cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Creation of a voice user interface survey for dynamic service feedback

The voice user interface survey provides an easier and more efficient way of creating surveys that is conducive to the entire population. This system allows a person to call and create a survey solely over the telephone. There is no current application found that allows users to create surveys solely over the phone. As of now, the only available surveys allow the user to create the survey over the web on the computer and then allow the user to take the survey over the telephone. This new system is hopefully a start to a new and more convenient way of creating not only surveys but other applications using voice technology alone.
The Localization of APOBEC3H Variants in HIV-1 Virions Determines Their Antiviral Activity

Several members of the human APOBEC3 family of cytidine deaminases can potently restrict retroviruses such as HIV-1. The single-domain APOBEC3H (A3H) is encoded by four haplotypes, of which only A3H haplotype II-RDD (hapII-RDD) restricts HIV-1 efficiently. The goal of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the differences in antiviral activity among A3H haplotypes. The naturally occurring A3H hapI-GKE and hapII-RDD variants differ at three amino acid positions. A panel of six site-directed mutants containing combinations of the three variable residues was used to determine A3H protein expression, requirements of A3H virion incorporation, and A3H-Gag interactions. The catalytic activity of each A3H protein was assessed directly by using an Escherichia coli mutator assay. We found that the incorporation efficiencies of A3H variants into HIV-1 virions were comparable despite major differences in cellular expression. An assessment of the enzymes' catalytic activities showed that the deaminase activity of each A3H variant correlated with protein expression, suggesting similar enzymatic efficiencies. Surprisingly, virion incorporation experiments using Gag deletion mutants demonstrated that A3H haplotypes interacted with different Gag regions. A3H hapII-RDD associated with nucleocapsid in an RNA-dependent manner, whereas A3H hapI-GKE associated with the C-terminal part of matrix and the N-terminal capsid domain. Our results show that the A3H hapII-RDD interaction with nucleocapsid is critical for its antiviral activity and that the inability of A3H hapI-GKE to interact with nucleocapsid underlies its limited antiviral potential. Thus, the antiviral activity of A3H haplotypes is determined by its incorporation into the viral core, in proximity to the reverse transcription complex.
Passageways of cooperation: Mutuality in post-socialist Tanzania

The paper enquires into the practices of cooperation and mutuality that are reproduced in contemporary mutual help groups of post-socialist Tanzania. Diverse associations of cooperative work and mutual security are on the rise in globalizing African communities. Local institutions of mutual assistance are becoming increasingly important in regulating access to resources and redefining socialities in environments of persistent instability. Mutual help groups among Kuria people have emerged as institutions for facilitating exchange through relationally oriented expansion that enables the rise of new economic niches and social identities. A complex intermingling of diverse organizational features has enabled the associations to engage novel types of resources and categories of participants. The paper examines hybrid and haphazard elements of formalization that occur with the regularizing of work reciprocities and the increasing use of monetary loans and savings. Exploring culturally relevant metaphors of life-sustaining flows and passageways, indispensable for individual and social growth, the article investigates the value conversions mediated by the groups and their impacts on wider public spaces in Tanzanian communities. L’article s’interesse aux pratiques de cooperation et de mutualite qui sont reproduites dans les groupes contemporains d’entraide en Tanzanie post-socialiste. Diverses associations de travail cooperatif et de securite mutuelle se developpent au sein des communautes africaines en contexte de mondialisation. Les institutions locales d’assistance mutuelle prennent de plus en plus d’importance dans la regulation de l’acces aux ressources et la redefinition des socialites dans des contextes d’instabilite persistante. Chez les Kuria, les groupes d’entraide sont devenus des institutions de facilitation de l’echange a travers une expansion orientee vers le relationnel qui favorise l’essor de nouvelles niches economiques et identites sociales. Un entremelement complexe de caracteristiques organisationnelles diverses a permis aux associations de mobiliser de nouveaux types de ressources et categories de participants. L’article examine les elements hybrides et desordonnes de formalisation qui surviennent avec la regularisation des reciprocites du travail et l’utilisation croissante du pret monetaire et de l’epargne. En explorant les metaphores culturellement pertinentes de flux et passages vitaux, indispensables au developpement individuel et social, l’article examine les conversions de valeur mediees par les groupes et leur impact sur les espaces publics au sens large au sein des communautes tanzaniennes.
Localization of tryptase to human cutaneous mast cells and keratinocytes by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase cytochemistry with monoclonal antitryptase antibody

Abstract A monoclonal antibody (H4) against tryptase purified from human pulmonary mast cells was prepared and used as an immunoreactive marker for the cellular localization of tryptase in normal human skin and in lesional skin from subjects with systemic mastocytosis. Mast cells had characteristic metachromatic staining of cytoplasmic granules with Giemsa reagent and were detected in small numbers about superficial vessels in the papillary dermis of nonlesional skin and in large numbers about deep as well as superficial vessels of lesional skin. By both direct immunofluorescence with fluorescein isothiocyanate-H4 and indirect immunoperoxidase cytochemistry with H4, all mast cells were selectively stained. The reactivity was confined to the cytoplasm and was granular in character. In addition, keratinocytes in epidermal tissue and in cell suspensions stained diffusely with H4 antibody. A tryptase-like activity that cleaved tosyl-l-arginine methyl ester (0.003 U/10 6 cells) and was not inhibited by soy bean and lima bean trypsin inhibitors was detected in sonicated suspensions of purified epidermal keratinocytes. Monoclonal antitryptase antibody represents an immunologic probe for the presence of tryptase, a preformed mediator of human mast cells, in tissues and cells.
The present status of serodiagnosis and seroepidemiology of schistosomiasis.

Abstract The literature of the past 4–5 yr on serodiagnosis and seroepidemiology of schistosomiasis is reviewed. A variety of assays with different antigens are being used for serodiagnosis. Several purified antigens appear to be sensitive and specific, but have little if any capability of indicating duration of infection, parasite burden, or effect of chemotherapy. The results of long-term posttherapy field studies indicate that serology has a role in monitoring control programs. Standardized serologic assays and the need for International Standard Reference Sera are emphasized. A standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on the Falcon Assay Screening Test® system (FAST-ELISA), and involving a standard reference serum pool, is suitable for both serodiagnosis and field studies. Measurement of circulating antigens as a parameter of active infection is considered to have increased potential, compared with antibody measurement, in management of clinical disease and in control programs. Recombinant DNA technology may be useful for producing standard antigens for use in assays measuring antibody or circulating antigen. Time-resolved immunofluorescence involving europium-labeled conjugates may provide the increased assay sensitivity needed for measurement of circulating antigen.
Learning from explaining: does it matter if mom is listening?

The goal of the current study was to examine whether explaining to another person improves learning and transfer. In the study, 4- and 5-year-olds (N = 54) solved multiple classification problems, received accuracy feedback, and were prompted to explain the correct solutions to their moms, to explain the correct solutions to themselves, or to repeat the solutions. Generating explanations (to selves or moms) improved problem-solving accuracy at posttest, and explaining to mom led to the greatest problem-solving transfer. The study indicates that explanation prompts can facilitate transfer in children as young as 5 years and reveals that it matters if mom is listening.
Megestrol Acetate Treatment of Growth Failure in Children Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Objective. To evaluate the effect of megestrol acetate on weight gain and linear growth in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children with growth failure. Methods. All human immunodeficiency virus-infected children with growth failure treated with megestrol acetate at our institution were evaluated retrospectively. Weight, height, and weight:height ratio were documented from 6 months before initiation of megestrol acetate until 6 months after treatment was discontinued. Measurements were corrected for age and sex by conversion to z-scores. Incremental growth was determined before, during, and after treatment. The potential effects of CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and percentage, antiretroviral therapy, and intercurrent illnesses on growth were evaluated. Results. Nineteen patients were treated with a total of 27 courses of megestrol acetate. The median duration of therapy was 7 months (range, 3 to 11 months), and the median megestrol acetate dose was 7.91 mg/kg/day (range, 4.06 to 8.56 mg/kg/day). From 6 months and 3 months before treatment to the onset of therapy, median changes in weight z-scores were -.27 and -.15, respectively. During megestrol acetate treatment, median changes in weight z-scores were +.29 after month of therapy, +.40 after 3 months, and +.57 after 6 months. After megestrol acetate therapy was discontinued, poor weight gain and weight loss resumed. Median 6-month growth velocities for weight were less than the 10th percentile before megestrol acetate, greater than the 97th percentile during treatment, and less than the 3rd percentile after treatment was discontinued. Megestrol acetate therapy was not associated with changes in linear growth. Antiretroviral therapy, CD4+ T-lymphocyte count or percentage, or intercurrent illnesses were not associated with statistically significant differences in response to megestrol acetate therapy. Conclusions. Megestrol acetate treatment of growth failure in pediatric human immunodeficiency virus disease is associated with weight gain, without affecting linear growth. Pediatrics 1997;99:354-357; human immunodeficiency virus, growth failure, megestrol acetate, nutrition.
A mobility and congestion resilient data management system for distributed mobile networks

Data sharing is one of the most popular applications that dominate 70% of data traffic on the Internet. This application has been penetrating wireless mobile networks with dramatic speed, which allows the sharing of data whenever and wherever. However, traditional client-server data sharing model suffers from single point failure and low-scalable transmission in a highly dense and dynamic scenario. MANET is a promising alternative structure for flexible and distributed data sharing. However, the topology-based flooding employed in MANETs for data routing and querying prevents the data sharing system from achieving high scalability and robustness. Building a DHT on a MANET reduces data query overhead, but the inconsistency between the overlay and the underlying topology degrade system's performance. Geographic routing based data sharing in MANETs reduces the data routing overhead. However, it has more requirements (e.g. GPS) on the nodes. This paper presents a Locality-based distRibuted Data sharing system (LORD) for mobility and congestion resilient data management. LORD consists of a DHT-based data index and retrieval protocol and a locality-aware region-based data routing protocol. It provides highly efficient, scalable and dynamism-resilient data sharing with low overhead. Moreover, it offers similarity data searching function. Theoretical analysis and simulation results show the superiority of LORD compared with other data sharing systems in terms of scalability, overhead and dynamism-resilience in a highly dense and dynamic MANET.
Determination of the Jumps of a Bounded Function by Its Fourier Series

The well-known identity which determines the jumps of a function of bounded variation by its Fourier series is extended to larger classes of functions, such asV?,?BV, andVv], under some conditions on the generalized variations. It is shown as well that the conditions on the generalized variations are definitive in some sense. Based on the above-mentioned results, an identity which determines the jumps of a bounded function by its Fourier series with respect to the system of generalized Jacobi polynomials is obtained for these function classes.
Cerebral, renal, and splanchnic tissue oxygen saturation values in healthy term newborns.

Objective To determine cerebral regional tissue oxygen saturation (CrSO2), renal regional tissue oxygen saturation (RrSO2), and splanchnic regional tissue oxygen saturation (SrSO2) values in healthy term infants. Study Design Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to simultaneously measure CrSO2, RrSO2, and SrSO2 continuously for a 1-hour period on the first and second days of life. Results A total of 41 subjects were monitored out of which complete data were available for 38 subjects. Mean CrSO2 was 78.2 ± 7.9% on first day; 78.3 ± 6.1% on second day (p = 0.95). Mean RrSO2 was 92.1 ± 5.3% on first day; 88.9 ± 5.9% on second day (p Conclusion There appears to be consistency in rSO2 values in healthy newborns. CrSO2 was similar on both days. Differences observed in RrSO2 and SrSO2 between days may represent a shift in somatic blood flow distribution taking place during the first day of life.
Intraspinal course of descending serotoninergic pathways innervating the rodent dorsal horn and lamina X.

Although numerous studies have discussed serotoninergic pathways projecting from the brainstem to the spinal cord, the intraspinal course of these descending axons remains a matter of debate. One of the difficulties with traditional immunohistochemical methods is that the interpretation of results has been subjective. We have therefore employed a computer-assisted imageprocessing system to provide objective measurements of serotonin immunoreactivity within the rodent dorsal horn and lamina X caudal to unilateral thoracic cordotomy in order to establish the intraspinal course of descending serotoninergic fibers. Lesion analysis combined with computer-determined optical density measurements, high-power microscopic examination, and camera lucida drawings demonstrated that the predominant serotoninergic pathway terminating within the dorsal horn courses unilaterally within the dorsal portion of the dorsolateral funiculus. The thoracic dorsal horn may receive a slightly greater contribution from the contralateral side than the lumbar dorsal horn. Lamina X receives serotoninergic innervation both from fibers descending within the ipsilateral dorsolateral funiculus and from more ventrally located ipsilateral pathways, and it also contains serotonin derived from other sources.
The Rapid Identification of Bacteria Using Time-Resolved Fluorescence and Fluorescence Excitation Spectral Methods

Time-resolved fluorescence spectra have been obtained for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Enterobacter cloacae. Pseudomonas fluorescens has been shown to have distinctly different time-resolved spectra. Fluorescence excitation spectra for the three other organisms showing similar time-resolved spectra are very nearly alike, while spectra of Pseudomonas fluorescens are markedly different. This suggests that the changes in the average fluorescence lifetime with emission wavelength are due to the separate contributions from fluorophores of distinctly different lifetimes which have emission maxima at different wavelengths.
Tests of objectification theory in gay, lesbian, and heterosexual community samples: Mixed evidence for proposed pathways.

Objectification theory (Fredrickson and Roberts 1997) proposes that women are especially vulnerable to eating disordered behavior when they live in cultures in which their bodies are a constant focus of evaluation. The current study examined whether predictions of objectification theory involving the associations among sexual objectification, body surveillance, body shame, and eating disordered behavior were supported in groups that varied by both gender and sexual orientation. Adults from a U.S. community sample in the Chicago area (92 heterosexual women; 102 heterosexual men; 87 gay men; and 99 lesbian women) completed self-report measures of these constructs. Results suggest that group differences in experiences of sexual objectification and body surveillance may partially explain gender and sexual orientation-based differences in eating disordered behavior.
Brain natriuretic peptide predicts serious cardiac allograft rejection independent of hemodynamic measurements.

Abstract Background Serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been reported to be elevated in heart transplant recipients with both cellular and vascular rejection. Whether BNP can be used to help predict the severity of rejection is not well established. Methods We analyzed serial BNP measurements obtained during endomyocardial biopsy procedures in consecutive heart transplant patients occurring >45 days after transplantation. To eliminate potential confounding from prior rejection episodes, we included only observations in which the previous biopsy grade was 0 or 1A. Multivariable linear regression was performed examining the outcome of increasing seriousness of rejection, defined as grade 0 Results There were 77 patients, with 161 separate observations. Median time between transplantation and first assessment was 6.0 months (interquartile range, 2.1, 31.6). Using multivariable linear regression, 3 factors were significantly associated with biopsy score: pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ( p p = 0.003), and heart rate ( p = 0.01). Even after other significant univariable predictors (including pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) were forced into the model, BNP remained a significant predictor of biopsy score ( p = 0.02). Log BNP was a significant univariable predictor of vascular rejection, with an odds ratio of 12.55 (per 1 unit increase, 95% confidence interval 3.43–45.84; p = 0.0001) and a model c-statistic of 0.91. Conclusions BNP predicts new episodes of serious cardiac allograft rejection, particularly vascular rejection, independent of hemodynamic measurements, and may be a useful part of rejection surveillance.
Whose Voices Are Heard? Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Newspaper Sources

A content analysis of 243 U.S. newspaper articles about same-sex marriage from the Boston Globe, the Plain Dealer, the Oklahoman, and the San Francisco Chronicle was conducted. Hypotheses predicted that male sources would outnumber female sources; that gay male sources would outnumber lesbian sources; and that male sources would express more negative views toward same-sex marriage than female sources. Results showed that male sources were over three times as common as female sources. Gay male and lesbian sources were found at near-equal rates in the Boston Globe and the San Francisco Chronicle, but were almost absent from the Plain Dealer and the Oklahoman. Male sources expressed negative views toward same-sex marriage more frequently than female sources.
A Hybrid Method for Parametric Conceptual Vehicle Design Using Legacy Components and Parametric Surfaces

Early conceptual design is one of the most important stages in vehicle product development. At this stage, vehicle design information is limited. In many cases, historical or benchmark vehicle data are used as surrogates in decision making. Some of the legacy components may be reused in the new vehicle design in order to reduce development and manufacturing costs. Nowadays, parametric modeling methods have been developed and employed for conceptual vehicle design. However, how to quickly reuse the previous design and legacy vehicle data in parametric design is still a challenge. A hybrid method for parametric conceptual vehicle design is presented in this paper, which uses both legacy components and parametric surfaces. This method allows easy reuse of historical data together with new parametric surfaces for early vehicle design. It enables mix and match of legacy components with newly designed parametric surfaces in representing a new design. This method provides a systematic way to enforce the commonality and reusability in a vehicle design.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Mouse PeP: A novel peroxisomal protein linked to myoblast differentiation and development

The identification of several peroxisomal proteins in the past decade has deepened our understanding of the biology of peroxisomes and their involvement in human disorders. We report the cloning and expression pattern during the mouse development of a cDNA encoding a novel protein, named PeP, and show that its product is imported specifically to the peroxisome matrix in a variety of cell types. We also demonstrate that PeP is imported to the organelle through the PEX5 receptor pathway, which indicates that the C-terminal tripeptide SKI behaves as a type 1 peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS1). PeP expression is tightly regulated, as shown by Northern and in situ hybridization experiments. Thus during embryonic development in the mouse, PeP mRNA is detected almost exclusively in the skeletal muscle, whereas in adult mice, strong expression is also found in the heart and brain. In addition, PeP mRNA accumulation is induced after myoblast differentiation in vitro, when myotube formation is promoted. Sequence analysis reveals that PeP has no significant homology to any known protein, except for a short stretch of amino acids containing the fingerprint of the fibronectin type III superfamily, a domain present in proteins often related to molecular and cellular recognition and binding processes. Thus our data suggest a connection between the function of PeP and murine cell differentiation and development.
Addressing Channel Mismatch through Speaker Discriminative Transforms

This paper presents a discriminative criterion applied to Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) to reduce handset mismatch. The criterion is related to the log-likelihood-ratio (LLR) scoring approach commonly used in GMMs for speaker recognition. The algorithm attempts to perform a direct mapping of features from one channel type to an assumed undistorted target channel but with the goal of maximizing speaker discrimination using the transform. The transform attempts to maximize the posterior probability of a group of speaker models given their corresponding speech observations recorded on a different channel
Medium effects on fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes for coumarin laser dyes

Abstract Fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes of coumarin dyes are sharply reduced in polar solvents if amine substituent groups are free to rotate. The polar solvent effect is interpreted in terms of relaxation of excited dye from an initial planar conformation to a twisted zwitterionic state.
Neuronal Kir3.1/Kir3.2a channels coupled to serotonin 1A and muscarinic m2 receptors are differentially modulated by the ‘short’ RGS3 isoform

Abstract ‘Regulators of G protein signaling’ (RGS proteins) have profound effects on ion channels regulated by G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, including the G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels that inhibit excitability of neuronal, endocrine, and cardiac cells. Here we describe the effects of an alternatively spliced ‘short’ RGS3 isoform (RGS3s) in comparison to RGS4, on the temporal and steady-state gating properties of neuronal GIRK channels (Kir3.1/Kir3.2a) activated by either serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptors or muscarinic m2 receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells. RGS3s is abundantly expressed in brain and contains a unique short N-terminus via alternative splicing that distinguishes it from other RGS3 isoforms as well as other members of the B/R4 RGS gene subfamily. Our results indicate that RGS3s and RGS4 similarly affect the temporal and steady-state gating properties of 5-HT1A receptor-coupled Kir3.1/Kir3.2a channels, but differentially modulate muscarinic m2 receptor-coupled channels. RGS3s caused a significant ∼45% reduction in the maximal acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked GIRK current amplitude and a marked shift in the steady-state ACh dose–response relation indicative of a reduction in functionally coupled m2 receptor-GIRK channel complexes. Yet RGS3s still accelerated the m2 receptor-dependent GIRK activation, deactivation, and acute desensitization time course consistent with the RGS-enhanced GAP activity that was also observed with RGS4. Several mechanisms that may contribute to the receptor-dependent effects of RGS3s are discussed with particular attention to the role of the distinct N-terminal domain. Our findings highlight the potential impact of selective RGS-GPCR interactions on neuronal GIRK channel function that may affect the properties of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials activated by different GPCR-GIRK channel complexes.
Age and Task Parameters in Continuous Performance Tests for Preschoolers

66 children (M=56.2 mo., SD=10.9), recruited from preschool and daycare centers, were administered two continuous performance tests, one auditory and one visual. Both tests utilized a format with one target and one nontarget. Interstimulus interval was fixed at 1350 msec. for the visual test and 5000 msec. for the auditory test. The visual test produced greater rates of omission and commission errors than the auditory test. Age was significantly related to mean reaction time and response variability for both tests; however, the visual test produced an unexpected pattern of increasing response time across age groups. On both tests omission rates improved significantly with age, while commission rates were consistent across ages 3-6 years. When considering continuous performance test paradigms for preschoolers, 3-yr.-olds may need at least a 4000-msec. interstimulus interval to make a choice for the stimulus cue. Hits following an interstimulus interval shorter than 1400 msec. may reflect younger preschoolers' response to a previous stimulus.
Phase and level difference fusion for robust multichannel source separation

Inter-channel phase (IPD) and level (ILD) differences are common features in multichannel source separation algorithms like DUET and MENUET. However, their utility depends strongly on the configuration of the array and what microphone pairs are used to calculate them. IPDs are most useful when extracted from microphones that are close together as this avoids spatial aliasing. In contrast, ILD clusters are only well separated for widely spaced microphones. We investigate this trade-off between IPD and ILD features and propose a method to best combine them for multichannel source separation. Experimental results demonstrate the utility of this approach.
Squaraine Rotaxanes with Boat Conformation Macrocycles

Mechanical encapsulation of fluorescent, deep-red bis(anilino)squaraine dyes inside Leigh-type tetralactam macrocycles produces interlocked squaraine rotaxanes. The surrounding macrocycles are flexible and undergo rapid exchange of chair and boat conformations in solution. A series of X-ray crystal structures show how the rotaxane co-conformational exchange process involves simultaneous lateral oscillation of the macrocycle about the center of the encapsulated squaraine thread. Rotaxane macrocycles with 1,4-phenylene sidewalls and 2,6-pyridine dicarboxamide bridging units are more likely to adopt boat conformations in the solid state than analogous squaraine rotaxane systems with isophthalamide-containing macrocycles. A truncated squaraine dye, with a secondary amine attached directly to the central C4O2 core, is less electrophilic than the extended bis(anilino)squaraine analogue, but it is still susceptible to chemical and photochemical bleaching. Its stability is greatly enhanced when it is encapsulated...
Sand-digging in mice: Functional autonomy?

Mice which learned to dig nine lbs. of sand for food reward displayed little performance decrement when extinguished, replicating previous findings. In addition, it was found that: (a) mice will dig whether or not food is present in the goal box; (b) although all mice dig, food reward and deprivation significantly increase rate of digging. The results provide no evidence for “functional autonomy”.
Improved 4- and 6-Hour Myocardial Preservation by Hypoxic Preconditioning

Background A brief hypoxic episode can precondition myocardium against a subsequent ischemic-reperfusion injury. The present study sought to determine whether intracellular ionic alterations, induced expression of heat-shock proteins (hsps), and/or catalase are involved in the cellular mechanisms by which hypoxic preconditioning can preserve postischemic function in a model of prolonged hypothermic storage. Methods and Results Two groups of isolated working rat hearts were studied: control (CON) and hypoxically preconditioned (HP) hearts. Hearts were arrested at 4°C with St Thomas’ cardioplegic solution and immersion-stored for either a 4- or 6-hour period. Myocardial function (ie, heart rate, aortic flow, coronary flow, developed pressure, and its first derivative dP/dtmax) was determined at baseline, after preconditioning, and during reperfusion. At similar time points, myocardial [Na+]i, [K+]i, [Mg2+]i, and [Ca2+]i were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and the induction of hsp 70 and catalase mRNAs was assayed using Northern blot analysis. After 4 and 6 hours of hypothermic storage, aortic flow, dP/dtmax, and [K+]i were increased, whereas [Na+]i and [Ca2+]i were decreased significantly in the HP group compared with the CON group. Steady state mRNA levels of catalase and hsp 70 were increased from baseline levels only in the HP group, with a peak (2.8- and 2.4-fold versus baseline) after 4 hours of storage. Conclusions Our results indicate that intracellular ionic alterations and upregulation of catalase and hsp 70 gene expression may contribute to the mechanisms underlying hypoxic preconditioning, leading to improved postischemic function during prolonged hypothermic storage of hearts.
The relationship of dietary protein to metallothionein and cadmium-induced renal damage

Abstract The effect of dietary protein on the concentration of kidney metallothionein and cadmium in relationship to renal damage was investigated. Rats fed a low-protein diet accumulated significantly less cadmium in the kidney, liver, lung, and small intestine than rats fed a normal or high-protein diet. Metallothionein synthesis and/or storage was significantly reduced in rats fed the low-protein diet compared with rats fed the normal or high-protein diet. In rats fed the high-protein diet extensive proximal renal tubular necrosis was observed when kidney cadmium was below 200 μg/g wet weight and metallothionein was above 740 μg/g wet weight. Proximal tubular necrosis was slight to moderate in rats fed the normal or low-protein diet, which correlated with relatively low levels of cadmium and metallothionein in the kidney. These studies show that dietary protein affects the tissue level of both cadmium and metallothionein. The results also demonstrate that extensive renal damage can occur when the level of kidney cadmium is below the suggested critical concentration of 200 μg/g wet weight. Based on studies which show the nephrotoxic effects of cadmium-metallothionein and results of the present experiments, we suggest that the concentration of this complex in the kidney is of greater pathological importance than the level of kidney cadmium.
Effortless Application of the Method of Lines for the Inverse Estimation of Temperatures in a Large Slab With Two Different Surface Heating Waveforms

The boundary inverse heat conduction problem (BIHCP) deals with the determination of the surface heat flux or the surface temperature from measured transient temperatures inside a conducting body where the initial temperature is known. This work addresses a BIHCP related to the spatiotemporal heat conduction in a large slab when a time-variable heat flux is prescribed at an exposed surface and the other surface is thermally insulated. Two different heating waveforms are studied: a constant heat flux and a time-dependent triangular heat flux. The numerical temperature-time history at the insulated surface of the large slab provides the “temperature-time measurement” with one temperature sensor. Framed in the theory of the method of lines (MOL) first and employing rudimentary concepts of numerical differentiation later, the main objective of this paper is to develop a simple computational methodology to estimate the temporal evolution of temperature at the exposed surface of the large slab receiving the two distinct heat fluxes. In the end, it is confirmed that excellent predictions of the surface temperatures versus time are achievable for the two cases tested while employing the smallest possible system of two heat conduction differential equations of first-order. DOI: 10.1115/1.2993141
Auditory processing disorder: School psychologist beware?

An increasing number of students are being diagnosed with auditory processing disorder (APD), but the school psychology literature has largely neglected this controversial condition. This article reviews research on APD, revealing substantial concerns with assessment tools and diagnostic practices, as well as insufficient research regarding many claims about APD, including claims about popular interventions for the condition. Also discussed are the relationships between APD and other high-incidence disability conditions that school psychologists work with frequently. The article concludes with concrete recommendations for school psychologists when faced with students who are referred for symptoms of APD, as well as strategies for determining services for students who present with an APD diagnosis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
THE PERMEABILITY OF DRY COLLODION MEMBRANES. II

The rate of penetration and the solubility of H, O, N, NH(3), H(2)O, HCl gas, CO(2), formic, acetic, chloracetic, dichloracetic acid, glycerol, phenol and mercury bichloride in dry collodion membranes have been measured. The rate of penetration of H and CO(2) is the same whether the membrane and gas are dry or whether the membrane is immersed in water. The solubility of CO(2), acetic acid, phenol and water in collodion is completely reversible and is proportional to the concentration (or vapor pressure) in low concentrations and independent of the surface of the collodion. The size of the pores has been calculated from the vapor pressure of water in the collodion and from the rate of flow of water through the membrane. The results do not agree and are not consistent with the observed rates of penetration. The relative rates of penetration of the gases bear no relation to the density of the gas. When the results are corrected for the solubility of the substances in the collodion and expressed as the diffusion coefficient in collodion they show that the diffusion coefficient increases rapidly as the molecular weight decreases.
eComLab: remote laboratory platform

Hands-on experiments with electronic devices have been recognized as an important element in the field of engineering to help students get familiar with theoretical concepts and practical tasks. The continuing increase the student number, costly laboratory equipment, and laboratory maintenance slow down the physical lab efficiency. As information technology continues to evolve, the Internet has become a common media in modern education. Internetbased remote laboratory can solve a lot of restrictions, providing hands-on training as they can be flexible in time and the same equipment can be shared between different students. This article describes an on-going remote hands-on experimental radio modulation, network and mobile applications lab project "eComLab". Its main component is a remote laboratory infrastructure and server management system featuring various online media familiar with modern students, such as chat rooms and video streaming.
Improved method for harvesting human Schwann cells from mature peripheral nerve and expansion in vitro

The use of cellular prostheses containing large populations of Schwann cells (SC) has been proposed as a future therapeutic approach in the repair of neural tissue. We have sought to define an efficient protocol for the harvest and expansion of human SC from mature human peripheral nerve. We evaluated SC proliferation occurring within fresh explants and studied the relationship between certain parameters (cell yield, purity, and rate of SC proliferation) and the conditions of maintenance of nerve explants prior to dissociation. In addition, we studied SC proliferation after dissociation in a variety of conditions. We observed that SC within explants divide at a low rate during the first 3 weeks following explantation; this proliferation falls to near zero during the fourth week. The cell yield, SC purity, and proliferation rate following dissociation were all increased when nerve explants were exposed to heregulin/ forskolin for 2 weeks prior to dissociation. Electron microscopic analysis showed that heregulin/forskolin exerted trophic effects on SC within explants. Following dissociation, SC growth in heregulin/forskolin-containing medium was more rapid on laminin or collagen than on poly-L-lysine. These results provide new insights into human SC biology and suggest several procedural improvements for harvesting and expanding these cells. The new method we describe shortens our previous procedure by 4-6 weeks and provides a 30-50-fold increase in the number of SC obtained relative to the earlier procedure.
Sustainability assessment and implementation design of distributed energy micro-generation for lighting in Western Kenya

The use of traditional fuels such as kerosene for lighting in developing countries have negative health impacts, safety concerns, provide insufficient illumination for tasks such as reading, and are comparatively expensive per unit of light produced. Renewable distributed energy micro-generation technologies have been shown to be a suitable and cost effective alternative. However, the sustainable use of these technologies is often limited due to low financial and technical capability in developing communities. This paper outlines a sustainability assessment used to inform the implementation design of distributed household energy technologies in developing communities. It further can be used to identify areas of low capacity to be systematically addressed in the community through policy and program. A case study is presented in Namawanga, Kenya.
The interoperability solution: federated search and scholarly databases

While "interoperability" may imply "standardization," the degree of standardization, in practice, should place no greater burden on data owners than they otherwise bear in fulfilling their respective missions. In general, there are very few metadata elements that would be considered essential to the vast majority of users whose needs are often met by full-text search. Organizations and government agencies should adopt metadata suites which serve to fulfill their immediate mission responsibilities and core stakeholders' needs, and in all likelihood, these metadata suites will be more than adequately interoperable with technologies, such as federated searching, which are engineered to deal with the kind of heterogeneity seen across high-quality databases. The U. S. Department of Energy's Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI), in partnership with other federal agencies (in Science.gov) and with international counterparts (in WorldWideScience.org), has demonstrated interoperability across heterogeneous data collections. Federated search will also soon emerge as the "great resolver" across numeric data collections; however, as these data sets introduce incredibly-challenging search complexities, such as not having full-text to support a search, the importance of essential metadata becomes paramount.
Salivary Biomarkers Associated With Bone Deterioration in Patients With Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of saliva as a medium for the identification of biomarkers associated with bone resorption and formation. The authors hypothesized that biomarkers, such as N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (B-AP), could be identified in saliva. They further hypothesized that there would be a difference between these biomarkers in the saliva of patients with medication-relation osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) and those who have no risk factors for the development of MRONJ. Patients and Methods This case-and-control study compared 2 salivary biomarkers, NTX and B-AP, in a group of patients with MRONJ and a control group. The predictor variable was the presence or absence of the disease (MRONJ or control group); the outcome variables were the levels of the 2 salivary biomarkers, NTX and B-AP. Saliva samples from 20 patients with a diagnosis of MRONJ and 14 control participants who were comparable to the study group with no history of antiresorptive medication use were collected. The saliva samples were analyzed using 2 commercially available assays for NTX and B-AP to evaluate for levels of each marker. A 2-tailed t test for 2 groups of unequal distribution was used for statistical analysis, with P values less than .05 considered statistically. Results The 2 biomarkers, NTX and B-AP, were detected in saliva samples from the MRONJ and control groups. A statistically significant difference was found in the levels of NTX in saliva of patients with MRONJ compared with the control participants ( P = .0067). Conclusions In this exploratory study, the 2 bone deterioration biomarkers (NTX and B-AP) were detected in saliva. There was a statistical difference in the levels of salivary NTX between patients with MRONJ and controls. Saliva evaluation could provide a novel method to detect, diagnose, stage, and potentially guide treatment decisions and monitor outcomes for patients with MRONJ in the future.
Environmental Justice and Land-Use Planning

This issue brief explores many opportunities for members of planning and zoning boards, professional planning staff and local elected officials to incorporate environmental justice principles into land use decisionmaking.
Work or sleep? Honeybee foragers opportunistically nap during the day when forage is not available

Shifts in work schedules test humans’ capacity to be flexible in the timing of both work and sleep. Honeybee, Apis mellifera, foragers also shift their work schedules, but how flexible they are in the timing of sleep as they shift the timing of work is unknown, despite the importance of colony-level plasticity in the face of a changing environment. We hypothesized that sleep schedules of foragers are not fixed and instead vary depending on the time when food is available. We trained bees to visit a food source made available for several hours in the early morning (AM) or several hours in the late afternoon (PM), then monitored their sleep behaviour for 24 h after training, specifically comparing their sleep during the AM and PM periods previously designated as training periods. Following AM training, honeybee foragers slept more during the afternoon than during the morning, but following PM training, the same bees ‘slept in’ the next morning, and so slept more in the morning than in the afternoon. Although foragers did not change the total amount of time devoted to each of their behaviours (including sleep), the timing of their sleep did change. Thus, plasticity in timing of foraging was matched by plasticity in timing of sleep. The apparent correlation between the timing patterns of foraging and sleeping demonstrates temporal plasticity of sleep under ecologically realistic conditions in an invertebrate. Testing how shift work affects the health and performance of honeybees may shed light on the role of sleep in a nonhuman social animal.
A Three-Dimensional Radiative Transfer Method for Optical Remote Sensing of Vegetated Land Surfaces

In the application of remote sensing at optical wavelengths to vegetated surfaces from satellite borne high resolution instruments, an understanding of the various physical mechanisms that contribute to the measured signal is important. A numerical method of solving the radiative transfer equation in three dimensions is reported. The reliability of coding and accuracy of the algorithm are evaluated by benchmarching. Parametrization of the methods and results of a simulation are presented. The method is tested with experimental data of canopy bidirectional reflectance factors. The effect of spatial heterogeneity on the relationship between the simple ratio and normalized vrs absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) is discussed.
Deterrence and the design of treaty verification systems

Centered around the notion of deterrence, a framework for analyzing the performance of systems for verifying compliance with arms-control treaty constraints is developed. Using the same models, it is also shown how to evaluate the desirability of the treaty constraints themselves. This analysis forms a relatively unified treatment of both topics, one that permits the joint optimization of both treaty limits and verification mechanisms. The specific application discussed is underground nuclear testing, but because of the generality of the analysis one can apply it to other arms-control contexts as well. >
Developing Non-Functional Requirements for a Service-Oriented Software Platform

Developing and using a software platform is an approach to achieve a higher degree of software reuse and to reduce the software development cost. Because of the advantages of the service oriented architecture (SOA), many software platforms are built with SOA. This paper describes, based upon our experiences, the most challenging issues in developing non-functional requirements for such platforms.
Standard molar enthalpies of formation of PrO2and SrPrO3: the unusual thermodynamic stability of APrO3(A = Sr, Ba)

Abstract The standard molar enthalpies of formation ΔfHm° of the fluorite oxide PrO2and the perovskite oxide SrPrO3have been determined by solution calorimetry. A combination of appropriate thermodynamic cycles leads to the values ΔfHm°(PrO2, 298.15 K) =−(959.8 ± 4.1) kJ·mol−1and ΔfHm°(SrPrO3, 298.15 K) = − (1588.4 ± 4.1) kJ·mol−1. Unusual stability is found for SrPrO3in terms of the enthalpy of reaction of the binary oxides to form the ternary oxide: ΔfHm°{SrO(cr) + PrO2(cr) = SrPrO3(cr)} = − 39 kJ·mol−1. This stability of SrPrO3is consistent with earlier thermochemical work on BaPrO3. The Pr members of the series of perovskite oxides AMO3(A = Sr, Ba; M = transition elements: Ce, Pr, Tb, actinides) are substantially more stable than expected from the trend established by the other members of the series, in which the enthalpy of reaction of the binary oxides to form the ternary oxide becomes less negative as the perovskite becomes more distorted. Electronic stabilization of the perovskite (PrO3)2−framework in these 4f1compounds is proposed as the origin of the additional thermodynamic stability of the perovskite oxides of Pr4+.
The Effect of a Primary Care Practice–Based Depression Intervention on Mortality in Older Adults

Many studies have shown that depression is associated with an increased risk for death, but few have evaluated whether an intervention to improve depression can modify this risk. Gallo and colleagu...