cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antenatal hydronephrosis: Evaluation and outcome

We present a comprehensive and current review of the etiology, evaluation, treatment, and outcome of antenatal hydronephrosis. When a diagnosis of antenatal hydronephrosis is made, many questions regarding pregnancy, prenatal care, intervention, and what may be expected after birth are raised. Debate and controversy exist on the diagnosis and subsequent evaluation and management of the child with antenatal hydronephrosis. A review of the literature and our own experience with antenatal hydronephrosis are presented in order to guide the physician who is caring for mother and child.
Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Preschool Children: The “Healthy Start” Project

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a multicomponent cardiovascular health intervention (“Healthy Start”) which included a food service modification in a largely minority Head Start preschool population. The primary outcome measure was the change in serum cholesterol from the beginning to the end of the school year.Methods: Nine Head Start centers in Upstate N.Y. were assigned to either food service modification or control conditions. In addition, half of the centers assigned to the food service modification received supplemental nutrition education (FS/NU —food service modification/nutritional education), while the remaining centers were provided with supplemental safety education materials (FS- food service modification only). The control preschool centers (CON) also received supplemental safety educational curricula for children but their food services remained unchanged. Children had serum cholesterol, as well as height and weight measured at the beginning and end of the school year. A generalized li...
Median alpha-levels of a fuzzy number

Three median alpha-levels of a fuzzy number A are introduced. Two of them are based on the vertical and horizontal dimensions of A, one on the cardinality of A. Approximation of fuzzy numbers by alpha-cuts associated with the median alpha-levels is discussed. Percentile characterizations of alpha-cuts with respect to the selected properties of fuzzy numbers are proposed.
The Influence of Red Cell Mechanical Properties on Flow Through Single Capillary-Sized Pores

The resistive pulse technique was used to study the influence of specific mechanical properties of the red cell on its ability to enter and flow through single capillary-sized pores with diameters of 3.6, 5.0 and 6.3 micron and lengths of 11 micron. A two-fold increase in membrane shear elasticity resulted in a 40 percent increase in the cell's transit time through a 3.6 micron pore but produced no change in transit time through a 6.3 micron pore. A two-fold increase in membrane shear viscosity produced a 40 percent increase in transit time through the 3.6 micron pore and small but significant increases in transit times through the larger pores. Osmotically dehydrated cells showed no increase in transit time through a 6.3 micron pore, but showed increases in transit times of 50 to 70 percent through 5.0 and 3.6 micron pores. Dense red cells showed increased transit times through both 5.0 micron and 6.0 micron pores. These results indicate that for cells with normal geometric properties, the membrane's shear viscosity and elasticity only influence the cell's transit through pores of 5 micron or less in diameter. However, alterations in the cell's geometric properties can extend the influence of membrane shear properties to larger diameter pores.
Deuteron electric polarizability

The deuteron electric polarizability is calculated and the various contributions are analyzed theoretically. Upper limits are constructed from zero-range approximations. These analytic approximations explicate the smallness of the deviation of the exact numerical results from the zero-range approximation using no odd-parity forces and no deuteron $D$ state.[NUCLEAR STRUCTURE Electric polarizability.]
Barotropic tides on the southeast New England shelf : a view from a hybrid data assimilative modeling approach

[1] A high-resolution hybrid data assimilative (DA) modeling system is used to study barotropic tides and tidal dynamics on the southeast New England shelf. In situ observations include tidal harmonics of 5 major tidal constituents [M2, S2, N2, O1, and K1] analyzed from coastal sea level and bottom pressure gauges. The DA system consists of both forward and inverse models. The former is the three-dimensional, finite difference, nonlinear Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). The latter is a three-dimensional linearized, frequency domain, finite element model TRUXTON. The DA system assimilates in situ observations via the inversion for the barotropic tidal open boundary conditions (OBCs). Model skill is evaluated by comparing the misfits between the observed and modeled tidal harmonics. The assimilation scheme is found effective and efficient in correcting the tidal OBCs, which in turn improve ROMS tidal solutions. Up to 50% decreases of model/data misfits are achieved after inverse data assimilation. Co-amplitude and co-phase maps and tidal current ellipses for each of 5 tidal constituents are generated, revealing complex tidal variability in this transition region between the tidally amplified Gulf of Maine in the northeast and the tidally much less energetic Middle Atlantic Bight in the southwest. Detailed examinations on the residual circulation, energetics, and momentum balances of the M2 tide reveal the key roles of the unique bottom bathymetry of Nantucket Shoals and the complex coastal geometry in affecting the regional tidal dynamics.
Plasma cell dyscrasia: A case of POEMS syndrome with a unique dermatologic presentation

POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly [hepatosplenomegaly or lymphadenopathy], endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes) syndrome is an uncommon plasma cell dyscrasia with diverse manifestations, including lymphadenopathy as well as those that comprise the acronym. Dermatologic changes may include hyperpigmentation, thickened skin, hypertrichosis, and papular angiomas. These changes are believed to result from humoral products of the plasma cell clone and frequently resolve with treatment of the neoplasm. We describe a man with typical POEMS syndrome with a unique skin lesion: a large, sharply circumscribed, pigmented plaque on the anterior chest wall centered over a plasmacytoma of the sternum. Results of histologic examination showed a proliferation of capillaries of varying size, enlarged fibroblasts, and increased amounts of collagen and proteoglycan from the dermis to the periosteum. Because the outer cortex of the sternum was eroded, peptide mediators of vascular and fibroblast proliferation may have diffused directly from the plasma cell lesion into the tissues of the chest wall.
Estrogen Directly Reverses Cardiac Remodeling Associated with Pulmonary Hypertension Induced Right Ventricular Failure

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) leads to right-ventricular hypertrophy and failure (RVF). RVF involves adverse remodeling of the ventricular extracellular matrix (ECM). Recently we found that estrogen (E2) rescues PH-induced RVF. Here we explore whether the rapid restoration of RV function by E2 therapy during PH-induced RVF is in part due to a direct effect of E2 on the adverse ECM remodeling of the RV. In vivo, rats were injected with monocrotaline. At day 21, when PH had established, rats either received E2 (E2-group) for 10 days or were left untreated to develop RVF (RVF-group). In vitro, co-cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and fibroblasts were treated with Angiotensin II in the presence or absence of E2 (AngII and AngII+E2 resp.). In vivo, E2 reversed RV fibrosis (4.06±0.52% in CTRL, 33±3.2 in RVF, 5.66±0.33% in E2 group, all P<.05). In vitro, E2 similarly inhibited AngII induced increase in Collagen I transcript in cultured myocytes and fibroblasts (1.49±0.04 in AngII, 0.75±0.04 in AngII+E2, normalized to CTRL, p<.05). In vivo, E2 reversed PH induced increases of ECM remodeling enzymes OPN, ADAM15 and ADAM17 in the RV (9.33±2.07 in RVF, 0.45±0.16 in E2 for OPN; 2.13±0.19 in RVF, 0.47±0.07 in E2 for ADAM15; 1.85±0.04 in RVF, 1.3±0.14 in E2 for ADAM17. All normalized to resp. CTRL, all p<0.05). In vitro, E2 also reversed expression of these genes induced by Angiontensin II (2.74±0.19 in AngII, 1.72±0.01 in AngII+E2 for OPN; 1.31±0.06 in AngII, 0.88±0.02 in AngII+E2 for ADAM15; 1.55±0.01 in AngII, 1.09±0.002 in AngII+E2 for ADAM17. All normalized to resp. CTRL, all p<0.05). E2 therapy was associated with complete reversal of RV fibrosis and changes in OPN, ADAM15 and ADAM17 expression. This data indicates that E2 has a direct effect on mitigating the adverse remodeling of the RV during PH.
Kernel selection for power market inference via block successive upper bound minimization

Advanced data analytics are undoubtedly needed to enable the envisioned smart grid functionalities. Towards that goal, modern statistical learning tools are developed for day-ahead electricity market inference. Congestion patterns are modeled as rank-one components in the matrix of spatio-temporal prices. The new kernel-based predictor is regularized by the square root of the nuclear norm of the sought matrix. Such a regularizer not only promotes low-rank solutions, but it also facilitates a systematic kernel selection methodology. The non-convex optimization problem involved is efficiently driven to a stationary point following a block successive upper bound minimization approach. Numerical tests on real high-dimensional market data corroborate the interpretative merits and the computational efficiency of the novel method.
Neuroendocrine consequences of alcohol abuse in women.

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are associated with a broad spectrum of reproductive system disorders. Amenorrhea, anovulation, luteal phase dysfunction, and ovarian pathology may occur in alcohol-dependent women and alcohol abusers. Luteal phase dysfunction, anovulation and persistent hyperprolactinemia have also been observed in social drinkers studied under clinical research ward conditions. The mechanisms underlying alcohol-related disruptions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian-adrenal axis are unknown. The reproductive consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism range from infertility and increased risk for spontaneous abortion to impaired fetal growth and development. Recent studies of alcohol's effects on pituitary gonadotropins and on gonadal, steroid and adrenal hormones in women are reviewed. Research on the acute effects of alcohol on opioid antagonist and synthetic LHRH-stimulated pituitary gonadotropins is summarized. The implications of alcohol's effects on reproductive hormones for impairment of fetal growth and development are discussed. Language: en
Inhibition of calpain but not caspase activity by spectrin fragments

Calpains and caspases are ubiquitous cysteine proteases that are associated with a variety of cellular pathways. Calpains are involved in processes such as long term potentiation, cell motility and apoptosis, and have been shown to cleave non-erythroid (brain) α- and β-spectrin and erythroid β-spectrin. The cleavage of erythroid α-spectrin by calpain has not been reported. Caspases play an important role in the initiation and execution of apoptosis, and have been shown to cleave non-erythroid but not erythroid spectrin. We have studied the effect of spectrin fragments on calpain and caspase activities. The erythroid and non-erythroid spectrin fragments used were from the N-terminal region of α-spectrin, and C-terminal region of β-spectrin, both consisting of regions involved in spectrin tetramer formation. We observed that the all spectrin fragments exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on calpain, but not caspase activity. It is clear that additional studies are warranted to determine the physiological significance of calpain inhibition by spectrin fragments. Our findings suggest that calpain activity is modulated by the presence of spectrin partial domains at the tetramerization site. It is not clear whether the inhibitory effect is substrate specific or is a general effect. Further studies of this inhibitory effect may lead to the identification and development of new therapeutic agents specifically for calpains, but not for caspases. Proteins/peptides with a coiled coil helical conformation should be studied for potential inhibitory effects on calpain activity.
The Influence of Selecting for Large and Small Bursa Size on Adrenal, Spleen, and Thymus Weights

Abstract IT WAS in 1954 that Chang and Glick working with chickens bursectomized by Glick were confronted with the rather startling discovery that the bursa of Fabricius was of prime importance in antibody formation. Since the first two papers by Glick et al. (1956), and Chang et al. (1957), significant publications on the role of the bursa in immunological competence have appeared in laboratories throughout the world, Glick (1964) and Warner and Szenberg (1964). Bursa growth has been found to be significantly influenced by the breed, strain, and family of chickens studied, Glick (1964). The first heritability estimates for bursa size were calculated by Glick (1955a, b; 1956a). These were followed by the study of Jaap (1960). Successful selection for large bursa size was reported by Temple and Jaap (1961). In 1957, we initiated a breeding program designed to develop two lines of chickens which would differ significantly in bursa size… .
The suppression of bromodecarboxylation of salicylic acid by co-ordination

Abstract Co-ordination to chromium (III) has been found to mask the bromodecarboxylation of salicylic acid, with the rate for the ligand being at least 600 times that of the complex. The rate of monobromination of salicylic acid has been found to be extremely rapid, with a minimum second order rate constant of 1·3 × 104 M− sec−1 at 25°C. Under comparable conditions the corresponding rate for the complex is approximately 8 × 102 M−1 sec−1.
Intellectual and motor performance, quality of life and psychosocial adjustment in children with cystinosis.

Cystinosis is a rare multisystemic progressive disorder mandating lifelong medical treatment. Knowledge on the intellectual and motor functioning, health-related quality of life and psychosocial adjustment in children with cystinosis is limited. We have investigated nine patients (four after renal transplantation) at a median age of 9.7 years (range 5.3–19.9 years). Intellectual performance (IP) was analysed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (seven children) and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (two children). Motor performance (MP) was evaluated using the Zurich Neuromotor Assessment Test, and quality of life (QOL) was studied by means of the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research Academical Medical Center Child Quality of Life Questionnaire. Psychosocial adjustment was assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist. The overall intelligence quotient (IQ) of our patient cohort (median 92, range 71–105) was significantly lower than that of the healthy controls (p = 0.04), with two patients having an IQ < 85. Verbal IQ (93, range 76–118) was significantly higher than performance IQ (90, range 68–97; p = 0.03). The MP was significantly below the norm for pure motor, pegboard and static balance, as well as for movement quality. The patients’ QOL was normal for six of seven dimensions (exception being positive emotions), whereas parents reported significant impairment in positive emotions, autonomy, social and cognitive functions. Significant disturbance was noted in terms of psychosocial adjustment. Based on the results from our small patient cohort, we conclude that intellectual and motor performance, health-related QOL and psychosocial adjustment are significantly impaired in children and adolescents with cystinosis.
Factors Affecting the Timing of Purchasing of Butter, Margarine, and Blends: A Competing Goods Analysis

The purchase dynamics of a subset of food fats and oils are investigated using event-history analysis applied to a panel of U.S. households. The consumer behavior examined is the switching between purchases of butter, margarine, and butter/margarine blends across purchase occasions. We find that price, previous purchases, seasonality, and household size and composition affect product-switching probability.
Optimization of linear systems of constrained configuration

For the sake of simplicity it is often desirable to restrict the number of feedbacks in a controller. In this case the optimal feedbacks depend on the disturbance to which the system is subjected. Using a quadratic error integral as a measure of the response, three criteria of optimization are considered : The response to a given initial disturbance. The worst response to an initial disturbance of given magnitude. The worst comparison with the unconstrained optimal system. It is shown that for each of these criteria the gradient with respect to the feedbacks can be calculated by a uniform method. The solution may then be found either directly or by a descent procedure. The method is illustrated by an example.
The Minimal Impact of a Large-Scale Financial Education Program in Mexico City

Abstract We conduct randomized experiments around a large-scale financial literacy course in Mexico City to understand the reasons for low take-up among a general population, and to measure the impact of this financial education course. Our results suggest that reputational, logistical, and specific forms of behavioral constraints are not the main reasons for limited participation, and that people do respond to higher benefits from attending in the form of monetary incentives. Attending training results in a 9 percentage point increase in financial knowledge, and a 9 percentage point increase in some self-reported measures of saving, but in no impact on borrowing behavior. Administrative data suggests that any savings impact may be short-lived. Our findings indicate that this course which has served over 300,000 people and has expanded throughout Latin America has minimal impact on marginal participants, and that people are likely making optimal choices not to attend this financial education course.
Laboratory pre-participation screening examination in a chiropractic college: development, implementation, and results.

INTRODUCTION Chiropractic students often serve as subjects in laboratories where they and their classmates practice examinations, various soft tissue techniques, physiological therapeutic modalities, and active rehabilitation. There are contraindications and risks associated with these procedures. This article describes how a procedure was developed to identify potential health concerns and risks that students may face while serving as subjects or performing procedures in clinical skills laboratories. METHODS Screening questions and examination procedures were developed through a consensus process. Findings from the screening process determine whether students may engage in full participation or limited participation (precautions) or are prohibited from receiving certain procedures (contraindications). Skills laboratory students and their instructors are informed of any identifiable precautions or contraindications to participation. RESULTS Since its implementation, precautions regarding delivery of manual therapies were found in 4% of those examined and precautions regarding receiving manual therapies in 11.5%. Contraindications to receiving specified manual therapies were found in 8%, and 4% had contraindications to certain physiological therapeutic modalities. DISCUSSION Further work is necessary to improve compliance with follow-up regarding diagnosis of conditions revealed or suspected. Future efforts should address how well students adhered to precautions and contraindications, the nature and frequency of injuries sustained within the laboratories, and what specific measures were taken by faculty to help students with special needs. CONCLUSION This chiropractic college now has a method to describe potential risks, explain rules of laboratory participation, and obtain consent from each student.
Parametric image reconstruction using the discrete cosine transform for optical tomograhy

It is well know that the inverse problem in optical tomography is highly ill-posed. The image reconstruction process is often unstable and non-unique, because the number of the boundary measurements data is far fewer than the number of the unknown parameters (optical properties) to be reconstructed. To overcome this problem one can either increase the number of measurement data (e.g. multi-spectral or multi-frequency methods), or reduce the number of unknows (e.g. using prior structural information from other imaging modalities). In this paper, we introduce a novel approach for reducing the unknown parameters in the reconstruction process. The discrete cosine transform (DCT), which has long been used in image compression, is here employed to parameterize the reconstructed image. In general, only a few DCT coefficient are needed to describe the main features in an image, and the number of unknowns in the image reconstruction process can be drastically reduced. Numerical as well as experimental examples are shown that illustrate the performance of the new code.
Functional and ultrastructural injury to photosynthesis in wheat by high temperature during maturation

Abstract Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Len) plants were exposed to 15/10, 25/20, and 35/30°C day/night temperature regimes after anthesis until plants grown at 25/20°C reached physiological maturity. Increasing temperature during maturation enhanced leaf senescence, accentuated the loss of chloroplast integrity, increased thylakoid luminal volume and decreased extent of appressed thylakoid membrane area, and accelerated the decline of PSII-mediated electron transport. Stomatal conductance declined slower than other photosynthetic processes at high temperature. Lability of PSII and stability of PSI activities to prolonged high temperature contrasted with measurements of Chl-binding proteins, such as LHCII, type-II LHCI and the PsaA-PsaB polypeptides. While the activity of PSII declined rapidly, the LHCII polypeptides remained as prominent thylakoid membrane components. Activity of PSI, in contrast, was sustained despite a diminished 735:685 nm fluorescence emission ratio and severe damage to the Chl-binding proteins, such as PsaA-PsaB and type-II LHCI. The dissimilar responses of LHCII and type-II LHCI to high temperature injury may be related to their localization in the thylakoid membrane; LHCII, predominantly in the appressed membrane regions, may be relatively shielded from proteolytic activity as compared with type-II LHCI in the exposed membrane regions.
The Possibilities and Limitations of Preventive Action: The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in Ukraine

Abstract This article examines the efforts of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to manage tensions in Ukraine between the substantial Russian minority and the Ukrainian government, and to prevent potentially violent conflict in Crimea from 1994 to 2001, as well as the subsequent efforts to promote peace and stability. It questions why the HCNM was remarkably successful in crisis management from 1994 to 2001, especially in averting secessionism in Crimea, but was hampered in his efforts to achieve a solid foundation for durable peace through the creation of a robust system of minority rights protection. The central argument is that regional politics often preclude the construction of a minority rights regime that could otherwise provide the foundation for durable peace.
Mathematical model for chaos and ergodic criticality in four dimensions

The present discussion attempts to show some abstract connections between chaotic dynamics, fractal sets and dimensionality which have relevance to physical systems.
Oral hairy leukoplakia: ultrastructural features

Ten instances of a white plaque of the lateral tongue unique to homosexual males and referred to as oral hairy leukoplakia were analysed ultrastructurally. The surface epithelial layer exhibited extracellular, intracellular and intranuclear penetration by hyphae of Candida albicans, sometimes accompanied by coccobacilli in the extracellular space. The subcorneal epithelial layer included koilocytoid ballooned cells which had a paucity of cytoplasmic organelles and displayed condensation and emargination of the chromatin. Cells that exhibited these nuclear changes were found to be infected by a herpes-type virus which was visualized by electron microscopy in all ten cases. Clusters of nucleocapsids (86-110 nm in diameter) occurred in the nuclei and enveloped virions (111-175 nm in diameter) occurred in the cytoplasm and extracellular spaces. Virions showed budding from the nuclear envelope. Bundles of tubular structures (20 nm diameter) arranged in parallel occurred in the cytoplasm of some koilocyloid cells. There was no evidence by electron microscopy of the presence of papilloma virus within koilocytotic nuclei.
Noninvasive evaluation of liver repopulation by transplanted hepatocytes using 31P MRS imaging in mice.

Hepatocyte transplantation (HT) is being explored as a substitute for liver transplantation for the treatment of liver diseases. For the clinical application of HT, a preparative regimen that allows preferential proliferation of transplanted cells in the host liver and a noninvasive method to monitor donor cell engraftment, proliferation, and immune rejection would be useful. We describe an imaging method that employs the creatine kinase (CK) gene as a marker of donor hepatocytes. Creatine kinase is unique among marker genes, because it is normally expressed in brain and muscle tissues and is therefore not immunogenic. Preferential proliferation of transplanted CK-expressing hepatocytes was induced by preparative hepatic irradiation and expression of hepatocyte growth factor using a recombinant adenoviral vector. CK is normally not expressed in mouse liver and its expression by the donor cells led to the production of phosphocreatine in the host liver, permitting 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging of liver repopulation by engrafted hepatocytes. In conclusion, this study combined a noninvasive imaging technique to assess donor hepatocyte proliferation with a preparative regimen of partial liver irradiation that allowed regional repopulation of the host liver. Our results provide groundwork for future development of clinical protocols for HT. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;44:1250–1258.)
Evaporative properties and pinning strength of laser-ablated, hydrophilic sites on lotus-leaf-like, nanostructured surfaces

Wetting, evaporative, and pinning strength properties of hydrophilic sites on superhydrophobic, nanostructured surfaces were examined. Understanding these properties is important for surface charac...
Diffusion of nickel in silicon below 475 °C

Abstract Nickel films were deposited on (100) and (111) surfaces of single-crystal silicon and were then annealed. The conditions under which the nickel is deposited determine whether or not an NiSi compound forms on annealing. It is postulated that defects are necessary for the formation of an NiSi compound at annealing temperatures below at least 475 °C, although the presence of defects may not necessarily cause the formation of a silicide. For substrate temperatures below 70 °C, defects are created during the vapor deposition of nickel on silicon. These defects always result in the formation of nickel silicide when the sample is annealed at higher temperatures. When nickel is deposited on defect-free silicon at temperatures of about 250 °C no defects are generated and, although interdiffusion of nickel and silicon occurs, silicide formation does not take place upon subsequent annealing below 475 °C. The activation energies for the diffusion of nickel into (100) silicon and (111) silicon were determined.
Medical reforms and technology today

Engineering today is the backbone for support and advancement of the environment to keep the United States a world leader in the realm of health care. Over the past year, the expense for health care has astoundingly risen by over $100 billion. Hence, many politicians have proposed several ideas for a reform policy that will cut spending on health care, yet improve it at the same time. The Clinton plan seemed to spark the greatest uproar among its supporters as well as its antagonists. In any event, reform of health care is needed to stabilize the incredible spending that has come about. Some 650,000 individuals are presently employed in the medical technology profession. Any health care reform will directly affect these individuals and their families. Consider how the bioengineer will be affected. The authors first define the profession as devoted to improving and enhancing the environment and animal and human life through research and development. Since this is such a wide field, almost any reform made in the health care system will have an impact. For example, if the budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is cut, research will be halted on marine technology and how aquatic organisms can protect human health and increase the safety of food products. Also, studies that focus on genetic engineering of marine plants and animals to help produce useful enzymes, polymers, and pharmaceutical products would be discontinued. Any reforms, whether loyal to Clinton or an alternative plan, will force an entirely new set of parameters and specifications onto the vast spectrum of health care. Within that spectrum lies the vital field of medical technology. All changes pertaining to medical applications of technology affect the biomedical engineer. Due to the ambiguity of the proposals presented, the effects on medical technology cannot be pre-determined as being beneficial or detrimental. One can, however, assess the limited information that is available on this matter and speculate. Regarding the proposed reforms' affect on the biomedical engineer, there appears to be certain key issues that need to be addressed. One of these pertains to the question of continued research funding. Within the pages of the Clinton plan there exists a section devoted to a vague and ambiguous exposition on the future of health research. The individual is left with more than one confusing vision of the future. >
Welfare Reform: Self-Sufficiency or What?

The United States federal government, after fifty years of gradually increasing its involvement, in creating and managing the nation's social safety net through social security, food stamps, work projects, employment training, etc., began to pull back in the 1980s. Then in 1996, it made a very steep retraction of its involvement in creating and managing a social safety net. This change was highlighted by the passing of the Federal "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA).
Linear solvation energy parameters for model tropospheric aerosol surfaces.

Excited-state absorption spectra for several coumarin derivatives adsorbed to aerosol particles provide linear solvation energy (LSE) relationships for the aerosol surfaces. This study focuses on NaCI and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 particles as models for tropospheric aerosol. We investigate several others, including NH 4 Cl, NaBr, KI, Na 2 -SO 4 , NaNO 3 , Al 2 O 3 , and CaCO 3 , to establish trends and understand the factors that control polarity for surfaces. The Kamlet-Taft dipolarity/polarizability parameter, π*, for these particles ranges from 0.73 to 1.69. The values are high compared to most homogeneous molecular solvents and are attributable to ion-dipole forces, especially at defect sites. We also find that the smaller values of π* (1.01 for (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 and 0.73 for NH 4 Cl) correlate with appreciable hydrogen bond donor acidity in the surface (a = 0.23 and 1.06, respectively). Strong hydrogen bonds with the surface lead to a drop in overall polarity either by making interaction with very polar defect sites less likely or orienting the probe molecule away from the surface. Adsorbed water layers mainly alter the α value of the surface, but can have indirect effects on π* by changing the interaction of the adsorbed molecule with the surface.
siRNA knockdown of laminin-5 impairs epithelial regeneration

Abstract Introduction: Ischemic injury to intestine and kidney causes epithelial cell detachment and subsequent functional impairment. Epithelial regeneration and recovery involves incompletely understood events, including cell adhesion and spreading to reseal breaches in epithelial continuity. Previous data suggests the basement membrane protein laminin-5 and its a3b1-integrin receptor are involved in recovery after ischemic injury. Laminin-5 is differentially expressed during epithelial morphogenesis, and may participate in cell adhesion and spreading. To directly test this hypothesis, we utilized siRNA to knockdown laminin-5 and examine alterations in cellular adhesion, spreading, and polarization. Methods: Short RNA sequence (siRNA) was designed against laminin-5 a3 subunit. Following transient transfection of model epithelium (normal canine kidney MDCK cells) with siRNA, mRNA was harvested and analyzed by RT-PCR of a3 subunit. MDCK extracellular matrix was extracted and analyzed by Western blot using laminin-5 b3 antibody. MDCK cells were then infected with adenovirus containing siRNA. Cells were replated after 24hrs, and cellular morphology and polarization analyzed by immunofluoresence. Results: Laminin-5 knockdown following siRNA transient transfection was verified by RT-PCR and Western blot. Following siRNA adenoviral infection, cells appeared less confluent and spread. Quantitatively, infected cells were significantly smaller in size. This morphology was indistinguishable from cells treated with b1 integrin function-blocking antibody. Both a6 and b1 integrins became disorganized and globular in infected cells. Conclusions: Laminin-5 plays a key role in epithelial cell adhesion, spreading, and polarization. Further understanding of this role following ischemic injury may lead to new therapeutic targets speeding recovery.
Cyclin D3 and megakaryocyte development: exploration of a transgenic phenotype.

The roles of cell cycle regulatory proteins in megakaryocyte development are poorly understood. We have previously demonstrated that cyclin D3 is expressed in megakaryocytes and is induced upon treatment with Mpl ligand. Transgenic mice in which cyclin D3 is overexpressed in the megakaryocytic lineage show features similar to in vivo Mpl ligand treatment, including increased megakaryocyte number and ploidy. Terminal maturation and platelet production are not enhanced, however, and transgenic megakaryocytes show a defect in demarcation membrane development. We have examined expression of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-E2, known to be involved in cytoplasmic maturation and platelet fragmentation, in these transgenic mice and controls treated with Mpl ligand. Our findings demonstrate marked induction of NF-E2 mRNA in control megakaryocytes in response to Mpl ligand, but no NF-E2 increase in transgenic cells, potentially explaining the lack of platelet increase in these transgenic mice. Transgenic megakaryocytes treated with Mpl ligand display a limited increase in NF-EZ In response to literature reports of Mpl ligand-induced transient increases in p21Ci~'mAF1 mRNA in polyploidizing megakaryocytic cell lines, we have examined p21 transcript levels in both normal and transgenic megakaryocytes. In normal mouse spleen, only a small percentage of megakaryocytes express detectable levels of p21 mRNA, with the majority of these cells expressing at high intensity. p21 levels are not affected by treatment with Mpl ligand, while the frequency of expressing cells increases transiently. Transgenic megakaryocytes exposed to Mpl ligand also show an increased frequency of p21-positive cells, and stimulation with Mpl ligand resulted in a further increase in this frequency. The nature of this effect will require further investigation. Stem
Vortex states in R1237, Bi2212, Tl2223 cuprates and type-II superconductors, using Me-μSR analysis

Abstract The Maximum-Entropy (ME) method is applied to analyzethe muon-spin-research (μSR) data of RBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 (R1237; R = Er , Gd and Eu), Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O x (Bi2212) and Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O x (Tl2223) and Pb 0.9 In 0.1 in their vortex states. A comparison of these mixed states indicate that these cuprates appear not to be typical type-II superconductors.
Human recombinant interleukin-2 augments in vitro blastogenesis of bovine and porcine lymphocytes

The recent cloning of the human gene encoding interleukin 2 (IL-2) has provided the means for economical production of large quantities of the pure lymphokine for clinical studies. Human recombinant interleukin 2 (HrIL-2) has been reported to have in vitro and in vivo immunomodulating effects in the murine system, suggesting the cloned gene product has cross-species activity. Bovine and porcine peripheral blood lymphocytes were tested for responsiveness to HrIL-2 in a lymphocyte blastogenesis assay. Not only was the HrIL-2 highly stimulatory but it also reconstituted lymphocyte responsiveness to maximal values following incubation with suboptimal concentrations of mitogen plus exogenous lymphokine. These studies suggest that HrIL-2 has the potential of serving as an in vivo modulator of immunoresponsiveness in domestic species. The contribution to food animal medicine will be considerable if administration of the lymphokine results in augmentation of antigen-specific immune responses when applied as an adjuvant, non-specific booster of pre-existing immunity, or for therapy of immunosuppression.
Some qualitative aspects of nonlinear wave radiation in a surf zone

Abstract Photographs are presented which show a series of small waves produced in a surf zone behind the front of each breaking swell. They probably represent solutions to the Korteweg deVries (cnoidal-wave) equation, and their generation is favored by bottom topography not typical of most surf zones.
Received and Perceived Social Support Following Natural Disaster1

Because they were participating in a concurrent panel study, 222 older adults had been asked how much help they would expect to receive in a hypothetical emergency before experiencing two separate floods. For the subsample suffering losses or injuries during the floods, Study 1 examined the accuracy of their expectations, as well as possible changes in them, as a result of help actually received. Generally, victims received much less help than they had expected to receive prior to the floods. Preflood expectation of support predicted help from kin, whereas loss and education predicted help from nonkin sources. However, subsequent expectations did not change as a result of the level of help received. Using the total sample, Study 2 examined the broader issue of whether the disaster itself affected subsequent perceptions of support. Flood exposure, as measured at both individual and community levels, was associated with declines in perceptions of support and social participation.
Severe coagulopathy in young chickens produced by ochratoxin A

Reports of hemorrhagic episodes and prolonged prothrombin and recalcification times during ochratoxicosis prompted an investigation of the parameters relating to hemostatic competence in chickens during ochratoxicosis. Three-week-old broiler chickens fed dietary ochratoxin A (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 μg/g feed) from hatching were tested for specific coagulation factor deficiencies. The activity associated with the lipid component of tissue thromboplastin at 8.0 μg/g was slightly but significantly (p < 0.05) decreased at extreme dilution. Factor VII activity was reduced at 1.0 μg/g and above, Factor V at 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 μg/g, prothrombin at 4.0 and 8.0 μg/g, and Factor X at 8.0 μg/g. Fibrinogen, the most sensitive factor tested, was reduced at 0.5 μg/g, the lowest dose fed. In addition, clot retraction of whole blood increased at growth inhibitory levels (2.0 μg/g and above) of ochratoxin. These data suggest that the impairment of the extrinsic and common clotting pathway functions which occurs during ochratoxicosis is primarily a hypofibrinogenemia in contrast to the coagulopathy of aflatoxicosis which has been reported to be primarily a hypoprothrombinemia.
Dose and time related effects of T-2 toxin on mitogenic response of murine splenic cells in vitro☆

The effects of T-2 toxin in vitro on murine splenic cells were investigated. Cells from syngeneic male NFS/N mice were cultured with three concentrations of either lipopolysaccharide (LPS), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), or concanavalin A (Con A), for 48 h. T-2 toxin (10(-12)-10(-8)M) was added at the beginning or 24 h after initiation of the cultures. Exposure to T-2 toxin (10(-11)-10(-10)M) after 24 h increased 3H-thymidine uptake by splenic cells. Stimulation by PWM increased dramatically while the response to LPS was increased to a lesser extent in this system. Conversely, exposure to T-2 toxin decreased T-cell responses to both PHA and Con A. Exposing cells to T-2 toxin at the initiation of culture increased Con A stimulation; LPS and PWM responses decreased following 48 h exposure. When splenic cells were pre-treated for 60 or 90 min at 0 degrees C with 10(-9)M T-2 toxin the responses to both PWM and LPS increased. Increased 3H-thymidine uptake was also observed following 90 min exposure to T-2 toxin alone at either 0 or 37 degrees C. The increased PWM response and the mitogenic phenomenon observed when cells were exposed only to T-2 toxin were consistent with previously observed effects of in vivo T-2 toxin exposure.
Uncertainty in Low-Flow Data From Three Streamflow-Gaging Stations on the Upper Verde River, Arizona

Verde River, Arizona D.W. Anning 1 U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Discipline, 520 North Park Avenue, Suite 221, Tucson, AZ, 85719; PH (520) 670-6671; FAX (520) 670-5592; email:dwanning@usgs.gov Introduction Decreases in streamflow, particularly in the lower flow regime in perennial streams, are a significant concern to water-resource planners, especially in the Southwestern United States, where perennial streams are relatively few in number but provide valuable water supply, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. Rapid population growth and the ensuing ground-water development have created the potential for a decrease in low flows in the upper Verde River Basin, Arizona. As a result, the performance of three U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations at meeting low-flow monitoring objectives was evaluated on the basis of uncertainty in the streamflow data. In downstream order, the stations are Verde River near Paulden, Verde River near Clarkdale, and Verde River near Camp Verde.
2-SLIDS: A Two-Stage Linked Storage Structure with Link-Dependent Data Capabilities

The 2-stage linked storage structure (2-SLIDS) is a physical organization which combines the data definition flexibility as provided by the storage structure used in the ASP data manipulation package with the physical compactness of a storage structure as found in the IDS or APL data management systems. Further, 2-SLIDS allows defined data and pointer fields of a record to be assigned multiple values and permits intrarelationships to be specified among such values. An analytical comparison of the storage consumption of an ASP-like storage structure, an APL-like storage structure, and 2-SLIDS is provided in the appendix.
The tortoise versus the hare--it's a photo finish: commentary on the article by Jay D. Keener, MD, et al.: "Rehabilitation following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. A prospective randomized trial of immobilization compared with early motion".

There are a number of known factors that can affect clinical outcomes and structural healing after rotator cuff repair. Some of these are fixed variables, such as patient age and comorbidities, tear size, and tissue quality, while others, such as patient-related factors like smoking, repair construct, and postoperative management, are modifiable and may allow for improvement in patient outcomes. The traditional school of thought regarding the initiation of postoperative rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair has favored early passive shoulder motion to prevent stiffness. Until recently, this approach has been largely uniform. However, over time, data suggesting poorer tendon healing in certain subsets of patients have accumulated, leading some surgeons to advocate a delayed rehabilitation protocol with an initial phase of strict immobilization. The theoretical “trade-off” of this approach would be to improve the likelihood of tendon healing at the potential expense of an increased risk of postoperative stiffness and a delayed recovery timeline. The current study by Keener and coauthors from Washington University analyzes this question and does so in a superb fashion. In this Level-I, prospective, randomized trial, the authors identified and enrolled 124 patients under the age of sixty-five years who underwent arthroscopic repair of a small or medium tear (<30 mm in anterior-to-posterior …
Asymptotically optimal estimation of DOA for non-circular sources from second order moments

This paper addresses an asymptotically minimum variance (AMV) algorithm within the class of algorithms based on second-order statistics for estimating direction of arrival (DOA) parameters of possibly spatially correlated (even coherent) narrowband non-circular sources impinging on arbitrary array structures. To reduce the computational complexity due to the nonlinear minimization required by the matching approach, the covariance matching estimation techniques (COMET) are included in the algorithm. A numerical example illustrates the performance of the AMV algorithm.
THE FUNCTION, MECHANISM, AND EVOLUTION OF LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR: A REVIEW OF SARA J. SHETTLEWORTH'S COGNITION , EVOLUTION, AND BEHAVIOR

Behavior is a property of living animals and is therefore a biological phenomenon. This book shows us what it looks like to have a truly biological science of behavior. Such a science needs to discover the laws that control behavior as it is occurring, and it is this that behavior analysts and other psychologists interested in animal behavior and learning have done so well. The science also needs to explain, however, the role that behavior plays in the life of the individual and in the existence of the species, and this has not been part of the agenda for most psychologists. Shettleworth addresses all of these questions about behavior. She views learning in terms of what it accomplishes for the individual and then provides insight into its causal laws and its evolution. All of this is accomplished with a critical eye and unremitting rigor. These accomplishments occur in the context of a theory based on a unique combination of domain-general and domain-specific processes that takes a major step in the direction of showing what students of animal behavior and animal learning have to offer each other.