.
Blood lactate concentrations in pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) before and after spawning.

Abstract 1. 1. Unspawned pink salmon were captured on their fresh-water spawning grounds. Serial blood samples were withdrawn via an indwelling aortic catheter and analyzed for lactate ion. 2. 2. Following postoperative recovery a progressive increase in circulating lactate was observed which continued for up to 10 days. In several cases blood lactate levels in excess of 7 m-equiv/l. were attained before death. 3. 3. It is suggested that the observed increase in circulating lactate ion is ancillary to the general physiological deterioration of sexually mature pink salmon.
The Effect of Lubricant Viscosity-Temperature Characteristics on the Performance of Plain Journal Bearings

Experimental and analytical results of bearing friction loss, operating temperature, and oil gap thickness are presented comparing performance characteristics of bearings operating with the different lubricants. The lubricants were blended using a variety of mineral and synthetic base stocks to achieve a range of viscosity-temperature characteristics. The results show that the test bearings running with higher viscosity index (VI) lubricants generated slightly lower bearing surface temperatures than those generated using a low VI lubricant. The high VI lubricant also reduced the total power losses by up to 10%. These gains are achieved with little or no change in the minimum oil film thickness.Copyright © 2005 by National Research Council of Canada and ASME
N-Substituted Pyrrole Derivatives as Novel Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Entry Inhibitors That Interfere with the gp41 Six-Helix Bundle Formation and Block Virus Fusion

A recently approved peptidic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) fusion inhibitor, T-20 (Fuzeon; Trimeris Inc.), has shown significant promise in clinical application for treating HIV-1-infected individuals who have failed to respond to the currently available antiretroviral drugs. However, T-20 must be injected twice daily and is too expensive. Therefore, it is essential to develop orally available small molecule HIV-1 fusion inhibitors. By screening a chemical library consisting of “drug-like” compounds, we identified two N-substituted pyrroles, designated NB-2 and NB-64, that inhibited HIV-1 replication at a low micromolar range. The absence of the COOH group in NB-2 and NB-64 resulted in a loss of anti-HIV-1 activity, suggesting that this acid group plays an important role in mediating the antiviral activity. NB-2 and NB-64 inhibited HIV-1 fusion and entry by interfering with the gp41 six-helix bundle formation and disrupting the α-helical conformation. They blocked a d-peptide binding to the hydrophobic pocket on surface of the gp41 internal trimeric coiled-coil domain. Computer-aided molecular docking analysis has shown that they fit inside the hydrophobic pocket and that their COOH group interacts with a positively charged residue (K574) around the pocket to form a salt bridge. These results suggest that NB-2 and NB-64 may bind to the gp41 hydrophobic pocket through hydrophobic and ionic interactions and block the formation of the fusion-active gp41 core, thereby inhibiting HIV-1-mediated membrane fusion and virus entry. Therefore, NB-2 and NB-64 can be used as lead compounds toward designing and developing more potent small molecule HIV-1 fusion inhibitors targeting gp41.
Cabibbo-suppressed nonleptonic D decays

We discuss why an extension of the ideas used to explain the ΔI=1/2 rule in kaon and hyperon decays does not lead to an analogous large enhancement in the rates of Cabibbo-suppressed nonleptonic D-meson decays. The possibility of seeing the contribution of diagrams with a virtual b-quark loop through interference effects is also discussed.
Respiration-correlated spiral CT: a method of measuring respiratory-induced anatomic motion for radiation treatment planning.

We describe a method for generating CT images at multiple respiratory phases with a single spiral CT scan, referred to as respiratory-correlated spiral CT (RCCT). RCCT relies on a respiration wave form supplied by an external patient monitor. During acquisition this wave form is recorded along with the initiation time of the CT scan, so as to "time stamp" each reconstructed slice with the phase of the respiratory cycle. By selecting the appropriate slices, a full CT image set is generated at several phases, typically 7-11 per cycle. The CT parameters are chosen to optimize the temporal resolution while minimizing the spatial gap between slices at successive respiratory cycles. Using a pitch of 0.5, a gantry rotation period of 1.5 s, and a 180 degrees reconstruction algorithm results in approximately 5 mm slice spacing at a given phase for typical respiration periods, and a respiratory motion within each slice that is acceptably small, particularly near end expiration or end inspiration where gated radiotherapy is to occur. We have performed validation measurements on a phantom with a moving sphere designed to simulate respiration-induced tumor motion. RCCT scans of the phantom at respiratory periods of 4, 5, and 6 s show good agreement of the sphere's motion with that observed under fluoroscopic imaging. The positional deviations in the sphere's centroid between RCCT and fluoroscopy are 1.1+/-0.9 mm in the transaxial direction (average over all scans at all phases +/-1 s.d.) and 1.2+/-1.0 mm in the longitudinal direction. Reconstructed volumes match those expected on the basis of stationary-phantom scans to within 5% in all cases. The surface distortions of the reconstructed sphere, as quantified by deviations from a mathematical reference sphere, are similar to those from a stationary phantom scan and are correlated with the speed of the phantom. A RCCT scan of the phantom undergoing irregular motion, demonstrates that successful reconstruction can be achieved even with irregular respiration. Limitations from x-ray tube heating in our current CT unit restrict the length of the scan region to 9 cm for the RCCT settings used, though this will not be a limitation for a multislice scanner. RCCT offers an alternative to the current method of respiration-triggered axial scans. Multiple phases of respiration are imaged with RCCT in approximately the same scanning time required to image a single phase with a triggered axial scan. RCCT scans can be used in connection with respiratory-gated treatment to identify the patient-specific phase of minimum tumor motion, determine residual tumor motion within the gate interval, and compare treatment plans at different phases.
Inferior vena caval interruption in conjunction with open-heart procedures. A technique using transatrial insertion of the Mobin-Uddin umbrella filter.

Abstract A technique using a transatrial approach for insertion of the umbrella vena cava filter in conjunction with open-heart procedures is described. The technique adds only 10 to 15 minutes to the operating time, avoids the added trauma of a separate operative procedure, and insures firm and accurate fixation of the filter device.
The mite (Acarina) fauna of trogid beetles (Coleoptera: Trogidae)

Phoretic and parasitic mites of 26 families were found on 68 species of trogid beetles (Coleoptera: Trogidae) from around the world, but mainly North America. Among the adult trogid beetles examined, 952, or 27.73%, harbored mites. Up to 292 mites occurred per beetle. Macrocheles spp., Uroseius (Apionoseius) spp., pygmephorid, acarid, euglycyphagid, and histiostomatid mites were most frequently found. A list of trogid species and their associated mite species is presented.
Linkage Specific Fucosylation of Alpha-1-Antitrypsin in Liver Cirrhosis and Cancer Patients: Implications for a Biomarker of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background We previously reported increased levels of protein-linked fucosylation with the development of liver cancer and identified many of the proteins containing the altered glycan structures. One such protein is alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT). To advance these studies, we performed N-linked glycan analysis on the five major isoforms of A1AT and completed a comprehensive study of the glycosylation of A1AT found in healthy controls, patients with hepatitis C- (HCV) induced liver cirrhosis, and in patients infected with HCV with a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methodology/Principal Findings Patients with liver cirrhosis and liver cancer had increased levels of triantennary glycan-containing outer arm (α-1,3) fucosylation. Increases in core (α-1,6) fucosylation were observed only on A1AT from patients with cancer. We performed a lectin fluorophore-linked immunosorbent assay using Aleuria Aurantia lectin (AAL), specific for core and outer arm fucosylation in over 400 patients with liver disease. AAL-reactive A1AT was able to detect HCC with a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 86%, which was greater than that observed with the current marker of HCC, alpha-fetoprotein. Glycosylation analysis of the false positives was performed; results indicated that these patients had increases in outer arm fucosylation but not in core fucosylation, suggesting that core fucosylation is cancer specific. Conclusions/Significance This report details the stepwise change in the glycosylation of A1AT with the progression from liver cirrhosis to cancer and identifies core fucosylation on A1AT as an HCC specific modification.
The acid-base hypothesis: diet and bone in the Framingham Osteoporosis Study.

Background There continues to be considerable debate about the role of acid vs. basic components of the diet on the long-term status of bone mineral density.
Isolation and Characterization of Glutamine Synthetase from the Marine Diatom Skeletonema costatum

Two peaks of glutamine synthetase (GS) activity were resolved by anion-exchange chromatography from the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum Grev. The second peak of activity accounted for greater than 93% of total enzyme activity, and this isoform was purified over 200-fold. Results from denaturing gel electrophoresis and gel-filtration chromatography suggest that six 70-kD subunits constitute the 400-kD native enzyme. The structure of the diatom GS, therefore, appears more similar to that of a type found in bacteria than to the type common among other eukaryotes. Apparent Michaelis constant values were 0.7 mM for NH4(+), 5.7 mM for glutamic acid, and 0.5 mM for ATP. Enzyme activity was inhibited by serine, alanine, glycine, phosphinothricin, and methionine sulfoximine. Polyclonal antiserum raised against the purified enzyme localized a single polypeptide on western blots of S. costatum cell lysates and recognized the denatured, native enzyme. Western analysis of the two peak fractions derived from anion-exchange chromatography demonstrated that the 70-kD protein was present only in the later eluting peak of enzyme activity. This form of GS does not appear to be unique to S. costatum, since the antiserum recognized a similar-sized protein in cell lysates of other chromophytic algae.
Effects of stress and depression on inflammatory immune parameters in pregnancy

There is a substantial body of literature that links psychological stress to adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly preterm birth. Comparatively few studies have examined potential biologic mechanisms that explain these associations. Attention to inflammatory processes is warranted. This article describes emerging studies that demonstrate that, as in nonpregnant humans and animals, psychological stress and distress (ie, depressive symptoms) predict dysregulation of inflammatory processes in human pregnancy. This includes elevations in circulating inflammatory cytokines, exaggerated inflammatory responses to in vivo biologic challenges, and more robust inflammatory responses to psychological challenges. Continued research in this area is needed to determine the implications of such stress-induced immune dysregulation for birth outcomes and for maternal health and fetal development.
Studies of phosphorus metabolism by isolated nuclei. XII. Some fundamental properties of the incorporation of 32Pi into polyphosphate by rat liver nuclei.

Rat liver nuclei incubated in vitro catalyze a sustained incorporation of32Pi into polyphosphate. A preliminary estimate indicates a minimal rate of 10 moles of Pi incorporation into polyphosphates/h/mg protein. Polyphosphate is the predominant acid-insoluble product of nuclear phosphorylation; its formation is dependent on the presence of a divalent cation and is catalyzed by a system or systems as yet uncharacterized.
The recency effect in pigeons’ long-term memory

Four experiments are reported in which pigeons first learned one wavelength discrimination (green S+, yellow S−) and then the reversal; finally, after various delays, they were tested for wavelength generalization in extinction. In Experiment 1, the two problems were learned in different contexts; testing in Context 1 produced maximal responding to green in only half of the subjects, even when testing was delayed 30 days. In Experiment 2, testing of the subjects repeatedly in both contexts showed good control by each context after a 30-day delay. In Experiment 3, both problems were learned in the same context, and all gradients showed recency, peaking at yellow, even after 30 days. In Experiment 4, the subjects learned a series of reversals in the same context, terminating in yellow, S+, green, S−, and their gradients peaked at yellow, even after a 30-day delay. In Experiments 3 and 4, the gradients became flatter with increasing delays, and they were flatter in Experiment 4 (after three reversals) than in Experiment 3 (after one reversal). The location of the peak was not affected by delay, but only by testing in a context that had been uniquely associated with Problem 1 (Experiments 1 and 2). It is proposed that the location of gradient peaks indicates what is being remembered, whereas the slope of the obtained gradients indicates how well the target memory has been retrieved.
Nascent structure in the kinase anchoring domain of microtubule-associated protein 2.

Abstract Biological processes are often viewed as highly ordered interactions between well-folded protein domains. The specific interactions exhibited by certain highly abundant neuronal proteins such as microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and tau stand in stark contrast because these proteins do not show evidence of structure by standard biophysical assays, yet they do bind to specific targets. It is conceivable that there are regions of MAP2 and tau with propensity to form structural domains upon binding a target. To search for evidence of such regions, limited proteolysis experiments were carried out on MAP2c, the smallest MAP2 isoform. Increased protease resistance was observed around the binding site for the RII subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Protein constructs spanning this region were produced based on the long-lived tryptic fragments Ser44–Arg93 and Ile94–Arg182, and were probed for structure using spectroscopic methods. The results support the existence of regions of nascent structure in the N-terminal region of MAP2c, which are believed to contribute to its regulatory function.
A Concept of Factory Automation

Currently, many manufacturing functions are automated through the use of computers and associated equipment. The support of ,administrative functions such as material and labor control to regulate costs and measure results is aided by the use of medium to large computers at the plant site or through communications to a central computer site. The control of processes, such as testing and assembly, are improved through the use of mini- and microprocessors' as well as programmable controllers. The engineering problem solving and design now involve the use of hand-held and desktop calculators as well as time-shared and remote processing on a central computer. All of these things have but one basic goal: cost effective manufacturing. This article outlines one possible path for advancement toward that goal, based on existing applications and computer systems capabilities. As always, the final challenge is related to our ability to cost effectively design and implement the processes which use the tools we have or can acquire.
Behavioral problems, social competency, and self perception among girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Behavior and psychological development of 16 girls with adrenal hyperplasia has been assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist and the Self-Perception Profile for children. mean responses were not different than the normative sample although specific individual abnormalities were identified.