cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vitro evaluation of the shoulder stop in a self-threading pin

S chaefer and Reisbick’ studied the Link Series selfthreading pin (Whaledent International, New York, N.Y.). This was an improved two-in-one pin with two shear points instead of one. They found no significant differences in seating depths of either the first or second pin after testing Minim (0.024 inch/O.610 mm) and regular size (0.031 inch/O.775 mm) pins. Whaledent improved the Link Series pin technique by developing the Link Plus system with a shoulder stop and a tapered lead tip on each pin. According to the manufacturer, the shoulder stop provides “stress-free shearing in both stages, minimum apical stress at bottom of channel and more consistent and full pin depth placement.” The tapered lead tip permits easy access into the pin channel. Kelsey et a1.2 compared the Link Series and the Link Plus two-in-one pins. They discovered that the pins could be seated completely with the exception of the second pin of the Link Plus system, which required an Auto Klutch (Whaledent International) reduction gear handpiece for complete seating. However, Whaledent stated that Link Plus pins can be installed easily with a conventional latchtype handpiece, but the gear reduction handpiece facilitates channel preparation and pin placement. They also stated that the pin “will shear when seated at the shoulder stop.” They presented a schematic drawing (Whaledent International, printed in U.S.A., Oct. 1982) depicting the shoulder stop as a safeguard even with the dentinal surface. An effective shoulder stop would have to be limited by the dentinal surface to fulfill the third provision, “minimum apical stress at bottom of channel.” The purpose of this study was to determine whether the shoulder stop is effective and whether there is minimum apical stress when the pins are fully seated. The ability of the conventional speed air-driven contraangle handpiece to prepare the channel and place pins was also evaluated.
Physiologic Adaptations of Pregnancy

Normal pregnancy changes include physiologic anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytopenia. Cardiac rate and stroke volume increase, vascular resistance falls, and creatinine clearance markedly rises. Thyroid binding globulin and cortisol binding globulin both increase, as do complement proteins and fibrinogen, the latter resulting in a normally high erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Estrogen and progesterone rise dramatically. Low back pain, hip and sacroiliac complaints are common. The cytolytic activity of natural killer (NK) cells is decreased, as are adhesion and chemotaxis of phagocytic cells. Antibody responses are normal. CD4 cells proportionately decrease. A large number of circulating proteins suppression lymphocyte proliferation, and T-cell interleukin-2 (IL-2) production may be suppressed. In studies of pregnant patients, controls must include normal pregnant women.
Demands for public spending: An attitudinal approach

This paper develops a conceptual model of public spending demands applicable to attitudinal data on public spending demands and demonstrates its usefulness by estimating qualitative demand equations for six public spending categories: education, welfare, housing, health, highways, and defense. The estimation, based on a data set constructed by merging the 1973 Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior with relevant government data, reveals that tax-prices, private benefit measures and socio-demographic characteristics are instrumental in explaining differences in the public spending demands among individuals.
Tissue renin-angiotensin system in myocardial hypertrophy and failure

The renin-angiotensin system traditionally has been conceived as a neuroendocrine system functioning in the circulation. Recent research has confirmed the existence of autocrine/ paracrine tissue renin-angiotensin systems present and functioning at multiple sites, including cardiac, vascular, and renal tissues, which contain the majority of angiotensinconverting enzyme in the body. It appears that the circulating renin-angiotensin system is activated acutely to maintain homeostasis and is then turned off at cardiovascular compensation, while the tissue renin-angiotensin systems exert long-term actions that affect cardiovascular function and structure, which may play a pathophysiological role in congestive heart failure, hypertension, and vascular disease and influence the response to therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibiting agents. (Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:937-942)
Restricted best linear unbiased prediction and a selection model

An equivalence between restricted best linear unbiased prediction (and thus restricted selection index) and a particular example of a selection model is presented. Specifically, the equivalence is between restricted selection and a model of selection on the residuals of the general mixed linear model. This result illustrates that restricted selection acts by nonrandomly sampling those genes that act pleiotropically in multiple trait genetic models. An expression for a mixed linear model which includes restrictions is also presented.
Catholic Investing: The Effects of Screens on Financial Returns

The author evaluates the value and returns of five different portfolios constructed on the basis of Catholic religious beliefs for the five-year period 1991–1995. The screened portfolios perform no worse on a risk-adjusted basis than the benchmark unscreened portfolio, although the „sin” portfolio—constructed of the divested stocks—performs exceptionally well. Multivariate regression analysis identifies military, community, and diversity screens as significant factors. While isolation of a few offensive companies might result in abnormal returns as demonstrated in the sin portfolio, exclusion of such industries should not significantly alter the returns of a diversified risk-adjusted portfolio.
N-Way FRET Microscopy for Imaging Multiple Protein Interactions Within a Single Living Cell

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) microscopy has emerged as a powerful tool for probing nanoscale protein interactions while capturing the microscale organization of these interactions. However, current FRET microscopy approaches are limited to the analysis two interacting fluorescently labeled proteins at a time. This limitation precludes the use of FRET microscopy for simultaneous measurement of multiple biochemical activities. Here we present a new FRET microscopy method that generalizes quantitative FRET microscopy to any number of fluorophores interacting in any combination. This approach makes use of Parallel Factor Analysis (PARAFAC) to define excitation/emission spectral fingerprints for FRET between any number of interacting fluorophores from observations of reference samples on any instrument. The resultant spectral fingerprints are then used in a simple linear unmixing model recover the distributions of free and interacting fluorophores as well as their apparent FRET efficiencies. Input data can consist of either complete spectral data or filter-based methods. The approach was validated using control constructs consisting of fluorescent protein fusions inside living cells. This method will enable intracellular analysis of sequential biochemical interactions that could not previously be observed.
Comparative absorption, excretion, and storage of oily and aqueous preparations of vitamin A.

Summary The administration of an aqueous preparation of vitamin A brought aboutmuch higher blood levels of vitamin A in infants, children, and adults than did an oily preparation. The fecal excretion of vitamin A was determined in seven infants receiving vitamin A dispersed in an oily and in an aqueous vehicle. The amount of vitamin A excreted in the stools was considerably higher when the oily preparation was given. Thus, 38 per cent of the vitamin A intake was recovered in the stools when the oily preparation was administered, as compared with an excretion of 7 per cent following the ingestion of the aqueous product. These results, therefore, indicate that the oily preparation was poorly absorbed and, conversely, the aqueous preparation well absorbed, and explain the wide divergence of blood levels following both preparations. Experiments in guinea pigs and in rats revealed the same findings, namely, higher blood levels and lower fecal excretion of vitamin A following the administration of the aqueous preparation. Furthermore, the vitamin A storage in the liver was considerably higher when the aqueous preparation was given. In conditions affecting the absorption of fat, as, for example, cystic fibrosisof the pancreas and obstructive jaundice, the administration of vitamin A dispersed in an aqueous vehicle brought about excellent rises in the vitamin A concentration in the blood, in contrast to the flat absorption curve obtained with the use of an oily preparation. The oily product contained vitamin A esters dispersed in fish liver oil, whereas the aqueous preparation consisted of vitamin A alcohol dispersed in an aqueous solution of propylene glycol containing vitamin B components, ascorbic acid, and a solubilizer, mannitan monolaurate. Experiments carried out in rats, in guinea pigs, and in children indicated that the superiority of the aqueous preparation was not due to the presence of vitamin A alcohol, vitamin B components, or ascorbic acid, but rather to the dispersion of vitamin A (by means of the solubilizer) in an aqueous-propylene glycol vehicle.
Electromagnetic scattering by a dielectric slab loaded with a periodic array of strips over a ground plane

Scattering of electromagnetic waves from a dielectric slab loaded with a periodic array of perfectly conducting strips is analyzed by a mode-matching technique. The variation of energy of significant scattered modes with various structure parameters is presented for both principal polarizations of the incident wave. The convergence and accuracy of the numerical method is evaluated. Further numerical results are obtained to show the effects of various parameters on the distribution of power in various propagating modes. The results show the usefulness of these structures as reflection-type gratings, polarizers, and filters. >
Towards a grammar of gesture: A comparison between the types of hand movements of the orator and the actor in Quintilian’s Institutio Oratoria 11.3.85–184

In his Institutio (11.3.85–88), Quintilian divides all human gestures into “imitative” and “natural,” with natural gestures forming a symbolic code comparable to spoken language. This language of gesture would have included hand movements equivalent to adverbs, pronouns, nouns, and verbs. Such symbolic gestures, spontaneously accompanying words, were the only ones that Quintilian recommended for the orator.The actor’s gestures, dependent as they were on the lines spoken — and not on the actor’s thoughts and feelings — could not be spontaneous. The gestures made on stage were imitative of the various categories of the natural (i.e. symbolic) gestures, or of actions of everyday life.
Computation of incident solar energy

Computations of the daily and annual totals of the solar energy incident upon south-facing tilted flat surfaces were carried out for several cloudfree atmospheric models after taking into account, somewhat arbitrarily, the contribution due to sky radiation and that due to radiation reflected by the ground. Representative variations of these quantities are discussed as a function of several parameters such as geographical latitude of the location, tilt angle of the surface, atmospheric transmission characteristics, sky-radiation contribution, and ground reflectivity.
Constituents of the Endolymphatic Tubules as Demonstrated by Three-Dimensional Morphometry

The various constituents of the tubules of the human adult intraosseous endolymphatic sac were stained with lectins and Millon reaction to reveal some of the carbohydrate and protein-containing substances in the endolymph. The amount of each substance was determined by digitizing sequential temporal bone sections. Differing amounts of the various identified substances were found in sacs from patients with Meniere's disease, patients with labyrinthine fibrosis, and controls.
Results of a prospective, randomized, controlled study of the use of carboxymethylcellulose sodium hyaluronate adhesion barrier in trauma open abdomens

Introduction The open abdominal (OA) approach is a management strategy used in the most severely injured trauma patients. In addition to the morbidity and mortality, a major challenge is the gradual development of dense adhesions that make reoperations progressively more difficult. This randomized, prospective, proof-of-concept study was conducted to determine the effect of carboxymethylcellulose sodium hyaluronate adhesion barrier (CMHAB; Seprafilm, Genzyme Biosurgery, Bridgewater, NJ) on abdominal adhesions and wound characteristics in trauma open abdomens. Methods A prospective, randomized, controlled study of wound and adhesion characteristics with or without CMHAB was conducted at 5 level I trauma centers. Consenting patients were randomized to either CMHAB or no adhesion barrier (NAB) groups. We evaluated patient demographics, injury characteristics/severity, reason for OA management, wound sizes (transverse/longitudinal), Zuhlke adhesion score, abdominal contamination score, hospital/intensive care durations of stay, morbidity, and mortality. Results Thirty patients were enrolled (17 randomized to CMHAB; 13 randomized to NAB) with mean age of 40.3, Injury Severity Score of 30, Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS)—abdomen of 3.68, APACHE II score of 14.4, and 67% blunt trauma mechanism. The groups were well-matched with regard to age, sex, Injury Severity Score/abdominal AIS, penetrating/blunt injury rates, initial lactate/base deficit, mortality, OA indications, and contamination scores. There were no differences in nonabdominal or abdominal complications (ie, fistula, abscess, wound related) between the groups. Patients with CMHAB had shorter intensive care unit durations of stay (15 vs 22 days; P Conclusion Although CMHAB did not eliminate adhesions in this proof-of-concept study, it limited their severity, particularly in abdomens left open >9 days or requiring ≥5 operations. There was no difference in wound sizes, overall or abdominal complications, or mortality between the groups. Further research is warranted to better delineate potential benefits of CMHAB, especially in the setting of reoperations in post-OA patients.
The Detection of Structural Defects in GaAs by Electrochemical Etching

Two methods of anodically etching have been investigated. Subsequently they have been used to detect crystallographic defects present in bulk‐grown, single crystal material. The first method provides topographical featuring of the semiconductor anode. The selective discrimination of defects achieved via this controlled electrochemical technique is superior to that obtainable from standard chemical etchants. The second dissolution regime, in which an interfacial oxide layer is continuously present, permits smooth, featureless removal of material. Thus a simple two‐stage anodization procedure has allowed the damage characteristic of the Beilby layer to be probed. Thereafter, a total, smooth removal of this damaged surface layer permits identification of bulk crystallographic defects—dislocation structures well known in require the dissolution of only 0.5 μm. Analysis of the semiconductor electrode condition in the electrolytes used for etching has yielded model results. Such analyses have enabled the relationship between the electrical properties of the defected and the individual topography of the defects as etched to be explored.
In vivo photoacoustic tomography of total blood flow and Doppler angle

As two hallmarks of cancer, angiogenesis and hypermetabolism are closely related to increased blood flow. Volumetric blood flow measurement is important to understanding the tumor microenvironment and developing new means to treat cancer. Current photoacoustic blood flow estimation methods focus on either the axial or transverse component of the flow vector. Here, we propose a method to compute the total flow speed and Doppler angle by combining the axial and transverse flow measurements. Both the components are measured in M-mode. Collating the A-lines side by side yields a 2D matrix. The columns are Hilbert transformed to compare the phases for the computation of the axial flow. The rows are Fourier transformed to quantify the bandwidth for the computation of the transverse flow. From the axial and transverse flow components, the total flow speed and Doppler angle can be derived. The method has been verified by flowing bovine blood in a plastic tube at various speeds from 0 to 7.5 mm/s and at Doppler angles from 30 to 330°. The measurement error for total flow speed was experimentally determined to be less than 0.3 mm/s; for the Doppler angle, it was less than 15°. In addition, the method was tested in vivo on a mouse ear. The advantage of this method is simplicity: No system modification or additional data acquisition is required to use our existing system. We believe that the proposed method has the potential to be used for cancer angiogenesis and hypermetabolism imaging.
Textural Properties of Food Used in Studies of Mastication

Foods are known to influence jaw elevator muscle activity in chewing. With the long-range goal of gaining insight into force control and modeling muscle recruitment, these initial experiments were performed to determine the textural properties of commonly used test food.Experiments were carried out by means of a standard Instron instrument, equipped with a compression cell. A stylus with 45-degree cuspal angulation and an opposing copper-plated lower arch was used for approximation of the natural situation. The breakage force characteristics of a single peanut, a carrot cube, beefstick, and monkey chow were determined.The peanut demonstrated the steepest and beefstick the least steep force build-up, with breaking forces of 104 N (Newtons) for monkey chow, 66 N for the carrot, and 52 N for the peanut. No clear breakage point was found with beefstick; the force build-up showed an initial plateau at 25 N, which was followed by a significantly steeper force increase to peak.We conclude that each of the test f...
High-Mobility Ge N-MOSFETs and Mobility Degradation Mechanisms

Ge N-MOSFETs have exhibited poor drive currents and low mobility, as reported by several different research groups in the past. The major mechanisms behind poor Ge NMOS performance have not been completely understood yet. In this paper, mechanisms responsible for poor Ge NMOS performance in the past are investigated with detailed gate dielectric stack characterizations and Hall mobility analysis. High source/drain (S/D) parasitic resistance, inversion charge loss due to trapping in the high-K gate dielectric, and high interface trap density are identified as the mechanisms responsible for Ge NMOS performance degradation. After eliminating the degradation mechanisms, the highest electron mobility in Ge NMOS to date, which is, to the best of our knowledge, ~1.5 times the universal Si mobility, is experimentally demonstrated for the Ge N-MOSFETs fabricated with ozone-oxidation surface passivation and low temperature S/D activation processes.
ΔNp63α Confers Tumor Cell Resistance to Cisplatin through the AKT1 Transcriptional Regulation

Strategies to address resistance to platin drugs are greatly needed in human epithelial cancers (e.g., ovarian, head/neck, and lung) where platins are used widely and resistance occurs commonly. We found that upon ΔNp63α overexpression, AKT1 and phospho-AKT1 levels are upregulated in cancer cells. Investigations using gel-shift, chromatin immunoprecipitation and functional reporter assays implicated ΔNp63α in positive regulation of AKT1 transcription. Importantly, we found that ΔNp63α, AKT1, and phospho-AKT levels are greater in 2008CI3 CDDP-resistant ovarian cancer cells than in 2008 CDDP-sensitive cells. siRNA-mediated knockdown of ΔNp63α expression dramatically decreased AKT1 expression, whereas knockdown of either ΔNp63α or AKT1 decreased cell proliferation and increased death of ovarian and head/neck cancer cells. Conversely, enforced expression of ΔNp63α increased cancer cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis. Together, our findings define a novel ΔNp63α-dependent regulatory mechanism for AKT1 expression and its role in chemotherapeutic resistance of ovarian and head/neck cancer cells.
Experimental results of two stage harmonic generation with picosecond pulses on the Stanford Mark III FEL

Abstract We report experimental results on upper harmonic conversion using a lithium niobate and a beta barium borate crystal to quadruple the FEL light up into the visible and near infrared. The effects of finite linewidth, birefingent walk-off, and group velocity walk-off on conversion efficiency will be discussed with reference to the experimental results.
Personalized Negotiation Based on Individualization: Incorporating Personalization into Peer-to-Peer System

In peer-to-Peer system user has control over what information about her could be released; however, inherent untrustworthiness of peers precludes her from deciding when, how and to what extent such information could be released. We have investigated a framework where users can personalize their information release policies. As opposed to simple request-response based communication, such individualization inherently necessitates a mechanism of negotiation. This mechanism of negotiation helps user to establish partial or full trust and based on these trust levels, user can release necessary information. To facilitate such individualization, we have presented negotiation enabled framework. In this paper, we provide extension to this work which facilitates selection of negotiation flavor on per-need-basis i.e. Personalized Negotiation. This is supported by negotiation protocol which defines the ordering of the messages and unique message structure that carries negotiation information.
Hyaluronan and its binding proteins, the hyaladherins.

Hyaluronan (HA) is a high-molecular-weight, highly anionic polysacchande found in extracellular matrices and at ceU surfaces. It is composed of 200-10000 disaccharides of P-1,4-glucuronate-P-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminegiving a molecular weight of between 1 x 105 and 5 x 106, usually at the higher end of this range. No branching of the polymer or variations in composition of the repeating disaccharide have been demonstrated convincingly. Despite the apparent monotony of this polymer, its unique physicochemical properties and its consequent role in tissue structure and function have fascinated polymer biophysicists and physiologists for decades. These properties include its voluminous structure in solution, its ability to form continuous networks at low concentration, and its consequent viscoelasticity, osmotic properties, and effects on molecular exclusion, diffusion, flow resistance, etc. (reviewed in Comper and Laurent, Pbysiol Rev 1978, 58:255-315).
Temperature-Induced Molecular Reorganization in Thin Films and on Surfaces as Observed by Grazing Incidence Infrared Spectroscopy

With the use of a thermostated grazing incidence reflection (GIR) infrared cell, spectra of organic monolayers and thin polymer films have been obtained as a function of temperature. Results indicate that insight into the mechanism of molecular reorganization which often occurs at elevated temperatures can be obtained through thermal cycling experiments. In particular, studies of ultrathin poly(methylmethacrylate) [PMMA] films as a function of temperature reveal the onset of molecular segmental motion known to occur at the glass transition temperature, Tg (~100°C). Similarly, in Langmuir-Blodgett (L-B) monolayers of cadmium arachidate (CdA), GIR measurements indicate that a two-stage disordering process occurs with increasing temperature. Pretransitional disordering of the hydrocarbon tails may be a contributing factor to the onset of the thermal melting point.
Reconstruction of binary-data-page thick holograms for an arbitrarily oriented reference beam

The readout of a page of binary data from a holographic memory utilizing a thick recording material is treated for arbitrary angular positioning of the reference beam. The diffraction efficiency associated with each bit in the data page is calculated. Histograms showing the distribution of the diffracted powers and thus the fidelity of reconstruction for example cases are presented.
Pricing considerations in video-on-demand systems (poster session)

Video-on-demand (VoD) has been an active area of research for the past few years in the multimedia research community. However, there have not been many significant commercial deployments of VoD owing to the inadequacy of per user bandwidth and the lack of a good business model.1 Significant research efforts have been directed towards reduction of network bandwidth requirements, improvement of server utilization, and minimization of start-up latency. In this paper, we investigate another aspect of VoD systems which has been largely neglected by the research community, namely, pricing models for VoD systems. We believe that the price charged to a user for an on-demand video stream should influence the rate of user arrivals into the VoD system and in turn should depend upon quality-of-service (QoS) factors such as initial start-up latency. We briefly describe some simple pricing models and analyze the tradeoffs involved in such scenarios from a profit maximization point of view. We further explore secondary content insertion (ad-insertion) which was proposed elsewhere [1] not only as a technique for reducing the resource requirements at the server and the network, but also as a means of subsidizing VoD content to the end user. We treat the rate of ad insertion as another QoS factor and demonstrate how it can influence the price of movie delivery.
Sleep/wake patterns In Alzheimer's disease: relationships with cognition and function

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common dementing disorder of aging, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology. Two of the common clinical features of AD are progressive cognitive and functional impairment, and disturbed sleep/wake patterns. We examined sleep/wake patterns and cognitive and functional status measures in a large sample of AD subjects ranging from mild to moderate-severe in impairment. All subjects survived at least 2 years after initial diagnosis. Regression analyses revealed that sleep/wake variables were highly correlated with and explained significant variance in cognitive and functional measures. More wakefulness during the night and longer REM latencies were associated with impaired cognition and function while more REM and slow-wave sleep were associated with preserved cognition and function. These results indicate that with advancing severity of the disease, sleep/wake patterns are disrupted in parallel with the disturbances in cognition and function that are the hallmarks of AD. Further, they suggest that the neural substrates underlying each process degenerate at somewhat comparable rates.
Childbirth and pelvic floor disorders.

IntroductionPelvic floor disorders (PFDs) encompass an array of conditions that may have their etiology in disruptions of the support, anatomy, or nerve supply of the pelvic floor and its contents. The term pelvic floor generally encompasses not only the actual muscles, nerves, connective tissue, an
Evaluation of the effect of lasofoxifene (LASO) on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of digoxin

Background LASO, a next-generation selective estrogen receptor modulator, is in late stage development for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. LASO has a long half-life (6 days) and less than 2% of the dose is recovered unchanged in urine. Both oxidative and conjugative metabolism contribute to its elimination. Digoxin is commonly prescribed for arrhythmias and congestive heart failure, has a narrow therapeutic index and may be coadministered with LASO. Objectives To determine the effect of LASO on the steady-state PK of digoxin. Methods This was a 2-period, fixed-sequence study in 12 healthy postmenopausal women. During days 1–20, all subjects received digoxin (0.25 mg/day). On day 11, all subjects received 4 mg loading dose of LASO followed by 0.5 mg/day on days 12–20. On Days 10 and 20, blood and urine samples were collected for up to 24 hours for determination of digoxin concentrations. The 90% CI of least squares mean ratio for Cmax and AUC was calculated. Results LASO had no effect on digoxin plasma PK with ratio (90% CI) of 95.4% (84.6% to 107%) and 103% (97.7% to 108%) for Cmax and AUC0-24, respectively. Results were within the 80% to 125% acceptance range. However, the ratio of Ae% was 127% (116% to 142%). Conclusions Coadministration of LASO had no effect on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of digoxin. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P45–P45; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.064
THE EFFECT OF ANTIBODY ON INTRACELLULAR PARASITISM OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM IN MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTES IN VITRO PROLONGED SURVIVAL OF INFECTED MONOCYTES IN PRESENCE OF ANTIBODY

The effect of antibody on the fate of Salmonella typhimurium within mononuclear phagocytes (MN) of rabbits was studied in vitro. Monocytes and bacteria were incubated either in absence or presence of antibody. After 45 minutes during which phagocytosis occurred infected cells were washed to remove extracellular bacilli and free antibody. The cells were then reincubated in a medium without addition of antibody, and the interaction between the MN and bacteria was followed, correlating bacterial viability and the morphology of the mixture. The following results were obtained. The anti-Salmonella antibody was not bactericidal even in presence of complement and did not enhance phagocytosis. Regardless of whether antibody was present or absent during phagocytosis, the bacteria appeared to multiply within the cells. When no antibody was present during phagocytosis the infected cells were severely damaged within a few hours of incubation, and extensive extracellular multiplication was dominating. When antibody was present during phagocytosis MN packed with bacteria persisted for a long time. Little or no extracellular growth occurred. It was possible to demonstrate the presence of the antibody within the infected MN, using the fluorescent antibody technique. The antibody appeared as a coat around the bacteria. Antibody entered the cells only during phagocytosis, presumably attached to the bacteria. The active factor of the immune serum was found in the gamma globulin fraction and reacted specifically with the somatic antigen of Salmonella typhimurium. The antiflagellar portion of the antiserum was not involved in the phenomenon described. It is concluded that this antibody protects monocytes against the effect of intracellularly located Salmonella.
Interaction of Aurora-A and centrosomin at the microtubule-nucleating site in Drosophila and mammalian cells

A mitosis-specific Aurora-A kinase has been implicated in microtubule organization and spindle assembly in diverse organisms. However, exactly how Aurora-A controls the microtubule nucleation onto centrosomes is unknown. Here, we show that Aurora-A specifically binds to the COOH-terminal domain of a Drosophila centrosomal protein, centrosomin (CNN), which has been shown to be important for assembly of mitotic spindles and spindle poles. Aurora-A and CNN are mutually dependent for localization at spindle poles, which is required for proper targeting of γ-tubulin and other centrosomal components to the centrosome. The NH2-terminal half of CNN interacts with γ-tubulin, and induces cytoplasmic foci that can initiate microtubule nucleation in vivo and in vitro in both Drosophila and mammalian cells. These results suggest that Aurora-A regulates centrosome assembly by controlling the CNN's ability to targeting and/or anchoring γ-tubulin to the centrosome and organizing microtubule-nucleating sites via its interaction with the COOH-terminal sequence of CNN.
Interpersonal mediators linking acculturation stressors to subsequent internalizing symptoms and self-esteem in latino adolescents†

The specific aim of this study was to examine pathways leading to internalizing symptoms and self-esteem in Latino adolescents. Adolescent feelings of interpersonal humiliation, family conflict and commitment, and friendships with peers were investigated as potential mediators linking acculturation stress to subsequent adolescent self-esteem and internalizing symptoms. Path analyses on data from a sample of 288 Latino adolescents (average age 15 years; 66% foreign-born) showed that acculturation conflicts and perceived discrimination were risk factors for both internalizing problems at baseline and parent–adolescent conflict 6 months later. Baseline internalizing problems, and Time 2 variables (humiliation, parent–adolescent conflict, negative peer relationships, and changes in familism) mediated the effects of acculturation stress on Time 3 (T3) internalizing symptoms and self-esteem. Latino cultural involvement was a key cultural asset, impacting T3 internalizing symptoms and self-esteem by decreasing feelings of humiliation and by promoting familism. Familism was also a critical cultural asset associated with lower parent–adolescent conflict and higher self-esteem. Study limitations and implications for practice with Latino families were discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hydro-Power System Simulation Technique

. The non-power requirements of a large hydro-power system of multiple-purpose projects often conflict with the best power peaking operation. In order to schedule an optimum multiple-purpose operation, advanced procedures that necessitate the use of computers are required. Special techniques are used in a computer program developed in the Reservoir Control Center, North Pacific Division of the Corps of Engineers that provide the ability to define operating constraints in order of priority. These techniques are easily adapted to practical reservoir regulation problems so that the program is useful in daily reservoir regulation scheduling.
Surface enhanced Raman spectrum of triphenylimidazole

Abstract The surface enhanced spectrum of triphenylimidazole in a silver sol has been demonstrated. Raman enhanced lines are seen at 928, 1009, 1097 and 1380 cm−1, with the first three bands associated with the ring breathing modes of imidazole, and the higher frequency mode due to an in-plane motion in the imidazole ring as well as the 2- and 5-phenyl rings. Results are consistent with the adsorption and perpendicular orientation of the imidazole ring to the silver surface, resulting from interaction between the nitrogen lone electron pair with the silver surface. AM1 normal mode calculations were used to assign the active frequencies involved.
A computer simulation of the cellular kinetics of the thymus-independent humoral immune response.

Abstract The thymus-independent immune response has been simulated by interfacing two computer models. THYMS, a model which simulates the production of T-lymphocytes by the thymus, is used to simulate the production of B-lymphocytes. The assumption is made that B-lymphocytes are produced by some unknown tissue analogous to the thymus. The antibody production is simulated by ABIGL which is a clonal selection model of antibody synthesis. The quantitative effects of irradiation upon the humoral immune response to polysaccharide antigen has been used to evaluate the interfaced model. The largest effect of irradiation upon the immune response is a delay in the response. The differences between the irradiated and the unirradiated controls are largest at 1 week following irradiation. The results compare favorably with natural data. These data demonstrate the advantages of computer simulation as an adjunct to experimentation. The simulation data can rule out trivial experiments and help to plan appropriate experiments. The simulation is thus continually improved as its predictions are tested. Future development of this system will include the introduction of the T-cell and the macrophage into the antibody response and the introduction of cell-mediated immunity.
Practical issues in field based testing of oral reading fluency at upper elementary grades

Abstract In this series of studies, we explore the ideal frequency, duration, and relative effectiveness of measuring oral reading fluency. In study one, a sample of 389 fifth graders read out loud for 1 min and then took a traditional state-level standardized reading test. Results suggest administering three passages and using the median yields the highest predictive validity. Study two compared oral reading fluency rates at 30 and 60 s for 815 elementary and middle school students on the same passage. Results indicate that the 30 s measures yield a comparable score. Study three found relatively similar predictive validity of oral reading fluency for 67 fourth- and 125 sixth-grade students on Aimsweb, EasyCBM, and DIBELS. Implications for practice are discussed.
Treatment of no-reflow and impaired flow with the nitric oxide donor nitroprusside following percutaneous coronary interventions: initial human clinical experience

Abstract OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the intracoronary administration of a direct donor of nitric oxide is a safe and effective method to treat impaired blood flow (no-reflow phenomenon) that occurs during percutaneous transluminal coronary interventions (PTCI). BACKGROUND The absence of blood flow or decreased blood flow in a coronary artery following PTCI despite the presence of a patent epicardial vessel or graft is designated “no-reflow” or “impaired flow.” This alteration in blood flow is a serious complication of percutaneous revascularization strategies that results in an increased incidence of morbidity, myocardial infarction and mortality. METHODS Nineteen consecutive patients undergoing standard percutaneous revascularization procedures complicated by either no-reflow or impaired flow that received intracoronary nitroprusside treatment were studied. One patient had two procedures performed on two separate grafts on two successive days. Interventions were performed on either saphenous vein grafts or native vessels and utilized angioplasty, stent deployment or rotational atherectomy strategies. Following interventions that were associated with impaired flow, varying total doses (of nitroprusside 50 to 1,000 μg) were administered into the coronary artery or saphenous vein graft. The angiographic archives before and after intracoronary administration of nitroprusside were analyzed for TIMI grade flow and a frame count method was used to quantitate blood flow velocity. RESULTS Following a PTCI that resulted in either no-reflow or impaired flow, nitroprusside (median dose 200 μg) was found to lead to a highly significant and rapid improvement in both angiographic flow (p CONCLUSIONS The direct nitric oxide donor nitroprusside is an effective, safe treatment of impaired blood flow and no-reflow associated with PTCI. The use of nitroprusside to treat syndromes secondary to microvascular dysfunction may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for treating no-reflow or impaired blood flow following percutaneous interventions.
The Feasibility and Accuracy of Using a Remote Method to Assess Computer Workstations

Objective:The objective was to test the accuracy of using remote methods (tele-ergonomics) to identify potential mismatches between workers and their computer workstations.Background:Remote access ...
Advances in Equine Atopic Dermatitis, Serologic and Intradermal Allergy Testing

The role of environmental allergens in equine atopic dermatitis as the cause of pruritus in horses is becoming better appreciated. Atopic dermatitis presents as either seasonal or nonseasonal pruritus, sometimes complicated by concurrent insect-bite hypersensitivity and/or secondary superficial bacterial infection (most often staphylococcal in origin). Diagnosis is based on history and clinical presentation, as well as elimination of other causes of pruritus. Detection of presumed allergens may be performed using either intradermal or serologic testing. Treatment may be symptomatic using antipruritic drugs, and/or allergen-specific immunotherapy. The success rate of the latter currently approaches 70%.
Differences between men and women in hospital mortality associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group.

BACKGROUNDA prospective study of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) was conducted to examine differences in hospital mortality by sex. Outcome data on 3055 CABG patients undergoing operation between 1987 and 1989 were examined for differences in patient, disease, and treatment factors.METHODS AND RESULTSOdds ratios (OR), risk differences, and 95% confidence intervals (CI95%) were calculated. Mortality rates for women (7.1%) and men (3.3%) differed, the OR (women versus men) being 2.23 (CI95%, 1.58 to 3.15). Women were older, more often diabetic, and had more urgent or emergent surgery; adjustment yielded an OR (women versus men) of 1.75 (CI95%, 1.17 to 2.63). Body surface area (BSA) was associated with risk of death in both sexes (P = .007) and positively associated with coronary artery luminal diameters. After adjustment for BSA, sex was no longer significantly associated with mortality (OR [women versus men] of 1.18; CI95%, 0.72 to 1.95). Internal mammary artery (IMA) grafti...
Biosynthesis and structure of paramecium hybrid antigen

Purified ciliary proteins isolated from hybrid clones of Paramecium have been examined by immunological and physical chemical methods. In particular, five stocks producing cross-reacting antigens controlled by the c locus have been studied. In hybrids, individual molecules are observed which share antigenic determinants contributed by both parents. The contributions from the two parents are sometimes equivalent; in other instances determinants specified by one parent are predominant. Individual clones appear to synthesize only one class of hybrid antigens, with some clones making one kind of antigen and others a second or third, depending on the stocks mated. These antigens have the same sedimentation coefficients as the parental antigens, but differ in their electro-phoretic behavior as well as their antigenic constitution. A model for the ciliary antigen is proposed from analysis of gel diffusion patterns. According to this model, the antigen is made of at least six subunits which, in homozygotes, are divided into two equivalent sets (I and II) of three dimers ( α , β and γ ). In hybrid antigens, I and II need not be identical.
Breathing intensity and word use in individuals with COPD

Shifts in natural or spontaneous language have been reported with psychological and physical changes, as well as shifts in predetermined words selected to describe dyspnea. Less evidence exists for natural language shifts and breathing intensity, particularly for everyday life and for negative emotion. Therefore, this study purpose was to describe the relationship between levels of everyday breathing intensity and the natural language word categories used in describing breathing, including a negative emotion category. A longitudinal descriptive research design and a convenience sample of 45 individuals were used. Natural language was analyzed as rates of word used based on three levels of breathing intensity. Non-parametric statistics were used to test differences between rates of word use and non-use on low, moderate, and high breathing intensity days, as well as correlations to subscales that measured negative emotion on the Bronchitis–Emphysema Symptom Checklist (BESC) and the Breathing Standard Index....
JavaScript: the used parts

We describe an empirical study to understand how JavaScript language features are used by the programmers. Our test corpus is larger than any previous work (more than 1 million scripts) and it attempts to target JS usage from various points of view. We describe the usage results of JS language features.
A model for the prediction of Nb/sub 3/Sn critical current as a function of field, temperature, strain, and radiation damage

An empirical model is presented that predicts the critical current density (J/sub c/) of Nb/sub 3/Sn wires under the combined effects of temperature, strain, and radiation damage. The model, based on previous work of D.P. Hampshire et al. (1985) and J. W. Ekin (1980), predicts J/sub c/ with a reasonable degree of accuracy. The model can be used with a limited number of input parameters. eliminating the need for detailed characterization, particularly the difficult tasks of measuring critical current as a function of temperature and radiation damage.
Coping and responses to stress in Navajo adolescents: Psychometric properties of the Responses to Stress Questionnaire

This study tested the factor structure of coping and stress responses in Navajo adolescents and examined the reliability and validity of the Responses to Stress Questionnaire (RSQ; Connor-Smith, Compas, Wadsworth, Thomsen, & Saltzman, 2000) with this population. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a correlated five-factor model of stress responses using the five factors of the RSQ fit the data well for this group of adolescents. The factor structure of the RSQ did not differ by gender. Internal consistency of the RSQ scales and factors was acceptable, and convergent and discriminant validity were moderate to high. Primary and secondary control engagement coping responses were associated with fewer depressive symptoms in the sample, whereas disengagement coping and involuntary engagement responses were associated with more depressive symptoms. The promising implications for stress and coping research with American Indian adolescents are emphasized. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characteristics of Elderly Patients with Diabetes and End-Stage Renal Disease

Because of a combination of demographic and social factors, such as the aging of the population in general, increased incidence of diabetes, and more liberal criteria for renal replacement therapy initiation, the proportion of the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with diabetes who are considered elderly is currently the fastest growing segment of incident ESRD population. Despite the fast growth of this group, it is poorly characterized in current literature. In this review, we attempt to summarize the data available to date regarding demographic composition, outcomes, choice of renal replacement therapy, and other management issues including renal transplantation. There is significant evidence that the elderly diabetic patients might differ from the general dialysis population regarding renal replacement modality, vascular access for dialysis, and that guidelines addressing chronic kidney disease (CKD) issues such as nutrition and blood pressure may need modification in this ESRD subgroup. At the same time, other areas such as anemia and bone mineral metabolism have not been adequately studied. Lastly, despite lower rates of kidney transplantation in this population, it confers significant survival advantages, similar to that seen in younger populations. As the fastest growing group in the incident ESRD population, these patients have issues related to clinical management, which represent very important areas for future research.