cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scaleup of powder metallurgy processed Nb-Al multifilamentary wire

Powder metallurgy processed Nb-Al superconductIng wires were fabricated from billets up to 45 mm o.d. with nominal areal reduction ratios, R, up to 2 × 105, Nb powder sizes from 40 to 300 μm from various sources, Al powder sizes from 9 to 75 μm, Al concentrations from 3 to 25 wt % Al and with a wide range of heat treatments. All the compacts used tap density powder in a Cu tube and swaging and/or rod rolling and subsequent wire drawing. Both single strand and bundled wires were made. Overall critical current densities, J c , of 2 × 104A/cm2at 14 T and 104A/cm2at 16 T were achieved for 6 to 8 wt % Al in Nb.
Giant cell containing lesions of bone and their differential diagnosis

Abstract Giant cell rich lesions encompass a relatively large group of biologically and morphologically diverse bone tumours. They are all related to one another by the presence of numerous multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells. However, they differ from each other by virtue of their clinical and radiographic characteristics and in many cases, their morphology. In select cases, immunohistochemistry may be necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. The importance of correctly identifying these tumours rests on the differences in their treatment and prognosis.
Theoretical model studies of wave transmission in semicircular canal ducts

Some aspects of the dynamic behavior of semicircular canal ducts are examined by analyzing the wave transmission characteristics of an elastic fluid-filled toroidal shell which is suspended in a rigid fluid-filled toroidal channel. The fluids contained in the elastic and in the rigid channel are considered incompressible and inviscid. Linear equations of motion are derived which interrelate approximately the inertia, elastic and hydrodynamic forces in the system. If we disregard a possible twisting of the elastic torus and bending perpendicular to the plane of the canals, the system is shown to transmit three basic types of waves. The corresponding dispersion curves and mode shapes are computed for a representative set of parameter values and are compared with experimental data obtained from a laboratory model. Certain findings of this investigation are expected to be relevant to a study of the pulse wave in the aortic arch.
Differentiating between memory and interpretation biases in socially anxious and nonanxious individuals.

Abstract Although individual cognitive biases toward threat in social anxiety are well established, few studies have examined the manner in which cognitive biases work in conjunction. In the present study, socially anxious (n=54) and nonanxious (n=58) individuals read 10 passages consisting of positive social or evaluative, negative social or evaluative, and neutral content and completed two cognitive tasks assessing memory of factual details and interpretation immediately and after 48 h. Socially anxious and nonanxious individuals did not differ in their memory for details presented in the passages. However, they made less positive and more negative interpretations of details included in the passages, particularly in positive passages that were self-relevant and particularly in positive passages after the delay. After including depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety as covariates, biased interpretation of positive passages after the time delay remained significant, but biased interpretation of the self-relevant, positive passages did not. It is concluded that socially anxious individuals are characterized by accurate memory of threatening, factual material, but that they impose a biased interpretation upon that material, especially after some time has passed.
Energy-efficient adaptive MIMO systems leveraging dynamic spare capacity

In this paper, we propose an adaptive technique exploiting transmission mode switching between multiple input multiple output (MIMO) and single input multiple output (SIMO) with antenna selection to conserve mobile terminals' energy. We focus on saving uplink RF transmission energy in cellular systems supporting dynamic best effort (file transfer) traffic loads. The key idea is to judiciously slow down file transfer rates when a base station is underutilized. Due to the DC power components associated with the multiplicity of transmission chains, MIMO may have higher power consumption than SIMO. Thus, considering a desired user perceived target throughput as well as energy-efficiency, we propose an algorithm for mode switching (MIMO/SIMO) and rate selection. Extensive flow-level simulations under dynamic loads and Rayleigh fading channels confirm that the proposed technique can save more than 50 % of the mobile terminals' transmission energy and enable an effective tradeoff between performance and energy conservation.
Oosorption in insects.

Summary 1. The process of oosorption in insects is discussed with regard to the chronology of events which occur during resorption of oocytes and the role of their auxiliary cells. 2. A theory of neuroendocrine control of oosorption is put forward, suggesting that cessation of juvenile hormone secretion is the most important factor leading to this degradative process in spite of the fact that oosorption and vitellogenesis can occur simultaneously. 3. The diversity of behavioural, ecological and physiological factors which promote oosorption is discussed with an emphasis on differences and similarities among representatives of major insect groups, and the manner in which oosorption provides an ovipositional strategy.
An undergraduate concentration in applied statistics for mathematics majors

Abstract We describe an undergraduate concentration in statistics for mathematics majors, directed principally at students who seek employment as “junior statisticians” upon graduation. Motivation for the curriculum, the proposed course work, and issues of pedagogy and implementation are discussed.
Spatial Dynamics of Water and Nitrogen Management in Irrigated Agriculture

Dynamic optimization of crop production with nonuniform irrigation and nitrogen carryover and leaching is considered. A production function system with thresholds, plateau maximum, and yield reduction is estimated from experimental data; rapid convergence to a steady-state is observed. Spatial variability implies a 40% increase in applied water and a six-fold increase in nitrate emissions, while dynamic optimization has more modest impacts. Nitrate emission control is accomplished primarily through reduced applied water, illustrating a strong cross-policy effect. Significant levels of water conservation and nitrate pollution control are achieved at relatively low cost with traditional irrigation systems and baseline conditions. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.
Regulatory T cell defects in rheumatoid arthritis

Regulatory T (Treg) cells have emerged as a distinct subset of lymphocytes that are responsible for limiting immune responses and avoiding pathologic autoimmunity. Evidence is accumulating that defects in Treg function are important in immune-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We discuss herein the biology of Treg cells and emphasize what is known about Treg dysfunction in RA.
Consequences of induced transparency in a double-Λ scheme: Destructive interference in four-wave mixing

We investigate a four-state system interacting with long and short laser pulses in a weak probe beam approximation. We show that when all lasers are tuned to the exact unperturbed resonances, part of the four-wave mixing (FWM) field is strongly absorbed. The part that is not absorbed has the exact intensity required to destructively interfere with the excitation pathway involved in producing the FWM state. We show that with this three-photon destructive interference, the conversion efficiency can still be as high as 25%. Contrary to common belief, our calculation shows that this process, where an ideal one-photon electromagnetically induced transparency is established, is not most suitable for high-efficiency conversion. With appropriate phase matching and propagation distance, and when the three-photon destructive interference does not occur, we show that the photon flux conversion efficiency is independent of probe intensity and can be close to 100%. In addition, we show clearly that the conversion efficiency is not determined by the maximum atomic coherence between two lower excited states, as commonly believed. It is the combination of phase matching and constructive interference involving the two terms arising in producing the mixing wave that is the key element for the optimized FWM generation. Indeed, in this scheme no appreciable excited state is produced, so that the atomic coherence between states |0〉 and |2〉 is always very small.
Thiols liberate covalently bonded flavin from monoamine oxidase.

Abstract Although it was recommended that 2-mercaptoethanol should be added to all buffers used in monoamine oxidase purification, purification of the enzyme in the absence of thiols has yielded double the amount of enzyme. In fact the presence of 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol or dithioerythritol-SDS 1 was found to liberate about 50% of the covalently bonded FAD. This observation is surprising since the covalently bonded flavin has been reported to be 8-α-cysteinyl-FAD. There is a thioether linkage between the flavin and the protein and mild reducing agents such as mercaptoethanol would not normally cleave the thioether linkage. The importance of the present finding is that the thiols may be used possibly to liberate suicide substrate-flavin adducts from the enzyme for structural studies without isolating pure flavin peptides. The flavin can be removed simply by treatment of the enzyme with 0.1 M thiol solution containing 1% sodium dodecylsulfate followed by chromatography on Sephadex G-25.
COLONIZATION HISTORY DETERMINES ALTERNATE COMMUNITY STATES IN A FOOD WEB OF INTRAGUILD PREDATORS

Several recent studies suggest that community composition can take on alternate, apparently stable, states. For the most part, these studies are observational in nature and have not shown that alternate states arise from the order of species arrival during community assembly. Previous studies also provide little insight into the mechanisms that create alternate states, especially when direct species interactions, rather than environmental feedback, control their formation. We conducted experiments in identical physical environments to show that differences in the sequence of community assembly can create alternate species compositions that persist for many generations. Assembly sequence determined whether experimental food webs contained a single intraguild predator, or two intraguild predators. When the intraguild predator, Blepharisma americanum, became established in communities before the introduction of Tetrahymena vorax, combined effects of resource depletion and intraguild predation prevented the establishment of Tetrahymena. In contrast, when Tetrahymena preceded Blepharisma, both species frequently coexisted. Supporting experiments describe the exploitative competitive abilities of both intraguild predators, document the population dynamics of each species in less complex community modules, and determine the ability of Tetrahymena to invade Blepharisma cultures in the absence of competing prey. These results show that both competition and predation contribute to the formation of two alternate community states and confirm that one stable state resists transformation to the other.
Structural features of a six-nucleotide RNA hairpin loop found in ribosomal RNA.

The hairpin loop GUAAUA occurs frequently in ribosomal RNA. Optical melting studies show that r(GGCGUAAUAGCC) folds into a hairpin containing this loop. The structural features of the r(GGCGUAAUAGCC) hairpin have been determined by NMR and molecular modeling. NOEs from G4-H1‘ to A9-H2 and from A9-H2 to G10-H1‘ show that G4 and A9 form a sheared base pair with two hydrogen bonds: A-N7 to G-NH2 and A-NH6 to G-N3. One-dimensional NOE data show no NOEs between the imino protons of U5 and U8, but NOEs are observed between the U5-H1‘ and the U8-H6 and U8-H5, thus orienting the U8 imino proton away from U5. Thus U5 and U8 do not form an imino hydrogen-bonded U·U pair. The U5-H2‘ exhibits NOEs to both the A6-H8 and A7-H8, and the 3‘ phosphorus resonances of U5 and A6 are shifted downfield. This suggests that the helix turn is between the U5 and A6 nucleotides. The JH1‘-H2‘ and JH3‘-H4‘ coupling constants indicate that the loop is dynamic, particularly at 35 °C, well below the melting temperature of 63 °C. Struct...
The locus of focus: The effect of switching from a preferred to a non-preferred focus of attention

Focusing strategies are known to play a significant role in motor performance, with individuals who use an internal focus on body movement typically showing poorer outcomes than those who focus on features of the external environment. Focus of attention and switching of one's focus are examined in the context of two different complex motor skills along with a factor not previously examined systematically, individual preference. In both experiments, participants were introduced to focusing strategies that might be employed when attempting a sensorimotor task. Explanations of both strategies were given to participants. Specifically, for an internal focus, participants were instructed to concentrate on their body movements, while for an external focus, they were instructed to focus on aspects in the environment. They were then asked which strategy they preferred. Participants then continued either with their preferred focus or were instructed to switch to their non-preferred focus. The advantage that the external focus typically enjoys turns out not to be a simple one and interacts with individual preference and with the "forced-opposite" manipulation. Our results support the growing consensus that encouraging individuals to adopt an internal focusing strategy is counterproductive in complex sensorimotor tasks. They also suggest that individual preferences play a role.
Factors from 3T3 cells stimulate proliferation of cultured vascular endothelial cells.

TUMOURS induce vascularisation into the neoplasm to provide needed cell nutrients and remove wastes1. The formation of tumour blood vessels seems to depend, in part, on the proliferation and movement of vascular endothelial cells which are, in turn, controlled by the secretion of tumour angiogenesis factor (TAP) (refs 2–4). Extracts of tumours2–4 and of established cell lines5 have TAF activity in vivo. But little is known about the molecular nature or mechanism of action of TAF. The proliferation, formation and integrity of vascular endothelium are also involved in normal host processes: wound healing, morphogenetic tissue rearrangements, as well as the prevention of various non-neoplastic diseases resulting from blood vessel wall injury depend on angiogenesis factors6. A convenient method to study angiogenesis and endothelial repair is with an in vitro endothelial cell system, but the lack of uniform, reliable cultured endothelial cell lines has delayed progress in this area. Most studies7–9 (with some exceptions10) have used uncloned vascular cells which are often slow growing and heterogeneous in cell type. We have recently established a cloned adult bovine aortic endothelial (ABAE) cell line which has maintained its endothelial properties for over 1 yr in culture, provided that fibroblast (growth factor (FGF) is present in the growth medium11. We report here the mitogenic effects of several untransformed and transformed cell lines on cloned ABAE cells and non-vascular endothelial cell controls.
Selecting an invertebrate model host for the study of fungal pathogenesis.

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health through an R01 award (AI075286) and an R21 award (AI070569) to EM. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
The formation of all-trans-retinoic acid from all-trans-retinol in hairless mouse skin

All-trans-retinoic acid formation from topically applied retinol has been demonstrated in the skin of skh/hr1 (hairless) mice. The all-trans-retinoic acid was identified on the basis of its chromatographic properties on HPLC at various pH values, its photoisomerization to reaction products identical to those formed from authentic all-trans-retinoic acid, and its co-chromatography with methyl retinoate after methylation with diazomethane. Topically applied retinol is about 2-fold less potent at inducing epidermal hyperplasia and 7-fold less potent at inhibiting the induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase by phorbol esters than all-trans-retinoic acid in this strain of mice. To elucidate the possible role all-trans-retinoic acid formation from retinol may have in these pharmacological activities, the epidermal and dermal all-trans-retinoic acid levels were compared in mice treated topically with retinol or [11-3H]-all-trans-retinoic acid. The levels of all-trans-retinoic acid found after retinol treatment were several orders of magnitude lower than those found after [11-3H]-all-trans-retinoic acid treatment, and they were insufficient to account for the difference in potencies between all-trans-retinoic acid and retinol. Retinol was eliminated from the epidermis at a rate similar to that of all-trans-retinoic acid after topical administration, but the initial tissue levels achieved were lower. These results suggest that the lower potencies of retinol may simply reflect lower tissue uptake.
Stopping Burnout Before it Starts: Prevention Measures at the Preservice Level

Although a great deal of attention has been focused recently on the problem of teacher burnout, very little has been done at the preservice level to prevent it. If, as many believe, burnout is most likely to occur in the first three years of teaching, steps should be taken during preservice training to help future teachers deal more effectively with the challenges and stress they will undoubtably encounter. The authors develop this rationale and identify four possible components of a burnout prevention curriculum, including 1) the development of realistic expectations, 2) the encouragement of detached concern, 3) a better understanding of classroom successes and failures, and 4) an introduction to various stress reduction strategies.
ADRENOMEDULLIN MEDIATED NITRIC OXIDE RELEASE IN THE REGULATION PLACENTAL ARTERIAL VASCULAR TONE. • 451

The role of agonist and constitutive nitric oxide (NO) release in the regulation of human placental vascular tone are not known. ADM is a recently discovered hypotensive peptide isolated from pheochromocytoma cells that shares structural homology to Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide, (CGRP). Adrenomedullin has been shown to produce vascular relaxation through NO and cyclic AMP mediated intracellular signal pathways. We investigated in vitro responses to both peptides in cannulated chorionic plate arteries (CPA) from term uncomplicated pregnancies. Vessels were cannulated on micropipettes under constant intraluminal pressure and changes in diameter (<400 microns) were measured through a videodimension analyzer. Percent relaxation in response to 0.1uM synthetic human ADM and CGRP were observed following submaximal preconstriction with U46619. Vessels were rechallenged with either peptide following equilibration with 0.1mM of the NO synthase inhibitor L-NNA. An additional group was studied following removal of the endothelium (EC-) by perfusing the lumen with lcc air at atmospheric pressure. Results shown below are Mean ± SEM (n=6) percent increase lumen diameter (*, p<0.05 vs. control). Membrane receptors and intracellular signal pathways to both peptides are present in term CPA. The in vitro response to ADM is mediated by endothelial NO release. Selective inhibition of the response to ADM but not CGRP by L-NNA strongly suggests two distinct receptor populations. Constitutive NO release may play an important role in the regulation of placental vascular tone in vivo. Table
Floating Bodies in Neutral Equilibrium

In his paper preceding in this issue, Finn proved that if the contact angle γ of a convex body \({\mathcal{B}}\) with a given liquid is π/2, and if \({\mathcal{B}}\) can be made to float in “neutral equilibrium” in the liquid in any orientation, then \({\mathcal{B}}\) is a metric ball. The present work extends that result, with an independent proof, to any contact angle in the range 0 < γ < π. Our result is equivalent to the general geometric theorem that if for every orientation of a plane, it can be translated to meet a given strictly convex body \({\mathcal{B}}\) in a fixed angle γ within the above range, then \({\mathcal{B}}\) is a metric ball.
Black citymakers: how The Philadelphia Negro changed urban America

Published in 1899, W.E.B. DuBois's The Philadelphia Negro is acclaimed as one of the masterpieces of early empirical research in American sociology, combining, as Elijah Anderson has noted, urban e...
Long-term culture of adult mammalian central nervous system neurons.

Abstract Retinas from five adult dogs (1 to 16 years old) were obtained at autopsy within 1 h of death and maintained in vitro as explants for as long as 42 days. Electron microscopy at 8 days in vitro showed normal neurons with intact synapses, glial cells, and photoreceptor cells lacking outer segments. Bodian staining at 21 to 42 days in vitro showed continued presence of viable neurons with extensive regeneration of processes. The availability of adult mammalian central nervous system neurons in culture should prove useful in studies on aging changes in neurons, particularly with respect to their regenerative ability.
Protein and glycoprotein synthesis in rat liver mitochondria and rat intraneural mitochondria and protein synthesis in rat liver microsomes in the presence of l-canavanine

The effects of l-canavanine on protein and glycoprotein synthesis in rat liver and brain mitochondria and rat liver microsomes were studied. A 105 concentration range of canavanine was used. At 0.1 mg/ml, canavanine, in a medium containing an external energy source, inhibited all systems. Protein synthesis was inhibited in both mitochondrial systems; but while glycoprotein synthesis was also inhibited in the same systems, it was not inhibited to the same degree. Contrary to the postulated mechanism of action of canavanine, microsomal protein synthesis was inhibited over the entire concentration range studied.
Secure and DoS-Resistant Code Dissemination in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Seluge

It is desirable and sometimes necessary to reprogram sensor nodes through wireless links after they are deployed, due to, for example,the need of removing bugs and adding new functionalities. The process of propagating a new code image to the nodes in a network is commonly referred to as code dissemination. In hostile environments, where there may be malicious attacks against wireless sensor networks, code dissemination faces threats from both external attackers and potentially compromised nodes. This demo will show how Seluge, asecure and DoS-resistant code dissemination system based Deluge, worksin wireless sensor networks. Our demo will consist of two parts: (1) ademo in an on-site small-scale network, and (2) a demo in a remote test-bed named WiSeNeT, which is physically deployed in Engineering Building II at North Carolina State University.
A hybrid galerkin/finite difference delay modeling method for the time domain integral equations of electromagnetics

Temporal discretization has a profound influence on the stability of numerical methods for the solution of time domain integral equations. Though many methods have been proposed, current successful methods can be grouped into two categories: Galerkin methods, and finite difference delay modeling (FDDM) methods. As in many cases where competing methods coexist, each method has advantages and drawbacks in different situations. This work introduces a hybrid method which retains the speed and dispersionless nature of Galerkin methods, while inheriting the stability and broad applicability or FDDM methods. Numerical results will demonstrate the usefulness of the approach.
Parabolic Approximation for Sound Propagation in the Atmosphere

Propagation of sound in a stratified moving medium is discussed through an extension of the parabolic approximation to the acoustic equations of motion for short wavelengths. The parabolic approximation is related to the theory of geometric acoustics, and it is shown that it yields an improvement in accuracy over geometric theory. Also, the approximation corrects cumulative failures of geometric theory which occur when sound propagates many wavelengths from its source. The theory is illustrated by application to simple examples of quasiplane wave propagation.
Lifetime risk of surgical management for pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence.

The objective of our study was to estimate the age-specific incidence and lifetime risk of surgically managed pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and urinary incontinence (UI). Women aged 20 and older who underwent primary surgical management of POP or UI in 1993 were identified from the database of a health maintenance organization using ICD-9 codes and confirmed through chart abstraction. From a population of 147,719 women, 135 were identified who underwent prolapse surgery only, 82 incontinence only, and 34 surgery for both conditions. From the age-specific incidence, we estimated the lifetime risk of undergoing an operation by age 80 to be 11.8%. Our findings agree with a previous estimate that ∼11% of women will undergo surgery for POP or UI by age 80. POP and UI appear to be common problems, undoubtedly affecting an even larger proportion of the women than suggested by this high cumulative incidence of surgery.
13C‐NMR study of hypoglycemia‐induced glycolytic changes in embryonic mouse heart

Background Glucose metabolites can be detected in embryonic mouse tissues using 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The advantage of this method is in its chemical specificity and the ability to follow metabolic changes. Methods In this study, CD-1 mice were mated and embryos excised on gestational day (GD) 10.5 (plug = GD 0.5). Hearts were isolated and cultured in 150 mg/dl glucose (normoglycemic medium) or 40 mg/dl glucose (hypoglycemic medium) for 6 hr. 13C-labeled glucose comprised 62%–64% of total glucose in the culture medium. Pre- and postculture media were treated with deuterated water (D2O), and 13C spectra were obtained using a Bruker Avance 500 MHz spectrometer operating at 11.744 tesla (125.7 MHz for 13C). NMR spectra demonstrated resonances for 13C-glucose in preculture normoglycemic and hypoglycemic media. Postculture spectra for normoglycemic and hypoglycemic media demonstrated 13C-glucose signals as well as a signal for 13C-lactate. Area under the curve (AUC) was measured for the [1-13C-glucose] resonance from preculture media and the [3-13C-lactate] resonance from postculture media. The ratios of AUC for postculture [3-13C-lactate] to preculture [1-13C-glucose] were calculated and found to be higher in hypoglycemic than in normoglycemic media. Results Our results confirm earlier findings using radiolabeled substrates and suggest that 13C-NMR spectroscopy can be used to study glucose metabolism in isolated embryonic hearts exposed to hypoglycemia. Conclusions NMR effectively measures glucose and its metabolite, lactate, in the same spectrum and thus determines metabolic flux in the isolated embryonic heart after exposure to hypoglycemia and normoglycemia. This method could evaluate glucose metabolism in embryonic tissues following other teratogenic exposures. Teratology 66:267–272, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A possible nucleation type of mechanism for the growth of small aerosol particles

Abstract The collisions between small aerosol particles do not necessarily result in coagulation, since the dispersion forces responsible for coagulation are relatively weak; i.e., the interaction potential well due to the van der Waals attraction and Born repulsion is not deep. In addition, because of weak dispersion forces, the constituents of a doublet of small particles can derive sufficient energy from the collisions with the molecules of the suspending medium to overcome the potential well and dissociate. The rate of formation of a doublet, i.e., the rate of coagulation per particle, is calculated by accounting for the sticking probability in terms of the depth of the interaction potential well. The average dissociation time of a doublet has been determined as a first passage time in the energy of the relative motion of the two constituent particles. For sufficiently small particles, the rate of dissociation of a doublet is much larger than its rate of formation. This unstable doublet reaches, therefore, an equilibrium with the single particles over times much shorter than the time scale of coagulation. Because of the dramatic decrease in the rate of dissociation of a doublet with an increase in the size of its constituents, there exists a critical particle radius above which the doublet is stable; i.e., its rate of formation becomes greater than its rate of dissociation. When the doublet is unstable, aerosol growth occurs via a nucleation mechanism, i.e., via successive equilibria of unstable agglomerates leading to a critical size aggregate, which constitutes a nucleus for growth. On the other hand, when the doublet is stable, the singlets themselves act as nuclei for aerosol growth.
Post-Nevadan deformation along the Bear Mountains fault zone: Implications for the Foothills terrane, central Sierra Nevada, California

Southern parts of the Foothills terrane, Sierra Nevada, California, consist of western and eastern sequences of volcanic rocks and overlying slate-gray wacke units separated by a multiply deformed and lithologically chaotic central belt. Structural and strain studies suggest that the intensity of regional ductile deformation decreased from greater than 50% shortening in the western belt to less than 30% shortening in the eastern belt and that much of this ductile deformation is younger than the timing usually assumed for the Nevadan orogeny. These structures are in turn deformed by a large ductile shear zone representing the southern continuation of the Bear Mountains fault zone. This shear zone separates the western and central belts, has an oblique east-over-west sense of movement, and deforms the western margin of the Guadalupe igneous complex. These observations suggest that the eastern and western volcanic sequences are pieces of arcs amalgamated along the Bear Mountains fault zone during and after Nevadan deformation.
Morphological characteristics of skeletal muscles in relation to gender

Background and aims: The aim of this study was to ascertain whether there are gender-related differences in the morphological characteristics of the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles in young adult and old Fischer 344/Brown Norway F1 rats. Methods: We tested 1) whether there was a gender-related difference between the fiber type composition of these muscles, and 2) whether the cross-sectional area of individual muscle fibers demonstrated gender-associated differences, fibers from males being larger than fibers from females. Results: Gender differences were not found in the fiber type composition of the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles, but were present in the single skeletal fiber cross-sectional area of the tibialis anterior muscle. The cross-sectional area of type I fibers in females was greater than that in males at both 12 (16%) and 30 (5%) months of age. In contrast, the cross-sectional area of type IIa fibers of 12-month-old males was larger than that of 12-month-old females. No significant differences between genders were found for the cross-sectional area of type IIb fibers in either age group. In the soleus muscle, 30-month-old males had larger single fiber cross-sectional areas of both fiber types I and IIa. At 12 months of age, type I fibers from females were larger than those from males. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that gender-related differences exist in the size of individual skeletal fibers from the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles and that they may influence metabolism and the adaptive response to rehabilitation programs.
Polyvinyl alcohol particles and tris-acryl gelatin microspheres for uterine artery embolization for leiomyomas: results of a randomized comparative study.

PURPOSE To determine if the type of embolic material used for uterine artery embolization (UAE) for leiomyomas has an impact on short-term recovery or the effectiveness of embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred patients were randomly assigned to undergo UAE with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles or tris-acryl gelatin microspheres. Short-term, in-hospital medication use and pain levels were recorded. After discharge, symptom severity, temperature, and medications used were recorded daily for 1 week and symptom levels were measured for weeks 2–4. Three months after embolization, contrast material–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging examinations were evaluated blindly to determine the extent of leiomyoma infarction. Symptom and quality of life (QOL) status was determined with use of questionnaires. Analysis was completed with use of χ 2 analysis, Fisher exact tests, Student t tests, and analysis of variance as appropriate. Regression analysis was used to analyze the impact on outcome of baseline factors (other than type of embolic agent). RESULTS No significant differences were noted at baseline between the two treatment groups. On average, there were significantly higher volumes of tris-acryl microspheres used (9.0 mL vs 3.0 mL; P = .0001), whereas microcatheter occlusion was more common with PVA (28% vs 4%, P = .001). There were no differences in pain severity, other postprocedural symptoms, or medication use between the two treatment groups. There were also no differences in the frequency of incompletely infarcted leiomyomas, degree of improvement in symptom score, patient satisfaction, or QOL. CONCLUSION No substantive differences were detected between outcomes of embolization with PVA particles or tris-acryl gelatin microspheres.
Local infrasound signals from the Tokachi‐Oki earthquake

[1] A great earthquake (Mw = 8.3) and aftershock (Mw = 7.4) occurred near Hokkaido, Japan on September 25, 2003. This earthquake and aftershock were sources of local and epicentral infrasound signals observed at two seismo-acoustic arrays in the Republic of Korea. Local infrasound results when seismic signals near the receiver couple to the atmosphere. The local cross coupling from seismic ground motion to infrasound signal at two seismo-acoustic arrays enabled us to compute a seismic-to-infrasound transfer function at each array. The observed transfer function quantifies the microphone response when the seismometer response is known. When seismometers and infrasound gauges are collocated, this procedure can provide field calibration.
Connective tissue cells, cell proliferation and synthesis of extracellular matrix - a review

The ubiquitous connective tissues contain a wide range of cells including fibroblasts, osteoblasts and chondroblasts. Recently it has been demonstrated that another principal cell of the connective tissue is the smooth muscle cell in several organ systems. These have been shown to be responsible for the synthesis of the connective tissue matrix components of the uterine myometrium and of the arterial system, including collagen, both elastic fibre proteins and glycosaminoglycan. Microtubule inhibitors such as colchicine and vinblastine, and iron chelators such as α,α9-dipyridyl have been used to study their morphologic and chemical effects on collagen synthesis and secretion. Colchicine produces an increase in large Golgiassociated vacuoles, which sometimes contain material reminiscent of aggregates of collagen macro molecules. Vinblastine produces alterations in the endoplasmic reticulum cisternae similar to alterations seen in ascorbic acid deficiency, and α,α9-dipyridyl increases the frequency of regions in cells, interpretable as potential sites of communication of rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae with the cell surface. Ferritin conjugated anti-procallagen sera were used to localize procollagen in cells and demonstrated procollagen not only in the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum but in all of the elements of the Golgi complex as well. The studies reported in this review have shown that in cell culture arterial smooth muscle will produce not only the microfibrillar protein of the elastic fibre but soluble and/or insoluble elastin as well. Recent studies on serum factors responsible for the proliferation of connective tissue cells have demonstrated that at least one of the principal factors responsible for fibroblast and/or smooth muscle cell proliferation in culture is derived from thrombocytes. Medium containing serum derived from cell-free plasma lacks most of this proliferative effect which can be reinstated when platelets are present during recalcification to form serum. This effect is due to the platelet release reaction as shown by combining supernatant factors derived from platelets exposed to purified thrombin to cell-free, plasma derived serum. Studies with macrophages have also suggested that phagocytic macrophages release factor(s) into a cell culture medium that may also participate in stimulating fibroblasts to proliferate in vitro . The means by which these factors stimulate fibroblast proliferation and connective tissue synthesis remains to be elucidated.
Implications on the paleoecology of autochthonous lycopods in clastic sedimentary environments of the Early Pennsylvanian of Alabama

Abstract Numerous, correlative localities throughout the Upper Cliff Coal Interval (Lower Pennsylvanian), Blount County, Alabama, have been observed in which lycopod forests are preserved. These assemblages are present in lower delta plain facies interpreted to represent (1) the abandonment phase of a distributary channel system with resultant bayou development, (2) non-peat accumulating swamps capping interdistributary bay deposition, (3) possible terminal phase of peat accumulating swamps and (4) crevasse splay deposits. Field observations in combination with sedimentological, preservational and biological evidence support the conclusion that these autochthonous Carboniferous lycopods represent a taphonomically biased assemblage of aquatic or semi-aquatic (swamp) communities. Interpretations derived from the present study in conjunction with published accounts of erect lycopods suggest that these plants could tolerate all waters from fresh to saline conditions. Periodic drying of swampy habitats may have subjected lycopods to subaerial and aerial conditions, but bulk-replaced erect lycopods predominantly inhabited water stressed conditions. The monotypic character of the lycopod forests supports the hypothesis that in the tropical lowlands of the tropical lowlands of the Carboniferous lycopods held a relatively unique, physiologically stressed position in the delta flood basin. These arborescent lycopods became established in any depositional site subject to flooding and standing water when conditions prevailed which allowed for the establishment and development of individuals.
The transcription factor HLH-2/E/Daughterless regulates anchor cell invasion across basement membrane in C. elegans

Cell invasion through basement membrane is a specialized cellular behavior critical for many developmental processes and leukocyte trafficking. Invasive cellular behavior is also inappropriately co-opted during cancer progression. Acquisition of an invasive phenotype is accompanied by changes in gene expression that are thought to coordinate the steps of invasion. The transcription factors responsible for these changes in gene expression, however, are largely unknown. C. elegans anchor cell (AC) invasion is a genetically tractable in vivo model of invasion through basement membrane. AC invasion requires the conserved transcription factor FOS-1A, but other transcription factors are thought to act in parallel to FOS-1A to control invasion. Here we identify the transcription factor HLH-2, the C. elegans ortholog of Drosophila Daughterless and vertebrate E proteins, as a regulator of AC invasion. Reduction of HLH-2 function by RNAi or with a hypomorphic allele causes defects in AC invasion. Genetic analysis indicates that HLH-2 has functions outside of the FOS-1A pathway. Using expression analysis, we identify three genes that are transcriptionally regulated by HLH-2: the protocadherin cdh-3, and two genes encoding secreted extracellular matrix proteins, mig-6/papilin and him-4/hemicentin. Further, we show that reduction of HLH-2 function causes defects in polarization of F-actin to the invasive cell membrane, a process required for the AC to generate protrusions that breach the basement membrane. This work identifies HLH-2 as a regulator of the invasive phenotype in the AC, adding to our understanding of the transcriptional networks that control cell invasion.
Relationship of alterations in splenic clearance function and microcirculation to host defense in acute rodent malaria.

Abstract During the course of Plasmodium berghei malaria in the rat, splenic clearance of damaged uninfected erythrocytes (heated or Heinz body-containing) underwent changes strikingly similar to those of infected erythrocytes. Splenic trapping of abnormal erythrocytes was impaired during the period of rising parasitemia but became supernormal just before the onset of resolution of the acute infection. These changes could be related to the development of splenomegaly and alterations in splenic cordal microcirculation during infection. The relative distribution of flow through the cords was decreased during rising parasitemia and was restored before the onset of resolution. Together, our observations support the hypothesis that altered rheologic properties of infected erythrocytes are a major determinant of their removal by the spleen. These data suggest that the alterations in splenic microcirculation that occur during malaria may have important implications for host defense.
The role of sensorimotor learning in the perception of letter-like forms: Tracking the causes of neural specialization for letters

Functional specialization in the brain is considered a hallmark of efficient processing. It is therefore not surprising that there are brain areas specialized for processing letters. To better understand the causes of functional specialization for letters, we explore the emergence of this pattern of response in the ventral processing stream through a training paradigm. Previously, we hypothesized that the specialized response pattern seen during letter perception may be due in part to our experience in writing letters. The work presented here investigates whether or not this aspect of letter processing—the integration of sensorimotor systems through writing—leads to functional specialization in the visual system. To test this idea, we investigated whether or not different types of experiences with letter-like stimuli (“pseudoletters”) led to functional specialization similar to that which exists for letters. Neural activation patterns were measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before...
Adsorption of Cadmium and Cobalt on Montmorillonite as a Function of Solution Composition

Adsorption of Co 2+ and Cd ~+ on Wyoming montmorillonite was studied by the batch equilibra- tion technique, as a function of salt concentration (0.01-4 M NaC1 and NaNO3), pH (5.0-6.5), adsorbate concentration (trace-10 -2 moles/liter), and presence of complexing ions. Comparison was made with the adsorbability of Sr 2+, known to follow simple ion-exchange equations. The distribution coefficients for Co and Cd in noncomplexing media varied with salt concentration (from -500 liters/kg in 0.01 M Na § to -10 liters/kg in 1 M Na+; pH = 5), but to a lesser extent than that of St. Adsorbability varied also with pH (- 1 order of magnitude/pH unit), especially at high ionic strength, compared to a negligible pH effect on Sr. The distribution coefficients of Cd and Co decreased with increasing loading on the clay at a very low percentage (0.2%) of the ion-exchange capacity compared to Sr (20%). These data suggest two classes of sites participating in the adsorption of Cd and Co. The adsorbability of Cd in highly concentrated chloride solution (>1 M) was less than 1 liter/kg, pre- sumably because of the chloride complex formation. This effect increased with increasing pH. The low adsorbability of Cd on montmorillonite from concentrated NaCI solution is promising with respect to its use as a tracer for monitoring flow through formations containing montmorillonite.
tRNA Nuclear Export in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: In Situ Hybridization Analysis

To understand the factors specifically affecting tRNA nuclear export, we adapted in situ hybridization procedures to locate endogenous levels of individual tRNA families in wild-type and mutant yea...
Hypocotyl Function in Seedling Development of the Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mangle L.1

Propagules of the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle L.) were subjected to a variety of growing conditions in which light level, anatomical exposure to light, application of the photosynthetic inhibitor DCMU, and genotype were used to infer possible interactions between autonomous photosynthesis and the utilization of internal reserves for the development of roots and shoots. The outgrowth of these organs from hypocotyls was significantly enhanced under conditions favorable for photosynthesis, and chlorophyll-deficient propagules exhibited reduced development compared to sibling wild types. The results suggest that photosynthesis augments processing of carbohydrates derived from maternal sources during early development and differentiation of the hypocotyl, and in combination represent an adaptive trait.
Bootstrap Confidence-Intervals in A Complex Situation - A Sequential Paired Clinical-Trial:

This paper illustrates the use of several bootstrap confidence interval methods in a complex yet practical situation. The confidence interval for the difference between two treatments in a simplified sequential paired clinical trial, which is analogous to setting an interval for the drift of a random walk subject to a parabolic stopping boundary, is considered. Three bootstrap methods of construction are applied: the accelerated bias-corrected, the automatic percentile, and the bootstrap-t. The results are compared with a theoretical approximate interval. Difficulties inherent in the use of these bootstrap methods are discussed. The automatic percentile method is shown tobe the easiest to apply and to work well.
Pseudospectral Optimal Control for Military and Industrial Applications

During the last decade, pseudospectral methods for optimal control, the focus of this tutorial session, have been rapidly developed as a powerful tool to enable new applications that were previously considered impossible due to the complicated nature of these problems. The purpose of this tutorial section is to introduce this advanced technology to a wider community of control system engineering. We bring in experts of pseudospectral methods from academia, industry, and military and DoD to present topics covering a large spectrum of pseudospectral methods, including the theoretical foundation, numerical techniques of pseudospectral optimal control, and military/industry applications.