cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disruption of sphingolipid metabolism and induction of equine leukoencephalomalacia by Fusarium proliferatum culture material containing fumonisin B2 or B3

Fumonisin B1, B2, and B3 are inhibitors of ceramide synthase, a key enzyme in the pathway for de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis. Corn, naturally contaminated with either predominantly fumonisin B1 or pure fumonisin B1, has been shown to cause equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM). It has been hypothesized that fumonisin-induced disruption of sphingolipid metabolism is an early event in the development of ELEM. Recently, it was shown that Fusarium proliferatum corn culture diets containing predominantly fumonisin B2, but not diets which were predominantly fumonisin B3, at 75 ppm (0.75 mg/kg BW/day) caused hepatotoxicity and ELEM. Analysis of free sphingoid bases and complex sphingolipids in serum, liver, and kidney, revealed that both the fumonisin B2 and B3 diets caused significant disruption of sphingolipid metabolism, however, the fumonisin B2 culture material diet was significantly more effective than the fumonisin B3 culture material diet at disrupting sphingolipid metabolism and in causing hepatotoxicity and clinical signs indicative of the onset of ELEM. A significant increase in the ratio of free sphinganine to free sphingosine in serum was first evident at day 4 and 11 with the fumonisin B2 and B3 diets, respectively. Increase in serum enzymes indicative of liver toxicity was first evident at day 34 in ponies fed the fumonisin B2 diet and clinical signs (head shaking, gait problems, and muscle tremors) were first observed at day 48. Ponies fed the fumonisin B3 diets showed no increase in serum enzymes or clinical signs for as long as 65 days when the study with fumonisin B3 was stopped. The results support the conclusion fumonisin B2 is more effective than fumonisin B3 in disrupting sphingolipid metabolism and induction of ELEM and liver injury in ponies.
Laser cavities and polarization optics for soft X-rays and the extreme ultraviolet

Addressed here are polarization optics for extreme-ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelengths, especially as relevant to laser cavities. It is pointed out that the whisper-gallery mirrors studied by Vinogradov can serve as weak polarizers and, more importantly, as birefringent elements. The application of multilayer technology to polarizing mirrors and beamsplitters is also considered. It is shown that multilayer beamsplitters can function both as reflective and transmissive polarizers. Their behavior is surprising in some cases, with the same polarization being preferred in both reflection and transmission. Three polarizing cavity schemes are proposed, each incorporating a polarizing beamsplitter as its output coupler. Cavity optimization issues are discussed.
New methods for image guidance and visualization for cardiac procedures

Interventional cardiac MRI has been undergoing rapid development because of the availability of MRI compatible interventional catheters, and the increased performance of the MRI systems. Intravascular techniques do not require an open access scanner, and hence higher imaging performance during procedures can be achieved. Now, with the availability of a short, relatively open cylindrical bore scanner high imaging performance is also available to guide direct surgical procedures.
Synaptonemal complex analysis of X-7 translocations in male mice: R2 and R6 quadrivalents

Synaptonemal complexes of surface-spread spermatocytes of mice heterozygous for reciprocal translocations R2 or R6 between the X-chromosome and chromosome 7 were examined by light and electron microscopy (EM). Measurements of the lengths of all chromosome axes involved in the translocation configurations and of the extent of synapsis were used to calculate the position of the break points of the two translocations. The breaks for R2 were determined to be at 62% of the 7 as measured from the centromere, and at 27% of the X. Quadrivalents were formed almost exclusively. The break points for R6 were calculated to be at 30% of the 7 as measured from the centromere, and at 75% of the X. Although in R6 the break in the X lies within the potential pairing region of the sex chromosomes, univalent Ys were rarely observed (6%). The EM sample of 76 nuclei contained: 42% quadrivalents, 52% heteromorphic bivalents, 4% trivalent plus Y univalent, and 2% X7-7 bivalent plus two univalents (7X and Y). Nonhomologous synapsis occurred in the quadrivalents of both R2 and R6. In R6 nonhomologous synapsis of the X portion of the 7X with the 7 involved up to 14% of the length of the 7. Methods are discussed for determining the position of the break points in the presence of nonhomologous synapsis. It is proposed that the high percentage of bivalents is due to premature desynapsis of the 7X from the 7 and that the X portion of the 7X axis confers its property of premature desynapsis on that portion of the 7 to which it is attached.
GLADE: big data analytics made easy

We present GLADE, a scalable distributed system for large scale data analytics. GLADE takes analytical functions expressed through the User-Defined Aggregate (UDA) interface and executes them efficiently on the input data. The entire computation is encapsulated in a single class which requires the definition of four methods. The runtime takes the user code and executes it right near the data by taking full advantage of the parallelism available inside a single machine as well as across a cluster of computing nodes.The demonstration has two goals. First, it presents the architecture of GLADE and how processing is done by using a series of analytical functions. Second, it compares GLADE with two different classes of systems for data analytics: a relational database (PostgreSQL) enhanced with UDAs and Map-Reduce (Hadoop). We show how the analytical functions are coded into each of these systems (for Map-Reduce, we use both Java code as well as Pig Latin) and compare their expressiveness, scalability, and running time efficiency.
Seismic analysis of LMR reactor tanks

Abstract This paper deals with the methods of seismic analysis of LMR reactor tanks. Mathematical models of a reactor tank and LMR plant are given. Various methods of seismic analysis suitable for the analysis of fluid-structure interaction of LMR plants and their advantages and drawbacks are described. Emphasis is placed on efficiency of the numerical algorithm. The computer code FLUSTR-ANL, deveoped for seismic analysis of LMR components, is also described.
Cardiopulmonary issues in athletes

It recently came to my attention that the last several issues of the Clinics in Sports Medicine have focused on operative aspects of sports medicine to the exclusion of nonoperative or medical problems. After considering this observation, I looked back at the last several topics and concluded that this is correct. I therefore apologize and will make an effort to be more comprehensive in our focus for future issues. With this in mind, I asked Dr. John MacKnight, a colleague of mine at the University of Virginia, to develop an issue on cardiopulmonary issues in athletes. Because Dr. MacKnight is entrusted with the medical care of university athletes, I thought he would be a good choice for spearheading this issue. I was wrong or he was a great choice! He has assembled an outstanding issue that is both informative and interesting (yes, even for a bone doctor). Thank you, John, and thank you, readers, for your suggestions. I hope you enjoy this issue and future issues of the Clinics in Sports Medicine.
Limited effectiveness of in vitro high-dose methotrexate and leucovorin to overcome resistance in L1210 leukemia cells with elevations of dihydrofolate reductase.

Abstract Two L 1210 cell lines, one sensitive to methotrexate (MTX) (L 1210 S) and the other resistant (L1210/740R) due to high dihydrofolate reductase were exposed to MTX in serial log concentrations from 10 −3 to 10 −8 M MTX. Maximal ( 90% ) inhibition of de novo DNA synthesis was produced by 10 −6 M MTX in L1210/S. 10 −4 MTX produced no more than 40% inhibition in the L1210/740R line. Leucovorin [ N-5 -formyltetrahydrofolic acid (LV)] 10 −4 M completely rescued L 1210 S from 10 −7 M MTX and L1210/740R from 10 −5 M MTX. There was a partial rescue by LV of L1210/740R but none in L1210/S from 10 −4 M MTX. LV completely corrected the metabolic defect produced by 10 −4 M MTX when the cells were washed in MTX free media following exposure to 10 −4 M MTX. Thus, high-dose MTX has no apparent major advantage when MTX resistance is due to high dihydrofolate reductase. High-dose MTX can produce a defect involving a low affinity (reversible) site which is not corrected by LV and a high affinity site defect which is completely corrected by LV. LV resue is not directly dependent on the concentration of free MTX alone in extracellular media. The measurement of the antimetabolic effect of different simulated MTX treatment programs in cell lines with different defined mechanisms of resistance to MTX may serve as a method for identifying the biochemical parameters of cells and optimum conditions, if any, for treatment with high-dose MTX and LV.
Mysticism, Poverty and Reason in the Thought of Meister Eckhart

This paper interprets Meister Eckhart's mysticism as an integral part of a carefully worked out metaphysical scheme and as a theological response to the popular religious piety and the socio-economic expansion that transformed European society in the thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries. Both lines of interpretation bring Eckhart's concept of poverty into focus as they key to his thought. After tracing the transformation of the older monastic ideals of the visio dei and cenobite poverty into popular mysticism and evangelical poverty in the new urban setting, the paper argues that Eckhart was the first major Christian thinker upon whom these ideals had a central and decisive impact. Thus Eckhart's concept of poverty must be understood on one level as a dissenting religious response to the effects of material prosperity on medieval society. On a deeper, but closely related level, Eckhart's concept of poverty must be seen in its theological significance as providing the mystical movements of the Rhineland with a reflective foundation. The paper argues that Eckhart developed a "metaphysics of intellection" that breaks with both Augustinian and Thomistic traditions in theology, and that correspondingly his mystical teaching breaks sharply with the love- or will-centered mystical tradition represented by Augustine, Bernard and the Franciscans. In his theology Eckhart affirms God to be the One, beyond being, and therefore to be unknowable through any kind of mediation. His mystical teaching posits a direct awareness of God when ordinary, mediated awareness of the world is stilled. Poverty is his term for this direct awareness of God. The paper suggests that this mystical experience of God is also an experience of the world and thus a self-identity in in the world. In concluding, the relevance of Eckhart's notion of poverty to contemporary theology is briefly suggested.
Introduction à la rationalisation de la pharmacothérapie chez le sujet âgé

Resume Les patients âges sont souvent polypathologiques et prennent regulierement au moins cinq medicaments. La polypharmacie et la pharmacotherapie inadaptee se developpent insidieusement et necessitent d’instaurer une analyse pharmaceutique reguliere a l’aide d’outils explicites (bases sur des criteres) ou implicites (bases sur le jugement de l’evaluateur). Les mesures explicites sont derivees de revues de la litterature et de consensus d’experts mais sont peu flexibles. A l’oppose, les mesures implicites sont specifiques a un patient donne mais elles requierent l’acces a ses donnees cliniques et elles dependent des connaissances et de l’experience du clinicien. Les outils a notre disposition necessitent d’etre ameliores et evalues, mais ils representent un premier pas vers la rationalisation.
Computational thermodynamics and the kinetics of martensitic transformation

To assist the science-based design of alloys with martensitic microstructure, a multicomponent database kMART (kinetics of MARtensitic Transformation) encompassing the components Al, C, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, N, Nb, Ni, Pd, Re, Si, Ti, V, and W has been developed to calculate the driving force for martensitic transformation. Built upon the SSOL database of the Thermo-Calc software system, a large number of interaction parameters of the SSOL database have been modified, and many new interaction parameters, both binary and ternary, have been introduced to account for the heat of transformation, T0 temperatures, and the composition dependence of magnetic properties. The critical driving force for face-centered cubic (fcc) → body-centered cubic (bcc) heterogeneous martensitic nucleation in multicomponent alloys is modeled as the sum of a strain energy term, a defect-size-dependent interfacial energy term, and a composition-dependent interfacial work term. Using our multicomponent thermodynamic database, a model for barrierless heterogeneous martensitic nucleation, a model for the composition and temperature dependence of the shear modulus, and a set of unique interfacial kinetic parameters, we have demonstrated the efficacy of predicting the fcc → bcc martensitic start temperature (Ms) in multicomponent alloys with an accuracy of ± 40 K over a very wide composition range.
A Case of Human Intramuscular Adrenal Gland Transplantation as a Cure for Chronic Adrenal Insufficiency

Intramuscular endocrine gland transplantation has been well described as it pertains to parathyroid autotransplantation; however, transplantation of the adrenal gland is less well characterized. While adrenal autotransplantation in the setting of Cushing's disease has been described, intramuscular adrenal allotransplantation as a cure for adrenal insufficiency to our knowledge has not been previously carried out. Current treatment for adrenal insufficiency leaves patients without diurnal variation in cortisol release and susceptible to the detrimental effects of chronic hypercortisolism. We describe here the case of a 5-year-old girl with renal failure who had adrenal insufficiency following fulminant meningococcemia that led to requirements for both stress-dose steroid and mineralocorticoid replacement. Ten months after the onset of her disease, she received a simultaneous renal and adrenal gland transplant from her mother. The adrenal gland allograft was morselized into 1 mm(3) segments and implanted into three 2 cm pockets created in her rectus abdominis muscle. Three years after surgery, her allograft remains fully functional, responding well to adrenocorticotropin hormone stimulation and the patient does not require any steroid or mineral-corticoid supplementation. We believe this case represents the first description of successful functional intramuscular adrenal allograft transplantation with long-term follow up as a cure for adrenal insufficiency.
Natural Mode of Acquisition for de Novo Infection with Pneumocystis carinii

Axenic rats maintained in germfree isolators were found to be free of Pneumocystis carinii after three months of immunosuppression with dexamethasone. This P. carinii-free rat model was used to identify the mode of acquisition of P. carinii from the natural environment. Germfree were exposed in selective manner to potential sources of P.carinii, including air, water, and food. Animals exposed in the isolator with filtered (sterile) air and to regular (unsterile) water and food did not acquire P. carinii. Rats exposed in open cages to room air but maintained on sterile water and food acquired the infection. Animals fed lung tissue infected with P. carinii did not acquire the infection. These findings show that P. carinii is naturally acquired as an airborne organism in a de novo infection.
Picture superiority in conceptual memory: dissociative effects of encoding and retrieval tasks.

We examined the role of encoding processes for picture superiority in explicit and conceptualimplicit memory. The nature of encoding instruction (naming or semantic categorization) yielded dissociative effects on picture and word memory on one explicit test, category-cued recall, and two conceptual-implicit tests, category-cued generation and category-cued verification. Category-cued recall was greater for pictures than for words following naming, but it did not differ for pictures and words following semantic categorization. Category-cued generation priming was greater for pictures than for words following naming, but it was greater for words than for pictures following semantic categorization. In contrast, category-cued verification priming did not differ for pictures and words following either naming or semantic categorization. Thus, picture superiority can be eliminated or reversed depending on the type of conceptual encoding task and conceptual-retrieval test.
Reduced mononuclear leukocyte ascorbic acid content in adults with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus consuming adequate dietary vitamin C.

Several recent studies suggest that vitamin C (ascorbic acid [AA]) status may be altered in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We measured the AA content of mononuclear leukocytes (MM-AA) as an indicator of tissue vitamin C status in adults with IDDM and nondiabetic adults matched for age and sex. Dietary vitamin C intake and plasma AA were analyzed to ensure that vitamin C availability was adequate. Dietary vitamin C intakes were above recommendations and were not different between the groups. MN-AA was reduced by 33% on average (P < .05) in adults with IDDM (1.75 μg/mg total protein [TP]) when compared with nondiabetics (2.60 μg/mg TP). When MN-AA is indexed to the dietary vitamin C intake (MN-AA100 mg diet C), the storage deficit in adults with IDDM averages 50% (P < .05). This observation suggests an impaired tissue AA storage in adults with IDDM and supports the theory that intracellular scurvy contributes to the chronic degenerative complications of the disease.
Quantitative determination of nickel and copper in zirconium fluoride using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Abstract A graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GFAAS) with Zeeman-effect background correction has been used for the determination of nickel and copper at very low level concentrations in a 30% ( w v ) solution of zirconium fluoride. Using palladium nitrate and nitric acid as matrix modifiers, the detection limits for nickel and copper were determined to be 6.3 and 3.2 ng/g, respectively. A specially made graphite platform was used for this study because it was found to withstand the drastic conditions of analysis for a longer period of time than a graphite tube alone. The technique has been validated by recovery studies on spiked samples and by comparing the slopes of standard addition and calibration curves. The precision of the procedure was significant and the relative standard deviation Was
Design and characterization of GRC-1: A soil for lunar terramechanics testing in Earth-ambient conditions

Earth experiments must be carried out on terrain that deforms similarly to the lunar terrain to assess the tractive performances of lunar vehicles. Most notably, terrain compaction and shear response underneath the lunar vehicle wheels must represent that of the Moon. This paper discusses the development of a new lunar soil simulant, Glenn Research Center lunar soil simulant #1 (GRC-1), which meets this need. A semi-empirical design approach was followed in which the soil was created by mixing readily available manufactured sands to a particle size distribution similar to the coarse fraction of lunar soil. By varying terrain density, a broad range of in situ cone penetration measurements collected by the Apollo mission astronauts can be replicated. An extensive set of characterization data is provided in this article to facilitate the use of this material. For reference, the index and geotechnical properties of GRC-1 are compared to the lunar soil and existing lunar soil simulants.
Effect of Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Infestation Level on Budworm-Resistant and -Susceptible Varieties of Flue-Cured Tobacco in North Carolina

Abstract Field experiments were conducted from 1972 to 1978 and from 1998 to 1999 to evaluate tobacco budworm,Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), larval feeding on flue-cured tobacco,Nicotiana tabacum (L.), yield in eastern North Carolina. In the earlier studies, using variety Coker 319, treatment plots were evaluated when either 0 or 100% of plants in a plot were infested withH.virescens larvae. Treatment differences based on actual yield loss (kilograms per hectare) were compared with estimations of yield loss based on leaf consumption and leaf loss. Results indicate actual yield loss when 100% of plants were infested was less than the corresponding estimates of yield loss. In the later experiments, two tobacco budworm-resistant lines, ‘CU 263′ and ‘CU 370′, were compared with a commercial susceptible variety, K 326, when 0, 10, 20, or 40% of plants were infested (1998) and 0, 10, 40, 75, or 100% of plants were infested (1999). Although significant increases in leaf equivalents consumed w...
Improving noncancer risk assessment in regulatory decisions

Abstract The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 will bring substantial changes to the national drinking water utilities, States, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), as well as greater protection and information to the 240 million Americans served by public water systems. These changes comprise a balanced, integrated framework of reform, and represent a major national commitment to new and stronger approaches to prevent contamination; better information for consumers; and regulatory improvements, including better science, prioritization of effort, risk assessment, management and communication. Specifically, the Amendments require the use of the best available, peer‐reviewed science and supporting studies conducted in accordance with sound and objective scientific practices. The 1995 USEPA Risk Characterization Policy satisfies some of these requirements since it must feature values such as transparency in decision making process; clarity in communicating with each other and the pu...
Factors predictive of mortality in pediatric extremity rhabdomyosarcoma

Abstract In order to examine factors predictive of fatal outcome in children presenting with histologically confirmed extremity rhabdomyosarcoma, we performed a retrospective analysis of our institutional experience from 1970 to 1985. Thirty-five patients were identified and staged according to international criteria (TNM). Variables evaluated for their predictive effect on fatal outcome included (1) tumor invasiveness, (2) tumor size, (3) anatomic location of the primary, (4) regional lymph node involvement, (5) distant metastases at presentation, (6) complete surgical resection, (7) use of amputation, and (8) alveolar histologic subtype. Significant predictors of mortality included (1) tumor invasiveness ( P ≤ .0001), (2) regional node involvement ( P ≤ .0002), (3) distant metastases at the time of presentation ( P ≤ .001), (4) alveolar histology ( P ≤ .001), (5) size of primary ( P ≤ .007), and (6) completeness of surgical resection ( P ≤ .05). In multivariate analysis, local tumor invasiveness was the most important predictor of fatal outcome with an associated relative risk of 18. We conclude that local tumor invasiveness is the most important determinant of clinical stage.
Adaptation in motion perception: Alteration of induced motion

Prolonged exposure to a condition that causes induced motion was found to diminish this effect. The extent of a horizontal induced motion was measured by obtaining estimates of the direction of the apparent oblique path that resulted when a spot was visible on a horizontally moving pattern and was therefore in horizontal induced motion and, at the same time, moved vertically. Because the horizontal component of the perceived motion path represented the induced motion, the slope of the path measured the extent of the induced motion. After a 10-min exposure to induced motion, the apparent motion path was steeper; the mean change corresponded to a 15% smaller extent of the induced motion. Results were obtained that argue that this effect is not due to a diminished horizontal motion of the pattern but amounts to a smaller motion-inducing effect. The experiments were meant to support the view that the perceptual process that underlies induced motion is learned.
Chemical ‘omics’ approaches for understanding protein cysteine oxidation in biology

Oxidative cysteine modifications have emerged as a central mechanism for dynamic post-translational regulation of all major protein classes and correlate with many disease states. Elucidating the precise roles of cysteine oxidation in physiology and pathology presents a major challenge. This article reviews the current, targeted proteomic strategies that are available to detect and quantify cysteine oxidation. A number of indirect methods have been developed to monitor changes in the redox state of cysteines, with the majority relying on the loss of reactivity with thiol-modifying reagents or restoration of labeling by reducing agents. Recent advances in chemical biology allow for the direct detection of specific cysteine oxoforms based on their distinct chemical attributes. In addition, new chemical reporters of cysteine oxidation have enabled in situ detection of labile modifications and improved proteomic analysis of redox-regulated proteins. Progress in the field of redox proteomics should advance our knowledge of regulatory mechanisms that involve oxidation of cysteine residues and lead to a better understanding of oxidative biochemistry in health and disease.
Lyman-alpha observations in the vicinity of Saturn with Copernicus

For the first time, high-resolution Ly-alpha observations of the Saturn vicinity were completed with the Princeton spectrometer on board the Copernicus satellite. They showed that near a minimum solar activity the emissions related to several sources are 250 + or - 50 rayleighs for the interplanetary medium in a near-downwind direction, less than 100 rayleighs for the rings, 200 + or - 100 rayleighs for a torus linked to the Titan orbit, and 1400 + or - 450 rayleighs for the disk of Saturn. These results induce some constraints through the corresponding theoretical evaluations: the B ring as the primary source of the atoms for the ring emissions; an efficient production mechanism for hydrogen atoms in the Titan torus; and a slightly larger eddy diffusion coefficient in the Saturn atmosphere than in the Jupiter atmosphere near solar minimum.
Projection Printing Characterization

Projection printing eliminates the problems introduced by hard-contacting the mask to the wafer while maintaining the high resolution requirements of the integrated circuit manufacturer. Certain advantages of projection printing are obvious: the wafers are not contaminated or damaged by contact with the mask, and the mask will not wear out. Less obvious are the steps required to maximize the advantages of projection printing, thereby reducing costs and increasing yields. This paper considers photoresist choices, suggests some procedures to determine process variables, and discusses mask costs and quality effects.
Metabolism of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide in cultured and seedling roots of Pisum sativum in relation to promotion of cell arrest in G2 by trigonelline

Abstract Trigonelline, a G2 factor, present in cotyledons of Pisum sativum is transported to roots and shoots after germination. This hormone promotes preferential cell arrest in G2 in 40% of all root cells during normal cell differentiation. In the absence of trigonelline the cell population is arrested in G1. Experimental results show that a critical concentration (10 −7 M) of trigonelline is produced in nutrient medium within 12 hr of exposure by intact seedling roots and excised roots exposed to either nicotinic acid (NA) or nicotinamide (NAM) at an initial concentration of 10 −4 M. In contrast, this critical trigonelline concentration is not sustained in medium throughout the 3-day exposure period when roots are exposed to NA or NAM at an initial concentration of 10 −6 M. Nicotinic acid and NAM are rapidly converted to other members of the pyridine nucleotide pathway by excised roots and intact seedling roots. Moreover, the metabolism of NA and NAM by intact seedling roots and excised roots in aseptic culture is markedly similar. These data demonstrate that (1) trigonelline is responsible for promotion of cell arrest in G2 in intact seedling roots and excised roots of P. sativum , and (2) exogenous application of trigonelline can increase the proportion of cells arrested in G2 in intact seedlings above levels that normally occur.
Role of surface sialic acid in the interaction of wheat germ agglutinin with human platelets

Abstract Wheat germ agglutinin binds to the surface of human platelets and leads to their agglutination. Unlike other aggregating agents, the clumping ability of platelets by the lectin was markedly reduced upon removal of the cell surface sialic acid. This reduction in agglutination of neuraminidase-treated platelets was due to a lower capacity of the cells to bind the lectin. Since the terminal sialic acid has been implicated in the clearance of platelets from the circulation, wheat germ agglutinin may prove to be a useful tool to explore those clinical conditions in which platelet survival is shortened.
Strength of 7075-T6 and 2024-T3 Aluminum Panels with Multiple-Site Damage

Much attention has been given to the development of technology for the purpose of determining the strength of aluminum panels that have multiple-site damage. The linkup model has been investigated because of its simplicity, and a number of modified linkup models have been presented. However, most of the attention has been given to 2024-T3 aluminum. Little attention has been given to 7075-T6 because it is a more brittle material with lower fracture toughness, making it more suitable to be analyzed by conventional linear elastic (brittle) fracture mechanics technology. The work presented here involves the study of 7075-T6 panels with multiple-site damage. Both the classical linear elastic fracture model and the linkup model are shown to be highly inaccurate. A modified linkup model and a modified brittle fracture model have both been developed by empirical analysis. Both of these models appear to have a high degree of accuracy over a wide range of crack geometry. The modified linkup model for 7075-T6 is then compared with a previously developed modified linkup model for 2024-T3. This comparison shows that 2024-T3 panels with multiple-site damage have greater strength than 7075-T6 panels, especially for panels with small ligament lengths.
3-Acetylpyridine reduces tongue protrusion force but does not abolish lick rhythm in the rat

Data from other laboratories suggest that neurons in the inferior olivary nucleus (IO) may play a role in the modulation of rhythmic tongue movements in rats. Because of its known harmful effects on neurons of the IO, it was suspected that administration of the neurotoxin 3-acetylpyridine (3AP) would affect subsequent tongue dynamics during rat licking. In the present study, the task of licking water from a force-transducing disk was investigated in water-restricted rats that received systemic administration of 3AP (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg). After recovery from the acute toxic effects of 3AP, tongue dynamics were assessed by measuring lick force, lick rhythm, variability of timing within bursts of licking, and number of licks per 2-min session. At 50 mg/kg, 3AP resulted in: (1) reduced lick force; (2) reduced number of licks; and (3) increased variance in the timing within bursts. Lick rhythm was not significantly affected by any dose of 3AP. All 3AP treatment groups and the vehicle control group displayed slowing of lick rhythm after harmaline challenge. Compared to vehicle controls, rats receiving lower and mid-range doses of 3AP displayed indistinguishable lick behaviors, with one exception--when the lick task was made incrementally more difficult by extending the distance required to make contact with the lick-disk, rats that had received 25 mg/kg 3AP persevered at the task more than all other rats. The various changes in lick dynamics may be due to the detrimental effects of 3AP at the IO, and possibly at the hypoglossal nucleus and other sites.
Anchor filament bundles in embryonic skin: origin and termination.

During development and maturation of skin and its derivatives, bundles of extracellular filamentous elements appear, which traverse a cross section of dorsal skin from deep mesenchyme to the basal lamina of the dermo-epidermal junction. Observations on freshly fixed tissue and on pieces of skin grown in culture for three to five days, especially in areas where the presence of anchor filaments could be predicted, indicate that the filaments most likely originate from fibroblasts which are usually located in a stratified layer of the deeper mesenchyme. The distal end, or termination, appears to be the basal lamina into which the anchor filament blends and is dispersed. The anchor bundles are composed of long thin filaments in close aggregation and they demonstrate cross-striations separated by approximately 400 A in the midportions, and up to 600 A near their origin and termination. The diameters of the bundles average approximately 0.33 μ at their thickest part. However, at or near their origin, they measure 0.2 μ or less in diameter. The analogy of the filaments to a growing tree is suggested in that, the roots, or origins of the filaments are thin, tortuous and in many cases widely separated. In certain areas they converge into one main trunk which tapers toward their termination in the basal lamina. The observations also suggest that some bundles may have several roots or rootlets, while others have only one or two. Although collagen is often seen close to the bundles, the data indicate that the latter are distinct from, and not derived from collagen.
Identification of Nosocomial Aspergillus fumigatus Using Virtual Surveillance

BACKGROUND: In February 2003, data-mining (DM) surveillance revealed a 190% (p=0.004) increase from baseline of A. fumigatus respiratory isolates for a total of eight. Upon review of locations, it was found that four of eight isolates had been cultured from two units served by the same air handler. METHODS: Line listings provided by DM confirmed that isolates were hospital-acquired. Lab was consulted to rule out possible contamination of specimens in the laboratory. Since HVAC systems are often suspect in cases of hospital-acquired Aspergillus, the air handlers were examined. Fungal cultures were obtained from the final filters of the suspect HVAC. Cultures grew out A. fumigatus. Physical inspection of the filters revealed that they had not been seated properly, allowing some passage of unfiltered air. The filters were replaced and seated properly. Cultures were repeated and were negative for A. fumigatus. In addition to replacing the filters, engineering staff was reeducated on installation of final filters. RESULTS: Surveillance for hospital-acquired A. fumigatus has been continued. DM confirmed an 80% decrease (p =0.034). CONCLUSION: Proper installation of HVAC final filters is essential for prevention of hospital-acquired Aspergillus. DM is beneficial in early identification of potentially serious clusters of isolates and provides enhanced surveillance, which will help organizations meet 2005 JCAHO standards.
Transient temperature resulting from periodic on-off heat flux for a semi-infinite medium

Transient heat conduction in solids subjected to a periodic on-off surface heat flux has numerous practical application, including, among others, the frictional heating of solids and high-energy laser pulses directed at surfaces. In this work, the authors determine the transient temperature variation of a semi-infinite medium resulting from a periodic on-off heat flux at the surface by including in the analysis the effects of nonlinear surface radiation. The effects of periodically applied heat flux on temperatures may be compared to those of a constant heat flux in one to two ways: (1) the total energy supplied over a given period remains the same, but the magnitude of the heat flux is allowed to increased during the intermittent heating, or (2) the magnitude of the heat flux remains the same, but the total energy supplied over a given period is reduced as a result of the intermittent heating. In the present analysis, the former comparison is chosen.
Demonstration of a highly efficient L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier

A novel L-band fiber amplifier comprised of two sections of erbium-doped fiber (EDF) and an optical reflector is used to enhance power-conversion efficiency (PCE). We also examine how an optical amplifier can be used without an optical reflector while nonetheless making effective use of amplified spontaneous emission in order to increase the gain. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 41: 96–98, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20059
Effects of surface impurities on lattice response and trapping

Abstract A theoretical study is made of the trapping of gas particles on a lattice having an impurity-surface layer. The three-dimensional semi-infinite model used has basic cubic symmetry, where the identical interior particles interact harmonically with their six nearest neighbors. Multiple transform techniques are applied to obtain the lattice response to an initial velocity at the origin in terms of Lommel functions. These results are used to solve the integro-differential equation relating the gas particle to the impurity lattice. Trapping characteristics are thereby obtained. The results demonstrate that the multi-dimensional impurity model traps more efficiently than previously considered one-dimensional models. Significant deviations from clean surface model trapping are also found.
Characterization of slow reacting substance as a family of thiolipids derived from arachidonic acid.

Abstract Using radiolabeled cysteine and arachidonic acid as biosynthetic precursors, the slow reacting substance (SRS) produced by the rat basophilic cell line, RBL-1, has been characterized as a family of thiolipids derived from arachidonic acid.
Cardiovascular effects of moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26) during halothane anesthesia in dogs.

The cardiovascular effects of moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26) in 10 dogs under halothane anesthesia were compared to 5 dogs under halothane anesthesia without moxibustion and 5 dogs under halothane anesthesia in which moxibustion was effected at a neutral or non-acupuncture site. Cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, total peripheral resistance, pH, PaCO2, PaO2 and base deficit were measured over a two-hour period. A significant increase in cardiac output and stroke volume and a significant decrease in the total peripheral resistance were observed in the group which was stimulated by moxibustion at Jen Chun (Go-26). Heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure were significantly increase during the early part of the two-hour period in the same group. The cardiovascular effects of moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26) which were observed at the end of the two hours were also present in two dogs in which measurements were continued for two additional hours.
Diffusion of relativistic runaway electrons and implications for lightning initiation

[1] Using detailed Monte Carlo simulations, the diffusion coefficients for relativistic runaway electron avalanches in air are found for the range of electric field strengths applicable to thunderclouds. Diffusion causes runaway electron avalanches to spread perpendicular to and parallel to the avalanche direction, resulting in much smaller peak conductivities than would be inferred otherwise. The idea that runaway electron avalanches seeded by extensive cosmic ray air showers may initiate lightning has gained considerable popularity in recent years. However, using the diffusion coefficients calculated in this paper along with the avalanche multiplication limit from X-ray and positron feedback, it is found that even 1017 eV cosmic ray air showers do not produce high enough conductivities to significantly alter the electric field inside a thundercloud. As a result, it will be shown that at present, no compelling theoretical argument exists to suggest that cosmic ray extensive air showers initiate lightning.
Unified analysis of energy detectors with diversity reception in generalised fading channels

In this paper, the authors present a novel moment generating function-based technique to unify the performance evaluation of an average energy detector for detecting unknown deterministic signals over generalised fading environments (including the η-μ, κ-μ, α-μ, K, G and KG generalised fading distributions) with diversity reception. Specifically, the authors exploit a known exponential-type integral representation for the generalised Marcum Q-function Qv (a, b) that is valid for any ratio of a/b but for positive integer order v to greatly simplify the task of finding the statistical expectations over the fading signal-to-noise ratio random variables in the computation of the average detection probability metric. This new approach leads to a very compact and an elegant solution for many practical cases of interest including the independent but non-identically distributed fading statistics and/or arbitrarily correlated diversity branches in maximal-ratio combining, square-law combining and square-law selection diversity receivers. The authors’ numerical results also show that the performance of average energy detector is superior to the classical total energy detector with the increasing number of samples owing to the noise averaging effect. We have also demonstrated the versatility and utility of the proposed analytical framework to investigate the impact of dissimilar mean signal strengths, fading parameters, time-bandwidth product, diversity order and signal combining techniques on the receiver operating characteristics of diversity energy detectors in a myriad of fading environments that had heretofore resisted simple solutions.
Simulated behavior of multi-story X-braced frames

Steel braced frames are a commonly used seismic resisting system and thus, multi-story X-braced frames are frequently used. However, research into the behavior of these systems with midspan gusset plates, as used in practice, is limited. As a result, their seismic performance and the influence of connection design on this performance are not well understood. A comprehensive series of inelastic analyses were undertaken to better understand the nonlinear, cyclic behavior of multi-story X-braced frames and their gusset plate connections. Finite element (FE) analyses were conducted and the FE model was developed and verified by comparing the simulated results with cyclic tests and nonlinear analyses of single story systems, conducted at the University of Washington. The verified analytical model and associated failure estimation procedures were used to predict all yield mechanisms and failure modes, frame deformation capacity, and initial cracking and fracture of critical elements within the frame. A parametric study was performed to examine the influence of the gusset plate, framing members and other structural elements on the seismic performance of multi-story X-braced frames. The results show that the design and detailing of the gusset plate has a significant impact on the seismic performance of the frame. Connections designed with proposed end-rotational clearance models, and with strength and stiffness values balanced to the buckling and tensile yield capacities of the brace provided the best ductility and deformation capacity. In addition, the results suggest that floor slabs, gusset plate stiffeners and framing member sizes affect the frame performance and must be considered in the analysis and design of the system.
An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Ion−Molecule Reactions Involving Methyl Halide Radical Cations with Methyl Halides

An experimental and computational study of ion−molecule association reactions of the methyl halides has been carried out. A two-center three-electron bonded species, [CH3X∴XCH3]•+, has been observed for I and Br. MS/MS metastable and collision-induced dissociation experiments provide strong support of the atomic connectivity for both species. Computationally, two [C2H6Cl2]•+ structures have been found: the 2c-3e bonded dimer, [CH3Cl∴ClCH3]•+, and the ylide bound structure, [CH3Cl−H−ClCH2]•+. Both are supported by the MS/MS results which give evidence of the CH2Cl+, CH3Cl•+, and CH3ClH+ fragment ions. The study of [C2H6F2]•+ proved to be somewhat more complicated. Three [C2H6F2]•+ structures were found computationally: the 2c-3e bonded dimer, [CH3F∴FCH3]•+, a dihydrogen bonded structure, [FH2CH−HCH2F]•+, and a hydrogen bonded structure, [CH3F−HCH2F]•+. The F−H bonded species was computed to be the most stable. Kinetic energy release distributions, KERDs, have been measured for all the metastable reaction...
Knee osteoarthritis radiographic progression and associations with pain and function prior to knee arthroplasty: a multicenter comparative cohort study

Summary Objectives We determined the radiographic osteoarthritic worsening rate prior to knee arthroplasty (TKA) and whether this worsening was associated with worsening pain and function as compared to a non-surgical matched sample. Methods We used the Osteoarthritis Initiative 5-year datasets. Extent of knee OA 2 years prior to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was matched to knees of persons who did not undergo TKA. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) Function and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Pain scales were used to quantify functional deficit and functionally relevant pain respectively. A total of 167 persons with isolated TKA and 300 persons with matched symptomatic knee OA but no TKA were studied. Results During the 2 years prior to TKA, worsening by at least one Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grade occurred in 27.4% (95% CI = 20.6–34.2) of the surgical knees compared to 6.6% (95% CI = 3.8–9.4) of matched non-surgical knees. Osteoarthritis radiographic progression was strongly associated with WOMAC Function and KOOS Pain worsening ( P prior to TKA. KL worsening was strongly associated with future arthroplasty (Odds ratio = 5.0, 95% CI = 2.6–9.8) after adjustment for potential confounders. Conclusions Persons undergoing TKA 2 years later had substantial worsening pain and function over the 2-year pre-operative period as compared to a non-surgical sample matched based on KL grades. Almost 30% of persons who elect to undergo TKA undergo rapid disease progression and symptom worsening during the 2 years prior to TKA.
Monitoring the Arrival in the Cerebral Hemispheres of Intravenously Injected Radioisotope (Cerebral Radiorheography)

A preliminary study has been carried out to establish the usefulness of a simple clinical technique for evaluating the relative cerebral blood flow in each hemisphere. The theory of the test is to monitor the arrival in the head of intravenously injected radioisotope. Two collimated detectors monitor the two cerebral hemispheres for 60 seconds. The test is simple to administer and extremely safe since a rapidly excreted radioisotope is used. Preliminary study suggests it may be of considerable clinical value in view of its simplicity and safety.