cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cell surface carbohydrates and glomerular targeting of olfactory sensory neuron axons in the mouse.

Cell surface carbohydrates have been implicated in axon guidance and targeting throughout the nervous system. We have begun to test the hypothesis that, in the olfactory system, a differential distribution of cell surface carbohydrates may influence olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) axon targeting. Specifically, we have examined the spatial distribution of two different plant lectins, Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA) and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), to determine whether they exhibit differential and reproducible projections onto the main olfactory bulb. Each lectin exhibited a unique spatial domain of glomerular labeling that was consistent across animals. UEA labeling was strongest in the ventral aspect of the olfactory bulb; DBA labeling was strongest in the dorsal aspect of the olfactory bulb. Some evidence for colocalization was present where these two borders intersected. Large areas of the glomerular layer were not labeled by either lectin. To determine whether patterns of lectin labeling were reproducible at the level of individual glomeruli, UEA labeling was assessed relative to M72-IRES-taulacZ- and P2-IRES-taulacZ-labeled axons. Although glomeruli neighboring these two identified glomeruli were consistently labeled with UEA, none of the lacZ positive axons was lectin labeled. Labeling of vomeronasal sensory neuron axons in the accessory olfactory bulb was more uniform for the two lectins. These data are the first to show a differential distribution of UEA vs. DBA labeling in the main olfactory bulb and are consistent with the hypothesis that a differential distribution of cell surface carbohydrates, a glycocode, may contribute to the targeting of OSN axons.
Diminished Autophagy Limits Cardiac Injury in Mouse Models of Type 1 Diabetes

Cardiac autophagy is inhibited in type 1 diabetes. However, it remains unknown if the reduced autophagy contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy. We addressed this question using mouse models with gain- and loss-of-autophagy. Autophagic flux was inhibited in diabetic hearts when measured at multiple time points after diabetes induction by streptozotocin as assessed by protein levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 form 2 (LC3-II) or GFP-LC3 puncta in the absence and presence of the lysosome inhibitor bafilomycin A1. Autophagy in diabetic hearts was further reduced in beclin 1- or Atg16-deficient mice but was restored partially or completely by overexpression of beclin 1 to different levels. Surprisingly, diabetes-induced cardiac damage was substantially attenuated in beclin 1- and Atg16-deficient mice as shown by improved cardiac function as well as reduced levels of oxidative stress, interstitial fibrosis, and myocyte apoptosis. In contrast, diabetic cardiac damage was dose-dependently exacerbated by beclin 1 overexpression. The cardioprotective effects of autophagy deficiency were reproduced in OVE26 diabetic mice. These effects were associated with partially restored mitophagy and increased expression and mitochondrial localization of Rab9, an essential regulator of a non-canonical alternative autophagic pathway. Together, these findings demonstrate that the diminished autophagy is an adaptive response that limits cardiac dysfunction in type 1 diabetes, presumably through up-regulation of alternative autophagy and mitophagy.
All-optical Logic Devices Using Group III-V Semiconductor Waveguides

This paper describes our recent progress in the realization of all-optical logic devices using integrated waveguides in a III-V semiconductor. The potential for high speed all-optical signal processing is discussed. The physical mechanisms for the optical nonlinearity, including the important role of waveguide heating, are considered for their influence on device design. The measurement of the nonlinearity in several III-V's making use of a wave-guide Fabry-Perot interferometer is presented. A preliminary device based on a Mach-Zehnder waveguide interferometer has been fabricated in GaAs.
Modeling Operations Costs for Human Exploration Architectures

Operations and support (O&S) costs for human spaceflight have not received the same attention in the cost estimating community as have development costs. This is unfortunate as O&S costs typically comprise a majority of life-cycle costs (LCC) in such programs as the International Space Station (ISS) and the now-cancelled Constellation Program. Recognizing this, the Constellation Program and NASA HQs supported the development of an O&S cost model specifically for human spaceflight. This model, known as the Exploration Architectures Operations Cost Model (ExAOCM), provided the operations cost estimates for a variety of alternative human missions to the moon, Mars, and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) in architectural studies. ExAOCM is philosophically based on the DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF) concepts of operational nodes, systems, operational functions, and milestones. This paper presents some of the historical background surrounding the development of the model, and discusses the underlying structure, its unusual user interface, and lastly, previous examples of its use in the aforementioned architectural studies.
Statistical mechanics of stationary states. IV. Far-from-equilibrium stationary states and the regression of fluctuations

The authors present a microscopic theory for the averages of any dynamical variable and in particular of fluctuations in nonequilibrium stationary states that are arbitrarily far from equilibrium, as long as the macroscopic gradients are sufficiently small. It is argued that the dynamics of the fluctuations are governed by the linearized macroscopic equations of motion (analogous to Onsager's hypotheses for equilibrium fluctuations). The fluctuation-dissipation theorem is examined and it is found that it does not hold in its equilibrium form. The authors find that the dissipation does not contain an important part of the information about the fluctuation, and attempt an interpretation of this fact.
"I seek my satisfaction in you": The sexual discourses of Eugène Prévost, religious founder

Le pere Eugene Prevost (1860―1946) est le fondateur de deux petites communautes religieuses catholiques romaines ayant pour mission de pourvoir aux besoins materiels et spirituels des pretres: pour les hommes, la Fraternite Sacerdotale, et pour les femmes, les Oblates de Bethanie. Issu du Quebec rural, son apprentissage religieux et sa pensee sont assez typiques de l'environnement catholique canadien-francais de son epoque. Sa spiritualite est centree sur l'idee de Jesus en tant que pretre et victime. Ses nombreux ecrits, souvent tres sentimentaux, sont plutot remarquables par leurs connotations sexuelles, principalement au niveau de l'utilisation du langage et de l'imagerie homoerotiques. Cette etude explore quelques themes importants de ce discours « erotisant ».
Computer search algorithms in protein modification and design

Abstract The computer-aided design of protein sequences requires efficient search algorithms to handle the enormous combinatorial complexity involved. A variety of different algorithms have now been applied with some success. The choice of algorithm can influence the representation of the problem in several important ways — the discreteness of the configuration, the types of energy terms that can be used and the ability to find the global minimum energy configuration. The use of dead end elimination to design the complete sequence for a small protein motif and the use of genetic and mean-field algorithms to design hydrophobic cores for proteins represent the major themes of the past year.
Synthesis of catalytically active porous organic polymers from metalloporphyrin building blocks

The synthesis of a porous organic polymer (POP) containing free-base porphyrin subunits has been accomplished by the condensation of a bis(phthalic acid)porphyrin with tetra(4-aminophenyl)methane. Metallation by post-synthesis modification affords microporous materials incorporating either Fe or Mn(porphyrins) that have been shown to be active catalysts for both olefin epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation.
A very sensitive biochemical assay for detecting and quantitating avian oncornaviruses.

Abstract A biochemical assay, only slightly less sensitive than currently used biological assays was developed to detect and quantitate avian oncornaviruses. Using this assay, which is based on the unusual stability of most avian oncornavirus RNA-dependent DNA polymerases at 30°, we were able to quantitate, with an error of ±10%, as few as 1000 Rous sarcoma or Rous-associated virions directly in tissue culture medium. Lower limits of detection for golden pheasant virus and reticuloendotheliosis virus were 3 × 10 4 and 3 × 10 6 virions, respectively. Assay results varied less than fivefold when different strains or subgroups of Rous sarcoma or Rous-associated viruses, having virion-to-infectivity ratios of 7 to 1000, were tested.
Structure and dynamics of the fusion pore in live cells.

Atomic force microscopy reveal pit-like structures typically containing three or four, ∼150 nm in diameter depressions at the apical plasma membrane in live pancreatic acinar cells. Stimulation of secretion causes these depressions to dilate and return to their resting size following completion of the process. Exposure of acinar cells to cytochalasin B results in decreased depression size and a loss in stimulable secretion. It is hypothesized that depressions are the fusion pores, where membrane-bound secretory vesicles dock and fuse to release vesicular contents. Zymogen granules, the membrane-bound secretory vesicles in exocrine pancreas, contain the starch digesting enzyme, amylase. Using amylase-specific immunogold labeling, localization of amylase at depressions following stimulation of secretion is demonstrated. This study confirms depressions to be the fusion pores in pancreatic acinar cells. High-resolution images of the fusion pore in live pancreatic acinar cells reveal the structure in much greater detail than has previously been observed.
Differential sensitivity of tachykinin vs. enkephalin gene expression in the posterior striatum in response to acute p-chloroamphetamine treatment during postnatal development

Abstract The acute effects of the monoamine releaser p-chloroamphetamine (pCA, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) on preprotachykinin (PPT) and preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA expression in the anterior (A-STR) vs. posterior (P-STR) striatum were studied in rodents at postnatal days (PND) 10, 21 and 35. Northern analysis 4 h post-injection yielded no significant mRNA changes within the A-STR of any pCA group. However, significant increases (80–200% of saline control) in PPT mRNA levels occurred within the P-STR at all three postnatal ages. Interestingly, pCA did not increase PPE mRNA levels within the P-STR until PND 35 (150% of saline control). Such observation suggests that tachykinin neurons of the P-STR achieve an earlier monoamine-responsive signal transduction linkage to gene regulation as compared to enkephalin neurons. Given its predominance in the caudal regions of the striatum, 5-HT neurotransmission at the 5-HT2 receptor is suggested to play a central role in this mechanism.
Assessment of a putative proton relay in Arabidopsis cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase catalysis

Extended proton relay systems have been proposed for various alcohol dehydrogenases, including the Arabidopsis thaliana cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenases (AtCADs). Following a previous structural biology investigation of AtCAD5, the potential roles of three amino acid residues in a putative proton relay system, namely Thr49, His52 and Asp57, in AtCAD5, were investigated herein. Using site-directed mutagenesis, kinetic and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) analyses, it was established that the Thr49 residue was essential for overall catalytic conversion, whereas His52 and Asp57 residues were not. Mutation of the Thr49 residue to Ala resulted in near abolition of catalysis, with thermodynamic data indicating a negative enthalpic change (ΔH), as well as a significant decrease in binding affinity with NADPH, in contrast to wild type AtCAD5. Mutation of His52 and Asp57 residues by Ala did not significantly change either catalytic efficiency or thermodynamic parameters. Therefore, only the Thr49 residue is demonstrably essential for catalytic function. ITC analyses also suggested that for AtCAD5 catalysis, NADPH was bound first followed by p-coumaryl aldehyde.
The role of paraoxonase (PON1) in the detoxication of organophosphates and its human polymorphism.

In human populations, serum paraoxonase (PON1) exhibits a substrate dependent polymorphism. The Arg192 isoform hydrolyzes paraoxon rapidly but diazoxon, soman and especially sarin slowly. On the other hand, the Gln192 isoform hydrolyzes paraoxon slowly, but diazoxon, soman and sarin more rapidly than the Arg192 isoform. Our experiments with a mouse model system have convincingly shown that PON1 plays a major role in the detoxication of organophosphate (OP) compounds processed through the P450/PON1 pathway. Recent studies have also shown that PON1 plays an important role in the metabolism of oxidized lipid compounds. Currently, there is an effort underway to identify genes and polymorphisms that play an important role in 'environmental susceptibility'. The PON1 polymorphism has been cited as a prime example of such a genetic polymorphism. The advent of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA amplification with improvements, modifications and automation has provided a very convenient way to do individual genotyping. It is tempting to set up large scale PCR analyses of populations to determine individuals at risk for environmental exposures affected by the PON1 polymorphism. In fact, a number of such studies have already been carried out in examining the relationship of the PON1 polymorphism to vascular disease. We advocate the use of a high throughput two-dimensional enzyme assay that provides both PON1 genotype and phenotype (PON1 status). The high level of variation of gene expression within each genetic class in humans, together with our animal model studies indicate that it is very important to determine PON status as opposed to PON1 genotype alone. Experiments in rats and mice have shown that injection of PON1 purified from rabbit serum by the i.v., i.p. or i.m. route, significantly increases PON1 activities in rodents' plasma. Under these conditions, the acute toxicity (assessed by the degree of acetylcholinesterase inhibition) of paraoxon and chlorpyrifos oxon is significantly decreased, compared to control animals. Protection is maximal when PON1 is administered before the OPs, but still occurs when PON1 is utilized as a post-exposure treatment. Furthermore, protection by PON1 is also provided toward the parent compound chlorpyrifos. Pon1-knockout mice display a much greater sensitivity to chlorpyrifos oxon toxicity than wild mice. However, the acute toxicity of guthion, which is not a substrate for PON1, does not differ between knockout and wild mice. These observations underline the importance of considering both genetic variability of enzyme isoform as well as enzyme level (PON1 status) and the developmental time course of appearance of PON1 in developing risk assessment models.
Effects of smoking and oral contraception on plasma β-carotene levels in healthy women

Abstract Oral contraceptive use and smoking have been known to affect plasma vitamin levels. Total carotenoids have been studied with spectrophotometry, a relatively insensitive technique. In this study plasma concentrations of β-carotene and retinol were measured in coded samples by sensitive high-pressure liquid chromatography in a cross-sectional study of 149 normal healthy women attending a family planning clinic. At the time of recruitment in the morning, a general health questionnaire was administered for patient age, methods of contraception, smoking habits, and food intake at breakfast. Of the 149 enrolled volunteers, 88 were oral contraceptive users and 61 were not users. Among users, 21 smoked cigarettes, and there were 18 smokers among nonusers. Oral contraceptive users had significantly lower plasma concentrations of β-carotene (p or
Methodology of forensic neurotoxicity evaluation: PCB case

Abstract Many scientists and doctors are not aware that the level of certainty for litigation purposes differs from that usually associated with scientific studies. Although the 0.05 probability level is commonly used in scientific studies (“beyond a reasonable doubt”), in U.S. civil litigation the diagnostic criteria is “more probable than not” (greater than 0.50 or chance probability level). The following case of PCB neurotoxicity will be discussed within the context of a forensic evaluation. A number of workers were employed by a metal salvage company to strip copper coils from used electrical transformers. Symptoms of neurotoxicity developed in the men, which were evaluated by questionnaire, interview and psychological examination. Neuropsychological and nerve conduction tests were administered. Results showed deficits in nervous system function related to PCB exposure. An individual case is described in detail.
Simulations of rectification in a laser-illuminated scanning tunneling microscope

Abstract Asymmetry of the barrier in a STM, due to differences in the shapes of the tip and sample electrodes, would cause a small rectified current to be produced by the direct interaction of tunneling electrons with optical fields. We have simulated this model for rectification using two different numerical methods in which the potential was approximated using the multiple-image barrier for a hemispherical tip and planar sample. The results of these simulations suggest that the rectified currents would be much less than those which have been observed experimentally. Thus, we conclude that it is unlikely that the observed STM diode effects are caused by the direct interaction of tunneling electrons with the fields set up by a laser.
4-Thiouridine and the conformation of E. coli tRNA induced by spermidine.

Abstract The reactivity of 4-thiouridine in E. , coli tRNA is affected in several ways by spermidine and by Mg++. Spermidine increases the fluorescence of this nucleoside in tRNA about half as much as does Mg++. At low ratios of cation to tRNA, the two ions together are more active than either ion alone. The rate of formation of a photoproduct linking thiouridine (position 8) and nonadjacent cytidine (position 13) is greater in the presence of spermidine than with Mg++. The fluorescence of the NaBH4-reduced photoproduct made in Mg++ is reduced by dialysis and then more effectively restored by spermidine than by Mg++. Spermidine appears to effect a conformational change involving the contiguous dihydrouridine and C·C·A arms of tRNA.
Mechanisms of insulin resistance in obesity

Obesity increases the risk for type 2 diabetes through induction of insulin resistance. Treatment of type 2 diabetes has been limited by little translational knowledge of insulin resistance although there have been several well-documented hypotheses for insulin resistance. In those hypotheses, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, hyperinsulinemia and lipotoxicity have been the major concepts and have received a lot of attention. Oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, genetic background, aging, fatty liver, hypoxia and lipodystrophy are active subjects in the study of these concepts. However, none of those concepts or views has led to an effective therapy for type 2 diabetes. The reason is that there has been no consensus for a unifying mechanism of insulin resistance. In this review article, literature is critically analyzed and reinterpreted for a new energy-based concept of insulin resistance, in which insulin resistance is a result of energy surplus in cells. The energy surplus signal is mediated by ATP and sensed by adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. Decreasing ATP level by suppression of production or stimulation of utilization is a promising approach in the treatment of insulin resistance. In support, many of existing insulin sensitizing medicines inhibit ATP production in mitochondria. The effective therapies such as weight loss, exercise, and caloric restriction all reduce ATP in insulin sensitive cells. This new concept provides a unifying cellular and molecular mechanism of insulin resistance in obesity, which may apply to insulin resistance in aging and lipodystrophy.
The use of dynamic thermogravimetry and gas chromatography to the study of the chemical kinetics of solid-state decomposition reactions of some selected crystalline amino acids (and comparison of the method of differential thermal analysis)

Abstract Dynamic thermogravimetry was used to the study of chemical kinetics of solid-state decomposition reactions of four selected crystalline amino acids, L-serine, L-lysine, L-phenylalanine, and L-cysteine. Gas chromatographic techniques were employed to the analysis of evolved gaseous products during the course of thermal degradation reactions. The determined kinetic parameters by dynamic thermogravimetry were compared to those evaluated by the method of differential thermal analysis from the literature. It was found that the dynamic thermogravimetry method provides a more rapid, sensitive, simpler, and direct means for determining the kinetic parameters than differential thermal analysis. The results of kinetic data were discussed briefly with the proposed chemical processes and the structural properties and thermal stability of the compounds.
Smoking status relationships with the food and fluid intakes of free-living humans.

Abstract Objective The relation of cigarette smoking to food and fluid intakes was studied. Methods Ninety-nine smoking and 551 non-smoking free-living adult humans provided a detailed record of their eating and drinking in 7-d diaries. Results Cigarette smoking was associated with significant changes in overall intakes and meal pattern. Smokers had higher intakes of fluids in the form of drinks due to higher levels of alcohol and coffee/tea consumption. Smokers were less hungry but more responsive to social facilitation and time of day. There were also substantial gender differences in smoking relations to intake, with male smokers tending to have higher overall and meal intakes particularly of fats than non-smokers, whereas female smokers tended to have lower overall intakes, fewer meals, and lower amounts of carbohydrates than non-smokers. Male smokers tended to be less responsive to their before-meal stomach content, their level of hunger, and the palatability of the meal than non-smokers, whereas females tend to be more responsive to all of these influences on meal size. Conclusion These results suggest that smoking has very few direct simple effects on intake but rather influences intake indirectly through its covariation with alcohol and caffeine intakes and with dietary restraint and that smoking has different, sometimes opposite, influences in males and females.
Aircraft and ground measurements of ammonia in Kentucky

Abstract During the summer of 1983, ammonia concentrations were measured at the surface and aloft near Lexington, Kentucky. The results show wide daily variations. At the surface, ammonia concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 5.6 μg m −3 . Concentrations at night were much higher than those observed during the day. The concentrations aloft were lower than those measured concurrently at the surface. In most cases ammonia concentrations decreased with increasing altitude.
A free radical copolymerization model for simulating reactive processing of unsaturated polyester resins

A free radical copolymerization model is proposed for simulating the reaction rates and conversions of styrene monomer and unsaturated polyester resins during curing. This model is based on film theory in which the rate constants reflect both reaction and diffusion resistances. Differential scanning calorimetry in combination with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to measure the overall and individual reactivities of reacting species. Model parameters are determined from experimental data. The applicability of this model is demonstrated in a cure simulation.
Libraries, aggregator databases, screen readers and clients with disabilities

Three aggregator databases, EBSCOhost, InfoTrac, and First Search Electronic Collections Online (ECO), were analyzed for compliance with the Web accessibility guidelines published by the Web Access Initiative section of the World Wide Web Consortium. A sighted librarian then used each database with JAWS for Windows 3.7, OpenBook 5.0, ZoomText 7.0, and the L&H Kurzweil 1000 and 3000. Results indicate that JAWS for Windows 3.7 works best for the blind, and that ZoomText 7.0 is acceptable for those needing screen magnification. None of the databases tested offers a perfect accessibility option for clients with visual impairment. Conclusions suggest that aggregator databases do not follow the accessibility guidelines and consequently are not supplying accessible products.
Microwave thermal angioplasty in the normal and atherosclerotic rabbit model

The results of using microwave (2450 MHz) balloon angioplasty (MBA) in normal and diseased rabbits (animal models) are described. Pathological changes found in the media of normal rabbits ranged from inflamatory cell infiltration to loss of smooth muscle cells with medial thinning. Variable degrees of intimal proliferation were seen. A linear relationship between peak or mean temperature and injury to the media was observed, with an inverse relationship between intimal proliferation and medial injury suggested at one week following the procedure. In the atherosclerotic models, MBA at 85% degrees C resulted in an enhanced lumen diameter compared to conventional balloon angioplasty immediately after the procedure, but appeared to be persistant up to four weeks after BA. >
Rigorous exercise training increases superoxide dismutase activity in ventricular myocardium

Controversy exists as to the effect of endurance training on myocardial antioxidant enzyme activity. These experiments sought to clarify this issue by examining antioxidant enzyme activities in the rat ventricular myocardium in response to different intensities and durations of exercise training. Female Fischer-344 rats (120 days old) were assigned to either a sedentary control group or one of nine exercise training groups. Animals were exercised on a motorized treadmill for 10 wk; combinations of three durations (30, 60, and 90 min/day), and three levels of exercise intensity (low, moderate, and high) were studied. Exercise training did not alter (P > 0.05) citrate synthase, catalase, or glutathione peroxidase activities in the right or left ventricle. In contrast, high-intensity exercise (all durations) and moderate-intensity exercise (90 min/day) resulted in a significant increase (P or = 30 min/day) or moderate-intensity exercise of long duration (> or = 60 min/day) is effective in upregulating SOD activity in the ventricular myocardium.
Blessing on the Move: The Outpouring of God’s Blessing through the Migrant Abraham

AbstractIn this article, I explore the relationship between the mission of God and Abraham’s life as a foreign migrant. In the narrative of Genesis, Abraham enters as a nomadic foreigner called by God as a representative of the nations for the nations. The biblical text is remarkably silent on Abraham’s prior history listing no personal achievements, no remarkable character traits, and no religious background. Yet it is through this unknown migrant that God chose to proclaim his greatest blessing declaring that, “in [Abraham] all the nations of the earth will be blessed” (Gen 12:3). The missiological exploration of the person of Abraham usually ends with this divine proclamation, however this is simply the beginning of the outworking of God’s missional promise during Abraham’s lifetime. It is in analyzing Abraham’s cross-cultural encounters as a migrant that the full importance of the fulfillment of Genesis 12:3 emerges in addition to God’s strategic implementation of mission from the periphery.
The protein interaction map of bacteriophage lambda

Bacteriophage lambda is a model phage for most other dsDNA phages and has been studied for over 60 years. Although it is probably the best-characterized phage there are still about 20 poorly understood open reading frames in its 48-kb genome. For a complete understanding we need to know all interactions among its proteins. We have manually curated the lambda literature and compiled a total of 33 interactions that have been found among lambda proteins. We set out to find out how many protein-protein interactions remain to be found in this phage. In order to map lambda's interactions, we have cloned 68 out of 73 lambda open reading frames (the "ORFeome") into Gateway vectors and systematically tested all proteins for interactions using exhaustive array-based yeast two-hybrid screens. These screens identified 97 interactions. We found 16 out of 30 previously published interactions (53%). We have also found at least 18 new plausible interactions among functionally related proteins. All previously found and new interactions are combined into structural and network models of phage lambda. Phage lambda serves as a benchmark for future studies of protein interactions among phage, viruses in general, or large protein assemblies. We conclude that we could not find all the known interactions because they require chaperones, post-translational modifications, or multiple proteins for their interactions. The lambda protein network connects 12 proteins of unknown function with well characterized proteins, which should shed light on the functional associations of these uncharacterized proteins.
A unified concurrency control algorithm for distributed database systems

The authors present a unified concurrency control algorithm for distributed database systems in which each transaction may choose its own concurrency control protocol. Specifically, they integrate two-phase locking, timestamp ordering, and precedence agreement into one unified concurrency control scheme. They show the correctness of the scheme and study the problem of selecting the best protocol for each transaction to optimize system performance. >
New tender for Alvin

This month the Atlantis II will become the new tender ship for the Deep Submergence Research Vehicle (DSRV) Alvin. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's 64-m refitted ship replaces the 32-m catamaran Lulu, which has been Alvin's tender and escort for 19 years. Originally constructed as a temporary support vessel from two surplus mine sweeping pontoons, Lulu cannot move quickly enough or traverse the large distances required to support priority research. In the next three months, two workshops will review letters of intent to use the new ship/submersible team.
Valacyclovir pharmacokinetics and exploratory pharmacodynamics in young adults with Epstein-Barr virus infectious mononucleosis.

Primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection often results in infectious mononucleosis and is associated with serious sequelae. No treatment is approved for EBV infection, and an antiviral intervention would be significant. The objectives of this study are to characterize the pharmacokinetics and explore the pharmacodynamics of acyclovir in plasma and oral washings of 8 subjects receiving 7 days of valacyclovir 1500 mg twice daily for EBV infectious mononucleosis. Virologic and clinical responses are assessed over 12 days. Acyclovir is measured by liquid chromatography/ ultraviolet detection. EBV DNA is quantitated by TaqMan polymerase chain reaction. NONMEM VI and linear regression are used for data analysis. Acyclovir profiles in plasma and oral washings are consistent with a 1-compartment model. Final model estimates of clearance, volume of distribution, and fraction of acyclovir in oral wash supernatant are 49.9 L/h, 74.1 L, and 1.14%, respectively. The quantity of EBV DNA in oral washings and blood, and the severity of illness, measured by a graded scale, decrease during treatment. After treatment, viral rebound occurs in oral washings but not in blood, and the severity of illness continues to decline. Acyclovir pharmacokinetic parameters do not correlate with response metrics. These results support further studies of valacyclovir for EBV infectious mononucleosis.
Linear programming brings marital bliss

A stable matching is an assignment of n men to n women so that no two people prefer each other to their respective spouses. This paper describes the convex hull of the incidence vectors of stable matchings. With this description, one may solve the optimal stable marriage problem as a linear program.
Quality of oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation: A cross-sectional study in general practice

Objective: To evaluate the quality of management of oral anticoagulation among patients on oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation, and to verify the relation between patient performance and the risk of an event due to therapy. Methods: In a retrospectiv ec ross-sectional study involving 66 general practices, international normalized ratio (INR) values obtained over a6 -mo period were analysed. All INR values were determined by as ingle clinical laboratory, and additional medical information was provided by GPs. Results: 395 patients were included in the study ,w ith am ean age of 74 9 / 9.6 y. In total, 3111 INR values were obtained. The mean number of tests/month per patient was 2.7 9 / 4.3. At otal of 49 728 do ft herapy was evaluated. Fifty-three per cent of the day values were within 0.5 INR units of the target (and 69% within 0.75 INR units of the target). The incidence rate for major bleeding was 4.4/100 patient years (and 2.9/100 patient years for thromboembolic events). There was as ignificant relation between patient performance and the presence of an event ( p � / 0.017), with an odds ratio of 2.8 (95% CI 1.3 � 6.3). Conclusion: The quality of oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation is suboptimal. This is significantly related to an increased risk of haemorrhagic events.
Personality Determinants of Leadership and Participation in a Sociotherapy Program

The present study explores the relationship between personality and the differing modes of participation in a sociotherapy program set in an open, voluntary, long-term psychiatric hospital, in order to further our understanding of the relationship between sociotherapy and psychotherapy. Three groups of patients were defined from the recent population of the hospital: leaders, workers, and nonworkers, and clinical and psychometric data were compared across the groups. Mode of participation, as expected, was found to be unrelated to diagnosis or severity of disturbance. TAT stories were rated for power and affiliation motivation and power motivation was found to be positively correlated with leadership for female subjects, and strongly negatively correlated with leadership for males. Affiliation needs were found to be slightly negatively correlated with the adoption of a worker role. These findings were interpreted both in terms of the psychodynamics of the individual patient and in terms of the group and i...
Distributed interactive video arrays for event capture and enhanced situational awareness

Video surveillance activity has dramatically increased over the past few years. Earlier work dealt mostly with single stationary cameras, but the recent trend is toward active multicamera systems. Such systems offer several advantages over single camera systems - multiple overlapping views for obtaining 3D information and handling occlusions, multiple nonoverlapping cameras for covering wide areas, and active pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras for observing object details. To address these issues, we have developed a multicamera video surveillance approach, called distributed interactive video array. The DIVA framework provides multiple levels of semantically meaningful information ("situational" awareness) to match the needs of multiple remote observers. We have designed DIVA-based systems that can track and identify vehicles and people, monitor perimeters and bridges, and analyze activities. A new video surveillance approach employing a large-scale cluster of video sensors demonstrates the promise of multicamera arrays for homeland security.
Designing and Evaluating MPI-2 Dynamic Process Management Support for InfiniBand

Dynamic process management is a feature of MPI-2 that allows an MPI process to create new processes and manage communication with these processes. The dynamic creation of processes allows application writers to develop multiscale applications or master/worker based programs. Although several MPI implementations support this feature we are not aware of any studies on the issues in designing the dynamic process management interface and benchmarking of dynamic process framework. In this paper we design a MPI-2 dynamic process management interface over InfiniBand. We consider two alternative designs using Unreliable Datagram (UD) and Reliable Connection (RC) transport modes of InfiniBand with two job startup models. In our evaluations we found that having an UD based-design allows for much higher spawns rates with existing job launch frameworks. We also design a set of micro-benchmarks to evaluate the performance of our design and other MPI libraries. Finally, we provide an evaluation of the dynamic process framework using a re-designed ray-tracing application.
Embryo-transfer of the F2 postnatal calorie restricted female rat offspring into a control intra-uterine environment normalizes the metabolic phenotype.

Objective Postnatal calorie and growth restriction (PNGR) in the first generation (F1) rat female offspring causes a lean and glucose tolerant phenotype associated with hypoinsulinemia and reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Despite the absence of gestational hyperglycemia in the F1 PNGR female, naturally born second generation (F2) PNGR female adult offspring reportedly exhibit obesity, hyperglycemia with insulin resistance. The objective of this study was to determine the role of the intrauterine environment on the heritability of the trans-generational phenotypic expression in the F2 PNGR female adult offspring.
Transforming a graph into a 1-balanced graph

Let G be a non-trivial, loopless graph and for each non-trivial subgraph H of G, let g(H)=|E(H)||V(H)|-@w(H). The graph G is 1-balanced if @c(G), the maximum among g(H), taken over all non-trivial subgraphs H of G, is attained when H=G. This quantity @c(G) is called the fractional arboricity of the graph G. The value @c(G) appears in a paper by Picard and Queyranne and has been studied extensively by Catlin, Grossman, Hobbs and Lai. The quantity @c(G)-g(G) measures how much a given graph G differs from being 1-balanced. In this paper, we describe a systematic method of modifying a given graph to obtain a 1-balanced graph on the same number of vertices and edges. We obtain this by a sequence of iterations; each iteration re-defining one end-vertex of an edge in the given graph. After each iteration, either the value @c of the new graph formed is less than that of the graph from the previous iteration or the size of the maximal @c-achieving subgraph of the new graph is smaller than that of the graph in the previous iteration. We show that our algorithm is polynomial in time complexity. Further ways to decrease the number of iterations are also discussed.
Recent reliability reporting practices in Psychological Assessment: recognizing the people behind the data.

Helms, Henze, Sass, and Mifsud (2006) defined good practices for internal consistency reporting, interpretation, and analysis consistent with an alpha-as-data perspective. Their viewpoint (a) expands on previous arguments that reliability coefficients are group-level summary statistics of samples’ responses rather than stable properties of scales or measures and (b) encourages researchers to investigate characteristics of reliability data for their own samples and subgroups within their samples. In Study 1, we reviewed past and current reliability reporting practices in a sample of Psychological Assessment articles published across 3 decades (i.e., from the years 1989, 1996, and 2006). Results suggested that contemporary and past researchers’ reliability reporting practices have not improved over time and generally were not consistent with good practices. In Study 2, we analyzed an archival data set to illustrate the real-life repercussions of researchers’ ongoing misconstrual and misuse of reliability data. Our analyses suggested that researchers should conduct preliminary analyses of their data to determine whether their data fit the assumptions of their reliability analyses. Also, the results indicated that reliability coefficients varied across racial or ethnic and gender subgroups, and these variations had implications for whether the same depression measure should be used across groups. We concluded that the alpha-as-data perspective has implications for one’s choice of psychological measures and interpretation of results, which subsequently affect conclusions and recommendations. We encourage researchers to recognize the people behind their data by adopting better practices in internal consistency reporting, analysis, and interpretation.
Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Zoledronic Acid in Postmenopausal Women With High-Risk Breast Cancer

Abstract Purpose We present the results of a randomized multicenter clinical trial of adjuvant zoledronic acid (ZA) in postmenopausal women with high-risk breast cancer. The primary objective was change in bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and femoral neck at 1 year. Secondary objectives included change in calcaneal BMD, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. Patients and Methods Postmenopausal women with stage II/III breast cancer diagnosed up to 5 years previous were eligible and randomized to either observation or ZA 4 mg intravenous every 3 months. Bone mineral density testing was performed at 0, 6, and 12 months. Results Sixty-eight women were enrolled (36 ZA and 32 observation). The population was a median of 2 years from diagnosis and the majority received tamoxifen during the study. There was a significant difference in the mean change from baseline to 1 year follow-up for lumbar spine (increased by 4.28% ± 0.62%; P = .01), total femur (increased by 1.9% ± 0.4%; P = .03), trochanter (increased by 2.97% ± 0.69%; P = .03), and calcaneal BMD (increased by 2% ± 0.57%; P = .01) in favor of the ZA arm. No significant difference in the mean change for the femoral neck was seen. No significant differences in DFS or OS were observed. Conclusion Zoledronic acid significantly improved the BMD at multiple skeletal sites in postmenopausal women largely on tamoxifen. No new safety signals were noted. There were insufficient events to comment on DFS or OS.
Understanding-Misunderstanding A Philosophical and Theoretical Exploration

Understanding-misunderstanding is an intrinsic part of being human. It is understanding that might be said to underscore all communication. This article is an in-depth exploration of the philosophical views regarding human understanding from some of the greatest philosophers in history, and a glimpse into the disciplines of sociology, psychology, and nursing in their views on human understanding or related concepts. Human understanding-misunderstanding is supported in the literature as a paradox—one that continues to be mysterious and illimitable. In fact, it is the belief of this author, in every human encounter, one cannot not understand-misunderstand.
A newly recognized syndromeof multiple congenital anomalies

Three unrelated male children have been found to have a strikingly similar pattern ofmultiple congenital anomalies which suggests a common etiology. In addition to relative microcephaly with mental retardation and hypertonicity, these patients have incomplete development of the external genitals and abnormalities of the face, hands, and feet. Congenital pyloric stenosis was present in two of them. No chromosomal abnormality was found and the cause remains obscure though the apparent occurrence of the same condition in a deceased sibling of one of the patients suggests a genetic determination.
Analysis of Venous Thromboembolism Risk in Patients Undergoing Craniotomy.

Objectives Craniotomy poses a risk for postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the utility of anticoagulation in this patient population is unclear. We sought to identify risk factors predictive of VTE in patients undergoing craniotomy. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (ACS-NSQIP) database was reviewed for patients undergoing craniotomy. Clinical factors provided by the database were analyzed for association with VTE. Results A total of 10,477 adult patients who underwent craniotomy from 2011–2012 were identified. The rate of VTE was 3.2% (pulmonary embolism [PE] was 1.3%; deep vein thrombosis [DVT] was 2.4%). Several factors were significant in univariate analysis, and a subset persisted after multivariate analysis. Patients were assigned a risk score on the basis of the presence of those variables. Higher risk scores were predictive of VTE risk, as well as increasing time from surgery to discharge and mortality. A receiver operating characteristics curve revealed a significant area under the curve (0.719) for scores being predictive of VTE risk. The model was validated against our similar analysis of 2006–2010 NSQIP data and demonstrated comparable findings. Conclusions The risk of postoperative VTE after craniotomy can be quantified by a simple risk score, with increasing risk factors conferring increased risk of VTE. On the basis of risk scoring, a subset of patients who would benefit from anticoagulation post craniotomy may be identified.