cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of diacetyl monoxime (DAM) on slow and fast action potentials of young and old embryonic chick hearts and rabbit hearts.

Abstract The effects of the negative inotropic agent, diacetyl monoxime (DAM), were studied on cardiac action potentials in young (3 day old) and old (13–18 day old) embryonic chick hearts and in rabbit papillary muscles. DAM (5–10 mM) decreased the action potential (AP) amplitude, the maximum rate of rise (V max ), and AP duration of slow and fast APs in both young and old embryonic chick hearts. Concomitantly with these changes, the spontaneous beating rate was increased in young hearts. At 20 mM DAM, the maximum diastolic potential (MDP) was decreased. In fast APs of old embryonic chick hearts, the most prominent effect of DAM was a shortening of AP duration, the effects on AP amplitude, V max , and resting potential being less. In rabbit papillary muscles, DAM had little effect on the slow AP parameters except for shortening of AP duration. The onset of the DAM effects was rapid, the peak effect being attained within 10 min. We conclude that DAM suppressed the slow Na + current present in young chick embryonic hearts. The effects of DAM, up to 10 mM, on V max of the fast Na + -dependent APs in old embryonic chick hearts was less, and there was no effect on rabbit hearts. DAM suppressed the slow Ca 2+ -dependent APs in old embryonic chick hearts but not in rabbit papillary muscles, suggesting that the effect of DAM on the Ca 2+ slow channels depends on the species. The negative inotropic effects of DAM in chick hearts can be explained at least in part by inhibition of the Ca 2+ influx through the slow channels.
Cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity in mononuclear cells from patients with type II hypercholesterolemia

Cholesteryl ester hydrolase (CEH) activity was measured in freshly isolated mononuclear cells from patients with primary Type II hypercholesterolemia, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and familial combined hyperlipidemia (CFH). CEH activity was significantly lower in mononuclear cells from Type II patients than in cells from matched normolipidemic individuals. Moreover, the reduced CEH activity in cells from the hypercholesterolemic patients was accompanied by significant accumulation of cholesteryl ester. This pattern of reduced CEH activity and cholesteryl ester accumulation was identical for cells from both the FH and CFH patients. Since low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations were higher in the Type II patients, we incubated mononuclear cells from normolipidemic individuals with high concentrations of LDL-cholesterol (greater than 150 mg/dl). Under these conditions CEH activity was significantly decreased, cholesteryl ester content increased, and cholesterol linoleate, in particular, accumulated. These data suggest that the intracellular accumulation of cholesteryl esters is determined in part by the extracellular concentrations of LDL-cholesterol and by the activity of CEH within the cells.
On the elastic moduli and compliances of transversely isotropic and orthotropic materials

The relationships between the elastic moduli and compliances of transversely isotropic and orthotropic materials, which correspond to different appealing sets of linearly independent fourth-order base tensors used to cast the elastic moduli and compliances tensors, are derived by performing explicit inversions of the involved fourth-order tensors. The deduced sets of elastic constants are related to each other and to common engineering constants expressed in the Voigt notation with respect to the coordinate axes aligned along the directions orthogonal to the planes of material symmetry. The results are applied to a transversely isotropic monocrystalline zinc and an orthotropic human femural bone.
Carcinoma of the tonsillar fossa: a nonrandomized comparison of irradiation alone or combined with surgery: long-term results

The results of therapy are reported in 296 patients with histologically proven epidermoid carcinoma of the tonsillar fossa; 127 were treated with irradiation alone (5,500 to 7,000 cGy), 133 with preoperative radiotherapy (2,000 to 3,000 cGy) or were initially planned for preoperative irradiation but treated with radiotherapy alone, and 36 with postoperative irradiation (5,000 to 6,000 cGy). The operation in all but 4 patients consisted of an en bloc radical tonsillectomy with ipsilateral lymph node dissection. Actuarial 5-year no evidence of disease (NED) was as follows: survival rates for patients with T1 tumors, 76%; T2, 54%; T3, 45%; and T4, 20%. Patients with no cervical lymphadenopathy or with a small metastatic lymph node (N1) had better relapse-free survival (60% to 70% at 5 years) than those with large or fixed lymph nodes (30% to 40%). Primary tumor recurrence rate in the T1-T2 groups was about 20% in patients treated with irradiation and surgery and 30% for those treated with irradiation alone (difference not statistically significant), 30% in patients with stage T3 lesions in all treatment groups, and 33% in patients with T4 disease treated with surgery and postoperative irradiation compared to 52% with irradiation alone (p = 0.03). The overall recurrence rate in the neck was about 20% for the N0 patients, 25% for N1, and 30% for those with N2 and N3 cervical lymph nodes in the 4 treatment groups. The incidence of contralateral neck recurrences was about 8% with the various treatment modalities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Robust local binary pattern feature sets for periocular biometric identification

In this paper, we perform a detailed investigation of various features that can be extracted from the periocular region of human faces for biometric identification. The emphasis of this study is to explore the BEST feature extraction approach used in stand-alone mode without any generative or discriminative subspace training. Simple distance measures are used to determine the verification rate (VR) on a very large dataset. Several filter-based techniques and local feature extraction methods are explored in this study, where we show an increase of 15% verification performance at 0.1% false accept rate (FAR) compared to raw pixels with the proposed Local Walsh-Transform Binary Pattern encoding. Additionally, when fusing our best feature extraction method with Kernel Correlation Feature Analysis (KCFA) [36], we were able to obtain VR of 61.2%. Our experiments are carried out on the large validation set of the NIST FRGC database [6], which contains facial images from environments with uncontrolled illumination. Verification experiments based on a pure 1–1 similarity matrix of 16028×8014 (~128 million comparisons) carried out on the entire database, where we find that we can achieve a raw VR of 17.0% at 0.1% FAR using our proposed Local Walsh-Transform Binary Pattern approach. This result, while may seem low, is more than the NIST reported baseline VR on the same dataset (12% at 0.1% FAR), when PCA was trained on the entire facial features for recognition [6].
Designing simulation experiments: Taguchi methods and response surface metamodels

G. Taguchi (1987) has made an innovative contribution to quality planning activities through the integrated use of loss functions and orthogonal arrays. The authors focus on the improvement and implementation of some of these techniques in the simulation arena. The orthogonal arrays advocated by Taguchi are related to classical experimental designs, which have played important tactical roles in the exploration of mathematical metamodels for the simulation response surface. However, the loss function and the associated robust design philosophy provide fresh insights into the process of optimizing or improving the simulation's performance. The authors use examples to illustrate concepts such as the simultaneous treatment of variability and mean of performance measures, strategies for achieving system robustness, and implementation of noise through factorial designs. Relationships to other issues in designing and analyzing simulation experiments, such as response surface metamodels and variance reduction, are discussed. >
Estimating the probability that the game of Monopoly never ends

We estimate the probability that the game of Monopoly between two players playing very simple strategies never ends. Four different estimators, based respectively on straightforward simulation, a Brownian motion approximation, asymptotics for Markov chains, and importance sampling all yield an estimate of approximately twelve percent.
Measurement of limb length inequality Comparison of clinical methods with orthoradiography in 190 children

We studied the agreement in measuring limb length inequality with orthoradiograms and clinical methods. In 190 children attending our Limb Length Clinic for the first time, 95% of the measurements with wooden boards was within -1.4 and +1.6 cm of the results of the orthoradiograms. A tape measure had significantly less agreement. The predictive value of a localization of the main limb length inequality above the knee, as found with a tape measure, was 64% and for a localization of the main limb length inequality below the knee 75%. A Wooden Board Reliability Graph is presented, which can be helpful in the decision to perform orthoradiographic measurements of limb length inequality in, e.g., evaluation of impairment.
Experimental studies of adiabatic flow boiling in fractal-like branching microchannels

Abstract Experimental results of adiabatic boiling of water flowing through a fractal-like branching microchannel network are presented and compared to numerical model simulations. The goal is to assess the ability of current pressure loss models applied to a bifurcating flow geometry. The fractal-like branching channel network is based on channel length and width ratios between adjacent branching levels of 2 −1/2 . There are four branching sections for a total flow length of 18 mm, a channel height of 150 μm and a terminal channel width of 100 μm. The channels were Deep Reactive Ion Etched (DRIE) into a silicon disk. A Pyrex disk was anodically bonded to the silicon to form the channel top to allow visualization of the flow within the channels. The flow rates ranged from 100 to 225 g/min and the inlet subcooling levels varied from 0.5 to 6 °C. Pressure drop along the flow network and time averaged void fraction in each branching level were measured for each of the test conditions. The measured pressure drop ranged from 20 to 90 kPa, and the measured void fraction ranged from 0.3 to 0.9. The measured pressure drop results agree well with separated flow model predictions accounting for the varying flow geometry. The measured void fraction results followed the same trends as the model; however, the scatter in the experimental results is rather large.
Battle between influenza A virus and a newly identified antiviral activity of the PARP-containing ZAPL protein

Previous studies showed that ZAPL (PARP-13.1) exerts its antiviral activity via its N-terminal zinc fingers that bind the mRNAs of some viruses, leading to mRNA degradation. Here we identify a different antiviral activity of ZAPL that is directed against influenza A virus. This ZAPL antiviral activity involves its C-terminal PARP domain, which binds the viral PB2 and PA polymerase proteins, leading to their proteasomal degradation. After the PB2 and PA proteins are poly(ADP-ribosylated), they are associated with the region of ZAPL that includes both the PARP domain and the adjacent WWE domain that is known to bind poly(ADP-ribose) chains. These ZAPL-associated PB2 and PA proteins are then ubiquitinated, followed by proteasomal degradation. This antiviral activity is counteracted by the viral PB1 polymerase protein, which binds close to the PARP domain and causes PB2 and PA to dissociate from ZAPL and escape degradation, explaining why ZAPL only moderately inhibits influenza A virus replication. Hence influenza A virus has partially won the battle against this newly identified ZAPL antiviral activity. Eliminating PB1 binding to ZAPL would be expected to substantially increase the inhibition of influenza A virus replication, so that the PB1 interface with ZAPL is a potential target for antiviral development.
Demand Estimation for Sizing Distribution Transformers and Secondary Services in Rural Areas

Demand, energy con umption, and appliance data from 1156 rural consumers in 34 states were analyzed to determine coefficients of equations for predicting the 30-minute demands of individual consumers. Consumers in the South were found to have higher demands in relation to energy consumption than those in the North, and separate analyses were made for the two regions. The equations for predicting demand when used with appropriately programmed computers permit the automatic print-out of lists of consumers that may have overloaded transformers or services.
Efficient design of delta operator based 2-D IIR filters using symmetrical decomposition

A method based on symmetrical decomposition is presented for the design of 2-D IIR filters through optimization. This technique allows a filter with non-symmetric magnitude specification to benefit from the savings in parameters provided by symmetry. The procedure is developed for the delta operator based design to take advantage of its better coefficient sensitivity compared to the z-domain design when the filter is narrowband.
Collision and Obstacle Avoidance in Unmanned Aerial Systems Using Morphing Potential Field Navigation and Nonlinear Model Predictive Control

This paper presents a novel approach to collision and obstacle avoidance in fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems (UASs), vehicles with high speed and high inertia, operating in proximal or congested settings. A unique reformulation of classical artificial potential field (APF) navigational approaches, adaptively morphing the functions' shape considering six-degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) dynamic characteristics and constraints of fixed-wing aircraft, is fitted to an online predictive and prioritized waypoint planning algorithm for generation of evasive paths during abrupt encounters. The time-varying waypoint horizons output from the navigation unit are integrated into a combined guidance and nonlinear model predictive control scheme. Real-time avoidance capabilities are demonstrated in full nonlinear 6DOF simulation of a large unmanned aircraft showcasing evasion efficiency with respect to classical methods and collision free operation in a congested urban scenario.
Host-parasitoid extinction and colonization in a fragmented prairie landscape.

Few field studies of natural populations have examined the factors influencing local extinctions and colonization of empty habitat patches for a prey species and its predator. In this study, I carried out a census of planthopper (Prokelisia crocea; Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and egg parasitoid (Anagrus columbi; Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) incidence and densities in 147 host-plant patches (Spartina pectinata; Poaceae) over seven planthopper generations in a tall-grass prairie landscape. For both species, the likelihood of going extinct in a patch was related to a number of patch-specific variables: density, temporal variability in density, proportion of hosts parasitized (planthopper only), host-plant density, patch size, patch isolation, and composition of the surrounding matrix. Colonization likelihood was related only to the physical attributes of the patch. There was high patch turnover in this prairie landscape. On average, planthoppers went extinct in 23% of the patches and A. columbi went extinct in 51% of the patches in each generation. For the planthopper, extinction likelihood increased with a decrease in patch size and the proportion of the matrix composed of mudflat. Parasitism of eggs had no effect on the extinction likelihood of local P. crocea populations, suggesting that A. columbi may not play a major role in the patch dynamics of its host. The likelihood of extinction for A. columbi was dependent on factors that spanned three trophic levels. An increase in plant density, decrease in host density and decrease in parasitoid density all increased the likelihood of A. columbi extinction within a patch. The dependency on multiple trophic levels may explain the higher extinction risk for the parasitoid than its host. A. columbi extinction was also affected by the matrix habitat surrounding the patch—the effect was the opposite of that for P. crocea. Finally, vacant patches were colonized at rates of 53% and 34% per generation for the planthopper and parasitoid, respectively. For both species, colonization probabilities decreased with an increase in patch isolation. High host densities in a patch also favored high rates of colonization by A. columbi. I discuss how anthropogenic changes to the prairie landscape can affect the metapopulation dynamics and persistence time of this host-parasitoid interaction.
An approximate nonlinear filter for simultaneous estimation of states and parameters in linear stochastic systems

An approximate nonlinear filter for simultaneous estimation of states and parameters in linear stochastic systems is derived based on some asymptotic considerations. The convergence properties of the approximate nonlinear filter as a parameter estimator for linear stochastic systems are examined and comparisons with other recursive identification algorithms are made.
Dehiscence of the lamina papyracea: MRI findings

themagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ﬁndings havenever been described. In this communication, wedescribe the MRI ﬁndings of a patient with dehis-cence of the lamina papyracea who presented withthe unusual clinical symptomatology of intermit-tent visual disturbances during elevation of theintra-orbital pressure.
A method for estimating stochastic noise in large genetic regulatory networks

Motivation: Genetic regulatory networks are often affected by stochastic noise, due to the low number of molecules taking part in certain reactions. The networks can be simulated using stochastic techniques that model each reaction as a stochastic event. As models become increasingly large and sophisticated, however, the solution time can become excessive; particularly if one wishes to determine the effect on noise of changes to a series of parameters, or the model structure. Methods are therefore required to rapidly estimate stochastic noise. Results: This paper presents an algorithm, based on error growth techniques from non-linear dynamics, to rapidly estimate the noise characteristics of genetic networks of arbitrary size. The method can also be used to determine analytical solutions for simple sub-systems. It is demonstrated on a number of cases, including a prototype model of the galactose regulatory pathway in yeast. Availability: A software tool which incorporates the algorithm is available for use as part of the stochastic simulation package Dizzy. It is available for download at http://labs.systemsbiology.net/bolouri/software/Dizzy/ Contact: dorrell@systemsbiology.org Supplementary information: A conceptual model of the regulatory part of the galactose utilization pathway in yeast, used as an example in the paper, is available at http://labs.systemsbiology.net/bolouri/models/galconcept.dizzy
Is oil palm agriculture really destroying tropical biodiversity

Oil palm is one of the world’s most rapidly expanding equatorial crops. The two largest oil palm-producing countries—Indonesia and Malaysia—are located in Southeast Asia, a region with numerous endemic, forest-dwelling species. Oil palm producers have asserted that forests are not being cleared to grow oil palm. Our analysis of land-cover data compiled by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization suggests that during the period 1990–2005, 55%–59% of oil palm expansion in Malaysia, and at least 56% of that in Indonesia occurred at the expense of forests. Using data on bird and butterfly diversity in Malaysia’s forests and croplands, we argue that conversion of either primary or secondary (logged) forests to oil palm may result in significant biodiversity losses, whereas conversion of pre-existing cropland (rubber) to oil palm results in fewer losses. To safeguard the biodiversity in oil palmproducing countries, more fine-scale and spatially explicit data on land-use change need to be collected and analyzed to determine the extent and nature of any further conversion of forests to oil palm; secondary forests should be protected against conversion to oil palm; and any future expansion of oil palm agriculture should be restricted to pre-existing cropland or degraded habitats.
Horizontal supersymmetry and Weyl character formulae

Abstract The concept of a horizontal supersymmetry over a reductive coset space, G/H, is developed. By an adaptation of the Borel-Weil theory to vector bundles, an alternate form of the Weyl character formula is obtained through a supersymmetric index calculation. This is then shown to produce a relation between the character of an element of the group G and the character in the appropriate representation for the corresponding element of the subgroup H. The example of SU(3)/SU(2) × U(1) for the 3 representation is studied in detail.
Progrès récents dans la recherche sur Saccharomyces boulardii

Resume La presente revue resume les mecanismes d’action probiotiques de Saccharomyces boulardii ( S. boulardii ) vis-a-vis des situations inflammatoires ou non inflammatoires associees a une diarrhee. S. boulardii est distribue sous forme lyophilisee dans de nombreux pays et utilise chez l’adulte et chez l’enfant pour la prevention de la diarrhee, y compris l’infection associee a Clostridium difficile ( C. difficile ). Les principaux mecanismes d’action de S. boulardii comprennent l’inhibition de l’activite de produits bacteriens pathogenes, des effets trophiques sur la muqueuse intestinale, ainsi que la modification des voies de signalisation de l’hote impliquees dans les maladies intestinales, inflammatoires ou non. S. boulardii inhibe la production de cytokines pro-inflammatoires en inhibant des regulateurs majeurs de l’inflammation, notamment le facteur nucleaire κB (NF κB) et les proteines-kinases activees par les mitogenes (MAP-kinases) ERK1/2 et p38, tout en stimulant la production de molecules anti-inflammatoires, comme le peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ). De plus, S. boulardii previent l’infection bacterienne en inhibant l’adhesion et/ou la proliferation excessive des bacteries, produit une serine protease qui clive la toxine A de C. difficile et stimule production d’anticorps diriges contre cette toxine. S. boulardii est en outre susceptible d’interferer dans la pathogenie des maladies inflammatoires chroniques de l’intestin (MICI) en exercant des effets sur les cellules T ; au cours des affections diarrheiques, il agit en ameliorant la biostructure fecale. Ces differents mecanismes d’action de S. boulardii representent autant d’indices moleculaires pour rendre compte de son efficacite dans les maladies diarrheiques et dans les affections intestinales inflammatoires ou a composante inflammatoire.
Geochemical response to variable streamflow conditions in contaminated and uncontaminated streams

[1] Seasonal variations in stream inorganic geochemistry are not well documented or understood. We sampled two mining-impacted and two relatively pristine streams in western Montana over a 12-month period, collecting samples every 4 weeks, with supplemental sampling (at least weekly) during spring runoff. We analyzed all samples for dissolved (operationally defined as <0.2 μm) and total recoverable concentrations. Generally, the trace elements (Al, As, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) did not correlate linearly with streamflow, while the major elements (e.g., Ca, K, and Mg) did. Suspended sediment, total recoverable metals, and H+ followed clockwise hysteresis rotations, driven by short-term flushing events during the very early stages of spring runoff. Mining-impacted sites had higher concentrations of many trace elements than did relatively pristine sites. One of the mining impacted sites exhibited strong geochemical responses to spring rain events in the basin. The results underscore the need to sample streams frequently during changing hydrologic and climatic conditions in order to accurately monitor surface water quality and to determine solute and particulate loads (both contaminant and noncontaminant).
A systematic optimum design of waveguide-to-microstrip transition

In this paper, a systematic optimum design method is introduced, which consists of the finite-element method (FEM), design sensitivity analysis (DSA), and the steepest descent algorithm. A waveguide-to-microstrip (W/G-to-M/S) probe-type transition is designed by using the proposed method. In the FEM as a full-wave analyzer, eigenvalue and eigenvector calculations in the two-dimensional (2-D) FEM precede the three-dimensional (3-D) FEM, in order to terminate the W/G-to-MIS transition model into an electrically small model. The analysis results of this approach are compared with ones of a commercial FEM software high-frequency structure simulator (HFSS). The total derivative required in the steepest descent algorithm is calculated numerically by the DSA based on the FEM. The additional time needed for this proposed method is only one more calculation of a sparse matrix equation. The return loss is chosen as the objective function to be minimized, and the backshort length and probe length are selected as the design variables in the transition design. The proposed method gives a good convergence characteristic and the optimized results show its usefulness.
Recombination Can Lead to Spurious Results in Retroviral Transduction with Dually Fluorescent Reporter Genes

ABSTRACT Fluorescent proteins are routinely employed as reporters in retroviral vectors. Here, we demonstrate that transduction with retroviral vectors carrying a tandem-dimer Tomato (TdTom) reporter produces two distinct fluorescent cell populations following template jumping due to a single nucleotide polymorphism between the first and second Tomato genes. Template jumping also occurs between repeated sequences in the Tomato and green fluorescent protein (GFP) genes. Thus, proper interpretation of the fluorescence intensity of transduced cells requires caution.
General Principles of Animal Selection, Preoperative Care, Preanesthesia, Chemical Restraint and Analgesia

It seems obvious that physiological results cannot be obtained from pathological specimens. Despite this universally accepted axiom, the number of so called physiological experiments conducted on animals incubating disease or obviously ill can be appalling. The importance of this point cannot be overemphasized. Animals used for physiological experiments must be held long enough in approved facilities to insure that they are not incubating infectious diseases. They should be vaccinated against the diseases likely to cause a problem in that species and they should be verified free of internal and external parasites prior to use. These precautions are expensive but miniscule compared to the overall cost of conducting experiments where the results are suspect because of the condition of the subject.
Sorting out the complexity of SR protein functions.

been clear whether all of these activities occur during the removal of each intron+ Recent studies now suggest that all of the proposed SR protein functions are carried out during each round of splicing, and at least some of these functions are performed by independent SR protein molecules+ This review discusses recent advances in understanding the diverse functions of SR proteins in metazoan pre-mRNA splicing and presents a model that takes these new findings into account+ Although the reader should keep in mind that the activity of SR proteins in vivo can be influenced by modulating their subcellular localization, this review focuses on biochemical experiments that specifically address the mechanisms by which SR proteins directly function in the splicing reaction+ (The reader may also refer to related reviews recently published elsewhere (Tacke & Manley, 1999; Blencowe, 2000)+)
Generation of molecular complexity from cyclooctatetraene: preparation of optically active protected aminocycloheptitols and bicyclo[4.4.1]undecatriene.

The racemic (6-cyclo-heptadienyl)Fe(CO)(3)(+) cation ((±)-7), prepared from cyclooctatetraene, was treated with a variety of carbon and heteroatom nucleophiles. Attack took place at the less hindered C(1) dienyl carbon and decomplexation of the (cycloheptadiene)Fe(CO)(3) complexes gave products rich in functionality for further synthetic manipulation. In particular, a seven-step route was developed from racemic (6-styryl-2,4-cycloheptadien-1-yl)phthalimide ((±)-9 d) to afford the optically active aminocycloheptitols (-)-20 and (+)-20.
Complexity in Social, Political, and Economic Systems

We live in a time of rising complexity both in the internal workings of our social, economic and political systems and in the outcomes that those systems produce. Increasing complexity has implications for social science: it hinders our ability to predict and explain and to prevent large deleterious events. To make headway on the problems that animate social and behavioral scientists: economic inequality, health disparities, achievement gaps, segregation, climate change, terrorism, and polarization among voters we must acknowledge their complexity through interdisciplinary teams. Harnessing complexity will require several changes: we must develop practical measures of social complexity that we can use to evaluate systems; we must learn how to identify combinations of interventions that improve systems; we must see variation and diversity as not just noise around the mean, but as sources of innovation and robustness; and finally, we must support methodologies like agent-based models that are better suited to capture complexity. These changes will improve our ability to predict outcomes, identity effective policy changes, design institutions, and, ultimately, to transform society.
Wave- and tidally-driven flow and sediment flux across a fringing coral reef: Southern Molokai, Hawaii

The fringing coral reef off the south coast of Molokai, Hawaii is currently being studied as part of a US Geological Survey (USGS) multi-disciplinary project that focuses on geologic and oceanographic processes that affect coral reef systems. For this investigation, four instrument packages were deployed across the fringing coral reef during the summer of 2001 to understand the processes governing fine-grained terrestrial sediment suspension on the shallowreef flat (h ¼ 1 m) and its advection across the reef crest and onto the deeper fore reef. The time–series measurements suggest the following conceptual model of water and fine-grained sediment transport across the reef: Relatively cool, clear water flows up onto the reef flat during flooding tides. At high tide, more deep-water wave energy is able to propagate onto the reef flat and larger Trade wind-driven waves can develop on the reef flat, thereby increasing sediment suspension. Trade wind-driven surface currents and wave breaking at the reef crest cause setup of water on the reef flat, further increasing the water depth and enhancing the development of depth-limited waves and sediment suspension. As the tide ebbs, the water and associated suspended sediment on the reef flat drains off the reef flat and is advected offshore and to the west by Trade wind- and tidally- driven currents. Observations on the fore reef show relatively high turbidity throughout the water column during the ebb tide. It therefore appears that high suspended sediment concentrations on the deeper fore reef, where active coral growth is at a maximum, are dynamically linked to processes on the muddy, shallowreef flat. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
High-throughput cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibition screening via a cassette probe-dosing strategy. VI. Simultaneous evaluation of inhibition potential of drugs on human hepatic isozymes CYP2A6, 3A4, 2C9, 2D6 and 2E1

The inhibition potential of drugs towards five major human hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes (CYP2A6, 3A4, 2C9, 2D6, and 2E1) was investigated via cassette dosing of the five probe substrates (coumarin, midazolam, tolbutamide, dextromethorphan, and chlorzoxazone) in human liver microsomes using a 96-well plate format. After microsomal incubations had been terminated with formic acid, the five marker metabolites (7-hydroxycoumarin, 1'-hydroxymidazolam, 4-hydroxytolbutamide, dextrorphan, and 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone) were simultaneously quantified using direct injection/online guard cartridge extraction/tandem mass spectrometry (DI-GCE/MS/MS). Several advantages resulted from the use of a short C(18) guard cartridge (4 mm in length) for DI-GCE/MS/MS, including minimal sample preparation, fast online extraction, short analysis time (2.5 min), and minimal source contamination. In addition, this method demonstrated an inter-day accuracy range from -8.7 - 7.4% with a precision less than 8.3% for the quantification of all the marker metabolites. The inhibition assay for the five CYP isozymes was evaluated using their known selective inhibitors via individual and cassette dosing of the probe substrates. The IC(50) values measured via cassette dosing were consistent with those observed via individual dosing, which were all in agreement with the reported values. In addition, the validated assay was used to evaluate the inhibitory potential of 23 generic drugs (randomly selected) towards the five CYP isozymes. The results suggest the integration of the cassette dosing strategy and the DI-GCE/MS/MS method can provide a reliable in vitro approach to screening the inhibitory potential of new chemical entities, with maximal throughput and cost-effectiveness, in support of drug discovery and development.
Electromagnetic scattering from a layer of finite length, randomly oriented, dielectric, circular cylinders over a rough interface with application to vegetation

A scattering model for defoliated vegetation is developed by treating a layer of defoliated vegetation as a collection of randomly oriented dielectric cylinders of finite length over an irregular ground surface. Both polarized and depolarized backscattering are computed and their behavior versus the volume fraction, the incidence angle, the frequency, the angular distribution and the cylinder size are illustrated. It is found that both the angular distribution and the cylinder size have significant effects on the backscattered signal. The present theory is compared with measurements from defoliated vegetations.
Assessing the Validity of Statistical Inferences in Public Health Research: An Evidence-Based, ‘Best Practices’ Approach

Like many fields, public health has embraced the process of evidence-based practice to inform practice decisions and to guide policy development. Evidence-based practice is typically dependent upon generalizations made on the bases of the existing body of knowledge – assimilations of the research literature on a particular topic. The potential utility of scientific evidence for guiding policy and practice decisions is grounded in the validity of the research investigations upon which such decisions are made. However, the validity of inferences made from the extant public health research literature requires more than ascertaining the validity of the statistical methods alone; for each study, the validity of the entire research process must be critically analyzed to the greatest extent possible so that appropriate conclusions can be drawn, and that recommendations for development of sound public health policy and practice can be offered. A critical analysis of the research process should include the following: An a priori commitment to the research question; endpoints that are both appropriate for and consistent with the research question; an experimental design that is appropriate (i.e., that answers the research question[s]); study procedures that are conducted in a quality manner, that eliminate bias and ensure that the data accurately reflect the condition(s) under study; evidence that the integrity of the Type-I error – or false-positive risk – has been preserved; use of appropriate statistical methods (e.g. assumptions checked, dropouts appropriately handled, correct variance term) for the data analyzed; and accurate interpretation of the results of statistical tests conducted in the study (e.g., the robustness of conclusions relative to missing data, multiple endpoints, multiple analyses, conditions of study, generalization of results, etc.). This paper provides a framework for both researcher and practitioner so that each may assess this critical aspect of public health research.
Book Review: Perfect Chaos: A Daughter’s Journey to Survive Bipolar, a Mother’s Struggle to Save Her

Authors : Linea Johnson and Cinda Johnson Reviewer: Charmaine Crockett Publisher : New York: St. Martin’s Griffin 2012. ISBN #s : Hardcover: 9780312581824; Trade Paperback: 9781250023254; Ebook: 9781429948883 Cost: Hardcover, $24,99; Trade Paperback, $15.99; ebook: $9.99.
New Discovery Of Important Archaeological Artifacts From Shallow Seismic Observations At The Ancient Hierakonpolis Temple-Town Site In Upper Egypt

Prominent high-velocity, high-frequency signals from very shallow depths were observed along some of the numerous seismic refraction profiles run within the perimeter wall of the ancient Hierakonpolis Temple-Town in Upper Egypt. These anomalies are characterized by laterally continuous high-frequency (200-300 Hz) arrivals with velocities comparable to or exceeding the deeper water table refraction velocities. These anomalous zones are imbedded in the 1 to1.5 m-thick upper layer of unconsolidated, air-filled sediments that have extremely low velocities and very low Q. The considerable spatial extent of these shallow anomalous zones was determined from sets of crossing refraction profiles. Subsequent excavations (2001, 2005-6) at two locations in the western portion of the site revealed the presence of a zone of closely spaced artifacts (dense in potsherds and stone fragments) that revealed new evidence of occupation in the ancient town as early as Dynasty I, c. 3200 BCE. In the northwest excavation an ‘in situ’ deposit of special pottery lay next to a bench, a large block of dressed limestone. Further to the north, layered occupation suggests a secular context with pottery of Dynasty II, 2900 BCE and a new early date, terminus ante quem, for the accompanying figurines, thus far exclusive to two temple sites in southern Egypt. Further excavations of the mapped anomalous zones are expected to provide many additional artifacts not previously found at the site.
The current state of the art of quantitative phosphoproteomics and its applications to diabetes research

Protein phosphorylation is a fundamental regulatory mechanism in many cellular processes and aberrant perturbation of phosphorylation has been implicated in various human diseases. Kinases and their cognate inhibitors have been considered as hotspots for drug development. Therefore, the emerging tools, which enable a system-wide quantitative profiling of phosphoproteome, would offer a powerful impetus in unveiling novel signaling pathways, drug targets and/or biomarkers for diseases of interest. This review highlights recent advances in phosphoproteomics, the current state of the art of the technologies and the challenges and future perspectives of this research area. Finally, some exemplary applications of phosphoproteomics in diabetes research are underscored.
Place of Marketing Agreements in Stabilizing Farm Income

EITHER through direct intervention by government or through combination by sellers, agricultural control programs have manipulated volume or method of production, prices paid for productive resources, levels of demand, and distribution of supplies. Analysis is limited here to manipulation by sellers of average price for already produced supplies. One or more determinants of industry average price are controlled by representatives of the whole industry, for its benefit and at its risk, with formal execution and enforcement of group decisions by government. Participating firms retain competitive identity with respect to scale and method of procurement and production and the uncontrolled determinants of total gross receipts. The primary instruments of these programs are marketing agreements and orders, four attributes of which are considered here: (1) definition, (2) price effects, (3) feasibility of wider use, and (4) necessary statutory changes. Federal programs are emphasized. Agreements and orders are defined in terms of effects upon firm and industry profit policy, control techniques, legal and administrative attributes, limitations, and collateral programs. Price effects are appraised largely in terms of impact upon market structure. Desirability of wider use and of statutory changes is weighed in terms of operational feasibility and effectiveness of control. The basic issue of stabil-
Single-molecule protein identification by sub-nanopore sensors

Recent advances in top-down mass spectrometry enabled identification of intact proteins, but this technology still faces challenges. For example, top-down mass spectrometry suffers from a lack of sensitivity since the ion counts for a single fragmentation event are often low. In contrast, nanopore technology is exquisitely sensitive to single intact molecules, but it has only been successfully applied to DNA sequencing, so far. Here, we explore the potential of sub-nanopores for single-molecule protein identification (SMPI) and describe an algorithm for identification of the electrical current blockade signal (nanospectrum) resulting from the translocation of a denaturated, linearly charged protein through a sub-nanopore. The analysis of identification p-values suggests that the current technology is already sufficient for matching nanospectra against small protein databases, e.g., protein identification in bacterial proteomes.
Analysis for cause of disease and death of 128 cases of premature infant

BACKGROUND To study the cause of disease and death of premature infant. CASE REPORTS 128 cases of premature infant were analyzed to find the main cause of premature labor and cause of death of premature infant. The factor of perinatal period was the first of factors of premature labor. DISCUSSION The propaganda education of gestational period should be enhanced, and the first barrier should be checked onto increase the rate of success of emergency treatment in perinatal period.
Advances in treatment and nursing care of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV) is a common disease causing vertigo in otorhinolaryngology and neurology.The incidence of BPPV is higher,its characterized manifestation is the presence of rotational dizziness episodes upon change in head position and nystagmus,including three types:posterior semicircular canal(PSC),horizontal semicircular canal(HSC) and anterior semicircular canal(ASC).Correct manipulative reduction and nursing care are important to the BPPV′s treatment.This article reviews the diagnosis,treatment and nursing care in different types of BPPV.
Bevacizumab: improved survival at what cost?

Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody, is the first angio-genesis inhibitor approved for the treatment of cancer. Bevacizumab has FDA-approved labeling for use with a fluorouracil-based chemotherapy regimen as first-line therapy for advanced colon cancer. A review of bevacizumab appears in this issue
Heterodyne lasercom space demonstration

For the past four years, the Air Force Space Division has been supporting, at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, a program in optical heterodyne communication technology. This program is motivated by the need to achieve cross-linking capability using small, lightweight, standardized spaceborne packages. Heterodyne technology at near-intrared wavelengths (0.8–0.9 μm) is potentially 10–20 dB more efficient in the use of signal power than conventional direct detection technology. This permits high data rate (>200 Mbps) links to be realized with single GaAIAs semiconductor transmitter lasers of modest power (30 mW) and using small apertures (≈20 cm). However, semiconductor laser heterodyne technology is a more recent development in technology compared to direct detection and therefore is a less conservative approach to optical communication.
What’s wrong with fairness? How discourses in higher education literature support gender inequalities

ABSTRACTThe role and influence of department heads on women in academia is understudied and weakly conceptualized. This article expounds on prior work, which identified limitations of department head literature, to put forth three problematic discourses that run through much of the department head research: the discourse of fairness, the discourse of collective good, and the training imperative. The discourse of fairness encourages an unproblematized adoption of fairness as a core criterion, ignoring the ways fairness may be conceptualized to benefit some groups over others. The discourse of collective good encourages department heads to seek out resolutions that maximize the ‘good’ for the department and its constituents but may perpetuate gender biases. The training imperative discourse places a heavy emphasis on training, regardless of whether training is or is not an effective means to address gender inequalities. Implications and directions for future work and practices are discussed in closing.
The PSO Algorithm and the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis Using Artificial Neural Networks

Artificial neural networks with radial basis functions are used to diagnose patients with multiple sclerosis. But the training of this type of network requires a great amount of time. It would be advantageous if we could speed up this training. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm was previously used in a particular case, but the results were poor. It was suggested to review this scenario using different network architectures, with other selection criteria for the most significant features of the data, and other training sets. In this paper we follow these ideas and work with various hidden nodes and input nodes. The most significant coefficients were extracted following the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the Principal Component Analysis and the Largest Coefficient criteria. The training process used the left-out method. The neural networks were then trained using the Particle Swarm Optimization technique, and the gradient descent algorithm. Once the networks had been trained, we tested them using the original left-out element. We repeated the process, taking averages of all the cases. Our results confirmed that the standard PSO algorithm is not a good method. But then we used the values that gave bad results with the PSO approach as the starting values for a network trained with the gradient descent. In some of the cases, the results were improved when compared to the case of starting with random values.