cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
276 FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR 2 PROMOTES BOVINE OOCYTE MEIOTIC MATURATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCE

Oocyte competency is acquired during the course of folliculogenesis and is controlled by various endocrine and paracrine signals. One of these is fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). Its expression is up-regulated in theca and granulosa cells during final maturation of a bovine follicle, and its cognate receptors are expressed in cumulus cells and oocytes throughout the final stages of oocyte maturation. The overall goal of this work was to describe how supplementing FGF2 during oocyte maturation in vitro affects oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) were collected from bovine ovaries obtained from a local abattoir and cultured in defined TCM-based oocyte maturation medium. Depending on the study, oocytes were examined either during (6 h) or after (21 h) maturation or were fertilized in vitro and examined throughout in vitro embryo development in modified SOFF. Data were analysed with least-squares ANOVA using GLM of SAS. Adding 0.5 to 50 ng mL–1 of FGF2 did not affect cleavage rate or the percentage of 8 to 16 cell embryos at day 3 post-IVF. However, the blastocyst rate at day 7 was greater when oocytes were exposed to 0.5 ng mL–1 of FGF2 during maturation [30.0 ± 1.9% (17/109) v. 16.0 ± 2.6% (23/77) for nontreatment control; 4 replicates; P < 0.05], whereas higher doses of FGF2 did not affect blastocyst rates when compared with controls. Total cell number per blastocyst was not affected by FGF2 addition. The effects of FGF2 on oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion were examined to better understand how FGF2 improves oocyte competency. Adding 0.5 ng mL–1 of FGF2 did not affect the percentage of oocytes containing condensed chromatin after 6 h IVM or metaphase II (MII) rate after 21 h IVM, but 0.5 ng mL–1 of FGF2 treatment increased the cumulus expansion index score after 21 h IVM (P < 0.05). Interestingly, adding 5 ng mL–1 but not 50 ng mL–1 of FGF2 increased MII rate [61.5 ± 4.3% (53/120) for 5 ng mL–1 of FGF2 v. 46.9 ± 5.9% (64/104) for nontreatment controls; 7 replicates; P < 0.05], but neither FGF2 affected rates of chromatin condensation and cumulus expansion. Changes in the relative abundance for several putative oocyte competency markers and maternal genes (CTSB, Sprouty2, EGFR, FSHR, Has2, BMP15, GDF9, JY-1, Follistatin, H2A) were examined at 6 and 21 h after treatment with 0.5 ng mL–1 of FGF2 by quantitative RT-PCR. Relative amounts of 18S RNA was used as an internal control, and 2-ΔΔCT was used to quantify relative gene expression. The relative abundance of most of the transcripts examined was not affected by FGF2, but EGFR mRNA levels were greater after 6 h but not 21 h IVM in cumulus cells isolated from FGF2-supplemented COC (P = 0.057). In summary, improvements in blastocyst development were achieved by FGF2 treatment during oocyte maturation. The reason for the enhanced oocyte competency remains unclear, but it may occur in part because of improvements in cumulus expansion and production of EGFR. This project was supported by NRICGP number 2008-35203-19106 from the USDA-NIFA.
Surface chemistry influences implant-mediated host tissue responses.

Implant-mediated fibrotic reactions are detrimental to the performance of encapsulated cells, implanted drug release devices, and sensors. To improve the implant function and longevity, recent research has emphasized the need for inducing alterations in cellular responses. Although material surface functional groups have been shown to be potent in affecting cellular activity in vitro and short-term in vivo responses, these groups appear to have little influence on long-term in vivo fibrotic reactions, possibly as a result of insufficient interactions between recruited host cells and functional groups on the implants. To maximize the influence of functionality on cells, and to mimic drug release microspheres, functionalized micron-sized particles were created and tested for their ability in modulating tissue responses to biomaterial implants. In this work, the surfaces of polypropylene particles were controllably coated with four different functional groups, specifically OH, NH2, CFx, and COOH, using a radio frequency glow discharge plasma polymerization technique. The effect of these surface functionalities on host tissue responses were then evaluated using a mice subcutaneous implantation model. Major differences were observed in contrasting tissue response to the different chemistries. Surfaces with OH and NH2 surface groups induced the thickest fibrous capsule accompanied with the greatest cellular infiltration into the implants. In contrast, surfaces with CFx and COOH exhibited the least inflammatory/fibrotic responses and cellular infiltrations. The present results clearly demonstrate that, by increasing the available functionalized surface area and spatial distribution, the effect of surface chemistry on tissue reactivity can be substantially enhanced. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2008
Flocculation and its effect on the vertical transport of fine-grained sediments

Recent experimental and theoretical work on flocculation and settling speeds of flocs is reviewed. On the basis of this work, an accurate and computationally efficient model of the aggregation and disaggregation of fine-grained sediments is proposed. This model is then used to predict flocculation times and steady-state floc sizes for a wide range of environmental conditions. The predicted flocculation times are smaller, sometimes by as much as two orders of magnitude, than those predicted by mono-disperse theory. The model is also used to show that the disaggregation of flocs due to increased shear near the sediment-water interface may be a possible mechanism for the increased concentrations often observed near this interface.
A Diagonally Implicit Runge-Kutta Method for the Discontinuous Galerkin Solutions of the Navier-Stokes Equations

A high-order implicit discontinuous Galerkin method is developed for the time-accurate solutions to the compressible Navier-Stokes equations on arbitrary grids. The spatial discretization is carried out using a high order discontinuous Galerkin method, where polynomial solutions are represented using a Taylor basis. A diagonally implicit RungeKutta method is applied for temporal discretization to the resulting ordinary differential equations. The resulting nonlinear system of equations is solved at each stage using a pseudo-time marching approach. A newly developed fast, p-multigrid is then used to obtain the steady state solution to the pseudo-time system. The developed method is applied to compute a variety of unsteady viscous flow problems. The numerical results obtained indicate that the use of this implicit method leads to orders of improvements in performance over its explicit counterpart, while without significant increase in memory requirements.
Evaluation of Metal Supported Ceria Based Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Fabricated by Wet Powder Spray and Sintering

A ceria based solid oxide fuel cell was fabricated onto a porous stainless steel support by sintering process. The metal supported cell was composed of a porous AISI430 support, a Ni―Ce 0.8 Y 0.2 O 1.9 anode, a Ce 0.9 Gd 0.1 O 1.95 electrolyte, and a La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3 cathode. A cell was tested at 600°C for up to 2700 h on humidified argon balanced hydrogen and air. The cell showed no signs of degradation over 1200 h at low current densities of 0.16 and 0.24 A cm ―2 ; however, under a high current density of 0.32 A cm ―2 , the cell voltage dropped by 25% in 1400 h. Impedance measurements showed a sharp increase in polarization resistance that could be associated with the cathode. Ohmic resistances from the oxide scale and electrodes did not significantly contribute to the overall resistance, while electrode polarization resistance accounted for more than half of the overall resistance.
A Review of Basic to Clinical Studies of Irreversible Electroporation Therapy

The use of irreversible electroporation (IRE) for cancer treatment has increased sharply over the past decade. As a nonthermal therapy, IRE offers several potential benefits over other focal therapies, which include 1) short treatment delivery time, 2) reduced collateral thermal injury, and 3) the ability to treat tumors adjacent to major blood vessels. These advantages have stimulated widespread interest in basic through clinical studies of IRE. For instance, many in vitro and in vivo studies now identify treatment planning protocols (IRE threshold, pulse parameters, etc.), electrode delivery (electrode design, placement, intraoperative imaging methods, etc.), injury evaluation (methods and timing), and treatment efficacy in different cancer models. Therefore, this study reviews the in vitro, translational, and clinical studies of IRE cancer therapy based on major experimental studies particularly within the past decade. Further, this study provides organized data and facts to assist further research, optimization, and clinical applications of IRE.
A Conceptual Model for Public Health Education in Podiatric Medicine

This article discusses the need for and the advantages of a dual degree program between podiatric medicine and public health. The authors expand on the existing program for public health education at the first professional degree level to include a conceptual model for a dual degree program developed at Temple University’s Department of Health Studies, through the Graduate School and the School of Podiatric Medicine. The model combines didactic and clinical education at the graduate level to ensure that clinicians involved in determining health policy are prepared to represent the profession in the restructuring of the health-care system. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 91(9): 488-495, 2001)
Mindfulness and Compassion: An Examination of Mechanism and Scalability

Emerging evidence suggests that meditation engenders prosocial behaviors meant to benefit others. However, the robustness, underlying mechanisms, and potential scalability of such effects remain open to question. The current experiment employed an ecologically valid situation that exposed participants to a person in visible pain. Following three-week, mobile-app based training courses in mindfulness meditation or cognitive skills (i.e., an active control condition), participants arrived at a lab individually to complete purported measures of cognitive ability. Upon entering a public waiting area outside the lab that contained three chairs, participants seated themselves in the last remaining unoccupied chair; confederates occupied the other two. As the participant sat and waited, a third confederate using crutches and a large walking boot entered the waiting area while displaying discomfort. Compassionate responding was assessed by whether participants gave up their seat to allow the uncomfortable confederate to sit, thereby relieving her pain. Participants’ levels of empathic accuracy was also assessed. As predicted, participants assigned to the mindfulness meditation condition gave up their seats more frequently than did those assigned to the active control group. In addition, empathic accuracy was not increased by mindfulness practice, suggesting that mindfulness-enhanced compassionate behavior does not stem from associated increases in the ability to decode the emotional experiences of others.
Influence of dietary zinc, calcium and vitamin D for hens on zinc content of tissues and eggs and on bone composition.

Abstract PREVIOUS reports have demonstrated that insufficient dietary zinc intake of hens lowered egg production, decreased hatchability and caused many of the chick embryos to develop skeletal abnormalities or show other zinc-deficiency symptoms at hatching (Turk et al., 1959; Blamberg et al., 1960; Kienholz et al, 1961a). Norris and Zeigler (1959) and Roberson and Schaible (1960) established that the severity of zinc deficiency symptoms in chicks was increased when 2.25 percent of dietary calcium was compared with 1.25 percent. Feeding high levels of calcium to hens also accentuated the development of zinc deficiency symptoms in the chicks and embryos (Turk et al., 1959; Kienholz et al., 1961a). A number of workers have observed that feeding natural rations containing high levels of calcium (1.0–1.5 percent) to young swine caused growth depression and parakeratosis, both of which were prevented by zinc addition to the diets (Tucker and Salmon, 1955; Luecke et al.,…
Long-range effective interactions and spin canting: A model for amorphous magnetism.

The onset of canting for a ferromagnet with one and two antiferromagnetic defect bonds has been studied analytically. For individual negative defect bonds which are unable to cause canting, there is a long-range effective dipolar-like interaction which determines whether or not the system will cant. An effective Hamiltonian is obtained which applies more generally. A canted state at low temperatures, but a collinear state at somewhat higher temperatures, can be expected on the basis of this effective Hamiltonian.
Animal cell culture processes--batch or continuous?

Batch culture is the traditional and, for most purposes, the preferred production technology for animal cells. The reasons for this are: (a) it developed from vaccine manufacture where lytic systems made batch culture the only option, human diploid cells were the only acceptable cell line for biologicals and they had a very limited life-span, and the technology available in the 1960's was suited only to batch culture; (b) when scale-up was needed, particularly from multiple roller bottles, the simplest way forward was to adopt the bacterial-type stirred tank reactor
Inpatient hospital care for psoriasis: a vanishing practice in the United States.

Abstract Background Inpatient hospital care was a traditional approach to treat severe psoriasis. Since 1980, only modest innovations in psoriasis therapy have been introduced, but regulation and financing of inpatient hospital care have changed greatly. Objective We documented changes in the use of inpatient care in acute care hospitals for psoriasis in a cohort of individuals with severe psoriasis and nationally. Methods Using interviews, we quantified hospitalizations for psoriasis and other reasons among the PUVA Follow-up Study cohort. We used National Hospital Discharge Survey data to determine national trends in hospitalization rates. Results In 2 decades, national rates of hospitalization primarily for psoriasis decreased more than 80%. Among our cohort of persons with severe psoriasis, the age-adjusted rate of hospital days for psoriasis decreased more than 60% during this period. Conclusion Currently, hospitalization in acute care hospitals is seldom used to care for persons with psoriasis.
Using the health belief model to predict initial drug therapy defaulting

Abstract In a study of HMO patients, a Health Belief Model (HBM) questionnaire was tested to determine whether initially drug defaulting patients could be differentiated from initially complaint patients. The results of discriminant analysis indicated that individuals in the two groups could be correctly classified at a level of 68.7%. The variables on which the initially defaulting sample collectively scored less on, and which produced the most discrimination between the two groups, were: feedback from physicians on how to take a newly prescribed drug: belief in benefits of medical care for symptoms or illnesses; convenience factors including travel, need for day care and time off from work without pay needed for medical services; length of HMO membership; and education. A total of 20% of the variance in the derived discriminant function could be accounted for by the two groups. The results indicate the utility of the HBM as a tool of prediction for this form of noncompliance, and suggest possible other patient behaviors that may be able to be predicted by the model. The results further suggest the need for increased communication between providers and patients in the health care setting.
Time to intubation and survival in prehospital cardiac arrest

Abstract Objective To examine the correlation between time to paramedic intubation and survival after prehospital cardiac arrest. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 693 patients who had paramedic endotracheal intubation for prehospital cardiac arrest in King County, Washington (excluding Seattle), between January 1991 and May 2003. Based on the time from patient collapse until intubation, cases were divided into quartiles. Survival in the slower three quartiles (defined as “slow intubation”) was compared with survival in the fastest quartile (defined as “quick intubation”). Results In the quick intubation group (intubation time ≤12 minutes), 46% of the patients survived; in the slow intubation group (intubation time ≥13 minutes), 23% of the patients survived. Logistic regression was used to adjust for possible confounders that affect survival: age, gender, location, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiac rhythm, emergency medical technician response time, and paramedic response time. The fully adjusted odds ratio of survival for the slow intubation group compared with the quick intubation group was 0.42 (95% confidence interval 0.26, 0.69). Conclusions This study is the first of its kind to compare survival with the time interval until an aspect of advanced life support is performed. These findings suggest that faster intubation times may increase odds of survival in prehospital cardiac arrest. Future prospective studies are merited to further understand this association.
Occurrence of repeating septate subunits between apposed cellular membranes.

Abstract Repeating septate subunits were observed between mitochondria and between plasma membranes in rat and flounder renal tubules in a variety of functional and pathologic conditions. Such structures could be made to appear by experimental manipulation. These structures probably result from an interaction between adjacent membranes and probably represent evidence of an underlying membrane substructure.
First Report of Ralstonia (Pseudomonas) solanacearum Infecting Pot Anthurium Production in Florida.

Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae is a common pathogen of pot anthurium production in Florida. While X. campestris pv. dieffenbachiae was isolated from systematically infected plants with chlorotic, necrotic, and wilted leaves, a fluidal, beige bacteria was occasionally isolated on nutrient agar (Difco, Detroit, MI), as opposed to the common, yellow pigmented Xanthomonas sp. Distinction in the symptomology of plants systematically infected with a Xanthomonas sp. or this new bacterium could not be made. Three isolates were obtained of this unidentified bacterium from leaves and stems of three separate plants. With FAME (fatty acid methyl esters) analysis, using MIDI (Microbial Identification System, software version TSBA 3.90 [Newark, DE]), these isolates were classified as Ralstonia (Pseudomonas) solanacearum (syn. Burkholderia solanacearum) with a mean similarity indice of 0.895. Isolates were found to be gram negative, oxidase negative, catalase positive, motile, strictly aerobic, and metabolically classified as biovar 1; they accumulated poly-β-hydroxybutyrate and produced a hypersensitive response on tobacco within 24 h. A characteristic fluidal, white growth with a distinctive, red, swirling, egg-shaped, pigmentation pattern was observed on triphenyltetrazolium chloride medium. Further confirmation of identity as R. solanacearum was obtained by polymerase chain reaction amplification and electrophoretic analysis with species-specific primers (2), which in all cases produced a 148-bp product along with control strains. The three isolates were inoculated onto three plants of anthurium, tomato, triploid banana, and pothos. Inoculations were done at least twice; plants were inoculated either by stabbing the plant stems with a needle dipped in a suspension of bacteria or by applying 10 ml of a 1 × 108 CFU/ml suspension to the soil of the test plants. Chlorosis, necrosis, and wilt symptoms appeared within 2 weeks on all plant species tested. Recently, pothos (Epipremnum aureum) cuttings imported to Florida from Costa Rica have been implicated as a source of R. solanacearum (1). Imported cuttings of pothos were being grown in hanging baskets over the infected anthuriums. Although no R. solanacearum infections were detected in the pothos, these imported plants are the probable source of the initial inoculum for this disease outbreak on anthuriums. References: (1) D. J. Norman and J. M. F. Yuen. Phytopathology 87:S70, 1997. (2) S. E. Seal et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:3751, 1992.
The amino acid composition of the fat-globule membrane protein of milk.

Summary Sixteen amino acids have been determined microbiologically on two different samples of the fat-globule membrane protein substance isolated from washed cream. Close agreement in amino acid composition was observed between the two preparations. Lysine and arginine showed the widest variation. The amino acid composition of the membrane proteins was compared with that of casein, lactalbumin and lactoglobulin. Little similarity was noted between the membrane protein and the major milk proteins which suggests that the former was a unique protein(s) and did not find its origin in either casein, lactalbumin or lactoglobulin.
Molecular Beam Scattering from Supercooled Sulfuric Acid: Collisions of HCl, HBr, and HNO3 with 70 wt D2SO4

Proton exchange, residence time, and gas uptake measurements are used to explore collisions and reactions of HCl, HBr, and HNO3 with 70 wt % D2SO4 at 213 K. These studies help to provide a detailed...
Dairy Farm Planning and Systems Analysis

Abstract The Extension Service, United States Department of Agriculture, funded a special project to approach development of extension materials for dairy farmers by systems analysis. Agricultural engineers created video tapes and publications on manure, feed handling, calf housing, and milking subsystems. Dairy scientists created slide-tapes and publications on controlling feed losses during harvest, storage, and feeding. Agricultural economists created publications and interactive computer programs to aid in the total farm planning process. The first computer program suggests a profit-maximizing combination of crops and dairy livestock by linear programming. The second program accumulates the total investment required plus other financial indicators for a dairy farm expansion after the farmer has specified components desired to the new operation. The third program traces selected monthly changes in the dairy livestock inventory, monthly gross income, monthly feed needs, and monthly manure production from the current time up to 20 yr into the future. The fourth interactive computer program tests the financial feasibility and provides an annual cash flow analysis of a proposed farm plan.
Predicting Learning and Engagement in Tutorial Dialogue: A Personality-Based Model

A variety of studies have established that users with different personality profiles exhibit different patterns of behavior when interacting with a system. Although patterns of behavior have been successfully used to predict cognitive and affective outcomes of an interaction, little work has been done to identify the variations in these patterns based on user personality profile. In this paper, we model sequences of facial expressions, postural shifts, hand-to-face gestures, system interaction events, and textual dialogue messages of a user interacting with a human tutor in a computer-mediated tutorial session. We use these models to predict the user's learning gain, frustration, and engagement at the end of the session. In particular, we examine the behavior of users based on their Extraversion trait score of a Big Five Factor personality survey. The analysis reveals a variety of personality-specific sequences of behavior that are significantly indicative of cognitive and affective outcomes. These results could impact user experience design of future interactive systems.
Distinct IFNG methylation in a subset of ulcerative colitis patients based on reactivity to microbial antigens.

Background: High antibody reactivity toward microbial antigens in Crohn's disease (CD) patients is predictive of a more aggressive disease course. However, few ulcerative colitis (UC) patients exhibit serologic reactivity toward microbial antigens. Mucosal expression of IFN-γ plays a pivotal role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) surprisingly link UC, but not CD, risk loci to IFNG. We recently demonstrated that mucosal T cells from IBD patients exhibit distinct patterns of IFNG methylation compared to controls. This study evaluated the relationship between IFNG methylation and serologic and clinical profiles in peripheral T cells from IBD patients. Methods: DNA from peripheral T cells of 163 IBD patients (91 CD and 64 UC) and 42 controls was analyzed for methylation of eight IFNG sites. Serum markers ASCA, OmpC, I2, CBir, and pANCA were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IFN-γ secretion was measured by ELISA. Results: IBD patients requiring surgery exhibited reduced IFNG methylation compared to nonsurgical patients (P < 0.02). Enhancement of IFN-γ secretion (P < 0.003), along with high antibody responses toward multiple microbial antigens (P < 0.017) in UC, but not CD, patients was correlated with decreased IFNG methylation. pANCA levels were not correlated with IFNG methylation. Conclusions: Levels of IFNG methylation were correlated with immune response to microbial components and expression of IFN-γ in UC patients. Serological and epigenetic markers identify a subset of UC patients with an expression profile of a key TH1 pathogenic cytokine. These data may provide a useful tool to classify a more homogeneous subset of UC patients, allowing for improved diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
Quantifying project characteristics related to uncertainty

Uncertainty is an important but difficult to quantify challenge for project managers. Despite this, some project characteristics associated with uncertainty are quantifiable and can provide project...
Ultratrace determination of platinum in biological materials via neutron activation and radiochemical separation

A neutron activation analysis scheme based upon a radiochemical separation of the activation products has been developed. The method utilizes the inherent sensitivity of the activation reaction198Pt(n, γ)199Pt and counting of the daughter nuclide199Au. This nuclide is radiochemically separated from interfering activities by homogeneous precipitation as elemental gold. The remaining interference of the secondary reaction197Au(n,γ)198 Au(n,γ)199Au from gold in the samples is quantitatively assessed and corrected. During this process accurate gold concentrations in the samples are obtained at ultratrace levels. The analysis scheme is applied to gold and platinum determinations in biological Standard Reference Materials and human liver specimens. Gold and platinum are determined at concentrations of 5·10−11 g/g, and at higher levels.
Research on conflict-handling behavior: An experimental approach.

An experimental methodology for examining conflict- handling behaviors is based on a two dimensional model that identifies five modes for managing conflict. A study was conducted that illustrated t...
Magnetic Field Measurements in Wire-Array Z-Pinches Using Magnetoactive Materials

Summary form only given. It is generally believed that understanding the magnetic field topology in wire-array Z-pinches as a function of time is of great importance to understanding these high-energy density plasmas. As part of our continuing effort to develop new methods to measure the magnetic field as a function of position and time in wire-array Z-pinches, we are carrying out experiments using Faraday rotation of a single mode laser beam into a magneto-active glass that is placed adjacent to, or within, the wire array in experiments on the COBRA pulsed power generator. We present experimental and theoretical results of the magnetic field profile outside of a wire array, and preliminary results within the array, in the particular geometry used for the COBRA experiments. We also present our progress on measurements involving a very small "thin film waveguide" placed near or in a wire array, with the waveguide coupled to an optical fiber system to record the Faraday rotation of the laser as it passes through the thin film waveguide. While these sensing devices may not survive for long in a dense Z-pinch, they may provide useful information on the magnetic field at the position of the sensor (glass or waveguide) for a significant fraction of the current pulse. We also compare our results with magnetic probe measurements at the same place with the same test pulses.
Selective detection of multiplets via double quantum coherence: A 19F NMR study of perfluorodecalin

Commercially obtained perfluorodecalin (octadecafluorodecahydronaphthalene) contains a mixture of cis- and trans-isomers, the 19F NMR signals of which overlap. The spectrum can be simplified and assignments can be made by using techniques based on double quantum coherence. The INADEQUATE method eliminates peaks due to the cis-isomer, and the DOUBTFUL method selectively detects two quartets of the trans-isomer.
Resolution of hypoglossal nerve palsy associated with retropharyngeal abscess after prompt medical and surgical treatment

Isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy due to retropharyngeal abscess is extremely rare. We report two patients with this finding, both of whom presented with concomitant retropharyngeal abscess/cellulitis. In one patient, the hypoglossal nerve palsy presented early in the course of the infection, whereas in the other patient, the hypoglossal nerve palsy occurred as the patient was clinically improving. Both patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage. These cases suggest that hypoglossal nerve palsy should be an indication for aggressive therapy of a retropharyngeal abscess, and that hypoglossal nerve palsy may be reversible if managed expeditiously.
Premelting thermal fluctuational interbase hydrogen-bond disrupted states of a B-DNA guanine-cytosine base pair: significance for amino and imino proton exchange.

Modified self-consistent phonon theory when applied to the DNA double helix indicates the existence of fairly long-lived states in which single interbase H bonds are disrupted. One can then postulate a number of situations in which particular disrupted H bonds can enhance particular proton exchange. In this paper we postulate a number of such partially open states for a B-conformation GC base pair and calculate the probability of each of these states for a B-conformation poly(dG) · poly(dC). We compare these probabilities to those probabilities needed to explain various observed proton exchange rates. We propose that, for a GC base pair in B conformation, there are two amino proton exchangeable states—a cytosine amino proton exchangeable state and a guanine amino proton exchangeable state; both require the disruption of only the corresponding inter base H bond. The imino proton exchange, however, requires the disruption of all three inter base H bonds and this defines a third open state. Our calculated probabilities for a GC base pair in these three states are in fair agreement with available experimental estimates from measurements of amino and imino proton exchange.
Premarital counseling using group process

Abstract The authors describe a premarital group counseling program involving 35 committed couples at North Texas State University. They discuss the need for premarital counseling and the applicability of their Jive-session program. Results indicate that few role models were available for couples and that communication difficulties were apparent among many of the participants. The authors urge counselors to consider group premarital counseling as a valuable process for their clients.
Effects of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein administration on propranolol binding and beta blockade in rats

Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG), 750 mg/kg, was administered to rats to determine its effect on propranolol binding and beta blockade. Anesthetized rats received [3H]propranolol i.v., followed in 15 min by human AAG or bovine serum albumin, 750 mg/kg. AAG treatment produced a human AAG concentration in serum of 7.76 +/- 1.17 mg/ml, several times higher than the endogenous serum AAG concentration in stressed rats. AAG treatment significantly increased the heart rate response to isoproterenol, compared to albumin (95.4 +/- 19.6 vs 28.3 +/- 16.7% of baseline value, measured 45 min after propranolol, P less than 0.001). AAG-treated rats had greater [3H]propranolol binding in serum (93.0 +/- 3.2 vs 76.7 +/- 3.0%, P less than 0.01) and a lower calculated unbound [3H]propranolol concentration in serum (2.7 +/- 1.3 vs 7.4 +/- 3.1 X 10(6) dpm/ml, P less than 0.001) than albumin-treated rats. These data demonstrate that AAG can alter propranolol pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics even when administered after the propranolol effect is evident. Because the reported affinity of propranolol for cardiac beta receptors is 10,000 times greater than its affinity for AAG, these data suggest that AAG acted by altering propranolol disposition rather than by directly competing with beta receptors for drug.
Feature space trajectory neural net classifier: confidences and thresholds for clutter and low-contrast objects

The feature space trajectory neural net is reviewed. Its advantages over other classifiers are noted; it allows use of smaller training sets, large numbers of hidden layer neurons, low on- line computational loads, higher-order decision surfaces, the ability to reject false class input (clutter) data, etc. New test results on its 3D distortion-invariant classification performance are provided using a larger object and clutter database, input object contrast differences, a new preprocessing algorithm, and a new feature space. We note the problems with other neural net classifiers that our architecture and algorithm overcomes, the use of different distance thresholds and confidence measures to improve performance, advantages of using adjunct features, and numerous new test results.
Progress on sputter-deposited thermotractive titanium-nickel films

It is now well established that titanium-nickel alloys fabricated as thin films by physical vapor deposition can display the same transformation and shape-memory effects as their ingot-metallurgy counterparts. As such they may find important application to microelectromechanical and biomechanical systems. Furthermore, we show here that titanium-nickel films may be directly processed so as to possess extremely fine austenite grain size and very high strength. These films display classical transformational superelasticity, including high elastic energy storage capacity, the expected dependence of martensite-start temperature on transformation enthalpy, and large, fully recoverable anelastic strains at temperatures above A f . Processing depends on elevated substrate temperatures during deposition, which may be manipulated within a certain range to control both grain size and crystallographic texture. It is also possible to deposit crystalline titanium-nickel films onto polymeric substrates, making them amenable to lithographic patterning into actuator elements that are well-suited to electrical excitation of the martensite reversion transformation. Finally, isothermal annealing of nickel-rich films, under conditions of controlled extrinsic residual stress, leads to topotaxial orientation of Ni 4 Ti 3 -type precipitates, and the associated possibility of two-way memory effects. Much work remains to be done, especially with respect to precise control of composition.
Solution of the low-altitude satellite equations

The system of nonlinear differential equations of motion of satellites under the influence of oblateness and drag are transformed into an appropriate system of equations containing two small parameters. The solution determined by the perturbation method of poincare is obtained in power series in two small parameters exhibiting the coupling effect of oblateness and drag on the motion. The first-order Z perturbation is compared and shown to agree with the known result. The higher-order perturbations are presented in integral forms that can be readily evaluated. This method, by far the simplest, offers a technique of determining trajectories with accuracy suitable for practical applications.
Atlas SIRTF mission

This paper describes the status of NASA's Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) program. SIRTF will be a cryogenically cooled observatory for infrared astronomy from space and is planned for launch early in the next decade. We summarize a newly modified baseline SIRTF mission and provide and overview of SIRTF's scientific programs.
Cell-Dynamics Modeling of Vibrating Powder

The instabilities in vibrating granular materials may be interpreted as segregation processes of vacuum and powder particles. Through an attempt of mesocale modeling of the instabilities within the cell-dynamics scheme, a notable distinction between the ordinary segregation processes such as binary alloy spinodal decomposition and the granular processes is highlighted. ‘Vibrating particles in a horizontal Hele-Shaw cell’ experiment is proposed.
Kinematic Control of Nonholonomic Wheeled Mobile Manipulator: A Differential Flatness Approach

This paper presents an integrated motion planning and control framework for a nonholonomic wheeled mobile manipulator (WMM) system taking advantage of the (differential) flatness property. We first develop the kinematic model of the system and analyze its flatness properties. Subsequently, a statically feedback linearizable system description is developed by appropriately choosing the flat outputs. Motion-planning can now be achieved by polynomial curve fitting to satisfying the terminal conditions in the flat output space while control design reduces to a pole-placement problem for a linear system. A case study of point-to-point motion is considered to study the effectiveness of pose stabilization in the WMM. The simulation and experimental results highlight the ease-of-implementation of proposed method for online real-time integrated motion-planning/control within a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) electro-mechanical testing.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Effects of luminance and spatial noise on interferometric contrast sensitivity

Optical properties of the eye contribute to the reduced visibility of spatial patterns at low luminance. To study the limits of spatial vision when optical factors are minimized, we measured contrast-sensitivity functions (CSF’s) for 543.5-nm laser interference fringes imaged directly on the retina. Measurements were made in the fovea at four luminance levels, ranging from 0.3 to 300 photopic trolands (Td). At each luminance the fraction of coherent light in the stimulus pattern was varied to assess the masking effects of laser speckle, which is visible as spatial noise in fields of coherent light. Compared with published CSF’s obtained under natural viewing conditions, interferometric CSF’s were similar in height but broader, with the range of visibility being extended to higher spatial frequencies. The masking effects of speckle were greatest at the highest luminance and were negligible at the lowest luminance. For low coherent fractions, contrast sensitivity improved over the entire luminance range at a rate consistent with a square-root law; with purely coherent light, sensitivity tended to level off at approximately 30 Td because of speckle masking. The results indicate that the optical quality of the eye reduces the spatial bandwidth of vision even at luminances near the foveal threshold. The change in interference fringe visibility with luminance is consistent with noise-limited behavior, and the masking effects of speckle noise diminish as luminance decreases.
Fluctuation theorems for quantum master equations

A quantum fluctuation theorem for a driven quantum subsystem interacting with its environment is derived based solely on the assumption that its reduced density matrix obeys a closed evolution equation---i.e., a quantum master equation (QME). Quantum trajectories and their associated entropy, heat, and work appear naturally by transforming the QME to a time-dependent Liouville space basis that diagonalizes the instantaneous reduced density matrix of the subsystem. A quantum integral fluctuation theorem, a steady-state fluctuation theorem, and the Jarzynski relation are derived in a similar way as for classical stochastic dynamics.
Human Adipose Tissue Is a Source of Multipotent Stem Cells

Much of the work conducted on adult stem cells has focused on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) found within the bone marrow stroma. Adipose tissue, like bone marrow, is derived from the embryonic mesenchyme and contains a stroma that is easily isolated. Preliminary studies have recently identified a putative stem cell population within the adipose stromal compartment. This cell population, termed processed lipoaspirate (PLA) cells, can be isolated from human lipoaspirates and, like MSCs, differentiate toward the osteogenic, adipogenic, myogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. To confirm whether adipose tissue contains stem cells, the PLA population and multiple clonal isolates were analyzed using several molecular and biochemical approaches. PLA cells expressed multiple CD marker antigens similar to those observed on MSCs. Mesodermal lineage induction of PLA cells and clones resulted in the expression of multiple lineage-specific genes and proteins. Furthermore, biochemical analysis also confirmed lineage-specific activity. In addition to mesodermal capacity, PLA cells and clones differentiated into putative neurogenic cells, exhibiting a neuronal-like morphology and expressing several proteins consistent with the neuronal phenotype. Finally, PLA cells exhibited unique characteristics distinct from those seen in MSCs, including differences in CD marker profile and gene expression.
Librarians as Teachers: A Qualitative Inquiry into Professional Identity

This study explores the development of “teacher identity” among academic librarians through a series of semistructured interviews. Drawing both on the idea of teacher identity from the literature of teacher education and on existing studies of professional stereotypes and professional identity development among academic librarians, this study explores the degree to which academic librarians think of themselves as teachers, the ways in which teaching has become a feature of their professional identity, and the factors that may influence academic librarians to adopt a “teacher identity” as part of their personal understandings of their role on campus.
Effect of Lanz Pressure Regulating Valve on Self-sealing Mechanism and Air Leakage Across the Tracheal Tube Cuffs in a Benchtop Model

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the Lanz system on air sealing by self-inflation in high volume-low pressure (HVLP) tube cuffs. Methods: In vitro tracheal air sealing was studied in HVLP tracheal tube cuffs (internal diameter [ID] 8.0 mm) made from polyurethane ([PU] Seal Guard tracheal tube, Covidien, Athlone, Ireland) and from polyvinylchloride ([PVC] HiLo tracheal tube, Covidien) with and without Lanz pressure regulating valve. Tube cuffs were placed in a vertical 22 mm ID artificial trachea and inflated to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 cm H(2)O cuff pressures. Pressure control ventilation with peak inspiratory pressures (PIPs) of 20 or 25 cm H(2)O was applied and air leakage was assessed spirometrically as the ratio of expiratory to inspiratory tidal volumes. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was applied to compare the air leakage with and without Lanz system for both cuff types at each cuff pressure and PIP (P < .05). Results: The PVC tube cuffs with Lanz system resulted in significant air leakage at both 20 and 25 cm H(2)O PIP as compared to those without the Lanz system, especially at cuff pressures lower than the preset PIP (P < .05). Although PU tube cuffs with Lanz system showed reduced air sealing when compared with cuffs without Lanz, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Cuff pressure compensation with the Lanz system during cyclic respiratory pressure changes interferes with the self-sealing mechanism in HVLP tube cuffs at cuff pressures lower than PIP level. This results in larger air leak across tube cuffs particularly in tube cuffs made from PVC.
Educational communication system (EDUCOMM)-a training device

At the United States Air Force Academy, all electrical engineering majors are required to take a communications systems course and must complete four laboratory experiments. To enhance the understanding of difficult communication concepts, a training device, called an educational communication system (EDUCOMM), was developed. EDUCOMM is a system box within which are many stand-alone signal-processing subsystems. By simply rewiring different subsystems, students build various communications systems such as superheterodyne receivers, synchronous detectors, frequency division multiplexers, and FM demodulators. EDUCOMM can test and demonstrate a variety of communication concepts such as: double-sideband suppressed-carrier (DSB-SC) or DSB-LC AM, synchronous (coherent) detection, envelope detection, the AM superheterodyne receiver, frequency modulation (FM), sampling and aliasing, and the detection of FM signals. >
Regulation of metabolism by sirtuins

Mitochondrial sirtuins are NAD-dependent enzymes that bind and regulate numerous metabolic pathways within the mitochondria. For example, SIRT3 functions as an NAD-dependent deacetylase that binds and activates numerous oxidative pathways. We have discovered that sirtuins regulate metabolic pathways important in tumor cell metabolism. One hallmark feature of tumor cells is a shift from oxidative to glycolytic metabolism, and this reliance on aerobic glycolysis to support cell growth is known as the Warburg effect. We have discovered that SIRT3 has an additional effect on cellular metabolism by repressing cellular glycolysis through the regulation of HIF1α, a transcription factor that increases gene expression of glycolytic targets. SIRT3 null cells exhibit metabolic and genetic features of the Warburg effect and enhanced tumorigenecity in vivo. Likewise, SIRT3 overexpression reduces glycolysis in tumor cells. In sum, a better understanding of sirtuin-mediated regulation may identify novel ways to therapeutically target tumor metabolism.