cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuronal insulin signaling and brain structure in nondemented older adults: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Abstract We used plasma neuronal extracellular vesicles to examine how neuronal insulin signaling proteins relate cross-sectionally to brain structure in nondemented older adults with varying levels of cortical amyloid. Extracellular vesicles enriched for neuronal origin by anti-L1CAM immunoabsorption were isolated from plasma of Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities–Positron Emission Tomography study participants (n = 88; mean age: 77 years [standard deviation: 6]). Neuronal extracellular vesicle levels of phosphorylated insulin signaling cascade proteins were quantified. Brain volume and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume were assessed using 3T magnetic resonance imaging. After adjusting for demographic variables and extracellular vesicle marker Alix, higher levels of a neuronal insulin signaling composite measure were associated with lower WMH and greater temporal lobe volume. Secondary analyses found the levels of downstream protein kinases involved in cell survival (p70S6K) and tau phosphorylation/neuroinflammation (GSK-3β) to be most strongly associated with WMH and temporal lobe volume, respectively. Associations between neuronal insulin signaling and lower WMH volume were attenuated in participants with elevated cortical amyloid. These results suggest that enhanced neuronal proximal insulin signaling is associated with preserved brain structure in nondemented older adults.
Comparing Selected Life-History Traits of Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Larvae Produced in Industrial and Bench-Top-Sized Containers

As global food demand is increasing along with human population growth, there is a greater need for alternative protein sources. Insect protein, especially the larvae of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), has become a key approach for solving this issue in part due to its ability to convert organic waste into insect biomass with minimal resource (e.g., land, water) requirements. However, most information utilized to develop industrial production of this species is reliant on data generated from laboratory-scaled studies. Unfortunately, scaling these data to an industrial level potentially is not linear resulting in over, or under, estimating production. In this study, we compared selected life-history traits of larval black soldier fly produced at benchtop (e.g., 1 liter container with 614 larvae) and industrial scales (e.g., 29.5 liter container inoculated with 10,000 larvae). Larvae were provided a single feeding (2 g/larva) in each treatment. Significant differences in the mean larval weight (24.7%), survivorship (-28.2%), and biomass conversion (-2.7%) were determined between benchtop and industrial treatments. These results indicate larval number and the associated container size are important factors to consider when designing a black soldier fly factory. Furthermore, caution should be taken when applying data from laboratory studies to industrial scale production systems as the values potentially are not linear.
Digital Patronage Platforms

Digital patronage refers to the act of singular and sustained financial support to a content creator as a form of appreciation for their work and occurs within unique sociotechnical systems that support financial exchange in addition to creative expression. In this paper, we present a competitive analysis of five patronage platforms-- Twitch.tv, YouTube, Patreon, Facebook, and OnlyFans. We describe the financial ecosystems of the five platforms and the perk systems embedded in each of the systems that incentivizes patrons to give support. Digital patronage represents an emerging form of sociotechnical practice that offers an alternative to advertisement-driven business models.
Activation of EP4 receptor limits transition of acute to chronic heart failure in lipoxygenase deficient mice.

Aim: Immune responsive 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15LOX)-orchestrate biosynthesis of essential inflammation-resolution mediators during acute inflammatory response in post-myocardial infarction (MI). Lack of 12/15LOX dampens proinflammatory mediator 12-(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-(S)-HETE), improves post-MI survival, through the biosynthesis of endogenous mediators epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs; cypoxins) to resolve post-MI inflammation. However, the mechanism that amplifies cypoxins-directed cardiac repair in acute heart failure (AHF) and chronic HF (CHF) remains of interest in MI-directed renal inflammation. Therefore, we determined the role of EETs in macrophage-specific receptor activation in facilitating cardiac repair in 12/15LOX deficient mice experiencing HF. Methods and Results: Risk-free young adult (8 -12 week-old) male C57BL/6J wild-type mice (WT; n = 43) and 12/15LOX-/- mice (n = 31) were subjected to permanent coronary artery ligation and monitored at day (d)1, d5 (as acute HF), and d28 to d56 (8 weeks; chronic HF) post-surgery maintaining no-MI mice that served as d0 naive controls. Left ventricle (LV) infarcted area of 12/15LOX-/- mice displayed an increase in expression of prostanoid receptor EP4 along with monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 CCL2 in AHF and CHF. The transcriptome analysis of isolated leukocytes (macrophages/neutrophils) from infarcted LV revealed a higher expression of EP4 on reparative macrophages expressing MRC-1 in 12/15LOX-/- mice. Deletion of 12/15LOX differentially modulated the miRNA levels, downregulating miR-23a-3p (~20 fold; p < 0.05) and upregulating miR-125a-5p (~160 fold; p < 0.05) in AHF which promoted polarization of the macrophages towards reparative phenotype. Furthermore, 12/15LOX deletion markedly attenuated renal inflammation with reduced levels of NGAL and KIM-1 and apoptotic markers in the kidney during CHF. Conclusion: In risk-free mice during physiological cardiac repair, absence of 12/15LOX promoted reparative macrophages with marked activation of EP4 signaling thereby improving post-MI survival and limiting renal inflammation in acute and advanced HF. The future studies are warranted to advance the role of EETs in macrophage receptor biology.
A Pilot Study of Surgical Trainee Participation in Humanitarian Surgeries.

Abstract Background The impact of general surgery resident participation on operative case time and postoperative complications has been broadly studied in the United States. Although surgical trainee involvement in international humanitarian surgical care is escalating, there is limited information as to how this participation affects care rendered. This study examines the impact of trainee involvement on case length and immediate postoperative complications with regard to operations in low- and middle-income settings. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of humanitarian surgeries completed during annual short-term surgical missions performed by the International Surgical Health Initiative to Ghana and Peru. Between 2017 and 2019, procedures included inguinal hernia repairs and total abdominal hysterectomies (TAHs). Operative records were reviewed for case type, duration, and immediate postoperative complications. Cases were categorized as involving two attending co-surgeons (AA) or one attending and resident assistant (RA). Results There were 135 operative cases between 2017 and 2019; the majority (82%) involved a resident assistant. There were no statistically significant differences in case times between the attending assistant (AA) and resident assistant (RA) cohorts in both case types. All 23 postoperative complications were classified as Clavien-Dindo Grade I. In addition, resident assistance did not lead to a statistically significant increase in complication rate; 26% in the AA cohort versus 74% in the RA cohort (P = 0.3). Conclusions This pilot study examining 135 operative cases over 2 y of humanitarian surgeries demonstrates that there were no differences in operative duration or complication rates between the AA and RA cohorts. We propose that surgical trainee involvement in low- and middle-income settings do not adversely impact operative case times or postoperative complications.
Some Thoughts Concerning Transfer Learning, with Applications to Meta-Analysis and Data-Sharing Estimation

A deeply entrenched axiom in the theory of learning states that the more one learns the easier it is to learn. In other words, the more proficient one becomes in performing familiar tasks, the easier it is to learn new tasks. This phenomenon, long recognized by psychologists and educators, has also been demonstrated in machine learning, especially in self-taught classification tasks, where unlabeled samples are used during training (Thrun, 1996; Ando and Zhang 2005; Caruana 1997). It has been shown, for example, that the performance of an image classifier can be improved by initially giving it unlimited access to unlabeled, randomly chosen images downloaded from the Internet (Raina etal 2007). Evidently, at this initial stage of the process the classifier learns generic relationships, applicable to all visual patterns and, subsequently, when the classifier is trained with limited samples from a specific target domain (say, to distinguish elephants from rhinos), the classifier makes use of its previously learned knowledge to perform the target task more efficiently.
Correlation Structures between Satellite All-Sky Infrared Brightness Temperatures and the Atmospheric State at Storm Scales

This study explores the structures of the correlations between infrared (IR) brightness temperatures (BTs) from the three water vapor channels of the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) onboard the GOES-16 satellite and the atmospheric state. Ensemble-based data assimilation techniques such as the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) rely on correlations to propagate innovations of BTs to increments of model state variables. Because the three water vapor channels are sensitive to moisture in different layers of the troposphere, the heights of the strongest correlations between these channels and moisture in clear-sky regions are closely related to the peaks of their respective weighting functions. In cloudy regions, the strongest correlations appear at the cloud tops of deep clouds, and ice hydrometeors generally have stronger correlations with BT than liquid hydrometeors. The magnitudes of the correlations decrease from the peak value in a column with both vertical and horizontal distance. Just how the correlations decrease depend on both the cloud scenes and the cloud structures, as well as the model variables. Horizontal correlations between BTs and moisture, as well as hydrometeors, in fully cloudy regions decrease to almost 0 at about 30 km. The horizontal correlations with atmospheric state variables in clear-sky regions are broader, maintaining non-zero values out to ∼100 km. The results in this study provide information on the proper choice of cut-off radii in horizontal and vertical localization schemes for the assimilation of BTs. They also provide insights on the most efficient and effective use of the different water vapor channels.
Rebranding School Health: The Power of Education for Health Literacy.

Background The relationship between health and learning generally goes without question in developed countries, and has a philosophic, economic, and statutory basis. Historically, school health and school health education have evolved in response to addressing the public health needs of the times. Health literacy skills are more important now than ever. Living in an ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic reminds us of the vital role of being in control of our health, wherein health literacy plays a "life or death" role in our daily lives. Methods Considering the evolution of school health education, we examine the significance of health literacy in our society and schools in contemporary times. Results We must take a critical look at a place for education for health literacy and why it should be an innovative path in adaptive, reimagined, and revitalized schools. Conclusions It is time to rebrand school health in general, and school health education specifically. Improved health literacy is an asset leading to greater opportunities for health and life-long learning.
State dependent effects on the frequency response of prestin's real and imaginary components of nonlinear capacitance.

The outer hair cell (OHC) membrane harbors a voltage-dependent protein, prestin (SLC26a5), in high density, whose charge movement is evidenced as a nonlinear capacitance (NLC). NLC is bell-shaped, with its peak occurring at a voltage, Vh, where sensor charge is equally distributed across the plasma membrane. Thus, Vh provides information on the conformational state of prestin. Vh is sensitive to membrane tension, shifting to positive voltage as tension increases and is the basis for considering prestin piezoelectric (PZE). NLC can be deconstructed into real and imaginary components that report on charge movements in phase or 90 degrees out of phase with AC voltage. Here we show in membrane macro-patches of the OHC that there is a partial trade-off in the magnitude of real and imaginary components as interrogation frequency increases, as predicted by a recent PZE model (Rabbitt in Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 17:21880-21888, 2020). However, we find similar behavior in a simple 2-state voltage-dependent kinetic model of prestin that lacks piezoelectric coupling. At a particular frequency, Fis, the complex component magnitudes intersect. Using this metric, Fis, which depends on the frequency response of each complex component, we find that initial Vh influences Fis; thus, by categorizing patches into groups of different Vh, (above and below - 30 mV) we find that Fis is lower for the negative Vh group. We also find that the effect of membrane tension on complex NLC is dependent, but differentially so, on initial Vh. Whereas the negative group exhibits shifts to higher frequencies for increasing tension, the opposite occurs for the positive group. Despite complex component trade-offs, the low-pass roll-off in absolute magnitude of NLC, which varies little with our perturbations and is indicative of diminishing total charge movement, poses a challenge for a role of voltage-driven prestin in cochlear amplification at very high frequencies.
Reconstructed Performance of the Supersonic Parachute of the Mars InSight Lander

On 26 November 2018, the Mars InSight lander successfully touched down at Elysium Planitia and began its 26 month prime mission. The entry, descent, and landing sequence of InSight included an 11.8...
Newton as Philosopher: Newton as philosopher, the very idea

What does it mean to treat Newton as a philosopher? We cannot identify any overarching philosophical position with Newton, as we identify dualism with Descartes, monism with Spinoza, or even classical empiricism with Locke. Newton never wrote a systematic philosophical treatise of the order of the Meditations , the Ethics , or the Essay . This was a significant choice, for he was perfectly familiar with such treatises, having already analyzed some in his youth. Even in his voluminous correspondence, and in his most important unpublished manuscripts, we do not find a systematic engagement with metaphysical issues akin to Descartes's. Newton positioned himself as a strong critic of Cartesianism, but his response to Descartes is significant as much for its lacunae as for its central claims. Thus these canonical philosophical figures, with their canonical texts, cannot serve as a model here. To treat Newton as a philosopher might simply be to avoid an anachronistic characterization of his intellectual milieu. As scholars of the early modern period regularly note, the intellectual categories and disciplines of Newton's day – which ranges, roughly, from 1660 until 1730 – differ radically from our own. What we would consider to be separate fields of study – for instance, aspects of what we categorize as philosophy, especially metaphysics and epistemology, the physical sciences, and even theology – were interwoven into one overarching field called natural philosophy.
Ribosomal RNA synthesis in the germinating black eye pea (Vigna unguiculata: I. The effect of cycloheximide on RNA synthesis in the early stages of germination

Abstract 1. The 32 P-labeling pattern of ribosomes and rRNA in the germinating seedlings of black eye pea ( Vigna unguiculata indicates that ribosomes are synthesized during the first 16–24 h of germination. 2. Inhibitors of protein synthesis (cycloheximide) and of RNA synthesis (actinomycin D) inhibit growth of the seedling. 5-Fluorouracil is less effective and puromycin is ineffective, perhaps because of low uptake of this antibiotic by these seedlings. 3. Cycloheximide given over a 12-h period causes (a) a break down of the polyribosomes to monomeric ribosomes, (b) inhibition of the synthesis of rRNA and (c) slowing of transport of nuclear RNA to the cytoplasm. 4. The inhibition of synthesis and transport of rRNA is a consequence of the effect of cycloheximide on the inhibition of protein synthesis, since these effects are not seen at reduced cycloheximide concentrations where protein synthesis is not appreciably affected. 5. The existence of 5-S rRNA in the pea is established. It has been observed that the synthesis of both 5-S RNA and tRNA is inhibited by cycloheximide. There is found no evidence, however, for a retardation of transport of these species of RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm by cycloheximide.
Histamine‐2 Receptor Antagonist Use and Incident Dementia in an Older Cohort

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether histamine-2 receptor antagonist medications (H2RAs) are associated with a lower incidence of all-cause dementia or Alzheimer's disease (AD), as some studies have suggested. DESIGN: Prospective population-based cohort SETTING: Group Health, an integrated health maintenance organization, Seattle, Washington. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand nine hundred twenty-three participants aged 65 and older without dementia at baseline, with initial recruitment between 1994 and 1996. MEASUREMENTS: Follow-up occurred every 2 years to identify incident dementia and AD using standard criteria. Exposure to H2RAs was determined based on automated pharmacy data. Three aspects of exposure (time-varying) were examined based on standard daily dose (SDD): cumulative use, intensity of use (highest SDD in any prior 2-year window), and cumulative use stratified according to recency (1�3 years vs >3 years before). RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up of 6.7 years, 585 subjects developed dementia (453 developed AD). Total cumulative exposure was not associated with dementia (P=.35; omnibus test) or AD (P=.23). The adjusted hazard ratios for the highest exposure category (>1,080 SDDs) compared with light or no use were 1.28 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.95�1.72) for dementia and 1.41 (95% CI=1.00�1.97) for AD. Intensity of use was not associated with dementia (P=.39) or AD (P=.63). Examining exposure according to recent and distant cumulative use also showed no association with dementia (P=.11) or AD (P=.30). CONCLUSION: No association was found between H2RA use and risk of all-cause dementia or AD using more-detailed and -extensive information about past H2RA use than any prior study.
An STS content map of human chromosome 11: localization of 910 YAC clones and 109 islands.

Abstract Physical mapping of human chromosomes at a resolution of 100 kb to 1 Mb will provide important reagents for gene identification and framework templates for ultimately determining the complete DNA sequence. Sequence-tagged site (STS) content mapping, coupled with large fragment cloning in yeast artificial chromosomes, provides an efficient mechanism for producing first-generation, low-resolution maps of human chromosomes. Previously, we produced a set of standardized STSs for human chromosome 11 regionally localized by fluorescence in situ hybridization or somatic cell hybrid analysis. In this paper, we used these as well as other STSs to map over 900 YAC clones to chromosome 11, organize yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones into contigs by STS content, and identify 109 islands spanning an estimated 218 Mb on the 126-Mb chromosome. Since about 62% of the islands contain markers ordered on chromosome 11 by genetic or radiation hybrid analysis, this data set represents a first-order approximation of a physical map of human chromosome 11. This set of clones, contigs, and associated STSs will provide the material for the production of a continuous overlapping set of YACs as well for high-resolution physical mapping based upon sampled and complete DNA sequencing.
A Vision for the U.S. Forest Service : Goals for Its Next Century

What lies ahead for America's first conservation-based agency and what objectives should it set? In this celebration of the Forest Service's 100th anniversary, contributors offer broad reflections on the agency's past and future, the use and stewardship of public lands and analyses of the science involved in the practice of "scientific management". They provide ideas for evaluating the performance of the Forest Service, reshaping its mission, enhancing its effectiveness, improving internal morale and increasing public participation in the agency. The contributors intend to stimulate renewed attention to an agency that has had a history of both distinction and controversy. The topics covered were first presented at a national conference sponsored by Resources for the Future and the US Forest Service.
Evaluation of radiation dose to cardiac and pulmonary tissue among patients with stage IV Wilms tumor and pulmonary metastases.

Background Most patients with stage IV Wilms tumor (WT) and pulmonary metastases are treated with surgery, local radiotherapy (RT), and whole-lung irradiation (WLI). The Children's Oncology Group is studying whether WLI should only be given if metastatic lung lesions persist following induction chemotherapy. We hypothesized that radiation dose to cardiac and pulmonary organs are increased when WLI and abdominal RT fields are administered sequentially. Procedure We retrospectively identified 16 patients with stage IV WT and pulmonary metastases to model dosimetry plans for concurrent and sequential flank or whole abdomen and whole-lung fields. Results Treatment plans were evaluated for dosimetric endpoints to the heart and the lungs. The mean dose (Gy) was significantly higher to the heart (15.8 vs. 12.1, P < 0.0001) and lungs (14.1 vs. 12.2, P < 0.0002) when patients with stage IV WT and pulmonary metastases were treated with sequential RT. The percent tissue organ volumes (V) receiving high RT doses of 15 and 20 Gy (V15 and V20) were negligible in concurrent treatment plans. Comparatively, mean V15 and V20 values for sequential treatment plans were 35% and 27%, respectively, for the heart, and 15% and 12%, for the lungs. Conclusions The dose to the heart and lung tissue is significantly increased when WLI and abdominal RT fields are administered sequentially. While omission of WLI may be beneficial for patients achieving good response to induction chemotherapy, the less favorable response group may be subjected to increased risk of cardiac and pulmonary toxicities from sequential WLI. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014; 61:1394–1397. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Difficult-to-Market Topic

Abstract Social marketing concepts are relevant to the promotion of participation in educational and social programs in the area of public health. This article presents lessons learned from recruitment efforts involving an educational project on urinary incontinence, a difficult-to-mar-ket topic. Multiple communication channels were employed to recruit participants. Project tracking records showed that attendance at a community presentation was an important determinant of eventual program enrollment. Formative evaluation contributed to recruitment and program improvement.
Oxidation-reduction reactions in Ehrlich cells treated with copper-neocuproine

Abstract The interaction of 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine or NC) and its copper complex with Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was studied. NC is frequently used as a negative control in studies of in vitro DNA degradation by copper phenanthrolines and has also found use as a potential inhibitor of damage from oxidative stress in biological systems. NC inhibited Ehrlich cell growth in monolayer culture over 48 h treatment by 50% at 0.05 nmol/105 cells. Addition of 5-to 100-fold ratios of CuCl2 to NC (at 0.035 nmol NC/105 cells) produced progressively more growth inhibition. Addition of 1:0.5 ratios of NC to CuCl2 over the range of NC concentrations 0.08–0.2 nmol/105 cells/mL resulted in DNA single-strand breakage during 1-h treatments as measured by DNA alkaline elution. Concomitant addition of catalase or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) inhibited DNA strand scission, while superoxide dismutase enhanced breakage. Catalase and DMSO also inhibited induction of membrane permeability by the copper complex of NC. These cellular effects apparently result from the intracellular generation of hydroxyl radical from H2O2. NC facilitated the uptake of copper into cells, though it was initially bound as a copper-histidine-like complex. The internalized copper was reduced to Cu(I), bound mostly as (NC)2Cu(I). To explain the (NC)2Cu-dependent generation of hydroxyl radical, it is hypothesized that glutathione successfully competes for Cu(I), converting it to a redox-active form that can catalyze the reduction of molecular oxygen to .OH. Model studies support this view. Radical scavengers did not reverse growth inhibition produced by NC or NC + CuCl2.
Quadratically Parameterized Root Locus Analysis

Classical affine root locus applies to controllers that are linear in a parameter $k$ and yield affinely parameterized closed-loop denominator polynomials. This paper presents root locus rules for controllers that are rational in $k$ and yield quadratically parameterized closed-loop denominator polynomials. We show that the quadratic root locus has several advantages relative to the classical affine root locus. Specifically, the quadratic root locus is high-parameter stabilizing for minimum-phase systems that are relative degree 1, 2, or 3. Moreover, the quadratic root locus admits a wider variety of asymptote angles, which provides more controller design flexibility. The quadratic root locus is illustrated on several examples that are difficult to handle using affine root locus, such as high-parameter stabilization of the triple integrator.
Eliminating bias in randomized cluster trials with correlated binomial outcomes.

Abstract Clustered or correlated samples with binary data are frequently encountered in biomedical studies. The clustering may be due to repeated measurements of individuals over time or may be due to subsampling of the primary sampling units. Individuals in the same cluster tend to behave more alike than individuals who belong to different clusters. This exhibition of intracluster correlation decreases the amount of information about the effect of the intervention. In the analysis of randomized cluster trials one must adjust the variance of estimator of the mean for the effect of the positive intraclass correlation ρ ;. We review selected alternative methods to the typical Pearson’s χ 2 analysis, illustrate these alternatives, and out line an alternative analysis algorithm. We have written and tested a FORTRAN program that produces the statistics outlined in this paper. The program is available in an executable format and is available from the author on request.
Explaining Vertical Integration: Lessons from the American Automobile Industry

The early history of the American automobile industry provides fertile hunting grounds for theorists seeking corroboration of various, conflicting theories of vertical integration. An examination of the whole history suggests that no single theory always fits the facts perfectly. A complete explanation must combine specific theories in a way that is attentive to such factors as industry life-cycle, demand, economies of scale, and appropriability. If there is any “general” theory, it lies in the set of “dynamic” transaction-cost approaches rather than in the asset-specificity approach now dominant.
Passive Monitoring of Fluctuating Concentrations Using Weak Sorbents

Diffusive monitoring of fluctuating concentrations is analyzed for the situation in which the concentrations of each component of a mixture to be sampled do not necessarily remain close to zero at the sorbent surfaces. Considering first samplers with a single sorbent surface, an estimate of time weighted averages (TWA) of the concentration in terms of measured mass is given which is unbiased in the limit of small concentrations. Bounds on the fluctuation-related error in this estimate are derived which may be calculated from the collected masses of any given sample. The error limits relate to both linear as well as leading non-linear regions of the empirical sorbent isotherm. The error limits imply potentially excessive error in the estimation of concentrations over averaging times as long as 8 hours. Reduction of this error and detection of breakthrough through the use of multiple sorbent surfaces is discussed.
Electric Field Enhanced Plasmid Delivery to Liver Hepatocellular Carcinomas

Electric field enhanced molecular delivery for cancer research and treatment is a new technology that has demonstrated its effectiveness in clinical trials using bleomycin or cisplatin (Heller, R., Gilbert, R., Jaroszeski, M. J. Clinical applications of electrochemotherapy, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 35,119-129, 1999), as chemotherapeutic agents. The technology is being investigated in research applications for applicability as a method to enhance gene expression in a target tumor. Success is predicated on an appropriate effective electric field mediated delivery protocol that triggers significant appropriate gene expression duration and levels. An electric field mediated delivery protocol includes a set of conditions associated with the electric field, the electroporation signature, as well as parameters associated with the plasmid and the electric field applicator. Manipulation of the electrical parameters within the electroporation signature generates different gene expression levels in liver hepatocellular carcinomas. Statistically significant gene expression levels were obtained that differed by an order of magnitude when two different electric field strength and duration conditions were employed.
Finite-size effects in presence of gravity: the behavior of the susceptibility in 3He and 4He films near the liquid-vapor critical point.

We study critical-point finite-size effects on the behavior of susceptibility of a film placed in the Earth's gravitational field. The fluid-fluid and substrate-fluid interactions are characterized by van der Waals type power-law tails, and the boundary conditions are consistent with bounding surfaces that strongly prefer the liquid phase of the system. Specific predictions are made with respect to the behavior of $^{3}\text{H}\text{e}$ and $^{4}\text{H}\text{e}$ films in the vicinity of their respective liquid-gas critical points. We find that for all film thicknesses of current experimental interest the combination of van der Waals interactions and gravity leads to substantial deviations from the behavior predicted by models in which all interatomic forces are very short ranged and gravity is absent. In the case of a completely short-ranged system exact mean-field analytical expressions are derived, within the continuum approach, for the behavior of both the local and the total susceptibilities.
A double-hurdle analysis of travel expenditure: Baby boomer seniors versus older seniors

Abstract This study examined the socio-demographic and economic determinants of leisure travel expenditure and compared these determinants in baby boomer senior households and older senior households in the United States. Unlike previous studies, this study performed Heckman's double-hurdle analysis, using the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES), to present a two-step process for making travel consumption decisions. The results revealed that more baby boomer senior households participated in leisure travels than older senior households. However, among those households that chose to travel, the mean expenditure of the older senior group was higher than for baby boomers. This study also showed similarities and differences in the determinants of travel consumption decisions between baby boomer seniors and older seniors. This two-step approach provided in-depth information on the processes involved in deciding to travel and how much to spend on travel. This additional information will be valuable in understanding senior consumers in the tourism industry.
Implementation of liquid crystal arrays as complex field modulators

An architecture for combining two twisted nematic liquid crystal arrays (LCTV's) to independently control amplitude and phase modulation of light is examined experimentally. The arrays are driven with the complex information of the inverse Fourier transform of amplitude-only images. Optical Fourier transformation is used to restore the amplitude images. Methods for experimental determination of amplitude and phase properties of LCTV's are also detailed.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Preparation of sulfur hexafluoride for isotope geochemical analysis

Abstract Sulfur hexafluoride can be prepared quantitatively and in a pure state from elemental sulfur and many sulfide minerals by the reaction with bromine trifluoride. The gas is very suitable for measurements of small differences in stable sulfur isotope ratios. The method has some advantages over those used at present.
Extension of segment protection for bandwidth efficiency and differentiated quality of protection in optical/MPLS networks

This paper investigates the problem of dynamic survivable lightpath provisioning against single-node/link failures in optical mesh networks employing wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM). We unify various forms of segment protection into generalized segment protection (GSP). In GSP, the working path of a lightpath is divided into multiple overlapping working segments, each of which is protected by a node-/link-disjoint backup segment. We design an efficient heuristic which, upon the arrival of a lightpath request, dynamically divides a judiciously selected working path into multiple overlapping working segments and computes a backup segment for each working segment while accommodating backup sharing. Compared to the widely considered shared-path protection scheme, GSP achieves much lower blocking probability and shorter protection-switching time for a small sacrifice in control and management overhead. On the basis of generalized segment protection, we present a new approach to provisioning lightpath requests according to their differentiated quality-of-protection (QoP) requirements. We focus on one of the most important QoP parameters-namely, protection-switching time-since lightpath requests may have differentiated protection-switching-time requirements. For example, lightpaths carrying voice traffic may require 50 ms protection-switching time while lightpaths carrying data traffic may have a wide range of protection-switching-time requirements. Numerical results show that our approach achieves significant performance gain which leads to a remarkable reduction in blocking probability. While our focus is on the optical WDM network, the basic ideas of our approaches can be applied to multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) networks with appropriate adjustments, e.g., differentiated bandwidth granularities.
Hall Effect and the Magnetic Properties of Some Ferromagnetic Materials

The Hall effect and the magnetic properties have been measured simultaneously with considerable accuracy in K.S. magnet steel and in hardened high carbon steel. The Hall effect is found to be a single-valued straight-line function of the intensity of magnetization I, but is neither a single-valued nor a straight-line function of either the magnetic induction B or the magnetic field H. This is true on both the virgin curves and the broad hysteresis loops of these materials. The possibility of writing the Hall e.m.f. per unit current in a cm square as e=R0H+R1I is considered. In the materials measured here R0 is less than 0.005 R1. The formula may hold for non-ferromagnetic materials, but it could not be tested so simply.
A comparison of mutations induced by accelerated iron particles versus those induced by low earth orbit space radiation in the FEM-3 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans

The fem-3 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans was employed to determine the mutation frequency as well as the nature of mutations induced by low earth orbit space radiation ambient to Space Shuttle flight STS-76. Recovered mutations were compared to those induced by accelerated iron ions generated by the AGS synchrotron accelerator at Brookhaven National Laboratory. For logistical reasons, dauer larvae were prepared at TCU, transported to either Kennedy Space Center or Brookhaven National Laboratory, flown in space or irradiated, returned to TCU and screened for mutants. A total of 25 fem-3 mutants were recovered after the shuttle flight and yielded a mutation frequency of 2.1x10(-5), roughly 3.3-fold higher than the spontaneous rate of 6.3x10(-6). Four of the mutations were homozygous inviable, suggesting that they were large deletions encompassing fem-3 as well as neighboring, essential genes. Southern blot analyses revealed that one of the 25 contained a polymorphism in fem-3, further evidence that space radiation can induce deletions. While no polymorphisms were detected among the iron ion-induced mutations, three of the 15 mutants were homozygous inviable, which is in keeping with previous observations that high LET iron particles generate deficiencies. These data provide evidence, albeit indirect, that an important mutagenic component of ambient space radiation is high LET charged particles such as iron ions.
Cyclic GMP injected into retinal rod outer segments increases latency and amplitude of response to illumination.

Abstract We have injected cyclic GMP intracellularly by iontophoresis through the recording electrode into single rod outer segments of the isolated superfused retina of the toad. Bufo marinus. The two most marked effects of the injection are: (i) the latency of the hyperpolarizing membrane-potential change caused by illumination is increased from 5 to 50 times normal, the increase in latency being inversely proportional to the light stimulus intensity; and (ii) the amplitude of the hyperpolarizing receptor potential is increased. These effects are reversible. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that cyclic GMP is a link in the molecular chain of events that controls the inward flow of sodium ions in light and darkness. The increased latency we observe after injection of cyclic GMP may be caused by a time delay necessary for light-activated phosphodiesterase to hydrolyze the excess cyclic GMP. By this reasoning the excess cyclic GMP perpetuates the dark current long after illumination. Excitation may be controlled by cyclic GMP if, as our experiments suggest, its hydrolysis initiates the hyperpolarizing receptor potential.
INTERPRETATION OF THERMAL PERTURBATION SPECTRA OF PROTEINS

The thermal perturbation difference spectrum of reduced lysozyme has a long wave length extremum at 304 nm at pH 6.15 and a very small extremum at 306 nm at pH 1.5. These results differ from those of Leach & Smith (1972), which showed an extremum at 293 nm, the same as for model tryptophyl compounds. Our result may arise from a conformational difference between the two sample temperatures. The interpretation of thermal perturbation spectra of proteins is discussed. Contributions from thermally induced concentration differences, buried chromophores, and chromophores in crevices are considered in the interpretation of the thermal perturbation spectrum of bovine serum albumin. It is suggested that chromophores in pauci-aqueous crevices may appear buried toward thermal perturbation spectroscopy but accessible toward solvent perturbation and chemical reagents.
The influence of non-beta-blocking drugs on the lipid profile: Are diuretics outclassed as initial therapy for hypertension?

Abstract Diuretic drugs, when used in the treatment of hypertension, raise the blood concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density or very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Triglycerides often increase as well. Thiazide, phthalimidine, loop, potassium-sparing, and methylindoline drugs produce a similar effect. Only indapamide, a methylindoline agent with vasodilator activity, has been free of adverse lipid effects. It remains unclear whether it is the low dose of indapamide or some other quality that frees it of this effect. In long-term diuretic therapy, total cholesterol returns to, or below, baseline values, suggesting that the lipid elevations are transitory. However, in studies with adequate control groups, total cholesterol declines below baseline valves in control subjects such that an adverse differential in lipid values persists in long-term treatment. Selective alpha-1-adrenoceptor-blocking drugs cause no change or favorable alterations in lipid concentrations in short-term and long-term (1 year) treatment. Among all antihypertensive drugs, this class of agents, and especially prazosin, has produced the most consistently salutary lipid and metabolic effects. Although less well examined, guanabenz, clonidine, guanfacine, and diltiazem have been associated with favorable lipid changes. Captropril and nifedipine have caused no change in lipid-lipoprotein values in limited investigations. These agents are preferable to diuretics and certain beta blockers with respect to short-term effects on lipids and lipoproteins. Their ultimate superiority as monotherapy depends on whether they lower blood pressure equally well. Lowering of the probability of coronary heart disease in hypertensive patients depends as much on blood pressure control as on lipid effects. Eventually, the drugs with the best antihypertensive and lipid characteristics will need to be compared to diuretics in a clinical trial. Only in this way can it be ascertained whether these theoretical considerations, based on coronary heart disease probability estimates, translate into fewer real-life coronary heart disease events.
7Be as a tracer of flood sedimentation on the northern California continental margin

Sediment inventories of the cosmogenic radionuclide 7Be (t1/2=53 d) were measured on the Eel River shelf and slope (northern California continental margin) to investigate sedimentation processes associated with coastal river flooding. Seabed coring shortly after major riverflow events in 1995 and 1997 documented a shelf-wide flood deposit, and subsequent radionuclide studies determined 7Be to be a powerful tracer of fine-grained river sediment. In addition, distinctive signatures of 234Th and 210Pb were observed in oceanic flood deposits and provided additional information regarding depositional processes. During the 1995–1997 monitoring period, 7Be was present (2–35 dpm cm-2) in shelf and slope sediments only after periods of high rainfall and river runoff during the winter months. It is suggested that fluvial input was the primary source of 7Be in shelf sediments after the floods. 7Be sediment inventories and sediment-trap fluxes determined after the 1997 flood revealed that fine-grained fluvial sediments were rapidly (within one month) broadcast over the continental margin, to the 500 m isobath. Dispersal was apparently facilitated by energetic storm waves, which resuspended and redistributed some fraction of the suspended load residing on the shelf prior to accretion as flood deposits. These observations illustrate that floods are an important sedimentary process for modern environments of the Eel shelf and slope, and perhaps for other fluviomarine sedimentary systems of the northern California continental margin. Ratios of the 210Pb sediment-accumulation rate (100 yr average) to the 7Be deposition rate (1–2 month average) for shelf sites illustrate the episodic nature of shelf sedimentation, and suggest that a minimum of 3–30 depositional events complete the most recent stratigraphic record. This observation is consistent with the magnetude and frequency of fluvial sediment input, as Eel River floods with return periods of 3–33 yr (3% of the time of record) have supplied >80% of the total 85 yr suspended load. Based on radionuclide and hydrologic data, it can be concluded that a small number of flood depositional events have had a disproportionate impact on the sedimentary record of the Eel shelf.
The rat’s adjustment to the 23-hour water-deprivation schedule under two conditions off food availability

Two groups of rats were placed on a 23-hr. water-deprivation schedule. Group F always had food available; Group NF had food available except during the daily 1-hr. water-intake period. Both groups adjusted to the schedule in 3 to 6 days; however, the weight of Group F increased after adjustment while weight of Group NF remained constant. The possibility that the groups differed in motivation level following adjustment was discussed.
CDO Squareds: The Case of Subprime Mortgages

Investment in residential subprime mortgages through structured products was at the heart of the financial crisis that began in 2007. Perhaps the most toxic such product was the CDO-squared. CDO-squareds are CDOs (collateralized debt obligations) with tranches of other CDOs serving as their collateral pool. CDO-squareds on mortgage-backed securities (ABS-CDOs) issued vast quantities of AAA rated securities that quickly fell to market values of a few cents on the dollar. This article examines ABS-CDOs with two primary purposes. First, it provides an intuitive explanation of ABS-CDOs, including their characteristics, risks, and models. Second, it performs a comprehensive sensitivity analysis of the AAA senior tranche width with respect to various parameters based on the Hull and White model of mortgage-backed securities. The authors find that ABSCDO senior tranche widths were unreasonable prior to the financial collapse that began in 2007, and they attribute the associated rating errors with the non-linearity, hyper-sensitivity, and complexity of the risks of the products with respect to their underlying parameters. Simply put, there is no reliable basis on which accurate measurements of risk can be made using existing data and theory.
Behavioral Correlates of Computed Tomographic (CT) Scan Changes in Older Psychiatric Patients

Fifty psychiatric inpatients aged 50 and over, with no hard neurologic findings, and with a variety of DSM-III diagnoses (adjustment disorder, affective illness, and dementia), were rated for behavioral and psychiatric symptoms using the Geriatric Rating Scale and the Nurse's Assessment of Global Symptomatology-Elderly. These clinical ratings were correlated with computed tomographic (CT) scan assessments of various superficial cerebral regions as well as with linear measures of ventricular size. Behavioral deficits in activities of daily living (AOL) plus an interactional variable, inability to respond to requests, were correlated with superior temporal and inferior parietal CT abnormalities, particularly on the left side. Suspiciousness and peculiar thinking, mood lability and irritability, as well as impaired memory with confusion, perplexity, and disorientation were also associated with atrophy in these same regions. Prefrontal area defects correlated with mood lability and deficits in visual-interactional responsiveness. Statistically controlling for effects of age and alcohol abuse did not alter the basic nature of these results. Regional cerebral specialization in relation to these results are discussed using concepts developed by Luria. J Am Geriatr Soc 33:96, 1985