cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effective use of the health care assets of the federal government

The following paper, entitled "The Effective Use of the Health care Assets of the Federal Government", will focus on the health resources of the federal government which might provide improved health care delivery at lower cost. These under utilized or unrecognized assets could prove to be a tremendous resource. While the existence of many of these resources is well documented, others are less well known and reside in agencies such as NASA, NIST, ARPA and the Department of Agriculture. Given the billions of dollars spent on these "hidden health care assets", we must ask ourselves how we might make effective use of these resources. The management of these resources raises several questions.
Quality Improvement and Patient Safety in the Pediatric Ambulatory Setting: Current Knowledge and Implications for Residency Training

The outpatient environment has been the leading edge of improvement work in pediatrics and it has similarly served as an effective locale for the training of pediatric residents in the science of improvement. This review summarizes what is known about the measurement of quality and patient safety in pediatric ambulatory settings. The current Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements for resident training in improvement and their application in these settings are discussed. Some approaches and challenges to meeting these requirements are reviewed. Finally, some future directions that this work may follow are presented; the goal is to strengthen the effectiveness of improvement methods and their linkage to professional education.
Real Activity, Inflation, Stock Returns, and Monetary Policy

We find that contractionary monetary policy shocks generate statistically significant movements in inflation and expected real stock returns, and that these movements go in opposite directions. Since positive shocks to output precipitate monetary tightening, we argue that the countercyclical monetary policy process is important in explaining the negative correlation between inflation and stock returns. Examining the 1979–1982 period, we find that monetary policy tightens significantly in response to positive shocks to inflation, and that the impact of monetary policy shocks on stock returns is negative and volatile. Therefore, we see evidence that an “anticipated policy” hypothesis is at work.
Sequences of precipitate nucleation

Solid-solid nucleation theory, as recently extended to faceted nuclei, is applied to several problems in understanding experimentally observed sequences of precipitate nucleation involving transtion phases during isothermal ageing. Transition precipitates form due to a low interfacial energy resulting from a greater structural similarity to the matrix than the equilibrium phase or succeeding transition phases and in spite of a usually smaller driving force, ¦ΔG v ¦, for nucleation than any of these competing phases. Transition phases formed after the first one are predicted to nucleate preferentially at the interphase boundaries of their predecessors, also on the basis of interfacial energy, rather than ΔG v considerations. Most examples of precipitation sequences cited from the literature are in agreement with this prediction; the few exceptions found are noted and discussed. The preference of equilibrium phases for nucleating at high-energy grain boundaries and of transition precipitates for nucleation at dislocations and other lower energy sites is explained on the following basis. The high-energy boundaries reduce the net interfacial free energy needed for nucleation of either phase so much that the higher ¦ΔG v ¦ for the equilibrium phase becomes dominant. At the lower energy sites, the smaller reduction in ΔG *, the free energy of activation for nucleation, provided makes the lower interfacial energy of the transition phases the dominant factor in causing such phases to nucleate more rapidly.
Real-time 3D Tracking of Structural Transitions in Adenylate Kinase by Thermal Noise Imaging

Proteins have to be flexible enough to support turn-over rates up to hundreds per second, yet stable enough to maintain their three-dimensional structure over hours and days. As result of thermal excitation they fluctuate between structural conformations. We measured thermally excited structural fluctuations in the Adenylate Kinase using a site-specifically attached nanoparticle and a laser trap based position sensing scheme. This ‘Thermal Noise Imaging’ can provide real-time tracking of 3D structural transitions. We present details of the technique and a comparison of thermally excited structure fluctuations with functional transitions.
Michael Elliott's billion dollar crystals and other discoveries in insecticide chemistry†

The crowning achievement for Michael Elliott came in 1973 when his most outstanding candidate insecticide from 25 years of research crystallized from hexane solution. The stereochemically pure crystalline compound was the most potent synthetic insecticide ever made until that time, and it was highly selective for insects compared with mammals. It was given the name deltamethrin. Sequential stereospecific crystallization to isolate the most potent epimer and base-catalyzed racemization of the remaining less active isomer could be used to produce deltamethrin efficiently on a large scale; it became the billion dollar crystals. Elliott's discoveries at Rothamsted in England with Norman Janes and David Pulman of resmethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin and ultimately deltamethrin provided crop protection and malaria control for millions of people. Michael also laid the background for lipophilic amide, dithiane and other insecticides and nerve probes that are not involved in pyrethroid cross-resistance. Some aspects of these investigations were best conducted at Berkeley, where Michael studied pyrethrins in 1969, synthetic pyrethroids in 1974 and alternative insecticides in 1986-1988. This review considers Michael's seminal discoveries in insecticide chemistry, with emphasis on his Berkeley years.
The use of silica gel impregnated glass fiber sheets in plasma estriol assays

Abstract The fluorimetric quantitation of nanogram amounts of estriol extracted from plasma is sometimes impaired by impurities which interfere with fluorescence. Instant thin-layer chromatography on silica gel impregnated glass fiber sheets (ITLC-SG) removes such impurities originating from extracts as well as from solvents used in the course of analysis. This convenient, rapid and effective chromatographic procedure does not introduce interfering substances by itself. With the utilization of ITLC, plasma estriol assays proved to be precise, specific and accurate.
The Navy's high-energy laser weapon system

Over the past 25 years, in an attempt to develop a speed-of- light hard-kill weapon system, the U.S. Navy has successfully reduced megawatt-class chemical laser and high power beam control technologies to engineering practice. This Navy program was established during the cold war era when defending naval battle group was the primary concern of the U.S. Navy. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, an urgent and challenging issue facing the U.S. Navy is the self-defense against cruise missile in a littoral battlefield environment against threats originating from shore and/or scattered low- value platforms. This fundamental shift in the battlefield environment and engagement configuration profoundly affected the basic performance requirements placed on potential shipboard high energy laser weapon systems (HELWS). In a littoral maritime environment, thermal blooming limits atmospheric propagation of an HEL beam, and thus limits the weapon's effectiveness. This paper identifies and discusses the technical issues associated with HELWS requirements in this new environment. It also discuses the collateral capabilities that enhance and complement the performance of other weapon and sensor systems onboard ship. This paper concludes that the HELWS using a free electron laser (FEL) offers a unique weapon option for our warships in facing the new defense challenges of the future.
Probabilistic analysis of collapsing soil by indicator kriging

Collapsing soils, which undergo a large decrease in bulk volume virtually instantaneously upon saturation and/or load application, are found in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. In the western and midwestern U.S., problems resulting from collapsing soils are being recognized due to rapid industrial and urban developments. A probabilistic analysis of the distribution of such soils would be a rational approach for quantifying risk involved for a project in an area where such soils are found. Indicator kriging was applied to seven sets of collapse and collapse-related soil parameters to obtain the probability that a certain parameter is more or less than a predefined critical value for low, medium, and high collapse susceptibility. Results are presented in the form of probability contour plots with known variance of estimation of the probability. The ability to predict the probability of occurrence of collapse and collapse-related soil parameters for different critical values with a known degree of certainty is invaluable to planners, developers, and geotechnical engineers.
Death Receptor 5 Signaling Promotes Hepatocyte Lipoapoptosis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is characterized by hepatic steatosis, elevated levels of circulating free fatty acids (FFA), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and hepatocyte lipoapoptosis. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) death receptor 5 (DR5) is significantly elevated in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and steatotic hepatocytes demonstrate increased sensitivity to TRAIL-mediated cell death. Nonetheless, a role for TRAIL and/or DR5 in mediating lipoapoptotic pathways is unexplored. Here, we examined the contribution of DR5 death signaling to lipoapoptosis by free fatty acids. The toxic saturated free fatty acid palmitate induces an increase in DR5 mRNA and protein expression in Huh-7 human hepatoma cells leading to DR5 localization into lipid rafts, cell surface receptor clustering with subsequent recruitment of the initiator caspase-8, and ultimately cellular demise. Lipoapoptosis by palmitate was not inhibited by a soluble human recombinant DR5-Fc chimera protein suggesting that DR5 cytotoxic signaling is ligand-independent. Hepatocytes from murine TRAIL receptor knock-out mice (DR−/−) displayed reduced palmitate-mediated lipotoxicity. Likewise, knockdown of DR5 or caspase-8 expression by shRNA technology attenuated palmitate-induced Bax activation and apoptosis in Huh-7 cells, without altering induction of ER stress markers. Similar observations were verified in other cell models. Finally, knockdown of CHOP, an ER stress-mediated transcription factor, reduced DR5 up-regulation and DR5-mediated caspase-8 activation upon palmitate treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that ER stress-induced CHOP activation by palmitate transcriptionally up-regulates DR5, likely resulting in ligand-independent cytotoxic signaling by this death receptor.
Analyzing quadratic unconstrained binary optimization problems via multicommodity flows

Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problems concern the minimization of quadratic polynomials in n{0,1}-valued variables. These problems are NP-complete, but prior work has identified a sequence of polynomial-time computable lower bounds on the minimum value, denoted by C"2,C"3,C"4,.... It is known that C"2 can be computed by solving a maximum flow problem, whereas the only previously known algorithms for computing C"k(k>2) require solving a linear program. In this paper we prove that C"3 can be computed by solving a maximum multicommodity flow problem in a graph constructed from the quadratic function. In addition to providing a lower bound on the minimum value of the quadratic function on {0,1}^n, this multicommodity flow problem also provides some information about the coordinates of the point where this minimum is achieved. By looking at the edges that are never saturated in any maximum multicommodity flow, we can identify relational persistencies: pairs of variables that must have the same or different values in any minimizing assignment. We furthermore show that all of these persistencies can be detected by solving single-commodity flow problems in the same network.
Managing beyond the factory walls: Effects of four types of strategic integration on manufacturing plant performance

Abstract In this paper we focus on the integration of strategic objectives and process knowledge that a manufacturing factory collects from its external interfaces. Using data from a variety of manufacturing industries, this study examines four different types of strategic integration at the manufacturing plant level. We use a path analytic approach to simultaneously assess the contributions of the various types of integration to manufacturing-based competitive capabilities and business level performance. In addition, we examine the intervening roles that manufacturing-based competitive capabilities play in mediating the relationships between strategic integration and business performance. We find that each type of integration activity has unique benefits and detriments. These findings extend prior studies of manufacturing and supply chain integration by broadening the theory relating to strategic integration. The results also provide implications for manufacturing managers who seek to design integration policies and associated resource deployments.
Comments on "A prime factor FFT algorithm using high-speed convolution"

The purpose of this correspondence is to point out that in Table II of the above paper, the number of additions reported for the radix-2 FFT algorithm are highly erroneous.
Geochemistry of rock units at the potential repository level, Yucca Mountain, Nevada

The compositional variability of the phenocryst-poor member of the 12.8-million-year Topopah Spring Tuff at the potential repository level was assessed by duplicate analysis of 20 core samples from the cross drift at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Previous analyses of outcrop and core samples of the Topopah Spring Tuff showed that the phenocryst-poor rhyolite, which includes both lithophysal and nonlithophysal zones, is relatively uniform in composition. Analyses of rock samples from the cross drift, the first from the actual potential repository block, also indicate the chemical homogeneity of this unit excluding localized deposits of vapor-phase minerals and low-temperature calcite and opal in fractures, cavities, and faults, The possible influence of vapor-phase minerals and calcite and opal coatings on rock composition at a scale sufficiently large to incorporate these heterogeneously distributed deposits was evaluated and is considered to be relatively minor. Therefore, the composition of the phenocryst-poor member of the Topopah Spring Tuff is considered to be adequately represented by the analyses of samples from the cross drift. The mean composition as represented by the 10 most abundant oxides in weight percent or grams per hundred grams is: SiO{sub 2}, 76.29; Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, 12.55; FeO, 0.14; Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, 0.97; MgO, 0.13; CaO, 0.50; Na{sub 2}O, 3.52; K{sub 2}O, 4.83; TiO{sub 2}, 0.11; and MnO, 0.07.
Identification of the glucose transport protein of the microvillous membrane of human placenta by photoaffinity labelling

Abstract The initial step in transfer of glucose from mother to fetus is facilitated diffusion transport across the microvillous membrane of the placental syncytium (1). We have used 3H-cytochalasin B as a photoaffinity label to identify the transport protein involved. Two binding proteins were present, one of which is apparently the glucose transport protein and one of which is actin. The two were identified by competition labeling with D-glucose, and cytochalasin E. They were separated by selective extraction with dimethyl maleic anhydride. The glucose transport protein is apparently a single molecular species of 52,000 molecular weight.
Role of the cytosine DNA-methyltransferase and p16INK4a genes in the development of mouse lung tumors.

CpG island methylation is an epigenetic modification of DNA associated with the silencing of gene transcription. The p16INK4a (p16) tumor suppressor gene is inactivated in human non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) by either homozygous deletion or aberrant methylation. Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes by methylation has been linked in part to altered activity of the cytosine DNA-methyltransferase (DNA-MTase), the enzyme that catalyzes DNA methylation at CpG sites. The purpose of these studies was to define the role of DNA-MTase and p16 in the development of murine lung cancer. DNA-MTase activity was determined in alveolar type II and Clara cells from A/J and C3H mice that exhibit high and low susceptibility, respectively, for lung tumor formation. Increased DNA-MTase activity leading to an increase in overall DNA methylation was found only in alveolar type II cells, the target for murine adenocarcinomas. Both DNA-MTase and DNA methylation changes were detected 7 days after carcinogen exposure and, t...
Wake capturing in potential flow calculations

In this paper, we present a formulation for irrotational, isentropic flows in terms of velocity components which is equivalent to the classical potential equation, except the wake is not fixed and it is captured as part of the solution with no special treatment. Preliminary numerical results are presented to validate this new approach.
Univariate polynomials: nearly optimal algorithms for factorization and rootfinding

To approximate all roots (zeros) of a univariate polynomial, we develop two effective algorithms and combine them in a single recursive process. One algorithm computes a basic well isolated zero-free annulus on the complex plane, whereas another algorithm numerically splits the input polynomial of the n-th degree into two factors balanced in the degrees and with the zero sets separated by the basic annulus. Recursive combination of the two algorithms leads to recursive computation of the complete numerical factorization of a polynomial into the product of linear factors and further to the approximation of the roots. The new rootfinder incorporates the earlier techniques of Schonhage and Kirrinnis and our old and new techniques and yields nearly optimal (up to polylogarithmic factors) arithmetic and Boolean cost estimates for the complexity of both complete factorization and rootfinding. The improvement over our previous record Boolean complexity estimates is by roughly the factor of n for complete factorization and also for the approximation of well-conditioned (well isolated) roots, whereas the same algorithm is also optimal (under both arithmetic and Boolean models of computing) for the worst case input polynomial, where the roots can be ill-conditioned, forming clusters. (The worst case bounds are supported by our previous algorithms as well.) Al our algorithms allow processor efficient acceleration to achieve solution in polygarithmic parallel time.
Revision of a Treatment Algorithm for Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Skin Infections

Purpose: Describe the need for a revision to a treatment algorithm for community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) skin infections 3 years after implementation.Methods: Medical records for patients seen in the emergency department (ED) for CA-MRSA skin infections from October 2005 through August 2007 were compared with records for patients seen from September 2002 through September 2004.Results: Most patients with CA-MRSA initially were seen in the ED; however, by mid-2007 an increasing number of patients were coming to primary care clinics, particularly with recurrent episodes, and treatment for CAMRSA was suboptimal in this setting. In addition, approximately 14% of CA-MRSA cases were not considered high risk based on the algorithm risk assessment. When the algorithm was implemented, the risk assessment classified less than 5% of CA-MRSA cases as low risk. Furthermore, newly published data suggested that incision and drainage (I&D) was sufficient for small abscesses. There...
Raman measurements of YBa2Cu3Ox as a function of oxygen content

Abstract We report polarized Raman measurements on single crystals of YBa2Cu3Ox, Y123-Ox, as a function of oxygen content. For x=7 the usual five, c-axis polarized modes are observed; mode #5 occurs ∼500 cm−1 and is due to the oxygen atoms in the four-coordinated Cu chain. At oxygen contents near the metal-insulator (M-l) phase transition the intensity of mode #5 rapidly decreases and disappears, being replaced by a strongly (zz) polarized mode at ≈600 cm−1. Our results are in sharp disagreement with published Raman results on ceramics. We believe the 600 cm−1 mode is due to oxygen atom vibration in the two-fold coordinated Cu “sticks”. At the oxygen content near the M-l phase transition, other lower energy modes appear but they disappear for oxygen content x≈6 where the appropriate number (five) of symmetry allowed modes are again observed. A “drastic difference” in the phonon density of states between x=6 and x=7 has been obtained from inelastic neutron measurements. We believe that much of the difference in phonon frequencies is not due to a decrease in the force constants in going from x=6, to x=7, but is due to phonon differences resulting from the coordination changes of the chain-Cu atoms.
Effects of acid challenge on in vivo and in vitro rat renal ammoniagenesis.

Abstract This study compares the ability of different strengths of NH 4 Cl, CaCl 2 , and HCl to affect the termporal excretion of ammonium in rats. Oral NH 4 Cl given in a single dose of 0.5 mmole, 1.0 mmole and 1.5 mmole/100 g BW steadily increases ammonium excretion in rats. The majority of the augmented ammonium excretion is secondary to increased renal production — not to changes in urine pH or urine volume. Acute challenges greater than 1.5 mmole/100 g BW do not increase ammonium excretion further. Results were similar when chronic acid challenge was investigated — greater NH 4 Cl challenges cause greater ammonium excretion. Challenges beyond 1.5 mmole/100 g BW bid frequently cause death unless the rats are preconditioned (made mildly acidotic) prior to initiation of this dose. At the 1.5 mmole/100 g BW dose, maximal ammonium excretion is reached by day 2 or 3. Thus, maximal renal ammoniagenesis during acid stress occurs rapidly, and at different times depending on the strength of the acid challenge. CaCl 2 or HCl offer no advantages over NH 4 Cl as acidifying agents. In addition to the above, there is a significant correlation between ammonium excretion in vivo and the ability of rat renal slices to produce ammonia from glutamine or glutamate in vitro .
A REVERSIBLE AFFINITY TAG FOR THE PURIFICATION OF N-GLYCOLYL CAPPED PEPTIDES

Abstract A reversible biotin affinity tag, 2-[N-(Biotin)-6-aminocaproate]-acetate (1), has been generated for the efficient purification of peptides requiring N-terminal derivatization. This methodology is compatible with solid phase peptide synthesis techniques.
“The University of Denay, Nunavit”: The “Historical Notes” in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale

(1990). “The University of Denay, Nunavit”: The “Historical Notes” in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. American Review of Canadian Studies: Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 357-364.
1988 AGU Spring Meeting

By and large, the Spring Meeting was a great success. It generated the largest number of papers (1872) and the largest attendance (2814) of any Spring Meeting; we have essentially recovered the participation to where it was before the Spring Meeting moved out of Washington in 1978. Due to the skill of the individual members of the program committee, there were few if any complaints about rooms being too small for the audience, a situation we have found ourselves in many times in the past. The major problem was the space allocated for the poster sessions. Because they were only changed once each day, we had to double the number of boards from what had originally been planned, and the space was not quite adequate for this number. Future growth within the same facility will therefore require considerable thought about how to accommodate the growth.
Investigation of surface roughness effects on adiabatic wall temperature

Les resultats numeriques montrent que la rugosite a un effet important sur la temperature de paroi adiabatique
Synthesis of flexible distillation sequences for multiperiod operation

Abstract This paper addresses the synthesis problem of distillation sequences that have the flexibility of handling pre-specified changes in the composition of A multiperiod superstructure is presented which includes all the distinct distillation tasks for all the periods of operation. A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is proposed for the mathematical formulation of the multiperiod superstructure which accounts for the c Based on this model, a synthesis strategy is proposed to determine the minimum annual venture cost sequence of distillation columns for multiperiod ope
Bariatric Surgery and Diabetes: Access Denied

This year, for the first time, we have been provided with strong proof that bariatric surgery is truly effective. Over the last 30 years, there have been multiple reports that the gastric bypass operation provides full remission of diabetes in four out of five people, with a sharp decrease in mortality. Along with the reversal of diabetes, most of those who receive the surgery will also see their high blood pressure, sleep apnea, dyslipidemias, and even their polycystic ovary syndromes clear. Further, within five years, their likelihood of getting various cancers diminishes by more than 70%. Even those who do not experience full remission of their diabetes show marked improvement in control of their disease. Finally, we have developed and demonstrated the success of various bariatric procedures (lap adjustable BAND, gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and duodenal switch) that have impressive metabolic consequences beyond the remission of diabetes. In spite of these excellent outcomes widely reported in the surgical literature, less than one percent of those who could benefit from bariatric surgery have accessed these procedures. The skepticism of the medical community is not unwarranted. The claims seem unbelievable; the reports are primarily from surgeons, and the past history of bariatric surgery, a long period of trial and error, includes a number of false and dangerous starts. Accordingly, it is appropriate for physicians, concerned about their patients' safety, to ask if bariatric surgery is really effective, and if it is safe and cost-effective. This year, supported by several key articles cited below, we can answer these questions affirmatively.
Repair of hypospadias complications using the previously utilized urethral plate.

Abstract Objectives. To review our results of patients who underwent repeat hypospadias surgery using local skin flaps with preservation of the urethral plate. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent a reoperative hypospadias repair using the urethral plate between 1988 and 1996. A total of 53 patients were identified who developed either a large fistula (47 patients) or severe stricture (6 patients) after the initial repair. Seventeen patients underwent a repeat Mathieu flip-flap and 36 an onlay flap. The mean age at the time of surgery was 5.2 years (range 1 to 27). The mean duration of follow-up was 17 months (range 6 to 108). Results. The initial failed hypospadias repair was corrected with a single procedure in 44 (83%) of the 53 patients. The 9 patients who had further complications required 17 additional procedures. A meatal-based flap had been used in 4 of these patients and an onlay flap in 5. Three of the 9 patients who had further complications presented with urethral strictures after the previous repair. Conclusions. Fistula and stricture are common complications of hypospadias surgery. The use of the urethral plate in primary repairs has helped decrease the complication rate. We report the effectiveness of using local skin flaps and preserving the urethral plate in complex reoperative hypospadias surgery. These techniques were successful in 83% of these challenging patients. Patients with stricture after hypospadias surgery are at increased risk of further complications.
An Approach to QoS-Based Grid Network Service Discovery

Grid computing is an emerging computing paradigm that will have significant impact on the next generation information infrastructure. Service description and discovery play a key role in the service-oriented Grid architecture. The federation of highly distributed heterogeneous resources to deliver better-than-best-effort services is the key feature of Grid applications. Therefore, networking systems with Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning capabilities form the basis for high-performance Grid applications. The underlying networks should be integrated into the Grid architecture as services in order to be effectively utilized by Grid applications. However, current Grid service description and discovery technologies are not sufficient to support the network QoS required by high performance Grid computing. In this paper, we propose a new description approach for Grid network services and develop a QoS-based service discovery technique that discovers the network services that meet the QoS requirements of Grid applications. Our approach can be implemented within the current Grid service discovery framework.
On the form and strength of trees: Part III. The secondary branches and their relation to the primary branches

The secondary branches are considered in this note mainly for the purpose of applying the principle of maximum strength to the primary branches.
PYCNODYSOSTOSIS: MAPPING AND EVALUATION OF THREE CANDIDATE GENES.† 854

Pycnodysostosis (PYCNO) is an autosomal recessive sclerosing skeletal dysplasia of unknown etiology. Initially, we demonstrated linkage of PYCNO to chromosome 1q21 in a large Arab family in which only marker D1S498 failed to recombine with the disease (Nature Genetics,10:235). Recently, the PYCNO critical region was refined to a 2 cM interval from D1S2344 to D1S2343/D1S2347. We report the evaluation of three candidate genes for PYCNO which had been mapped to 1q21: the interleukin-6 receptor (IL6R), MCL1 which is a BCL2 homolog, and cathepsin S (CTSS). Sequence-tagged sites were developed for these three PYCNO candidate genes and tested against the Stanford G3 diploid radiation hybrid panel. Analysis of the data with the RHMAP software package revealed that IL6R was tightly linked to D1S305, excluding it from the PYCNO critical region. MCL1 and CTSS were linked to D1S498 and D1S2347, placing them within the critical region. In order to search for disease-causing mutations, PCR amplification and sequencing of MCL1 and CTSS exons and their exon-intron boundaries from genomic DNA of three PYCNO families were carried out. A polymorphism resulting from a single base pair substitution for CTSS was found but no putative disease-causing mutations were detected in either MCL1 or CTSS. CTSS protease activity in cultured lymphoblasts from unrelated PYCNO patients also was determined and was normal. The absence of coding region mutations and the presence of normal protease activity for CTSS effectively excludes its candidacy. While promoter and other mutations have not been excluded for MCL1, the lack of coding region mutations in three separate PYCNO families makes it an unlikely candidate. Current efforts are directed towards further refining the PYCNO critical region with additional families and developing the physical map of that region.
Buchnera aphidicola, the endosymbiont of aphids, contains genes for four ribosomal RNA proteins, initiation factor-3, and the α-subunit of RNA polymerase

Buchnera aphidicola is a prokaryotic endosymbiont of the aphidSchizaphis graminum. With the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligonucleotide primers to conserved regions, two DNA fragments of the endosymbiont α-operon and L20 operon were amplified, cloned intoEscherichia coli, and their sequences were determined. The results indicated that the organization of the endosymbiont genes on these fragments was identical with that of the corresponding operons ofE. coli. The 1032 base pair (bp) fragment of the α-operon contained the genes for small ribosomal subunit proteins S11 and S4, followed by the gene for the α-subunit of RNA polymerase (α-RNAP). The 702-bp fragment of the L20-operon contained the genes for initiation factor-3 (IF3) and large ribosomal subunit proteins L35 and L20. As in other prokaryotes, the genes of the α-operon and the L20-operon were present as single copies in the genome ofB. aphidicola. Comparisons of the amino acid sequences of these proteins were consistent with the previously established close relationship betweenB. aphidicola andE. coli and a distant relationship to species ofBacillus.
Pomeron interactions at the ISR

Abstract We present experimental results on double Pomeron exchange reactions at ISR energies. The Split Field Magnet detector was used to identify a sample of about 25000 events of the form pp → ppX, where X represents a central system created from Pomeron-Pomeron interactions. Properties of both the production and the decay of the central system are investigated.
Stress-activated kinases regulate protein stability.

Proteasome inhibitors have been used to demonstrate that many proteins of the signal transduction pathways are regulated by degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The key question is what events target specific proteins for ubiquitination at one time and prevent ubiquitination at other times? In this review, we develop the notion that there is a direct relationship between the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cascade of the signal transduction pathways and the targeting of the regulatory proteins for ubiquitination. We present examples where phosphorylation appears to alter the interaction between the targeting systems and the substrate by modifying the targeting system, the substrate, or both. These interacting systems are seen in the response of p53, c-jun and ATF-2 in cells subjected to stress or DNA damage and to the normal regulated response in a variety of pathways including the IκB-NFκB and JAK-STAT pathways. The interweaving of the two post-translational networks, phosphorylation and ubiquitination, provides a powerful insight into global regulatory control pathways.
Direct thrombolytic therapy for intraventricular thrombosis in patients with the Jarvik 2000 left ventricular assist device

One of the complications that can occur with continuous, axial-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is thrombosis within the left ventricle, adjacent to the device's inflow conduit, which may cause inflow obstruction and recurrent heart failure. We describe 2 cases in which we used a catheter to continuously infuse recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) into the left ventricle until signs of successful thrombolysis was achieved. By monitoring the result and administering only as much tPA as necessary to achieve thrombolysis, we were able to successfully lyse the obstructing thrombus with a minimal dose of tPA without causing any significant bleeding problems. This technique may be useful for managing this potentially serious complication while minimizing the risk of treatment.
The effect of quality of the relationship between mothers and adult children with schizophrenia, autism, or down syndrome on maternal well-being: the mediating role of optimism.

This article investigates the effects of the quality of the relationship between maternal caregivers and their adult child with disabilities on maternal well-being and whether this effect is mediated by dispositional optimism. Mothers caring for an adult child with Down syndrome (n = 126), schizophrenia (n = 292), or autism (n = 102) were surveyed. Mothers of adults with schizophrenia and autism had better psychological well-being when the mother/adult child relationship was positive, but this effect was mediated totally or partially by optimism. For all 3 groups, optimism was related to better mental and physical health. The findings highlight the importance of dispositional optimism, a psychological resource that has been virtually ignored in studies of family caregivers of adults with disabilities.
Relationship of Serum Sex Steroid Levels to Longitudinal Changes in Bone Density in Young Versus Elderly Men

Estrogen appears to play an important role in determining bone mineral density in men, but it remains unclear whether estrogen primarily determines peak bone mass or also affects bone loss in elderly men. Thus, we assessed longitudinal rates of change in bone mineral density in young (22-39 yr; n = 88) vs. elderly (60-90 yr; n = 130) men and related these to circulating total and bioavailable estrogen and testosterone levels. In young men bone mineral density increased significantly over 4 yr at the mid-radius and ulna and at the total hip (by 0.32-0.43%/yr), whereas it decreased in the elderly men at the forearm sites (by 0.49-0.66%/yr), but did not change at the total hip. The rate of increase in bone mineral density at the forearm sites in the young men was significantly correlated to serum total and bioavailable estradiol and estrone levels (r = 0.22-0.35), but not with total or bioavailable testosterone levels. In the elderly men the rates of bone loss at the forearm sites were most closely associated with serum bioavailable estradiol levels (r = 0.29-0.33) rather than bioavailable testosterone levels. Moreover, elderly men with bioavailable estradiol levels below the median [40 pmol/liter (11 pg/ml)] had significantly higher rates of bone loss and levels of bone resorption markers than men with bioavailable estradiol levels above 40 pmol/liter. These data thus indicate that estrogen plays a key role both in the acquisition of peak bone mass in young men and in bone loss in elderly men. Moreover, our findings suggest that age-related decreases in bioavailable estradiol levels to below 40 pmol/liter may well be the major cause of bone loss in elderly men. This subset of men is perhaps most likely to benefit from preventive therapy.
Efficient and fast photorefractive polymers sensitized by CdSe nanoparticles

We report on efficient and fast photorefractive polymers sensitized by CdSe nanoparticles that were synthesized using the reverse micelle method. Overmodulation of the diffraction efficiency was observed in 105 /spl mu/m-thick samples at an applied field of 60 V//spl mu/m. The transient build-up time of the grating was 52 ms.
Effect of pectin, lecithin, and antacid feed supplements (Egusin ® ) on gastric ulcer scores, gastric fluid pH and blood gas values in horses

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of two commercial feed supplements, Egusin 250® [E-250] and Egusin SLH® [E-SLH], on gastric ulcer scores, gastric fluid pH, and blood gas values in stall-confined horses undergoing feed-deprivation. Nine Thoroughbred horses were used in a three-period crossover study. For the three treatment groups, sweet feed was mixed with E-250, E-SLH, or nothing (control group) and fed twice daily. Horses were treated for 21 days, then an additional 7 days while on an alternating feed-deprivation model to induce or worsen ulcers (period one). In periods two and three, horses (n=6) were treated for an additional 7 days after feed-deprivation. Gastroscopies were performed on day -1 (n=9), day 21 (n=9), day 28 (n=9) and day 35 (n=6). Gastric juice pH was measured and gastric ulcer scores were assigned. Venous blood gas values were also measured. Gastric ulcers in control horses significantly decreased after 21 days, but there was no difference in ulcer scores when compared to the Egusin® treated horses. NG gastric ulcer scores significantly increased in E-250 and control horses on day 28 compared to day 21 as a result of intermittent feed-deprivation, but no treatment effect was observed. NG ulcer scores remained high in the control group but significantly decreased in the E-SLH- and E-250-treated horses by day 35. Gastric juice pH values were low and variable and no treatment effect was observed. Mean blood pCO2 values were significantly increased two hours after feeding in treated horses compared to controls, whereas mean blood TCO2 values increased in the 24 hour sample, but did not exceed 38 mmol/l. The feed-deprivation model increased NG gastric ulcer severity in the horses. However, by day 35, Egusin® treated horses had less severe NG gastric ulcers compared to untreated control horses. After 35 days, Egusin® products tested here ameliorate the severity of gastric ulcers in stall-confined horses after feed stress.
CARVE: A Cognitive Agent for Resource Value Estimation

Recently, industry has begun investigating and moving towards utility computing, where computational resources (processing, memory and I/O) are availably on demand at a market cost. On-demand access to computational resources enables fine-grained resource allocation for web-based applications, e.g., the possibility of provisioning for a minimum workload while allowing the rental of additional resources for unexpected workload changes. However, renting additional resources relies on the ability to quickly and accurately estimate the value of the resource. This paper introduces CARVE: a cognitive agent for resource value estimation. CARVE is a machine-learning based approach that learns to predict the change in system value of having more or less system resources. Using only low-level statistics and with no custom instrumentation of the operating system or middleware, CARVE is able to make informed decisions about the return on investment of physical memory when implemented and evaluated on a partitioned system running a multi-partition, multi-process distributed benchmark. We show that CARVE is competitive with static choices of computing resources over a variety of test workloads and also has the ability to outperform all static configurations.
Soil respiration response to three years of elevated CO 2 and N fertilization in ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa Doug. ex Laws.)

We measured growing season soil CO2 evolution under elevated atmospheric [CO2] and soil nitrogen (N) additions. Our objectives were to determine treatment effects, quantify seasonal variation, and compare two measurement techniques. Elevated [CO2] treatments were applied in open-top chambers containing ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa L.) seedlings. N applications were made annually in early spring. The experimental design was a replicated factorial combination of CO2 (ambient, + 175, and +350 μL L−1 CO2) and N (0, 10, and 20 g m−2 N as ammonium sulphate). Soils were irrigated to maintain soil moisture at > 25 percent. Soil CO2 evolution was measured over diurnal periods (20–22 hours) in October 1992, and April, June, and October 1993 and 1994 using a flow-through, infrared gas analyzer measurement system and corresponding pCO2 measurements were made with gas wells. Significantly higher soil CO2 evolution was observed in the elevated CO2 treatments; N effects were not significant. Averaged across all measurement periods, fluxes, were 4.8, 8.0, and 6.5 for ambient + 175 CO2, and +350 CO2 respectively).
Effect of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha Activators on Tumor Necrosis Factor Expression in Mice during Endotoxemia

Inflammatory mediators orchestrate the host immune and metabolic response to acute bacterial infections and mediate the events leading to septic shock. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has long been identified as one of the proximal mediators of endotoxin action. Recent studies have implicated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) as a potential target to modulate regulation of the immune response. Since PPARα activators, which are hypolipidemic drugs, are being prescribed for a significant population of older patients, it is important to determine the impact of these drugs on the host response to acute inflammation. Therefore, we examined the role of PPARα activators on the regulation of TNF expression in a mouse model of endotoxemia. CD-1 mice treated with dietary fenofibrate or Wy-14,643 had fivefold-higher lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF plasma levels than LPS-treated control-fed animals. Higher LPS-induced TNF levels in drug-fed animals were reflected physiologically in significantly lower glucose levels in plasma and a significantly lower 50% lethal dose than those in LPS-treated control-fed animals. Utilizing PPARα wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice, we showed that the effect of fenofibrate on LPS-induced TNF expression was indeed mediated by PPARα. PPARα WT mice fed fenofibrate also had a fivefold increase in LPS-induced TNF levels in plasma compared to control-fed animals. However, LPS-induced TNF levels were significantly decreased and glucose levels in plasma were significantly increased in PPARα KO mice fed fenofibrate compared to those in control-fed animals. Data from peritoneal macrophage studies indicate that Wy-14,643 modestly decreased TNF expression in vitro. Similarly, overexpression of PPARα in 293T cells decreased activity of a human TNF promoter-luciferase construct. The results from these studies suggest that any anti-inflammatory activity of PPARα in vivo can be masked by other systemic effects of PPARα activators.
Cross-National Dimensions of Political Competence

Political efficacy, the belief that the ruled in a political system have some capacity for exercising influence over the rulers, has been studied extensively by political researchers. A selected bibliography compiled by Easton and Dennis in early 1967 contains some thirty books and articles which have dealt in one way or another with political efficacy and its correlates.' And this bibliography could be updated considerably. Substantial theoretic import has been attributed to political efficacy. Easton and Dennis consider the SRC sense of political efficacy construct to be an important determinant of the persistence of democratic regimes. They argue that beliefs in political efficacy provide "a reservoir of diffuse support upon which the system can automatically draw in normal times, when members may feel that their capacity to manipulate the environment is not living up to their expectations, and in special periods of stress, when popular participation may appear to be pure illusion or when political outputs fail to measure up to insistent demands,"2 A related construct, termed "subjective competence" by Almond and Verba, is based on different indicators but interpreted as substantively equivalent to the SRC construct. On the basis of their analysis of the Five-Nation data, Almond and Verba arrive at the general conclusion that "the self-confident [subjectively competent] citizen appears to be the democratic citizen." The concept of political competence, as formulated by Barnes, subsumes political efficacy under the aegis of an individual attribute consisting of "political skills plus the sense of efficacy necessary for effective political action."4 Barnes contends that high levels of political competence dispose individuals to prefer democratic styles of leadership, while low levels dispose individuals to
Lambda Red-Mediated Genetic Modification of the Insect Endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius

In the current study, we adapted and optimized the lambda Red recombineering strategy to genetically manipulate the fastidious insect endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius. This work greatly facilitates the application of genetics to the study of insect symbionts and should also prove useful in the context of long-awaited paratransgenic insect control strategies.