cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ligand activation of alternatively spliced fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 modulates pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell malignancy

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma continues to be a devastating tumor (28,000 new cases per year in the United States; 10% 2-year survival). Pancreatic adenocarcinoma frequently (90% of the time) overexpresses fibroblast growth factor ligands (FGF-1 and FGF-2) and alternatively spliced high-affinity receptors (FGFR-ls) (FGFR-lct was previously found in normal pancreatic tissue). To study the significance of this observation in vitro, PANC-1 cells were stably transfected via the pMEXneo vector containing FGFR-la (PANC-la) or FGFR-ls (PANC-ls) isoforms. Cells were treated with 1 mg/ml of 5-fluorouracil. Cells were evaluated for growth inhibition, apoptosis (propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry, caspase 3 activation) and for Bcl-xL/BAX expression (by Western blot analysis). In vivo, 7 X 106 cells of each isoform were injected into nude Balb/c mice for xenograft formation (N = 10). Compared to PANC-ls (9%) in vitro, 5-fluorouracil-induced death was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in PANC-la (20%) at 24 hours. Increased cell death in PANC-la was mediated by activated caspase 3 and was correlated with decreased expression of Bcl-xL/BAX. In vivo, PANC-ls readily demonstrated formation of tumor xenograft at 2 weeks, whereas PANC-la did not form tumors. Alternative splicing of FGFR-1 to the s isoform appears to correlate with pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell growth in vivo and resistance to chemotherapy. Inhibition of FGFR-1 splicing or overexpression of FGFR-la inhibits pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell growth in vivo and restores cytotoxic responses to chemotherapy, thereby suggesting the basis of rational interventional strategies for this devastating tumor.
Wv paths on 3-polytopes

Abstract A path in a polytope is called a Wv path provided it never returns to any facet once it leaves it (Theorem 1). If x and y are two vertices of a 3-dimensional convex polytope then x and y can be joined by a Wv path. If x and y do not lie on a common edge then they can be joined by two independent Wv paths, and it they do not lie on a common facet then they can be joined by three independent Wv paths. Results are obtained dealing with the question “when is a shortest path a Wv path?” Also using ideas related to Wv paths it is shown that any two vertices of a polytope with n k-dimensional faces can be joined by a path of length at most (3k−3)n
An approach to optimal planning for SO/sub 2/ emission compliance

The Clean Air Act of 1990 mandated limits on the sulphur dioxide emission of coal-burning units by 1995 (Phase I) and 2000 (Phase II). The evaluation of options for economically complying with these limits is complicated by uncertainties in a number of key variables such us the price of emission allowances, the price premiums to be paid for low sulphur coal and other costs associated with viable, unit-specific compliance options: installing scrubbers, switching to lower sulphur coal and taking no compliance action. The problem is further complicated by the fact that minimum cost compliance options for individual units can only be determined as the units are committed and dispatched over time taking into account planned and expected forced outages. A method is proposed for solving this combined planning-operation optimization problem over a time horizon of interest using a fast unit commitment and dispatch heuristic. The method is applied to a large utility with 26 coal burning units subject to the provisions of the 1990 Clean Air Act. Representative runs indicate that the method generally converges to optimal solutions in 30 minutes or less on a personal computer. Thus, the planner can quickly explore the impacts of various assumptions regarding the prices of emission allowances, fuel premiums etc. upon optimal compliance options for individual units. >
Prohibiting genetic discrimination.

This year, the reintroduced Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act has been winding through three House committees and one Senate committee. Kathy Hudson writes that without comprehensive legal protections, the public fears genetic discrimination, and that fear has negative effects on both medical research and clinical care.
Opposite effects of acute and repeated administration of desmethylimipramine on adrenergic responsiveness in rat pineal gland

Abstract The effect of acute and repeated desmethylimipramine (DMI) treatment on catecholamine-stimulated production of adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in rat pineal gland was studied in vivo . In rats exposed to continuous illumination, the administration of isoproterenol (2μmol/kg) to control animals produced a marked increase in the concentration of cyclic AMP in pineal gland. In contrast, norepinephrine (2μmol/kg) failed to increase the levels of cyclic AMP. After acute treatment with DMI (single injection, 38μmol/kg, i. p.), the isoproterenol-induced rise in cyclic AMP was not significantly different from that measured in control animals. However, acute DMI treatment did allow a significant elevation in the concentration of cyclic AMP in pineal gland in response to norepinephrine. In rats given nine injections of DMI (38μmol/kg, i.p., twice daily) neither isoproterenol nor norepinephrine caused a significant increase in the concentration of cyclic AMP in pineal glands. Although acute treatment with DMI had no significant effect on [ 3 H] dihydroalprenolol binding, chronic treatment with DMI significantly reduced [ 3 H] dihydroalprenolol binding in the pineal gland. The results of this study suggest that while a single administration of DMI can enhance adrenergic responses elicited by norepinephrine, chronic administration of DMI leads to compensatory decreases in receptor density and adrenergic responsiveness.
A HIGHLY BIOAVAILABLE OMEGA-3 FREE-FATTY ACID REDUCES NON-HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL IN HIGH-RISK PATIENTS TREATED WITH A STATIN AND RESIDUAL HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA (ESPRIT TRIAL)

At least 4 grams of prescription omega-3 ethyl esters (EE) are required to lower non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c) in patients treated with a statin with triglycerides (TG) between 200-499 mg/dL. Omega-3 EE require hydrolysis to free-fatty acids (FFA) by pancreatic lipases for
Ammonium, nitrate, and proton fluxes along the maize root

Ion-selective microelectrodes were used to measure NH4+, NO3– and H+ fluxes along the primary root of maize seedlings. Plants were exposed to nutrient solutions containing NH4+, NO3– or both ions. Nitrogen fluxes along the root varied substantially among the different treatments. Net NH4+ and NO3– uptake and H+ extrusion were low at the very apex of the root and generally increased in the more basal regions. In the absence of nitrogen or in the presence of NO3– alone, net H+ uptake (and root surface alkalinization) occurred at the root tip (0–1 mm), whereas net H+ extrusion occurred in all other regions. In the presence of NH4+ alone, a dramatic increase in net H+ extrusion was detected in all regions except for the region 6–11 mm from the apex. In contrast, when NO3– alone was supplied, net H+ extrusion was depressed at all locations except for the tip (0–1 mm). When both NH4+ and NO3– were supplied, NO3– uptake was suppressed at all locations while net H+ extrusion was increased relative to NO3– alone. The capacities to absorb NH4+ and NO3– at the tip were similar, as indicated by flux rates when NH4+ or NO3– were supplied as sole sources, but when supplied together, net NO3– uptake was half that of net NH4+ uptake, indicating that NH4+ may satisfy the nitrogen requirements of the poorly vascularized apical tissue in the most energy-efficient way. The high spatial resolution of the measurements enabled us to establish that acidification in the root expansion zone is maintained regardless of nitrogen source.
Modifiable Risk Factors for Suboptimal Control and Controller Medication Underuse Among Children With Asthma

OBJECTIVES. Our aims were (1) to describe rates of suboptimal control and controller medication underuse in a diverse population of children with asthma and (2) to identify potentially modifiable parental behaviors and beliefs associated with these outcomes. METHODS. We conducted telephone interviews with parents of 2- to 12-year-old children with persistent asthma, in a Medicaid plan and a large provider group. Suboptimal control was defined as ≥4 symptom days, ≥1 symptom night, or ≥4 albuterol use days in the previous 2 weeks. Controller medication underuse was defined as suboptimal control and parent report of RESULTS. Of the 754 study children, 280 (37%) had suboptimal asthma control; this problem was more common in Hispanic children (51%) than in black (37%) or white (32%) children. Controller medication underuse was present for 133 children (48% of those with suboptimal asthma control and 18% overall). Controller medication underuse was more common among Hispanic (44%) and black (34%) children than white (22%) children. In multivariate analyses, suboptimal control was associated with potentially modifiable factors including low parental expectations for symptom control and high levels of worry about competing household priorities. Controller medication underuse was associated with potentially modifiable factors including parental estimation of asthma control that was discordant with national guidelines and no set time to administer asthma medications. CONCLUSIONS. Deficiencies in asthma control and controller medication use are associated with potentially modifiable parental beliefs, which seem to mediate racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in suboptimal control and controller medication underuse.
Cerebellar timing and negative patterning

Experimental studies suggest that the rabbit cerebellum is able to show negative patterning (exclusive or), a paradigm in which the rabbit eyelid is conditioned to respond to two individual stimuli, but not to both stimuli presented together. The paradigm, however, works only for interstimulus intervals (ISIs) longer than 800 ms. In this study we use a large scale simulation of the cerebellum to investigate the dynamics between cerebellar timing and the negative patterning paradigm at shorter ISIs. Since the simulation is not able to learn negative patterning with the standard paradigm we design a modified negative patterning training paradigm which is able to produce the standard results. The training mechanism induced by the new paradigm suggests that cerebellar timing and the negative patterning paradigm are mutually exclusive for ISIs shorter than 800 ms. from Seventeenth Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting: CNS*2008 Portland, OR, USA. 19–24 July 2008
A hybrid analytical-simulation approach for maintenance optimization of deteriorating equipment: Case study of wind turbines

Abstract As the power system moves toward more efficient operation, one of the main challenges for asset managers is to determine the optimum maintenance strategy for deteriorating equipment such as wind turbines. This problem can be addressed using a variety of optimization methods including analytical approaches which globally find the best strategy. However, since there are numerous factors (e.g., resource availability, weather conditions, etc.) affecting the operation and maintenance of equipment, there is not a unique solution for all of the possible situations. While it will be complicated to include these scenarios in an analytical model, a simulation model is more flexible and can easily handle these conditions. In order to benefit from the advantages of both analytical and simulation models, we propose a hybrid analytical-simulation approach toward solving a maintenance optimization problem with actual system limitations. In the first step of this approach, the optimum maintenance policy for a wind turbine is obtained using semi-Markov decision processes. Then, this model is built and solved with a Monte Carlo simulation, and the results are compared for justification of the simulation model. In the second step, the effects of maintenance and repair constraints on system availability and costs are studied using the simulation model developed. The model developed can assist the asset managers in including their own restrictions through sensitivity analysis and performing a cost/benefit analysis to determine, for example, how many technicians are required for a fleet of equipment, such as a wind farm. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by the results from the case study of wind turbines where a number of maintenance and repair restrictions are considered.
Systematic geographic sampling with UTM coordinates

Abstract A geographic sampling method that incorporates the advantages of systematic sampling while preserving randomness is described. The method, stratified systematic unaligned sampling, is suited to both random surveys of any size area and systematic coverage of large areas such as might be required when mapping fallout patterns or determining land use for environmental impact studies. In our application, the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid coordinate system is used. The UTM grid system is well suited to this sampling method because of its rectangular nature, decimal basis, universal nature, and relative ease of use for determining grid coordinates in the field from standard topographic maps. An application of this method to a statewide survey of indoor radon levels in Pennsylvania is described in detail.
A note on net present value and internal rate of return functions in electronic spreadsheets

Abstract Academic accountants are increasing their use of electronic spreadsheets in teaching. The net present value functions of some popular spreadsheets make incorrect calculations. The internal rate of return functions do not handle multiple rates in a standard way.
Regenerable Photovoltaic Devices with a Hydrogel-Embedded Microvascular Network

Light-driven degradation of photoactive molecules could be one of the major obstacles to stable long term operation of organic dye-based solar light harvesting devices. One solution to this problem may be mimicking the regeneration functionality of a plant leaf. We report an organic dye photovoltaic system that has been endowed with such microfluidic regeneration functionality. A hydrogel medium with embedded channels allows rapid and uniform supply of photoactive reagents by a convection-diffusion mechanism. A washing-activation cycle enables reliable replacement of the organic component in a dye-sensitized photovoltaic system. Repetitive restoration of photovoltaic performance after intensive device degradation is demonstrated.
Programs in C for parameterizing measured 5″ × 5″ NaI gamma response functions and unfolding of continuous gamma spectra

A 5″ × 5″ NaI(Tl) detector has been used to measure gamma-ray spectra resulting from the decay of aggregate fission products. In order to extract the true gamma-ray energy distribution from the measured spectra, the detector response functions for monoenergetic gamma rays spanning the energy range of the measurements must be determined. At present we have measured 13 such response functions in the energy range 0.081–6.13 MeV. NGRC is a program in C written to implement an interpolation scheme for estimating the response function at any other intermediate energy. This program takes a library of response function tails and constructs a response function matrix which is used as input to a second program CRSUP written for obtaining gamma-ray energy distributions. It assumes the measured spectrum consists of a superposition of a specified number of response functions placed at energies determined by the program according to the detector resolution and spectrum end point energy. The program then computes the distribution of the strength of the response functions in a least-squares fashion. This program is designed to maximize the number of response functions that can be used in modeling the measured spectrum without reducing the number of bins used in each response function. The response functions constructed by the interpolation procedure have been used in the program SPEC-FIT to fit in a least-squares fashion the gamma-ray spectrum of 152Eu. The fit is an excellent reproduction of both the photopeak and continuous regions of the entire measured spectrum. Finally the validity of the least-square method implemented by CRSUP has also been tested by using this program to unfold an analytically constructed continuous spectrum. The results obtained were in excellent agreement with the assumed distribution function, illustrating the applicability of CRSUP for unfolding other types of continuous spectra as encountered in beta, neutron-time-of-flight and Rutherford-backscattering spectroscopy.
Distinct requirements for chromatin assembly in transcriptional repression by thyroid hormone receptor and histone deacetylase

Histone deacetylase and chromatin assembly contribute to the control of transcription of the Xenopus TRbetaA gene promoter by the heterodimer of Xenopus thyroid hormone receptor and 9-cis retinoic acid receptor (TR-RXR). Addition of the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA) relieves repression of transcription due to chromatin assembly following microinjection of templates into Xenopus oocyte nuclei, and eliminates regulation of transcription by TR-RXR. Expression of Xenopus RPD3p, the catalytic subunit of histone deacetylase, represses the TRbetaA promoter, but only after efficient assembly of the template into nucleosomes. In contrast, the unliganded TR-RXR represses templates only partially assembled into nucleosomes; addition of TSA also relieves this transcriptional repression. This result indicates the distinct requirements for chromatin assembly in mediating transcriptional repression by the deacetylase alone, compared with those needed in the presence of unliganded TR-RXR. In addition, whereas hormone-bound TR-RXR targets chromatin disruption as assayed through changes in minichromosome topology and loss of a regular nucleosomal ladder on micrococcal nuclease digestion, addition of TSA relieves transcriptional repression but does not disrupt chromatin. Thus, TR-RXR can facilitate transcriptional repression in the absence of hormone through mechanisms in addition to recruitment of deacetylase, and disrupts chromatin structure through mechanisms in addition to the inhibition or release of deacetylase.
Escaping the Fate of Sisyphus: Bargaining, Divorce, and Employment in the Patriarchal Family

A radical bargaining approach, the Sisyphus Syndrome paradigm, is offered as an alternative to the neoclassical treatment of women's labor force participation and divorce incidence. In this paradigm, women who do not participate in the wage system remain in marriages because of the dearth of viable alternatives. The results from a simultaneous equation model, using data from first and second marriages, support the Sisyphus Syndrome paradigm, and offer a more realistic alternative to the traditional treatments of family behavior.
Ferromagnetic screening prior to MRI

Sir, We read with interest the recent case report titled “Magnet-associated intestinal perforation results in a new institutional policy of ferromagnetic screening prior to MRI” [1]. In that paper, the authors report that in accordance with an institutional policy change, following a case of intestinal perforation after an MRI in a 5-year-old boy who ingested several round magnetic objects, all patients are screened with a ferromagnetic detector prior to the MRI scan. Subsequently, we purchased SuperWand hand-held metal detectors (Garrett, Garland, TX), which we use on some patients prior to MRI. Recently, we had a 17-month-old girl who presented for a MRI of the thoracic and lumbar spine. The localizer demonstrated significant artifact. A thorough physical examination did not reveal any foreign body on the girl. The detector was used, but it did not detect anything. The child was then sent for an abdominal radiograph, which demonstrated a round metallic foreign body that looked like a button battery in the left hemi abdomen (Fig. 1). We then focused the detector on the left hemi abdomen, but once again nothing was detected. The MRI was canceled and the referring physician was informed. The girl reportedly passed a watch battery in the stool the next day. This was confirmed by an abdominal radiograph and the girl was rescheduled for the MRI, which was obtained without the previous artifact. We tested the ferromagnetic detector on a similar button battery that was placed on a technologist’s palm. The detector was able to detect the battery when placed directly above the battery but did not detect it through the hand when the detector was placed below the hand. We think that if one were to screen with a detector and get no response, that should not be construed as a true negative for foreign objects. Detection depends on the depth and the nature of the foreign body. At present, no ferromagnetic device has been approved by the FDA for finding foreign objects within the body.
Efficacy of a rapamycin analog (CCI-779) and IFN-? in tuberous sclerosis mouse models

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a familial tumor disorder for which there is no effective medical therapy. Disease-causing mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 gene lead to increased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase activity in the conserved mTOR signaling pathway, which regulates nutrient uptake, cell growth, and protein translation. The normal function of TSC1 and TSC2 gene products is to form a complex that reduces mTOR kinase activity. Thus, mTOR kinase inhibition may be a useful targeted therapeutic approach. Elevated interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) expression is associated with decreased severity of kidney tumors in TSC patients and mouse models; therefore, IFN-γ also has therapeutic potential. We studied cohorts of Tsc2+/− mice and a novel mouse model of Tsc2-null tumors in order to evaluate the efficacy of targeted therapy for TSC. We found that treatment with either an mTOR kinase inhibitor (CCI-779, a rapamycin analog) or with IFN-γ reduced the severity of TSC-related disease without significant toxicity. These results constitute definitive preclinical data that justify proceeding with clinical trials using these agents in selected patients with TSC and related disorders. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cell-interactive polymers for tissue engineering

Tissue engineering is one exciting approach to treat patients who need a new organ or tissue. A critical element in this approach is the polymer scaffold, as it provides a space for new tissue formation and mimics many roles of natural extracellular matrices. In this review, we describe several design parameters of polymer matrices that can significantly affect cellular behavior, as well as various polymers which are frequently used to date or potentially useful in many tissue engineering applications. Interactions between cells and polymer scaffolds, including specific receptor-ligand interactions, physical and degradation feature of the scaffolds, and delivery of soluble factors, should be considered in the design and tailoring of appropriate polymer matrices to be used in tissue engineering applications, as these interactions control the function and structure of engineered tissues.
Decomposing Social Networks

Networks having several hundred or more nodes and significant edge probabilities are extremely difficult to visualize. They typically appear as dense clumps, with the various subcomponents completely obscure. We illustrate a method for decomposing a network into aggregates of subgraphs whose topologies are represented as colors in RGB space.
Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of HIV-1 gene expression: role of cellular factors for Tat and Rev

The emergence of drug-resistant HIV-1 strains presents a challenge for the design of new therapy. Targeting host cell factors that regulate HIV-1 replication might be one way to overcome the propensity for HIV-1 to mutate in order to develop resistance to antivirals. This article reviews the interplay between viral proteins Tat and Rev and their cellular cofactors in the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of HIV-1 gene expression. HIV-1 Tat regulates viral transcription by recruiting cellular factors to the HIV promoter. Tat interacts with protein kinase complexes Cdk9/cyclin T1 and Cdk2/cyclin E; acetyltransferases p300/CBP, p300/CBP-associated factor and hGCN5; protein phosphatases and other factors. HIV-1 Rev regulates post-transcriptional processing of viral mRNAs. Rev primarily functions to export unspliced and partially spliced viral RNAs from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. For this activity, Rev cooperates with cellular transport protein CRM1 and RNA helicases DDX1 and DDX3, amongst others.
Direct observation of OH production from the ozonolysis of olefins

Ozone olefin reactions may be a significant source of OH in the urban atmosphere, but current evidence for OH production is indirect and contested. We report the first direct observation of OH radicals from the reaction of ozone with a series of olefins (ethene, isoprene, trans-2-butene and 2,3 dimethyl-2-butene) in 4–6 torr of nitrogen. Using LIF to directly observe the steady-state of OH produced by the initial ozone-olefin reaction and subsequently destroyed by the OH-olefin reaction, we are able to establish OH yields broadly consistent with indirect values. The identification of the OH is unequivocal, and there is no indication that it is produced by a secondary process. To support these observations, we present a complete ab-initio potential energy surface for the O3-ethene reaction, extending from the reactants to available products.
Radar To Optical Scene Matching

AbstractThe basic scene matching problem consists of locating a region of an image with the correspondingregion of another view of the same scene. In the general case, the images are produced by completelydifferent sensors at different viewing geometries. Prior to the scene matching, geometric and intensitytransformations were performed on the images to bring the matching elements and their intensity into one -to -one correspondence. Objects of interest as represented by subimages of one scene were locatedin the other using scene matching techniques with edges and invariant moments as measurement features.Operating characteristics of the two matching methods were then presented in terms of the probability ofa match as a function of the probability of false fix. Introduction Data sets of the earth's images taken from high and low altitude aircraft have been used for many pur- poses including natural resource analysis, weather prediction and navigation aid (1)(2)(3). Typically, asequence of images is taken at different time and different viewing geometries. The basic task is then tolocate the same object in a pair of images by the use of a computer. Sensor transformations (4) wereapplied to register the images geometrically and to match the intensity values as closely as possible.Once the images are geometrically and intensity corrected, an object of interest represented by asubimage of one scene can be located in the other scene using a computer (5)(6)(7). This paper concernsscene matching with edge features and invariant moments as the measurement features, The performancesof the matches are described in terms of the probability of a match and probability of false fix as a functionof the decision threshold. Operating characteristics are then generated in terms of the probability of amatch as a function of the probability of false fix.Sensor TransformationsThe approach to matching two scenes involved locating the corresponding regions in the scenes.
Evaluating Effectiveness of Real-Time Advanced Traveler Information Systems Using a Small Test Vehicle Fleet

ADVANCE was an in-vehicle advanced traveler information system (ATIS) providing route guidance in real time that operated in the northwestern portion and northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. It used probe vehicles to generate dynamically travel time information about expressways, arterials, and local streets. Tests to evaluate the subsystems of ADVANCE, executed with limited availability of test vehicles and stringent scheduling, are described; they provided useful insights into both the performance of the ADVANCE system as a whole and the desirable and effective characteristics of ATIS deployments generally. Tests found that the user features of an in-route guidance system must be able to accommodate a broad range of technological sophistication and network knowledge among the population likely to become regular users of such a system. For users who know the local network configuration, only a system giving reliable real-time data about nonrecurrent congestion is likely to find a market base beyond sp...
Demonstration of multi-rate thresholded preamplified 16-ary pulse-position-modulation

Sensitive multi-rate optical communication is experimentally investigated on static and fading channels at data rates from 52 Mbps to 311 Mbps using 16-ary pulse-position-modulation, channel coding and interleaving, and a near-optimal thresholded preamplified receiver.
Vertical winds in the thermosphere

[1] The neutral vertical circulation in the thermosphere plays an important role in redistributing heat and momentum and strongly affects the neutral composition, as well as plasma and electrodynamic processes. Vertical wind measurements in this altitude range are difficult, however, and the available data give limited temporal, spatial, and vertical coverage. The available ground-based techniques are generally limited to narrow altitude ranges but provide more extended temporal coverage. The in situ techniques provide more extended altitude range coverage but have very limited temporal coverage. The most extensive measurements have come from ground-based optical techniques using the 630.0-nm F-region red-line emission and to a lesser extent the 557.7-nm E-region green-line emission. A general characteristic of these measurements is that they often show large vertical wind speeds that persist for periods of several hours or longer at the same location. The large winds have been difficult to verify because of the difficulties associated with obtaining overlapping measurements and with obtaining a sufficiently comprehensive set of measurements to understand the dynamical drivers for the vertical winds. A surprising conclusion from examining all the available measurements, however, is that there is remarkable consistency between the characteristics of the thermospheric vertical velocities measured by different techniques and at different locations. We give an overview of the available data and find that, when considered together, the available observations all show the following patterns. Vertical velocities with magnitudes of 10–20 m s−1 are common at high latitudes, but also at mid and low latitudes. There is a slight tendency for the winds to increase with height from the E region to the F region, but the increase with height is small, and in particular, is much less than expected from the decrease of background density with altitude. Another surprising characteristic that holds true across altitudes and latitudes is that the large vertical winds frequently persist for extended periods of an hour or longer. The drivers for the observed events of large vertical winds are unknown, but the winds clearly have important implications for the dynamics, electrodynamics, plasma physics, and chemistry of the thermosphere.
Medication Compliance in Clinical Trials

AbstractThe state of the art and science of clinical trials has reached a new level of sophistication with the joint advent of microelectronic monitoring devices and the development of new statistical approaches to integrate compliance data into dose-response models. Consideration of compliance can reduce the risk of Type 2 errors. In addition, sub-group analyses could be used to enhance a claim for efficacy in the fully compliant group. In more elaborate analyses, compliance data can be used as a co-variable with major endpoints. these advances in compliance assessment should be incorporated in clinical trials of all phases and sizes.
Cortical Dyschromatopsia in Narcolepsy

W. M., a 54-year-old, right-handed white man, was seen because of diplopia on July 18, 1966, through the courtesy of Dr. DeNote. While in col­ lege at the age of 18 years, the patient began to sleep during lectures and would take a nap at lunch daily. Irresistible sleep attacks became pro­ gressively more frequent. Numerous physicians were consulted but his complaints were considered functional. Eventually he would go to sleep even during a telephone conversation or with food in his mouth. Later he began to note diplopia, just prior to a sleep attack. At the age of 29 years, the patient began to experience an unusual reading problem. Just be­ fore a sleep attack, the subject matter would im­ perceptibly change while reading. Thus, the sports page of the newspaper would become phi­ losophy or poetry. By the age of 44 years, color aberrations were noted when reading. Just pre­ ceding a sleep attack, black print often looked red or, less often, green. Within the past year, the patient volunteered that he had seen color televi­ sion on his black and white set. As a prelude to sleep, the black and white picture on the televi­ sion screen would frequently appear a mixture of three colors—red, green, and a variable, poorly described as an intermediate shade of yellow. This had prompted him to question his wife about the remarkable color reception they were obtaining on television, without the expense of buying a color set, but she saw only black and white. At no time were the colors he perceived inappropriate, for example, he had not seen red grass. Sleep paralysis developed at the age of 34 years. These episodes were often preceded by flashing lights, which lasted for a few seconds or minutes and disappeared suddenly. The patient re­ mained conscious during these attacks but could
The Influence of Extracurricular Foodservice Work Experience on Culinary Graduate Industry Experience

This purpose of this article is to examine the influence of extracurricular foodservice work experience on the foodservice industry persistence of culinary graduates. The researcher used a survey methodology to obtain experiential data from culinary graduates. Post facto data from school records were used to enrich the survey data and provide an opportunity to observe the potential influence of extracurricular foodservice employment on in-school performance. A novel survey instrument was developed and validated through the use of expert reviewers, pilot testing, and internal consistency analysis. Participants in this study were graduates of a small, proprietary culinary school in a metropolitan area of Texas. Culinary graduates from the past five years and only graduates from one culinary program, the Associates of Applied Science in Culinary Arts (Culinary AAS), were used in the data analysis. The following hypotheses were addressed: H1: There is a statistically significant relationship between foodservi...
Representations and the Jacobian Conjecture

Abstract In this paper we apply the representation theory of the Lie algebra s l 2 ( C ) to the problem of describing Hessian nilpotent polynomials, which are important in the theory of the Jacobian Conjecture. In the two variable case we describe them as the maximal and minimal weight vectors of the irreducible representations of s l 2 ( C ) . For the first time this gives a characterization of the Hessian nilpotent polynomials in terms of linear differential operators.
A Practical Real Options Approach to Valuing High Frequency Trading System R&D Projects

In the age of automation, trading and market making is about estimating the fair price of automated trading system research and development projects. This requires a new methodology to arrive at such a fair price. A real options framework is a natural choice. In this paper we review a methodology for automated trading system R&D and present a practical real option model for valuing such projects so as to enable rapid strategy cycling.
Corn production on an eroded soil: effects of total rainfall and soil water storage

Soil erosion generally causes reduced crop productivity because of degraded soil physical and chemical properties. A long-term study was established in southwest Wisconsin, USA, in 1985 to investigate the effects of past soil erosion on corn (Zea mays L.) production. Three levels of erosion (slight, moderate, and severe) of a Dubuque silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludalfs) were investigated, as defined by the percent of surface soil remaining. Corn was grown from 1985 to 1999 with small differences in grain yield among erosion levels, but with a long-term trend of decreasing yield with erosion. Average yields were 10.7, 10.3 and 10.3 Mg ha−1 for slight, moderate and severe erosion levels, respectively. Based on the 15 years of research it appears differences in grain yields among erosion levels can be attributed mainly to soil water availability. When rainfall was below the 15-year average, grain yield was 12.8, 12.9 and 15.2% less than that of the 15-year average for slight, moderate and severe erosion levels, respectively. Soil water storage increased as erosion severity increased, however more stored water was needed to produce comparable yields with increasing erosion level. Thus, grain production differences among erosion levels from year-to-year can be attributed to weather differences, particularly rainfall.
Evaluation of Fetal and Maternal Genetic Variation in the Progesterone Receptor Gene for Contributions to Preterm Birth

Progesterone plays a critical role in the maintenance of pregnancy and has been effectively used to prevent recurrences of preterm labor. We investigated the role of genetic variation in the progesterone receptor (PGR) gene in modulating risks for preterm labor by examining both maternal and fetal effects. Cases were infants delivered prematurely at the University of Iowa. DNA was collected from the mother, infant, and father. Seventeen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and an insertion deletion variant in PGR were studied in 415 families. Results were then analyzed using transmission disequilibrium tests and log-linear-model-based analysis. DNA sequencing of the PGR gene was also carried out in 92 mothers of preterm infants. We identified significant associations between SNP in the PGR for both mother and preterm infant. No etiologic sequence variants were found in the coding sequence of the PGR gene. This study suggests that genetic variation in the PGR gene of either the mother or the fetus may trigger preterm labor.
Detection of phase transitions in monolayers using retardation of evaporation of water

Abstract The role of cholesterol in inducing the phase transitions in mixed monolayers with arachidyl alcohol and oleic acid has been studied by surface pressure and evaporation resistance measurements of the monolayers. The resistance of the monolayers to water evaporation indicates the effect of molecular interactions in mixed monolayers. The evaporation resistance of monolayers has been found to be a more sensitive parameter for studying the molecular interactions in mixed monolayers than the average area/molecule. A minimum of 15–20 mol% of cholesterol is required in a cholesterol-arachidyl alcohol mixture to completely fluidize the two-dimensional solid alcohol film. The evaporation resistance sharply decreases to a lower value at a molar ratio of 20:80 for cholesterol:arachidyl alcohol due to the phase transition in the monolayer. Cholesterol fluidizes the arachidyl alcohol monolayer by disrupting the association of saturated hydrocarbon chains of the alcohol. In the case of oleic acid-cholesterol mixed monolayers, 75 mol% of cholesterol is required to show a maximum solidifying effect. The evaporation resistance has been found to be maximum at this particular molar mixture. It is proposed that cholesterol molecules occupy the molecular cavities present in two-dimensional liquid oleic acid monolayers and thus reduce the evaporation of water.
Studies on anemia in F1 hybrid mice injected with parental strain lymphoid cells.

The survival of 51Cr-labeled erythrocytes has been studied in F1 hybrid mice in which wasting disease was produced by injection of parental lymphoid cells taken either from lymph nodes and thymus or from the spleen. Coincident with the development of the disease syndrome, there occurred a severe anemia accompanied by a sudden loss of circulating labeled erythrocytes, whether host or parental. This finding suggests that the anemia is not due solely to specific immunologic reaction of donor tissue against host erythrocytes.
Protein immunosensor using single-wall carbon nanotube forests with electrochemical detection of enzyme labels.

Vertically aligned arrays of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT forests) on pyrolytic graphite surfaces were developed for amperometric enzyme-linked immunoassays. Improved fabrication of these SWNT forests utilizing aged nanotube dispersions provided higher nanotube density and conductivity. Biosensor performance enhancement was monitored using nanotube-bound peroxidase enzymes showing a 3.5-fold better sensitivity for H2O2 than when using fresh nanotubes to assemble the forests, and improved detection limits. Absence of improvements by electron mediation for detection of H2O2 suggested very efficient electron exchange between nanotubes and enzymes attached to their ends. Protein immunosensors were made by attaching antibodies to the carboxylated ends of nanotube forests. Utilizing casein/detergent blocking to minimize non-specific binding, a detection limit of 75 pmol mL−1 (75 nM) was achieved for human serum albumin (HSA) in unmediated sandwich immunosensors using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labels. Mediation of the immunosensors dramatically lowered the detection limit to 1 pmol mL−1 (1 nM), providing significantly better performance than alternative methods. In the immunosensor case, the average distance between HRP labels and nanotube ends is presumably too large for efficient direct electron exchange, but this situation can be overcome by electron mediation.
Principles of Sedimentary Basin Analysis

Basin analysis is the ultimate act of synthesis in stratigraphy. Its objective is to weave together the diverse strands of information in order to portray the tectonic evolution of a basin, its filling with sediments in a broad range of depositional environments, the subsequent diagenesis and lithification of these sediments, and the localization therein of mineral and petroleum resources. Thus, although the primary emphasis in basin analysis is stratigraphic and sedimentologic in nature, paleontologic, tectonic, and geophysical data, among others, are also integral components of the effort. It is scientifically challenging and, in practical terms, forms the foundation for the exploration for strata-bound resources. The wide range of topics that must be incorporated into a basin analysis requires that it be a group project of specialists and means that it is a difficult subject to teach or to present in a book.
Cholinergic axons in the rat ventral tegmental area synapse preferentially onto mesoaccumbens dopamine neurons.

Cholinergic afferents to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) contribute substantially to the regulation of motivated behaviors and the rewarding properties of nicotine. These actions are believed to involve connections with dopamine (DA) neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, this direct synaptic link has never been investigated, nor is it known whether cholinergic inputs innervate other populations of DA and GABA neurons, including those projecting to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). We addressed these questions using electron microscopic analysis of retrograde tract-tracing and immunocytochemistry for the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and GABA. In tissue labeled for TH, VAChT+ terminals frequently synapsed onto DA mesoaccumbens neurons but only seldom contacted DA mesoprefrontal cells. In tissue labeled for GABA, one third of VAChT+ terminals innervated GABA-labeled dendrites, including both mesoaccumbens and mesoprefrontal populations. VAChT+ synapses onto DA and mesoaccumbens neurons were more commonly of the asymmetric (presumed excitatory) morphological type, whereas VAChT+ synapses onto GABA cells were more frequently symmetric (presumed inhibitory or modulatory). These findings suggest that cholinergic inputs to the VTA mediate complex synaptic actions, with a major portion of this effect likely to involve an excitatory influence on DA mesoaccumbens neurons. As such, the results suggest that natural and drug rewards operating through cholinergic afferents to the VTA have a direct synaptic link to the mesoaccumbens DA neurons that modulate approach behaviors.
Anti-BDCA2 monoclonal antibody inhibits plasmacytoid dendritic cell activation through Fc-dependent and Fc-independent mechanisms

Type I interferons (IFN-I) are implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In SLE, immune complexes bind to the CD32a (FcγRIIa) receptor on the surface of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and stimulate the secretion of IFN-I from pDCs. BDCA2 is a pDC-specific receptor that, when engaged, inhibits the production of IFN-I in human pDCs. BDCA2 engagement, therefore, represents an attractive therapeutic target for inhibiting pDC-derived IFN-I and may be an effective therapy for the treatment of SLE. In this study, we show that 24F4A, a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) against BDCA2, engages BDCA2 and leads to its internalization and the consequent inhibition of TLR-induced IFN-I by pDCs in vitro using blood from both healthy and SLE donors. These effects were confirmed in vivo using a single injection of 24F4A in cynomolgus monkeys. 24F4A also inhibited pDC activation by SLE-associated immune complexes (IC). In addition to the inhibitory effect of 24F4A through engagement of BDCA2, the Fc region of 24F4A was critical for potent inhibition of IC-induced IFN-I production through internalization of CD32a. This study highlights the novel therapeutic potential of an effector-competent anti-BDCA2 mAb that demonstrates a dual mechanism to dampen pDC responses for enhanced clinical efficacy in SLE.
Idle Monitoring, Real-Time Intervention, and Emission Reductions from Cobb County, Georgia, School Buses

Georgia Institute of Technology researchers developed an idle detection and warning notification system that features Global Positioning System-based real-time tracking and a web-based user interface. Four hundred and eighty buses in the Cobb County (Georgia) School District were equipped with the idle detection system, and the research team provided bus dispatchers with a web-based system to track vehicle activity and provide notification of idle events exceeding 5 min. The idle detection and warning notification system can differentiate idling with engine on from key-on events with engine off, an important capability that sets it apart from previous systems that only detected key-on events. Idle reductions were monitored, and emissions and fuel savings were evaluated with the Environmental Protection Agency's MOVES (Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator) model. The idle reduction that resulted from implementing the system was statistically significant—more than 6 min of idle reduction per bus per day. Greate...