cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
3. A Women's Gymnasium

(1956). 3. A Women's Gymnasium. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 14-27.
Estimation in the Mixture of Markov Chains

This paper considers a new mixture of time homogeneous finite Markov chains where the mixing is on the rate of movement and develops the EM algorithm for the maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of the mixture. A continuous and discrete time versions of the mixture are defined and their estimation is considered separately.The simulation study is carried out for the continuous time mixture. To simplify the exposition the results are derived for a mixture of two Markov chains, but can be easily extended to a mixture of any finitenumber of Markov chains. The class of mixture models proposed in this paper provides a framework for modeling population heterogeneity with respect to the rate of movement. The proposed mixturegeneralizes the mover-stayer model, which has been widely employed in applications.
Effect of Bovine Growth Hormone Administration on Metabolism of Growing Hereford Heifers: Dietary Digestibility, Energy and Nitrogen Balance

The objective was to determine the effect of daily s.c. injection of bovine growth hormone (bGH) on nitrogen and energy balance in six Hereford heifers. In addition, effects on urinary excretion of 3-methylhistidine and hydroxyproline and on serum mineral concentrations were monitored. A single reversal design was used with two 14-d injection periods of placebo or bGH (29.2 IU/d). Measurements were made on d 8-14 of each period. Injection of bGH did not alter apparent digestibility of dry matter, energy or nitrogen, nor urinary excretion of 3-methylhistidine or hydroxyproline. Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were normal with bGH treatment. Nitrogen retention was higher and urinary nitrogen excretion was lower when the heifers were injected with bGH than with the placebo demonstrating an effect of bGH on postabsorptive metabolism of nitrogen. Total energy balance was not altered by treatment. Energy retained as protein was higher after bGH treatment than after the placebo, implying decreased energy retained as fat and demonstrating a role for GH in altering energy partition in growing animals. Total heat production was not altered by treatment indicating no change in the gross efficiency of metabolizable energy use with bGH treatment.
A New Astrometric System

The 30-inch Thaw Refractor of the University of Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Observatory has been completely rebuilt. Changes include a new objective lens, a new detector system, and computer control and data acquisition. With an observational accuracy exceeding one-thousandth of an arc second, the new system will greatly expand the domain of astrometric research.
Mind World: Appendix: Background Conceptions of Ontology, Phenomenology, Philosophy of Mind, and Historical Philosophy

In the following remarks I try to outline the broad conceptual, methodological, and historical background assumed in the preceding chapters. This background is part of the unity of views developing in the chapters themselves, although the chapters are intended to be accessible without digging into this background. Of course, one's own background is often the most difficult part of one's philosophy to articulate. The Theory of Consciousness and World in Recent Philosophy The headwinds in philosophy are strong. They are the winds of fashion. Metaphysics has been under suspicion for three centuries, first in the age of science and recently in the era of cultural interpretation. Yet what we need in philosophy today is a more systematic ontology, framing a wide metaphysics that is cognizant of discoveries in physics, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology alongside analyses of our own consciousness and our cultural practices and institutions. Phenomenology has been under suspicion for half a century, as philosophy turned away from conscious experience. The tradition of analytic philosophy turned toward language – ordinary language, symbolic logic, then computer languages – and then toward naturalism, eyeing the marvels of quantum mechanics, relativity theory, and evolutionary biology. Continental philosophy too came to stress language, discourse, text, and cultural practice over consciousness. Yet what we need today, to understand the phenomena of consciousness much discussed in recent philosophy of mind oriented to cognitive neuroscience, is a more systematic phenomenology, framing a careful analysis of structures of subjective experience.
Inheritance of epigenetic chromatin silencing

Maintenance of alternative chromatin states through cell divisions pose some fundamental constraints on the dynamics of histone modifications. In this paper, we study the systems biology of epigenetic inheritance by defining and analyzing general classes of mathematical models. We discuss how the number of modification states involved plays an essential role in the stability of epigenetic states. In addition, DNA duplication and the consequent dilution of marked histones act as a large perturbation for a stable state of histone modifications. The requirement that this large perturbation falls into the basin of attraction of the original state sometimes leads to additional constraints on effective models. Two such models, inspired by two different biological systems, are compared in their fulfilling the requirements of multistability and of recovery after DNA duplication. We conclude that in the presence of multiple histone modifications that characterize alternative epigenetic stable states, these requirements are more easily fulfilled.
Effect of thermal treatment on the nanostructure of SiO2Al2O3 xerogels

Abstract SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 xerogels of various compositions were prepared using the sol-gel process. Aluminium nitrate was mixed with prehydrolyzed tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), and gelation was initiated with NH 4 OH, with a final gelation pH of 8.5. The effect of calcination protocol on the surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, skeletal density, and pore and particle structures of the resulting xerogels was studied. The results show that essentially mesoporous materials are produced by this synthesis route, and that it is possible to thermally treat these mixed oxide gels to tailor the pore size distribution without severely affecting surface area or pore volume. Low Al 2 O 3 content gels remain amorphous and undergo viscous sintering with heat treatment, whereas heat treatment of high Al 2 O 3 content gels causes crystallization which delays sintering. Thus it is possible to add small amounts of Al 2 O 3 to impart thermal stability in SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 xerogels.
Phonon anomaly, central peak, and microstructures in Ni2MnGa.

Inelastic neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy have been used to study a single crystal of the ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}$ MnGa shape-memory ferromagnetic Heusler alloy in a wide temperature range above the martensitic phase transformation at ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{M}}$=220 K. Significant, though incomplete, softening in the [\ensuremath{\zeta}\ensuremath{\zeta}0] ${\mathrm{TA}}_{2}$ phonon branch has been observed at a wave vector ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{0}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}0.33. The anomaly in the dispersion curve is shown to persist at high temperature, even above the Curie point. A temperature-dependent peak in the elastic diffuse scattering is also present at the same wave vector ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}_{0}$, which develops into a Bragg peak representative of an intermediate phase between the high-temperature Heusler and the low-temperature martensitic structures.
Affinity isolation of active murine erythroleukemia cell chromatin: uniform distribution of ubiquitinated histone H2A between active and inactive fractions.

This laboratory recently reported the development of a biotin-cellulose/streptavidin affinity chromatography method based on the DNase I sensitivity of active chromatin to isolate a DNA fraction from murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells that is more than 15-fold enriched in active genes (Dawson et al.: Journal of Biological Chemistry 264:12830–12837, 1989). We now report the extension of this technique to isolate and characterize chromatin that is enriched in active genes. In this approach, DNA in nuclei isolated from MEL cells was nicked with DNase I at a concentration that does not digest the active beta-globin gene, followed by repair of the nicks with a cleavable biotinylated nucleotide analog, 5-[(N-biotin-amido)hexanoamido-ethyl-1,37apos;-dithiopropionyl-3-aminoallyl]-2' -deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate (Bio-19-SS-dUTP), during a nick-translation reaction. After shearing and sonication of the nuclei to solubilize chromatin, chromatin fragments containing biotin were separated from non-biotinylated fragments by sequential binding to streptavidin and biotin cellulose. The bound complex contained approximately 10% of the bulk DNA. Reduction of the disulfide bond in the biotinylated nucleotide eluted approximately one-half of the affinity isolated chromatin. Hybridization analysis of DNA revealed that whereas inactive albumin sequences were equally distributed among the chromatin fractions, virtually all of the active beta-globin sequences were associated with chromatin fragements which had bound to the affinity complex. Western blot assessment for ubiquitinated histones revealed that ubiquitinated histone H2A (uH2A) was uniformly distributed among active (bound) and inactive (unbound) chromatin fractions.
The Role of parents' Medication Beliefs, Religious problem-solving, and Risks for Treatment nonadherence in Urban Families with Asthma

Childhood asthma is highly prevalent, affecting approximately nine million children in the United States. Negative effects of pediatric asthma are disproportionately experienced by ethnic minorities living in low-income, urban settings. Given the great diversity in families' ways of addressing children's asthma symptoms, sociocultural factors underlying asthma disparities must be examined. The current study investigated associations among parents' beliefs about conventional and holistic/alternative medications, parents' religious problem-solving strategies and childrens' risks for asthma treatment nonadherence. The sample included 66 parents of ethnically diverse children with asthma living in urban settings. Factor analysis of the Religious Problem Solving Questionnaire yielded two factors, self-directed (ie, solving problems independently of God) and God-involved problem solving. Parents' strong positive beliefs about conventional and alternative medications were associated with greater self-directed problem solving and with more risks for nonadherence. Higher levels of self-directed problem solving also were associated with more risks for nonadherence. Self-directed problem solving mediated the associations of conventional and alternative medication beliefs with risks for nonadherence. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.
Perceptions of Organizational Stress Among U.S. Military Officers in Germany: An Exploratory Study

This article reports the results of an exploratory study of perceptions of organizational stress among U.S. military officers stationed in Germany. The sample data were analyzed by item comparisons, factor analysis, and cluster analysis. Work load, work design, job qualifications, performance evaluation, and organization structure were identified as stress precipitators. The cluster analysis yielded three groups of individuals with different stress-frequency patterns. These groups were labeled achievement-centered, organization-centered, and self-actualization-centered. Directions for future research are discussed within the context of an increasing rate of change in military organizations.
Large edentulous ridges—Are they better for dentures than small ridges?

A method was described for measuring not only the area of the basal seat of an edentulous ridge but also the bearing area, stabilizing area, and the areas shared. A definition for small, medium, and large edentulous ridges was provided. Correlations between the basal seat, stabilizing area, and the shared areas were computed. A high positive correlation was found between the area of the basal seat and that of the stabilizing areas. Contrary to what was expected, no correlation was found between the area of the basal seat and that of the bearing areas of the small to large categories.
Molecular Complexes of Homologous Alkanedicarboxylic Acids with Isonicotinamide: X-ray Crystal Structures, Hydrogen Bond Synthons, and Melting Point Alternation

Crystallization of α,ω-alkanedicarboxylic acids (HOOC−(CH2)n-2−COOH, n = 2−6) with isonicotinamide (IN) is carried out in 1:2 and 1:1 stoichiometry. Five cocrystals of (diacid)·(IN)2 composition (diacid = oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, and adipic acid) are characterized by X-ray diffraction at 153(2) K. Tapes of acid−pyridine O−H···N and amide−amide N−H···O hydrogen bond synthons stabilize these five crystal structures as predicted by the hierarchic model: the best donor (COOH) and best acceptor group (pyridine N) hydrogen bond as acid−pyridine and the second best donor−acceptor group (CONH2) aggregates as an amide dimer. Glutaric acid and adipic acid cocrystallize in 1:1 stoichiometry also, (diacid)·(IN), with acid−pyridine and acid−amide hydrogen bonds. Synthon energy calculations (ΔEsynthon, RHF/6-31G**) explain the observed hydrogen bond preferences in 1:2 (five examples) and 1:1 (two examples) cocrystals. The acid−pyridine hydrogen bond is favored over the acid−amide dimer ...
miR‐143 and miR‐145 are downregulated in ulcerative colitis: Putative regulators of inflammation and protooncogenes

Background: miR-143 and miR-145 are believed to function as colon cancer tumor suppressors, as they inhibit colon cancer cell growth and are downregulated in sporadic colonic tumors. We speculated that miR-143 and miR-145 might also be downregulated and contribute to malignant transformation of colonic epithelium in longstanding ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: Biopsies were obtained 20 cm proximal to the anus from individuals with quiescent UC and from normal controls. RNA and proteins were extracted and measured. miR-143 and miR-145 were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and miR-145 was also assessed by in situ hybridization. Putative targets of these miRNAs, K-RAS, API5, MEK-2 (miR-143), and IRS-1 (miR-145) were determined by western blotting. To assess the effects of miR-143 and miR-145 on these predicted targets, HCT116 and HCA-7 colorectal cancer cells were transfected with miR-143 and miR-145 and expression levels of these proteins were measured. Results: In UC, miR-143 and miR-145 were significantly downregulated 8.3-fold (3.4–20.1) (P < 0.0001) and 4.3-fold (2.3–7.8) (P < 0.0001), respectively, compared to normal colon. In contrast, IRS-1, K-RAS, API5, and MEK-2 were upregulated in UC, consistent with their assignments as targets of these miRNAs. Furthermore, transfected miR-143 and miR-145 significantly downregulated these proteins in HCT116 or HCA-7 cells. Conclusions: Compared to normal colonic mucosa, in chronic UC miR-143 and miR-145 were significantly downregulated and their predicted targets, IRS-1, K-RAS, API5, and MEK-2 were upregulated. We postulate that loss of these tumor suppressor miRNAs predispose to chronic inflammation and neoplastic progression in IBD. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
Calorimetric measurement of electron stopping power of aluminum and copper between 11 and 127 keV

The stopping powers of aluminum and copper have been measured for electrons between 11 and 127 keV. Evaporated foils of about 200-nm thickness were stretched across rings and inserted into a short cylinder which was supported by thermocouple wires. Peltier heating and cooling by one thermopile were used to control foil temperature, while another thermopile measured its temperature. Calibration was accomplished by reducing beam energy until complete absorption was obtained. Delta rays produced in the foil were returned to it by repelling electrodes. Corrections were made for increased path length in the foil due to multiple elastic small-angle scattering and for spurious heating by scattered electrons striking the ring holding the foil. After correcting for these effects, good agreement with the Bethe-Bloch formula was found.
Strategies to Increase the Value of Physical Educators in K-12 Schools

(2011). Strategies to Increase the Value of Physical Educators in K-12 Schools. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 82, No. 6, pp. 17-20.
An analysis of situation and person components of jealousy

Abstract Previous studies on jealousy have focused on person factors or on situational factors, but none has compared their relative importance. Two studies are presented which analyze the contributions of persons, situations, and their interaction, with respect to jealous reactions. The first study examined intraperson variability in the intensity of jealous responses of 302 males and females when presented with four types of hypothetical jealousy situations (work, family, social, and sexual). The results of the first study supported a dispositional explanation of jealousy (i.e., substantial person and situational variance). In addition, a sizable interaction effect was revealed. Study 2 examined the nature of this interaction for sexual jealousy. Jealousy situations were broken down by distinguishing between the event, characteristics of the partner, and the relationship as separate components of the situation. Seventy-one female respondents indicated their perception of threat and their degree of upset when considering the same hypothetical jealousy-evoking events with three different partners. A substantial person component was found. In addition, responses to the jealousy-evoking events were found to vary as a function of which partner was being considered. The second study demonstrated that aspects of the relationship (i.e., relative involvement) were more important than personality characteristics of the partner in determining this intrasubject variability in the intensity of jealous rections.
The effect of microstructure on the rate-dependent stress–strain behavior of poly(urethane urea) elastomers

Segmented poly(urethane urea) materials (PUUs) exhibit versatile mechanical properties and have drawn great interest due to their potential for protection against projectile impacts and blast loadings. To optimize the performance of PUUs for various high rate applications, specific features of their mechanical behavior have to be suitably tailored by altering the microstructure. Hence the micromechanisms governing the mechanical behavior must be identified, understood and leveraged. In this study, the effects of varying microstructure on the rate-dependent mechanical behavior were examined for select PUU materials. As expected, increasing the hard segment content increased the stiffness and the flow stress levels. Interestingly, it was observed that promoting phase mixing among the hard and soft segment domains of the PUU material greatly enhanced its rate-dependent stiffening and strain hardening behavior. These insights can help design PUUs for articles that manifest improved protective abilities under impact, while maintaining their flexibility during normal use. The potential applications for such materials are extensive, including face masks and goggles, which require excellent folding/un-folding capabilities, while also providing superior impact resistance.
Evolutionary patterns of morphometrics, allozymes and mitochondrial DNA in thrashers (Genus Toxostoma)

We examined patterns of variation in skeletal morphometrics (29 characters), allozymes (34 loci), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction sites (n = 74) and fragments (n = 395), and mtDNA sequences (1,739 bp from cytochrome b, ND2, ND6, and the control region) among all species of Toxostoma. The phenetic pattern of variation in skeletal morphometrics generally matched traditional taxonomic groupings (based on plumage patterns) with the exceptions of T redivivum, which because of its large size clusters outside of its proper evolutionary group (lecontei), and T. occelatum, which did not cluster with T. curvirostre. Skull characters contributed highly to species discrimination, suggesting that unique feeding adaptations arose in different species groups. Although genetic variation was detected at isozyme loci (average heterozygosity = 3.6%), these data yielded little phylogenetic resolution. Similarly, mtDNA restriction sites were relatively uninformative; hence, phylogenetic conclusions were based on sequence data. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyly of these traditionally recognized assemblages: rufum group (T. rufum, T. longirostre, and T. guttatum), lecontei group (T lecontei, T crissale, and T. redivivum), and cinereum group (T. bendirei and T. cinereum). The cinereum and lecontei groups appear to be sister lineages. Monophyly of the curvirostre group (which also includes T. occelatum) was not confirmed. Sequence data suggest that T. occelatum and T. curvirostre, which differ by 7.7% sequence divergence, are probably most closely related to the rufum group. Toxostoma rufum and T. longirostre have similar external appearances and differ by 5.0%. Toxostoma guttatum is restricted to Cozumel Island and often is considered a subspecies of T. longirostre; it differs by more than 5% from the other two members of the rufum group and is a distinct species constituting the basal member of this group. The phenotypically distinctive T. bendirei and T. cinereum differ in sequence divergence by only 1.6%. Overall, mtDNA distances computed from coding genes (mean 8.5%) exceeded distances computed from the control region (mean 7.6%), contrary to expectation. Because neither allozymes nor mtDNA could unambiguously resolve the placement of T. occelatum and T. curvirostre, a scenario involving contemporaneous speciation is suggested. Application of a molecular clock suggested that most speciation occurred in the late Pliocene or early Pleistocene.
A novel translocation t(3;21)(p21;q22) in acute myelogenous leukemia preceding a late-appearing Philadelphia chromosome.

A novel translocation t(3;21)(p21;q22) in acute myelogenous leukemia preceding a late-appearing Philadelphia chromosome
Managing uncertainty in location services using rough set and evidence theory

Abstract Uncertainty in service management stems from the incompleteness and vagueness of the conditioning attributes that characterize a service. In particular, location based services often have complex interaction mechanisms in terms of their neighborhood relationships. Classical location service models require rigorous parameters and conditioning attributes and offers limited flexibility to incorporate imprecise or ambiguous evidences. In this paper we have developed a formal model of uncertainty in service management. We have developed a rough set and Dempster–Shafer’s evidence theory based formalism to objectively represent uncertainty inherent in the process of service discovery, characterization, and classification. Rough set theory is ideally suited for dealing with limited resolution, vague and incomplete information, while Dempster–Shafer’s evidence theory provides a consistent approach to model an expert’s belief and ignorance in the classification decision process. Integrating these two formal approaches in spatial domain provides a way to model an expert’s belief and ignorance in service classification. In an application scenario of the model we have used a cognitive map of retail site assessment, which reflects the partially subjective assessment process. The uncertainty hidden in the cognitive map can be consistently formalized using the proposed model. Thus we provide a naturalistic means of incorporating both qualitative aspects of intuitive knowledge as well as hard empirical information for service management within a formal uncertainty framework.
Cysteine residue is not essential for CPM protein thermal-stability assay

A popular thermal-stability assay developed especially for the study of membrane proteins uses a thiol-specific probe, 7-diethylamino-3-(4-maleimidophenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (CPM). The fluorescence emission of CPM surges when it forms a covalent bond with the side chain of a free Cys, which becomes more readily accessible upon protein thermal denaturation. Interestingly, the melting temperatures of membrane proteins determined using the CPM assay in literature are closely clustered in the temperature range 45–55 °C. A thorough understanding of the mechanism behind the observed signal change is critical for the accurate interpretation of the protein unfolding. Here we used two α-helical membrane proteins, AqpZ and AcrB, as model systems to investigate the nature of the fluorescence surge in the CPM assay. We found that the transition temperatures measured using circular-dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and the CPM assay were significantly different. To eliminate potential artifact that might arise from the presence of detergent, we monitored the unfolding of two soluble proteins. We found that, contrary to current understanding, the presence of a sulfhydryl group was not a prerequisite for the CPM thermal-stability assay. The observed fluorescence increase is probably caused by binding of the fluorophore to hydrophobic patches exposed upon protein unfolding.
Machine vision inspection of component footprints in PCB artwork

A new printed circuit board (PCB) inspection scheme designed to perform automated inspection of component sites is presented. A digitized image of the artwork for a board is stored after digitization via a scanner (300 dots per inch) in a tag image file format (TIFF) file. At inspection time, after reading in the compressed format TIFF file and decoding the compressed image, the PCB is graphically displayed on a PC screen together with a command menu. The user is then taken through a series of menu-driven commands to ultimately check the dimensions of center-to-center distance between holes and pads for electronic components on the PCB. The significance of this research is in the adaptation of the UNION-FIND procedure to develop a robust algorithm to segment an image into component objects and background to facilitate dimensional analysis and inspection of the artwork.
Diffuse Nonthermal X-Ray Emission: Evidence of Cosmic-Ray Acceleration at the Shock Front in IC 1262

We report the first localization of diffuse, nonthermal, X-ray emission from a nearby galaxy cluster. Using Chandra data, we have isolated a diffuse nonthermal X-ray component with a photon index of ΓX = 2.21 and a flux of 9.5 × 10-5 photons cm-2 s-1 keV-1 at 1 keV that extends from ~15 to ~25 to the south of the X-ray flux peak. Comparison with simulations implies that the diffuse nonthermal emission is produced by primary electrons, accelerated at shocks to relativistic velocities. Using these results and the flux and hardness maps produced with data from the Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer, we conclude that a smaller subclump coming from the north merged with IC 1262. The offset of the cD galaxy from the X-ray peak and large peculiar velocity indicate that the subclump's impact parameter was to the west and on the near side of IC 1262.
The Structure of a Tetrahydrofolate-Sensing Riboswitch Reveals Two Ligand Binding Sites in a Single Aptamer

Transport and biosynthesis of folate and its derivatives are frequently controlled by the tetrahydrofolate (THF) riboswitch in Firmicutes. We have solved the crystal structure of the THF riboswitch aptamer in complex with folinic acid, a THF analog. Uniquely, this structure reveals two molecules of folinic acid binding to a single structured domain. These two sites interact with ligand in a similar fashion, primarily through recognition of the reduced pterin moiety. 7-deazaguanine, a soluble analog of guanine, binds the riboswitch with nearly the same affinity as its natural effector. However, 7-deazaguanine effects transcriptional termination to a substantially lesser degree than folinic acid, suggesting that the cellular guanine pool does not act upon the THF riboswitch. Under physiological conditions the ligands display strong cooperative binding, with one of the two sites playing a greater role in eliciting the regulatory response, which suggests that the second site may play another functional role.
A paradigm for source analysis in events data research: Mass media and the problems of validity

Although many studies have compared sources used to collect events data, no attempt has been made to analyze the effects of the mass media systems that produce the data. This issue of the validity of individual sources could be approached systematically by (1) analyzing the structure and functions of a mass media system; and (2) identifying the nature of the system. In recognition of this problem, a paradigm for the systematic analysis of sources of events data is proposed. It embraces eight broad areas pertinent to both stages of the communication process: the formation and distribution of messages or events through the media in any given mass media system.
Pregnancy in Early and Late Adolescence.

A sample of 130 pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers was surveyed to determine the factors that discriminate between girls who become pregnant in early versus late adolescence. The younger group had begun dating and particularly steady dating at a significantly earlier age than the older group. Fewer of the younger group used birth control measures, and both groups used birth control only sporadically. Pregnancy created more dependence upon their mothers for the younger adolescents.
Role of Chemicals in Local Regulation of Vascular Resistance

Changes in flow and metabolism influence vascular resistance in part through alteration of the concentration of vasoactive chemicals. Among the chemicals which may have a role in this local regulation are oxygen, hydrogen, potassium, magnesium, adenosine, AMP, ADP, ATP, and the Krebs intermediate metabolites. It is likely that several chemicals operate simultaneously, and possibly the dominant chemical is not the same in every organ.
A Broadcast-Enabled Sensing System for Embedded Multi-core Processors

Contemporary multi-core architectures deployed inembedded systems are expected to function near the operational limits of temperature, voltage, and device wear-out. To date, most on-chip sensing systems have been designed to collect and use sensor information for these parameters locally. In this paper, a new sensing system to enhance multi-core dependability which supports both the local and global distribution of sensing data in embedded processors is considered. The benefit of the new sensing architecture is verified using the broadcast of microarchitectural parameter signatures which can be used toidentify impending voltage droops. Low-latency broadcasts are supported for a range of sensor data transfer rates. Up to a 9% performance improvement for a 16-core system is determined via the use of the distributed voltage droop sensor information (5.4% on average). The entire sensing system, including broadcasting resources, requires about 2.6% of multi-core area.
Quantitative image quality evaluation of MR images using perceptual difference models

The authors are using a perceptual difference model (Case-PDM) to quantitatively evaluate image quality of the thousands of test images which can be created when optimizing fast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging strategies and reconstruction techniques. In this validation study, they compared human evaluation of MR images from multiple organs and from multiple image reconstruction algorithms to Case-PDM and similar models. The authors found that Case-PDM compared very favorably to human observers in double-stimulus continuous-quality scale and functional measurement theory studies over a large range of image quality. The Case-PDM threshold for nonperceptible differences in a 2-alternative forced choice study varied with the type of image under study, but was approximately 1.1 for diffuse image effects, providing a rule of thumb. Ordering the image quality evaluation models, we found in overall Case-PDM approximately IDM (Sarnoff Corporation) approximately SSIM [Wang et al. IEEE Trans. Image Process. 13, 600-612 (2004)] > mean squared error NR [Wang et al. (2004) (unpublished)] > DCTune (NASA) > IQM (MITRE Corporation). The authors conclude that Case-PDM is very useful in MR image evaluation but that one should probably restrict studies to similar images and similar processing, normally not a limitation in image reconstruction studies.
Applications of Communication Theory and Cybernetics to Technical Communication

Technical materials often do not produce the response desired by their authors. Reasons for the failure of the document are errors in audience analysis and the rapid obsolence of the materials. Thi...
PEDF: a multifaceted neurotrophic factor.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a potent and broadly acting neurotrophic factor that protects neurons in many regions of the central nervous system against insults such as glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative damage. Since the crystal structure of PEDF was solved, its biological actions have begun to be mapped to specific structural domains. Here we discuss the structure and function of PEDF and the biochemical pathways it activates, and suggest ways in which this molecule might become a valuable therapeutic agent.
Effects of inhibitory and excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters on isolated cerebral parenchymal arterioles.

The vasoactive properties of inhibitory (γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine) and excitatory (glutamate, aspartate) amino acid neurotransmitters were studied in isolated rat cerebral parenchymal arterioles. None of these neurotransmitters had a significant effect on vessel diameter at concentrations between 10−9 and 10−3 M, except for 10−3 M glycine. These amino acid neurotransmitters are unlikely to play a role in regulation or pathophysiology of the cerebral microcirculation by directly changing vascular diameter.
Ethanol effects on the developing zebrafish: neurobehavior and skeletal morphogenesis.

Abstract Exposure to ethanol during development can lead to a constellation of congenital anomalies, resulting in prenatal and postnatal failure to thrive, central nervous system (CNS) deficits, and a number of patterning defects that lead to defects in the cardiovascular system, facial structures, and limbs. The cellular, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms by which ethanol exerts its developmental toxicity and the genes that influence sensitivity to developmental ethanol exposure have yet to be discovered, despite being one of the more common nongenetic causes of birth defects. The zebrafish undergoes much the same patterning and morphogenesis as other vertebrate embryos do—including humans—that are distinct and cannot be studied in invertebrates. Developmental processes in zebrafish are affected by ethanol exposure in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in learning and memory deficits, cell death in the CNS, skeletal dysmorphogenesis, and alterations in startle reflex responses. Interestingly, significant ethanol effects on learning and behavioral endpoints occurred at concentrations well below those that induced cell death in the CNS. This work provides the foundation for identifying genes and pathways involved in developmental alcohol toxicity in vertebrates, leading to a more complete mechanistic understanding of fetal alcohol disorders in humans.
Don Juan Tenorio in the Campo de Cebada: restaging urban space after 15-M

AbstractThe spectacle of the encampments that occupied public plazas throughout Spain during the 15-M protests of 2011 asserted what urban theorist Henri Lefebvre (1968) and others have called the “right to the city.” In a similar vein, the free open-air performances on All Saints' Day in 2011 and 2012 of Jose Zorrilla's Don Juan Tenorio by the theater collective AlmaViva Teatro in the self-managed neighborhood space called the Campo de Cebada have also been an effort to reclaim urban space. These performances called Don Juan Tenorio en La Cebada are notable not only for their use of a repurposed vacant lot left abandoned in the wake of the financial crisis but also for their dynamic staging that required the public to move throughout the large vacant lot for each of the play's seven acts. As the public traversed the reappropriated space of the Campo de Cebada, the performance was framed by the urban backdrop created by the bright lights of the Teatro Latina and the adjacent residential apartment building...
Intrarenal distribution of mercury in the rat: effect of administered dose of mercuric chloride

The authors recently observed that the distribution of mercury in the hypertrophied remnant kidneys of uninephrectomized rats was different from that in the kidneys of sham-operated rats when given the same non-toxic dose of mercuric chloride (HgCl/sub 2/; 0.5 ..mu..mol/kg). These observations are quite significant, since the altered intrarenal distribution of mercury in uninephrectomized rats may cause uninephrectomized rats to develop more severe tubular necrosis in the outer medulla than sham-operated rats. In the experiments described above, the mercury burden of the hypertrophied remnant kidneys from the uninephrectomized rats was approximately twice that of each of the kidneys from the sham-operated rats. Thus, the altered intrarenal distribution of mercury in the uninephrectomized rats may be, in part, the result of the remnant kidney being exposed to more mercury. Implicit in this hypothesis is the idea that the manner in which the kidney accumulates mercury is dependent on the amount of mercury it is exposed to. If this is the case, then one would predict that the intrarenal accumulation of mercury in rats with two kidneys would change as the administered dose of HgCl/sub 2/ is increased from the dose of 0.5 ..mu..mol/kg. The principal aim of this study was to more » test this hypothesis. « less
Phenotypic Changes in Hepatic Stellate Cells in Response to Toxic Liver Injury

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the main extracellular matrix-producing cell type in the liver. These cells exist in a quiescent state in normal liver and an activated state in damaged liver. During quiescence, HSCs store and release various retinoids. After injury to the liver, however, various protein and non-protein mediators are released from cells that stimulate HSCs to differentiate into myofibroblasts, a process termed activation. Activated HSCs begin to express α-smooth muscle actin and migrate to sites of injury through chemotaxis. Within the damaged region of liver, these cells become contractile and produce growth factors that promote hepatocyte replication and angiogenesis, produce extracellular matrix that forms the scaffold for liver repair, and produce proteins that modulate immune cell function. Once liver repair is complete and liver function is restored, HSCs revert back to a quiescent phenotype or die by apoptosis. If liver injury becomes chronic, however, these processes persist resulting in the formation of an extensive scar (i.e., fibrosis) that ultimately leads to liver failure. Because of the importance of these cells to the development of liver fibrosis, there has been extensive research into understanding the mechanisms that drive HSC activation after injury and the mechanisms that regulate reversion of these cells back to quiescence after resolution of injury. In addition, there has been great interest in identifying the various functions of HSCs after acute and chronic injury. The aim of this review is to briefly discuss the phenotypic changes that occur in HSCs after acute and chronic liver injury and to highlight some of the important functions of these cells during repair of the liver.
Lightweight Mutual Authentication and Ownership Transfer for RFID Systems

The promise of RFID technology has been evidently foreseeable due to the low cost and high convenience value of RFID tags. However, the low-cost RFID tags poses new challenges to security and privacy. Some solutions utilize expensive cryptographic primitives such as hash or encryption functions, and some lightweight approaches have been reported to be broken. In this paper, we propose a lightweight solution to Mutual Authentication for RFID systems in which only the authenticated readers and tags can successfully communicate with each other. Then, we adapt our Mutual Authentication scheme to secure the Ownership Transfer of RFID tags. Our mutual authentication and ownership transfer protocols are realized utilizing minimalistic cryptography such as Physically Unclonable Functions (PUF) and Linear Feedback Shift Registers (LFSR). PUFs and LFSRs are very efficient in hardware and particularly suitable for the low-cost RFID tags. Compared to existing solutions built on top of hash functions that require 8000 to 10000 gates, our schemes demand only 784 gates for 64-bit variables and can be easily accommodated by the cheapest RFID tags with only 2000 gates available for security functions.
615 HIGH HOMOGLOBIN A2 LEVELS IN HOMOZYGOUS SICKLE CELL ANEMIA

Elevated hemoglobin (Hb) A2 levels are seen in heterozygous β thalassemia and rarely in pernicious anemia, Hb Zurich, and Hb Tacoma but have not been reported in homozygous sickle cell anemia (HSCA) in the English literature. We measured Hb A2 by cellulose acetate Hb electrophoresis and densitometry in 34 children with HSCA. Nine of them (26%) displayed Hb A2 levels of 3.2 to 4.7% (normal values for our laboratory: 0.7 - 3.0%). Their Hb values (7.4 to 9.2 g/dl) and reticulocyte counts (468 to 700 x 109/1) did not differ from those of the other 25 patients. Eight of these nine children showed normal to high MCVs ranging from 77 to 100 fl; one had an MCV of 63 fl. Globin chain separation by carboxymethylcellulose chromatography following the method of Cleggs and Weatherall was performed in five of the nine high HB A2 children including the one with the low MCV, and all showed a normal α/β chain ratio ranging from 0.91 to 1.05. The fetal Hb in these five subjects ranged from 1.2 to 6.6% and was not different from the values of the other 29 HSCA patients. An elevated Hb A2 level may be found in a significant proportion of HSCA patients. In addition to careful analysis of the MCV, globin chain synthesis studies may be necessary to differentiate these patients from subjects with sickle-β thalassemia.
Hexamethylmelamine. An evaluation of its role in the therapy of cancer.

Hexamethylmelamine (HMM) has been undergoing clinical trials for about a decade under the sponsorship of the National Cancer Institute. It has been tested in Phase II and III cooperative group studies and has a wide spectrum of activity in solid tumors. Its activity is most marked in ovarian cancer, lymphomas, and carcinoma of the cervix; the drug is also active in bronchogenic carcinoma and carcinoma of the breast. Considerable clinical evidence suggests a lack of cross-resistance between HMM and alkylating agents. The currently popular dose is 300 mg/m2/day p.o. for indefinite periods if tolerated. The dose-limiting toxicity is neurologic, but gastrointestinal side effects and a moderate degree of myelosuppression are also observed. Combination chemotherapy using HMM is underway in ovarian and lung cancer. Further exploration of its activity as a single agent in tumors such as those of the bladder, prostate, and uterus, and in combination chemotherapy in lymphomas, and mammary, cervical, and pulmonary tumors is warranted.
Angular overlap parameters for ruthenium(II) complexes

Abstract Approximate Angular Overlap Model e π parameters have been obtained for a number of ligands L by comparison of the t 2g (Ru) → π * (bpy) transition energies in [Ru(bpy) 2 L 2 ] complexes. The filled t 2g subshell of Ru(II) limits the effects of otherwise strongly π-donating ligands.
Activation and inactivation kinetics of an E-4031-sensitive current from single ferret atrial myocytes

Ferret atrial myocytes can display an E-4031-sensitive current (IKr) that is similar to that previously described for guinea pig cardiac myocytes. We examined the ferret atrial IKr as the E-4031-sensitive component of current using the amphotericin B perforated patch-clamp technique. Steady-state IKr during depolarizing pulses showed characteristic inward rectification. Activation time constants during a single pulse were voltage dependent, consistent with previous studies. However, for potentials positive to +30 mV, IKr time course became complex and included a brief transient component. We examined the envelope of tails of the drug-sensitive current for activation in the range -10 to +50 mV and found that the tail currents for IKr do not activate with the same time course as the current during the depolarizing pulse. The activation time course determined from tail currents was relatively voltage insensitive over the range +30 to +50 mV (n = 5), but was voltage sensitive for potentials between -10 and +30 mV and appeared to show some sigmoidicity in this range. These data indicate that activation of IKr occurs in at least two steps, one voltage sensitive and one voltage insensitive, the latter of which becomes rate limiting at positive potentials. We also examined the rapid time-dependent inactivation process that mediates rectification at positive potentials. The time constants for this process were only weakly voltage dependent over the range of potentials from -50 to +60 mV. From these data we constructed a simple linear four-state model that reproduces the general features of ferret IKr, including the initial transient at positive potentials and the apparent discrepancy between the currents during the initial depolarizing pulse and the tail current.