cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Creating a useable peer-tutoring site on-line

A description of the development and implementation of a peer-tutoring service on-line geared to urban commuter students is presented. A model for the student creation of the web site is discussed as well as the ongoing evaluation of software needed by the project. The issue of how to provide tutoring that complements the presentation of course material in the classroom is raised. The decision about what material should be available on-line involves a negotiation among a wide audience that includes faculty, administration and the students. The assessment of the usefulness of the site is just beginning and much developmental work remains. What has been learned is that establishing an on-line tutoring site in an academic environment requires the consideration of many issues beyond technical ones.
Challenges for the sensory sciences from the food and wine industries.

When scientists describe their research to non-scientists, the most common question is 'what is the practical value of your work?' The methods that are used to measure responses to sensory stimuli in human sensory science and neuroscience research have great potential value to the food and wine industries, as well as promising to advance our understanding of the mechanisms by which sensations are perceived and processed.
Thrombomodulin is preferentially expressed in Balb/c lung microvessels.

Previously, two rat monoclonal antibodies where developed which bind distinct epitopes on a murine glycoprotein, P112, which is expressed primarily in lung capillary endothelium. In this paper we show that P112 is identical to the endothelial anticoagulant protein, thrombomodulin (TM). Several lines of evidence support this conclusion. First, amino acid analysis of P112 shows a high degree of homology to TM, and both molecules exhibit the same mobility in gel electrophoresis. Second, P112 and TM share reactivity for two different monoclonal antibodies. Third, purified P112, like TM, acts as a cofactor for protein C activation. Finally, two cDNA clones identified with P112 polyclonal antiserum contain sequence identity with the known TM cDNA sequence. Quantitative analysis of TM (P112) expression using a two-site monoclonal antibody assay demonstrates that significantly higher levels of TM are found in lung in comparison with other highly vascularized organs, i.e. the kidney and liver. Quantitative Northern blot data coincides with the two-site assay data and demonstrates that the high level of TM expression in lung is not due to preferential binding of the monoclonal antibodies to lung TM but rather to increased production of TM mRNA in the lung relative to other highly vascularized organs. It is suggested that expression of TM is highest in cells from continuous endothelium.
Reciprocal actions of Wnt9A and BMP4 on chondroitin-4-sulfotransferase (CHST11) expression in relation to arylsulfatase B activity (1005.2)

Initial experiments in human colonic epithelial cell lines and in the arylsulfatase B (N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase; ARSB)-deficient mouse showed that reduction in ARSB and the resultant increase in chondroitin-4-sulfate (C4S) were associated with reduction in chondroitin-4-sulfotransferase expression and ~50% reduction in sulfotransferase activity with overall increase in total sulfated glycosaminoglycans and C4S. Our experiments have also shown that decline in ARSB leads to increase in Wnt9A expression in human colonic epithelial cells and mouse intestine. Since modeling of the extracellular matrix by Wnt and BMP4 involves their interactions with sulfated glycosaminoglycans, including chondroitin sulfate, we evaluated the interactions among ARSB, Wnt9A, BMP4, and chondroitin-4-sulfotransferase (CHST11). Following silencing of Wnt9A by siRNA, the CHST11 expression increased to ~3 times baseline and the sulfotransferase activity increased to ~1.6 times the baseline. In contrast, when BMP4 was neutral...
Age, Height, and Weight as Factors in the Classification of Elementary School Children

(1932). Age, Height, and Weight as Factors in the Classification of Elementary School Children. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 3, No. 10, pp. 21-58.
The role of stem cells in adipose tissue remodeling.

S AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS: Holden CR, Wysoczynski M, Sansbury BE, Hellmann JL, Zafar N, Gibb AA, Bhatnagar A, Hill BG. Nutrient excess promotes accumulation of bone marrow derived progenitor cells in adipose tissue. Poster presentation, 2014 Experimental Biology: San Diego, CA. Holden CR, Wysoczynski M, Sansbury BE, Hellmann JL, Zafar N, Gibb AA, Bhatnagar A, Hill BG. Dynamics Of Adipocyte And Endothelial Progenitor Cell Pools In Expanding Adipose Tissue. Poster presentation at 2014 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions: Chicago, IL. Salabei JK, Lorkiewicz PK, Holden CR, Harbeson MA, Li Q, Bolli R, Bhatnagar A, Hill BG. Glutamine regulates cardiac stem cell metabolism and competency. Poster presentation at 2014 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions: Chicago, IL. Zafar N, Krishnasamy SS, Shah J, McCraken J, Holden CR, DeJarnett NK, Abplanalp WT, Hill BG, Conklin DJ, O’Toole T, Rai SN, Bhatnagar A. 170 Depletion of circulating CD34+/KDR+ cells in Type 2 Diabetes is associated with glycemic control. Poster presentation at 2014 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions: Chicago, IL. Cummins TD, Guo Y, Du J, Book M, Zhu X, Wu W, McCracken JP, Salabei J, Zafar N, Haberzettl P, Holden CR, Gibb A, Jones SP, Li Q, Bolli R, Bhatnagar A, Hill BG. Type 2 diabetes decreases cardiac stem cell mitochondrial metabolism and prevents myocardial repair. 2013 Holden CR, McCracken J, Sansbury BE, Hellmann J, Cummins TD, Bhatnagar A, Hill BG. Regulation of Adipose Tissue Stem Cells by Inflammation. Poster Presentation at Research! Louisville, 2012. Cummins TD, Sansbury BE, Holden CR, Bhatnagar A, Hill BG. Metabolic remodeling of white adipose tissue in obesity. Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine (SFRBM), 2012.
Growth of α‐AI2O3 Platelets in the HF‐γy‐AI2O3 System

In the presence of a fluorine mineralizer, highly aggregated, <5 μm α-Al2O3 platelet particles form by vapor transport during the thermal transformation of γ-alumina. Platelet aggregation was determined to occur by platelet inter-growth and by edge nucleation on primary α-Al203 platelets. The addition of 1010α-alumina seed particles/cm3γ–Al2O3 resulted in the development of discrete particles during the initial stage of transformation. Impingement of the growing platelets during the latter stage of transformation, however, resulted in intergrowth, a process which was not changed by seeding. Particle size distribution broadening was observed to increase with increasing HF and H2O concentrations because vapor reactant supersaturation increases the degree of edge nucleation. When initially low HF and H2O concentrations were used in seeded systems, however, essentially aggregate-free α-Al2O3 platelets of 10–15 μm were obtained.
Functional Dissection of the Global Repressor Tup1 in Yeast: Dominant Role of the C-Terminal Repression Domain

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Tup1, in association with Cyc8 (Ssn6), functions as a general repressor of transcription. Tup1 and Cyc8 are required for repression of diverse families of genes coordinately controlled by glucose repression, mating type, and other mechanisms. This repression is mediated by recruitment of the Cyc8-Tup1 complex to target promoters by sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins. We created a library of XhoI linker insertions and internal in-frame deletion mutations within the TUP1 coding region. Insertion mutations outside of the WD domains were wild type, while insertions within the WD domains induced mutant phenotypes with differential effects on the target genes SUC2, MFA2, RNR2, and HEM13. Deletion mutations confirmed previous findings of two separate repression domains in the N and C termini. The cumulative data suggest that the C-terminal repression domain, located near the first WD repeat, plays the dominant role in repression. Although the N-terminal repression domain is sufficient for partial repression, deletion of this region does not compromise repression. Surprisingly, deletion of the majority of the histone-binding domain of Tup1 also does not significantly reduce repression. The N-terminal region containing potential alpha-helical coiled coils is required for Tup1 oligomerization and association with Cyc8. Association with Cyc8 is required for repression of SUC2, HEM13, and RNR2 but not MFA2 and STE2.
Multi-mode analysis of dual ridged waveguide systems for material characterization

In this paper, two nondestructive dual ridged waveguide (DRWG) material characterization systems are investigated. Shown in Fig. 1, the single and clamped DRWG probe geometries were analyzed in previous work; however, that research only incorporated the dominant DRWG mode. Here, that restriction is removed and the existence of evanescent higher-order modes is considered.
Encapsulation, cold storage, and growth of Hibiscus moscheutos nodal segments

Nodal segments of Hibiscusmoscheutos (hardy hibiscus) were excised from proliferating axillary shoot cultures and encapsulated in high density sodium alginate hardened by 50 mM CaCl2. Nodal segments 4 mm long grew as well as and were easier to encapsulate than 8 mm long nodal segments. Although nodal segments grew regardless of the concentration of sodium alginate, 2.75% was determined to produce the highest quality encapsulated nodal segments beads (sufficient alginate coating and ease of use) because of the viscosity produced by the 2.75% sodium alginate solution. When encapsulated segments were stored at 5°C they did not grow in light or darkness. During the first month on fresh proliferation medium under normal incubation conditions following 5°C storage in the dark for up to 24 weeks, root number and root and shoot elongation were inhibited linearly as storage time increased. All encapsulated nodal segments survived 24 weeks of 5°C storage in two separate experiments. In fact, 80% of encapsulated hardy hibiscus nodal segments survived refrigerated storage for 1½ years (78 weeks) and after 3 months on proliferation medium, the nodal segments produced nearly the same length axillary shoots with the same number of axillary nodes per shoot as compared to encapsulated segments either not stored at 5°C or stored for 24 weeks at 5°C. Growth from encapsulated and cold-stored ‘Lord Baltimore’ nodal segments was more vigorous than from ‘Southern Belle’ nodal segments.
FAMILIAL OCULOLEPTOMENINGEAL AMYLOIDOSIS

Members of a German family living in Ohio (United States) have been found to have dominantly inherited amyloidosis causing dementia, seizures, strokes, coma and visual deterioration. Pathological examination of affected individuals has shown severe, diffuse amyloidosis of the leptomeninges and subarachnoid vessels associated with patchy fibrosis and obliteration of the subarachnoid space. Amyloid deposits were prominent on the ependymal surfaces and severe and diffuse neuronal loss and generalized subpial gliosis were found in the cerebrum and cerebellum. On occasion superficial brain infarcts were seen. Amyloid was also found in the vitreous, the retinal internal limiting membrane and the retinal vessels, particularly those in the nerve fibre layer. There was only minimal amyloid elsewhere.
Algorithm 952: PHquintic: A Library of Basic Functions for the Construction and Analysis of Planar Quintic Pythagorean-Hodograph Curves

The implementation of a library of basic functions for the construction and analysis of planar quintic Pythagorean-hodograph (PH) curves is presented using the complex representation. The special algebraic structure of PH curves permits exact algorithms for the computation of key properties, such as arc length, elastic bending energy, and offset (parallel) curves. Single planar PH quintic segments are constructed as interpolants to first-order Hermite data (end points and derivatives), and this construction is then extended to open or closed C2 PH quintic spline curves interpolating a sequence of points in the plane. The nonlinear nature of PH curves incurs a multiplicity of formal solutions to such interpolation problems, and a key aspect of the algorithms is to efficiently single out the unique “good” interpolant among them.
Synthesis, Properties, and Photocatalytic Activities of PbS/TiO2 Nanotubes

PbS quantum dots (PbS QDs) with tunable size were attached to TiO2 nanotubes both inside and outside the surface of the nanotubes by using thiolactic acid, a bifunctional linker. The size of the PbS QDs with diameters of 2-10 nm was controlled by adjusting the concentration of thiolactic acid. By first blocking the outer surface of the TNTs with the double-chain cationic surfactant, PbS QDs can be placed only on the inside of the nanotubes. The PbS/TiO2 nanotubes were characterized by TEM, as well as Raman, FT-IR, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities ofPbS/TiO2 nanotubes were evaluated for the photodegradation of organic dyes. Preliminary results indicate the functionalized TiO2 nanotubes were superior catalysts for photodegradation of cationic dyes.
In vivo vasculogenic potential of human blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells

Vascularization of tissues is a major challenge of tissue engineering (TE). We hypothesize that blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have the required proliferative and vasculogenic activity to create vascular networks in vivo. To test this, EPCs isolated from human umbilical cord blood or from adult peripheral blood, and human saphenous vein smooth muscle cells (HSVSMCs) as a source of perivascular cells, were combined in Matrigel and implanted subcutaneously into immunodeficient mice. Evaluation of implants at one week revealed an extensive network of human-specific lumenal structures containing erythrocytes, indicating formation of functional anastomoses with the host vasculature. Quantitative analyses showed the microvessel density was significantly superior to that generated by human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) but similar to that generated by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We also found that as EPCs were expanded in culture, their morphology, growth kinetics, and proliferative responses toward angiogenic factors progressively resembled those of HDMECs, indicating a process of in vitro maturation. This maturation correlated with a decrease in the degree of vascularization in vivo, which could be compensated for by increasing the number of EPCs seeded into the implants. Our findings strongly support the use of human EPCs to form vascular networks in engineered organs and tissues.
Polymer Penetration and Pore Sealing in Nanoporous Silica by CHF3 Plasma Exposure

The polymerization and pore sealing that occurs during fluorocarbon plasma treatment of nanoporous silica xerogel was investigated experimentally by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and successfully modeled using a diffusion-reaction analysis. CHF 3 was used as a reactant gas to expedite the rate of polymerization due to the presence of hydrogen in its structure and its low C/F ratio. Knudsen diffusion was assumed to be the dominant mechanism for the motion of polymer precursor species through the nanoporous material over the range of pressures used in the plasma experiments. The amount of fluorine atoms deposited on the sidewalls of the pores was measured as a function of depth in the dielectric film and that amount was assumed to correspond with the mass of the polymer layer formed inside the pores. By applying a Thiele-type analysis to this system, we successfully matched model calculations with measured fluorine amounts, predicted the time required to reach a steady-state concentration of the polymer precursor in a pore (∼10 - 7 s) and predicted the time required to seal off pore necks at the surface of the dielectric (∼70 s). Both the model and experimental results show a greater depth of penetration and an enhanced deposition of polymer at higher porosities, confirming the need for pore sealing during back-end-of-the-line processing of nanoporous materials.
Immaterial labour in spaces of leisure: producing biopolitical subjectivities through Facebook

This research critically examines ways in which highly popular yet relatively under theorised leisure experiences inform and are informed by the social and political governance of our everyday lives. Specifically, online social networking, as seen through Facebook, actively produces leisure spaces, even if these spaces are primarily constituted through their discursive dimensions. By introducing the critical lenses of Marx’s notion of immaterial labour and Foucault’s biopolitics, we describe the ways in which leisure engagement with Facebook produces new forms of often hidden labour from users, thereby further contributing to the biopolitical control over many of our everyday experiences. These increasingly nuanced assemblages of leisure–labour relationships further destabilise any contention that leisure and labour are distinct sociological dimensions in people’s lives. We consider ways in which Facebook can counter various problematic hegemonic global structures, incorporating Hardt and Negri’s hopeful ...
Small-angle neutron-scattering studies of partially labelled crystalline polyethylene

Abstract Partially deuterated (DPE) and conventional (PE) polyethylene are used to study chain conformations in melt-crystallized blends. The deuterium fraction γ ranged from 0.19 to 0.59, resulting in melting temperature differences ΔTm=1–2°C between PE and DPE. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) from molten or quench-crystallized blends yields single-chain radii of gyration Rg which apparently depend on γ and are as much as 15% larger than values reported from experiments with fully labelled (γ=1) polyethylene. Quenched PE/DPE blends give Gaussian-like scattering patterns out to q=O.l A −1 , the limit of these studies. This implies considerably more intramolecular correlations at distances of 10–50 A than derived from a similar experiment employing fully deuterated chains. The present result is thought to be more representative of semicrystalline polyethylene since DPE and PE are nearly perfectly matched. Crystallization by slow cooling creates non-statistical concentration fluctuations which result in excess forward SANS, so a melting point difference of 1°C is still sufficient to trigger `clustering' or ‘segregation’ of PE and DPE. Intensity decays at q > 0.05 A −1 to the same value as in quenched samples, regardless of crystallinity changing from 0.52 to 0.74. These results are shown to be consistent with dominant ‘near-adjacent re-entry’ during crystallization of polyethylene from the melt.
The Central Role of Occupation in the Doing, Being and Belonging of Immigrant Women

The United States (US), as a receiving country for immigrants, has had recent waves of people arriving from regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Leaving behind the familiar and encountering a new socio-cultural landscape, immigrants experience major disruptions in their daily lives. This study examined the link between occupation and the adjustment, integration and reconstruction of the lives of 13 immigrant women to the US. Results show that migration altered their experience of space, time, roles and meaning of occupations, which threatened their sense of identity and feelings of competency. The women were proactive in modifying their habits and routines to cope with these changes and availed themselves of new opportunities. A focus on occupation as the unit of analysis was the key to understanding the process of renegotiation of ways of doing, being and belonging in their new context.
Bivalve ecology in a Silurian shelf environment

The Ludlow Series of the Welsh Borderland represents a gradient from quiet. deep shelf muds to shallow, storm-deposited silts. A fauna of 44 bivalve species shows a pattern of overlapping environmental ranges which span the full extent of the shelf gradient. Bivalve abundance is highest at the extremes of this gradient, where endobyssate forms are common in storm-deposited silts, and nuculoids locally dominate the fauna of the deep shelf muds. Species diversity of bivalves, however, is highest in low-stress. mid-shelf environments, where bivalves of small population sizes comprise a minimal proportion of the benthic fauna. Niche sizes, species diversity. and total environmental range of the bivalves is comparable to that of Ludlow brachiopods, even though the latter group is far more abundant as individuals.
Imaging Ca2+ Entering the Cytoplasm through a Single Opening of a Plasma Membrane Cation Channel

Discrete localized fluorescence transients due to openings of a single plasma membrane Ca2+ permeable cation channel were recorded using wide-field digital imaging microscopy with fluo-3 as the Ca2+ indicator. These transients were obtained while simultaneously recording the unitary channel currents using the whole-cell current-recording configuration of the patch-clamp technique. This cation channel in smooth muscle cells is opened by caffeine (Guerrero, A., F.S. Fay, and J.J. Singer. 1994. J. Gen. Physiol. 104:375–394). The localized fluorescence transients appeared to occur at random locations on the cell membrane, with the duration of the rising phase matching the duration of the channel opening. Moreover, these transients were only observed in the presence of sufficient extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that they are due to Ca2+ influx from the bathing solution. The fluorescence transient is characterized by an initial fast rising phase when the channel opens, followed by a slower rising phase during prolonged openings. When the channel closes there is an immediate fast falling phase followed by a slower falling phase. Computer simulations of the underlying events were used to interpret the time course of the transients. The rapid phases are mainly due to the establishment or removal of Ca2+ and Ca2+-bound fluo-3 gradients near the channel when the channel opens or closes, while the slow phases are due to the diffusion of Ca2+ and Ca2+-bound fluo-3 into the cytoplasm. Transients due to short channel openings have a “Ca2+ spark-like” appearance, suggesting that the rising and early falling components of sparks (due to openings of ryanodine receptors) reflect the fast phases of the fluorescence change. The results presented here suggest methods to determine the relationship between the fluorescence transient and the underlying Ca2+ current, to study intracellular localized Ca2+ handling as might occur from single Ca2+ channel openings, and to localize Ca2+ permeable ion channels on the plasma membrane.
TgICMAP1 Is a Novel Microtubule Binding Protein in Toxoplasma gondii

The microtubule cytoskeleton provides essential structural support for all eukaryotic cells and can be assembled into various higher order structures that perform drastically different functions. Understanding how microtubule-containing assemblies are built in a spatially and temporally controlled manner is therefore fundamental to understanding cell physiology. Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, contains at least five distinct tubulin-containing structures, the spindle pole, centrioles, cortical microtubules, the conoid, and the intra-conoid microtubules. How these five structurally and functionally distinct sets of tubulin containing structures are constructed and maintained in the same cell is an intriguing problem. Previously, we performed a proteomic analysis of the T. gondii apical complex, a cytoskeletal complex located at the apical end of the parasite that is composed of the conoid, three ring-like structures, and the two short intra-conoid microtubules. Here we report the characterization of one of the proteins identified in that analysis, TgICMAP1. We show that TgICMAP1 is a novel microtubule binding protein that can directly bind to microtubules in vitro and stabilizes microtubules when ectopically expressed in mammalian cells. Interestingly, in T. gondii, TgICMAP1 preferentially binds to the intra-conoid microtubules, providing us the first molecular tool to investigate the intra-conoid microtubule assembly process during daughter construction.
Decision tree design using a probabilistic model (Corresp.)

A sequential optical character recognition algorithm, ideally suited for implementation by means of microprocessors with limited storage capabilities, is formulated in terms of a binary decision tree. Upper bounds On the recognition performance are derived in terms of the stability of the digitized picture elements. The design process is described in detail. The algorithm is tested on single-font typewritten characters and the experimental and theoretical results are compared.
Examining the Relationship Between Patient Orientation and Job Satisfaction in Health Care: Evidence from the Nursing Profession

ABSTRACT It is well-known that the United States faces a serious nursing shortage. A number of factors have contributed to the problem including an aging nursing workforce, fewer nursing job candidates, the aging of the baby boom population, and increased nurse dissatisfaction. The current work addresses one issue that is central to the problem: nursing satisfaction/dissatisfaction. Drawing from previous research in the services marketing literature, the work introduces the “patient orientation” construct and suggests that it is a critical motivational factor that is related to nursing satisfaction. Results from an empirical study reveal that the construct is positively related to overall nursing satisfaction while controlling for external factors including pay, benefits, supervisor, and reward satisfaction. Implications for healthcare managers and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Prodigy bidirectional planning

The PRODIGY system is based on bidirectional planning, which is a combination of goal-directed reasoning with simulated execution. Researchers have implemented a series of planners that utilize this search strategy, and demonstrated that it is an efficient technique, a fair match to other successful planners; however, they have provided few formal results on the common principles underlying the developed algorithms. We formalize bidirectional planning, elucidate some techniques for improving its efficiency and show how different strategies for controlling search complexity give rise to different versions of PRODIGY. In particular, we demonstrate that PRODIGY is not complete and discuss advantages and drawbacks of its incompleteness. We then develop a complete bidirectional planner and compare it experimentally with PRODIGY. We show that the complete planner is almost as fast as PRODIGY and solves a wider range of problems.
Tumor volume, tumor percentage involvement, or prostate volume: which is predictive of prostate-specific antigen recurrence?

Objectives To compare the effects of tumor volume (TV), tumor percentage involvement (TPI), and prostate volume (PV) on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence (PSAR) after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods A cohort of 3528 patients receiving RP between 1988 and 2008 was retrieved from the Duke Prostate Center. Patients were stratified by TV ( 6 cm 3 ), TPI ( 20%), and PV ( 45 cm 3 ) and their effects on PSAR evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Clinicopathologic variables included in univariate analysis were age at surgery, race, year of surgery, PSA, pathologic Gleason score, pathologic tumor stage, margin status, extracapsular extension, and seminal vesicle invasion. The effects of TV, TPI, and PV (as continuous and categorical variables) on PSAR were compared using Cox analysis. Results TPI, TV, and PV were predictive of PSAR ( P P 20% and PV 10-35 cm 3 were predictive of PSAR (HR = 1.45 and OR = 1.25, P P Conclusions TV, TPI, and PV were predictive of PSAR in univariate analysis, but in multivariate analysis, only TPI and PV were predictive of PSAR. TPI and PV should be considered when evaluating, assessing, and counseling patients regarding PSAR risk.
Negative entropy, energy, and heat capacity in connection with surface tension: Artifact of a model or real?

It is only byneglecting self-adsorption (a treatment referred to as “pure-energy,” PE) that one gets textbook thermodynamics of a surface, based upon the tensionL as a function of temperatureT, and one finds negative specific heat for hot water. Any lower critical point and PE provides the other exciting negatives: nicotine-and-water is an example. In order toinclude adsorption,L must be known in terms ofT and chemical potentials asindependent variables; this forces measurement of the tension of curved menisci. Will the minus signs remain?
Emphysematous pyelonephritis with resultant emphysematous cholecystitis secondary to hematogenous dissemination

Both emphysematous pyelonephritis and emphysematous cholecystitis are uncommon, but potentially fatal, clinical entities. The simultaneous diagnosis of these two entities in the same patient has not previously been reported. In this paper, we describe a 68-year-old diabetic male who presented acutely with emphysematous pyelonephritis and emphysematous cholecystitis. This case demonstrates several important diagnostic and treatment considerations. Additionally, the unique circumstances of this case offer support for the proposal that emphysematous cholecystitis may often be secondary to hematogenous seeding/embolic phenomena rather than obstruction of the cystic duct. Prompt diagnosis is essential, as prompt intervention can minimize mortality and morbidity.
Identification of a P-Glycoprotein-Deficient Subpopulation in the CF-1 Mouse Strain Using a Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism

There is a subpopulation of the CF-1 mouse strain that is very sensitive to the neurotoxicity induced by the avermectins, a class of natural products widely used in veterinary and human medicine as anti-parasitic agents. This sensitivity results from a lack of P-glycoprotein in the intestine and brain of sensitive animals, allowing increased penetration of these compounds in the blood and brain, respectively. We describe a restriction fragment length polymorphism that is able to predict which animals will be deficient in this protein, confirming at the genetic level a heterogeneous population of this mouse strain. Breeding studies demonstrated that the inheritance of the markers follows a normal Mendelian autosomal pattern. Sensitive "-/-" animals are deficient in P-glycoprotein in those tissues known to express primarily mdr1a, but have normal P-glycoprotein levels in tissues known to express primarily mdr1b or mdr2, suggesting that the defect in the sensitive animals is limited to the mdr1a gene. The P-glycoprotein expression in the brain is dependent on the genotype, which also determines the susceptibility to the avermectin-induced neurotoxicity, with the "-/-" animals being most sensitive, and the "+/-" animals having less P-glycoprotein and therefore increased CNS sensitivity compared to the "+/+" animals. The ability to segregate this strain into -/- and +/+ animals may prove useful for examining the physiological role of P-glycoprotein in drug absorption and distribution and related toxicity. These data also provide a warning that experiments carried out with P-glycoprotein substrates in the heterogeneous population of the CF-1 mouse must be interpreted with caution.
Building a Unidimensional Test Using Multidimensional Items

This paper demonstrates, both theoretically and empirically, using both simulated and real test data, that sets of items can be selected that meet the unidimensionality assumption of most item response theory models even though they require more than one ability for a correct response. Sets of items that measure the same composite of abilities as defined by multidimensional item response theory are shown to meet the unidimensionality assumption. A method for identifying such item sets is also presented. Most of the currently used item response theory (IRT) models are based on the assumption that the set of items being analyzed measures a unidimensional trait (Hulin, Drasgow, & Parsons, 1983; Lord, 1980). Yet most, if not all, sets of test items measure a complex of abilities rather than a single trait. Even relatively simple constructs like vocabulary ability can be argued to be multidimensional if analyzed in enough detail. Previous research into the effects of multidimensionality of data on the use of unidimensional IRT models has stressed the robustness of the procedures to the violations of the unidimensionality assumptions (e.g., Reckase, 1979). This paper takes another approach. Through the use of multidimensional item response theory (MIRT), both a theoretical and empirical demonstration are presented to show that items that measure more than one trait can be used to construct tests that meet the unidimensionality assumption of unidimensional IRT models. A test composed of items that measure the same weighted composite of multiple abilities will meet the requirements of unidimensional models even though multiple abilities are needed to derive the correct response.
Cosegregation of open-angle glaucoma and the nail-patella syndrome

Purpose To evaluate two families ascertained only for the presence of glaucoma in which both nail-patella syndrome and glaucoma occur in several generations and to determine whether the two diseases are genetically related. Methods Ophthalmologic examinations and orthopedic examinations were performed. DNA samples from family members were screened with a microsatellite repeat marker at the argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) locus at 9q34, and linkage analysis was performed. Results Six patients with open-angle glaucoma were found among 13 patients with nail-patella syndrome in family UM:47. Seven patients with glaucoma were found among 11 patients with nail-patella syndrome in family UM:65. In both families, all individuals with glaucoma also had nail-patella syndrome. Two-point linkage analysis resulted in a lod score of 2.98 at a recombination fraction of 0.00 for open-angle glaucoma and nail-patella syndrome. Conclusions Linkage results presented here provide strong evidence that the orthopedic and nail anomalies in these two families result from the same nail-patella syndrome locus that has been previously linked to markers at 9q34. These data provide indirect evidence for a possible glaucoma locus at 9q34 and do not allow us to distinguish whether the glaucoma is the result of the nail-patella syndrome mutation or whether there is a separate locus responsible for glaucoma in these families. These studies suggest a need for ophthalmologic examination of individuals with nail-patella syndrome.
Failure of SC-19220 to affect prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) gastric antisecretory actions

Abstract SC-19220 has been shown to inhibit some actions of PGE 1 on isolated intestinal muscle and intestinal motility. We studied the effects of this compound on PGE 1 -induced inhibition of gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. In equimolar or twice molar amounts, SC-19220 did not affect PGE 1 gastric antisecretory actions. The antagonistic actions of SC-19220 appear to be selective and thus may be of clinical importance.
Short permutation strings

A permutation string is a string of symbols over the numerals 1, 2, ..., n such that all permutations of the string 1 2 ... n are subsequences. The search for short permutation strings arose out of studies into the complexity of shortest path algorithms by Karp and others. The results in the sequel are presented independent of such studies because they are felt to be of intrinsic combinatorial interest [1]. An algorithm for constructing permutation strings of length n^2-2n+4 is given.
Accidental poisoning of children: barriers to resource use in a black, low-income community.

This descriptive study examined factors that influence use of poison-prevention measures and poison control center resources in a black, low-income, inner-city community. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 32 mothers of children under age 10 years at two federally funded health centers and two community food pantries. Participants were interviewed using a semistructured interview schedule. Data were analyzed qualitatively, with the results indicating that the majority of mothers had a considerable degree of awareness regarding poisoning susceptibility, severity, and prevention. However, few had access to or had used the poison control center's telephone number. Only 56% had received direct information regarding poisoning, with recall tending to be more accurate when information was obtained outside of the prenatal and postpartum settings. Lack of awareness of poisoning management and poison control center resources was most frequently cited as a barrier. Although this study was limited to one community, it indicates a possible need to distribute culturally acceptable poisoning information and frequent reinforcement for families with small children. Language: en
Identification and localization of a kainate binding protein in the frog inner ear by electron microscopy immunocytochemistry

A kainate binding protein (KBP) was studied inRana pipiens inner ear using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against affinity purified KBP from frog brain. The KBP identified and analyzed in inner ear tissue homogenates, with one- and two-dimensional immunoblots, was similar to the affinity purified KBP and to the antibody-identiofied frog brain KBP. As brain KBP, inner KBP had 5 main components in the molecular weight dimension, centered atMr=48,000; however, inner ear KBP had a greater abundance of the higher molecular weight components. Light and electron microscopy observations showed KBP immunostaining at two locations: (1) in the dendrites of the eight nerve afferent fibers contacting sensory hair cells, with the postsynaptic density being more intensely stained; and (2) on the cytoplasmic membrane of fibroblasts present in the inner ear connective tissue which displayed intense immunostaining. The presence of kainate (KA) binding sites in the inner ear was assessed using in vitro receptor autoradiography. [3]KA binding sites were found in connective tissue areas confirming the immunocytochemistry results. The postsynaptic localization of the KBP in afferent endings, strongly supports it as being a component of the KA receptor complex. However, its presence on fibroblasts situated in the inner ear connective tissue makes its function hypothetical. The dual presence of the KBP on non-neuronal cells as well as at postsynaptic membrane sites suggests the existence of a family of proteins involved in KA binding and KA receptors with a complex organization.
Developing effective college leadership for the management of educational change

Analyses the concept of leadership as a vital ingredient of educational success within the context of the turbulent changes taking place within further education. In defining leadership, and identifying those who are the leaders in achieving educational excellence, argues for a model of distributed leadership. Such an approach should be concerned with seeking transformational change leading to a total quality education approach. This in turn should contribute to college effectiveness in improving teaching and learning and the management of educational change. Within the shared leadership model, it is argued that middle managers are also leaders. They are managing diversity, within a rapidly changing environment, and are taking forward multiple innovations. Suggests that this is one approach towards building the generic capacity to manage educational change in the further education sector through the development of leadership talent at all levels.
Effect of water structure makers and breakers on the adsorption of β-casein at the air—water interface

Abstract The kinetics of adsorption of β-casein at the air—water interface was studied in the presence of kosmotropic (water structure maker) and chaotropic (water structure breaker) salts. It was found that while 1 M NaCl increased the rate and the equilibrium adsorption of β-casein, 1 M NaSCN caused a decrease compared to the 20 m M phosphate buffer control. Analysis of the data indicated that the adsorption was primarily diffusion controlled in both cases. It was also found that even though the rate and equilibrium adsorption of β-casein was affected by the structure maker (NaCl) and structure breaker (NaSCN), the surface equation of state was not affected by these salts. These results are discussed in terms of the hydrophobic effect which is related to the state of bulk water structure and its interaction with the nonpolar surfaces of the protein.
Impaired Oxidation of Pyruvate in Human Embryonic Fibroblasts After Exposure to L-dopa

The effect of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) treatment on the ability of intact human cells to metabolize substrates for mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was studied in embryonic fibroblasts. Treatment with L-dopa (100-400 microM) for 48 h significantly reduced the oxidation of pyruvate but had no effect on succinate oxidation. The effect was dose-dependent and was still present 2 days after removal of L-dopa. Ascorbic acid (200 microM) protected the cells from the effects of L-dopa; ascorbate alone enhanced pyruvate but not succinate oxidation.
Collagen synthesis during primate flexor tendon repair in vitro

The concept that flexor tendons have the intrinsic capacity to participate actively in the repair process following laceration has been developed in recent years as the result of experimental studies from numerous laboratories. However, the role of the outer/epitenon and inner/endotenon cell populations with regard to protein synthesis is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the respective participation of these tendon fibroblast populations in the synthesis of the collagen matrix during in vitro repair of the flexor tendon from nonhuman primates, utilizing immunohistochemical techniques and a Type I procollagen antibody. Zone II profundus flexor tendon segments were obtained from young adult Macaca nemestrina monkeys. One centimeter segments were cultured, either with or without a transverse laceration across 90% of the midsection of the tendon segment. Frozen sections of the cultured tendon segments were reacted with the (mouse monoclonal) Type I procollagen antisera. At all times of culture of the nonlacerated tendon segment, only a few of the epitenon cells along the surface of the tendon and distant from the cut end stained positively for active collagen synthesis. In the lacerated segments, and as early as 9 days of culture and repair, the procollagen reaction product was starting to appear in those cells of the outer epitenon cell layer. These studies support the concept that the inner fibroblasts do actively participate in collagen production. However, it now also appears that a significant degree of collagen synthesis during tendon repair resides in the outer/epitenon layer of cells enveloping the tendon segment, and that the repair response of the flexor tendon in vitro is proportional to the degree of injury.
Numerical approximation of solutions to nonlinear inverse problems arising in olfaction experimentation

Identification of detailed features of neuronal systems is an important challenge in the biosciences today. An interdisciplinary research team has been working to determine the distributions of ligand gated ion channels in frog olfactory cilia which are long thin processes that extend from the olfactory receptor neurons. Experiments involving ligand diffusion are performed leading to current data dependent on time. Mathematical models of the experiment are derived and solved numerically to obtain estimates of the spatial distributions of the ion channels along the length of a cilium from the data. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Radionuclide migration using a travel time transport approach and its application in risk analysis

The travel time transport approach for radioactive elements undergoing sorption and decay is employed in assessing the potential health risk at possible locations of human receptors. The principal entity in approach presented is a travel time probability density function conditioned on the set of parameters used to describe different transport processes, like advection, dispersion, sorption, and decay. The importance of accounting for parameter uncertainty and possible correlation between them is described and demonstrated in the study of risk analysis at the Nevada Test Site (NTS), which is located in the southwestern part of the state of Nevada. Because of the lack of sorption, the migration of tritium is found to provide the largest health risk to the accessible environment. Inclusion of the sorption process indicates that the parameter uncertainty and especially negative correlation between the mean velocity and the sorption strength are important in evaluating the arrival time of radionuclides at the prespecified accessible environment. The results from the risk-based screening analysis suggest that tritium, which does not sorb and has a short effective half-life (both physical and biological), is responsible for about 90% of the total risk.
Robotic versus laparoscopic resection for sigmoid diverticulitis with fistula

Robotic abdominal surgery is growing despite a paucity of clinical reports to evaluate its impact on patient outcomes. In this retrospective case series, we aim to analyze our early experience with robotic resection in 11 consecutive patients with chronic colonic diverticulitis complicated by fistula to bladder, vagina, or skin and to compare the results of the robotic approach to 20 patients undergoing laparoscopic resection for the same indication. Our main outcome measures include operative time, blood loss, conversion rate, transfusion rate, hospital length of stay, complications, readmission, and fistula healing rate. In our study, we found robotic resection for colonic diverticulitis with fistula was technically feasible and yielded 100 % fistula healing rate. The operative time, complication and readmission rates were similar to laparoscopy. A higher conversion rate, diverting stoma need, and longer hospital length of stay were noted in the robotic group; however, these findings could have been attributed to a higher number of cases involving rectal excision in the robotic group. Larger studies are needed to further examine the impact of robotic surgery on the outcome of patients with complicated chronic sigmoid diverticulitis.
Microbial Film Model for the Interaction between Adsorption and Bacterial Activity in Fixed Bed Processes

Abstract A chemical reaction - diffusion film model is presented for the description of the growth and presence of microbial film outside adsorbents in fixed bed processes. The model was tested against experiments in which an aqueous solution of valeric acid was passed through a carbon bed and the removal of valeric acid from the solution was effected through carbon adsorption as well as aerobic and anaerobic bacteria present in the bed.