cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the existence and bifurcation of minimal normal modes

Abstract Minimal normal modes (MNMs) are defined as non-linear normal modes which give a true minimum to Jacobi's Principle of Least Action. It is shown that for a certain class of two degree of freedom non-linear conservative systems, MNMs generically occur in pairs. The nature of both generic and non-generic bifurcations of MNMs is derived and illustrative examples are given.
Locomotion elicited by lateral hypothalamic stimulation in the anesthetized rat does not require the dorsal midbrain

Abstract Locomotor stepping elicited by lateral hypothalamic stimulation in the anesthetized rat is blocked by lesions in the anterior ventromedial midbrain. This study determined in acute experiments whether the dorsal midbrain regions complicated in locomotion were also part of the necessary pathway. Rats were anesthetized with Nembutal and held in a stereotaxic apparatus so that stepping responses rotated a wheel. Stepping was elicited by stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus (up to 100 μA, 0.5 ms cathodal pulses, 50 Hz, 10-s train length). Nine rats received unilateral lesions ipsilateral to the locomotor electrode and 3 rats received bilateral lesions. None of the dorsal midbrain lesions reduced locomotion elicited by ipsilateral lateral hypothalamic stimulation. Therefore the following regions are unnecessary for this type of locomotion: the dorsal and lateral central gray, the tegmentum lateral to the central gray, and in particular the area cuneiformis and the dorsal aspect of the pedunculopontine region. The neural systems required for lateral hypothalamic locomotion are located ventral to the superior cerebellar peduncle.
Quantitation of hyaluronic acid in tissues by ion-pair reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of oligosaccharide cleavage products

Abstract A method for quantifying hyaluronic acid in biological tissues and fluids is described. The assay uses ion-pair HPLC to resolve and quantify the oligosaccharide end products of Streptomyces hyaluronidase digestion. Tissue samples were solubilized by papain, and the nondiffusate after dialysis was exhaustively digested with Streptomyces hyaluronidase. The resulting tetrasaccharide and hexasaccharide cleavage products were resolved by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in the presence of the ion-pairing agent, tetrabutylammonium phosphate. The saccharides were detected and quantified by their absorbance at 232 nm due to the α,β-unsaturated carboxyl group generated by the eliminase reaction. In control experiments 93 ± 3% of a hyaluronic acid standard so treated was reproducibly recovered as its tetra- and hexasaccharide cleavage products. As little as 0.5 μg of the oligosaccharides could be quantified with no interference from a vast excess of chondroitin sulfate or other tissue components. The assay was applied to various types of human, bovine, and rabbit cartilage and to samples of other tissues including nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, skin, aorta, cervix, cockscomb, synovial fluid, and vitreous humor. Results on human articular cartilage showed a linear increase in the content of hyaluronate from 0.1 to 0.5% of tissue dry weight between birth and 80 years of age.
The chemisorption of ethylene epoxide and carbonate on silver: A quantum-chemical study

Abstract The chemisorption of carbonate (CO 3 ) and ethylene epoxide (C 2 H 4 O) on silver has been examined employing semi-empirical quantum-chemical calculations (INDO/S) and clusters of limited size (Ag 18 ). The results indicate that ethylene epoxide is an electron donor upon adsorption on Ag surfaces, with no contribution of the empty orbitais of the free molecule to the surface-adsorbate bond. Most of the charge transfer from ethylene epoxide toward the surface is from the occupied frontier orbitals: 2b 1 and 6a 1 . The CO 3 group appears as a net electron acceptor (π-donor, σ-acceptor) when adsorbed on Ag(110). The influence of chemisorption effects upon the CO, CC and CH bonds of ethylene epoxide, and the CO bonds of carbonate are discussed. The bond order indices indicate that from the viewpoint of the substrate the Ag(5s, 5p) orbitals are primarily responsible for the chemisorption of ethylene epoxide and carbonate on silver surfaces. For each adsorbed molecule, charge transfers and dipole moments important to the change in work function are presented. Based on these INDO/S results, the UPS spectra of ethylene epoxide and carbonate on Ag(110) and the NEXAFS spectrum of carbonate on Ag(110) are discussed and compared with experimental results.
The ECPC Coupled Prediction Model

Abstract This paper presents a new Experimental Climate Prediction Center (ECPC) Coupled Prediction Model (ECPM). The ECPM includes the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) version of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ocean model coupled to the ECPC version of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Atmospheric Global Spectral Model (GSM). The adjoint and forward versions of the MIT model forced with the NCEP atmospheric analyses are routinely used at JPL for ocean state assimilation. An earlier version of the GSM was used for the NCEP–Department of Energy reanalysis-2 project and for operational seasonal forecasts at NCEP. The ECPM climatology and internal variability derived from a 56-yr-long coupled integration are compared with the observations and reanalysis data. Though the ECPM exhibits climatological biases, these biases are relatively small and comparable to the systematic errors produced by other well-known coupled models, including the recent NCEP Climate Forecast Syst...
Relative esthetic importance of orthodontic and color abnormalities.

Abstract Objective: To assess the relative importance of an orthodontic esthetic index, dental fluorosis and nonfluoride opacities, with respect to parents' satisfaction with their children's dental esthetics. Materials and Methods: Dental examinations of Iowa Fluoride Study participants assessed fluorosis and nonfluoride opacities in the mixed dentition. Dental casts of 200 randomly selected subjects were scored using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) criteria. Parent satisfaction was assessed via multiple items on a questionnaire. Associations were evaluated using logistic regression. Results: Nineteen percent of parents were somewhat or very dissatisfied with their children's dental esthetics. Overall DAI score was positively associated with dissatisfaction (P < .001), as was fluorosis (P = .003). Conclusions: In addition to changes related to DAI scores, parent esthetic satisfaction decreased with the presence of fluorosis. Dental professionals should address both the issues of tooth positioning and co...
Effect of spatial inlet temperature and pressure distortion on turbofan engine stability

The effects of circumferential and radial inlet temperature distortion, circumferential pressure distortion, and combined temperature and pressure distortion on the stability of an advanced turbofan engine were investigated experimentally at simulated altitude conditions. With circumferential and radial inlet temperature distortion, a flow instability generated by the fan operating near stall caused the high-pressure compressor to surge at, or near, the same time as the fan. The effect of combined distortion was dependent on the relative location of the high-temperature and low-pressure regions; high-pressure compressor stalls occurred when the regions coincided, and fan stalls occurred with the regions separated.
Josephson look-back analog to digital converter

A Josephson analog-to-digital (A/D) converter which uses a look-back algorithm to increase accuracy was designed and experimentally verified. The look-back A/D algorithm and its implementation in a Josephson 6-b A/D converter are described. High-speed measurements verified that the 3-b look-back A/D converter functions at 534 Msamples/s. The look-back algorithm increases the margins of an A/D converter that uses the lobes of a superconducting quantum interference device's (SQUID's) threshold curve. The self-gating AND circuits (SGAs) give the A/D converter a short aperture time. The SGAs sample the analog signal in parallel and then the look-back logic decodes the two's complement outputs in series with only one stage of logic per bit. With a stable process the look-back A/D converter can be generated on chip. >
Kit ligand actions on ovarian stromal cells: effects on theca cell recruitment and steroid production.

Factors that control recruitment of theca cells from ovarian stromal-interstitial cells are important for early follicle development in the ovary. During recruitment, theca cells organize into distinct layers around early developing follicles and establish essential cell-cell interactions with granulosa cells. Recruitment of theca cells from ovarian stromal stem cells is proposed to involve cellular proliferation, as well as induction of theca cell-specific functional markers. Previously, the speculation was made that a granulosa cell-derived "theca cell organizer" is involved in theca cell recruitment. Granulosa cells have been shown to produce kit-ligand/stem cell factor (KL). KL is known to promote stem cell proliferation and differentiation in a number of tissues. Therefore, the hypothesis was tested in the current study that granulosa cell-derived KL may help recruit theca cells from undifferentiated stromal stem cells during early follicle development. The actions of KL were examined using adult bovine ovarian fragment organ culture and isolated ovarian stromal-interstitial cells. In organ culture KL significantly increased the number of theca cell layers around primary follicles. Experiments using purified stromal-interstitial cell cultures showed that KL stimulated ovarian stromal cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Stromal cell differentiation into theca cells was analyzed by the induction of theca cell functional markers (i.e., androstenedione and progesterone production). Bovine ovarian stromal cells produced low levels of androstenedione (5-40 ng/microg DNA) and progesterone (5-30 ng/microg DNA) in vitro that were approximately 20-fold lower than theca cells under similar conditions. Treatment with KL did not affect ovarian stromal cell androstenedione or progesterone production. Interestingly, hormones such as estrogen and hCG did stimulate stromal cell steroid production. The results in this study suggest that granulosa cell-derived KL appears to promote the formation of theca cell layers around small (i.e., primary) ovarian follicles. KL directly stimulated ovarian stromal cell proliferation but alone did not induce functional differentiation (i.e., high steroid production). Therefore, KL is proposed to promote early follicle development by inducing proliferation and organization of stromal stem cells around small follicles. Observations suggest that KL may act as a granulosa-derived "theca cell organizer" to promote stem cell recruitment of ovarian stromal cells in a manner similar to the way that KL promotes hematopoietic and lymphoid stem cells in bone marrow and the thymus.
On a nonlinear diffusion equation describing population growth

A nonlinear eigenvalue problem is solved analytically to obtain the shock-like traveling waves of Fisher's nonlinear diffusion equation, with which he described the wave of advance of advantageous genes. A phase-plane analysis of the wave profiles shows that the propagation speed of the waves is linearly proportional to their thickness. The analytic solution is asymptotically accurate in the limit of infinitely large characteristic speeds. However, as they have a minimum threshold value which is not zero, the asymptotic solution turns out to be highly accurate for all propagation speeds. The wave profiles of Fisher's equation are shown to be identical to the steady state solutions of the Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers equation that are obtained when dissipative effects are dominant over dispersive effects.
Thoracovisceral segment aneurysm repair after previous infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery

Abstract Objective Repair of thoracovisceral aortic aneurysms (TVAA) after previous open repair of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) poses significant challenges. We sought to better characterize such recurrent aneurysms and to evaluate their operative outcome. Methods We reviewed the records and radiographs of 49 patients who underwent repair of TVAAs between 1988 and 2002 after previous repair of an AAA. Visceral artery reconstructions were completed with combinations of beveled anastomoses, inclusion patches, and side arm grafts. In 14 patients visceral endarterectomy was required to treat associated occlusive disease. Sixteen patients had cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and 10 patients had distal perfusion during cross-clamping. Results Patient mean age was 72 years, and 80% were men. Fifty-one percent of patients had symptomatic disease, and average TVAA diameter was 6.2 cm. Mean time between AAA and TVAA repair was 77 months. Twenty-six percent of aneurysms were restricted to the lower visceral aortic segment, 35% extended to the diaphragm, another 35% extended to the distal or middle thoracic aorta, and 4% involved the entire remaining visceral and thoracic aorta. The 30-day operative mortality rate was 4.1% in patients with nonruptured aneurysms and 50% in patients with ruptured aneurysms, for an overall mortality rate of 8.2%. Fifteen patients (30.6%) had major morbidity, including paresis in two patients and dialysis-dependent renal failure in five patients. At late follow-up, three patients required further aortic operations to treat additional aneurysms, and four patients had fatal aortic ruptures. Two-year and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 61% (±7.5%) and 37% (±7.8%), respectively. At univariate analysis, operative blood loss was the sole significant predictor of major morbidity ( P P P P P P Conclusion Elective repair of TVAAs after previous AAA repair can be performed with an acceptable level of operative mortality, though with considerable operative morbidity. Limited long-term survival mandates careful patient selection, and the high mortality associated with ruptured TVAA underscores the need for post-AAA surveillance.
Characterization of phage 18, an unstable coliphage

Abstract Phage 18, anoninducible coliphabe, is quite unstable and therefore difficult to study. Newly developed very gentle lysis and mounting techniques yielded isolated virions for examination by electron microscopy. The phage has a contractile tail with a length of 130 nm and an isometric head with a capsid diameter of 50 nm. Phage 18 is similar in morphology to phage P2 but is heteroimmune to it. DNA extracted from a clear-plaque mutant of phage 18 was subjected to BamHI restriction endonuclease digestion and was found to be easily distinguishable from the published restriction patterns for P2, phage 299, or phage 186 DNA. The genome size was calculated to be 33.5 kb. Using the DNA melting point, phage 18 DNA (G+C) content was determined to be 55.0% and its buoyant density was determined to be 1.715.
Physiological Changes Induced by Gamma Irradiation of Bacteria From Shrimp

SUMMARY The morphology and metabolism of seven radiation-resistant bacteria isolated from fresh Gulf shrimp were studied to ascertain if radiation altered their characteristics. Radiation-induced differences were observed in optimum incubation temperature, chromogenesis, carbohydrate and vitamin utilization, and action on litmus milk.
Requirements of a good analytical chemistry research paper

A good analytical chemistry research paper may be defined as one that passes the critical review of one’s peers for publication in a recognized reviewed jour-nal. Factors to consider in publishing an analytical paper include careful selection of the right journal, clear concise presentation that emphasizes the re-search contribution and its significance to the field, and careful revision if called for to account for the reviewers’ and editors’ criticisms. Rather special requirements apply to methods papers as opposed to other types of analytical papers. Data should be included to establish the accuracy and precision of the method by the use of standard reference mate-rials, standard addition studies, interference studies, and comparisons with established methods. Day-to-day and run precision studies of the proposed method in a real setting help validate the method. Common problems with analytical papers are discussed. Specific suggestions are given for improving the likeli-hood of publication. Data are given on the ultimate disposition of manuscripts submitted toAnalytical Chemistry. Reasons for rejection of papers submitted to the journal are summarized.
Dissection of the antibody response against herpes simplex virus glycoproteins in naturally infected humans

Relatively little is known about the extent of the polyclonal antibody (PAb) repertoire elicited by herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoproteins during natural infection and how these antibodies affect virus neutralization. Here, we examined IgGs from 10 HSV-seropositive individuals originally classified as high or low virus shedders. All PAbs neutralized virus to various extents. We determined which HSV entry glycoproteins these PAbs were directed against: glycoproteins gB, gD, and gC were recognized by all sera, but fewer sera reacted against gH/gL. We previously characterized multiple mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and mapped those with high neutralizing activity to the crystal structures of gD, gB, and gH/gL. We used a biosensor competition assay to determine whether there were corresponding human antibodies to those epitopes. All 10 samples had neutralizing IgGs to gD epitopes, but there were variations in which epitopes were seen in individual samples. Surprisingly, only three samples contained neutralizing IgGs to gB epitopes. To further dissect the nature of these IgGs, we developed a method to select out gD- and gB-specific IgGs from four representative sera via affinity chromatography, allowing us to determine the contribution of antibodies against each glycoprotein to the overall neutralization capacity of the serum. In two cases, gD and gB accounted for all of the neutralizing activity against HSV-2, with a modest amount of HSV-1 neutralization directed against gC. In the other two samples, the dominant response was to gD. IMPORTANCE Antibodies targeting functional epitopes on HSV entry glycoproteins mediate HSV neutralization. Virus-neutralizing epitopes have been defined and characterized using murine monoclonal antibodies. However, it is largely unknown whether these same epitopes are targeted by the humoral response to HSV infection in humans. We have shown that during natural infection, virus-neutralizing antibodies are principally directed against gD, gB, and, to a lesser extent, gC. While several key HSV-neutralizing epitopes within gD and gB are commonly targeted by human serum IgG, others fail to induce consistent responses. These data are particularly relevant to the design of future HSV vaccines.
Earthquake science: Shaking faults loose

Earthquakes often induce aftershocks on other faults, but the mechanisms remain elusive. An innovative analysis tells us more about the effects of dynamic stresses caused by the passage of seismic waves.
Social components of metropolitan population densities

The decline of population density from the center of metropolitan areas can be expressed mathematically as: dr = doegr where dr is the population density of a subarea at distance r from the center, do is the hypothetical density at the center, and g is the population-density gradient, empirically always negative. Expanding this exponential model permits examining systematically the relationship between distance from center and various components of population density—housing-unit density, vacant units, household size, and group-quarters population-and the change over time in these components. For the metropolitan areas of Columbus, Dayton, Hartford, Miami, and Syracuse in 1950 and 1960, housing-unit density decreased from the center more sharply than population density. Vacancies, which increased slightly at the center, were proportionately low in the stable middle zones but somewhat higher in the rapidly growing outer zones. While household size decreased around the center between 1950 and 1960, on the periphery it remained constant or increased slightly because of increased family size. During the same decade, the group-quarters population, relative to total population, shifted outward from the center to the periphery to a small extent.
Positive affect: phenotypic and etiologic associations with prosocial behaviors and internalizing problems in toddlers.

Despite evidence for the associations of positive affect to prosocial behaviors and internalizing problems, relatively little is known about the underlying etiology. The sample comprised over 300 twin pairs at age 3. Positive affect, prosocial behaviors, and internalizing problems were assessed using the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire (Goldsmith, 1996), the Revised Rutter Parent Scale for Preschool Children (Hogg, Rutter, & Richman, 1997), and the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 1.5-5 (Achenbach, 1991), respectively. Positive affect correlated positively with prosocial behaviors, and negatively with internalizing problems. Prosocial behaviors were negatively associated with internalizing problems. The relations of positive affect to prosocial behaviors and internalizing problems were due to environmental effects (shared and nonshared). In contrast, the link between prosocial behaviors and internalizing problems was entirely explained by genetic effects. The current study has moved beyond prior emphasis on negative affect and elucidated the less understood etiology underlying the associations between positive affect, prosocial behaviors, and internalizing problems. This study could guide the development of programs for promoting prosocial behaviors and alleviating internalizing problems in children.
Women's Anxiety about Social and Exercise Settings

This study involved a comparison of social physique anxiety, assessed through the application of a modified version of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale, with 28 women who were new members exercising at all-female facilities compared to 43 new female members exercising at coeducational facilities. Analyses indicated there were no significant differences in means between the groups. The scores of women attending all-female facilities were significantly more influenced by the sex of members when choosing a facility.
Use of1H and13C NMR spectroscopy to determine the stereochemistry of 1,4,5-trime thyl-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acids and their derivatives

The combined use of the1H and13C NMR spectra makes it possible to unequivocally assign the 1,4,5-trimethyl-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acids and their derivatives to a given steric series.
SPATIAL PATTERNS OF ABOVEGROUND PRODUCTION AND MORTALITY OF WOODY BIOMASS FOR EASTERN U.S. FORESTS

We developed maps of aboveground production and mortality of woody biomass for forests of the eastern United States based on data collected from an extensive network of permanent plots remeasured by the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis units (FIA). Forest volume inventory data for growth and mortality were converted to units of aboveground biomass at the county level for hardwood and softwood forest types. Aboveground production of woody biomass (APWB) for hardwood forests ranged from 0.6 to 28 Mg·ha−1·yr−1 and averaged 5.2 Mg·ha−1·yr−1. For softwood forests, APWB ranged from 0.2 to 31 Mg·ha−1·yr−1 and averaged 4.9 Mg·ha−1·yr−1. Aboveground production of woody biomass was generally highest in southeastern and southern counties, mostly along an arc from southern Virginia to Louisiana and eastern Texas. Although this pattern is generally the result we would expect from the general climatic gradients of the region, it was confounded by the effects of different forest management intensities. ...
Relationship between cholinesterase inhibition and thermoregulation following exposure to diisopropyl fluorophosphate in the rat.

Abstract This study examined the relationship between inhibition of cholinesterase activity (CA) and thermoregulatory response in the rat following exposure to the organophosphate (OP), diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP). Male Long-Evans rats were injected with DFP dissolved in peanut oil in doses ranging from 0 to 1.5 mg kg (s.c.). Colonie (T col ) and tail skin temperature (T tail ) were recorded at 0, 1,2 and 3 h post-injection. At 3 h post-injection the rat was sacrificed and a blood sample was taken by cardiac puncture and analyzed for CA. There was a biphasic dose effect of DFP on T col with slight but significant elevation in T col in the dose range of 0.01–0.5 mg/kg and a significant depression in T col at doses of 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg. There was a dose-dependent fall in CA with DFP administration in the erythrocyte, plasma, and whole blood fractions. Hypothermia was associated with 80–87% inhibition in CA, whereas the elevation in T col was associated with 20–70% inhibition in CA. DFP also elicited significant elevations in T tail . Overall, the data fail to demonstrate any clear relationship between inhibition of blood CA and thermoregulatory response following exposure to DFP. However, the elevation in T col following relatively low doses of DFP may be of relevance to the frequently reported symptom of fever in humans exposed to OP agents.
Discectomy strategies for lumbar disc herniation: results of the LAPDOG trial.

Since its introduction in the 1970s percutaneous treatment of lumbar disc herniation has been an attractive concept that has been the object of technical development and clinical application throughout the world. Little scientific evaluation of the efficacy and effectiveness of the procedure has been done. To estimate the success rates of automated percutaneous and conventional discectomy in comparable patients and to document the resource consumption of patients treated in these ways, a multicenter randomized clinical trial designed to compare both treatment efficacy and cost-effectiveness of automated percutaneous discectomy and conventional discectomy in adult patients with no prior lumbar spinal surgery, no coexistent lumbar spinal disease, unilateral single level lumbar radiculopathy with images confirming disc herniation at the appropriate level. In the course of the trial important technical advances allowing epidural extraction of free-fragment disc herniation was incorporated into the trial. It was not possible to enroll the required number of patients to complete the trial. Of 5735 screened patients, 95 were eligible and 36 were enrolled. Two elected watchful waiting and did not have any surgical procedure. Eight patients were lost to follow-up. Among the 27 evaluable patients, 41% of the percutaneous discectomy patients and 40% of the conventional discectomy patients were assessed as achieving "success" on the primary outcome measure. No clinical trial of any percutaneous discectomy technique provides definitive evidence supporting the efficacy or effectiveness of the procedure. Such evidence should be required by patients to whom such procedures are proposed and those who are asked to pay for them.
Environmental Injustice and Transportation: The Claims and the Evidence

Belief that transportation investment and operations have caused environmental damage in poor and minority communities to benefit the more affluent has prompted planning agencies to craft policies aimed at promoting environmental justice. Yet, we have only scattered evidence about the distribution of the costs and benefits derived from transportation policy, investment, and planning. This article creates a framework based in distributive justice for categorizing the existing research into cost-based and benefit-based claims of injustice. The authors go on to synthesize the cost-based research, which measures the distribution of pollution and hazards from transportation. From this survey, myriad research opportunities emerge.
Differential reactivity of rheumatoid synovial cells and serum rheumatoid factors to human immunoglobulin G subclasses 1 and 3 and their CH3 domains in rheumatoid arthritis.

19S IgM rheumatoid factors (RF) are polyclonal autoantibodies that may play an important pathogenic role in sustaining inflammatory synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RF in RA have reactivity for as-yet-uncharacterized antigenic determinants in IgG Fc. We hypothesized that qualitative differences might exist between some of these RF molecules, and that differences such as reactivity and affinity might characterize more pathogenic RF molecules. Previous observations in our laboratory indicate that RF produced by rheumatoid synovial cells (RSC) have greater reactivity with human IgG and IgG3 subclass, in contrast to serum RF, which has greater reactivity with rabbit IgG and human IgG1. These observations were made using a complement-dependent RF plaque-forming cell assay. The purpose of this study was to validate and extend those observations. Therefore, we examined the reactivity of RSC and serum RF with human and rabbit IgG and the reactivity and avidity of RSC-RF for IgG1 and IgG3 molecules and Fab, F(ab')2, and pFc' fragments thereof in a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. In particular, we found: 1) RSC-RF had at least twice as much reactivity with human IgG as with rabbit IgG; 2) serum RF had approximately equal reactivity with human and rabbit IgG; 3) RSC-RF had greater reactivity and avidity for IgG3 and IgG3 pFc' than for IgG1; and 4) RSC-RF was nonreactive with Fab or F(ab')2 from either IgG1 or IgG3. These results suggest that the major antigenic determinant for RSC-RF resides in the CH3 domain of the IgG3 molecule. Precise characterization of this epitope may provide further insight into the etiology and pathogenesis of RA.
The molecular and genetic bases of S-RNase-based self-incompatibility

The majority of flowering plants produce perfect flowers that contain both the male and female reproductive organs in close proximity; consequently, they would have a strong tendency to self-fertilize if there were no mechanisms to prevent them from doing so. Because inbreeding can result in reduced
Increased risk of cesarean delivery with advancing maternal age: Indications and associated factors in nulliparous women

Abstract Objective: To investigate factors that contribute to the increased risk of cesarean delivery with advancing maternal age. Study Design: We reviewed demographic and ante- and intrapartum variables from a data set of term, nulliparous women who delivered at Brigham and Women's Hospital in 1998 (n = 3715). Results: Cesarean delivery rates increased with advancing maternal age ( Conclusions: Older women are at higher risk for cesarean delivery in part because they are more likely to have cesarean delivery without labor. However, even among those women who labor, older women are more likely to undergo cesarean delivery, regardless of whether labor is spontaneous or induced. Part of the higher rate among older women who labor is explained by a higher rate of induction, particularly elective induction. Among women in both spontaneous and induced labor, cesarean delivery for the diagnoses of failure to progress and fetal distress was more frequent in older patients, although management of labor dystocia for these patients was similar to that for younger patients. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185: 883-7.)
Selective-tap blind signal processing for speech separation

In this paper, we propose a new blind multichannel adaptive filtering scheme, which incorporates a partial-updating mechanism in the error gradient of the update equation. The proposed blind processing algorithm operates in the time-domain by updating only a selected portion of the adaptive filters. The algorithm steers all computational resources to filter taps having the largest magnitude gradient components on the error surface. Therefore, it requires only a small number of updates at each iteration and can substantially minimize overall computational complexity. Numerical experiments carried out in realistic blind identification scenarios indicate that the performance of the proposed algorithm is comparable to the performance of its full-update counterpart, but with the added benefit of a highly reduced computational complexity.
Melanin-covered nanoparticles for protection of bone marrow during radiation therapy of cancer.

Purpose: Protection of bone marrowagainst radiotoxicity during radioimmunotherapy and in some cases external beamradiationtherapy suchashemi-body irradiationwould permitadministrationof significantlyhigher dosesto tumors, resulting in increased efficacy and safety of treatment. Melanin, a naturally occurring pigment, possesses radioprotective properties. We hypothesized that melanin, which is insoluble, could be delivered to the bone marrow by intravenously administrated melanin-covered nanoparticles (MNs) because of the human body’s ‘‘selfsieving’’ ability, protecting it against ionizing radiation. Methods and Materials: The synthesis of MNs was performed via enzymatic polymerization of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and/or 5-S-cysteinyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine on the surface of 20-nm plain silica nanoparticles. The biodistribution of radiolabeled MNs in mice was done at 3 and 24 h. Healthy CD-1 mice (Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., Wilmington, MA) or melanoma tumor‐bearing nude mice were given MNs intravenously, 50 mg/kg of body weight, 3 h before either whole-body exposure to 125 cGy or treatment with 1 mCi of 188 Re-labeled 6D2 melanin-binding antibody. Results: Polymerization of melanin precursors on the surface of silica nanoparticles resulted in formation of a 15nm-thick melanin layer as confirmed by light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence. The biodistribution after intravenous administration showed than MN uptake in bone marrow was 0.3% and 0.2% of injected dose per gram at 3 and 24 h, respectively, whereas pre-injection with pluronic acid increased the uptake to 6% and 3% of injected dose per gram, respectively. Systemic MN administration reduced hematologic toxicity in mice treated with external radiation or radioimmunotherapy, whereas no tumor protection by MNs was observed. Conclusions: MNs or similar structures provide a novel approach to protection of bone marrow from ionizing radiation based on prevention of free radical formation by melanin. 2010 Elsevier Inc. Melanin, Nanoparticles, Bone marrow, Radiation protection, Radioimmunotherapy.
A mouse model for inducible overexpression of Prdm14 results in rapid-onset and highly penetrant T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)

SUMMARY PRDM14 functions in embryonic stem cell (ESC) maintenance to promote the expression of pluripotency-associated genes while suppressing differentiation genes. Expression of PRDM14 is tightly regulated and typically limited to ESCs and primordial germ cells; however, aberrant expression is associated with tumor initiation in a wide variety of human cancers, including breast cancer and leukemia. Here, we describe the generation of a Cre-recombinase-inducible mouse model for the spatial and temporal control of Prdm14 misexpression [ROSA26 floxed-stop Prdm14 (R26PR)]. When R26PR is mated to either of two Cre lines, Mx1-cre or MMTV-cre, mice develop early-onset T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) with median overall survival of 41 and 64 days for R26PR;Mx1-cre and R26PR;MMTV-cre, respectively. T-ALL is characterized by the accumulation of immature single-positive CD8 cells and their widespread infiltration. Leukemia is preceded by a dramatic expansion of cells resembling hematopoietic stem cells and lymphoid-committed progenitors prior to disease onset, accompanied by a blockage in B-cell differentiation at the early pro-B stage. Rapidonset PRDM14-induced T-ALL requires factors that are present in stem and progenitor cells: R26PR;dLck-cre animals, which express Prdm14 starting at the double-positive stage of thymocyte development, do not develop disease. PRDM14-induced leukemic cells contain high levels of activated NOTCH1 and downstream NOTCH1 targets, including MYC and HES1, and are sensitive to pharmacological inhibition of NOTCH1 with the γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT. Greater than 50% of human T-ALLs harbor activating mutations in NOTCH1; thus, our model carries clinically relevant molecular aberrations. The penetrance, short latency and involvement of the NOTCH1 pathway will make this hematopoietic R26PR mouse model ideal for future studies on disease initiation, relapse and novel therapeutic drug combinations. Furthermore, breeding R26PR to additional Cre lines will allow for the continued development of novel cancer models.
Characteristics of 80 adolescents referred for secure inpatient care

Despite the recognition of the need for secure adolescent mental health provision, the extent and precise nature of the services required in the United Kingdom remains unquantified. The present study describes some of the key characteristics of 80 young people referred from around the United Kingdom for medium secure health care. The pattern of referrals indicates a substantial need for secure health care in the 14- to 18-year-old age range. Young people requiring such care present most commonly with psychotic, personality or post traumatic stress disorder. Nearly half of the young people (45%) were requiring constant observation. Over 90% of those assessed presented a risk of aggression and over 60% presented a suicide risk. Over half (53%) had been charged with one or more offence and 29% had at least one conviction. The need for the further development of an adolescent forensic specialism is supported by these data. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robust desired compensation adaptive control of robot manipulators with guaranteed transient performance

A robust adaptive controller with guaranteed transient performance under a desired compensation adaptation law is developed for trajectory tracking control of robot manipulators in the presence of parametric uncertainties and external disturbances. With some modifications to the conventional adaptation law, a new control law is redesigned by combining the design methodologies of adaptive control and continuous sliding mode control. The suggested controller preserves the advantages of the true methods, namely, asymptotic stability of adaptive system for parametric uncertainties and globally uniformly ultimately bounded stability with guaranteed transient performance of sliding mode control for both parametric uncertainties and external disturbances. The control law is continuous, and the chattering problem of sliding mode control is avoided. Experimental results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. >
Health Education and Behavior: Are School Health Educators in Denial?

Abstract School health education has been and still is guided by a number of different and often competing philosophical orientations. The field seems to be moving toward a skills-based philosophy, but the adoption of this approach is taking place with little discussion or analysis in the professional health education literature. The purpose of this article is to propose an integrated behavioral alternative to the present skills-based trend and to encourage the health education profession to examine school health education philosophy critically. The nature and scope of the educational reform that is sweeping the country makes the need for a critical examination of school health education philosophy, with accompanying dialog about goals and purposes, crucial to the growth and viability of school health education. “… it is suggested that health education be concerned with cognitive development while leaving attitudinal development and behaviors to other institutions in our society.”1 “Although in the long r...
Massively parallel implementation of an explicit CFD algorithm on unstructured grids

In this paper we present the implementation of a new CFD algorithm on massively parallel architectures. First, the numerical method itself is reviewed, with emphasis on its salient features. Next, we show how the algorithm can be ported to parallel architectures using the synchronous, hosted model. We conclude by showing several 2-D and 3-D computational results, some of which are of real life complexity.
Risk‐taking in explanation of biological events

Risk-taking by biology students as they attempt to explain observed biological events was investigated. The dependent variable, risk-taking as measured by the Extremity-Confidence of Hypothesis Test and the Risk-Taking Verbal Observation Scale, was analyzed within 2 × 2 and 2 × 3 factorial designs. The independent variables consisted of two levels of achievement motivation and status of information, and three levels of group arrangement for discussion. The results indicate that verbal risk-taking is influenced by differential knowledge of the information and the composition of a discussion group based on the members' measured achievement motivation. No differences were noted in the comparison groups on risk-taking as measured by the Extremity-Confidence of Hypothesis Test. A significant, but low, positive correlation was found to exist between IQ and risk-taking in verbal discourse by individuals. Based on the results of this study, the suggestion that risk-taking is a multidimensional trait is supported, and the magnitude of its expression may be influenced by differential treatments.
Taxanes in the management of gynecologic malignancies.

The taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) currently play an important role in the managment of cancers of the ovary, uterus and cervix. In each of these gynecologic malignancies, the drugs are routinely employed in combination with a platinum agent, although when delivered as single agents they may provide substantial palliative benefit. It is important to recognize that despite the documented major utility of this class of agents in the treatment of gynecologic cancers, many highly relevant questions remain, including determining optimal drug delivery schedules, the duration of treatment and the role of regional paclitaxel administration.
Care Partner Responses to the Onset of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Purpose: We examined characteristics, responses, and psychological well-being of care partners who support and assist older adults recently diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design and Methods: Based on a sample of 106 care partners of community residents diagnosed with MCI at memory clinics, we conducted face-to-face interviews including scales and open-ended questions. Measures tapped elements of the caregiver stress process model advanced by Pearlin and associates (1990, Caregiving and the stress process: An overview of concepts and their measures. The Gerontologist , 30 , 583 – 594), including background characteristics, knowledge and attitude resources, stressors, strains, and protective conditions. The outcome was psychological well-being as indexed by depressive symptoms. Results: Care partners ’ depressive symptoms were higher in the context of poorer health, lower perceived importance of religion, less knowledge about dementia, being more bothered by the older adult ’ s MCI symptoms, having a lower sense of environmental mastery, more perceived burden, more frequent use of coping strategies, and more social support. Narratives revealed multiple dimensions of stress, strain, and frustration, regardless of the level of depressive symptoms. Implications: Assisting a relative with MCI presents new and complex challenges, even though it is an early caregiving role. Care partners likely would benefi t from strategies aimed at reducing self-blame, enhancing coping skills, sustaining their sense of mastery, managing their health, seeking and accepting respite, and communicating effectively with the person with MCI and signifi cant others.
Dynamically increasing the scope of code motions during the high-level synthesis of digital circuits

The quality of high-level synthesis results for designs with complex and nested conditionals and loops can be improved significantly by employing speculative code motions. Two techniques are presented that add scheduling steps to the branch of a conditional construct with fewer scheduling steps. This 'balances' or equalises the number of scheduling steps in the conditional branches and increases the scope for application of speculative code motions. These branch balancing techniques have been applied 'dynamically' during scheduling. The authors have implemented algorithms for dynamic branch balancing techniques in a C-to-VHDL high-level synthesis framework called Spark. The utility of these techniques is demonstrated by experimental results on four designs derived from two moderately complex applications, namely, MPEG-1 and the GIMP image processing tool. These results show that the two branch balancing techniques can reduce the cycles on the longest path through the design by up to 38% and the number of states in the controller by up to 37%.
Automated Diagnosis of Data-Model Conflicts Using Metadata

The authors describe a methodology for helping computational biologists diagnose discrepancies they encounter between experimental data and the predictions of scientific models. The authors call these discrepancies data-model conflicts . They have built a prototype system to help scientists resolve these conflicts in a more systematic, evidence-based manner. In computational biology, data-model conflicts are the result of complex computations in which data and models are transformed and evaluated. Increasingly, the data, models, and tools employed in these computations come from diverse and distributed resources, contributing to a widening gap between the scientist and the original context in which these resources were produced. This contextual rift can contribute to the misuse of scientific data or tools and amplifies the problem of diagnosing data-model conflicts. The authors' hypothesis is that systematic collection of metadata about a computational process can help bridge the contextual rift and provide information for supporting automated diagnosis of these conflicts. The methodology involves three major steps. First, the authors decompose the data-model evaluation process into abstract functional components. Next, they use this process decomposition to enumerate the possible causes of the data-model conflict and direct the acquisition of diagnostically relevant metadata. Finally, they use evidence statically and dynamically generated from the metadata collected to identify the most likely causes of the given conflict. They describe how these methods are implemented in a knowledge-based system called Grendel and show how Grendel can be used to help diagnose conflicts between experimental data and computationally built structural models of the 30S ribosomal subunit.
Supraphysiologic extracellular pressure inhibits intestinal epithelial wound healing independently of luminal nutrient flow

Abstract Background Luminal pressure may injure the gut mucosa in obstruction, ileus, or inflammatory bowel disease. Methods We formed Roux-en-Y anastomoses in 19 mice, creating proximal and defunctionalized partially obstructed limbs and a distal limb to vary luminal pressure and flow. We induced mucosal ulcers by serosal acetic acid, and assessed proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and ERK (immunoblotting). Parallel studies compared Caco-2 enterocyte migration and proliferation after pressure and/or ERK blockade. Results At 3 days, anastomoses were probe-patent, proximal and distal limbs contained chyme, and defunctionalized limbs were empty. The proximal and defunctionalized limbs showed increased pressure and slower healing despite increased proliferation, ERK protein, and ERK activation. In vitro, pressure decreased Caco-2 migration across collagen or fibronectin, stimulated proliferation, and activated ERK. However, ERK blockade did not prevent pressure effects. Conclusions Luminal pressure during obstruction or ileus may impair mucosal healing independently of luminal flow despite increased mitosis and ERK activation.