cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ribbon α-Conotoxin KTM Exhibits Potent Inhibition of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors.

KTM is a 16 amino acid peptide with the sequence WCCSYPGCYWSSSKWC. Here, we present the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure and bioactivity of this rationally designed α-conotoxin (α-CTx) that demonstrates potent inhibition of rat α3β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (rα3β2-nAChRs). Two bioassays were used to test the efficacy of KTM. First, a qualitative PC12 cell-based assay confirmed that KTM acts as a nAChR antagonist. Second, bioactivity evaluation by two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology was used to measure the inhibition of rα3β2-nAChRs by KTM (IC50 = 0.19 ± 0.02 nM), and inhibition of the same nAChR isoform by α-CTx MII (IC50 = 0.35 ± 0.8 nM). The three-dimensional structure of KTM was determined by NMR spectroscopy, and the final set of 20 structures derived from 32 distance restraints, four dihedral angle constraints, and two disulfide bond constraints overlapped with a mean global backbone root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of 1.7 ± 0.5 A. The structure of KTM did not adopt the disulfide fold of α-CTx MII for which it was designed, but instead adopted a flexible ribbon backbone and disulfide connectivity of C2-C16 and C3-C8 with an estimated 12.5% α-helical content. In contrast, α-CTx MII, which has a native fold of C2-C8 and C3-C16, has an estimated 38.1% α-helical secondary structure. KTM is the first reported instance of a Framework I (CC-C-C) α-CTx with ribbon connectivity to display sub-nanomolar inhibitory potency of rα3β2-nAChR subtypes.
Detection of renal biomarkers in chronic kidney disease using microfluidics: progress, challenges and opportunities

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) typically evolves over many years in a latent period without clinical signs, posing key challenges to detection at relatively early stages of the disease. Accurate and timely diagnosis of CKD enable effective management of the disease and may prevent further progression. However, long turn-around times of current testing methods combined with their relatively high cost due to the need for established laboratory infrastructure, specialized instrumentation and trained personnel are drawbacks for efficient assessment and monitoring of CKD, especially in underserved and resource-poor locations. Among the emerging clinical laboratory approaches, microfluidic technology has gained increasing attention over the last two decades due to the possibility of miniaturizing bioanalytical assays and instrumentation, thus potentially improving diagnostic performance. In this article, we review current developments related to the detection of CKD biomarkers using microfluidics. A general trend in this emerging area is the search for novel, sensitive biomarkers for early detection of CKD using technology that is improved by means of microfluidics. It is anticipated that these innovative approaches will be soon adopted and utilized in both clinical and point-of-care settings, leading to improvements in life quality of patients.
Projects in (t, r) Broadcast Domination

Domination theory is a subfield within graph theory that aims to describe subsets of the vertices of a graph which satisfy certain distance properties. The original domination problem asked one to find subsets of the vertices of a graph (with minimal cardinality) so that every vertex in the graph was either in the set or adjacent to a vertex in the set. Since its development, thousands of papers on domination theory and its many variants have appeared in the literature. We focus our study on (t, r) broadcast domination, a variant with a connection to the placement of cellphone towers, where some vertices send out a signal to nearby vertices (with the signal decaying linearly along edges according to distance), and where all vertices must receive a minimum predetermined amount of this signal. The overall goal is to minimize the number of tower vertices needed to have all vertices receive the appropriate amount of signal reception. We summarize our past work with students and present many remaining open problems in this field. We end the chapter by providing some advice on how we continue to develop new research projects with and for students; although the mathematical content of the chapter is in domination theory, the suggestions can be implemented in any area.
Relating Geometric Nanoconfinement and Local Molecular Environment to Diffusion in Ionic Polymer Membranes

Understanding structure–diffusion relationships in ionic polymer membranes not only illuminates fundamental mechanisms for membrane transport but also provides information for further membrane deve...
Flow boiling in microchannels enhanced by parallel microgrooves fabricated on the bottom surfaces

Abstract Flow boiling in microchannels is one of the most desirable cooling solutions for high power electronics. However, it is challenging to promote the flow boiling performance, particularly critical heat flux (CHF), due to their unfavorable liquid rewetting. Inlet restrictors (IRs) have been successfully used to manage two-phase instabilities in flow boiling in microchannels. However, IRs would result in extremely high pressure drop. In this study, without using IRs, parallel microgrooves (W=50 µm, H=250 µm, L=10 mm) are fabricated on the bottom surface of five parallel microchannels (W=200 µm, H=250 µm, L=10 mm) to effectively manage two-phase flow instabilities without sacrificing pressure drop. Our visualization study shows that these microgrooves can enable rewetting at highhigh frequencies up to 151 Hz and enhance thin film evaporation with the highest thin film ratio of 0.65. A highly desirable periodic rewetting mechanism can substantially delay CHF conditions and enhance heat transfer rates. Flow boiling in the present microchannel configuration has been systematically characterized with mass flux ranging from 100 kg/m2s to 600 kg/m2s. Compared to plain-wall microchannels, flow boiling heat transfer coefficient (HTC) is enhanced up to ~72% at a mass flux of 210 kg/m2s due to the sustainable thin film evaporation. Moreover, CHF is substantially enhanced by ~155% at a mass flux of 389 kg/m2s due to the rapid and periodic rewetting enabled by these decorated microgrooves. We also observed that the enhancement of HTC fades when mass flux exceeds 346 kg/m2s due to flooding.
Global and local CSR strategies in foreign-owned subsidiaries: The role of networks and competencies

The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of networks and competency dimensions in determining the corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy of foreign-owned subsidiaries. Survey data has been collected from subsidiary managing directors and analysed using structured equation modelling and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis techniques. We show that networks and competencies can have competing as well as complementary effects on the global and local CSR strategies. For instance, inter-organisational network strength and competencies in high primary value chain activities seem to drive global as well as local CSR activities. However, the case is more complex for intra-organisational network relationships and subsidiaries with competencies in supporting value chain activities. The originality of this paper lies in the detailed investigation of how network relationships and competencies affect global and local CSR strategy development. We also provide novelty in applying a combination of symmetric (SEM-PLS) and non-symmetric (fsQCA) analytical techniques.
“Because I said so!”: Mothers’ conventional conflict justifications related to resolution and child behavior problems and temperamental reactivity:

A common strategy parents use to justify their point of view during parent–child conflict is conventional reasoning, which focuses on child obedience to authority. In this brief report, we examined...
Operability and Safety Considerations in Process Intensification

Abstract The importance of considering operability, control, and safety criteria in the analysis and design of process intensification configurations is discussed in this paper. We first rigorously analyze the loss of degrees of freedom and role of constraints in intensified systems comparing with their conventional process counterparts. A comparison study on inherent safety metrics in reactive distillation process is then presented to stress the need for new safety metrics at early design stage. To address these operability and safety challenges, we highlight a framework for systematic integration of operability, safety, and control to synthesize operable process intensification systems.
What's in a trauma? Using machine learning to unpack what makes an event traumatic.

Abstract What differentiates a trauma from an event that is merely upsetting? Wildly different definitions of trauma have been used in both formal (psychiatric) and informal (cultural, colloquial) settings. Yet there is a dearth of empirical work examining the features of events that individuals use to define an event as a ‘trauma.' First, a group of qualitative coders classified features (e.g., actual physical injury, loss of possessions) of 600 event descriptions (e.g., “was verbally harassed by a boss,” “watched a video of an adult being shot and killed”). Next, across two studies, machine learning was used to predict whether individuals rated event descriptions as ‘trauma’ or ‘traumatic’ in over 100,000 judgment tasks. In Study 1, examining continuous ratings from ‘not at all traumatic’ to ‘extremely traumatic,’ a cross-validated LASSO regression with polynomial features provided the best out-of-sample predictions (r2 = 0.76), outperforming ridge regression, support vector regression, and linear regression. In Study 2, using binary judgments, a random forest model accurately predicted out-of-sample individual responses (AUC = 0.96), outperforming a neural network and an AdaBoost ensemble classifier. The most important event features across the two studies were actual death, threat of death, and the presence of a human perpetrator. The most important human features in predicting judgments were political orientation and gender.
Pollen Grains of Clarkia pulchella

Brown continued to work on his taxonomic studies (which helped influence the growth of the natural system of classification in England). He picked up the threads of research that he had begun earlier, studying the minute structure of the vegetative and reproductive organs of plants. It was while he conducted this work that he made an important discovery concerning the behavior or action of minute particles. This was the discovery of the phenomenon of “Brownian motion,” an achievement that epitomized his journey from a descriptive naturalist to an investigative scientist. Brown studied the pollen grains of the flowering plant, Clarkia pulchella (commonly called elkhorns or ragged robin, pink fairy, clarkia or deerhorn)—in fluids such as water. He demonstrated that any kind of matter, whether organic or inorganic and reduced to smaller particles, would exhibit random movement when suspended in a medium like water. Brown did not understand the actual cause of the random motion of the particles but his observation proved to be relevant to biologists and physical scientists as well. Brown accomplished further breakthroughs during this period (from the late 1820s to the 1850s). His recognition of the “naked” (uncovered) condition of the ovules in the cycads and conifers eventually led to the taxonomic division of seed plants into two distinct groups, the gymnosperms, conifers and cycads, and flowering plants, the angiosperms. He also conducted significant work in cytology, developing a deeper understanding of the composition of the cell. He identified the phenomenon of protoplasmic streaming. Perhaps most important was Brown’s observation of the nucleus in certain plant cells, an observation made by several other pioneers in cytology although Brown did not grasp the full significance of his discovery at the time. Brown deserves credit for ascertaining that matter, inorganic or organic, when broken down into finer particles but still visible microscopically, would exhibit discernible random motion when suspended in water or other fluids. When young Charles Darwin went to Brown to be tutored in microscopy, Brown showed him the protoplasmic streaming he had observed in plant cells. On November 1, 1831, he presented “The discovery of the nucleus of the vegetable cell” before the Linnean Society, reporting his important microscopic observations. Brown’s focus during the last few decades of his life was in paleobotany, earlier marked by a fossil-hunting trip he took to the Burgundy region of France in 1836. Brown continued to publish work describing in minute detail the fine structure of plant fossils, illustrated by his 1847 paper on the strobilus of the cone of an extinct fossil plant, a treelike organism related to the Lycopsids or club mosses belonging to the genus Lepidodendron.
Host and microbiota metabolic signals in aging and longevity

Aging is an inevitable biochemical process that adversely affects personal health and poses ever-increasing challenges to society. Recent research has revealed the crucial role of metabolism in regulating aging and longevity. During diverse metabolic processes, the host organism and their symbiotic partners—the microbiota—produce thousands of chemical products (metabolites). Emerging studies have uncovered specific metabolites that act as signaling molecules to actively regulate longevity. Here we review the latest progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which metabolites from the host and/or microbiota promote longevity. We also highlight state-of-the-art technologies for discovering, profiling and imaging aging- and longevity-regulating metabolites and for deciphering the molecular basis of their actions. The broad application of these technologies in aging research, together with future advances, will foster the systematic discovery of aging- and longevity-regulating metabolites and their signaling pathways. These metabolite signals should provide promising targets for developing new interventions to promote longevity and healthy aging. This Review highlights the latest progress on the molecular basis of metabolite signals in regulating aging and longevity, as well as state-of-the-art technological advances in studying bioactive metabolites.
Lost & Found Students: Allowing All To Use Digital Research Methods

Location: Dewberry Hall The University Libraries' Digital Scholarship Center (DiSC) provides expertise and technology for those at all levels doing empirical research, geospatial analysis, and digital humanities. The consultants have years of first-hand experience with the barriers students encounter in learning and applying research methodologies, and work to reduce and/or eliminate them. See dsc.gmu.edu for more details.
The structure of tubular viruses

Publisher Summary Tubular viruses and virus-associated particles have structures based on icosahedral end-caps. The simplest icosahedrons (T=1) has 12 pentamer morphological subunits, and hence 6 pentamer morphological subunits in each half. Tubular structures can be built onto all the pentamer clusters by adding hexamer subunits. For simplicity the tubular structures are classified according to the axis of the icosahedra on which they are based. The interlattice position is one that does not fit any prime (2-, 3-, or 5-fold) symmetry points. Most of the information on the structure of tubular particles is derived from the optical diffraction of electron micrographs. In electron micrographs, the repeating structures are made up from the distribution of negative stain on the specimen. Assuming that the negative stain is distributed regularly in relation to the morphological subunits, optical diffraction will give information on the orientation of and distance between any regularly repeating structures. It should be noted that differences in the orientation of pentamer morphological subunits in the end-cap and the hexamer subunits in the tubular portion render it unnecessary to make allowances for differences in the actual size of pentamer and hexamer subunits.
Global Observations & Post Mortem Analysis of Penetration in Sand

Abstract The dependence of mesoscale penetration parameters is found to depend in a complex way on projectile parameters, granular properties, and penetration velocity. This is illustrated from the results of 80 subscale penetration tests over a parameter space that included impact velocities of 70-300 m/s; four natural and synthetic granular materials, including Ottawa sand, crushed fused quartz, aragonite, and crushed coral; loose and dense packings; dry and wet targets; and four different projectiles, including spheres and long rods with conical, hemispherical, and blunt nose shapes. Two techniques are employed to obtain penetration time histories, including photonic Doppler velocimetry for high-velocity impact tests and high-speed imaging for low-velocity impact tests. Penetration time histories are differentiated to obtain velocity and acceleration time histories. Analysis of the time histories revealed that the role of nose shape, packing density, and saturation is material dependent. Silica sands and calcareous sands showed contrasting behavior across the parameter space considered. These observations point to the significance of particle crushing in rapid penetration into granular media.
Responses of lymphocytes from human colostrum or milk to influenza antigens

Paired samples of peripheral blood and colostrum or milk were obtained from women 1 to 6 days after delivery. After Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and colostrum or milk lymphocytes (COL) were examined for surface membrane characteristics and in vitro proliferative reactivity. As determined by sheep red blood cell rosetting and by immunoglobulin-coated beads, PBL showed an average of 54% T and 12% B lymphocytes, whereas COL showed 33% T and 22% B rosettes, respectively. Paired samples of PBL and COL were used for lymphocyte transformation with three distinct strains of influenza virus: A/USSR, A/Victoria, and B/Hong Kong. Of COL from nine subjects tested against all three strains of influenza virus, five samples (56%) gave positive responses to at least one. These studies indicate that COL contain cells responsive in vitro to several influenza antigens. Such sensitized cells may provide a mechanism for the transfer of antigen responsiveness and protection from the mother to the neonate.
Subcooled Boiling Heat Transfer for Cooling of Power Electronics in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

At present, single-phase liquid, forced convection cooled heat sinks with fins are used to cool power electronics in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Although use of fins in the cooling channels increases heat transfer rates considerably, a second low-temperature radiator and associated pumping system are still required in HEVs. This additional cooling system adds weight and cost while decreasing the efficiency of HEVs. With the objective of eliminating this additional low-temperature radiator and pumping system in HEVs, an alternative cooling technology, subcooled boiling in the cooling channels, was investigated in the present study. Numerical heat transfer simulations were performed using subcooled boiling in the power electronics cooling channels with the coolant supplied from the existing main engine cooling system. Results show that this subcooled boiling system is capable of removing 25% more heat from the power electronics than the conventional forced convection cooling technology, or it can reduce the junction temperature of the power electronics at the current heat removal rate. With the 25% increased heat transfer option, high heat fluxes up to 250 W/cm2 (typical for wideband-gap semiconductor applications) are possible by using the subcooled boiling system.
An Analysis of Cost Effective Management Practices to Manage Water Pollution Problem: A Case of Tobesofkee Creek, Georgia.

A cost minimization model was used to find the minimum cost and environmental friendly management practices(MCEFMP). Use of MCEFMP in cattle production seems to be the most cost effective means of reducing water pollution with a marginal cost of $1200 in comparison to use of MCEFMP on other agricultural operations.
National Past‐Times: Narrative, Representation, and Power in Modern China

National Past-Times: Narrative, Representation, and Power in Modern China. Ann S. Anagnost. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1997.232 pp.
Spatial and temporal patterns in conterminous United States streamflow characteristics

Spatial and temporal patterns in annual and seasonal minimum, mean, and maximum daily streamflow values were examined for a set of 516 reference stream gauges located throughout the conterminous United States for the period 1951–2009. Cluster analysis was used to classify the stream gauges into 14 groups based on similarity in their temporal patterns of streamflow. The results indicated that the temporal patterns in flow metrics (1) have strong spatial coherence within each region, (2) are similar among the three annual flow metrics and the four seasonal flow metrics within each region, (3) indicate some small magnitude trends over time, and (4) are only weakly associated with well-known climate indices. We conclude that most of the temporal variability in flow is unpredictable in terms of relations to climate indices and infer that, for the most part, future changes in flow characteristics cannot be predicted by these indices.
Corrections to scaling laws

The effects of higher-order contributions to the linearized renormalization group equations in critical phenomena are discussed. This analysis leads to three quite different results: (i) An exact scaling law for redefined fields is obtained. These redefined fields are normally analytic functions of the physical fields. Corrections to the standard power laws are derived from this scaling law. (ii) The theory explains why logarithmic terms can exist in the free energy. (iii) The case in which the energy scales like the dimensionality is analyzed to show that quite anomalous results may be obtained in this special situation.
Quasi-ideal embeddings and Rees matrix covers for regular semigroups

of S if QSQ E Q; since S is regular this is equivalent to Q = QSQ. Any one sided ideal of S is a quasi-ideal as is the intersection of quasi-ideals. On- the other hand, when S is regular any quasi-ideal is easily seen to be the intersection of a left ideal and a right ideal; Q = QSn SQ. Of particular interest are these quasi-ideals which are themselves regular semigroups, the
Quantized Gravitational Field

A gravitational action operator is constructed that is invariant under general coordinate transformations and local Lorentz (gauge) transformations. To interpret the formalism the arbitrariness in description must be restricted by introducing gauge conditions and coordinate conditions. The time gauge is defined by locking the time axes of the local coordinate systems to the general coordinate time axis. The resulting form of the action operator, including the contribution of a spinless matter field, enables canonical pairs of variables to be identified. There are four field variables that lack canonical partners, in virtue of differential constraint equations, which can be interpreted as space-time coordinate displacements. In a physically distinguished class of coordinate system the gravitational field variables are not explicit functions of the coordinate displacement parameters. There remains the freedom of Lorentz transformation. The generators of spatial translations and rotations have the correct commutation properties. The question of Lorentz invariance is left undecided since the energy density operator is only given implicitly.
Analytical Initialization for Three-Dimensional Numerical Models

Abstract A technique for generating analytical initial conditions for three-dimensional numerical models is presented. The technique combines trigonometric and other mathematical functions with meteorological constraints to construct an idealized atmosphere which exhibits commonly observed “real” atmosphere structural characteristics. For example, pressure and thermal waves which slope with height, tropopause, low-level moist tongue, phase differences in pressure and thermal waves, and a jet maximum at the tropopause level are all generated by the simple system of equations. Examples of both mesoscale and synoptic-scale initial conditions are given, and results of integrating the mesoscale initial conditions in a three-dimensional model are shown. The initialization procedure is economical and flexible, and potential applications include testing weather modification sensitivity, finite-difference schemes, lateral boundary formulations, and various subgrid-scale parameterizations.
SU‐FF‐I‐38: Reduction of In‐Plane Breathing Motion Artifacts Using Optimized‐Angle Sinogram Reconstruction

Purpose: Breathing motion mapping utilizes 4‐dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) which is typically acquired either in cine or helical mode. Even with rapid CT scanners, tissues can move across a space of multiple pixels during image acquisition, causing motion artifacts. We are investigating a method to reduce the in‐plane motion artifacts using 180° reconstruction with CT gantry angles whose orientation is matched to the tissue motion vectors. Method and Materials: To model vessels and bronchial branches, CT scans were simulated with small cylindrical targets. The targets were moved at constant velocities during image acquisition and both 360° and 180° filtered back projection reconstructions were employed. The start angles of the 180° reconstructions were varied to examine the effect of the relative orientation between the start gantry angle and the motion vectors. Single and multiple targets were examined, including targets that moved orthogonally. Results: In all but static cases, 360° reconstruction provided the worst image quality. 180° reconstruction quality depended heavily on the relative orientation of the motion vector and the start CT gantry angle (α). When α was 0° (parallel), the image quality was good and when α was 90° (perpendicular), the image quality suffered. The image quality remained high when α was less than 45°. When multiple non‐parallel moving targets were studied, each was imaged well when its motion vector was parallel to the gantry start angle. A single good quality image could be pieced together from multiple image reconstructions created using multiple gantry start angles. Conclusion: Improving the quality of reconstruction for CT scans acquired during free breathing is possible using tuned gantry start angles even when using multiple patched image datasets. It is possible to compensate for potentially increased statistical noise due to the sub‐360° reconstruction by increasing the scanner's mA. This work supported in part by NIHR0196679.
Multichannel Cold Collisions: Simple Dependences on Energy and Magnetic Field

The scattering matrices needed to describe cold collision processes are shown to have a simple dependence on energy and magnetic field, controlled by single-channel dynamics in the appropriate long-range field. A frame transformation describes the energy and field dependences entirely in terms of a standard recoupling matrix and single-channel parameters, giving adequate accuracy for many systems. The formulas in this paper should permit experimentalists to reproduce the results of hitherto complicated coupled channels calculations, through small, simple matrix manipulations.
Altered Oxidative Stress Responses and Increased Type I Collagen Expression in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients

Background The mechanisms governing extracellular matrix degradation and smooth muscle cell (SMC) loss in the ascending aorta of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients are unknown. We recently reported that expression and induction of metallothionein, a reactive oxygen species scavenger, is reduced in BAV ascending aortic aneurysms relative to nonaneurysmal patients. Methods Tissue and primary SMCs from patients with and without thoracic aortic aneurysms and metallothionein-null and wild-type mice were analyzed for cell viability, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and type I collagen gene expression during exposure to reactive oxygen species. Results The BAV SMCs and metallothionein −/− mice failed to induce VEGF under conditions of oxidative stress in vitro. Exogenous VEGF restored resistance to oxidative stress in BAV SMCs to normal. Type I collagen gene induction was increased in BAV aorta. Conclusions Lack of VEGF induction during exposure to reactive oxygen species suggest that the oxidative stress response is faulty upstream of metallothionein and VEGF in BAV SMCs. Improvement of cell viability with VEGF treatment suggests that the deficient pathway can be rescued by VEGF. Increased type I collagen in BAV suggests that lack of metallothionein/VEGF activation in response to reactive oxygen species may play a role in extracellular matrix homeostasis of the ascending aorta. These data continue to support our hypothesis that BAV SMCs lack sufficient resistance to reactive oxygen species to maintain extracellular matrix homeostasis, which imparts a predisposition to thoracic aortic aneurysms.
Structural basis of substrate recognition in thiopurine s-methyltransferase.

Thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) modulates the cytotoxic effects of thiopurine prodrugs such as 6-mercaptopurine by methylating them in a reaction using S-adenosyl-l-methionine as the donor. Patients with TPMT variant allozymes exhibit diminished levels of protein and/or enzyme activity and are at risk for thiopurine drug-induced toxicity. We have determined two crystal structures of murine TPMT, as a binary complex with the product S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine and as a ternary complex with S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine and the substrate 6-mercaptopurine, to 1.8 and 2.0 A resolution, respectively. Comparison of the structures reveals that an active site loop becomes ordered upon 6-mercaptopurine binding. The positions of the two ligands are consistent with the expected SN2 reaction mechanism. Arg147 and Arg221, the only polar amino acids near 6-mercaptopurine, are highlighted as possible participants in substrate deprotonation. To probe whether these residues are important for catalysis, point mutants were ...
The development of a health information exchange to enhance care and improve patient outcomes among HIV+ individuals in rural North Carolina

Abstract Background The Regional Health Information Integration Project (RHIIP) has developed the Carolina HIV Information Cooperative regional health information organization (CHIC RHIO). The CHIC RHIO was implemented to improve patient care and health outcomes by enhancing communication among geographically disconnected networks of HIV care providers in rural North Carolina. CHIC RHIO comprises one medical clinic and five AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) serving clients in eight rural counties. Methods Communication among the CHIC RHIO members is facilitated by CAREWare software. The RHIIP team assessed organizational readiness to change, facilitated relationship-building for CHIC RHIO, created the CHIC RHIO and used both qualitative and quantitative approaches to evaluate the process-related effects of implementing a data-sharing intervention. Results We found the CHIC RHIO member organizations were ready to engage in the IT intervention prior to its implementation, which most likely contributed to its successful adoption. The qualitative findings indicate that CHIC RHIO members personally benefited – and perceived their clients benefited – from participation in the information exchange. The quantitative results echoed the qualitative findings; following the CHIC RHIO intervention, quality improvements were noted in the ASO and medical clinic relationships, information exchange, and perceived level of patient care. Furthermore, hopes for what data sharing would accomplish were overly high at the beginning of the project, thus requiring a recalibration of expectations as the project came to a close. Conclusions Innovative strategies for health information exchange can be implemented in rural communities to increase communication among providers. With this increased communication comes the potential for improved health outcomes and, in turn, healthier communities.
A third neuroglial cell types. An electron microscopic study

During a study of developing optic nerves, it was necessary to reevaluate the earlier electron microscopic evidence that only two neuroglial types, oligodendrocytes and fibrous astrocytes, are contained within central white matter. A reexamination of adult optic nerves showed that in addition to these two kinds of cells, a third morphologically distinct cell type exists. Cells of this third neuroglial variety are small and their cytoplasmic density is less than that of all forms of oligodendrocytes but slightly more than that of astrocytes. Neither the filaments and glycogen particles characteristic of astrocytes nor the microtubules typical of oligodendrocytes are observed in the third type of neuroglia. Dense, laminar bodies and fat droplets are frequently present within their cytoplasm, and profiles of the granular endoplasmic reticulum consist of long, stringy cisternae. Fetal and early postnatal optic nerves contain a cell type with the same morphological characteristics. This suggests that the third type of neuroglia in adult nerves may represent cells of a similar nature to the multipotential stem cells of other tissues. Some of the characteristics of the third type of neuroglia are reminiscent of the microglia of classical light microscopy, but data from developing nerves indicates that the former are derived from neuroectodermal matrix cells and not from invading mesenchymal elements.
Theory of a continuous Mott transition in two dimensions

We study theoretically the zero-temperature phase transition in two dimensions from a Fermi liquid to a paramagnetic Mott insulator with a spinon Fermi surface. We show that the approach to the bandwidth-controlled Mott transition from the metallic side is accompanied by a vanishing quasiparticle residue and a diverging effective mass. The Landau parameters ${F}_{s}^{0},{F}_{a}^{0}$ also diverge. Right at the quantum critical point there is a sharply defined ``critical Fermi surface'' but no Landau quasiparticle. The critical point has a $T\text{ }\text{ln}\text{ }1/T$ specific heat and a nonzero $T=0$ resistivity. We predict an interesting universal resistivity jump in the residual resistivity at the critical point as the transition is approached from the metallic side. The crossovers out of the critical region are also studied. Remarkably the initial crossover out of criticality on the metallic side is to a marginal Fermi liquid metal. At much lower temperatures there is a further crossover into the Landau Fermi liquid. The ratio of the two crossover scales vanishes when approaching the critical point. Similar phenomena are found in the insulating side. The filling-controlled Mott transition is also studied. Implications for experiments on the layered triangular lattice organic material $\ensuremath{\kappa}\ensuremath{-}{(\text{ET})}_{2}{\text{Cu}}_{2}{(\text{CN})}_{3}$ are discussed.
DNA analysis of colon biopsies from tamarins with inflammatory bowel disease

DNA analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded colon biopsies from tamarins before, during, and after acute colitis episodes. No difference was noted between the coefficients of variation of diploid populations from active and chronic colitic regions. Rates of proliferation varied significantly among animals and sites of biopsy; no correlation however was noted between proliferation rates and the presence of active colitis. An aneuploid population was observed in a past colitis specimen. Continuing longitudinal studies will assess the significance of elevated proliferation rates and aneuploidy for early development of malignancy.
Generalization of Szebehely's regions for asteroid stability

Using Hill's modified stability criterion in the three-dimensional restricted three-body problem with the Sun and Jupiter as the primaries, regions of stability for the semi-major axis (a) are determined. These regions are given for a range of eccentricity (e) and inc.l.ination (i), and include the effects of the remaining orbital elements. This generalizes Szebehely's previous results which only examined the effects of e and i on the regions of stability for the semima jor axis. It is shown that if the other orbital elements are also considered, the previous results are sharpened but are not contradicted.
Memory effects in dynamical many-body systems: The isomnesic (constant-memory) approximation

Exact numerical solutions of a generalized master equation for a system involving a temporally localizable memory kernel and a constant one are presented. Comparison with an isomnesic (constant memory) approximation, with the memory kernel reduced to the sum of a local and a constant term gives excellent agreement. A Markovian version of the problem is also described and found to be inherently ambiguous, devoid of significant physical features seen in the transient regions, but leading to the same steady-state as the isomnesic approximation.
PREDICTING GRADES IN A MASTER'S‐DEGREE PROGRAM

The purpose of the study reported here was to estimate the validity of the Miller Analogies Test alone and in combination with undergraduate grade point average as a predictor of course grades in a program of graduate education leading to the Master of Arts degree. In previously published studies a wide range of validity coefficients has been reported. For example, correlations with graduate grade point average from .00 (Travers, 1948) to .68 (Cureton, Cureton, and Bishop, 1949) may be found. More typically, however, predictive or concurrent validity coefficents of approximately .20 to .40 with various criteria of success have been reported.
Triple oxygen isotope composition of dissolved O2 in the equatorial Pacific: A tracer of mixing, production, and respiration

[1] As a contribution to the study of equatorial Pacific biogeochemistry, we measured the O2/Ar ratio and the triple isotope composition (18O, 17O, and 16O) of O2 along six meridional lines in the equatorial Pacific (8°N–8°S at 95°W, 110°W, 125°W, 140°W, 155°W, and 170°W). O2/Ar ratios and δ18O were close to equilibrium values within the mixed layer and followed the general trend of increasing δ18O with decreasing O2/Ar at greater depths. The 17Δ (≈δ17O–0.5δ18O) constrains the fraction of photosynthetic O2; 17Δ was slightly elevated with respect to equilibrium within the mixed layer due to local photosynthetic production. In aphotic zone waters above 250 m depth the average 17Δ values were higher than in the mixed layer. There are four sources of this photosynthetic signal in the dark ocean: production in the euphotic zone prior to subduction in the distant source regions, production below the mixed layer during travel to the equatorial zone, diapycnal mixing with shallower waters bearing photosynthetic O2, and accumulation of photosynthetic O2 produced at very low rates below the 1% light level. Our results also constrain biological production rates within the mixed layer at several locations along 95°W and 110°W. Our average rate of 14C production (53 ± 34 mmol C m−2 d−1) agreed well with other estimates in the equatorial Pacific, while our average rate of net C production (6.9 ± 6.2 mmol C m−2 d−1) and f ratio (0.12 ± 0.11) were somewhat lower than other estimates. Adding δ18O and 17Δ as tracers to three-dimensional biogeochemical ocean GCMs and comparing results with observations will extend our understanding of metabolic rates in the study region.
Nitric oxide-regulated endogenous ADP-ribosylation of rod outer segment proteins.

Abstract Both membrane and cytosolic fractions of retinal rod outer segments contain ADP-ribosylases that modify proteins in the respective fractions. Nitroprusside and endogenously produced NO regulate the activities of these ADP-robosylases. The ADP-ribosylation of the membrane proteins of molecular weight 116K, 66K and 46K is inhibited by NO and nitroprusside, while that of the 38K cytosolic protein and the 39K membrane-associated protein is activated. The 39K protein is identified as the α-subunit of G-protein. The ADP-ribosylation of this protein is activated 6 to 11-fold by NO suggesting that NO may play a significant role in modulating the activity of G-protein in visual transduction.
Reprocessing free nuclear fuel production via fusion fission hybrids

Abstract Fusion fission hybrids, driven by a copious source of fusion neutrons can open qualitatively “new” cycles for transmuting nuclear fertile material into fissile fuel. A totally reprocessing-free (ReFree) Th 232 –U 233 conversion fuel cycle is presented. Virgin fertile fuel rods are exposed to neutrons in the hybrid, and burned in a traditional light water reactor, without ever violating the integrity of the fuel rods. Throughout this cycle (during breeding in the hybrid, transport, as well as burning of the fissile fuel in a water reactor) the fissile fuel remains a part of a bulky, countable, ThO 2 matrix in cladding, protected by the radiation field of all fission products. This highly proliferation-resistant mode of fuel production, as distinct from a reprocessing dominated path via fast breeder reactors (FBR), can bring great acceptability to the enterprise of nuclear fuel production, and insure that scarcity of naturally available U 235 fuel does not throttle expansion of nuclear energy. It also provides a reprocessing free path to energy security for many countries. Ideas and innovations responsible for the creation of a high intensity neutron source are also presented.
ABSENCE OF HABITUATION TO REPEATED EXPOSURES TO A ROTATING OPTOKINETIC DRUM WITH BRIEF INTERSESSION INTERVALS

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether participants would habituate to repeated exposures to a rotating drum with brief intersession intervals. Participants were 41 college students, divided into a High Susceptibility group and a Low Susceptibility group based on their subjective symptoms of motion sickness during the first exposure to the rotating drum. The study consisted of three 16-min. exposures to a rotating drum with intersession intervals of 30 min. Contrary to expectation, for the High Susceptibility group, the symptom score mean of the first session was significantly less than that of the second and third sessions; and the drum viewing time of the first session was longer than that of the second and third sessions. In the Low Susceptibility group, the symptom score and drum viewing time were not significantly different among the three sessions. In conclusion, participants did not habituate to three repeated exposures to a rotating drum with intersession intervals of 30 min. Instead, a sensitization response occurred for the participants high in susceptibility.
Deposition Rates in Valleys Determined Using Fallout Cesium-137

Many of man9s cultural activities have accelerated the deposition of sediment in valleys, yet in most places these rates are low and difficult to measure. Sediment profiles collected in northern Mississippi had a range of deposition rates from 0.9 to 6.5 cm/yr as determined using fallout cesium-137. These deposition rates are similar to rates determined along these same ranges using the survey techniques.
A fluorescence-yield near-edge spectroscopy (FYNES) investigation of the reaction kinetics of NiO/Ni(100) with hydrogen

Abstract The method of fluorescence-yield near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (FYNES) has been applied to investigate the thermal stability of NiO films on a Ni(100) substrate and the reaction kinetics of this surface with hydrogen gas. The FYNES results indicate that the total oxygen content near the surface region remains constant after heating a NiO/Ni(100) layer above a phase separation temperature of 525 K, indicating that there is no significant thermally induced diffusion of oxygen into the bulk Ni(100) lattice. These results support conclusions from previous EELS and XPS experiments that the NiO/Ni(100) layer prepared at 300 K undergoes a thermally induced phase separation to produce a surface with mixtures of roughly 50 A NiO(100) crystalline clusters and c(2 × 2)−O chemisorbed phases. The FYNES investigation of the reaction kinetics of NiO/Ni(100) with H2 in the temperature range of 600–800 K indicates that the oxygen removal rate from NiO clusters is roughly zero order with respect to the initial oxygen content, and that the subsurface oxygen is removed completely. In addition, the removal rate of oxygen is found to be approximately first order with respect to H2 pressure. The reaction of NiO/Ni(100) with H2 has a rather weak temperature dependence, as characterized by an activation energy of 1.8 kcal/mol with a pre-exponential factor of 9.4 × 1013 molecules cm−2 s−1. These observations indicate that the rate-determining step for the removal of oxygen is most likely the initial HH bond breaking, and that the removal of oxygen does not occur preferentially at the edges of NiO islands.
Acute leukemia following inflammatory bowel disease.

Two patients are described who developed acute leukemia during a 7- to 20-year quiescent phase of inflammatory bowel disease. The possibility of an association of leukemia to the diagnostic radiation received or a susceptibility to malignancy other than adenocarcinoma in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is suggested.
The Optimality of the ‘Zero-Switch’ Rule for a Class of Economic Lot-Scheduling Problems

The economic lot-scheduling problem for the single-machine, n-item scheduling problem has received attention in a number of journals. One approach is to define a sequence (called the fundamental cycle) in which every item is made at least once, and then to determine the length of production runs consistent with the aggregate inventory level which will maximize the length of the cycle duration. The assumption that production is switched from one item to the next only when the inventory level of the latter reaches zero is often used in heuristic solutions to these models. This paper illustrates the conditions in which the ‘zero-switch’ rule is a necessary condition at the optimal solution for situations in which demand is continuous and production capacity equals aggregate demand.
Surface waves on the rotating tyre: An application of functional analysis

Abstract This paper deals with the radial vibrations of a rotating tyre. By means of a simple bi-dimensional membrane model a differential equation is derived for characterizing the phenomena. For the case where a force input is applied, a continuous decomposition of the time domain response leads to an expression for the dispersion relation of the medium. Indications are given of the experimental evaluation of the coefficients in the equation. In a second approach a new interpretation of the classical projection of space domain responses on an Hilbertian base is used for prediction of global resonances. Finally, the two characterizations are unified in a complete description of the rotating tyre vibratory motion.