cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The near field behavior of turbulent gas jets in a long confinement

The near-field behavior of a turbulent gas jet (8.73 mm in diameter) in a long confinement was studied using a test rig with a confinement area ratio of about 205 and a length-to-jet diameter ratio of about 1700. Experiments were carried out with CO2, air, and He/air jets at different jet velocities, using a laser Doppler velocimeter for velocity and turbulence measurements and hot-wire anemometers for a detailed examination of the turbulent shear field of an air jet. The air column inside the tunnel was seen to be first compressed by the jet and then to be slowly pushed out of the tunnel, causing the jet to spread rapidly and to decay quickly. As a result, an equilibrium turbulence field is established in the first two diameters of the jet which bears a similarity to that found in self-preserving turbulent free jets and jets in short confinement. However, in contrast to the cases of the two latter jet types, the near field of jets in a long confinement is independent of jet fluid densities and velocities.
New Recommendations Not Very Different from Current Practice

To the Editor.— In the "Evaluation and Treatment of Jaundice in the Term Newborn: A Kinder, Gentler Approach," Newman and Maisels1 focus on "unnecessary testing and treatment of many jaundiced term infants."1,p809 Although "routine screening with a more specific test" was suggested for galactosemia, none was mentioned in any of the five tables. In the follow-up commentaries only one other author mentioned galactosemia in the differential diagnosis of neonatal jaundice.2 After reading these several interesting papers it is still unclear to me whether reducing the frequency of tests for neonatal jaundice or excluding individual specific tests (ie, direct bilirubin) will benefit cost-effective analysis or be "a kinder, gentler approach" for babies.
Chapter 27 Particle Bombardment

Publisher Summary The importance of particle bombardment technology in agricultural biotechnology and its impact on basic studies in plant molecular biology is vividly illustrated by the fact that prior to its development only a few plants, primarily Solanaceous species, could be engineered using conventional gene transfer methods. Microprojectile bombardment employs high-velocity metal particles to deliver biologically active DNA into plant cells. The ability to deliver foreign DNA into regenerable cells, tissues, or organs appears to provide the best method for achieving truly genotype-independent transformation in many agronomic crops, bypassing Agrobacterium host specificity- and tissue culture-related regeneration difficulties. Because of the physical nature of the technique, there is no biological limitation to the actual DNA delivery process; thus, genotype is not a limiting factor. Combining the relative ease of DNA introduction into plant cells with an efficient regeneration protocol avoiding protoplast or suspension culture, particle bombardment appears to be the optimum system for transformation.
Far-Infrared Spatial Observations of Herbig Ae/Be Stars and Low Mass Stars

Thermal emission from dust provides us with a detailed loo at the overall temperature and density structure of a star-forming region, from the cold outer envelope to the hot inner disk. Much of our knowledge of the disk and envelope properties for young stellar objects (YSOs) comes from a comparison of the observed spectral energy distribution to the spectral energy distribution predicted from radiative transfer calculations for various YSO source models. However, as many recent studies have pointed out, spectral energy distributions alone are not sufficient to distinguish among many possible YSO source models. High resolution far-infrared spatial observations provide a critical test for these models. We will illustrate how far-infrared observations can be used to separate different YSO source models; each which can produce the same spectral energy distribution but which produce different far-infrared spatial distributions. We will focus on recent studies of Herbig Ae/Be stars and compare to what is seen for low mass stars.
Matted nodes: High distant-metastasis risk and a potential indication for intensification of systemic therapy in human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer.

Background The purpose of this study was to determine whether matted nodes uniquely identify patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer at disproportionately high distant failure risk who may benefit from intensified systemic therapy. Methods One hundred seventy-eight patients with stage III/IV HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer who completed definitive chemoradiotherapy were stratified by risk group (low-risk = T1–3/N0–2c/<10 pack-years; intermediate-risk = T1–3/N0–2c/≥10 pack-years; and high-risk = T4 or N3). Prognostic impact of matted nodes was assessed. Results At the 52-month median follow-up, event rates with and without matted nodes were: locoregional failure: 23.3% versus 12.8% (p = .16), distant failure: 50.0% versus 1.4% (p < .01), any failure: 73.3% versus 14.2% (p < .01); cause-specific mortality: 56.7% versus 5.4% (p < .01), and death: 56.7% versus 13.5% (p < .01). In multivariate analyses, including risk group and individual risk factors, matted nodes were the strongest predictor for all endpoints except locoregional failure. Among patients without matted nodes, risk-group discriminated locoregional failure (at 3 years: low-risk = 2.0%; intermediate-risk = 14.4%; and high-risk = 24.2%; p < .01), but not distant failure (low-risk = 0.0%; intermediate-risk = 2.1%; and high-risk = 3.8%; p = .53). Conclusion Matted nodes portended dramatically increased distant failure and death risks in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, identifying a candidate population for consideration of chemo-intensification. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2015
Epithelium-Deficient Corneal Allografts Display Immune Privilege beneath the Kidney Capsule

PURPOSE. To determine whether corneal tissue as an allograft displays immune privilege in a nonprivileged site and, if so, whether CD95 ligand expression contributes to the privileged status. METHODS. Syngeneic and allogeneic corneal tissues deprived of epithelium were transplanted beneath the kidney capsule of normal mice. Syngeneic BALB/c, allogeneic C57BL/6, and allogeneic B6Smn.C3H-gld (CD95 ligand‐ deficient) mice were used as donors for BALB/c recipients, and syngeneic C3H/HeJ-gld (CD95 ligand‐ deficient) mice were used for normal C3H/HeJ recipients. Allogeneic conjunctival segments served as positive grafting controls. Graft fate was assessed by visual inspection at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days and was confirmed by histologic study. Viability of graft endothelium was assessed by immunocytochemical analysis. RESULTS. Syngeneic corneas and C57BL/6 corneas survived almost indefinitely beneath the kidney capsule. Both the stroma and the endothelial layers remained healthy and intact. Allogeneic conjunctiva evoked a strong inflammatory response attended by neovascularization. Similarly, B6-gld corneas deficient in CD95 ligand expression showed acute destruction beneath the kidney capsule. Circumstantial evidence implicates alloimmune rejection as the mechanism. CONCLUSIONS. Epithelium-deprived corneas from normal mice possess inherent immune privilege that protects them from alloimmune rejection even at nonprivileged sites. Constitutive expression of CD95 ligand contributes to the privileged status. It is inferred that the extraordinary success of orthotopic corneal allografts owes as much to the qualities of the graft as an immune-privileged tissue as to the qualities of the eye as an immune-privileged site. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2000; 41:443‐ 452)
Biomechanics of sports-induced axial-compression injuries of the neck.

Context: Head-first sports-induced impacts cause cervical fractures and dislocations and spinal cord lesions. In previous biomechanical studies, researchers have vertically dropped human cadavers, head-neck specimens, or surrogate models in inverted postures. Objective: To develop a cadaveric neck model to simulate horizontally aligned, head-first impacts with a straightened neck and to use the model to investigate biomechanical responses and failure mechanisms. Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Setting: Biomechanics research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Five human cadaveric cervical spine specimens. Intervention(s): The model consisted of the neck specimen mounted horizontally to a torso-equivalent mass on a sled and carrying a surrogate head. Head-first impacts were simulated at 4.1 m/s into a padded, deformable barrier. Main Outcome Measure(s): Time-history responses were determined for head and neck loads, accelerations, and motions. Average occurrence times of the compression force...
Verrucous carcinoma of the female genital tract

Abstract Verrucous carcinoma is a variant of epidermoid carcinoma with distinctive clinical and pathologic features. It is a warty, fungating or cauliflower-like tumor that gradually increases in size and usually invades into contiguous structures with a pushing margin rather than by infiltration. To date, 41 verrucous carcinomas involving the cervix, vagina, or vulva have been reported. Three recently observed cases of this rare and distinct entity are presented. The slow-growing insidious nature of verrucous carcinoma along with the great tendency of local recurrence, marked freedom from metastases and lymph node involvement, and poor response to radiation are the chief characteristics of the clinical course of this disease. Both gynecologists and pathologists should be alert to the fact that precise initial diagnosis may be difficult because of the close gross and microscopic similarity to benign squamous papillomas and condyloma acuminata.
Amino terminal amino acid sequence of macromomycin, a protein antitumor antibiotic.

Abstract Forty-five amino acids at the amino terminus of macromomycin, a protein antitumor antibiotic, have the following sequence: Ala-Pro-Gly-Val-Thr-Val-Thr-Pro-Ala-Thr-Gly-Leu-Ser- Asn-Gly-Glu-Thr-Val-Thr-Val-Ser-Ala-Thr-Gly-Leu-Thr- Pro-Gly-Thr-Val-Tyr-His-Gly-Glu-Ser-Ala-Val-Ala-Glu- Pro-Gly-Val-Ile-Gly-Pro- ..... Of the first 31 residues in this sequence 16 are homologous with the amino terminal sequence in neocarzinostatin, a protein antitumor antibiotic which also degrades DNA. Because of this conservation of structure, this region of the molecule may be involved in the mechanism of action of these proteins.
Self-adjointness of certain second order differential operators on Riemannian manifolds

where u E C,“(R”) and Dj = (a/a X, ib,(x)). The problem of its essential self-adjointness (i.e., “when does L have a unique self-adjoint extension ?“) has been widely investigated. When the context is changed from Euclidean space to a more general differentiable manifold, however, there is a paucity of results. The salient theorems in the latter setting are those of Gaffney [7] in 1951 on the Laplace-Beltrami operator on a complete Riemannian manifold, and Cordes [5] in 1972 on its powers. Most recently Chernoff [4] has obtained a result on a type of general second order elliptic operator with singular potential. The reason that self-adjointness theorems on manifolds are hard to come by is that is usually no single set of coefficient functions that describes the operator. One is only given such functions locally. Generally speaking this difficulty must be handled in one of two ways. The first is by means of global (i.e., coordinate free) invariants associated with the operator. The second is to argue and estimate locally in such a way ultimately things can be “pieced together” into a global and workable result. Using each of these approaches we extend to complete Riemannian manifolds two recent results on Euclidean space of A. Devinatz [6]. In the first, the potential is assumed to be in Li,, and bounded below locally with decay to minus infinity tied to a quantity whose Euclidean formulation is 1 x i -2 x a,,(~)lr,x, . In the manifold setting this quantity becomes a(~; dr(x)), where a(x, V) is the symbol of the operator and dr(zc) is the differential of a general distance function. The key to the proof is Proposition 3.1 in which we establish certain global smoothness
Congenital Neurogenous Sarcoma With Rhabdomyosarcomatous Differentiation

Abstract A congenital malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor contained small rhabdomyosarcomatous portions in both the retroperitoneal pelvic primary and in the subpleural lung metastasis. There was no family history of Von Recklinghausen's disease. Of the 10 patients with this tumor previously reported, 1 the youngest is 14 yr old, and eight had familial neurofibromatosis.
The Bourgain algebra of a nest algebra

In analogy with a construction from function theory, we herein define right, left, and two-sided Bourgain algebras associated with an operator algebra A . These algebras are defined initially in Banach space terms, using the weak-* topology on A , and our main result is to give a completely algebraic characterization of them in the case where A is a nest algebra. Specifically, if A = alg N is a nest algebra, we show that each of the Bourgain algebras defined has the form A + K ∩ B , where B is the nest algebra corresponding to a certain subnest of N . We also characterize algebraically the second-order (and higher) Bourgain algebras of a nest algebra, showing for instance that the second-order two-sided Bourgain algebra coincides with the two-sided Bourgain algebra itself in this case.
Annual Summary of Vital Statistics—1997

Many positive trends in the health of Americans continued into 1997. In 1997, the preliminary birth rate declined slightly to 14.6 births per 1000 population, and the fertility rate, births per 1000 women 15 to 44 years of age, was unchanged from the previous year (65.3). These indicators suggest that the downward trend in births observed since the early 1990s may have abated. Fertility rates for white, black, and Native American women were essentially unchanged between 1996 and 1997. Fertility among Hispanic women declined 2% in 1997 to 103.1, the lowest level reported since national data for this group have been available. For the sixth consecutive year, birth rates dropped for teens. Birth rates for women 30 years or older continued to increase. The proportion of births to unmarried women (32.4%) was unchanged in 1997. The trend toward earlier utilization of prenatal care continued for 1997; 82.5% of women began prenatal care in the first trimester. There was no change in the percentage with late (third trimester) or no care in 1997. The cesarean delivery rate rose slightly to 20.8% in 1997, a reversal of the downward trend observed since 1989. The percentage of low birth weight (LBW) infants rose again in 1997 to 7.5%. The percentage of very low birth weight was up only slightly to 1.41%. Among births to white mothers, LBW increased for the fifth consecutive year, to 6.5%, whereas the rate for black mothers remained unchanged at 13%. Much, but not all, of the rise in LBW for white mothers during the 1990s can be attributed to an increase in multiple births. In 1996, the multiple birth rate rose again by 5%, and the higher-order multiple birth rate climbed by 20%. Infant mortality reached an all time low level of 7.1 deaths per 1000 births, based on preliminary 1997 data. Both neonatal and postneonatal mortality rates declined. In 1996, 64% of all infant deaths occurred to the 7.4% of infants born at LBW. Infant mortality rates continue to be more than two times greater for black than for white infants. Among all the states in 1996, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire had the lowest infant mortality rates. Despite declines in infant mortality, the United States continues to rank poorly in international comparisons of infant mortality. Expectation of life at birth reached a new high in 1997 of 76.5 years for all gender and race groups combined. Age-adjusted death rates declined in 1997 for diseases of the heart, accidents and adverse affects (unintentional injuries), homicide, suicide, malignant neoplasms, cerebrovascular disease, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and diabetes. In 1997, mortality due to HIV infection declined by 47%. Death rates for children from all major causes declined again in 1997. Motor vehicle traffic injuries and firearm injuries were the two major causes of traumatic death. A large proportion of childhood deaths continue to occur as a result of preventable injuries.
High-Power Diode Lasers for Optical Communications Applications

High-power, single-mode, double-heterojunction AlGaAs diode lasers are being developed to meet source requirements for both fiber optic local area network and free space communications systems. An individual device, based on the channeled-substrate-planar (CSP) structure, has yielded single spatial and longitudinal mode outputs of up to 90 mW cw, and has maintained a single spatial mode to 150 mW cw. Phase-locked arrays of closely spaced index-guided lasers have been designed and fabricated with the aim of multiplying the outputs of the individual devices to even higher power levels in a stable, single-lobed, anastigmatic beam. The optical modes of the lasers in such arrays can couple together in such a way that they appear to be emanating from a single source, and can therefore be efficiently coupled into optical communications systems. This paper will review the state of high-power laser technology and discuss the communication system implications of these devices.
Does the Presence of Coronary Artery Disease Impact Perioperative Outcomes Following Partial Hepatectomy

Introduction Coronary artery disease (CAD) is often considered a contraindication to hepatectomy despite a lack of data to support this practice. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of CAD on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing hepatectomy.
The Influence of Bone Mineral Density on Pelvic Fracture Load and Compression in Lateral Impact

Pelvic injuries due to lateral motor vehicle crashes continue to be a source of morbidity and mortality for accident victims as well as a serious problem for trauma surgeons and automotive safety engineers. In the present study, we sought to further explore the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) measurements in the hip and pelvic fracture load and compression. We conducted experimental side impacts on intact lower torsos of female cadavers, building upon our previous work conducted on isolated bone-ligament structures. Significant linear relationships between pelvic fracture load/compression and total hip BMD emerged as further evidence that total hip bone mineral density may be a useful predictor of pelvic fracture risk. The presence of soft tissues increased resulting pelvic fracture loads as compared to those found in our previous isolated pelvic impacts.© 2003 ASME
Effect of Induction Cytarabine Dose Intensity on Long-Term Survival in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: Results of a Randomized, Controlled Study

The optimal dose and schedule of cytarabine in induction chemotherapy of newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia is not established. We compared the use of cytarabine 200 mg/ m*/day by continuous infusion for seven days to an intermediate-dose of cytarabine, 500 mg/m- every 12 hours for 12 doses. Thirty-seven of 52 patients assigned to conventional-dose cytarabine achieved complete remission (71%) and the actuarial disease-free and overall survival after achieving remission were 22 ± 16% and 31 t 19% respectively. Thirty-seven of 50 patients assigned to intermediate-dose cytarabine achieved remission (74%) and the actuarial disease-free and overall survival after achieving remission were 26 ± 16% and 39 ± 18% respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in complete remission rate, actuarial leukemia-free survival or overall survival between the groups. The most significant predictor for survival was age. Actuarial two year leukemia-free survival and overall survival for patients ag...
Travel times in queueing networks and network sojourns

We first describe expected values of sojourn times for semi-stationary (or synchronous) networks. This includes sojourn times for units and sojourn times for the entire network. A typical sojourn time of a unit is the time it spends in a sector (set of nodes) while it travels through the network, and a typical network sojourn time is the busy period of a sector. Our results apply to a wide class of networks including Jackson networks with general service times, general Markov or regenerative networks, and networks with batch processing and concurrent movement of units. The results also shed more light on when Little's law for general systems, holds for expectations as well as for limiting averages. Next, we describe the expectation of a unit's travel time on a general route in a “basic” Markov network process (such as a Jackson process). Examples of travel times are the time it takes for a unit to travel from one sector to another, and the time between two successive entrances to a node by a unit. Finally, we characterize the distributions of the sojourn times at nodes on certain overtake-free routes and the travel times on such routes for Markov network processes.
The current effects of age, sex, and social class on conformity

Abstract It was expected that if high school females are currently rejecting the feminine role to a greater extent than college females, the former should conform less than the latter; furthermore, this would be the case for middle-class but not for working-class females. A conformity instrument and a measure of psychological femininity were administered to college males and females, and to freshmen and seniors at middle-class and working-class high schools. It was found that for the middle class, high school seniors and college students conformed to the same extent, and both conformed less than high school freshmen; for the working class, high school freshmen and seniors conformed more than college students, and the first two groups conformed to the same extent. Generally, conformity was not related to psychological femininity. Several interpretations were offered, one of which suggesting that there has been a definite change in the socialization of middle-class high school seniors in the direction of less sensitivity to peer pressure.
Production and partial characterization of monoclonal antibodies for detection of entomopoxvirus from Melanoplus sanguinipes

Entomopoxviruses (EPV) are currently being considered as candidate grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) microbial control agents. Classical techniques for diagnosing infections in grasshoppers are laborious, time consuming, and sometimes inaccurate. Specific murine monoclonal antibodies were developed against an EPV from Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fab) for use in a nitrocellulose-based enzyme-linked immunoassay (dot-blot). An IgG2b monoclonal antibody was used to diagnose infections in grasshoppers 13 days following injection with virions. Of 25 grasshoppers that had patent infections microscopically, 22 produced positive results on the dot-blot. In a second test, 39 patently infected grasshoppers all produced positive results. Seven additional grasshoppers in the first test and 2 in the second test gave positive reactions in the dot-blot method but virus was not detected upon microscopic examination. The monoclonal antibody did not cross-react with other commonly occurring grasshopper pathogens. The dot-blot method detected as few as 2.5 × 106 purified EPV virions. The improvement over existing detection techniques should facilitate evaluation of EPV for field use. Resume Production et caracterisation partielle d'anticorps monoclonaux pour la detection d'entomopoxvirus de Melanoplus sanguinipes Les criquets sont tres nuisibles aux pâturages de l'Ouest des USA et du Canada. Les methodes classiques de protection sont basees sur les traitements chimiques lors des pullulations. Un entomopoxvirus (EPV) extrait de M. sanguinipes est generalement considere comme un outil, pour le controle des populations sur une longue periode, en vue de la suppression des criquets. Les methodes actuelles d'isolement de EPV sont longues, penibles et peu fiables. Les tests d'adsorption des antigenes sur l'anticorps fixe et le dosage per l'anticorps enzymatiquement marque sont efficaces, surs et donnent a temps des resultats pour deceler des entomopathogenes. Nous avons produit des anticorps monoclonaux de souris contre EPV de M. sanguinipes, et les avons utilises dans des dosages immunoenzymatiques d'extraits proteiques adsorbes sur nitrocellulose. Les EPV sont recherches sur des criquets injectes de virions 13 jours avant. Sur 25 criquets qui presentaient des infections nettes lors d'examens microscopiques, 22 ont donne des resultats positifs par serologie. Dans un second test, sur 38 criquets nettement contamines, tous ont donne des resultats positifs; 7 criquets supplementaires dans le premier test et 2 dans le second test ont donne des resultats positifs en serologie alors que l'examen microsopique n'avait pas revele de virus. Ceci montre que ce type de detection est plus sur que la methode ordinaire. Les anticorps monoclonaux ne donnent pas de reactions avec les autres pathogenes courants des criquets. La methode serologique a permis de detecter meme une concentration de 2,5 × 106 virions EPV.
Stress-strain relationship and neurological sequelae of uniaxial elongation of the spinal cord of cats**

An in vivo experimental method was developed to measure the mechanical or rheological properties of the spinal cord of anesthetized cats. This novel approach resulted in measurements of the tensile force in the cord and the modulus of the spinal cord tissue under longitudinal elongation. Both sensory and motor function of the cats recovered within a week after a spinal cord segment had been stretched by a 50% elongation.
Unexpected weight gain in resident antarctic terns sterna vittata during the austral winter

Antarctic Terns Sterna vittata (Fig. 1) may display two very different migratory behaviours. According to Cooper (1976), the terns breeding on Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic fly thousands of kilometers to the coasts of Africa where they moult. Antarctic Terns that inhabit the more southern and colder Antarctic Peninsula region moult on their breeding grounds. An early account of these seemingly resident peninsular terns (Holdgate 1963) leaves little doubt that at least part of the tern population wintered in the vicinity of Arthur Harbor (64°46'S 64°03'W), Anvers Island, west of the Antarctic Peninsula. Watson (1975) stated that adult Antarctic Terns are generally sedentary around many insular breeding stations, moving only to the nearest open water in winter. During the years 1975 through 1978, 19 tern specimens of different sexes and ages were collected at Arthur Harbor in the non-breeding season near U.S. Palmer Station. An additional eight terns were collected at sea a short distance from Anvers Island during the non-breeding season in 1985 (Pietz & Strong, in press). I found that the adult birds taken at the height of winter weighed significantly more than the 150–180 g of a normal breeding Antarctic Tern. This unexpected discovery prompted me to examine the weights of an additional 34 specimens that had been collected at or near Anvers Island during several breeding seasons. By comparing the weights of adult terns by sex, age, and collection date (Fig. 2, Table 1) I found that both males and females weighed significantly more in the winter non-breeding season (April-September) than in the summer breeding season (October-March) (t24 = 6·57, P 0·20) or winter (t17 = 1·16, P > 0·20). In short, it appears that body-weights of adult terns rise rather dramatically following breeding, attain a peak in mid-winter, and then fall at the approach of the next breeding season (Fig. 2). I suggest that this increased body-weight is an adaptation to the austral winter rather than simply a recovery from weight loss due to energetic costs of breeding and moulting.
The Statistical Computation of Line Performance Using METIFOR

A statistical analytical method has been developed for the insulation design of transmission lines. A computer program is described which computes flashover frequency based on a consideration of the statistics of insulation performance. The METIFOR digital weather model is incorporated as basic input to the program. Multisurface towers are considered, and optimum and minimum design dimensions are determined. The relative importance of design factors and insulation duties based on the results of METIFOR line design studies is discussed. Extension of the METIFOR weather model to include variables influencing contaminated perfornance is also described.
Thermal inkjet printing for precision histological staining

AbstractInkjet printing techniques may allow enhanced analysis of tissues. When the tissue available for processing is limited, for example, the amount of information obtained could be increased if different stains could be applied to discrete areas of the same tissue sections. In addition, it may be more desirable to stain an intact tissue rather than sections of tissue. Currently, there are very few methods by which many different stains can be applied in a controlled manner to a single section and/or single block of tissue. This paper presents a liquid deposition system, based on thermal inkjet technology, capable of precisely applying histological processing liquids to form high precision patterns at desired locations on both fixed tissues and cell monolayers. Four experiments were conducted to show the potential of single-drop reagent application, using aniline blue, toluidine blue, fluorescent probes, and an immunofluorescence antibody to create different patterns. Tissue type was shown to affect th...
The Conquered Women of Cacaxtla

The vividly painted “Battle Mural” of Cacaxtla (Tlaxcala, Mexico) depicts the gory results of a battle between racially distinct factions, characterized by their opposing jaguar and bird insignia. The two central Bird figures that remain standing are shown as captives, and in both cases they are attired in elaborate costumes that include diagnostic items of female clothing, including the quechquemitl cape and long skirt. Other figures are nude or are shown in simple male costumes, including the maxtlatl loincloth. This paper considers arguments of whether the two central figures were biological females, or rather, that the presence of female apparel on male actors was used within a context of conquest, symbolically transmitted through a gender ideology of male dominance and female subordination. While the evidence is inconclusive, we employ a contextual analysis of pre-Columbian pictorial manuscripts and Mexican cosmology to argue that these individuals were female. Furthermore, we suggest that the elaborate costume elements associated with these female figures, and their recurrence with the Jaguar Lord 3 Deer Antler “Tlaloc mask,” indicates that this was a noblewoman destined for marriage as a means of binding the Jaguar and Bird dynasties. Thus the Battle Mural depicts the capture of the “founding queen,” with the subsequent union demonstrated by the complementary depictions of Jaguar and Bird lords on Building A.
Calculation of chemical shift anisotropy in proteins

Individual peptide groups in proteins must exhibit some variation in the chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) of their constituent atoms, but not much is known about the extent or origins of this dispersion. Direct spectroscopic measurement of CSA remains technically challenging, and theoretical methods can help to overcome these limitations by estimating shielding tensors for arbitrary structures. Here we use an automated fragmentation quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (AF-QM/MM) approach to compute 15N, 13C′ and 1H chemical shift tensors for human ubiquitin and the GB1 and GB3 fragments of staphylococcal protein G. The average and range of variation of the anisotropies is in good agreement with experimental estimates from solid-state NMR, and the variation among residues is somewhat smaller than that estimated from solution-state measurements. Hydrogen-bond effects account for much of the variation, both between helix and sheet regions, and within elements of secondary structure, but other effects (including variations in torsion angles) may play a role as well.
Modeling of the Mechanical Properties of a Polymer-metal Foam Hybrid

Abstract A hybrid material created by mechanically combining polymers and aluminum foams is modeled and analyzed. The hybrid is manufactured by injection molding a polymer (polypropylene and acetal) into the open cells of Duocel® aluminum foam. Prior experimental work revealed that the combination of the polymer and the metal foam yields a hybrid that is stiffer than the polymer alone but has a reduced ultimate tensile strength. A finite element model using a tetrakaidecahedral unit cell is used to model the metal foam ligaments with the polymer occupying the remaining space. The resulting conclusions are that the aluminum ligaments oriented along the load direction cause an increase in stiffness but ligaments oriented laterally cause stress concentration that yield lower strength. The finite element model is used to give both qualitative and quantitative explanations of the physics of the interrelations between the metal foam and the polymer.
Stimulating Learning by Simulating Politics: Teaching Simulation Design in the Undergraduate Context

While literature exists on the use of classroom simulations to teach international relations (Kaufman 1998; Lantis 1998; Wilkenfeld 2004; Asal 2005), there is a tacit assumption that students engage primarily as participants. Remaining relatively unexplored are the learning dynamics when students become responsible for simulation design. This paper addresses this gap in the literature via an examination of PSCI 494, “Wargaming and Simulation,” a senior seminar focused on design principles for war games and role-based simulations. The students' project was to create a simulation for the International Communications and Negotiations Simulations project. From the experience, this paper concludes that simulation design is a valuable active-learning strategy with regard to negotiation; course length and class size both strongly impacted the process and product created in the course; and a range of skills, especially research, were enhanced as a result of the project.
Bleaching in coral reef anthozoans: effects of irradiance, ultraviolet radiation, and temperature on the activities of protective enzymes against active oxygen

Recent widespread bleaching of coral reef anthozoans has been observed on the Great Barrier Reef, the Pacific coast of Panama, and in the Caribbean Sea. Bleaching events have been correlated with anomalously high sea surface temperatures which are presumed to cause the expulsion of zooxanthellae from their hosts. Our experimental results show that increases in temperature significantly reduce the total number of zooxanthellae per polyp. At the same time temperature, irradiance (photosynthetically active radiation=PAR), and ultraviolet radiation (UV) independently increase the activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase within the zooxanthellae of the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum. Enzyme activities within the host are only suggestive of similar changes. These enzymes are responsible for detoxifying active forms of oxygen, and their elevated activities indirectly indicate an increase in the production of active oxygen species by increases in these environmental factors. Historically, bleaching has been attributed to changes in temperature, salinity, and UV. Increases in temperature or highly energetic UV radiation can increase the flux of active forms of oxygen, particularly at the elevated oxygen concentrations that prevail in the tissues during photosynthesis, with oxygen toxicity potentially mediating the bleaching event. Additionally, the concentration of UV absorbing compounds within the symbiosis is inversely related to temperature, potentially increasing exposure of the host and zooxanthellae to the direct effects of UV.
Re‐evaluation of the Tumour‐Node‐Metastasis staging of locally advanced renal cortical tumours: absolute size (T2) is more significant than renal capsular invasion (T3a)

Authors from Iowa City report on the incidence of RCC; they compared the rate of these tumours at autopsy and felt that the decrease found was a result of better antemortem detection, and an increase with time in the frequency of clinically detected renal cancer. A study from New York attempted to determine whether size, or transcapsular extension irrespective of size, was more likely to produce an adverse outcome. They analysed their database of 717 such tumours between 1988 and 2002, and found that absolute tumour size was the more significant of the two findings. OBJECTIVE To determine which factor was more predictive of adverse outcome in our institutional experience with T2N0M0 and T3N0M0 renal cortical tumours (RCTs) treated surgically, as the current Tumour-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging system for RCTs differentiates between tumours of >7.0 cm but confined to the renal capsule (T2) and tumours that extend through the renal capsule regardless of size (T3a). MATERIALS AND METHODS We analysed our institutional database of surgical urological oncology for all patients with T2N0M0 and T3aN0M0 RCT treated with partial or radical nephrectomy from 1988 to 2002. All patients with preoperative metastasis, bilateral or multifocal tumours, nonsporadic disease or benign histology were excluded from analysis. A follow-up of ≥ 6 months from the time of surgery was required for inclusion. Primary outcomes included local and distant recurrence, and death. RESULTS In all, 717 patients had a partial or radical nephrectomy for RCT during the study period. After exclusion criteria were applied, 21 patients with T2N0M0 and 97 with T3aN0M0 tumours were eligible; the median (mean, range) age was 63 (16.6–88.3) years and follow-up 30.5 (40.8, 6–162) months. The estimated 5-year disease-free survival was 68% and 85% for T2N0M0 and T3aN0M0 RCT, respectively (P = 0.002). The 5-year disease-specific survival was 81% and 94% for the T2N0M0 and T3aN0M0 groups, respectively (P = 0.085). CONCLUSION Patients with T3aN0M0 tumours appear to have better disease-free and disease-specific survival than those with T2N0M0 disease, which suggests that tumour invasion through the renal capsule is not as significant as the absolute tumour size.
Effect of Methysergide, a Blocker of Serotonin Receptors, on Plasma Prolactin Levels in Lactating and Ovariectomized Rats

The effect of methysergide (MES, 2.5 mg/100 g body wt), a serotonin antagonist, on prolactin release has been studied in lactating and ovariectomized rats. MES caused significant increases in prolactin release in both animals. Studies in ovariectomized, hypophysectomized rats indicate that this effect is not due to a decrease in the peripheral metabolism of prolactin. In vitro incubations of anterior pituitary fragments with MES failed to demonstrate any increase in prolactin release, suggesting that MES does not act directly on the anterior pituitary. Parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA; 32 mg/100 g body vvt) decreased brain serotonin levels in ovariectomized rats 5, 24, and 70 h after its administration, yet did not alter plasma prolactin levels. L-tryptophan (6.3 mg/100 g body wt) given 1 and l½ h prior to sacrifice increased brain serotonin levels, yet did not affect plasma prolactin levels. Neither PCPA nor L-tryptophan altered MESinduced prolactin release. In lactating rats, suckling caused marked increas...
Health Insurance and Health Care Demand Among the Self-employed

This paper investigates the various insurance options that are available to self-employed workers, including nongroup individual plans that have been the focus of policy reforms during the past decade. Estimates of health care demand models seek to determine whether these options relate to spending on and usage of physician services and prescription drugs as well as total medical expenses. Results based on 1996–2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data indicate that individual enrollees spend less than group enrollees, but models that attempt to purge endogeneity bias suggest that this difference does not depend on insurance per se. Rather, those who enroll in individual plans possess unmeasured traits associated with lower health care demand.
The behavior of clouds correlates with thyroid activity in cats

Three- to 5-month rhythms in a lesion-induced abnormal grooming behavior and thyroid activity of cats have been found. An analysis of the climatological data for the same period revealed similar rhythms in sunshine. The sunshine peaks preceded the thyroid activity peaks, and a cross correlation was significant with a temporal lag of 1 month.
Community-Based Inquiry in Allied Health Biochemistry Promotes Equity by Improving Critical Thinking for Women and Showing Promise for Increasing Content Gains for Ethnic Minority Students.

In the Community-Based Inquiry (CBI) instructional method, cooperative student groups complete case study activities based on scientific literature and conduct their own laboratory investigations that address authentic community needs. This study compared critical thinking and content knowledge outcomes between traditional Introduction to Biochemistry lecture/laboratory and CBI curricula with human health case studies and local elementary school lunch nutrition laboratory investigations. CBI students experienced statistically significant critical thinking gains of medium effect size with female and male equity, whereas traditional students demonstrated no critical thinking gains with statistically significant sex disparity of medium effect size. Bifurcating student ethnicity into White and all other respondents revealed that the Other students gained statistically significantly more content knowledge in CBI than in the traditional group with a large effect size. Chemistry faculty concerned with developing...
A review of the application of propensity score methods yielded increasing use, advantages in specific settings, but not substantially different estimates compared with conventional multivariable methods.

Abstract Objective Propensity score (PS) analyses attempt to control for confounding in nonexperimental studies by adjusting for the likelihood that a given patient is exposed. Such analyses have been proposed to address confounding by indication, but there is little empirical evidence that they achieve better control than conventional multivariate outcome modeling. Study Design and Methods Using PubMed and Science Citation Index, we assessed the use of propensity scores over time and critically evaluated studies published through 2003. Results Use of propensity scores increased from a total of 8 reports before 1998 to 71 in 2003. Most of the 177 published studies abstracted assessed medications ( N = 60) or surgical interventions ( N = 51), mainly in cardiology and cardiac surgery ( N = 90). Whether PS methods or conventional outcome models were used to control for confounding had little effect on results in those studies in which such comparison was possible. Only 9 of 69 studies (13%) had an effect estimate that differed by more than 20% from that obtained with a conventional outcome model in all PS analyses presented. Conclusions Publication of results based on propensity score methods has increased dramatically, but there is little evidence that these methods yield substantially different estimates compared with conventional multivariable methods.
Concentration of some platinum-group metals in coal

Abstract New data on some platinum group metals in coal indicate that the concentration of Pt is generally less than about 5 ppb, that of Pd is generally less than 1 ppb, and that of Rh is generally less than 0.5 ppb. No conclusive evidence was obtained concerning the mode of occurrence of these elements in coal.
Cobalamin-independent methionine synthase from Escherichia coli: a zinc metalloenzyme.

Cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE) from Escherichia coli catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from methyltetrahydrofolate to homocysteine. Previous work had shown the existence of a reactive thiol group, cysteine726, whose alkylation led to loss of all detectable enzymatic activity [Gonzalez, J. C., et al. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 6045−6056]. A site-directed mutation of MetE, Cys726Ser, was constructed to investigate the possible role of this cysteine. The Cys726Ser protein was purified to homogeneity, affording a protein with no detectable activity. To assess the possibility that cysteine726 functions as a metal ligand, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry was performed. The wild-type enzyme contains 1.02 equiv of zinc per subunit; the Cys726Ser mutant does not contain zinc, supporting the view that cysteine726 is required for metal binding. A loss of enzymatic activity is observed upon removal of zinc from the wild-type MetE by incubation in urea and EDTA; activity ca...
Analysis of Proxy Mobile IPv6: A network-based mobility solution

Terminal-based mobility protocols require mobile devices to participate in mobility signaling that consumes lots of processing power and memory. Network-based mobility protocol, such as, Proxy Mobile IPv6, solves this problem by excluding low-end mobile devices from signaling requirement. In this paper, we have explained Proxy Mobile IPv6 architecture along with its detailed signaling diagram. We have identified the major advantages and limitations of this protocol. We have also performed the signaling cost analysis of its key mobility entities to obtain the amount of overhead on them. Results show interesting relationships among various network parameters, such as, network size, mobility rate, traffic rate. Our critical analysis can help researchers better understand the strengths and weaknesses of this protocol and our signaling analysis can be used by network engineers to estimate the resource requirements of its entities in actual deployment.
Removal of Micron‐Size Droplets from an Air Stream by Means of Electric Fields

Abstract In many tank retrieval and waste treatment operations conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy, small droplets of aqueous solutions containing radioactive materials are formed in air streams. These droplets need to be separated before the air is released to the environment. The use of an electric field to separate water droplets from an air stream has been investigated. A test chamber of 10 × 10 cm cross‐section and approximately 94 cm long mounted vertically was set up without packing, with two parallel‐plate steel electrodes facing each other at a distance of 8 cm. An air stream containing water droplets formed by ultrasonic humidifiers was forced through the chamber. A laser‐light‐scattering particle‐sizing system was used to measure the droplet size distribution. The droplet removal efficiency increased approximately linearly with electric field strength over the range investigated except when the field was raised to 3.0 to 3.50 kV/cm, suggesting a saturation effect. The analysis showed th...
Transformation of epithelioma adenoides cysticum into multiple rodent ulcers: fact or fallacy. A historical vignette.

SUMMARY This historical study has examined the persistent controversy about the propensity of epithelioma adenoides cysticum (EAC) to transform into multiple rodent ulcers, by reviewing cases reported through the years that seemed to support the idea. After focusing on the biological behaviour and natural history of the tumours and comparing them with our present knowledge of the behaviour of EAC, we believe that these cases were incorrectly diagnosed. Rather than EAC, hey were probably examples of the naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. The latter syndrome was actually established by the recognition that patients who have multiple rodent ulcers that appear early in life and behave aggressively usually have a constellation of associated developmental defects and that the tumours should be classified as genetically determined basal cell carcinomas and not as EAC.