cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mineral and mechanical properties of bone in chronic experimental diabetes

The long-term effects of experimentally induced diabetes on bone were studied in eight male Lewis rats, intravenously (i.v.) injected with 65 mg/kg of streptozocin (STZ) and maintained for 12 months. Eight untreated age-matched rats served as controls. In the STZ-treated rats, experimentally induced diabetes was documented by the presence of hyperglycemia at 24 h and at 3 and 12 months. Significantly less weight was gained and less growth occurred in the STZ-treated rats despite careful attention to feeding and hydration. Mineral alterations were detected in the bones of the animals with experimental diabetes. Decreased hydroxyapatite crystal perfection, decreased Ca/P of the ash, and decreased ash content in the tibial metaphyses with increased ash content in the tibial diaphyses, was noted relative to controls. Bone osteocalcin content was increased in the metaphyses of the STZ-treated rats. While absolute measures of stiffness, torsional strength and energy absorption were decreased in the bones of the STZ-treated animals, when torsional strength and stiffness were normalized for differences in both growth and geometry, the normalized stiffness values for the diabetic bones were increased. The results suggest that in experimental diabetes certain aspects of bone mineralization are adversely affected and lead to reduced strength-related properties. However, a compensatory increase in stiffness occurs. The reason for this increase, although not known, may be related to changes in bone crystal structure.
Energy levels and oscillator strengths for allowed transitions in S III

We have calculated energy levels and oscillator strengths for dipole-allowed transitions between the terms belonging to the 3s(sup 2)3p(sup 2), 3s3p(sup 3), 3S(sup 2)3p3d, 3S(sup 2)3p4s, 3S(sup 2)3p4p and 3s(sup 2)3p4d configurations of S iii in the LS-coupling scheme. We used flexible radial functions and included a large number of configurations in the configuration-interaction expansions to ensure convergence. The calculated energy levels are in close agreement with the recent laboratory measurement. The present oscillator strengths are compared with other calculations and experiments and most of the existing discrepancies between the available calculations are resolved.
Frequency and impact of spelling errors in bibliographic data bases

Abstract Using a composite sample of over 3600 index terms drawn from 11 different machine-readable bibliographic data bases, estimates were made of the spelling error frequencies of each of these data bases, as well as the frequency of posting to misspelled terms. The terms studied included assigned index terms as well as some terms from titles and abstracts. The frequency of index term misspellings ranged from a high of almost 23% for one data base to a low of less than 1 2 % for another data base. The frequency of posting to misspelled terms ranged from about one posting in 8000 citations for one data base, to about one posting in 160 citations in another data base. The impact of these error rates is discussed for the tape supplier, tape user and end user. Some suggestions are given regarding search strategry.
Distribution of hydrogen peroxide and methylhydroperoxide over the Pacific and South Atlantic Oceans

The gas phase hydrogen peroxide and methylhydroperoxide concentrations were measured in the troposphere over the tropical Pacific Ocean as a component of NASA's Global Tropospheric Experiment/Pacific Exploratory Mission-Tropics A field campaign. Flights on two aircraft covered the Pacific from 70°S to 60°N and 110°E to 80°W and South Atlantic from 40°S to 15°N and 45°W to 70°E, and extending from 76 to 13,000 m altitude. H2O2 and CH3OOH have the highest concentrations at a given altitude at the equator and decrease with increasing latitude in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Above 4 km the gradient is substantially reduced for both H2O2 and CH3OOH with latitude, and at altitudes in excess of 8 km there is no latitudinal dependence. H2O2 and CH3OOH exhibit maximum mixing ratios between 1 and 2 km at all latitudes. The mean mixing ratio of H2O2 at the equator was 1600±600 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) decreasing to 500±250 pptv at latitudes greater than 55° north and south between 1 and 2 km altitude. CH3OOH at the equator was 1400±250 pptv, decreasing to 330±200 pptv at high latitudes at altitudes between 1 and 2 km. The concentration of peroxides at high latitudes in the northern hemisphere was generally a factor of 2 higher than at corresponding latitudes in the southern hemisphere. The ratio of H2O2 to CH3OOH was between 1 and 2 from 45°S to 35°N at altitudes below 4 km. Between 5° to 15°N the ratio is less than 1, due to preferential removal of H2O2 in the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
Laboratory Materials: Affordances or Constraints?.

Abstract: Laboratory instruction is critical to the understanding of biology and is a central piece of biologicalsciences instruction. Although much investigation has focused on the content of biology laboratory exercises, wecontend that understanding the extent to which the laboratory materials can aid or limit experimental investigation isof equal importance. In this study, therefore, we investigate the role of timing and availability of laboratory equipmentin the context of two different laboratory exercises. We use both case study and an experimental approach to investi-gate how laboratory materials guide the planning, context, creativity, and timing of ideas shared among students. Ourdata support the notion that providing students with laboratory equipment before students plan and consider differentexperimental approaches can constrain students’ ideas and encourage tool-focused solutions to experimental designtasks. ! 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 48: 1010–1025, 2011Keywords: biology; science laboratory; affordances; inquiry practices
Evidence for non-traditional activation of complement factor C3 during murine liver regeneration.

Abstract Complement signaling has been implicated as important for normal hepatic regeneration. However, the specific mechanism by which complement is activated during liver regeneration remains undefined. To address this question, we investigated the hepatic regenerative response to partial hepatectomy in wildtype mice, C3-, C4-, and factor B-null mice, and C4-null mice treated with a factor B neutralizing antibody (mAb 1379). The results showed that following partial hepatectomy, C3-null mice exhibit reduced hepatic regeneration compared to wildtype mice as assessed by quantification of hepatic cyclin D1 expression and hepatocellular DNA synthesis and mitosis. In contrast, C4-null mice and factor B-null mice demonstrated normal liver regeneration. Moreover, animals in which all of the traditional upstream C3 activation pathways were disrupted, i.e. C4-null mice treated with mAb 1379, exhibited normal C3 activation and hepatocellular proliferation following partial hepatectomy. In order to define candidate non-traditional mechanisms of C3 activation during liver regeneration, plasmin and thrombin were investigated for their abilities to activate C3 in mouse plasma in vitro. The results showed that both proteases are capable of initiating C3 activation, and that plasmin can do so independent of the classical and alternative pathways. Conclusions: These results show that C3 is required for a normal hepatic regenerative response, but that disruption of the classical- or lectin-dependent pathways (C4-dependent), the alternative pathway (factor B-dependent), or all of these pathways does not impair the hepatic regenerative response, and indicate that non-traditional mechanisms by which C3 is activated during hepatic regeneration must exist. In vitro analysis raises the possibility that plasmin may contribute to non-traditional complement activation during liver regeneration in vivo.
Mechanistic Basis of Enzyme-Targeted Drugs

Enzymes offer unique opportunities for drug design that are not available to cell surface receptors, nuclear hormone receptors, ion channels, transporters, and DNA. Here, we review the variety of inhibition mechanisms for enzyme-targeted drugs, and establish an enzyme target database for drugs currently marketed in the United States. From an analysis of the FDA Orange Book, there are 317 marketed drugs that work by inhibiting an enzyme. These drugs inhibit 71 enzymes, including 48 human, 13 bacterial, five viral, four fungal, and one protozoal enzyme. Among the 317 drugs, 65% either undergo reactive chemistry in the active site of the target enzyme or contain a structural motif related to the substrate. Among the 71 enzyme targets, 25 are irreversibly inhibited by drugs, and 19 of the 25 irreversibly inhibited enzymes are covalently modified by the drug. In two additional cases, the drug forms a covalent complex with the substrate, and in three more cases, the drug traps a covalent enzyme-substrate intermediate. Four of the 71 enzymes are inhibited by transition-state analogues. Moreover, advanced methods for determining transition-state structure now offer the opportunity for direct drug design without resorting to expensive random testing campaigns. A full appreciation of enzyme mechanisms sets enzymes apart as a specialized class of targets for highly directed drug design.
Development of a Notational Analysis System for Selected Soccer Skills of a Women's College Team

The purposes of this study were to develop a notational system to evaluate passing, dribbling, first touch, and individual defensive skills as they relate to success during women's soccer games and to develop a statistical model to weigh the importance of each skill on creating scoring opportunities. Sequences of skills in ten games of a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I intercollegiate women's soccer team were coded using well defined performance scores and outcomes. The notational analysis system was highly reliable as demonstrated by Spearman's rank correlations (>.98) between the first and second notation of three games for all four skills. The importance scores calculated from a Bayesian model demonstrated that dribbling (.0127) was the most important skill on creating scoring opportunities, followed by first touch (.0079), passing (.0075), and individual defense (.0050). The notational system developed from this study provides coaches with reliable and objective information to impr...
Computer-assisted detection of infectious lung diseases: A review

Respiratory tract infections are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Although radiology serves as a primary diagnostic method for assessing respiratory tract infections, visual analysis of chest radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans is restricted by low specificity for causal infectious organisms and a limited capacity to assess severity and predict patient outcomes. These limitations suggest that computer-assisted detection (CAD) could make a valuable contribution to the management of respiratory tract infections by assisting in the early recognition of pulmonary parenchymal lesions, providing quantitative measures of disease severity and assessing the response to therapy. In this paper, we review the most common radiographic and CT features of respiratory tract infections, discuss the challenges of defining and measuring these disorders with CAD, and propose some strategies to address these challenges.
Wedging out DNA damage.

The DNA-repair machinery is faced with the significant challenge of differentiating DNA lesions from unmodified DNA. Two recent publications, one in this issue of Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, uncover a new way of recognizing minimally distorting DNA lesions: insertion of a 3- or 4-amino-acid wedge into DNA to extrude the lesion into a shallow binding pocket that can accommodate various damaged bases.
High power density targets

Abstract In the context of new generation rare isotope beam facilities based on high-power heavy-ion accelerators and in-flight separation of the reaction products, the design of the rare isotope production targets is a major challenge. In order to provide high-purity beams for science, high resolution is required in the rare isotope separation. This demands a small beam spot on the production target which, together with the short range of heavy ions in matter, leads to very high power densities inside the target material. This paper gives an overview of the challenges associated with this high power density, discusses radiation damage issues in targets exposed to heavy ion beams, and presents recent developments to meet some of these challenges through different projects: FAIR, RIBF and FRIB which is the most challenging. Extensive use of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has been made at all facilities to specify critical target parameters and R&D work at FRIB successfully retired two major risks related to high-power density and heavy-ion induced radiation damage.
222 INCREASED CARDIAC OUTPUT(CO) DURING HIGH-FREQUENCY JET VENTILATION(HFJV)

High airway pressure during assisted ventilation may impair cardiac function. Because adequate gas exchange may be accomplished at lower airway pressures with HFJV, we compared cardiac function during conventional(volume) ventilation(CV) with that during 1–3 hours of HFJV(frequency 150–200/min, I:E 1:3–1:6). CO(L/min/m2) was determined by thermodilution, in triplicate, in 8 patients aged 2 mos.-7 yrs. on the 1st to 3rd day following correction of congenital heart disease. Heart rate(HR), central venous(CVP), pulmonary artery(PAP), left atrial(LAP), mean blood (HBP) and distal endotracheal tube pressures including peak inspiratory(PIP), positive end expiratory(PEEP) and mean airway pressures(Paw) were continuously monitored. Blood gases from CVP, PAP and LAP lines were obtained. No patient had evidence of intracardiac shunting or pulmonary regurgitation. CVP, PAP, LAP, pCO2,pH and HCO3 were comparable during both CV and HFJV. Despite the decreased PaO2 during HFJV, O2 delivery (cardiac index X O2 content) did not change (256±150ml/min/m2 to 263±136). We conclude that post-cardiac surgery HFJV increased CO and maintains comparable ventilation at reduced PIP, PEEP and Paw. HFJV may be advantageous in patients with cardiovascular compromise by allowing for improvement in cardiac hemodynamics. Supported by ALA of Ohio, ALANO
Kinetic, ESR, and trapping evidence for in vivo binding of Mn(II) to glutamine synthetase in brain cells

Mn(II) has been proposed as a potential modulator of various important CNS enzymes, particularly glutamine synthetase, which is compartmentalized in the cytoplasm of glia. Previous studies demonstrated that total glial Mn(II) was 50–57 μM, of which 30–40% occurs in the cytoplasm. In the present study, electron spin resonance (ESR) was used to determine that the concentration of free cytoplasmic Mn(II) in cultured chick glial cells is 0.8 (±0.2) μM, very near Kd for the GS-Mn(II) complex. No free Mn(II) could be detected in glial mitochondria. Association of Mn(II) with brain glutamine synthetase (GS) was assessed under in vivo conditions in the presence of millimolar Mg(II) by trapping bound54Mn(II) ions in the active site with irreversible inhibitors, namely methionine-sulfoximine (MSOX) or specific analogues thereof plus ATP. Ovine brain tissue was lysed directly into buffer containing Mn(II), 3 mM Mg(II), 1 mM MSOX, 1 mM ATP, 200 mM KCl, and 20 mM NaCl. Alternatively, primary cultures of chick glial cells were permeabilized into these inactivation mixtures. α-Methyl-d,l-prothionine-S,R-sulfoximine was used to specifically inhibit the mechanistically-related enzyme γ-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase prior to specific inactivation of GS by α-ethyl-d,l-methionine-S,R-sulfoximine. Even inthe presence of 2–3 mM Mg(II), with only 5–10 μM Mn(II) present, approximately 20–30% of GS subunits were trapped with bound Mn(II). These results indicate that brain GS exhibits a high degree of specificity for binding Mn(II) over Mg(II) and that Mn(II) binds to GS to a significant extent under in vivo conditions.
Identifying and classifying ambiguity for regulatory requirements

Software engineers build software systems in increasingly regulated environments, and must therefore ensure that software requirements accurately represent obligations described in laws and regulations. Prior research has shown that graduate-level software engineering students are not able to reliably determine whether software requirements meet or exceed their legal obligations and that professional software engineers are unable to accurately classify cross-references in legal texts. However, no research has determined whether software engineers are able to identify and classify important ambiguities in laws and regulations. Ambiguities in legal texts can make the difference between requirements compliance and non-compliance. Herein, we develop a ambiguity taxonomy based on software engineering, legal, and linguistic understandings of ambiguity. We examine how 17 technologists and policy analysts in a graduate-level course use this taxonomy to identify ambiguity in a legal text. We also examine the types of ambiguities they found and whether they believe those ambiguities should prevent software engineers from implementing software that complies with the legal text. Our research suggests that ambiguity is prevalent in legal texts. In 50 minutes of examination, participants in our case study identified on average 33.47 ambiguities in 104 lines of legal text using our ambiguity taxonomy as a guideline. Our analysis suggests (a) that participants used the taxonomy as intended: as a guide and (b) that the taxonomy provides adequate coverage (97.5%) of the ambiguities found in the legal text.
Prediction of the visible signature of solid rocket plumes

Analytic expressions are presented defining the visible contrast of a rocket plume against the sky produced by scattering of sunlight and sky light by primary and secondary smoke in the plume. Allowances are made for cloud cover and atmospheric attenuation. To use these equations for prediction of the probability of detection by an observer, the rocket plume and the formation of smoke must first be described by existing computer models. A correlation available in the literature is used for prediction of the probability of detection as a function of contrast and visual angle. Required propellant data include the number of particles produced per unit mass of propellant by combustion, their size distribution, and their composition. The analytical procedure is encoded in a computer program, VISIG, suitable for use on a microcomputer. An example is given for the prediction of the probability of detection by an observer of a rocket flying at 5000 ft when viewed against the sky for a variety of sun, sky, and atmospheric conditions.
Does the gender relevance of the stressor influence sex differences in psychophysiological responses

Sex differences in psychophysiological responses to stress may be important to understanding sex differences in risk for coronary heart disease. This investigation tested the hypothesis that the gender relevance of the stressor influences the extent of sex differences in cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and lipid responses during stress. Participants performed two tasks that were described as masculine oriented, feminine oriented, or not gender relevant. Although these descriptions influenced the participants' perceptions of the tasks, they did not influence the extent of sex differences in physiological responses in a manner consistent with the study hypothesis. Future directions for research are discussed regarding sex differences in psychophysiological responses.
β limiting MHD activity and mode locking in Alcator C-Mod

Since Alcator C-Mod normally operates at high toroidal field and high collisionality, β limiting instabilities are rarely observed. Under some conditions, however, when operating at low collisionality and high input power (PICRF≤5 MW), large amplitude (5×10-5 0.52 and increased in amplitude with increasing β until a rollover or collapse in β occurred. The largest amplitude modes with m = 2,n = 1 strongly degraded momentum and energy confinement when the modes coupled across the plasma core and locked to the wall, bringing the plasma ion toroidal rotation to zero, within experimental errors, about 50 ms after mode locking. MHD stability was calculated with the linear resistive toroidal MHD code MARS for a discharge with a large m = 2,n = 1 mode. Comparisons with neoclassical tearing mode (NTM) theory and with NTMs found on other tokamaks indicate that these modes may be driven by a combination of resistive, neoclassical, and error field effects.
An Electron Microscope Study of the Featureless Zone Obtained during Rapid Solidification

The microstructure observed on the rapid solidification of dilute alloys of Cu in Al has been examined. A high intensity heat source, namely, a 6 kW CO2 laser beam was passed over the surface of the alloy, and on regrowth a featureless zone is seen prior to a cellular morphology. Scanning transmission electron microscopy in conjunction with X-ray microanalysis was used to show that a concentration gradient exists across this region. The results support the theory that it is a plane front zone formed during the resolidification process.
Paracrine angiogenic loop between head‐and‐neck squamous‐cell carcinomas and macrophages

Angiogenesis, an essential step in the development of neoplasia, is a complex process that involves the interaction of tumor cells with stromal cells. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) can participate in the induction of tumor angiogenesis and are thought to be of prognostic value in some neoplasms. We have investigated how macrophages contribute to angiogenesis in head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and have found that tumor cells attract monocytes and activate them to secrete angiogenic factors. The attraction of macrophages was due to the secretion of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and TGF-beta1 by tumor cells, while tumor production of TGF-beta1 was responsible for activating macrophages. In addition, activated macrophages produced cytokines that acted in a paracrine fashion by secreting both TNF-alpha and IL-1, which in turn stimulated tumor cells to secrete increased levels of IL-8 and VEGF. These data demonstrate that TAMs play an important role in the in vivo induction of angiogenesis in HNSCC and suggest that anti-angiogenic therapies for HNSCC and perhaps other neoplasms must include strategies that will block the ability of tumor cells to recruit macrophages into the tumor micro-environment.
Don't Blink Now: It's the Transition to the Second World-System

The transition from the contemporary world order to the next will not be pretty. We have already had frightening glimpses of it, as the U.S.'s ideological and imperialist aims (rentseeking on a colossal scale) have destabilized the world, provoked its critics, and caused the oppressed of the world to suffer even more. No set of social science papers could better prepare us for the possibilities to come: In these two volumes, the authors approach the analytical dimensions of the past and the present to encourage us to anticipate the constraints on future possibilities in the terms of the world-system (WS) perspective, by far the most comprehensive approach to understanding world history up to the present time. Under the superlative editorship of Wilma A. Dunaway, the chapters in these volumes represent many of the papers that were presented at the 25th Annual Conference of the Political Economy of the World-System (PEWS) Section of the American Sociological Association, held in April 2001, at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Informative advertising in differentiated oligopoly markets

Abstract This paper examines the welfare implications of informative advertising in differentiated product oligopoly markets. The analysis reconciles the conflicting results in previous studies that find advertising to be undersupplied in homogeneous product markets, but oversupplied in differentiated product markets when the degree of differentiation is “small”. In equilibrium, purely informative advertising is undersupplied when brands are sufficiently close substitutes and oversupplied when brands are more differentiated. Product differentiation also has welfare implications for the effect of technological change in the advertising sector. In response to an advertising cost innovation, equilibrium prices fall and the market converges to the socially optimal resource allocation for brands that are sufficiently close substitutes, whereas equilibrium prices rise and divergence occurs when brands are more differentiated.
Early complications of primary total hip replacement performed with a two-incision minimally invasive technique.

BACKGROUND: Total hip replacement performed through a small incision theoretically results in less trauma to the underlying structures, reduced blood loss, less pain, and a shorter hospital stay, but it may result in increased complications, particularly early in a surgeon's experience with a new technique. In the present study, we reviewed the early results of two techniques involving the use of smaller incisions; specifically, we evaluated one series of primary total hip replacements that had been performed through two small incisions and another series of total hip replacements that had been performed through a single small incision. METHODS: Eighty-nine consecutive primary total hip replacements were performed with use of the two-incision technique as described by Mears and Berger; all procedures were performed without cement and with use of fluoroscopic guidance. Outcomes data were reviewed at a minimum of six months following the procedure. The results of these procedures were retrospectively compared with those of a historical control series of ninety-six total hip replacements that had been performed by the same surgeon with use of a single miniincision technique. No special attempt was made to discharge any patient early from the hospital. In preparation for the use of the two-incision technique, the surgeon attended a two-day seminar that included cadaveric training and mentoring by surgeons who had experience with this technique. RESULTS: In the two-incision group, nine patients (nine hips; 10%) required repeat surgery because of a femoral fracture that had been identified postoperatively (two hips), dislocation (one hip), a wound complication (two hips), or subsidence and loosening of the femoral implant (four hips). Twenty-two patients (twenty-two hips; 25%) sustained an injury of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, and one patient (one hip) had a neuropraxia of the femoral nerve. In the comparative series of ninety-six total hip arthroplasties that had been performed with use of a single mini-incision and a direct lateral exposure of the hip joint, the overall complication rate was 6% (six of ninety-six) and the reoperation rate was 3% (three of ninety-six). The rate of complications associated with the two-incision technique decreased significantly as the surgeon gained experience with the procedure (p = 0.0202). CONCLUSIONS: Although total hip arthroplasty with use of the two-incision technique was performed by a surgeon who was experienced in the performance of total hip replacement surgery with use of a single small incision, the rates of complications and repeat surgery associated with the two-incision technique initially were very high. While the rate diminished with increasing experience, total hip replacement with use of two incisions and fluoroscopic guidance is a technically demanding procedure that may be associated, especially initially, with higher rates of complications and repeat surgery.
Altered cell cycle distributions of cultured human lymphoblasts during cytotoxicity related to adenosine deaminase inhibition.

Abstract Serial-flow cytometric analysis of DNA content of T lymphoblasts (MOLT-4) and B lymphoblasts (MGL-8) was performed to correlate the cytotoxic properties of adenosine deaminase inhibition with alterations of DNA synthesis and disruptions of the cell cycle. The addition of deoxyadenosine up to 50 μmol/L potently decreased the growth of T lymphoblasts, and these changes were enhanced with the addition of 100 μmol/L homocysteine thiolactone. These conditions caused a virtual absence of cells from S and G2M phases after 24 hours. The DNA distribution was similar in cells cultured for 24 hours in 50 μmol/L deoxyguanosine or 2.5 μmol/L hydroxyurea. These observations suggested accumulation of cells in the G1 phase. T lymphoblasts cultured with up to 50 μmol/L adenosine had a substantial decrease in growth, which was not modified by the addition of homocysteine thiolactone. Cell cycle distributions of T lymphoblasts cultured for 24 to 48 hours under these conditions showed mild decreases in the G2M population. The addition of adenosine up to 50 μmol/L decreased the growth of B lymphoblasts, and these changes were enhanced by the addition of 100 μmol/L homocysteine thiolactone. These conditions induced mild decreases in the S-phase population in B lymphoblasts. The addition of deoxyadenosine, even with homocysteine thiolactone, did not modify growth in B lymphoblasts and the cell-cycle distributions were indistinguishable from distributions of control populations after 24 and 48 hours. The observations provide independent support for a reduction of DNA synthesis associated with cytotoxicity during adenosine-deaminase inhibition. These changes were more profound in T lymphoblasts than B lymphoblasts. Cytotoxicity during S and G2M phases and/or a G 1 S transition block could account for the cell-cycle alterations observed.
An Exploratory Evaluation of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Inhibition in Planaria as a Model for Parkinsonism

Planaria are the simplest organisms with bilateral symmetry and a central nervous system (CNS) with cephalization; therefore, they could be useful as model organisms to investigate mechanistic aspects of parkinsonism and to screen potential therapeutic agents. Taking advantage of the organism's anti-tropism towards light, we measured a significantly reduced locomotor velocity in planaria after exposure to 3-iodo-L-tyrosine, an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase that is an enzyme catalyzing the first and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of catecholamines. A simple semi-automatic assay using videotaped experiments and subsequent evaluation by tracking software was also implemented to increase throughput. The dopaminergic regulation of locomotor velocity was confirmed by bromocriptine, a drug whose mechanisms of action to treat Parkinson's disease is believed to be through the stimulation of nerves that control movement.
Air Entrainment Versus Lubricant Vaporization in Squeeze Film Dampers: An Experimental Assessment of Their Fundamental Differences

Squeeze film dampers (SFDs) provide structural isolation and energy dissipation in air-breathing engines and process gas compressors. However, SFDs are prone to develop a flow regime where the ingestion of air leads to the formation of a bubbly lubricant. This pervasive phenomenon lacks proper physical understanding and sound analytical model-ing, although actual practice demonstrates that it greatly reduces the damper force response. Measurements of film pressures in a test SFD describing circular centered orbits at whirl frequencies varying from 0 to 100 Hz are presented for fully flooded and vented discharge operating conditions. The experiments demonstrate that operation with low levels of external pressurization, moderate to large whirl frequencies, and lubricant discharge to ambient leads to the entrapment of air within the damper film lands. The experiments also elucidate fundamental differences in the generation of film pressures and forces for operation in a flooded condition that evidences vapor cavitation. Damping forces for the vented end with air entrainment are just 15 percent of the forces measured for the flooded damper. Further measurements at constant whirl frequencies demonstrate that increasing the lubricant pressure supply retards the onset of air entrainment. Classical fluid film cavitation models predict well the pressures and forces for the lubricant vapor cavitation condition. However, prevailing models fail to reproduce the dynamic forced response of vented (open-ended) SFDs where air entrainment makes a foamy lubricant, which limits severely the damper film pressures and forces.
Toward More Meaningful Laboratory Experiences in Digital Signal Processing and Digital Control

Digital signal processing and digital control are of utmost importance for electrical engineering students, for they are present in many aspects of today's technical world. Complex topics like these should not be introduced into a curriculum as a crash program, but taken as steps in an evolutionary process. A successful example of this evolutionary process is well underway at the University of Missouri-Rolla.
Properties of friction-stir-welded 7075 T651 aluminum

Friction stir welding (FSW), a new welding technique invented at TWI, was used to weld 7075 T651 aluminum, an alloy considered essentially unweldable by fusion processes. This weld process exposed the alloy to a short time, high-temperature spike, while introducing extensive localized deformation. Studies were performed on these solid-state welds to determine mechanical properties both in the longitudinal direction, i.e., within the weld nugget, and, more conventionally, transverse to the weld direction. Because of the unique weld procedure, a fully recrystallized fine grain weld nugget was developed. In addition, proximate to the nugget, both a thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) and heat affected zone (HAZ) were created. During welding, temperatures remained below the melting point and, as such, no cast or resolidification microstructure was developed. However, within the weld nugget, a banded microstructure that influences room-temperature fracture behavior was created. In the as-welded condition, weld nugget strength decreased, while ductility remained high. A low-temperature aging treatment failed to fully restore T651 strength and significantly reduced tensile ductility. Samples tested transverse to the weld direction failed in the HAZ, where coarsened precipitates caused localized softening. Subsequent low-temperature aging further reduced average strain to failure without affecting strength. Although reductions in strength and ductility were observed, in comparison to other weld processes, FSW offers considerable potential for welding 7075 T651 aluminum.
Distinguishing surface versus buried cation sites in aluminosilicate mesoporous materials.

Mesoporous MCM-41 aluminosilicates were prepared through direct synthesis and surface grafting resulting in the incorporation of aluminum into the pore walls and onto the wall surface, respectively. 7Li and 23Na NMR studies of ion-exchanged Li and Na-Al-MCM-41 were able to distinguish between cations in the surface region and those buried deeper in the pore walls. Thus it was demonstrated that most of the cations in the grafted Al-MCM-41 locate in the surface region, whereas the cations in the synthesized Al-MCM-41 are distributed throughout the pore walls. The NMR spectra of dehydrated Li- and Na-MCM-41 resemble those of glassy materials, reflecting the amorphous nature of this class of mesoporous materials. 7Li NMR studies of dehydrated Li-Al-MCM-41 prepared from direct synthesis in the presence of oxygen showed that most of the Li+ cations are not accessible to O2, while the Li+ cations in Al-grafted Li-Al-MCM-41 are accessible, which also confirms their locations. This study provides valuable insights...
Competency requirements for managerial development in manufacturing, assembly, and/or material processing functions

Organizations that include a manufacturing, assembly and/or material processing (MAMP) functions have become increasingly complex, competitive, and dynamic. These organizations demand increased emphasis on recruiting, developing, and retaining management talent to gain a competitive edge. This paper uses a modified Delphi triangulation approach to identify and categorize first‐level MAMP management competencies perceived to be important by three critical stakeholder groups – an expert MAMP upper management panel, first‐level MAMP managers who have been employed between one to three years, and business management faculty members. The results identify 14 knowledge, skill, and value‐based competencies and three higher‐order factors as essential components within the MAMP management function. There was considerable consistency in the perceptions of the three groups in evaluating the importance of these competencies, with the exception that first‐level managers placed greater importance on technical skills for daily MAMP activities than upper management.
In situ visualization of interface dynamics during the double laser recrystallization of amorphous silicon thin films

Abstract A new double laser recrystallization technique utilizing a temporally modulated continuous wave (CW) Ar + laser in conjunction with a superposed KrF excimer laser has been shown to achieve lateral grain growth on amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin films. In the present investigation, instead of excimer laser, a more adaptable frequency-doubled Q-switched Nd : YLF laser (wavelength λ =524 nm) is utilized. Lateral grains of larger than 20 μm are obtained in 50 nm-thick a-Si films. In order to understand the recrystallization mechanism, high-resolution laser flash photography employing a nitrogen laser-pumped dye laser ( λ =445 nm, full-width-half-maximum pulse duration FWHM=2 ns) as illumination source enables in situ direct visualization of the resolidification process for the first time. The images reveal lateral solidification velocity of about 10 m/s. The nuclei created by the Nd : YLF laser and the reduction in cooling rate by the Ar + laser are important for inducing long lateral grains.
The Effect of Timing of Food Intake on Body Fatness

Abstract This study examined the association of timing of food intake on body fatness, measured by: body mass index (BMI) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Data were taken from seventy-five women from one of two federally funded studies. Subjects who under-reported dietary intake, which had been validated against resting energy expenditure (REE) as assessed via indirect calorimetry, were not part of the present study. Four days (2 weekdays and 2 weekend days) of diet records from each subject were analyzed for kilocalorie and macronutrient content of each of four time periods. The time periods consisted of: 1) morning (midnight to 10:59 a.m.), 2) afternoon (11:00 a.m. – 4:59 p.m.), 3) evening (5:00 p.m. – 7:59 p.m.), and 4) night (8:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.). Nutrient analyses were performed using the DINE nutrient analysis program. Percent body fat as measured by DEXA, and heights and weights were obtained, and BMI was calculated (weight in kg/height in m 2 ). Analyses of covariance and regression analyses were then performed to determine the association between timing of food intake and body fatness. The majority of people consumed more of their kilocalories before 8:00 p.m. than after 8:00 p.m. Neither timing of meals nor fat intake, nor number of eating episodes per day, were associated with BMI or DEXA, even when adjusting for total kilocalories. BMI and DEXA were positively correlated, but BMI underestimated body fatness compared to DEXA. Therefore, eating at night does not appear to influence body fatness, which is consistent with other studies. While strongly correlated with DEXA, BMI should be used with caution, since it may underestimate body fatness.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, apoptosis, and colon-cancer chemoprevention

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can inhibit colorectal tumorigenesis and are among the few agents known to be chemopreventive. Epidemiological studies and experiments with animals have shown that NSAIDs have powerful anticolorectal cancer properties, but the mechanism of these effects remains unclear. NSAIDs can inhibit neoplastic growth by inducing apoptosis in cancer cells; the way they do this is currently an area of intense investigation. The most well-characterised pharmacological feature of NSAIDs is their inhibition of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase (COX), which catalyses the synthesis of prostaglandins. Several studies have shown that COX inhibition prevents cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis. The chemopreventive effects of NSAIDs are thought to occur via this pathway. Other observations indicate that NSAIDs also promote apoptosis through mechanisms that are independent of COX inhibition. This idea is supported by the finding that compounds that are structurally similar to NSAIDs, but do not inhibit COX, also have chemopreventive and proapoptotic properties. COX-dependent and COX-independent mechanisms of apoptosis induction are not mutually exclusive, and it is likely that both have a role in the biological activity of NSAIDs. Knowledge of how NSAIDs prevent neoplastic growth will greatly aid the design of better chemopreventive drugs and novel treatments for colorectal cancer.
Novel mechanisms of aspirin pharmacologic actions: a model for studying herbal natural products.

Aspirin is one of the most commonly used drugs. It is derived from a native product isolated from willow bark extracts. Historically, willow bark extracts were found to be effective in controlling pain and other inflammatory symptoms of arthritis. Salicylic acid was identified to be an active ingredient. Salicylic acid was found to have inflammatory actions but was unpleasant and patients could not tolerate it. By adding an acetyl group to the second position of the 2 hydroxybenzoic acid (salicylic acid), the compound, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or aspirin) (Fig. 1), was tasteless and became highly acceptable. Aspirin has been on the market for over a century. Besides its effects on controlling pain and inflammatory symptoms, aspirin is a highly effective antithrombotic agent. The antithrombotic action is attributed to its inhibition of platelet cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) activity. Aspirin enters COX-1 substrate channel, acetylates a serine resi-
On Accurate Energy Consumption Models for Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Energy conservation is important for ad hoc networks. However, little effort has been made to carefully study the energy cost metrics upon which the design of various energy efficient algorithms is based. More specifically, most existing energy consumption models only considered energy cost of exchanging data packets, although common wireless protocols also need control packets (e.g., ACK) for reliable data transmissions. Without considering the energy cost of exchanging control packets, these existing models tend to underestimate the actual energy consumption, and thus leading to suboptimal energy efficient designs. In this paper, we develop energy consumption models that take into account energy consumption due to data packets, control packets and retransmission. We verify by simulations that our models match the actual energy consumption much better than existing models. In addition, we show that a minimum energy routing protocol based on an accurate model of ours performs much better than those based on existing models
Sequential changes in compliance and resistance after bolus administration or slow infusion of surfactant in preterm infants

Objective. As bolus instillation of surfactant can lead to acute pulmonary, hemodynamic and cerebral side effects, we tested whether pulmonary mechanics and gas exchange differ between slow surfactant infusion and bolus administration.
Head gesture recognition in intelligent interfaces: the role of context in improving recognition

Acknowledging an interruption with a nod of the head is a natural and intuitive communication gesture which can be performed without significantly disturbing a primary interface activity. In this paper we describe vision-based head gesture recognition techniques and their use for common user interface commands. We explore two prototype perceptual interface components which use detected head gestures for dialog box confirmation and document browsing, respectively. Tracking is performed using stereo-based alignment, and recognition proceeds using a trained discriminative classifier. An additional context learning component is described, which exploits interface context to obtain robust performance. User studies with prototype recognition components indicate quantitative and qualitative benefits of gesture-based confirmation over conventional alternatives.
Oral methotrexate therapy for chronic rheumatoid arthritis ulcerations.

Eight patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis and cutaneous vasculitis ulcerations resistant to conventional therapy were treated successfully witha low-dose intermittent regimen of oral methotrexate. Objective clinical response was prompt and complete resolution was observed at about 12 weeks of therapy. The drug was well tolerated. Mild gastrointestinal side effects were the most common untoward reaction. We conclude that methotrexate therapy is an effective agent for some of the extraarticular manifestationsof rheumatoid arthritis including vasculitis, and further clinical evaluation should be a consideration.
Exploiting depth camera for 3D spatial relationship interpretation

Interpretation of spatial relations between objects is essential to many applications such as robotics, video surveillance, spatial reasoning, and scene understanding. Current models for spatial logic are two-dimensional. With the advance in new sensing technology, inexpensive depth sensors become widely available and 3D scene reconstruction can be applied in various application scenarios. In this paper, we propose a 3D spatial logic and algorithms for interpretation of spatial relationships among objects in 3D space. More specifically, these techniques are developed for LVDBMS (Live Video DataBase Management System), a generic platform for live video computing. We extend the original directional relationships into 3D directional relationships, and introduce a simple yet effective way to build 3D object models based on depth sensors. A highly accurate and efficient algorithm is also proposed to compute the spatial relationships between two objects by sampling the entire space from the reference object. Experimental results based on a real indoor scene and an RGB-D dataset are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of our techniques.
Typhoid fever cases in the U.S. military

Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), a causative agent of enteric fever (typhoid fever), predominately affects populations in developing regions with poor access to clean food and water. In addition, travelers to these regions are at risk of exposure. We report the epidemiological characteristics of S. Typhi cases among active duty United States military personnel from 1998 to 2011 using data obtained from the Defense Medical Surveillance System. Cases were identified based on International Classification for Disease Ninth Edition - Clinical Modification codes. We identified a total of 205 cases S. Typhi for an incidence of 1.09 per 100,000 person-years. Cases were on average 31.7 years old, predominately married (n = 129, 62.9 %), Caucasian (n = 142, 69.3 %), male (n = 176, 85.9 %), and had a high school education (n = 101, 49.3 %). Of the identified cases, 122 had received a Typhoid vaccination within 4 years of diagnosis. This study provides an overview of enteric fever in the United States military. The incidence was similar to the general U.S. population except for increased incidence from 1998 to 2000, perhaps attributable to operational deployments in that period. Given that vaccination is an effective primary prevention measure against typhoid fever, active monitoring of pre-deployment vaccine history is warranted.