cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of cell shape and aggregate formation on the optical properties of flowing whole blood

We studied the influence of shape and secondary, or intercellular, organization on the absorption and scattering properties of red blood cells to determine whether these properties are of any practical significance for optical evaluation of whole blood and its constituents. A series of measurements of transmittance and reflectance of light from bovine blood in a flow cuvette was conducted with a 650–900-nm integrating sphere at shear rates of 0–1600 s-1, from which the influence of cell orientation, elongation, and aggregate formation on the absorption (μa) and the reduced scattering (μs′) coefficients could be quantified. Aggregation was accompanied by a decrease of 4% in μs′ compared with the value in randomly oriented single cells. Increasing the degree of cell alignment and elongation as a result of increasing shear rate reduced μs′ by 6% and μa by 3%, evaluated at a shear rate of 1600 s-1. Comparison with T-matrix computations for oblate- and prolate-shaped cells with corresponding elongation and orientation indicates that the optical properties of whole blood are determined by those of its individual cells, though influenced by a collective scattering factor that depends on the cell-to-cell organization. We demonstrate that cell morphological changes must be taken into consideration when one is conducting whole blood spectroscopy.
Controlling birth: science, politics, and public policy.

Reproductive technologies raise a host of social and legal issues that challenge basic values and create intense controversy. If researchers wish to inform public policies related to reproductive technologies, they must understand how the scientific enterprise is being manipulated and research findings are being misrepresented to justify a particular social agenda and restrict access to contraception and abortion. To counter these distortions, scientists must defend the science advisory process, be involved in dissemination of their research findings beyond simple publication in scientific journals, and actively work to ensure that the findings are not misrepresented to the public.
Understanding the culture of markets: A reflection

This essay examines Virgil Storr’s (2013) Understanding the Culture of Markets, particularly the relationship between cultures and constitutions and the particulars of the ideal-typical ‘spirit’ of capitalism. Culture cannot be viewed as a constitution, I argue, because of fundamental differences between the two types of guidance to conduct, both for the actors within them and the researchers studying them. I also consider possibly conflicting interpretations of the idea of the animating spirit(s) of a market in the context of Storr’s example of the economic culture of the Bahamas.
Scientists' attitudes towards nuclear energy

A large-scale survey of American scientists reveals strong support for continued nuclear energy development. Most regard thermal fission as one of the few resources capable of contributing significantly to our short-term energy needs and rate the risks as acceptable. They are critical of the performance of government and the public and they would prefer that public interest groups, the news media, and the general public exert less influence over nuclear energy policy.
An Investigation on the thermolytic conversions of 5-Diazouracils into 1,2,3-Triazoles

The thermolysis of 5-diazo-6-methoxy-1-methyl-1,6-dihydrouracil (1) has afforded methyl N-(1-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-oyl)carbamate (2), bis-(1-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-oyl)amine (3) and di-methylcarbimate (4). The reaction was shown to proceed with the initial formation of 2 followed by a subsequent disproportionation of 2 to give 3 and 4. A similar thermolysis of 5-diazo-6-ethoxy-1-methyl-1,6-dihydrouracil (9) gave ethyl N-(1-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-oyl)car-bamate (10) as the sole product. Double labeling experiments have indicated that a major pathway for these reactions involves an intermolecular transfer of the C-6 substituent to the C-2 position.
Systems with internal parameters obeying the orthogonality condition

The thermodynamic orthogonality principle established by the author is applied to constitutive equations of viscoelastic materials and to a simple problem in Physical Chemistry.
Voltammetric detection for capillary electrophoresis.

Several approaches to implementing amperometric detection for capillary electrophoresis have been reported. This report describes the development of a voltammetric detector for CE. The detector is designed to minimize distortion of the voltammetry due to ohmic potential drop. This was accomplished by using a cast Nafion detection cell at the end of the separation capillary. The cast Nafion detection cell provided a low-dead-volume, low-resistance cell that minimized ohmic potential drop and peak band broadening. The ability to detect the current due to oxidation of analytes superimposed on a large background current was also improved. A dynamic background subtraction scheme was used in which a second working electrode, positioned in the electrochemical cell but outside of the detection cell, was used to compensate for the background current in real time. The output of the compensating working electrode was subtracted from the output of the detecting working electrode prior to analog-to-digital conversion....
Diagnosis of Performance Faults in LargeScale MPI Applications via Probabilistic Progress-Dependence Inference

Debugging large-scale parallel applications is challenging. Most existing techniques provide little information about failure root causes. Further, most debuggers significantly slow down program execution, and run sluggishly with massively parallel applications. This paper presents a novel technique that scalably infers the tasks in a parallel program on which a failure occurred, as well as the code in which it originated. Our technique combines scalable runtime analysis with static analysis to determine the least-progressed task(s) and to identify the code lines at which the failure arose. We present a novel algorithm that infers probabilistically progress dependence among MPI tasks using a globally constructed Markov model that represents tasks’ control-flow behavior. In comparison to previous work, our algorithm infers more precisely the least-progressed task. We combine this technique with static backward slicing analysis, further isolating the code responsible for the current state. A blind study demonstrates that our technique isolates the root cause of a concurrency bug in a molecular dynamics simulation, which only manifests itself at 7,996 tasks or more. We extensively evaluate fault coverage of our technique via fault injections in 10 HPC benchmarks and show that our analysis takes less than a few seconds on thousands of parallel tasks.
Language, gesture, and the developing brain.

Do language abilities develop in isolation? Are they mediated by a unique neural substrate, a "mental organ" devoted exclusively to language? Or is language built upon more general abilities, shared with other cognitive domains, and mediated by common neural systems? Here, we review results suggesting that language and gesture are "close family", then turn to evidence that raises questions about how real those "family resemblances" are, summarizing dissociations from our developmental studies of several different child populations. We then examine both these veins of evidence in light of some new findings from the adult neuroimaging literature and suggest a possible reinterpretation of these dissociations as well as new directions for research with both children and adults.
Differences in Affect, Life Satisfaction, and Depression Between Successfully and Unsuccessfully Rehabilitated Persons With Spinal Cord Injuries:

This study assessed whether persons with spinal cord injuries who were successfully rehabilitated differed from those who were not with regard to positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, an...
Interactive banks of Bayesian matched filters

There exist a number of powerful methods for detecting small low observable targets with stationary dynamics in image sequences provided by IR and other imaging sensors (see e.g.12). However, these methods need to be extended to handle maneuvering targets. In this paper, we demonstrate that banks of interacting Bayesian filters (BIBF) can be utilized for this purpose. We are considering target dynamics modeled by jump-linear systems. In contrast to previous studies, we do not assume that the mode jump process is a Markov chain. In particular, we allow the probabilities of jumps to be conditioned on the state variable. Then, we present a computationally efficient (real time) algorithm for detection and tracking of low observable agile targets. A comparison of BIBY and IMM approaches is carried out in a simple example.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Eradication of urinary tract infection following spinal cord injury

A prospective study to evaluate the microbiological efficacy of antimicrobial treatment for urinary tract infection (UTI) was performed in 64 catheter-free spinal cord injured (SCI) patients who were visited monthly by a public health nurse who collected urine for culture and urinalysis. Patients also mailed urine dip slides for weekly bacterial counts. UTI was defined as a culture yielding > or = 100,000 colonies/ml. Treatment was given to asymptomatic patients only if pyuria (> or = 10 urinary leukocytes/high powered microscopic field) was present. Initial treatment was for 7-14 days (group 1). When it became apparent during the study that eradication was difficult and relapse or reinfection frequently occurred within a short time after cessation of antibiotic, a second treatment course of > or = 28 days (group 2) was given. By the end of the study, in which all patients were followed for a minimum of 30 days post treatment, 39/42 (93%) cases in group 1 and 11/13 (85%) in group 2 who had initial eradication, had relapsed or become reinfected. The median number of days and standard error for group 1 to relapse or become reinfected was 16 +/- 2.5, and for group 2 it was 27 +/- 6. Development of drug resistance was documented when bacteria isolated prior to any treatment were compared with strains isolated after > or = 28 days of antibiotics. In this study, urine sterility was achieved in a minority of treated UTIs and was relatively short lived.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Keynes, the Labour Movement, and ‘How to Pay for the War’

This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Twentieth Century British History following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Twentieth Century British History (1999) 10(3): 255-281 is available online at: http://tcbh.oxfordjournals.org/content/10/3/255.full.pdf+html.
Effect of antioxidants on the genotoxicity of phenethyl isothiocyanate

Isothiocyanates are plant-derived compounds that may be beneficial in the prevention of certain chronic diseases. Yet, by stimulating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), isothiocyanates can be genotoxic. Whether antioxidants influence isothiocyanate-induced genotoxicity is unclear, but this situation was clarified appreciably herein. In HCT116 cells, phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) increased ROS production, which was inhibited by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and deferoxamine (DFO) but not by ascorbic acid (ASC) and trolox (TRX) that were found to be more potent radical scavengers. Surprisingly, ASC and TRX each intensified the DNA damage that was caused by PEITC, but neither ASC nor TRX by themselves caused any DNA damage. In contrast, NAC and DFO each not only attenuated PEITC-induced DNA damage but also attenuated the antioxidant-intensified, PEITC-induced DNA damage. To determine if the DNA damage could be related to possible changes in the major antioxidant defence system, glutathione (GSH) was investigated. PEITC lowered GSH levels, which was prevented by NAC, whereas ASC, TRX and DFO neither inhibited nor enhanced the GSH-lowering effect of PEITC. The GSH synthesis inhibitor, buthionine sulphoxime, intensified PEITC-induced DNA damage, although by itself buthionine sulphoxime did not directly cause DNA damage. The principal findings suggest that ASC and TRX make PEITC more genotoxic, which might be exploited in killing cancer cells as one approach in killing cancer cells is to extensively damage their DNA so as to initiate apoptosis.
Coccidioidomycosis in adolescents with lupus nephritis.

Coccidioidomycosis, a fungal infection endemic in the southwestern United States, can cause life-threatening infections in immunosuppressed patients. We report the contrasting cases of two adolescents with lupus nephritis, treated with intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide and daily oral corticosteroids, who developed pulmonary coccidioidomycosis. One patient developed a fatal form of fulminant disseminated coccidioidomycosis, while the other patient developed a solitary pulmonary Coccidioides immitis abscess which was responsive to intravenous liposomal amphotericin and fluconazole therapy. Because serologies and initial X-ray studies can be negative, definitive diagnostic studies including bronchioaveolar lavage and needle aspiration should be performed when there is clinical suspicion of coccidioidomycosis in an immunocompromised patient. Immunosuppressed patients with coccidioidomycosis should receive early intravenous amphotericin therapy and may benefit from long-term suppressive antifungal therapy to prevent relapse.
The role of wiki writing in learning Spanish grammar

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which wiki writing improves college students’ grammatical knowledge in Spanish as a second language (L2). Fifty-three students participated in the study for three consecutive semesters. Pre- and posttest results show that wiki writing was helpful in improving their grammatical knowledge. In addition, students found designed wiki writing useful and helpful for developing their writing skills and L2 learning; however, they felt uncomfortable editing other students’ writing and doubted the accuracy of others’ editing. Discussion and implications for using wiki writing are provided.
Efficient technique for immortalization of murine microglial cells relevant for studies in murine models of multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Microglia are macrophage-like cells that populate the central nervous system (CNS) and become activated upon injury or infection. Microglia have been implicated as playing critical roles in various CNS diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), a human autoimmune demyelinating disease, as well as in other neurodegenerative diseases. Two well-characterized models of MS, relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (R-EAE) and Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV)-induced demyelinating disease, are inducible in SJL mice and model the relapsing–remitting and chronic-progressive forms of MS, respectively. These models are useful for the study of the mechanisms of initiation, progression, and therapy of the disease. Currently, a major limitation to studying the functions of microglia in these murine models of MS is the restricted number of cells capable of being isolated from the CNS of neonatal mice and propagated in culture. The current studies describe the preparation of SV-40 large T antigen-immortalized mouse microglia lines, M4T.4 and M4T.6, from the SJL/J mice. The immortalization technique was very efficient requiring only 6 weeks to develop long-term, highly replicating cell lines. The resulting microglia cell lines remain quiescent, but are induced to express various immune cytokines and to function as efficient antigen presenting cells upon activation with IFN-γ or infection with TMEV. Thus, the SV-40 large T antigen immortalized microglia lines react to innate and infectious stimuli similar to primary microglia isolated from neonatal mice, but are more easily maintained in culture. This technique should allow for the efficient cultivation of large numbers of microglial cells from a variety of disease-relevant mouse strains, including knock-out and transgenic mice.
Device to establish drying conditions for protective coatings at elevated temperatures

An apparatus has been described for determining the drying time of protective coatings at elevated temperatures, and tests have been made with vinyl ether formulations. The device is essentially a miniature Sanderson drying-time meter constructed in an oven where temperatures up to 260°C. can be maintained. Tolerances were made on the order of 0.015 in. for gear clearances and bearing expansion. A special high-temperature grease is the lubricant. Turntables, which make one revolution every 15 min., permit simultaneous evaluation of three films. Reproducible results have been obtained, and uniform conditions apparently prevail throughout the oven.
Capacitor mismatch calibration for SAR ADCs based on comparator metastability detection

A novel digital calibration technique is proposed to calibrate the capacitor mismatch in SAR ADCs. The capacitor mismatches are extracted based on the comparator metastability and intrinsic noise. The proposed technique does not require additional external control sequences or any modification of the main DAC. The simulation results of a 12-bit SAR ADC with 10% capacitor mismatch show that the SNDR and SFDR are improved by 13.9dB and 34.9dB respectively with the proposed calibration technique. The calibration technique is effective under process variation based on a Monte-Carlo simulation.
Estimating the Direct Market Economic Impact of Sport Angling for Red Drum in Texas

Abstract A method for estimating the direct market economic impact of a sport fishery is developed and applied to red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) anglers in Texas. The commercial value of angler-landed fish is subtracted from trip expenditures to estimate the direct market value of the angling experience. This value was $29.7 million in 1976, and the statewide employment impact was 3,193 person-years. This method can be used for comparing relative economic values of sportfishing with commercial fishing.
Long-term fate of nitrate fertilizer in agricultural soils is not necessarily related to nitrate leaching from agricultural soils

Accounting for the fate of inorganic N fertilizer in agricultural systems is critical to sustainable production. Sebilo et al. (1) provide a unique long-term record of 15NO3 fertilizer fate that demonstrates N molecules from a discrete fertilizer application are transferred to soil organic matter (SOM) and subsequently mineralized over the course of approximately 100 y, during which they contribute to NO3 leaching. The authors conclude “attempts to reduce agricultural nitrate contamination of aquatic systems must consider the long-term legacy of past applications of synthetic fertilizers” (1). Furthermore, Sebilo et al. suggest that a recent decrease in anthropogenic N inputs to the Mississippi River Basin, without a concomitant decrease in riverine NO3 loads, is consistent with their conclusion.
A critical review of computerized farm accounting systems in Canada

Summary In this article two computerized farm accounting systems, operated by the Federal Government and the Royal Bank of Canada, respectively, are examined and reviewed critically. Computerized systems have undoubted advantages in respect to ease of and capacity for storing and speedy manipulation of data. However, they present many problems, not the least of which is their high cost of operation; but they also entail problems associated with the initial recording of data and with the credibility, among accountants, advisers and research workers, of the nature, quality and quantity, of the ultimate output fed back to farmers. Evenso, many if not most of their present faults can be corrected with experience and by the adaption of a more positive approach by both their operators and farmers. The existing faults and problems should not be allowed to cloud the tremendous potential of computerized systems for collecting, analysing and storing physical and financial data which render them invaluable to all those involved in advancing the efficiency of the agricultural industry and the well-being of those engaged in it.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension in a patient with β-thalassemia intermedia and reversal with infusion epoprostenol then transition to oral calcium channel blocker therapy: review of literature.

AbstractPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a potentially life-threatening complication of thalassemia. A sexagenarian with β-thalassemia intermedia presented with new-onset dyspnea and syncope. Right heart catheterization confirmed severe PAH. Her functional class IV symptoms and severely elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure prompted the initiation of continuous epoprostenol therapy. Clinical follow-up documented significant improvement in functional class, 6-minute walk distance, and right ventricular size and function as well as pulmonary arterial pressure on echocardiogram. At the patient’s request, epoprostenol was down-titrated and eventually discontinued. The patient was then safely transitioned to nifedipine therapy after verification of vasoresponsiveness.
Checkerboard-specific color aftereffects: a failure to find effects of perceptual organization.

Two experiments investigated the effects of differing perceptual organizations of reversible figures on McCollough aftereffects. Experiment 1 used colored checkerboard inducing stimuli and achromatic grating test stimuli. While some subjects tended to organize the checker­ boards into rows and/or columns and others to organize them into obliques, these variations did not result in differences in aftereffect direction or magnitude. Experiment 2 induced an aftereffect with colored gratings and tested with checkerboards, gratings, and a reversible concentric octagon pattern. Perceptual organization had no effect on results for checkerboards, but was related to aftereffect strength for the octagon pattern. Indirect evidence suggests that, in the latter case, differences in aftereffect strength may have influenced the perceived organization, rather than vice versa. Finally, regardless of the specific organization perceived, spontaneous viewing of all test stimuli produced stronger aftereffects than were found when subjects reorganized the pattern. This may have resulted from a viewing strategy associated with reorganization, since similarly small aftereffects were found when subjects concentrated their attention on a single pattern element. The McCollough effect can be elicited by exposing subjects to chromatic grating patterns. The color aftereffects are contingent upon the orientation of achromatic test gratings and are roughly complemen­ tary to the adapting color (McCollough, 1965; Skowbo, Timney, Gentry, & Morant, 1975; Stromeyer, 1978). Most attempts to account for these aftereffects have proposed the adaptation of neural analyzers that are specific to both color and orientation (McCollough, 1965) and, in some cases, to other features, such as movement direction (Hepler, 1968), curvature (Riggs, 1973), and spatial frequency (Stromeyer, 1972). These explanations are based on relatively low-level, in­ voluntary mechanisms. Such interpretations are en­ ticing, because, in most cases, the effects are as­ sociated with retinal stimulus properties rather than the properties as perceived by the subject (Harris, 1970; Stromeyer, 1978).
The Gyromagnetic Ratios of the Ferromagnetic Elements

The gyromagnetic ratios for the three ferromagnetic elements have been determined by means of a technique involving a sensitive torsional pendulum. The final values obtained, in terms of the mass-to-charge ratio of the electron, are: iron 1.028\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.001; cobalt 1.068\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.004; and nickel 1.078\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002.
Flow cytometric DNA analysis of ducks accumulating 137Cs on a reactor reservoir

Abstract The objective of this study was to detect red blood cell (rbc) DNA abnormalities in male, gamefram mallard ducks as they ranged freely and accumulated 137Cs (radiocesium) from an abandoned nuclear reactor cooling reservoir. Prior to release, the ducks were tamed to enable recapture at will. Flow cytometric measurements conducted at intervals during the first year of exposure yielded cell cycle percentages of DNA ( G 0 G 1 , S, G2 + M phases) of rbc, as well as coefficients of variation (CV) in the G 0 G 1 phase. DNA histograms of exposed ducks were compared with two sets of controls which were maintained 30 and 150 miles from the study site. 137Cs live whole-body burdens were also measured in these animals in a parallel kinetics study, and an approximate steady-state equilibrium was attained after about 8 months. DNA histograms from 2 of the 14 contaminated ducks revealed DNA aneuploid-like patterns after 9 months exposure. These two ducks were removed from the experiment at this time, and when sampled again 1 month later, one continued to exhibit DNA aneuploidy. None of the control DNA histograms demonstrated DNA aneuploid-like patterns. There were no significant differences in cell cycle percentages at any time point between control and exposed animals. A significant increase in CV was observed at 9 months exposure, but after removal of the two ducks with DNA aneuploidy, no significant difference was detected in the group monitored after 12 months exposure. An increased variation in the DNA and DNA aneuploidy could, therefore, be detected in duck rbc using flow cytometric analysis, with the onset of these effects being related to the attainment of maximal levels of 137Cs body burdens in the exposed animals.
Switching of composite media by wall propagation

Using simple scaling arguments, we calculate the external field required to propagate a domain wall from the soft to the hard phase in a composite media. In the absence of the external field the domain-wall energy is lower in the soft phase, resulting in an energy barrier between the hard and soft phases. It is shown that as the external field increases the domain-wall energy in the soft phase also increases, and there is a corresponding wall energy reduction in the hard phase, resulting in the lowering of the energy barrier. The switching field is obtained as the field, which equalizes the domain-wall energies in both phases, reduces the wall barrier to zero, and leads to wall propagation and reversal. The calculation allows identification of field dependent anisotropies and wall widths of the two phases, which become equal at the reversal field. The reversal field is found to linearly depend upon the intrinsic anisotropy difference and inversely on the sum of magnetization of the two phases. Moreover, the reversal field is found to be independent of the volume of the two phases. An attempt at exhaustive comparison with experiments is made.
Popular ensemble methods: an empirical study

An ensemble consists of a set of individually trained classifiers (such as neural networks or decision trees) whose predictions are combined when classifying novel instances. Previous research has shown that an ensemble is often more accurate than any of the single classifiers in the ensemble. Bagging (Breiman, 1996c) and Boosting (Freund & Schapire, 1996; Schapire, 1990) are two relatively new but popular methods for producing ensembles. In this paper we evaluate these methods on 23 data sets using both neural networks and decision trees as our classification algorithm. Our results clearly indicate a number of conclusions. First, while Bagging is almost always more accurate than a single classifier, it is sometimes much less accurate than Boosting. On the other hand, Boosting can create ensembles that are less accurate than a single classifier - especially when using neural networks. Analysis indicates that the performance of the Boosting methods is dependent on the characteristics of the data set being examined. In fact, further results show that Boosting ensembles may overfit noisy data sets, thus decreasing its performance. Finally, consistent with previous studies, our work suggests that most of the gain in an ensemble's performance comes in the first few classifiers combined; however, relatively large gains can be seen up to 25 classifiers when Boosting decision trees.
Clinical Outcome of Patients with Fibrosis/Necrosis at Post-Chemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for Advanced Germ Cell Tumors

Purpose: Fibrosis accounts for approximately 50% of histological findings at post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, and is associated with reported relapse rates of 10% to 15%. We characterized patients with fibrosis at post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and identified predictors of adverse outcomes in this group.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical records of men who underwent post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection between 1989 and 2013 with histological findings of necrosis/fibrosis. With few exceptions post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection after 1999 was performed with a bilateral template. Clinical, pathological and treatment related data were reported. Cox regression models were built to identify predictors of disease recurrence.Results: The study cohort included 598 men with a median age of 32 years (IQR 25–38). Most cases (397 of 547, 73%) were classified as IGCCCG good risk, with no significant differences in risk ...
Nuclear receptors rock around the clock

Circadian rhythms characterize almost every aspect of human physiology, endocrinology, xenobiotic detoxification, cell growth, and behavior. Modern lifestyles that disrupt our normal circadian rhythms are increasingly thought to contribute to various disease conditions ranging from depression and metabolic disorders to cancer. This self-sustained time-keeping system is generated and maintained by an endogenous molecular machine, the circadian clock, which is a transcriptional mechanism composed of the transcription factors CLOCK and BMAL and their co-repressors, PER and CRY. Nuclear receptors (NRs) represent a large family of hormone-sensitive transcriptional regulators involved in a myriad of biological processes such as development, energy metabolism, reproduction, inflammation, and tissue homeostasis. Recent studies point not only to NR regulation by the clock, but also to NR regulation of the clock itself. Here, we discuss recent studies that functionally and mechanistically implicate NRs as key components of both the universal and adaptive circadian clock mechanisms. As proven pharmacological targets, nuclear receptors are promising targets for therapeutic control of many pathological conditions associated with the disruption of circadian rhythm.
Link Sense: Beyond Wireless Carrier Sensing

Carrier sensing is the act of listening on a wireless channel before initiating a transmission. It is intrinsic to modern random access protocols to avoid collisions. However, carrier sense is only a binary indicator of whether the channel is idle or busy. Knowing why it is busy (i.e., which sender-receiver pair is currently communicating) would be very useful in scheduling concurrent transmissions. While this information could be decoded from the frame header, it is not always feasible especially when the listener is outside the decoding (but within the sensing) range. Even if the listener is within decoding range, it may not be able to decode the header because of interference, or perhaps because it was sleeping. We propose LinkSense that leverages OFDM subcarriers to embed a per-link signature in each transmission. With LinkSense, a listener can decide to sense the channel at any given time, and identify which links are active in the vicinity. The listener need not be within decoding range of the active links, and can sense the channel only for a few OFDM symbol durations. We explore the feasibility of LinkSense and implement/validate it using USRPs/GNU Radios.
Spectral interferometry of semiconductor nanostructures

Fourier transform spectral interferometry is applied to measure both amplitude and phase of the electric field in different types of semiconductor nanostructures, thus determining the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function. The importance of measuring the phase is shown and discussed in three studies. First, the phase measurement is used to access directly the refractive index across excitonic resonances in bulk GaAs and AlGaAs-GaAs quantum wells, with unprecedented resolution. Second, we measure the density dependence of the full dielectric function across a Fano resonance in bulk GaAs and show that this allows us to obtain some information on the collisional broadening of the usually hidden linewidth of the coupled exciton/continuum. Third, the phase is studied in a complex heterostructure, a semiconductor microcavity. We investigate and discuss the effect of the cavity detuning and of the excitation density.
Surface modification and characterization of some commonly used catheter materials. II. Friction characterization

The effects of the modification of polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), silicone rubber (SR), and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) copolymer by radio frequency glow discharge in a helium environment were presented in part I. The hydrated polymer surfaces were characterized by XPS, SEM, visual microscopy, and by contact angle measurements. In general, exposure of the polymers to RFGD produced an oxidized hydrophilic surface, yet the roughness of the surface was unaltered by the relatively mild plasma conditions used. In this article, the frictional behavior of oxidized and unoxidized SR, PE, and FEP in distilled water, isotonic saline, and blood plasma environments is examined experimentally. The results are discussed in relation to the properties generally believed to affect frictional phenomena and to the surface properties as determined in part I. Results indicate that RFGD-treated SR generates less friction than untreated SR when dragged across all untreated and treated polymer surfaces, whether the medium is distilled water or an isotonic saline solution. Friction is consistently lower in a blood plasma medium between all surfaces investigated, most probably because of the presence of adsorbed proteins at the polymer interfaces.
Variation in the use of observation status evaluation in Massachusetts acute care hospitals, 2003-2006.

Observation evaluation is an alternate pathway to inpatient admission following Emergency Department (ED) assessment. We aimed to describe the variation in observation use and charges between acute care hospitals in Massachusetts from 2003 to 2006. Retrospective pilot analysis of hospital administrative data. Patients discharged from a Massachusetts hospital between 2003 and 2006 after an observation visit or inpatient hospitalization for six emergency medical conditions, grouped by the Clinical Classification System (CCS), were included. Patients discharged with a primary obstetric condition were excluded. The primary outcome measure, “Observation Proportion” (pOBS), was the use of observation evaluation relative to inpatient evaluation (pOBS = n Observation/(n Observation + n Inpatient). We calculated pOBS, descriptive statistics of use and charges by the hospital for each condition. From 2003 to 2006 the number of observation visits in Massachusetts increased 3.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.8% to 4.0%] from 128,825 to 133,859, while inpatient hospitalization increased 1.29% (95% CI 1.26% to 1.31%) from 832,415 to 843,617. Nonspecific chest pain (CCS 102) was the most frequently observed condition with 85,843 (16.3% of total) observation evaluations. Observation visits for nonspecific chest pain increased 43.5% from 2003 to 2006. Relative observation utilization (pOBS) for nonspecific chest pain ranged from 25% to 95% across hospitals. Wide variation in hospital use of observation and charges was seen for all six emergency medical conditions. There was wide variation in use of observation across six common emergency conditions in Massachusetts in this pilot analysis. This variation may have a substantial impact on hospital resource utilization. Further investigation into the patient, provider and hospital-level characteristics that explain the variation in observation use could help improve hospital efficiency.
Stromal-derived factor-1 delivered via hydrogel drug-delivery vehicle accelerates wound healing in vivo

Topical treatment of superficial wounds has many advantages including decreased cost and increased ease of application compared with systemic treatments. Many of the advantages, however, are lost when it is necessary for repeated doses of topical medications to be given over an extended period of time. Therefore, a drug-delivery vehicle that delivers biologically appropriate doses in a sustained fashion would prove valuable. In this study, an alginate hydrogel scaffold impregnated with the angiogenic chemokine stromal-derived factor-1 was used to provide targeted, though short-term, delivery directly into the wound bed. Wounds were created on the dorsum of mice, and either a stromal-derived factor-1-impregnated or a saline-impregnated scaffold was applied. Wounds were explanted after 1, 3, 7 days, wound area was measured, and histology and immunohistochemistry for endothelial markers were performed. The remaining wound area in stromal-derived factor-1-treated wounds vs. controls was not significant 1 day after wounding (96.7 ± 0.1 vs. 97.5 ± 1.1%, p=0.317), but was significant after 3 days postwounding (46.7 ± 0.1 vs. 82.3 ± 2.4%, p=0.046) and 7 days postwounding (2.3 ± 1.3 vs. 32.0 ± 4.0%, p=0.049). Immunohistochemistry revealed a greater degree of endothelial cell invasion into the wound bed infiltration compared with controls. The results of this study suggest significant clinical promise for our hydrogel-delivery vehicle in the treatment of wounds.
American Society of Nephrology Presidential Address 2006: Chronic Kidney Disease as a Public Health Threat—New Strategy for a Growing Problem

On behalf of the officers and council of the American Society of Nephrology, our dedicated professional staff, and members of the Program Committee, I welcome you to the 39th annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN). The program that is about to be launched is a result of the
Identification, quantification and comparison of major non-polar lipids in normal and dry eye tear lipidomes by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Millions of individuals suffer from a health condition known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS, also known as ‘dry eye’). Studies have indicated that the lipids in the tear film layer, which covers the outer portion of the eye, may be directly correlated with the existence of dry eye syndrome. By identifying and comparing the major, non-polar lipids in normal eye tears with a dry eye model, it may be possible to identify a symptom of, or a contributing factor to, dry eye. Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ES-MS/MS) was used to identify and compare the non-polar lipids, detected as lithium adducts, from normal and dry eye tear samples obtained from rabbits. A limited number of normal human tear samples were also examined for lipid content, and a close resemblance to rabbit was observed. Three distinct regions were delineated in the ES mass spectra of the non polar lipids, m/z 20–500, 500–800 and 800–1100. A common feature noted among identified lipid components was a glycerol backbone with fatty acyl substituents attached. Product ion spectra were obtained for lithiated monoacyl-, 1,2- and 1,3-diacyl- and triacylglyceride standards. Newly proposed structures and fragmentation pathways for the major product ions are presented for the 1,2- and 1,3-diglycerides, and also for the monoglyceride. New approaches to distinguishing asymmetric 1,2-diglycerides and 1,2- from 1,3-diglycerides are proposed. For the rabbit tear samples, the m/z 20–500 range contains monoester diols with empirical formulas CnH2nO4, the m/z 500–800 range includes diesters with empirical formulas CnH2n−2O5 and the m/z 800–1100 range contains triesters with empirical formulas CnH2n−4O6. Also found in the extracts were three isoprene acetals (terpenoids).
MOM analysis of apertures in chiral bodies of revolution

A chiral body of revolution which is partially covered by a thin conducting shield is analyzed using the Method of Moments (MOM). The axisymmetric system is excited by a plane wave. The total internal fields and the far scattered fields are computed. The problem is solved using the surface equivalence principle. The scattered fields outside the structure are assumed to be produced by an equivalent magnetic surface current that exists on the unshielded part of the BOR surface, and an external equivalent surface electric current that exists over all of the BOR surface. These two currents are assumed to radiate in the unbounded external medium. Similarly, the total internal fields are assumed to be produced by the negative of the above magnetic current and an internal electric surface current that exists over all of the BOR surface, but is an independent unknown only on the shielded part of the BOR surface. These two currents radiate in the unbounded internal medium. Enforcing the boundary conditions at the surface of the BOR results in a set of coupled integral equations for the three equivalent surface currents. These equations are solved numerically using the MOM. The computed results for the partially shielded spherical chiral body are in excellent agreement with other data.
Parental Sociopathy as a Predictor of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Research on childhood sexual abuse has often examined, in isolation of one another, such highly correlated risk factors as parental substance abuse, domestic violence, and pathological family functioning. Investigating comorbid antecedents separately does not allow accurate specification of the predictors of abuse. Moreover, sexual trauma research has tended to neglect parental sociopathy as a risk factor. Given the limitations of past research, the present study examined the relationships among parental sociopathy, parental substance use, marital violence, poor family functioning, and childhood sexual abuse. We administered a battery of questionnaires to a nonclinical sample of 130 college women and replicated previous findings by showing that parental substance use predicted sexual abuse when examined in isolation. However, when parental sociopathy and the other risk factors were included in a regression model, parental sociopathy was the only significant predictor. Mother's and father's sociopathy predicted sexual abuse independently and when combined.
Relationship of MICs to efficacy of cefotaxime in treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae infections.

In June 1993, the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) recommended stringent new interpretive guidelines for antibiotics indicated for Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. To assess the predictive values of the recommended breakpoints, retrospective data were collected from patients who had S. pneumoniae infections and were treated with cefotaxime monotherapy. Susceptibilities based on the NCCLS interpretative categories were compared with clinical and bacteriologic outcomes. In 76 evaluable patients, the most common infections were bacteremia-septicemia (n = 49), meningitis (n = 37), and lower respiratory tract infection (n = 14). Under the NCCLS breakpoints proposed in 1993, 55 isolates would have been classed as susceptible to cefotaxime (MIC, or = 2 micrograms/ml). Of 75 cefotaxime-treated patients for whom cefotaxime MICs were recorded, 73 were clinically cured or improved (37 of 37 with meningitis and 36 of 38 with other infections). One case of bacteremia and one case of bone-and-joint infection were scored as therapeutic failures because initial monotherapy had to be modified because of an adverse drug reaction. Excluding these patients, there were 18 patients infected with S. pneumoniae that would have been classed as not fully susceptible (i.e., MICs > or = 0.5 microgram/ml); all of these patients were cured or improved. The results of this analysis demonstrate that successful treatment with cefotaxime did not correlate well with the guidelines for the susceptibility of pneumococcal isolates to either penicillin or cefotaxime established by the 1993 NCCLS breakpoint recommendations. Because of this study and other similar findings, the NCCLS adopted more clinically relevant guidelines in 1994.
Designing a Science Methods Course for Early Childhood Preservice Teachers.

Preparing early childhood (K-3) teachers to teach science presents special challenges for the science methods instructor. Early childhood preservice teachers typically come to the methods classroom with little science content knowledge; they also lack confidence in their own abilities to teach science. This paper presents a theoretical background, reflections of a methods instructor, and recommendations for teaching an early childhood science methods course.
Young Solar System's Fifth Giant Planet?

Studies of solar system formation suggest that the solar system's giant planets formed and migrated in the protoplanetary disk to reach the resonant orbits with all planets inside ~15 AU from the Sun. After the gas disk's dispersal, Uranus and Neptune were likely scattered by the gas giants, and approached their current orbits while dispersing the transplanetary disk of planetesimals, whose remains survived to this time in the region known as the Kuiper Belt. Here we performed N-body integrations of the scattering phase between giant planets in an attempt to determine which initial states are plausible. We found that the dynamical simulations starting with a resonant system of four giant planets have a low success rate in matching the present orbits of giant planets and various other constraints (e.g., survival of the terrestrial planets). The dynamical evolution is typically too violent, if Jupiter and Saturn start in the 3:2 resonance, and leads to final systems with fewer than four planets. Several initial states stand out in that they show a relatively large likelihood of success in matching the constraints. Some of the statistically best results were obtained when assuming that the solar system initially had five giant planets and one ice giant, with the mass comparable to that of Uranus and Neptune, and which was ejected to interstellar space by Jupiter. This possibility appears to be conceivable in view of the recent discovery of a large number of free-floating planets in interstellar space, which indicates that planet ejection should be common.
MODULATORY EFFECTS OF 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE ON VOLTAGE-ACTIVATED CURRENTS IN CULTURED ANTENNAL LOBE NEURONES OF THE SPHINX MOTH MANDUCA SEXTA

The modulatory effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT or serotonin) on voltage-gated currents in central olfactory neurones of the moth Manduca sexta have been examined in vitro using whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques. Central olfactory neurones were dissociated from the antennal lobes of animals at stage 5 of the 18 stages of metamorphic adult development. The modulatory actions of 5-HT on voltage-activated ionic currents were examined in a subset of morphologically identifiable antennal lobe neurones maintained for 2 weeks in primary cell culture. 5-HT caused reversible reduction of both a rapidly activating A-type K+ current and a relatively slowly activating K+ current resembling a delayed rectifier-type conductance. 5-HT also reduced the magnitude of voltage-activated Ca2+ influx in these cells. The functional significance of 5-HT-modulation of central neurones is discussed.