cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Steric confinement of proteins on lipid membranes can drive curvature and tubulation

Deformation of lipid membranes into curved structures such as buds and tubules is essential to many cellular structures including endocytic pits and filopodia. Binding of specific proteins to lipid membranes has been shown to promote membrane bending during endocytosis and transport vesicle formation. Additionally, specific lipid species are found to colocalize with many curved membrane structures, inspiring ongoing exploration of a variety of roles for lipid domains in membrane bending. However, the specific mechanisms by which lipids and proteins collaborate to induce curvature remain unknown. Here we demonstrate a new mechanism for induction and amplification of lipid membrane curvature that relies on steric confinement of protein binding on membrane surfaces. Using giant lipid vesicles that contain domains with high affinity for his-tagged proteins, we show that protein crowding on lipid domain surfaces creates a protein layer that buckles outward, spontaneously bending the domain into stable buds and tubules. In contrast to previously described bending mechanisms relying on local steric interactions between proteins and lipids (i.e. helix insertion into membranes), this mechanism produces tubules whose dimensions are defined by global parameters: domain size and membrane tension. Our results suggest the intriguing possibility that confining structures, such as lipid domains and protein lattices, can amplify membrane bending by concentrating the steric interactions between bound proteins. This observation highlights a fundamental physical mechanism for initiation and control of membrane bending that may help explain how lipids and proteins collaborate to create the highly curved structures observed in vivo.
Discouraging window breakers: The lagged effects of police activity on crime

Abstract Background Previous studies have tested numerous times with mixed results the utility of Wilson and Kelling's (1982) Broken Windows theory as a crime reduction strategy. Despite mixed scholarship, Broken Windows enforcement has remained a staple in municipal policing strategies. Materials and Methods Unlike previous studies, this study operationalized Broken Windows at the sector level and examined the effects of proactive policing activities –traffic citations and non-traffic citations – on monthly-reported violent and property crimes. Results Lagged-effects negative binomial models suggest mixed support for Broken Windows. Specifically, Broken Windows measures failed to predict violent crime, but non-traffic citations reduced property crime at all three lagged intervals. Conclusion Broken Windows enforcement activity has the potential to reduce crime when operationalized correctly. Additionally, the lagged effects suggested non-traffic citations had a lagged deterrent effect on property crime.
Glass Nanopore-Based Ion-Selective Electrodes

Glass nanopore-based all-solid-state ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) have been developed to probe the distribution of ionic species at micro- or submicrometer-length scales, e.g., mapping of ion flux through micrometer-sized pores. The all-solid-state ISE was fabricated by sealing a conically etched platinum wire (d = 25-μm; radius of etched tip <10 nm) into a soda lime glass capillary. A Pt disk was exposed by gentle polishing the glass and the disk etched to form a conical pore of submicrometer dimension (radius <∼500 nm; depth <∼30 μm). Ag was electroplated on the Pt electrode in the pore and gently chloridated to obtain a AgCl/Ag layer within the pore. The AgCl/Ag layer-coated ISE was used as a highly selective Cl- probe in scanning electrochemical microscope experiments to map the ion flux through a micropore. The same ISE was also used as the base transducer of the neutral carrier-doped solvent polymeric membrane. The optimized polymer membranes used for the glass nanopore-based all-solid-state ISE ...
Postresponse exposure to warning signal in avoidance extinction

Delayed termination of the warning signal following extinction responses has been shown to facilitate extinction of discriminative avoidance. In order to determine the relative roles in extinction of delayed termination per se and postresponse exposure to the warning signal, which is necessarily confounded with delayed termination treatment, seven groups of rats were first trained on a one-way avoidance task in which a buzzer served as part of the warning-signal complex. Then, on nonshock extinction trials, the buzzer (a) terminated immediately with a response and was not reinstated in the postresponse interval, (b) terminated immediately with a response and was reinstated for a 5- or 10-sec period 5 or 15 sec following the response, or (c) terminated 5 or 10 sec following a response (delayed termination). Results indicated that exposure to the buzzer at postresponse intervals greater than 5 sec following responses was critically involved in reducing resistance to extinction. This finding supports a conditioned relief interpretation of the delayed warning signal termination effect and is consistent with the effect of response prevention techniques on extinction.
Exciton generation in suspended carbon nanotube FETs: a computational study

Optical emission in carbon nanotube devices has potential for many technological applications. Electroluminescence in a recently demonstrated carbon nanotube transistor, with a partially suspended geometry, is attributed to excitonic recombination. Here, we report detailed device simulations for this device structure, treating the excitonic and phonon scattering effects on transport. We confirm the localized generation of excitons near the trench-substrate junction, and the bias dependence of emission characteristics. Furthermore, we provide insight into device operation, exploring device optimization schemes; specifically, the effects of the trench depth and of high-k substrate oxides. We observe a moderate increase in emission efficiency for high-aspect ratio trenches, while high-k oxides could lead to significant improvements.
Neurobehavioral assessment of Mohawk Indians for subclinical indications of methyl mercury neurotoxicity.

Abstract A total of 200 male and 200 adult female Mohawk Indians were examined by means of performance tests as part of a total health evaluation of participants in a medical field survey on the St. Regis Reserve. Age-corrected performance test scores were studied in relation to blood, urinary, and hair methyl mercury (MeHg) levels, and local fish consumption. Males were found to eat more fish than females and had relatively higher MeHg levels than females. Blood and hair MeHg levels were significantly correlated with local fish consumption for both sexes. Biological indicators of MeHg absorption suggested low exposure levels but did not correlate significantly with performance test scores. These findings indicate that at the time of examination, St. Regis residents were exposed to almost “background” levels of MeHg and did not exhibit either subclinical or clinical manifestations of MeHg neurotoxicity.
TGF-β and colorectal carcinogenesis

There is substantial evidence to support the contention that the Smad portion of the TGF-β signal transduction pathway provides an important tumor-suppressor function. Mutational loss of function of Smad pathway members have been associated with the development of human cancers and appear to be causative in selected rodent carcinogenesis models. TGF-β also has multiple other actions that appear to be independent of the growth-inhibitory/tumor suppressor effects. The predominant effect of TGF-β appears to be dependent on the context of the responding cell. Once transformation has occurred, TGF-β effects may be detrimental and may actually promote tumor cell survival, invasion, and metastasis. Recent work suggests that these effects may involve TGF-β regulation of COX-2 and other pathways that may contribute to tumor cell aggressiveness. In gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms by which TGF-β may promote tumor progression, it is likely that new therapeutic strategies may be developed that preserve tumor-suppressor function of TGF-β while inhibiting the tumor-promoting effects. Microsc. Res. Tech. 52:450–457, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
ETHNIC DIFFERENCES AMONG HOUSEWIVES IN PSYCHOPHYSICAL AND SKIN POTENTIAL RESPONSES TO ELECTRIC SHOCK.

From earlier work on the effects of instructional sets, it was hypothesized that subcultural differences in attitudes toward pain should be reflected in psycho-physiological correlates. Yankee, Irish. Jewish, and Italian housewives participated in threshold and magnitude estimation studies of electric shock, and their skin potential responses to repetitive electrical stimulation were recorded. Significant differences in upper thresholds and in the adaptation of diphasic palmar skin potentials are consonant with attitudinal differences, and such differences support earlier findings on the influence of sets on psychophysiological functioning.
Culture Media Comparison for the Enumeration ofListeria monocytogenesin Refrigerated Vacuum Packaged Turkey Bologna Made with Chemical Additives

Abstract Sliced cooked turkey bologna of varying additive formulations was surface-inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes (2.06–2.75 log CFU/g), vacuum packaged, and stored at 4°C. Growth of the pathogen was enumerated with five different agar media. Overall, tryptic soy agar and modified oxford agar recovered higher numbers of colonies, followed by mannitol-phenol red-esculin-ferric ammonium citrate agar and lithium chloride-phenlethanol-moxalactam (LPM) agar, while LPM-potassium tellurite agar recovered significantly fewer colonies. Sodium acetate (5g/kg; pH 6.63), sodium lactate (20g/kg; pH 6.73) and potassium sorbate (2.6g/kg; pH 6.59) were highly inhibitory against L. monocytogenes during the 28-day storage period. The effect of sodium bicarbonate (10g/kg, pH 7.59) however, was not significantly different than the control (pH 6.58).
Intraoperative use of isosulfan blue in the treatment of persistent lymphatic leaks

Background: Lymphatic leaks are a major source of morbidity after lower extremity vascular surgery. We determined the ability of isosulfan blue (Lymphazurin) use to identify and help ligate offending lymphatics, and compared postoperative complication rates and length of stay versus nonoperative therapy alone. Methods: From January 1993 through March 2002, we identified 15 patients with lymphatic leaks. The first group consisted of 5 patients treated nonoperatively. The second group was 10 patients (11 explorations) treated operatively aided by isosulfan blue, after a trial of nonoperative therapy. Results: Isosulfan blue identified the leak in 10 of 11 cases. Mean drainage time for the nonoperative group was 47.6 days versus 1.8 days for the operative group (P = 0.036). Within the operative group, the mean drainage time during their initial conservative treatment phase was 15 days versus 1.8 days after surgery (P < 0.01). Complications were significantly less in the operative group (P < 0.05). Postoperative length of stay was a mean of 4.7 days versus 8.1 days for nonoperative patients (P = not significant). Conclusions: Intraoperative isosulfan blue use accurately identifies disrupted lymphatic channels and helps ensure definitive ligation. This simple procedure is associated with fewer complications, and a trend toward shorter hospital stay.
Erythrosine B influence on sorghum root curvature and wheat leaf rust germling use of extracellular lipids

Abstract Root curvature response to unilaterally applied calcium (Ca2+) in agar was inhibited 81% by erythrosine B (EB) (10 nM) in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] cv Funk G522DR, 70% in cv SC283, and 11% in cv SC574. EB (10 nM) is reported to totally inhibit Ca2+‐ATPase, while 10–50 μM EB is required to inhibit H+‐ATPase. Therefore, differences in relative concentrations of Ca2+‐ATPase and H+‐ATPase exist in the root plasma membranes (PM) of the three cultivars. Carbon dioxide (14CO2) production from glycerol‐tri‐(1‐14C)‐palmitate by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaf rust (Puccinia recondita Rob. ex Desm.) urediospore germlings was inhibited 85% by EB (10 nM).
Temporal Languages for Epistemic Programs

This paper adds temporal logic to public announcement logic (PAL) and dynamic epistemic logic (DEL). By adding a previous-time operator to PAL, we express in the language statements concerning the muddy children puzzle and sum and product. We also express a true statement that an agent's beliefs about another agent's knowledge flipped twice, and use a sound proof system to prove this statement. Adding a next-time operator to PAL, we provide formulas that express that belief revision does not take place in PAL. We also discuss relationships between announcements and the new knowledge agents thus acquire; such relationships are related to learning and to Fitch's paradox. We also show how inverse programs and hybrid logic each can be used to help determine whether or not an arbitrary structure represents the play of a game. We then add a past-time operator to DEL, and discuss the importance of adding yet another component to the language in order to prove completeness.
Aortic Valve Reconstruction in the Young Infants and Children

Considering the structure and function of the aortic root, changes in the aortic valve leaflets and changes in the geometry of the aortic root are the two primary causes of aortic valve dysfunction. In adults, aortic valve sparing reconstruction has a long history beginning in the 1970s, where tensor fascia was used for leaflet repair in patients with isolated aortic regurgitation and ascending aortic replacement was used in patients with ascending aortic aneurysms or aortic ectasia. Subsequent progress in the 1980s and 1990s led to pericardial leaflet replacement and aortic root re-implantation and remodeling. However, it has not been until the last decade that these concepts and techniques have been applied in younger patients focusing on the conotruncus, valvar apparatus, sino-tubular junction, and ascending aorta.
Specific Functions for ERK/MAPK Signaling during PNS Development

We have established functions of the stimulus-dependent MAPKs, ERK1/2 and ERK5, in DRG, motor neuron, and Schwann cell development. Surprisingly, many aspects of early DRG and motor neuron development were found to be ERK1/2 independent, and Erk5 deletion had no obvious effect on embryonic PNS. In contrast, Erk1/2 deletion in developing neural crest resulted in peripheral nerves that were devoid of Schwann cell progenitors, and deletion of Erk1/2 in Schwann cell precursors caused disrupted differentiation and marked hypomyelination of axons. The Schwann cell phenotypes are similar to those reported in neuregulin-1 and ErbB mutant mice, and neuregulin effects could not be elicited in glial precursors lacking Erk1/2. ERK/MAPK regulation of myelination was specific to Schwann cells, as deletion in oligodendrocyte precursors did not impair myelin formation, but reduced precursor proliferation. Our data suggest a tight linkage between developmental functions of ERK/MAPK signaling and biological actions of specific RTK-activating factors.
Ray-tracing for physiological optics—A tutorial

Abstract This tutorial article will introduce the physiologist to the basic techniques of ray-tracing: mathematical formulation, and associated computer program. The techniques are illustrated on schematic eyes of the cat, man, the blowfly, and the honeybee. Instructions for use of the program and a listing of the program are included in the article.
Accu-Beads as a quality control measure for manual and automated methods of measuring sperm concentration-an observational study.

Purpose To determine the precision and accuracy of Accu-Beads and their utility as a quality control product for manual and automated measurements of sperm concentration.
Commensuration and discommensuration in 2H- TaSe 2

Changes of satellite dark-field images of the incommensurate phase in 2H-${\mathrm{TaSe}}_{2}$ upon cooling are examined closely in order to investigate the behavior of the incommensurate-commensurate transition of this material. Moir\'elike fringes observed in the higher temperature range of the phase, which were confirmed to be due mostly to the interference of the first- and second-order diffraction beams from the incommensurate structure in our earlier, high-resolution study, are found to change, starting around 92 K, into the domain images of the commensurate structure which are due mostly to a dark-field diffraction contrast. The change from ``interference fringes'' to ``diffraction contrast'' is associated with the change of the modulation mode of the incommensurate phase from the ``incommensurate modulation of the normal structure'' in the upper temperature range to the ``incommensurate modulation of the commensurate structure.'' The upper temperature range above this transition corresponds to the hexagonal, triply incommensurate state while the lower temperature region is the transition region to the commensurate state.This is in variance with the double honeycomb discommensuration model (a model based on the incommensurate modulation of the commensurate structure) proposed for the explanation of the whole temperature range of the incommensurate phase. The shrinking motion of ``jellyfish'' patterns (which were called stripples, by Fung et al. [J. Phys. C. 14, 5417 (1981)], or charge-density-wave dislocations by Chen et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 47, 723 (1981); Phys. Rev. B 26, 184 (1982)] for those in 2H-${\mathrm{TaSe}}_{2}$, but ``jellyfish patterns'' will be used to include these for more general cases and similar ones in other materials), consisting of three discommensuration lines that join at one point in the matrix of the commensurate structure in the transition region, leaves the commensurate structure in its wake and represents the kinetics of the commensuration process. This change in the modulation mode in the incommensurate phase also explains the change of the incommensurability, \ensuremath{\delta}, with temperature in two steps as observed by x-ray diffraction experiments. A theoretical support of this behavior is given.
Comprehensive analysis of gene expression profiles in keratinocytes from patients with generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa

Generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa [GABEB (OMIM no. 226650)] is an inherited subepidermal blistering disease typically caused by null mutations in COL17A1, the gene encoding type XVII collagen. Studies of GABEB keratinocytes homozygous for 4003delTC showed that this 2 bp deletion results in markedly reduced COL17A1 transcripts due to nonsense mediated-mRNA decay. To explore consequences of this null mutation in COL17A1 on the expression of other genes, RNA samples from reference GABEB and normal keratinocytes were profiled in comparative screens of microarrays of known cDNAs (n = 6180) and expressed sequence tags (ESTs) (n = 15 144). All comparative hybridization experiments were performed > or = twice; data were quantitated by densitometry and analyzed using peak quantification statistical comparative analysis (P-SCAN) software to identify differentially expressed genes. Representative genes found to be differentially expressed were verified using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These experiments determined that expression of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay trans-acting factor (NMD-F), the regulator of nonsense transcripts (i.e. the human homolog of the yeast Upf1 protein), was upregulated in GABEB keratinocytes. NMD-F was subsequently found to be upregulated in cultured keratinocytes from other GABEB patients homozygous for 4003delTC. These findings indicate that the gene responsible for nonsense-mediated mRNA decay is upregulated in keratinocytes known to eliminate mutant COL17A1 transcripts via this highly conserved mechanism.
Lymphoma cells with increased anti-oxidant defenses acquire chemoresistance

Chronic inflammation increases lymphoma risk. Chronic inflammation exposes cells to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). Constant exposure to ROS selects for oxidative stress-resistant cells with upregulated anti-oxidant defense enzymes. The impact of oxidative stress resistance on the redox biology and chemotherapy response in lymphoma has not been rigorously tested. To measure the effect of anti- oxidant defense enzyme upregulation in lymphoid cells, we created oxidative stress-resistant WEHI7.2 thymic lymphoma cell variants. We selected a population of WEHI7.2 cells for resistance to hydrogen peroxide and constructed catalase- overexpressing WEHI7.2 transfectants. The WEHI7.2 variants had: i) increased catalase and total superoxide dismutase activities; ii) an altered GSSG/2GSH redox potential; iii) a more oxidized NADP + /NADPH pool; and iv) increased phase 2 enzymes, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase and glutathione S-transferases μ and π. Regression analysis showed a correlation between the GSSG/2GSH redox potential and the increased phase 2 enzyme activities. As predicted from the anti-oxidant defense enzyme profile, the variants were more resistant to the oxidants hydrogen peroxide and paraquat. The variants exhibited resistance to the common lymphoma chemotherapeutics, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincris- tine and glucocorticoids. These data indicate that chronic ROS exposure results in lymphoid cells with multiple changes in their redox biology and a chemoresistance phenotype. These data further suggest that lymphomas that arise at the site of chronic inflammation develop chemoresistance due to a combination of drug detoxification and removal of ROS.
Association Reactions of Manganese, Iron, and Ruthenium with Nitric Oxide

The gas-phase association reactions of ground-state manganese, iron, and ruthenium atoms with nitric oxide are reported. The transition metal atoms were produced by the 248 nm photodissociation of 2-methylcyclopentadienylmanganese tricarbonyl, ferrocene, and ruthenocene. Detection of these transition metal atoms was by laser-induced fluorescence. Manganese was found to be the least reactive with nitric oxide of the transition metals in this work. The limiting low-pressure third-order rate constant, ko, of Mn + NO + Ar can be expressed as (9.5 ± 2.5) × 10-33 exp[−1.5 ± 0.4 kcal mol-1/(RT)] cm6 molecule-2 s-1. ko for Fe + NO + N2 at 296 K is (2.3 ± 0.5) × 10-32 cm6 molecule-2 s-1; this reaction is independent of temperature over the range 296−622 K. Ruthenium was found to be the most reactive toward NO. In Ar buffer, ko = (7.3 ± 1.0) × 10-30 cm6 molecule-2 s-1 and the limiting high-pressure rate constant k∞ = (3.8 ± 0.8) × 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 for a fixed broadening factor of Fc = 0.6. The uncertainties...
Self-Assembled TNT Biosensor Based on Modular Multifunctional Surface-Tethered Components

We demonstrate a self-assembled reagentless biosensor based on a modular design strategy that functions in the detection of TNT and related explosive compounds. The sensor consists of a dye-labeled anti-TNT antibody fragment that interacts with a cofunctional surface-tethered DNA arm. The arm consists of a flexible biotinylated DNA oligonucleotide base specifically modified with a dye and terminating in a TNB recognition element, which is an analogue of TNT. Both of these elements are tethered to a Neutravidin surface with the TNB recognition element bound in the antibody fragment binding site, bringing the two dyes into proximity and establishing a baseline level of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Addition of TNT, or related explosive compounds, to the sensor environment alters FRET in a concentration-dependent manner. The sensor can be regenerated repeatedly through washing away of analyte and specific reformation of the sensor assembly, allowing for subsequent detection events. Sensor dynamic range can be usefully altered through the addition of a DNA oligonucleotide that hybridizes to a portion of the cofunctional arm. The modular design of the sensor demonstrates that it can be easily adapted to detect a variety of different analytes.
Coping with Terrorism: Age and Gender Differences in Effortful and Involuntary Responses to September 11th.

This study examined age and gender differences and similarities in stress responses to September 11th. Adolescents, young adults, and adults reported using a variety of strategies to cope with the terrorist attacks including acceptance, positive thinking, and emotional expression. In addition, involuntary stress responses such as physiological arousal, rumination, and emotional numbing were common. A number of age trends emerged, showing increases across the three groups in emotion-based coping strategies and decreases in some forms of disengagement coping. In addition, rumination decreased with age, whereas intrusive thoughts were more prevalent in the older groups. Females in both the adolescent and young adult samples reported using emotion-based strategies more than males, and these strategies were related to better functioning for females only. In addition, males reported higher levels of disengagement responses; and these responses were related to worse functioning, but only for females. The utility of using the Responses to Stress Questionnaire (Connor-Smith, Compos, Wadsworth, Thomsen, and Saltzman, 2000) to examine coping and involuntary stress responses in reference to terrorism and across a wide age range was examined. Implications for coping theory and empirical research are explored.
Invited research review: Cell-matrix interactions in the gut epithelium

SURGERY 263 THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX WAS AT ONE TIME thought to be an amorphous “ground substance,” noteworthy chiefly for its acellular staining pattern in histologic sections. The physiologic regulation of cellular signaling was believed to be the domain of soluble agents such as extracellular ions, hormones, and bioactive peptides. Even when specific matrix receptors known as integrins were identified, it was thought that these integrins could not initiate intracellular signals because they generally have short cytoplasmic tails without common signaling motifs. More recent studies have prompted reevaluation of these concepts. It is now clear that the extracellular matrix is a highly organized and tissue-specific gel that regulates diverse aspects of cell biology. Furthermore, integrins initiate important intracellular signals via nonreceptor cytoplasmic signaling kinases that associate with the cytoplasmic tails of clustered integrins in focal adhesion complexes. This review will outline briefly some of what has been learned about cell-matrix interactions in the nonmalignant intestinal mucosa as a paradigmatic example of how cell-matrix interactions may modulate cell biology (Figure). The role of the extracellular matrix in carcinogenesis and invasion is a separate subject that exceeds the scope of this review.
The monovalency of t1 ions and the disintegration of the anode during anodic polarization of Tl

Abstract Thallium dissolves in aqueous solution of acids anodically producing only Tl+ in the absence of oxidizing agents. The monovalency of Tl+ was calculated from the H2 evolved and from coulometric measurements using Tl-amalgam as an anode. Deviations from Faraday's Law in the sense that more metal than expected went into solution are caused by partial disintegration of the anode. Particles as small as 7 × 10−5 mm dia. and larger ones were observed. Their metallic nature was proved chemically, microscopically and by X-ray diffraction. The amount of disintegration increased with current density from 0–∼25 per cent of the total weight lost by anodic dissolution at about 25 mA/cm2. At still higher current densities (up to 40 mA/cm2) the disintegration rate started to
Pouch outcomes among children with ulcerative colitis treated with calcineurin inhibitors before ileal pouch anal anastomosis surgery

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this article is to describe the outcomes of the pouches of 14 children with ulcerative colitis (UC) who were pretreated with calcineurin inhibitors before they underwent their ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) surgery. Methods An institutional review board–approved retrospective review of the charts of consecutive patients with UC treated with calcineurin inhibitors before undergoing IPAA surgery at a tertiary pediatric center between 1998 and 2003 was performed. The primary endpoint was pouch outcome after at least 2 years of follow-up (healthy pouch, acute pouchitis, chronic refractory pouchitis, or pouch failure); the secondary endpoints were early postoperative complications, number of stages, and time between stages. Results Fourteen of 53 consecutive patients who underwent IPAA for UC were treated with calcineurin inhibitors before their surgery (26%; 6 with cyclosporine and 8 with tacrolimus). All 14 patients were concomitantly treated with systemic steroids. Ten patients (71%) were also taking 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine, and 9 (64%) were also taking mesalamine. Three patients (21%) had healthy pouches with no clinical evidence of pouchitis, 6 (43%) had at least one episode of acute pouchitis (average of 2 episodes per year), 3 (21%) had chronic relapsing pouchitis, and 2 (14%) were later determined to have Crohn's disease. There was no pouch failure. Two patients (14%) had an early postoperative complication (intraabdominal abscess, anastomotic stricture). Five patients (36%) had a 2-staged procedure, and 8 (64%) had a 3-staged procedure. For the 2-staged procedures, the mean time between the first and second stages was 3.14 months (range, 3-4 months). For the 3-staged procedures, the mean time between the first and second stages was 4.25 months (range, 2-6 months) and that between the second and third stages was 4 months (range, 2.5-6 months). Conclusions In this series, chronic pouchitis was an infrequent complication among children who were pretreated with calcineurin inhibitors. Calcineurin inhibitor use did not lead to or portend increased early postoperative complications or affect the number or duration of surgical stages. Further studies are required to determine if preoperative calcineurin inhibitors improve pouch outcomes or facilitate the performance of 2-staged procedures.
Pipelined recursive modified Euclidean algorithm block for low-complexity, high-speed Reed-Solomon decoder

A novel pipelined recursive modified Euclidean (ME) algorithm block for the low-complexity, high-speed Reed–Solomon (RS) decoder is presented. The deeply pipelined recursive structure enables implementation of a significantly low-complexity ME algorithm block with much improved clock frequency. The low-complexity, high-speed RS decoder using the pipelined recursive ME algorithm block has been implemented in 0.13 µm CMOS technology with a supply voltage of 1.1 V. The results show that it has significantly low hardware complexity and a high data processing rate of 6.16 Gbit/s.
Size specificity and interocular suppression: Monocular evoked potentials and reaction times

Abstract Changes in visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and reaction time (RT) to checkerboards flashed to the left eye were investigated as a function of the size of checks in checkerboards continuously viewed by the right eye. The checkerboards, ranging in check size from 9′ to 95′ of arc, were presented to corresponding retinal areas by means of a haploscope. The results indicated that continuous stimulation of one eye suppressed VEP amplitude in response to flashing the other eye. The interocular suppression was size specific: VEP amplitude became progressively smaller as the check size of the suppressing stimulus approached that of the test stimulus (12′ or 35′ of arc) and was smallest when both eyes were stimulated by the same check size. Interocular suppression was reflected to a lesser degree in the RT data. The results are consistent with the hypotheses that there are binocularly innervated size-specific channels located central to the optic chiasm and that saturation of such a channel by continuous stimulation of one eye, with the appropriate check size, will occlude responsivity of that channel to transient stimulation of the other eye.
Regulation of cell function by extracellular matrix

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides structural support and adhesive substrates for the body tissues. Recent advances in our understanding of the biology of matrix indicate that the ECM also plays a significant role in regulating the behavior of cells. Matrix proteins engender changes in cell shape and movement, bind growth factors, and facilitate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Matrix-induced differentiation results from multiple stimuli that include: tensile forces on the cell, cytokine- or growth factor-mediated stimulation, and interaction with bioactive domains of matrix glycoproteins. Because these signals are important determinants of cell behavior, pharmacological manipulation of cell-matrix interactions may offer a valuable new approach to disease treatment.
Taking Nonprofit Intermediaries Seriously: A Middle‐Range Theory for Implementation Research

The federal government often works through nonprofit intermediaries to reach and empower communities in the United States. One increasingly popular policy strategy is to offer grant funding to intermediary organizations in an effort to strengthen communities. Funded intermediaries are tasked with building the capacity of faith-based and community organizations at the local level, but the policy theory that informs these programs does not specify how these capacity-building efforts will lead to stronger communities. Missing is a middle-range implementation theory that links inputs to community-level changes through the actions of an intermediary. Derived from empirical case study evidence using process-tracing analysis, the theory of the community-integrated intermediary posited in this article helps fill that gap.
Dependable Actuation in Wireless Sensor Networks

Our protocol uses a publish/subscribe approach to perform reliable actuation on a sensor network with changing topology. Selective actuation on a group of devices can be performed by publishing a message on a topic, and having the group subscribe to that topic. The message contains the data needed to perform the actuation. Our design reduces costly transmissions and uses a soft-state approach to cope with frequent topology changes. Its features and robustness are compared with those of epidemic protocols by means of simulation. Our protocol exhibits more efficient behavior when the actuation targets a selected group of devices within the sensor network; efficiency is similar in other cases. Furthermore, we provide feedback to the external actuating application. The robustness of our proposal is close to that of an epidemic model for moderate bit error rates.
Perception of control over anxiety mediates the relation between catastrophic thinking and social anxiety in social phobia

Abstract Cognitive models of social phobia (social anxiety disorder) assume that individuals with social phobia experience anxiety in social situations in part because they overestimate the social cost associated with a potentially negative outcome of a social interaction. Some emotion theorists, on the other hand, point to the perception of control over anxiety-related symptoms as a determinant of social anxiety. In order to examine the relationship between perceived emotional control (PEC), estimated social cost (ESC), and subjective anxiety, we compared three alternative structural equation models: Model 1 assumes that PEC and ESC independently predict social anxiety; Model 2 assumes that ESC partially mediates the relationship between PEC and anxiety, and Model 3 assumes that PEC partially mediates the relationship between ESC and anxiety. We recruited 144 participants with social phobia and administered self-report measures of estimated social cost, perceived anxiety control, and social anxiety. The results support Model 3 and suggest that “costly” social situations are anxiety provoking in part because social phobic individuals perceive their anxiety symptoms as being out of control.
Static vs. dynamic recovery models for survivable distributed systems

The need for survivability is more pressing for mission-critical systems, especially when they are integrated with other COTS products or services. As information systems became more complex and the interdependence of these systems became higher, the survivability picture became more complicated. In this paper, we introduce two basic models with respect to static and dynamic models, where each model has restart and continue modes. We describe each approach and compare the trade-offs in terms of simplicity, resource efficiency, adaptation, service downtime, immunization, and robustness. Later, we introduce a hybrid model by combining these two basic models. Our approaches are transparent to the client side and can be applied to existing distributed systems by extending the server side with the components necessary for the schemes.
Infrastructure, programs, and policies to increase bicycling: An international review

article i nfo Available online 16 September 2009 Objectives. To assess existing research on the effects of various interventions on levels of bicycling. Interventions include infrastructure (e.g., bike lanes and parking), integration with public transport, education and marketing programs, bicycle access programs, and legal issues. Methods. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed and non-reviewed research identified 139 studies. Study methodologies varied considerably in type and quality, with few meeting rigorous standards. Secondary data were gathered for 14 case study cities that adopted multiple interventions. Results. Many studies show positive associations between specific interventions and levels of bicycling. The 14 case studies show that almost all cities adopting comprehensive packages of interventions experienced large increases in the number of bicycle trips and share of people bicycling. Conclusions. Most of the evidence examined in this review supports the crucial role of public policy in encouraging bicycling. Substantial increases in bicycling require an integrated package of many different, complementary interventions, including infrastructure provision and pro-bicycle programs, supportive land use planning, and restrictions on car use.
The Principal as Teacher: A Model for Instructional Leadership:

Can the demand for principals to fill the new role of instructional leader be met effectively? An instructional leadership model called "Principal as Teacher" is advanced as one possible approach. Having the instructional leader be an instructor has an inherent and com pelling logic that may be well worth considering.
Efficient, divergent synthesis of cryptophycin unit A analogues

A flexible and divergent synthesis of cryptophycin unit A analogues is described. This method relies on iridium-catalysed stereo- and enantioselective crotylation and chemoselective one-pot oxidative olefination to access common intermediate 8. Heck, cross metathesis, and Suzuki-Miyaura reactions are illustrated for the generation of methyl ester unit A analogues 10a–d.
A Typology of Collaborative Communication in a Digital Reference Environment

Although collaboration in reference has been speculated to have numerous benefits, studies of collaboration in libraries have primarily focused on collaboration at the institutional level. This article describes the development of a typology of collaborative communication between volunteer reference librarians in an e-mail-based digital reference service, ipl2's Ask an ipl2 Librarian. Researchers examined the transcripts of 574 e-mail reference transactions that contained at least one instance of collaborative communication. The resulting analysis uncovered four types of collaborative communication: content, service, technology, and community. These findings have implications for the practice of digital reference and the design of digital reference systems.
Autonomous Environmental Water Quality Monitoring—The Future of Continuous Flow Analysis

Biochemist and hospital laboratory supervisor Leonard Skeggs’ burst of insight in the early 1950s that ‘. . .[manually intensive clinical] analyses could be done in a continuously flowing stream’[1] launched, and to a large extent defined, the field of automated clinical diagnostic testing for the quarter century that followed. Segmented analytical streams, in which air bubbles enhance within-segment mixing and minimize between-segment mixing, are the hallmark of Skeggs’ continuous flow (CF) analysis concept.[2] In 1975, Jaromir Ruzicka and Elo Hansen demonstrated the feasibility of performing CF analysis in non-air-segmented analytical streams.[3] This new approach to CF analysis, which they named flow injection analysis (FIA), launched a new wave of research and development directed primarily at bench-top analysis and environmental, industrial and pharmaceutical process monitoring applications. As described in this Research Front, CF analysis technology that has accrued over the past half century is well poised to meet global water quality monitoring needs in the present century. Terrestrial, estuarine and coastal waters are adversely impacted by substantial anthropogenic nutrient loads they receive from fertilized cropland runoff, confined animal feeding operation discharges, and municipal sewage outfalls. Globally burgeoning nutrient loads promote unsightly eutrophication and occasional ‘fish kills’ in freshwater regimes, and their entry into estuaries and gulfs at the terminus of major river systems drives a reduced dissolved oxygen condition known as hypoxia,[4] which threatens shallowwater fisheries in coastal areas. Excessive nutrient inputs into coastal waters can also trigger blooms of harmful algal species whose toxins are concentrated in fish and shellfish consumed by marine mammals and humans. In the United States, for example, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation identified nitrogen and phosphorus as ‘the Bay’s two primary pollutants’ in its 2004 State of the Bay report.[5] In light of the global proliferation of nutrients-as-contaminants, articles included in this Research Front, including a review of nutrient monitoring by CF analysis techniques,[6] and papers
A CLASS I cDNA FROM SPAFAS LINE-11 CHICKENS

SUMMARY A chicken MHC class I (B-F) cDNA from SPAFAS line 11 embryonic liver tissue was isolated and characterized by nucleotide sequencing. Comparing this sequence with previously described B-FcDNAs highlights clustered nucleotide substitutions in exon 3, encoding amino acids located on the a-helical region of the α2 domain.
Circadian regulation of a transcription factor, ApC/EBP, in the eye of Aplysia californica

The transcription factor, ApC/EBP (Aplysia CCAAT enhancer-binding protein) is an immediate early gene that is rapidly induced by serotonin and the cAMP signaling pathway. ApC/EBP acts as an important link following the activation of protein kinase A (PKA) in the consolidation of long-term memory in Aplysia californica. In this study, we report that levels of ApC/EBP mRNA in the eye of Aplysia are modulated by serotonin or light. These responses of ApC/EBP to serotonin and light are mimicked by analogs of cAMP and cGMP. Expression of ApC/EBP in the eye is also under the control of the circadian oscillator with circadian rhythms of ApC/EBP mRNA present under constant dark conditions. Therefore, ApC/EBP is a candidate gene for a circadian transcription factor to mediate circadian responses activated by the cAMP and cGMP second messenger signaling pathways.
Interconnection of CSMA/CD LANs via an N-port bridge

The interconnection of CSMA/CD LANs using an N-port bridge is considered. The stability and throughput-delay performance of the interconnected system is analyzed approximately by decomposing it into N consistent but otherwise independent LAN subsystems. The performance of a LAN subsystem with bridge priority is evaluated, and the results are used for the performance evaluation of the interconnected system. Simulation results indicate that the decomposition approach provides reasonably accurate performance prediction. The bridge interconnection system is compared to a system in which the bridge is replaced by a repeater, and the performance advantages of the former system over the latter are quantified. >
Using Nuclear Materials To Prevent Nuclear Proliferation

Efforts to halt proliferation of nuclear weapons are threatened by vulnerability of weapons‐usable material to smuggling especially in Russia. Mixing 232U into highly‐enriched uranium (HEU) makes it readily observable and harder to steal. Adding a proportion of 233U associated with a specific storage site enables attribution to be performed on stolen HEU that has been recovered. Incorporating 244Pu into plutonium does the same for this material. U.S. programs for radioactive surplus disposition could provide a source for tags. Current U.S.‐Russian efforts to dispose of surplus nuclear weapons open opportunities to incorporate tags into large amounts of weapons‐usable material. The 232U detection tag would also enhance ongoing US‐Russian efforts to detect smuggling of weapons‐usable materials out of Russia.
The NCEP GODAS Ocean Analysis of the Tropical Pacific Mixed Layer Heat Budget on Seasonal to Interannual Time Scales

Abstract The mixed layer heat budget in the tropical Pacific is diagnosed using pentad (5 day) averaged outputs from the Global Ocean Data Assimilation System (GODAS), which is operational at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The GODAS is currently used by the NCEP Climate Prediction Center (CPC) to monitor and to understand El Nino and La Nina in near real time. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of using an operational ocean data assimilation system to understand SST variability. The climatological mean and seasonal cycle of mixed layer heat budgets derived from GODAS agree reasonably well with previous observational and model-based estimates. However, significant differences and biases were noticed. Large biases were found in GODAS zonal and meridional currents, which contributed to biases in the annual cycle of zonal and meridional advective heat fluxes. The warming due to tropical instability waves in boreal fall is severely underestimated owing to use of a...
A double-blinded, prospective randomized controlled trial of intraperitoneal bupivacaine in laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Background Intraperitoneal local anesthetics have been investigated in several laparoscopic procedures that demonstrate improved postoperative pain control and reduced length of hospital stay. No published studies to date address the effectiveness of IP local anesthetics in laparoscopic gastric bypass patients (LRYGB). Study design Between October 2004 and March 2005, 133 patients were prospectively studied to evaluate the efficacy of IP bupivacaine (IPB) in LRYGB. Patients were randomized to receive either bupivacaine (study group) or saline (control group), which was administered over the esophageal hiatus before dissection and bypass. All procedures were performed in a University-affiliated community-based hospital by three experienced laparoscopic gastric bypass surgeons. Outcomes variables included postoperative pain and narcotic use, length of stay, antiemetic use, cost, and pulmonary function. Results There were 65 patients within the study group and 68 control patients, with equivalent patient demographics (p > 0.05). A statistically significant decrease in oral narcotic (hydrocodone/acetaminophen, Lortab Elixir, UCB) use was seen in the experimental group relative to the control group (23.8 ± 2.2 mL versus 33.7 ± 3.0 mL). Material cost was greater by $0.36 per patient in the study group. All other outcomes variables (ie, length of stay, postoperative IV narcotic use, incentive spirometer volumes, visual analog pain scale, and antiemetic use) showed no considerable differences. Conclusions IPB use during LRYGB revealed a statistically significant difference only in postoperative oral narcotic use. Possibly, the IPB can limit or prevent peritoneal irritation and reduce the need for longer narcotic use. Clinical significance was not demonstrated by our outcomes variables.