cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A near-infrared fluorescent voltage-sensitive dye allows for moderate-throughput electrophysiological analyses of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (iPSC-CM)-based assays are emerging as a promising tool for the in vitro preclinical screening of QT interval-prolonging side effects of drugs in development. A major impediment to the widespread use of human iPSC-CM assays is the low throughput of the currently available electrophysiological tools. To test the precision and applicability of the near-infrared fluorescent voltage-sensitive dye 1-(4-sulfanatobutyl)-4-{β[2-(di-n-butylamino)-6-naphthyl]butadienyl}quinolinium betaine (di-4-ANBDQBS) for moderate-throughput electrophysiological analyses, we compared simultaneous transmembrane voltage and optical action potential (AP) recordings in human iPSC-CM loaded with di-4-ANBDQBS. Optical AP recordings tracked transmembrane voltage with high precision, generating nearly identical values for AP duration (AP durations at 10%, 50%, and 90% repolarization). Human iPSC-CMs tolerated repeated laser exposure, with stable optical AP parameters recorded over a 30-min study period. Optical AP recordings appropriately tracked changes in repolarization induced by pharmacological manipulation. Finally, di-4-ANBDQBS allowed for moderate-throughput analyses, increasing throughput >10-fold over the traditional patch-clamp technique. We conclude that the voltage-sensitive dye di-4-ANBDQBS allows for high-precision optical AP measurements that markedly increase the throughput for electrophysiological characterization of human iPSC-CMs.
Expression of hepatic transforming growth factor receptors during late gestation in the fetal rat.

Abstract Transforming growth factor-α (TGFα) promotes DNA synthesis in adult rat hepatocytes, an effect opposed by picomolar concentrations of TGFβ. Recently, the presence of these growth factors in fetal rat liver has been demonstrated. Since a regulatory role for TGFα and TGFβ in fetal hepatic growth requires the presence of high affinity receptors, the receptors for these hormones were studied in membranes from normal fetuses at 17–21 days gestational age and growth-retarded fetuses of mothers fasted for 48 h. Fetal liver membranes bound [125I]epidermal growth factor ([125I]EGF) with high affinity (Kd = 1–2 nM). TGFα could compete with EGF for the same binding site, albeit at 4-fold lower affinity. EGF receptor number increased from nearly undetectable levels at 17 days to adult levels (0.15–0.3 nmol/mg membrane protein) by 21 days. Affinity labeling of fetal liver membranes with [125I]TGFa identified the 170,000 mol wt (Mr) EGF receptor. The intensity of labeling correlated with EGF receptor number ba...
Shape distortion in liquid-phase-sintered tungsten heavy alloys

Shape retention during liquid phase sintering is a major concern at high liquid contents, or large density differences between the solid and the liquid phases. This study demonstrates the role of microstructural parameters in controlling the bulk dimensional changes that occur during liquid phase sintering of tungsten heavy alloys (WHAs). Tungsten-nickel-copper alloys containing 80 wt pct tungsten, the balance containing Ni and Cu in the ratio 6:4, 7:3, or 8:2, were sintered at temperatures between 1400 °C and 1500 °C. Compact distortion was quantified using a coordinate measuring machine and related to the microstructural parameters, such as solid volume fraction, grain size, dihedral angle, grain continguity, and connectivity. Supplementary experiments were performed on W-Ni, W-Cu, and Mo-Cu alloys to compare the role of microstructural parameters in controlling distortion. A low solid solubility and a small grain size coupled with a high dihedral angle and connectivity restrict distortion. Based on the experimental observations and stereological relations, the critical solid content required to maintain structural rigidity is related to specific combinations of dihedral angle and grain connectivity.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is Expecting Multiples

The Endangered Species Program at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently received some big news. The list of threatened and endangered species is poised to grow. On September 9, 2011, ...
Time Domain Simulation of a Ship Drifting in a Seaway

The effects of waves on floating bodies are of great importance to the naval architect. In addition to the first order responses to the waves, second order slowly varying forces play a vital role in various scenarios. In this research, a fast and robust method for simulating the drifting of a vessel in a seaway has been developed based on a body-exact strip theory method (cf. Bandyk (2009)). The problem is solved directly in the time domain by setting up a boundary value problem for the perturbation potentials. A boundary integral method is used for solving the Laplace equation. The forces are computed by direct pressure integration. Body accelerations and velocities are computed by using a nonlinear 6-DOF Euler equation of motion solver. Free motion drift simulations have been carried out for long times, on the order of hundreds of wave periods for the Wigley-I hull and the containership S-175. The long time simulations establish the stability and robustness of the numerical scheme. The results also show the effectiveness of the methodology to capture slowly varying 2nd order forces in addition to the wave frequency responses.The authors take great pleasure in presenting this paper in this symposium honoring Prof. Ronald W. Yeung. Prof. Yeung has worked extensively in the areas of ship hydrodynamics and offshore mechanics. He was one of the first authors to have used a source distribution on the free surface instead of Green’s function to solve time domain free surface problems. The present research work also makes use of a source distribution on the free surface.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Hemolysis in the Aortic Prosthetic Valve

A review of the incidence and severity of hemolysis in the aortic prosthesis is presented. The noncloth-covered Starr-Edwards prosthetic series 1000, 1200, and 1260 had a 2 percent (1/54) incidence of anemia. The cloth-covered Starr-Edwards aortic prosthetic series 2300 was associated with anemia in 61 percent (28/46) of patients. The modified aortic prosthetic series 2310 and 2320 had a 34 percent (19/56) incidence. Mean lactic dehydrogenase levels for the series 1000, 1200, and 1260 were 184 units; 2300 series, 574 units; 2310 and 2320 series, 334 units; and the Bjork-Shiley aortic prosthesis, 166 units. Nine patients underwent repeat surgery because of refractory anemia in the 2300 series, and one did so in the 2310 series. Four of the patients with repeat surgery had significant cloth wearing of the valve. A transvalvular gradient in excess of 30 mm Hg was present in seven of ten anemic patients studied who had the series-2300 valve. The cloth-covered Starr-Edwards aortic prosthesis carries a significant risk of anemia. At the present time the 2310 and 2320 series cause less hemolysis and a lower incidence of anemia than the original 2300 series but in excess of the noncloth-covered Starr-Edwards prosthesis.
X-ray−induced breakage and rejoining of human interphase chromosomes

A method was developed for the high-resolution measurement of breaks in prematurely condensed chromosomes at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The dose response for fragments (breaks) produced immediately after x-irradiation of confluent cultures of normal human cells was linear down to 10.9 rad (0.109 Gy) and extrapolated to zero effect at zero dose. The curve had a slope of 0.063 breaks per cell per rad, which is at least an order of magnitude greater than that for breaks scored in the same cells after they have progressed to mitosis following subculture. When incubated at 37 degrees C half of the breaks disappeared in 2 hours. A slower, perhaps nonrejoining component was apparent at later incubation times. The initial rate of break rejoining was similar to the rate of increase in survival after incubation because of the repair of potentially lethal damage and is also in close agreement with recently reported values for the rejoining of double-strand breakage in DNA.
Diurnal rhythm of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG): relationship between plasma and urinary levels.

Abstract Plasma and urinary levels of MHPG were determined in six normal volunteers. Samples were obtained at 3-hour intervals for plasma and at 12-hour intervals for urine. Acrophase, amplitude and period were determined for plasma MHPG levels. A sinusoidal pattern was obtained for diurnal plasma MHPG with a peak at 15:00 hrs. ±46min. Urinary MHPG, corrected for creatinine levels, correlated with both 9AM plasma MHPG and with baseline plasma MHPG. Furthermore, the relationship between plasma and urinary MHPG was linear when the rhythm of urinary levels was assumed to lag 6.2 hours behind the plasma rhythm. It was concluded that free MHPG is evenly distributed in the total body space and that conjugated MHPG is largely restricted to the blood.
Relationship between the canthal-tragus distance and the puncture point in temporomandibular joint arthroscopy.

Abstract This study investigated whether a relationship exists between the length of the canthal–tragus line and the distance from the tragus at which the puncture point for arthroscope insertion should be made. On one side of 11 cadaver heads, a puncture point was marked 7 mm from the midtragus and 2 mm below the canthal–tragus line. On the other side, the distances were 10 mm and 2 mm, respectively. The arthroscope trocar and cannula were inserted at the marked points. The anatomical location of the arthroscope after insertion was confirmed by open dissection with the arthroscope in place. Following dissection, the canthal–tragus line was measured on each side of the cadaver's head. For measurements >70 mm, puncture points 10 mm from the midtragus led to insertion of the arthroscope inside the upper joint compartment. For measurements ≤70 mm, puncture points 7 mm from the midtragus led to insertion of the arthroscope inside the upper joint compartment. This suggests that for canthal–tragus distances of >70 mm, the arthroscope should be inserted 10 mm from the midtragus and for distances ≤70 mm it should be inserted at 7 mm for the greatest likelihood of entering the upper joint compartment of the TMJ.
Interaction of neutrons with accelerating matter: test of the equivalence principle

Abstract The energy of a neutron propagating through a slab of material fixed in a gravitational fields is analyzed using the equivalence principle. Conservation of energy constrains the group transit time and/or the energy shift through the accelerating slab. This constraint is different from that predicted by an adiabatic approximation to the motion at constant speed. The size of the discrepancy between these predictions is discussed with regard to possible experimental confirmation.
Lack of independent associations of apolipoprotein E promoter and intron 1 polymorphisms with Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Several studies have demonstrated genetic associations between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and polymorphisms in the promoter/enhancer regions of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene. These studies raise the possibility that APOE transcription control may be involved in altered risks for AD. We evaluated polymorphic sites in the intron-1 enhancer element (IE-1G/C) and in the APOE promoter (−219G/T). For the IE-1 polymorphism, we analyzed 433 individuals (183 AD and 250 controls), and found a strong linkage between the IE-1G allele and APOE-e4. When we controlled for this linkage using log-linear model analysis, we found no independent association between the IE-1 polymorphism and AD. For the −219 polymorphism, we analyzed 475 individuals (168 AD cases, 234 controls, and 73 cases of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)). We found strong linkages between the −219G allele and APOE-e2 and between the −219 T allele and APOE-e4. Controlling for these linkages, we found no independent association between the −219 polymorphism and AD or CAA. Thus, our studies do not support independent associations between AD and either the IE-1 or the −219 polymorphisms.
Molecular Self-Assemblies. 5. Analysis of the Vector Properties of Hydrogen Bonding in Crystal Engineering

Kitaigorodskii's aufbau principle (KAP) is used to analyze hydrogen bonding as a vector for the packing of molecules in the crystalline solid state. Using the CFF91 force field to compute the molecule−molecule interaction potential, we find that the signature for hydrogen bonding of N−H and O−H donor groups with N or O acceptors is a positive value for the nonbonded van der Waals term of the hydrogen atom involved in the H-bond. The H-bond may occur as a vector in any one or more of the four stages of KAP. We categorize these vectors as types 1−4 with 16 possible subtypes depending upon the number of KAP stages in which the H-bond appears. Within the constraints of the force field description, the H-bond then becomes a specific vector contribution to the packing of one or more substructures of the complete crystal. Of the 16 possible vector subtypes we illustrate 12 of them using crystal structure data from the Cambridge Structural Database. Knowing the vector subtype, we show how it is possible to locate...
Luxury and then Hotel Brand

In the luxury game, nothing succeeds like excess, but sometimes you have to tell your customers that they're experiencing luxury.
B-mode enhancement of the liver with microbubble contrast agent: a blinded study in rabbits with VX2 tumors.

Abstract Rationale and Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of contrast material–enhanced sonography in the detection of liver lesions by using an animal model. Materials and Methods A total of 36 rabbits, 12 normal and 24 with one, two, or more VX2 tumors implanted percutaneously, were imaged on an Acuson 128XP/10 with a 7-MHz sector transducer by a sonographer blinded to the study assignments. The sonographer assigned rabbits to four groups (no, one, two, more than two tumors) based on the number of lesions detected before and then after the intravenous bolus injection of 0.5 mL of AF0150. S-VHS video segments or pre- and postcontrast images were separated, randomized, and evaluated by a blinded reader. Necropsy served as the gold standard. Results Classification of rabbits as normal or tumor bearing on the precontrast images produced three false-positive results and three false-negative results for the blinded sonographer and six false-positive results and two false-negative results for the blinded reader. On postcontrast images, all rabbits were correctly classified by both observers. The correlation of the classification of whether rabbits had no, one, two, or more tumors relative to the pathologic classification on precontrast images was poor to fair (κ = 0.349 ± 0.099 for the sonographer and 0.274 ± 0.111 for the reader), whereas the postcontrast correlation was good to excellent (κ = 0.924 ± 0.099 for the sonographer and 0.809 ± 0.076 for the reader). Conclusion AF0150 markedly increased the ability of the sonographer and the blinded reader to distinguish normal from tumor-bearing animals and improved the classification of rabbits with more than one liver tumor.
Iron and manganese doped zinc-blende GaN

The electronic structure of Mn and Fe doping impurities in zinc-blende gallium nitride (c-GaN) crystal lattice have been investigated by the LMTO-TB method. The calculations used the 128 site supercells (64 atoms and 64 empty spheres with an impurity at the origin) with Mn and Fe atoms replacing ions in cation and anion sublattices. It is shown that Mn and Fe ions stay magnetic for all types of substitutions in c-GaN crystal lattice. Fe magnetic moment was found to be 3.5μB and 1.0μB for cation and anion substitutions, respectively. Similar data for Mn, magnetic moments are 3.3μB and 1.9μB. The moments are highly localized, though some weak polarization is seen at the closest atoms to the impurity. The total energies for supercells with and without magnetic impurities are used to determine the most probable single substitutional sites for Fe and Mn in c-GaN. The energies of magnetic electrons levels relative to the valence and conduction bands of the host crystal are analyzed by making use of the total and partial densities of states. The results show that combination of optoelectronic and magnetic properties may well be possible for c-GaN iron and Mn doped systems.
Relationship of nycthemeral cycles of running activity and plasma corticosterone concentration following basal hypothalamic isolation*1

Abstract Rats with established normal nycthemeral rhythms of plasma corticosterone and spontaneous running activity were subjected to complete basal hypothalamic deafferentation. Immediately postoperatively, there was an abolition of both the adrenal and spontaneous activity rhythms. Postoperative AM and PM plasma corticosterone concentrations were not significantly different from each other; both were between the preoperative AM nadir and PM zenith. Postoperative running activity was nearly abolished in both the hours of light and darkness; the values for both were less than the low level of activity seen in the preoperative daylight hours.
Maternal Recollections of Childhood Peer Relationships: Implications for their Children's Social Competence

The relations between mothers' recollections of their childhood peer relationships and their child-rearing intentions, parenting behaviors and their preschoolers' social competence were examined. Mothers with predominantly anxious/lonely peer recollections appeared to take the most active role in their children's social development and had the most socially competent children as compared to mothers reporting either predominantly positive or negative peer recollections. This pat- tern of effects was influenced by the sex of the child. Implications of these results for a gender-moderated model of socialization were discussed.
Concomitant Induction of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cell Responses in Volunteers Immunized with Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Strain CVD 908-htrA

Type 1 cell-mediated immunity might play an important role in protection from typhoid fever. We evaluated whether immunization with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) strain CVD 908-htrA (a Delta aroC Delta aroD Delta htrA mutant), a leading live oral typhoid vaccine candidate, elicits specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) S. Typhi immune responses. Potent CTL responses and IFN-gamma secretion by CD8(+) T cells were detected following immunization with CVD 908-htrA in high (4.5 x 10(8) CFU) and low (5 x 10(7) CFU) dosages. S. Typhi-specific CTL were observed in six of eight vaccinees (four high and two low dose) after immunization. Mean increases in the frequency of IFN-gamma spot-forming cells (SFC) in the presence of S. Typhi-infected targets were 221 +/- 41 SFC/10(6) PBMC and 233 +/- 87 SFC/10(6) PBMC, in the high and low dose groups, respectively. Strong CD4(+) T cell responses were also observed. Increases in the IFN-gamma production to soluble S. Typhi flagella (STF) occurred in 82 and 38% of the volunteers who received the high and low doses, respectively. Robust correlations were observed between volunteers that responded with IFN-gamma SFC to stimulation with S. Typhi-infected cells and IFN-gamma released in response to stimulation with STF Ags (r = 0.822, p < 0.001) and between CTL and IFN-gamma production to STF (r = 0.818, p = 0.013). These data demonstrating the concomitant induction of both CD4- and CD8-mediated CMI are consistent with a significant role for type 1 immunity in controlling typhoid infection and support the continuing evaluation of CVD 908-htrA as a typhoid vaccine candidate.
A combinatorial method for analyzing sequential firing patterns involving an arbitrary number of neurons based on relative time order.

Information processing in the brain is believed to require coordinated activity across many neurons. With the recent development of techniques for simultaneously recording the spiking activity of l...
Subcellular localization of spastin: implications for the pathogenesis of hereditary spastic paraplegia

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases characterized by neuronal degeneration that is maximal at the distal ends of the longest axons of the central nervous system. The most common cause of autosomal dominant HSP is mutation of a novel gene encoding spastin, a protein whose function is still being elucidated. One clue concerning spastin function is its intracellular localization. Here, we describe a novel anti-spastin antiserum designed to a unique epitope contained within all splicing isoforms. The antiserum exhibits specific immunostaining of recombinant spastin in intact, fixed cells. Using this reagent, we find that endogenous spastin is located at the centrosome in a variety of cell types at all points in the cell cycle. This localization is resistant to microtubule disruption, suggesting that spastin may be an integral centrosomal protein. In addition to the centrosome, spastin also localizes at discrete focal regions along the axons of primary cultured neurons. These data lend additional support to the emerging hypothesis that spastin plays a role in microtubule dynamics, with a crucial role in microtubule organization.
The HPT Model Applied to a Boutique‐Style Online Retail Store

Suzy Q's is a retail business located in the southeastern United States. It offers hand-knitted scarves; handmade hair accessories; handcrafted beaded jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings; small handmade children's toys; and stock and custom-printed T-shirts. It began operations in early 2014. The owners established an online store and developed plans to sell items at local craft fairs and farmers’ markets in the southeastern United States. During its initial launch, the business generated limited orders for its products. In the beginning there was a limited amount of advertising using social media, which consisted of establishing a Facebook page, posting notifications on the business's Facebook page, and posting notifications about the business to the owners’ personal contacts on Facebook. Despite establishing a web presence and utilizing social media in its first year of operations, Suzy Q's did not generate a significant number of orders and received very little revenue. The owners of Suzy Q's, our client, established a goal to generate at least $700 per month in revenue for the calendar year 2015. Our analysis of the business revealed that the managers and employees had the skills needed to perform the work, but the lack of orders presented an obstacle to achieving their business goals. After completing a performance analysis, we recommended that Suzy Q's establish a single online presence, implement a marketing effort, establish a local presence, create a dedicated studio space, and create a formal business plan. It was our belief that Suzy Q's had the potential to reach its goals set for 2015 and beyond if these solutions were implemented.
Tissue transglutaminase promotes PDGF/PDGFR-mediated signaling and responses in vascular smooth muscle cells

Although the pivotal role of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-mediated signaling in vascular diseases was demonstrated, the pathophysiological mechanisms driving its over-activation remain incompletely understood. Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) is a multifunctional protein expressed in the vasculature, including smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and implicated in several vascular pathologies. The goal of this study is to define the regulation of PDGF-BB/PDGFRβ-induced signaling pathways and cell responses by tTG in vascular SMCs. We find that in human aortic SMCs, shRNA-mediated depletion and over-expression of tTG reveals its ability to down-regulate PDGFRβ levels and induce receptor clustering. In these cells, tTG specifically amplifies the activation of PDGFRβ and its multiple downstream signaling targets in response to PDGF-BB. Furthermore, tTG promotes dedifferentiation and increases survival, proliferation, and migration of human aortic SMCs mediated by this growth factor. Finally, PDGF-BB stimulates tTG expression in human aortic SMCs in culture and in the blood vessels in response to injury. Together, our results show that tTG in vascular SMCs acts as a principal enhancer within the PDGF-BB/PDGFRβ signaling axis involved in phenotypic modulation of these cells, thereby suggesting a novel role for this protein in the progression of vascular diseases.
Pregnancy-associated Changes in the Thyroid-Stimulating Antibody of Graves' Disease and the Relationship to Neonatal Hyperthyroidism

Assays for the thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb) of Graves' disease were performed with serum obtained from 17 women with 20 pregnancies who either had or had had Graves' disease, or who had delivered a child with neonatal hyperthyroidism. Ten of the children, of eight women, were diagnosed as being hyperthyroid; all eight mothers had high concentrations of TSAb, as measured by adenylate cyclase stimulation. In the infants with neonatal hyperthyroidism, a minimum 500% increase in cAMP was found on assay of maternal immunoglobulin G, and no such high values were associated with a euthyroid infant. Blood samples for TSAb assay were available from 11 mothers on both the day of delivery and at least 1 other time in the pre- or postpartum period. In 7 mothers, the lowest value (negative in 4) was obtained coincident with delivery, and in the remaining 4, there was no pregnancy-associated change. Thus, a pattern, related to pregnancy, of a decline in TSAb concentration or a subsequent postpartum increase was observed in the majority of subjects. Apparently, neonatal hyperthyroidism due to transplacental passage of TSAb occurred only when this decline did not reduce the concentration to a low value.
Asking Students about the Nature of Their Reading Difficulties

This study examined students' perceptions of themselves as readers and the strategies they used to solve reading problems. Data was collected over a two-year period at two reading clinics from elementary grade level students (N = 72). Subjects were interviewed about the types of reading difficulties they experienced and described how they attempted to remediate these difficulties. Additionally, subjects described the type of reader they wanted to become, how they might improve, and why a particular classmate was a good reader. All subjects except one was able to describe a reading difficulty. The most frequently stated perception was the ability to read words (77%), followed by the ability to comprehend text (14%). Most perceptions were confirmed by assessment data (75%). Whenever perceptions were not confirmed, problems either were found in another domain (word recognition vs. comprehension or vice versa) or were school-related (e.g., the inability to work successfully as a member of a reading group). A comparison of the word recognition and comprehension strategies students generated revealed differences in levels of knowledge they possessed. Students with word recognition difficulties knew that they had difficulty reading words and had developed strategies to deal with their problems; however, they lacked sufficient knowledge about why their strategies were ineffective and when they should use another one. Students with comprehension problems generally were unaware of their reading difficulties and frequently lacked any strategy to remediate them. Regardless of their reading difficulties and the strategies they used to remediate them, most students viewed word recognition as central to the reading process. Discussion focuses on how these findings can be used by clinicians to develop alternative assessments and by classroom teachers to develop strategy-based instruction.
Demonstration of Alpha and Beta Adrenergic Receptors in Canine Cerebral Vasculature

The cerebral vascular effects of various adrenomimetic agents were examined in 12 isolated canine brains perfused with blood at constant flow. Changes in cerebral vascular resistance (CVR) and the magnitude of pressor or depressor responses observed following drug injection were examined. The presence of alpha adrenergic receptors in this vascular bed is indicated by the increased CVR observed when phenylephrine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine were administered and by the reduced or reversed pressor actions of these compounds following treatment with the alpha adrenergic blocking drug phenoxybenzamine HCl. The presence of beta adrenergic receptors in this vascular bed is indicated by the decreased CVR noted when isoproterenol was given and by the reduced depressor actions of this compound following treatment with the beta adrenergic blocking drug propranolol. Further evidence for the presence of beta adrenergic receptors is demonstrated by the vasomotor reversal to epinephrine which was observed followin...
Introduction: an overview of the assessment and regulation of energy balance in humans.

28%. The energy cost of protein synthesis and degradation is also high, requiring ap­ proximately 24% of the available energy in amino acids, whereas the cost of storage and remobilization of dietary fat is only about 7% (I). External factors that regulate nutrient in­ take include availability, preparation and palatability of foods, social setting and pres­ sures, and a variety of environmental con­ ditions such as heat or cold exposure. Energy stores The measurement of body energy stores is also important in studies of energy bal­ ance, because small changes in body com­ position may mask significant differences in energy intake or expenditure. Changes in body weight are often used to indicate posi­ tive or negative energy balance, but these may be misleading when concomitant changes in body composition are not known. Measurements of body fat content and fat­ free mass provide much more useful data and can be made by a variety oftechniques, the most accurate of which are estimation ofbody fat from body density measurements or estimation of lean body mass from meas­ urements of total body water or 40K con­ tent. Each ofthese methods involves the use of formulae which carry one or more as­ sumptions regarding body composition. However, in general they give comparable results and are most accurate in the mid­ range of body composition with greater er­ rors at the extremes. Several other, less tech
Home/work: engaging the methodological dilemmas and possibilities of intimate inquiry

The paucity of solutions to the persistent problem of youth entanglement with the school‐to‐prison pipeline demands that educational researchers experiment with research differently. In this methodological article, I briefly sketch the beginnings of an ‘intimate’ approach to educational inquiry that researchers can use to connect with and act on behalf of the individual youths whose lives we hope to shape. I explore how a narrowly defined view of what is and what is not education ‘research’ poses formidable challenges to intimate inquirers. Then, I advance the idea that educators and scholars ought to expand our thinking about what counts as ‘authentic work’ within an era of education science, and I use my own research experiences to suggest how.
The Effect of Civil War on Education, 1980—97

This study examines the negative effects of civil wars and the post-civil war environment on educational expenditures and enrollment. Two causal mechanisms are considered. First, civil wars are likely to destroy a state's system of education through the loss of infrastructure and personnel. Second, a less deleterious cause may be the drawing away of funds for increased military expenditures to fight the civil war. Using UNESCO education data, the authors examine the percent change in educational expenditures and primary, secondary, and tertiary enrollment for all states from 1980 through 1997. The authors use a measure of when a state is in a civil war, a dynamic post-civil war measure, an interaction with military spending, and relevant control variables. The results indicate strong support for the notion that civil war is devastating for a system of education, as both expenditures and enrollment decline during periods of civil war. No support was found for the reallocation of education funds towards military spending during a civil war. These results highlight the importance of addressing the social costs of a civil war. Civil wars do not simply impose social costs because of increased funding to the military; rather, they severely disrupt a state's ability to provide even basic social services.
Agent-based discrete-event hybrid space modeling approach for transportation evacuation simulation

This paper presents an agent-based discrete-event simulation (AB-DES) modeling approach for transportation evacuation simulation based on a hybrid continuous and cell space. This approach combines advantages of agent-based simulation and discrete-event simulation to allow flexibilities in simulating evacuation scenarios. Its hybrid space of the simulation environment overcomes the limitation of cellular space in cell-based evacuation models. We construct the model by using the Parallel DEVS formalism and develop algorithms for the corresponding DEVS simulators. This modeling approach achieves efficient event-based scheduling by executing only necessary agent interactions. Therefore, this approach has a low computational costs and high degree of scalability compared with traditional approaches.
Body Mass Index and Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study

High body mass index has been associated with increased risk of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, and, recently, Alzheimer's disease. There are few data on the association of body mass index with Parkinson's disease, and results have been inconsistent. The authors conducted a prospective study among 10,812 men in the Harvard Alumni Health Study, followed from 1988 to 1998 (mean age at baseline: 67.7 years), to test the hypothesis that body mass index is associated with Parkinson's disease risk. Among 106 incident cases of Parkinson's disease, body mass index at baseline was not associated with Parkinson's disease risk (for body mass index or =25.0 kg/m2: multivariate relative risks = 1.51 (95% confidence interval: 0.95, 2.40), 1.00 (referent), and 0.86 (95% confidence interval: 0.53, 1.41)). The authors had information on body mass index during late adolescence, when men entered college; this was unrelated to Parkinson's disease risk as well. Subjects who lost at least 0.5 units of body mass index per decade between college entry and 1988 had a significantly increased Parkinson's disease risk, compared with men having stable body mass index (multivariate relative risk = 2.60, 95% confidence interval: 1.10, 6.10). The authors conclude that body mass index is unrelated to Parkinson's disease risk and speculate that the observation of increased risk with body mass index loss since late adolescence may reflect weight loss due to Parkinson's disease that preceded clinical diagnosis.
Force control of a multi-arm robot system

Kinematic resolved-rate control is extended to the coordinated control of multiple robot arms cooperatively manipulating a single object. To provide the capability to control the forces applied to the jointly manipulated body and to the external environment, a force feedback loop is closed around the system. This results in a multiarm realization of the damping control method. The problem of redundancy in determining the distribution of loads among the manipulators is handled by minimizing a quadratic cost function in task-space force and torque. A coordinate system structure is described that permits manipulator control relative to a control reference frame which may be independent of the base coordinate systems of the respective manipulators and of the world reference system. >
Molecular Characterization of a Polygalacturonase Inhibitor from Pyrus communis L. cv Bartlett

A polygalacturonase inhibitor glycoprotein with an apparent molecular mass of 43 kD was purified from pear (Pyrus communis L. cv Bartlett) fruit. Chemical deglycosylation of this protein decreased the molecular mass to 34 kD. Gas chromatographic analysis suggests that N-linked glycosylation accounts for the majority of sugar moieties. Partial amino acid sequence analysis of the purified polygalacturonase inhibitor protein provided information used to amplify a corresponding cDNA by polymerase chain reactions. Multiple cloned products of these reactions were sequenced and the same open reading frame was identified in all of the products. It encodes a 36.5-kD polypeptide containing the amino acid sequences determined by protein sequencing and predicts a putative signal sequence of 24 amino acids and seven potential N-glycosylation sites. The expression of polygalacturonase inhibitor is regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Activity and mRNA level were much higher in fruit than in flowers or leaves.
Dominant markets, staggered openings, and price discovery

This study examines information incorporation and price discovery in closely related markets that witness staggered openings. A theoretical model is presented. In this framework, one market, termed dominant, is the venue where most of the price discovery occurs, and the other is termed secondary. The model predicts heightened volatility and order flow in each market when it opens first compared with when it opens second. The effects are predicted to be more pronounced in the dominant market, and is linked to the process of information incorporation. Tests conducted using futures on crude oil (dominant) and gasoline (secondary), two related markets that witness staggered openings, reveal findings consistent with the model's predictions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark
The effects of x-radiation on limb development and regeneration in Amblystoma

The regeneration of the early fore limb bud of Amblystoma larvae has been prevented by exposure to x-radiation. Histological studies show that the failure to regenerate is due to a destruction of the undifferentiated mesenchyme cells which normally furnish the materials for regeneration. Data have also been gathered as to the minimal dosage of x-rays necessary to prevent the regeneration of the early limb bud. By properly governed radiations the development of unamputated limb buds can also be controlled; larvae with permanent two-, three- or four-digit limbs can be produced. The effect here is primarily on the differentiation processes of the limb. These limbs in which digit formation has been controlled by x-radiation also fail to regenerate if subsequently amputated. After amputation there is a complete dedifferentiation of all the formed structures of the limb stump. The dedifferentiated cells of the limb stump. The dedifferentiated cells of the limb stump regain their power of mitotic cell division 30 to 35 days after amputation, but are never able to differentiate into the components of a new limb. The primary effects of radiation in this case appears to be on cellular differentiation rather than on cellular proliferation.
Reproduction, development and parental care in two direct-developing flatworms (Platyhelminthes : Polycladida : Acotylea)

Variations in reproductive modes, egg production, and the effects of parental care on hatching success are compared between Pleioplana atomata and Imogine zebra. Pleioplana atomata transfers sperm via true copulation, whereas I. zebra dermally impregnates spermatophores onto the dorsal surface of partners. Pleioplana atomata lays up to 750 large eggs over a 6‐week period, and I. zebra individuals lay up to 1346 small eggs in 12 days. Female fecundity is positively correlated with body size in both species. Developmental time lines are temperature‐dependent, and juvenile worms hatch after 3 and 6 weeks for I. zebra and P. atomata, respectively. Covering of egg masses by the adult is observed for both species and although this parental care is not necessary for egg development or hatching, it plays a significant role in the hatching success of P. atomata. In I. zebra, parental covering of egg masses may play a role in eggshell development. 1Present address: Smithsonian Marine Station, Fort Pierce, FL, USA 2...
Unwitting partners in death-the ethics of teamwork in disaster management.

When responding to an overseas disaster, it is imperative that physicians and organizations match services and donations to the specific needs of the situation, avoid the duplication of efforts, behave with humility toward the host country, and approach all efforts collaboratively. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
The behavioral theory of the firm and top-level corporate decisions.

Top-level planning decisions of an organization are examined in the framework of Cyert and March's A Behavioral Theory of the Firm. Six decisions are studied and analyzed in the Cyert-March framework, and some concepts from the behavioral theory of the firm are revised in the light of the results obtained. Major additional criteria suggested as of major importance in the framework of an extended Cyert and March approach are: the impact of multiple organizational levels on decisions; the bilateral bargaining between project proponents and those managers responsible for review of proposals; the influence of technology and general uncertainty in the environment upon criteria for project evaluation; the nature of an active stimulus for search induced by corporate strategy rather than the more passive, crisis-induced stimulus suggested by Cyert and March; the concept of a threshold-level system by which projects quickly are rated or evaluated on multiple attributes; and the Pollyanna-Neitzsche effect, by which ex post uncertainty absorption can be used by firm members to induce a positive-thinking approach to subsequent performance. Although some writers, for example, Ansoff (1965), have noted the empirical evidence presented by Cyert and March dealt primarily with operating decisions, this single field study offers evidence that a broadened Cyert and March approach is useful for understanding decisions that are partly in the broader field of corporate strategy.
Edema of the Skin and Menstruation in Monkeys {Macaca mulatto) On Repeated Estrogen Treatments.

SummaryThe marked edematous effect of large doses of estrogen on the skin of monkeys decreases progressively on repeated treatments. The response finally attained is characterized by a general absence of edema though some growth and wrinkling of the skin may occur. A concomitant effect is a lengthening of the interval between discontinuance of an estrogen treatment and subsequent withdrawal bleeding, and in certain animals such bleeding may cease to occur. These conditions in the skin and uterus once established seem to persist indefinitely.
Effect of Caronamide upon Penicillin Therapy of Experimental Pneumococcus and Typhoid Infections in Mice

SummaryThe oral administration of 4′-carboxyphenylmethane-sulfonanilide(caron-amide) was found to enhance considerably the therapeutic effectiveness of intramuscularly-administered penicillin in mice experimentally infected with either Type I pneu-mococci or E. typhosa. This enhancement was 6- to 16-fold in the case of the pneu-mococcus experiments and approximately 4-fold for E. typhosa. These effects may be explained on the basis of the higher and more prolonged plasma penicillin concentrations when caronamide is administered, and do not indicate synergy between caronamide and penicillin. The significance of these observations in relation to penicillin therapy is discussed.
The Design of BitTorrent Traffic Control System

In view of certain negative effects in the operation of the P2P in the Internet network of Ningxia Unicom,this paper has studied the most widely used Bit Torrent in the P2P application and designed a BT traffic control system so as to make the P2P traffic localized,reduce the import and export traffic,save the carrier cost and maintain the users' experience.
Functional Dynamic In-Vivo Stresses of the Mitral Valve Anterior Leaflet

Although mitral valve (MV) repair surgeries are commonly performed, their long-term durability has not been completely satisfying. In most cases, failure was a result of disruption at the leaflet, chordae, or annular suture lines. These failure modes suggest excessive stress and the resulting tissue damage as etiologic factors. The purpose of this study was to develop a method to better estimate functional dynamic in-vivo stresses in the MV anterior leaflet (AL) midsection. The stress was computed from the dynamic in-vivo strain measured experimentally. Numerous in-vivo and in-vitro studies (e.g. [3, 4]) have been conducted to quantify MV dynamic strain. We used in-vivo strain data obtained from our well-established ovine model [4]. To calculate the in-vivo strain, we employed the actual unloaded state of the tissue as the reference frame, measured for the first time in this study. The AL stress was then computed using our nonlinear structural constitutive model [5].© 2011 ASME
State Policy Mood: The Importance of Over-time Dynamics

Recently, we introduced and validated annual state-level estimates of the public’s policy mood and party identification from 1956 to 2010 and self-identified political ideology from 1976 to 2010. In this issue, Berry, Ringquist, Fording, and Hanson (BRFH) compare our measure of policy mood with a measure they created, and they conclude that their measure is “the best available indicator of state policy mood for researchers doing pooled cross-sectional time-series analysis.” In this article, we show that BRFH’s skepticism of our measure and confidence in their measure result from a failure to fully consider over-time dynamics. When we consider over-time variation, the Enns and Koch measure of policy mood continues to perform well. By contrast, some concerning patterns emerge with the BRFH measure. In addition to further validating the Enns and Koch measure, this article speaks to similarities in opinion change across states and offers initial evidence of an over-time relationship between state policy mood ...
A recursive house-of-cards digital power amplifier employing a λ/4-less Doherty power combiner in 65nm CMOS

This paper presents a DC-RF power inverter that efficiently synthesizes high-voltage RF waveforms directly from a battery voltage using thin-oxide CMOS switches. Instead of stacking transistors or employing large inductive transformation ratios, high output power is generated by switching individual class-D power amplifier (PA) cells in a 2-phase house-of-cards (HoC) topology to provide voltage addition of the cells outputs without exceeding device voltage ratings, effectively resulting in a solid-state RF impedance transformer. High-efficiency at backoff is then achieved by capacitively combining the output of two HoC networks nominally set to generate different amplitudes, enabling voltage-mode Doherty-like backoff without a bulky transmission line. The PA is implemented in 65nm bulk LP CMOS, operates from 4.8V, and provides a battery-to-RF efficiency above 40% at both 23dBm and 6dB backoff at 720MHz.
Positive Youth Development in the Midst of Coping with Parental Cancer: Implications for Youth Development Research and Practice

Four implications for youth development research and practice resulted from a qualitative study on psychosocial developmental experiences of late adolescents coping with parental cancer during late adolescence. The study employed a developmental systems framework and grounded theory methods. Results suggest three primary psychosocial developmental influences, including multilevel influences (individual, familial, and extrafamilial risk and protective factors), coping strategies to maintain control, and responses to uncertainty and anticipatory grief. The particular combination of risk and protective factors present in participants’ lives resulted in positive outcomes; resilience was the central unifying concept that characterized the primary psychosocial developmental outcomes of each participant. This finding illuminates the need to expand our focus in youth development research and practice to include positive developmental outcomes that can result from coping with life crises during adolescence.