cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in chromatic pattern-onset VEP with full-body inversion.

Purpose Intra-ocular pressure (IOP) increases to double that of its normal level under full-body inversion, in part simulating high IOPs found in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Inversion also simulates negative g-forces experienced in aerobatic maneuvers such as those produced during aerial combat. Studies using achromatic pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) have shown losses in response amplitude when subjects are inverted and IOP is increased. In other studies, chromatic, pattern-onset VEPs have been shown to be a sensitive and objective indicator of ocular and systemic pathology. Thus, chromatic pattern-onset VEPs may also show changes in amplitude and/or latency when subjects are subjected to full-body inversion. Methods In this study we employed chromatic, pattern-onset VEPs to determine if there were changes in response latency for the different visual pathways with healthy subjects during full-body inversion. Stimuli were 1 cpd horizontal sine-wave patterns presented in an onset mode (100 ms on/400 ms off). Subjects (n = 7) were tested at low to medium contrast levels, which were subjectively equated across chromatic pathways (S, LM, and achromatic). Patterns were presented using LCD goggles. Results All subjects showed a small but statistically significant increase in latency in the large negative component (CII) for both L − M and S − (L + M) pathways during inversion. The achromatic pathway also showed a statistically significant increase in latency to the positive component (CI) during inversion. Conclusions These results demonstrate that changes in ocular and/or systemic physiology during full-body inversion can result in increased latencies of chromatic and achromatic pattern-onset VEPs.
Measuring Elementary Student’s Mathematics Motivation: A Validity Study

The psychometric properties of a 10-item math motivation scale were empirically validated with an independent sample consisting of 182 elementary-school students. Analysis of the model dimensionality supported a one-factor structure fit. Item parameter estimates from a Classical Test Theory framework revealed that most items were highly discriminating, and the survey is informative for students of low to average math motivation. Differential item functioning (DIF) analyses found two items exhibiting gender bias. Overall, the instrument was a psychometrically valid instrument for measuring math motivation at the elementary level.
EFFECT OF RBC TRANSFUSIONS ON ADENOSINE DEAMINASE(ADA) DEFICIENT SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENCY(SCID)

Previous work suggests that the immunological defect in ADA deficient SCID is mediated by increased lymphocyte nucleotides including ATP and cAMP. We attempted to improve this tmmunological deficit in a 10-month-old affected male by supplying the missing enzyme activity with RBC and plasma transfusions from normal donors. The child received 14 RBC and 4 plasma transfusions over a 14 month period. A 2-fold increase in blood lymphocytes occurred 10-12 days after transfusion (P<0.05), whereas the number of other leukocytes did not change. Incorporation of 3H-thymidine by phytohemagglutinin stimulated and unstimulated lymphocytes reached a maximum at 12-15 days (2-fold increase, P<0.05). Serum immunoglobulin concentrations increased to normal after 6 months of therapy, but specific antibodies and delayed hypersensitivity were undetected. Urinary adenine decreased after each transfusion and inversely correlated with ADA activity After the initial decrease in lymphocyte ATP (9671→4527 nm/109 cells, P<0.05), the level increased rapidly during the following week. This could not be prevented by further transfusion during this period. While certain immunologic functions may be improved by infusion of enzyme containing blood products into some ADA deficient patients, therapy in our patient produced only transient changes in purine metabolism and minimal immunologic reconstitution.
Informal Drunk Driving Intervention: Psychosocial Correlates Among Young Adult Women and Men1

Based on experimental research on helping and survey findings on drunk driving intervention, we selected 28 variables for study that might relate to informal intervention in a drunk driving situation. We tested six hypotheses by categorizing the 28 variables into personal (12), relationship (4), situational (5), and individual response (7) aspects. Bivariate correlations and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed between these 28 predictor variables and intervention for 303 college students (192 females and 111 males). Three personal, one relationship, three situational, and four individual responses in situation variables were correlated significantly with intervention. Four significant predictors emerged in the stepwise logistic regression equation: knowing the driver well; having a conversation that encouraged the respondent to intervene; perceiving the driver as needing help; and the respondent's feeling able to intervene. All hypotheses received at least some confirmation in these results, but noteworthy discrepancies from expectations emphasize the need to appreciate differences between studies of helping behavior in the laboratory and this natural form of helping behavior.
Strategic network design for multi-zone truckload shipments

In recent years, the truckload trucking industry has faced a serious problem in retaining drivers. The primary reason for this problem is the very-long driver tour lengths that keep drivers on the road for extended time periods. In this paper, we present a mathematical model for a multi-zone dispatching method that addresses this issue. In addition to reducing driver tour lengths to desirable levels, the model captures important aspects of other practical problems via unique constraints that address the perspectives of both the truckload company and the customers. Using this model, we first provide insights into various aspects of the problem as well as the nature of the interaction among the problem components that pertain to these perspectives. We later develop a construction heuristic and a tabu search framework, which considers driver tour length constraints (a major determinant of driver turnover rate) to solve the model. We provide computational results illustrating the excellent performance of the ...
Clinical Value of Standardized Equilibration Tests in CAPD Patients

Peritoneal transport rates, a critical determinant of peritoneal dialysis efficiency, vary widely among patients and may be easily categorized by standardized peritoneal equilibration test. Measurements of creatinine and glucose transfer are particularly useful in selecting optimal dialysis prescription. Patients with high-average peritoneal solute transport do well on standard CAPD even after losing residual renal function. Patients with high peritoneal solute transfer rates are likely to have inadequate ultrafiltration on standard CAPD. These patients do much better on dialysis regimens with short-dwell exchanges, such as nightly peritoneal dialysis or daytime ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Patients with low-average and particularly with low peritoneal transport rates are likely to develop symptoms and signs of inadequate dialysis on standard CAPD as residual renal function becomes negligible, and may require high-dose peritoneal dialysis prescriptions.
Eliminating array bound checking through dependent types

We present a type-based approach to eliminating array bound checking and list tag checking by conservatively extending Standard ML with a restricted form of dependent types. This enables the programmer to capture more invariants through types while type-checking remains decidable in theory and can still be performed efficiently in practice. We illustrate our approach through concrete examples and present the result of our preliminary experiments which support support the feasibility and effectiveness of our approach.
Microcrack model of rock inelasticity part III: Time-dependent growth of microcracks

Abstract A time dependent process of stress corrosion microcracking, i.e., moisture-assisted growth of microcracks, is considered in the framework of the model developed in Parts I and II. A differential equation is derived for the length of secondary (tensile) microcracks as a function of time. Its solution establishes a time scale of the process and shows that the initial stage of a very fast growth is followed, under predominantly compressive conditions, by a stage of very slow growth.
Cooperative Solutions for Sustainable Resource Management.

-person game theory are most appropriate for these problems because they focus on the conditions for engendering and sustaining the necessary cooperation among the involved stakeholders. These solution concepts seek to ensure that the allocation is based on some norm of equity and, most often, also to minimize the incentive for any player to defect from the cooperative venture. We illustrate these solution concepts with an application to a water resource project in Southern California. We argue how the rigorous mathematical nature of these solution concepts should not hinder their application to actual situations and how, with the use of heuristic rules and inexact notions of comparable worths, we can employ these concepts even in approximate fashion. We remind ourselves that the goal of such an endeavor is to convince stakeholders of the equity of a proposed solution and, in so doing, maximize the prospect of sustained cooperation. The alternative to cooperation, on the other hand, may be endless stalemate.
Confidence Interval Estimation of a Normal Percentile

Percentiles (or quantiles) are ubiquitous in descriptive as well as inferential analyses of data. Many applications in practice involve percentiles from the normal distribution. We consider confidence interval estimation of a normal distribution percentile and study several methods including the ones based on the maximum likelihood and the approximate normality of sample percentiles, that is, order statistics. The nonparametric confidence interval, based on the sign test, is included as a benchmark as it is a simple method and is valid for all continuous distributions. A Bayesian posterior predictive interval is also considered. The performance of the methods is examined in a simulation study via coverage and expected length. Summary and recommendations are given.
Diabetes-related changes in auditory brainstem responses

Objectives/Hypothesis: Determine effects on auditory brainstem response (ABR) of diabetes mellitus (DM) severity. Study Design: A cross-sectional study investigating DM severity and ABR in military Veteran subjects with (166) and without (138) DM and with no more than moderate hearing loss. Methods: Subjects were classified by three age tertiles (<50, 50–56, and 57+). DM severity was classified as insulin-dependent (IDDM), non–insulin-dependent (NIDDM), or no DM. Other DM measures included serum glucose, HbA1c, and several DM-related complications. ABR measures included wave I, III, and V latencies; I–III, III–V, and I–V latency intervals; and wave V amplitude; for each ear at three repetition rates (11, 51, and 71 clicks/second), and both polarities. Outcomes were stratified by age tertile and adjusted for pure tone threshold at 3 kHz. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of covariance modeled the ABR response at each repetition rate for DM severity (main effect) and hearing at 3 kHz (covariate). Modeled contrasts between ABR variables in subjects with and without DM were examined. Results: Significant differences existed between no DM and IDDM groups in the younger tertile only. Adjusting for threshold at 3 kHz had minimal effect. Self-reported noise exposure was not related to ABR differences, but HbA1c and poor circulation were. Conclusions: IDDM is associated with an increased wave V latency, wave I–V interval, and reduced wave V amplitude among Veterans under 50 years. Results were related to several DM complications. Laryngoscope, 2010
Symbiosis regulation in a facultatively symbiotic temperate coral: zooxanthellae division and expulsion

Zooxanthellae mitotic index (MI) and expulsion rates were measured in the facultatively symbiotic scleractinian Astrangia poculata during winter and summer off the southern New England coast, USA. While MI was significantly higher in summer than in winter, mean expulsion rates were comparable between seasons. Corals therefore appear to allow increases in symbiont density when symbiosis is advantageous during the warm season, followed by a net reduction during the cold season when zooxanthellae may draw resources from the coral. Given previous reports that photosynthesis in A. poculata symbionts does not occur below approximately 6°C, considerable zooxanthellae division at 3°C and in darkness suggests that zooxanthellae are heterotrophic at low seasonal temperatures. Finally, examination of expulsion as a function of zooxanthellae density revealed that corals with very low zooxanthellae densities export a significantly greater proportion of their symbionts, apparently allowing them to persist in a stable azooxanthellate state.
WHITE ENROLLMENT IN NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC SCHOOL RACIAL COMPOSITION, AND STUDENT PERFORMANCE

This research note presents preliminary research into the relationship between the racial composition of public schools in school districts and the percentages of white students in nonpublic schools in those districts. Specifically, we ask two questions: Is the enrollment of whites in non-public schools associated with minority predominance in public schools ? Is there an association between the enrollment of whites outside of the public school system and the academic performance of students in the public school system ? Using two- and three-level hierarchical linear models, we find that school districts that have more whites in nonpublic schools tend to contain public schools with larger percentages of minority students. Further, at both the school and individual levels, achievement test scores tend to be lower in districts in which white students tend to be enrolled outside of the public school system. In addition, the achievement gap between white and minority students tends to be greater in districts with relatively more students in nonpublic schools. These findings are consistent with the argument that the withdrawal of white students from the public school system is negatively related to academic achievement because it tends to concentrate minority students in public schools
Which Way to the Revolution? The Consequences of Database Protection As a New Form of Intellectual Property

Abstract In the age of information technology, the sale of information in the form of searchable databases has become a multibillion-dollar industry. In the United States, compilations of data have always presented a difficult problem: Although such works are often assembled at considerable cost and are extremely valuable to commerce and science, they do not exhibit the modicum of creativity usually required for copyrightability. In stark contrast, the European Union has set a global agenda by putting into effect a new form of intellectual property protection for databases, the terms of which could significantly affect the interests of database producers and consumers throughout the world. This article provides a summary of U.S. and international laws used to protect databases and describes the pressures that are affecting U.S. alternatives. Because both information and technology are now subject to porous international boundaries, the authors propose a change in U.S. law.
Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of hymenoptera venom and venom sac extracts

Abstract Hymenoptera venom and venom sac extracts were studied by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using non-equilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis in the first dimension and sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis in the second dimension. Pure Apis mellifera (honeybee) venom collected by electrical stimulation was resolved into five major and more than 20 minor components. Polistes (paper wasp), Vespula (yellow jacket), Dolichovespula (aerial hornet) and Vespa (old world hornet) venom sac extracts contained more than 40 components each. These results illustrate the complexity of the mixtures in current use for immunotherapy for stinging insect hypersensitivity. The degrees of similarity observed between the various species of Polistes and Vespula studied correlate with the phylogenetic classifications of these species.
Multicultural Science Education and Curriculum Materials

ABSTRACT This article describes multicultural science education and explains the purposes of multicultural science curricula. It also serves as an introductory article for the other multicultural science education activities in this special issue of Science Activities.
Theory of delayed thermal fluorescence

A theory of nonradiative thermal activation involved in delayed thermal fluorescence has been developed from the viewpoint of the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer adiabatic approximation.
Global Optimization of Nonconvex Polynomial Programming Problems HavingRational Exponents

This paper considers the solution of nonconvex polynomial programming problems that arise in various engineering design, network distribution, and location-allocation contexts. These problems generally have nonconvex polynomial objective functions and constraints, involving terms of mixed-sign coefficients (as in signomial geometric programs) that have rational exponents on variables. For such problems, we develop an extension of the Reformulation-Linearization Technique (RLT) to generate linear programming relaxations that are embedded within a branch-and-bound algorithm. Suitable branching or partitioning strategies are designed for which convergence to a global optimal solution is established. The procedure is illustrated using a numerical example, and several possible extensions and algorithmic enhancements are discussed.
The synthesis and characterization of 1-formyl-2-acylcyclopentadienylthallium compounds

Abstract The reaction of sodium cyclopentadienide with RCOOEt (R=Me, Ph, 2-thienyl, or OEt) or Bu t COCl followed by Vilsmeier reagent in the presence of excess sodium methoxide produces the 2-substituted-6-dimethylaminofulvenes 1a – e in modest yields. Basic hydrolysis results in the formation of 2-substituted-6-hydroxyfulvenes 2a – e in very good yields. Subsequent deprotonation with TlOEt yields the 1-formyl-2-acyl or carboethoxy cyclopentadienylthallium compounds 3a – e .
Early Onset of Nonalcoholic Cirrhosis in Patients with Familial Alcoholism

The etiology of many forms of liver disease is largely unknown. Recent research has identified certain immunogenetic factors which may play a role in the progression of alcoholic cirrhosis as well as autoimmune forms of cirrhosis. In this study we examined the role of familial alcoholism and HLA status in determining age of liver disease onset. Patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic autoimmune cirrhosis and having a history of familial alcoholism experience an earlier age of onset of liver disease than patients without a family history of alcoholism. The same result was true for patients with alcoholic liver disease. This effect may be more prominent in females. Subjects with HLA B-8 also had a younger age of onset of nonalcoholic autoimmune liver disease. The presence of a family history of alcoholism in conjunction with the presence of HLA B-8 and DR-3 also was related to an earlier age of disease onset. These findings suggest that the susceptibility to develop alcoholism and nonalcoholic autoimmune liver disease may be transmitted conjointly and point to potential fruitful areas of research for identifying individuals at risk for developing cirrhosis as well as detecting genetic markers for alcoholism.
Incorporating Published Autobiographies into the Abnormal Psychology Course

Published autobiographies written by individuals suffering from mental disorders can enrich abnormal psychology courses by complementing the outside-looking-in perspective of textbooks with an insider perspective. Autobiographies can serve as outside readings, lecture examples, primary texts for discussion sections, extra-credit assignments, and source books for topical seminars. Students favorably rated the pedagogical value of such autobiographies in 3 separate evaluations. We present a condensed autobiography review form and a Web site address for an annotated list of autobiographies.
Effect of channel geometry on solute dispersion in pressure-driven microfluidic systems

Pressure-driven transport of fluid and solute samples is often desirable in microfluidic devices, particularly where sufficient electroosmotic flow rates cannot be realized or the use of an electric field is restricted. Unfortunately, this mode of actuation also leads to hydrodynamic dispersion due to the inherent fluid shear in the system. While such dispersivity is known to scale with the square of the Peclet number based on the narrower dimension of the conduit (often the channel depth), the proportionality constant can vary significantly depending on its actual cross section. In this article, we review previous studies to understand the effect of commonly microfabricated channel cross sections on the Taylor–Aris dispersion of solute slugs in simple pressure-driven flow systems. We also analyze some recently proposed optimum designs which can reduce the contribution to this band broadening arising from the presence of the channel sidewalls. Finally, new simulation results have been presented in the last section of this paper which describe solutal spreading due to bowing of microchannels that can occur from stresses developed during their fabrication or operation under high-pressure conditions.
Reaction energetics of a mutant triosephosphate isomerase in which the active-site glutamate has been changed to aspartate.

The essential catalytic base at the active site of the glycolytic enzyme triosephosphate isomerase is the carboxylate group of Glu-165, which directly abstracts either the 1-pro-R proton of dihydroxyacetone phosphate or the 2-proton of (R)-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to yield the cis-enediol intermediate. Using the methods of site-directed mutagenesis, we have replaced Glu-165 by Asp. The three enzymes chicken isomerase from chicken muscle, wild-type chicken isomerase expressed in Escherichia coli, and mutant (Glu-165 to Asp) chicken isomerase expressed in E. coli have each been purified to homogeneity. The specific catalytic activities of the two wild-type isomerases are identical, while the specific activity of the mutant enzyme is reduced by a factor of about 1000. The observed kinetic differences do not derive from a change in mechanism in which the aspartate of the mutant enzyme acts as a general base through an intervening water molecule, because the D20 solvent isotope effects and the stoichiometries of inactivation with bro- mohydroxyacetone phosphate are identical for the wild-type and mutant enzymes. Using the range of isotopic experiments that were used to delineate the free-energy profile of the wild-type chicken enzyme, we here derive the complete energetics of the reaction catalyzed by the mutant protein. Comparison of the reaction energetics for the wild-type and mutant isomerases shows that only the free energies of the transition states for the two enolization steps have been seriously affected. Each of the proton abstraction steps is about 1000-fold slower in the mutant enzyme. Evidently, the excision of a methylene group from the side chain of the essential glutamate has little effect on the free energies of the intermediate states but dramatically reduces the stabilities of the transition states for the chemical steps in the catalyzed reaction.
The Nature and Evaluation of Commercial Expert System Building Tools

This memorandum reviews the factors that constitute an Expert System Building Tool (ESBT) and evaluates current tools in terms of these factors. Evaluation of these tools is based on their structure and their alternative forms of knowledge representation, inference mechanisms and developer/end-user interfaces. Next, functional capabilities, such as diagnosis and design, are related to alternative forms of mechanization. The characteristics and capabilities of existing commercial tools are then reviewed in terms of these criteria.
The Recent Revival of Cosmological Arguments

Cosmological arguments have received more attention in the past ten years. One reason for this is that versions with restricted or even no reliance on the principle of sufficient reason (PSR) have been formulated. By not relying on PSR – what many consider to be a necessary falsehood – philosophers have been able to escape many of the old criticisms of cosmological arguments. In this essay I survey two recent attempts at presenting a sound version of a cosmological argument. I spend more time on Robert Koons’ since his has not yet received the kind of quality attention that the other has.
Construction of Modules with Finite Homological Dimensions

A new homological dimension, called G*-dimension, is defined for every finitely generated module M over a local noetherian ring R. It is modeled on the CI-dimension of Avramov, Gasharov, and Peeva and has parallel properties. In particular, a ring R is Gorenstein if and only if every finitely generated R-module has finite G*-dimension. The G*-dimension lies between the CI-dimension and the G-dimension of Auslander and Bridger. This relation belongs to a longer sequence of inequalities, where a strict inequality in any place implies equalities to its right and left. Over general local rings, we construct classes of modules that show that a strict inequality can occur at almost every place in the sequence.
Scanning electron microscopy of the cellular elements of rat periodontal ligament.

Abstract The delicate cellular component of the rat periodontal ligament (PDL) was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). PDL cells were pleomorphic, varying in size, shape, surface morphology and presence or absence of lacunae. Four general cell types were identified. Freeze-fracture SEM provides an additional dimension for studying the heterogenous population of connective tissue cells characteristic of the PDL.
Randomized Phase II Trial Evaluation of Erectile Function after Attempted Unilateral Cavernous Nerve-Sparing Retropubic Radical Prostatectomy With Versus Without Unilateral Sural Nerve Grafting for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

Abstract Background Nonrandomized studies of unilateral nerve-sparing (UNS) radical prostatectomy (RP) have reported improved recovery of erectile function if the sacrificed cavernous nerve is reconstructed with a sural nerve graft (SNG). Objective To determine whether UNS RP plus SNG results in a 50% relative increase in potency at 2 yr compared to UNS RP alone. Design, setting, and participants The study enrolled patients from October 2001–May 2006 from a single academic center and was randomized, open label. Participants were men with localized prostate cancer recommended for UNS RP, less than 66 yr old, normal baseline erectile function, and willing to participate in early erectile dysfunction (ED) therapy. Patients were followed up to 2 yr. Intervention Patients underwent UNS RP and ED therapy starting at 6 wk: oral prostaglandin type-5 (PDE5) inhibitor, vacuum erection device (VED), and intracavernosal injection therapy. In the SNG group, a plastic surgeon performed the procedure at the time of RP. Measurements The ability to have an erection suitable for intercourse with or without a PDE5 inhibitor at 2 yr. The hypothesis was that SNG would result in a 60% potency rate compared to 40% for controls (80% power, 5% two-way significance). Results and Limitations The trial planned to enroll 200 patients, but an interim analysis at 107 patients met criteria for futility and the trial was closed. For patients completing the protocol to 2 yr, potency was recovered in 32 of 45 (71%) of SNG and 14 of 21 (67%) of controls ( p =0.777). By intent-to-treat analysis, potency recovered in 32 of 66 (48.5%) of SNG and 14 of 41 (34%) of controls ( p =0.271). No differences were seen in time to potency or quality of life scores for ED and urinary function. Limitations included slower-than-expected accrual and poor compliance with ED therapy: Conclusions The addition of SNG to a UNS RP did not improve potency at 2 yr following surgery. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT00080808, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00080808?term=NCT00080808&rank=1.
Impact of low oxygen on the secretome of human adipose-derived stromal/stem cell primary cultures.

Abstract Tissue fibrosis can lead to organ dysfunction, patient morbidity, and mortality. Adipose-derived Stromal/stem Cells (ASCs) represent a potential therapeutic. Immediately following grafting, ASCs would reside in a lower O2 environment. ASC secretome was examined under 5% O2 (“low O2”) and 21% O2 (“ambient O2”) culture conditions. ASCs from five female donors were cultured in low or ambient O2 conditions for 3 days and pooled conditioned medium was compared by two-dimensional liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC–MS/MS). Of 71 proteins identified, five proteins involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling exhibited ≥2-fold decrease under low O2 culture and were confirmed by Western immunoblot and qRT-PCR: fibronectin 1, TGF-β1-induced protein (βig-h3), osteonectin, and collagens type 1α1 and α2. ELISAs performed using 10 donors also confirmed significant decreases during low O2 culture in 4–6 ASC donors. For low abundant proteins, a 36 cytokine/chemokine array was performed. Fifteen cytokines/chemokines including Type 2 cytokines IL-13, MCP-1, and CD40 ligand were detected in ambient O2 ASC medium. IL-6 was detected in low O2 but not ambient O2 ASC medium. These findings demonstrate that low O2 ASC exposure resulted in reduced ECM protein and Type 2 cytokine secretions that are significant with regard to inflammation in fibrosis.
Evaluating the stability and reactivity of a light-sensitive probe by enzyme analysis.

— Enzymes can provide well defined functional targets for determining the availability and reaction characteristics of light sensitive probes. Trypsin and chymotrypsin are inhibited by flash photolysis with a photoprobe, 4-fluoro-3-nitrophenylazide (FNPA). Inhibition is competitive in the dark, and non-competitive (irreversible) following photolysis of the FNPA enzyme solution. Photoinactivation is dependent upon the concentration of FNPA, the flash rate, and the time of photolysis. The enzymes can be protected from photolytic inactivation with FNPA if photolysis is carried out in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol or 4-fluoro-3-nitroaniline which compete with FNPA for binding sites. The photo-probe is effective over a wide pH range (i.e. pH 2–11), and provides a sensitive tool for probing conformational and charge adjustments which increase or decrease the affinity of the binding site. Chymotrypsinogen was also sensitive to photolysis, indicating that FNPA binding sites are present in the zymogen structure.
Democracy derived? new trajectories in pluripotent stem cell research

How has the development of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) modified the trajectory of stem cell research? Here, coauthorship networks of stem cell research articles and analysis of cell lines used in stem cell research indicate that hiPSCs are not replacing human embryonic stem cells, but instead, the two cell types are complementary, interdependent research tools. Thus, we conclude that a ban on funding for embryonic stem cell research could have unexpected negative ramifications on the nascent field of hiPSCs.
INTERLEUKIN 1 COMPONENTS IN CICATRICIAL PEMPHIGOID. ROLE IN INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN THERAPY

Abstract Interleukin (IL-)1 is an important mediator of inflammatory responses and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. Cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) is a multisystem autoimmune inflammatory disease. We have studied the role of IL-1 in its pathogenesis. We have investigated the serum levels of IL-1 components (IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-1Ra), and determined the role of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy in patients with CP. Serum levels of IL-1α and β were significantly higher in untreated patients with active disease compared to levels in patients in prolonged clinical remission and normal human controls ( P P =0.002). Hence elevated levels of IL-1α and β and low levels of IL-1Ra correlate with disease activity. The levels of IL-1α and β were statistically significantly higher in sera of CP patients with active disease pre-IVIg therapy compared to post-IVIg therapy ( P P P P
Charging of dust grains in a plasma.

Charging of micron-sized dust grains in a plasma has been investigated experimentally. Dust grains were dispersed into a fully ionized, steady-state, magnetized plasma column consisting of electrons and ${\mathrm{K}}^{+}$ ions, both at a temperature of \ensuremath{\cong}0.2 eV. Langmuir probe measurements were used to determine how the negative charge in the plasma is divided between free electrons and dust grains. By varying the ratio $\frac{d}{{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{D}}$ between the intergrain spacing and the plasma Debye length, the predicted reduction in the grain charge for the case of "closely packed" grains $\frac{d}{{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{D}}l1$ has been demonstrated experimentally.
The Energy Spectrum of Primary Cosmic Radiation

Techniques have been developed by which the energy spectrum of heavy primary nuclei can be measured in the energy range of ${10}^{9}$-${10}^{11}$ ev/nucleon and of both protons and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particles in the energy range from ${10}^{11}$ to ${10}^{13}$ ev/nucleon. It is shown that even the heaviest nuclei in the primary radiation ($Z\ensuremath{\sim}26$) have lost their orbital electrons before entering the atmosphere, which supports the assumption that they do nor proceed from the solar corona directly to the earth. It is also shown that the velocity spectrum of all primaries of charge $Zg1$ is independent of the mass of the nuclei, and that it differs only slightly from that of the proton component in the energy interval between 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{8}$ and ${10}^{10}$ ev/nucleon.
The surface membrane proteins of the WI-38 fibroblast in relation to transformation and aging

The urea extractable cell surface proteins of WI-38 human embryonic fibroblasts and SV-40 transformed WI-38 fibroblasts were examined. Electrophoretic analysis on 5.6% SDS polyacrylamide gels revealed 10–15 discrete protein bands. Three of these bands, of molecular weight 50,000, 45,000 and 30,000 daltons, were found to be present in increased amounts in transformed fibroblasts. The expression of these proteins decreased with increasing culture age. Thus a direct relationship exists between the expression of these proteins and the proliferative state of the culture.
Parametric study of a two-dimensional turbulent wall jet in a movingstream with arbitrary pressure gradient

1968 Heat Transfer Fluid Mechanics Institute, Stanford University Press, pp. 3-17. 14 Sternberg, J., "A Theory for the Viscous Sublayer of a Turbulent Flow," Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 13, 1962, pp. 241-271. 16 Schubert, G. and Corcos, G. M., "The Dynamics of Turbulence Near a Wall According to a Linear Model/' Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 29, 1967, pp. 113-135. 16 Jenkins, R., "Variation of the Eddy Conductivity with Prandtl Modulus and its Use in Prediction of Turbulent Heat Transfer," Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics Institute, Stanford University Press, 1951, pp. 147-158.
Comparative Performance and Quality Among Nonprofit Nursing Facilities in Texas

Researchers have given little attention to relative economic efficiency among nonprofit nursing facilities. Presumably, religious-affiliated, government, and private secular nonprofit facilities pursue similar objectives, perform similarly, and receive tax exemptions accordingly. Using modified, translog cost-and profit-function regression analyses, this article rejects the hypothesis of homogeneous performance. In Texas, private secular nonprofit nursing homes are the most cost-efficient, followed by religious-affiliated and then government nursing facilities. When allocation efficiency is also considered, government and private secular facilities have similar overall economic efficiency; religious-affiliated and government facilities are similar as well; however, private secular facilities are significantly more efficient than religious-affiliated homes. Quality appears to be homogeneous among facility classifications. Given these significant differences, policy makers may want to consider the role of r...
Towards single-chip diversity TMR for automotive applications

The continuous requirement to provide safe, low-cost, compact systems makes applications such as automotive more prone to increasing types of faults. This may result in increased system failure rates if not addressed correctly. While some of the faults are not permanent in nature, they can lead to malfunctioning in complex circuits and/or software systems. Moreover, automotive applications have recently adopted the ISO26262 to provide a standard for defining functional safety. One of the recommended schemes to tolerate faults is Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR). However, traditional TMR designs typically consume too much space, power, and money all of which are undesirable for automotive. In addition, common mode faults have always been a concern in TMR which their effects would be increasing in compact systems. Errors such as noise and offset that impact a TMR sensor input can potentially cause common mode failures that lead to an entire system failure. In this paper, we introduce a new architecture and implementation for diverse TMR in a speed measurement system that would serve automotive cost and safety demands. Diversity TMR is achieved on a single chip by designing functionally identical circuits each in a different design domain to reduce the potential of common mode failures. Three versions of a speed sensing application are implemented on a mixed-signal Programmable System on Chip (PSoC) from Cypress Semiconductors. We introduce errors that impact speed sensor signals as defined by the ISO26262 standard to evaluate DTMR. Our testing shows how DTMR can be effective to different types of errors that impact speed sensor signals.
Impacts and recovery of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on vegetation structure and function of coastal salt marshes in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

We investigated the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill on two dominant coastal saltmarsh plants, Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus, in the northern Gulf of Mexico and the processes controlling differential species-effects and recovery. Seven months after the Macondo MC 252 oil made landfall along the shoreline salt marshes of northern Barataria Bay, Louisiana, concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons in the surface 2 cm of heavily oiled marsh soils were as high as 510 mg g–1. Heavy oiling caused almost complete mortality of both species. However, moderate oiling impacted Spartina less severely than Juncus and, relative to the reference marshes, had no significant effect on Spartina while significantly lowering live aboveground biomass and stem density of Juncus. A greenhouse mesocosm study supported field results and indicated that S. alterniflora was much more tolerant to shoot oil coverage than J. roemerianus. Spartina recovered from as much as 100% oil coverage of shoots ...
Asthma progression to airway remodeling and bone marrow eosinophil responses in genetically distinct strains of mice.

Background Patient factors that cause long-term airway remodeling are largely unidentified. This suggests that genetic differences may determine which asthmatic patients develop airway remodeling. A murine model with repeated allergen exposure leading to peribronchial fibrosis in complement factor 5 (C5)-deficient A/J mice has been used to study asthma progression. No studies have addressed the systemic effects of allergen sensitization or chronic allergen exposure on bone marrow eosinophilopoiesis in this mouse strain. Objective To investigate bone marrow eosinophil responses during acute sensitization and chronic allergen exposure using genetically distinct mouse strains differing in persistent airway reactivity and remodeling. Methods The C5-sufficient BALB/c and C5-deficient A/J mice were repetitively exposed to intranasal ovalbumin for 12 weeks. Subsequently, the mice were evaluated for airway eosinophilia, mucus-containing goblet cells, and peribronchial fibrosis. Both strains of mice were also acutely sensitized to ovalbumin. Bone marrow eosinophil progenitor cells and mature eosinophils were enumerated. Results BALB/c and A/J mice have similar bone marrow responses after acute allergen exposure, with elevations in bone marrow eosinophil progenitor cell and eosinophil numbers. After chronic allergen exposure, only C5-deficient A/J mice that developed peribronchial fibrosis exhibited bone marrow eosinophilia. BALB/c mice lacked peribronchial fibrosis and extinguished accelerated eosinophil production after long-term allergen challenge. Conclusions Chronic airway remodeling after repeated allergen exposure in genetically different mice correlated with differences in long-term bone marrow eosinophilopoiesis. Preventing asthma from progressing to chronic airway remodeling with fibrosis may involve identifying genetically determined influences on bone marrow responses to chronic allergen exposure.
Reduction of Atrial Defibrillation Threshold With an Interatrial Septal Electrode

Background—The standard lead configuration for internal atrial defibrillation consists of a shock between electrodes in the right atrial appendage (RAA) and coronary sinus (CS). We tested the hypothesis that the atrial defibrillation threshold (ADFT) of this RAA→CS configuration would be lowered with use of an additional electrode at the atrial septum (SP). Methods and Results—Sustained atrial fibrillation was induced in 8 closed-chest sheep with burst pacing and continuous pericardial infusion of acetyl-β-methylcholine. Defibrillation electrodes were situated in the RAA, CS, pulmonary artery (PA), low right atrium (LRA), and across the SP. ADFTs of RAA→CS and 4 other lead configurations were determined in random order by use of a multiple-reversal protocol. Biphasic waveforms of 3/1-ms duration were used for all single and sequential shocks. The ADFT delivered energies for the single-shock configurations were 1.27±0.67 J for RAA→CS and 0.86±0.59 J for RAA+CS→SP; the ADFTs for the sequential-shock configu...
Getting work done: evaluating the potential of crowdsourcing as a model for business process outsourcing service delivery

Crowdsourcing is the use of large groups of individuals to perform tasks traditionally performed by employees or designated agents. For business process outsourcing (BPO) service providers, the crowd may represent a new way to reduce costs and increase efficiencies associated with labor-intensive services. The ability to connect with the crowd to get work done may also open up new possibilities for workers in rural or economically depressed areas, and those within emerging markets. It is unclear, however, what challenges a crowdsourced services business model creates for organizations. An exploratory case study examining the potential of the crowd as a source of on-demand labor for delivering labor-intensive BPO services reveals the key role of information technology in overcoming economic, technical, and social challenges. Five key challenges were identified and are discussed: 1) protecting sensitive data, 2) ensuring quality of work, 3) ensuring timely completion of tasks, 4) managing increased workload, and 5) ensuring the sustainability of the model.
Memory for associative history of a conditioned stimulus

Abstract The common assumption that the current, but not the past, associative status of a conditioned stimulus (CS) is represented in memory is examined with respect to various behavioral phenomena within the existing literature and is found to be inadequate. This assumption is frequently expressed as associative path independence, which posits that the memorial effects of stimulus events occurring during a conditioning trial depend only on the associative strength of the CS at the initiation of that trial. Twelve laboratory phenomena are reviewed in which behavior is readily interpretated in terms of subjects remembering past as well as present associations. The possibility that behavior is influenced by past associative states as well as current associative strength is contrasted with several alternative explanations, including the suggestion that the current associative state of a CS is defined by variables in addition to associative strength. However, these alternatives are only partially successful without additional assumptions that increase their complexity. Contrary to many prevailing models, we conclude that subjects appear to retain the associative history of a CS.
A Dirty Dozen: Twelve P-Value Misconceptions

The P value is a measure of statistical evidence that appears in virtually all medical research papers. Its interpretation is made extraordinarily difficult because it is not part of any formal system of statistical inference. As a result, the P value's inferential meaning is widely and often wildly misconstrued, a fact that has been pointed out in innumerable papers and books appearing since at least the 1940s. This commentary reviews a dozen of these common misinterpretations and explains why each is wrong. It also reviews the possible consequences of these improper understandings or representations of its meaning. Finally, it contrasts the P value with its Bayesian counterpart, the Bayes' factor, which has virtually all of the desirable properties of an evidential measure that the P value lacks, most notably interpretability. The most serious consequence of this array of P-value misconceptions is the false belief that the probability of a conclusion being in error can be calculated from the data in a single experiment without reference to external evidence or the plausibility of the underlying mechanism.
The Effect of Corticosteroid Injection for Trigger Finger on Blood Glucose Level in Diabetic Patients

Purpose To determine how corticosteroid injections for trigger finger affect the blood glucose level in diabetic patients and the clinical results of those injections. Methods Eighteen diabetic patients receiving a methylprednisolone injection for a single trigger finger were studied. Six patients had type I (juvenile-onset) diabetes and 12 patients had type II (adult-onset) diabetes. Patients recorded their usual blood glucose measurements and then they recorded their blood glucose measurements for 5 days after injection. Clinical efficacy of the injections was measured by avoidance of surgery. Results There were 3 men and 15 women with an average age of 58 years. The blood glucose level increased after corticosteroid injection for all patients. The first morning after injection showed the biggest increase in blood glucose level: 73% more than the average preinjection levels. By the fifth morning after injection the blood glucose levels still were increased by 26% more than the preinjection levels. This trend was marked particularly in type I diabetic patients, who had an average blood glucose level increase the first morning after injection of 145%, which decreased over 5 days to 22% greater than baseline levels. Sixteen patients had follow-up evaluation over a period of 1 year and of these 16 patients 7 required surgery for this condition. Conclusions A digital injection of the corticosteroid methylprednisolone acetate in diabetic patients with trigger finger causes a hyperglycemic effect that lasts for at least 5 days but can help prevent the need for surgery more than half the time. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic, Level IV.