cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Levels and distributions of phospholipids and cholesterol in the plasma membrane of neuroblastoma cells

Murine neuroblastoma cells (clone N-2A) grown in suspension (spinner cells) or attached on a plastic surface (monolayer cells) were used in studies of the phospholipid and cholesterol composition of whole cells, primary plasma membranes, plasma membranes internalized during phagocytosis of polystyrene latex beads, mitochondria and microsomes. Monolayer cells contained higher concentrations of total phospholipid, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine, and lower concentration of phosphatidylethanolamine than spinner cells. The cholesterol levels and the relative proportions of the various phospholipids were similar in both cell types except phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin whose proportions were lower in monolayer cells. The primary plasma membranes of the two cell types differed significantly in the relative proportions of all phospholipids, except sphingomyelin, and the phospholipid to protein and the cholesterol to protein ratios were all higher in the membranes of spinner cells. In contrast to these results, all the phospholipid to protein and the cholesterol to protein ratios of the internalized plasma membranes were higher in monolayer than in spinner cells, and the proportions of all phospholipids, except phosphatidylethanolamine, were similar in both cell types. The membrane distributions of individual phospholipids and cholesterol were inferred from comparison of the phospholipid and cholesterol compositions of primary plasma membranes and plasma membranes internalized during phagocytosis of polystyrene beads. The results are consistent with a non-random distribution of most phospholipids in both spinner and monolayer cells, but the patterns of these distributions were different in the two cell types. With regard to cholesterol the results are compatible with a random or a heterogeneous distribution. All the phospholipid to protein ratios of the mitochondrial fraction of both cell types were lower than those of the plasma membranes. However, these ratios of the microsomal fraction were higher than those of the plasma membranes of monolayer cells, whereas they were comparable, with a few exceptions, to those of spinner cell membranes. The cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratios of plasma membranes were 6.4 and 4.3 fold greater than those of the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions, respectively.
Critical Literacy in a Digital Era: Technology, Rhetoric, and the Public Interest: by Barbara Warnick, Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2002

The target audience for Warnick’s book consists of “teachers, students, and members of the general reading public who are interested in how persuasive [print and online] discourse” (p. vii) influences how people perceive Internet media. Her overarching questions for each of the case studies are (a) what groups are included and excluded in the discourse of the publication, and (b) how does the discourse accomplish its implicit or explicit rhetorical goals? With these questions in mind, Warnick critically analyzes three case studies that include several issues of Wired magazine from 1994 to 2000; cybergrrl web sites and e-zines in the mid-1990s; and political parody web sites of the 1996 and the 2000 elections. Her studies are textand image-based criticism, taking into account “textual context by considering media commentary, reader reactions, reviews, and textual responses” (p. 16). Warnick chose Wired for one of her case studies because it has a “readership of over one-half million, [and] this magazine plays an influential role in the thinking of its subscribers and some segments of the public” (p. 16) and because “Wired has been the only mass-circulation magazine designed to report on cutting edge, computer-based communication technology” (p. ix). She found from her survey of Wired’s late nineties issues that the magazine’s rhetorical strategies included predictable “writing formulae, narrative structures, argument forms, and patterns of emphasis and neglect” (p. 16). Overall, Warnick notes that the magazine preached to the proverbial choir, typically appealing to the technoliterate and new libertarians (people who subscribe to core libertarian ideology such as reduction or elimination of taxes and government regulation, privatized healthcare, and a completely laissez faire economy). The qualifier “new” designates the particular group of libertarians who believe they can achieve their goals with and through computer technology, solving many world problems and closing racial and economic gaps. Instead of the in-depth,
The pattern of spontaneous germ-line mutation: relative rates of mutation at or near CpG dinucleotides in the factor IX gene

Mutations at CpG dinucleotides were delineated in the factor IX gene of 38 hemophilia B patients. When transitions at CpG were considered with those previously reported by us and those compiled in the factor IX mutation database, the following patterns emerged. Many CpG sites were mutated with high frequency, while two CpG sites were infrequently mutated (R29→Q and R116→ TGA). Of the 6 possible nonsense mutations and the 14 missense mutations that would produce a nonconservative change at conserved amino acids, all have been observed to cause hemophilia B except A−10→T and R338→Q. By contrast, none of the 6 missense changes at nonconserved amino acids have been observed to cause hemophilia B. At those CpG sites that are frequently mutated, the rate of transitions is estimated to be 20-fold higher than transitions at non-CpG sites. Point mutations in close proximity to CpG dinucleotides did not seem elevated.
The effect of human genome annotation complexity on RNA-Seq gene expression quantification

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has brought human genomie research to an unprecedented era. RNA-Seq is a branch of NGS that can be used to quantify gene expression and depends on accurate annotation of the human genome (i.e., the definition of genes and all of their variants or isoforms). Multiple annotations of the human genome exist with varying complexity. However, it is not clear how the choice of genome annotation influences RNA-Seq gene expression quantification. We assess the effect of different genome annotations in terms of (1) mapping quality, (2) quantification variation, (3) quantification accuracy (i.e., by comparing to qRT-PCR data), and (4) the concordance of detecting differentially expressed genes. External validation with qRT-PCR suggests that more complex genome annotations result in higher quantification variation.
Methodology for Comparing Coupling Algorithms for Fluid-Structure Interaction Problems

The multi-physics simulation of coupled fluid-structure interaction problems, with disjoint fluid and solid domains, requires one to choose a method for enforcing the fluid-structure coupling at the interface between solid and fluid. While it is common knowledge that the choice of coupling technique can be very problem dependent, there exists no satisfactory coupling comparison methodology that allows for conclusions to be drawn with respect to the comparison of computational cost and solution accuracy for a given scenario. In this work, we develop a computational framework where all aspects of the computation can be held constant, save for the method in which the coupled nature of the fluid-structure equations is enforced. To enable a fair comparison of coupling methods, all simulations presented in this work are implemented within a single numerical framework within the deal.ii [1] finite element library. We have chosen the two-dimensional benchmark test problem of Turek and Hron [2] as an example to examine the relative accuracy of the coupling methods studied; however, the comparison technique is equally applicable to more complex problems. We show that for the specific case considered herein the monolithic approach outperforms partitioned and quasi-direct methods; however, this result is problem dependent and we discuss computational and modeling aspects which may affect other comparison studies.
Surgery increases fetal plasma prostacyclin.

Abstract Pulmonary arterial prostacyclin (as 6-keto-PGF 1α ) concentrations of near term, fetakl lambs and goats were determined following fetal surgery and 24, 48, and 72 hrs later. Blood gases, pH, and arterial pressure were determined also. At the end of 2.5 hrs of surgery including exteriorization of the uterus and fetal thorocotomy, pulmonary arterial concentrations of 6-keto-PGF 1α was 948 ± 92 (SEM) pg/ml of blood. Twenty-four hrs later it had fallen to 435 ± 92 pg/ml and remained constant for the duration of monitoring. Maternal arterial 6-keto-PGF 1α concentration was much lower (105 ± 20 pg/ml of blood). No significance changes in fetal Pa O 2 , Pa CO 2 , pH, or arterial pressure were observed, although Pa CO 2 appeared to be elevated and pH reduced following surgery. These values normalized within 24 hrs. We conclude that surgical perturbation increases fetal arterial prostacyclin concentration. Increased prostacyclin levels are transient, reaching stable values within 24 hrs following completion of extensive surgery.
Isolation and characterization of an acyl-CoA thioesterase from dark-grown Euglena gracilis

Abstract An acyl-CoA hydrolase from dark-grown Euglena gracilis Z was purified 700-fold by subjecting the 105,000g supernatant of the cell-free extract to (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, acid precipitation, calcium phosphate gel treatment, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, and chromatography on QAE-Sephadex, hydroxylapatite, and CM-Sephadex. Polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme showed a major protein band (>80%) which contained thioesterase activity and a minor protein band with no thioesterase activity. Molecular weight estimated by gel filtration was 37,000 and sodium dodecyl sulfate-electrophoresis showed one major band (>80%) corresponding to a molecular weight of 37,000 and a minor band of molecular weight 32,000, suggesting that the enzyme was monomeric. The pH optimum of the purified enzyme progressively increased with the chain length of the substrate, with hexanoyl-CoA showing a pH optimum at 4.5 and stearoyl-CoA at 7.0. The rate of hydrolysis of acyl-CoA showed a nonlinear dependence on protein concentration, and bovine serum albumin overcame this effect as well as stimulated the rate. The extent of stimulation by albumin increased with chain length of the substrate up to lauroyl-CoA and then decreased as chain length increased; albumin inhibited the hydrolysis of stearoyl-CoA. This enzyme hydrolyzed CoA esters of C6 to C18 fatty acids with a maximal rate of 17 μmol min−1 mg protein−1 for C14. Typical substrate saturation patterns were obtained with all substrates except that high concentrations were inhibitory. Studies on the effect of pH on the apparent Km and Vmax values for octanoyl-CoA, lauroyl-CoA, and palmitoyl-CoA showed that in all cases Vmax was greatest and Km was lowest at the respective pH optima. Active-serine-directed reagents severely inhibited the thioesterase activity, suggesting the participation of an active serine residue in catalysis; thiol-directed reagents were not effective inhibitors. Diethylpyrocarbonate also inhibited the enzyme and hydroxylamine reversed this inhibition, suggesting the involvement of a histidine residue in catalysis as expected for enzymes containing active serine. This thioesterase did not affect the chain length distribution of the products generated by the Euglena fatty acid synthase I.
Vaccine Responses Following Unrelated Double Cord Blood Transplantation (CBT)

s / Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 19 (2013) S194eS210 S208 cells by evaluating the relationship of the most common complications such as relapse, GVHD and infections.
Temporal organization and aging in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract For D. melanogaster age had a significant effect on the levels of photophilia, negative geotaxis and catalase activity observed. Moreover, increasing age appears to affect each of these phenomena differently, each process exhibiting a distinct pattern of age-related increase and decrease in activity level. It was also found that catalase activity levels and the degree of photophilia exhibited also varied significantly as function of the time of day at which they were measured. The degree of temporal variation for each of these functions appears to be strongly age related. This suggests that the ways in which these processes are organized in time may be affected by the advancing age of the organism. It is suggested that age-related rearrangements of these processes in time affect the functional capabilities of organisms, often with severe and life-threatening consequences.
Standard Errors in Educational Assessment

In many educational settings, educational gains are measured and evaluated rather than absolute levels of achievement. Gains might be estimated for individual students,teachers, schools, districts, and so forth. In some educational programs, schools are required to make "statistically significant" progress over the course of one school year. This would typically require and estimate of the standard error (SE for short) of the gain, which is a number representing the precision of the gain similar to the "margin of error" in polls. Because SEs can be used to define educational targets, it is important to understand precisely what a standard error is -- and this requires going beyond the simple textbook definition. Statistical methods are tools for understanding social processes, but there is no necessary connection between a statistical method and an empirical outcome. A policy analyst must ask how closely features of the statistical theory correspond to aspects of the measured outcomes for a given purpose. For example, how much does it matter if the assumption of random sampling is violated in certain ways? Can one assume that the children or educators at a particular school during a given year constitute a random sample of some population that is perhaps spread across time, space, as well as cultural and institutional dimensions?
The Impact of Maternal Childhood Abuse on Maternal and Infant HPA Axis Function in the Postpartum Period

BACKGROUND: Early life trauma, particularly child abuse, has been associated with aberrations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in adulthood. However, the relationship of early abuse and later adult neuroendocrine changes may be moderated by additional factors such as comorbid psychopathology and recent life stress. Parental exposure to child abuse may have transgenerational effects, with offspring of abuse victims showing similar neuroendocrine profiles as their mothers. The majority of previous studies in this area focus on adult offspring, and the degree to which the effects of parental child abuse can be detected earlier in the development of the offspring remains obscure. METHODS: The current study utilized a clinical sample of women with a history of MDD (N=126), to examine the effects of maternal early life sexual and physical abuse (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)) on both maternal and infant salivary cortisol levels during a laboratory stress paradigm at 6 months postpartum. RESULTS: Maternal child abuse was associated with steeper declines in cortisol in the mothers and lower baseline cortisol in their infants. Comorbid maternal PTSD, current maternal depressive symptoms, and recent life stressors were significant moderators of maternal cortisol change. Maternal abuse history was associated with increases in cortisol levels in those mothers who experienced these additional stressors. Similarly, a history of early maternal abuse and comorbid PTSD was associated with greater increases in infant cortisol levels. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal childhood abuse was associated with HPA axis function in both the mother and the infant during the postpartum period. Language: en
A complex interplay between Akt, TSC2 and the two mTOR complexes

Akt/PKB (protein kinase B) both regulates and is regulated by the TSC (tuberous sclerosis complex) 1–TSC2 complex. Downstream of PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase), Akt phosphorylates TSC2 directly on multiple sites. Although the molecular mechanism is not well understood, these phosphorylation events relieve the inhibitory effects of the TSC1–TSC2 complex on Rheb and mTORC1 [mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) complex] 1, thereby activating mTORC1 in response to growth factors. Through negative-feedback mechanisms, mTORC1 activity inhibits growth factor stimulation of PI3K. This is particularly evident in cells and tumours lacking the TSC1–TSC2 complex, where Akt signalling is severely attenuated due, at least in part, to constitutive activation of mTORC1. An additional level of complexity in the relationship between Akt and the TSC1–TSC2 complex has recently been uncovered. The growth-factor-stimulated kinase activity of mTORC2 [also known as the mTOR–rictor (rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR) complex], which normally enhances Akt signalling by phosphorylating its hydrophobic motif (Ser 473 ), was found to be defective in cells lacking the TSC1–TSC2 complex. This effect on mTORC2 can be separated from the inhibitory effects of the TSC1–TSC2 complex on Rheb and mTORC1. The present review discusses our current understanding of the increasingly complex functional interactions between Akt, the TSC1–TSC2 complex and mTOR, which are fundamentally important players in a large variety of human diseases.
Behavior of QQ-Plots and Genomic Control in Studies of Gene-Environment Interaction

Genome-wide association studies of gene-environment interaction (GxE GWAS) are becoming popular. As with main effects GWAS, quantile-quantile plots (QQ-plots) and Genomic Control are being used to assess and correct for population substructure. However, in GE work these approaches can be seriously misleading, as we illustrate; QQ-plots may give strong indications of substructure when absolutely none is present. Using simulation and theory, we show how and why spurious QQ-plot inflation occurs in GE GWAS, and how this differs from main-effects analyses. We also explain how simple adjustments to standard regression-based methods used in GE GWAS can alleviate this problem.
Quantifying Radar Measurement Errors in a Live-Virtual-Constructive Environment to Determine System Viability: A Case Study

We present a case study that attempts to replicate the realism of a test range using a Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) simulation. Because resources are limited on a real test range, the Air Force Simulation and Analysis Facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, was tasked to build a simulation that emulated, to a high degree of fidelity, test range assets – the goal was to understand the impact of jamming on an enemy’s integrated air defense system. Before testing began, the simulated effects generated by the LVC simulation have to be viable, robust and realistic in order to provide credible data during later phases of experimentation. We present our approach to evaluating the correctness of the LVC simulation that considers sources of error associated with real-world radar measurements, errors caused by model abstraction and errors introduced due to real-time distributed simulation architectures, including shared state-space inconsistencies, coordinate conversion issues and a common time r...
A systems approach to improving fleet policy compliance within the US Federal Government

To reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy, address climate change, and improve environmental quality, the US government has established a goal of reducing petroleum fuel use in its federal agencies. To this end, the government requires its agencies to purchase alternative fuel vehicles, use alternative fuel, and adopt other strategies to reduce petroleum consumption. Compliance with these requirements, while important, creates challenges for federal fleet managers who oversee large, geographically dispersed fleets. In this study, a group of 25 experienced federal fleet managers participated in a pilot study using a structured methodology for developing strategies to comply with fleet requirements while using agency resources as efficiently as possible. Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods were used to identify and quantify agency priorities in combination with a linear programming model to optimize the purchase of fleet vehicles. The method was successful in quantifying tradeoffs and decreasing the amount of time required to develop fleet management strategies. As such, it is recommended to federal agencies as a standard tool for the development of these strategies in the future.
Alice and DIVER: a software architecture for building environments

We are developing a rapid prototyping system built on an object-oriented, interpreted language which allows small interdisciplinary teams to quickly create and modify three-dimensional interactive simulations. Like other systems, we separate the simulation and presentation frame rates, but unlike existing systems, we do so in such a way that the application-level programmer need not understand the multi-process architecture. The system has been used for building perceptual psychology experiments, for replicating techniques developed by other researchers, and for experimenting with novel three-dimensional interaction techniques.
Sociometry: Tools for research and practice

Abstract This article reviews basic sociometric tools and their analysis, provides information on computer programs to analyze sociornetric data, and briefly examines considerations in conducting sociometric investigations.
Dose–response study of intracoronary beta-radiation with 32P in balloon- and stent-injured coronary arteries in swine

Abstract Purpose: A dose–response study was performed in swine to investigate the vascular effects of 32 P over a broad range of doses in order to define the therapeutic window of intracoronary radiotherapy (ICR) with 32 P. Methods and Materials: A total of 131 porcine arteries were subjected to balloon injury or stenting followed by 0–36 Gy of ICR from a centered 32 P source wire to 1 mm beyond lumen surface or a sham ICR procedure. Animals were euthanized at 4 weeks, and vessels were harvested for histomorphometry. Results: In the balloon-injured arteries, doses of 7 and 9 Gy did not impact restenosis. At doses of 14–36 Gy, neointima was markedly reduced, with mild dilatation at the highest dose, 36 Gy. In the stent-injured arteries, the lowest dose of 9 Gy failed to reduce neointimal growth, while 14–26 Gy showed the most favorable response. Conclusions: ICR with 32 P features a broad therapeutic window. Doses of 14–26 Gy to 1 mm beyond lumen surface provided an optimal combination of efficacy and safety. Doses of 7 and 9 Gy were generally ineffective, suggesting a minimum threshold for ICR with 32 P to effectively inhibit restenosis.
Review: adjuvant hormonotherapy for breast cancer

ADEQUATE local therapy is available for primary brcast cancer in the form of surgery f radiotherapy. Unfortunately, the majority of women with breast cancer are destined to have disease recurrencc and ultimately die of their disease. The interest in adjuvant therapy for selected patients with primary breast cancer has been kindled by improvements in systemic therapy for advanced breast cancer and by increased appreciation for the biology of treatment of minima1 residual disease following primary therapy. The use of hormones as adjuvant therapy in the primary treatment of breast cancer is not a new concept. The roles of radiation-induced menopause and surgical castration as adjuvants to primary therapy were explored over the last three decades. Various non-controlled studies and randomized controllcd trials have yielded conflicting results; although several studies reported an effect of radiation-induced castration in delaying the appcarance of distant metastases in both preand postmenopausal patients, the overall survival has not been improvcd statistically with either surgical oophorcctomy or radiation to the ovaries. Mcakin el al. prospectivcly randomized premcnopausal patients over the age of 45 and postmcnopausal womcn following surgery and radiothcrapy to the chcst wal1 and regional lymph nodcs to obscrvation only, ovarian irradiation and ovarian irradiation plus prcdnisonc (7.5 mg po q day for up to 5 yr) [ 11. The combination of ovarian radiation plus smal1 doses of continuous prednisonc produccd a significant dclay in rccurrcncc and prolongation in survival in this subset of prcmcnopausal paticnts. NO differcncc in timc to rccurrcncc nor in survival was detccted in postmcnopausal paticnts among thc thrce arms. Thc bcncficial cf&cct of ovarian irradiation plus continuous prcdnisone in thc prcmcnopausal paticnts over thc age of 45 did not becomc statistically significant until aftcr 3 yr of follow up. It is important to notc that thc trial size was smal1 and thc duration of patient accrual was long.
Job resignation as a function of role orientation and leader acceptance: A longitudinal investigation of organizational assimilation

Based upon a model derived from the results of an earlier study by Graen, Orris, and Johnson (Journal of Vocational Behavior, 1973, 3, 395–420), this study tested a set of hypotheses concerning the contributions of variables from two domains of the job situation (Work Itself and Leadership Exchange) to job perceptions and later job resignations. Predictor and job perception data were collected from clerical job incumbents and their immediate supervisors at two separate times (6 months apart), and resignation data were collected from records 18 months later. Results on the contribution of earlier role orientation (a measure of the relative acceptance of the work itself) to later job experiences and resignations generally replicated those of the earlier study (Graen et al., 1973). Results on the contribution of leader acceptance (a measure of the adequacy of the leadership exchange) to job experiences and job resignations supported the hypotheses derived from the earlier results. Contrary to the hypothesized model, evidence was found for a combined (interaction) contribution of role orientation and leader acceptance on frequency of resignations. Theoretical and practical implications of this compensatory model of (a) role orientation and (b) leadership acceptance are discussed.
An Analytic Proof of Young's Inequality

(1970). An Analytic Proof of Young's Inequality. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 77, No. 6, pp. 603-609.
Organically Growing Internal Coaches

An Intuit Small Business Division (SBD) process “Agile Done Right” (ADR) helps ensure the proper use of agile to maximize business results and minimize process problems. ADR requires an agile coach like those used in the successful SEI’s Team Software Process (TSP)SM program at Intuit. Coaches ensure the process is “done right” and help teams with process problems. The need to develop project-embedded ADR coaches and to raise the level of agile maturity to reduce missteps drove the need for internal coach training. This paper covers the performance objectives, the concept of a meeting-driven training approach, and the key agile topics in the training. Some of those are “stock” Scrum process. The more interesting ADR modules covered in depth are those with specific adaptations for SBD. They include an overview of ADR, the set of Iteration 0 meetings, the set of Recurring Iteration meetings, and the ADR Coaches Toolkit.
Trihexyphenidyl—Experimental Studies Employing a Muscle-Nerve Preparation*

Evidence is presented to indicate that trihexypheaidyl, when injected intravenously in dogs, produces a decrease in muscle response to applied electrical stimuli. It has been demonstrated that this decrease in muscle response is due to activity of trihexyphenidyl above the nerve-spinal cord-muscle reflex arc.
Transformation of "signet ring cell" lymphoma to typical nodular, poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma: light microscopic, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic observations.

Malignant lymphoma with intracellular immunoglobulins giving a “signet ring” appearance to the lymphocytes is a recently described morphologic variant with specific ultrastructural and immunohistochemical characteristics. We report a case that had this distinctive morphology when initially biopsied but on subsequent biopsy 2 1/2 years later had the typical appearance of a poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma without “signet ring” cells. The same monoclonal immunoglobulin class and light chain type was demonstrated in both biopsies using immunohistochemical techniques. Rare cells in the second biopsy showed the characteristic ultrastructural findings. These findings support the concept of a continuum of cell types in malignant lymphoma, with transformation toward a cell line lacking the peculiar characteristics resulting in this unique appearance.
Are teachers overpaid? Some evidence from Brazil

This paper uses data from the 1980 Brazilian census to investigate the issue on whether teachers are overpaid. Earnings standardization for human capital and other worker characterisitcs shows that primary school teachers in Brazil are not overpaid relative to those in other occupations, whereas the evidence for secondary school teachers is mixed. The overall lesson is caution regarding hasty recommendations that teachers' salaries should be cut in order to achieve budgetary savings.
Dispersion studies in THz plasmonic devices with cavities

Analytical and numerical studies of the dispersion properties of grating gated THz plasmonic structures show that the plasmonic crystal dispersion relation can be represented in terms of effective index of the dielectric medium around the 2DEG for the plasmons. Forbidden energy band gaps are observed at Brillion zone boundaries of the plasmonic crystal. FDTD calculations predict the existence of the plasmonic modes with symmetrical, antisymmetrical and asymmetrical charge distributions. Breaking the translational symmetry of the crystal lattice by changing the electron concentration of the two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) under a single gate line in every 9th gate induces a cavity state. The induced cavity state supports a weekly-coupled cavity mode.
On simultaneous binary collisions in the planar n-body problem

We will introduce thegeneralized Levi-Civita transformation (§2.3(a)) near the simultaneous binary collision (SBC) singularity of the planar n-body problem and study the asymptotic behaviour ofSBC orbits. Then, we will show the following in these variables: (1) For eachSBC orbit there is a unique simultaneous binary ejection (SBE) orbit, together they form a C1 curve which we call a collision-ejection (C-E) orbit. (2) The collection of collision-ejection orbits form a Co submanifold which we call the collision-ejection (C-E) manifold. (3) There is a sectorS, made of line segments through theSBC singularity, such that near by solutions leaveS no matter how thinS is, and only theC-E manifold lies entirely inS.
Altered cardiac muscle mTOR regulation during the progression of cancer cachexia in the ApcMin/+ mouse

Cancer cachexia is a muscle wasting condition that occurs in response to a malignant growth in the body. The mechanisms regulating cardiac muscle mass with cachexia are not well understood. Using the ApcMin/+ mouse model of colorectal cancer, we investigated how cachexia affects the regulation of 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in the heart. Compared to age-matched C57BL/6 (BL6) mice, ApcMin/+ body mass and heart mass were lower at 12 (11 ± 5 and 8 ± 3%, respectively) and 20 weeks (26 ± 3 and 6 ± 4%, respectively) of age (P<0.05). Diminished heart mass in the 20-week-old ApcMin/+ mice coincided with a decreased rate of myofibrillar protein synthesis and increased AMPKα phosphorylation. Cachexia decreased mTOR phosphorylation and the phosphorylation of the mTOR substrates, S6 ribosomal protein and 4EBP1 independent of Akt activation. These changes in mTOR-related protein signaling were accompanied by modest increases in the amount of Beclin1 but not protein ubiquitination or cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Taken together, these data suggest that loss of cardiac mass during cachexia progression in the ApcMin/+ mouse is associated with an Akt-independent suppression of anabolic signaling and evidence of increased autophagy.
Cardiovascular features of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: analysis of 16 patients

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by an autosomal codominant inheritance, an abnormality in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor function, elevated plasma cholesterol levels and premature atherosclerosis. Sixteen patients with homozygous FH were studied to correlate the extent of their atherosclerotic disease with their lipid levels and receptor function. The age range at initial presentation was 3 to 38 years (mean 12), and at the last examination, 6 to 43 years (mean 20). The mean pretreatment total plasma cholesterol concentration for all patients was 729 +/- 58 mg/dl (+/- standard error of the mean), and the mean LDL cholesterol level was 672 +/- 58 mg/dl (normal 60 to 176). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 28 +/- 3 mg/dl (normal 30 to 74). In the 7 patients with FH who had symptoms of myocardial ischemia (Group I), the mean pretreatment LDL cholesterol value (817 +/- 62 mg/dl) was higher than that of the 9 asymptomatic patients (Group II) (560 +/- 74 mg/dl). In Group I, 5 of 7 patients had left or right coronary ostial narrowing and 3 had significant left ventricular outflow obstruction. Most coronary arterial narrowing occurred in the right coronary and left anterior descending arteries and the least amount in the left circumflex coronary artery. A femoral bruit was the physical finding that correlated best with the Group I population; brother:sister pairs revealed a milder clinical course for the female. Seven of the 16 patients have survived into their third decade without symptoms. Comparison of these persons with those in whom angina developed reveals a marked heterogeneity in their clinical course, which appears to be associated with receptor negative/defective status.
Comparisons of techniques for measurement of D‐region electron densities

This paper reviews the ground-based and rocket techniques that are presently being used to determine electron density profiles in the ionospheric D region. Ground-based techniques include VLF, LF, and MF sounding; differential absorption and differential phase measurements using partial reflections; wave interaction; and incoherent scatter. Rocket techniques include differential absorption and Faraday rotation in association with high-resolution dc probes calibrated by means of the radio measurements. The characteristics of the aforementioned techniques are presented, including time and height resolution, accuracy estimates, preferred height ranges, and problems encountered. Electron density profiles obtained with these techniques are presented for comparable solar zenith angles and undisturbed solar and geophysical conditions.
Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in Skim Milk and Liquid Egg White by Antimicrobial Bottle Coating with Polylactic Acid and Nisin

This study was to develop an antimicrobial bottle coating method to reduce the risk of outbreaks of human listeriosis caused by contaminated liquid foods. Liquid egg white and skim milk were inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes Scott A and stored in glass jars that were coated with a mixture of polylactic acid (PLA) polymer and nisin. The efficacy of PLA per nisin coating in inactivating L. monocytogenes was investigated at 10 and 4 degrees C. The pathogen grew well in skim milk without PLA/nisin coating treatments, reaching 8 log CFU/mL after 10 d and then remained constant up to 42 d at 10 degrees C. The growth of Listeria at 4 degrees C was slower than that at 10 degrees C, taking 21 d to obtain 8 log CFU/mL. At both storage temperatures, the PLA coating with 250 mg nisin completely inactivated the cells of L. monocytogenes after 3 d and throughout the 42-d storage period. In liquid egg white, Listeria cells in control and PLA coating without nisin samples declined 1 log CFU/mL during the first 6 d at 10 degrees C and during 28 d at 4 degrees C, and then increased to 8 or 5.5 log CFU/mL. The treatment of PLA coating with 250 mg nisin rapidly reduced the cell numbers of Listeria in liquid egg white to undetectable levels after 1 d, then remained undetectable throughout the 48 d storage period at 10 degrees C and the 70 d storage period at 4 degrees C. These data suggested that the PLA/nisin coating treatments effectively inactivated the cells of L. monocytogenes in liquid egg white and skim milk samples at both 10 and 4 degrees C. This study demonstrated the commercial potential of applying the antimicrobial bottle coating method to milk, liquid eggs, and possibly other fluid products.
Development of a protocol for monitoring status and trends in forest soil carbon at a national level.

The national Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) program requires protocols for monitoring soil carbon contents. In a pilot study, 30 FHM plots loblolly/shortleaf (Pinus taeda L./Pinus echinata Mill.) pine forests across Georgia were sampled by horizon and by depth increments. For total soil carbon, approximately 40% of the variance was between plots, 40% between subplots and 20% within subplots. Results by depth differed from those obtained by horizon primarily due to the rapid changes in carbon content from the top to the bottom of the A horizon. Published soil survey information overestimated bulk densities for these forest sites. The measurement of forest floor depths as a substitute to sampling did not provide reliable estimates of forest floor carbon. Precision of replicate samples was approximately 10–30% for field duplicates and 5–10% for laboratory duplicates. Based on national indicator evaluation criteria, sampling by depth using bulk density core samplers has been recommended for national implementation. Additional procedures are needed when sampling organic soils or soils with a high percentage of large rock fragments. # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
An engineering-economic model of pipeline transport of CO2 with application to carbon capture and storage

Abstract Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) involves the capture of CO2 at a large industrial facility, such as a power plant, and its transport to a geological (or other) storage site where CO2 is sequestered. Previous work has identified pipeline transport of liquid CO2 as the most economical method of transport for large volumes of CO2. However, there is little published work on the economics of CO2 pipeline transport. The objective of this paper is to estimate total cost and the cost per tonne of transporting varying amounts of CO2 over a range of distances for different regions of the continental United States. An engineering-economic model of pipeline CO2 transport is developed for this purpose. The model incorporates a probabilistic analysis capability that can be used to quantify the sensitivity of transport cost to variability and uncertainty in the model input parameters. The results of a case study show a pipeline cost of US$ 1.16 per tonne of CO2 transported for a 100 km pipeline constructed in the Midwest handling 5 million tonnes of CO2 per year (the approximate output of an 800 MW coal-fired power plant with carbon capture). For the same set of assumptions, the cost of transport is US$ 0.39 per tonne lower in the Central US and US$ 0.20 per tonne higher in the Northeast US. Costs are sensitive to the design capacity of the pipeline and the pipeline length. For example, decreasing the design capacity of the Midwest US pipeline to 2 million tonnes per year increases the cost to US$ 2.23 per tonne of CO2 for a 100 km pipeline, and US$ 4.06 per tonne CO2 for a 200 km pipeline. An illustrative probabilistic analysis assigns uncertainty distributions to the pipeline capacity factor, pipeline inlet pressure, capital recovery factor, annual O&M cost, and escalation factors for capital cost components. The result indicates a 90% probability that the cost per tonne of CO2 is between US$ 1.03 and US$ 2.63 per tonne of CO2 transported in the Midwest US. In this case, the transport cost is shown to be most sensitive to the pipeline capacity factor and the capital recovery factor. The analytical model elaborated in this paper can be used to estimate pipeline costs for a broad range of potential CCS projects. It can also be used in conjunction with models producing more detailed estimates for specific projects, which requires substantially more information on site-specific factors affecting pipeline routing.
Mass Spectra and Retention Indexes for Polycyclic Aromatic Sulfur Heterocycles and Some Alkylated Analogs

Polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASH) are ubiquitous in fossil fuels and pose risk to the environment due to their toxicity. Some PASH, resistant to degradation in the environment, are used to differentiate pollutant source and weathering. Although retention data exist for some PASH, few mass spectra are available, so misidentification often occurs between isomers in the same family. In this study, the retention behavior of 119 PASH on 14%-cyanopropyl/86%-polydimethylsiloxane (DB-1701ms), trifluoropropylmethylpolysiloxane (Rtx-200ms), 5%-phenyl/95%-dimethyl (Rxi-5ms), and 50%-diphenyl/50%-dimethyl (Rxi-17Sil-ms) are reported along with their mass spectra. This data is guiding on-going research aimed at identifying PASH in coal tar by multidimensional GC-GC/MS for compounds where standards are not available.
Value of power Doppler imaging and the hypoechoic halo in the sonographic detection of foreign bodies: correlation with histopathologic findings.

Objective. To present the power Doppler findings and evaluate the hypoechoic rim in increasing the conspicuity of foreign bodies detected on sonography and to correlate the sonographic and histopathologic findings. Methods. Between 1998 and 2001, all sonographic examinations for evaluation of possible foreign bodies were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who had surgical exploration and pathologic evaluation were included in the study. Gray scale and power Doppler examinations were performed with high-frequency linear array transducers. Histologic evaluation was then correlated with the sonographic findings. Results. Twenty-five patients were referred for evaluation of possible foreign bodies. Twelve patients underwent surgery and had pathologic correlation. Sonography had sensitivity of 92% for the overall detection of foreign bodies. There were 2 false-positive findings in which discrete foreign bodies were not seen at gross inspection, but inflammation and scar tissue were present at histologic examination. Pathologic findings were thought to represent chronic foreign body reactions. Hypervascularity immediately surrounding the foreign bodies was shown on power Doppler imaging in all cases, correlating with granulation tissue and neovascularity on pathologic examinations. The hypoechoic halo was shown in all but 2 cases and correlated with fibrinous exudate, granulation tissue, and collagenous capsule formation. Conclusions. Sonography is an effective and sensitive tool for the detection of soft tissue foreign bodies. The use of power Doppler imaging may aid in detection of possible foreign bodies by increasing the conspicuity of both the hypoechoic halo and the foreign body
Long-term changes in purposive and reflexive responses to nociceptive stimulation following anterolateral chordotomy

Macaca nemestrina monkeys received unilateral interruption of the spinothalamic tract, producing contralateral hypalgesia and a bilateral decrease in amplitude of the flexion reflex. These effects on operant escape and reflex responses to electrocutaneous stimulation (ES) were monitored for months to evaluate relationships between the extent of each lesion and the presence or absence of recovery from the early postoperative deficits. Before surgery, the animals were trained to perform an operant response that terminated ES to the lateral calf of either leg. The durations of ES tolerated by each monkey were inversely related to stimulus intensities within the pain sensitivity range of human subjects. The vigor of operant escape responses and the frequency of intertrial pulls of the manipulandum were directly related to stimulus intensity. Following anterolateral chordotomy at an upper thoracic level, these measures revealed a contralateral hypalgesia for each animal. Operant responsivity to stimulation contralateral to the lesion recovered to control levels for 7 animals (group R). Sustained contralateral recovery of operant reactivity was not observed for 8 monkeys (group U). Most of the lesions in groups R and U were similar in extent and location, involving the classical distribution of the spinothalamic tract (in the anterolateral and ventral columns). Thus, recovery was not determined solely by lesion configuration. However, when recovery did occur, it was associated with medially extensive lesions. A subgroup of 3 unrecovered animals received superficial lesions that did not substantially involve the gray matter or the ventral columns. For all animals, reflex magnitudes were initially diminished bilaterally and then increased over months of testing. Reflex recovery was greater for the animals that demonstrated recovery of intentional reactions to nociception (group R). An ipsilateral hyperreflexia became apparent for group R. Contralateral recovery to normal levels was observed for group R but not for group U. The time course of recovery for operant and reflex responses clearly differed, indicating that different processes determined changes in these spinal and supraspinal reactions to nociceptive stimulation.