cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between calcium stimulation of cyclic GMP and lipid peroxidation in the rat kidney: evidence for involvement of calmodulin and separate pathways of peroxidation in cortex versus inner medulla.

Abstract The relationship between Ca 2+ stimulation of renal cGMP accumulation, release of endogenous arachidonic acid (AA) from lipid stores, lipid peroxidation and prostaglandin (PG) synthesis were examined in rat renal cortex and inner medulla. In slice incubates of each tissue, increases in slice cGMP induced by Ca 2+ plus ionophore A23187 were preceded by or occurred concurrently with Ca 2+ induced increases in (1) release of [ 14 C] AA from prelabeled lipid stores, (2) lipid peroxidation, as monitored by accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the media, and (3) inner medullary slice PGE content. Ca 2+ induced increases in cGMP, MDA and PGE required O 2 . Exogenous AA also increased MDA, PGE and cGMP in the presence but not in the absence of O 2 . In inner medulla, the cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin or meclofenamate suppressed or abolished the actions of Ca 2+ , Ca 2+ plus A23187 or exogenous AA to increase MDA, PGE and cGMP, thus implicating products of the prostaglandin synthetic pathway as potential mediators of Ca 2+ effects on cGMP in this tissue. By contrast, in renal cortex, the cyclooxygenase inhibitors did not alter Ca 2+ , A23187 or AA induced increases in MDA or cGMP. However, preformed AA hydroperoxide significantly stimulated soluble and particulate guanylate cyclase activities from both regions of the kidney, suggesting that oxygenation of AA by the lipoxygenase pathway could result in generation of products capable of enhancing cGMP accumulation in cortex. Trifluoperazine (TFP), a phenothiazine that binds to and inhibits many of the biologic actions of the Ca 2+ -calmodulin complex, suppressed increases in [ 14 C] AA release, MDA and cGMP induced by Ca 2+ or Ca 2+ plus A23187 in both cortex and medulla. By contrast, TFP did not alter increases in MDA or cGMP in response to exogenous AA or the increase in cGMP induced by nitroprusside. Promethazine, a phenothiazine which binds poorly to Ca 2+ -calmodulin, had no effect on Ca 2+ induced increases in MDA or cGMP in cortex or medulla, TFP, but not promethazine, also suppressed Ca 2+ induced increases in acyl hydrolase activities in the 100,000 xg particulate fractions from cortex and medulla. Reduction of the endogenous calmodulin-like activity of particulate fractions from inner medulla by extraction with EGTA was associated with loss of Ca 2+ responsive acyl hydrolase activity. Ca 2+ -responsiveness was restored by addition of purified exogenous calmodulin. The data are consistent with the proposal that Ca 2+ induced increases in cGMP involve (1) Ca 2+ stimulation of Ca 2+ -calmodulin responsive acyl hydrolase activity with liberation of AA from lipid stores, and (2) oxygenation of AA by cyclooxygenase (medulla) or lipoxygenase (cortex) pathways to products which activate guanylate cyclase.
"Grappling to think clearly": vernacular theorizing in Robbie McCauley's Sugar.

This article examines Robbie McCauley’s Sugar, focusing on how this solo performance work opens up discursive spaces for a range of voices and perspectives. I argue that the ideas expressed in Sugar work as a type of vernacular theorizing, questioning the means by which certain perspectives and ways of knowing are valued over others. In the conclusion, I suggest how Sugar could serve as a model for health professionals involved in the fight again diabetes, as it opens up opportunities for dialogue and makes visible the processual nature of people’s attempts to make sense of the disease.
Automated live cell imaging of green fluorescent protein degradation in individual fibroblasts.

To accurately interpret the data from fluorescent proteins as reporters of gene activation within living cells, it is important to understand the kinetics of the degradation of the reporter proteins. We examined the degradation kinetics over a large number (>1,000) of single, living cells from a clonal population of NIH3T3 fibroblasts that were stably transfected with a destabilized, enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) reporter driven by the tenascin-C promoter. Data collection and quantification of the fluorescence protein within a statistically significant number of individual cells over long times (14 h) by automated microscopy was facilitated by culturing cells on micropatterned arrays that confined their migration and allowed them to be segmented using phase contrast images. To measure GFP degradation rates unambiguously, protein synthesis was inhibited with cycloheximide. Results from automated live cell microscopy and image analysis indicated a wide range of cell-to-cell variability in the GFP fluorescence within individual cells. Degradation for this reporter was analyzed as a first order rate process with a degradation half-life of 2.8 h. We found that GFP degradation rates were independent of the initial intensity of GFP fluorescence within cells. This result indicates that higher GFP abundance in some cells is likely due to higher rates of gene expression, because it is not due to systematically lower rates of protein degradation. The approach described in this study will assist the quantification and understanding of gene activity within live cells using fluorescent protein reporters. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of message framing in anti-binge drinking psas: The moderating role of counterfactual thinking

This experiment examined the interaction effects of message framing and counterfactual thinking on attitudes toward binge drinking and behavioral intentions. Data from a 2 (message framing: gain vs. loss) × 2 (counterfactual thinking priming: additive vs. subtractive) between-subjects factorial design showed that a gain-framed message resulted in lower binge drinking intentions than did a loss-framed message after subjects engaged in additive counterfactual thinking. The effects of a loss-framed message on binge drinking intentions occurred when subtractive counterfactual thinking was induced. Theoretical and practical implications for anti-binge drinking public service announcements are discussed.
Extending the Reach of Vocational Psychology: Toward an Inclusive and Integrative Psychology of Working.

Abstract This article, which represents a contribution to the 30th anniversary issue of the Journal of Vocational Behavior , seeks to extend the reach of vocational psychology by charting the course for an integrative and inclusive psychology of working. Building on Richardson's (1993) foundation of work as a location for counseling psychology practice and inquiry, I employ a sociopolitical analysis and a theoretical and methodological framework to further the development of a psychology of working. The goal of a psychology of working is to include the work lives of all citizens in our scholarship, not simply the well educated and affluent. Using both a moral and intellectual rationale, I present several key elements of an inclusive and integrative psychology of working that emerge out of the strengths of current vocational psychology, such as the focus on diversity and the advent of feminist thought. The article concludes with a discussion of how a psychology of working can serve to advance the integration of existing social scientific studies of work as well as to promote greater application of our efforts in practice and public policy.
Heat transfer coefficients for the upstream face of a perforated plate positioned normal to an oncoming flow

Abstract Experiments were performed to determine heat transfer coefficients on an upstream-facing surface that is pierced by a regular array of holes. The holes were arranged on equilateral triangular centers, and this regular geometry gives rise to a symmetry pattern whereby each hole is surrounded by a hexagonal region, the boundaries of which are symmetry lines. Within each such hexagonal module, the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics are identical to those of all the other modules which blanket the surface, so that measurements for a single module yield information for the entire surface. This feature has been employed in the design and execution of the present experiments. Two parameters were varied during the course of the experiments—the hole pitch-to-diameter ratio P D and the per-hole Reynolds number Re . The results were tightly correlated by the relation Nu L ∗ = 0.881 Re 0.476 Pr 1 3 . The characteristic dimension in the Nusselt number is the ratio of the module surface area to the pitch, while the Reynolds number is that for flow through a pipe having a diameter equal to that of the holes in the plate. Flow visualization studies confirmed the existence of the array of hexagonal modules.
A Review of the Genus Lethocerus in North and Central America, Including the West Indies (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae)

Ten species are recognized for the area treated, namely L. americanus (Leidy), uhleri (Montandon), annulipes (Herrich-Schaffer), medius (Guerin), delpontei De Carlo, colossicus (Stal), truxali Menke, angustipes (Mayr), maximus De Carlo, and griseus (Say). These are keyed, a synonymic bibliography is given for each species, and distribution maps are included. The biology of the genus is summarized, and there is a discussion of the general distribution picture with special emphasis on the West Indian fauna, which seems of twofold origin, derived partly from South America and partly from Central America.
William Blake's “Portable Fresco”

Writing in his Descriptive Catalogue of 1809, William Blake declares that he had invented “a portable fresco,” and “fresco” is a term he uses a number of times in the Catalogue and elsewhere. Blake's was a personal medium, involving tempera, gum, and glue on a ground of plaster whiting. The support could be canvas, wood, metal, or even paper (Blake considered the color-printed drawings he produced starting in 1795 as frescoes). This of course is not how the frescoes of Raphael and Michelangelo were made, and Blake had ample opportunity to learn from authors like William Aglionby and Cennino Cennini that they painted in water-soluble colors on wet plaster. Why, then, did he use the term for a different kind of painting? The answer lies partly in his desire to emulate the Italian Renaissance painters that he so much admired, by using what he considered to be an equivalent of their medium. The “portable” aspect would enable the painting to be moved from one site to another, an experiment to be repeated by th...
Fertility Considerations for Female Adolescent and Young Adult Patients Following Cancer Therapy: A Guide for Counseling Patients and Their Families

During the past 20 years, an increase in survival among pediatric patients with cancer has occurred, and a need exists to be proactive prior to cancer therapy regarding issues related to fertility. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause a number of deleterious side effects to female patients, including early menopause and its associated side effects of osteoporosis and heart disease as well as the inability to carry a pregnancy to term or conceive a child. Many drugs and fields of radiotherapy are associated with an increased incidence of female reproductive complications. Options are available for the preservation of female fertility, but many are experimental. Of highest importance is the need to counsel female adolescents and young adults before beginning induction chemotherapy or radiation. Nurses play a large part in the information about future fertility that female patients receive before the initiation of cancer therapy. After reading this article, nurses will have a better understanding of the impact of cancer therapy on the female reproductive system and be more comfortable discussing the topic with their patients.
Exchangeable Potassium Content of the Body in Congestive Failure Changes During Treatment

The increase in body weight in congestive heart failure is generally attributed to the retention of sodium and water in the extracellular compartment. Important changes also occur in the intracellular space, particularly in the metabolism of potassium. The isotope-dilution technic permits more precise determination of the exchangeable potassium content of the body in congestive failure before and during diuresis. The results of 27 such determinations in 11 patients with congestive heart failure are correlated with the clinical status of the patient and the serum concentration.
A MODEL OF THE FIRM'S DEMAND FOR MONEY UNDER UNCERTAINTY

Recently, economists have centered their explanation of the demand for money balances on the transactions motive. The roles of precautionary and speculative motives remain ambiguous. The purpose of this paper is to fill this void. We develop a static model of the individual firm's demand for money in which prices and the interest rate are assumed to be random variables. In this model, the entrepreneur must decide his money holdings ex ante, and both capital and labor inputs are determined ex post. The demand for money corresponding to the various motives is a consequence of analyzing the ex ante profit function. Implications for monetary policy are derived from this analysis.
Asymmetry of Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity in Low Birth Weight Infants

Background: In premature infants, intraventricular hemorrhage occurs more commonly in the left than the right hemisphere. We have demonstrated previously that cerebral blood flow velocity is lower in the left than the right middle cerebral artery in the first few hours after birth. This may be due to the open ductus arteriosus. Objective: To test the hypothesis that blood flow velocity is lower in the left than the right middle cerebral artery only when the ductus arteriosus is open. Study Design: Infants born at 25–33 weeks’ gestation were enrolled. Middle cerebral artery blood flow velocities and coefficients of variation were measured on the left, followed by the right, on days 1 and 7 of life. Echocardiography identified 67 infants (25–33 weeks, 517–2,371 g) whose ductus arteriosus was open on day 1 and closed on day 7. Results: Systolic (26.4 ± 7.4 vs. 29.6 ± 7.2 cm/s), mean (12.4 ± 4.0 vs. 15.6 ± 4.6 cm/s) and end-diastolic (5.3 ± 2.2 vs. 6.8 ± 2.9 cm/s) blood flow velocities were lower (p Conclusions: Blood flow velocity is lower and more variable in the left compared to the right middle cerebral artery on day 1 of life in premature infants. These differences are not found on day 7. We speculate that this difference is due to the associated ductus arteriosus patency.
Quantification of technetium 99m-labeled sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography based on mean counts improves accuracy for assessment of relative regional myocardial blood flow: experimental validation in a canine model.

Quantification of single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) images is generally based on determination of maximal counts on radial sectors of short-axis slices. We hypothesized that analysis of mean counts may reduce estimation error. We compared quantitative 99mTc-labeled sestamibi (MIBI) SPECT based on maximal myocardial counts with that based on mean myocardial counts for accuracy of quantifying relative regional myocardial perfusion in a canine model of permanent left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. MIBI and radiolabeled microspheres were injected during left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. Relative microsphere myocardial blood flow was expressed as a percentage of normal (left circumflex coronary artery territory) blood flow. SPECT imaging was performed in vivo and ex vivo. Relative MIBI uptake on SPECT short-axis slices was quantified with normalized circumferential profiles based on maximal and mean counts. In vivo and ex vivo SPECT relative myocardial count density was compared to relative myocardial blood flow in six dogs. In the comparisons percent errors in estimating the relative blood flow and relative flow deficit with MIBI SPECT imaging were calculated. There was an excellent correlation between absolute myocardial tissue MIBI activity and regional myocardial blood flow for each of the six dogs (r=0.90 to 0.98) The correlations between relative myocardial count density on SPECT and relative blood flow for individual sectors were similar for maximal and mean count profiles (maximal, 0.79 to 0.83; mean, 0.77 to 0.82). Comparing the nadirs of in vivo and ex vivo circumferential count profiles, the correlations were slightly better (maximal, 0.82 to 0.91; mean, 0.87 to 0.91). Average percent errors in assessing relative blood flow and relative flow deficit were decreased significantly by use of mean count profiles (p<0.05). Relative SPECT count density with either maximal or mean count profiles correlated well with relative myocardial blood flow. Compared with maximal count profiles, quantification with mean count profiles improved estimation of relative flow.
A company-sponsored program for systems engineering education

The problem of providing stimulating, effective continuing education for experienced professionals is becoming more acute for industry as technology's development accelerates. Faced with this problem, The MITRE Corporation has developed an in-house educational program whose learning environment is designed to meet the needs of its technical staff: personnel of widely differing educational backgrounds and professional experience. The course format emphasizes problem solving, personal communications, and teamwork. The latest adult education techniques are used and classroom facilities and decor are designed to encourage interaction and interchange of ideas and experiences. The program has proved successful. Learning by doing and personal involvement in team activity have provided motivation and kept interest high, and the cross-fertilization achieved by the interaction among the students has been a valuable byproduct. This paper presents the MITRE program as an example of a successful industry-developed continuing educational activity. It is representative of the kinds of continuing educational activities in which many companies are engaged and as such may be useful to those who are designing such programs of their own.
Position match quality method for rejecting false targets in an IR target recognition system

An imaging infrared (IR) autonomous target recognition system uses a prebrief geoposition location and IR image data to locate and track targets. On some occasions, the image processing target recognition algorithm identifies a non-target object as the desired prebriefed target. This paper derives a position match quality (PMQ) algorithm which monitors the convergence of the IR Kalman filter target estimation system and attempts to decide when the IR target being attacked should be rejected as a false target. Imaging guidance simulation results of the PMQ algorithm for Type I and Type II errors are shown.
Sequence comparison of human pituitary growth hormone, human chorionic somatomammotropin and ovine pituitary lactogenic hormone.

Ein Vergleich der Aminosauresequenzen von menschlichen Wachstumshormonen und menschlichem Chorion-Somatomammotropin mit denjenigen von Prolactin zeigt, dass 26% des Ruckstandes in allen drei Molekulen die gleiche Position hatten mit zusatzlichen 34% als moglichen Ersatz. Alle drei Hormone scheinen einen gleichen Ursprung zu haben.
Technology transfer, the environment, and the third world: Having one's cake and eating it

With the end of the Cold War, the major trend of the next century will be the development of competitive export economies in third world countries. In this paper, an on-going experiment in Mexico is reported. The experiment features the transfer of technology with a minimum adverse environmental impact. The goal is to develop sustainable integration into global markets by transferring technology that is both cost and quality competitive and environmentally safe. The target group is Mexican subsistence producers.
Use of GIS to identify optimal settings for cancer prevention and control in African American communities.

Objective Rarely have Geographic Information Systems (GIS) been used to inform community-based outreach and intervention planning. This study sought to identify community settings most likely to reach individuals from geographically localized areas.
Relationships between hormones and aggressive behavior in green anole lizards: an analysis using structural equation modeling.

We investigated the relationship between aggressive behavior and circulating androgens in the context of agonistic social interaction and examined the effect of this interaction on the androgen-aggression relationship in response to a subsequent social challenge in male Anolis carolinensis lizards. Individuals comprising an aggressive encounter group were exposed to an aggressive conspecific male for 10 min per day during a 5-day encounter period, while controls were exposed to a neutral stimulus for the same period. On the sixth day, their responses to an intruder test were observed. At intervals, individuals were sacrificed to monitor plasma androgen levels. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test three a priori interaction models of the relationship between social stimulus, aggressive behavior, and androgen. Model 1 posits that exposure to a social stimulus influences androgen and aggressive behavior independently. In Model 2, a social stimulus triggers aggressive behavior, which in turn increases circulating levels of androgen. In Model 3, exposure to a social stimulus influences circulating androgen levels, which in turn triggers aggressive behavior. During the 5 days of the encounter period, circulating testosterone (T) levels of the aggressive encounter group followed the same pattern as their aggressive behavioral responses, while the control group did not show significant changes in their aggressive behavior or T level. Our SEM results supported Model 2. A means analysis showed that during the intruder test, animals with 5 days of aggressive encounters showed more aggressive responses than did control animals, while their circulating androgen levels did not differ. This further supports Model 2, suggesting that an animal's own aggressive behavior may trigger increases in levels of plasma androgen.
Improved estimation of terrestrial water storage changes from GRACE

[1] The temporal variations in the Earth's gravity field caused by fluctuations in terrestrial water mass can be inferred from changes in GRACE monthly gravity field solutions. Such methods have limited spatial resolution due to a necessary and possibly arbitrary truncation and smoothing of the coefficients. Limiting the temporal resolution to one month was necessary to solve the gravity field by a global representation. Our alternative method uses GRACE satellite-to-satellite tracking and accelerometer data to obtain the along-track geopotential differences and directly estimate the temporal gravity variations regionally. This method was tested on the estimation of hydrological mass anomaly over the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. Compared to conventional spherical harmonic methods, the spatial extent of the estimated GRACE water height anomaly achieved finer resolution and is shown to follow more closely the boundaries of the river basins and significant systematic variation could be discerned at 15-day temporal resolutions.
Happily Ever After: Integrating Language and Literature through Technology?

This article describes a fourth-year German course on fairy tales that focuses on the integration of academic content with linguistic skills through technology-enhanced course modules. Situated in the discussion of the language-literature gap and the benefits of computer-assisted language learning, the proposed online course modules may prove appropriate in other German classes, thereby providing language educators with specific examples to help integrate the teaching of language and literature through online activities. Research findings from a qualitative study revealed several positive outcomes including increases in students' self-perceived confidence, motivation, and language skills as well as various challenges related to instructor involvement and functionality issues.
Refusal to compromise: The case of earth first!

This qualitative case study examines Earth First!, a radical environmental group whose motto is “No Compromise in the Defense of Mother Earth!” The group creates controversy by engaging in guerilla theater, civil disobedience, and specific acts of private property destruction, variously labeled “monkeywrenching,” “ecotage,” or “ecodefense.” Earth First! texts use paradox, satire, contradiction, parody, and irony to desecrate or recontextualize unfavorable contexts. The larger environmental movement suffers and benefits as a result. Compromise is shown to be a matter of context and perspective.
Alignment/misalignment hypothesis for tRNA selection by the ribosome

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are the adaptor molecules that allow the ribosome to decode genetic information during protein synthesis. During decoding, the ribosome must chose the tRNA whose anticodon corresponds to the codon inscribed in the messenger RNA to incorporate the correct amino acid into the growing polypeptide chain. Fidelity is improved dramatically by a GTP hydrolysis event. Information about the correctness of the anticodon must be sent from the decoding center to the elongation factor, EF-Tu, where the GTP hydrolysis takes place. A second discrimination event entails the accommodation of the aminoacyl-tRNA into its fully bound A/A state inside the ribosome. Here, we present a hypothesis for a specific mechanism of signal transduction through the tRNA, which operates during GTPase activation and accommodation. We propose that the rigidity of the tRNA plays an important role in the transmission of the decoding signal. While the tRNA must flex during binding and accommodation, its anisotropic stiffness enables precise positioning of the acceptor arm in the A/T state, the A/A state and the accommodation corridor. Correct alignment will result in optimal GTPase activation and accommodation rates. Incorrect tRNAs, however, whose anticodons are misaligned, will also have acceptor arms that are misaligned, resulting in sub-optimal GTPase activation and accommodation rates. In the case of GTPase activation, it is possible that the misalignment of the acceptor arm affects the rate directly, by altering the conformational change of the switch region of EF-Tu, or indirectly, by changing the alignment of EF-Tu with respect to the sarcin-ricin loop (SRL) of the large ribosomal subunit.
Phase Relationship between Alternans of Early and Late Phases of Ventricular Action Potentials.

Background: Alternans of early phase and of duration of action potential (AP) critically affect dispersion of refractoriness through their influence on conduction and repolarization. We investigated the phase relationship between the two alternans and its effect on conduction. Methods and Results: Transmembrane potentials recorded from ventricles of 8 swine and 3 canines during paced activation intervals of ≤ 300 ms were used to quantify alternans of maximum rate of depolarization (|dv/dt|max) and of APD. Incidence of APD alternans was 62% and 76% in swine and canines. Alternans of APD was frequently accompanied with alternans of |dv/dt|max. Of these, 4 and 26 % were out of phase in swine and canines, i.e. low |dv/dt|max preceded long APD. Computer simulations show that out of phase alternans attenuate variation of wavelength and thus minimize formation of spatially discordant alternans. Conclusions: The spontaneous switching of phase relationship between alternans of depolarization and repolarization suggests that mechanisms underlying these alternans may operate independent of each other. The phase between these alternans can critically impact spatial dispersion of refractoriness and thus stability of conduction, with the in phase relation promoting transition from concord to discord while out of phase preventing formation of discord.
A semantic account of rigidity

L'A. developpe un approche semantique de la designation rigide qui ne necessite pas d'ontologie speciale et qui permet d'utiliser les referents dans un discours modal ou contrefactuel. Au-dela d'une simple theorie semantique, le modele d'analyse propose offre la possibilite de depasser la description traditionnelle de la theorie des groupes
Mast cell depletion in murine chronic graft-versus-host disease.

A murine model of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was induced across minor histocompatibility barriers. This was done by injecting B10.D2 (H-2d) spleen cells into irradiated BALB/c (H-2d) mice. Chronic GVHD in this model includes features common to human idiopathic scleroderma, such as dermal fibrosis, loss of dermal fat and appendages, and a mononuclear cell filtrate. Serial skin biopsies showed a progressive loss of stainable mast cells in GVHD but not in irradiated controls. Mast cell depletion was noted as well in the tongue and kidney capsule of GVHD mice. Mast cell depletion was noted as early as 11 days after GVHD induction and persisted for at least 56 days. A hypothesis is put forth linking the T-cell activation of GVHD, mast cell degranulation, and increased fibrosis. The pertinence of this hypothesis to idiopathic scleroderma is pointed out.
A SIMPLIFIED APPROACH TO PEAK SAMPLING.

A peak sampling circuit useful for displaying such variables as blood pressure, is described. The advantage of simplicity and low cost balances against the disadvantage of holding the signal only for three quarters of a cycle.
The construction of a consumer population in advertising in 1920s China

Advertising in early 20th-century China played a central role in turning Chinese people into consumers. Advertisements between 1921 and 1929 in Shenbao, one of the most influential newspapers ever published in China, were studied to identify discourses of gender within the overarching discourse of Chinese people as a consumer population. Four discursive formations were identified: (1) female and male as ungendered categories of the consumer population, (2) woman and man as citizens of China, (3) one happy family as a consumption unit, and (4) women as a special group of consumers.
Nursing, midwifery and allied health education programmes in Afghanistan

Background: In 2001 Afghanistan was the centre of the world’s attention. By 2002 following 23 years of internal conflict – including Soviet invasion civil war and Taliban rule plus 3 years of drought the country was just beginning the process of re-establishing its internal structures and processes. In the health sector this included the revival of the Ministry of Health (MOH). The MOH was assisted in its efforts by multiple partners including the UN donor and aid agencies and a variety of non-governmental organizations. The author served as a consultant to the Aga Khan University School of Nursing in partnership with the World Health Organization and the MOH as it took on the work of strengthening nursing midwifery and allied health education programmes for Afghanistan. Aim: This paper will focus on the initial assessment of that sector. It will describe the situation as it existed in 2002 by examining the Kabul Institute of Health Sciences (HIS) and then turn briefly to the current state of affairs. Conclusions: Despite the uncertainties of daily life in Afghanistan the country has successfully initiated the reconstruction process. In the health sector this can be seen in the work done at the Kabul IHS. Progress has been made in a number of areas most notably in development and implementation of nursing and midwifery curricula. However no one would deny that much more work is needed. (authors)
A DEVELOPMENTAL WRITING SCALE

This report describes the development of grade norms for timed-writing performance in two modes of writing: persuasive and descriptive. These norms are based on objective and automatically computed measures of writing quality in grammar, usage, mechanics, style, vocabulary, organization, and development. These measures are also used in the automated essay scoring system e-rater® V.2. Norms were developed through a large-scale data collection effort that involved a national sample of 170 schools, more than 500 classes from 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades and more than 12,000 students. Personal and school background information was also collected. These students wrote (in 30-minute sessions) up to 4 essays (2 in each mode of writing) on topics selected from a pool of 20 topics. The data allowed us to explore a range of questions about the development and nature of writing proficiency. Specifically, this paper provides a description of the trajectory of development in writing performance from 4th grade to 12th grade. The validity of a single developmental writing scale is examined through a human scoring experiment and a longitudinal study. The validity of the single scale is further explored through a factor analysis (exploratory and confirmatory) of the internal structure of writing performance and changes in this structure from 4th grade to 12th grade. The paper also explores important factors affecting performance, including prompt difficulty, writing mode, and student background (gender, ethnicity, and English language background).
Interrelationships of renal hemodynamics, intrarenal pressures and renal lymph formation.

SummaryRenal lymph protein concentration, intrarenal venous pressure (IRVP) capsular lymph pressure (LP) and tissue pressure (TP) were measured before, during and after short periods of renal artery occlusion. Pressure measurements were also monitored after experimentally elevating IRVP. Increases in interstitial protein concentration occur during renal artery occlusion and alter protein concentration in subesquent lymph samples without changing lymph flow. The recovery of TP and LP following renal artery obstruction appears to be secondary to the replacement of renal interstitial fluid volume until functional distention of the kidney is reached. Thereafter, TP and LP appear to be directly related to IRVP.
Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ Suppresses Proximal α1(I) Collagen Promoter via Inhibition of p300-facilitated NF-I Binding to DNA in Hepatic Stellate Cells

Depletion of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) represents one of the key molecular changes that underlie transdifferentiation (activation) of hepatic stellate cells in the genesis of liver fibrosis (Miyahara, T., Schrum, L., Rippe, R., Xiong, S., Yee, H. F., Jr., Motomura, K., Anania, F. A., Willson, T. M., and Tsukamoto, H. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 35715-35722; Hazra, S., Xiong, S., Wang, J., Rippe, R. A., Krishna, V., Chatterjee, K., and Tsukamoto, H. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 11392-11401). In support of this notion, ectopic expression of PPARgamma suppresses hepatic stellate cells activation markers, most notably expression of alpha1(I) procollagen. However, the mechanisms underlying this antifibrotic effect are largely unknown. The present study utilized deletion-reporter gene constructs of proximal 2.2-kb alpha1(I) procollagen promoter to demonstrate that a region proximal to -133 bp is where PPARgamma exerts its inhibitory effect. Within this region, two DNase footprints with Sp1 and reverse CCAAT box sites exist. NF-I, but not CCAAT DNA-binding factor/NF-Y, binds to the proximal CCAAT box in hepatic stellate cells. A mutation of this site almost completely abrogates the promoter activity. NF-I mildly but independently stimulates the promoter activity and synergistically promotes Sp1-induced activity. PPARgamma inhibits NF-I binding to the most proximal footprint (-97/-85 bp) and inhibits its transactivity. The former effect is mediated by the ability of PPARgamma to inhibit p300-facilitated NF-I binding to DNA as demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay.
Glucose utilization by the polyol pathway in human erythrocytes

Abstract Sorbitol is present in human erythrocytes in concentrations exceeding that in plasma, and is linearly related to the plasma glucose concentration. When erythrocytes are incubated in media containing increasing glucose concentrations, the intracellular sorbitol and fructose concentrations increase and free fructose appears in the media. At a medium glucose concentration of 5 mM approximately 3% of the glucose uptake is utilized for sorbitol and fructose synthesis.Glucose appears to be a physiological substrate for alditol:NADP oxidoreductase in the erythrocyte.
Accumulation and depuration of mercury in the American oyster Crassostrea virginica

To study the kinetics of mercury uptake in oysters, adult Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) were held in seawater containing 10 μg mercury/l (ppb) or 100 μg mercury/l (ppb), added in the form of mercuric acetate, for 60 days. Mercury concentration in tissues was determined by analysis of individually homogenized oyster meats, using wet digestion and flameless absorption spectrophotometry. After 45 days, average mercury tissue concentration was 140,000 μg mercury/kg tissue (ppb) and 28,000 μg mercury/kg tissue (ppb) in the 100 ppb and 10 ppb experimental groups, respectively. After this time, concentrations dropped sharply, probably due to spawning. Clearance of mercury from tissue was studied by exposing treated adults to estuarine water (with no additions) for 30 days (100 ppb group) and 160 days (10 ppb group). Tissue concentrations in the 100 ppb mercury environment group declined from 115,000 to 65,000 ppb, and those of the 10 ppb group declined from 18,000 to 15,000 ppb, in 18 days; there-after, no further decline occurred in either group. Oysters accumulated mercury 1,400 times and 2,800 times above the environmental concentrations of 100 and 10 ppb mercury, respectively. Total self-purification was not achieved over a 6 month cleansing period.
Voltage-based clustering to identify connectivity relationships in distribution networks

We present a novel technique to infer connectivity relationships corresponding a set of measurement or monitoring locations in a distribution grid. Our approach uses a time series of voltage measurements from each location and partitions these into clusters based on whether the locations belong to same or different sub-circuits in the grid. For instance, customer meters connected to the same phase may be clustered into one group. The methods allow distributors to verify the connectivity model of their distribution network and also improve its accuracy. Furthermore, the methods support incremental meter deployment and can be applied to any subset of measurement locations. We present initial experimental results with the help of real voltage time series measurements collected from a microgrid.
The effect of pregnenolone on reinitiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis in hypophysectomized rats.

Δ5-Pregnenolone has recently been isolated from hog testicular extract (Haines, Johnson, Goodwin and Kuizenga, 1948). This steroid can maintain spermatogenesis in hypophysectomized rats (Leathern and Brent, 1943) and in estrogen treated rats (Albert and Selye, 1942). However, it is unable to reinitiate spermatogenesis in the atrophic testis following hypophysectomy or estrogen therapy (Masson, 1946). It seemed of interest to determine whether larger dosages or longer treatment periods would reinitiate spermatogenesis in hypophysectomized rats. The effect of pregnenolone on the maintenance of spermatogenesis also was restudied, using small dosages of hormone. Subcutaneous versus oral routes of administration where compared. The effect of small dosages of pregnenolone on testis and accessory sex glands of normal rats was also studied. methods Adult male rats of the Long-Evans strain were hypophysectomized and 20 days later received daily subcutaneous injections for 20 days of either 3 mg. or 20 mg. of pregn...
A Study of the Optimal Data Rate for Minimum Power of I/Os

Power dissipation of multi-gigabit per second parallel input-output (I/O) links is an integral part of total integrated circuits (IC) power dissipation. This brief presents an optimal data rate per I/O link at which the power dissipation is minimized. The data rate is expressed as a function of the transmission channel's frequency response. The impact of considering the power due to on-chip electronic switching depends on the process technology of the IC. The analysis results show that an upper bound for the data rate exists based on the channel's frequency response and that the upper bound is being approached with more advanced process technologies
Forgetful Bayes and myopic planning: Human learning and decision-making in a bandit setting

How humans achieve long-term goals in an uncertain environment, via repeated trials and noisy observations, is an important problem in cognitive science. We investigate this behavior in the context of a multi-armed bandit task. We compare human behavior to a variety of models that vary in their representational and computational complexity. Our result shows that subjects' choices, on a trial-to-trial basis, are best captured by a "forgetful" Bayesian iterative learning model [21] in combination with a partially myopic decision policy known as Knowledge Gradient [7]. This model accounts for subjects' trial-by-trial choice better than a number of other previously proposed models, including optimal Bayesian learning and risk minimization, e-greedy and win-stay-lose-shift. It has the added benefit of being closest in performance to the optimal Bayesian model than all the other heuristic models that have the same computational complexity (all are significantly less complex than the optimal model). These results constitute an advancement in the theoretical understanding of how humans negotiate the tension between exploration and exploitation in a noisy, imperfectly known environment.
A structure–property rationalization of some poly(carboxyl–epoxy) thermosets

The glass transition temperatures, Tg, and strength properties have been determined for an acrylic-based prepolymer containing 25 mole-% carboxyl functionality crosslinked with five different diepoxides. The Tg values vary from 100° to 200°C, and ultimate elongations of 2% to 7% at 25°C are observed with the different crosslinking agents. These variations are rationalized in terms of the structural elements present in the diepoxides. Thermosets possessing rigid structural units at the crosslink points connected by flexible segments have the best all-around combination of Tg and tensile properties. A decline in these properties was noted when the epoxide/carboxyl ratio exceeded unity owing to the formation of mixed networks and free chain ends.
Solar for all? Not in my lifetime [Spectral Lines]

On a sunny afternoon in California, I drive past the shuttered factories of Solyndra Corp., the bankrupt maker of solar panels. A billboardsize "For Sale" sign sits prominently on the frontage road of Interstate 880, a main artery into Silicon Valley. Solyndra?s empty factories are grim reminders of how? even in America?s innovation heartland?life on the solar frontier can be nasty, brutish, and short.
Sensitivity of Near-Surface Temperature Forecasts to Soil Properties over a Sparsely Vegetated Dryland Region

AbstractWeather Research and Forecasting Model forecasts over the Great Salt Lake Desert erroneously underpredict nocturnal cooling over the sparsely vegetated silt loam soil area of Dugway Proving Ground in northern Utah, with a mean positive bias error in temperature at 2 m AGL of 3.4°C in the early morning [1200 UTC (0500 LST)]. Positive early-morning bias errors also exist in nearby sandy loam soil areas. These biases are related to the improper initialization of soil moisture and parameterization of soil thermal conductivity in silt loam and sandy loam soils. Forecasts of 2-m temperature can be improved by initializing with observed soil moisture and by replacing Johansen's 1975 parameterization of soil thermal conductivity in the Noah land surface model with that proposed by McCumber and Pielke in 1981 for silt loam and sandy loam soils. Case studies illustrate that this change can dramatically reduce nighttime warm biases in 2-m temperature over silt loam and sandy loam soils, with the greatest imp...
S100/Calgranulin-Mediated Inflammation Accelerates Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Aortic Valve Sclerosis in Chronic Kidney Disease in a Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products–Dependent Manner

Objective— S100A12 and fibroblast growth factor 23 are biomarkers of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We tested the hypothesis that human S100/calgranulin would accelerate cardiovascular disease in mice subjected to CKD. Approach and Results— A bacterial artificial chromosome of the human S100/calgranulin gene cluster containing the genes and regulatory elements for S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 was expressed in C57BL/6J mouse (hBAC-S100) to generate a novel humanized mouse model. CKD was induced by ureteral ligation, and hBAC-S100 mice and wild-type mice were studied after 10 weeks of chronic uremia. hBAC-S100 mice with CKD showed increased fibroblast growth factor 23 in the hearts, left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, focal cartilaginous metaplasia, and calcification of the mitral and aortic valve annulus together with aortic valve sclerosis. This phenotype was not observed in wild-type mice with CKD or in hBAC-S100 mice lacking the receptor for advanced glycation end products with CKD, suggesting that the inflammatory milieu mediated by S100/receptor for advanced glycation end products promotes pathological cardiac hypertrophy in CKD. In vitro, inflammatory stimuli including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, lipopolysaccarides, or serum from hBAC-S100 mice upregulated fibroblast growth factor 23 mRNA and protein in primary murine neonatal and adult cardiac fibroblasts. Conclusions— Myeloid-derived human S100/calgranulin is associated with the development of cardiac hypertrophy and ectopic cardiac calcification in a receptor for advanced glycation end products–dependent manner in a mouse model of CKD. We speculate that fibroblast growth factor 23 produced by cardiac fibroblasts in response to cytokines may act in a paracrine manner to accelerate left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in hBAC-S100 mice with CKD. # Significance {#article-title-48}
Shared-spectrum multistatic radar: Preliminary experimental results

In this paper we present preliminary experimental results demonstrating the ability of the multistatic adaptive pulse compression (MAPC) algorithm to suppress the mutual-interference generated by shared-spectrum radar signals, thus enabling shared-spectrum radar. The MAPC algorithm, a waveform diversity technique wherein multiple known transmitted waveforms are adaptively pulse compressed using reiterative minimum mean-square error (RMMSE) estimation, has been shown to successfully suppress both range sidelobes and interference from multiple radars operating in the same spectrum. In this paper, we present initial experimental results from the adaptive pulse compression (APC) test bed that demonstrate the ability of MAPC to mitigate both the mutual interference from multiple radars and pulse compression range sidelobes when applied to measured data.