cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production of ethane by rats treated with the colon carcinogen, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine.

Abstract Ethane was exhaled by rats treated with the colon carcinogen, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). At 1 hr, ethane production (mean ± SD) was 0.2 ± 0.2 nmol / kg (controls) and 5.2 ± 1.3, 13.7 ± 3.4, and 27.7 ± 9.6, respectively, for DMH injections of 0.15 mmol/kg (20 mg/kg of the dihydrochloride salt), 0.45 mmol/kg, and 1.35 mmol/kg. Rates of ethane evolution tapered off after 2hr, but persisted for up to 3 hr at the lower dose, and up to 5–6 hr at the higher dose. Although ethane is produced in vivo during lipid peroxidation, experiments with vitamin E, a potent lipid antioxidant, indicated that lipid peroxidation was unlikely to be the source of ethane in DMH-treated rats: pretreatment with vitamin E had no effect on ethane formation from DMH but did suppress ethane production from rats treated with carbon tetrachloride, an inducer of hepatic lipid peroxidation. When rats were injected with 1,2-diethylhydrazine in place of DMH, large amounts of ethane and ethylene were produced (9800 and 5600 nmol/kg/hr). The hydrocarbon gases exhaled by rats may arise from dimerization of methyl radicals (· CH 3 ) generated during the metabolism of DMH, and from ethyl radicals (· CH 2 CH 3 ) generated during the metabolism of 1,2-diethylhydrazine. Previously, it was shown that methane and ethane are formed from methyl radicals in vitro . Other investigators have observed formation of hydrocarbon gases during the in vitro metabolism of monoalkylhydrazines by microsomes, and ethyl radicals, derived from monoethylhydrazine, have been detected by electron spin-resonance spectroscopy. The results presented here suggest that in vivo metabolism of DMH may produce methyl radicals. Methyl radicals are capable of interacting with biomolecules. Their indiscriminate reaction with tissue constituents may be a contributory factor in DMH-induced carcinogenesis.
The context of clinical judgment: the effect of resource availability on judgments of amenability to treatment in juvenile offenders.

The present study demonstrates that the contextual factors of resource availability and agency setting may have a significant, systematic relationship to assessments of potential treatment outcome. The value of this finding is not to debunk the idea of the objective clinician one more time but, instead, to provide leads regarding the possible factors worth further investigation in constructing models of clinical judgment. We are aware that clinicians do not necessarily “optimize” (Simon, 1976) when making treatment recommendations, but we know very little about the influences that structure the clinician's compromises in clinical judgment. A clearer understanding of this judgment process may come, however, as a result of applying a model that considers the clinician as a practitioner of human judgment, much of which is an adapative response to contextual influences (Hogarth, 1981; Nisbett & Ross, 1980).
A biologic basis for asymmetric growth in descending thoracic aortic aneurysms: a role for matrix metalloproteinase 9 and 2.

Objective This study was undertaken to define matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in the anterior and posterior wall of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) and correlate it with specific computed tomography (CT) image sites within the descending thoracic aorta. Methods Serial CT images of patients with TAAs were compared with age- and gender-matched normal descending thoracic aortas at levels T4-T12. The mean circumference of the TAAs was 153 mm (n = 12) and 148 mm (n = 11) at T8 and T10, respectively, compared with 75 mm (n = 12) and 75 mm (n = 10) in controls ( P t tests and analysis of variance, respectively. Results The ratio of arc distance between the intercostals on the posterior wall to total aortic circumference was 0.14 in healthy controls compared with 0.08 in TAAs at vertebral level T8 ( P = .001). At T10, the ratio was 0.15 in healthy controls compared with 0.11 in TAAs ( P = .001). MMP-9 expression in TAAs was 4.3-fold higher in the anterior wall compared with the posterior wall ( P = .03). Conversely, MMP-2 expression in TAAs was 3.2-fold higher in the posterior wall compared with the anterior wall ( P = .008). MMP expression was not detected in control cadaver aortas. Conclusion Anterior walls of expanding TAAs grow at a greater rate than the posterior wall, as determined from the lower ratio of intercostal arc distance to total circumference in TAAs. Differential MMP expression appears to be a biologic marker for asymmetric growth in the TAA wall. Clinical Relevance The pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) is poorly understood. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of enzymes, are important in aneurysm development. Earlier experiments documented a regional variation of MMP-9 in stimulated rodent aortas, with production greater in the abdominal aorta compared with the thoracic aorta. The present study extends that observation and documents asymmetric aneurysm development in the TAA wall, with increased anterior wall growth in correlation to increased MMP-9 production. An improved understanding of the mechanisms by which MMP production is regulated is critical.
Effect of silicon carbide whisker-silica heat treatment on the reinforcement of dental resin composites.

The strength and fracture resistance of dental resin composites need to be improved to extend their use to large stress-bearing crown and multiple-unit applications. Recent studies showed that the addition of ceramic whiskers significantly reinforced resin composites. The aim of the present study was to use a silicon carbide whisker-silica particle mixture to reinforce resin composites, and to investigate the effect of whisker-silica mixture heat-treatment on composite properties. The whiskers were blended with silica particles and were thermally fused in an attempt to roughen the whiskers for improved retention in the matrix. The mixtures were heat-treated at temperatures of 500, 650, 800, 950, and 1100 degrees C for 10 min, 30 min, and 3 h. The mixtures were then silanized, incorporated into a dental resin, and the paste was placed into 2 x 2 x 25 mm molds and heat-cured at 140 degrees C for 30 min. A 3-point flexural test was used to measure flexural strength and work-of-fracture. Two commercial indirect composites were tested as controls. Two-way ANOVA showed that there was no significant effect from temperature or time. Therefore, all the whisker-silica mixture samples were combined into one group (n = 96), and compared to composites filled with silica only or whisker only, and the two indirect control composites. The whisker-silica mixture group had a flexural strength (mean +/- SD) of (186 +/- 24) MPa, significantly higher than (99 +/- 29) MPa for silica only, (131 +/- 22) MPa for whisker only, and (109 +/- 23) MPa and (114 +/- 18) MPa for the two indirect composites (Tukey's multiple comparison test; family confidence coefficient = 0.95). Similar results were obtained on work-of-fracture. Scanning electron microscopy revealed rough fracture surfaces for the whisker-silica composites, indicating crack deflection and bridging by whiskers as toughening mechanisms. Whisker-silica mixture minimized whisker entanglement and enhanced whisker-resin bonding, resulting in substantially stronger and tougher dental resin composites.
Predicting shoulder dystocia with clinical factors: Can we prevent disaster?

DISASTER? DAVID STAMILIO, ANTHONY ODIBO, GEORGE MACONES, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania OBJECTIVE: Although shoulder dystocia and its potentially catastrophic sequelae are associated with fetal weight, labor dysfunction and maternal morbidity, no single factor can reliably predict the outcome. We sought to develop an accurate multivariable clinical prediction rule for shoulder dystocia. STUDY DESIGN: This is a case-control study nested in a perinatal database derived cohort. We compared shoulder dystocia cases to controls for maternal disease, social habits, obstetric risks, and fetal weight using bivariate & logistic regression analyses. We developed 3 clinical prediction models based on the final explanatory regression model, and compared prediction models’ test characteristics and ROC curves. RESULTS: We identified 40 cases among 1997 patients. In unadjusted analyses, shoulder dystocia was associated with advanced maternal age (AMA), obesity, false positive glucose challenge test (FPGCT), race, smoking status, and large for gestational age (LGA; >90%) fetal size. The explanatory regression model included LGA (odds ratio = OR 17.5, 95%CI 8.9-34.2), FPGCT (OR 2.4, 95%CI 1.0-5.6), non-smoking (OR 6.5, 95%CI 0.9-49), nonwhite race (OR 2.8, 95%CI 0.9-8.4) and AMA (OR 1.8, 95%CI 0.8-4.4). Obesity & diabetes were not significant risk factors after controlling for confounding. The clinical prediction rules are displayed in the table. AMA was included only in the 5-variable model. Optimal threshold scores (see table) were determined via ROC curve analysis.
Myocardial oxygen consumption, left ventricular fibre shortening and wall tension

Myocardial oxygen consumption ( MVO 2) was studied in a canine right heart bypass preparation. At constant heart rate and left ventricular peak developed tension (calculated from ventricular volume and pressure), doubling cardiac inflow increased MVO 2 by 1·3 ml./100 g LV/min. This approximate 10% increase is attributed to increased contractile element shortening and work.
A program of research in behavioral electronics

“Between the laboratory and the clinic lies almost the entire natural environment of humanity, practically untouched and unexplored by direct scientific procedures.” Yet electronic devices exist by which the scientist could not only record but modify the day-to-day behavior of his subjects or patients. The obvious dangers of abuse of these powerful tools may be why scientists have not made use of them. But these electronic devices may be used for constructive as well as destructive purposes, and their potential usefulness in understanding and solving human problems should not be neglected. This paper outlines some uses which the psychologist, the therapist, the social worker, and others concerned with human behavior might make of these devices.
A nationally consistent framework for identifying interstate waters with applications for the national listing of fish advisories

A 1988 survey, funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and conducted by the American Fisheries Society, identified the need to standardize the approaches for evaluating risks and developing fish consumption advisories that are comparable across different jurisdictions. A major tool for evaluating the progress in developing such nationally consistent information is EPA’s web-based National Listing of Fish Advisories (NLFA) database, which has archived fish advisory information since 1993. The NLFA comprises both a database and Geographic Information System mapping components that are implemented using the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). EPA and the US Geological Survey have developed an enhanced NHD product (NHDPlus) that is applied to define an interstate waters framework for the conterminous USA. This NHDPlus-based framework provides an efficient watershed-oriented approach for identifying interstate advisories from NLFA. We provide summaries of (1) the degree of consistency documented for inland waters where states have issued advisories for shared interstate NHD reaches and (2) the patterns for interstate advisories organized according to the ecoregions developed for EPA’s Wadeable Streams Assessment. Approaches are also discussed for addressing interstate consistency issues for fish advisories in coastal waters making use of the NHDPlus combined with other nationally consistent frameworks, such as the 12-digit hydrologic unit code subwatersheds in the Watershed Boundary Dataset. Probability survey methods are recommended as a way to promote increased interjurisdictional consistency in the development of the monitoring and risk assessment conclusions reflected in NLFA, as well as in other EPA water quality-based programs.
Abstract 4057: Quantitative assessment of 3D nuclear architecture in colon epithelial cells by micro-optical computed tomography

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. About 50,000 people will die from this disease in 2011. CRCs develop through an accumulation of genetic and epigenetic aberrations and have been broadly classified into three molecular subtypes - chromosomal instability (CIN), microsatellite instability (MSI), and CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP). Research studies on CRC have predominantly focused on its molecular biological and genetic basis, but very little is known about the three-dimensional cell morphological variations between these subclasses. We investigated alterations in the three-dimensional (3D) nuclear architecture of the three molecular subtypes of CRC, comparing them to a benign adenoma, using representative epithelial cell line models: AAC1 (benign), AAC1-SB10 (CIN), HCT-116 (MSI) and RKO (CIMP). We applied micro-optical computed tomography (Cell-CT) to image one hundred individual hematoxylin-stained cells of each of the four types with submicron, isotropic spatial resolution. We performed automated 3D image analysis on the volumetric cell images, quantifying fifty descriptors (features) to characterize the nuclear morphology and coarse chromatin organization. We evaluated the statistical efficacy of our 3D features in distinguishing among the cell types. Our results demonstrated previously unreported morphological variations among the controls and three types of CRC. Relative to the benign adenoma cells, in contrast to CIN and MSI, the CIMP subtype exhibited markedly smaller cell and nuclear sizes, smaller nucleus-to-cytoplasm (NC) ratio and a predominantly smooth nuclear interior, lacking in clumpy chromatin. However, the CIMP cell nuclei exhibited the highest optical density among the four cell classes. MSI cells showed the clumpiest nuclear texture, followed by the benign adenoma cell nuclei. These results offer new perspectives on nuclear structure variations in benign colon adenoma and colorectal cancer cells, warranting further investigation. They suggest that the hypermethylation seen in the CIMP phenotype may result in demonstrable chromatin compaction with a concomitant reduction in nuclear size. The chromatin clumpiness observed in the MSI cells may reflect increased mutations at nuclear scaffold binding sites, which tend to be characterized by single and di-nucleotide repeats. We intend to pursue studies on human biopsy cells with ultimate goal of testing the efficacy of Cell-CT for CRC diagnosis, subtyping and staging. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4057. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4057
Trans-dioxo manganese(V) porphyrins.

The relatively stable oxoMn(V) porphyrins generated by oxidation of Mn(III) porphyrins in alkaline solutions using peroxides are unambiguously identified as trans-dioxo species. Raman spectra revealed symmetric OMnVO stretching frequencies between 741 and 744 cm-1 for five porphyrin complexes while the IR of dioxo-MnV-tetrapentafluoroporphyrin [MnV(O2)(TPFPP)]- displayed an antisymmetric stretch at 805 cm-1. Both half-labeled and fully labeled 18O−MnV porphyrin complexes were prepared, and the Raman and IR shifts correspond well with a linear, three-body OMnO oscillator model. Terminal, monooxo formulations such as HO−MnVO or five-coordinate MnVO are excluded by the data. The 1H NMR spectrum of [MnV(O2)(TMP)]-, which shows a single, sharp resonance for the two ortho methyl groups, is also consistent with octahedral coordination of D4h symmetry. The force constant F for the MnO double bond was calculated to be 454 N/m with a stretch−stretch force constant k = 67.2 N/m. Comparison with other Mn−O force cons...
Disaster warning and evacuation responses by private business employees.

When people are advised that their place of employment is threatened with disaster, how do they respond? Interviews with employees (n=406) of 118 businesses affected by one of seven recent disasters provide the first answers to this question. Multivariate analyses document the key variables that best predict variation are: 1) emergent perceptions of risk; 2) time of evacuation from work; 3) time of evacuation from home; 4) multiple evacuations; and 5) tension between work and family commitments. When warned of impending disaster, most employees initially responded with denial. Gradually, however, emergent perceptions of risk intensified especially among those living in communities in which the least amount of disaster planning had occurred or who resided in a mobile home or apartment. Highest levels of work and family tensions during these evacuations were reported by racial minority employees who had children living at home. Policy implications for these and other findings are discussed so as to pin-point changes business managers should make that will enable them to provide the leadership and compassion expected by employees.
Differential efficacy of tumor necrosis factor inhibition in the management of inflammatory eye disease and associated rheumatic disease.

Objective To evaluate the clinical usefulness of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in patients with inflammatory eye disease that is resistant to conventional immunosuppressive therapies. Methods Sixteen patients (4 males and 12 females aged 7 to 78 years) who received etanercept (n = 14) or infliximab (n = 2) for either inflammatory eye disease or associated joint disease were studied retrospectively to determine the effect of these medications on their ocular inflammation. Results Nine cases of uveitis and 7 cases of scleritis were treated. Systemic diagnoses included rheumatoid arthritis (n = 8), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (n = 3), ankylosing spondylitis (n = 1), and psoriatic spondylarthropathy (n = 1). Three patients had uveitis without associated systemic disease. Although 12 of 12 patients with active articular inflammation (100%) experienced improvement in joint disease, only 6 of 16 with ocular inflammation (38%) experienced improvement in eye disease. Five patients developed inflammatory eye disease for the first time while taking a TNF inhibitor. No patient discontinued treatment because of adverse drug effects. Conclusion TNF inhibitors are well tolerated immunosuppressive medications that may benefit certain subgroups of patients with inflammatory eye disease, but they appear to be more effective in controlling associated inflammatory arthritis.
Antibody response to common enterobacterial antigen of children with pyogenic peritonitis.

The immunologic response of 30 patients with pyogenic peritonitis due to gram-negative enteric bacteria was studied. Paired serum specimens were titrated for antibodies to both the O antigens of the isolates and to the common enterobacterial antigen (CA) by means of the passive hemagglutination test. Significant increases (four-fold or higher) or elevated titers of antibodies directed against CA were observed in 26 subjects and against O antigens in 24 patients. The specifity of the CA antibodies was documented by hemagglutination-inhibition-tests. In contrast, serum of patients with urinary tract infection or enteritis contained CA antibodies in significant titers in only out of 21 subjects, although the O antibody titers were comparable to those observed in patients with peritonitis. It is concluded that CA antibodies are produced far more frequently and in higher titers in children with peritonitis than in those with urinary tract infection or enteritis. The reasons for these striking differences remain to be elucidated.
Overview of evaluation and treatment guidelines for epilepsy

Choosing the most appropriate treatment for a patient with epilepsy depends on complicated and critical decisions. The number of treatment options has become large, and evidence of effectiveness for each treatment continues to expand. To address this problem, numerous guidelines have been produced by several societies and organizations. However, the guidelines do not always agree in their recommendations, mostly because of differing methods reflecting distinct purposes, but these differences are useful because they highlight both what is incontrovertible and what is unknown. Overall, the evidence needed to choose an antiepileptic drug (AED) wisely is incomplete, and no individual AED or group of AEDs is universally preferred as first-line therapy. Initial treatment should be based in part on the seizure-type diagnosis because the AEDs differ in their efficacy for various seizure types. The AEDs also differ in their safety, tolerability, and potential for pharmacologic interactions. These issues and the patient’s general medical history are additional factors to be used when selecting an AED. The failure of AEDs to completely control seizures should lead to consideration of epilepsy surgery, especially for patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. However, there is no consensus regarding how many AEDs should be tried before the condition is deemed pharmacoresistant. Vagus nerve stimulation and the ketogenic diet are alternative treatments for patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy who do not have epilepsy surgery or who have unsuccessful surgery.
Devitrification of defense nuclear waste glasses: Role of melt insolubles

Abstract Time-temperature-transformation (TTT) curves have been determined for simulated nuclear waste glasses bounding the compositional range in the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF). Formulations include all of the minor chemical elements such as ruthenium and chromium which have limited solubility in borosilicate glasses. Heterogeneous nucleation of spinel on ruthenium dioxide and subsequent nucleation of acmite on spinel is the major devitrification path. Heterogeneous nucleation on melt insolubles causes more rapid growth of crystalline devitrification phases, and subsequent changes in leaching and mechanical behavior than in glass free of melt insolubles. These studies point out the importance of simulating waste glass composition and processing as accurately as possible to obtain reliable estimates of glass performance.
The effects of family authority structure and socioeconomic status on field independence.

Summary Previous research suggests that paternal family authority structures (FAS) and higher socioeconomic status backgrounds (SES) are associated with field independence (FI), an individual differences variable referencing analytical cognitive style. The common conceptual ground between FAS and SES is that both provide the stable, differentiated environments believed to be implicated in the development of FI. The main question of the present study is whether FAS and SES are loosely coupled in the environment and thus have a separate impact on FI, or whether they form a cluster and thus have an overlapping impact on FI. The Ss were 50 American females on a hospital nursing staff. FI was measured by the Portable Rod-and-Frame Test, SES by Ss education and other background variables, and FAS by six items from Bronfenbrenner and Devereux's FAS measure. The results indicate that both FAS and SES had a direct but separate impact on FI. The results also indicate that specific areas of FAS and SES were particul...
Social, Behavioral, and Health Care Factors Associated With Recent HIV Testing Among Sexually Active Non-Hispanic Black Women In The United States

Purpose We examined the prevalence of recent HIV testing among sexually active adult Black women in the United States and the social, behavioral, and health care factors associated with their receipt of these services. Methods Data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth were obtained. Our analyses focused on 1,122 sexually active non-Hispanic Black women aged 18–44 years. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted on the total sample of women and on 3 subsamples of women, stratified by age group. Main Findings Only 29% of the total sample of women reported recent HIV testing. Younger age and recent Pap testing were positively associated with recent HIV testing, whereas uninsurance and no recent pregnancy were negatively associated with recent HIV testing. Unique factors of recent HIV testing also were revealed for each age group. Conclusions A low prevalence of Black women received HIV testing in 2001 and 2002. Efforts to facilitate access to and utilization of health care are needed because these factors were associated with HIV testing. Public health messages to increase HIV testing among this vulnerable population of women also need to consider the factors unique to each age group.
Rearing the Navel Orangeworm in the Laboratory

In 1961 work was initiated to develop methods and equipment for rearing the navel orangeworm, Paramyelois transitella (Walker), in large numbers preparatory to the laboratory rearing of imported parasites to be used in the field against this pest. Methods and equipment that were developed are described and operational procedures involved in the successful rearing of this host insect are given.
Sea salt particles react with organic acids in atmosphere

Sea salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), particles lofted into the atmosphere by the motion of ocean waves affect atmospheric chemistry; these particles can undergo reactions with trace atmospheric gases and internal mixing with anthropogenic pollutants depositing on particle surface. Several studies have found that NaCl particles in the atmosphere are depleted in chloride and have attributed this to reactions with inorganic acids. However, reactions with inorganic acids do not fully account for the observed chloride depletion in some locations; it has been suggested that organic acids, likely of anthropogenic origin, may also play a role in chloride depletion, but results have been uncertain.
Mouse embryo development in media containing growth factors

Abstract The effects of various growth factors on in vitro mouse embryo development were investigated. Two-cell mouse embryos were cultured in: Whitten's medium with 10 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (WM) as the control, WM with 0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 units/ml T-cell growth factor (TCGF0.1, TCGF1.0, TCGF10.0), WM with 0.012, 0.12 or 1.2 μg/ml marrow cell stimulator (MCS0.012, MCS0.12, MCS1.2), WM with 0.4, 4.0 or 40.0 μl/ml MCS control buffer (MCS0.4, MCS4.0, MCS40.0) and WM with 1, 10 or 100 ng/ml of epidermal growth factor (EGF1, EGF10, EGF100), fibroblast growth factor (FGF1, FGF10, FGF100), endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF1, ECGF10, ECGF100), nerve growth factor 2.5S (NGF2.5S1, NGF2.5S10, NGF2.5S100), nerve growth factor 7S (NGF7S1, NGF7S10, NGF7S100), multiplication stimulating activity (MSA1, MSA10, MSA100) or liver cell growth factor (LCGF1, LCGF10, LCGF100). At 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of culture, 10–12 embryos from each treatment were fixed and stained in hematoxylin and eosin for the determination of cell numbers and the incidences of mitotic figures. Greater numbers of embryos hatched in MSA1, ECGF1, ECGF10 and NGF7S supplemented media than in WM (P
Mass spectrometer correction factors for the determination of small isotopic composition variations of carbon and oxygen

Abstract Mass spectrometer data of carbon and oxygen isotopic composition measurements obtained by comparison of a sample with a standard have to be corrected for differences in the instrumental components used for the measurement of sample and standard and for extraneous ion current contributions to the measured mass peaks. The experimental determination of five different correction factors and their application in the data reduction are discussed.
SEX DIFFERENCES IN CRITICAL FLICKER FREQUENCY

In a sample of 101 subjects 42 men showed significantly higher CFFs than 59 women. This is contrary to the prediction of Broverman, et al. and differs from the results of Misiak, who reported no sex difference. The findings were discussed in relation to the organizational hypothesis of Phoenix, et al.
Instrumentation plans at Keck Observatory

We briefly review the existing instruments at the first Keck telescope and their performance characteristics. These include the high resolution echelle spectrograph (HIRES), the low resolution imaging spectrograph (LRIS), and the near infrared camera (NIRC). Other Keck 1 instruments include the long wavelength spectrograph (LWS) and long wavelength imaging camera (LWIRC). The instruments currently being developed for the second Keck telescope are described and their expected performance characteristics are described. These include the deep imaging multi-object spectrograph (DEIMOS), the near infrared echelle spectrograph (NIRSPEC), the echelle spectrograph and imager (ESI), the diffraction limited near infrared camera (NIRC-2), and the ultraviolet side of the LRIS (LRIS-B). Keck 2 will also have a major new facility, an adaptive optics (AO) system. This system will deliver diffraction limited images in the 1 - 5 micron region and will be used in front of the NIRC-2. This AO system will contain a laser to generate an artificial sodium star, thus giving AO essentially full sky coverage. The AO system design and status is summarized. Keck Observatory is also planning an interferometer using the Keck 1 and Keck 2 telescopes, with a baseline of 85 m. We describe the plans and progress on this adaptive optics augmented infrared interferometer.
In vivo correlation of myocardial metabolism, perfusion, and mechanical function during increased cardiac work.

Study objective — The aim was to study the in vivo interaction and regulation of myocardial perfusion, metabolism, and pump function in an open chest canine model using a combination of potentially non-invasive and clinically useful techniques. Design — To assess potential regulatory mechanisms and the interaction of myocardial perfusion, metabolism, and contractile function responses during changes in cardiac workload, noradrenaline (1 μg·kg−1·min−1) was infused and hypoxia was produced by increasing the inspired ratio of nitrogen to oxygen to produce a Pao2 of 2.6-4.0 kPa in separate interventions. Subjects — Nine mongrel dogs of either sex, age 2-5 years, weight 8.5(SD 2.2) kg, were studied in separate interventions. Measurements and main results - Myocardial perfusion was determined using 2H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measured washout of deuterium oxide from the left ventricle interpreted with a one component Kety-Schmidt exponential model. High energy phosphate bioenergetics were determined by 31P NMR measurements of the phosphocreatine/ATP ratio. Redox state was estimated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide fluorometry expressed as percent change from the baseline, normalised to maximum response measured at 100% inspired N2. Mechanical function was evaluated using heart rate × systolic blood pressure and oxygen consumption measurements. During both noradrenaline infusion and hypoxia, mechanical function increased significantly from control values: heart rate × systolic blood pressure = 1.9(SD 0.5), 3.6(0.1), and 2.6(0.4), respectively; oxygen consumption = 0.9(2), 1.6(0.1), and 1.2(0.6) ml·min−1·100 g−1. Myocardial perfusion increased to support the increased workloads, from 87(10) to 131(20), and from 60(12) to 182(14) ml·min−1·100 g−1, respectively. ADP, estimated by the phosphocreatine/ATP ratio, did not change during noradrenaline infusion [2.4(0.2) to 2.4(0.7)], but decreased during hypoxia [2.4(0.4) to 1.7(0.5)]. Redox state decreased during noradrenaline infusion, from 100% to 84(0.7)%, and increased during hypoxia, from 100% to 140(10)%. Conclusions — Similar changes in workload induced by different physiological stimuli are associated with different biochemical responses even though changes in perfusion are similar. The data suggest that myocardial function is regulated by different biochemical mechanisms under different physiological conditions, ie, there is probably no universal regulator of myocardial function. It is now possible to evaluate potential metabolic regulators of myocardial function in an in vivo animal model.
Ligand-induced transformation by a noninternalizing epidermal growth factor receptor

Identification of a mutant epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor that does not undergo downregulation has provided a genetic probe to investigate the role of internalization in ligand-induced mitogenesis. Contact-inhibited cells expressing this internalization-defective receptor exhibited a normal mitogenic response at significantly lower ligand concentrations than did cells expressing wild-type receptors. A transformed phenotype and anchorage-independent growth were observed at ligand concentrations that failed to elicit these responses in cells expressing wild-type receptors. These findings imply that activation of the protein tyrosine kinase activity at the cell membrane is sufficient for the growth-enhancing effects of EGF. Thus, downregulation can serve as an attenuation mechanism, without which transformation ensues.
Identification of neuregulin as a factor required for formation of aligned spermatogonia

In the absence of somatic cells, medium conditioned by the SNL fibroblast line (SNL-CM) is able to stimulate primary cultures of rat type-A single spermatogonia to develop into chains of aligned spermatogonia at the 8-, 16-, and 32-cell stages. By comparison, medium conditioned by an MSC-1 Sertoli cell line is ineffective. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)-like molecules were identified in SNL-CM and recombinant forms of GDNF, neurturin, and artemin were shown to stimulate formation of aligned spermatogonia, but principally to only the 4- and 8-cell stages. Because SNL-CM and GDNF-like molecules stimulated the formation of spermatogonial chain length differently, we purified components of SNL-CM to identify the additional contributing factor(s). A fraction was isolated that was dependent on GDNF, but required for effective formation of 16- and 32-cell chain lengths. Sequence analysis identified the factor as mouse neuregulin-1. At picomolar concentrations, recombinant neuregulin-1 in combination with GDNF effectively stimulated formation of aligned spermatogonia up to the 32-cell stage. Neuregulin in the absence of GDNF was relatively ineffective. Soluble receptors for neuregulins blocked the effects of GDNF and SNL-CM, suggesting that both neuregulin and GDNF are required for effective formation of long spermatogonial chains. Addition of neuregulin-1 to cultures on MSC-1 feeder layers resulted in spermatogonial behavior similar to that seen on feeder layers of SNL fibroblasts. In fact, SNL cells were found to express 100-fold higher levels of neuregulin-1 transcripts than MSC-1 cells. Thus, we identify neuregulin as a factor required for spermatogonial amplification and differentiation in culture.
Critical factors for frequency-dependent fatigue processes in composite materials

Several fatigue-test parameters, including cyclic frequency, prefatigue material conditioning (preloading and step loading) and test-control modes (strain control and load control) are investigated and their effect on the fatigue response of composite materials is discussed. A conceptual model based on the test results is offered to aid in the understanding of fatigue processes in composite materials and the effect of frequency on fatigue response.
Atheism, faith, and the social scientific study of religion

Abstract The social “scientific”; study of religion originated in atheism and the basic theses pursued today, especially by psychologists and anthropologists, are little changed since they were first proposed by militant opponents of religion in the seventeenth and early eighteenth century. In this essay I trace these links from major scholar to major scholar across the centuries. I then examine the remarkable irony that the recent emergence of a truly scientific approach to religion was accomplished mainly by an influx of “believers”;. I sketch why and how this happened before turning to an assessment of the persistence of atheistic biases. I conclude with suggestions about how a truly scientific study of religion can be pursued by both believers and unbelievers, if not by fanatics of either stripe.
Journal Club: The Measurement of Reliability

Editor's Capsule Summary for Cruz et al 1 What is already known on this topic Valid clinical research requires high-quality data collection. Physicians are commonly considered the standard by which valid prospective data are obtained. What question this study addressed This study determined whether non–medically trained research assistants could reliably collect subjective historical data from emergency department patients with chest pain. What this study adds to our knowledge This prospective comparative study included 33 research assistants, 39 physicians, and 143 patients. Research assistants demonstrated fair to excellent reliability (as defined by crude agreement and kappa) when obtaining cardiac histories and cardiac risk factors. How this might change clinical practice The results of this study will not change clinical practice. They do, however, provide evidence to support the use of trained research assistants for the collection of certain types of clinical data.
Phonatory and nonphonatory motor control in singers

Summary Previous investigations of singers' ability to match tones accurately and rapidly have implied that this group of performers may be specially endowed with auditory-motor systems that predispose him or her to aspire as a singer. The purpose of this study was to measure the performance of singers on an auditory-motor task and to compare it with performance on a visuomotor task. Singers and nonsingers matched randomly presented auditory pure tones between the 30 and 60% points of their phonational ranges. In addition, the subjects pursued a visually presented static stimulus by rotating their wrist. The results indicate that the singers were more stable once they reached the target on the auditory-motor task. Singers were also less variable on the auditory-motor task compared with nonsingers. The two groups were not different from each other on the visuomotor task. The data also revealed that singers achieve pitch targets more efficiently than do nonsingers but the two groups achieve wrist targets with comparable efficiency. The data suggest that singers do not have uniformly endowed sensorimotor systems; however, they are capable of performing with greater motor stability, consistency, and efficiency using laryngeal/phonatory motor subsystems than with manual (wrist flexion) subsystems.
Hyperspectral imaging in the operating room: what a surgeon wants

Visualization is the key to surgery, but limiting one's "vision" to visible light images received by the human eye ignores a lot of available data. Imaging technology such as hyperspectral and infrared imaging can greatly expand the amount and type of information available to the surgeon. We propose several areas in which this type of technology can be useful in medicine, paying particular attention to the way in which this technology might be best integrated into current operating room setups.
On the speckle size in optical coherence tomography

ABSTRACT Speckle is always present in Optical Coherence Tom ography (OCT) measurements. To a rst approximation,the speckle size is determined by the OCT resolution length and the point spread function of the focusingoptics in the sample arm. But the speckle size is also a ected by the tissue microst ructure. We demonstratethis phenomena by performing measurements on optical phantoms with a controlled density of scatterers usingtime-domain OCT. In the very low density limit, the scatterers are easily identied on the OCT cross-sectionand, in fact, one can hardly speak of a speckle pattern. The corresponding speckle size is the resolution lengthaxially and the point spread function of the focusing optics transversally. As the number of scatterers increases,a true speckle eld appears and the measured speckle size decreases. In the high density limit, the speckle sizereaches an asymptotic value that is about 70% of its low-density regime values. In addition to experimentalresults, theoretical estimates of the limiting speckle si ze values are presented. Our work contributes to a betterunderstanding of speckle in optical coherence tomography.Keywords: Optical coherence to mography, speckle, biomedical imaging
Pegasus gateway: cyberspace collaboration

Summary form only given. The National Science Foundation (NSF) established an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) for e-Design at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the University of Central Florida. The center serves as a national center of excellence in information technology (IT)-enabled design and realization of discrete manufactured products. It is currently supported by a growing number of US industry partners and US government agencies including GEAE, Ford Motor Co., Alcoa, Pratt & Whitney, Lockheed Martin, PTC, ANSYS, Raytheon, Respironics, BAE Systems, IBM, Engineous Software, VirtualE3D, and the federal agencies, including DoD, NIST, and NASA. Two additional universities, Carnegie Mellon University and Virginia Tech, join the center. Through four research thrusts, (1) enabling information infrastructure, (2) life-cycle, collaborative, and multidisciplinary design, (3) conceptual design tools and design process models, and (4) virtual prototyping and simulation, more than 30 faculty members along with their graduate students are conducting research activities to realize the innovative e-design paradigm. This demonstration presents the Pegasus gateway that enables a collaborative service-oriented design paradigm with capability for interoperability, trust-support infrastructure, systems engineering approach to design, integrated product realization through optimization, transparency, conflict resolution & negotiation, pro-activeness of analysis, virtual simulation & prototyping, lean product data management, multidisciplinary constraints & preferences capturing, and instant distributed access & visualization. As a case scenario, this demonstration shows how the Pegasus gateway can be efficiently employed in collaboration for assembly design. The Pegasus gateway and service-oriented collaboration architecture realizes an environment in which joining knowledge is captured early in the assembly design process and is propagated seamlessly and transparently to downstream activities including virtual assembly analysis and assembly design decision-making
Some Results of the Search for Super-Novae

Some time ago Baade and I discussed the existence of a new class of novae which surpass the common novae in luminosity by a factor of one thousand. [1, 2] We proposed to call these new stars super-novae, a designation which is now in general use. It should be emphasized, however, that super-novae in some respects differ fundamentally from ordinary novae. In oour original communications [1, 2] we made a first tentative attempt to estimate how often super-novae appear in an average nebula. From a considerable, though very heterogeneous set of records from various sources extending over the past fifty years we concluded that the frequency of occurrence of super-novae in an average nebula is of the order of one per several centuries. We also suggested that the study of super-novae promises to throw new light on the problem of the generation of energy in stars and perhaps on the origin of cosmic rays. In conjunction with considerations concerning the tremendous liberation of energy in super-novae we suggested the formation of collapsed neutron stars [1, 2] as the most powerful source of energy.
Special Section on the International Conference on Microelectronic Test Structures

The seven papers in this special section were originally presented at the 2009 International Conference on Microelectronics Test Structures (ICMTS).
Credit Where Credit Is Due: The History of the Chumash Oceangoing Plank Canoe

Recent publications debate the origins of the Chumash plank canoe (tomol) of southern California. The timing of its appearance is of considerable scholarly interest because of its significant role in the evolution of sociopolitical complexity among the coastal Chumash, who were among the world's most complex hunter-gatherers. This paper closely considers: (a) what constitutes reliable empirical evidence for canoe making and maintenance; (b) the most current estimate for the date of origin of this sophisticated watercraft (and the empirical foundations for such an estimate); (c) a scenario for the development of the tomol as a complex technological system (CTS) and why credit is appropriately assigned to the coastal Chumash for its development; and (d) the impacts of this technological system on Chumash sociopolitical evolution.
Do More Police Lead to More Crime Deterrence

Does increasing police strength deter more crime? Some studies have found apparent negative effects of police manpower levels on crime rates, and the most common explanation of such findings is that greater police strength increases perceptions of arrest risk, thus reducing crime via general deterrence mechanisms. The authors directly tested this hypothesis by estimating the association between survey respondents’ perceptions of arrest risk and the level of police strength prevailing in the counties where they live. No relationship between the number of police officers per capita and perceptions of the risk of arrest was found, suggesting that increases in police manpower will not increase general deterrent effects and decreases will not reduce these effects. The authors also considered the possibility that police manpower levels influence the number of criminals incarcerated, and thus affect crime rates via the incapacitative effects of incarceration, but concluded that such an effect is unlikely. These ...
Geometry embedded in North American quilt patterns

Quilts are an integral part of the North American culture. Most households in North America have quilts with intricate geometric patterns. These patterns symbolize different things to different groups of people in this part of the world. It is important for students to see how mathematics comes from what is done in day-to-day life, not from the pages of sterile texts. North American quilts provide a wonderful opportunity to do exactly that. The purpose of this paper is to introduce two high school level geometry activities in the context of quilt patterns.
Gene Products of Cytomegalovirus and Their Immunologic Significance

The protein composition of CMV is quite complex. The 230-kilobase genome has the coding capacity for over 200 proteins, each of which may be subject to post-translational modification by cleavage, phosphorylation, glycosylation, or sulfation. Our understanding of the immunologic structure of CMV has improved greatly in the last few years as a result of the development of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant gene expression technologies. The CMV gene products have been grouped by size in a recent review by Landini and Michelson (1988). The immune responses that occur following CMV infection and the importance of specific viral proteins in inducing these responses have also been reviewed recently (Rasmussen, 1989). In this chapter I first review what is known about the protein and glycoproteins of CMV. The gene products that are associated with immunologic activities are then described. The focus is on human immune responses; however, studies in animal models or with nonhuman CMV strains are included when they illustrate principles that may be important for subsequent studies in humans (see also Chapters 6 and 7).