cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Melatonin Receptor Agonist-Induced Reduction of SNP-Released Nitric Oxide and cGMP Production in Isolated Human Non-pigmented Ciliary Epithelial Cells

Abstract The present study was designed to determine the effects of melatonin and its receptor agonists on SNP-released nitric oxide (NO) and cGMP production in aqueous humor producing cells of the ciliary body because these effects may play a role in melatonin receptor-mediated regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP). NO release protocols were carried out using human non-pigmented ciliary epithelial (hNPCE) cells treated in dye free DMEM containing l -arginine (10 −3 M). The cGMP experimental protocols were performed using dye free DMEM containing 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX, 10 −4 M). The effects of varying concentrations (10 −13 , 10 −11 , 10 −9 , 10 −7 , and 10 −5 M) of melatonin, 5-MCA-NAT (putative MT 3 agonist), N-butanoyl-2-(2-methoxy-6H-isoindolo[2, 1-a]indol-11-yl)ethanamine (IIK7; selective MT 2 agonist) or S-27633-1 (selective MT 1 agonist) on sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-released NO or cGMP production were determined in separate experiments. NO and cGMP levels were measured using a colorimetric assay or enzyme immunoassay (EIA), respectively. Melatonin receptor selectivity was evaluated using luzindole (LUZ; nonselective MT 1 /MT 2 antagonist) or 4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetralin (4P-PDOT; selective MT 2 antagonist). Melatonin, 5-MCA-NAT, and IIK7 all caused concentration-dependent reduction of SNP-released NO and cGMP production. The inhibitory actions of melatonin, 5-MCA-NAT and IIK7 were either completely blocked at 10 −13 , 10 −11 , and 10 −9 M concentrations of the agonists or partially at 10 −7 and 10 −5 M in the presence of luzindole or 4P-PDOT. Results from this study suggest that melatonin and its analogs, 5-MCA-NAT and IIK7 inhibit SNP-released NO and cGMP production via activation of MT 2 receptors in human NPCE cells. These actions may play a role in melatonin agonist-induced regulation of aqueous humor secretion and IOP.
THE MOLECULAR ORGANIZATION OF CHLOROPLAST MEMBRANES

The presence of subunits in chloroplast membranes is suggested by polarization, fluorescence, and X-ray studies. Subunits (quantasomes) may be observed in the electron microscope on dried shadowed membranes and in replicas of membranes produced by the freezeetching technique. Regular subunits are also observed with the electron microscope in thin sections of chloroplast membranes. Chemical considerations suggest that many membranes are composed of lipoprotein subunits. Thin sections reveal two types of chloroplast membranes, the fret membranes composed of one layer of subunits, and the partitions composed of two layers of subunits. Chloroplast membranes consist of about 451% protein and 551% lipid. Some 80% of the lipids are the highly surfactant glycolipids. In this paper the subunits are visualized as assymetric lipoproteins, probably having a protein core surrounded by componeilts determined by the nature and environment of the membrane. Since the stroma, fret channels, and loculi contain aqueous materials, it is further postulated that the membranes bordering these spaces bind the highly surfactant glycolipids. The region between the two rows of subunits in the partition appears to be highly hydrophobic, rich in chlorophyll, and low in glycolipids. Some chlorophyll also may occur within the subunits both in the partitions an(d in the fret membranes. Since four subunits appear to comprise a quantasome, at least two types of forces, inter- and intra-quantasome forces, bind the subunits together in sheets. Chloroplast membranes thus differ from a "unit membrane" in two important respects: (1) they must be an aggregate of globular subunits, and (2) the lipoprotein subunits consist of a protein matrix which binds the chlorophylls and lipids by hydcrophobic association with their hydrocarbon moieties.
Understanding HIV infection through dynamical modelling: Why preventative vaccines, therapeutic vaccines, and IL-2 therapy are not working

Analyzing rare viral load data of an HIV-infected patient in the acute infection stage with a novel dynamical model analysis suggests that the failure to clear the infection is primarily caused by a failure of the cellular arm of the immune system to destroy productively infected CD4 + cells at a sufficient rate. This failure of the cellular arm is traceable to the existence of a pool of productively infected CD4 + cells whose half-lives in vivo are relatively long so that their numbers are easily replaced by newly infected, similarly relatively long-lived, CD4 + cells. One compartment of this pool consists of CD4 + Natural Killer cells that are HIV-1 infectable, have higher survival half-lives than typically infected CD4 + T cells, and are unaffected by highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). This pool cannot be cleared by the immune system, primed by vaccines and/or IL-2 or not, and is responsible for the observed, characteristic, plateauing of the viral density curve at the viral set-point. Thus, this pool of productively infected, relatively long-lived CD4 + cells as well as the well-known pool of latently infected, still longer lived CD4 + memory T cells make clearance of HIV infection impossible. Although HAART has proven effective in controlling HIV infection for a time, it has not led to clearance or a cure of the disease. Because of viral mutation, the efficacy of HAART in controlling the viral load eventually wanes and the infection rebounds. Thus, HAART is not effective against all strains of HIV. In addition to the CD4 + molecule, a virulent virion needs at least one of a handful of co-receptor molecules (e.g. CCR5 and CXCR4 cell surface receptors) to be present on a target cell in order to infect it. However, the CD4 + cells in about 1% of Caucasians lack any of these co-receptor molecules and are, therefore, immune to HIV infection. If a safe and effective fusion blocker could be discovered that acts against every co-receptor molecule that HIV-1 uses to infect CD4 + cells, then the major deficiencies of HAART would be overcome. Such a blocker would reduce the value of the infectivity of target cells to zero (or close to it). Because the number of these co-receptor molecules is small, it should be easier to find such a fusion blocker than it is to discover a HAART therapy that would be effective against all possible strains of HIV. If such a fusion blocker could be discovered, then administered as a prophylactic to uninfected people engaged in high-risk behavior would prevent infection and administered to those already infected with HIV would prevent the transition to AIDS.
Desperate appliances: a short review of therapies for fulminant hepatic failure

In this work, we review the current status of accepted and experimental therapies for fulminant hepatic failure, we attempt to estimate chances of success and outline a protocol by which such therapies might be tested.
PAHs and the Chemistry of the ISM

This review describes five categories of the reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, including photochemistry, electron attachment/detachment, recombination processes, radical reactions, and ion-neutral chemistry. For each class of reaction, an overview of the studies and their general results are presented, as well as references to the literature. The thermochemistry of PAHs and relevant species is described, including bond dissociation energies, ionization energies, electron affinities, basicities, acidities, and the interrelationships of these quantities. Modeling of the chemistry of PAHs and their ions is discussed for both diffuse and dark clouds. The role of PAH cations in the catalytic formation of molecular hydrogen is considered. Finally, this review concludes with a discussion of current challenges in the chemical characterization of PAHs, and a perspective for future studies.
Internet-based behavioral change and psychosocial care for patients with cardiovascular disease: A review of cardiac disease-specific applications

Background Web-based interventions (WBIs) seem to be an efficacious method of addressing behavioral and psychosocial maladjustment among patients with chronic illness (eg, diabetes), behavioral concerns (eg, smoking cessation), and psychologic maladjustment (eg, panic disorder). Cardiology seems particularly well suited to the application of WBIs given its strong association with behavioral (eg, lifestyle) and cognitive (eg, stress and coping) factors. To date, few studies have been published that explore the use of WBIs on psychosocial and quality of life variables among populations with cardiac disease. Objective The purpose of this study is to review the use of WBIs in patients with cardiovascular disease to date, and to provide recommendations as to how future WBIs can be developed specifically to meet the needs of different populations with heart disease (eg, recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators, patients with congestive heart failure, and patients with congenital heart disease). Conclusions We conclude that, although limitations exist, WBIs are a reasonable modus of improving patient outcomes.
The impact of renal transplantation on survival in hepatitis C-positive end-stage renal disease patients

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in end-stage renal failure patients. It is not known whether the prognosis of HCV-positive patients differs depending on whether they remain on dialysis or receive a kidney transplant. To address this question, we compared the outcomes of HCV-positive renal transplant recipients and HCV-positive patients who were acceptable candidates but had not yet received transplants. We reviewed all patients referred to our institution for renal transplantation evaluation between January 1992 and December 1995. Anti-HCV antibody was detected in 151 of 2,053 (7.4%) patients. HCV-positive patients were more often male (74% v 56%; P < 0.0001), black (68% v 49%; P = 0.001), unemployed (87% v 74%; P = 0.0004), on dialysis (88% v 78%; P = 0.0026), and on dialysis longer (30 +/- 44 months v 13 +/- 23 months; P = 0.0001) than HCV-negative patients. We determined the outcomes of HCV-positive patients who had at least 2 years' follow-up. Thirty-three HCV-positive patients received kidney transplants (group I); 25 HCV-positive patients were acceptable transplant candidates but had not yet received an allograft (group II). Group I and II HCV-positive patients were similar with respect to age, race, duration of dialysis, cause of renal failure, prevalence of heart disease, and results of liver function tests. Survival was significantly decreased in group II versus group I (P = 0.043). Our study showed that HCV-positive renal transplant recipients had a better survival than similar HCV-positive patients awaiting transplantation.
Proteasome Activity is Reduced at the end of Pregnancy and Fully Restored to Non-Pregnant Levels One Week Postpartum in the Murine Hear

The proteasome is the major protein degradation system in the heart, and its activity has been shown to be affected during pathological cardiac diseases. Proteasome dysfunction in the hypertrophic heart leads to accumulation of abnormal proteins and has been proposed to contribute to the transition to heart failure. Pregnancy places an increased demand on the healthy female's heart resulting in ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction as a result of volume overload and increased stretch and force demand. Since the molecular signature of pregnancy-related heart hypertrophy differs significantly from that of pathological hypertrophy, we investigated if the proteasome proteolytic pathway is affected by pregnancy in the mouse heart. We measured the transcripts and protein levels of proteasome subunits as well as proteasome activity in four groups of female mouse hearts: i) non pregnant (NP) at diestrus stage, ii) late pregnant (LP), iii) one day post-partum (PP1) and iv) 7 days post-partum (PP7). Real Time PCR showed that the transcript levels of RPN2 and RPT4 (subunits of 19S) as well as β2 and α7 (subunits of 20S) did not change with pregnancy. Western blot analysis of heart lysates also revealed no significant differences in the expression levels of α7 (a subunit of 20S), RPN2 and RPT4 (subunits of 19S) subunits in the four groups mentioned above. The β1 (caspase-like) and β2 (trypsin-like) activities of the proteasome were significantly decreased in LP. The β5 (chymotrypsin-like) activity was significantly decreased 1 day post-partum. Interestingly, all three proteolytic activities of the proteasome were restored to normal levels 7 days post-partum. These results suggest that the proteasome proteolytic pathway is affected by pregnancy and is restored to NP levels soon after delivery.
The variational iteration method: A reliable analytic tool for solving linear and nonlinear wave equations

In this work, He's variational iteration method (VIM) is used for analytic treatment of the linear and the nonlinear wave equations in bounded and unbounded domains. Wave-like equations are also investigated. The method is capable of reducing the size of calculation and easily overcomes the difficulty of the perturbation technique or Adomian polynomials. The study highlights the power of the VIM method.
Power Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Varability in Sudden Cardiac Death: Comparison to Other Methods

Power spectrum analysis of heart rate variability is described and compared to four other reported methods, with respect to their efficacy as predictors of risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Approximate frequency domain representations were obtained for each. The underlying physiologic processes which may give rise to spectral components are considered. These methods were employed to analyze 24-h ambulatory ECG's of patient populations at different degrees of risk of SCD. Heart rate variability was found to be reduced in cardiac patients known to be at increased risk of SCD, when compared to those not at increased risk. These differences were greatest in power spectral methods. Thus, power spectrum analysis appears to be more effective than the other methods in segregating these populations, suggesting that this method may be useful in categorizing cardiac patients according to risk of sudden cardiac death.
Long-term outcome of physiologic VDD pacing versus non-physiologic VVI pacing in dogs with high-grade atrioventricular block.

Abstract Objective To compare the long-term outcome associated with physiologic VDD and non-physiologic VVI or VVIR pacing in dogs with high-grade atrioventricular block. Animals Forty-nine paced dogs with high-grade atrioventricular block were included. Methods Retrospective review of medical records, thoracic radiographs and echocardiograms for all dogs. Patient owners and referring veterinarians were contacted for survival times and a satisfaction questionnaire was submitted to the owners. Survival times, complication rates, resolution of clinical signs, and owner satisfaction were compared between the pacing modalities. Results A single lead VDD pacemaker was implanted in 19 dogs (39%) whereas 30 dogs (61%) were treated with VVI pacing. The median survival time for all dogs post-pacemaker implantation was 24.5 months. Survival time was significantly decreased in dogs that were older at the time of presentation or that presented with ventricular tachycardia or reduced left ventricular fractional shortening. Median survival times after implantation were not significantly different between pacing modalities ( P = 0.29). Major complication rates were 11% within the VDD group and 20% within the VVI group and were not significantly different ( P = 0.46). Minor complications were significantly higher within the VDD group than within the VVI group (47% versus 7% respectively; P Conclusions No long-term clinical benefit of VDD over VVI pacing could be identified in the present study.
ENHANCED DIURETIC EFFECT OF LASIX AFTER PRIMING WITH THEOPHYLLINE IN EDEMATOUS BABIES ON ECMO: A RANDOMIZED, BLINDED STUDY. † 952

Purpose: Recovery from pulmonary edema and anasarca in neonates on ECMO often requires induced diuresis. To determine whether pretreatment with theophylline (T) enhances the diuretic response to Lasix (L), we compared baseline urine volume (UV) with UV after either placebo (P) and L, or after T and L.
Iraq: Economic consequences of the 1991 Gulf war and future outlook

(1992). Iraq: Economic consequences of the 1991 Gulf war and future outlook. Third World Quarterly: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 335-352.
In-service reliability assessment and top-down approach provides alternative reliability prediction method

The desire to develop a realistic mean-time-between-failure (MTBF), mean-time-to-failure (MTTF), or failure rate prediction method, which doesn't assume that only piece part faults cause system failures, has led to a new methodology involving in-service reliability assessment and a top-down approach. This methodology reduces uncertainty in the reliability predictions by relying primarily on line replaceable units (LRUs) field failure data history of in-service LRU designs with verified field performance that are similar in hardware and function to new LRU designs. Experience demonstrates that this new method as applied to hardware used in the commercial avionics industry reflects a high degree of accuracy on the MTBF prediction process applied to the new LRU designs. The Honeywell In-Service Reliability Assessment Program (HIRAP) method is an in-service reliability assessment process and top-down approach. HIRAP was developed for the purpose of predicting or assessing "in-use" reliability as well as a circuit design comparison measure in design trade studies. The HIRAP methodology includes an assessment of end item field experience, a top-down prediction approach, a comparison of fielded systems to new designs, and an application of algorithms to ascertain the MTBF of a new design, when there is some degree of similarity to predecessor designs in-service. The HIRAP methodology is described in this paper.
Dryopithecus africanus forelimb

Abstract An alternative to recent interpretations of locomotor and postural behaviour in Dryopithecus (Proconsul) africanus as characteristic of “brachiating” or “knuckle-walking” adaptations is suggested. Analysis of the available joint complexes of the D. africanus upper limb and consideration of criteria employed by some researchers demonstrate that reconstruction of positional behaviour in Miocene Hominoidea is extremely speculative. However, the direction and range of movement within the elbow and wrist complexes of D. africanus can be defined with reference to available articular surfaces. Movement capabilities were apparently similar to those of quadrupedal, palmigrade primates.
Developmental changes in RNA polymerase II in bovine oocytes, early embryos, and effect of α-amanitin on embryo development

Development of mammalian early embryos relies on stored maternal messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that have been synthesized during oogenesis until embryonic genome activation. Although embryonic genome acti vation in bovine embryos has been proposed to start at the late 4-cell stage, recent evidences suggest that embryonic genome activation starts earlier than the 4-cell stage, and molecular details of this event are not known. RNA polymerase II in eukaryotes is responsible for transcription of mRNA and most of the small nuclear RNAs. The unphosphorylated form of RNA polymerase II (IIA) has been shown to function in transcriptional initiation, and the hyperphosphorylated form (IIO) functions in translational elongation and mRNA splicing. In this study, we examined the changes in the amount of RNA polymerase IIA by immunoblotting in immature oocytes; mature oocytes; and 2-, 4- and 8-cell bovine embryos. We also examined the levels of IIO and the multiple intermediately phosphorylated form in the same oocytes and embryos. The IIA reached the highest level at the 2-cell stage and decreased gradually at the 4- and 8-cell stages, and IIO was at very low levels in mature oocytes and 2-cell stage embryos and was not detectable at later stages. The multiple intermediately phosphorylated form was present at the highest level in mature oocytes and was detectable at the other stages. We demonstrate that RNA polymerase IIA, which is responsible for initiation of transcription, is present in oocytes and preimplantation embryos and reaches the highest levels in the 2-cell stage embryos. Inhibition of RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription during any of the first four embryonic cell cycles has detrimental effects on progression of embryonic development beyond the 16-cell stage, indicating the importance of early transcripts for continuation of development. The results indicate that expression of all the genes whose transcription is inhibited by alpha-amanitin is essential for embryo development.
Abdominal Auscultation in the Detection of Experimentally Induced Gastrointestinal Sand Accumulation

A blind study was designed to determine if abdominal auscultation is an effective method for detecting the presence of intestinal sand. Fifteen horses divided into two groups were used in the study. There were seven horses in Group 1 and eight horses in Group 2. All horses were auscultated and determined to be free of sand sounds before initiation of Trial 1. Group 1 horses were given 4.2 g/kg body weight of sand via nasogastric tube using carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as a suspending agent at 9.0 ml/kg body weight. Group 2 horses were given CMC only. Horses remained in the same group through all trials. A total of five trials, each lasting 24 hours, was performed. Dosing with sand and CMC or CMC alone was repeated at the beginning of each trial. Abdominal auscultation was performed on each of the 15 horses beginning on Trial 2 by an investigator with no knowledge of the grouping of the horses. The ventral abdomen was auscultated for 5 minutes at 7 hours and 17 hours after trial initiation. When a horse was considered positive for intestinal sand by auscultation, the horse was eliminated from future trials. On Trial 2, no horses were positive; on Trial 3, one horse; on Trial 4, two horses, and on Trial 5, four horses. Sounds considered characteristic for sand in the intestinal tract were eventually identified in all Group 1 horses. No horses in Group 2 were ever identified as having sounds characteristic for intestinal sand at any point during this investigation. (Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 1989; 3:12–14)
White matter microstructure is associated with cognitive control in children.

Cognitive control, which involves the ability to pay attention and suppress interference, is important for learning and achievement during childhood. The white matter tracts related to control during childhood are not well known. We examined the relationship between white matter microstructure and cognitive control in 61 children aged 7-9 years using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). This technique enables an in vivo characterization of microstructural properties of white matter based on properties of diffusion. Such properties include fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity, measures thought to reflect specific biological properties of white matter integrity. Our results suggest that children with higher estimates of white matter integrity in the corona radiata, superior longitudinal fasciculus, posterior thalamic radiation, and cerebral peduncle were more accurate during incongruent (> > >, -, --<--) trials of a task of cognitive control. Importantly, less interference during the task (i.e., incongruent and neutral difference scores) was associated with greater white matter microstructure in the posterior thalamic radiation and cerebral peduncle. Fiber tracts in a frontal-parietal-striatal-motor circuit seem to play a role in cognitive control in children.
A Health Belief Model Approach to Adolescents' Fertility Control: Some Pilot Program Findings

We report initial findings from a community-based intervention intended to strengthen unmarried teenagers' fertility control behaviors (i.e., abstinence or consistent contraceptive usage). The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used as a conceptual framework for developing curriculum materials and for evaluating a 15-hour educational program targeted at 13- to 17-year-olds of both genders. Interview data pertaining to sexual and contraceptive perceptions, knowledge, and behaviors were collected three times in a no-control, short-term, longitudinal study design: (1) just before; (2) immediately after; and (3) three to six months following the intervention. Dependent variables of major interest were changes in perceptions, knowledge, and self-reported fertility control behaviors. Based on data from the 120 teenagers who completed the followup (80% of those completing the intervention), we found: (1) consistent contraceptive usage increased significantly; (2) changes in HBM-based contraceptive perceptions and sexual knowledge at immediate post-testing were predictive of increases in contraceptive usage at longer followup; and (3) the majority (62%) remained abstinent from pre-intervention to followup. These findings, study limitations, and suggestions for a future controlled study are then discussed.
Multi-class percentile user equilibrium with flow-dependent stochasticity

Travelers often reserve a buffer time for trips sensitive to arrival time in order to hedge against the uncertainties in a transportation system. To model the effects of such behavior, travelers are assumed to choose routes to minimize the percentile travel time, i.e. the travel time budget that ensures their preferred probability of on-time arrival; in doing so, they drive the system to a percentile user equilibrium (UE), which can be viewed as an extension of the classic Wardrop equilibrium. The stochasticity in the supply of transportation are incorporated by modeling the service flow rate of each road segment as a random variable. Such stochasticity is flow-dependent in the sense that the probability density functions of these random variables, from which the distribution of link travel time are constructed, are specified endogenously with flow-dependent parameters. The percentile route travel time, obtained by directly convolving the link travel time distributions in this paper, is not available in closed form in general and has to be numerically evaluated. To reveal their structural properties, percentile UE solutions are examined in special cases and verified with numerical results. For the general multi-class percentile UE traffic assignment problem, a variational inequality formulation is given and solved using a route-based algorithm. The algorithm makes use of the diagonal elements in the Jacobian of percentile route travel time, which is approximated through recursive convolution. Preliminary numerical experiments indicate that the algorithm is able to achieve highly precise equilibrium solutions.
Thoracolumbar burst fractures. The clinical efficacy and outcome of nonoperative management.

Abstract There continues to be considerable controversy regarding the management of thoracolumbar burst fractures. Most feel that failure of the middle osteoligamentous complex, particularly with retropulsion of fragments into the spinal canal, is an indication for operative management. Others advocate postural reduction and prolonged bedrest for such injuries. The purpose of this study was to 1) review the clinical outcome and efficacy of closed management of thoracolumbar burst fractures; and 2) quantify what, if any, remodeling occurs in the bony canal as measured by serial CT. Forty-one patients who presented with a burst fracture of the thoracolumbar spine without neurologic deficit were reviewed clinically and radiographically following nonoperative management. At injury, canal compromise averaged 37% (range, 16-66%); 26 patients had at least 30% canal compromise. During treatment, one patient developed neurologic deterioration that prompted surgery; all other patients remained neurologically intact. At average follow-up of 2 years, an overall outcome evaluation indicated that 49% of the patients had excellent outcomes relative to pain and function; 17%, good; 22%, fair; and 12%, poor. Approximately 90% of the patients had a satisfactory work status relative to factors associated with their burst fracture. Serial roentgenograms documented significant progression in body collapse, which averaged 8% (P < 0.0001) from injury to follow-up. On the other hand, serial CTs documented significant improvement from injury to follow-up for canal compromise and midsagittal diameter. Average improvements in canal compromise and midsagittal diameter were 22% (P < 0.0001) and 11% (P < 0.0001), respectively. Only three patients had canal compromise greater than 30%, no patients had canal compromise greater than 40%, and no patients experienced canal area deterioration over time. On average, nearly two-thirds of the fragment occluding the canal resorbed, with most remodeling complete within one year. For patients with burst fractures presenting neurologically intact, we obtained the following findings: 1) nonoperative management yields acceptable results; 2) following nonoperative management, bony deformity (i.e., kyphosis and body collapse) progresses marginally relative to the rate of canal area remodeling; 3) incidence of subsequent neurologic deficits is quite low; and 4) initial radiographic severity of injury or residual deformity following closed management does not correlate with symptoms at follow-up. This pattern of results suggests nonoperative management as the preferred treatment in these circumstances.
Multi-directional strength and force envelope of the index finger

Abstract Objective. The purpose of this study was to biomechanically evaluate the motor function of the index finger based on multi-directional strengths. Design. An experimental apparatus was developed to measure force production of a digit at various points of force application along the digit and in any direction of force application within the transverse plane of the longitudinal axis of the digit. Background. Most existing tests of hand motor function are subjective, semiquantitative, and/or non-specific. Methods. Eight normal subjects with asymptomatic hands were tested. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction forces were measured at the middle of the proximal phalanx of the index finger in 16 directions that were evenly distributed within 360°. Results. The highest force, 110.7 (SD 9.0) N, was generated in flexion, while the lowest force was generated in extension. The forces in extension, abduction and adduction were 37.6%, 97.9% and 79.3% of the flexion force, respectively. The area of the force envelope was 25 739 (SD 3688) N–N. The average percentage quadrant areas, relative to the total force envelope area, for extension–adduction, extension–abduction, flexion–abduction, and flexion–adduction were 12.9%, 20.4%, 36.0%, and 30.8%, respectively. The average percentage quadrant areas for extension, abduction, flexion, and adduction were 9.1%, 33.3%, 35.6%, and 22.1%, respectively. Conclusion. The current study provides an advanced level of quantification of hand motor function. Relevance The methods may be used as a basis to detect changes in the motor function resulting from pathological conditions, disease progression, as well as rehabilitation and treatment of these disorders.
The American alligator and concern for visitors at Brazos Bend State Park.

Information needed for the planning and development of facilities for visitors' use at Brazos Bend State Park included the activities of the American alligators (Alligator mississipiensis) in the park. Estimates of the number of alligators in the park were based on day-and night-time counts. These estimates were significantly different from one another, and day counts were highly correlated with night counts. Alligator observability indices demonstrated how observable the alligators were in different lakes. The number of large alligators in the park is too big for a park intended for high-intensity human use. Culling of upper size-class alligators might result in negative ecological chains of reaction. Removal, from time to time, of alligators that demonstrate aggressive nature or signs of habituation is suggested as an alternative strategy.
A modified Pixel Purity Index method for hyperspectral images

This paper discusses issues with the Pixel Purity Index (PPI) method, which is a currently popular way to find endmembers in hyperspectral images. Due to randomness of PPI, it does not produce an entirely uniform set of directions. Consequently, some directions are favored in the space of pixel vectors, resulting in biased endmember identification. To overcome this difficulty, we propose a new method of construction with non-random uniform directions, which results in a more balanced identification of endmembers. Using a family of artificial examples, we show conditions under which the new method outperforms the classic PPI. In all scenarios, the new method is at least as good as the classic PPI.
Quantitative characterization of quantum dot-labeled lambda phage for Escherichia coli detection †‡§

We characterize CdSe/ZnS quantum dot (QD) binding to genetically modified bacteriophage as a model for bacterial detection. Interactions among QDs, lambda (lambda) phage, and Escherichia coli are examined by several cross-validated methods. Flow and image-based cytometry clarify fluorescent labeling of bacteria, with image-based cytometry additionally reporting the number of decorated phage bound to cells. Transmission electron microscopy, image-based cytometry, and electrospray differential mobility analysis allow quantization of QDs attached to each phage (4-17 QDs) and show that lambda phage used in this study exhibits enhanced QD binding to the capsid by nearly a factor of four compared to bacteriophage T7. Additionally, the characterization methodology presented can be applied to the quantitative characterization of other fluorescent nanocrystal-biological conjugates.
Non-linear compensation control of a manipulator tip on a flexible body

Abstract The objective of this paper is to apply the compensation method to control the tip position of a rigid manipulator on a class of main flexible uniform beams. Here, it is proposed to add a compensator at the connection joint between the manipulator and the beam, so that the manipulator can be rotated and also programmed to change its length during the period of the two-dimensional system maneuvers. The non-linear open-loop compensation control law for the space manipulator presented here is extended from the concept of linear compensation control. The exact compensatory correction matches both the linear and non-linear range of system maneuvers. The control law of the system is synthesized based on linear quadratic regulator techniques, in which the inertial torque and force generated by the compensator are considered. The significant results of numerical simulations show that the tip co-ordinates of the manipulator can be made to very closely follow the rigid beam motion which is assumed a desired motion, and that the tip vibration can be successfully suppressed.
Foreward to special issue on health analytics.

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Failure Analysis on Tee Joint Crack of Subcritical Power Station Boiler Platen Superheater Header

Failure cause analysis was carried out on tee joint crack of boiler platen superheater header (12Cr1MoV) of subcritical power station applying microanalysis, mechanical properties test, chemical composition analysis, metallography examination and SEM observation etc. Results indicated that the tee joint crack originated at the original defects, connected with reheat cracks during propagation and led to leakage finally. The improper structure, the original welding defects, overhigh welding heat input, and excessive welding residual stress resulted in the leakage failure.
Regulation of photosynthate partitioning into starch in soybean leaves : response to natural daylight.

Studies conducted in controlled environments indicate that daylength affects the proportion of photosynthate stored in leaves as starch or sucrose. To examine the response of partitioning to natural daylight, soybeans (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv Williams) were grown at 12 different times between May and November in a constant temperature greenhouse without supplemental lighting. Plants were transferred from the greenhouse to a controlled environment chamber at the end of civil twilight at a set developmental stage (expanding seventh trifoliolate leaf, counting acropetally). Net photosynthesis and the accumulation of starch and sugar in fully expanded fourth trifoliolate leaves were determined the following day under standard conditions in the chamber (lights-on synchronized with sunrise). Photosynthesis on a leaf area basis decreased about 10% between midsummer and early autumn. Leaf soluble sugar accumulation was low at all harvests. However, a twofold increase in photosynthate partitioning into starch occurred over the same time period, resulting in an 80% increase in absolute starch accumulation rate. Starch was responsible for about 78% of the increase in leaf dry matter during the light at all harvests, indicating that starch accumulation as affected by prior daylight conditions will alter export of photosynthate during the light period. Photosynthate partitioning into starch was linearly correlated with daylength at harvest, prior average peak solar irradiance, and other parameters that correlated with daylength and solar radiation such as harvested top dry matter. The relation between growth and seasonal changes in daylight (including daylength, irradiance, and light integral) are discussed in relation to photosynthate partitioning under field conditions.
The Latitude Dependence of the Variance of Zonally Averaged Quantities

Geometric characteristics of the spherical earth are shown to be responsible for the increase of variance with latitude of zonally averaged meteorological statistics. An analytic model is constructed to display the effect of a spherical geometry on zonal averages, employing a sphere labeled with radial unit vectors in a real, stochastic field expanded in complex spherical harmonics. The variance of a zonally averaged field is found to be expressible in terms of the spectrum of the vector field of the spherical harmonics. A maximum variance is then located at the poles, and the ratio of the variance to the zonally averaged grid-point variance, weighted by the cosine of the latitude, yields the zonal correlation typical of the latitude. An example is provided for the 500 mb level in the Northern Hemisphere compared to 15 years of data. Variance is determined to increase north of 60 deg latitude.
Collaborative testing and mixed results

Abstract The topic of collaborative testing has received attention in the literature recently. There has been a wide range of findings from these studies. This study focused on the use of collaborative testing as an educational strategy. The results of the study were mixed. The study identified that if a student passed more than 1 course with collaborative testing points, the chances of success in the program were greatly diminished. The importance of this article is to provide insight into collaborative testing as an educational strategy and offer information on its use.
Isolated pulmonary valve infective endocarditis in a middle aged man caused by Candida albicans: a case report.

Background Pulmonary valve endocarditis without the involvement of other valves represents 1.5-2% of all cases of infective endocarditis. Isolated pulmonary valve endocarditis caused by Candida is extremely rare with only one reported case in the literature and none reported in the United States. Guidelines for management of Candida endocarditis recommend a combination of medical and surgical therapy.
SU-E-I-50: The ACR CT Dose Index Registry: Implementation Challenges and Preliminary Data

Purpose: To successfully register our institution into the American College of Ragiology (ACR) CTDose Index Registry (DIR), to discuss the technical and implementation challenges of doing so, and to review preliminary results. Methods: TRIAD is the American College of Radiology Imaging Network's (ACRIN) image acquisition and management software, with the purpose of receiving and then transmitting DICOM structured dose report files from institutional CT scanners around the country. TRIAD was installed onto a virtual machine server at our institution so that anonymized and encrypted DICOM structured dose report files from our 6 CT scanners could be sent to the TRIAD Application Server at ACR. Doing so required collaboration between ACR and IT, PACS personnel and the physicist on site. Implementation involved several challenges, such as software installation and data transmission consistency problems. Since numerous institutions are involved, the ACR required an exam mapping process via the Radlex playbook to unify the protocol classification. These challenges have been overcome and data is being successfully transmitted to and analyzed by the ACR. Results: The first report comparing dose data (CTDI and DLP by examination and by scan) between our site and others around the region and country was made available recently. For each exam, the report includes boxplots and histogram data for a variety of standard protocols. For example, for a CT head exam, our median CTDIvol and DLP were 44 mGy and 736 mGy‐cm compared with 64 mGy and 844 mGy‐cm respectively, for all other facilities registered in the DIR. Conclusions: The ACR CT DIR registry is a useful tool for dosedata mining and will eventually establish national benchmarks for CTdose indices. Our experience will allow others to anticipate these challenges and have potential solutions available for when they do arise.
Network Associations and Professional Growth Among Engineers From India and China in Silicon Valley

The economic benefits attributed by the literature to ethnic networks include helping their members cope with social exclusion, mainstreaming, facilitating entrepreneurship, and providing access to transnational opportunities. In this article, the authors explore the benefits provided by participation in ethnic professional associations formed by Indian and Chinese engineers in Silicon Valley. We find that the ethnic professional associations offer several of these economic benefits. These benefits are complementary to the benefits from other ethnic ties and from nonethnic ties.
A new paper chromatographic system for the resolution of 17-ketosteroids

Summary A paper partition chromatographic system for the resolution of 17-ketosteroids is described, which employs n -heptane as the mobile phase and dimethyl sulfoxide as the stationary phase. This system has several advantages over the Zaffaroni-types in current use, namely a development time of 2.5–24 hours for 17-ketosteroids, it affords excellent resolution, and the solvents used do not interfere with the characterization tests.
Initial Report of the Working Group on Frontiers in Perioperative Myocardial Management

An informal working group on perioperative myocardial management has been formed, which is predominantly composed of cardiac surgeons and anesthesiologists. The first meeting was introduced with a reminder that perioperative ischemia is still an important component of cardiac operations when sophisticated tools are used to monitor its presence and physiological effects. Moreover, perioperative ischemia is associated with adverse outcomes in many instances. The discussion touched upon generalized problems that included leukocyte activation, oxidant stress, warm cardioplegia, warm heart surgery, echocardiographic assessment of coronary blood flow, vascular endothelial responses to cardiac operations and cardiopulmonary bypass, myocardial stunning, substrate enhancement of cardioplegic solutions, tools for assessing perioperative ventricular performance, and detection of perioperative myocardial ischemia. It was agreed that a highly focused program on the agenda of myocardial stunning would be the topic for the next meeting of the group, with the results to be published in a future issue.
Big data challenges in railway engineering

As Big Data becomes part of railroad data analysis, there are many challenges which need to be addressed by the railway industry. This extended abstract highlights some of the challenges from specific examples in railway engineering. This work does not present the challenges of dealing with Big Data in general which is beyond the scope of this paper. The examples provided in this extended abstract cover both the engineering and the management of railroad applications.
Nck Function in Tyrosine Kinase Signaling to the Actin Cytoskeleton

Tyrosine kinase signaling leads to the post-translational modification of proteins and their binding partners. These modifications lead to the membrane recruitment of signaling proteins, promoting an increase in their local concentration, which results in a cellular response to the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues. Nck, an SH2/SH3 adaptor protein, functions in tyrosine kinase signaling by linking tyrosine phosphorylation on the membrane with binding partners, such as N-WASp, that function in facilitating actin nucleation and polymerization. Recent in vitro studies have demonstrated that N-WASp dimers bind to and activate N-WASp far more efficiently than individual N-WASp molecules. Because Nck has been shown to induce actin comet tail formation in an N-WASp dependent manner, we manipulate this molecular interaction to test the effect of N-WASp dimerization on actin polymerization. To manipulate the pathway, we vary the concentration of Nck within antibody-induced aggregates on the cellular surface and then use precise quantitative analysis of Nck density and induced actin polymerization to analyze the system. Using the Virtual Cell, we have built a comprehensive, quantitative actin cycle model. With this model we have tested 2 mathematical expressions for dimerized N-WASp activation of Arp2/3, which produce different experimentally testable predictions. These results demonstrate a nonlinear relationship between the density of Nck aggregates and actin polymerization and also demonstrate that a quadratic-based formula describing dimerized N-WASp activation of Arp2/3 most accurately predicts experimental observations. The combination of biochemical modeling and precise experimental manipulation and quantification provides unique insights into the relationship between the density of increased local concentrations of Nck and resulting localized actin polymerization. (Supported by NIH grants P41 RR013186 and U54 RR022232)