cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral characteristics among obese/overweight inner-city African American Children: A secondary analysis of participants in a community-based Type 2 diabetes risk reduction program

Abstract This secondary analysis presents psycho-social characteristics of two cohorts of overweight/obese African American children [baseline ( n = 68) and post-intervention ( n = 81)] participating in a community-based, year-long Type 2 diabetes prevention program. The original intervention was designed to incorporate strategies that existent literature deemed most promising with respect to obesity intervention and reduction of Type 2 diabetes risk. Eligible children were assigned to one of two sites and a random process was then used to designate the two sites as either treatment or control. To add to the literature on the psycho-social profiles of overweight children, this analysis considers child and parent caregiver ratings derived from the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Second Edition-2 (BASC-2; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2002). For purposes of reference, we index our findings to pre-intervention BASC-2 scores in the baseline cohort as well as to scores of obese children previously reported by others. Parent-reported post-intervention scores favored the intervention condition on three of the four key composites including behavioral symptoms index, internalizing problems and adaptive skills. However, child-reported outcomes showed fewer effects.
A TOTAL POPULATION STUDY OF OUT-OF-HOSPITAL CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ARREST IN CHILDREN

While the epidemiology of cardiorespiratory arrest in adults has been extensively studied, this issue in children has remained relatively unexplored. We reviewed all cases of out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest in resident Boston children to identify their incidence, causes, demography, and contribution to total childhood mortality. Case-specific data were collected from emergency room (ER) logs and medical records of Boston hospitals. Death certificate analysis provided total mortality data. Between 1978 and 1982, 270 out-of-hospital arrests occurred in resident children ages 1 month to 20 years. 155 (57%) were not transported to a hospital. 115 (43%) underwent resuscitation in hospital ER's. 19 (17%) of these were resuscitated and survived hospitalization. During this time period a total of 480 deaths occurred in this same population of children. Therefore, 251 (52%) of these deaths occurred out-of-hospital. Of the arrests treated in ER's,46% were in infants, 35% between 1 and 15 years, and 19% between 16 and 20 years of age. 30% were due to trauma, 28% to SIDS; 62% were sudden with no predisposing condition, and 20% had an identifiable cause ongoing for 12 hours or more. This study suggests than an emphasis on hospital based therapies will not influence a large portion of childhood deaths. Efforts to reduce mortality in children must recognize the major contribution made by out-of-hospital events. The nature of this mortality suggests that preventive and pre-hospital interventions will be of primary importance.
Partitioning of polymers into pores with surface interactions at dilute solution limit

Abstract The partitioning of a single polymer chain into a slit in a good solvent with different surface interactions is examined through Monte Carlo simulations from subcritical regime to adsorptive regime. The chain conformation in the subcritical regime is not perturbed by the surface interactions significantly. In the adsorptive regime, the conformation of the chain is strongly perturbed by the surface interactions. The confinement free energy in the two regimes maybe written in a uniform formula, βΔμconf∼c1N(a/D)xew+c2N(a/D)1/ν with x∼2.0 or larger in the subcritical regime and ∼1.0 in the adsorptive regime, where ν is the Flory exponent, D is the slit width, N is the chain length, a is the monomer size, and ew is the surface interaction energy between the polymer beads and the slit. This formula is valid for a long chain in the narrow slit in the subcritical regime or when the adsorption layer h>D in the adsorptive regime. A critical behavior occurs when ew is at the critical adsorption point and x=1/ν, then Δμconf will have little dependence on N or D. Higher order terms that are neglected in the above equation, however, may be present that could lead to a weak dependence of K on N and D even in the critical adsorption point.
Human agency, biased transmission, and the cultural evolution of chiefly authority

Abstract The dynamics of individual power-seeking and factional competition generate considerable leadership variability in uncentralized societies. A key issue is how the "sequential hierarchy" (in Johnson's terms) of achieved leadership is transformed into the "simultaneous hierarchy" of permanently institutionalized chiefly authority. An evolutionary perspective is needed, but one that takes into account the creative force of human agency as well as the structural constraints of cultural institutions, in line with Giddens's theory of structuration. It is suggested that key portions of Boyd and Richerson's dual inheritance theory of cultural evolution are consistent with a balanced consideration of agency and structure. Of particular relevance to chiefdom development is their concept of indirectly biased transmission. Archaeological cases from Mexico and Venezuela are examined in view of these considerations.
The Suicide Rate in the Concentration Camps Was Extraordinarily High: A Comment on Bronisch and Lester

Previous reports, based on limited reports from inmates who survived the Nazi concentration camps, have claimed that suicide was rare in the concentration camps. Using slightly more detailed, but nonetheless still limited, data from survivors of the camps, it is estimated that the suicide rates in the camp were most likely 25,000 per 100,000 per year or higher and, therefore, enormous!
A Quantitative Histochemical Method for estimating Phospholipids

THE affinity of the ‘Luxol’ solvent dyes for phospholipids has been investigated. One of these dyes, ‘Luxol’ fast blue MBS, was introduced by Kluver and Barrera1 as a myelin stain. It is a diarylguanidine salt of a sulphonated copper phthalocyanine dye. The dyes used in this investigation are diarylguanidine salts of sulphonated azo dyes. ‘Luxol’ fast blue G, ‘Luxol’ fast blue ARN, and ‘Luxol’ fast black L, have been found to form complexes with phosphotidyl, choline, phosphotidyl ethanolamine, and phosphotidyl serine. Pearse2 has already noted that ‘Luxol’ fast blue MBS forms precipitates with certain phospholipids in in vitro tests. He believed it was possibly an acid base reaction and that the base of the phospholipid replaced the base of the dye. He found his precipitates confined to the choline containing phospholipids. I have found that the dyes ‘Luxol’ fast blue G and ARN, and the phospholipids, phosphotidyl choline and phosphotidyl serine, form complexes stoichiometrically. Furthermore, there is a reversal of their common solubility in absolute ethanol (Table 1).
Vertical wall fire in a stratified ambient atmosphere

A mathematical model is presented for understanding the characteristics of a burning vertical wall immersed in a quiescent ambient atmosphere having nonuniform vertical distributions of temperature and oxidizer mass fraction. Such a stratified atmosphere occurs, for example, in the case of a room or aircraft cabin on fire. A set of partial differential equations and suitable boundary conditions describing a laminar boundary layer flow of exothermically reacting gases is solved using a finite difference method. Results for the local burning rate and maximum vertical velocity in the boundary layer are presented for many different cases of nonuniform ambient temperature and ambient oxidizer mass fraction. A comparison of these results with the results for the nonstratified atmosphere shows that the predicted burning rate for a thermally stratified case behaves like a linear combination of results for corresponding nonstratified cases; however, this is not true for compositionwise stratified cases. The stratification has a substantial effect on the velocity in the boundary layer.
A Simple Calculation of Structural and Depletion Forces for Fluids/Suspensions Confined in a Film

By use of the analytic result for the Laplace transform of the radial distribution function for two large hard spheres dispersed in a fluid of the smaller hard spheres, simple equations for the film interaction energy and film disjoining pressure, due to the structural and depletion forces, are derived. The proposed equations satisfy some known exact results and explicitly express the energy and pressure as a function of the film thickness and volume fraction of the small hard spheres. The predicted results for the film energy and film disjoining pressure are compared with existing computer simulation data. The proposed simple analytical expressions can be applied to understand the stability of liquid films containing colloidal particles and the stability of suspensions, foams, and emulsions.
The best and worst of teams: self-directed work teams as an information systems development workforce strategy

1. AIlExRACT For information systems departments, global competition and turbuIent marketplaces translate into the need to develop, deliver, and support information systems more responsivelg$ with higher quahty, and with lower IleveIs of IS staffing. In response to these needs, organizations often adopt a workforce strategy that includes the formation of autm~m~us, team-based organizations. These autonomous teams are referred to here as seifdirected work teams (SDWTs). Little is known about SDWTs within knowledge work settings in general, or within the IS context specificaiiy. Consequently, although forming team-based organizations is currently a pcbppnllar workforce strategy for IS organizations, it is undear whether forming SDWTs is prudent for IS organizations, and if so, what characteristics are required to insure SDWT sFNx!ess. ‘Be research presented here reports on a muhi-method research project conducted within IS organizations involved in information systems development (ISD).
Rapid concentration and purification of 13N-labelled anions on a high performance anion exchanger

Abstract Nitrogen-13 (t 1 2 = 9.96 min) labelled NO3− and NO2− produced by 20-MeV proton bombardment of a water target are concentrated and separated from 13NH4+ on Partisil SAX, a microporous anion exchanger. Solutions with radioactivity concentrations of 150 mCi ml−1 for 13NO2− and 230 mCi ml−1 for 13NO3− are prepared in 10–12 min after the end of bombardment. The more than 20-fold increase in concentration possible with these methods extends the usefulness of 13N tracer techniques in chemical and biological systems.
Language Features for Scalable Distributed-Memory Dataflow Computing

Dataflow languages offer a natural means to express concurrency but are not a natural representation of the architectural features of high-performance, distributed-memory computers. When used as the outermost language in a hierarchical programming model, dataflow is very effective at expressing the overall flow of a computation. In this work, we present strategies and techniques used by the Swift dataflow language to obtain good performance on extremely large computing systems. We also present multiple unique language features that offer practical utility and performance enhancements.
Polygon properties calculated from the vertex neighborhoods

Calculating properties of polyhedra given only the set of the locations and neighborhoods of the vertices is easy. Possible properties include volume, surface area, and point containment testing. No global topological information at all is explicitly needed (although the complete global topology could be recovered). The neighborhood of the vertex means the directions of the edges and faces on it but not their extents. These vertex-based formulae are dual to the usual formulae that use the faces. They have been implemented and the stability against inconsistent data tested. Alternative data structures and formulae for polyhedron calculation are important since special cases are a function partly of the data structure, and because different methods have different numerical accuracy and error detection properties.
Effect of Boron Addition on the Differential Capacitance of Stress- Annealed Pyrolytic Graphite

Summary The non-faradaic differential electrode capacity of the basal plane of boronated stress-annealed pyrolytic graphite with 0.3 weight % boron has been studied in aqueous solution using an a.c. impedance bridge and compared to results previously obtained on the non-boronated material. On boronated graphite the potential of the minimum in the capacity-potential curve shifts negative by about 0.5 V relative to that for the non-boronated material. The direction of this shift is in agreement with the semiconductor interpretation proposed previously for the capacitance of the basal plane of the non-boronated material. The magnitude of the shift, however, is much larger and the capacity of the minimum for the boronated material much lower than estimated theoretically from the carrier concentration for the space charge region in the electrode phase. The potential of the minimum is essentially independent of pH over 14 units of pH for both the boronated and non-boronated material but the capacity-potential curves for the former deviate substantially from the near parabolic shape found for the latter, particularly at potentials anodic to the capacity minimum. Boronation apparently introduces surface chemical groups which contribute to the observed capacity at these anodic potentials. With scans to potentials more anodic than 1 V vs . RHE, pronounced hysteresis effects are observed in the capacity-potential curves for the boronated material, probably because of oxidation of the electrode surface.
Busulfan or TBI: answer to an age-old question.

In this issue of Blood , authors of 2 articles have compared busulfan with total body irradiation (TBI) in preparative regimens for hematopoietic transplantation as treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).[1][1],[2][2] ![Figure][3] Leukemia-free survival and overall survival by preparative
Electrochemical characterization of amorphous and microcrystalline metals

Abstract A study of the relation between the preparation, microstructure, and the corrosion behavior of CuZr and CuTi alloys is reported. Films were prepared by planar magnetron sputter deposition and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The passive current density upon potentiodynamic anodic polarization was used as a criterion for the corrosion tendency, with particular attention focussed on the difference between the amorphous and corresponding crystallized films. Parallel XRD, DSC, and TEM studies provided structural interpretation of the corrosion behavior.
Robot-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy for Early-Stage Lung Cancer

Background Video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy is an accepted oncologic procedure for patients with early-stage lung cancer. We studied the use of the da Vinci surgical robot for mediastinal, hilar, and vascular dissection during video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy in patients with early-stage lung cancer. Methods During a 41-month-period, 61 patients (27 men, 34 women; mean age, 68.2 years) underwent a robot-assisted video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy and complete mediastinal nodal dissection for early-stage lung cancer (stages I, II). Results Distribution of lobectomies was right upper lobe 14, right middle lobe 6, right lower lobe 9, left upper lobe 21, and left lower lobe 11. Operative times ranged from 3 to 6 hours (median, 4). There were 34 adenocarcinoma, 14 squamous cell carcinoma, 6 adenosquamous, 1 large cell, 2 bronchoalveolar, 2 poorly differentiated cancers, and 2 carcinoid tumors. Pathologic upstaging was noted in 10 patients (8 to IIb, 2 to IIIa). There were no emergent conversions to a thoracotomy. Complications included atrial fibrillation (4), atelectasis (4), prolonged air leak (2), pleural effusion (2), hydropneumothorax (1), and incisional bleeding (1). Mortality was 4.9%. Median hospitalization was 4 days. Follow-up was complete in 54 patients (88%). At a mean follow-up of 28 months, all patients were alive, and 4 had distant metastases. There was no local recurrence. Conclusions Robot-assisted vascular and nodal dissection during video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for early-stage lung cancer is feasible. Greater experience and long-term follow-up is required to better evaluate patient selection, oncologic efficacy, and comparability with a conventional open approach.
Absolute Transports of Mass and Temperature for the North Atlantic Current– Subpolar Front System

The flow of subtropical waters carried into the northern North Atlantic Ocean by the North Atlantic Current‐ subpolar front system (NAC‐SPF) is an important component of the meridional overturning circulation. These waters become colder and denser as they flow through the subpolar region, both by mixing with the colder subpolar waters and by atmospheric cooling. The relative roles of these two processes remain to be quantified, and the mechanisms driving lateral mixing need to be better understood. To address those questions, a new methodology is developed to estimate the mean absolute transports of mass and heat for the top 1000 dbar in the region of the NAC‐SPF for the time period 1993‐2000. The transports are obtained by combining historical hydrography with isopycnal RAFOS float data from the area. The mean absolute transport potential field shows an NAC‐SPF ‘‘pipe,’’ defined by two bounding transport potential contours. This pipe transports 10.0 6 3.5 Sv (Sv [ 106 m3 s 21) (top 1000 dbar) from the subtropics into the eastern subpolar North Atlantic. In contrast to earlier studies, the northward-flowing NAC follows a distinct meandering path, with no evidence of permanent branches peeling off the current before reaching the ‘‘Northwest Corner.’’ As the current enters the Northwest Corner, it loses its tight structure and maybe splits into two or more branches, which together constitute the eastward flow along the SPF. The eastward flow between the Northwest Corner and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is not as tightly defined because of the meandering and/or eddy shedding of the branches constituing the SPF. As the flow approaches the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, it converges to cross above the Charlie‐Gibbs and Faraday Fracture Zones. The mean absolute temperature transport (top 1000 dbar) by the 10-Sv pipe was estimated across 10 transects crossing the NAC‐SPF. Because the mean mass flux is constant in the pipe, variations in the mean temperature transports result from lateral exchange and mixing across the pipe’s side walls and from air‐sea fluxes across the surface of the pipe. The NAC‐SPF current loses 0.18 6 0.05 PW on its transit through the region, most of the loss occuring upstream of the Northwest Corner. The heat loss is 10 times the corresponding heat lost to the atmosphere. We conclude that cross-frontal exchange induced by the steep meanders of the northward-flowing NAC is the main mechanism by which heat is lost along the current in the region between the ‘‘Tail of the Grand Banks’’ and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Adenosine Induces Loss of Actin Stress Fibers and Inhibits Contraction in Hepatic Stellate Cells via Rho Inhibition

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are known to undergo a variety of functional changes in response to liver injury. These changes include matrix remodeling, actin reorganization, chemotaxis, and contraction. Among these, HSC contraction is of interest because it contributes to intrahepatic resistance and portal hypertension, which are responsible for much of the morbidity in cirrhosis. Several mediators have been identified to induce HSC contraction, including endothelin-1 (ET-1),1 prostanoid,2 substance P,3 angiotensin II,4 and arginine vasopressin.5 In contrast, few signals are known to inhibit HSC contraction, and these are nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide, somatostatin, and adrenomedullin.6 The molecules that inhibit HSC contraction are of great interest, because they are candidates for therapeutic intervention. Among these, somatostatin is in clinical use, unfortunately inducing only modest reduction in portal pressure, and NO donors are in clinical development. Adenosine is increasingly recognized as having an important role in HSC differentiation and liver fibrosis. In response to adenosine, HSCs up-regulate collagen and transforming growth factor β, and inhibition of adenosine receptor 2a (A2aR) signaling decreases liver fibrosis in vivo.7,8 This is consistent with the demonstrated role of adenosine in lung and the skin fibrosis.9 Because of these attributes, several adenosine receptor antagonists are in clinical development.10 We recently demonstrated that adenosine inhibits platelet-derived growth factor–mediated HSC chemotaxis, a feature that it shares with NO.11,12 Due to the requirement of actin stress fibers in chemotaxis, we examined the effect of adenosine on actin stress fiber stability in HSC cell lines and primary cells. We show that adenosine inhibits actin stress fiber formation via the A2aR and a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated pathway. This pathway results in inactivation of RhoA, a molecule central to actin stress fiber assembly, and inhibition of ET-1 and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) mediated HSC contraction.6,13 This identifies the first physiological signal to inhibit the Rho pathway in HSCs and demonstrates an important role for adenosine in actin organization and contraction.
High Open-Circuit Voltage Photovoltaic Cells with a Low Bandgap Copolymer of Isothianaphthene, Thiophene, and Benzothiadiazole Units

A novel conjugated copolymer (PITN-co-ThBTD) composed of alternating isothianaphthene, thiophene, and benzothiadiazole units was synthesized and characterized. The polymer has a low bandgap of 1.55 eV as a result of the intrachain coupling between electron-donating/withdrawing units. Thermal analysis and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) reveal that the polymer has a largely amorphous structure. Blends of PITN-co-ThBTD with the electron acceptor methanofullerene [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were studied as a function of increasing PCBM content by WAXS, atomic force microscopy, charge transport, and photovoltaic measurements. The PCBM solubility limit, i.e., the phase-separation point, was estimated to be 30 wt % PCBM, beyond which charge carrier transport switches from hole only to ambipolar (both electron and hole) in a field-effect transistor testbed. Bulk heterojunction solar cells were constructed from PITN-co-ThBTD films blended with varying weight fractions of PCBM. The best pe...
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) does not Regulate Nitric Oxide (NO) Production by Cultured Rat Mesangial Cells (RMC) 1845

Mesangial cells contain the enzyme inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and produce NO after exposure to cytokines. This short-lived messenger molecule is involved in the regulation of many aspects of kidney function. VEGF modulates NO production by endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Moreover, VEGF may contribute to vascular injury in diabetes. Human mesangial cells express the VEGF receptors and the cytokine stimulates proliferation. Therefore, we examined whether VEGF regulates NO production by cultured mesangial cells.
721. Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: From Cell Culture to Clinical Trial

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) results from non-sense or frame-shifting mutations in the dystrophin gene. The majority of these mutations can be corrected by removal of one extra exon to create shortened, but in-frame transcripts and produce at least partially functional proteins. Earlier studies showed that antisense oligonucleotide (AON)-mediated splicing alteration can achieve specific skipping of targeted exon, providing the potential for the treatment of DMD. This promise was firmly established when we demonstrated that AON can specifically remove the mouse dystrophin exon 23 containing a nonsense point mutation and restore the functional levels of dystrophin protein in muscle via intramuscular administration. More recently, we further demonstrated that systemic delivery of AON can effectively restore dystrophin expression in body-wide muscles. These data have prompted much of the current enthusiasm for clinical trials with AONs. We also demonstrated that modifications of AON chemistry are critical for achieving therapeutical effect by antisense therapy. Morpholinos is one of the most effective chemistry for inducing functional levels of dystrophin in bodywide skeletal muscles with improved force generation. We have been examining several chemistries with various delivery systems using mdx mouse as an in vivo model system to search for more effective chemistry and clinically applicable delivery approaches to achieve long-term restoration of dystrophin expression. Individual human dystrophin exon has been selected for systematic screening of AON sequences to maximize the potential of antisense effect as a preparation for clinical trials. We are also developing animal models to select AON sequences for targeting individual human dystrophin exon and to examine the therapeutic capacity of exon skipping in vivo. In conclusion, our results have provides realistic hope for the treatment of a majority of DMD patients.
How I Came to Understand That My Students Would Need Training Wings in Order to Learn to Fly

I began my first year teaching at an open-enrollment university with the belief that most students can learn to do intellectual work, if they are only given the opportunity. This belief is inspired...
Resolving the tension in graham and laird

Reponse de Guston a Graham et Laird dont les remarques sur la tension entre science et democratie etaient provoquees par l'article de Guston The essential tension in science and democracy
Mechanisms of acid-base excretion across the gills of a marine fish

Na+/H+ and Cl–/HCO3–exchanges in the branchial epithelium are thought to be primarily responsible for acid-base transfers in fish. Several different cellular mechanisms have been proposed to drive these exchanges in fresh water and marine species. We measured the acid-base balance and net H+ transfers (ΔH+) in the marine long-horned sculpin (Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus) following acidosis. ΔH+ was determined in different groups of acid loaded (2–3 meq kg–1) animals which were: 1) adapted to seawater (SW); 2) adapted to 20% SW; 3) exposed to water with artificially low [Na+] or [Cl–]; 4) exposed to water containing 1 × 10–4 M amiloride, 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)-amiloride (HMA), or 4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS). Both seawater and 20% SW adapted fish were able to completely compensate for the infused load and over 24 hours typically over-excreted more than 2× the amount infused. A 30% decrease in plasma PCO2 following the metabolic acidosis in sculpin adpated to 20% SW (presumably secondary to respiratory alterations) contributed to the rapid recovery of blood pH. Low ambient [Na+] reversed normal acid excretion to an uptake (HCO3– loss; even after acid infusion). 20–30 mM Na+ in the water was necessary to induce a positive ΔH+. A reversible inhibition of ΔH+ was also observed in sculpin exposed to either amiloride or HMA during the acidosis. In contrast, low [Cl–] or DIDS enhanced ΔH+ excretion. We conclude that net H+ excretion measured following acidosis in these seawater or brackish water adapted animals is the sum of parallel (and counter acting) apical gill Na+/H+ and Cl–/HCO3– exchanges. The Na+/H+ transfers are most likely via an antiporter of the NHE family and occur on the background of continued “band-3” Cl–/HCO3– exchange. J. Exp. Zool. 279:509–520, 1997.© 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the interpretation of the photoluminescence spectrum of fractional quantum hall systems

Abstract The photoluminescence of a fractional quantum Hall system is studied by numerically diagonalizing the Hamiltonian of an electron-hole system of a finite-size. When valence band holes are located at a distance d away from the electron layer, the PL spectrum in general displays a multipeak structure that can be classified in terms of the number of quasielectrons involved in the recombination process. The 3-quasielectron process, which for large d is suppressed by the repulsive interaction between quasielectrons, is greatly enhanced by the attractive interaction between quasielectrons and the valence band hole when d is of the order of or smaller than the magnetic length l. The existence of the bound state complex (consisting of two quasielectrons and one hole) predicted earlier at d ∼ 1.5l can also be traced in the luminescence spectrum.
Hypertonic enhancement of transmitter release from frog motor nerve terminals: Ca2+ independence and role of integrins.

Hyperosmotic solutions cause markedly enhanced spontaneous quantal release of neurotransmitter from many nerve terminals. The mechanism of this enhancement is unknown. We have investigated this phenomenon at the frog neuromuscular junction with the aim of determining the degree to which it resembles the modulation of release by stretch, which has been shown to be mediated by mechanical tension on integrins.The hypertonicity enhancement, like the stretch effect, does not require Ca2+ influx or release from internal stores, although internal release may contribute to the effect. The hypertonicity effect is sharply reduced (but not eliminated) by peptides containing the RGD sequence, which compete with native ligands for integrin bonds.There is co-variance in the magnitude of the stretch and osmotic effects; that is, individual terminals exhibiting a large stretch effect also show strong enhancement by hypertonicity, and vice versa. The stretch and osmotic enhancements also can partially occlude each other.There remain some clear-cut differences between osmotic and stretch forms of modulation: the larger range of enhancement by hypertonic solutions, the relative lack of effect of osmolarity on evoked release, and the reported higher temperature sensitivity of osmotic enhancement. Nevertheless, our data strongly implicate integrins in a significant fraction of the osmotic enhancement, possibly acting via the same mechanism as stretch modulation.
Some observations on carbon paste electrodes in AC voltammetry

Abstract Phase-sensitive alternating current (a.c.) voltammetric techniques were used to examine the background current at carbon paste electrodes. Several different mulling agents were used for the pastes. The available potential span depends on the mulling agent; paraffin oil gives the largest span. Peaks in the background current obtained by cyclic a.c. voltammetry are attributed to current arising from surface functional groups. Chemical or electrochemical oxidation of the electrode surface enhanced the peak current. Little evidence of this current could be found in d.c. cyclic voltammograms because it is obscured by charging current. The anodic potential limit is determined by these surface currents. On the cathodic side, dissolved oxygen is reduced in a process which produced two peaks in the a.c. scan. It was shown that the second peak is due to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water and a method for the quantitation of H 2 O 2 was developed which had a detection limit of a few mg l −1 .
Parenting as a Moderator of the Effects of Maternal Depressive Symptoms on Preadolescent Adjustment

The purpose of this study was to examine whether parenting moderated the association between maternal depressive symptoms and initial levels and growth of preadolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. This study used a community sample of preadolescent children (N = 214; 8–12 years old at Time 1), measuring maternal depressive symptoms and parenting at Time 1, and preadolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms at each year for 3 years. After modeling latent growth curves of internalizing and externalizing symptoms, growth factors were conditioned on maternal depressive symptoms, positive (acceptance and consistent discipline) and negative (rejection and physical punishment) parenting, and the interactions of depression and parenting. Maternal rejection moderated the relation of maternal depression with internalizing symptoms, such that high rejection exacerbated the effects of maternal depressive symptoms on initial levels of preadolescent internalizing problems. There were no significan...
Maximal Inhibition of SERCA2 Ca2+ Affinity by Phospholamban in Transgenic Hearts Overexpressing a Non-phosphorylatable Form of Phospholamban

Phospholamban is a phosphoprotein in the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) which regulates the apparent Ca2+ affinity of the SR Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2). To determine the levels of phospholamban which are associated with maximal inhibition of SERCA2, several lines of transgenic mice were generated which expressed increasing levels of a non-phosphorylatable form of phospholamban (S16A,T17A) specifically in the heart. This mutant form of phospholamban was chosen to prevent phosphorylation as a compensatory mechanism in vivo. Quantitative immunoblotting revealed increased phospholamban protein levels of 1.8-, 2.6-, 3.7-, and 4.7-fold in transgenic hearts compared with wild types. There were no changes in the expression levels of SERCA2, calsequestrin, calreticulin, and ryanodine receptor. Assessment of SR Ca2+ uptake in hearts of transgenic mice indicated increases in the inhibition of the affinity of SERCA2 for Ca2+ with increased phospholamban expression. Maximal inhibition was obtained at phospholamban expression levels of 2.6-fold or higher. Transgenic hearts with functional saturation in phospholamban:SERCA2 (≥2.6:1) exhibited increases in β-myosin heavy chain expression, associated with cardiac hypertrophy. These findings demonstrate that overexpression of a non-phosphorylatable form of phospholamban in transgenic mouse hearts resulted in saturation of the functional phospholamban:SERCA2 ratio at 2.6:1 and suggest that approximately 40% of the SR Ca2+pumps are functionally regulated by phospholamban in vivo.
The influence of behavioral context and social characteristics on the physical aspects of social grooming in rhesus monkeys

The extent to which dominance status and sex can influence the physical act of grooming was examined in two groups of rhesus monkeys. Both the sex and the dominance status of the groomee, but not of the groomer, were found to affect the body sites groomed and the positions assumed by the animals during the grooming bout. Females were groomed more on the back and head and less on the tail, rump, upper leg, and lower arm than males. Females with infants tended to face away from the groomer. Higher-ranking groomees were groomed more on the tail and rump and less on the upper leg and back than lower-ranking groomees. Higher-ranking groomees spent more time lying down during grooming than lower-ranking groomees, while lower-ranking groomees faced away from the groomer more then higher-ranking groomees. The behavioral interactions just prior to and immediately after grooming were also recorded. Although the onset of grooming was preceded by social interactions between the partners, the end of grooming was followed by a complete break in interactions. Particular types of social signals displayed by the groomee just prior to grooming were highly correlated with the grooming of specific body sites. These results suggest that the groomee controls the behavior of the groomer by the social signals it displays and the positions it maintains during the grooming bout. Thus, the grooming act itself may play an important role in the social relationships between group members.
Sizing Incineration for Base-Load Energy

Many state and country codes require that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are either captured or destroyed before they are emitted to the atmosphere. This measure requires designing and operating refrigeration systems that would evaporate, condense and separate the VOC from air stream, or more commonly, install afterburners to combust the VOCs. Both condensation and combustion related abatement technologies involve large capital and maintenance costs. In the case of combusting the VOC, fuel is usually added to the air/VOC mixture for proper air/fuel ratio and effective combustion. The resulting high temperature gas free from VOC is often emitted to the ambient with little or no value captured from the energy intensive process. Regulations limiting the emission of VOCs continue to grow. Paint and coating lines and manufacturing processes that involve emission of chemical vapors such as carpet manufacturing, produce large amounts of VOC that needs to be oxidized. Other incinerators that do not necessarily involve VOCs, such as kiln systems also produce large energy waste. Thermodynamically, the VOC destruction combustion process is simply a total waste of energy unless it allows some waste recovery. Afterburners are typically designed for environmental reasons, ignoring the energy cost, which is accepted as an inevitable penalty. This paper discusses the feasibility of selecting incinerators as a Gas Turbine Oxidizer (GTO) sized for the base-energy load. So sized GTO could produce process heat, generate electric power, shave energy peaks, and reduce air pollution without compromising the primary intent of effectively destroying VOCs.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SINGLE-CELL PROTEIN CONCENTRATE: DOPE FORMATION AND ITS FLOW BEHAVIOR

SUMMARY –Protein solution was made with single-cell protein (SCP) concentrate obtained by alkali extraction of Torula dried yeast. The minimum coagulation temperature for the dope was determined. The dope containing 10–25% of the extracted protein having a pH range of 9–12 was subjected to viscosity measurement at a temperature lower than the coagulation temperature. The optimum protein content of the SCP concentrate dope for spinning seems to be in the range of 15–20% At pH 9, the dope attained maximum viscosities without gelation.
A labor-supply analysis of cocaine self-administration under progressive-ratio schedules: antecedents, methodologies, and perspectives.

Rationale: Under a progressive-ratio (PR) schedule, a subject must complete increasing fixed-ratio (FR) response requirements to obtain reinforcers. Response requirements are increased until responding stops; the final ratio completed being the "break point" and providing an index of the relative effectiveness, or value, of the reinforcer to maintain behavior. Objectives: This review examines the historical and conceptual framework underlying the PR procedure and examines the concept of relative reinforcer value. Pharmacological analysis (based on receptor theory), and behavior analysis (based on microeconomic theory) are reviewed. Methods: Using a microeconomic adaptation of the reinforcement model referred to as conservation, a mathematical model of PR performance is proposed based on the curvilinear relationship between economic supply and labor. Drug consumption and instrumental responding were assumed to reflect deviations from a balance point, defined as the levels of consumption and responding under no scheduled restraint. Data sets were re-analyzed in which several response sequences were examined in rhesus monkeys maintained on PR schedules of intravenous cocaine delivery. Results: The modified conservation equation fitted the PR data accurately, and results consistent with both linear and concave labor-supply functions were obtained. These results suggest that cocaine self-administration under PR schedules conforms to labor-supply relationships characterized as inelastic (consumption is resistant to increases in schedule requirements) and unit elastic (at high response costs, consumption declines with no corresponding increase or decrease in total responding). Conclusions: The labor-supply methodology allows for a definition of the relative value of a drug reinforcer in PR studies based on changes in consumption across response costs. Specifically, relative reinforcer value is defined in terms of changes in behavior from a balance point, rather than as a property that determines the strength of the instrumental response.
Paraarticular soft-tissue changes in infections and trauma of the lower extremity in children

Evaluation of the paraarticular soft tissues is of primary importance in diagnosing acute joint problems of the lower extremity in children. With trauma, soft-tissue changes can alert the radiologist to an underlying bony injury; while with acute infection or inflammation, they enable identification and differentiation of the early stages of septic arthritis from osteomyelitis. Some soft-tissue changes have been described; others are presented for the first time. Becaiuse the findings differ from joint to joint, each joint is discussed separately.
Distribution of the Sex combs reduced Gene Products in Drosophila melanogaster

ABSTRACT The spatial and temporal distribution of RNA and protein encoded by the homeotic Sex combs reduced ( Scr ) gene were examined during Drosophila development. The gene products are present in the epidermis of both the labial and first thoracic segments as would be predicted from prior genetic studies. However, the pattern in the central nervous system (CNS) and mesoderm is further restricted; the major expression located in the labial neuromere of the CNS and the mesoderm of the first thoracic segment. The spatial restriction within the CNS is correlated with and may be due to a differential timing of expression in the labial and first thoracic ectoderm. The labial ectoderm accumulates the Scr RNA prior to segregation of the neuroblasts while expression in the first thoracic ectoderm occurs after neuroblast segregation. The protein is also observed in the subesophageal ganglia of both larvae and adults, as well as in the labial and first thoracic imaginal discs. Surprisingly, the protein is also present to a lesser extent in second and third thoracic leg discs.
Pediatric standard and robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty: a comparative single institution study.

Purpose: We report our experience and compare the outcomes between standard and robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty to treat ureteropelvic junction obstruction in children.Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed of all children who underwent standard or robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction at a single institution from October 2007 to January 2012. Indications for surgery included symptomatic obstruction and abnormal diuretic renal scan. A successful outcome was defined as resolution of clinical symptoms, improvement of hydronephrosis on ultrasound, stable ultrasound with resolution of symptoms or improvement of the drainage curve on diuretic renal scan.Results: We reviewed 18 patients (median age 8.1 years) who underwent standard and 46 (8.8 years) who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (p = 0.194). Median operative time was 298 minutes (range 145 to 387) for standard and 209 minutes (106 to 540) for robot-assisted lapa...
A LQR spatiotemporal fusion technique for face profile collection in smart camera surveillance

In this paper, we propose a joint face orientation estimation technique for face profile collection in smart camera networks. The system is composed of in-node coarse estimation and joint refined estimation between cameras. In-node signal processing algorithms are designed to be lightweight to reduce computation load, yielding coarse estimates which may be erroneous. The proposed model-based technique determines the orientation and the angular motion of the face using two features, namely the hair-face ratio and the head optical flow. These features yield an estimate of the face orientation and the angular velocity through least squares (LS) analysis. In the joint refined estimation step, a discrete-time linear dynamical model is defined. Spatiotemporal consistency between cameras is measured by a cost function, which is minimized through linear quadratic regulation (LQR) to yield a robust closed-loop feedback system that estimates the face orientation, angular motion, and relative angular difference to the face between cameras. Based on the face orientation estimates, a collection of face profile are accumulated over time as the human subject moves around. The proposed technique does not require camera locations to be known in prior, and hence is applicable to vision networks deployed casually without localization.
Leukocyte and Neutrophil Counts in Healthy Puerto Rican Children and Children with Acute Appendicitis

Blood counts were performed on 107 healthy Puerto Rican children aged 1 to 5 years to establish normal ranges of leukocyte and neutrophil counts and were compared with preoperative counts in 30 Puerto Rican children with acute appendicitis and also with values published in healthy black and white children of the same age. In healthy Puerto Rican patients and in patients with acute appendicitis, the mean leukocyte and neutrophil counts were significantly higher than in blacks.
Interventions to Improve Oral Feeding Performance of Preterm Infants

This review presents a summary of our current understanding of the development of preterm infant oral feeding skills, the feeding issues they are facing, and evidence-based approaches that facilitate their transition from tube to oral feeding. The field of infant oral feeding research is understudied as the recognition of its importance truly came about with the increased preterm population and the realization that a large number of these infants are not safe and competent oral feeders. It is understandable that this research has taken a “back seat” to the more immediate concerns of saving these babies’ lives. However, the time has now come when these infants make up a large proportion of patients referred to feeding specialists for unresolved oral feeding problems during their stay in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) as well as post-discharge. Unfortunately, due to the limited research so far conducted in this domain, available therapies are limited and lack evidence-based support. Fortunately, this...
Clinical Significance of Cytogenetics in Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by hemopoietic insufficiency associated with cytopenias due to dysfunctional hematopoietic stem cells. Myelodysplastic syndromes sometimes progress to acute myelogenous leukemia. The cytopenias caused by MDS lead to serious complications such as bleeding, infections, and symptomatic anemia. Cytogenetic abnormalities in MDS patients have an important role in categorizing these syndromes and are important in predicting prognosis and treatment response.
Blood protein binding of cyclosporine in transplant patients.

The objective of this study was to compare the binding of cyclosporine to blood proteins between four healthy subjects and five liver and eight renal transplant patients. Fresh heparinized blood was obtained, to which sufficient quantities of tritium-labelled cyclosporine and unlabelled cyclosporine were added to blood samples or red blood cell (RBC) suspensions. Concentrations of cyclosporine in whole blood, plasma, RBC suspension, and phosphate buffer were estimated by liquid scintigraphy. The blood:plasma ratio of cyclosporine in transplant patients was significantly lower (P less than .05) than that in healthy volunteers. The RBC:buffer ratio, a measure of affinity of RBCs for cyclosporine, was highest in those with liver transplants and lowest in those with kidney transplants. The unbound fraction of cyclosporine in plasma was less in transplant patients than in healthy volunteers. The results of this study indicate that there are differences in blood protein binding of cyclosporine between transplant patients that may contribute to the differences in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of this drug.