cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A 2-metric characterization of the euclidean plane

It is known that the euclidean plane can be characterized metrically among the class of all metric spaces by each of several different sets of conditions. In particular, it is shown in [2] that a metric space is congruent with the euclidean plane if and only if it is complete, metrically convex, externally convex and has the property that each 4 of its points are congruently imbeddable in the euclidean plane, with some quadruple non-collinear. A similar question can be considered in a 2-metric (area metric) space ([4-6]) and the purpose of this paper is to prove that under suitable conditions of completeness, convexity and imbeddability of finite sets of points, a 2-metric space may be placed into a one-to-one, area preserving correspondence with the euclidean plane.
Biochemical evidence for aromatization of androgen to estrogen in the pituitary

We previously reported that substantial quantities of estrogen were present in the pituitary of the marine teleost (Myoxocephalus) following perfusion of the isolated head with radiolabeled androgen. In order to determine whether this estrogen was synthesized in situ or was derived from that formed in brain areas with high levels of aromatase activity, we used an explant culture system. Pituitary and brain (preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus) were incubated separately for 20 hr with [3H]androstenedione. Alternatively, the two tissues were cultured together, either as an intact unit or after stalk section. [3H]Estrone and estradiol-17β were measured in the media and tissue fragments after ether extraction, thinlayer chromatography, and phenolic partition. The authenticity of the products was validated by reverse isotope dilution and recrystallization. Sculpin brain and pituitary in isolated cultures were independently capable of converting radiolabeled androgen to estrogen (estradiol > estrone). Aromatase activity, as indicated by estrogen production per unit wet weight or per unit protein, was greater in pituitary than in brain cultures. Both tissue types, when compared to the medium, retained estrogen against a concentration gradient. Culturing the brain and pituitary together, with or without stalk section, did not alter total estrogen yields or tissue concentration of formed estrogen. It is unlikely that aromatase activity in isolated pituitary cultures could be ascribed to fiber terminals originating in the hypothalamus; however, the cell type responsible for estrogen production remains to be determined. We conclude that, in this teleost, a significant portion of the estrogen reaching target cells in the pituitary may be synthesized in situ from circulating androgen. Hence, control of the aromatization reaction would be one means of regulating gonadotropin secretion. A reexamination of aromatase activity in the pituitary of mammals and other vertebrates is warranted.
Relation between smoking cessation and receiving results from three annual spiral chest computed tomography scans for lung carcinoma screening.

BACKGROUND The relation between undergoing a single computed tomography (CT) screening for lung carcinoma and the potential long-term impact on smoking status has been equivocal. Perhaps, recommendations from multiple cancer screenings may promote smoking abstinence among individuals at high risk for lung carcinoma. METHODS The current longitudinal study comprised 926 current smokers and 594 former smokers who participated in 3 annual follow-up low-dose, fast spiral chest CT scan screenings for lung carcinoma. Baseline demographic, pulmonary function, smoking history variables, and previous abnormal findings were evaluated as predictors of self-reported point prevalence smoking abstinence. RESULTS Among current smokers at baseline, abstinence from smoking during the 3-year follow-up was associated with older age, worse baseline pulmonary function, and abnormal CT finding the previous year requiring interim follow-up. Of participants who received abnormal screens each of the previous 3 years, 41.9% reported smoking abstinence compared with 28.0% with 2 abnormal screens, 24.2% with 1 abnormal screen, and 19.8% with no abnormal screens. Among former smokers, abstinence from smoking was associated with a longer duration of abstinence before the baseline visit. CONCLUSIONS Smokers with abnormal CT findings from multiple CT screens were more likely to be abstinent from smoking at the 3-year follow-up. Multiple low-dose, fast spiral chest CT scan screenings for lung carcinoma may represent teachable moments and opportunities to enhance motivation for smoking abstinence. Further research is needed to continue to investigate how annual screening may enhance motivation for health behavior change. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
BLOOD PLASMA PROTEINS AS INFLUENCED BY INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF GUM ACACIA : II. PRODUCTION OF CHRONIC HYPOPROTEINEMIA.

By repeated weekly intravenous injections of gum acacia solution in dogs over periods of 4 to 5 months, it has been possible to maintain plasma protein concentration and total circulating protein at very low levels. If sufficient numbers of such injections are given and then discontinued, plasma protein concentration will remain below the normal limits for several more months. Acacia remains in the blood during this time. Reduction of fibrinogen concentration in such animals is out of proportion to and more marked than the changes in plasma protein concentration. This would indicate interference with liver function. Plasma volume when determined at 7 day intervals during injection periods at first diminishes, then rises 20 to 25 per cent above basal levels. The total blood volume does not show such marked changes because of a decrease in red cell volume. Globulins are reduced to a greater extent than albumin after a single injection of gum acacia, although both albumin and the globulins diminish. This cannot be accounted for by a decrease in fibrinogen alone. After 14 to 16 weekly injections, both albumin and globulins are more profoundly reduced. During injection periods in such animals, it has not been possible to control quantitatively the dietary intake, a complication which has made it difficult to ascertain the effect of various protein diets upon the protein-acacia balance. The changes described, however, have taken place regardless of various types of animal protein diets. Following periods of injection, in spite of very low plasma protein concentration and high acacia concentration in the blood, most of the dogs eat well and therefore they can be used during this period for controlled dietary experiments which may be of value in investigating the mechanism of the production and function of the plasma proteins.
Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology: U.S. Vs. China

AbstractThis paper seeks to enrich our understanding of research on technology adoption by examining a potential boundary condition, related to culture, of the fairly recently developed model of technology adoption and use-i.e., unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Based on the cultural differences between the U.S. and China, we outline the similarities and dissimilarities between the hypotheses specified in the original UTAUT, which was validated in the U.S., and how the relationships will play in the context of employees in China. We conducted an empirical study in a single organization that operated both in the U.S. and China and collected longitudinal data from a total of over 300 employees in one business unit in each of the two countries. Our study confirmed our hypotheses that social influence will be more uniformly important across all employees, without contingencies related to gender, age and volunatariness that were found to be the case in the U.S. As we theorized, other ...
Fatigue behavior of damaged steel beams repaired with CFRP strips

Abstract This paper presents the flexural behavior of damaged steel beams repaired with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. The damage is intentionally created by notching the tension flange of the beams. Six beams are tested to evaluate the static and fatigue performance of the repaired beams with emphasis on local plasticity and the CFRP–steel interface. A three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) is conducted to predict the experimental behavior. A modeling approach is proposed to simulate the fatigue response of the repaired beams, based on the strain-life method and cumulative damage theory. CFRP-repair results in a recovery of static load-carrying capacity of the damaged beam to that of an undamaged beam. The stress range at the damage influences the fatigue life, damage propagation, and plastic strain development of the repaired beams. Fatigue-crack propagation across the web of the beams is not significant up to 50% of their fatigue life, whereas brittle web fracture follows beyond the threshold. A bilinear fatigue response is observed at the CFRP-steel interface, whose magnitudes are dependent upon the number of fatigue cycles and the applied stress range. An empirical model is proposed to predict the fatigue behavior of the interface.
Landmark optimization using local curvature for point-based nonlinear rodent brain image registration

Purpose. To develop a technique to automate landmark selection for point-based interpolating transformations for nonlinear medical image registration. Materials and Methods. Interpolating transformations were calculated from homologous point landmarks on the source (image to be transformed) and target (reference image). Point landmarks are placed at regular intervals on contours of anatomical features, and their positions are optimized along the contour surface by a function composed of curvature similarity and displacements of the homologous landmarks. The method was evaluated in two cases (n = 5 each). In one, MRI was registered to histological sections; in the second, geometric distortions in EPI MRI were corrected.Normalizedmutual information and target registration error were calculated to compare the registration accuracy of the automatically and manually generated landmarks. Results. Statistical analyses demonstrated significant improvement (P < 0.05) in registration accuracy by landmark optimization in most data sets and trends towards improvement (P < 0.1) in others as compared to manual landmark selection.
Distinct Length Scales in the VO2 Metal–Insulator Transition Revealed by Bi-chromatic Optical Probing

Upon a heating-induced metal–instulator transition (MIT) in VO{sub 2}, microscopic metallic VO{sub 2} puddles nucleate and coarsen within the insulating matrix. This coexistence of the two phases across the transition spans distinct length scales as their relative domain sizes change. Far-field optical probing is applied to follow the dynamic evolution of the highly correlated metallic domains as the MIT progresses.
Stability of structural gene number in diploid species with different amounts of nuclear DNA and different chromosome numbers

Stability of structural gene number in diploid species with different amounts of nuclear DNA and different chromosome numbers
Biochemical analysis of the activation of adherent neutrophils in vitro

The role played by neutrophil oxidative responses in host defense and injury is an area of active investigation. In order to study neutrophil responses in vitro, methods are required for cell purification, enumeration, and quantification of activation responses, which mimic the in vivo situation as closely as possible. In this communication (and its companion paper, Albertine et al., 1988) improved methods for all of these tasks are described and applied to investigate neutrophil structure-function relationships in vitro and in vivo. Human neutrophils were purified by using a series of platelet-poor plasma-Percoll gradients (51, 62, 76 and 80% in Percoll). This modification of previously published procedures results in consistently successful neutrophil purification and has allowed us to purify neutrophils from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as blood. Activation of human and sheep neutrophils (superoxide anion production) was quantitated by the reduction of ferricytochrome c using a microtiter plate reader to measure the increase in absorbance at 550 nm from adherent neutrophils. Adherence of neutrophils was quantitated by measurement of LDH in cells lysed with Triton X-100 using a new method which uses readily available commercial reagents and can quantitate the LDH content of as few as 5000 neutrophils (or the LDH released from 5% of 100,000 neutrophils). Assay conditions for superoxide anion were optimized, limitations both in assay design and instruments used to measure OD were explored and enumerated, and these methods were used to quantitate sheep and human neutrophil activation responses. Using methods described in Albertine et al. (1988) for fixing neutrophils in microtiter wells after assay of their functional capacity, we have studied the same cells functionally and morphologically. We have used these techniques to study blood and alveolar neutrophils from a patient with acute respiratory failure. His alveolar neutrophils displayed 67% of the activation response as peripheral neutrophils (4.31 +/- 0.12 nmol superoxide released per 250,000 neutrophils at 60 min vs. 6.38 +/- 0.18 in blood, P less than 0.01) and structural changes which suggested previous activation in vivo. These studies demonstrate that similar morphological changes are observed in neutrophils activated with phorbol myristate acetate in vitro, as are observed in cells which have been activated by pathophysiologic processes in vivo.
Two models for psychophysical judgment: Scale invariance with changes in stimulus range

Two scaling models are investigated, each of which includes parameters which reflect variation in the use of judgmental categories. In one model, response categories are represented as successive intervals on an underlying sensory continuum. In the other, they are represented as points. Psychophysical scales based upon either of these models are invariant up to a linear transformation when the range of stimulus magnitudes is manipulated. Successive intervals scale values obtained from magnitude estimates are also linearly invariant with changes in stimulus range. Similarities in the proximity functions for the two judgment models are examined.
An Automated Supply Chain Management System and Its Performance Evaluation

The MIDAS system is an automated supply chain management system that enables customers, manufacturers, and suppliers to cooperate over the Internet. MIDAS aims to achieve high customer satisfaction by supporting the build-to-order customization model and to reduce inventory carrying costs and logistics administration costs at the manufacturer by supporting the just-in-time manufacturing model. It allows a manufacturer to choose from the MIDAS Registry, suppliers of components, and negotiate based on the prices, availability, and delivery times of those components. The manufacturer can use one of several strategies to aggregate customersâ€™ orders before processing them, and one of several strategies to accumulate suppliersâ€™ quotes before deciding on a particular supplier. The paper presents an evaluation of these strategies in terms of the customerâ€™s satisfaction, as measured by the customer response time, and the manufacturerâ€™s gain, as measured by the number of orders aggregated or the best price ratio.
A Method of Predicting the Nonlinear Behavior of Laminated Composites

This paper presents an analytical technique for determining the stress-strain response up to ultimate laminate failure for a laminated composite consisting of orthotropic lamina with nonlinear stress-strain behavior. The procedure, which has been programmed for a digital computer, will produce a laminate stress-strain curve up to ultimate failure. The technique is restricted to the prediction of ultimate strength for plane anisotropic laminates with midplane symmetry sub jected to biaxial membrane loads. Comparisons are made between analytical predictions and experimental results. The basic concepts of ultimate and limit strength design as applied to an advanced com posite structure are discussed.
Similarity, allometry and food chains.

So many different species are involved in environmental pollution problems that there is a need for general principles adequate to predict uptake and retention rates for large classes of organisms. With “metabolic body size” (weight to the three-fourths power) as a scaling-variable, the ratio of retention times in pairs of mammalian species is shown to have a common pattern for several radionuclides. The consistency of such “similarity-ratios” may result from food-habit adaptations. A population frequency distribution of retention times is obtained for a very simple case. More realistic models appear to be dependent on computer simulation.
Exposure science and its places in environmental health sciences and risk assessment: why is its application still an ongoing struggle in 2014?

Exposure science and its places in environmental health sciences and risk assessment: why is its application still an ongoing struggle in 2014?
Comparison of various clinical measurements of blood pressure with the self-determination technique in normotensive college males

A PERS~N’S blood pressure under the usual conditions of daily life may be quite different from that in the physician’s office. This is particularly the case and quite important for young individuals referred to a physician for the first time because of a chance finding of a slight blood pressure elevation. In theory, variability among blood pressure measures iu a given subject might be reduced by a more careful control of the experimental situation and by repetitive measurements. If a person could measure his own blood pressure, at least the emotional influence of the patient-physician relationship would be in part excluded. A special type of cuff, described by BLAQUIER and HOOBLER Cl], has been designed for this purpose. These authors have compared self-determined office blood pressure readings of normotensive and hypertensive subjects to those performed by professional personnel. This type of observation is extended, in this report, to the blood pressures as self-determined away from the physician’s office. Such home readings are compared to a series taken on the same normal subject by the physician. In this way it was hoped to obtain information concerning the relationship between the home blood pressure of the subject and the readings taken in the office environment.
Preservation of Cerebral Vascular Reactivity by Sodium Channel Inhibition in Experimental Acute Prolonged Hypotensive Hypoxic Injury (HI) in Newborn Pigs

Preservation of Cerebral Vascular Reactivity by Sodium Channel Inhibition in Experimental Acute Prolonged Hypotensive Hypoxic Injury (HI) in Newborn Pigs
Increasing Occurrences and Functional Roles for High Energy Purine-Pyrimidine Base-Pairs in Nucleic Acids

There are a growing number of studies reporting the observation of purine-pyrimidine base-pairs that are seldom observed in unmodified nucleic acids because they entail the loss of energetically favorable interactions or require energetically costly base ionization or tautomerization. These high energy purine-pyrimidine base-pairs include G•C(+) and A•T Hoogsteen base-pairs, which entail ∼180° rotation of the purine base in a Watson-Crick base-pair, protonation of cytosine N3, and constriction of the C1'-C1' distance by ∼2.5A. Other high energy pure-pyrimidine base-pairs include G•T, G•U, and A•C mispairs that adopt Watson-Crick like geometry through either base ionization or tautomerization. Although difficult to detect and characterize using biophysical methods, high energy purine-pyrimidine base-pairs appear to be more common than once thought. They further expand the structural and functional diversity of canonical and non-canonical nucleic acid base-pairs.
Compact to noncompact transition with application to nuclear collective levels

Abstract A continuous transition from the O( d + 1) to O( d , 1) algebra is described for the totally symmetric (bosonic) representations. The transition is via a deformation or a contraction-expansion sequence and has a critical point at E( d ). SU(3) transiting to SL(3, R ) is also described. Applications to B (E2) ratios of IBA-type nuclei are given.
Teaching Newton’s Laws to Urban Middle School Students in a College-Based Science Enrichment Program

Participation in secondary physics has been shown to be limited for underrepresented students in urban school districts. This study explores an alternative means for providing physics access for city youth through the use of a university-based Saturday enrichment program for eighth grade Latino students. During a three-week unit on Newton’s laws, students engaged in inquiry-based lessons that featured hands-on tasks, probeware with handheld sensing devices, computer simulations, iPod Touch applications, and multiple representations of mechanics concepts. Students were tested pre- and post- with a modified Force Concept Inventory. Results indicated significant gains in student understanding of Newton’s laws. Implications for physics teaching and learning in urban middle schools and informal science settings are discussed.
Lithium: effects on subjective functioning and morphine-induced euphoria

The therapeutic usefulness of lithium in decreasing the euphoria and other symptoms associated with manic behavior and the hypothesis of a common final mechanism for elevations in mood have led to speculation that lithium may block the euphoria induced by drugs of abuse. In this study, lithium alone was antieuphoric in drug-free opiate addicts and, further, did not block morphine-induced euphoria.
Mirror Syndrome in Pregnancy: Two Patients, One Disease

Childbearing Poster Presentation Background First described in 1892 by John W. Ballantyne, Mirror Syndrome is a preeclampsia‐like disease characterized by fetal or placental hydrops, maternal anemia, edema, hypertension, liver dysfunction, and poor fetal outcome. It is called Mirror Syndrome because the maternal pathology mirrors that of the fetus. This is a rare condition whose etiology is not known. Some of the potentially critical maternal sequelae of Mirror Syndrome include pulmonary edema, adult respiratory distress syndrome, pericardial effusions, and renal failure. Case A patient was transferred to us at 27‐week gestation for severe preeclampsia but was later diagnosed with Mirror Syndrome. The patient complained of flu‐like symptoms lasting 3 days, headache, and decreased fetal movement. Signs and symptoms included hypertension, oliguria, proteinuria, pitting edema, and abnormal lab values. Acute right‐sided abdominal pain developed during transfer. The pregnancy was known to be complicated by hydrops, ascites, and multiple fetal anomalies thought to be incompatible with life. She was treated with magnesium sulfate, antiemetics, narcotic pain control, and intravenous hydration. A 24‐hour urine collection and pregnancy‐induced hypertension labs were initiated. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and a surgical consult were ordered to rule out appendicitis. The MRI verified mild anasarca within the abdomen and pelvis, but the appendix was not adequately visualized. The 24‐hour urine had nearly 5 grams of protein. The patient became increasingly uncomfortable with bilateral 3+ pitting edema from her feet through her thighs. Induction was recommended due to worsening maternal status, and the potential for other morbidities associated with Mirror Syndrome. Fetal paracentesis of 600 ml was performed to facilitate vaginal breech delivery. A stillborn female infant with multiple anomalies, generalized edema, and ambiguous genitalia was delivered weighing 3 pounds 2 ounces. Magnesium sulfate continued postpartum for 24 hours. The postpartum course was unremarkable, and the patient was discharged 48 hours after delivery. Conclusion Careful evaluation is needed to differentiate between preeclampsia and Mirror Syndrome because the maternal morbidity may be more extensive.
Distribution and trypanosome infection rates of Glossina morsitans submorsitans Newst. along a trade cattle route in south-western Nigeria

The distribution and trypanosome infection rates of Glossina morsitans submorsitans Newst. were studied during the wet season of 1967 along 75 miles of the main trade cattle route which passes through the savannah country between Ilorin and Oyo in south-western Nigeria. G.m. submorsitans was found inhabiting open woodland, grassland, farmland and the environs of towns associated with the cattle route. In comparison with the types of habitat this species occupies in its zone of wide distribution in northern Nigeria, those habitats studied were considered atypical. It is suggested that the presence of G.m. submorsitans in the area investigated had resulted from a southward population advance over the last 50 years and this hypothesis is discussed in relation to existing knowledge of G.m. submorsitans advances. The trypanosome infection rates of 61.6 and 76.6 per cent, found in 364 examples of G.m. submorsitans dissected are much higher than previously recorded for any of the subspecies of G. morsitans Westw. A steady southward increase in the trypanosome infection rates of G.m. submorsitans was demonstrated for populations inhabiting 200 miles of cattle route. Trypanosome infections in G.m. submorsitans are attributed to Trypanosoma vivax and T. congolense , and the absence of brucei -group infections is discussed in relation to the incidence of T. brucei infections in trade cattle and limitations of the technique used for demonstrating infections in tsetse flies. It is stressed that epizootiological aspects of the present findings cannot be clarified until reliable data on trypanosome infections of trade cattle in the area studied are available.
Controlling the intrinsic atomic phase in high-harmonic generation

Recently, the process of high-order harmonic generation has received considerable attention. The dependence of the harmonic spectra on laser intensity, wavelength, polarization, and pulse width have all been studied experimentally and numerically. However, more detailed comparisons of models with experiment has proven to be difficult, primarily because of the lack of detailed and reliable experimental data. In this work, we provide a theoretical explanation for our experimental observation that the chirp of the excitation laser used to generate the harmonics dramatically changes the observed spectra of the high harmonic output. For positively chirped pump pulses, the individual harmonic peaks are discrete and well defined, while for negatively chirped pump pulses, the harmonic output spectra merge into a continuum. By considering the intrinsic phase shift of the harmonic emission with respect to the driving laser pulse, we show that these effects can be successfully explained using both analytic semiclassical theory and quantum models.
PATTERNS OF SPECIES DIVERSITY

Summary 1. Species diversity is most simply measured by counting species. More complicated measures, which take into account the relative abundance of the species, have been derived from information theory or from parameters of statistical distributions fitted to the census data. The information theory formulae can also be used to measure habitat diversity and differences between communities or habitats. In this way, changes in the pattern of species diversity can be compared with changes in the environment. 2. Small or remote islands and islands with uniform topography have fewer species than large or complex islands or islands nearer the source of colonization. For birds and some orders of insects it appears that the rate of colonization of new species is virtually balanced by the rate of extinction, so that the number of species has reached equilibrium. For other organisms, such as mammals, and for all organisms on the most remote islands, this equilibrium has probably not been reached and further increases in the fauna may be expected. The comparison of impoverished island faunas with the mainland faunas whence they were derived shows the effect of relaxed competition. 3. Local variations in the species diversity of small uniform habitats can usually be predicted in terms of the structure and productivity of the habitat. Habitats of similar structure on islands and mainland often have similar species diversities; the impoverishment of the island is reflected in the fact that different habitats on the island have nearly the same species, while different habitats on the mainland have more different species. This is interpreted as evidence that uniform habitats are nearly saturated with species and that new species usually colonize by occupying different habitats from present species. 4. The theory of competition and the facts of character displacement indicate that there is a limiting similarity to species which co-exist within a habitat. Species more similar than this limiting value must occupy different habitats. According to the theory, this limiting value should be less where productivity is high, where family size is low and where the seasons are relatively uniform. It should also be less for pursuing hunters than for species which search for stationary prey. 5. Total species diversities, from areas composed of many types of habitat, are usually, but not always, much greater in the tropics than in temperate regions. This is accomplished by a finer subdivision of habitats (habitat selection) more than by a marked increase in diversity within habitats. This total diversity may still be increasing and may have not reached saturation.
REVIEW ■ : Neurotrophic Factors and the Specification of Neural Function

Neurotrophin molecules have been shown to play important roles in the survival of neurons during devel opment. Most early studies concentrated on the initially discovered factor—nerve growth factor. Recent work has demonstrated that nerve growth factor belongs to a family of neurotrophins that include brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophin-4/5. These neurotrophins exert their action via high- affinity receptors known as trks (trkA, trkB, and trkC). A major goal of present research is to identify the neuronal locus of different trks to permit inferences about the specificity of action of the different growth factors. However, recent evidence suggests complex relationships between neurotrophins and trk receptors. These issues are explored in the context of dorsal root ganglion cells and motor neurons. Functional studies of the effects of nerve growth factor on its target cells, the nociceptive afferents, illustrate that this neurotro phin plays a role in development and function...
Bouncing threads: merging a new execution model into a nanotechnology memory

The need for small, high speed, low power computers as the end of Moore's law approaches is driving research into nanotechnology. These novel devices have significantly different properties than traditional MOS devices and require new design methodologies, which in turn provide exciting architectural opportunities. The H-memory is a design developed for a particular nanotechnology, quantum-dot cellular automata. We propose a new execution model that merges with the H-memory to exploit the characteristics of this nanotechnology by distributing the functionality of the CPU throughout the memory structure.
Apoferritin‐Templated Synthesis of Metal Phosphate Nanoparticle Labels for Electrochemical Immunoassay

W have introduced template-synthesized metal phosphate nanoparticle labels for electrochemical immunoassay. Such use of an apoferritin template offers a simple and convenient route to prepare metallic nanoparticle labels for electrochemical immunoassays and avoid the complicated and time-consuming nanoparticle synthesis process (QD synthesis). Releasing metal ions from metal phosphate in an acetate buffer (pH 4.6) eliminates the harsh condition in the traditional metallic nanoparticle dissolution (e.g., strong acid dissolution of QDs and gold nanoparticles). This method is ultrasensitive and its DL is low to 77fM. The simultaneous detection of multiple protein targets is easily performed by using different metal phosphate nanoparticle labels (cadmium phosphate and lead phosphate). This approach can be extended to prepare multiple metal (such as zinc, lead, cadmium, copper, indium, gold, silver) phosphate nanoparticle labels or hybrid metal (bimetallic or trimetallic with predetermined ratios) phosphate nanoparticle labels for a multiplex electrochemical immunoassay. The new nanoparticle labels could be applicable to other electrochemical bioassays, such as DNA, and is thus expected to lead to wide applications for protein diagnostics and for bioanalysis in general.
Sex determination in Chlamydomonas

The sex-determination system of the unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is governed by genes in the mating-type (MT) locus and entails additional genes located in autosomes. Gene expression is initiated by nitrogen starvation, and cells differentiate into plus or minus gametes within 6h. Reviewed is our current understanding of gametic differentiation and fertilization, initiation of zygote development, and the uniparental inheritance of organelle genomes.
Feature-sensitive tetrahedral mesh generation with guaranteed quality

Tetrahedral meshes are being extensively used in finite element methods (FEMs). This paper proposes an algorithm to generate feature-sensitive and high-quality tetrahedral meshes from an arbitrary surface mesh model. A top-down octree subdivision is conducted on the surface mesh and a set of tetrahedra are constructed using adaptive body-centered cubic (BCC) lattices. Special treatments are given to the tetrahedra near the surface such that the quality of the resulting tetrahedral mesh is provably guaranteed: the smallest dihedral angle is always greater than 5.71^o. The meshes generated by our method are not only adaptive from the interior to the boundary, but also feature-sensitive on the surface with denser elements in high-curvature regions where geometric features most likely reside. A variety of experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of this algorithm.
The effectors of innate immunity: DAMPs, DAMEs, or DIMEs?

‘ rose by any other name would smell as sweet’ is one of the most famous lines in all of literature. The implication of this observation, spoken by Juliet about the troubles in Verona because Romeo was called Montague and Juliet Capulet, is that names do not matter; rather, it is the thing itself that is important. Of course, Shakespeare’s great line works because everyone knows what a rose is and that it smells sweet. What happens when the essence of a thing is not known and the name really matters? I think that such a situation is occurring right now in the field of innate immunity since the essence of many things is not fully known. As research progresses rapidly, new cells, molecules, and pathways are discovered and receive names, often an acronym or an abbreviation or sometimes a brand new coinage. Dendritic cells, Toll receptor, and inflammasomes are all of recent origin. The derivation of such words is often fascinating. After all, ‘toll’ comes from the German word meaning ‘great’ and became famous when a researcher working on Drosophila excitedly exclaimed ‘Das ist ja toll’ (‘That’s great’) when a critical immune defense system was discovered. To immunologists, toll now signifies a pattern recognition receptor (PRR). One area in which nomenclature appears especially uncertain, ambiguous, and even controversial concerns the proper designation for molecules that are released from dead, damaged, and stressed cells to serve an immunological function in the extracellular space. These molecules have received various names, including danger molecules, alarmins, hyppos, and DAMPs. The current favorite seems to be DAMP, which stands for death (or danger or damage)-associated molecular pattern. An appealing feature of the word DAMP is the analogy with PAMP, or pathogen-associated molecular pattern. PAMPs are foreign molecules that can stimulate PRRs such as the Toll-like receptors.
Constant darkness restores entrainment to phase-delayed Siberian hamsters

Over 90% of Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) fail to reentrain to a 5-h phase delay of a 16:8-h photocycle. Because constant darkness (DD) restores rhythms disrupted by constant light, we test...
GONADOTROPIC AND AUGMENTATIVE EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE IN IMMATURE FEMALE RATS1

ANUMBER of reports from various investigators (1–6) have indicated that testosterone has a gonadotropic effect on the ovaries of immature rats. The object of this communication is to record (a) the effect of increasing doses of testosterone propionate on the weights of the ovaries and uteri of immature female rats, and (b) the results of the preliminary administration of testosterone to animals receiving various gonadotropins. The rats employed in this study were immature female albinos 21 to 23 days of age at the beginning of each experiment. All were offsprings of the inbred colony which has been maintained at Stanford for many years. The testosterone propionate employed was the preparation manufactured by Ciba under the name of perandren, made up in sesame oil and containing 10 or 25 mg. per cubic centimeter. The gonadotropic hormones were in aqueous solution, and consisted of 2 chorionic gonadotropins, namely follutein.
The Concentration-Profitability Relationship In American Industry: A Varying Parameters Model

The theoretical foundation upon which the structure-conduct-performance paradigm is built assumes that concentrated markets permit noncompetitive behavior on the part of the market participants permitting abnormal profits to accrue. Previous research examines this relationship in a variety of forms. In each case, no allowance is made for the relationship to change dependent upon the prevailing levels of economies of scale. This paper employs a varying-parameters model which relaxes the classes OLS assumption of constant coefficients for all sample observations. Instead, a factor-dependent, nonstocastic variable is incorporated which captures the manner in which concentration relates to profit margins based on measures of economies of scale The results show that while market concentration is associated with profit, the nature of the relationship varies with the prevailing scale economies. Scale economies prove effective based on the sample data in restraining noncompetitive behavior and limiting the ability of participating units to extract profits in excess of those witnessed in more competitive environments. This conclusion support the hypothesis that the use of scale measures as a varying parameter is suggested in any attempt to estimate the SCP relationship.
Less Conventional Inflammatory Diseases

Since its discovery little more than a decade ago, Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection has been recognized as the leading cause of peptic ulcer disease, playing a causal role in 95% of duodenal ulcers and 60%-70% of gastric ulcers (LEE 1994). Some types of gastric cancer and lymphoma may also be the result of chronic H. pylori infection (PARSONNET et al. 1991, PARSONNET et al. 1994). This association of a bacterial infection with peptic disease and malignancy is a dramatic shift in thinking about the causation of a common and important group of diseases and is unparalleled in the late twentieth century, where medical advancements are usually measured in small incremental steps. The H. pylori peptic ulcer association also has many implications for radiologists and surgeons as well as gastroenterologists.
Decomposition of Steroids During GLC

The question of the stability of steroid molecules undergoing separation on a gas chromatographic column is of course of the utmost importance. Although it is entirely feasible to measure steroids as their decomposition products rather than in their original state, it is generally more desirable to do the latter. One of the prime reasons for trying to avoid decomposition during chromatography is the rather hazardous quantitative aspect of such procedures [1]. This is not meant to imply that alteration of compounds, such as side-chain cleavage or cyclization prior to chromatography, would be necessarily undesirable.
The Electron—Proton System

In this chapter we will analyze the bound electron—proton system called ‘hydrogen’. Recall that this atom, the lightest one in the periodic chart, was the first to test Bohr’s quantum hypothesis — his assertion that the angular momenta of the atomic orbital electrons are quantized in units of ħ = h/2π, thereby leading to the atomic energy levels and the idea of the quantum jump, to explain the emission and absorption spectra — in agreement with a great deal of empirical data.
An Automated Testing Framework for Statistical Testing of GUI Applications

It is known to be inherently more difficult and laborintensive to functionally test software applications that employ a graphical user interface front-end, due to the vast GUI input space. We propose an automated testing framework for functional and statistical testing of GUI-driven applications, using a combination of two rigorous software specification and testing methods and integrating them with an automated testing tool suitable for testing GUI applications. With this framework we are able to achieve fully automated statistical testing and software certification. We report an elaborate case study that demonstrates a pathway towards lowered cost of testing and improved product quality for this type of applications.
When 'hacktivists' target your hospital.

Earlier this year, Boston Children's Hospital was targeted in a sustained cyberattack purportedly instigated by the hacker group known as Anonymous — an event that may carry lessons for other health care organizations that now rely heavily on electronic systems.
Predictors of HIV-risk sexual behavior: examining lifetime sexual and physical abuse histories in relation to substance use and psychiatric problem severity among ex-offenders.

Background Lifetime histories of sexual and physical abuse have been associated with increased HIV-risk sexual behavior, and some studies have identified other variables associated with these relationships. However, there is a dearth of literature that has critically examined abuse histories and HIV-risk sexual behavior in relation to these other variables. Objectives Predictors of HIV-risk sexual behavior were analyzed among a sample of ex-offenders who were completing inpatient substance dependence treatment to identify factors related to increases in HIV-risk sexual behavior beyond that of abuse histories. Design Hierarchical linear regression was conducted to examine sociodemographic characteristics, recent substance use, and current psychiatric problem severity in addition to lifetime histories of sexual/physical abuse in a cross-sectional design. Results Gender, substance use, and psychiatric problem severity predicted increases in HIV-risk sexual behavior beyond what was predicted by abuse histories. Proportionately more women than men reported abuse histories. In addition, significantly more unprotected sexual than safer sexual practices were observed, but differences in these practices based on lifetime abuse histories and gender were not significant. Conclusions Findings suggest recent substance use and current psychiatric problem severity are greater risk factors for HIV-risk sexual behavior than lifetime abuse histories among persons who have substance use disorders.
Airfoil Drag Measurement with Simulated Leading-Edge Ice Using the Wake Survey Method

This paper investigated in detail the wakes of an S809 airfoil with and without a simulated leading-edge ice accretion, and an NACA 0012 airfoil with and without glaze ice shapes. The effects of turbulence on the profile drag determination using the wake-survey method were analyzed. A chamfered and a tapered Pitot probe were used to measure the total and static pressure, while an x-hotwire was used to determine the three components of turbulence in wakes. The effects of turbulence on total pressure measurements were considered. A new profile drag equation, derived by modifying van Dam’s equation, was used to calculate the profile drag. Jones’ equation was transformed to the same form as the new drag equation to estimate the implicit turbulence effects on drag determination. The results indicate that, the turbulence effects on drag determination should be considered. This is especially true as the turbulence intensity increases at high angles of attack. A relatively simple and accurate wake survey technique for accurate drag determination is demonstrated.
Community characteristics associated with where urgent care centers are located: a cross-sectional analysis

To determine the community characteristics associated with non-hospital-based urgent care centres wherever they are located.National cross-sectional study evaluating the association between non-hospital-based urgent care centers, and their demographic characteristics in a community, using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions.Communities in the USA with non-hospital-based urgent care centers, as identified using a 2014 national database from the Urgent Care Association of America.31,022 communities encompassing 6898 urgent care centers across the USA.Presence of a non-hospital-based urgent care center within a community.Communities with non-hospital-based urgent care centers are urban (75.7% with vs 22.2% without; p<0.001 across rural urban commuting area levels), and are located in areas with higher income levels (38.6% in highest quartile with vs 22.3% without; p<0.001 across quartiles) and higher levels of private insurance (29.6% in highest quartile with vs 23.9% without; p<0.001 across quartiles).While the growth of the urgent care industry may have other promising implications, policymakers should recognise that it may exacerbate disparities in access to acute care faced by poorer, uninsured patients, and may also have financial implications for providers that are providing overlapping services, such as emergency departments and primary care practices.
An Overlooking of the Future Public Educational System Via the Development of Civilian-Run Education

Education is paid much attention to at present knowledge economical times.Since the resolution on educational system reform was promulgated in 1985,the issues about educational system reform have been concerned.Recently,with the development of market economy,correlative factors are brought into educational field,while traditional public educational system is also encountered unprecedented challenges.So it is listed on schedule to reconstruct our public educational system.From the perspective of a new phenomenon that civilian-run education is developing step by step,this thesis expounds its existent inevitability and significance,and further analyses the effects with the thriving of civilian-run education.
Problems of water quality forecast during mining pyrite

Based on formation mechanism of acidic water,problems of water quality forecast during mining pyrite were analyzed,in which ore deposit geology condition and mining way should be paid attention to.In addition,runoff water produced in pyrite waste-rock yard during heavy rainfall or rainstorm could not be discharged directly,and it should be discharged into acidic water regulating reservoir that should be arranged in pyrite waste-rock yard downstream to treat together.
Conservative management of a seminal vesicle abscess.

AbstractA pure seminal vesicle abscess is a rare condition. We report case 7 in the literature and to our knowledge the first patient who has been managed successfully by noninvasive, conservative antibiotic treatment alone. All previously reported cases of seminal vesicle abscesses have been managed with invasive therapy. In 5 cases the seminal vesicle abscess was incised and drained surgically, while in 1 the abscess was drained percutaneously.We describe a patient with a seminal vesicle abscess, review the literature and recommend a more conservative method of management.