cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of altered integrin α/β chain expression on T cells from old mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract During the natural aging process there is a gradual acquisition of T cell surface markers normally associated with cellular activation and memory. Because of this it is difficult to identify cells which are capable of responding to new antigenic challenge in older individuals, which therefore hinders the study of the immune response to infectious diseases. In this study we demonstrate that during natural aging there was an expansion in T cells that expressed the β1 and β2 integrins. Fewer CD8 T cells from old mice expressed β7 integrins, however, they remained unchanged on CD4 T cells. In this study we also measured the expression of αβ integrin chains on the surface of T cells from mice of increasing age in response to an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis . We found that VLA-2 expression was increased on CD8 T cells from old mice however, the majority of integrins were unchanged in response to infection, in consequence of the increased expression of these molecules normally found in un-infected old mice. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that age-associated changes occur in the number of cells that express molecules that allow T cells to traffic to inflammatory sites.
Synthesis of [3H]tert‐butyl 8‐chloro‐5,6‐dihydro‐5‐methyl‐6‐oxo‐4h‐imidazo[1,5‐a][1,4]benzodiazepine 3‐carboxylate, a selective, high affinity ligand for the diazepam insensitive (DI) subtype of the benzodiazepine receptor

The preparation of [3H]-labelled tert-butyl 8-chloro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine 3-carboxylate (TCIB, 6), a high affinity ligands for the diazepam insensitive (DI) subtype of the benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) is described. Synthesis of [3H]TCIB was accomplished in 4 steps starting from 5-chloroisatoic anhydride. Tritium-label introduction was achieved in the final step by selective catalytic tritiolysis in 62% radiochemical yield with quantitative isotopic incorporation.
Detailed procedure used in Abbot's method of long-range weather forecasting

Abstract As a result of 30 years of daily observations of the solar constant, the author discovered a numerous family of regular periodic variations of solar radiation, all integrally related to the master period of 273 months. Exactly the same family of variations was found in long-interval precipitation and temperature records, hidden to cursory search by phase changes due to various atmospheric influences. In solar variation the periods have ranges of only 0.05 to 0.21 per cent of the solar constant, whereas in precipitation they range from 5 to 25 per cent of normal, and in temperature up to 5° F. This paper describes in detail a method of forecasting author has evolved from this discovery. His method can be used for forecasts up to fifty years in advance, but yields only general features, such as monthly or seasonal effects, not weekly or daily changes. With the aid of Professor C. Wexler of Arizona State College, a forecast was made for Natural Bridge, Arizona, from 1950 to 1967. The results and a comparison with the event to 1957 are given in a graph.
Preparation and electrochemical behavior of dimeric complexes of Ru2(III12, III12) and Ru2(IV,IV) formed by oxidative dimerization of [RuIII(edta)OH2]−

Abstract Electrochemical or chemical oxidation of [RuIII(edta)OH2]− proceeds in successive half- and one-electron steps to yield dimeric complexes of Ru(III 1 2 ) and Ru(IV) believed to contain oxo- or dihydroxo-bridging ligands. Spectral and electrochemical properties of the complexes prepared by oxidative dimerization are described and compared with previous reports of dioxygen and peroxo complexes of RuIII(edta). The dimeric RuIV(edta) complex is shown to exhibit modest activity as a catalyst for the oxidation of water to dioxygen.
A 48-Year-Old Smoker With Cough and Weight Loss

A 48-year-old male smoker was referred for the evaluation of symptoms of cough, weight-loss, and chest radiograph abnormality. The patient had a medical history significant for chronic bronchitis and had been seen by his primary care physician 2
Biopsy-Proven Acute Interstitial Nephritis, 1993-2011: A Case Series

Background Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is an important cause of acute kidney injury, especially in hospitalized patients. The cause and outcome of AIN, particularly that due to drugs, is changing with prevalent medication use. The effectiveness of steroids for treatment of AIN is debated. Study Design Case series. Setting & Participants 133 patients with biopsy-proven AIN from 1993 through 2011 at a single center. Outcomes Recovery of kidney function by 6 months, either complete, partial, or none. Complete recovery was defined as improvement in serum creatinine level to within 25% of baseline (or Results Causes of AIN included drugs (70%), autoimmune diseases (20%), and infections (4%). Drug-induced AIN was due to antibiotics in 49%, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in 14%, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in 11%. Overall, the top 3 drug causes were omeprazole (12%), amoxicillin (8%), and ciprofloxacin (8%). Patients with drug-induced compared to non-drug-induced AIN were older and had higher baseline kidney function, but more severe acute kidney injury. Patients with PPI-induced AIN were older, were less symptomatic, and had longer durations of drug exposure and longer delays in getting kidney biopsy and steroids than for antibiotic-induced or NSAID-induced AIN. At 6 months postbiopsy, 49% of patients with drug-induced AIN treated with steroids achieved complete recovery; 39%, partial recovery; and 12%, no recovery. Correlates of poor recovery included a longer duration of drug exposure (15 vs 30 vs 130 days for complete, partial, and no recovery, respectively; P =0.04) and longer delay in starting steroid therapy (8 vs 11 vs 35 days, respectively; P =0.05). Limitations Retrospective study, selection bias in patients who had kidney biopsy, single-center experience. Conclusions The cause of AIN may be shifting; PPIs are emerging as an important contributor to this disease. Delays in discontinuation of the culprit drug and in initiating steroid treatment adversely affect recovery of kidney function.
Labeling of platelet surface proteins with 125I by the Iodogen method

A procedure for the /sup 125/I-iodination of platelet suspensions is described. The procedure utilizes Iodogen, a solid-phase oxidizing agent similar to chlorimine-T. Platelets were labeled under a variety of conditions, including in the presence of 0.1% albumin, and showed between 7 and 28% incorporation of /sup 125/I. Best labeling results were obtained at low platelet concentration (3-5 x 10/sup 8/ platelets/ml), short reaction times (15 min), and wit 2-ml glass vials coated with 100 ..mu..g of Iodogen. Analysis of the labeled platelet proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography revealed that the same major protein bands were labeled by this procedure as were labeled by the lactoperoxidase procedure. At low platelet concentrations, the Iodogen procedure gives twice the amount of iodine incorporation.
Electrochemical and XAFS studies of effects of carbonate on the oxidation of arsenite.

Measurements of electrochemical (EC) arsenite oxidation demonstrated that the arsenite oxidation current increased in the presence of carbonate while the potential of the onset of EC arsenite oxidation exhibited a strong shift toward less positive values. Examination of pH and total carbonate concentration effects on the EC arsenite oxidation parameters showed that they were affected solely by the concentration of carbonate ion CO32-, which appeared to form relatively weak mono- and dicarbonate complexes with arsenite. The EC activity of these complexes was determined to be almost an order of magnitude higher than that of free arsenite. However, X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) measurements did not show any changes in the properties of the As(III) inner complexation shell associated with the presence of the bound carbonate ions. It was accordingly concluded that the strength of bonds between the bound carbonate and As(III) is close to that for As(III)−OH- interactions. The acceleration of the oxidat...
p-Hydroxybenzoic acid; a new bacterial vitamin.

MUTANT 83-1 of Escherichia coli, isolated by the penicillin method1, is blocked at an early stage in aromatic synthesis; it responds to a quadruple supplement of tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophane and p-aminobenzoic acid. Whereas the quantitative requirements for the three amino-acids are similar to those of mutants with single requirements for these compounds, growth is very slow with 0.005 µgm./ml. of p-aminobenzoic acid, a concentration sufficient for optimal growth of a mutant blocked specifically in p-aminobenzoic acid synthesis. Higher concentrations of the acid, up to 1 µgm./ml., provide more rapid, yet less than normal, growth of mutant 83-1. Normal growth-rate, however, appears with the addition of shikimic acid (a 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrogallic acid).
Do anesthetics fluidize membranes

The so-called membrane fluidizing effect of anesthetics as a cause of anesthesia has been questioned, mainly because the magnitude of the increase in "fluidity" is insignificant at clinically relevant anesthetic pressures. However, the term "fluidity" has an unfortunate history of being misrepresented in membrane biology. It is often expressed as the ease of movement of probe molecules incorporated into the hydrophobic region of the membrane, thereby representing the property of the microenvironment where the probe molecules reside. In surface chemistry, "membrane fluidity" means inverse viscosity. Membrane viscosity is an integral property of a total membrane (not a part of membrane), and membrane molecules must dislocate and flow against resistance. The ease of motion of probe molecules, therefore, is not fluidity, and is now expressed by the order parameter. The present study measured the effect of halothane on surface viscosity of a phospholipid monolayer spread on a water surface by an oscillating pendulum surface viscometer. The results indicate a significant decrease of about 31% in the surface viscosity by the clinical pressure of halothane; anesthetics do fluidize membranes. Two factors contribute to the surface viscosity of the lipid monolayer; the property of the membrane proper (association between phospholipid molecules) and dragging of water (association between phospholipid and water molecules). The association between phospholipid molecules is in large part related to the order parameter. The fact that anesthetics show little effect on the order parameter, whereas halothane shows a significant effect on the membrane viscosity, indicates that halothane releases surface-bound water. It is postulated that the primary effect of anesthetics on membranes is to weaken the lipid-water interaction forces.
Kenai River Restoration and Management

Abstract A comprehensive program of restoration, land acquisition, recreation enhancement, and land management is underway on the Kenai River in southcentral Alaska. With 34 species of fish, including 5 species of salmon, Dolly Varden, and rainbow trout, the Kenai is the most productive river in this area. The river supports a multimillion-dollar commercial fishery for sockeye and king salmon and a world-class sport fishery for rainbow trout and king, sockeye, and silver salmon. This sport fishery supports more than 300 seasonal sportfishing guides and 340,000-plus angler days a year. The program is attempting to restore degraded fish habitat in the riparian zone of the mainstem, to acquire lands to protect fish habitat, to provide recreational access for anglers, and to manage lands in the watershed to prevent development-related harm. Funding for this program, currently in excess of $21 million, is provided by the state of Alaska, Exxon Valdez oil spill civil settlement and criminal restitution funds, N...
A stochastic passenger loading model of airline schedule performance

Abstract The passenger loading problem is defined as that of determining the distribution of passengers that will be carried on each flight in a given market over the course of the day. This problem is stochastic in nature, and must take into account the fact that as some flights become booked up, passengers may spill to adjacent flights, or may choose not to fly on that airline. A precise model of the loading process is developed and solved using an efficient numerical procedure. Several approximations are introduced and tested which further improve the overall efficiency. The model represents a more rigorous solution approach than has appeared previously in the literature, and as such could be used to evaluate simpler approximations. It is fast enough, however, to be used as an interactive schedule evaluation and design tool.
Volume currents in biomagnetic imaging

In biomagnetic imaging, the magnetic field caused by electrical nerve impulses is measured and used to form an estimate of the location and strength of the impulse. One complicating factor in forming this estimate is the fact that the impulses induce current flow in the volume conductor surrounding the nerve.17 In this presentation we explore the properties of these volume currents. We first formulate the problem in the standard form using Ohm's law to relate the volume current to the impressed (nerve impulse) current and the conductivity distribution. We then depart from the usual derivation by making use of properties of the fourier-transformed maxwell8 and continuity equations. In fourier space, the divergence operation in a vector field becomes a simple taking of the radial component of the fourier-transformed field; the curl transforms into taking tangential components. By decomposing the current densities and using the maxwell equations, we are able to arrive at a recursive differential expression for the volume-current generated magnetic field. The driving term in the expression is the current due to the divergence of the impressed current density. We provide some examples of applying this expression to simply shaped conductors.
Perspectives on Rural Health Workforce Issues: Illinois-Arkansas Comparison.

: Context: Past research has documented rural physician and health care professional shortages. Purpose: Rural hospital chief executive officers’ (CEOs’) reported shortages of health professionals and perceptions about recruiting and retention are compared in Illinois and Arkansas. Methods: A survey, previously developed and sent to 28 CEOs in Illinois, was mailed to 110 CEOs in Arkansas. Only responses from rural CEOs are presented (Arkansas n = 39 and Illinois n = 22). Findings: Physician shortages were reported by 51 CEOs (83.6%). Most reported physician shortages in Arkansas were for family medicine, internal medicine, cardiology, obstetrics-gynecology, general surgery, and psychiatry. Most reported physician shortages in Illinois were for family medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, orthopedic surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, and general surgery. Additionally, registered nurses and pharmacists were the top 2 allied health professions shortages. Multivariate analysis (factor and discriminant analyses) examined community attributes associated with ease of recruiting physicians. Six factors were identified and assessed as to their importance in influencing ease of recruitment, with the state included in the model. Three factors were identified as discriminating whether or not physician recruitment was easy: community supportive for family, community cooperates and perceives a good future, and community attractiveness. Conclusions: Similarities in shortages and attributes influencing recruitment in both states suggest that efforts and policies in health professions workforce development can be generalized between regions. This study further reinforces some important known issues concerning retention and recruitment, such as the importance of identifying providers whose preferences are matched to the characteristics and lifestyle of a given area.
Dispersed Kinetics without Rate Heterogeneity in an Ionic Liquid Measured with Multiple Population-Period Transient Spectroscopy

The kinetics of the electronic-state relaxation of the diphenylmethane dye auramine O are found to be much more dispersed (nonexponential) in a prototypical ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, than in ordinary solvents. Recent theoretical and experimental evidence for structural heterogeneity in ionic liquids suggest that the dispersion is due to rate heterogeneity, that is, different relaxation rates for solute molecules in different spatial regions. This hypothesis is tested with a new multidimensional spectroscopy, MUPPETS (multiple population-period transient spectroscopy). Rate heterogeneity is not found to be the primary cause of the dispersed kinetics. Rather, a homogeneous mechanism is responsible for this unusual phenomenon.
Using computer models to understand the roles of tissue structure and membrane dynamics in arrhythmogenesis

The merging of hypotheses and techniques from physics, mathematics, biomedical engineering, cardiology, and computer science is helping to form increasingly more realistic computer models of the heart. These models complement experimental and clinical studies that seek to elucidate the mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis and improve pharmacological and electrical therapies. This paper reviews the current state of the art of computer models for investigating normal and abnormal conduction in cardiac muscle. A brief introduction to the mathematical foundations of continuous (monodomain and bidomain) and discrete tissue structure models and to ionic current based and FitzHugh-Nagumo membrane models is presented. The paper summarizes some of the recent contributions in validating tissue structure models, modeling unidirectional block and reentry in a 1-D loop, and applying generic spiral wave theory to cardiac arrhythmias.
FPGA-Accelerated Isotope Pattern Calculator for Use in Simulated Mass Spectrometry Peptide and Protein Chemistry

Over the past 20 to 30 years, the analysis of tandem mass spectrometry data generated from protein fragments has become the dominant method for the identification and classification of unknown protein samples. With wide ranging application in numerous scientific disciplines such as pharmaceutical research, cancer diagnostics, and bacterial identification, the need for accurate protein identification remains important, and the ability to produce more accurate identifications at faster rates would be of great benefit to society as a whole. As a key step towards improving the speed, and thus achievable accuracy, of protein identification algorithms, this paper presents a FPGA-based solution that considerably accelerates the Isotope Pattern Calculator, a computationally intense subroutine common in de novo protein identification. Although previous work shows incremental progress in the acceleration of software-based IPC (mainly by sacrificing accuracy for speed), to the best of our knowledge this is the first work to consider IPC on FPGAs. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of an efficient and configurable IPC kernel. The described design provides 23 customization parameters allowing for general use within many protein identification algorithms. We discuss several parameter tradeoffs and demonstrate experimentally their effect on performance when comparing execution of optimized IPC software with various configurations of our hardware IPC solution, we demonstrate between 72 and 566 speedup on a single Stratix IV E530 FPGA. Finally, a favorable IPC configuration is scaled to multiple FPGAs, where a best-case speedup of 3340 on 16 FPGAs is observed when experimentally evaluated on a single node of Novo-G, the reconfigurable supercomputer in the NSF CHREC Center at Florida.
The Growth of Internet Research Methods and the Reluctant Sociologist

Between 1999 and 2004 only one article appeared in the American Sociological Review, the American Journal of Sociology, or Social Forces using primary data collected with Web-based research techniques. Since then there have been only a handful of studies published in these core sociology journals drawing on Web-based surveys or other forms of Web-based data. The use of Internet-based data has become widespread in many academic fields, especially health research and education; Web-based techniques are becoming routine in the practice and study of politics; and online commercial and market research has become a billion dollar industry. At the same time, the utility of random digit dialing surveys has eroded considerably owing to declining contact rates, increased use of technologies to screen unwanted telephone calls, and the replacement of landline telephones with cell phones. There is increasing evidence that Internet research can produce representative data. Although Web-based surveys may overrepresent some populations, Internet usage in the general population is now well over 75 per cent and is especially strong among some hard to reach populations. Internet surveys have the potential to reduce measurement error, missing data, and respondent attrition. Sociologists must overcome their fear of participation in stigmatized Internet research and actively engage in the development of techniques and refinements that will increase the utility and validity of Internet-based data collection.
Evaluation of standard methods for the analysis of methyl tert-butyl ether and related oxygenates in gasoline-contaminated groundwater

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now requires monitoring of oxygenate compounds in groundwater at leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites nationwide. Three purge-and-trap gas chromatography methods most commonly employed for this purpose were tested, and their performance as a function of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content of the sample matrix was determined. Tests included a formal method evaluation, a round-robin study, and a split-sample study (424 groundwater samples). Consistently good results were achieved with EPA Method 8240B/60B (mass spectrometry) and ASTM Method D4815 (flame ionization detection) when five oxygenates were monitored in reagent water and gasoline. However, one protocol routinely employed for analysis of LUST samples had serious limitations: EPA Method 8020A/21B (photoiozination detection) was unfit for monitoring of tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) and frequently yielded false-positive (12−50% of samples) and inaccurate results when ether oxygenates were monit...
Current-voltage characteristics of bipolar transistors including quasi-saturation, finite collector lifetime, and high-low junction effects

Abstract A physics-based and compact model is developed to predict the bipolar transistor DC characteristics covering all saturation, quasi-saturation, and active operations. The present model differs from the existing models in that the present model employs a regional approach rather than the charge-control approach used previously and that the present model requires only the physical parameters, such as device make-up, whereas the previous models often require parameters extracted from measurements. Device physics relevant to the base-collector junction, like current-induced base widening and conductivity modulation and electron-hole recombination in the quasi-neutral collector layer, are accounted for in the analysis. We show that the current-voltage characteristics predicted by the present model compare favourably with that obtained from measurements and simulations reported in the literature.
FinFET Evolution Toward Stacked-Nanowire FET for CMOS Technology Scaling

The performance of an evolutionary FinFET design (iFinFET) is benchmarked against that of the conventional bulk FinFET and stacked-nanowire gate-all-around (GAA) FET, through3-D device simulations, for both n-channel and p-channel transistors. The results show that the iFinFET provides for improved electrostatic integrity relative to the FinFET, but with substantially less gate capacitance penalty relative to the GAA FET. Thus, iFinFET technology offers a technological pathway for continued transistor scaling with performance improvement, for future low-power system-on-chip applications.
Dynamic modeling of refrigerated transport systems with cooling-mode/heating-mode switch operations

This article presents dynamic modeling approaches to predict system performance characteristics of cooling-/heating-mode switch cycling operation, a commonly used temperature regulation approach in refrigerated transport systems. A dynamic model of a commercially available transport refrigeration system is presented, which describes the system dynamics during the mode switch transients. The development of the heat exchanger and accumulator models is highlighted using the switched modeling framework. Model validation against experimental data demonstrates the capabilities of the modeling approach in representing the transient behavior of the mode switch process. Simulation case studies to predict refrigerant mass distribution during transients and system performance with the influence of door-opening events are also provided to demonstrate modeling capabilities. The presented dynamic modeling framework can serve as a valuable tool to evaluate performance with different system configurations and operating s...
Where Is There Consensus Among American Economic Historians? The Results of a Survey on Forty Propositions

This article examines where consensus does and does not exist among American economic historians by analyzing the results of a questionnaire mailed to 178 randomly selected members of the Economic History Association. The questions address many of the important debates in American economic history. The answers show consensus on a number of issues, but substantial disagreement in many areas—including the causes of the Great Depression and the aftermath of emancipation. They also expose some areas of disagreement between historians and economists.
Patterns of Neurotrophin Protein Levels in Male and Female Fischer 344 Rats from Adulthood to Senescence: How Young is “Young” and How Old is “Old”?

The current study assessed neurotrophin protein levels in male and female rat brain tissues at four different ages ranging from postpuberty to senescence. In both sexes nerve growth factor (NGF) increased, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) decreased, from 4 to 24 months of age. Using a slightly older age for the young group, or a slightly younger age for the aged group, had profound effects on whether age effects were realized. There were no sex differences in the pattern of change in neurotrophin levels across age, and neurotrophin levels did not correlate with estrogen levels in females or estrogen or testosterone levels in males. The current findings suggest that profound changes in neurotrophin protein levels can occur within only a few months time, and that these changes influence whether age-related neurotrophin alterations are realized.
Teaching NeuroImages: Hemispheric epilepsy

A 48-year-old woman was evaluated for a 40-year history of medically refractory absence and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Neurologic examination and brain MRI were normal. Awake interictal EEG showed generalized fast spike-wave complex, always right hemispheric maximal ([figure 1][1]).
Endovascular treatment of tracheoinnominate artery fistula: a case report.

Digital noise reduction schemes are being used in most hearing aids currently marketed. Unlike the earlier analog schemes, these manufacturer-specific algorithms are developed to acoustically analyze the incoming signal and alter the gain/output characteristics according to their predetermined rules. Although most are modulation-based schemes (ie, differentiating speech from noise based on temporal characteristics), spectral subtraction techniques are being applied as well. The purpose of this article is to overview these schemes in terms of their differences and similarities.
Scaling of the wall-normal turbulence component in high-Reynolds-number pipe flow

Streamwise and wall-normal turbulence components are obtained in fully developed turbulent pipe over a Reynolds number range from 1.1 x 10 5 to 9.8 x 10 6 . The streamwise intensity data are consistent with previous measurements in the same facility. For the wall-normal turbulence intensity, a constant region in v' r.m.s is found for the region 200 ≤ y + ≤ 0.1R + for Reynolds numbers up to 1.0 x 10 6 . An increase in v' r.m.s. is observed below about y+ ∼ 100, although additional measurements will be required to establish its generality. The wall-normal spectra collapse in the energy-containing region with inner scaling, but for the low-wavenumber region a y/R dependence is observed, which also indicates a continuing influence from the outer flow on the near-wall motions.
Total synthesis of strobilurin B using a hetero-bis-metallated pentadiene linchpin

An efficient, six-step stereocontrolled total synthesis of the antifungal agent strobilurin B is reported and was based on a convergent bi-directional coupling featuring a hetero-bis-1,4-metallated pentadiene system as the linchpin.
Small-molecule, tubulin-binding compounds as vascular targeting agents

Vascular targeting or vascular damaging agents are directed toward established blood vessels, making them different from antiangiogenic agents, which inhibit one or more of the processes of neo-vascularisation. This emerging area of cancer drug discovery is currently being clinically tested and there is growing activity directed toward the identification of new antivascular agents. This review summarises key aspects of recent patents and patent applications referring to cancer chemotherapy and cancer drug discovery that involve the targeting or destruction of established vasculature. This review focuses on applications that have been published between January 2000 and December 2001, with earlier, selected references included. Small molecule approaches, such as analogues of combretastatin A-4 (CA4) and colchicine, as well as other novel chemotypes, are the major focus of this review.
Ethnic Variability in the Plasma Insulin Response to Oral Glucose in Polynesian and Micronesian Subjects

The pattern of insulin response to oral glucose over a wide range of glucose tolerance has been studied in two separate ethnic groups—Polynesians and Micronesians. Fasting insulin concentrations were relatively unchanged over the entire range of glucose tolerance in both populations, irrespective of whether comparable lean or obese samples of both groups were studied. The patterns of 2-h plasma insulins were similar over the whole range of glucose tolerance in Polynesians and Micronesians. However, in the comparisons of all subjects, or lean or obese groups of these populations, the plasma insulin concentrations of the Micronesians were both consistently and significantly higher. As the data analysis was arranged to take into account groups with identical 2-h plasma glucose concentrations and comparable degrees of obesity, the differences cannot be attributed to differences in the glucose levels or in obesity. In the presence of similar fasting insulin concentrations, these findings imply an ethnic variability in the pancreatic beta-cell response to oral glucose.
Identifying high-risk online gamblers: a comparison of data mining procedures

Using play data from a sample of virtual live action sports betting gamblers, this study evaluates a set of classification and regression algorithms to determine which techniques are more effective in identifying probable disordered gamblers. This study identifies a clear need for validating results using players not appearing in the original sample, as even methods that use in-sample cross-validation can show substantial differences in performance from one data set to another. Many methods are found to be quite accurate in correctly identifying player types in training data, but perform poorly when used on new samples. Artificial neural networks appear to be the most reliable classification method overall, but still fail to identify a large group of likely problem gamblers. Bet intensity, variability, frequency and trajectory, as well as age and gender are noted to be insufficient variables to classify probable disordered gamblers with arbitrarily reasonable accuracy.
"Prediction is very hard, especially about the future": new biomarkers for type 2 diabetes?

With apologies to Yogi Berra, with the advent of personalized medicine, predicting who is at risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) will be important. T2DM is characterized by insulin resistance, often associated with obesity, and inadequate insulin secretion to overcome the insulin resistance. As the prevalence of obesity increases, so too is the prevalence of T2DM. However, depending upon their degree of obesity, only ∼25–40% of obese individuals develop T2DM (1). Trials such as the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) have demonstrated that intensive lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions can prevent or delay the onset of T2DM (2). Knowing who is likely to progress to T2DM will help target these interventions. With this in mind, prediction algorithms are emerging. A simple model that includes routine data from patient history and conventional clinical and biochemical measures was effective in estimating T2DM risk (3). The addition of more complicated variables, e.g., measures of insulin sensitivity and β-cell function, failed to improve the model. Our search continues for additional factors capable of strengthening risk models. One approach has been to use genetic variants associated with T2DM risk. Genome-wide association studies and other approaches have identified many T2DM susceptibility genes (4), although they account for only a modest proportion of T2DM heritability. More importantly, using them to develop genetic risk scores to help estimate T2DM risk …
REMUS subbottom image processing for integration into ArcGIS

The Naval Oceanographie Office collects subbottom acoustic data using the Remote Environmental Monitoring Units (REMUS) Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). The subbottom data are processed using customized playback software that creates a subbottom profile image that can be integrated into ArcGIS 9.2. A REMUS AUV test survey was recently completed that obtained quality subbottom profiler data that were used to demonstrate this image integration approach. Recent improvements in the processing software developed at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have been used to decrease the time and effort required to efficiently utilize and integrate the subbottom profile imagery into the ArcGIS 9.2 product. This new software allows multiple subbottom images to be easily added to the ArcGIS 9.2 project while at sea, providing a more complete representation of the REMUS survey. The efficient integration of the subbottom imagery into an ArcGIS 9.2 project is a significant step in providing a more improved product.
The deposition of amyloid proteins in the aging mammalian brain: implications for Alzheimer's disease.

Dysfunction and loss of neurons and their processes in Alzheimer’s disease is accompanied by the progressive accumulation of intraneuronal and extracellular proteinaceous filaments. Currently available evidence indicates that the principal confirmed constituent of the intraneuronal paired helical filaments (PHF) is the microtubule-associated protein, tau. Whether other neuronal proteins contribute to the PHF remains unresolved. The amyloid filaments found in cerebral and meningeal microvessels and in the centers of senile plaques appear so far to be protein chemically and immunochemically distinct from the intraneuronal PHF. The native precursor of the p-arnyloid protein comprising these amyloid filaments has now been identified and characterized in brain, nonneural tissues and cDNA-transfected cells of several species, including humans. It occurs as a heterogeneous group of - 105-135 kD membrane-associated proteins. cDNA4ransfected cells reproduce certain pamyloid precursor fragment patterns observed in human brain tissue, including a favored and stable 11 kd fragment containing the carboxyl terminus and presumably the p-amyloid region. Circulating forms of the precursor have been specifically detected in human cerebrospinal fluid. Understanding the processing of the p-amyloid precursor protein and the origin of p-amyloid deposits should provide insights into a potentially seminal feature of cortical degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.
Aktion in the Nucleus

Akt is a serine-threonine kinase first identified in mice as the cellular homologue of the v-akt oncogene and identified independently as a kinase related to protein kinases A and C.1 As a consequence of the latter discoveries, Akt is also referred to as protein kinase B (PKB). There are three closely related mammalian Akts (Akt1/PKBα, Akt 2/PKBβ, and Akt 3/PKBδ) with similar substrate specificities but distinctive tissue distributions. They all share a common structure that consists of an N-terminal regulatory domain with pleckstrin homology (PH), a hinge region connecting the PH domain to the kinase domain, and a C-terminal region required for the induction and maintenance of the kinase activity. Akt sits strategically at the hub of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling, communicating directly with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) through the membrane lipids phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PIP2) and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5 triphosphate (PIP3). The pathway is also activated by growth factors including PDGFβ, cytokines (leukemia inhibitory factor [LIF-1], and cardiotropin), and by adrenergic stimulation.2,3 The src homology-2 (SH-2) domain-containing inositol phosphatase SHIP-1/2 and the PTEN phosphatase dephosphorylate Akt are critical mediators of the activity of the pathway. Studies on the pro-oncogenic activities of Akt kinase first established its pivotal role in cell growth and survival. Akt was shown to promote transformation by suppressing apoptosis and differentiation and increasing cell cycle progression.1 These activities were subsequently extended to nontumor cells including hematopoietic cells, neuronal cells, and cardiac myocytes, and Akt regulation is now being explored as a possible therapeutic strategy for degenerative diseases to prevent cell loss. Stimulation of the PI3-kinase pathway by IGF-1 or overexpression of constitutively active Akt in the heart protects against ischemia and multiple other apoptotic stimuli. Unfortunately, chronic activation of this pathway can also lead to hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and …
High-TC Superconducting Oxide Films Produced from Solution Precursors

Superconducting films of Ba2RECu3O7−x were prepared from aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic mixed solutions of barium, rare earth (RE), and copper nitrates. The solutions were sprayed onto heated (100) orientated MgO, ZrO2 —9%Y2O3 and SrTiO3 substrates to form a dehydrated nitrate precursor; subsequent thermal treatment yielded the superconducting 2:1:3 compound. Earlier magnetic film studies with aqueous-alcoholic mixed solutions of rare-earth iron garnet precursors showed that alcohol improves the spreading and drying of solutions on substrates. Here, however, alcohol significantly lowers the solubility of Ba(NO3)2. Some compositions tend to phase segregate during film preparation. A key objective of this study was to understand reaction paths of the precursors in order to optimize the furnace annealing schedule. Film and substrate reactions complicate the process, especially for SrTiO3, which otherwise has a good lattice match with films. Analytical methods used were Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, x-ray diffraction, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, electron microscopy and temperature-dependent resistivity. The best samples showed a Tc of 95K and had zero resistivity below 89K. Advantages of this process include: simplicity of equipment, short deposition time; ease of making composition adjustments; and possible deposition on complex shapes.
Electronic structure and rebonding in the onionlike As@Ni 12 @As 20 cluster

We present the ab initiostudy of the geometry, electronic structure, charged states, bonding, and vibrational modes of the recently synthesized fullerene-like $\mathrm{As}@{\mathrm{Ni}}_{12}@{\mathrm{As}}_{20}$ cluster which has icosahedral point symmetry [M. J. Moses, J. C. Fettinger, and B. W. Eichhorn, Science, 300, 778 (2003)]. We show that the molecule is vibrationally stable and will be electronically most stable in its $\ensuremath{-}3$ oxidation state in the condensed phase and in $\ensuremath{-}2$ state in the gas phase. We examine the bonding in this unusually structured molecule from charge transfer between atoms, infrared and Raman spectra, and charge-density isosurfaces.
PULSED PLASMA THRUSTER TECHNOLOGY DIRECTIONS

On-board propulsion systems continue to represent a major spacecraft mass driver across a wide range of missions. Recent trends toward the use of smaller launch vehicles and very ambitious missions increase the leverage of onboard propulsion with respect to overall mission performance. Based on known and anticipated propulsion system requirements, the NASA On-Board Propulsion Program (OBP) initiated an aggressive program to develop advanced pulsed plasma thruster (PPT) technology for a broad spectrum of near and far term missions. To accomplish this, several generations of systems are envisioned for functions ranging from small satellite insertions to precision positioning for high resolution imaging. At present, efforts are in progress to develop technologies for two nearterm flight demonstrations. First, a PPT system developed to provide propulsive attitude control will be tested on NASA's Earth Observer 1, the second technology demonstrator spacecraft scheduled to fly under the NASA New Millennium program (1999). Next, a PPT system will be used to raise the orbit of MightySat III, an Air Force spacecraft scheduled for launch in early 2000. The OBP is partnered closely with the Primex Aerospace Company and the spacecraft host organizations (Goddard Space Flight Center and the Air Force Phillips Laboratory for EO-1 and MightySat, respectively) to assure the development, demonstration, and delivery of PPT hardware that meets all mission requirements. In addition to the EO-1 and MightySat efforts, the OBP also sponsors reseach and technology efforts aimed at technology for precision positioning and formation flying of distributed spacecraft for applications such as high resolution imaging. The program is also actively exploring technology requirements for future system miniaturization for microspacecraft. In addition to industry, the program is also partnered with several academic institutions and is leveraging the fundamental research efforts on-going under Air Force sponsorship. This paper provides an overview of NASA's activities in the area of PPT system development with an emphasis on recent progress and program directions.
Dual mechanisms in passive avoidance: II

A yoked control procedure was used to investigate effects of number of shocks and shock object discriminability on behavioral changes accompanying passive avoidance. Differential numbers of shocks did not alter shock-situation activity. However, shock-situation entry latencies were increased only for Ss receiving shock each time they touched a poorly discriminable grid area. The results are interpreted as suggesting that number of shocks received is of less importance than shock object discriminability in determining the behaviors that constitute passive avoidance.
Nuclear medicine, the painful prosthetic joint, and orthopedic infection.

Although the notion of replacing the failed human joint originated centuries ago, modern joint replacement surgery is less than 50 y old. Today’s prosthesis, a combination of metal (cobalt-chromium or titanium) and plastic (ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene), can be attached to native bone in numerous ways. Cemented prostheses are anchored with polymethylmethacrylate. The cementless prosthesis is fixated through bony ingrowth into a porous coating applied to the surface. Bonding can also be accomplished through the application of a hydroxyapatite compound to the surface of the components, stimulating new bone formation and serving as an attachment for newly formed osseous tissue. Acetabular components can be forced, or press-fit, into the acetabulum and secured with orthopedic screws, as needed (1). Although many complications of prosthetic joint surgery are readily diagnosed and treated, differentiating aseptic loosening from infection can be difficult because the clinical presentation of, and the histopathologic findings in, both entities are often similar (2,3). Aseptic loosening, radiographically evident in up to 50% of prostheses within 10 y, is usually due to an immune reaction between patient and prosthesis. Particulate debris, produced by component fragmentation, activates tissue phagocytes normally present around the prosthesis. This debris, resistant to enzymatic destruction, thwarts the inflammatory cells, resulting in repeated, failed, attempts at phagocytosis. The continuing attempts at phagocytosis stimulate proinflammatory cytokine and proteolytic enzyme secretion, damaging bone and cartilage and leading to osteolysis, loss of supporting osseous tissues, and loosening of the prosthesis. Histopathologically, a pseudomembranous structure develops at the cement/bone interface. The cellular composition of the pseudomembrane is varied: histiocytes and giant cells are present in most cases, with lymphocytes and plasma cells found about one fourth of the time. Neutrophils, in contrast, are present in less than 10% of the cases ( 4–8 ). The rate of infection after primary implantation is about 1%2% for primary, and about 3%–5% for revision, implants. Approximately one third of these infections develop within 3 mo, another third within 1 y, and the remainder more than 1 y after surgery. The inflammatory reaction accompanying the infected prosthesis is nearly identical to that present in aseptic loosening, with an important difference: neutrophils, usually absent in aseptic loosening, are invariably present in infection (9 –11).
Low-temperature specific heat and superconductivity of α -phase A u − Ga alloys

Low-temperature specific-heat measurements are reported on ..cap alpha..-phase Au--Ga alloys. The electronic specific-heat coefficient ..gamma.. is observed to increase upon alloying at the initial rate dln..gamma../dz = 0.95. The Debye temperature is observed to decrease in the alloys at the rate -1.63 K/at.%. The increase in ..gamma.. is compared with increasing values of lambda, the electron--phonon mass enhancement as evaluated from measurements of the superconducting transition temperature. Comparison is also made between the values of ..gamma.. and lambda for Ag--Ga and Cu--Ga ..cap alpha..-phase alloys. We find that the band-structure density of states at the Fermi level, N/sub bs/, for Au--Ga and Ag--Ga alloys is a weakly increasing function of composition, while for Cu-Ga alloys it is slightly decreasing and in good agreement with the calculations of Lasseter and Soven. (AIP)
Tackling VAT Fraud: Thirteen Ways Forward

In a May 31, 2006 Communication to the Council, the European Parliament, and the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Commission indicated a need to develop a coordinated strategy to improve the fight against fiscal fraud [COM (2006) 254 final]. Although the Communication considers fiscal fraud broadly (VAT, excise duties and direct taxes) the most pressing need seems to be for a VAT strategy that will effectively deal with carousel fraud. This paper considers thirteen proposals that deal with missing trader intra-community fraud (MTIC):(1) Common VAT (origin system)(2) Vanistendael’s foreign tax offices proposal(3) CVAT (Compensating VAT)(4) VIVAT (Variable Integrated VAT)(5) Dual VAT – HST version(6) Dual VAT – QST version(7) PVAT (Prepaid VAT)(8) Mittler Model(9) Reverse charge model – with input tax settlement(10) Reverse charge model – with joint and several liability(11) Pay first model – non-cash payment (trust account)(12) Pay first model – cash payment (tax stamp system) (13) Digital VAT – D-VAT