cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the utility of bacterial extracellular polymers for treatment of metal-contaminated soils: Polymer persistence, mobility, and the influence of lead

Abstract Toxic transition metals are common contaminants at Superfund sites. Metals adsorb strongly to soil surfaces and, therefore, are not easily removed by pump and treat remediation. Metal mobility is also an important factor in risk assessment. Bacterial extracellular polymers occur naturally in soils and have well-documented metal-binding properties. Therefore, extracellular polymers that are soluble in water and do not adsorb strongly to the soil matrix have the potential of increasing metal mobility in soils. The transport and fate of bacterial polymers have not received an extensive evaluation. This research focused on the microbial degradation of bacterial polymers and their mobility in porous media, processes that must be understood if polymers are going to be considered for inclusion in risk assessments or for use in remediation efforts. Mineralization of 14C-labeled bacterial polymers was studied using bacterial inocula obtained from four sources (aquifer sand, seep sediment, surface soil, and unchlorinated secondary effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant). The bacterial population in secondary effluent was found to be one of the most effective at extracellular polymer degradation. After 10 days, 20|X% of the 14C-labeled polymer was mineralized by the secondary effluent inoculum, compared with 55% of the 14C-labeled glucose in a parallel experiment. Column experiments were used to determine the mobility of extracellular polymer during flow through a porous medium. An aquifer sand was used as the solid (stationary) phase in these experiments. The polymer was found to have a retardation factor (R ⩽ 21) orders of magnitude lower than those reported for lead (R = 19,000) and cadmium (R = 4700) in the sand medium. The polymer was partially mineralized during transport through the porous media. The inhibitory effect of lead on polymer degradation was studied in both batch and column experiments. In column tests, the polymer degradation rate was reduced in the presence of lead. Degradation rate constants ranged from 0.00057/min to 0.0048/min in the absence of lead and from 0.00056/min to 0.0018/min in the presence of lead (values varied depending on the assumptions used in model calculations). Lead inhibition of polymer degradation was also observed in some batch experiments. The high mobility and relatively low biodegradability of bacterial polymers demonstrated by this work indicate that such polymers deserve further evaluation as facilitated-transport carriers of metals in contaminated groundwater.
Polyamines stimulate mitochondrial calcium transport in rat brain.

: The effects of the polyamines spermine and spermidine on rat brain mitochondrial calcium transport were examined using a variety of techniques for measuring the kinetics of calcium uptake and the buffering capabilities of isolated mitochondria. Spermine both increased the rate of calcium accumulation and decreased the set-point to which isolated mitochondria buffer free calcium concentration. In the presence of physiological concentrations of sodium and magnesium, spermine lowered the extramitochondrial calcium level to ∼0.3 μM, a value close to the resting intracellular calcium concentration. The effect of polyamines was concentration dependent, with a half-maximal effect of spermine observed at ∼0.1–0.4 mM (respiratory substrate dependent), whereas spermidine was ∼ 10 times less potent. Calcium transport by hippocampal mitochondria was stimulated markedly more by spermine than was calcium transport by mitochondria isolated from brainstem. The stimulatory effect of spermine was not due to an increase in the transport of respiratory substrates inside the mitochondria nor to an effect on the enzymes using these respiratory substrates. An examination of the effect of spermine on the kinetics of calcium uptake indicated that spermine increased calcium uptake maximally at low calcium concentrations. Beyond that level, the stimulatory effect of spermine decreases, and spermine can even inhibit calcium uptake. These results are in good agreement with previous reports on the effects of polyamines on calcium transport in mitochondria from peripheral tissue. They support the hypothesis that spermine increases the rate of calcium uptake by mitochondria by increasing the affinity of the uniporter for calcium. Because polyamine levels exhibit large variations under a wide range of conditions (postnatal development, injury, and intense electrical activity), these results indicate that polyamines might play a critical role in the regulation of the calcium-buffering ability of cells in the brain.
Characterization of human platelet UDPglucose-collagen glucosyltransferase using a new rapid assay.

Abstract A rapid and specific assay has been developed for UDPglucose-collagen glucosyltransferase (UDPglucose; 5-hydroxylysine-collagen glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.66) using galactosylhydroxylysine (Gal-Hyl) as acceptor. Studies with intact human platelets and isolated plasma membranes indicated that about 5–10% of the total activity was surface bound and the rest was of cytoplasmic origin. The two forms of the enzyme had similar broad pH optima (6.5–8.0), K m values for UDPglucose (5 μM) and Gal-Hyl (approx. 4 mM) and for optimal manganese concentrations (25 mM). The soluble form of the enzyme was purified 80-fold. The reaction mechanism was determined as being rapid equilibrium random BiBi + dead end complex or ordered BiBi with UDPglucose being the first substrate to bind. Using Gal-Hyl bound in purified α1 chain of chick skin collagen, a K m value three orders of magnitude less (2 μM) was found than for free Gal-Hyl and the manganese requirement decreased to 2 mM. These results suggest that the binding to the enzyme of Gal-Hyl in the collagen molecule is enhanced by the presence of the protein portion so that the enzyme may be capable of recognizing not only the carbohydrate side chains but also the primary structure of collagen.
Trade and Insurance with Adverse Selection

This paper considers a small open economy with a safe sector and a risky sector. The probability of success in the risky activity differs across individuals, and is private information. It is shown that policies that sustain informationally constrained Pareto optima should not include tariffs. A laissez-faire competitive equilibrium, if it exists, is Pareto optimal. These results contrast with previous literature on the role of tariffs as insurance, where private risk markets are assumed away in an ad hoc manner.
L-carnitine treatment of anemia

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and iron supplementation have had a profoundly positive impact on the anemia of patients with chronic kidney disease. However, a significant number of patients remain hyporesponsive to rHuEPO, with hemoglobin values less than target levels. A suboptimal response to rHuEPO is associated with complications that can reduce quality of life and increase morbidity, mortality, and costs. There are a number of other metabolic derangements associated with uremia that can impact on the production and survival of red blood cells. Dialysis-related carnitine disorder is a functional metabolic deficiency, common in chronic dialysis patients, that can have a negative impact on erythrocyte production and survival. This article reviews the role of L-carnitine in the pathogenesis and adjunctive treatment of anemia associated with kidney failure. After a comprehensive database search, primary and secondary reports were analyzed. Laboratory studies examining the influence of carnitine on red blood cell function and clinical trials of L-carnitine in dialysis patients support the use of L-carnitine in the setting of rHuEPO hyporesponsiveness. Consensus groups, including the National Kidney Foundation-Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI), consider the use of L-carnitine for hyporesponsive rHuEPO-dependent anemia a promising application of this therapy, recommending an empiric trial of L-carnitine in these patients.
Satellite Remote Sensing and Mesoscale Modeling of the 2007 Georgia/Florida Fires

During April and May 2007, several hundred fires burned uncontrollably in Georgia and Florida. The smoke from these fire events were visible throughout the Southeastern United States and had a major impact on particulate matter (PM) air quality near the surface. In this study, we show the strength of polar orbiting and geostationary satellite data in capturing the spatial distribution and diurnal variability of columnar smoke aerosol optical depth from these fires. We quantitatively evaluate PM air quality from satellites and ground-based monitors, near and far away (> 300 km) from fire source regions. We also show the changes in organic carbon concentrations (a tracer for smoke aerosols) before, during and after these fire events. Finally, we use fire locations and emissions retrieved and estimated from satellite observations as input to a regional mesoscale transport model to forecast the spatial distribution of aerosols and their impact on PM air quality. During the fire events, near the source regions, total column 550 nm aerosol optical thickness (AOT) exceeded 1.0 on several days and ground-based PM2.5 mass (particles less than 2.5 mum in aerodynamic diameter) reached unhealthy levels ( > 65.5 mug m-3). Since the aerosols were reasonably well mixed in the first 1-2 km (as estimated from meteorology), the column AOT values derived from both geostationary and polar orbiting satellites and the surface PM2.5 were well correlated (linear correlation coefficient, r > 0.7). Several hundred miles away from the fire sources, in Birmingham, AL, the impact of the fires were also seen through the high AOT's and PM2.5 values. Correspondingly, PM2.5 mass due to organic carbon obtained from ground-based monitors showed a three fold increase during fire events when compared to background values. Satellite data were especially useful in capturing PM2.5 air quality in areas where there were no ground-based monitors. Although the mesoscale transport model captured the timing and location of aerosols, when compared to observations, the simulated mass concentrations are underestimated by nearly 70% due to various reasons including uncertainties in fire emission estimates, lack of chemistry in the model, and assumptions on vertical distribution of aerosols. Satellite products such as AOT, fire locations, and emissions from space-borne sensors are becoming a vital tool for assessing extreme events such as fires, smoke, and particulate matter air quality.
X-band Polarimetric Radar Rainfall Measurements in Keys Area Microphysics Project

The Keys Area Microphysics Project (KAMP), conducted as part of NASA’s Fourth Convective and Moisture Experiment (CAMEX-4) in the lower Keys area, deployed a number of ground radars and four arrays of rain gauge and disdrometer clusters. Among the various instruments is an X-band dualpolarization Doppler radar on wheels (XPOL), contributed by the University of Connecticut. XPOL was used to retrieve rainfall rate and raindrop size distribution (DSD) parameters to be used in support of KAMP science objectives. This paper presents the XPOL measurements in KAMP and the algorithm developed for attenuation correction and estimation of DSD model parameters. XPOL observations include the horizontal polarization reflectivity ZH, differential reflectivity ZDR, and differential phase shift DP. Here, ZH and ZDR were determined to be positively biased by 3 and 0.3 dB, respectively. A technique was also applied to filter noise and correct for potential phase folding in DP profiles. The XPOL attenuation correction uses parameterizations that relate the path-integrated specific (differential) attenuation along a radar ray to the filtered-DP (specific attenuation) profile. Attenuation-corrected ZH and specific differential phase shift (derived from filtered DP profiles) data are then used to derive two parameters of the normalized gamma DSD model, that is, intercept (Nw) and mean drop diameter (D0). The third parameter (shape parameter ) is calculated using a constrained – relationship derived from the measured raindrop spectra. The XPOL attenuation correction is evaluated using coincidental nonattenuated reflectivity fields from the Key West Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D), while the DSD parameter retrievals are statistically assessed using DSD parameters calculated from the measured raindrop spectra. Statistics show that XPOL DSD parameter estimation is consistent with independent observations. XPOL estimates of water content and Nw are also shown to be consistent with corresponding retrievals from matched ER-2 Doppler radar (EDOP) profiling observations from the 19 September airborne campaign. Results shown in this paper strengthen the applicability of X-band dual-polarization high resolution observations in cloud modeling and precipitation remote sensing studies.
The influence of human disturbance on California sea lions during the breeding season

California sea lions Zalophus californianus occupy 26 islands in the Gulf of California (GoC), Mexico. Although human presence is prohibited on these islands without a government permit, the law is not enforced and tourism to the islands is increasing. Tourists, along with local fishermen, often come ashore to get close to the animals, which may disrupt behaviors critical for reproduction. In this paper, we report the results of an experimental study on the behavioral effects of human disturbance on California sea lions in the GoC. To document effects, we recorded sea lion behavior immediately before and in 10-min intervals for up to an hour after experimental human disturbance. Our results showed few behavioral responses of sea lions to human disturbance. Adult females and juveniles demonstrated immediate responses, but these were not consistent between years, apparent an hour after disturbance, or evident across other age and sex classes. These results suggest that California sea lions may be resilient to human disturbance and a possible flagship species for ecotourism, but further studies of the physiological and population-level effects of human disturbance are needed.
MicroRNA Regulation and Role in Stem Cell Maintenance, Cardiac Differentiation and Hypertrophy

There are currently 1527 known microRNAs (miRNAs) in human, each of which may regulate hundreds or thousands of target genes. miRNA expression levels vary between cell types; for example, miR- 302 and miR-290 families are highly enriched in embryonic stem cells, while miR-1 is a muscle specific miRNA. miRNA biosynthesis and function are highly regulated and this regulation may be cell type specific. The processing enzymes and factors that recognize features in sequence and secondary structure of the miRNA play key roles in regulating the production of mature miRNA. Mature miRNA enriched in stem cells control stem cell self-renewal as well as their differentiation. Though specific miRNAs have been shown to control differentiation towards various lineages such as neural or skin cells, some of the most well characterized miRNAs have been found in promoting the formation of cardiac cells. In addition, miRNAs also play a critical role in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, especially in a pathological context. Such miRNAs are predicted to be therapeutic targets for treating cardiovascular diseases. In this review we will discuss how miRNAs act to maintain the stem cell state and also explore the current knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate miRNAs. Furthermore, we will discuss the emerging roles of miRNAs using cardiomyocyte differentiation and maturation as a paradigm. Emphasis will also be given on some of the less ventured areas such as the role of miRNAs in the physiological maturation of cardiomyocytes. These potentially beneficial miRNAs are likely to improve cardiac function in both in vivo and in vitro settings and thus provide additional strategy to treat heart diseases and more importantly serve as a good model for understanding cardiomyocyte maturation in vitro.
N-linked oligosaccharides on the low density lipoprotein receptor homolog SorLA/LR11 are modified with terminal GalNAc-4-SO4 in kidney and brain.

Sorting protein-related receptor (SorLA/LR11) is a highly conserved mosaic receptor that is expressed by cells in a number of different tissues including principal cells of the collecting ducts in the kidney and neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems. SorLA/LR11 has features that indicate it serves as a sorting receptor shuttling between the plasma membrane, endosomes, and the Golgi. We have found that a fraction of SorLA/LR11 that is synthesized in the kidney and the brain bears N-linked oligosaccharides that are modified with terminal β1,4-linked GalNAc-4-SO4. Oligosaccharides located in the vacuolar sorting (Vps) 10p domain (Vps10p domain) are modified with β1,4-linked GalNAc when the Vps10p domain is expressed in cells along with either of two recently cloned protein-specific β1,4GalNAc-transferases, GalNAcTIII and GalNAcTIV. Either of two sequences with basic amino acids located within the Vps10p domain is able to mediate recognition by these β1,4GalNAc-transferases. The highly specific modification of oligosaccharides in the Vps10p domain of SorLA/LR11 with terminal GalNAc-4-SO4 suggests that this unusual modification may modulate the interaction of SorLA/LR11 with proteins and influence their trafficking.
A long-channel model for the asymmetric double-gate MOSFET valid in all regions of operation

We present a physically based, continuous analytical model for long-channel double-gate MOSFETs. The model is particularly well suited for implementation in circuit simulators due to the simple expressions for the current and the continuous nature of the derivatives of the current which improves convergence behavior.
Expressive power of the single-object typed access matrix model

The single-object typed access matrix (SOTAM) model was recently introduced in the literature by Sandhu and Suri (1992). It is a special case of Sandhu's typed access matrix (TAM) model (1992). In SOTAM individual commands are restricted to modifying exactly one column of the access matrix (whereas individual TAM commands in general can modify multiple columns). Sandhu and Suri have outlined a simple implementation of SOTAM in a distributed environment using the familiar client-server architecture. In particular the stipulation that each-command modifies a single column of the access matrix, is reflected in the desirable property that each command modifies a single access control list corresponding to that column. In this paper we show that TAM and SOTAM are formally equivalent in their expressive power. This result establishes that SOTAM has precisely the same expressive power as TAM, while having a simple implementation at the same time. In a nutshell, this result tells us that manipulation of access control information can be achieved in its most general form by manipulation of a single access control list (ACL) at a time. >
Transnational Activism and Global Transformations: The Anti-Apartheid and Abolitionist Experiences

Communications technology, many analysts proclaim, heralds a profoundly transformed new world where time and space take on new meanings. As a result, networks of non-state actors proliferate, altering the functions of international organizations and creating new pressures on states. Yet previous eras also witnessed social activists pursuing their agendas through and around national governments. Then as now, social forces and global norms impinged on states with vitality and independence. The experiences of abolitionists and anti-apartheid activists demonstrate how transnational social movements in two different centuries mobilized across national boundaries around issues of race — despite barriers of time, distance and culture. This comparison provides the basis for disaggregating types of non-state actors in world politics and for understanding better the links between social activism and global normative change.
Regional projections of the likelihood of very large wildland fires under a changing climate in the contiguous Western United States

Seasonal changes in the climatic potential for very large wildfires (VLWF≥ 50,000 ac~20,234 ha) across the western contiguous United States are projected over the 21st century using generalized linear models and downscaled climate projections for two representative concentration pathways (RCPs). Significant (p≤0.05) increases in VLWF probability for climate of the mid-21st century (2031-2060) relative to contemporary climate are found, for both RCP 4.5 and 8.5. The largest differences are in the Eastern Great Basin, Northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and Southwest. Changes in season- ality and frequency of VLWFs d7epend on changes in the future climate space. For example, flammability-limited areas such as the Pacific Northwest show that (with high model agree- ment) the frequency of weeks with VLWFs in a given year is 2-2.7 more likely. However, frequency of weeks with at least one VLWF in fuel-limited systems like the Western Great Basin is 1.3 times more likely (with low model agreement). Thus, areas where fire is directly associated with hot and dry climate, as opposed to experiencing lagged effects from previous years, experience more change in the likelihood of VLWF in future projections. The results provide a quantitative foundation for management to mitigate the effects of VLWFs.
Revisiting the Question of Evidence

The Right has done much of its work in the name of scientific "objectivity," wildly deploying a popular discourse around "the real world" to achieve a range of specific ends. Complicating this are ...
Identification and cloning of the conjugative transfer region of Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pGO1.

Abstract The conjugative transfer (tra) genes of a 52-kilobase (kb) staphylococcal plasmid, pGO1, were localized by deletion analysis and transposon insertional inactivation. All transfer-defective (Tra-) deletions and Tn551 or Tn917 transposon insertions occurred within a 14.5-kb BglII fragment. Deletions and insertions outside this fragment all left the plasmid transfer proficient (Tra+). The tra region was found to be flanked by directly repeated DNA sequences, approximately 900 base pairs in length, at either end. Clones containing the 14.5-kb BglII fragment (pGO200) and subclones from this fragment were constructed in Escherichia coli on shuttle plasmids and introduced into Staphylococcus aureus protoplasts. Protoplasts could not be transformed with pGO200E (pGO200 on the staphylococcal replicon, pE194) or subclones containing DNA at one end of the tra fragment unless pGO1 or specific cloned tra DNA fragments were present in the recipient cell. However, once stabilized by sequences present on a second replicon, each tra fragment could be successfully introduced alone into other plasmid-free S. aureus recipients by conjugative mobilization or transduction. In this manner, two clones containing overlapping fragments comprising the entire 14.5-kb BglII fragment were shown to complement each other. The low-frequency transfer resulted in transconjugants containing one clone intact, deletions of that clone, and recombinants of the two clones. The resulting recombinant plasmid (pGO220), which regenerated the tra region intact on a single replicon, transferred at frequencies comparable to those of pGO1. Thus, all the genes necessary and sufficient for conjugative transfer of pGO1 are contained within a 14.5-kb region of DNA.
Can Continuing Medical Education Courses Supplied by the Clinical Laboratory Alter Provider Test-Ordering Practice?

This article discusses whether laboratory personnel should develop a standard procedure to provide continuing-education courses on new laboratory testing practices, as they become available, to health care providers. * Abbreviations : CME : Continuing medical education
Prediction-based dynamic load-sharing heuristics

Presents dynamic load-sharing heuristics that use predicted resource requirements of processes to manage workloads in a distributed system. A previously developed statistical pattern-recognition method is employed for resource prediction. While nonprediction-based heuristics depend on a rapidly changing system status, the new heuristics depend on slowly changing program resource usage patterns. Furthermore, prediction-based heuristics can be more effective since they use future requirements rather than just the current system state. Four prediction-based heuristics, two centralized and two distributed, are presented. Using trace driven simulations, they are compared against random scheduling and two effective nonprediction based heuristics. Results show that the prediction-based centralized heuristics achieve up to 30% better response times than the nonprediction centralized heuristic, and that the prediction-based distributed heuristics achieve up to 50% improvements relative to their nonpredictive counterpart. >
Early-onset cannabis use and cognitive deficits: what is the nature of the association?

Abstract Background: Individuals who initiate cannabis use at an early age, when the brain is still developing, might be more vulnerable to lasting neuropsychological deficits than individuals who begin use later in life. Methods: We analyzed neuropsychological test results from 122 long-term heavy cannabis users and 87 comparison subjects with minimal cannabis exposure, all of whom had undergone a 28-day period of abstinence from cannabis, monitored by daily or every-other-day observed urine samples. We compared early-onset cannabis users with late-onset users and with controls, using linear regression controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, and attributes of family of origin. Results: The 69 early-onset users (who began smoking before age 17) differed significantly from both the 53 late-onset users (who began smoking at age 17 or later) and from the 87 controls on several measures, most notably verbal IQ (VIQ). Few differences were found between late-onset users and controls on the test battery. However, when we adjusted for VIQ, virtually all differences between early-onset users and controls on test measures ceased to be significant. Conclusions: Early-onset cannabis users exhibit poorer cognitive performance than late-onset users or control subjects, especially in VIQ, but the cause of this difference cannot be determined from our data. The difference may reflect (1) innate differences between groups in cognitive ability, antedating first cannabis use; (2) an actual neurotoxic effect of cannabis on the developing brain; or (3) poorer learning of conventional cognitive skills by young cannabis users who have eschewed academics and diverged from the mainstream culture.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Stroke: Review of the Literature for the Clinician

Abstract Background Alteplase (tPA) is a United States (US) Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke, though there are significant barriers to thrombolytic use, including Emergency Physicians' (EPs') concern for level of supporting evidence. Study Objectives To review the medical literature on the topic of acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA) management and to offer EPs evidence-based recommendations for patients who present to the Emergency Department with an acute CVA. Methods A MEDLINE literature search from 1990 to 2011 and limited to human studies written in English for articles with keywords of: CVA AND (thromboly* OR alteplase). Guideline statements and non-systematic reviews were excluded. Studies targeting differences between specific populations (males vs. females) were excluded. Studies identified then underwent a structured review from which results could be evaluated. Results There were 407 papers on thrombolytic use screened, and 15 appropriate articles were rigorously reviewed and recommendations given. Conclusions: tPA is an effective treatment for stroke when given in prepared stroke centers; EPs and hospitals treating stroke patients with tPA need to have the necessary resources in place and a specific plan for timely care of patients with acute stroke.
Dark pulse diode laser

A dark pulse train is generated by an external cavity quantum dot diode laser, which is passively controlled by a saturable Bragg reflector. The 92 ps dark pulses have a 400 MHz repetition rate.
The Role of Individual and Neighborhood Social Factors on Periodontitis: The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background: This study investigates whether race/ethnicity, individual income, education, and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics are independently associated with periodontitis in adults ≥18 years of age who participated in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).Methods: Analyses were limited to participants in NHANES III who self-identified as non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white, or Mexican American, received a periodontal examination, and whose records were linked to the 1990 U.S. Census data (N = 13,090). Periodontitis was investigated using a combination of clinical attachment loss and probing depth. Marginal logistic regression models were used to assess the association of race/ethnicity, individual income, education, and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics with periodontitis before and after adjusting for selected covariates. A survey program was used to account for the survey sampling design and for the intraneighborhood correlation of outcomes of ...
Determining source strength of semivolatile organic compounds using measured concentrations in indoor dust.

Consumer products and building materials emit a number of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in the indoor environment. Because indoor SVOCs accumulate in dust, we explore the use of dust to determine source strength and report here on analysis of dust samples collected in 30 U.S. homes for six phthalates, four personal care product ingredients, and five flame retardants. We then use a fugacity-based indoor mass-balance model to estimate the whole house emission rates of SVOCs that would account for the measured dust concentrations. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP) were the most abundant compounds in these dust samples. On the other hand, the estimated emission rate of diethyl phthalate (DEP) is the largest among phthalates, although its dust concentration is over two orders of magnitude smaller than DEHP and DiNP. The magnitude of the estimated emission rate that corresponds to the measured dust concentration is found to be inversely correlated with the vapor pressure of the compound, indicating that dust concentrations alone cannot be used to determine which compounds have the greatest emission rates. The combined dust-assay modeling approach shows promise for estimating indoor emission rates for SVOCs.
Sex differences in the multiple-dose streptozotocin model of diabetes.

The hyperglycemic response to multiple low-dose SZ injections was measured in castrated and non-castrated male and female mice with or without testosterone treatment. On the 10th day of the experiment, control males had plasma glucose concentrations that were significantly higher than those of control females. Castration of males decreased the hyperglycemic response, while testosterone treatment restored it. The glucose concentrations in castrated females were significantly greater than control females, but not different from castrated males. Testosterone administration to castrated or noncastrated females increased the hyperglycemic response to that seen in control males and in testosterone-treated castrated males. Thus, castration negates the sex difference in the hyperglycemic response to the multiple low-dose SZ injections. Testosterone enhances the hyperglycemic response in castrated or non-castrated females, and in castrated males.
Modulation of Homologous Receptor Concentratons: A Sensitive Radioassay for Human Growth Hormone in Acromegalic, Newborn, and Stimulated Plasma*

Exposure of cultured lymphocytes (IM-9) to human GH (hGH) leads to a time- and concentration-dependent reduction in binding by the homologous receptor. Decreased binding is due to the loss of specific receptors and can be distinguished from receptor occupancy. We have employed this phenomenon to develop a sensitive and specific receptor modulation assay (RMA) for hGH in unextracted plasma and serum. This radioassay is noncompetitive in nature and is based upon the ability of test samples preincubated with IM-9 cells for 4 h to decrease subsequent binding of [125I]hGH. A reproducible reduction in the binding of [125I]hGH was observed after preincubation of cells with unlabeled hGH at concentrations as low as 1 ng/ml, with a 50‥ reduction at 7 ng/ml. Twenty-eight samples from acromegalic, newborn, and stimulated patients were assayed. The ratio of RIA to RMA for these samples was 0.96 ± 0.03 (mean ± SEM), with a range of 0.69–1.24. There was no evidence of systematic underestimation of hGH values by the RMA...
Targeting imipramine dose in children with depression.

The response to imipramine (IMI) in children with depression has been shown to correlate with total levels of IMI plus its active metabolite desmethylimipramine (DMI). The pharmacokinetics of IMI + DMI in children with depression are examined, and the single-point prediction of steady-state IMI + DMI levels at minimum therapeutic concentrations for prepubertal depression is proposed. With a single, 25 mg oral dose of IMI, a plasma concentration of IMI + DMI 24 hours after dosing correlates (r = 0.92) with steady-state IMI + DMI levels in children with depression receiving 3 mg/kg/day IMI. The targeting of IMI dose in the child population with depression to rapidly achieve a minimum therapeutic concentration is shown to be feasible and reliable within theoretic limits. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1986) 40, 8–13; doi:10.1038/clpt.1986.130
Adaptation to a novel predator in Drosophila melanogaster: How well are we able to predict evolutionary responses?

Evolutionary theory is sufficiently well developed to allow for short-term prediction of evolutionary trajectories. In addition to the presence of heritable variation, prediction requires knowledge of the form of natural selection on relevant traits. While many studies estimate the form of natural selection, few examine the degree to which traits evolve in the predicted direction. In this study we examine the form of natural selection imposed by mantid predation on wing size and shape in the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster. We then evolve populations of D. melanogaster under predation pressure, and examine the extent to which wing size and shape have responded in the predicted direction. We demonstrate that wing form partially evolves along the predicted vector from selection, more so than for control lineages. Furthermore, we re-examined phenotypic selection after ~30 generations of experimental evolution. We observed that the magnitude of selection on wing size and shape was diminished in populations evolving with mantid predators, while the direction of the selection vector differed from that of the ancestral population for shape. We discuss these findings in the context of the predictability of evolutionary responses, and the need for fully multivariate approaches.
THE DEPENDENCE OF THE SHAPE AND STABILITY OF CAPTIVE ROTATING DROPS ON MULTIPLE PARAMETERS

Asymptotic and numerical techniques in bifurcation theory are applied to the Young-Laplace equation governing meniscus shape in order to analyze the dependence of the shape and stability of rigidly rotating drops held captive between corotating solid faces on multiple parameters. Asymptotic analysis of the evolution of drop shape from the cylindrical as a function of distance between the solid faces, drop volume, rotational Bond number and gravitational Bond number shows that some shape bifurcations from cylinders to wavy, axisymmetric menisci are ruptured by small changes in drop volume or gravity. Computer calculations of axisymmetric drop shapes based on a finite element representation of the interface and numerical algorithms for tracking shape families and singular points are then used to map drop stability for the four-dimensional parameter space. The results of the asymptotic and numerical analyses are shown to agree well within the limited range of parameters where the asymptotic analysis is valid.
In the Shadow of "Death with Dignity": Medicine and Cultural Quandaries of the Vegetative State

In this paper I address one site of technological development and cultural production, the permanent or persistent comatose condition and the institutions and practices that enable this life form to exist. As with other medical sites of ambiguity and change under recent scrutiny by anthropologists, the locations in which comatose bodies thrive are those in which the routinization of technology use in the clinic and a legitimating social and economic context come together to permit and create a further remapping of the notions of "life" and "person." I explore the new forms of knowledge, practice, and the body that are created at this site and how they are negotiated, and I discuss how the shifting understanding of "'culture" and "nature" both have an impact on and are informed by American quandaries about approaching death. I argue that beings who are neither fully alive, biologically dead, nor "naturally" self-regulating, yet who are sustained by modern medical practices, destabilize the existing social order in ways that are different from other hybrid forms, [medical anthropology, anthropology of the body, bioethics, personhood, culture/nature dichotomy]
Using multiple-hypothesis disparity maps and image velocity for 3-D motion estimation

In this paper we explore a multiple hypothesis approach to estimating rigid motion from a moving stereo rig. More precisely, we introduce the use of Gaussian mixtures to model correspondence uncertainties for disparity and velocity (optical flow) estimation. We show some properties of the disparity space and show how rigid transformations can be represented. An algorithm derived from standard random sampling-based robust estimators, that efficiently estimates rigid transformations from multi-hypothesis disparity maps and velocity fields is given.
Analog chip design with Mentor Graphics for submission to the MOSIS foundry interface

This paper presents the previously undocumented steps in CMOS analog chip design for MOSIS fabrication using the commercial Mentor Graphics tool set. The focus of the design process presented is achieving maximum correlation between simulation and testing. Two example designs are presented for illustration. The primary example is an inverting amplifier and the second is a voltage controlled oscillator.
On sampling continuous aperture distributions for discrete planar arrays

The theory of sampling continuous distributions for the purpose of determining planar array excitation coefficients is examined. The cause of pattern degradation associated with conventional sampling is identified, and a new method called integrated sampling is introduced which provides superior results. Implementation details are given for the specific case of a rectangular grid planar array with a roughly circular boundary. Numerical examples are provided for both uniform and Taylor distributions in order to perform comparative studies and to demonstrate the advantages of the new technique.
Implementation of a large-scale picture archiving and communication system

Abstract This paper describes the implementation of a large-scale picture archiving and communication system (PACS) in a clinical environment. The system consists of a PACS infrastructure, composed of a PACS controller, a database management system, communication networks, and optical disk archive. It connects to three MR units, four CT scanners, three computed radiography systems, and two laser film digitizers. Seven display stations are on line 24 h/day, 7 days/wk in genitourinary radiology (2K), pediatric radiology in-patient (1K and 2K) and out-patient (2K), neuroradiology (2K), pediatric ICU (1K), coronary care unit (1K), and one laser film printing station. The PACS is integrated with the hospital information system and the radiology information system. The system has been in operation since February 1992. We have integrated this PACS as a clinical component in daily radiology practice. It archives an average of 2.0-gigabyte image data per workday. A 3-mo system performance of various components are tabulated. The deployment of this large-scale PACS signifies a milestone in our PACS research and development effort. Radiologists, fellows, residents, and clinicians use it for case review, conferences, and occasionally for primary diagnosis. With this large-scale PACS in place, it will allow us to investigate the two critical issues raised when PACS research first started 10 yrs ago: system performance and cost effectiveness between a digital-based and a film-based system.
At War's End: The Limits of Wilsonianism: Understanding the Dangers

Despite the many differences among the eleven peacebuilding operations launched between 1989 and 1998, these missions have pursued a broadly common strategy, seeking to transform war-shattered states into liberal market democracies on the assumption that doing so would help to consolidate a stable and lasting peace. As noted in Part I, this strategy rested on a proposition that liberal thinkers have propounded in one form or another since the eighteenth century, and which gained widespread acceptance among scholars and policymakers at the end of the Cold War: that liberal democracy and market-oriented economics offer the surest formula for peace, both in relations between states and within their borders. I labeled this the Wilsonian approach to conflict management and noted that this method of conflict management is still largely unproven, because questions such as whether the process of liberalization fosters peace, and whether democratization and marketization are reliable remedies for intrastate violence, remain largely unanswered. The case studies examined in the preceding chapters were conducted in the hope of gaining new insights into these questions. Some missions were clear successes (Namibia and Croatia); others were obvious failures (Angola and Rwanda). The remaining operations fell in between these two extremes. In most of these eleven cases, the process of political liberalization, or economic liberalization, or both, produced destabilizing side effects that worked against the consolidation of peace. In some countries, liberalization exacerbated societal tensions, and in others it reproduced traditional sources of violence.
Urinary Bladder Response to Unilateral Stimulation of Pelvic Nerves.

SummaryUnilateral stimulation of intact pelvic nerves or of their distal cut ends, with or without section of the hypogastric nerves, usually elicited a prompt, vigorous and well sustained contraction of all portions of the detrusor muscle on the corresponding side with a weaker and often slightly delayed response on the opposite side. On 2 occasions unsustained contractions, evoked by stimulation of pelvic nerves, were observed. These data indicate that the distribution of the pelvic nerves from a given side is not limited to that side of the bladder alone but, in addition, innervates a considerable portion of the muscle on the contralateral side of the viscus.
Reevaluating Chronology and Historical Content in the Maya Books of Chilam Balam

This article examines the so- cal led First Chronicle of the Maya Books of Chilam Balam, a segment of shared content found in three of the native copybooks from northern Yucatan, including the Tizimin, the Chumayel, and the Mani, also known as the Codice Perez. I reevaluate the chronology and historical content of the First Chronicle found in these books by examining the following: (1) the dates applied to the katun cycles (increments of roughly twenty- y ear periods) in light of recent archaeological finds from Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Champoton, and Mayapan; (2) Maya conventions of time as expressed in the katun chronicles; (3) the shared sub - ject matter found in all three books; and (4) the internal structure and transcription conventions of the First Chronicle. This study suggests that the early chronicles may offer a larger measure of historical accuracy and reliability than is currently accepted. Among the various avenues of approach to the investigation of Maya civiliza- tion, the study of the native literature of Yucatan is, next to the actual archaeo -
Application of the Time Spectral Method to Periodic Unsteady Vortex Shedding

The Time Spectral method has been proposed for the fast and ecient computation of periodic unsteady flows. The algorithm has been validated with both 2D and 3D test cases and applied successfully for internal and external aerodynamics. It has shown tremendous potential for reducing the computational cost compared to conventional time-accurate methods, by enforcing periodicity and using Fourier representation in time, leading to spectral accuracy. Until now, the algorithm could be used only for flows where the frequency of unsteadiness was known a priori. In this paper, we propose a method to compute the time period as part of the solution to the unsteady problem, in cases where the frequency of unsteadiness is not predefined.
A Patient-Specific Model for Predicting Tibia Soft Tissue Insertions From Bony Outlines Using a Spatial Structure Supervised Learning Framework

Recreating the natural anatomy in ligament reconstruction is crucial to fully restore the knee joint function and reduce impingement on iatrogenic injury to adjacent structures, yet is subject to the difficulties in locating ligament and other associated soft tissues insertion sites intraoperatively and the high interperson morphological variability cross patients. In this study, we present a new quantitative analysis method capable of achieving personalized identification of cruciate ligament and soft tissue insertions. We craft patient-specific features of tibia outline that can be accurately and reliably measured from CT images. In addition, we propose a supervised structure learning and prediction model with special interdimensional and response structure regularization terms to capture relationship between the spatial arrangement of soft tissue insertions and the patient-specific features extracted from the tibia outlines. In the experiment, the proposed model outperforms baseline models and provides an accurate and accessible approach that can be used as the first and the most critical step to achieve personalized surgical planning in cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Vilcabamba: Fabled Redoubt of the Urubamba Region

West of the main Urubamba River, a mountain fastness sliced through by two main tributaries, the Vilcabamba and the Cosereni, has a snowcap-to-jungle ecology. The fragmented topography of this remote area called the Vilcabamba provided a last refuge for the Incas after the Spanish Conquest of 1532. Spaniards gained control of this zone only in the 1570s, motivated by the presence of Inca mines of precious metals. Its isolation and hidden ruins gave Vilcabamba its reputation as being a land of mystery. Two accounts seek to capture some of its character. One is that of the extraordinary experience of an American geographer, Stuart White, who went to Vilcabamba in 1980 and stayed for 2 years. The other is my own 1964 expedition seeking the Inca site of Vilcabamba la Vieja. The log made from that trip is placed in a retrospective context and the future is discussed.