cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical Fabrication Of A 60-Inch Mirror

Perkin-Elmer has been actively involved in the development of the Computer Controlled Polishing (CCP) technology for over 8 years. It was apparent that the process would be a good candidate to polish large mirrors if adequate performance goals could be demonstrated.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Interpretations of Sedimentary Structures by Flume Experiments: ABSTRACT

The various types of bed roughness that are formed by the interaction between the flowing water and a sand bed form distinctive but complex sedimentary structures. The resultant forms of bed roughness and sedimentary structures are related to many variables such as regime of flow, channel geometry, velocity, and the characteristics of the sediment. By studying the characteristics of the sedimentary structures, it is possible to determine quantitatively the magnitude of many of these variables. The characteristics of the sediment can be determined by analyzing samples from the sedimentary structures. The regimes of flow and forms of bed roughness can be identified from the cross-bedding of the sedimentary structures. The spacing and amplitude of these structures indicate v locity and depth of flow at the time of deposition. From relations describing channel geometry and with preceding information, channel width can be determined approximately. Last, knowing channel geometry, type of bed roughness, and the characteristics of the sediment, various sediment transport relations can be used to estimate the total bed-material discharge. In summary, utilizing knowledge of the relations between bed forms, bars, sedimentary structures, hydraulic variables, sediment variables, sediment discharge, and channel geometry, it is possible to determine quantitatively many of the hydraulic and hydrologic characteristics of the depositional environment that formed the sedimentary structures. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2036------------
The Correlation Between Mean and Variance Estimators in Computer Simulation

Abstract Consider the problem of estimating confidence intervals for the mean of a stationary stochastic process. Denote the point estimator for the process mean by , and let be an estimator for limn −∞nVar(), the variance parameter. In this paper, we derive expressions for the correlation between and for various variance parameter estimators and stochastic processes. Among the variance estimators under study are those arising from the methods of nonoverlapping batched means, overlapping batched means, and standardized time series. Also, we empirically examine the relationships between Corr( ) and Confidence interval estimator performance; we see that Corr( ) affects the symmetry of confidence interval coverage, but not necessarily the actual coverage.
Multi-adatom interaction effects in a lattice gas model for Cu and Au adsorption on W(110)

Abstract A lattice-gas model for Cu and Au adsorption on W(110) is proposed and discussed in the light of recent cohesive energy calculations for these systems. Three types of lateral, two types of trio, and a quarto interaction were considered. It is argued that the unusual shape of the binding hollows for these systems results in anomalously large effective trio interactions. Phase diagrams were calculated via a new transfer matrix finite-size scaling method. Repulsive trio interactions were found to increase the degree of asymmetry in the T −θ phase diagram and reduce critical temperatures. Although accurate reproduction of experimental phase diagrams was not attempted, our model seems able to do so and has important advantages over previously proposed models.
Inhibition of de novo synthesis of FSH by the Sertoli Cell Factor (SCF)

The effects of SCF, a substance produced by isolated rat Sertoli cells in culture, on the synthesis of FSH and LH were studied in vitro. Anterior pituitaries from adult male rats were organ-cultured 24–48h in the presence and absence of SCF in the culture medium. The incorporation of 3H-leucine into FSH and LH was determined following 6h incubation with this labelled precursor and immunoprecipitation with specific FSH or LH antibodies. Total FSH and LH were measured by radioimmunoassay. The results indicate that SCF can selectively reduce the incorporation of 3H-leucine into immunoprecipitable FSH without decreasing the incorporation into LH.
A Comparison of Traditional and Quantitative Classification of Attachment Status

Two quantitative classifiers for assigning attachment status from infant interactive behavior ratings were evaluated. One classifier included crying, agreed an average of 83% with trained coders, but over-classified infants as secure. The second classifier excluded crying, achieved an 86% agreement rate, and reproduced original distributions.
Suppression of Peris rapae Using A New Control System: Mass Releases of Both the Pest and its Parasites

Populations of the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.), were controlled by mass releases of fertile hosts and parasites. Releases of hosts alone did not increase the natural populations of parasites to an effective level, and mass releases of parasites alone were effective only after the host's generations overlapped. Highest mortalities of hosts occurred in plots where inoculative releases of parasites were made and where hosts were supplied continuously. The low natural population of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood in cabbage fields in the spring was the result of mortalities within the overwintering population and lack of sufficient hosts to sustain the population emerging from diapause. The number of hosts needed to establish an effective level of parasites was determined to be ca. 100,000 laboratory-reared or 12,000–36,000 field-reared adults per day per acre. Natural populations of Apanteles rubecula Marshall were not effective in reducing hosts in the spring; control with this parasite was not obtained until the 4th generation. The number of these parasites needed to control the host was 5000 adults/acre per host's generation. When both larval parasites parasitized the same host, only A. rubecula survived, and A. glomeralus (L.) never became an effective parasite in the presence of A. rubecula .
An assessment of cultural values and resident-centered culture change in U.S. nursing facilities

Background: Culture change initiatives propose to improve care by addressing the lack of managerial supports and prevalent stressful work environments in the industry; however, little is known about how culture change facilities differ from facilities in the industry that have not chosen to affiliate with the resident-centered care movements. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate representation of organizational culture values within a random sample of U.S. nursing home facilities using the competing values framework and to determine whether organizational values are related to membership in resident-centered culture change initiatives. Design and Methods: We collected reports of cultural values using a well-established competing values framework instrument in a random survey of facility administrators and directors of nursing within all states. We received responses from 57% of the facilities that were mailed the survey. Directors of nursing and administrators did not differ significantly in their reports of culture and facility measures combined their responses. Findings: Nursing facilities favored market-focused cultural values on average, and developmental values, key to innovation, were the least common across all nursing homes. Approximately 17% of the facilities reported that all cultural values were strong within their facilities. Only high developmental cultural values were linked to participation in culture change initiatives. Culture change facilities were not different from non-culture change facilities in the promotion of employee focus as organizational culture, as emphasized in group culture values. Likewise, culture change facilities were also not more likely to have hierarchical or market foci than non-culture change facilities. Practice Implications: Our results counter the argument that culture change facilities have a stronger internal employee focus than facilities more generally but do show that culture change facilities report stronger developmental cultures than non-culture change facilities, which indicates a potential to be innovative in their strategies. Facilities are culturally ready to become resident centered and may face other barriers to adopting these practices.
Lack of expression of androgen receptor may play a critical role in transformation from in situ to invasive basal subtype of high-grade ductal carcinoma of the breast

Androgen receptor has been implicated in the pathogenesis of breast carcinoma. In this study, we explored the potential role of androgen receptor in breast cancer by analyzing its expression using immunohistochemistry and its relationship with tumor progress (ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS] versus invasive ductal carcinoma [IDC]); nuclear grades (high grade [HG] versus non-high grade); expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER-2; and 3 molecular classifications: cytokeratin classification, triple (ER/PR/HER-2) negative classification, and ER/HER-2 classification in 184 breast carcinomas. We found that (1) lack of androgen receptor expression was associated with HG-IDC and with basal subtypes of HG-IDC, suggesting androgen receptor may play an important role in preventing the invasive transformation in this subgroup of breast carcinoma. (2) HG-IDC and HG-DCIS more frequently expressed androgen receptor than ER (55%-93% for androgen receptor and 18%-30% for ER) and were frequently androgen receptor+/ER- (63% for HG-DCIS and 39% for HG-IDC), which made androgen receptor a possible therapeutic target. (3) One third of HG-IDC was negative for androgen receptor, ER, PR, and HER-2, suggesting that further studies are needed to identify other key molecules for targeted therapy. We purpose that androgen receptor should be routinely measured for breast cancer.
Pyroprinting: A rapid and flexible genotypic fingerprinting method for typing bacterial strains

Bacterial strain typing is commonly employed in studies involving epidemiology, population ecology, and microbial source tracking to identify sources of fecal contamination. Methods for differentiating strains generally use either a collection of phenotypic traits or rely on some interrogation of the bacterial genotype. This report introduces pyroprinting, a novel genotypic strain typing method that is rapid, inexpensive, and discriminating compared to the most sensitive methods already in use. Pyroprinting relies on the simultaneous pyrosequencing of polymorphic multicopy loci, such as the intergenic transcribed spacer regions of rRNA operons in bacterial genomes. Data generated by sequencing combinations of variable templates are reproducible and intrinsically digitized. The theory and development of pyroprinting in Escherichia coli, including the selection of similarity thresholds to define matches between isolates, are presented. The pyroprint-based strain differentiation limits and phylogenetic relevance compared to other typing methods are also explored. Pyroprinting is unique in its simplicity and, paradoxically, in its intrinsic complexity. This new approach serves as an excellent alternative to more cumbersome or less phylogenetically relevant strain typing methods.
Study of a Family of 40 Hydroxylated β-Cristobalite Surfaces Using Empirical Potential Energy Functions

We present a study of a family of 40 unique hydroxylated β-cristobalite surfaces generated by cleaving the β-cristobalite unit cell along crystallographic planes to include a combination of several low Miller index surfaces. The surface silicon atoms are quantified as percentages of Q 2 and Q 3 centers based on their polymeric state. We find that Q 3 centers are, on average, three times more abundant than Q 2 centers. To study the surface properties, we use two different empirical potential energy functions: the multibody potential proposed by Fueston and Garofalini (J. Phys. Chem. 1990, 94, 5351) and the newly developed CHARMM potential by Lopes et al. (J. Phys. Chem. B 2006, 110, 2782). Our results for the surface water interactions are in good agreement with previous ab initio theoretical studies by Yang et al. (Phys. Rev. B 2006, 73, 146102) for the (100) surface. We find that the most commonly studied family of {100} surfaces is unique and is the only surface with 100% abundance of Q 2 centers, whereas there are nine examples of surfaces with 100% Q 3 centers. The predominantly pure Q 3 surfaces show no hydrogen bonding with the neighboring surface hydroxyl groups and weakly adsorb water overlayers. This is markedly different from the {100} pure Q 2 surface that shows strong hydrogen bonding within the surface groups and with water. As compared to all the surfaces studied in this work, we find that the {100} surfaces are not true representations of the overall β-cristobalite surfaces and their properties. We find that the two main factors that characterize the physical properties of silica surfaces are the polymeric state of the silicon atom and surface topography. Two types of pure Q 3 crystallographic planes have been identified and are labeled as Q 3A and Q 3B based on the differences in their topological features. Using the {111} and {011} surfaces as examples, we show that the Q 3A surface adsorbs H 2 O that forms a stable monolayer, but the Q 3B surface fails to form a stable H 2 O overlayer. Other crystallographic planes with different ratios of Q 2 to Q 3 centers are contrasted by the differences in the hydrogen-bonding network and their ability to form ordered H 2 O overlayers.
A Fast Hierarchical Approach to Resource Sharing in Pipelined Asynchronous Systems

This paper proposes a novel hierarchical approach for scheduling shared resources in asynchronous pipelined systems. While there have been recent approaches to asynchronous resource scheduling, the problem is especially difficult for multi-token systems, i.e., systems where computation on multiple 2" problem instances is overlapped and pipelined, so resources are shared amongst operations across different problem instances. An approach recently proposed for multi-token scheduling [1] can optimally solve this synthesis problem for modest-sized specifications, but an exact solution for larger benchmarks can be intractable. 4" (b)! 1" To overcome this challenge, we introduce a novel method that decomposes the problem based on the hierarchy inherent in the specification. Individual blocks are isolated and scheduled, and an abstracted model of their behavior is passed to higher levels of the hierarchy. As a result, our approach obtained drastically reduced runtimes. While the resulting solution is not globally optimal, the method in practice produces high-quality solutions. Our approach has been automated and validated using a variety of benchmarks to illustrate its effectiveness in minimizing area while meeting a target throughput constraint.
3-D computational modeling of media flow through scaffolds in a perfusion bioreactor

Abstract Media perfusion bioreactor systems have been developed to improve mass transport throughout three-dimensional (3-D) tissue-engineered constructs cultured in vitro. In addition to enhancing the exchange of nutrients and wastes, these systems simultaneously deliver flow-mediated shear stresses to cells seeded within the constructs. Local shear stresses are a function of media flow rate and dynamic viscosity, bioreactor configuration, and porous scaffold microarchitecture. We have used the Lattice–Boltzmann method to simulate the flow conditions within perfused cell-seeded cylindrical scaffolds. Microcomputed tomography imaging was used to define the scaffold microarchitecture for the simulations, which produce a 3-D fluid velocity field throughout the scaffold porosity. Shear stresses were estimated at various media flow rates by multiplying the symmetric part of the gradient of the velocity field by the dynamic viscosity of the cell culture media. The shear stress algorithm was validated by modeling flow between infinite parallel plates and comparing the calculated shear stress distribution to the analytical solution. Relating the simulation results to perfusion experiments, an average surface shear stress of 5×10−5 Pa was found to correspond to increased cell proliferation, while higher shear stresses were associated with upregulation of bone marker genes. This modeling approach can be used to compare results obtained for different perfusion bioreactor systems or different scaffold microarchitectures and may allow specific shear stresses to be determined that optimize the amount, type, or distribution of in vitro tissue growth.
Performance characteristics of point-focusing distributed-receiver solar Brayton systems

Due to variations in solar insolation, it may be necessary or desirable to operate solar energy systems continuously in off-design conditions. Design of solar energy systems should maximize system efficiency at the design point and throughout the range of operational solar insolation. The solar power system considered in this study consists of a point-focusing concentrator, a cavity receiver, an open cycle gas turbine engine, and a heat regenerator. A computer simulation model was developed to predict off-design system performance. Results showing system efficiency and associated subsystems interface requirements are presented for various turbine inlet temperatures and engine speeds.
Repair of recurrent hernia after biologic mesh failure in abdominal wall reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Biologic mesh is commonly used in abdominal wall reconstruction but may result in increased hernia recurrence. There are minimal data on repair of these recurrent hernias. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 24 patients presenting to a single surgeon with recurrent ventral hernia, previously repaired with biologic mesh. RESULTS: Seventeen of 24 study patients underwent open repair, including 5 revisions of incomplete external oblique release. Mesh was polypropylene in 11 patients and fenestrated condensed polytetrafluoroethylene in 3 patients. In 1 patient, no mesh was used. In 2 patients, bridged biologic mesh was used because of risk of exposure. All biologic repairs have since recurred. Complications occurred in 3 of 15 prosthetic mesh patients and in all biologic mesh patients. CONCLUSIONS: Prior components release can be repeated if computed tomography scan reveals incomplete release. Recurrence is common after bridged biologic mesh repair. Conventional mesh can be used safely in many recurrent abdominal hernias after biologic mesh failure.
Development of low-absorption AR coatings for CO 2 laser by ion assisted deposition

We have developed an anti-reflection (AR) coating technique designed for high power carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) lasers that has low absorption and high resistance to humidity. This was achieved by performing ion-assisted deposition (IAD) using a Xe ion beam to apply BaF 2 and ZnSe used as coating materials with extremely low bulk absorption coefficients. It was found that to achieve highly compact BaF 2 thin films with low absorption on polycrystalline ZnSe substrates, both a surface flatness treatment using Xe ion bombardment and an optimized IAD condition of relatively low ion energy up to 200 eV are required. The absorption of the new (BaF 2 /ZnSe) AR coated ZnSe lens is 0.10 to 0.12%, approximately half that of conventional (ThF 4 /ZnSe) AR coated lenses. The new lens has both excellent anti-aging performance and a high resistance to humidity.
Reactions of (cyclopentadienyl)rhenium halide complexes (η5-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)(X) with n-BuLi/TMEDA; generation and methylation of lithio- and dilithiocyclopentadienyl ligands

Reactions of halide complexes (η5-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)(X) [1, X = Cl (a), Br (b), I (c)] with n-BuLi/TMEDA (1.1 equiv., THF, – 78°C) give lithiocyclopentadienyl complexes (η5-C5H4Li)Re(NO)(PPh3)(X) (2), as assayed by NMR and subsequent methylation to (η5-C5H4CH3)Re(NO)(PPh3)(X) (3). Reaction of 2a With further n-BuLi/TMEDA affords (0°C) dilithiocyclopentadienyl complex (η5-1,3-C5H3Li2)Re(NO)(PPh3)(Cl)(4), as assayed by NMR and methylation to [η5-1,3-C5H3(CH3)2]Re(NO)(PPh3)(Cl) (5). No significant migration of the halide ligand to the lithiocyclopentadienyl ligand is observed. New compounds 3a–c and 5 are characterized by NMR (1H, 13C, 31P), IR, mass spectrometry, and microanalysis.
Long-term outcomes of laparoscopic versus open ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease: Follow-up of a prospective randomized trial

Background The purpose of this study was to analyze long-term recurrence rates and complications in patients previously enrolled in a prospective randomized trial comparing laparoscopic (LC) and open ileocolectomy (OC) for ileocolic Crohn's disease (CD). Methods Follow-up data were available on 56 of 60 patients. Demographic data, recurrence rates, need for additional surgery related to primary procedure, and medication use were recorded. Results Mean follow-up for 56 patients (27 LC vs 29 OC) was 10.5 years and comparable between LC and OC (10.0 vs 11.0, respectively; P = .64). One patient died 8 years after OC of causes unrelated to CD. Eight patients for each group underwent initial reoperative (26% LC vs 28% OC; P = .89). One patient underwent incisional hernia repair after LC (4%) versus 4 patients (14%) after OC (P = .61). Two patients in the LC group underwent adhesiolysis versus none after OC (P = .23). Incidences of anorectal disease, anorectal surgery, endoscopic or radiologic recurrence, and medication use were also similar between LC and OC. OC patients requiring operation during follow-up were significantly more likely than LC to require multiple operations (P = .006). Conclusions Long-term data from this prospective randomized trial confirm that LC is at least comparable to OC in the treatment of ileocolic CD.
Measurement of intracellular oxygen levels using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)

Intracellular oxygen levels were measured in vivo under physiological-temperature controlled conditions by monitoring the fluorescence lifetime of the oxygen sensitive dye ruthenium tris(2,2'-dipyridyl) dichloride hexahydrate (RTDP). We employed fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and an independent oxygen sensor to calibrate changes in RTDP lifetime with corresponding changes in oxygen level. The FLIM method reproducibly quantified oxygen levels in living human cells cultured from a (Barrett's) adenocarcinoma columnar cell line (SEG-1). Approaches such as those developed here should prove useful for studying oxygen gradients in 3-D biological specimens and for monitoring cellular metabolic status.
Synthesis of (+/-)-epoxysorbicillinol using a novel cyclohexa-2,5-dienone with synthetic applications to other sorbicillin derivatives.

A novel route to epoxysorbicillinol as well as dimers of sorbicillin is reported. The synthesis isin principleamenable to enantioselectivity. The key step is an oxidative dearomatization to produce a stable and highly malleable p-quinol intermediate, which undergoes a highly diastereoselective epoxidation.
Issues and outcomes in the management of supravalvar aortic stenosis.

Abstract Background . Supravalvar stenosis of the aorta is an uncommon congenital cardiac anomaly that involves not only the supravalvar aorta but the entire aortic root. Despite considerable attention to the importance of maintaining the integrity of the aortic root during supravalvar reconstruction, there has been little focus on the management of other components of the aortic root and left ventricular outflow tract, including the aortic valve, subvalvar region, and coronary arteries. Methods . We reviewed the records of 36 consecutive patients with supravalvar aortic stenosis who underwent repair from 1992–1998 (median age, 4 years). Discrete stenosis was present in 29 patients, whereas the remaining 7 had the diffuse form of the disease. Associated anomalies of the aortic root and adjacent structures were present in 23 patients. The median pressure gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract was 70 mm Hg. Supravalvar stenosis was relieved by extended aortoplasty with a Y-shaped patch in 18 patients, resection of the stenotic segment of ascending aorta at the sinotubular junction with end-to-end anastomosis of the ascending aorta in 7, the Ross procedure in 4, and other techniques in 7. Additional procedures included aortic valvuloplasty in 10 patients, resection of subvalvar stenosis in 11, and procedures on the coronary arteries in 2. Results . There was 1 perioperative death, and no reoperations or other significant complications. During follow-up (median 33 months), there were no deaths and 3 reoperations for replacement of the aortic valve with a pulmonary autograft (n = 1) or mechanical prosthesis (n = 2). The median pressure gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract was 10 mm Hg. Conclusions . In patients with supravalvar aortic stenosis, abnormalities of the aortic valve, subaortic region, and coronary arteries are frequently present as well. Management of these issues is as critical to the long-term outcome of these patients as reconstruction of the supravalvar aorta. Aggressive valvuloplasty may help decrease the incidence of late aortic valve replacement, whereas the Ross procedure may be a preferable approach in some patients with complex outflow tract obstruction.
Reprint of: Revisiting the urbanization curve ☆

Abstract The urbanization process creates demographic landscapes that are both volatile and uneven. As regions or nations pursue economic development, the level of urbanization—the percentage share of people living in cities—follows a typical pattern: urban shares first rise slowly, then rapidly, and then slowly again. The entire sequence traces out an S-shaped figure often called the urbanization curve. This curve has been widely invoked in the discussion of Homo Urbanus but has rarely been used to analyze the urbanization experiences of different regions and nations. This paper revisits the urbanization curve and shows that national urbanization—whether contemporary or historical—generally conforms to the logistic process. Using UN population data, comparisons are made between the logistic model and other simple time-series and econometric models. The logistic process is sufficiently flexible to depict urbanization unfolding across nations at very different stages of economic development. The substantial variety now seen in national urbanization suggests the existence of separate urbanization clubs.
Ostertagia ostertagi: Establishment of patent infections in calves by intravenous inoculation

Abstract In two experiments calves raised free of parasite infection were given parenteral injections of Ostertagia ostertagi infective larvae to determine if patent infections might result. Patency was achieved by intravenous injection of larvae. Ten calves of different age (3–8 months) and sex were given intravenous, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal injections of infective larvae. These calves were not necropsied; patency was based on fecal egg counts. Six calves injected intravenously all achieved patency (17–21 days after inoculation). Two calves each were inoculated subcutaneously and intraperitoneally; patency was observed in none. Calves given primary intravenous inoculation responded with higher levels of ova production to subsequent oral challenge inoculation. In a second experiment, six 2–3-month-old calves were injected intravenously with 186,000 infective larvae. Calves were killed at 2, 7, 12, 20 and 30 days after inoculation and had a tissue reaction in the lungs to migrating larvae characterized by focal granulomas, interstitial thickening of alveolar walls, and some hemorrhage. Infective larvae were recovered from the lungs at 2, 7 and 12 days, fourth stage larvae from the abomasum at 7 and 12 days, and adults only from the abomasum at 20 and 30 days. It was considered that larvae reached the abomasum by way of the trachea and by then being swallowed. Clinical signs of disease were not observed.
Functional Comparisons of Visual Arrestins in Rod Photoreceptors of Transgenic Mice

Rod photoreceptor cells operate in dim light and can signal the absorption of single photons. In contrast, cone photoreceptor cells function in bright light. In rods and cones, the ability to detect light is conferred by rhodopsin and cone opsins, respectively. Rhodopsin and cone opsins are visual pigment molecules that, on photon absorption, become catalytically active (metarhodopsin II, or R*) and initiate signaling cascades that ultimately lead to changes in membrane current.1–3 Compared with rods, cones are less sensitive, and their light responses are faster.4 Although much is known about the molecular mechanisms that shape rod responses, little is known about the mechanisms that determine the time course of cone responses. Because rods and cones express a set of related visual transduction proteins, it is thought that their signaling cascades are qualitatively similar and that the differences in their light responses arise primarily from differences in the amount or activity of the transduction proteins. One such difference between rods and cones is the expression of unique forms of arrestin, which differ significantly in the amino acid sequence of key functional domains.5–7 In rods, rod arrestin (ARR1 for the protein and arr1 for the gene) binds to light-activated, phosphorylated rhodopsin (R*-P) and is essential to deactivate R* completely.8–10 In rods of arr1−/− mice, the recovery of the light response is greatly slowed and biphasic.11 The initial phase of recovery, which occurs over hundreds of milliseconds, is probably due to phosphorylation of R*, in as much as phosphorylation is known to reduce, but not completely quench, the ability of R* to activate the G protein transducin.8,12,13 The second phase of recovery is much more gradual, occurring over a period of tens of seconds and is most likely due to the thermal decay of R*-P to opsin and all-trans retinal.11 Therefore, the lack of ARR1 results in prolonged signaling in rod cells after photon absorption and is thought to be responsible for photoreceptor cell death observed in arr1−/− retinas under low light exposure.14 Like ARR1, cone arrestin binds light-activated and phosphorylated cone opsins in vitro,7,15 but the role of cone arrestin in deactivating visual pigments has not been demonstrated in intact photoreceptors. This is largely because cone cells represent only 3% of the photoreceptors in the murine retina,16 which makes biochemical studies or suction electrode recordings from mouse cones challenging. In this study, we circumvent these challenges by expressing mouse cone arrestin (mCAR) in rods of mice lacking ARR1.11 This has allowed us to compare ARR1 and cone arrestin in their ability to quench light-activated, phosphorylated rhodopsin, R*-P, in intact rods.
Hypertension Produced by Reductions in Uterine Perfusion in the Pregnant Rat Role of Interleukin 6

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of interleukin (IL) 6 in mediating the increase in arterial pressure (AP) in response to chronic reductions in uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) in pregnant rats. AP was higher in RUPP rats (138+/-1 mm Hg) than in normal pregnant (NP) rats (104+/-1 mm Hg). Serum IL-6 levels in the RUPP rats were 104.5+/-28.6 pg/mL as compared with 36.6+/-7.4 pg/mL in NP rats. To determine the long-term effects of a 2- to 3-fold elevation in plasma IL-6 on renal function and AP in pregnant rats, we infused IL-6 for 5 days (2.5 ng/day) in NP rats starting at day 14 of gestation. Five days later, serum IL-6 levels were 55.5+/-6.5 pg/mL in the control NP rats and 157.0+/-36.1 pg/mL in the IL-6-treated NP rats. AP was higher in the IL-6-treated NP rats (115+/-3 mm Hg) as compared with NP controls (101+/-1 mm Hg) at day 19 of gestation. Renal plasma flow and GFR were lower in the IL-6-treated NP rats than in the NP group. IL-6 increased plasma renin activity but did not affect endothelin in IL-6-treated NP rats. In contrast to the NP rats, IL-6 had no effect on AP or renal hemodynamics in virgin rats. In summary, these data indicate that plasma IL-6 is elevated in response to chronic reductions in uterine perfusion in pregnant rats and that a comparable elevation in plasma IL-6 increases AP and reduces renal function in pregnant rats.
Effective Treatment of Experimental Androgen Sensitive and Androgen Independent Intraosseous Prostate Cancer With Targeted Cytotoxic Somatostatin Analogue AN-238

ABSTRACTPurpose: The targeted cytotoxic somatostatin analogue AN-238, consisting of 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (AN-201) linked to carrier octapeptide RC-121, is scheduled for clinical trials. To extend previous findings we tested AN-238 on human androgen sensitive MDA-PCa-2b prostate cancers grown subcutaneously and androgen independent LNCaP derived C4-2 prostate cancers xenografted into the tibiae of nude mice.Materials and Methods: Changes in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels were monitored by radioimmunoassay. Somatostatin receptors in tumor samples were characterized.Results: Three intravenous injections of AN-238 at 150 nmol/kg doses inhibited the growth of subcutaneous MDA-PCa-2b tumors by 62% vs controls (p <0.05) and were more effective than equimolar doses of the radical AN-201 (p <0.05). AN-238 also decreased serum PSA levels by 62% vs controls (p <0.01). In nude mice bearing intra-osseous implanted C4-2 prostate cancers AN-238 decreased serum PSA levels by 65% compared with controls aft...
Mouse Adenovirus Type 1 Early Region 1A Is Dispensable for Growth in Cultured Fibroblasts

Mouse adenovirus type 1 (MAV-1) mutants with deletions of conserved regions of early region 1A (E1A) or with point mutations that eliminate translation of E1A were used to determine the role of E1A in MAV-1 replication. MAV-1 E1A mutants expressing no E1A protein grew to titers comparable to wild-type MAV-1 titers on mouse fibroblasts (3T6 fibroblasts and fibroblasts derived from Rb +/+, Rb +/−, and Rb −/− transgenic embryos). To test the hypothesis that E1A could induce a quiescent cell to reenter the cell cycle, fibroblasts were serum starved to stop DNA replication and cellular replication and then infected with the E1A mutant and wild-type viruses. All grew to equivalent titers. Steady-state levels of MAV-1 early mRNAs (E1A, E1B, E2, E3, and E4) from 3T6 cells infected with wild-type or E1A mutant virus were examined by Northern analysis. Steady-state levels of mRNAs from the mutant-infected cells were comparable to or greater than the levels found in wild-type virus infections for most of the early regions and for two late genes. The E2 mRNA levels were slightly reduced in all mutant infections relative to wild-type infections. E1A mRNA was not detected from infections with the MAV-1 E1A null mutant, pm E109, or from infections with similar MAV-1 E1A null mutants, pm E112 and pm E113. The implications for the lack of a requirement of E1A in cell culture are discussed.
The Relationship of Perceived Neighborhood Social Climate to Walking in Hispanic Older Adults: A Longitudinal, Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis

Objective: This study examines possible bidirectional relationships between neighborhood climate (i.e., perceived neighborhood social environment) and walking behavior across a 12-month period in older Hispanics. Method: A population-based sample of 217 community-dwelling older Hispanics in Miami, Florida, completed measures of perceived neighborhood climate and neighborhood walking, at two assessment time points (12 months apart). Results: Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that neighborhood climate predicted subsequent walking 12 months later, such that more positive perceptions of neighborhood climate predicted more walking. Follow-up analyses revealed that older adults who resided in the top half of neighborhoods based on perceived neighborhood climate scores at initial assessment were 2.57 times as likely to have walked at least one block in the last week at follow-up, relative to older adults residing in neighborhoods whose climate was in the lower half. Discussion: Perceptions of a more...
Omphalopagus twins with covered cloacal exstrophy

The incidence of conjoined twins is approximately 1/100,000 births and 70% of the twins are female.’ Approximately 40 to 60% of conjoined twins are stillborn and an additional 35% survive only 1 day. These early deaths generally occur in the most severely malformed twins, especially those with thoracopagus joining and major cardiopulmonary malformation. Approximately 35% of the twins are the omphalopagus type, which comprises a wide spectrum ranging from shared liver, intestines and bladder to a mere skin bridge.* We report the anatomical findings and separation of the eighteenth reported case of minimally conjoined omphalopagus twins.3
Improved Two-Temperature Model and Its Application in Ultrashort Laser Heating of Metal Films

The two-temperature model has been widely used to predict the electron and phonon temperature distributions in ultrashort laser processing of metals. However, estimations of some important thermal and optical properties in the existing two-temperature model are limited to low laser fluences in which the electron temperatures are much lower than the Fermi temperature. This paper extends the existing two-temperature model to high electron temperatures by using full-run quantum treatments to calculate the significantly varying properties, including the electron heat capacity, electron relaxation time, electron conductivity, reflectivity, and absorption coefficient. The proposed model predicts the damage thresholds more accurately than the existing model for gold films when compared with published experimental results.
Methods of magnetic field switching for biomedical and power applications

Surrounded by electromagnetic (EM) fields humans continuously interact and utilize EM fields for domestic devices, telecom systems, power systems and different medical applications including MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). During the last century, numerous new electronic devices and technologies have been developed leading to an exponential increase in exposure to Electromagnetic Fields. Although all of these applications are byproducts of Maxwell’ experimentation, there are considerable differences in the way they interact with us. In the treatment of noninvasive treatment of the human brain, the majority of the research has been mainly focused on realizing systems that can produce gigantic current and magnetic fields. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in this application has provided numerous opportunities and possibilities. It has shown more promise in the therapeutic role for treatment of neurological disorders. TMS researchers are working towards improving the technical developmental tools for modeling, and magnetic field generation study for deep body penetration. The development stage of these devices with associated risks in manufacturing, tight medical tolerances, cost and reliability pose important research challenges which are addressed in this research. The objective of this research is to understand, develop and offer alternative methods for the implementation of several magnetic field generators that satisfy the requirement for magnetic field applications in medical, and other fields. This work presents a continual progression of the magnetic field generators from larger scale to small scale with variable energy consumption, high speed, and deployable systems. Additionally challenges and practical designs are presented
Liquidity, Investment Style, and the Relation between Fund Size and Fund Performance

Using stock transactions data along with detailed stockholdings for a comprehensive sample of U.S. actively managed equity mutual funds from 1993 to 2002, this paper empirically examines the effect of liquidity and investment style on the relation between fund size and fund performance. Consistent with Chen, Hong, Huang, and Kubik (2004), I find a significant inverse relation between fund size and fund performance. Further, this inverse relation is stronger among funds that hold less liquid portfolios. The inverse relation between fund size and fund performance is also more pronounced among growth and high turnover funds that tend to have high demands for immediacy. Overall, this paper's findings suggest that liquidity is an important reason why fund size erodes performance.
Communications Receivers Employing Wavelet-Domain Zero-Forcing Equalization of Multipath Fading Channels

In this paper communications receivers that implement Zero-Forcing (ZF) equalization using the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) are examined. In such receivers, noisy faded received signals are first decomposed using the DWT into detail and approximation coefficients. Instead of the received signals being directly equalized in the discrete time-domain the DWT coefficients of the signals are equalized using ZF equalization. In this work the performance of such receivers under various transmission channel conditions is evaluated. Both slow- and fast- fading multipath channels are considered. In addition, the effect of using different wavelets on receiver performance is also examined. Overall system performance is evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations employing 16-QAM modulation. For all cases considered, the transmitted signals have also been corrupted by additive White Gaussian Noise (WGN). It is found that performance of receivers using wavelet-domain ZF equalization is similar to the performance of receivers using discrete time-domain ZF equalization.
Multipronged CD4(+) T-cell effector and memory responses cooperate to provide potent immunity against respiratory virus.

Summary Over the last decade, the known spectrum of CD4+ T-cell effector subsets has become much broader, and it has become clear that there are multiple dimensions by which subsets with a particular cytokine commitment can be further defined, including their stage of differentiation, their location, and, most importantly, their ability to carry out discrete functions. Here, we focus on our studies that highlight the synergy among discrete subsets, especially those defined by helper and cytotoxic function, in mediating viral protection, and on distinctions between CD4+ T-cell effectors located in spleen, draining lymph node, and in tissue sites of infection. What emerges is a surprising multiplicity of CD4+ T-cell functions that indicate a large arsenal of mechanisms by which CD4+ T cells act to combat viruses.
Do membrane-bound enzymes access their substrates from the membrane or aqueous phase: interfacial versus non-interfacial enzymes

For membrane-bound enzymes that act on substrates that partition between the membrane and aqueous phases, it is possible to imagine two fundamentally different mechanisms. Interfacial enzymes must access their substrate from the membrane phase, in other words substrate in the membrane binds directly to the active site of the enzyme at the membrane without mixing with substrate molecules in the aqueous phase. On the other hand, non-interfacial enzymes, either bound to membranes or present in the aqueous phase, must access their substrates from the aqueous phase, i.e. substrate in the aqueous phase binds directly to the enzyme without mixing with substrates in the membrane phase. An interfacial mechanism for some enzymes including secreted and cytosolic phospholipase A2 and phosphoinositide 3P-hydroxykinase was rigorously proven by demonstrating that these enzymes processively hydrolyze many phospholipids without desorbing from the surface of vesicles (scooting mode). The non-interfacial mechanism is more difficult to establish because it cannot be addressed by steady-state kinetics. Using a pre-steady-state method in which the enzymatic velocity is measured during the time it takes for substrate to exchange between vesicles, a non-interfacial mechanism was proven for vesicle-bound plasma platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase. This enzyme prefers more water-soluble phospholipids such as those with sn-2 acetyl or oxidatively truncated fatty acyl chains, and this is readily explained by the mandatory access of substrate from the aqueous phase. fl 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Almost Chebyshev properties for L 1 -approximation of continuous functions

have unique best 11. I/ ,-approximations from U. We say that U is C~~~~~~~~ in C,(K) if 4&,(U) = C(K).
Utilization of the Quantitative Assay of Lipoprotein X in the Differential Diagnosis of Extrahepatic Obstructive Jaundice and Intrahepatic Diseases

Quantitative determination of LP-X, an abnormal serum low density lipoprotein, was performed on the sera of 620 patients with jaundice in two medical centers, one in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the other in Birmingham, England. The results of serial assays over a period of 5 to 8 days after patient admission to hospital or after onset of jaundice, if this occurred in hospital, correlated best with the type and management of jaundice. In some cases of early cholestatic disease of extrahepatic origin LP-X may be absent, but after the observation period it was found that only 1 of 81 (98%) patients with obstruction of the extrahepatic bile duct system remained negative. Of the remainder, 74 (91%) had or developed levels of LP-X exceeding 300 mg per 100 ml. In addition, 43 (88%) of 49 subjects followed serially showed increases in LP-X concentration, with no change in 3 patients. Of 539 subjects with intrahepatic disease, 14 (26.5%) were LP-X positive and 27 (19.4%) of these had initial LP-X levels higher than 300 mg per 100 ml. During the follow-up period, 35 (74%) of 47 patients with intrahepatic disease showed a reduction of LP-X; of the remaining 12 patients 4 had mitochondrial antibody-positive primary biliary cirrhosis, and 6 had severe cholestasis associated with acute infectious hepatitis and high aspartate transaminase levels. Similar figures for alkaline phosphatase showed less consistent changes during the follow-up period. In this retrospective appraisal the trends and absolute levels of LP-X, in addition to the use of similarly followed levels of the routine liver function tests, allowed better differentiation of jaundice requiring surgical correction from that remediable by medical means exclusively than did the use of the routine liver function tests alone. In addition, LP-X is specific for liver dysfunction, whereas other routine liver function tests are not.