cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein-enhanced soups: a consumer-accepted food for increasing dietary protein provision among older adults.

AbstractProtein-enhanced soups (PES) may improve protein intake among older adults. This study examined sensory attributes (aroma, texture, taste, and overall acceptability) and preferences of PES (chicken noodle and cheddar broccoli) compared with flavor-matched control soups (FCS) among older adults (≥65 years) and evaluated dietary profile changes of a standard menu based on the substitution of one PES serving/d for a standard soup. Modified paired preference tests and 5-point facial hedonic scales were administered to participants (n = 44). No significant differences in sensory attributes between either PES compared with FCS were identified, but significant gender- and age-related differences (p < 0.05) were observed. About Sixty-one percent of participants preferred protein-enhanced chicken noodle soup while only 38% preferred protein-enhanced cheddar broccoli soup to their respective FCS. Substituting one PES serving for one non-fortified soup serving per day resulted in significantly higher (p < 0....
Influence of the carrier signal phase on the formation of "Dark" spin wave envelope solitons in magnetic films

A process of formation of "dark" spin wave envelope solitons in magnetic films is considered. It is shown that a 180/spl deg/ phase shift in the carrier frequency of an input rectangular negative radio-pulse is necessary to create a single "dark" envelope soliton. The input signal with no phase shift can create only a pair (or several pairs) of "dark" envelope solitons. A new interpretation of a recent experimental observation of "dark" spin wave envelope soliton formation in yttrium-iron garnet (YIG) films is given.
Alternating motion rate as an index of speech motor disorder in traumatic brain injury

The task of syllable alternating motion rate (AMR) (also called diadochokinesis) is suitable for examining speech disorders of varying degrees of severity and in individuals with varying levels of linguistic and cognitive ability. However, very limited information on this task has been published for subjects with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study is a quantitative and qualitative acoustic analysis of AMR in seven subjects with TBI. The primary goal was to use acoustic analyses to assess speech motor control disturbances for the group as a whole and for individual patients. Quantitative analyses included measures of syllable rate, syllable and intersyllable gap durations, energy maxima, and voice onset time (VOT). Qualitative analyses included classification of features evident in spectrograms and waveforms to provide a more detailed description. The TBI group had (1) a slowed syllable rate due mostly to lengthened syllables and, to a lesser degree, lengthened intersyllable gaps, (2) highly correlated syllable rates between AMR and conversation, (3) temporal and energy maxima irregularities within repetition sequences, (4) normal median VOT values but with large variation, and (5) a number of speech production abnormalities revealed by qualitative analysis, including explosive speech quality, breathy voice quality, phonatory instability, multiple or missing stop bursts, continuous voicing, and spirantization. The relationships between these findings and TBI speakers' neurological status and dysarthria types are also discussed. It was concluded that acoustic analyses of the AMR task provides specific information on motor speech limitations in individuals with TBI.
EpSMART: Epileptic seizure monitoring with alerts in real time: A tablet-based Android application for a real-time multi-modal seizure detection system

In this paper, we present a work in progress of a novel tablet-based Android application for a multi-modal seizure detection system platform. We first provide an overview of the multi-modality platform and then detail the usage of the Android application, including a description of its features. We then present preliminary results of the platform's holistic performance, including the app.
DNA-PKcs-Dependent Modulation of Cellular Radiosensitivity by a Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor

Purpose Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 has been shown to increase radiosensitivity. Recently, the suppression of radiation-induced DNA-dependant protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity by the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib was reported. Given the importance of DNA-PK for repair of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks by nonhomologous end-joining and the clinical use of the substance, we investigated the relevance of the DNA-PK catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) for the modulation of cellular radiosensitivity by celecoxib. Methods and Materials We used a syngeneic model of Chinese hamster ovarian cell lines: AA8, possessing a wild-type DNK-PKcs; V3, lacking a functional DNA-PKcs; and V3/WT11, V3 stably transfected with the DNA-PKcs. The cells were treated with celecoxib (50 μM) for 24 h before irradiation. The modulation of radiosensitivity was determined using the colony formation assay. Results Treatment with celecoxib increased the cellular radiosensitivity in the DNA-PKcs-deficient cell line V3 with a dose-enhancement ratio of 1.3 for a surviving fraction of 0.5. In contrast, clonogenic survival was increased in DNA-PKcs wild-type–expressing AA8 cells and in V3 cells transfected with DNA-PKcs (V3/WT11). The decrease in radiosensitivity was comparable to the radiosensitization in V3 cells, with a dose-enhancement ratio of 0.76 (AA8) and 0.80 (V3/WT11) for a survival of 0.5. Conclusions We have demonstrated a DNA-PKcs–dependent differential modulation of cellular radiosensitivity by celecoxib. These effects might be attributed to alterations in signaling cascades downstream of DNA-PK toward cell survival. These findings offer an explanation for the poor outcomes in some recently published clinical trials.
Validating a Psychology as a Helping Profession Scale.

We developed an 11-item Psychology as a Helping Profession (PHP) scale that measured aspects of personal growth/helping skills and applied helping. The scale was only weakly correlated with Friedrich's (1996) Psychology as Science (PAS) scale, implying that the 2 scales measure different conceptions of the nature of psychology. Psychology majors were more likely to endorse psychology as both a helping profession and as a science than were nonmajors. Students with higher scores on the PAS were more likely to endorse the idea of conducting research in the future, whereas students with higher scores on the PHP were more likely to endorse the idea of being a therapist in the future. Using the PHP and PAS in tandem might help in departmental assessment of interests and needs of students.
Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) studies of conducting polymers: an overview

Abstract Recent X-band optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) studies of films, solutions, and blends of poly(3-alkylthiophenes) and dialkoxy derivatives of poly(para-phenylevinylene) and poly(paraphenyleneacetylene) are reviewed and discussed. All films and blends exhibit three similar (but not identical) photoluminescence(PL)-enhancing features: (i) a strong narrow (10–15 G wide) resonance at g = 2.0025 ± 0.0010; (ii) an ∼1 kG wide triplet powder pattern around g ∼ 2; (iii) a 10–30 G wide peak 30–50 G downfield from hv/(2×2.003s) ( at g ≊ 4.07) . The narrow resonance is attributed to intrachain ‘distant pair’ polaron recombination. Its spectral dependence, which is similar to the PL spectrum, indicates that the polaron levels are close to the band edges. Features (ii) and (iii) are attributed to intrachain triplet polaronic excitons. Their zero-field splitting parameters are consistent with a triplet size comparable to that of the thiophene and phenylene rings. The dependence of the ODMR features on sample history and the role of metastable and stable native defects is also discussed.
Single Session Treatment of Nontraumatic Fear of Flying With Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Pre- and Post-September 11

Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) was originally developed to treat traumaticmemories. Since its development, the application of EMDRhas proliferated to various disorders. Asingle session utilizing the EMDRapproach applied to the treatment of nontraumatic fear of flying is presented. For this study, the EMDR process was adapted tomeet the needs of the client. The purpose of this study is to provide an example of the in-flight application of a single session of EMDR to nontraumatic or small “t” fear of flying. The case of a client successfully treated with in-flight EMDR is presented. Pre-September 11 and post-September 11 follow-up with the client is also documented.
The Functional Substitutability of Blacks and Females in the Labor Market: a Closer Look*

The interrelationship between labor market discrimination against black males and white females—as reflected in the respective size distributions of their full-time income—is examined for states in...
WE-A-BRA-01: Imaging for Assessment/New Technologies

The clinical value of in vivo functional and physiological imaging (perfusion, diffusion, and diffusiontensorimaging (DTI)) for assessment of therapeutic responses has been demonstrated in recent years. In vivo functional and physiological imaging can provide early prediction for treatment outcomes and complications, compared to conventional clinical methods and anatomic imaging. The advantage of early assessment is to allow for re‐optimizing individual patients' treatment plans, including decisions of total dose, modifying risks of critical normal tissue, and optimizing use of concomitant therapies. Clinical applications of perfusion, diffusion and diffusiontensorimaging are increasing rapidly. This lecture will provide an overview of physiological origins of perfusion, diffusion and diffusiontensorimaging, as well as clinical applications, typical imaging acquisition protocols, and image processing methods. The limitations of these techniques will also be discussed. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the physiological origins of perfusion, diffusion and diffusiontensorimaging; 2. Understand typical imaging acquisition protocols and basic image processing methods; 3. Understand clinical applications and limitations.
Engine Conceptual Design Studies for a Hybrid Wing Body Aircraft

Worldwide concerns of air quality and climate change have made environmental protection one of the most critical issues in aviation today. NASA s current Fundamental Aeronautics Research program is directed at three generations of aircraft in the near, mid and far term, with initial operating capability around 2015, 2020, and 2030, respectively. Each generation has associated goals for fuel burn, NOx, noise, and field-length reductions relative to today s aircrafts. The research for the 2020 generation is directed at enabling a hybrid wing body (HWB) aircraft to meet NASA s aggressive technology goals. This paper presents the conceptual cycle and mechanical designs of the two engine concepts, podded and embedded systems, which were proposed for a HWB cargo freighter. They are expected to offer significant benefits in noise reductions without compromising the fuel burn.
Sodium-linked urea transport by the renal tubule of the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias.

Abstract Renal volume regulation and excretion of water, sodium, and urea was studied in the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, when exposed to sea water and dilute sea water, and when extracellular fluid volume was expanded by i.v. infusion of dogfish Ringer, 0·55 M NaCl, and 1·1 M urea solutions. It was found that: 1. 1. Na and urea were reabsorbed at a fixed ratio of 1·6 moles of urea per mole of Na under all conditions studied. 2. 2. The ratios between the solutes in the plasma are maintained at quite constant values. They return to the normal ratios within 12–24hr following expansion of extracellular volume with various solutions. 3. 3. Renal excretion of water and solutes is greatly increased following transfer to dilute sea water. 4. 4. Isosmotic or hyperosmotic expansion of extracellular fluid volume leads to a quick restoration of normal body weight and body fluid composition within 24 hr, but the kidneys play an insignificant role in the excretion of the excess urea and Na.
Evaluation of tongue coating indices

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine inter-examiner reproducibility of two modified Winkel tongue coating indices and to study the relationship between each of these two indices and the amount of tongue coating as determined by wet weight of scrapings from the dorsum of the tongue. Materials and methods: Twenty-five participants were selected for the study from among dental students. The selection was made to assure that a wide range of degrees of tongue coating were represented. Two independent examiners scored the tongue coatings using the two modified Winkel tongue coating indices (mWTCI 1 + 2 and mWTCI 2). After completion of index recordings, tongue scrapings were performed by one of the examiners. Results: Inter-examiner reproducibility of mWTCI 1 + 2 and mWTCI 2 using Pearson's coefficients of correlation amounted to r = 0.48 and 0.93 respectively. Overall, mWTCI 2 showed higher correlations to wet weight of tongue scrapings than mWTCI 1 + 2. Conclusion: The mWTCI 2 was found to be highly reproducible and also valid as related to wet weight of tongue scrapings. This index would seem suitable for further studies on tongue coatings; effect of tongue cleaning; and rate of reformation of coatings after cleaning.
Protein Fate in Neurodegenerative Proteinopathies: Polyglutamine Diseases Join the (Mis)Fold

Protein misfolding is now recognized to be a central feature of neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), prion diseases, and the polyglutamine (polygln) diseases all represent proteinopathies—diseases in which a particular protein or set of proteins misfolds and aggregates. In the past decade, mutations have been identified in an increasing number of genes underlying specific forms of neurodegeneration—for example, genes encoding amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilins 1 and 2 in AD, parkin and alpha-synuclein in PD, Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase in ALS, tau in frontotemporal dementia, prion protein in Creutzfeldt-Jacob and Gerstmann-Straussler diseases, and at least eight different proteins in the polygln diseases (Hardy and GwinnHardy 1998; Price et al. 1998). Identification of these mutations was a first step in understanding the disease process; next, it will be necessary to explain how specific changes in disease proteins may alter the neuron’s physiology and to further question how neuronal responses to the mutant protein influence the disease process. This review examines the fate of mutant protein in neurons and the potential role of posttranslational events in pathogenesis, with particular focus on the polygln diseases. Posttranslational events have already been implicated
Physicochemical interactions in pressure-driven membrane separation of glucose, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and mannitol from single solute aqueous solution

Abstract The pressure-driven membrane separation of dilute single-solute aqueous solutions of glucose, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and mannitol was studied at low pressure using an asymmetric cellulose acetate membrane in a batch stirred cell. Results were analyzed based on a mass transfer analysis which included both convective and diffusive effects. Rejection followed the trend glucose mannitol⪢ascorbic acid⪢citric acid. Transport parameters followed the trend glucose≈mannitol
Assessing the potential for greenhouse gas mitigation in intensively managed annual cropping systems at the regional scale

Abstract We predicted changes in yields and direct net soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from converting conventional to alternative management practices across one of the world's most productive agricultural regions, the Central Valley of California, using the DAYCENT model. Alternative practices included conservation tillage, winter cover cropping, manure application, a 25% reduction in N fertilizer input and combinations of these. Alternative practices were evaluated for all unique combinations of crop rotation, climate, and soil types for the period 1997–2006. The crops included were alfalfa, corn, cotton, melon, safflower, sunflower, tomato, and wheat. Our predictions indicate that, adopting alternative management practices would decrease yields up to 5%. Changes in modeled SOC and net soil GHG fluxes corresponded to values reported in the literature. Average potential reductions of net soil GHG fluxes with alternative practices ranged from −0.7 to −3.3 Mg CO 2 -eq ha −1 yr −1 in the Sacramento Valley and −0.5 to −2.5 Mg CO 2 -eq ha −1 yr −1 for the San Joaquin Valley. While adopting a single alternative practice led to modest net soil GHG flux reductions (on average −1 Mg CO 2 -eq ha −1 yr −1 ), combining two or more of these practices led to greater decreases in net soil GHG fluxes of up to −3 Mg CO 2 -eq ha −1 yr −1 . At the regional scale, the combination of winter cover cropping with manure application was particularly efficient in reducing GHG emissions. However, GHG mitigation potentials were mostly non-permanent because 60–80% of the decreases in net soil GHG fluxes were attributed to increases in SOC, except for the reduced fertilizer input practice, where reductions were mainly attributed to decreased N 2 O emissions. In conclusion, there are long-term GHG mitigation potentials within agriculture, but spatial and temporal aggregation will be necessary to reduce uncertainties around GHG emission reductions and the delivery risk of the associated C credits.
Giants and dwarfs : Essays 1960-1990

A collection of essays on teachers, books and education, from the author of "The Closing of the American Mind". In this book, current liberal theories of justice are criticized, the shortcomings of the modern university are analyzed and the works of Shakespeare, Swift and Plato are examined.
394 CHARACTERIZATION OF BOVINE ADULT-DERIVED ADIPOSE STEM CELLS FOR USE IN NUCLEAR TRANSFER

Adipose tissue is an abundant source of adult-derived cells that have displayed multipotent properties in vitro. The goal of this research was to study the characteristics of bovine adipose-derived adult stem (ADAS) cells to determine the feasibility for use in NT. Adipose tissue was isolated from the brisket of adult cattle postmortem. Cells were isolated by incubation for 2 h with 0.25% collagenase solution, separation of stromal cells by centrifugation, and selection by adherence to plastic. The lifespan and growth characteristics for culture conditions were determined by a 2 × 2 factorial with DMEM or DMEM:F12 and with or without growth factor (GF) supplementation.A two-way ANOVA, followed by multiple pair-wise comparisons using Tukey’s test when applicable, was used to detect differences in population doublings (PD) until senescence for media treatments and GF supplementation. Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium with GF supported significantly less (PD) (P > 0.05) than DMEM : F12. The average lifespan was approximately 30 PD, with a cell length of 48 h until passage 8 (P8). As cells approached replicative senescence, the cell cycle length was inconsistent. Two ADAS and one adult-derived skin fibroblast cell lines from different animals were subjected to differentiation conditions for adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts at P2, P6, and P11. Differentiation was confirmed by histological staining. Passage 2 ADAS cells differentiated more efficiently than did P6, P11, or skin fibroblasts. Global levels of DNA methylation and histone acetylation were analyzed from P1 to P6 in 3 sets of cell lines consisting of ADAS and skin cells from the same animals by immune staining and flow cytometry. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between cell types by one-way ANOVA. Nuclear transfer was performed using ADAS cells as donor cells and commercially supplied oocytes. Mature, enucleated oocytes were reconstructed with either adult skin fibroblasts or ADAS cells. The percentage of cleaved and blastocysts from ADAS cells (62% and 8%, n = 163) and skin fibroblasts cells (42% and 8%, n = 170) were not different (P > 0.05) by chi-square analysis. Interspecies NT was attempted with eland (Taurotragus oryx) ADAS cells and enucleated bovine oocytes. Two groups of enucleated oocytes were reconstructed with bovine (n = 234) and eland (n = 290) ADAS cells. There was no significant difference between the number of cleaved embryos (38% and 39%) or blastocysts formed by chi-square analysis. A total of 3 interspecies embryos (1%) and 5 bovine embryos (14%) developed to blastocysts. Bovine ADAS cells are not more efficient than bovine adult-derived skin fibroblasts as donor cells, but they do represent a viable option for use in NT because of their higher in vitro development. Eland ADAS cells resulted in development to the blastocyst stage after interspecies NT.
Training Novices on Hierarchical Task Analysis

Understanding how best to provide training for task analysis remains unspecified. This study examined how different training methods affect knowledge acquisition, focusing on content learned and er...
Managing primary dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea or painful menses without identifiable pathology is the most common gynecologic complaint among adolescent females. Sixty to seventy percent of young women report painful periods and 15% of them report an interruption in daily activity due to menstrual pain. Dysmenorrhea is the leading cause of school absenteeism among this population. Painful menses typically presents in the adolescent years about 6-12 months after menarche or when regular ovulatory cycles are established. Symptoms may last up to 72 hours and may include nausea vomiting diarrhea headache fatigue dizziness and syncope as well as cramping. Although dysmenorrhea is frequent problem among adolescents many do not seek help from health care providers. The most common classic explanation for menstrual cramping is the overproduction of prostaglandins (PG) within the endometrium. PGs are inflammatory modulators known to cause myometrial contractions and vasoconstriction. Locally PGs incite uterine contractions and ischemia leading to the cramping pain classic of dysmenorrhea. Through systemic circulation PGs can reach other end organs causing nausea vomiting bloating and headaches. The biochemical production of PGs is directly related to an ovulatory menstrual cycle. Prior to each ovulatory cycle as progesterone is withdrawn arachidonic acid an omega-6 fatty acid is released from endometrial cell wall phospholipids. Free arachidonic acid then sets into motion the cyclo-oxygenase (COX) and lipooxygenase inflammatory cascades that lead to the production of PGs and leukotrienes. Women with dysmenorrhea often have higher levels of PGs in their menstrual fluid when compared to their pain-free counterparts. (excerpt)
Agricultural residues and energy crops as potentially economical and novel substrates for microbial production of butanol (a biofuel).

This review describes the production of acetone butanol ethanol (ABE) from a variety of agricultural residues and energy crops employing biochemical or fermentation processes. A number of organisms are available for this bioconversion including Clostridium beijerinckii P260, C. beijerinckii BA101, Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium saccharobutylicum P262. Some of these strains (P260 and P262) were used in an industrial setting in South Africa. One of the major limitations of these cultures is that none of them produce greater than 30 g/l total ABE unless integrated with simultaneous product recovery to reduce the toxicity of accumulated products. These cultures can utilize both hexose and pentose sugars derived from lignocellulosic hydrolysates such as maize (corn) fibre, wheat straw (one of the novel substrates), barley straw, maize stover and switchgrass. Substrates such as Jerusalem artichoke, maize, rye, millet, molasses, potato, soya molasses and agricultural wastes can also be used by the cultures listed. Additional carbohydrates that can be used include dextrins, fructose, sucrose and lactose. It is recommended that cultures that can produce greater amounts of ABE per litre of culture broth be developed. In order to economize the process of butanol production by fermentation, process technologies have been developed that integrate lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis, fermentation and simultaneous product recovery. It should be noted that in continuous process where a product was recovered simultaneously, 461.3 g/l ABE was produced from 1125 g sugar in a 1 litre culture volume.
Can Social Cohesion be Harnessed to Repair Market Failures? Evidence from Group Lending in Guatemala

The success of group lending in developing countries has been attributed to the ability of the institution to mitigate asymmetric information problems in credit markets. Previous research has offered a number of explanations for this phenomenon: social ties between borrowing group members, internal group pressure to repay loans, and peer monitoring. This research presents empirical tests on borrowing group data from Guatemala which indicate that peer monitoring significantly effects borrowing group performance through stimulating intra-group insurance. Group pressure is found to have a small effect in deterring moral hazard, while the effect of social ties among members is statistically insignificant.
Human saliva proteome: an overview

Human saliva contains a rich mixture of biomolecules. Proteins are a major component of this mixture. Given their role as the molecular effectors within biological systems, ranging from catalysis to transport to structure, proteins have great potential as biomarkers of health and disease. The ability to collect these salivary biomarkers easily using non-invasive means makes saliva proteins even more attractive for diagnostic applications. Thousands of proteins are now to be known to be present in human saliva – discovered using proteomic technologies. Emerging technologies are now making it possible to go beyond large-scale cataloging of salivary proteins. These include approaches to catalog protein contributions from the community of microorganisms residing in the oral cavity (metaproteomics) that may reflect the health state of the human host. New mass spectrometry-based proteomics methods are also emerging, shifting the emphasis from large-scale discovery experiments to hypothesis-driven assays for profiling proteins of interest within saliva, enabling validation of their association with specific health conditions. This paper provides a brief overview of efforts to catalog the proteome of human saliva. Recent developments making possible characterization of the metaproteome of human saliva will be discussed, and technologies driving new mass spectrometry-based assays for targeted analysis of proteins within complex samples, such as saliva.
Trader rationality in the exercise of futures options

Abstract We examine the rationality of investor exercise behavior by analyzing two years' tendered exercise notices for Treasury bond futures options. We conclude that exercise behavior is generally rational, but document numerous failures to exercise as well as some exercises that should not have occured, both at and prior to expiration. The most frequent type of error is failing to exercise, suggesting that traders do not monitor their positions with sufficient care. Finally, we show that investors use information arriving after trading closes, but before exchange-imposed exercise deadlines, in forming their exercise decisions.
Influence of monovalent cations on the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from rabbit skeletal and dog cardiac muscles. An interpretation of transient-state kinetic data.

Abstract Transient-state kinetics of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the Ca 2+ -ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles from rabbit skeletal and dog cardiac muscles were studied in the presence of varying concentrations of monovalent and divalent cations. Monovalent cations affect the two types of sarcoplasmic reticulum differently. When the rabbit skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum was Ca 2+ deficient, preincubation with K + (as compared with preincubation with choline chloride) did not affect initial phosphorylation at various concentrations of Ca 2+ , added with ATP to phosphorylate the enzyme. This is in contrast to preincubation with K + of the Ca 2+ -deficient dog cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum, which resulted in an increase in the phosphoenzyme level. When Ca 2+ was bound to the rabbit skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum, K + inhibited E ~ P formation; but under the same conditions, E ~ P formation of dog cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum was activated by K + at 12 μM Ca 2+ and inhibited at 0.33 and 1.3 μM Ca 2+ . Li + , Na + and K + also have different effects on E ~ P decomposition of skeletal and cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. The latter responded less to these cations than the former. Studies with ADP revealed differences between the two types of sarcoplasmic reticulum. For rabbit skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum, 40% of the phosphoenzyme formed was ‘ADP sensitive’, and the decay of the remaining E ~ P was enhanced by K + and ADP. Dog cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum yielded about 40–48% ADP-sensitive E ~ P, but the decomposition rate of the remaining E ~ P was close to the rate measured in the absence of ADP. Thus, these studies showed certain qualitative differences in the transformation and decomposition of phosphoenzymes between skeletal and cardiac muscle which may have bearing on physiological differences between the two muscle types.
Rapid Thermal Growth Of Thin Insulators On Si (Invited)

Rapid thermal processing of silicon in oxygen and ammonia reactive ambients has been performed successfully to grow thin layers of Si02, silicon nitride, and silicon nitroxide for high quality gate insulators of submicron CMOS VLSI.
Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase Polymorphism in Mice

Objective— In this study, we describe a previously unrecognized murine extracellular superoxide dismutase (ecSOD) allele and examine its distribution among various strains and its effect on the ecSOD phenotype. Methods and Results— Polymerase chain reaction analysis of genomic and cDNA from apolipoprotein E/LDLR−/− mice indicates the presence of 2 distinct transcripts for this enzyme independent of the extent of atherosclerosis or age. Sequencing and genotyping analyses reveal the presence of 2 alleles for ecSOD. One is a short variant with a 10-base pair deletion in the 3′UTR, accompanied by a single nucleotide substitution (position 61) found in the 129P3/J strain of mice. By contrast, all other strains examined carry the long form. Both free and heparin-releasable ecSOD activities in the 129P3/J strain are more than 3-fold higher than those in the C57Bl/6 mice. Corresponding differences in plasma enzyme mass are observed by immunoblotting. A clear allele dose effect can be observed in F2 hybrids of these 2 strains; free and total ecSOD activities in mice homozygous for the short allele are twice those of mice homozygous for the long allele, with the heterozygote values in between. Conclusions— These data clearly demonstrate the allele-specific effects on the ecSOD phenotype independent of other strain-specific factors and underline the need for backcrossing of genetically modified mice.
Dual Algorithms for Vectorless Power Grid Verification Under Linear Current Constraints

Vectorless power grid verification makes it possible to evaluate worst-case voltage noises without enumerating possible current waveforms. Under linear current constraints, the vectorless power grid verification problem can be formulated and solved as a linear programming (LP) problem. However, previous approaches suffer from long runtime due to the large problem size. In this paper, we design two dual algorithms that efficiently evaluate voltage noises in a resistor/capacitor power grid. Our algorithms combine novel dual approaches to solve the LP problem, and a preconditioned conjugate gradient power grid analyzer. The first algorithm exploits the structure of the problem to simplify its dual problem into a convex problem, which is then solved by the cutting-plane method. The second algorithm formulates a reduced-size LP problem for each node to compute upper bound of voltage noise. Experimental results show that both algorithms are highly efficient.
Autoinhibition of Casein Kinase I e (CKIe) Is Relieved by Protein Phosphatases and Limited Proteolysis

Casein kinase I e (CKIe) is a member of the CKI gene family, members of which are involved in the control of SV40 DNA replication, DNA repair, and cell metabolism. The mechanisms that regulate CKIe activity and substrate specificity are not well understood. We report that CKIe, which contains a highly phosphorylated 123-amino acid carboxyl-terminal extension not present in CKIα, is substantially less active than CKIα in phosphorylating a number of substrates including SV40 large T antigen and is unable to inhibit the initiation of SV40 DNA replication. Two mechanisms for the activation of CKIe have been identified. First, limited tryptic digestion of CKIe produces a protease-resistant amino-terminal 39-kDa core kinase with several-fold enhanced activity. Second, phosphatase treatment of CKIe activates CKIe 5–20-fold toward T antigen. Similar treatment of a truncated form of CKIe produced only a 2-fold activation. Notably, this activation was transient; reautophosphorylation led to a rapid down-regulation of the kinase within 5 min. Phosphatase treatment also activated CKIe toward the novel substrates IκBα and Ets-1. These mechanisms may serve to regulate CKIe and related forms of CKI in the cell, perhaps in response to DNA damage.
Using network properties to predict disease dynamics on human contact networks

Recent studies have increasingly turned to graph theory to model more realistic contact structures that characterize disease spread. Because of the computational demands of these methods, many researchers have sought to use measures of network structure to modify analytically tractable differential equation models. Several of these studies have focused on the degree distribution of the contact network as the basis for their modifications. We show that although degree distribution is sufficient to predict disease behaviour on very sparse or very dense human contact networks, for intermediate density networks we must include information on clustering and path length to accurately predict disease behaviour. Using these three metrics, we were able to explain more than 98 per cent of the variation in endemic disease levels in our stochastic simulations.
Birdshot chorioretinopathy in a male patient with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

We report a case of birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR) in a patient with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). A 40-year-old male with history of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy with significant facial diplegia and lagophthalmos presents for an evaluation of bilateral choroiditis with vasculitis and optic disc edema. Clinical examination included fundus and autofluorescence photographs, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography. To our knowledge, this patient represents the first reported case of birdshot chorioretinopathy with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Patients with FSHD can present with ocular findings and should be screened with dilated fundus examinations for retinal vascular changes and posterior uveitis.
Component Replication Based on Failover Units

Although component middleware is increasingly used to develop distributed, real-time and embedded (DRE) systems, it poses new fault tolerance challenges, such as the need for efficient synchronization of internal component state, failure correlation across groups of components, and configuration of fault-tolerance properties at the component granularity level. This paper makes two contributions to R\&D on component-based fault-tolerance. First, we present the structure and functionality of our COmponent Replication based on Failover Units (CORFU) middleware, which provides fail-stop behavior and fault correlation across groups of components in DRE systems. Second, we empirically evaluate CORFU and compare/contrast it with existing object-oriented fault-tolerance methods. Our results show that component middleware (1) has acceptable fault-tolerance performance for DRE systems and (2) eases the burden of application development by providing middleware support for fault-tolerance at the component level.
Efficacy of Imidacloprid, Trunk-Injected Into Acer platanoides, for Control of Adult Asian Longhorned Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

ABSTRACT Feeding experiments with Asian longhorned beetles (Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky)) in a quarantine laboratory were used to assess the effectiveness of imidacloprid in reducing adult fecundity and survival. The beetles were fed twigs and leaves cut between June—September 2010 from Norway maples (Acer platanoides L.) in the beetle-infested area of Worcester, MA. Treated trees had been trunk-injected once with imidacloprid in spring 2010 under the U.S. Department of Agriculture—Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service operational eradication program. The 21 d LC50 value for adult beetles feeding on twig bark from imidacloprid-injected trees was 1.3 ppm. Adult reproductive output and survival were significantly reduced when beetles fed on twig bark or leaves from treated trees. However, results varied widely, with many twig samples having no detectable imidacloprid and little effect on the beetles. When twigs with >1 ppm imidacloprid in the bark were fed to mated beetles, the number of larv...
Proposal For Supply Chain Concentration In The Traditional MBA Program

The purpose of this proposal is to develop and implement a concentration in Supply Chain Management in the existing traditional MBA program effective fall 2012. Houston is the hub for many multinational oil and energy companies, large healthcare systems, wholesale/retail businesses, engineering and construction companies, and is a major city along the transportation artery of NAFTA. The program is designed to provide SCM expertise to students in the existing traditional MBA program. The environment for this proposal is the School of Business at Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas 77004.
Protective role of the lymphatics from sepsis

In this issue of Blood , Jang et al elegantly demonstrate a previously unidentified role of lymphatics in protecting our body from the gut flora–induced sepsis using a novel mouse model. This study has a significant impact on our current understanding of not only the function of the lymphatics, but also the pathology of sepsis and related intestinal inflammatory diseases. 1
System-on-chip packet processor for an experimental network services platform

As the focus of networking research shifts from raw performance to the delivery of advanced network services, there is a growing need for open-platform systems for extensible networking research. The Applied Research Laboratory at Washington University in Saint Louis has developed a flexible network services platform (NSP) to meet this need. The NSP provides an extensible platform for prototyping next-generation network services and applications. The paper describes the design of a system-on-chip packet processor for the NSP which performs all core packet processing functions, including segmentation and reassembly, packet classification, route lookup, and queue management. Targeted to a commercial configurable logic device, the system is designed to support gigabit links and switch fabrics with a 2:1 speed advantage. We provide resource consumption results for each component of the packet processor design.
Rapid and sustained nuclear–cytoplasmic ERK oscillations induced by epidermal growth factor

Although the ERK pathway has a central role in the response of cells to growth factors, its regulatory structure and dynamics are incompletely understood. To investigate ERK activation in real time, we expressed an ERK–GFP fusion protein in human mammary epithelial cells. On EGF stimulation, we observed sustained oscillations of the ERK–GFP fusion protein between the nucleus and cytoplasm with a periodicity of ∼15 min. The oscillations were persistent (>45 cycles), independent of cell cycle phase, and were highly dependent on cell density, essentially disappearing at confluency. Oscillations occurred even at ligand doses that elicited very low levels of ERK phosphorylation, and could be detected biochemically in both transfected and nontransfected cells. Mathematical modeling revealed that negative feedback from phosphorylated ERK to the cascade input was necessary to match the robustness of the oscillation characteristics observed over a broad range of ligand concentrations. Our characterization of single-cell ERK dynamics provides a quantitative foundation for understanding the regulatory structure of this signaling cascade.
A physically based gradient plasticity theory

Abstract The intent of this work is to derive a physically motivated mathematical form for the gradient plasticity that can be used to interpret the size effects observed experimentally. The step of translating from the dislocation-based mechanics to a continuum formulation is explored. This paper addresses a possible, yet simple, link between the Taylor’s model of dislocation hardening and the strain gradient plasticity. Evolution equations for the densities of statistically stored dislocations and geometrically necessary dislocations are used to establish this linkage. The dislocation processes of generation, motion, immobilization, recovery, and annihilation are considered in which the geometric obstacles contribute to the storage of statistical dislocations. As a result, a physically sound relation for the material length scale parameter is obtained as a function of the course of plastic deformation, grain size, and a set of macroscopic and microscopic physical parameters. Comparisons are made of this theory with experiments on micro-torsion, micro-bending, and micro-indentation size effects.
Measuring lung resistivity using electrical impedance tomography

The use of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) imaging techniques in the measurement of lung resistivity for detection and monitoring of apnea and edema is proposed. In EIT, currents are injected into a subject using multiple electrodes, and boundary voltages are measured to reconstruct a cross-sectional image of internal resistivity distribution. It is found that a simplified, therefore fast, version of the impedance imaging method can be used for detection and monitoring of apnea and edema. The feasibility of this method has been shown through computer simulations and human experiments. The authors speculate that the EIT imaging technique will be more reliable than the current impedance apnea monitoring method, since they are monitoring the change of internal lung resistivity. However, more study is required to verify that this method performs better in the presence of motion artifact than the conventional two-electrode impedance apnea monitoring method. >
Data Management and Sharing from the Perspective of Graduate Students: An Examination of the Culture and Practice at the Water Quality Field Station

Libraries are actively seeking to identify and respond to the data management and curation needs of researchers. One important perspective often overlooked in acquiring an understanding is that of graduate students. This case study used the Data Curation Profile Toolkit to interview six graduate students working for agronomy researchers at the Water Quality Field Station (WQFS) research lab to understand the students' practices with data, the challenges they face, and their attitudes toward managing and sharing data. Though a small study, this research could provide new insights for libraries creating data services, particularly in regard to graduate students.
Subtractive hybridization: A technique for the isolation of differentially expressed genes

The technique of subtractive hybridization has been successfully used to isolate and identify rare and/or differentially expressed genes in specific tissues or under specific conditions. This technique allows for the isolation and subsequent identification of cDNA clones that can represent as little as 0.01% of the original mRNA population. Alterations in gene expression are invariably closely related to the primary initiation of changes in normal embryonic development, if not the primary event itself. Similarly, manifestations of cellular/tissue toxicity will be reflected in changes in gene expression of the target sites. The ability to isolate changing gene species, and subsequently to characterize the protein(s) they form, means that subtractive hybridization is potentially a powerful tool for characterizing both normal and abnormal conditions in animals and plants. This report reviews some of the recent applications of this technique, details a protocol we have used successfully in studies on abnormal...
Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatase Inhibitors with Antitumor Activity

Recent studies with fostriecin and derivatives of cantharidin suggest that the development of specific, or highly selective, inhibitors of serine/threonine protein phosphatases, notably PP2A, PP4, and PP5, may prove useful for the medical management of human cancer. This chapter will review the discovery and development of natural compounds that were originally shown to have marked antitumor activity and subsequently found to act as potent inhibitors of certain PPP-family phosphatases. The review will focus on two compounds, cantharidin and fostriecin, addressing discovery, molecular mechanisms of action, affects on cultured cell, clinical use, toxicity, plasma pharmacokinetics, and a brief review of data from a phase I human clinical trial.
Many Normal Means

Given X, suppose \( P_X^{{Y_i}} = N({X_{i,}}1),i = 1,2,...,n \) , and the Y i are independent. The straight estimate Y i of X i is least squares, maximum likelihood, of minimum variance among unbiased estimators, posterior means with respect to the Jeffreys density (the X 1,..., X n are uniform) but for all these virtues inadmissible with loss function \( \sum\nolimits_{i = 1}^n {{{({d_i} - {X_i})}^2}} \) for n > 2, Stein (1956).
RUPTURE OF THE QUADRICEPS EXTENSOR TENDON

Complete rupture of the quadriceps extensor tendon is an uncommon injury. When it occurs, there is total loss of extension at the knee joint. Apparently this injury occurs only in people well along in adult life. In cases where the rupture of the tendon has been complete and flush to the patella, strips of fascia lata may be used to close the tear. These strips are passed through drill holes in the upper part of the bone and then through the tendon in the form of mattress sutures.
Optimization problems arising in stability analysis of discrete time nonlinear systems

We consider a nonconvex optimization problem arising in the theory of global asymptotic stability of discrete time recurrent neural networks. Under certain weak conditions on the transfer functions we proved that corresponding nonconvex cost function has at most one point of local maximum over every hyperplane. We derived sufficient conditions for existence of a point of local maximum of cost functions over planes of less dimensions, and show that for standard transfer functions the number of points of local maximum of cost function over a plane may be bigger than the co-dimension of the plane.