cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Big Data Meets Real World! The Use of Clinical Informatics in Biomarker Research

Electronic health records (EHRs) are being increasingly utilized and form a unique source of extensive data gathered during routine clinical care. Through use of codified and free text concepts identified using clinical informatics tools such as natural language processing, disease phenotyping can be performed with a high degree of accuracy. At the same time, technologies such as genome sequencing, gene expression profiling, proteomic and metabolomic analyses, and patient-reported health information are generating large amounts of data from various populations, cell types, and disorders (big data). However, to make these data useful for promoting biomarker discovery, precision medicine, and clinical practice, it is imperative to harmonize and integrate these diverse data sources. In this article, we introduce important building blocks for personalized treatment, such as common data models, text mining and natural language processing, privacy-preserved record linkage, machine learning for predictive modeling, and health information exchange.
Racing Thoughts: Altering Our Ways of Knowing and Being in Art through Computer Hypertext

In this autobiographical arts-based research study, the authors use data from personal experience and education theory to correlate the use of interactive computer hypertext with an expansive and meaningful way of knowing in art education. The authors share their creation of a computer hypertext consisting of text, images, and video in response to Jasper Johns's 1983 painting Racing Thoughts. Because of the linking possibilities available with hypertext, the authors made connections in and between both real and imagined vast experiences. From Grunewald's Isenheim Altarpiece to the British Broadcast Corporation's television series Changing Rooms, the connective possibilities made apparent in the hypertext seemed to alter the authors' thinking. The complexity and ill-structuredness intrinsic to computer hypertext appears to authentically represent “the ambiguity that may be characteristic of a work of art” (Efland 2002, p. 11) and may readily facilitate a form of Spiro and Jehng's (1990) cognitive flexibili...
Overview of the U.S. Automobile Industry

As recently as 1950, more than one-half of the world’s vehicles were registered in the United States, and more than three-fourths of the world’s vehicles were produced in the United States. Early in the twenty-first century, the United States is no longer the world’s leading producer of vehicles, but it continues to be home to the largest number of them by far.
The properties of buried ion pairs are governed by the propensity of proteins to reorganize

Abstract Charges are incompatible with the hydrophobic interior of proteins, yet proteins use buried charges, often in pairs or networks, to drive energy transduction processes, catalysis, pH-sensing, and ion transport. The structural adaptations necessary to accommodate interacting charges in the protein interior are not well understood. According to continuum electrostatic calculations, the Coulomb interaction between two buried charges cannot offset the highly unfavorable penalty of dehydrating two charges. This was investigated experimentally with two variants of staphylococcal nuclease (SNase) with Glu:Lys or Lys:Glu pairs introduce at internal i, i+4 positions on an α-helix. Contrary to expectations from previous theoretical and experimental studies, the proteins tolerated the charged ion pairs in both orientations. Crystal structures and NMR spectroscopy studies showed that in both variants, side chains or backbone are reorganized. This leads to the exposure of at least one of the two buried groups to water. Comparison of these ion pairs with a highly stable buried ion pair in SNase shows that the location and the amplitude of structural reorganization can vary dramatically between ion pairs buried in the same general region of the protein. The propensity of the protein to populate alternative conformation states in which internal charges can contact water appears to be the factor that governs the magnitude of electrostatic effects in hydrophobic environments. The net effect of structural reorganization is to weaken the Coulomb interactions between charge pairs; however, the reorganized protein no longer has to pay the energetic penalty for burying charges. These results provide the framework necessary to understand the interplay between the dehydration of charges, Coulomb interactions and protein reorganization that tunes the functional properties of proteins.
Effect of particle size polydispersity on dust cloud minimum ignition energy

Abstract Dust explosions in the process industries have prompted the need for better understanding of dust explosion fundamentals to improve risk assessments. Parameters such as Pmax, Kst and MIE are important to the risk assessment process and depend on dust size, shape, chemical composition etc. Studies often cited particle size (median diameter, d50) as a crucial parameter. However, d50 does not provide information regarding size distribution span (polydispersity), which effects the explosion parameters. This study investigates five aluminum powder blends with similar d50 and varying polydispersity to demonstrate the weighted mean diameter D (3,2) is a better statistic to associate with MIE. This study highlights the importance of reporting polydispersity, D (3,2) along with d50/median to properly assess the particle size distribution of the dust for accurate explosion risk assessment.
Investigation of rate control in routing policies for B-ISDN networks

Abstract In this paper, a new routing policy is formulated which is based on the concept of controlling the rate of multi-link calls. The control probabilities can be obtained by global optimization but due to the complexity of the global optimization, we present an approximate solution to obtain the required parameters locally. This policy with local solution is shown to perform better than fixed alternate routing, dynamic alternate routing and least loaded routing (residual capacity version) under wide range of traffic conditions. Its also simple to implement and does not require information about the state of the network.
Does gadolinium improve magnetic resonance arthrography of the hip beyond fluid distension alone

AIM To determine if there is a difference in the detection of labral tears and cartilage lesions using the T2-weighted sequences of magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) only, which simulate MRA with saline alone, compared with the full examination including T1-weighted sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred hip MRA examinations performed at 3 T were identified retrospectively. Each study was reviewed by a musculoskeletal radiologist using either the T2-weighted sequences only (without gadolinium-based contrast agent [GBCA] effect) or the entire examination, including T1-weighted sequences (with GBCA effect). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated for both groups and compared within a non-inferiority framework, using – 0.10 as the limit of non-inferiority. RESULTS For labral tears, the difference area under the curve (AUC) was –0.004 (95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.064–0.056, p=0.90). For acetabular cartilage lesions, the difference AUC was 0.011 (95% CI: –0.073–0.096, p=0.79). For femoral cartilage lesions, the difference AUC was –0.059 (95% CI: -0.206-0.087, p=0.43). CONCLUSION T2-weighted sequences alone were not inferior in diagnostic accuracy compared with the full examination (including T1-weighted sequences with intra-articular GBCA) in detecting acetabular cartilage lesions and labral tears. Further study with prospective comparison of saline injectate to GBCA-containing injectate may help clarify the necessity of continued GBCA use in MRA of the hip.
Enhanced fluorescence emission from rhodamine 6G dye through polymerization-induced self-assembly

Abstract In this communication, we report some results on the use of rhodamine 6G (R6G), a well-known laser dye, as a versatile photocatalyst for water-based photoinduced electron transfer reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerization. Our results show higher monomer conversions and greater R6G fluorescence emission. The R6G dye exhibited efficient photocatalytic behavior for the RAFT-polymerization in water forming polymeric objects (such as micelles and vesicles) through polymerization induced self-assembly (PISA). To achieve these results, we used a compounded feedback that we found takes place among the photoactive R6G molecules, their hydrophobicity and the self-assembly of the synthesized amphiphiles into progressively more complex self-assembled structures during the PET-PISA process. This polymeric system shows the existence of an interesting supramolecular relationship between the R6G molecules, its fluorescence emission and its function as a PET photocatalyst.
Macular retinal thickness differs markedly in age-related macular degeneration driven by risk polymorphisms on chromosomes 1 and 10.

The two most common genetic contributors to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide, are variants associated with CFH-CFHR5 on chromosome 1 (Chr1) and ARMS2/HTRA1 on chromosome 10 (Chr10). We sought to determine if risk and protective variants associated with these two loci drive diferences in macular retinal thickness prior and subsequent to the onset of clinically observable signs of AMD. We considered 299 individuals (547 eyes) homozygous for risk variants or haplotypes on Chr1 or Chr10 exclusively (Chr1-risk and Chr10- risk, respectively) or homozygous for a neutral haplotype (Chr1-neu), for the protective I62 tagged haplotype (Chr1-prot-I62) or for the protection conferring CFHR1/3 deletion haplotype (Chr1-prot-del) on Chr1 without any risk alleles on Chr10. Among eyes with no clinically observable signs of AMD, the deletion of CFHR1/3, which is strongly protective against this disease, is associated with signifcantly thicker retinas in the perifovea. When controlling for age, Chr10-risk eyes with early or intermediate AMD have thinner retinas as compared to eyes from the Chr1-risk group with similar disease severity. Our analysis indicates that this diference likely results from distinct biological and disease initiation and progression events associated with Chr1- and Chr10-directed AMD.
A theoretical foundation of ambiguity measurement

Abstract Ordering alternatives by their degree of ambiguity is crucial in economic and financial decision-making processes. To quantify the degree of ambiguity, this paper introduces an empirically-applicable, outcome-independent (up to a state space partition), risk-independent, and attitude-independent measure of ambiguity. In the presence of ambiguity, the Bayesian approach can be extended to uncertain probabilities such that aversion to ambiguity is defined as aversion to mean-preserving spreads in these probabilities. Thereby, the degree of ambiguity can be measured by the volatility of probabilities, just as the degree of risk can be measured by the volatility of outcomes. The applicability of this measure is demonstrated by incorporating ambiguity into an asset pricing model.
Probabilistic Resilience of Dynamic Multi-Robot Systems

In this letter, we aim to calculate the probability that a dynamic multi-robot system (MRS) satisfies the conditions of $(r,s)$ -robustness, given that robot communication is subject to random failures that can be modeled using a probability distribution. The property of $(r,s)$ -robustness is a topological property used to quantify the resilience of a multi-robot system against misbehaving robots. In the presence of random communication failures, which are typical of real-world deployments, we argue it is important to calculate the probability that an MRS will be resilient at a given time instance. To this end, we begin by enumerating edge sets that represent the conditions of $(r,s)$ -robustness. Then, we use a tree structure known as a binary decision diagram (BDD) to efficiently encode the $(r,s)$ -robustness conditions into a graphical form. This approach allows us to calculate the exact probability of resilience, as well as to derive bounds which are less computationally expensive to compute. To demonstrate the validity of our results, we track the probability of resilience of an MRS performing a collaborative task.
Complex genetic architecture of three-dimensional craniofacial shape variation in domestic pigeons

Abstract Deciphering the genetic basis of vertebrate craniofacial variation is a longstanding biological problem with broad implications in evolution, development, and human pathology. One of the most stunning examples of craniofacial diversification is the adaptive radiation of birds, in which the beak serves essential roles in virtually every aspect of their life histories. The domestic pigeon (Columba livia) provides an exceptional opportunity to study the genetic underpinnings of craniofacial variation because of its unique balance of experimental accessibility and extraordinary phenotypic diversity within a single species. We used traditional and geometric morphometrics to quantify craniofacial variation in an F2 laboratory cross derived from the straight-beaked Pomeranian Pouter and curved-beak Scandaroon pigeon breeds. Using a combination of genome-wide quantitative trait locus scans and multi-locus modeling, we identified a set of genetic loci associated with complex shape variation in the craniofacial skeleton, including beak curvature, braincase shape, and mandible shape. Some of these loci control coordinated changes between different structures, while others explain variation in the size and shape of specific skull and jaw regions. We find that in domestic pigeons, a complex blend of both independent and coupled genetic effects underlie three-dimensional craniofacial morphology.
Acute graft-versus-host disease is the foremost cause of late nonrelapse mortality

Despite low nonrelapse mortality (NRM) at day 100 after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), NRM at 1 year remains substantial. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed 199 patients who were treated on a phase II clinical trial assessing safety and efficacy of myeloablative fractionated busulfan and fludarabine conditioning regimen for hematologic malignancies. The goal of the study was to identify factors associated with NRM occurring between days 101 and 365 post-HCT and generate a hypothesis for future studies to reduce the risk of NRM at 1 year. We found that a vast majority (83%) of patients who experienced NRM between days 101 and 365 had prior grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which was the leading cause of death either by itself (33.3%) or complicated by infections (37.5%). In multivariate analysis, grade II-IV acute GVHD (hazard ratio (HR) 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–6.6, p = 0.01) was the only significant predictor of NRM between days 101 and 365. Measures to reduce the risk of acute GVHD could lower the risk of NRM at 1 year and improve overall survival.
Extensive subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum on the dental chair.

A 32-year-old woman was seen at the dentist’s office for pain associated with a broken molar tooth for over 6 months. During the use of a high-speed air-turbine drill, she suddenly developed severe neck pain and swelling. Procedure continued, which led to progression of her symptoms, including shortness of breath, for which the patient was sent to the emergency department. She was found to be afebrile, with stable vital signs and saturation of 100% on room air. …
An Automatic Image Processing Algorithm Based on Crack Pixel Density for Pavement Crack Detection and Classification

Nowadays, there is a massive necessity to develop fully automated and efficient distress assessment systems to evaluate pavement conditions with the minimum cost. Due to having complex training processes, most of the current supervised learning-based practices in this area are not suitable for smaller, local-level projects with limited resources. This paper aims to develop an automatic crack assessment method to detect and classify cracks from 2-D and 3-D pavement images. A tile-based image processing method was proposed to apply a localized thresholding technique on each tile and detect the cracked ones (tiles containing cracks) based on crack pixels’ spatial distribution. For longitudinal and transverse cracking, a curve is then fitted on the cracked tiles to connect them. Next, cracks are classified, and their lengths are measured based on the orientation axes and length of the crack curves. This method is not limited to the pavement texture type, and it is cost-efficient as it takes less than 20 s per image for a commodity computer to generate results. The method was tested on 130 images of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) and Asphalt Concrete (AC) surfaces; test results were found to be promising (Precision = 0.89, Recall = 0.83, F1 score = 0.86, and Crack length measurement accuracy = 80%).
Facies stacking and distribution in the Gabbs Formation (Late Triassic, west-Central Nevada, U.S.A.): An environmental baseline to the end-Triassic carbonate crisis

Abstract The primarily carbonate Gabbs Formation of west-central Nevada, U.S.A., remains an important, rare example of Panthalassan shallow-marine environments from the Late Triassic and through the Triassic–Jurassic boundary. Its relevance as a locality persists, particularly as the end-Triassic mass extinction interval is increasingly recognized as a carbonate crisis, evidenced by the global decline of carbonate facies and calcareous marine organisms. However, important transitions across key stratigraphic boundaries in this region have tended to be evaluated in isolation, producing an incomplete picture of sedimentation through the duration of the Late Triassic leading up to the geochemical crises and mass extinction at the close of the Triassic. In this work, multiple correlative measured sections are used to describe the facies in the mixed carbonate-siliciclastic ramp and characterize controls on carbonate facies. The outer ramp transition to inner ramp facies of the Gabbs represent a transgressive–regressive–transgressive cycle culminating in a transition to terrigenous inputs and a gradual decline of carbonate sediments stratigraphically below the mass extinction interval. This predictable loss of carbonate facies and the near continuous deposition of the Gabbs Formation allow for evidence of facies changes and acidifying conditions in the latest Triassic to be considered independently, in contrast to other global Late Triassic sections where depositional hiatuses or abrupt facies changes often compound these records. Establishing a baseline sedimentation for the Late Triassic demonstrates that the final loss of carbonate facies can be decoupled from the onset of acidifying conditions, resulting in a more precise timeline of latest Triassic environmental upheaval.
Measuring veterinary client preferences for autonomy and information when making medical decisions for their pets.

OBJECTIVE To adapt the 3 scales of the Autonomy Preference Index to veterinary medicine and validate the 3 new scales to measure pet owner preferences for autonomy and information when making medical decisions for their pets. SAMPLE 10 small-animal veterinarians and 10 small-animal clients at a veterinary school-based community practice (pilot study) and 311 small-animal clients of the practice (validation study), of which 47 participated in a follow-up survey. PROCEDURES Wording of items in the Autonomy Preference Index was adapted, and instrument wording was finalized on the basis of feedback obtained in the pilot study to create 3 scales: the Veterinary General Decision-Making Preferences Scale (VGDMPS), Veterinary Clinical Decision-Making Preferences Scale (VCDMPS), and Veterinary Information-Seeking Preferences Scale (VISPS). The 3 scales were then validated by means of administering them to small-animal clients in a clinical setting. RESULTS The 3 scales had acceptable reliability and validity, but clients expressed concern over item wording in the VGDMPS during the pilot study. Overall, results showed that clients had a very high preference for information (mean ± SD VISPS score, 4.78 ± 0.36 on a scale from 1 to 5). Preferences for autonomy varied, but mean values reflected a low-to-moderate desire for autonomy in clinical decision-making (mean ± SD VCDMPS score, 2.04 ± 0.62 on a scale from 1 to 5). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The VCDMPS was a reliable and valid instrument for measuring client preferences for autonomy in clinical decision-making. Veterinarians could potentially use this instrument to better understand pet owner preferences and tailor their communication approach accordingly.
Efficiency of Health Care in State Correctional Institutions

Little is known about the efficiency of health care in correction settings. This article reports an efficiency analysis of health care in state correctional institutions (SCIs) in a single, mid-Atlantic state from 2003 to 2006. A two-stage data envelopment analysis was used to estimate the technical efficiency of prison health care and determine inmate and institutional characteristics that were associated with efficiency. Our output variable was the number of infirmary inpatient days for each year of study. The input variable for the first stage was the sum of personnel medical staff costs and other medical operating costs. SCIs with more white prisoners, older prisoners, and higher proportions of inmates with parole violations were significantly less efficient in their provision of health care than other SCIs. There were no SCI characteristics that were predictive of efficiency. These results suggest that healthcare efficiency in corrections may decline as the prison population continues to age.
Shallow Water Fluctuations and Communications

Abstract : The central effort of this research will be the development of robust algorithms for reliable, high data rate, acoustic communications in a dynamic ocean environment and demonstration of their use with data collected in a shallow water environment.
Global Prevalence and Differentials of Continued Breastfeeding at 1 and 2 Years

Breastfeeding is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality and is an important determinant of child survival in developing countries. Longer duration breastfeeding is associated with short and long term benefits for both mother and child. We analyzed Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data collected in 23 countries between 1992-2012 to describe changes and differentials in prevalence of breastfeeding at 1 and 2 years (n=418,730). The data suggest the proportion of infants breastfed in developing countries has declined over the past twenty years by 3.4% at 1 year (86.2 v 83.3) and 13.3% at 2 years (57.3 v 49.7). Mothers 35 and older and those residing in rural settings had higher prevalence of breastfeeding at 1 and 2 years. First-born infants and those with mothers with 12 or more years of education and in the highest quintile of wealth had lower prevalence of continued breastfeeding at 1 and 2 years. Targeted interventions supporting longer breastfeeding duration in accordance with WHO recommend...
Structural studies of the interleukin-19 subfamily of cytokines.

The interleukin‐19 (IL‐19) subfamily of cytokines is part of a larger family of homologs of IL‐10 that includes two groups of proteins: five viral cytokines, and eight cellular cytokines, having quite different biological activities. Among proteins of the latter group, IL‐19, IL‐20, IL‐22, and IL‐24 were suggested to form a structurally unique IL‐19 subfamily characterized by their structural features and aggregation state as monomers. IFN‐λ1, IFN‐λ2, and IFN‐λ3 are likely to belong to this subfamily, and it is still not clear whether IL‐26 belongs to it or not. In spite of their differences in biological function, all cellular homologs of IL‐10 used for signaling a set of five overlapping membrane‐bound receptors: three long receptor chains (IL‐20R1, IL‐22R1, and IFN‐λR) and two short receptor chains (IL‐20R2 and IL‐10R2). Signal transduction is initiated when a cytokine binds two receptor chains, one long and one short, forming a ternary complex. Crystal structures of IL‐19 and IL‐22 showed that these cytokines consist of seven amphipathic helices of different length organized in helical bundle, covering an extensive hydrophobic core. Based on the similarity of the structures with the structure of a single domain of IL‐10, and with the crystal structure of a binary IL‐10/IL‐10R1 complex, putative receptor binding sites on the surface of IL‐19 and IL‐22 were identified. This chapter summarizes the available structural data on the IL‐19 subfamily of cytokines and their putative ligand/receptor complexes.
Characterization of Esterases Produced by a Ruminal Bacterium Identified as Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens

An obligately anaerobic ruminal bacterial isolate was selected from 18 tributyrin-degrading isolates and identified as Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens strain 53. The culture in late exponential phase contained enzymes which could be released by sonic disruption. These enzymes degraded substrates at a rate in the order 1-naphthyl acetate (NA) > 1-naphthyl butyrate > 1-naphthyl propionate but did not degrade 1-naphthyl palmitate or 1-naphthyl phosphate. The enzymes on NA were neither stimulated nor inhibited by CoCl(2), MgCl(2), and MnCl (each varied from 10(-6) to 10(-4) M). CaCl at 10(-3) M stimulated esterase activity by 16%. Aliphatic substrates were hydrolyzed at a rate in the order triacetin > tributyrin > tripropionin, and ethyl acetate > ethyl formate. Similarly, aromatic fluorescein diesters were degraded at a rate in the order acetyl > propionyl > caproyl > butyryl > capryl > lauryl. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic zymograms indicated that the enzyme composite contained cathodally migrating bands. By column chromatography, these enzymes were separated into six NA-degrading fractions. Fraction V contained an esterase which had an optimal temperature of 39 C, a K(m) of 7.6 x 10(-4) on NA, and a molecular weight of about 66,000. This enzyme was inhibited by paraoxon (41%, 10(-4) M), eserine (17%, 10(-2) M), NaF (17%, 10(-2) M), and diisopropyl fluorophosphate (62%, 10(-4) M) but not by 1-naphthyl N-methyl carbamate at 8.4 x 10(-4) M.
Biocompatibility of human Whartons Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells on poly-caprolactone and collagen based nanofiber mats

Nanofiber scaffolds were fabricated to analyze the proliferation of human Whartons Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hWJMSCs) for skin tissue engineering applications. Poly-caprolactone (PCL) and PCL mixed with collagen scaffolds were fabricated using electrospinning. ImageJ analysis was carried out on SEM images to characterize the structural and morphological properties of the nanofiber scaffolds. Tensile testing was also performed to quantify the mechanical properties of the scaffolds. The scaffolds were then seeded with hWJMSCs to study cell proliferation over five days in order to determine the feasibility for tissue regeneration. The average fiber diameters for the PCL scaffold and for the PCL/collagen scaffold were 0.542 µm and 0.633 µm, respectively. The Young's Moduli of the PCL and PCL/collagen scaffolds were 0.00370 Pa and 0.00683 Pa. respectively. After analyzing the data, it can be concluded that the PCL/collagen scaffold is better suited for regeneration of damaged or diseased nervous tissue.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the colon and rectum

Abstract Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs of the colon and rectum are rare, comprising 5% of all cases. There are few data available for colorectal GISTs to guide management. Although they can be small and found incidentally, the majority appear to be at high risk and carry a worse prognosis than gastric GISTs. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for primary disease. GISTs are targeted effectively with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as imatinib mesylate. GISTs are best treated by a multidisciplinary team comprising the surgeon, medical oncologist, pathologist, and radiologist; this approach has the potential benefits of increasing the number of resectable cases through neoadjuvant treatment, optimizing the timing of surgery and organ preservation, reducing recurrence and surgical morbidity, and prolonging survival. On completion of this article, the reader should be able to summarize the diagnosis, specific characteristics, and management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the colon and rectum.
Fleeting Identities: Perishable Material Culture in Archaeological Research

Fleeting Identities: Perishable Material Culture in Archaeological Research. Penelope Ballard Drooker. ed. Carbondale, 1L: Center for Archaeological Investigations, 2001.410 pp.
Histamine H2 receptor activates adenylate cyclase and PLC via separate GTP-dependent pathways

Previously, we demonstrated that a single histamine H2 receptor can couple to both the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate/intracellular Ca2+ signaling pathways in a stimulatory manner. We undertook the present studies to fur her characterize the postreceptor events involved in H2 receptor dual signaling. Histamine H2 receptor-mediated signal transduction was examined in isolated cell membranes prepared from purified canine parietal cells and HEPA cells (rat hepatoma cell line) stably transfected to express the canine H2 histamine receptor cDNA. Histamine dose-dependently stimulated both adenylate cyclase [AC; mean effective concentration (EC50) = 2 x 10(-7) M] and phospholipase C (PLC; EC50 = 3.1 +/- 0.5 x 10(-7) M) activity in an H2-specific and GTP-dependent manner. Cholera toxin pretreatment abolished the stimulatory effect of histamine on PLC activity in isolated membranes without altering binding of the H2 receptor antagonist tiotidine. Anti-Gs alpha dose-dependently inhibited histamine-stimulated AC activity while leaving the effect of this secretagogue on PLC activity unaltered. Although anti-Gq alpha inhibited vasopressin-stimulated PLC activity in HEPA cells and carbachol-stimulated PLC in parietal cells, this antibody did not alter the action of histamine on PLC in the same membrane preparations. Antibody against the NH2 and COOH terminals of the common beta-subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins did not inhibit histamine-stimulated PLC activity. Our studies demonstrate for the the first time that activation of the H2 receptor leads to stimulation of both AC and PLC via separate GTP-dependent mechanisms.
Synthesis of Mesostructured Nickel Oxide with Silica

Mesostructured nickel oxide was formed with nickel sulfate and cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks at low scattering angles and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that a mesostructure was formed. However, these XRD patterns disappeared after calcination. The addition of sodium silicate in the precursor solutions produced a mesostructure, which is stable against calcination. Surface areas as high as 530 m2/g can be obtained for the nickel silicate mesophase. TEM-EDXS showed that the Si/Ni molar ratio in the mesophase is ∼0.5, independent of the initial Si/Ni ratio in the precursor.
Pathogenesis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Substantial additional insight has been obtained in the past decade regarding the pathogenesis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Distinct subtypes of DLBCL have been defined by gene expression profiling (GEP) and they differ not only in GE profiles but also in the pattern of genetic abnormalities. The ability to correlate corresponding genetic and GEP data markedly facilitates the identification of target genes in regions with copy number abnormalities. Oncogenic pathways are often differentially activated in these different subtypes of DLBCL, suggesting that therapy should be targeted according to these differences. The tumor microenvironment plays a significant role in determining outcome and may be a novel target for therapy. The role of microRNA in lymphomagenesis is increasingly being recognized and mutation of key genes has been demonstrated to drive the activation of the NF-κB pathway and B cell receptor signaling. The pace of discovery will be even more rapid in the near future with the convergence of data from multiple complementary genome-wide studies and technological innovations including the rapid advance in the technology of high-throughput sequencing.
Liver Transplantation for Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

The ideal management of NET must be addressed on a case-by-case basis, with consideration given to patient factors, disease burden, and clinical tumor activity. Outcome improvement for LT in the setting of metastatic disease requires better characterization of the biological behavior of NETs and further identification of factors to be included in the selection criteria. Box 3 summarizes the many areas that have been, and are currently, undergoing investigation. LT as an attempt for cure rather than palliation is a justified treatment option for well-selected patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas and GI system. Optimization of pretransplantation staging and patient management algorithms, patient selection, and posttransplant management options are areas that need to be better defined. Further investigations for defining reproducible prognostic factors, consistent histopathologic evaluation, and uniform preoperative staging and site-specific data are needed. With the advancement of newer treatment modalities, it is necessary to define the role of LT along with the optimal perioperative management of existing and recurrent disease.
RHGF-2 Is an Essential Rho-1 Specific RhoGEF that binds to the Multi-PDZ Domain Scaffold Protein MPZ-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans

RhoGEF proteins activate the Rho family of small GTPases and thus play a key role in regulating fundamental cellular processes such as cell morphology and polarity, cell cycle progression and gene transcription. We identified a Caenorhabditis elegans RhoGEF protein, RHGF-2, as a binding partner of the C. elegans multi-PDZ domain scaffold protein MPZ-1 (MUPP1 in mammals). RHGF-2 exhibits significant identity to the mammalian RhoGEFs PLEKHG5/Tech/Syx and contains a class I C-terminal PDZ binding motif (SDV) that interacts most strongly to MPZ-1 PDZ domain eight. RHGF-2 RhoGEF activity is specific to the C. elegans RhoA homolog RHO-1 as determined by direct binding, GDP/GTP exchange and serum response element-driven reporter activity. rhgf-2 is an essential gene since rhgf-2 deletion mutants do not elongate during embryogenesis and hatch as short immobile animals that arrest development. Interestingly, the expression of a functional rhgf-2::gfp transgene appears to be exclusively neuronal and rhgf-2 overexpression results in loopy movement with exaggerated body bends. Transient expression of RHGF-2 in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells prevents neurite outgrowth similar to constitutive RhoA activation in these cells. Together, these observations indicate neuronally expressed RHGF-2 is an essential RHO-1 specific RhoGEF that binds most strongly to MPZ-1 PDZ domain eight and is required for wild-type C. elegans morphology and growth.
Technical and management note: A note on the phenomenon of decisional hysteresis

Certain decision processes, such as the R&D budgeting process, that involve interaction among individuals may exhibit a bistable characteristic. This phenomenon is similar in shape to the hysteresis phenomenon observed in physical systems. Such phenomena are often difficult to analyze unless they can be broken down into separate, single-valued functions. The type of feedback analysis that has proven useful in analyzing physical hysteresis in bi-stable circuits seems to be applicable to the analysis of organizational phenomena such as decisional hysteresis. Because this form of analysis is likely to be unfamiliar to those whose research or practice lies in the field of organizational behavior, it is offered here as a potentially useful tool.
Emergency acrylic resin crown

Abstract A stock resin tooth has many advantages over a temporary crown constructed entirely of activated acrylic resin. Since the stock tooth is commercially manufactured and expertly processed, a fine surface glaze and excellent incisal and body color can be obtained. By making use of the esthetic qualities of such a stock tooth, an immediate acrylic resin jacket can be constructed which has the fine finish of a completely processed crown.
Retail Leasehold Interests: A Contingent Claim Analysis

This paper develops a contingent claim model to analyze certain aspects of retail leasehold contracts. The approach allows for the explicit consideration of risk without any ad hoc risk adjustment. Both “straight” leases and “percentage” leases are examined with the value of sales as the underlying asset. Each lease value is expressed as a combination of options on sales. The effects of the lease value's determinants and equilibrium risk measurements are also analyzed.
Constrained pose refinement of parametric objects

Pose refinement is an essential task for computer vision systems that require the calibration and verification of model and camera parameters. Typical domains include the real-time tracking of objects and verification in model-based recognition systems. A technique is presented for recovering model and camera parameters of 3D objects from a single two-dimensional image. This basic problem is further complicated by the incorporation of simple bounds on the model and camera parameters and linear constraints restricting some subset of object parameters to a specific relationship. It is demonstrated in this paper that this constrained pose refinement formulation is no more difficult than the original problem based on numerical analysis techniques, including active set methods and lagrange multiplier analysis. A number of bounded and linearly constrained parametric models are tested and convergence to proper values occurs from a wide range of initial error, utilizing minimal matching information (relative to the number of parameters and components). The ability to recover model parameters in a constrained search space will thus simplify associated object recognition problems.
CNO abundances and temperature fluctuations in the Orion Nebula

The largest UV-optical data base to date of the Orion Nebula has been assembled, and the CNO abundances their distribution at a statistically significant number of positions to the north and west of the Trapezium and out to a distance of 5 arcmin has been examined. The forbidden O III temperature increases with distance from Theta1 Ori C while the forbidden N II temperature decreases with increasing distance. The density decreases as a function of increasing distance from Theta1 Ori C. The C/H, N/H, O/H, and C/O distributions are constant across the inner 5 arcmin of the northwestern quadrant of the nebula. The empirically determined mean C/H abundance calculated from UV lines is almost a factor of two lower in the number density than earlier estimates. Photoionization model calculations are consistent with a solar abundance for N/H and O/H.
The Chemotactic Activity of Various Sirenins and Analogues and the Uptake of Sirenin by the Sperm of Allomyces

The enantiomorphs of sirenin and several analogues of sirenin were tested for their activity in attracting the sperm of Allomyces. Only l-sirenin was active. The uptake of sirenin by the sperm was measured from solutions containing l-sirenin in concentrations from 5 to 10,000 nm. Uptake from 5 and 100 nm followed first order kinetics. At higher concentrations the rate of uptake slowed down, and at the very highest ones it stopped after a few minutes. When sperm had taken up all the sirenin from a 5 nm solution, it took approximately 45 minutes for them to regain full responsiveness. After uptake of sirenin by sperm, none could be recovered from them.
Leaf photosynthetic characteristics of seedlings of actinorhizal Alnus spp. and Elaeagnus spp.

Single leaf photosynthetic characteristics of Alnus glutinosa, A. incana, A. rubra, Elaeagnus angustifolia, and E. umbellata seedlings conditioned to ambient sunlight in a glasshouse were assessed. Light saturation occurred between 930 and 1400 μmol m-2s-1 PAR for all species. Maximum rates of net photosynthesis (Pn) measured at 25°C ranged from 12.8 to 17.3 μmol CO2m-2s-1 and rates of dark respiration ranged from 0.74 to 0.95 μmol CO2m-2s-1. These values of leaf photosynthetic variables are typical of early to midsuccessional species. The rate of Pn measured at optimal temperature (20°C) and 530μmol m-2s-1 PAR was significantly (p<0.01) correlated with leaf nitrogen concentration (r=0.69) and negatively correlated with the mean area of a leaf (r=−0.64). We suggest that the high leaf nitrogen concentration and rate of Pn observed for Elaeagnus umbellata and to a lesser degree for E. angustifolia are genetic adaptations related to their crown architecture.
Time-optimal three-axis reorientation of a rigid spacecraft

New results are presented for the minimum-time rest-to-rest reorientation control problem of a rigid spacecraft with independent three-axis control. It is shown that in general the eigenaxis rotation maneuver is not time optimal. An inertially symmetric (e.g., spherical or cubical) rigid body is examined to demonstrate that an eigenaxis rotation about a control axis of even such a simple body is not time optimal. The computed optimal solution is bang-bang in all three control components and has a significant nutational component of motion. The total number of switches is found to be a function of the specified reorientation angle.
Power processing requirements for solar electric propulsion

The successful integration of a light-weight, high-efficiency power conditioning (PC) unit with an electron bombardment ion thruster using a hollow cathode at JPL has been reported recently. This paper summarizes the presently conceived requirements by which the next generation of PCs should be judged and evaluated. The requirements are formulated in terms of a deep space mission, which implies that the characteristics of the solar source will vary in terms of output power and output voltage. The requirements identified by practical experience during long-term evaluation between 1968-1970 are described and explained.
Optimization of media for enumeration and isolation of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria from the deep terrestrial subsurface

Abstract The objective of this study was to develop an agar plate-count medium to maximize the number of colony-forming units (CFU) recovered from terrestrial subsurface sediment samples. A Plackett-Burman experimental design was used to test the effects of 13 possible medium variables, including various ingredients and culture conditions. These experiments used sediment samples from different surface and subsurface areas to test the resulting formulations. Microorganisms in different sediments did not respond uniformly to any variable. Variables that always had a positive effect, when significant, included addition of vitamins, addition of activated charcoal (added as a scavenger of toxic oxygen forms), use of pour plates rather than spread plates, and elevated, rather than in situ, incubation temperature. Lowered water potential always led to a negative response, where significant. Varying concentrations of most common medium components, including dilution of carbon sources, had few significant effects over the ranges tested. A medium formulation for enhanced recovery of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria from subsurface sediments was developed, based on these results.
Relationships between Percentage Defoliation, Dry Weight, Percentage Reflectance, Leaf-to-Stem Ratio, and Green Leaf Area Index in the Alfalfa Leaf Spot Pathosystem

Remote sensing may provide a more precise method to estimate the impacts of foliar pathogens on alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) yield, green leaf area index (GLAI), and leaf-to-stem ratio compared with the traditional visual estimation methods such as percentage defoliation. To test this hypothesis, field experiments were conducted at Ames, IA (Nicollet loam soil), and at Nashua, IA, in a Readlyn loam soil in 1998 and 1999. To quantify and compare the relationships between percentage defoliation, dry weight, percentage reflectance, leaf-to-stem ratio, and GLAI in alfalfa, a range of disease levels caused by leaf spot pathogens was achieved by varying fungicide efficacy and application frequency. The percentage of sunlight reflected from alfalfa canopies was measured each week using a handheld multispectral radiometer. Percentage defoliation, dry weight, and GLAI were also measured each week. Leaf-to-stem ratio was calculated as the dry weight of leaves divided by the dry weight of alfalfa stems. Using single-point regression models, percentage reflectance explained (on average) 15, 3, 18, and 4% more of the variation in dry weight, GLAI for primary leaves (PGLAI), GLAI for secondary leaves (SGLAI), and GLAI of alfalfa, respectively, than regression models based upon percentage defoliation. Area under the curve (AUC) regression models based on percentage reflectance explained 28, 19, 23, and 32% more of the variation in dry weight, PGLAI, SGLAI, and GLAI, respectively, than models based upon percentage defoliation. This study conclusively demonstrated that percentage reflectance had a better relationship with dry weight, PGLAI, SGLAI, and GLAI than destructive and more labor-intensive visual estimation of percentage defoliation.
SYMLOG and Behavior Therapy: Pathway to Expanding Horizons.

During the past 15 years, several prominent behavior therapists have urged practitioners to incorporate useful elements of other therapeutic approaches into their own clinical repertoires. A recently developed sociological method for group study called SYMLOG is suggested as a means for bringing elements of psychoanalytic and humanistic techniques into behavior therapy. Numerous applications of SYMLOG are discussed. The new social psychological system is useful for both individual behavior therapy and behavior therapy in groups. In addition, SYMLOG may be used to facilitate social psychological comparisons between the methodologies of various orientations to therapy.
Lithium in psychiatric therapy.

: In a study of the use of lithium carbonate, 70 patients in a psychiatric hospital were treated. Of these, 43 were in the manic phase of manic-depressive psychosis and 27 had other psychiatric disorders (chiefly schizophrenic). Of the 43 manic patients, 3 did not improve with lithium therapy, 20 improved, and 20 improved markedly. Of the 27 patients with other psychiatric disorders, 19 did not improve, 3 improved, and 5 improved markedly. Side effects were minimal. Lithium carbonate is effective treatment for patients in the manic phase of manic-depressive psychosis, a disorder which causes a disproportionate amount of difficulty in psychiatric hospitals.
Fluorescence microscopy: reduced photobleaching of rhodamine and fluorescein protein conjugates by n-propyl gallate

n-Prop]yl gallate (0.1 to 0.25 molar, in glycerol) reduces by a factor of 10 the rate of fading of fluorescence of cell structures labeled with tetramethylrhodamine or fluorescein-conjugated antibodies. Hence, prolonged photographic exposure of immunofluorescently labeled cells in the fluorescence microscope yields images with increased sensitivity, making feasible multiple data collection, as with serial optical sectioning.