cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis during treatment with recombinant growth hormone for isolated, partial growth hormone deficiency

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis occurs most commonly in children during the peripubertal period and is associated with trauma or obesity I or, less frequently, with endocrine imbalance, including growth hormone deficiency 25 and hypothyroidism. 6 In a retrospective study of children with GH deficiency, 21 children with SCFE were identified among 7719 patients on GH registries. This cumulative incidence of 272 per 100,000 significantly exceeded the expected values (45/100,000 girls and 123/100,000 boys 5,7). The majority of cases previously described had GH deficiency associated with brain tumors, structural abnormalities, or trauma. 24 All of 11 children with additional endocrine data were described as having multiple pituitary deficiencies.4, 5 Pituitary-derived GH was available for only the most severely affected patients. Currently, children with partial GH deficiency or other forms of short stature may receive GH treatment. We report two patients with isolated, idiopathic GH deficiency and one with Turner syndrome in whom SCFE developed during treatment with recombinant GH. METHODS Evaluation for short stature included one or more standard GH provocative tests with arginine, 0.5 gm/kg administered as an intravenous infusion for 30 minutes, insulin-induced hypoglycemia, 0.l U/kg administered as an intravenous bolus, or levodopa, 500 mg administered orally. Deficiency of GH was defined as a peak GH response _< 10.0
Measuring the benefits of air quality improvements: A hedonic salary approach☆

Abstract This paper estimates the compensating variation associated with nonmarginal changes in air quality using a hedonic salary model and 1970 data collected for a national sample of university professors. Recent advances in the theory of hedonic prices are utilized in constructing the theoretical model and formulating a procedure for generating empirical estimates. Lower bound estimates of the compensating variation associated with a one standard deviation increase in total suspended particulates (27.6 mgs/cu. meter/24 hours) were $419 for full professors, $234 for associate professors, and $209 for assistant professors in 1970. These results were not sensitive to the specification of the hedonic salary equation.
Controlled S-nitrosation

Protein nitrosation is an important signaling mechanism in vivo; however, mechanisms for selective nitric oxide modification of cysteines have not been described. Thioredoxin is now shown to rapidly and site-specifically catalyze S-nitrosation of an active site cysteine of caspase-3.
Edge analytics as service — A service oriented framework for real time and personalised recommendation analytics

Due to the advent of technology and internet over the past few years, significant number of customers have started shopping online and accessing their bank account through various channels like Netbanking, Mobile banking etc. In this paper, we describe Edge Analytics framework which deliver analytics as a service that can be hosted by a financial institute like Bank for delivering personalized offer in real time on thier netbanking portals or on other channels. This edge analytics service can be accessed through edge APIs plugged into netbanking portals. It access the recent transactions in the log to determine offers for the customer and therefore, saving a lot of resources and effort by fetching the data from the main warehouse. Edge analytics server capability has been enhanced by incorprating knowledge such as user's intent and interest from their social media profile by identifying their identity on the Online social network. This information is then feed into rule engine to generate customised offers for each user using both enterprise and social information. Edge Analytics service has been hosted on cloud which renders it scalability factor and allows different third party provders to make use of the service easily..
Optical Studies of the Ultraluminous X-Ray Source NGC 1313 X-2

NGC 1313 X-2 was among the first ultraluminous X-ray sources discovered, and has been a frequent target of X-ray and optical observations. Using the HST ACS multiband observations, this source is identified with a unique counterpart within an error circle of 0.2''. The counterpart is a blue star on the edge of a young cluster of ≤107 yr amid a dominant old stellar population. Its spectral energy distribution is consistent with that for a Z = 0.004 star with 8.5 M☉ about 5 × 106 yr old, or for an O7 V star at solar metallicity. The counterpart exhibited significant variability of Δm = 0.153 ± 0.033 mag between two F555W observations separated by 3 months, reminiscent of the ellipsoidal variability due to the orbital motion of this ULX binary.
Nonlinear Ionic Conductivity in Alkali-Halide Crystals

Nonlinearity in the electrical conductivity of NaCl and other alkali-halide crystals has been measured by a sensitive ac method. There is a component of current proportional to the cube of the voltage. The ratio of this component to the total current is about +${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$, at an electric field of 2000 V/cm and a frequency of ${10}^{3}$ cps. This ratio is only slightly dependent on temperature, over a range which includes both extrinsic and intrinsic ionic conduction. The nonlinearity is about ${10}^{3}$ times what would be expected on the basis of simple ionic-conductivity theory. The type of dependence upon temperature, voltage, and specimen thickness, and the nondependence upon electrode material or preparation, favor an interpretation that the non-linearity is a bulk property. But there is a frequency dependence, at least at the lower temperatures, which favors an interpretation in terms of space charge or boundary layers. A number of conceivable mechanisms have been examined, but none seem to offer an explanation.
EXTENSION OF THE RELATIONAL DATABASE AND ITS ALGEBRA WITH ROUGH SET TECHNIQUES

This paper describes a database model based on the original rough sets theory. Its rough relations permit the representation of a rough set of tuples not definable in terms of the elementary classes, except through use of lower and upper approximations. The rough relational database model also incorporates indiscernibility in the representation and in all the operators of the rough relational algebra. This indiscernibility is based strictly on equivalence classes which must be defined for every attribute domain. There are several obvious applications for which the rough relational database model can more accurately model an enterprise than does the standard relational model. These include systems involving ambiguous, imprecise, or uncertain data. Retrieval over mismatched domains caused by the merging of one or more applications can be facilitated by the use of indiscernibility, and naive system users can achieve greater recall with the rough relational database. In addition, applications inherently rough could be more easily implemented and maintained in the rough relational database.
Hyperconjugation and its role in group IV chemistry

The perturbational molecular orbital treatment of hyperconjugation (σ-π conjugation), in conjunction with CNDO/2 calculations, is applied to rationalize trends in a number of experimental properties of compounds of C, Si, Ge, and Sn. The molecular features, i.e. geometries, overlap and resonance integrals, orbital energies, and electron densities, which determine the magnitude of hyperconjugation are defined, and estimated from either experimental properties or from CNDO/2 calculations on model compounds. The relative roles of hyperconjugation, (p-d)π bonding, and inductive effects, in determining trends in properties such as ionization and reduction potentials, electrophilic reactivity, electronic spectra, and charge distribution are analyzed. In addition, speculations on the importance of σ-n and σ-σ conjugation in organometallic compounds are presented, and supported by CNDO/2 calculations and experimental data.
New guided-wave acousto-optic and electro-optic devices using LiNbO3

Abstract This paper consists of two major parts: (1) experimental demonstration of four potential applications using wideband guided-wave acousto-optic Bragg-devices which utilize multiple-tilted surface acoustic waves, (2) preliminary results on two new guided-wave electro-optic devices, using simple tilted-electrode and apodized-electrode array structures, respectively. Excellent performance figures with the two categories of devices, using Y-cut LiNbO3 waveguides, have been achieved. The devices should be suited for many applications in future wideband fiber and integrated optic systems.
Snow-covered lake ice in GPS multipath reception – Theory and measurement

Speculary reflected signals from the ground can significantly affect the performance of Global Positioning System receivers. For this type of multipath condition, the received powers are primarily the sum of the speculary reflected and direct signals. These reflected signals can provide useful information about the land-surface composition. In this paper, we discuss the special case of a snow-covered frozen lake, with incident energy at 1.57542 GHz with right-hand circularly polarization at elevation angles between 2° and 40°. The relative received powers are computed and measured for various thicknesses of lake ice. The received powers for both theory and measurement have the same behavior throughout a range of elevation angles. The potential for inferring lake ice thickness is explored for a snow-covered lake ice case study.
Early Algebra with Graphics Software as a Type II Application of Technology

Abstract This paper describes the use of Kid Pixgraphics software for creative activities of young children-in the context of early algebra as determined by the mathematics core curriculum of New York state. It shows how grade-two appropriate pedagogy makes it possible to bring about a qualitative change in the learning process of those commonly struggling with mathematics by substituting computer-mediated tasks for algebraic tasks. The pedagogy is analyzed along the lines of Vygotsky's theory of using tools and signs in the internalization of higher psychological functions.
Effect of natural modifications on the functional properties of extracellular bacterial polysaccharides

Abstract Extracellular bacterial polysacharides comprise the capsules and slimes secreted by many bacteria. Little is known about the features of the chemical structure which are of importance in determining the helical conformation and inter- or intramolecular associations of these polysaccharides. An understanding of such structure-function relationships is hampered by the often complex chemical repeat units of these bacterial polysaccharides. One approach is to investigate and compare the properties of families of polysaccharides in which individual members of the group show small naturally arising modifications to the chemical structure. This approach is illustrated by studies which show the effects of changes in the polymer backbone, polymer side chains and non-carbohydrate substituents on polymer functionality. It is shown how such studies form a basis for explaining and optimizing the industrial applications of bacterial polysaccharides and for understanding the natural roles of extracellular polysaccharides.
Cytoplasts can transfer factor(s) that stimulate quiescent fibroblasts to enter S phase

Cytoplasts prepared from fibroblasts arrested by hydroxyurea were fused with serum-arrested, quiescent fibroblasts. In contrast to unfused mono-nucleated cells in the same culture, a sizable fraction of these cybridoids entered S phase in the absence of extracellular serum stimulation. Because DNA synthesis commenced only after a considerable lag following fusion, it was concluded that the cytoplasts contain factors which initiate the progression of quiescent cells toward S phase.
Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in endothelial cells is differentially regulated by shear stress. Role of c-Myc.

Abstract Atherosclerotic plaques preferentially localize to areas of the vasculature with complex laminar or oscillatory blood flow. Prior data implicate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. In cultured endothelial cells, oscillatory but not unidirectional shear significantly increases MMP-9 mRNA as well as secretion of the MMP-9 protein (p < 0.05). In contrast, cell-associated protein levels of Tissue Inhibitor of MMP 1 (TIMP-1), an inhibitor of MMP-9, are insensitive to the shear regimen. To investigate transcriptional regulation of MMP-9 gene expression, we utilized retroviral-based reporter constructs containing different lengths of the human MMP-9 promoter. The activity of the full MMP-9 promoter is 3-fold higher (p < 0.05) in unidirectional shear compared with static conditions, and the activity is further increased ∼10-fold by oscillatory shear (p < 0.01) over unidirectional flow. Our data identify a shear-sensitive binding site at –152 in the MMP-9 promoter. We show that the c-Myc transcription factor binds specifically to this site and that reporter constructs in which the c-Myc binding site was abolished lacked the shear responsiveness of native MMP-9 reporter constructs. Our results suggest that endothelial MMP-9 expression is flow-sensitive and is up-regulated by oscillatory flow via activation of c-Myc. This effect may contribute to the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions in areas of vasculature that are subject to disturbed flow.
Benzoylhydrazine carcinogenesis in lungs and lymphoreticular tissues of Swiss mice

Abstract Administration of 0·01% benzoylhydrazine in the drinking water of 6 week old randomly bred Swiss mice for the remainder of their lifetime enhanced the development of lung tumors and malignant lymphomas. The incidence of lung tumors rose from 12 to 68% in the females and from 10 to 63% in the males, while the incidence of malignant lymphomas increased from 14 to 36% in the females and from 1 to 10% in the males, as compared with the controls. The possible mechanism of action of substituted hydrazines in chemical carcinogenesis is discussed in the light of the obtained results.
Sjogern's syndrome.

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune exocrinopathy that affects the salivary and lacrimal glands. It typically presents as the "sicca complex" of dry eyes (xerophthalmia) and dry mouth (xerostomia) along with other symptoms such as arthritis. SS is classified as either primary or secondary. In the primary form, dry eyes and dry mouth occur alone. In the secondary form, the dry eyes and dry mouth occur in the context of another rheumatic disease, most commonly rheumatoid arthritis. There is an increasing list of systemic manifestations affecting the lung, kidney, and nervous system in patients with SS. The skin is affected in half of SS patients. Despite this high frequency of cutaneous involvement, patients with SS are not commonly seen in dermatology practices. SS is underrecognized and underdiagnosed because the cutaneous manifestations are nonspecific (eg, xerosis, pruritus) and less severe than the oral, ocular, or musculoskeletal symptoms. Nonetheless, because of its high prevalence, risk of cutaneous vasculitis, and the increased risk of a lymphoproliferative disorder, it is important for dermatologists to be familiar with SS.
Retention of Fortified Vitamin E and Sensory Quality of Fresh‐Cut Pears by Vacuum Impregnation With Honey

Our hypothesis was that the incorporation of vitamin E into honey-based vacuum impregnation (VI) solution could be a novel approach to develop high-quality and vitamin E-fortified fresh-cut pears (D'Anjou). A 20% diluted wildflower honey VI solution was used with 0.4% to 0.8%α-tocopherol from 3 different sources: α-tocopherol-acetate (VE-acetate), free α-tocopherol (V-OH), or water-soluble α-tocopherol-acetate (VE-H2O) for nutritional fortification of the pear slices. Fresh-cut pear slices were immersed in VI solution and subjected to a vacuum at 100 mm Hg for 15 min following atmospheric restoration for 30 min. Samples were stored at 2 °C and 88% relative humidity up to 2 wk for nutritional, physiochemical, and sensory quality evaluations. Vitamin E content of pears impregnated with honey solution containing VE-acetate, VE-OH, or VE- H2O increased 80 to 100 times and 65% to 80% VE activities were retained during 2 wk storage. Microbial counts were under 2.6 log colony forming unit(CFU)/g pear at the end of 7 d storage, significantly lower than the industrial standard. Instrumental color analysis and sensory evaluation indicated that VE fortified pear slices had significantly higher lightness, lower browning index, and higher consumer acceptance rating than control (unfortified) ones. There is a strong Pearson correlation between instrumental analysis and consumer sensory evaluation in pear color. This study demonstrated a great potential for developing high-quality, vitamin E-fortified fresh-cut pears by use of VI technology with honey, thus further enhancing the health benefit of pears.
2-Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin Removes All-Trans Retinol from Frog Rod Photoreceptors in a Concentration-Dependent Manner

Abstract Purpose: To determine whether a nonprotein lipophilic carrier, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), can remove all-trans retinol from rod photoreceptor outer segments. All-trans retinol is generated in rod outer segments after light exposure. It is highly insoluble, and its efficient transport across extra- and intracellular aqueous space requires specialized carriers. Methods: Experiments were carried out with isolated frog rod photoreceptor cells. The removal of all-trans retinol by different concentrations of this carrier was measured by imaging its fluorescence in single-rod photoreceptors. Results: HP-β-CD concentrations >0.3 mM significantly increased the rate of all-trans retinol removal. The rate of removal increased linearly with carrier concentration, with a slope of 0.0058 min−1/mM. Conclusions: The effectiveness of HP-β-CD shows that a specialized interaction with the cell membrane is not necessary for the efficient transfer of all-trans retinol between the cell membrane and the ...
Synthesis and validation of a degree-day model for navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) development in California almond orchards

Field studies were conducted during three seasons to characterize further the degree-day (DD) accumulation for cohort development of the navel orangeworm, Amelyois transitella (Walker), on mummy almonds. The first substantial adult emergence (3% emergence) occurred after an average of 514 DD (SD = 35.05), and ranged from 490 to 572 DD. Fifty percent emergence occurred after 570–639 DD, with an average value of 607 DD (SD = 29.23). Degree-day accumulation for male development was consistently less than that for females. Predictions of the onset of emergence of the first and second generation moths, based on the degree-day studies in mummies and on previous data on new-crop almonds, were evaluated against data collected in seven orchards. These data consisted of egg trapping counts, orchard temperature measurements, and dates of hullsplit initiation. The onset of second-generation moth emergence, which engenders the very damaging third generation, depended on the time of the onset of the first-generation moth flight in relation to the occurrence of hullsplit initiation, at which time the new crop becomes susceptible to infestation. The degree-day information adequately forecasts the onset of the second-generation moth flight period in six of the seven data sets.
Fuzzy logic approach to ic quality assurance plan selection

The problem of selection of a proper quality assurance and control programme for manufacturing of microelectronics devices is usually solved empirically by analogy with existing situations, or those experienced in the past. This problem is characterized by incomplete comprehension of influencing variables, unknown relationships among them, and their often vague definitions. This makes it an almost perfect candidate for application of methods from the theory of fuzzy sets and approximate reasoning. One such reasoning process is described here using familiar terms from the MIL-HDBK-217E, and is illustrated by an ASIC MOS device example.
Comparative thyroid activity in two species of Peromyscus.

Abstract Thyroid activity in two species of deermice, Peromyscus maniculatus and P. polionotus, was compared by using protein bound iodine (PBI), thyroid secretion rate (TSR), and gland histology as criteria. Peromyscus polionotus showed a significantly higher mean PBI than P. maniculatus bairdii, 2.75 versus 2.22 μg%. In terms of proportion of epithelium and colloid, P. polionotus also averaged approximately 9% more gland epithelium than P. maniculatus bairdii. While significant differences in TSR between the species were not detected, P. polionotus did show a higher mean rate, 1.96 compared with 1.61 μg thyroxine per 100 gm body weight. Thyroid histological structure of these two species was compared. Adult mice were used in all studies. The differences in thyroid activity in the two species are probably insufficient to induce the physiological and developmental disruptions which occur when they are hybridized.
Maternal prenatal anxiety and corticotropin-releasing hormone associated with timing of delivery.

OBJECTIVE: The high rate of preterm births is an imposing public health issue in the United States. Past research has suggested that prenatal stress, anxiety, and elevated levels of maternal plasma corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) are associated with preterm delivery in humans and animals. Studies to date have not examined all three variables together; that is the objective of this paper. METHODS: Data from 282 pregnant women were analyzed to investigate the effect of maternal prenatal anxiety and CRH on the length of gestation. It was hypothesized that at both 18 to 20 weeks (Time 1) and 28 to 30 weeks gestation (Time 2), CRH and maternal prenatal anxiety would be negatively associated with gestational age at delivery. CRH was also expected to mediate the relationship between maternal prenatal anxiety and gestational age at delivery. RESULTS: Findings supported the mediation hypothesis at Time 2, indicating that women with high CRH levels and high maternal prenatal anxiety at 28 to 30 weeks gestation delivered earlier than women with lower CRH levels and maternal prenatal anxiety. Women who delivered preterm had significantly higher rates of CRH at both 18 to 20 weeks gestation and 28 to 30 weeks gestation (p <.001) compared with women who delivered term. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are the first to link both psychosocial and neuroendocrine factors to birth outcomes in a prospective design.
DECISION MAKING WITH BELIEF STRUCTURES: AN APPLICATION IN RISK MANAGEMENT

This paper examines the problem of selecting an alternative in situations in which there exists uncertainty in our knowledge of the state of the world. We show how the ordered weighted averaging aggregation operators provide a unifying approach to selecting alternatives under uncertainty. In particular, we see how these operators provide a type of probability associated with our degree of optimism. We also show how the Dempster-Shafer belief structure provides a general framework for representing the information a decision maker has regarding relevant events. We then propose a methodology for decision making under uncertainty, integrating the ordered weighted averaging aggregation operators and the Dempster-Shafer belief structure. The proposed methodology is applied to a real world case involving risk management at one of the nation’s largest banks.
What Links the Chain: An Essay on Organizational Remembering as Practice

In this essay, we review, critique, and reconceptualize organization theory’s understanding of organizational memory. We find that organization theorists have underestimated the historicity of memory, its associative character, and social-psychological constitution. The critical impetus of the literature review translates in the body of the paper into an alternative perspective that posits organizational remembering as a collective, historically and culturally situated practice rather than as an object of cognition. Remembering is considered crucial to maintaining a sense of continuity and shared identity in organizations by actively constructing meaning. Our conceptualization of remembering focuses on the ‘softer’ qualities of the process such as culture, tradition, the person, emotion, and forgetting that traditionally were neglected or oversimplified in organization studies. Finally, we explore how a critical approach to the study of organizational remembering gives voice to socially contested issues s...
Four simple rules for leading change

Looks at approaches to leading change, aiming to ensure that change is a positive rather than a negative experience for those involved. Considers factors which help in the change process and those which do not and offers four simple rules as guidelines for change. These include factors such as having a clear goal and the creation of trust and buy‐in from those involved. Provides real‐life examples of these rules at work. Considers the importance of having valid measures of performance and of testing reality ‐ i.e. not assuming change is working.
The financial impact of underestimating personnel needs associated with implementing a computerized patient record in the intensive care unit.

Abstract Purpose We tracked the cost of implementing a computerized patient record across 3 intensive care units at a large pediatric hospital. Materials and Methods This is a descriptive case study. We compared our initial budget estimates at the time of purchase with the actual expenditures during phase 1 implementation. Results The total estimated phase 1 implementation cost was $2 945 339, and the actual cost was $3 973 235, a difference of more than $1 million and 35% higher than anticipated. The initial budget breakdown was 51% software, 28% hardware, and 21% personnel. Our actual cost breakdown was 41% software, 23% hardware, and 37% personnel. Software costs were 7% more than budgeted. Hardware costs were 8% more than budgeted. Personnel costs were 139% higher than anticipated and accounted for 83% of our underestimation of costs. Conclusions Personnel costs are a significant portion of the costs of implementing a computerized patient record. Underestimation of these costs could have a negative fiscal impact on a hospital.
A security assessment of the minos architecture

Minos is a microarchitecture that implements Biba's low-water-mark integrity policy on individual words of data. Months of testing have revealed a robust system that stops attacks which corrupt control data to hijack program control flow. The low-water-mark policy is orthogonal to the memory model so that it works with existing software and middleware. The key is that Minos tracks the integrity of all data, but protects control flow by checking this integrity when a program uses the data for control transfer. Existing policies, in contrast, need to differentiate between control and non-control data a priori.Our implementation of Minos for Red Hat Linux 6.2 on a Pentium-based emulator is a usable Linux system on the network. We have demonstrated that Minos protects against a menagerie of real control data attacks, not just buffer overflows. This paper will detail our security assessments of Minos and other hardware and software mechanisms designed to stop the same class of attacks. We conclude that while Minos is substantially more secure than other approaches, existing C programs lack the semantic information necessary to totally secure their control flow. More details about the implementation of Minos are available in [1].
Modulation of dl-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA)/quisqualate receptors by phospholipase A2 treatment

The expression of long-term potentiation (LTP) in area CA1 of hippocampus has been proposed to result from an increased sensitivity of the AMPA/quisqualate receptors. We have investigated the binding properties of excitatory amino acid receptors in phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-treated rat brain membranes. PLA2 from bee venom produced a significant increase in the binding of [3H]-AMPA ([3H]-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4- propionate), a ligand for the AMPA/quisqualate receptor. Analysis of the saturation kinetics revealed that PLA2 treatment increased the affinity of the AMPA/quisqualate receptor without changing the maximum number of sites. In contrast, PLA2 treatment did not detectably modify the binding of [3H]-kainate to the kainate receptor and of [3H]-glutamate and [3H]-glycine to the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor complex. These finding suggest that phospholipase A2 may regulate the AMPA/quisqualate receptor and could play an important role in the development of LTP.
Evidence of a role for the vomeronasal organ in social hierarchy in feedlot cattle

Abstract This is study of the effects of obstructing the opening to the vomeronasal organ (VNO) on feed consumption, weight gain and social structure of 22 2-year-old Santa Gertrudis steers under experimental feedlot conditions. Obstructions were produced by either cautery or plugging of the duct that leads to the VNO. Feed intake and weight gain were similar in all 3 groups (control, cauterized and plugged) before, during and after the 4-week experiment. The pre-treatment social hierarchy, determined by conventional inter-individual aggression contests, was distinctly changed, and higher ranking pre-treatment steers generally lost rank and lower ranking steers gained rank. Treated steers (plugged and cauterized) often gained rank over controls. Thus, we are led to postulate that the VNO has a role in the aggressive behaviors that contribute to social hierarchy in the bovine.
Hepatic neutrophil influx: eicosanoid and superoxide formation in endotoxemia.

Abstract We examined early changes, at 0.5, 1.5, and 3 hr of infusion of a nonlethal dose of Escherichia coli endotoxin (ET) in neutrophil (PMN) sequestration in the liver and accompanying alterations in [1- 14 C]arachidonic acid metabolism and superoxide anion release by Kupffer and endothelial cells and PMNs. One hundred fifty micrograms ET (268 μg/kg) was infused over 3 hr. Shorter infusions delivered proportionally less ET. By 30 min of ET infusion the number of PMNs in the 45 ml/min fraction was 2.41 × 10 7 , eightfold higher than that in the NaCl-infused rats, representing 35.90 ± 3.49% ( n = 7) of the total cell yield vs 8.20 ± 0.20% ( n = 4) in NaCl controls. By 90 and 180 min of ET infusion the number of PMNs and their share of the total cell yield increased significantly further. Cells were separated by elutriation, followed by application of a Ficoll-Hypaque gradient, when appropriate. Kupffer cells and PMNs were recovered in the 45 ml/min fraction, endothelial cells in the 23 ml/min fraction. At 30 min of ET infusion the profile of arachidonic acid metabolites released from [1- 14 C]arachidonic acid-prelabeled nonparenchymal cells upon A23187 stimulation was not different from that of cells of NaCl-infused rats. Infusion of ET for 90 min accentuated PMN infiltration, and resulted in significant modulation of the eicosanoid profile, consisting of a major shift in PGD 2 /PGE 2 to PGE 2 , and LTB 4 and 12-HETE accounting for 34% of the total eicosanoids, compared to 12.9% in time-matched NaCL controls. At 90 min of ET infusion, the mixture of Kupffer cells and PMNs manifested priming for superoxide release upon in vitro stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate and opsonized zymosan. The different time courses of PMN influx and alterations of arachidonic acid metabolism and respiratory burst activity suggest that the mere influx of neutrophils is not sufficient and adequate time for intercellular communication is necessary for the expression of ET-induced changes in paracrine or autocrine regulation of arachidonate metabolism and proximal host defense mechanisms.
Cotyledon expansion as a bioassay for cytokinins.

The activity of cytokinins in stimulating cell division formed the basis for the original techniques for their bioassay (12, 13) and for later modifications (6,7,8). In the subsequent decade, as various other activities of cytokinins blecame evident, numerous other types of stimulations have been employed in bioassays. These include cytokinin stimulations of Lemna frond growth (2), of seed germination (11), of leaf enlargement (4), or the cytokinin deferral of leaf senescence (9). Each of .these assay techniques has limitations, being relatively complicated, utilizing relatively large volumes of solution, requiring relatively lbng time periods as in the case of the tissue culture assays, or being relatively insensitive or non-specific for cytokinins. We have found that the growth of the cotyledon tissue of Xanthium expresses a large and rapid cytokinin response which can be obtained in very small solution volumes, and which is sensitive to cytokinin concentrations as low as 10-8 M. The procedure for bioassay is as follows. The seeds of Xanthium pensylvanicum Wallr. are removed from the burred fruit using a razor cut along the side of the bur, avoiding damage to the seeds. Selecting either the large (upper) or the small (lower) seeds for any given experiment, three 3 mm sections are cut from the center of the seed, discarding the end pieces. The 3 sections are each cut again longitudinally, and the 6 pieces are placed on wet filter paper for 5 to 7 hr to complete the first phase of water uptake (1). The pieces are then rinsed in distilled water, and separated into the 2 cotyledonary pieces, resulting in 12 pieces of tissue from each seed. Ten randomized pieces are used for each cytokinin determination, and after initial weight of the group of 10 has been taken, each group is placed on filter paper moistened with the solution to be tested. For solutions in generous supply we
Measures, Explanations and the Past: Should 'Special' Initial Conditions be Explained?

For the generalizations of thermodynamics to obtain, it appears that a very 'special' initial condition of the universe is required. Is this initial condition itself in need of explanation? I argue that it is not. In so doing, I offer a framework in which to think about 'special' initial conditions in all areas of science, though I concentrate on the case of thermodynamics. I urge the view that it is not always a serious mark against a theory that it must posit an 'improbable' initial condition.
Transient electro-oculogram impairment in unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy.

Unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy (UAIM) is a rare distinct entity characterized by acute exudative maculopathy occurring in young persons. The purpose of this case study is to report transient electro-oculogram (EOG) impairment during the acute stage of UAIM. A 16-year-old healthy female with UAIM in the left eye underwent serial visual field, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, full-field electroretinogram (ERG), and EOG. Initial visual acuity of the affected left eye was 4/200 with macular subretinal exudates. Indocyanine green angiography disclosed early phase foveal hypocyanescence persisting into late phase along with late phase foci of pinpoint hypocyanescence scattered in the macular and mid-peripheral regions. Standard full-field ERG responses performed 18 days after the onset of symptoms were normal. Standard EOG revealed a marked reduced light-peak to dark-trough amplitude ratio (Arden ratio) of 1.20 left eye (normal ≥ 1.7) and a normal ratio of 2.24 right eye. Five weeks later, the left eye improved to 20/50, and the exudative maculopathy resolved with residual irregular foveal hyperpigmentation. Repeat EOG performed 69 days after onset of symptoms showed recovery and normalization of the EOG amplitude ratio of the left eye from 1.20 to 2.54. Transient EOG impairment with a normal full-field ERG may occur during the early stage of UAIM. This finding suggests a more widespread dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium in at least some cases of UAIM.
Electrokinetic Focusing in Microfabricated Channel Structures

Glass microchips are fabricated to demonstrate two-dimensional spatial confinement of ions and fluids using electrokinetic forces. Neutral and charged molecular samples can be electrokinetically focused to widths as narrow as 3.3 μm in a 18 μm long by 18 μm wide chamber. The electrokinetic focusing characteristics are tested using cationic, neutral, and anionic samples to evaluate the influence of electric fields on the sample stream. Focusing is achieved using electrophoresis, electroosmosis, or a combination of the two. In addition, concentration enhancement is observed in the focusing chamber by employing sample stacking, and the focusing chamber is multiplexed to confine spatially more than one sample stream simultaneously.
Additional modes of deformation twinning in magnesium

Abstract Evidence is presented for the existence of two additional modes of deformation twinning, {3034} and {1013}, produced by tensile stress parallel to the basal plane in magnesium single crystals. The crystallographic mechanism of formation of {3034} twins is discussed in detail because fracture occurs by a parting mechanism in this twin. The temperature dependence of both modes of twinning, in the range of − 190−286°C, is unusual in that they are formed most readily at higher temperatures.
Radiationless transitions of point imperfections in solids

Abstract Radiationless transitions can be classified either as static processes which proceed from thermal equilibrium or dynamic processes which occur during rapid relaxation. Theoretical descriptions of both processes are surveyed and assessed, following discussion of physical principles. Cited examples of static processes include thermal ionization of F centers and thermal quenching of fluorescence of rare-earth and transition-metal impurities. Dynamic processes are exemplified by athermal fluorescence quenching in color centers, recombination-enhanced defect reactions in semiconductors and insulators, and intersystem crossing in transition-metal impurities.
Dynamic partitioning method for piecewise‐linear VLSI circuit simulation

This paper presents a method for dynamically partitioning circuit equations for time-point relaxation-based electrical circuit simulation techniques. the non-linear element characteristics are approximated by piecewise-linear (PWL) functions. the dynamic partitioning is carried out at every iteration during the solution process by comparing integers representing region numbers in the PWL functions, and only those PWL elements that change regions are involved in the repartitioning process. In many instances the circuit is automatically partitioned into completely d.c.-disconnected subcircuits, which result in speeding up the convergence of the relaxation process. the approach has been implemented in a computer program for transient analysis of MOS VLSI circuits. Computational speeds of two orders of magnitude or more as compared to standard circuit simulation have been observed in solving small circuits on a serial computer without much loss in accuracy. the speed improvement is expected to be higher as the size of the circuit increases. Simulation using the dynamic partitioning method on a parallel computer indicates an efficient use of the processors, and corresponding improvement in speed.
Effects of Feedback on Design Space Exploration

The ultimate goal of this research is to provide computer based educational software that exposes engineering students to design tradeoffs early in their undergraduate experience. This paper investigates two feedback elements for their ability to enhance those students’ understanding of the tradeoffs inherent in a water rocket propulsion design problem: 1) a Latin hypercube sample that allows the student to select a starting point and 2) sensitivity values that displayed local gradient information. Assessments are made using data logged during the students’ interaction with the software and a series of quizzes performed throughout the study. The results indicate that the sensitivity information improves the students’ ability to locate designs with good performance, while the Latin hypercube adversely affects the students’ ability to visualize the objective space.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Source apportionment with one source unknown

Abstract Attribution of local pollution to area sources is essential to effective management of the environment. Source apportionment addresses the problem by statistical inference of source contributions to total pollution from observations of ambient air chemical composition. Mass balance methods of source apportionment use linear models with chemical composition vectors of sources as covariates. Historically, mass balance methods have assumed that at least a proxy of each covariate is available and has been accounted for. We attempt to adapt the mass balance method to the case in which unidentified sources may exist by estimating an unknown, possibly ‘background’, source. Further, we allow source contributions to pollution to vary over time, creating a model with a ‘structural’ parameter and infinitely many ‘incidental’ parameters. We treat the ‘incidental’ source contribution parameters as random quantities. Investigating the properties of the distribution governing relative source contributions is then of interest. Reasonable identifiability constraints are required in this context. Nonparametric estimation of the unknown source is possible under such constraints but is impractical for small samples which are measured with error. Therefore, we develop a parametric model for the distribution of the observations and examine estimates based on this model.
Thinking with things: Hannah Woolley to Hannah Arendt

This essay reads Hannah Woolley's seventeenth-century cookbook, The Queen-like Closet, for scenes of judgment, with some help from Hannah Arendt. The larger aim is to draw both authors together around questions of shelter, dwelling, action and activity.
The Radioactive Isotopes of Indium

It is shown that radioactive isotopes of indium may be formed possessing ten distinct half-lives ranging from 13 seconds to 50 days. By producing the various isotopes with different methods of excitation and measuring the energies of the beta- and gamma-radiations emitted by each, it now becomes possible to assign with reasonable certainty each radioactivity to an isotope of a particular mass number. Energy level diagrams can be constructed for certain of the excited nuclei. Increased resolution of the magnetic beta-ray spectrometer now makes it possible to identify positively the element in which internally converted gamma-rays are emitted. This is accomplished by observing the differences in the $K\ensuremath{-}$, $L\ensuremath{-}$ and $M$-conversion electron energies and comparing with known binding energies obtained from x-ray analysis. The total conversion coefficients are observed in several cases, and the ratios of $K$- to $L$-conversion coefficients for individual gamma-rays are used to compute the probable energy level spin values on the basis of present theory. A radioactivity of 50-day half-life assigned to ${\mathrm{In}}^{114}$ is shown to consist of a gamma-ray emission followed by a beta-ray of half-life 72 seconds and energy 1.98 Mev. It thus becomes possible to observe the form of this beta-spectrum in the magnetic spectrometer, and since it is an allowed transition it is significant to compare it with the present theory of beta-decay which has been developed only for transitions of this type and until now always tested by measurements on forbidden spectra. Within the probable errors the experimental results conform with the theoretical predictions of the Fermi theory.
Water stress impacts on bacterial carbon monoxide oxidation on recent volcanic deposits.

Water availability oscillates dramatically on young volcanic deposits, and may control the distribution and activity of microbes during early stages of biological succession. Carbon monoxide (CO)-oxidizing bacteria are among the pioneering colonists on volcanic deposits and are subjected to these water stresses. We report here the effects of water potential on CO-oxidizing bacteria in unvegetated (bare) and vegetated (canopy) sites on a 1959 volcanic deposit on Kilauea Volcano (Hawai'i). Time course measurements of water potential showed that average water potentials in the surface layer (0–1 cm) of canopy soil remained between −0.1 and 0 MPa, whereas dramatic diurnal oscillations (for example, between −60 and 0 MPa) occur in bare site surface cinders. During a moderate drying event in situ (−1.7 to 0 MPa), atmospheric CO consumption by intact bare site cores decreased 2.7-fold. For bare and canopy surface samples, maximum potential CO oxidation rates decreased 40 and 60%, respectively, when water potentials were lowered from 0 to −1.5 MPa in the laboratory. These observations indicated that CO oxidation is moderately sensitive to changes in water potential. Additional analyses showed that CO oxidation resumes within a few hours of rehydration, even after desiccation at −150 MPa for 63 days. Samples from both sites exposed to multiple cycles of drying and rewetting (−80 to 0 MPa), lost significant activity after the first cycle, but not after subsequent cycles. Similar responses of CO oxidation in both sites suggested that active CO-oxidizing communities in bare and canopy sites do not express differential adaptations to water stress.
Effects of low substrate temperature and ion assisted deposition on composition, optical properties, and stress of ZnS thin films

ZnS thin films were deposited with and without ion assisted deposition onto substrates held at temperatures ranging from -120 to 50 degrees C. Effects on chemical and crystalline composition, film microstructure, refractive index, stress, and waveguide losses were investigated. We observed that minimum stress and minimum losses occurred at the same deposition temperature (-50 degrees C) in ZnS films, which also corresponded to a quenching of crystallinity.
Abnormal Glycosylation of Procathepsin L Due to N-terminal Point Mutations Correlates with Failure to Sort to Lysosomes

A single point mutation in the lysosomal proenzyme receptor-inhibiting sequence near the N terminus of mouse procathepsin L can result in glycosylation of a normally cryptic site near its C terminus. When alanine replaced His36, Arg38, or Tyr40, the nascent chain of the mutant protein cotranslationally acquired a high mannose oligosaccharide chain at Asn268. In contrast, when alanine replaced Ser34, Arg37, or Leu39, this second carbohydrate chain was not added. This alternating pattern of abnormal glycosylation suggested that propeptide residues 36-40 normally assume an extended conformation having the side chains of residues 36, 38, and 40 facing in the same direction. When tyrosine conservatively replaced His36 or lysine replaced Arg38, Asn268 was not glycosylated. But the procathepsin L mutant having phenylalanine in place of Tyr40 was glycosylated at Asn268, which indicates that the hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl group of Tyr40 and the carboxylate group of Asp82 is necessary for normal folding of the nascent proenzyme chain. Mutation of the adjacent alpha2p (ERININ) helix of the propeptide or addition of a C-terminal epitope tag sequence to procathepsin L also induced misfolding of the proenzyme, as indicated by addition of the second oligosaccharide chain. In contrast, the propeptide mutation KAKK99-102AAAA had no effect on carbohydrate modification even though it reduced the positive charge of the proenzyme. Misfolded mutant mouse procathepsin L was not efficiently targeted to lysosomes on expression in human HeLa cells, even though it acquired phosphate on mannose residues. The majority of the mutant protein was secreted after undergoing modification with complex sugars. Similarly, epitope-tagged mouse procathepsin L was not targeted to lysosomes in homologous mouse cells but was efficiently secreted. Since production of mature endogenous protease was not reduced in cells expressing the tagged protein, the tagged protein did not compete with endogenous procathepsin L for targeting to lysosomes.