cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vertical distribution and probability of encountering intertidal Exxon Valdez oil on shorelines of three embayments within Prince William Sound, Alaska.

We examined 32 shorelines selected at random in 2003 from shorelines in Herring Bay, Lower Pass, and Bay of Isles in Prince William Sound, Alaska, to examine the vertical distribution of oil remaining from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and to estimate the probability that sea otters and ducks would encounter oil while foraging there. On each shoreline, sampling was stratified by 1-m tide height intervals and randomly located 0.25 m2 sampling quadrats were examined for evidence of surface and subsurface oil. Oil from the T/V Exxon Valdez was found on 14 shorelines, mainly in Herring Bay and Lower Pass, with an estimated 0.43 ha covered by surface oil and 1.52 ha containing subsurface oil. Surface and subsurface oil were most prevalent near the middle of the intertidal and had nearly symmetrical distributions with respect to tide height. Hence, about half the oil is in the biologically rich lower intertidal, where predators may encounter it while disturbing sediments in search of prey. The overall probabi...
A sensitive and simple in vitro assay for corticotropin-releasing substances utilizing ACTH release from cultured anterior pituitary cells.

Graded doses of rat hypothalamic extract (HE) were added to dishes containing dispersed, pooled rat adenohypophyseal cells cultured for several days. ACTH secretion into the medium gave a linear log-dose response curve over a 100-fold range between 0.01 and 1 mg of NIH-HE (0.0125–1.25 rat hypothalamus). Forty percent of the maximal ACTH secretion in response to a given dose of HE occurred within 3 min. No decrease in intracellular ACTH occurred at any time or with any dose of HE, indicating that secretion was always balanced by production. ACTH secretion stopped as soon as HE-containing medium was replaced by medium without HE. The same cultured cells could be satisfactorily used in repetitive assays performed on the same or different days. (Endocrinology 97:1248, 1975)
Problem-Based Learning Software for Students With Disabilities

When students are engaged in learning environments that allow for the practice of problem-solving skills, they are able to connect the classroom to the real world. Students with disabilities need to develop the skills of problem solving, and they need to know how to identify a problem, find the answer, and evaluate their choice. This article discusses the use of problem-based learning software to help students with disabilities develop these critical self-directed learning skills.
Residential construction in northern USSR

Abstract The construction of apartments and other buildings on permafrost has presented a major obstacle to urban settlement at Noril'sk, in far northern Siberia. This article identifies four major stages in the development of local construction knowledge, with an emphasis on residential construction. The first two stages, covering the 15 years following the city's founding, constituted a trial and error learning period, during which local engineers developed the principles presently governing construction on permafrost. The third and fourth stages, extending into the present, have featured the more efficient application of these principles through innovations reducing labour and material inputs.
The role of endogenous heparan sulfate proteoglycan in adhesion and neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglia

Some phases of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) substratum attachment and growth cone morphology are mediated through endogenous cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan. The adhesive behavior of intact embryonic chicken DRG (spinal sensory ganglia) is examined on substrata coated with fibronectin, fibronectin treated with antibody to the cell-binding site (anti-CBS), and the heparan sulfate-binding protein platelet factor four. DRG attach to fibronectin, anti-CBS-treated fibronectin, and platelet factor four. The ganglia extend an extensive halo of unfasciculated neurites on fibronectin and produce fasciculated neurite outgrowth on platelet factor four and anti-CBS antibody-treated FN. Treatment with heparinase, but not chondroitinase, abolishes adhesion to fibronectin and platelet factor four. Growth cones of DRG on fibronectin have well-spread lamellae and microspikes. On platelet factor four, and anti-CBS-treated FN, growth cones exhibit microspikes only. Isolated Schwann cells adhere equally well to fibronectin and platelet factor four, spreading more rapidly on fibronectin. Isolated DRG neurons adhere equally well on both substrata, but only 10% of the neurons extend long neurites on platelet factor four. The majority of the isolated neurons on platelet factor four exhibit persistent microspike production resembling that of the early stages of normal neurite extension. Endogenous heparan sulfate proteoglycan supports the adhesion of whole DRG, isolated DRG neurons, and Schwann cells, as well as extensive microspike activity by DRG neurons, one important part of growth cone activity.
Teacher disapproval, delinquent peers, and self-reported delinquency: A longitudinal test of labeling theory

Data from the National Youth Survey (waves one and two) were used to assess the effects of individual students' perceptions of teacher disapproval on self-reported delinquency. The panel study included youths between the ages of 11 and 17. Consistent with the labeling perspective, the results indicated that perceptions of teacher disapproval are associated with subsequent delinquency. This relationship was significant even when controlling for prior delinquency, thus weakening the argument that labeling is merely a result, and not a cause, of delinquency. The effects did, however, appear to be indirect when measures of delinquent peer associations were included in the model.
Growth inhibition of hepatoma cells induced by vitamin K and its analogs.

Congeners of vitamin K are known to inhibit cell growth, although the precise mechanisms of growth inhibition are not well understood. To investigate the mechanisms involved, we synthesized several vitamin K analogs and examined their growth inhibitory activities for a human hepatoma cell line (Hep3B). The analogs included 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone and trimethylbenzoquinone, with and without aliphatic side chains at position 3. The side chains were all-carbon, thioethers, or O-ethers. Growth inhibition was potent in the compounds with short chains. The presence of a sulfur (thio-ether) or oxygen atom (O-ether) at the site of attachment of the side chain to the ring potentiated the activity. Apoptotic cell death was induced by the potent growth inhibitory compounds at low concentrations (20-60 μM), whereas necrotic cell death followed treatment with the same compounds at high concentrations. Expression of c-myc, which is thought to be associated with apoptosis, was increased by most of the compounds tested. Both reduced glutathione and cysteine almost completely abrogated the growth inhibitory effects of the thioether analogs as well as of vitamin K3. The effect of glutathione was less prominent for the all-carbon and O-ether analogs, and cysteine had no effect on these analogs. Catalase and deferoxamine mesylate had no significant effect on the thioether analogs, although they showed partial antagonistic effects on the growth inhibition of vitamin K3 and the all-carbon and O-ether analogs. Other non-thiol antioxidants tested had no effect on any of the analogs. Our results indicated that vitamin K-related quinoid compounds cause growth inhibition and both apoptotic and necrotic cell death and that the effects may be mediated by interaction at position 3 of their quinoid nuclei with cellular thiols.
G Proteins Go Green: A Plant G Protein Signaling FAQ Sheet

Plants, like animals, use signal transduction pathways based on heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) to regulate many aspects of development and cell signaling. Some components of G protein signaling are highly conserved between plants and animals and some are not. This Viewpoint compares key aspects of G protein signal transduction in plants and animals and describes the current knowledge of this system in plants, the questions that still await exploration, and the value of research on plant G proteins to scientists who do not study plants. Pathways in Science's Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment Connections Maps database provide details about the emerging roles of G proteins in several cellular processes of plants.
Retrospective review of serious bacterial infections in infants who are 0 to 36 months of age and have influenza A infection.

Objective. Previous studies of febrile children who were 3 to 36 months of age and had clinically recognizable viral syndromes have shown low rates of concurrent bacteremia. We sought to determine the prevalence of serious bacterial infections (SBIs) among children with influenza A, a viral syndrome that can be established definitively by specific tests. Methods. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients who were 0 to 36 months of age and presented with fever to the emergency department (ED) over 4 consecutive influenza seasons. Chest radiographs and urine and cerebrospinal fluid cultures also were reviewed. Results. Of 705 included patients, 163 (23%) were influenza positive (IP) and 542 (77%) were influenza negative (IN). Only 1 IP patient was bacteremic (0.6%) versus 23 of the 542 IN control subjects (4.2%). Two (1.8%) of 110 IP cases had urinary tract infections versus 38 (9.9%) of the 382 IN control subjects. Thirteen (25.4%) of 51 IP patients had radiographic evidence of pneumonia versus 99 (41.9%) of 236 IN control subjects. There were no cases of meningitis in 41 cerebrospinal fluid samples obtained from IP patients versus 4 (2.2%) cases of culture-positive meningitis in 179 IN control subjects. A total of 16 (9.8%) SBIs were identified in the IP cases versus 153 (28.2%) in the IN control subjects. Conclusions. Febrile children with influenza A had a lower prevalence of bacteremia, urinary tract infections, consolidative pneumonia, or any SBI compared with those without influenza A infection in this study.
Effects of Preannouncements on Analyst and Stock Price Reactions to Earnings News

This study examines the effects of earnings preannouncements on financial analyst and stock price reactions to earnings news. Prior experimental research documents that when the signs of a preannouncement surprise and subsequent earnings announcement surprise are consistent (i.e., both either positive or negative), analysts make larger magnitude revisions to their future period earnings forecasts in response to the total earnings news conveyed in the preannouncement and earnings announcement than when the surprise signs are inconsistent. This study extends this research by examining a sample of actual preannouncements from 1993–1997 to determine whether the effects documented in laboratory settings manifest at the aggregate market level in stock prices and consensus analyst forecast revisions. Results indicate that after controlling for the sign of earnings news, sign of earnings, and sign of the earnings announcement surprise, stock prices and analyst forecast revisions respond more strongly when a preannouncement and subsequent earnings announcement elicit the same surprise signs than when the surprise signs are inconsistent. Further analysis indicates that the consistency of the signs of a preannouncement surprise and earnings announcement surprise is not associated with future earnings, suggesting that the magnified reaction of investors and analysts to consistent surprise signs is not a rational reaction to associations observed in market settings.
Regions of interest in FTIR imaging applications: Diffusion of nicotine into ethylene-co-vinyl acetate films

Effective image analysis of dynamic processes, such as diffusion and dissolution, requires precise reporting of component locations in space and time. An improved method for analyzing FTIR images is described which employs hypothesis testing in the spatial and temporal domains. Changes in the observed absorbance (over space and time) are revealed by comparison to a reference statistic, which can be tailored by choosing the size of a region of interest. This improved analysis method was used to compare the rates of diffusion of nicotine into poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) film from aqueous solutions containing anionic and nonionic surfactants. Compared to a solution without surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate inhibited the uptake of nicotine from aqueous solution whereas Tween 40 enhanced the uptake. The nicotine diffusion rate also showed a dependence on the length of the hydrophobic segment of nonionic surfactants. These results demonstrate the roles of solubilization, wetting, and viscosity on diffusion-controlled drug release.
The Kinetics of the thermal oxidation of NO in solid oxygen between 13 and 29 K; direct observation of the reaction of (NO)2 and oxygen

The kinetics of the reaction of cis-(NO)2 with solid oxygen to form iso-N2O4 have been studied between 13 and 29 K. The overall reaction is pseudo first order in cis-(NO)2, and solid oxygen serves both as a reactant and the matrix. The pseudo-first-order rate constants are calculated to be k(14N) = 4.25 × 10−2 exp(-103/RT), and k(15N) = 3.00 × 10−2 exp(-105/RT) sec−1, based on temperature measurements from a thermocouple junction which may be at most three degrees lower than the actual reacting film. Most significantly, however, 14k/15k = 1.55 at∼13 K. The condensed phase reaction has been compared to that observed in the gas phase, and the extremely small pre-exponential factors and large isotope effects have been discussed in terms of tunneling corrections and orientational constraints. It is suggested that the form of the crystal plays an integral role in the observed process.
In vitro synthesis of prostaglandins and related lipids by populations of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

This report focuses on the identification of the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells that do or do not produce prostaglandins (PGs) and related arachidonic acid metabolites. Our results, using two different assay systems, indicate that the monocyte/macrophage (Mphi) is the major and possibly sole source of thromboxane (TXB2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) among peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Adherent peripheral blood monocytes (> 95% esterase positive) produced substantial amounts of these compounds. Quantitation of products which had incorporated exogenous 14C-arachidonic acid and radioimmunoassay of adherent cell culture fluids demonstrated that the amount of TXB2 produced by these cells was appreciably greater than the amount of PGE2 produced. Additional confirmation of TXB2 synthesis was shown by abolishing the TXB2 peak on TLC and TXB2 activity detected by RIA by treating cells with a specific inhibitor of thromboxane synthetase. In contrast, non-adherent T cells failed to synthesize either PGE2 or TXB2. Non-adherent B cells (95% Ig positive) incubated with 14C-arachidonic acid produced a small peak of radioactivity co-chromatographing with TXB2, and no PGE. All three cell populations incorporated similar amounts of 14C-arachidonic acid into hydroxy-fatty acids. We were unable to detect 6-keto-F1 alpha, the hydrolysis product of prostacyclin (PGI2) in any of the cell types tested. The absence of PG synthesis among normal peripheral blood T and B cells was also noted among established human lymphoid cell lines. Neither a human T (CCRF), nor a human B-cell line (GM-130), produced PGE2 or TXB2. Three murine macrophage cell lines, P388D1, J774.2, and WEHI-3 produced PGE2 and the latter TXB2 as well.
Validation of a robust proteomic analysis carried out on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of the pancreas obtained from mouse and human

A number of reports have recently emerged with focus on extraction of proteins from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues for MS analysis; however, reproducibility and robustness as compared to flash frozen controls is generally overlooked. The goal of this study was to identify and validate a practical and highly robust approach for the proteomics analysis of FFPE tissues. FFPE and matched frozen pancreatic tissues obtained from mice (n = 8) were analyzed using 1D-nanoLC-MS(MS)2 following work up with commercially available kits. The chosen approach for FFPE tissues was found to be highly comparable to that of frozen. In addition, the total number of unique peptides identified between the two groups was highly similar, with 958 identified for FFPE and 1070 identified for frozen, with protein identifications that corresponded by approximately 80%. This approach was then applied to archived human FFPE pancreatic cancer specimens (n = 11) as compared to uninvolved tissues (n = 8), where 47 potential pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma markers were identified as significantly increased, of which 28 were previously reported. Further, these proteins share strongly overlapping pathway associations to pancreatic cancer that include estrogen receptor α. Together, these data support the validation of an approach for the proteomic analysis of FFPE tissues that is straightforward and highly robust, which can also be effectively applied toward translational studies of disease.
Gadolinium Attenuates the Upward Shift of the Left Ventricular Diastolic Pressure-Volume Relation During Pacing-Induced Ischemia in Dogs

Background The mechanism of the reversible upward shift of the left ventricular diastolic pressure-volume relation during demand ischemia is controversial. To assess the possibility that cation influx through stretch-activation channels may contribute to the upward shift, we asked whether gadolinium, a blocker of the stretch-activated channels, attenuates the upward shift of the diastolic pressure-volume relation during pacing-induced ischemia in 5 dogs. Methods and Results To produce pacing-induced ischemia, we constricted the left anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries to reduce their flows by approximately 30% and paced the left atrium at 150 to 180 beats per minute for 3 minutes. We measured left ventricular pressure, volume, and two segment lengths with micromanometers, a conductance catheter, and ultrasonic crystals, respectively. We recorded these variables during baseline, coronary stenosis, and pacing-induced ischemia (immediately after rapid pacing). After injecting 20 mg/kg (76 μm...
Cell Wall Mannan and Cell Surface Hydrophobicity in Candida albicans Serotype A and B Strains

Cell surface hydrophobicity contributes to the pathogenesis of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Previous work demonstrated a correlation between hydrophobicity status and changes in the acid-labile, phosphodiester-linked β-1,2-oligomannoside components of the N-linked glycans of cell wall mannoprotein. Glycan composition also defines the two major serotypes, A and B, of C. albicans strains. Here, we show that the cell surface hydrophobicity of the two serotypes is qualitatively different, suggesting that the serotypes may differ in how they modulate cell surface hydrophobicity status. The cell wall mannoproteins from hydrophilic and hydrophobic cells of both serotypes were compared to determine whether the glycan differences due to serotype affect the glycan differences due to hydrophobicity status. Composition analysis showed that the protein, hexose, and phosphate contents of the mannoprotein fraction did not differ significantly among the strains tested. Electrophoretic profiles of the acid-labile mannan differed only with hydrophobicity status, not serotype, though some strain-specific differences were observed. Furthermore, a newly available β-1,2-oligomannoside ladder allowed unambiguous identification of acid-labile mannan components. Finally, to assess whether the acid-stable mannan also affects cell surface hydrophobicity status, this fraction was fragmented into its component branches by acetolysis. The electrophoretic profiles of the acid-stable branches were very similar regardless of hydrophobicity status. However, differences were observed between serotypes. These results support and extend our current model that modification of the acid-labile β-1,2-oligomannoside chain length but not modification of the acid-stable region is one common mechanism by which switching of cell surface hydrophobicity status of C. albicans strains occurs.
Aerosol Forcing: Rapporteur’s Report and Summary

This paper summarizes the discussions held during the session dedicated to Aerosol forcing at the Workshop Observing and Modelling Earth’s Energy Flows. The session Aerosol forcing was convened by P. Ingmann and J. Heintzenberg and included 10 presentations given by R. Kahn, D. Winker, U. Baltensperger, J. Haywood, S. Schwartz, J. Heintzenberg, H. Le Treut, U. Lohmann, R. Wood, and E. Philipona. The presentations given ranged from overviews of current observational capabilities to analyses of aerosol–cloud interactions in observations and models of varying complexity. This paper is organized around a few key points, summarizing the major points of agreement, disagreement, and discussion that the presentations gave rise to. The focus is largely on the uncertainties that remain with regard to aerosol forcing, particularly related to aerosol-cloud interactions and indirect aerosol effects on climate.
Viscous flow solutions with a cubic spline approximation

A cubic spline approximation is used for the solution of several problems in fluid mechanics. This procedure provides a high degree of accuracy even with a nonuniform mesh, and leads to a more accurate treatment of derivative boundary conditions. The truncation errors and stability limitations of several typical integration schemes are presented. For two-dimensional flows a spline-alternating-direction-implicit (SADI) method is evaluated. The spline procedure is assessed and results are presented for the one-dimensional nonlinear Burgers' equation, as well as the two-dimensional diffusion equation and the vorticity-stream function system describing the viscous flow in a driven cavity. Comparisons are made with analytic solutions for the first two problems and with finite-difference calculations for the cavity flow.
Mortality among patients in VA hospitals in the first 2 years following ACGME resident duty hour reform.

ContextLimitations in duty hours for physicians-in-training in the United States were established by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and implemented on July 1, 2003. The association of these changes with mortality among hospitalized patients has not been well established.ObjectiveTo determine whether the change in duty hour regulations was associated with relative changes in mortality in hospitals of different teaching intensity within the US Veterans Affairs (VA) system.Design, Setting, and PatientsAn observational study of all unique patients (N = 318 636) admitted to acute-care VA hospitals (N = 131) using interrupted time series analysis with data from July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2005. All patients had principal diagnoses of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, or stroke or a diagnosis related group classification of general, orthopedic, or vascular surgery. Logistic regression was used to examine the change in mortality for patients in more vs less teaching-intensive hospitals before (academic years 2000-2003) and after (academic years 2003-2005) duty hour reform, adjusting for patient comorbidities, common time trends, and hospital site.Main Outcome MeasureAll-location mortality within 30 days of hospital admission.ResultsIn postreform year 1, no significant relative changes in mortality were observed for either medical or surgical patients. In postreform year 2, the odds of mortality decreased significantly in more teaching-intensive hospitals for medical patients only. Comparing a hospital having a resident-to-bed ratio of 1 with a hospital having a resident-to-bed ratio of 0, the odds of mortality were reduced for patients with AMI (odds ratio [OR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.71), for the 4 medical conditions together (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61-0.89), and for the 3 medical conditions excluding AMI (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63-0.98). Compared with hospitals in the 25th percentile of teaching intensity, there was an absolute improvement in mortality from prereform year 1 to postreform year 2 of 0.70 percentage points (11.1% relative decrease) and 0.88 percentage points (13.9% relative decrease) in hospitals in the 75th and 90th percentile of teaching intensity, respectively, for the combined medical conditions.ConclusionsThe ACGME duty hour reform was associated with significant relative improvement in mortality for patients with 4 common medical conditions in more teaching-intensive VA hospitals in postreform year 2. No associations were identified for surgical patients.
Evolutionary feature selection for classification: a plug-in hybrid vehicle adoption application

We present a real-world application utilizing a Genetic Algorithm (GA) for exploratory multivariate association analysis of a large consumer survey designed to assess potential consumer adoption of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). The GA utilizes an intersection/union crossover operator, in conjunction with high background mutation rates, to achieve rapid multivariate feature selection. We experimented with two alternative fitness measures based on classification results of a naive Bayes quadratic discriminant analysis; one fitness function rewarded only for correct classifications, and the other penalized for the degree of misclassification using a quadratic penalty function. We achieved high classification accuracy for three different survey outcome questions (with 3-, 5-, and 7- outcome classes, respectively). The quadratic penalty function yielded better overall results, returning smaller feature sets and overall more accurate contingency tables of predicted classes. Our results help to identify what consumer attributes best predict their likelihood of purchasing a PHEV. These findings will be used to better inform an existing agent-based model of PHEV market penetration, with the ultimate aim of helping auto manufacturers and policy makers identify leverage points in the system that will encourage PHEV market adoption.
A late quaternary pollen sequence from blacktail pond, Yellowstone national park, Wyoming, U.S.A.

Abstract The pollen record at Blacktail Pond provides evidence for the vegetational development of the lowest and driest site yet reported in Yellowstone National Park (elev. 2,018 m). The record begins shortly after deglaciation, over 14,000 yr B.P. (before present). Tundra‐like vegetation initially covered the area but was succeeded by Picea parkland. A Picea‐Pinus albicaulis‐Pinus contorta forest developed at about 11,800 yr B.P. Gradually, as the climate became warmer and drier, the forest opened and P. contorta became more prevalent. From 6,700 to 1600 yr B.P. Pseudotsuga parkland grew in the vicinity of the site, indicating a maximum of warmth and dryness. After 1,600 yr B.P., the climate again became somewhat cooler and moister, and although the Blacktail Pond valley has remained a Pseudotsuga parkland, P. contorta now also occurs in scattered groves, and it probably grows at lower elevations than it did prior to 1,600 yr B.P. A volcanic ash at 4.6 m correlates stratigraphically with the basal ash ...
On nonlinear dynamical systems topologically conjugate to jerky motion via a linear transformation

Abstract In a recent paper, it was shown that members of a class of three-dimensional nonlinear dynamical systems are equivalent to jerky dynamics. The transformations used have the restriction that the state variable in the jerky dynamics is the same as one of the state variables of the three-dimensional system. As a consequence, some of the transformations used are necessarily nonlinear. We show that by removing this restriction, some of these systems can be transformed to jerky dynamics via affine transformations. In particular, we give conditions under which the system is topologically conjugate to jerky dynamics via an affine transformation.
Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of coumarin and related compounds

Fourier-transform ^(13)C NMR spectra of nine coumarinoid compounds of medicinal interest are reported. All of the carbon resonances are assigned with the aid of various spectral techniques and stable isotopic labeling. The substituent effects on the chemical shifts in several systems are also discussed.
Pouching of medications in the mouth: a case report

Foods or medicines can be pouched or held in the mouth to prolong taste, enjoyment, or effect. This article describes a patient who pouches medications. The oral injury that occurred from this behavior is reported. Summary In this report, an institutionalized 44-year-old female who was developmentally disabled with sloughing of oral tissue and ulcer formation in the mandibular buccal vestibules visited the dental clinic. Toothbrush trauma to the oral tissues was suspected initially and was ruled out. On the empirical recommendations of an oral pathologist who examined the patient, ketoconazole was prescribed by the patient's physician. This treatment was not effective. After medication pouching was suspected, simethicone was changed from chewable tablets to a liquid. The patient's caretakers and nurses observed the patient after medications were administered to be sure that the patient was not holding medication in her mouth. Although tissue sloughing was resolved, ulcerations of the tissue persisted in the mandibular mucobuccal fold. A biopsy of these ulcerated areas was not diagnostic for any suspected pathosis. Five months after her initial visit, the patient showed no signs of ulceration or desquamation of her oral tissues. Thus, changing simethicone chew-able tablets to a liquid, the increased efforts of the direct care staff members and nurses to prevent the patient from holding medications in her mouth, and the gradual improvement of the patient's oral condition confirmed the provisional diagnosis of pouching medications. Medication pouching may not be a unique habit limited to patients in institutions for the mentally handicapped. It is a problem observed in some geriatric patients in long-term facilities or nursing homes, as well (J. Thomas, director of geriatric dentistry, Veterans Administration Medical Center, personal communication, 1990). Several recommendations should be followed to prevent this habit and the injury that may occur: 1. Patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules may be given liquid medications. 2. Medications that can be crushed without adversely affecting the drug's absorption in the gastrointestinal tract can be administered in applesauce or another pleasant tasting food. Mitchell22 has reported on several medications that should not be crushed. 3. Fluids should be given to facilitate swallowing. 4. After medications are given, inspect the mouth for any remaining portions. One problem dental professionals may encounter when treating patients with mental retardation or impairment is the difficulty in determining the causes that would be helpful in correctly diagnosing certain oral problems. This difficulty results from the reduced capability for communication between the doctor and patient and from the doctor's lack of awareness of unique habits found among these patients. When examining patients of this type, medication pouching should be included as a possible causative factor in the differential diagnosis of oral ulcerative lesions.
From atomic structure to photovoltaic properties in CdTe solar cells

Abstract Aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) has been used to determine the structures of a variety of dislocation cores in CdTe, including 30° and 90° Shockley partial dislocations, positive and negative Frank sessile partial dislocations, and steps on twin boundaries. Structure models have been constructed from the images and electrical activity has been investigated with density functional calculations. An integrated electron energy loss spectroscopy, cathodoluminescence and electron beam induced current system has been designed and built to probe electrical and optical properties of individual defects. The first STEM-cathodoluminescence result shows strong impurity segregation between the CdTe and the glass. The correlation between the scanning electron microscopy-electron beam induced current and electron backscatter diffraction maps proves that the grain structures and boundaries dominate the electrical activity. After heat treatment in CdCl2, Cl is found to segregate to the grain boundaries, and they show higher efficiency than the bulk material.
Outcomes following intra-amniotic instillation with indigo carmine to diagnose prelabor rupture of membranes in singleton pregnancies: a single center experience.

AbstractObjective: To evaluate clinical outcomes of women with singleton pregnancies that underwent intra-amniotic dye instillation (amniodye test) following equivocal diagnosis of prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM).Method: Records of 34 pregnant women who underwent amniodye test for equivocal PROM were reviewed. Comparisons of characteristics, amniotic fluid (AF) cultures, AF interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations, and placenta pathology results between women who tested positive and those who tested negative were performed. A sub-analysis of women who were amniodye test-negative was also performed.Results: (1) Commonest indication for amniodye test was a typical history of PROM with positive conventional tests and persistently normal AF volume, (2) amniodye test-positive women had a shorter procedure-to-delivery interval (p = 0.008), and a greater proportion of histologic acute chorioamnionitis (p = 0.04) and funisitis (p = 0.01) than amniodye-negative women, and (3) in addition to similarities to women wit...
SimUGV: a simulator for analyzing energy dynamics and locomotion for unmanned ground vehicles (UGV)

In the area of research on unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), one major problem is limited operating duration of robotics vehicles due to energy losses. There is a need for systematic analysis of locomotion and energy dynamics, which would enable an efficient design of the vehicle. For this purpose, a multifunction simulator tool is required which can read several input variables that describe the vehicle and compute detailed analysis of its energy dynamics. This research presents a generic locomotion simulator for a UGV (SimUGV). SimUGV's goal is to help vehicle designers develop efficient vehicles by optimizing design variables to minimize the energy losses for the vehicle. SimUGV has a powerful GUI interface which allows users to compare multiple test runs and visualize the data in a variety of ways. To illustrate the capabilities of the simulator, we present a case study conducted on the energy dynamics of a skid steering robotic vehicle. Two major constituent components of energy losses/consumption for a skid steering vehicle are - losses in skid steer turning, and losses in rolling. Using SimUGV, we present a detailed energy loss analysis of the vehicle's different turning modes; elastic mode steering, half-slip steering, skid turns, low radius turns, and zero radius turns. Each of the energy loss components is modeled from physics in terms of the design variables. The effect of design variables on the total energy losses/consumption is then studied using simulated data for different types of surfaces i.e. hard surfaces and muddy surfaces. Finally, we make suggestions about efficient vehicle design choices in terms of the design variables.
Energy capture, conversion, and control study of DFIG wind turbine under weibull wind distribution

A doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) is a ‘special’ variable speed induction machine widely used in modern large wind turbines. Unlike a fixed-speed wind turbine, a DFIG wind turbine depends strongly on the controls of the system under variable wind conditions. This paper investigates statistical properties of energy capture, conversion, and control of a DFIG wind turbine under Weibull wind distribution. Power extracted from the wind and variable speed operation of the induction generator are studied by considering DFIG control properties and statistical characteristics of the wind. DFIG speed control characteristics are investigated under random wind conditions by considering the effects of gear ratio, generator pole number, and grid frequency. An evaluation study is performed to investigate how different generator speed probability distribution affects DFIG power characteristics. Extensive simulation results are given to illustrate DFIG operating properties under random wind and different dq control conditions.
Validation of Blubber Progesterone Concentrations for Pregnancy Determination in Three Dolphin Species and a Porpoise

Recent studies have validated the use of biopsies as a minimally invasive way to identify pregnant females in several species of wild cetaceans: Balaenapteraacutorostrata , Delphinusdelphis , Lissodelphisborealis, and Lagenorhynchusobliquidens. These studies found that progesterone (P4) concentrations quantified from blubber attached to biopsy samples is diagnostic of pregnancy. Here we examine a broader group of cetacean species in efforts to investigate how progesterone levels vary between species with respect to pregnancy status. We compared P4 concentrations in blubber collected from fishery bycatch and beach-stranded specimens for 40 females of known reproductive condition from Delphinuscapensis (n = 18), Stenellaattenuata (n = 8), S. longirostris (n = 6), and Phocoenoidesdalli (n = 8). The P4 concentrations were different (t = -7.1, p = 1.79E-08) between pregnant and non-pregnant animals in all species, with the mean blubber P4 concentration for pregnant animals 164 times higher than that of non-pregnant animals. There was no overlap in concentration levels between sexually immature or non-pregnant sexually mature animals and pregnant animals. No significant differences (F = 0.354, p = 0.559) were found between mature non-pregnant and immature D. capensis and Pdalli, suggesting P4 level is not indicative of maturity state in female delphinoids. P4 concentrations in relation to reproductive state were remarkably similar across species. All samples were analyzed with two different enzyme immunoassay kits to gauge assay sensitivity to measure progesterone in small samples, such as biopsies. With the technique now validated for these cetacean species, blubber P4 is a reliable diagnostic of pregnancies across multiple species, and thus expands the utility of this method to study reproduction in free-ranging cetaceans using biopsies.
Performance of a Long-Term Unattended Station for Measuring DC Fields and Air Ions from an Operating HVDC Line

The authors describe the experience of the Bonneville Power Administration in building and operating a long-term, unattended station to measure electric fields and air ions from the Pacific NW/SW HVDC (northwest/southwest high-voltage direct current) Intertie. The major emphasis is on the performance of the unipolar ion counters, as these have been the most difficult type of instrument to incorporate in an outdoor measurement station. Based on this experience, if heat is properly applied to the ion counter and good procedures are used for regular calibration and maintenance of all the instrumentation, then electric field and air ion instrumentation can be operated unattended in an outdoor environment. >
Laboratory Evaluation of Diets of Processed Corncob, Torula Yeast, and Wheat Germ on Four Developmental Stages of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), larvae were reared on five diets (wheat millfeed [standardl, processed corncob [PCC] + torula yeast, PCC + torula yeast + 1% wheat germ [WG], PCC + torula yeast + 3% WG, and PCC + torula yeast + 6% We) through five consecutive generations to obtain measurements of the following five life history traits: duration of larval development, pupal recovery, pupal weight, adult fecundity, and egg fertility. The PCC + torula yeast diets produced insects with shorter larval developmental times and higher pupal recovery than the standard millfeed diet. In contrast, the millfeed diet produced the highest pupal weight and adult fecundity. PCC diets fortified with wheat germ produced Mediterranean fruit flies with the highest egg fertility. These results suggest that PCC/wheat germ diets produce Mediterranean fruit flies of comparable quality to those commonly used in sterile insect programs.
Prioritizing Fuzzy Behaviors in Multi-robot Pursuit Teams

The combination of fuzzy control and behavior hierarchies allows for the construction of more complex behavior-based robot control agents than does either technique alone. However, current implementations are limited in their complexity since high-level behaviors still use low-level sensor information. We propose a technique for abstracting this low-level sensor information into priorities which are used to completely abstract out the context in which a high-level, fuzzy behavior operates. This modification enables a single high-level behavior to coordinate the lower-level behaviors within a single robot, among the robots in a team, or even among teams of teams. This is demonstrated in a scenario in which multiple pursuers attempt to capture a prey.
The perceptions of dislocated workers under the Workforce Investment Act

This descriptive qualitative case study investigated the perceptions of dislocated workers offered program services through the Workforce Investment Act's (WIA) Dislocated Worker program in Minnesota. This research focused on recently dislocated workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own and hence were eligible for unemployment insurance. Semistructured interviews were conducted with a total of nine participants, who described their perceptions of their experiences of being offered services by the Minnesota Dislocated Worker program. The participants' perceptions were analyzed based on socially responsible human resource development. Participants confirmed they had reservations about using government services, and were stressed about career counseling and job search services. These results may stimulate further debate regarding public policies affecting dislocated workers, and implications for practice are provided along with future research suggestions.
Modulation of Epidermal Transcription Circuits in Psoriasis: New Links between Inflammation and Hyperproliferation

Background Whole-genome expression profiling has been used to characterize molecular-level differences between psoriasis lesions and normal skin. Pathway analysis, however, is complicated by the fact that expression profiles have been derived from bulk skin biopsies with RNA derived from multiple cell types. Results We analyzed gene expression across a large sample of psoriatic (PP) and uninvolved/normal (PN) skin biopsies (n = 215 patients). We identified 1975 differentially expressed genes, including 8 associated with psoriasis susceptibility loci. To facilitate pathway analysis, PP versus PN differences in gene expression were analyzed with respect to 235 gene modules, each containing genes with a similar expression pattern in keratinocytes and epidermis. We identified 30 differentially expressed modules (DEMs) biased towards PP-increased or PP-decreased expression. These DEMs were associated with regulatory axes involving cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ, IL-17A, TNF-α), transcription factors (e.g., STAT1, NF-κB, E2F, RUNX1) and chromatin modifiers (SETDB1). We identified an interferon-induced DEM with genes encoding anti-viral proteins (designated “STAT1-57”), which was activated in psoriatic epidermis but repressed following biologic therapy. Genes within this DEM shared a motif near the transcription start site resembling the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE). Conclusions We analyzed a large patient cohort and developed a new approach for delineating epidermis-specific pathways and regulatory mechanisms that underlie altered gene expression in psoriasis. Our findings highlight previously unrecognized “transcription circuits” that can provide targets for development of non-systemic therapies.
On the existence of Petri net supervisors

The use of Petri net languages in supervisory control theory is discussed. It is shown that the trimming of an unbounded Petri net is not always possible. A class of Petri net languages, which may be generated by nonblocking generators, is defined. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a Petri net supervisor, under the hypothesis that the system's behavior and the legal behavior are both Petri net languages, are derived. >
S. cerevisiae encodes an essential protein homologous in sequence and function to mammalian BiP

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of mammalian cells contains a 78 kd protein (BiP) that is believed to assist in the folding of secretory and transmembrane proteins. We have used a cDNA encoding mouse BiP to isolate the homologous gene from S. cerevisiae, which encodes a sequence of 682 amino acids, 431 of which are identical to mouse BiP. Like its mammalian counterpart, yeast BiP is encoded by an HSP70-like gene whose transcription is stimulated by the presence of unfolded polypeptides in the ER. The gene encoding yeast BiP is essential for cell growth and, unexpectedly, is identical to the recently cloned KAR2 gene. Expression of mammalian BiP in S. cerevisiae can complement a mutant allele of KAR2 that is temperature sensitive for growth and nonconditionally defective for karyogamy. These results suggest that deficiencies in BiP may cause generalized failure of protein folding in the ER, leading to pleiotropic effects on cellular metabolism.
Supplemental Mental Health Treatment For Batterer Program Participants

The implementation of a screening and referral system for supplemental mental health treatment among batterer program participants was investigated in a 2-year formative evaluation. The research team conducted direct observation of the agency procedures, participation in training and supervision meetings, debriefing interviews with administrators, and informal conversations with staff and clients. Inconsistencies and breakdowns associated with nearly every step of the screening and referral process were identified, for example, notification of referral instructions and verification of clinical compliance. Court sanctions for referral noncompliance remained inconsistent even during court-mandated referral. Several underlying issues were also exposed: administrative absenteeism and turnover, administrative-staff gaps, client overload, and differing agency priorities. These issues reinforce the challenges facing coordinated community response.
Aspects of design and implementation of a multi-channel and multi-modal information system

The paper describes an architecture for multi-channel and multi-modal applications. First the design problem is explored and a proposal for a system that can handle multi-modal interaction and delivery of Internet content is proposed. The focus is pertained in some development aspects and the way they are addressed by using state-of-the-art tools. The various components are defined and described in detail. Finally, conclusions and a view of future work on the evolution of such systems is given.