cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A fingerprint characteristic associated with the early prenatal environment

Fingerprints and fingertip ridge counts (RCs) have a significant genetic component. However, they also reflect the nongenetic environment of early pregnancy, an important time window for tissue differentiation and organogenesis. Fingerprints are permanently configured before the 20th week of gestation, and each fingertip's RC is related to the growth and regression of its early fetal volar pads. Rostral and caudal aspects of the embryonic limb bud have different relations to somite segments and to morphogen-activator functions. We hypothesized, therefore, that early fetal circumstances would be associated with a contrast in RCs between the thumb (digit 1) and little finger (digit 5). We obtained RCs from the fingerprints of a sample of 658 Dutch adults identified through prenatal and delivery records of Dutch urban births occurring during 1943-1947, an historical era that included months of wartime disruption with a winter famine. We calculated the mean of left- and right-hand RC differences between digits 1 and 5 (Md15). The Md15 fluctuated in relation to the calendar season of the mother's last menstrual period, but only if the gestation occurred outside of the wartime disruption interval. If the gestation occurred during the disruption interval, the Md15 seasonal fluctuation was not evident. This finding suggests that parental environmental factors may influence the fingerprints of the offspring. Fingerprint RC differences observed in postnatal life may be useful in the study of metabolic or anatomic programming related to the early prenatal environment.
Do Pediatric Electrophysiologists Read Pre-Participation Screening Electrocardiograms More Accurately than General Pediatric Cardiologists?

Pre-participation electrocardiogram (ECG) screening of athletes is controversial. Pediatric electrophysiologists do not interpret screening ECGs more accurately than pediatric cardiologists with average number of correct ECG interpretations of 13.1-12.4 ( P = .14). Electrophysiologists ordered fewer follow-up tests and were more likely to give sports recommendations based on published guidelines.
Transcriptome alteration in the diabetic heart by rosiglitazone: implications for cardiovascular mortality.

Background Recently, the type 2 diabetes medication, rosiglitazone, has come under scrutiny for possibly increasing the risk of cardiac disease and death. To investigate the effects of rosiglitazone on the diabetic heart, we performed cardiac transcriptional profiling and imaging studies of a murine model of type 2 diabetes, the C57BL/KLS-leprdb/leprdb (db/db) mouse. Methods and Findings We compared cardiac gene expression profiles from three groups: untreated db/db mice, db/db mice after rosiglitazone treatment, and non-diabetic db/+ mice. Prior to sacrifice, we also performed cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and echocardiography. As expected, overall the db/db gene expression signature was markedly different from control, but to our surprise was not significantly reversed with rosiglitazone. In particular, we have uncovered a number of rosiglitazone modulated genes and pathways that may play a role in the pathophysiology of the increase in cardiac mortality as seen in several recent meta-analyses. Specifically, the cumulative upregulation of (1) a matrix metalloproteinase gene that has previously been implicated in plaque rupture, (2) potassium channel genes involved in membrane potential maintenance and action potential generation, and (3) sphingolipid and ceramide metabolism-related genes, together give cause for concern over rosiglitazone's safety. Lastly, in vivo imaging studies revealed minimal differences between rosiglitazone-treated and untreated db/db mouse hearts, indicating that rosiglitazone's effects on gene expression in the heart do not immediately turn into detectable gross functional changes. Conclusions This study maps the genomic expression patterns in the hearts of the db/db murine model of diabetes and illustrates the impact of rosiglitazone on these patterns. The db/db gene expression signature was markedly different from control, and was not reversed with rosiglitazone. A smaller number of unique and interesting changes in gene expression were noted with rosiglitazone treatment. Further study of these genes and molecular pathways will provide important insights into the cardiac decompensation associated with both diabetes and rosiglitazone treatment.
Self-adaptive task allocation and scheduling of meta-tasks in non-dedicated heterogeneous computing

The efforts to construct a national scale grid computing environment have brought unprecedented computing capacity and complexity. Exploiting this complex infrastructure requires efficient middleware to support the execution of distributed applications, which presents the challenge of how to schedule tasks in shared heterogeneous systems. Most existing scheduling systems are based on predetermined estimation of task completion time and resources availability. They may not provide appropriate scheduling if the underlying computing resources present an abnormal usage pattern during an application execution. For solving long-running applications in a large-scale grid environment, abnormal usage of some resource may not be uncommon. We have proposed the development of the Grid Harvest Service (GHS) performance evaluation and task scheduling system in our previous work. In this study, we present a novel dynamic self-adaptive scheduling algorithm and its implementation under GHS. Scheduling and rescheduling algorithms and mechanisms are carefully investigated. Experimental results show that, equipped with these new scheduling mechanisms, GHS outperforms existing systems considerably in scheduling large applications in a non-dedicated heterogeneous environment.
Bosons in a random potential: Evidence for new low energy excitations

Abstract We study the T = 0 critical properties of the superfluid-insulator transition in 2D hard core bose systems with disorder. Using quantum Monte Carlo simulations and finite size scaling on up to 64×64 size lattices we find the dynamical exponent z = 0.5 ± 0.05 and the compressibilityκ is finite at the transition. These conclusion differ from the existing scaling theory that argues for z = 2 based on a finite κ at the transition. We also find that in the presence of disorder, the boson model and the quantum rotor model are in different universality classes. Our results are suggestive of new low lying collective excitations in the disordered system that are modified from usual phonons. Such a conjecture is further supported by the anomalous temperature dependence of the specific heat deep within the superfluid phase which deviates from the expected C ν ∼ T 2 behavior for phonons.
Calculations of photoabsorption by atoms using a linear response method

We have made extensive calculations of photoabsorption by all neutral atoms from hydrogen to lawrencium for photon energies up to one kilovolt. Our method was the relativistic time-dependent local density approximation with the usual configuration average for open shells. The most important collective effects are included through an induced field. Expected features such as resonant photoemission and autionization are seen. Examples of the calculations will be shown. The computer program used is available from the Computer Physics Communications Program Library.
Two Tests for the Linearity of Sequential Machines

This paper describes two tests for the existence of a linear state assignment for binary input sequential machines. The first test is based on ``transfer sequences'' which map one stationary state of a machine onto another stationary state. It is shown that from a minimal transfer sequence of a machine one can read off directly a linear assignment of this machine if one exists. The second test uses ``ignorance'' computations by means of partitions and previously developed results about sequential machine structure.
Product Design: A Case Study of Slow-Release Carpet Deodorizers/Disinfectants

In this article, a recently published procedure for product design is applied to the design of carpet deodorizers/disinfectants and expanded to include multiple competitors. The procedure proposes ...
Censoring Eliogabalo in Seventeenth-Century Venice

Analysis of the opera Eliogabalo in its various incarnations, from the perspective of Venetian society and politics at the time, reveals a veiled story of censorship and dissimulation. The first version of the opera, set by Francesco Cavalli in 1667, was hastily abandoned in favor of a new treatment by Giovanni A. Boretti on a libretto by Aurelio Aureli, which managed to retain telling traces of its predecessor. The subsequent fate of this second version, variously rewritten and performed around Italy until 1687, confirms the ideological controversy that always seemed to surround this opera and the influence of theater owners and others over its content, providing an insight into the nature of Venetian operatic patronage.
Hospital operations and length of stay performance

Purpose – As hospital costs continue to rise, increasing attention is being paid to the way these organizations are and should be managed. This attention typically comes in the form of focus on costs of services, quality (often measured through mortality rates) and length of stay. Hospital management has a broad array of choices at their disposal to address these challenges. As service operations, hospitals present a significant opportunity to apply the many tools and techniques from the field of operations strategy to this important industry. The objective of this paper is to use the operations strategy framework to assess the relationship between a set of operational elements and hospital performance in terms of average length of stay (ALOS), so that hospital managers improve the effectiveness and efficiency of patient care of their hospitals.Design/methodology/approach – Using the structural and infrastructural operations strategy framework, this study examines the relationship between several strategi...
New information on cranial and dental features of the Triassic archosauriform reptile Euparkeria capensis

The course of the nasolacrimal duct, interdental plate morphology, and most details of tooth and denticle morphology have not previously been described in non–archosauriform reptilkes. Here I describe these details in the Triassic archosauriform Euparkeria capensis. The nasolacrimal canal opens orbitally via a pair of foramina between the lacrimal and prefrontal. The canal arches over the antorbital fenestra, as in archosaurs. The term ‘interdental unit’ is introduced for the unit composed of an interdental septum and its accompanying interdental plate. There is no demarcation between interdental plate and septum in E. capensis. The interdental units are heavily pitted on exposed surfaces. Like teeth, they are implanted in the dental groove and are separate from the surrounding bone and from each other. They are well positioned to serve as spacers between teeth, and to resist sagittal forces on teeth during prey capture. The teeth of E. capensis are labiolingually compressed, except for the nearly conical premaxillary teeth and mesialmost dentary tooth. Lateral teeth are serrated on mesial and distal keels. The denticles are low, rounded, and separated by grooves, and are slightly larger on the distal keel. Tooth morphology suggests carnivorous habits for Euparkeria.
Correspondence regarding Schwend and Gustafsson, “False positives in MALDI-TOF detection of ERβ in mitochondria”

Abstract Recently, Schwend and Gustafsson tried to use the MALDI-TOF methods to confirm one of the results reported by Yang et al., which provided definitive evidences to demonstrate the localization of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in the mitochondria of multiple cell types, using immunocytochemistry, immunoblot, and proteomic approaches. Analysis of the data with the MASCOT database algorithm provided no evidence for the presence of ERβ in the mouse live mitochondria, in which very low ERβ expression has been detected in their own report. On the other hand, our MALDI-TOF analysis using human heart mitochondrial protein has identified 7 and 8 sequences that could be potentially from ERβ and ERβ3, respectively, but not from ATP synthases. Further, none of the sequences identified by us as those of ERβ and ERβ3 shares m / z targeted by Schwend and Gustafsson in their measurements. Therefore, the claim by Gustafsson’s laboratory about false positives in MALDI-TOF detection of ERβ in mitochondria has no relevance to our report.
Physicians' perceptions of the value of prognostic models: the benefits and risks of prognostic confidence.

Background The communication of prognosis in end-of-life (EOL) care is a challenging task that is limited by prognostic uncertainty and physicians' lack of confidence in their prognostic estimates. Clinical prediction models (CPMs) are increasingly common evidence-based tools that may mitigate these problems and facilitate the communication and use of prognostic information in EOL care; however, little is known about physicians' perceptions of the value of these tools. Objective To explore physicians' perceptions of the value of CPMs in EOL care. Design Qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews which were analysed using a constant comparative method. Setting and participants Convenience sample of 17 attending physicians representing five different medical specialties at a single large tertiary care medical centre. Results Physicians perceived CPMs as having three main benefits in EOL care: (i) enhancing their prognostic confidence; (ii) increasing their prognostic authority; and (iii) enabling patient persuasion in circumstances of low prognostic and therapeutic uncertainty. However, physicians also perceived CPMs as having potential risks, which include producing emotional distress in patients and promoting prognostic overconfidence in EOL care. Discussion and conclusions Physicians perceive CPMs as a potentially valuable means of increasing their prognostic confidence, communication and explicit use of prognostic information in EOL care. However, physicians' perceptions of CPMs also indicate a need to establish broad and consistent implementation processes to engage patients in shared decision making in EOL care, to effectively communicate uncertainty in prognostic information and to help both patients and physicians manage uncertainty in EOL care decisions.
β1-Adrenergic and D1 Dopaminergic Receptors in Human Neurotumor Cells: Differences in Spare Receptors and Desensitization of Adenylyl Cyclase

Abstract Haman SK-N-MC neurotumor cells express both β 1 -adrenergic and D 1 dopaminergic receptors. Although there were sevenfold more β 1 than D 1 receptors, maximum stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity by isoproterenol was only threefold more than that by dopamine. We had shown previously that the pattern of agonist-mediated densensitization was different for the two receptors. To compare the efficiency of the two receptors to couple to the same adenylyl cyclase and to explore the possible role of spare receptors, the cells were exposed to N -ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ), which irreversibly alkylates and inactivates catecholamine receptors. Loss of receptor binding activity was dependent on the concentration of EEDQ, D 1 receptors being more sensitive to EEDQ than β 1 receptors with IC 50 values of 1 and 30 μ M , respectively. β 1 receptors were more sensitive to the irreversible β-adrenergic antagonist N 8 -bromoacetyl- N 1 -(3′-(4-indolyloxy)-2′-hydroxy-propyl)-[Z]-1,8-diamino- p -menthane (BIM) with an IC 50 of 1 n M . Inactivation of D 1 receptors parallelled the reduction in dopamine-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity without a shift in K act , indicating the absence of spare D 1 receptors in SK-N-MC cells. By contrast, there appeared to be spare β1 receptors as the K act shifted before any reduction in isoproterenol-stimulated activity occurred in EEDQ- or BIM-treated cells. Inactivation of 70% of the β 1 receptors resulted in only a 20% decrease in isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity, and the remaining β 1 receptors were as efficient as D 1 receptors in stimulating adenylyl cyclase. In addition, inactivation of the spare β 1 receptors did not alter the unique pattern of agonist-mediated desensitization. We conclude that human β 1 and D 1 receptors are equally efficient at stimulating adenylyl cyclase but differ in their mechanisms of agonist-mediated desensitization.
Mobility of an acoustic polaron at very low temperatures

Abstract The mobility of an electron interacting with acoustic phonons via deformation potential is calculated at very low temperatures (∼0.1 K). The Compton-like scattering is the dominant mechanism limiting the mobility. We study two models, one-dimensional and three-dimensional electrons interacting with three-dimensional phonons. In both cases the mobility diverges as T −8 when T →0.
Internal ureteral splints.

Abstract Indwelling silicone rubber ureteral splints introduced endoscopically provide a useful method in the management of patients with ureteral obstruction or injuries. These splints have been used in 19 patients with ureteral obstruction and in 1 patient with ureteral fistula. Results of ureteral splinting have been encouraging in 17 patients, with minimal number of complications. The splints have remained indwelling for more than one year in 9 patients and more than two years in 2 patients. This relatively conservative therapeutic measure is simple and effective.
Density intrusions with large relative thickness

Abstract Previous analyses of density intrusions indicate that only relatively thin intrusions are allowed, to satisfy a momentum balance at the current head. These constraints can be relaxed somewhat by various modifications to the basic theory, but are inconsistent with experimental observations indicating that intrusions occupying nearly the entire flow depth can be produced. An alternative theory of density current propagation does not possess these restrictions on intrusion layer thickness and provides a more satisfactory explanation of experimental observations. New experimental results are presented to corrborate this interpretation.
DNA Lesion Bypass Polymerases Open Up

Abstract Structures of catalytic fragments of two DNA lesion bypass DNA polymerases, yeast DNA polymerase η and an archeon DinB homolog, have recently been solved. These structures share several common architectural and structural features observed in other DNA polymerases, including a hand-like architecture with fingers, palm, and thumb subdomains. The new structures provide the first structural insights into DNA lesion bypass. The fingers and thumb are smaller than those in other DNA polymerases. Modeled substrates suggest that the fingers in the vicinity of the incoming nucleotide is closed, a conformation not previously observed for an unliganded polymerase. However, the template binding pocket appears to be more open, indicating that for DNA polymerase η, a covalently linked thymine-thymine dimer could be accommodated.
An object-oriented approach for modeling and simulation of crack growth in cyclically loaded structures

We present an object-oriented modeling frame for simulating crack propagation due to cyclic loadings. Central to the approach is that the crack propagates when a user-defined propagation criterion is fulfilled, i.e., the crack propagation rate is not prescribed but predicted. The approach utilizes the commercial finite element software package ABAQUS and its associated Python based scripting interface. The crack propagation is simulated by a generalized node release technique. If the propagation criteria are satisfied in the end of a cycle, the crack is allowed to propagate. The incremental crack growth is inferred from an iterative investigation of the propagation criteria. The propagation criteria are user-defined, and can be based on any parameter or parameter set that can be obtained from the simulations. We illustrate the developed modeling frame by two benchmark problems, where the propagation criterion is based on the dissipated energy in the vicinity of the crack tip.
Misuse of XmR quality control charts for common single parameter probability distributions

Individuals XmR control charts based on the normality assumption and a moving range estimate for a σ typically are used if data occur infrequently or rational subgroups are not obvious. Although often are advised as a simple robust omnibus chart for any (non-normal) data, this practice is not always advisable, especially for common single parameter distributions for which exact and equally simple methods exist or for “phase 1” start-up data of unknown stability. We investigate performance consequences when these charts are applied erroneously to binomial, Poisson, geometric, or exponential processes, using either 3-sigma or probability limits, often resulting in significantly compromised average run lengths due to over-fitting of both natural and unnatural variation via an in-fact non-existent second parameter (σ).
Making the Hard Choices Easy

In 1978 Laurence Tribe accomplished the seemingly impossible by publishing American Constitutional Law, a scholarly, if controversial, treatise on constitutional law. To say that such an undertaking is vastly more than a career for most constitutional law scholars does not even begin to capture the achievement. Operating on a theory that discretion is the better part of valor, even the acknowledged leaders of the profession have shied away from such a task as too big to handle. Now Tribe has written yet another book covering again the magnificent sweep of constitutional law. To find something comparable in constitutional law, those of us in the field must leave the law schools and go over to the political science departments and reencounter Edward Corwin who also wrote much but during far simpler times.
Immunofluorescence and electron microscopic investigations of DCPA-treated oat roots

Abstract Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy were used to investigate the effects of DCPA (dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate) on oat roots. Phragmoplast microtubule arrays were the most consistently affected. Multiple phragmoplasts, undulated phragmoplasts, branched phragmoplasts, and phragmoplasts arising at places other than that predicted by the preprophase band were all observed. Cell wall formations resulting from these abnormal phragmoplast configurations are also abnormal and consist of reticulate cell plates, walls formed at abnormal angles, and wall material in net-like arrays containing pockets of cytoplasm. Cortical and preprophase band microtubule arrays were unaffected, and were similar in both treated and control cells. Minispindle and multipolar spindles were observed in some meristematic cells, although many spindle formations were normal or nearly so. Some multiple and highly lobed nuclei were also found as a consequence of these abnormal divisions. Cell plates were abnormal even when there were no nuclear abnormalities that would cause physical disruption of the division plane and even though preprophase bands (which are predictive of the subsequent plane of division) were normal. These data indicate that DCPA has a direct effect on phragmoplast microtubule organizing centers.
Practice guidelines and measurement: state-of-the-science.

Abstract Background Restructuring of the health care system has exposed widespread evidence of practice variability and has highlighted the benefits associated with nurses embracing interdisciplinary, best practice solutions to health care delivery. Clinical practice guidelines have emerged as a valuable interdisciplinary evidenced-based tool. Purpose This article explores the state of the science of guideline measurement and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of measurement approaches. Method A computerized search of Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Health and Psychosocial Instruments, Medline, and PubMed for the search term “practice guidelines” was combined with the following key words: attitudes, adherence, effect, impact, instrument, and measurement. Discussion Measurement issues identified in this analysis are related to the manner in which guidelines are written and the lack of a standard methodology for measurement. Conclusions The challenge remains to establish sound measures of adherence and impact while controlling for confounding variables. Questions remain as to the format of practice guidelines to best grant autonomy while offering recommendations that are clear and measurable.
Scaling and aggregation kinetics determination of calcium carbonate using inline technique

Abstract The deposition of calcium carbonate on solid surfaces under certain conditions poses a serious problem to many industries. This scaling may lead to a lowering of heat transfer efficiency, increased energy consumption and unscheduled equipment shutdown. In order to prevent potential scaling problems it is, therefore, important to understand the mechanism of calcium carbonate deposition. This paper is an extension of previous work on the understanding of calcium carbonate crystal formation, aggregation and deposition. It describes the application of an inline technique based on Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM) to determine the rate of calcium carbonate formation. FBRM provides a real time measurement of the dimension and number of crystals and this technique has proven to be a sensitive method with which to monitor the initial stages of the scale formation process. The effect of initial calcium ion concentration and temperature on the scaling rate has been determined, and these inline results validated from complementary offline scale measurement techniques.
Polynomials over base 2 finite fields with evenly distributed values

Few nontrivial results about the value sets of polynomials over finite fields are known. This paper uses results from the theory of crosscorrelation of binary m-sequences to find five kinds of polynomials f(x) defined over finite fields GF(2^n) such that f(x) takes on each nonzero value only small a number of times (at most six times).
The Desegregation Efficiency of Magnet Schools

Magnet schools are an attempt to introduce market incentives into school desegregation policy. The analyses presented here assess the extent to which they have improved the effectiveness of desegre...
Abnormalities in Thyroid Function in Relatives of Patients with Graves' Disease and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Lack of Correlation with Inheritance of HLA-B8

Thyroid function, antithyroid antibodies and human major histocompatibility locus (HLA) antigens were studied in first-degree relatives (parents, siblings and children) of patients with Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The particularly common abnormalities in Graves' relatives were positive antithyroid antibodies (25 of 74 cases, 34%) and supranormal thyrotropin (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) (12 of 44 cases, 27%). Less common abnormalities were goiter (10 of 92 cases, 11%), ophthalmopathy (1 of 92 cases, 1.1%), non-suppressibility of 24 h thyroid radioiodine uptake (2 of 48 cases, 4.2%), elevated baseline serum TSH (4 of 80 cases, 5.0%), subnormal TSH response to TRH (2 of 44 cases, 4.5%) and detectable LATS-protector (3 of 47 cases, 6.4%). Thyroid uptake was non-suppressible in two of the three cases with LATS-protector; the remaining one had ophthalmopathy and normally suppressible thyroid uptake. Of the 14 relatives of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis included i...
Glycoconjugate expression in the chick embryonic chorioallantoic membrane: comparisons of the chorionic ectoderm and allantoic endoderm.

Background: The chorioallantoic membrne (CAM) of the chick embryo expands during embryogenesis to meet the increased oxygen demands during growth and differentiation. Temporal and spatial glycosylation patterns of CAM ectodermal and endodermal proteins likely contribute to differentiation of the functional attributes of the CAM. Methods: Using lectins for light and electron microscopic observations, we studied the patterns of glycoconjugate expression on the ectoderm and endoderm of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the chick at days 4.5, 5.0, 6.0, and 10 of morphogenesis. For light microscopy, samples of unfixed CAM were incubated with the following FITC lectins: Con A, DBA, GSA-I, GSA-II, PNA, SBA, UEA-I, and WGA. Results: All lectins, except GSA-I and -II, gave positive results. The positive lectins, labeled with HRP, served to ultrastructurally localize PNA, SBA, and WGA, but not DBA binding to the luminal surface of the endoderm. UEA-I and Con A bound similarly except on day 10 when UEA-I no longer bound. On the ectodermal surface, only WGA bound at all times studied. PNA and SBA binding were present from days 5.0 to 6.0 but absent at days 4.5 and 10. DBA binding occurred through day 5.0 but was absent thereafter. UEA-I bound to the ectoderm at days 4.5, 5.0, and 10 but not days 5.5 and 6.0 Con A bound only on days 5.0 and 10. Conclusion: That the ultrastructurally similar ectoderm and endoderm of the CAM display functional differences conforms to the hypothesis that differential expression of glycoconjugate microdoains likely contributes to such functional specialization. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I inhibition prevents ventricular remodeling and delays decompensation in pacing-induced heart failure

Objective : Experimental evidence suggests that modulation of myocardial substrate metabolism can markedly affect the progression of chronic heart failure (HF). We tested whether the inhibition of carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I (CPT-I), the enzyme regulating mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, slows left ventricular remodeling and deterioration of function in pacing-induced HF. Methods : Normal dogs ( n =9) were compared to untreated dogs with pacing-induced HF ( n =9) and HF dogs treated with 65 mg/kg/day of oxfenicine (HF+Oxf, n =9), a CPT-I inhibitor. Results : HF+Oxf reached terminal failure (LV end-diastolic pressure=25 mm Hg) 6 days later than untreated HF ( P <0.05). At 28 days of pacing, hemodynamic alterations and LV dilation were significantly attenuated and the 25% decrease in LV wall thickness was completely prevented in HF+Oxf vs. untreated HF, as was the activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9, markers of tissue remodeling. Oxfenicine also prevented HF-induced transcriptional down-regulation of CPT-I, medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, GAPDH and citrate synthase, key enzymes of cardiac energy metabolism. In addition, mRNA, but not protein levels of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α were reduced in untreated HF, while they did not change significantly in HF+Oxf, as compared to control. Conclusions : CPT-I inhibition early in the development of HF prevented LV wall thinning and delayed the time to end-stage failure. While these results are limited to an experimental model of disease, they nevertheless suggest that CPT-I inhibition might be effective for slowing the progression of clinical HF.
Adaptive beamforming for satellite communication with selective earth coverage and jammer nulling capability

An algorithm has been developed to control the antenna array beam pattern for satellite communication applications where the uplink received antenna is desired to provide beamforming capability for selective earth coverage and jamming protection. The problem can be formulated to determine the antenna weight to meet the user gain and jammer null requirements in their known directions, subject to the norm bound constraint of the weight. The algorithm makes use of the orthogonal decomposition of the weight vector and a recursive procedure that provides flexibility in the determination of the constraint vectors, the constraint order, and the constraint phase optimization.
Notch1-induced transformation of RKE-1 cells requires up-regulation of cyclin D1.

RKE-1 cells induced to overexpress activated Notch1 (RKE-ER-N ic ) exhibit increased cyclin D1 transcripts and become transformed. However, the oncogenic pathway of Notch1-induced transformation is not known. Here, we use mutational analysis to functionally identify the sole region of the cyclin D1 promoter that responds to activated Notch1. The same region responds to activated Notch4 as well as to physiologic Notch ligand-induced Notch receptor signaling. The cyclin D1 gene was subsequently found to be a physiologic target of Notch signaling in Pofut1 −/− mouse embryos defective in canonical Notch signaling and in embryos with an inactivating mutation in Notch1 . To determine if Notch1-induced cyclin D1 expression in RKE-ER-N ic cells plays a direct role in transformation, cyclin D1 up-regulation was inhibited using a cyclin D1 antisense cDNA. We report here that transformation of RKE-ER-N ic cells is dependent on increased expression of cyclin D1 protein, which represents a new mechanism of Notch1-induced transformation. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(15): 7562-70)
Enhanced sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies in a variant of equine infectious anemia virus is linked to amino acid substitutions in the surface unit envelope glycoprotein.

Serial passage of the prototype (PR) cell-adapted Wyoming strain of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) in fetal donkey dermal (FDD) rather than fetal horse (designated fetal equine kidney [FEK]) cell cultures resulted in the generation of a variant virus strain which produced accelerated cytopathic effects in FDD cells and was 100- to 1,000-fold more sensitive to neutralizing antibodies than its parent. This neutralizationsensitive variant was designated the FDD strain. Although there were differences in glycosylation between the PR and FDD strains, passage of the FDD virus in FEK cells did not reduce its sensitivity to neutralizing antibody. Nucleotide sequencing of the region encoding the surface unit (SU) protein from the FDD strain revealed nine amino acid substitutions compared with the PR strain. Two of these substitutions resulted in changes in the polarity of charge, four caused the introduction of a charged residue, and three had no net change in charge. Nucleotide sequence analysis was extended to the region of the FDD virus genome encoding theextracellulardomainofthetransmembraneenvelopeglycoprotein(TM).UnlikethesituationwiththeFDD virus coding region, there were minor variations in nucleotide sequence between individual molecular clones containing this region of the TM gene. Although each clone contained three nucleotide substitutions compared with the PR strain, only one of these was common to all, and this did not affect the amino acid content. Of the remaining two nucleotide substitutions, only one resulted in an amino acid change, and in each case, this change appeared to be conservative. To determine if amino acid substitutions in the SU protein of FDD cell-grown viruses were responsible for the enhanced sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies, chimeric viruses were constructed by using an infectious molecular clone of EIAV. These chimeric viruses contained all of the amino acid substitutions found in the FDD virus strain and were significantly more sensitive to neutralizing antibodies than viruses from the parental (PR) molecular clone. These results demonstrated that sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies in EIAV can be conferred by amino acid residues in the SU protein. However, such aminoacidsubstitutionswerenotsufficienttoenhancecytopathogenicity,asthechimericvirusesdidnotcause excessive degenerative effects in FDD cells, as was observed with the parental FDD virus strain.
Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs of the EM Algorithm in Pedigree Analysis

The EM algorithm is an iterative method for finding maximum-likelihood estimates. Its advantages often include numerical stability, simplicity of computer implementation, and natural incorporation of parameter constraints. However, the EM algorithm must be tailored to each specific problem. Smith (1957) and Ott (1977, 1979) have accomplished this for a variety of problems in human pedigree analysis. The present paper clarifies their theory by presenting it from a modern perspective. Five practical numerical examples are also given in an attempt to assess the value of the EM algorithm in realistic genetic modelling. These examples deal with racial admixture, linkage homogeneity, classical segregation analysis, a Mendelian latent trait model for schizophrenia, and a heterozygote detection assay for Ataxia-telangiectasia. Comparison with a quasi-Newton method of optimization reveals that the EM algorithm generally converges more slowly, but also more stably.
Differential arterial/venous expression of NG2 proteoglycan in perivascular cells along microvessels: identifying a venule-specific phenotype.

Objective: Similar to other vascular pericyte markers, including smooth muscle (SM) α-actin, desmin, and PDGF-β-receptor, NG2 proteoglycan is not pericyte specific. Therefore, the use of NG2 as a pericyte marker, especially in cell lineage studies, in comparison to other nonspecific pericyte markers requires an understanding of how its expression varies spatially within a microvascular network. The objective of this study was to characterize NG2 expression along vessels within rat microvascular networks and compare this to SM α-actin expression.Methods: Mesenteric tissue, subcutaneous tissue, spinotrapezius muscle, and gracilis muscle were harvested from 250-g, female, Sprague–Dawley rats and stained for NG2 and SM α-actin. The distribution of NG2 expression was evaluated in mesenteric networks (n = 28) with complementary observations in subcutaneous tissue and skeletal muscle.Results: Perivascular cells, including mature smooth muscle cells (SMCs), immature SMCs, and pericytes, expressed NG2. Most import...
Developing and Validating an Observational Learning Model of Computer Software Training and Skill Acquisition

Computer skills are key to organizational performance, and past research indicates that behavior modeling is a highly effective form of computer skill training. The present research develops and tests a new theoretical model of the underlyingobservational learning processes by which modeling-based training interventions influence computer task performance. Observational learning processes are represented as a second-order construct with four dimensions (attention, retention, production, and motivation). New measures for these dimensions were developed and shown to have strong psychometric properties. The proposed model controls for two pretraining individual differences (motivation to learn and self-efficacy) and specifies the relationships among three training outcomes (declarative knowledge, post-training self-efficacy, and task performance). The model was tested using PLS on data from an experiment ( N = 95) on computer spreadsheet training. As hypothesized, observational learning processes significantly influenced training outcomes. A representative modeling-based training intervention (retention enhancement) significantly improved task performance through its specific effects on the retention processes dimension of observational learning. The new model provides a more complete theoretical account of the mechanisms by which modeling-based interventions affect training outcomes, which should enable future research to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of a wide range of modeling-based training interventions. Further, the new instruments can be used by practitioners to refine ongoing training programs.
Teaching Organizing through Workers' Experiences:

In order to increase our labor movement's ability to grow, we must strengthen our education programs and link them directly to work-site organizing campaigns. Popular theater, as adapted from the work of Augusto Boal, is a useful tool to strengthen the strategic analysis and organizing skills of workers and organizers. The authors' approach to "problem-solving interventions" is described and illustrated with examples from organizing campaigns.
The Influence of Behavioral Context on the Representation of a Perceptual Decision in Developing Oculomotor Commands

To make decisions about sensory stimuli, the brain must weigh the evidence that supports or opposes the alternative interpretations. In the present study, we evaluated the hypothesis that a quantity reflecting the weight of sensory evidence is represented in brain circuits responsible for the behavioral response used to indicate the decision. We trained monkeys to decide the direction of random-dot motion and to indicate their decision with an eye movement to one of two choice targets. We interrupted decision formation with electrical microstimulation of the frontal eye field, causing an evoked eye movement that is influenced by ongoing oculomotor activity. For the "pro-saccade" version of the task, in which the correct target was at a known location in the direction of motion, the microstimulus-evoked eye movement reflected both the impending pro-saccadic response and the temporal accumulation of motion information used to select that response. In contrast, for the "colored-target" task, in which the correct target was of a particular color but at an unpredictable location, little ongoing oculomotor activity was evident. The results suggest that formation of the decision and formation of the behavioral response share a common level of neural organization, but only when the decision is associated with a specific, predictable movement.
A 60-year-old man with gross hematuria and flank pain.

CASE REPORT erein, we report a case of a 60-year-old Caucasian male patient who endorsed recurrent Hasymptomatic gross hematuria in scheduled follow-up after a right nephroureterectomy (NU). Before 5 months, the patient had undergone a hand-assisted laparoscopic right nephrectomy with total ureterectomy for a 4-cm, high-grade papillary urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) invading into the lamina propria of the renal pelvis. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course that included resolution of the gross hematuria, which prompted his initial evaluation. The hematuria recurred 2 weeks before his follow-up visit, the patient noting clots toward the end of urination. The patient is a former smoker with a 45-pack-year history who endorsed exposure to various chemicals during previous employment in a photography laboratory.
A Runtime Monitoring Framework for the TAU Profiling System

Applications executing on complex computational systems provide a challenge for the development of runtime performance monitoring software. We discuss a computational model, application monitoring, data access models, and profiler functionality. We define data consistency within and across threads as well as across contexts and nodes. We describe the TAU runtime monitoring framework which enables on-demand, low-interference data access to TAU profile data and provides the flexibility to enforce data consistency at the thread, context or node level. We present an example of a Java-based runtime performance monitor utilizing the framework.
Hippocampal theta rhythm is reduced by suppression of the H‐current in septohippocampal GABAergic neurons

Hippocampal learning and memory tasks are tightly coupled to the hippocampal theta rhythm, which is critically dependent on the medial septum/diagonal band of Broca (MSDB) although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The MSDB sends both cholinergic and GABAergic projections to the hippocampus. Here we show that: (i) septo-hippocampal GABAergic but not cholinergic neurons have a pacemaking current, the H-current, and that its selective blockade by ZD7288 reduces their spontaneous firing in rat brain slices; and (ii), local infusions of ZD7288 into the MSDB reduce exploration and sensory evoked hippocampal theta bursts in behaving rats. Thus, the H-current in septohippocampal GABAergic neurons modulates the hippocampal theta rhythm.
Design considerations for supply modulated EER power amplifiers

Envelope elimination and restoration (EER)based transmitters provide increased spectral efficiency for modulation standards with large peak-to-average ratios. In contrast to an EER topology, increased spectral efficiency is traded off against decreased power-added-efficiency when a conventional linear power amplifier is used. Moreover, the advantage of scaled CMOS is exploited in the EER approach through the use of fast on-chip switching power amplifiers. Performance limitations associated with non-idealities in an EER system and its extensions (e.g., class-G) such as delay mismatches between the envelope (A) and phase (Φ) signal components, bandwidth limitations in the A and Φ paths, and glitches in the A signal path caused by switching between the dual-supply modulators, are examined.
Mannitol at Clinical Concentrations Activates Multiple Signaling Pathways and Induces Apoptosis in Endothelial Cells

Background and Purpose—Hyperosmotic mannitol therapy is widely used in the clinical setting for acute and subacute reduction in brain edema, to decrease muscle damage in compartment syndrome, and to improve renal perfusion. Though beneficial rheological effects commonly are attributed to mannitol, its direct effects on endothelial cells are poorly understood. Methods—We studied the effect of hypertonic and hypotonic stress on bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells, using mannitol, urea, and sodium chloride and medium dilution in vitro. Results—Exposure to incremental osmolar concentrations of 300 mOsm of each osmotic agent increased apoptosis in BAE cells (mannitol≅NaCl>urea). Induced programmed cell death was detected by DAPI staining of intact cell nuclei, and by TUNEL and DNA fragmentation ladder assays. Mannitol-induced apoptosis exhibited dose dependence (42% of cells at 300 mOsm [P<0.0001] compared with 1.2% of control cells) and was also observed in bovine smooth muscle cells. Mannitol-induced apopt...
Geotechnical Properties of Problem Soils Stabilized with Fly Ash and Limestone Dust in Philadelphia

This paper presents the results of a laboratory experimental program to evaluate the potential of limestone dust (LSD) and coal fly ash (CFA) to stabilize some problem soils in southeastern Pennsylvania. Some of the geotechnical characteristics of the soils investigated include Atterberg limits, compaction, California bearing ratio (CBR), swell, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test performed on the generated data confirmed that LSD and CFA contents significantly influenced the compaction and the strength characteristics of Philadelphia soils stabilized with these additives. Results of the study showed that the plasticity and swell of the soils were reduced by 40% and between 40 and 70%, respectively. The results further showed a marked increase in strength of the soils for CBR and UCS when stabilized with the additives.
A Synthetic Aperture Radar-Based Climatology of Open-Cell Convection over the Northeast Pacific Ocean

Abstract This paper presents an 8-yr (1999–2006) climatology of the frequency of open-cell convection over the northeastern Pacific Ocean and the thermodynamic and kinematic environment associated with its development. The climatology is based on synthetic aperture radar–derived wind speed images and reanalysis data. The climatology shows that open-cell convection was a cold-season phenomenon, having occurred in environments in which the difference in temperature between the near-surface air and the sea surface is negative and in environments with positive surface sensible and latent heat fluxes. Within the region between the surface and 500 hPa, the 700–850-hPa layer median static stability was near moist adiabatic while that for the remainder was conditionally unstable. The median magnitude of the vertical wind shear was largest in the 925-hPa–near-surface and 500–700-hPa layers while that at midlevels was relatively weak. Similarities are highlighted between the organization of open-cell convection ove...