cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protecting the most vulnerable: Litigation from pediatric otolaryngologic procedures and conditions

Objectives/Hypothesis To identify allegations raised in litigation stemming from pediatric otolaryngologic procedures and conditions. Study Design Retrospective analysis of a legal database. Methods The authors reviewed jury verdict and settlement reports on the WestlawNext database from 1994 to 2013 for cases involving pediatric plaintiffs and alleged negligence in otolaryngologic procedures and conditions. Results Of the 78 cases included, 52.6% were resolved with a payment; aggregate payments exceeded $69 million, and median jury-awarded damages and settlements were $874,190 and $250,000, respectively. Adenotonsillectomy was the most commonly litigated procedure. Otolaryngologists were defendants in 42 (53.8%) cases, with pediatricians and anesthesiologists the next most commonly named defendants. Forty-six (59.0%) cases involved alleged negligence in operative management, whereas other factors included permanent injury (44.9%), misdiagnosis/failure to diagnose in a timely manner (41.0%), death (35.9%), and requiring additional surgery. Airway-related complications and allegedly permanent injuries significantly increased the size of payments. Awards were highest in cases with plaintiffs at 1 to 5-years of age and lowest among children older than 10 years of age. Conclusions Unique considerations specific to pediatric patients are involved in malpractice litigation, and damages awarded were considerable. By including the specific factors listed in this analysis in a comprehensive informed consent process, and recognizing concerns specific to this patient population, practitioners in multiple specialties may potentially reduce liability. Clear communication with parents is a critical component of this process. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 124:2161–2166, 2014
Semiclassical approach to Rydberg-atom intercombination transitions in collisions with electrons

The intercombination transitions between l-resolved Rydberg levels due to collisions with fast electrons are studied within the Ochkur approximation for principal quantum numbers n\ensuremath{\le}20, where l is the angular momentum. The use of the Heisenberg correspondence principle for radial integrals enables one to obtain analytic expressions for any term in the multipole expansion of the cross section for collisions with an arbitrary n and l change. For transitions involving angular momenta that are small compared to the principal quantum numbers, the semiclassical and the exact results are found to be fairly close, within the accuracy consistent with the Born approximation. As a result, the semiclassical approach furnishes a ready estimate for cross sections, and its validity range proves broad enough to cover the region of large momenta transferred to the atom. The numerical results also confirm that dipole transitions have no dominance over the collisions with other \ensuremath{\Delta}l values, in accord with the general model of intercombination scattering.
Lesbis Sustineo! Naiad Press Authors Remember Barbara Grier

Drawing from semi-structured interviews with some of Naiad Press's most celebrated women, including Katherine V. Forrest, Barbara's supervising editor at Naiad from 1983-1993; Sheila Ortiz Taylor, author of what is considered by many to be the first lesbian novel with a Chicana heroine; and the incomparable Lee Lynch, this work aims to sustain an ongoing remembrance of Grier's life and work by encouraging memory exploration--a symphonic blending of the printed and spoken word.
"Till death do us part": the application of object relations theory to facilitate mourning in a young widows' group.

A group of recently widowed young women sought help at a hospital's psychiatric clinic. All had been in treatment elsewhere and felt they were "pressured to get on with living." This paper presents an object relations model of a bereavement group which ran for one year. The focus was on supporting patients' defenses and avoided any implications of extended grief as pathological. Of particular interest was the use of personal video tapes and photographs in the bereavement process.
The time and location of the acrosome reaction during sperm transport in the female rabbit.

Motile spermatozoa with lifted or absent acrosomal caps (“reacted acrosomes”) were observed by phase contrast microscopy exclusively in the oviduct of the rabbit reproductive tract during the first 16 hours post coitum (p.c.). They were first identified at six hours p.c. in flushings from the lower isthmus of the oviduct and were present in both the lower and upper isthmus two hours later. Motile spermatozoa with reacted acrosomes appeared in the lower ampulla (the site of fertilization) at ten hours p.c. Such spermatozoa were obtained from all regions of the oviduct at 12 and 16 hours p.c. but they always constituted a minority of the freely swimming spermatozoa recovered. The percentage of spermatozoa with activated motility was higher following the acrosome reaction, and their apparent swimming speeds were lower than those of intact spermatozoa. The role of ovulation in the induction of acrosome reactions was studied in females artificially inseminated per vaginam (AI), with or without the induction of ovulation, and in females mated either two hours before or two hours after ovulation. The proportion of motile spermatozoa with reacted acrosomes in the isthmus and ampulla of non-ovulatory females 12 hours after AI was similar to their proportions in these regions 12 hours after mating or 12 hours after AI with induced ovulation. Four hours after delayed matings, i.e., two or six hours after ovulation, motile spermatozoa were confined to the tubal isthmus and none had undergone the acrosome reaction. These findings indicate that the products of ovulation and the endocrine changes associated with ovulation in the rabbit need not be directly involved in the induction of the acrosome reaction in vivo.
Full body forced air warming: commercial blanket vs air delivery beneath bed sheets.

Single-use commercial forced air warming blankets serve only to distribute heated air from a blower. Standard bed sheets may be equally effective in delivering hot air within a lower body field and at lower cost. Heated forced air at 38° and 43° was delivered within a simulated full-body field beneath standard hospital bed sheets or via a BAIR Model 315 commercial blanket. The air temperatures maintained within, as well as the caloric uptake of standard bodies containing 1000 ml water, were studied under standard simulated operating room conditions. Thermal input was provided by one Bair Hugger Model 500 Warming Unit and hospital acquisition cost for materials were calculated. Air temperatures measured within the full body field at the three test sites were as great or greater using bed sheets (33.4–35.8°) as with the commercial blanket (31.1–33.9°), in spite of the 5° cooler outlet temperature air settings @ 38° vs 43°, respectively (P = 0.003). Forced air delivered beneath bed sheets heated standardized thermal bodies twice as effectively as commercial blankets using identically warmed (38°) forced air and heated as well as, or better, at the 38° setting than did the commercial blanket at the 43° setting. Calculated acquisition costs for sheets vs commercial blankets were $0.76 vs $18.00 US, respectively. The simplicity, efficacy and economy of containing 38° warm air beneath bed-sheets offer several advantages over commercial blankets and warrant further study.
Insights into Energy Delivery to Myocardial Tissue during Radiofrequency Ablation through Application of the First Law of Thermodynamics

The approach to catheter-based radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation has evolved, and as a consequence, more energy is delivered in the posterior left atrium, exposing neighboring tissue to untoward thermal injury. Simultaneously, catheter technology has advanced to allow more efficient energy delivery into the myocardium, which compounds the likelihood of collateral injury. This review focuses on the basic principles of thermodynamics as they apply to energy delivery during radiofrequency ablation. These principles can be used to titrate energy delivery and plan ablative approaches in an effort to minimize complications during the procedure.
The role of the psychiatrist in capital punishment

Abstract Capital punishment historically has been part of American criminal law from the beginning. There have been intervals in which the United States Supreme Court has declared various state laws on capital punishment to be unconstitutional for various reasons including ‘cruel and unusual punishment'. Many states have rallied to restructure their capital punishment laws in order to meet the constitutional standards noted by the Supreme Court. Some states have placed a moratorium on executing criminals and other states have abolished the death penalty. The United States Supreme Court, in 1976, in five separate opinions, rejected the contention that the death penalty, in and of itself, constituted cruel and unusual punishment (Weiner, 1985). These Supreme Court decisions opened the door for various states to prepare laws meeting the standards established by the court for application of the death penalty in a constitutional manner. Currently 39 states utilize the death penalty, primarily in first degree m...
Role of IL-10 deficiency in excessive nuclear factor-κB activation and lung inflammation in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator knockout mice

Background Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and CF transmembrane conductance regulator knockout (CF-KO) mice are deficient in pulmonary IL-10 and have excessive inflammatory response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Objective We hypothesized that local IL-10 deficiency in the lung was responsible for prolonged and excessive inflammatory responses and observations of inflammation in the absence of infection. Methods To determine whether IL-10 deficiency could account for persistent inflammation in CF mice independent of interactions of bacteria with epithelial cells, we challenged IL-10–knockout (IL-10–KO), CF-KO, and wild-type (WT) mice intratracheally with LPS and determined the effects of IL-10 replacement in CF-KO mice. Results In response to LPS, IL-10–KO and CF-KO mice had more neutrophils and proinflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage than WT mice. Both types of knockout mice had more profound and prolonged consumption of I-κB and increased activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Activated NF-κB persisted for 6 to 8 hours in CF-KO and IL-10–KO mice but was not detected beyond 2 hours in WT mice. IL-10 treatment of CF-KO mice attenuated the reduction in I-κBα and activation of NF-κB and reduced the excessive inflammation. Conclusion Similarities in the responses of CF-KO and IL-10–KO mice and correction of excessive responses in CF mice by exogenous IL-10 suggest that deficiency of IL-10 may be responsible for prolonged and excessive inflammatory responses in CF. Because LPS was used as the stimulus, these excessive responses are independent of any possible differences in the interactions of bacteria with CF epithelial cells.
Aromatic Carbonyl Compounds as Aqueous-Phase Photochemical Sources of Hydrogen Peroxide in Acidic Sulfate Aerosols, Fogs, and Clouds. 1. Non-Phenolic Methoxybenzaldehydes and Methoxyacetophenones with Reductants (Phenols)

Non-phenolic aromatic carbonyl compounds (i.e., benzaldehydes and acetophenones not containing an -OH group on the aromatic ring) and various phenols are present in the atmosphere from the combustion of wood and other biomass and probably from the entrainment of terrestrial humic/fulvic substances present in wind-blown soil aerosol. Illumination (313 nm) of aqueous solutions containing a non-phenolic aromatic carbonyl and a given phenol (phenol itself or a substituted phenol): produces hydrogen peroxide (HOOH); destroys the phenol; and, in most cases, causes little or no destruction of the carbonyl. Little HOOH is photoformed from these chromophores without added phenol, but the quantum yield for HOOH photoformation (ΦHOOH,313) rapidly increases with increasing phenol concentration. These observations indicate that phenol serves as the terminal electron donor and that the non-phenolic aromatic carbonyl normally acts as a photocatalyst. The HOOH quantum yields of the aromatic carbonyls are strongly depend...
Kinetic properties of 25-hydroxyvitamin D- and 1.25-dihydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase from chick kidney

Abstract 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 induces both 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 - and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 -24-hydroxylase activities. However, whether 24-hydroxylation of these substrates is catalyzed by a single enzyme is unknown. We have examined the substrate specificity of the enzyme using the solubilized and reconstituted chick renal mitochondrial 24-hydroxylase enzyme system. The soluble enzyme catalyzes 24-hydroxylation of both substrates. The apparent K m of the 24-hydroxylase for 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 were 1.47 and 0.14 μM, respectively. Kinetic studies demonstrated that 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 act as competitive inhibitors with respect to each other. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 inhibited the production of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 with an apparent K i of 0.09 μM and 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 inhibited the production of 1,24,25-trihydroxyvitamin D 3 with an apparent K i of 3.9 μM. These results indicate that chick 24-hydroxylase preferentially hydroxylates 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D 3 and support the idea that the 24-hydroxylation of these substrates is catalyzed by a single enzyme.
Use of morphology and endocrinology to predict sex in California Sheephead: Evidence of altered timing of sex change at Santa Catalina Island, California

Abstract To estimate the health of the California sheephead Semicossyphus pulcher fishery, a 2004 stock assessment used available biological data that were collected decades prior to an increase in fishing pressure. However, a recent study has found that sex ratios, growth rates, survivorship, and average sizes of females and males have changed in response to size-selective fishing in some California sheephead populations. To better understand the potential changes in protogynous California sheephead, this study sought to determine (1) whether external morphology was still an accurate method of predicting sex in sexually dimorphic California sheephead at Santa Catalina Island, California, and (2) whether nonlethal blood sampling and plasma hormone analysis could be used to predict sex for future stock assessments. Sex was determined using gonadal histology and compared with several specific external morphological characters. Estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone plasma concentrations were also compared across...
Comparison of Selenium and Sulfur at Remote Sites

The Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) particulate monitoring network has been collecting aerosols for visibility apportionment at remote sites in the United States since 1988. The measurements include the major PM 2.5 components, such as sulfur, carbon, and nitrate, and trace elements, such as selenium. This paper will examine the relationship between the sulfurs and selenium concentrations at 61 sites for samples collected in the seasonal year 1993. Maps of mean sulfur and selenium measurements in summer 1993 and winter 1993-1994 indicate that there are well-defined regional patterns for both elements, with concentrations in the Appalachian region that are ten times those in areas of the Pacific Northwest. The S/Se ratios of means are relatively uniform across the United States, at around 2000 in summer and 1000 in winter, indicating a strong sulfur-selenium relationship. The role of conversion of SO 2 to sulfate can also be deduced from the means. For individual samples taken during summer 1993, there is a high correlation between the two variables in the East, especially at sites in the Northeast, where the correlation coefficients (r 2 ) are around 0.9. In the West, the correlation is much lower. This is attributed to fewer sources and differing emission factors.
Introduction of the exotic ticks Amblyomma humerale koch and Amblyomma geoemydae (Cantor) (Acari: Ixodidae) into the United States on imported reptiles

Abstract This is the first report of the reptilian ticks Amblyomma humerale Koch and A. geoemydae (Cantor) in the United States. Both were introduced into Florida on imported reptiles, A. humerale on a yellow-footed tortoise (Geochelone denticulata) from Guyana in South America and A. geoemydae on keeled box turtles (Pyxidea mouhotii) and black-breasted leaf turtles (Geoemyda spengleri) from Asia. Information on the host range, geographical distribution and life cycle of each tick is reviewed.
Euler's buckling formula and Wirtinger's inequality

This article contains a discussion of Euler's buckling formula for a compressed elastic column. The most commonly used classroom derivations of this formula follow roughly the original arguments of Euler. For this reason the history of this problem is briefly reviewed. Alternative methods of derivation use energy arguments, including Rayleigh's principle and Kirchhof's energy inequality. Here we show that the quadratic strain energy formula can be used directly, in conjunction with the so called Wirtinger‐Poincare‐Almansi inequality to offer an extremely simple proof of the Euler's buckling load formula: Pcritilal = π2.EI/l2. To the best of our knowledge this derivation is new.
An Observation Study of Reading Instruction Provided to Elementary Students with Learning Disabilities in the Resource Room.

This study documents the amount and quality of reading instruction provided to second- through fifth-grade students with learning disabilities provided resource-room services. Reading instruction provided by 10 special education resource-room teachers was observed. Findings reveal that teachers and students were on task during instructional time that included phonological awareness, word study, comprehension, reading fluency, and vocabulary instruction of average to high average quality. Although class size was small overall, whole-group instructional delivery was most common. Students made statistically significant gains in oral reading fluency but did not increase their standard scores on measures of comprehension or word reading. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Conformational changes in quadruplex oligonucleotide structures probed by Raman spectroscopy

Quadruplex structures are higher order structures formed by guanine-rich oligonucleotides. In the present study, temperature-induced conformational changes in the quadruplex structures of aptamers and other guanine-rich oligonucleotides are probed by Raman spectroscopy. In particular, dramatic changes in the fingerprint region are observed in the spectra of thrombin binding aptamer at higher temperatures. These changes are accompanied by a decrease in the intensity of the 1480 cm−1 peak (attributed to C8 = N7-H2), which is diagnostic of the quadruplex structure. We also show that these changes can be reversed (to a certain extent) by addition of K+ ions.
Erythrocyte replacement at metamorphosis in the frog, Rana pipiens.

Small crenulated erythrocytes appear in the circulation of Rana pipiens during metamorphosis, increases in number as metamorphosis proceeds and gradually lose their wrinkled appearance. At the end of metamorphosis the entire red cell population has been replaced by these new cells. Thyroxine induces the premature appearance of these new cells in young tadpoles.
INFLUENCES ON COUNTY FARMLAND PROTECTION EFFORTS IN CALIFORNIA: A DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS∗

County-level policies and programs to conserve farmland in California are examined through discriminant analysis. Based on 1981 state planning data, four degrees of farmland protection effort are established. A two-function discriminant analysis using 17 agricultural, socioeconomic, and political-ideological variables correctly predicts the fourfold classification of 88 percent of the counties. The propensity to enact protective actions is associated with the intensity of agricultural development, local government spending and taxing practices, demographic characteristics, ideological and political party voting traditions.
Visual End-Effector Position Error Compensation for Planetary Robotics

This paper describes a vision-guided manipulation algorithm that improves arm end-effector positioning to subpixel accuracy and meets the highly restrictive imaging and computational constraints of a planetary robotic flight system. Analytical, simulation-based, and experimental analyses of the algorithm's effectiveness and sensitivity to camera and arm model error is presented along with results on several prototype research systems and 'ground-in-the-loop' technology experiments on the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) vehicles. A computationally efficient and robust subpixel end-effector fiducial detector that is instrumental to the algorithm's ability to achieve high accuracy is also described along with its validation results on MER data.
The impact of curriculum-based suicide prevention programs for teenagers

The impact of three school-based suicide prevention programs was assessed by comparing attitudes and knowledge of 758 9th and 10th graders with those of 680 control pupils, matched on age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status at the school level, who did not receive the programs. Evaluations were conducted before exposure to the programs and again 1 month later. A large majority of students knew and subscribed to some of the more important program goals before exposure to the program. There was little evidence of program impact among the minority that did not. Most students were interested by the programs, and positive reactions were more common among female and minority students.
Long-memory forecasting of US monetary indices

Several studies have tested for long-range dependence in macroeconomic and financial time series but very few have assessed the usefulness of long-memory models as forecast-generating mechanisms. This study tests for fractional differencing in the US monetary indices (simple sum and divisia) and compares the out-of-sample fractional forecasts to benchmark forecasts. The long-memory parameter is estimated using Robinson's Gaussian semi-parametric and multivariate log-periodogram methods. The evidence amply suggests that the monetary series possess a fractional order between one and two. Fractional out-of-sample forecasts are consistently more accurate (with the exception of the M3 series) than benchmark autoregressive forecasts but the forecasting gains are not generally statistically significant. In terms of forecast encompassing, the fractional model encompasses the autoregressive model for the divisia series but neither model encompasses the other for the simple sum series. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Micro-optic lens for data storage

A new type of microlens for data storage applications that has improved off-axis performance is described. The lens consists of a micro Fresnel pattern on a curved substrate. The radius of the substrate is equal to the focal length of the lens. If the pattern and substrate are thin, the combination satisfies the Abbe sine condition. Therefore, the lens is free of coma. We analyze a 0.5 numerical aperture, 0.50 mm focal length lens in detail. A 0.16 numerical aperture lens was fabricated holographically, and results are presented.
Failure Prediction of Tubular Hydroforming Process Following Pre-Bending

Tubular hydroforming process for a majority of automotive parts is a complex process where the initially straight tube undergoes a series of pre-bending, pre-forming, die closure and then the final pressurization. The pre-bending process is usually carried out by a rotary bending machine and utilizes an inside mandrel to prevent the tube from collapsing during bending. Because of the high pressure exerted by the mandrel in the normal direction of the tube sheet, the failure mechanism for the tube in the subsequent hydroforming process will differ significantly from that experienced in sheet metal stamping process, which can be well characterized by the Forming Limit Diagram (FLD). The presentation begins with experimental evidence of material failure during hydroforming following pre-bending, and continues with two predictive models for analysis. One is a Gurson-type void growth model, and the other a damage based model which takes into account the effect of hydrostatic pressure in damage growth. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of both models and are compared to experimental data. Their applicability in an industrial production environment is discussed.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Operational experience with DICOM for the clinical specialties in the healthcare enterprise

A number of clinical specialties routinely use images in treating patients, for example ophthalmology, dentistry, cardiology, endoscopy, and surgery. These images are captured by a variety of commercial digital image acquisition systems. The US Department of Veterans Affairs has been working for several years on advancing the use of the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) Standard in these clinical specialties. This is an effort that has involved several facets: (1) working with the vendors to ensure that they satisfy existing DICOM requirements, (2) developing interface software to the VistA hospital information system (HIS), (3) field testing DICOM systems, (4) deploying these DICOM interfaces nation-wide to all VA medical centers, (5) working with the healthcare providers using the system, and (6) participating in the DICOM working groups to improve the standard. The VA is now beginning to develop clinical applications that make use of the DICOM interfaces in the clinical specialties. The first of these will be in ophthalmology to remotely screen patients for diabetic retinopathy.
Erratum to: Mind Reading and the Art of Drafting Medical Opinions in Veterans Benefits Claims

The Department of Veterans Affairs' disability com- pensation program is distinctly different from other benefits systems and legal claims of disability. A medical professional seeking to provide evidence to be used in deciding such a claim must understand how that evidence fits into the process so that he or she may present a complete and useful opinion. This article assists those providing expert opinions in veterans bene- fits claims by describing: (a) the kinds of adjudicators who will evaluate the opinions, (b) the legal requirements defining the types and amount of detail required, and (c) the basic substance of veterans law with which a medical examiner should be familiar so as to produce a complete and relevant opinion.
Activity theory and the design of educational systems: examining the mediational importance of conversationa

Educational systems design, largely communicative in nature, depends on discourse as a semiotic tool for mediation within the cognitive, cultural, and creative activities essential to overcoming deep sociohistorical patterns woven into the fabric of society. The use of activity theory as a framework for understanding the mediational importance of conversation in educational systems design represents a sociocultural and inquiry-oriented perspective that illuminates the relationship of design as a human activity system and the sociocultural context in which the design activity unfolds. As in Banathy's idealized concept of social systems design the importance of conversation is acknowledged in activity theory. Likewise, the importance of language as a symbol-based mediational tool connects systems design and activity theory. Essential to the design of human activity systems, such as educational systems, is the ability of participants to acknowledge the dialectical contradictions that have emerged in their past or present activity system(s), while also acknowledging the importance of creating dialogical relationships toward the goal of designing new systems. Design conversation and systems language underlie the socially constructed process of educational systems design. The framework of activity theory suggests that mediational artifacts such as language and discourse do not exist inside or outside of individual consciousness; rather they reside on the borderline between oneself as designer and the others who are also designers and users. From this perspective one has to take and use cultural artifacts (i.e., design conversation and systems language), to appropriate these artifacts with the intentions of the designer and the design community. This paper will examine the mediational importance of conversation in the design of human activity systems that are educative and intentioned as learning systems. The paper will first examine activity theory and human activity systems, seeking to make connections between the systemic nature of activity theory as drawn from sociocultural learning theory and human activity systems grounded in social systems design. The paper will then examine educational systems design, viewing design as post-epistemological in nature. Design conversation is then deconstructed to create an understanding of how this type of discourse draws from other genres or types of discourse such as dialogue, discussion, dialectic, ethical and critical discourse. The paper will then elaborate on design conversation as activity through an activity theory framework, demonstrating the dynamic relationship between participants, purpose, mediational artifacts, community, design work, and sociocultural rules governing design. The author will conclude with reflections on the mediational importance of design conversation in transcending dualisms that challenge social change. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sodium channel expression in optic nerve astrocytes chronically deprived of axonal contact

Immunocytochemical and electrophysiological methods were used to examine the effect of retinal ablation on the expression of sodium channels within optic nerve astrocytes in situ and in vitro. Enucleation was performed at postanatal day 3 (P3), and electron microscopy of the enucleated optic nerves at P28–P40 revealed complete degeneration of retinal ganglion axons, resulting in optic nerves composed predominantly of astrocytes. In contrast to control (non-enucleated) optic nerve astrocytes, which exhibited distinct sodium channel immunoreactivity following immunostaining with antibody 7493, the astrocytes in enucleated optic nerves did not display sodium channel immunoreactivity in situ. Cultures obtained from enucleated optic nerves consisted principally ( > 90%) of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+/A2B5− (“type-1”) astrocytes, as determined by indirect immunofluorescence; GFAP+/A2B5+ (“type-2”) astrocytes were not present, nor were GFAP−/A2B5+ (O-2A) progenitor cells. Sodium channel immunoreactivity was not present in GFAP+/A2B5− astrocytes obtained from enucleated optic nerves; in contrast, GFAP+/A2B5− astrocytes from control optic nerves exhibited 7493 immunostaining for the first 4–6 days in culture. Sodium current expression, studied using whole-cell patch-clamp recording, was attenuated in cultured astrocytes derived from enucleated optic nerves. Whereas 39 of 50 type-1 astrocytes cultured from intact optic nerves showed measurable sodium currents at 1–7 days in vitro, sodium currents were present in only 6 of 38 astrocytes cultured from enucleated optic nerves. Mean sodium current densities in astrocytes from the enucleated optic nerves (0.66 ± 0.3 pA/pF) were significantly smaller than in astrocytes from control optic nerves (7.15 ± 1.1 pA/pF). The hχ-curves of sodium currents were similar in A2B5− astrocytes from enucleated and control rat optic nerves. These results suggest that there is neuronal modulation of sodium channel expression in type-1 optic nerve astrocytes, and that, following chronic loss of axonal association in vivo, sodium channel expression is down-regulated in this population of optic nerve astrocytes. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Penrose tilings, cluster models and the quasi-unit cell picture

Abstract The quasi-unit cell picture proposes that quasicrystals can be decomposed into a single, repeating cluster of atoms with overlap (atom-sharing) rules between neighbors that force a perfect quasiperiodic structure. In this paper, we introduce the basic features of the model and how it differs from the earlier Penrose tiling and cluster models. We also report on recent advancements in applying the model to determine the structure of the decagonal phase, Al72Ni20Co8, including new evidence supporting the quasi-unit cell picture based on clusters with broken 10-fold symmetry in favor of models based on unbroken symmetry.
Corpus allatum control of sex pheromone production and calling in the female brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa (F.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae).

Abstract The neural and endocrine regulation of pheromone production and release (calling) was investigated in adult female Supella longipalpa. Virgin adult females initiated pheromone production and calling at 4 and 6.15±0.91 days, respectively. Allatectomy of teneral females prevented pheromone production and calling. Both the production and release of pheromone were restored by implantation of active corpora allata or by treatment with a juvenile hormone analogue. Neither nymphal nor adult ovariectomy eliminated pheromone production or calling. The onset age of pheromone production was advanced significantly by both topical juvenile hormone analogue treatment and by transection of the nervi corporis allati I. Denervation of the corpora allata also advanced the onset age of calling. Hence, it is concluded that the corpora allata and juvenile hormone, either directly or indirectly, regulate the onset of both pheromone production and calling in female S. longipalpa.
Drug-stimulated ATPase activity of the human P-glycoprotein.

The human multidrug resistance protein, or P-glycoprotein (Pgp), exhibits a high-capacity drug-dependent ATP hydrolytic activity that is a direct reflection of its drug transport capability. This activity is readily measured in membranes isolated from cultured insect cells infected with a baculovirus carrying the humanmdrl cDNA. The drug-stimulated ATPase activity is a useful alternative to conventional screening systems for identifying high-affinity drug substrates of the Pgp with potential clinical value as chemosensitizers for tumor cells that have become drug resistant. Using this assay system, a variety of drugs have been directly shown to interact with the Pgp. Many of the drugs stimulate the Pgp ATPase activity, but certain drugs bind tightly to the drug-binding site of the Pgp without eliciting ATP hydrolysis. Either class of drugs may be useful as chemosensitizing agents. The baculovirus/insect cell Pgp ATPase assay system may also facilitate future studies of the molecular structure and mechanism of the Pgp.
Food consumption in pigeons following the administration of α-MMT during approach behavior and free feeding

Abstract A technique was presented to test for possible anorectic side-effects following an injection of 100 mg/kg α-MMT in pigeons working on food-reinforced approach schedules and in naive pigeons. It was concluded that anorexia, if present at all, is a minor factor in the lowering of response rates, since both groups of animals consumed the same amount of food following α-MMT administration as they did in control periods.
Radiation Patterns from Electron Beam Fusion Targets

Time-integrated x-ray pinhole photographs of gold spheres and hemispheres irradiated by focused intense relativistic electron beams have exhibited radiation patterns with a distinct, brightened edge or halo. This report describes Monte Carlo electron-photon transport calculations which were performed to analyze this halo effect. A locally 1-D model of the spherical targets is presented and is used to obtain information concerning the spectral variation of the radiation pattern. These results indicate that a complete model, including film response and effective pinhole size, is required for proper quantitative comparison.
Comparative study of the tensile strength of autogenous systemic veins and preserved venous homografts

Abstract 1. 1. There is a minimum decrease of tensile strength in saphenous veins after irradiation (5%), when compared to fresh controls. 2. 2. This difference is larger in cephalic and brachial veins (45–55%), when compared to the fresh saphenous vein controls. 3. 3. There is no demonstrable morphological alteration in the saphenous vein walls after irradiation and freezing. 4. 4. We suggest the use of saphenous vein homografts, sterilized by irradiation and preserved by freezing, in those cases in which it is not feasible to use saphenous vein autografts.
Nitrogenous Constituents of Some Paleozoic Shales: ABSTRACT

As much as three-quarters of the nitrogen in some Paleozoic shales was released as ammonia by acid hydrolysis; from 1 to 5 per cent as amino acids. The nitrogen released as ammonia occurred largely as ammonium ions held within the octahedral pores making up the crystalline nuclei of illite clay minerals. The presence of nitrogenous organic constituents within the characteristic expansible layers of silicate minerals was also indicated. The organic matter adsorbed on the internal surfaces of the clay was non-extractable with alkali, but was removed readily through decomposition of the clay with hydrofluoric acid. A comparison of the organic constituents in shales with those in recent sediments showed that a smaller fraction of the organic matter in shales occurred in protein derivatives. The carbon-organic nitrogen ratio in shales was higher than in recent deposits. The suggestion is made that the transformation of complex organic materials in marine muds consists, in part, of the formation of aromatic compounds from sugar-amine condensation products, and that, concomitantly, nitrogen is lost as ammonia and petroleum constituents are formed. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1257------------
In Situ Observation of Directed Nanoparticle Aggregation During the Synthesis of Ordered Nanoporous Metal in Soft Templates

The prevalent approach to developing new nanomaterials is a trial-and-error process of iteratively altering synthesis procedures and then characterizing the resulting nanostructures. This is fundamentally limited in that the growth processes that occur during synthesis can be inferred only from the final synthetic structure. Directly observing real-time nanomaterial growth provides unprecedented insight into the relationship between synthesis conditions and product evolution and facilitates a mechanistic approach to nanomaterial development. Here, we use in situ liquid-stage scanning transmission electron microscopy to observe the growth of mesoporous palladium in a solvated block copolymer (BCP) template under various synthesis conditions, and we ultimately determined a refined synthesis procedure that yields extended structures with ordered pores. We found that after sufficient drying time of the casting solvent (tetrahydrofuran, THF), the BCP assembles into a rigid, cylindrical micelle array with a hig...
Outcome of Infants with a Diagnosis of Hydrops Fetalis in the 1990's 1187

The diagnosis of Hydrops fetalis still carries a grave prognosis. The reported mortality is 50% - 100%. In the advent of more aggressive therapy, improvement in outcome is undetermined.
Radiation Studies on GaAs and Si Devices

GaAs and Si n/p cells were irradiated with 100 kev and 17.6 Mev protons, and 0.8 and 5.6 Mev electrons. The resulting difference in performance is interpreted in terms of the initial lifetime and the photo-absorption process. It is concluded that GaAs cells can deliver a given power longer than Si cells in a radiation field of high-energy protons and electrons. Thin shields will be required for both cells in environments of low-energy protons. It is suggested that the recombination centers introduced in silicon by high-energy particles are more effective than those introduced by 0.8 Mev electrons.
Calculating accurate free energies of solids directly from simulations.

We have developed and tested a new, accurate technique for determining free energies of solid phases using simulations. Our method uses correlation functions available in the simulations, and yields an upper bound on the entropy. We use our approach to calculate the free energy of a simple model of structural phase transitions, and compare with exact calculations of the free energy for the same model.
Flow cytometric analysis of natural killer cell function as a clinical assay

The 51Cr release assay has been the method of choice in analyzing natural killer cell (NK) function. Previous FCM cytotoxicity assays of NK activity have had numerous disadvantages that discouraged clinicians from attempting to evaluate NK function by flow cytometry. We demonstrate the effectiveness of using PKH-26, a stable membrane dye, to label the K562 target cells and propidium iodide intercalation into killed target cell DNA to determine the percentage of target cells killed by effector NK cells from the peripheral blood or bone marrow. This method compares favorably with the 51Cr release assay and is quicker and easier to perform. The percentage of cytotoxicity of NK cells (CD3- CD56+ and/or CD16+) from 10 normal subjects and 10 HIV-infected children are reported to demonstrate the feasibility of studying NK function in clinical populations by FCM. The potentiation of cytolysis by alpha-interferon and interleukin 2 in vitro was also compared between these two study groups. In addition, a patient whose leukemic blasts expressed CD56+ was also studied for NK activity using this flow cytometric assay. The benefits of using this flow cytometric approach to clinically assess NK function are discussed.
Evaluation of three impression techniques for osseointegrated oral implants

The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to determine the accuracy of gypsum casts produced from impressions made with polyether, polyether and impression plaster, or polyether and acrylic resin for the fabrication of osseointegrated implant prostheses. Strain gauges were attached to a master framework to determine the passivity of fit of the framework to sample casts made by the three impression techniques. Strain values were statistically compared by one way analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test. A statistically significant difference was found between the three impression techniques tested (p < 0.05). The results of this investigation revealed that none of the impression techniques resulted in an absolutely passive framework fit. However, of the techniques tested, the polyether alone resulted in the closest duplication of the master cast.
LINKING PHYSICS WITH CHEMISTRY - OPPORTUNITIES IN A CONSTRUCTIVIST CLASSROOM

Although the disciplines of chemistry and physics often focus on different aspects of phenomena in nature, there are many areas in which the two overlap. At the introductory level of instruction for example, fundamental concepts like mass, rates of change, force, and energy are important in both disciplines. Such topics are usually introduced in chemistry courses as needed, with little or no attention paid to the difficulties that students encounter when confronting them for the first time. Since chemistry courses often precede physics courses, particularly in science curricula in the United States, the challenges associated with helping students to understand such concepts can provide an opportunity to improve instruction in chemistry, and other science courses as well. This paper describes how these concepts are introduced and developed in a college freshman chemistry curriculum for science majors, and how this has led to changes in topic development in other physical science courses. The work has been guided by educational research findings, and feedback obtained over the course of a decade from the authors active learning environments. [Chem. Educ. Res. Pract.: 2003, 4, 189-204]
Results of myotomy and partial fundoplication after pneumatic dilation for achalasia

Background. We questioned whether results of myotomy for achalasia are influenced by previous pneumatic dilation and whether surgical outcome is influenced by a dilation-related perforation necessitating urgent operation. Methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of 60 patients who underwent transthoracic myotomy and fundoplication from 1977 to 1995. Dysphagia, heartburn, pain, and regurgitation were scored on a scale of 0 to 3 and results were classified according to combined symptom score. Results. Dilation was performed before myotomy once in 15 patients, twice in 25, 3 times or more in 9, and never in 11 patients. Operation was urgent due to perforation in 6 patients (10%). There was no postoperative leak or mortality. Overall symptom score at last follow-up (57 ± 8 months; 90% of patients) was improved compared with preoperative score (2.1 ± 0.3 months versus 5.1 ± 0.2 months; p Conclusions. Myotomy and partial fundoplication is an effective technique for management of achalasia. Results are unaffected by the need for urgent operation for perforation and are unrelated to whether pneumatic dilation is performed preoperatively.
Dietary (1,3/1,6)-β-d-glucan decreases transforming growth factor β expression in the lung of the neonatal piglet

Identification and characterization of compounds that enhance the growth, development, and health of infants who are not breastfed continues to be a goal for nutritional science. This study explored the effects of one dietary component, (1,3/1,6)-β-D-glucan (Wellmune WGP), on lung immune development in the neonatal piglet. The hypothesis was that supplementation with WGP, a pathogen-associated molecular pattern, would enhance pathogen-responsive elements of the immune system, for instance, by increasing the size of the cytotoxic T-cell population or the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Piglets were fed a control formula or formula plus WGP at 1.8, 18, or 90 mg/kg body weight per day. Serum, thoracic lymph nodes (TLNs), mediastinal lymph nodes, and lung were collected at days 7 or 21. Immune parameters including tissue messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and T-cell phenotypes were analyzed. Normal developmental changes were observed, with a decrease in T-helper cells and an increase in cytotoxic T cells in both TLN and mediastinal lymph node, but there was no effect of WGP. Dietary WGP reduced the mRNA expression of transforming growth factor (TGF) β2 and tended to reduce the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in lung tissue. With the exception of reducing TGF-β mRNA in the lung and tending to decrease the ratio of T helper to cytotoxic T cell in the TLN, dietary WGP did not affect lung-associated adaptive immunity in piglets.
Stack-based scheduling for realtime processes

The Priority Ceiling Protocol (PCP) of Sha, Rajkumar and Lehoczky is a policy for locking binary semaphores that bounds priority inversion (i.e., the blocking of a job while a lower priority job executes), and thereby improves schedulability under fixed priority preemptive scheduling. We show how to extend the PCP to handle: multiunit resources, which subsume binary semaphores and reader-writer locks; dynamic priority schemes, such as earliest-deadline-first (EDF), that use static “preemption levels”; sharing of runtime stack space between jobs. These extensions can be applied independently, or together. The Stack Resource Policy (SRP) is a variant of the SRP that incorporates the three extensions mentioned above, plus the conservative assumption that each job may require the use of a shared stack. This avoids unnecessary context switches and allows the SRP to be implemented very simply using a stack. We prove a schedulability result for EDF scheduling with the SRP that is tighter than the one proved previously for EDF with a dynamic version of the PCP. The Minimal SRP (MSRP) is a slightly more complex variant of the SRP, which has similar properties, but imposes less blocking. The MSRP is optimal for stack sharing systems, in the sense that it is the least restrictive policy that strictly bounds priority inversion and prevents deadlock for rate monotone (RM) and earliest-deadline-first (EDF) scheduling.