cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Safety of carbon bead injection for incontinence in patients taking warfarin

Abstract Objectives To determine the safety of the use of Durasphere in patients receiving warfarin anticoagulation. Methods This case series included patients requiring long-term anticoagulation who also had intrinsic sphincteric deficiency or mixed urinary incontinence, and bladder outlets without hypermobility. All patients, with the exception of the 1 man in the study, were treated under local anesthesia with periurethral carbon bead injections, while receiving therapeutic doses of warfarin. Results Between 1999 and 2004, 20 such patients received carbon bead injections, on 36 different occasions, during therapeutic warfarin administration. Two complications related to the anticoagulation were encountered, one minor complication of a small periurethral hematoma and the other more severe, with a patient developing urinary retention and intravesical hemorrhage. Conclusions In most cases, the injection of carbon beads under local anesthesia in patients receiving therapeutic warfarin anticoagulation can be safely performed without reversal of the anticoagulation.
Evidence that nucleocapsid disassembly and a later step in virus replication are inhibited in transgenic tobacco protoplasts expressing TMV coat protein.

Abstract Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-like pseudovirus particles containing mRNA for Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase (GUS) were electroporated into mesophyll protoplasts from control or TMV coat protein (CP)-transgenic tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi). GUS-particles were expressed 100-fold less efficiently in CP-transformed than in control protoplasts whereas unencapsidated GUS mRNA was expressed only 2.8-fold less efficiently. Lower transient expression of packaged GUS mRNA is probably due to inhibited disassembly of nucleocapsids in CP-transgenic protoplasts. Control and U1 CP-transformed protoplasts are equally susceptible to infection by cowpea strain TMV ( Cc ), as well as unencapsidated Cc or Ul RNA. In contrast, native or in vitro reconstituted U1 TMV particles result in 5- to 6-fold fewer infected CP-transgenic than control protoplasts. When Cc RNA was transcapsidated in Ul CP in vitro , the hybrid virions were equally infectious in both classes of protoplasts. We conclude that although compatible U1 protein-protein interactions significantly inhibit (GUS) nucleocapsid disassembly in CP-transgenic protoplasts, the endogenous CP must also interfere with a later stage of infection involving the homologous viral RNA.
DFT-Based Methods in the Design of Two-Photon Operated Molecular Switches

Conjugated organic molecules with photochromic properties are being extensively studied as prospective optical switching and data storage materials. Among different photochromic compounds, diarylethenes demonstrate thermal stability, fatigue resistance, and high quantum yield. The mechanism of photoswitching in diarylethenes involves a symmetry-allowed conrotatory electrocyclic reaction, initiated by UV light. Replacement of one UV photon with two near-IR ones would offer a number of practical advantages, including drastic increase in storage capacity via three-dimensional multilayer design. For this purpose we designed a prototype molecule with a two-photon absorbing (2PA) pendant substituent, attached to the photochromic diarylethene moiety. However, this molecule was experimentally shown to have lost the photoswitching properties. We analyze reasons for this loss using quantum chemistry tools. Analysis of the nodal structure of the frontier Kohn−Sham orbitals, allowed us to trace the route of the probl...
Structural, electrochemical, and spectroscopic investigation of acetate bridged dinuclear tetrakis-Schiff base macrocycles of Mn and Zn.

The synthesis of Mn2LAc+, Zn2LAc+, and H4L2+ is described, where L is a tetrakis-Schiff base macrocycle formed using 4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformylphenol and 2,2′-diamino-N-methyldiethylamine resulting in an N6O2 coordination environment. In Mn2LAc+ and Zn2LAc+, the two metal centers are bridged by an acetate ligand. [Mn2LAc](ClO4)·(DMF)0.5, [Mn2LAc](ClO4)·(ACN)0.5, and [Zn2LAc](PF6) crystallized in the space group P21/c, with nearly identical unit-cell dimensions and geometric structures. Electrochemical analysis of Zn2LAc+, and H4L2+ by cyclic voltammetry (CV) revealed two irreversible anodic waves that were assigned to oxidations of the phenolate ligands. CVs of Mn2LAc+ displayed two chemically reversible anodic waves corresponding to MnII/III oxidations, followed by irreversible oxidations of the phenolate ligands. Interfacial electron transfer rates for the single electron oxidations from Mn2IILAc+ to MnIIMnIIILAc2+ to Mn2IIILAc+ determined from digital simulation of the CVs were 0.6 and 1.1 × 10–3 cm s–1...
Atipamezole-precipitated clonidine withdrawal induces c-Fos expression in rat central nervous system

We sought to identify a clonidine withdrawal syndrome in conscious rats by investigating the effects of a single injection of the specific alpha2-adrenergic antagonist atipamezole (1.5 mg/kg i.p.) after chronic treatment with the alpha2-adrenergic agonist clonidine (200 microg/kg per day via osmotic mini-pump for 7-10 days). Rats treated chronically with clonidine followed by atipamezole injection (clonidine-atipamezole) demonstrated dramatic behavioral effects including shaking, vigorous digging, and whole-body seizure-like movements. Control groups (saline-saline, clonidine-saline and saline-atipamezole) showed no overt unusual behavioral effects following injection. The brains of the clonidine-atipamezole group showed massive c-Fos expression (especially in di- and telencephalon) while the other groups showed either background levels of c-Fos-immunopositive cells (saline-saline and clonidine-saline groups) or a slight increase over background in selected areas (saline-atipamezole group). Maps of c-Fos-immunolabeled cells were generated at five representative coronal planes for each treatment group. C-Fos-immunopositive cells were counted in three representative brainstem structures (locus coeruleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL)) and in three regions of the thoracic spinal cord (dorsal horn, intermediate zone and ventral horn). In the three brainstem structures the number of c-Fos-positive cells was elevated 8-10-fold in the clonidine-atipamezole group compared to the other groups. No other treatment group was significantly different from the saline-saline group. An increased number of c-Fos-positive neurons was also noted in the dorsal horn and intermediate layers of the thoracic spinal cord in the clonidine-atipamezole group compared to a sham-operated atipamezole-injected group. In the RVL, 59% of c-Fos-positive cells contained alpha2A-adrenergic receptor-like immunoreactivity in clonidine-atipamezole treated (withdrawing) rats. In addition, one-third of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunopositive cells in RVL were also c-Fos-positive in clonidine withdrawing rats where no TH-positive cells were also c-Fos-positive in RVL of control groups. Atipamezole injected 10 min after a single injection of clonidine (200 microg/kg, i.p.) produced no behavioral effect and did not increase c-Fos expression in brainstem. Injection of the opiate antagonist naltrexone (100 mg/kg, i.p.) in rats chronically treated with clonidine did not elicit behavioral effects or result in increased c-Fos expression in brainstem. In conclusion, administration of the selective alpha2-antagonist atipamezole to rats chronically treated with the alpha2-adrenergic agonist clonidine triggers a powerful withdrawal syndrome associated with massive CNS expression of c-Fos protein. The intensity of the withdrawal syndrome indicates that chronic exposure to alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonists produces strong dependence.
The role of nonolfactory context cues in odor identification.

Odors were identified by 141 persons before and after a nonolfactory cue was presented. The context cue was a color concept, either relevant or irrelevant to the odor identity. The color concept was presented as a word or as the color itself. The familiarity of each odor was judged prior to each identification. The relevant color concepts facilitated identification to a slight, but reliable, degree. Irrelevant color concepts evoked an increase in wrong identifications. Relevant cues increased correct second identifications and increased them to an even greater degree if the odors were judged to be highly familiar.
Closed-Loop Optimal Control Strategy for Cancer Chemotherapy

Cancer chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer using drugs that kill the cancer cells, when the drugs are administered either orally or through veins. The drugs are delivered according to a schedule so that a particular dosage of drug level is maintained in the body. The disadvantage of these drugs is that they not only kill the cancer cells but also kill the normal healthy cells. The role of optimal control in chemotherapy is to maintain an optimum amount of drug level in the body so that only cancer cells are killed and hence the effect of drug on the healthy cells is minimized. Three different mathematical models for cancer growth are considered: log-kill hypothesis, Norton-simon model, and Emax model. Two different cost functions are considered for constrained and unconstrained optimal control, respectively. An open loop optimal control strategy has been reported in the literature. In this paper, a closed-loop optimal control strategy is addressed using all the three models and for both the cases of constrained and unconstrained drug delivery. For the unconstrained case the original nonlinear model has been linearized and the closed loop design is obtained by using matrix Riccati solutions. On the other hand, for the constrained case the original nonlinear model has been used to obtain closed loop optimal control using bang-bang strategy. Final simulation results show the advantages of closed loop implementation in terms of simpler and elegant controller design and incorporating the effect of current state variations.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Spintronic memristor based temperature sensor design with CMOS current reference

As the technology scales down, the increased power density brings in significant system reliability issues. Therefore, the temperature monitoring and the induced power management become more and more critical. The thermal fluctuation effects of the recently discovered spintronic memristor make it a promising candidate as a temperature sensing device. In this paper, we carefully analyzed the thermal fluctuations of spintronic memristor and the corresponding design considerations. On top of it, we proposed a temperature sensing circuit design by combining spintronic memristor with the traditional CMOS current reference. Our simulation results show that the proposed design can provide high accuracy of temperature detection within a much smaller footprint compared to the traditional CMOS temperature sensor designs. As magnetic device scales down, the relatively high power consumption is expected to be reduced.
Broad-band Viscoelastic Rotational Vibration Control for Remote Sensing Applications

The ability to eliminate, or effectively control, vibration in remote sensing applications is critical. Any perturbations of an imaging system are greatly magnified over the hundreds of kilometers from the orbiting space platform to the Earth's surface. Space platforms, such as the International Space Station, are not as predictable or stable as many other spacecraft. Therefore, an effective vibration isolation and/or absorber system is needed that operates over a wide range of excitation frequencies. A passive system is also preferred to reduce the resources required, as well as to provide a reliable and self-contained system. To accomplish these goals, a vibration amplitude limiting system has been developed that uses both vibration isolation and absorber components. Viscoelastic structural elements that act as both a spring and a damper in a single element are implemented in the design. This configuration also demonstrates a favorable frequencydependent response and produces a system with improved dyna...
The relationship between soft tissue attachment, epithelial downgrowth and surface porosity.

Millipore filters with pore sizes ranging from 0.025 μm to 8.0 μm were implanted in the backskin of pigs for periods up to 8 weeks. Measurements of the rate of epithelial migration along the filters showed an inverse relationship with pore size although the extent of migration was significantly less along filters with pore sizes of 3- μm and above than along those with smaller pore sizes. Histological examination revealed a difference in the extent of connective tissue infiltration which corresponded to the differences in the rate of migration; filters of pore size 3 μm or more were extensively infiltrated with cell and tissue elements whereas there was little infiltration of filters of 1 μm pore size and none of smaller pore size filters. It is suggested that 3 μm is the minimum pore size that permits connective tissue penetration into the filter and that when infiltration does occur the resulting soft tissue attachment markedly restricts the extent of epithelial downgrowth. These results support therapeutic attempts to modify the cemental surface and thereby facilitate soft tissue reattachment to the tooth.
Kinetics of the WF6 and Si2H6 surface reactions during tungsten atomic layer deposition

Abstract The atomic layer deposition (ALD) of tungsten (W) films has been demonstrated using alternating exposures to tungsten hexafluoride (WF 6 ) and disilane (Si 2 H 6 ). The present investigation explored the kinetics of the WF 6 and Si 2 H 6 surface reactions during W ALD at 303–623 K using Auger electron spectroscopy techniques. The reaction of WF 6 with the Si 2 H 6 -saturated W surface proceeded to completion at 373–573 K. The WF 6 reaction displayed a reactive sticking coefficient of S =0.4 and required an exposure of 30 L (1 L=1×10 −6 Torr s) to achieve saturation at 573 K. The WF 6 exposures necessary to reach saturation increased with decreasing temperature. At surface temperatures 6 reaction did not consume all the silicon (Si) surface species remaining from the previous Si 2 H 6 exposure. The reaction of Si 2 H 6 with the WF 6 -saturated W surface displayed three kinetic regimes. In the first region at low Si 2 H 6 exposures⩽50 L, the Si 2 H 6 reaction was independent of temperature and had a reactive sticking coefficient of S ∼5×10 −2 . In the second kinetic region at intermediate Si 2 H 6 exposures of 50–300 L, the Si 2 H 6 reaction showed an apparent saturation behavior with a Si thickness at saturation that increased with substrate temperature. At high Si 2 H 6 exposures of 300–1×10 5 L, additional Si was deposited with an approximately logarithmic dependence on Si 2 H 6 exposure. The Si 2 H 6 reaction in this third kinetic region had an activation energy E =2.6 kcal/mol and the Si thickness deposited by a 1.6×10 5 L Si 2 H 6 exposure increased with temperature from 3.0 A at 303 K to 6.6 A at 623 K. These kinetic results should help to explain W ALD growth rates observed at different reactant exposures and substrate temperatures.
Energy transfer from Gd3+ to Cr3+ in Cr3+:Gd3Sc2Ga3O12 (GSGG)

Abstract The temporal characteristics and temperature dependence of the Gd3+ to Cr3+ energy transfer in Cr3+: GSGG are presented. Following pulsed excitation of the 8 S 7 2 → 6 P 7 2 transition in Gd3+, the risetime of the resulting Cr3+ fluorescence was used to determine the Gd3+ to Cr3+ energy transfer rate. The results indicate a rapid energy migration among the Gd3+ ions followed by a Gd3+ to Cr3+ energy transfer step over a single fixed distance.
Optical absorption in crossed electric and magnetic fields. II

Abstract The theory of optical absorption in crossed electric and magnetic fields is extended to take account of forbidden transitions in direct band gap semiconductors and of phonon assisted transitions in indirect band gap semiconductors. For the transitions which are forbidden at k = 0, the absorption edges and absorption peaks are shifted toward longer wavelengths by the electric field. The absorption coefficient is found to be an oscillatory function of electric field. In very strong electric fields, the absorption increases with electric field. For phonon assisted absorption there are two field dependent terms, one which is linear in the field and the other which is quadratic in field.
Lead inhibition of the preparation for fusion of the L6 line of skeletal muscle cells.

Abstract The normal development of L 6 myoblasts is disrupted when the cells are cultured in medium containing lead acetate. Both fusion and myosin appearance are inhibited. These effects are, however, the result of lead action during the first 2 days of cultivation and the primary effect appears restricted to preparatory events necessary for subsequent fusion. Lead acetate has no direct effect on proliferation, cell fusion itself, myosin synthesis directly, nor on the loss of proliferation normally seen in control cultures just before fusion.
Numerical modeling of non-isothermal quartz dissolution/precipitation in a coupled fracture–matrix system

Abstract A numerical model is developed to simulate the combined effect of thermal and reactive solute transport in a coupled fracture–matrix system using dual porosity concepts. The model includes solute dispersion in the fracture, lateral diffusion-limited transport of solutes from the fracture into the reservoir matrix, lateral conduction-limited thermal flux from the reservoir into the fracture, as well as thermal conduction and dispersion in the fracture. The model is applied to examine the mass of silica dissolved/precipitated along a fracture and to compute the change in fracture aperture. Results show that the maximum increase in the fracture aperture occurs near its inlet. A parametric study indicates that the reservoir thermal conductivity, reservoir porosity, reservoir effective diffusion coefficient, water velocity in the fracture, and the initial fracture aperture have dominant roles in quartz dissolution/precipitation mechanisms.
Moving behavior and the housing market

Abstract This paper develops a model of the relationship between residential mobility and housing demand, which it embeds in an overlapping-generations model of the housing market. Moves, needed to adjust housing consumption, are costly; adjusting other consumption is not. Comparative static results for the impact of moving costs and the interest rate on the optimal number of moves and housing consumption in each residence spell are presented. We demonstrate that moving costs and constraints on moving can serve as a form of rationing of housing consumption which can be used in analyzing certain policy interventions in housing markets.
Mixed Dyslipidemia, Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes Mellitus, and Cardiovascular Disease: Clinical Implications

Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus are individually associated with increased cardiovascular risk; furthermore, the combination of metabolic syndrome with diabetes accentuates this risk. An atherogenic dyslipidemia characterized by elevated triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or both conditions is a key modifiable risk factor associated with both conditions. As the development of this atherogenic mixed dyslipidemia precedes the onset of overt glycemia and the clinical diagnosis of diabetes, early effective intervention is recommended to reduce the risk of premature cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality.
Wireless mobile real-time multimedia support over internet

The growing demand for real-time broadband multimedia communications and Internet access has accelerated the evolution to the next generation Internet which support real-time performance guarantees through the integrated service architecture, and fast packet forwarding through multiprotocol label switching. On the other hand, there is also a growing demand to run familiar Internet application in the wireless mobile environment. This paper proposes mobile integrated services consisting of mobile guaranteed and controlled-load services to support intolerant and tolerant real-time multimedia applications, and a wireless-aware middleware to counteract the bandwidth and latency limitation of the wireless link.
Hexachlorophene-Induced Changes in Electrical Response Specificity of Human Finger Epidermis for Sodium and Potassium Ions

Electrical potentials developed at a human epidermal surface-aqueous solution boundary in response to varying concentrations of sodium and potassium ions were measured in vivo, both in the presence and absence of hexachlorophene in the solutions. The results provide further evidence for a previously postulated mechanism of hexachlorophene interaction with epidermal colloids which implicated allosterically effected changes in the electron densities of ionogenic groups vicinally located to hexachlorophene interaction sites.
Volume regulatory decrease in UMR-106.01 cells is mediated by specific alpha1 subunits of L-type calcium channels.

An early cellular response of osteoblasts to swelling is plasma membrane depolarization, accompanied by a transient increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), which initiates regulatory volume decrease (RVD). The authors have previously demonstrated a hypotonically induced depolarization of the osteoblast plasma membrane, sufficient to open L-type Ca channels and mediate Ca2+ influx. Herein is described the initiation of RVD in UMR-106.01 cells, mediated by hypotonically induced [Ca2+]i transients resulting from the activation of specific isoforms of L-type Ca channels. The authors further demonstrate that substrate interaction determines which specific α1 Ca channel subunit isoform predominates and mediates Ca2+ entry and RVD. Swelling-induced [Ca2+]i transients, and RVD in cells grown on a type I collagen matrix, are inhibited by removal of Ca from extracellular solutions, dihydropyridines, and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides directed exclusively to the α1C isoform of the L-type Ca channel. Ca2+ transients and RVD in cells grown on untreated glass cover slips were inhibited by similar maneuvers, but only by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides directed to the α1S isoform of the L-type Ca channel. This represents the first molecular identification of the Ca channels that transduce the initiation signal for RVD by osteoblastic cells.
Quantum-dot cellular automata

There has been increasing concern in recent years that the limits of what can be achieved with current approaches to improving device performance will soon be reached. Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) have been proposed as a means of getting around these limitations. This paper reviews the work done concerning QCA to date. First, the QCA architecture is described along with a model used for calculating their properties. Next, the approach to computing with QCA by implementing QCA analogs to traditional logic devices will be discussed. Issues that affect the performance of these devices and the experimental work that has been done are summarized. Finally, some interesting QCA applications are reviewed.
The Roles of Group Importance and Anxiety in Predicting Depersonalized Ingroup Trust

In this experiment, we examine depersonalized ingroup trust as a function of group importance and anxiety. We expected that depersonalized ingroup trust would be stronger in more important social groups. We further predicted that anxiety would moderate the relationship between group importance and depersonalized ingroup trust, so that in high-importance social groups, but not within low-importance social groups, anxiety would increase depersonalized ingroup trust. By contrast, for low importance groups, anxiety should not affect depersonalized trust, but should increase interpersonal trust instead. These predictions were supported, even after controlling for baseline levels of general trust in others as well as for the presence of non-anxiety emotion states. The article discusses the theoretical and empirical links between anxiety, uncertainty, and decisions to trust in collective contexts.
Afterward: the once and future state of policy termination

This essay reviews the five articles in this symposium in light of termination research conducted over the past twenty years. The “underattention” of termination during the past two decades is discussed in the painted context of the attention paid to termination by the recent “Contract With America,” a plan by Congressional Republicans to eliminate selected government programs. One conclusion is that termination is still not easy, especially when strange bedfellows, motivated by self interest, join forces to stay the termination cleaver. Another issue is how to terminate programs in a humane manner, that is, without sacrificing essential employees or services. Despite the sparse attention paid to termination by academicians, termination remains an enduring and relevant public policy issue.
A cycloheximide-enhanced protein in cytomegalovirus-infected cells

Abstract Following the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV, strain Colburn)-infected cells with the drug cycloheximide early after infection, dramatically enhanced amounts of an otherwise minor protein are synthesized. Size and charge estimates, based on one- and two-dimensional separations in denaturing polyacrylamide gels, indicate that this protein has a molecular weight of 94K and an acidic net charge. Results of experiments to investigate its synthesis indicate that (i) the 94K protein is expressed by 2–4 hr after infection, (ii) its appearance requires de novo RNA synthesis, (iii) both the protein and its mRNA appear to be metabolically stable, and (iv) the increased amount of this protein following cycloheximide inhibition appears to be the result of selective mRNA amplification. On the basis of its partitioning during detergent fractionation procedures, it is suggested that the 94K protein may function in the cytoplasm.
Associations between fecal indicator bacteria prevalence and demographic data in private water supplies in Virginia.

Over 1.7 million Virginians rely on private water sources to provide household water. The heaviest reliance on these systems occurs in rural areas, which are often underserved with respect to available financial resources and access to environmental health education. This study aimed to identify potential associations between concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) (coliforms, Escherichia coli ) in over 800 samples collected at the point-of-use from homes with private water supply systems and homeowner-provided demographic data (household income and education). Of the 828 samples tested, 349 (42%) of samples tested positive for total coliform and 55 (6.6%) tested positive for E. coli . Source tracking efforts targeting optical brightener concentrations via fluorometry and the presence of a human-specific Bacteroides marker via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) suggest possible contamination from human septage in over 20 samples. Statistical methods implied that household income has an association with the proportion of samples positive for total coliform, though the relationship between education level and FIB is less clear. Further exploration of links between demographic data and private water quality will be helpful in building effective strategies to improve rural drinking water quality.
The amount of JAK2 617V>F matters

In this issue of Blood , 2 notable papers address the importance of the absolute amount of, and/or homozygosity versus heterozygosity for, the somatic mutation JAK2 617V>F in polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). The relationship of the level of JAK2 617V>F with the cell biology
Variable Word Initial and Medial Consonant Relationships in Children's Speech Sound Articulation

The heterogeneous nature of consonants in the medial position of words may have prevented earlier studies from depicting a clear phonetic relationship between them and consonants in the initial and final positions. In this study, auditory perceptual judgments of children's consonant productions in the initial position of words were compared with those on medial consonants varying in number and order. Neither the perceived frequency of correct articulation nor the error pattern differentiated single consonants in the initial and medial positions of words at any age. Performance on consonant blends in the initial position of words differed from that on both types of medial sequences, but it was more similar to medial consonant sequences that corresponded with permissible word initial blends than to those that did not. It was concluded that initial and medial consonants may be regarded as performance equivalents only under certain conditions.
Extrarenal erythropoietin production by the liver in the weanling rat.

Erythropoietin production is considerably reduced but not abolished in adult rats exposed to hypoxia immediately after nephrectomy, whereas in young weanling rats exposed to hypoxia, removal of the kidneys has little effect on the production of the hormone. Thus, the hormone is produced or activated by extrarenal as well as renal tissues. Fried has recently presented evidence implicating the liver as a site of extrarenal erythropoietin production in the adult anephric rat. In the present paper, evidence will be presented that the liver is normally an important site of erythropoietin production or activation in the weanling rat exposed to hypoxia.
Procedures for direct spectrophotometric determination of carbonate ion concentrations: Measurements in US Gulf of Mexico and East Coast waters

Abstract Refined procedures were developed for directly determining carbonate ion concentrations in seawater through measurement of the ultraviolet absorbances of lead carbonate and chloride complexes after addition of divalent lead (Pb(II)) to a seawater sample. Our model algorithm is based on carbonate ion concentrations calculated from measurements of pH and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) obtained on a NOAA ocean acidification cruise (GOMECC-2, the second Gulf of Mexico and East Coast Carbon cruise). These calculated carbonate concentrations, in conjunction with Pb(II) absorbance measurements for the same seawater samples, were used to refine previous algorithms based on different chemical-measurement techniques and a limited range of carbonate concentrations. The precision of the spectrophotometric carbonate measurements is affected by the concentration of Pb(II) in the titrated seawater samples. Doubling the concentration of the titrant improved precision relative to previously published procedures but required formulation of a correction for changes in carbonate ion concentration caused by the titrant addition. Minor changes in the new algorithm for the spectrophotometric method produced carbonate ion values (at 25 °C) in excellent agreement with values calculated from paired pH and DIC observations over a carbonate concentration range of 73–258 μmol kg − 1 . This new algorithm, tested on three subsequent research cruises in the Gulf of Mexico, showed a random scatter of residuals and an average offset between measured and calculated carbonate concentrations equal to − 0.92 ± 5.33 μmol kg − 1 .
Kibbutzim in Constant Transition

This paper was based on the assumption that the economic crisis that occurred in kibbutzim in the early 1980s led to the dismantling of the ideology that was the basis for building of the kibbutz movement. Kibbutz leaders from eight kibbutzim in Israel were individually interviewed. Each participant asserted that the changes that have occurred on kibbutzim over the past 25 years have affected not only the ideological principles of the kibbutz movement, but have also impacted child rearing, family and social relations and work ethic. It was concluded that today’s kibbutzim have more in common with villages, townships and cities than a resemblance to traditional kibbutzim. The future of kibbutzim must be questioned as a unique community.
On Nonparametric Supply Response Analysis

In this paper, we explore the usefulness of nonparametric methods in the investigation of production behavior and the estimation of price elasticities of output supply and input demand functions. The approach can handle the situation where some data points are not consistent with production theory. The method is illustrated by estimating supply-demand elasticities of outputs and inputs in U.S. agriculture.
Managed care and managed death. Coincidence.

Toward theend of his famous and nearly incomprehensible book, The Critique of Pure Reason , Immanuel Kant underscored the 3 most important questions in philosophic thought: What can I know? What ought I to do? What may I hope? The modal auxiliaries can, ought , and may in these questions are precisely used, implying, respectively, that what is knowable by humans will always be limited, that the path to virtuous conduct is always uncertain, and that our dreams and plans become hopes because of a Being whose verdicts we can neither predict nor appeal. 1 The subjects of assisted suicide and euthanasia highlighted in this article fall firmly in the domain of philosophy, even though they are usually debated as questions of social policy and law. The issue is not only what we have a right to do, but also what it is right for us to do. I will argue
Treatment of Chronic Migraine Headache with OnabotulinumtoxinA

Chronic migraine headache remains an exceedingly difficult entity to manage. Treatment of chronic migraine headache with onabotulinumtoxinA has recently been shown to be effective in reducing the severity and frequency of chronic migraine headache, in the PREEMPT trials, a landmark achievement. However, the studies use a primarily fixed dose and site approach to treatment, allowing some individualized injections. However, the authors do not address the issue of myofascial trigger points as potential triggers of migraine that could be inactivated using onabotulinumtoxinA, despite several studies that support the role of myofascial trigger points in initiating some migraine headaches.
Requirements for therapeutic inhibition of sickle haemoglobin gelation

KINETIC studies on haemoglobin S gelation have shown that following initiation of the reaction there is a pronounced delay before the appearance of the polymer1–5. The delay time is extremely sensitive to physiological variables, such as total haemoglobin concentration and fractional saturation with ligand, and moderately sensitive to pH, salt concentration and temperature (near 37 °C)1,5–10. Changes in these variables which decrease the delay time seem to be associated with increased clinical severity of sickle cell disease1,11. These findings have been explained by a pathophysiological mechanism in which a decrease in the delay time of intracellular gelation, relative to the capillary transit time, increases the probability of intracapillary sickling; blockage of the microcirculation is then possible, with consequent tissue anoxia and organ damage. An increase in the delay time, permitting cells to escape the narrow capillaries before gelation has begun, is therefore predicted to result in amelioration of the disease1,11. We present here results of kinetic experiments designed to help answer the question: how much must the delay time be increased to obtain a given therapeutic effect in patients?
Murine tendon function is adversely affected by aggrecan accumulation due to the knockout of ADAMTS5.

The present study examined the effect of ADAMTS5 (TS5) knockout on the properties of murine flexor digitorum longus (FDL) and Achilles tendons. FDL and Achilles tendons were analyzed using biomechanical testing, histology, and immunohistochemistry; further characterization of FDL tendons was conducted using transmission electron microscopy (collagen fibril ultrastructure), SDS–PAGE (collagen content and type), fluorescence-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis for chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronan, and Western blotting for aggrecan, versican, and decorin abundance and distribution. FDL tendons of TS5−/− mice showed a 33% larger cross-sectional area, increased collagen fibril area fraction, and decreased material properties relative to those of wild type mice. In TS5−/− mice, aggrecan accumulated in the pericellular matrix of tendon fibroblasts. In Achilles tendons, cross-sectional area, stress relaxation, and structural properties were similar in TS5−/− and wild type mice; however, the TS5−/− tendons exhibited a higher tensile modulus and a weakened enthesis. These results demonstrate that TS5 deficiency disturbs normal tendon collagen organization and alters biomechanical properties. Hence, the role of ADAMTS5 in tendon is to remove pericellular and interfibrillar aggrecan to maintain the molecular architecture responsible for normal tissue function. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:620–626, 2012
Protein-Protein Interactions Are Implied in Glucocorticoid Receptor Mutant 465*-mediated Cell Death *

Previously we have shown that ICR-27, a clone of glucocorticoid-resistant human leukemic T cells, showed rapid cell loss upon transient transfection with plasmids expressing certain fragments of the human glucocorticoid receptor lacking the ligand binding domain. An extreme example was the frameshift GR mutant 465*, mutated after amino acid 465. This generated a novel 21-amino acid "tail," beginning within the second zinc finger of the human glucocorticoid receptor DNA binding domain, a region required for ICR-27 cell death caused by hologlucocorticoid receptor plus hormone. The cell loss mediated by 465* was faster but quantitatively equivalent to that caused by hologlucocorticoid receptor plus hormone. We are therefore investigating the mechanism of action of 465*. We overexpressed 465* with or without a glutathione S-transferase tag fused to its N terminus and tested its ability to affect glucocorticoid response element (GRE)-driven reactions in vitro. Partially purified 465* showed little binding to a consensus GRE, caused virtually no stimulation of transcription from a GRE, and failed to inhibit GR-driven transcription. However, GST-465* "trapped" several proteins from ICR-27 cell extracts, including c-Jun; recombinant c-Jun also was bound in vitro. In co-transfection assays of CV-1 cells, 465* expression reduced phorbol ester (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) transcriptional activation from a promoter containing multiple AP-1 sites. Further studies proved the repressive activity of 465* was c-Jun-specific and not due to squelching artifacts. The data suggest that interaction of 465* with other proteins, such as c-Jun, might be responsible for its cell killing function.
Optimization of state water quality monitoring systems

Abstract The water quality monitoring activities required of the States under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Ammendments (PL92-500) will require resources well beyond what is likely to be available, if current systems structures and operating procedures are followed. This paper describes some quantitative procedures developed to optimize monitoring resource allocation, with the goal of getting the greatest possible return on a limited monitoring budget. The ambient and effluent standards which form the basis of the monitoring system are described. Stochastic inputs to the river basin which lead to violations of these standards are identified, and progress in characterizing these variations mathematically is discussed. Quantitative priority-setting procedures for the two principal monitoring activities (ambient and effluent), which take into account these stochastic inputs, are reviewed. Both procedures are designed to tell the state agency planner where the next increment of resource should be expended to maximize alternative monitoring objective functions. Approaches to integrating these two primary monitoring functions and opportunities for further applications of operations research techniques to improve program effectiveness and efficiency are suggested.
A subspace clustering framework for research group collaboration

Researchers spend considerable time searching for relevant papers on the topic in which they are currently interested. Often, despite having similar interests, researchers in the same laboratory do not find it convenient to share results of bibliographic searches and thus conduct independent time-consuming searches. Research paper recommender systems can help the researcher avoid such time-consuming searches by allowing each researcher to automatically take advantage of previous searches performed by others in the lab. Existing recommender systems were developed for commercial domains to assist users by focusing toward products of their interests. Unlike those domains, the research paper domain has relatively few users when compared with the significantly larger number of research papers. In this paper, we present a novel system to recommend relevant research papers to a user based on the user’s recent querying and browsing habits. The core of the system is a scalable subspace clustering algorithm, SCuBA (Subspace ClUstering Based Analysis) that performs well on the sparse, high-dimensional data collected in this domain. Both synthetic and benchmark datasets are used to evaluate the recommendation system and to demonstrate that it performs better than the traditional collaborative filtering approaches when recommending research papers.
Synthetic β1–24-corticotropin stimulation of cortisol biosynthesis by rabbit adrenal tissue

Abstract The duration of stimulation of rabbits with a highly purified porcine adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) preparation required to elicit maximal cortisol synthesis by homogenates of adrenal tissue from these animals has been investigated. Cortisol production was increased from non-detectable levels to a maximum of 110–120 μg/100 mg tissue/3 hr after two or three days stimulation with approximately 40 U.S.P. units ACTH twice daily. Cortisol production appeared to decrease with more prolonged stimulation. A smaller but significant cortisol production of 16.6 μg/100 mg/3 hr by homogenates of adrenal glands from rabbits stimulated twice daily for two days with 0.4 mg of synthetic β1–24-corticotropin was observed. These results are interpreted to mean that the C-terminal amino acid sequence is not required for this activity of ACTH to stimulate cortisol production by a gland which normally produces primarily corticosterone.
Relationships Between Narrative Language Samples and Norm-Referenced Test Scores in Language Assessments of School-Age Children

Purpose Both narrative language samples and norm-referenced language tests can be important components of language assessment for school-age children. The present study explored the relationship between these 2 tools within a group of children referred for language assessment. Method The study is a retrospective analysis of clinical records from 73 school-age children. Participants had completed an oral narrative language sample and at least one norm-referenced language test. Correlations between microstructural language sample measures and norm-referenced test scores were compared for younger (6- to 8-year-old) and older (9- to 12-year-old) children. Contingency tables were constructed to compare the 2 types of tools, at 2 different cutpoints, in terms of which children were identified as having a language disorder. Results Correlations between narrative language sample measures and norm-referenced tests were stronger for the younger group than the older group. Within the younger group, the level of lang...
On lithospheric flexure seaward of the Bonin and Mariana trenches

Abstract More than 25 bathymetry profiles have been used to examine the flexure of the Pacific lithosphere seaward of the Izu-Bonin and Mariana trenches. Selected bathymetry profiles have been corrected for the effects of sediment loading and compared to simple elastic and elastic-plastic models for lithospheric flexure seaward of these trenches. Profiles of the northern Mariana trench, where the seaward wall is relatively gentle, can be explained by a simple elastic model without an applied horizontal load. Profiles of the Izu-Bonin and southern Mariana trenches, where the seaward wall is relatively steep, can be explained by an elastic-plastic model with an applied load of 4.0–6.0 kbar, depending on the uniform yield stress assumed. If it is assumed the yield stress varies with depth the horizontal load required is significantly reduced (≲2.5kbar). The magnitude of the horizontal load cannot be determined with certainty, however, since it is not known how the yield stress may vary with depth. The elastic-plastic models examined all required significant differences (∼1.0kbar) in the horizontal load along the Izu-Bonin and Mariana trenches. These differences, which reach a maximum between the northern Izu-Bonin and northern Mariana trenches, appear to correlate with changes in the pattern of seismicity and tectonics landward of these trenches.
A data modeling framework for the performance analysis of sequential and parallel software

Software Performance Engineering (SPE) is a modeling methodology that incorporates both functional and performance requirements into the development of high-performance, parallel, distributed, or real-time software. To aide SPE in achieving a framework suitable for modeling performance data, we present a data modeling framework that extends the object-oriented paradigm with modeling constructs necessary to represent semantics present in performance models. Two examples of semantic constructs required by the computation structure model which are presented in this paper include the temporal and alternate relationships. Temporal relationships are those that relate events by time, that is, sequence or concurrency. Alternate relationships are those that relate events by the result of a condition. The concomitance of these modeling constructs makes the object-oriented paradigm a more robust, complete, and comprehensive data model for supporting advanced applications like performance modeling.
Working Memory and Specific Language Impairment: An Update on the Relation and Perspectives on Assessment and Treatment

Purpose Children with specific language impairment (SLI) demonstrate significant language impairments despite normal-range hearing and nonverbal IQ. Many of these children also show marked deficits...
Biosynthesis and post-translational cleavage of vaccinia virus structural protein VP8.

Abstract We have obtained antiserum against highly purified vaccinia virus structural protein VP8, a major DNA binding protein present in the viral core particle. The antiserum has been used to monitor the course of the biosynthesis of this protein. The protein can first be detected in extracts of infected cells at 4 hr postinfection (p.i.). Its synthesis increases significantly at 5 hr p.i. and is maintained at about the same level up to 11 hr. The requirement of viral DNA replication for VP8 synthesis indicates that it is a viral late protein. This protein is synthesized in the form of a 28-kDa precursor, which is then processed to a 25-kDa product. The half-life of the precursor is about 2 hr. Comparing the N-terminal amino acid sequence of this purified protein with those derived from the published DNA sequence of the vaccinia viral genome [ J. P. Weir and B. Moss (1984) J. Virol. 51, 662–669], it is found that VP8 maps to theHindIII L fragment of the viral genome. The cleavage site at which processing takes place lies between amino acids 32 (Gly) and 33 (Ala) from the N-terminal end of the precursor.
Paternal occupational classification and the maturation of articulation

(1956). Paternal occupational classification and the maturation of articulation. Speech Monographs: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 75-77.