cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative Efficacy of Behavioral Interventions in Preschool Children Attending Head Start

This study tested the relative efficacy of two interventions for children referred for consultation services due to problem behavior in the classroom. Teachers nominated children for participation due to frequent disruptive behaviors, such as inappropriate vocalizations and off-task behavior. Four Black males from 3 to 4 years old who attended Head Start centers served as the participants. Each child received a functional assessment that included a teacher-completed functional assessment rating scale and a brief functional analysis. Following functional assessments, an alternating treatments design was used to test the relative efficacy of an intervention matched to function and the Mystery Motivator intervention, not matched to function. Results indicate that both the intervention matched to function and the Mystery Motivator intervention were superior to a no-intervention control condition, but the function-matched intervention was more effective than the Mystery Motivator intervention for reducing problem behaviors and increasing appropriate engagement for all four children. Results are discussed in terms of learning principles potentially responsible for differential efficacy, as well as implications for applied practice.
Effect and outcomes of the ASGE guidelines on the periendoscopic management of patients who take anticoagulants.

Effect and outcomes of the ASGE guidelines on the periendoscopic management of patients who take anticoagulants
Ocular Motor and Sensory Function in Parkinson's Disease

Purpose To evaluate the effect of dopaminergic medication and deep brain stimulation on ocular function in Parkinson's disease (PD) and to measure vision-related quality of life in subjects with PD. Design Prospective, comparative case series. Participants and Controls Twenty-seven PD and 16 control subjects were recruited. Methods Visual acuity, ocular motor function, convergence, and vision-related quality of life using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) were measured. Visual sensory and motor measurements were obtained during the on and off states of PD dopaminergic treatment. Main Outcome Measures Convergence ability and vision-related quality of life. Results The PD subjects had a mean age of 58.8 years; 30% were female. Their mean duration of PD was 10.9±6.8 years. The control subjects had a mean age of 61.6 years; 56% were female. There was no difference in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, or color vision of the PD subjects in their on state compared with controls. Convergence amplitudes measured with base-out prism were significantly poorer in PD subjects in their on state compared with controls (24.1±8 Δ vs. 14.8 ±10.3 Δ; P = 0.003). The mean composite VFQ-25 score was significantly worse in the PD subjects compared with the controls (87.1±8.69 vs. 96.6±3.05; P = 0.0001). Comparing the PD subjects in their on with their off states, there was no difference in distance exodeviation, near exodeviation, or ocular ductions. Mean convergence amplitudes and near point of convergence were better in the on state compared with the off state: 14.8±10.3 Δ versus 10.7±9.0 Δ ( P = 0.0006) and 13.1±9.1 cm versus 18.1±12.2 cm ( P = 0.002), respectively. Conclusions Convergence ability is significantly poorer in PD subjects in both the on and off states compared with controls, but improves significantly with systemic dopaminergic treatment. Ocular motor function in PD subjects fluctuates in response to treatment, which complicates ophthalmic management. Parkinson's disease subjects have a significant reduction in vision-related quality of life, especially with near activities, that is not associated with visual acuity. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Effect of prestrain on aging and bake hardening of cold-rolled, continuously annealed steel sheets

To understand the bake hardening (BH) behavior in an actual automotive part, 40 tensile specimens were machined from the actual press-formed outer-door panel of a compact car and both bake and work hardenability distribution data were determined. Strain applied by actual press forming was estimated from the work hardening data. Finally, the effects of prestraining mode and amount on ambient aging and BH response were also investigated. The BH widely ranged from 10 to 54 MPa and the work hardenability was between 17 and 82 MPa, depending on panel location. Bake hardening in the outer-door panel decreased as the work hardening increased, indicating that the BH steel must be applied to the shallow drawn parts in order to maximize the BH effect in dent resistance. In order to establish the effects of prestrain and ambient aging time on the age and subsequent BH, the specimens were prestrained and aged at ambient temperature for various time intervals, and then baked at 170 °C for 20 minutes. In the as-temper-rolled and press-formed condition, the steels were extremely resistant to ambient aging. However, it was found that a 0.3 pct tensile prestrain was sufficient to initiate ambient aging within 1 day, and the effect was accelerated with greater prestrain. With 8 days of ambient aging, all prestrained steels exhibited 20 to 25 MPa of age hardening. Irrespective of prestrain amount in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 pct, the BH decreased as the aging time increased.
Feedback Control of a Thermal Fluid Using State Estimation

Abstract In his paper we consider the problem of designing a feedback controller for a thermal fluid. Any practical feedback controller for a fluid flow system must incorporate some type of state estimator. Moreover, regardless of the approach, one must introduce approximations at some point in the analysis. The method presented here uses distributed parameter control theory to guide the design and approximation of practical slate estimators. Wc use finite clement techniques to approximate optimal infinite dimensional controllers based on linear quadratic Gaussian lpar;LQG) and MinMax theory for the Bonssincsq equations. These designs are then compared to full state feedback. We present several numerical experiments and we describe how these techniques can also be applied to sensor placement problems.
Stimulation of glucose transport and oxidation in adipocytes by fatty acids: evidence for a regulatory role in the cellular response to insulin.

Exposure of adipocytes of rats to free fatty acids causes accelerated 3-0-[3H]methyl D-glucose transport maximally at 35–70 μM depending on the degree of unsaturation and chain length, like insulin. Glucose oxidation is also stimulated with a relatively greater activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt. The latter is not sup pressed in the presence of cytochalasin B which completely inhibits the stimulatory effect of insulin or of the fatty acids on methyl glucose transport. This supports the original evidence of S.P. Mukherjee etal. that a transport-independent, NAD(P)H-oxidas linked glucose uptake in response to insulin or mimicking agents can differentially enhance the shunt pathway (Biophys. J., 15,314, 1975; Fed. Proc. 34,660, 1975). The potency of the major fatty acids of membrane phospholipids were linoleic acid>oleic acid>>-cis-vaccenic acid>palmitic acid.
Phosphorous Cycling in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem: Legacy Phosphorous Implications for Management and Restoration

Phosphorus (P) retention in wetlands is an important function of watershed nutrient cycling, particularly in drainage basins with significant nonpoint nutrient contributions from agriculture and urban sources. Phosphorus storage involves complex interrelated physical, chemical, and biological processes that ultimately retain P in organic and inorganic forms. Both short-term storage of P mediated by assimilation into vegetation, translocation within above- and below-ground plant tissues, microorganisms, periphyton, and detritus, and long-term storage (retention by inorganic and organic soil particles and net accretion of organic matter) need to be considered. Here, we review and synthesize recent studies on P cycling and storage in soils and sediments throughout the Greater Everglades Ecosystem and the influence of biotic and abiotic regulation of P reactivity and mobility as related to restoration activities in south Florida. Total P storage in the floc/detrital layer and surface soils (0–10 cm) is estima...
Disk and stripe capacitances

Abstract We calculate the capacitance of a disk separated by a dielectric from a parallel ground plane for an arbitrary ratio of dielectric permittivities of the dielectric and vacuum. We also discuss fringing capacitances for two limiting cases of a large insulator permittivity and equal permittivities of an insulator and vacuum and compare our results for the disk capacitor with those for a stripe capacitance. For both geometries, we propose simple interpolation formulae which have an accuracy sufficient for most practical calculations. These results can be used in the design of solid state devices and integrated circuits.
Insulin-like immunoreactivity in human retinoblastoma Y79 cell line

Cells from the Y79 human retinoblastoma cell line were examined by immunofluorescence immunocytochemistry using an antiserum against insulin. All the cells showed intense staining, indicating the presence of insulin-like immunoreactivity in these cells. Our observations suggest that insulin may play an important role in the metabolism of retinoblastoma cells and that it may be possible to use this cell line as an in vitro model for studies on the action of insulin in the metabolism of human retinal cells.
Performance Specification of Time‐temperature Integrators Designed to Protect Against Botulism in Refrigerated Fresh Foods

: Time-temperature integrators (TTIs) may provide a means to monitor safety of fresh foods packaged in reduced-oxygen environments. Commercially, TTI's have not been fully realized, possibly due to confusion over selection, performance, and reliability. The purpose of this work was to develop a framework for establishing performance targets for TTI's with foods that have potential to cause foodborne botulism. An Arrhenius-type curve was developed that offers safety margins that satisfy regulatory and shelf life requirements. TTI's developed as specified should minimize “false unsafe” readings that lead to destruction of safe product. The approach could be used to establishing guidelines for application of TTI's to food safety verification.
Chronic lithium administration alters a prominent PKC substrate in rat hippocampus.

Abstract The therapeutic effect of lithium in the treatment of bipolar disorder exhibits a significant delay in the onset of action and a persistence of efficacy beyond abrupt discontinuation of treatment. Lithium is known to alter receptor-coupled phosphoinositide second messenger pathway in brain, resulting in indirect changes in an endogenous activator of protein kinase C (PKC). Such evidence has suggested that PKC may be involved in the mechanism of action of lithium in the brain. PKC represents a site wherein long-term regulatory changes in cell function occur through the phosphorylation of specific phosphoproteins involved in processes including neurotransmitter release and receptor activation. In studies of rats exposed to lithium, however, we have found no significant effects of chronic administration on the relative activity, subcellular distribution, or activation of PKC in hippocampus. We did find a major reduction in the in vitro PKC mediated phosphorylation of two major substrates, 83 kDa and 45 kDa, in hippocampus of rats exposed to chronic lithium and maintaining clinically relevant therapeutic levels in brain. Using immunoblot analysis we have identified a known myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) at 83 kDa. In vivo levels of MARCKS in hippocampus were found to be significantly reduced after chronic lithium exposure. These findings persist in animals withdrawn from lithium, but are not apparent following acute treatment. In light of the potential role of PKC substrates such as MARCKS in signal transduction and the fact that there appear to be changes in the intracellular concentration of MARCKS that parallel the time course of clinical action of lithium, we suggest the possible involvement of these proteins in its mechanism of action in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Vitamin/Mineral Status and Food-related Behaviors of Adolescents During a School-based Cardiovascular Intervention.

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To compare nutrient intake and food-related behaviors of male and female adolescents during cardiovascular intervention. The objective was to assess vitamin and mineral status following dietary intervention to reduce cardiovascular risk and to identify factors related to dietary intake of adolescents. Sixty-eight adolescents (40 females, mean age 14.3; 28 males, mean age 14.5) completed three-day food records at three points during the school year. The experimental design included control and treatment groups. Treatment group food records included factors such as place and preparer. Teens set goals to decrease fat or sodium or increase fiber intake. Treatment females, setting goals to decrease fat, significantly lowered grams of fat at both second (p=0.004) and third (p=0.008) assessments. Vitamin/mineral status was negatively affected when females lowered fat intake at the second but not third assessment. For females setting goals to change sodium or fiber intake, vitamin/mineral status was not affected by positive changes. At first assessment for both genders, mean intakes of vitamins, but not minerals, were above the RDA. Breakfast, lunch, and evening meals were eaten on a weekday by 97%, 82%, and 79% and on a weekend day by 91%, 79%, and 85% of teens, respectively, at first assessment. Weekday snacks were consumed by 85%; mean daily snacks consumed were 1.6 for males and 1.4 for females. School lunch participation decreased from 63% to 53% from first to third assessment. Monitoring all nutrients is important when making dietary changes to improve cardiovascular health. Understanding factors that affect food choices increase the likelihood of successful interventions.
Visual deprivation decreases long-term potentiation in rat visual cortical slices.

Abstract A major finding in the visual plasticity literature is that visual deprivation is effective only during an early ‘sensitive’ period, which is lenthened by dark rearing. Unresolved is whether the visual cortex is in a normally plastic state prior to light stimulation. This cannot be addressed using paradigms employing light exposure to assess plasticity. Several developmental studies have investigated a plastic phenomenon termd llong-term potentiation (LTP) in slices from cat (J. Neurophysiol., 59 (1988) 124–141) and rat (Brain Res., 439 (1988) 222–229) visual cortex. Susceptibility to the induction of LTP parallels the period of sensitivity to visual deprivation. This suggests that slices can be used to assay visual cortical plasticity, avoiding light exposure. In the present study, field potentials were recorded from slices of the primary visual cortices of dark-reared (DR) and control (CONT) Long Evans hooded rats (17 to 21 days). Field potential profiles recorded before and 90 min following tetanic electrical stimulation were subjected to current source density analysis, yielding extracellular current sink amplitudes. Tetanus resulted in LTP in both CONT and DR slices, but DR slices were significantly less potentiated. These results indicate that the primary visual cortex of DR animals is not fully plastic, indicating a role for light stimulation in inducing visual cortical plasticity.
Enzymatic in activation of human antithrombin III limited proteolysis of the inhibitor by snake venom proteinases in the presence of heparin

Incubation of human plasma antithrombin III with Crotalid, Viperid and Colubrid snake venoms resulted in the enzymatic inactivation of the inhibitor, as evidenced by a gradual loss of inhibitory activity against trypsin and thrombin. This indicates that proteinases which selectively inactivate antithrombin III are widespread among the families of poisonous snakes. The inactivation was due to metalloproteinases present in the venoms, since the reaction could be terminated by the addition of EDTA. Elapid venoms were tested and shown to be devoid of activity on antithrombin III. Preincubation of the anthrombin III with heparin accelerated the reaction, and less venom was required to achieve total inactivation. Several venoms had very little effect on antithrombin III in the absence of heparin, but inactivated the inhibitor completely within 2 h when heparin was present. Optimal rates of inactivation were observed with antithrombin III: heparin ratios of approx. 3 : 1. When heparin was present in excess, the inactivation was retarded. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the antithrombin III/venom proteinase reaction mixtures indicated that intact antithrombin III (63 000 daltons) was converted to an inactive form (57 500 daltons) by limited proteolysis. No complex formation between antithrombin III and venom proteinases was detectable. The inactivating cleavage occurred within a disulfide loop of the antithrombin III molecule, since the lower molecular weight species was detected only under reducing conditions.
STATISTICS AND SELECTION

The shadow of Archdeacon Paley and the argument from design still broods over evolutionary theory. Although the inference is now not to a Contriver but to Natural Selection, the premise from which the argument starts is still the same: the phenomenon of adaptation, the remarkable fashion in which tissues, organs, organ systems of living things appear ‘suited to’ the functions they perform. This premise is sometimes baldly stated in the identification of animals with machines, sometimes left implicit, as with Darwin, in the direction and emphasis of evolutionary theory, but its role is crucial in either case.
Apparatus for measurement of luminescence spectra with a digital recording system.

An apparatus is designed for use in obtaining fluorescence spectra, excitation spectra, and delayed fluorescence spectra, usually at low temperatures. A photometrically regulated 6500-W xenon lamp is used as excitation source, a double monochromator or varioilluminator as excitation monochromator; a variable temperature liquid helium cryostat as specimen holder; a double grating monochromator or varioilluminator as detection monochromator; and a photomultiplier as detector. A quartz–iodine lamp calibrated against a standard tungsten–quartz lamp is used for intensity calibrations. Fluorescence spectra are recorded by a digital system with a shaft position encoder for digitizing wavelength and an analog-to-digital converter for intensity. Data are recorded on magnetic tape which can be processed directly by an IBM system 360 computer. The selection of components of adequate resolution, speed, and capacity is discussed, and the computer programs are described. Installation of the recording system has facilitated greater wavelength accuracy and long calculations on the experimental data. Examples are given.
A Meta-Analysis and Review of Sight Word Research and Its Implications for Teaching Functional Reading to Individuals with Moderate and Severe Disabilities:

We conducted a comprehensive review of sight word research with individuals with disabilities since 1980 with the aim of determining the overall effectiveness of sight word research and its specific impact on individuals with moderate and severe disabilities. The review also identified innovations in instructional strategies developed since prior reviews. A total of 48 studies was reviewed. Most studies were conducted with individuals with moderate mental retardation, and the overall mean IQ for research participants was 55; however, other disability groups and levels were represented. Most studies were conducted with elementary school students, but a wide age range was represented, including adults. A meta-analysis using the percentage of nonoverlapping data points (PND) revealed that sight word instruction has been highly effective across individuals for people with moderate and severe disabilities. New strategies have included giving instructive feedback for additional learning, applying constant time ...
Effects of collagen nerve guide on neuroma formation and neuropathic pain in a rat model

Abstract Background Posttraumatic neuroma formation is a major cause of neuropathic pain that can occur after elective surgery, amputation, or trauma. This study examined the use of biosynthetic collagen nerve guides to prevent the development of posttraumatic neuromas. Methods Collagen nerve guides were applied after neurectomy in a rat sciatic nerve model in an effort to stimulate linear neuronal outgrowth and reduce random axon sprouting. Animals were monitored for evidence of neuropathic pain—autotomy scores were recorded for 8 weeks posttransection—after which proximal stumps were excised and processed for histologic analyses. Results Moderate to severe autotomy was observed in 88% (7 of 8) of the control (neurectomy) animals. In contrast, 13% (1 of 8) of animals receiving collagen nerve guides developed autotomy, which was significantly less than controls ( P Conclusions Collagen nerve guides alter the regrowth of transected nerves and reduce the severity of symptoms associated with neuropathic pain.
Gain spectra in GaInAsP/InP proton-bombarded stripe-geometry DH lasers

We have measured gain spectra for TE polarization in a GaInAsP/InP laser as a function of dc bias current below laser threshold. The measurements were made on a low-threshold device with a stripe geometry defined by proton bombardment. A number of other characteristics of this and similar devices from the same wafer are also reported. These data permit the maximum gain coefficient of the active layer g max to be evaluated as a function of nominal current density J nom . We obtain the linear relationship g_{max} = (3.1 \times 10^{-2}/\eta_{r})(J_{nom} - \eta_{r} 5.4 \times 10^{3}) , where η r is the radiative quantum efficiency. Our data apply only for large gain ( g \gsim 150 cm-1) and large J nom because the active layer of the test device is thin (0.1 μm).
Study on a digital pulse processing algorithm based on template-matching for high-throughput spectroscopy

Abstract A major challenge in utilizing spectroscopy techniques for nuclear safeguards is to perform high-resolution measurements at an ultra-high throughput rate. Traditionally, piled-up pulses are rejected to ensure good energy resolution. To improve throughput rate, high-pass filters are normally implemented to shorten pulses. However, this reduces signal-to-noise ratio and causes degradation in energy resolution. In this work, a pulse pile-up recovery algorithm based on template-matching was proved to be an effective approach to achieve high-throughput gamma ray spectroscopy. First, a discussion of the algorithm was given in detail. Second, the algorithm was then successfully utilized to process simulated piled-up pulses from a scintillator detector. Third, the algorithm was implemented to analyze high rate data from a NaI detector, a silicon drift detector and a HPGe detector. The promising results demonstrated the capability of this algorithm to achieve high-throughput rate without significant sacrifice in energy resolution. The performance of the template-matching algorithm was also compared with traditional shaping methods.
Higher Mode Frequency Effects on Resonance in Machinery Structures

The complexities of resonance in multi-degree of freedom systems (multi-DOF) may be clarified using graphic presentations. Multi-DOF systems represent actual systems, such as beams or springs, where multiple, higher order, natural frequencies occur. Resonance occurs when a cyclic load is applied to a structure, and the frequency of the applied load equals one of the natural frequencies. Both equations and graphic presentations are available in the literature for single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems, which describe the response of spring-mass-damper systems to harmonically applied, or cyclic, loads. Loads may be forces, moments, or forced displacements applied to one end of a structure. Multi-DOF systems are typically described only by equations in the literature, and while equations certainly permit a case by case analysis for specific conditions, graphs provide an overall comprehension not gleaned from single equations. In fact, this collection of graphed equations provides novel results, which describe the interactions between multiple natural frequencies, as well as a comprehensive description of increased vibrations near resonance.© 2010 ASME
On the interpretation of the effect of area on the critical flicker frequency

The effects of area and intensity on the critical flicker frequency, threshold, and reaction time are considered in terms of neural net theory. An attempt is made to develop a mechanism which can account for the phenomena associated with the empirically observed laws of Ricco, Granit, Talbot, and Ferry-Porter as well as observations on reaction time and threshold. A simple model gives results which are substantially in agreement with observation except for a few apparent discrepancies. Experimental procedures are suggested which can determine whether these are apparent or real.
Elastohydrodynamic study of vegetable oil–polyalphaolefin blends

Two polyalphaolefins, of higher and lower viscosity than vegetable oils, were used to make binary blends of varying compositions with soy bean and canola oils. The pure oils and the blends were used in viscosity and film thickness investigations. The effects of composition and temperature on viscosity were found to agree well with the theoretical predictions of a simple mixing law. The film thicknesses of the various blends under elastohydrodynamic conditions were measured at 20 N load, and varying entrainment speeds and temperatures. From the data, pressure–viscosity coefficients, α, as a function composition and temperature were obtained. The resulting α values were compared with theoretical predictions. Experimental values of α as a function of composition showed a slight negative or no deviation from the values predicted by an ideal mixing model. On the other hand, experimental values of α displayed a mild decrease with increasing temperature, while the model predicted a sharp decrease with increasing temperature. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thyroid Hormone Receptor DNA Binding Is Required for Both Positive and Negative Gene Regulation

The beta isoform of thyroid hormone receptor (TR-beta) has a key role in the feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (H-P-T) axis. The mechanism of trans-repression of the hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) subunit genes, however, remains poorly understood. A number of distinct mechanisms for TR-beta-mediated negative regulation by thyroid hormone have been proposed, including those that require and do not require DNA binding. To clarify the importance of DNA binding in negative regulation, we constructed a DNA-binding mutant of TR-beta in which two amino acids within the P box were altered (GSG for EGG) to resemble that found in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). We termed this mutant GS125, and as expected, it displayed low binding affinities for positive and negative thyroid hormone-response element (pTRE and nTRE, respectively) in gel-mobility shift assays. In transient transfection assays, the GS125 mutant abolished transactivation on three classic pTREs (DR+4, LAP, and PAL) and all negatively regulated promoters in the H-P-T axis (TRH, TSH-beta, and TSH-alpha). However, GS125 TR-beta bound to a composite TR/GR-response element and was fully functional on this hybrid TR/GR-response element. Moreover, the GS125 TR-beta mutant displayed normal interactions with transcriptional cofactors in mammalian two-hybrid assays. These data do not support a DNA-binding independent mechanism for thyroid hormone negative regulation in the H-P-T axis.
Diabetic hepatosclerosis: a 10-year autopsy series.

Background: Diabetic hepatosclerosis (DHS), recently described in liver biopsies in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is characterized by dense perisinusoidal collagen. Aims: To evaluate prevalence of DHS in an autopsy series of diabetic patients. Methods: Liver slides and clinical charts from autopsied diabetics from 1997 to 2007 were reviewed. Exclusions were nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis of any cause, cardiac sclerosis and marked autolysis. Results: Of 976 autopsies in the 10-year period, 254 had DM, and 159 met criteria for inclusion. Nineteen cases (12%) met criteria of DHS. In contrast to the findings in the recently published series of 14 clinically indicated biopsies, the affected autopsy patients were more often men than women (14:5), were older (mean age 56.4 vs 45.8 years), and had less commonly recorded retinopathy and elevated alkaline phosphatase (16 and 32% vs 42 and 83%), respectively, but diabetic nephropathy was equally common (89 vs 83%). Compared with an age- and gender-matched group of autopsied diabetic patients without DHS, the DHS group had a significantly higher percentage of diabetic nephropathy (89 vs 47%, P<0.05); no other statistically significant clinical differences were found between these two groups. Conclusions: DHS may represent a hepatic form of microvascular disease in DM; the prevalence of 12% in the autopsy series suggests it is not uncommon, but in the majority of the cases, it was clinically silent.
Method for determining event-by-event elliptic flow fluctuations based on the first-order event plane in heavy-ion collisions

A new method is presented for determining event-by-event fluctuations of elliptic flow, v{sub 2}, using first-order event planes. By studying the event-by-event distributions of v{sub 2} observables and first-order event-plane observables, average flow and event-by-event flow fluctuations can be separately determined, making appropriate allowance for the effects of finite multiplicity and nonflow. The method has been tested with Monte Carlo simulations. The connection between flow fluctuations and fluctuations of the initial-state participant eccentricity is discussed.
Micrographics in failure analysis and design of structures

Abstract An efficient procedure and a microcomputer BASIC program have been developed for automatic generation of failure mechanisms for plastic analysis and optimal plastic design of low-rise, unbraced frames. In order to display/plot the failure mechanism by microcomputer an efficient scheme has been devised for calculating the displacements of the joints of the failure mechanism. The interactive microcomputer program developed in this work is an effective tool for failure analysis and optimal plastic design of frames. It can also be used as a powerful aid in teaching plastic analysis and design to structural engineering students.
Properties of nitrate reductase from the mycorrhizal ascomycete Wilcoxina mikolae var. mikolae

Nitrate is an important source of nitrogen for ectomycorrhizal fungi and their hosts. Nitrate reductase catalyses the first step in the assimilation of nitrate into organic nitrogen and has not yet been successfully characterized from a mycorrhizal ascomycete. The extraction and properties of NR from the mycorrhizal Wilcoxina mikolae var. mikolae are described. The strategy adopted for the extraction included the development of culture conditions that were amenable to de-repression and induction of NR, as well as considerations of the lability of the enzyme. Growth on a neutral nitrogen source, the use of an artificial electron donor and rapid partial purification in the presence of phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) contributed to the extraction of a fully functional NADPH-specific NR from Wilcoxina . The optimum pH for nitrate reduction by this enzyme was 7·0 in 100 m m phosphate. The apparent K m for NADPH was 35 m and the K d for nitrate was 200 m . The functional properties of this enzyme are similar to those reported for other filamentous fungi. The NR from Wilcoxina is thought to be highly prone to nitrogen metabolite repression, and inactivation by endogenous factors during extraction.
Global existence of weak solutions to macroscopic models of polymeric flows

Abstract One of the most classical closures approximation of the FENE model of polymeric flows is the one proposed by Peterlin, namely the FENE-P model. We prove global existence of weak solutions to the FENE-P model. The proof is based on the propagation of some defect measures that control the lack of strong convergence in an approximating sequence. Using a similar argument, we also prove global existence of weak solutions to the Giesekus and the Phan-Thien and Tanner models.
Nutrition and pregnancy: a historical perspective and update.

Editor's Note In a recently completed monograph, Nutrition and Pregnancy: A Historical Perspective and Update, Drs. Barbara Luke and Timothy Johnson examined, among other topics, the reasons that weight gain restriction was advised for pregnant women in the first half of this century. The chief concern was a large baby in a small pelvis, which, before cesarean section was a practical intervention, frequently led to fetal or maternal death or sometimes both. An excerpt from the monograph is printed here.
Vacuum Switching Experiments at California Institute of Technology

Successful experiments in switching or breaking a circuit in a high vacuum have been made at the California Institute of Technology. This paper is a report on three sets of these experiments, which extended over a period of three years. The conclusions drawn from the experiments may be summed up in the statement that vacuum breakers of laboratory type have been successful in breaking circuits and offer a possible solution of the circuit-breaker problem. The results show that switching in vacuum affords the advantages of no pitting of contacts, quick break, the arc always going out on the first half-cycle, small voltage rise across the switch, and small distance of travel necessary for the switch blades. Making the vacuum switch practical calls for a solution of the problem of making commercial apparatus with vacuum-tight joints, and the elimination of the use of liquid air with the vacuum pump.
A supplementary grading scale for selecting patients with brain arteriovenous malformations for surgery.

Objective Patient age, hemorrhagic presentation, nidal diffuseness, and deep perforating artery supply are important factors when selecting patients with brain arteriovenous malformations for surgery. We hypothesized that these factors outside of the Spetzler-Martin grading system could be combined into a simple, supplementary grading system that would accurately predict neurological outcome and refine patient selection.
Updated implications of the muon anomalous magnetic moment for supersymmetry

We reexamine the bounds on supersymmetric particle masses in light of the new E821 data on the muon anomalous magnetic moment and the revised theoretical calculations of its hadronic contributions. The current experimental excess is either $1.5\ensuremath{\sigma}$ or $3.2\ensuremath{\sigma},$ depending on whether ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ or $\ensuremath{\tau}$-decay data are used in the theoretical calculations for the leading order hadronic processes. Neither result is compelling evidence for new physics. However, if one interprets the excess as coming from supersymmetry, one can obtain upper mass bounds on many of the particles of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). Within this framework we provide a general analysis of the lightest masses as a function of the deviation so that future changes in either experimental data or theoretical calculations can easily be translated into upper bounds at the desired level of statistical significance. In addition, we give specific bounds on sparticle masses in light of the latest experimental and theoretical calculations for the MSSM with universal slepton masses, with and without universal gaugino masses.
Generation of inverse functions by the method of steepest descent

The technique of steepest descent can be used to generate the inverse of a function with standard analog or hybrid computer components. The resulting system is often free from the instability problems that plague inverse function generation by implicit computation. When the method is applied to forming division from multiplication a four-quadrant divider results. Neither of the two most common penalty functions, error squared and absolute error produce wholly satisfactory operation. If the loop gain is allowed to increase without bound, it causes relay or bang-bang type of performance that is free from the objectionable response of the previous systems.
Elliptic curves retaining their rank in finite extensions and Hilbert’s Tenth Problem for rings of algebraic numbers

Using Poonen's version of the "weak vertical method" we produce new examples of "large" and "small" rings of algebraic numbers (including rings of integers) where Z and/or the ring of integers of a subfield are existentially definable and/or where the ring version of Mazur's conjecture on the topology of rational points does not hold.
Growth Rate Dispersion Effects on Lactose Crystal Size Distributions from a Continuous Cooling Crystallizer

The continuous crystallization kinetics for lactose have been determined. Specifically, a model incorporating the effects of growth rate dispersion (GRD) on particle dynamics has been employed to determine continuous crystallization kinetics from experimentally determined size distributions. The existence of GRD was verified by the excessive number of fines (< 50 micromole) observed. Crystal size distributions were successfully modeled using a two component rate distribution indicating the existence of two distinct types of nuclei. These could be classed as fast-growers (product crystals) and slow-growers (fines). Nucleation and growth kinetics of these populations were determined and compared to other methods of determining kinetics.
Characterization and Structure of a Zn2+ and [2Fe-2S]-containing Copper Chaperone from Archaeoglobus fulgidus

Bacterial CopZ proteins deliver copper to P1B-type Cu+-ATPases that are homologous to the human Wilson and Menkes disease proteins. The genome of the hyperthermophile Archaeoglobus fulgidus encodes a putative CopZ copper chaperone that contains an unusual cysteine-rich N-terminal domain of 130 amino acids in addition to a C-terminal copper binding domain with a conserved CXXC motif. The N-terminal domain (CopZ-NT) is homologous to proteins found only in extremophiles and is the only such protein that is fused to a copper chaperone. Surprisingly, optical, electron paramagnetic resonance, and x-ray absorption spectroscopic data indicate the presence of a [2Fe-2S] cluster in CopZ-NT. The intact CopZ protein binds two copper ions, one in each domain. The 1.8 A resolution crystal structure of CopZ-NT reveals that the [2Fe-2S] cluster is housed within a novel fold and that the protein also binds a zinc ion at a four-cysteine site. CopZ can deliver Cu+ to the A. fulgidus CopA N-terminal metal binding domain and is capable of reducing Cu2+ to Cu+. This unique fusion of a redox-active domain with a CXXC-containing copper chaperone domain is relevant to the evolution of copper homeostatic mechanisms and suggests new models for copper trafficking.
Fungi and bacteria involved in desert varnish formation

Desert varnish is a coating of ferromanganese oxides and clays that develops on rock surfaces in arid to semi-arid regions. Active respiration but not photosynthesis was detected on varnished rock surfaces from the Sonoran Desert. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, and cultivation experiments indicate that both fungi, primarily dematiaceous hyphomycetes, and bacteria are found on and within desert varnish coatings from the arid regions studied. Some fungi grow as microcolonial fungi (MCF) on rocks, and microscopic observations suggest MCF become incorporated in the varnish coating. SEM-EDAX (energy dispersive X-ray systems) analyses indicate the MCF contain 3 of the characteristic elements of varnish: iron, aluminum, and silicon. In some locations, MCF are also enriched in manganese relative to the rock substratum. Furthermore, some of the dematiaceous hyphomycetes that have been cultivated are able to oxidize manganese under laboratory conditions. It is possible that manganese-oxidizing bacteria, which are found in varnish, also play an important role in varnish formation.
Sponsorship in a Minority Employment Program

The influence of the social environment on the careers of disadvantaged minority employees is examined via a participant-observation case study. Trainees are followed from entry into an institutional training program, placement into the parent company, and through their first intracompany promotion. Sponsorship is shown to be critical to success throughout these career stages. The interaction of sponsorship with individual behavior and the technological-economic job environment is described, indicating that sponsorship and individual behavior are closely related, and that the job structure constrains the formation of sponsorship relations. It is suggested that present employment efforts aimed at personal change of disadvantaged individuals may be misplaced, whereas a strategy of equalizing sponsorship networks for minority and non-minority employees may prove more effective. Suggestions are made for equalizing access to sponsorship networks.
Local Impacts of the Balloon Effect of Border Law Enforcement

While discussion of borders in the post-9/11 world invokes images of national security lapses and in early 2006 the economic and social challenges of undocumented workers was again making headlines in the United States, residents of rural border regions face a more immediate set of troubles. Their issues are byproducts of past national debates and the resulting increase in law enforcement efforts in urban locations which have converged crossing pressure onto more remote, difficult-to-cross, less publicly-visible, and less politically powerful rural areas. In particular, this article looks at the impact this squeeze has had on the Tohono O'odham reservation along the US-Mexico border in south central Arizona.
Pneumonia with cunninghamella species in patients with hematologic malignancies: A case report and review of the literature

A patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blastic crisis who developed pulmonary and systemic infection with Cunninghamella species is described. The emerging role of this newly recognized pathogen in immunocompromised patients is discussed.
Topographical amino acid substitution in position 10 of glucagon leads to antagonists/partial agonists with greater binding differences.

The role of position 10 in the β-turn region of glucagon was investigated by substituting chiral constrained amino acids and other modifications in the N-terminal region. A series of glucagon analogues have been designed and synthesized by incorporating β-methylphenylalanine isomers (2S,3S, 2S,3R, 2R,3R, and 2R,3S) at position 10 in order to explore the structural and topographical requirements of the glucagon receptor, and, in addition, utilizing previous studies which indicated that antagonism could be enhanced by modifications (des-His 1 , Glu 9 ) and a bulky group at position 5. The structures of the new analogues are as follows : [des-His 1 ,-Tyr 5 ,Glu 9 ]glucagon-NH 2 (II), [des-His 1 ,Tyr 5 ,Glu 9 ,Phe 10 ]glucagon-NH2 (III), [des-His 1 ,Tyr 5 ,Glu 9 ,-Ala 10 ]gucagon-NH 2 (IV), [des-His 1 ,Tyr 5 ,Glu 9 ,(2S,3R)-β-MePhe 10 ]glucagon-NH2 (V), [des-His 1 ,-Tyr 5 ,Glu 9 ,(2S,3S)-β-MePhe 10 ]glucagon-NH 2 (VI), [des-His 1 ,Tyr 5 ,Glu 9 ,D-Tyr 10 ]glucagon-NH 2 (VII), [des-His 1 ,Tyr 5 ,Glu 9 ,D-Phe 10 ]glucagon-NH2 (VIII), [des-His 1 ,Tyr 5 ,Glu 9 ,D-Ala 10 ]glucagon-NH 2 (IX), [des-His 1 ,Tyr 5 ,Glu 9 ,(2R,3R)-β-MePhe 10 ]glucagon-NH 2 (X), and [des-His 1 ,Tyr 5 ,Glu 9 ,(2R,3S)-β-MePhe 10 ]glucagon-NH 2 (XI). These analogues led to dramatically different changes in in vitro binding affinities for glucagon receptors. Their receptor binding potencies IC 50 values (nM) are 2.3 (II), 4.1 (III), 395.0 (IV), 10.0 (V), 170.0 (VI), 74.0 (VII), 34.5 (VIII), 510.0 (IX), 120.0 (X), and 180.0 (XI). Analogues II, III, V, VI, and XI were found to be weak partial agonists/partial antagonists with maximum stimulation between 5%-9%, while the other compounds (IV and VII-X) were antagonists unable to activate the adenylate cyclase system even at concentrations as high as 10 -5 M. In competition experiments, all of the analogues caused a right shift of the glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase dose-response curve. The pA 2 values were 6.60 (II), 6.85 (III), 6.20 (IV), 6.20 (V), 6.10 (VI), 6.50 (VII), 6.20 (VIII), 5.85 (IX), 6.20 (X), and 6.00 (XI). Putative topographical requirements of the glucagon receptor for the aromatic side chain conformation in position 10 of glucagon antagonists are discussed.
Sensitivity analysis method for aeroelastic aircraft models

Abstract A novel method has been developed for calculating gradients of aerodynamic force and moment coefficients for an aeroelastic aircraft model. This method is intended for use in preliminary-level aircraft design which typically involves computationally expensive aerodynamic and structural analyses. This method uses the global sensitivity equations (GSE) to express the aero-structural coupling in an aircraft model. In addition, a reduced-order modal analysis approach is employed to condense the coupling bandwidth between the aerodynamic and structural models. Coarse-grained parallel computing is applied to reduce the wall-clock computational time of the expensive aerodynamic analysis needed in this sensitivity analysis method. A supersonic transport aircraft model is examined in this study, subject to Mach 2.4 cruise flight conditions. Aerodynamic analysis is performed using a NASA-developed Euler/Navier-Stokes solver, and structural analysis is performed using commercial finite element analysis software. The GSE/modal analysis method is used to compute the sensitivity of the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft subject to perturbations in the angle-of-attack, wing sweep angle, and wing thickness. Good agreement is obtained between gradients computed with the GSE/modal analysis approach and the same quantities computed using a traditional, computationally expensive, finite difference approach. A cost analysis demonstrates that the GSE/modal analysis method is more computationally efficient than the traditional approach if gradients are needed for two or more aircraft design parameters.
Shear enhanced transport in oscillatory liquid membranes

L'imposition de fluctuations periodiques de pression permet d'augmenter le facteur d'accroissement du transfert de matiere du processus de separation. Cette technique d'amelioration du procede est valable a l'echelle du laboratoire ou a l'echelle industrielle
Recent progress in modeling neural mechanisms of form and color vision

Over the past 10 years a neural modeling approach to understanding form and color vision has driven a productive research program of psychophysical and neurophysiological modeling as well as further theoretical development. Along the way, it has led to psychophysical experiments and image-processing applications. This work has helped us to better understand how we can percieve surface colors to be constant despite environmental variablity through neural mechansims of contrast measurement and filling-in, how patterns of recurrent excitatory and inhibitory cortical connectivity can interact to segregate forms despite camouflage and occlusion, how these neural representations of forms can be dynamically reset so that we can perceive rapidly changing scenes, and how learned recognition categories can interact with preattentive form and color representations to achieve efficient visual search. This paper discusses this neural modeling approach and reviews recent progress.