cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determining Severe Respiratory Distress in Older Out-of-Hospital Patients

Objectives. This preliminary investigation represents the first step in developing a clinical decision rule (CDR) to assist out-of-hospital providers in caring for older patients in respiratory distress. The specific aims of the study were: 1) to identify up to ten candidate clinical indicators of severe respiratory distress in older out-of-hospital patients and2) to determine the feasibility of obtaining data on these indicators from out-of-hospital treatment records, andof obtaining a measure of severe respiratory distress from the emergency department (ED) medical record. Methods. This mixed-methods study included a qualitative component to list possible clinical indicators of severe respiratory distress, anda Delphi survey N = six experts) to reduce the comprehensive list that resulted (aim 1). The feasibility of gathering clinical indicators anda measure of severe distress was evaluated using a retrospective chart review (N = 640) of out-of-hospital andED medical records (aim 2). Results. Nine clinic...
Civil Service Reform in Georgia Going to the Edge

In recent years there has been a growing interest m civil service reform designed to decentralize and deregulate the public personnel management process in an effort to overcome the perceived infle...
Respiratory Virus Infection and Otitis Media

* Abbreviations: AOM = : acute otitis media • RT PCR reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; MEF = : middle ear fluid • RSV = : respiratory syncytial virus Otitis media, like other diseases of the respiratory tract in children, is most often caused by or is the consequence of viral infection. The results reported by Pitkaranta et al in this issue (pages 291–295) and other previous studies of viral infection and otitis media certainly support that hypothesis.1 Pitkaranta and colleagues studied children with acute otitis media (AOM) using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) to test nasopharyngeal aspirates and middle ear fluid (MEF) for three viruses—human rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and coronavirus. Virus was detected in 75% of children; 48% of MEF were positive. The rate of viral infection and of virus-positive MEF would have been higher if influenza A, parainfluenza viruses, and adenovirus had been included in the panel. The sensitive RT PCR techniques used by Pitkaranta et al allowed them to demonstrate a very high rate of viral infection testing for only three agents, but numerous previous studies had already established a link between respiratory virus infection and AOM. Epidemiologic studies established an association between occurrence of AOM and outbreaks of respiratory virus infection.2 3Studies that included virus culture of MEF provided further evidence, although rates of virus detection were much lower than in the current RT PCR-based study. Ruuskanen4 summarized results from 7 published studies that …
Spatiotemporal coordination of rod and cone photoreceptor differentiation in goldfish retina

In this study, we have compared spatial and temporal aspects of development of new rods and cones in the adult goldfish by using a combination of bromodeoxyuridine immunocytochemistry and opsin in situ hybridization to determine the intervals between terminal mitosis (cell "birth") and expression of opsin mRNA for each photoreceptor cell type. The goldfish opsins include rod opsin and four different cone opsins: red, green, blue, and ultraviolet. In a cohort of photoreceptors born at the same time, rods expressed opsin mRNA within 3 days of cell birth, while expression of cone opsin mRNA required at least 7 days. This temporal discrepancy in differentiation, coupled with a discordance in the site of cell genesis of rods and cones, allowed opsin expression to commence in both cell types in approximately the same retinal location. Commitment to the generic cone phenotype occurred within approximately 6 days throughout the cone cohort, as indicated by expression of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) mRNA, but expression of a specific spectral phenotype was delayed until rods differentiated nearby. Onset of expression of cone opsin mRNA followed a phenotype-specific sequence: red, then green, then blue, and finally ultraviolet; in situ hybridization with two opsin probes confirmed that individual photoreceptors expressed only one type of opsin as they differentiated. This stepwise process of cone differentiation is consistent with the hypothesis that cell-cell interactions among developing photoreceptors may coordinate selection of specific photoreceptor phenotypes.
Energy band gap, intrinsic carrier concentration, and Fermi level of CdTe bulk crystal between 304 and 1067K

Optical transmission measurements were performed on CdTe bulk single crystal. It was found that when a sliced and polished CdTe wafer was used, a white film started to develop when the sample was heated above 530 K and the sample became opaque. Therefore, a bulk crystal of CdTe was first grown in the window area by physical vapor transport; the optical transmission was then measured and from which the energy band gap was derived between 304 and 1067 K. The band gaps of CdTe can be fit well as a function of temperature using the Varshini expression: Eg (e V) = 1.5860 - 5.9117xl0(exp -4) T(sup 2)/(T + 160). Using the band gap data, the high temperature electron-hole equilibrium was calculated numerically by assuming the Kane's conduction band structure and a heavy-hole parabolic valance band. The calculated intrinsic carrier concentrations agree well with the experimental data reported previously. The calculated intrinsic Fermi levels between 270 and 1200 K were also presented.
Perceived Homosexuality Measuring Heterosexual Attitudinal and Nonverbal Reactions

Most social psychological research dealing with homosexuality focuses on heterosexuals' general attitudes, as expressed on questionnaires, toward homosexuals. The present study investigated some specific nonverbal and attitudinal reactions of heterosexuals to a perceived homosexual in an ongoing interaction. Perceived homosexuality, sex of subject, and sex of interviewer were varied in a 2x 2 x 2factorial design. Subjects had similar visual interaction patterns with both the homosexual and the heterosexual but spoke faster to the homosexual. Furthermore, they did not alter their publicly expressed attitudes about homosexuality compared with a previous private expression when interacting with the homosexual. However, they espoused more conservative attitudes about sexual behavior in general. When subjects interacted with a heterosexual, they espoused more liberal general sexual attitudes in the public compared with the private situation. The response to the homosexual was interpreted as a "socially accepta...
Measuring platelet function with platelet shape change, an early event in aggregation.

Abstract Platelet shape change precedes aggregation and is sensitive to significantly less stimulant. In this study, differences in percent light transmission (%T) through stirred suspensions of spheroid or discoid platelets are exploited for studying the response of platelets to Platelet Activating Factor (PAF). Changes in %T between stirred and non-stirred suspensions of unstimulated platelets in Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) varied with the starting concentration. Aggregation was blocked by the presence of citrate while activation by ADP was minimized by apyrase. However, phosphatidic acid formation, ATP release and minimal serotonin release occurred. A shape change parameter (SCP) was defined which varied with the concentration of PAF. Its dependence on PAF was shifted to lower concentration with washed platelets. The dose-response curves for the SCP were found to be virtually identical for both sheep and human platelets. Human platelets were then used to correlate morphology, as determined by phase contrast microscopy, with spectrophotometric data in the form of the SCP. A linear regression analysis of SCP and percent activation revealed a virtual 1:1 correspondence with a slope of 1.066 and an intercept of 0.009 with the standard error of the estimate equal to 0.053. The correlation coefficient was 0.990, making it significant at p
A Review of “The Dynamics of Ancient Empires: State Power from Assyria to Byzantium”

The volume under review, The Dynamics of Ancient Empires: State Power from Assyria to Byzantium, offers an examination of imperial state power that cuts across traditional academic, geographic, and...
The Rosetta-Philae cometmission as physics appreciation

This essay will show that with no more than simple school algebra and a willingness to wrestle with symbols and simple relations (equations) among them, anyone can appreciate further patterns beyond the purely visual. Far from any diminishing or ‘taking away the poetry in Nature’, this can only but add to our understanding and delight in the patterns that our senses have found striking.
Conceptual locations and pronominal reference in American Sign Language.

We report the results of an experiment investigating the ramifications of using space to express coreference in American Sign Language (ASL). Nominals in ASL can be associated with locations in signing space, and pronouns are directed toward those locations to convey coreference. A probe recognition technique was used to investigate the case of “locus doubling” in which a single referent is associated with two distinct spatial locations. The experiment explored whether an ASL pronoun activates both its antecedent referent and the location associated with that referent. An introductory discourse associated a referent (e.g., MOTHER) with two distinct locations (e.g., STOREleft, KITCHENright), and a continuation sentence followed that either contained a pronoun referring to the referent in one location or contained no anaphora (the control sentence). Twenty-four deaf participants made lexical decisions to probe signs presented during the continuation sentences. The probe signs were either the referent of the pronoun, the referent-location determined by the pronoun, or the most recently mentioned location (not referenced by the pronoun). The results indicated that response times to referent nouns were faster in the pronoun than in the no-pronoun control condition and that response times to the location signs did not differ across conditions. Thus, the spatial nature of coreference in ASL does not alter the processing mechanism underlying the on-line interpretation of pronouns. Pronouns activate only referent nouns, not spatial location nouns associated with the referent.
FACTORS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE OF BRINE DRIVEN EVAPORATORS

Concentrated CaCl2 and LiCl brines were used to evaporatively concentrate liquid foods. The concentration was carried out in double falling film evaporators in which brine flowed down the outside of the tubes and liquid food flowed down the inside. The vapor spaces between the brine and the food were connected and vapor from the food was absorbed in the brine. The heat generated by vapor absorption in the brine provided the heat needed to sustain evaporation, and was transferred to the food because of the boiling point elevation of the brine. Evaporation rates approaching those obtained in commercial evaporators were obtained for skim milk, sugar solutions and orange juice. The evaporation rates were affected by flow rates, temperature, concentration and tube material.
The complex problem of monetizing virtual electronic social networks

As traditional advertising is losing its impact, both advertisers and the media owners who are dependent upon them are desperately seeking alternative ways to reach consumers and alternative ways to earn revenues by doing so. Although there are many ways to earn money from social network traffic, attempting to do so by treating social networks as just another entertainment medium is doomed to failure. Traditional entertainment and advertising media were unidirectional message-sending systems, where paid messages were pushed at viewers as part of the price they paid for being entertained. In contrast, online social networks are better viewed as milieux, or as meeting places where people congregate to exchange information, observe and emulate each other, assess status, and above all entertain themselves. People are not captives, and when they are not interested, are not entertained, or feel that they are being manipulated, they simply leave. The guidelines for monetizing milieux and meeting places are still being discovered.
Stay on the boundary: artifact analysis exploring researcher and user framing of robot design

In recent years, HCI researchers have increased their focus on studying the power relationships between researchers and users, and developing methodologies for eliciting design ideas that are sensitive to existing epistemic hierarchies in technology design. The differential value given to expert versus lay knowledge is a central factor in these debates. We apply Artifact Analysis, developed to help designers handle the complexity of digital artifacts, as a method to explore how experts and non-experts understand and frame robots, a technology characterized by significant complexity. Our results show that both non-expert users and expert researchers have knowledge that is significant to future robot development, but they focus on different aspects of the technology - users address mediated and interaction complexity while researchers focus on internal and external complexity. We also found that robots function as boundary objects between experts and users, and suggest that one task designers can perform is to "stay on the boundary" and mediate between the different ways in which experts and non-experts frame emerging technology to develop designs that benefit from insights from both user and researcher perspectives.
Multiple classes of yeast mutants are defective in vacuole partitioning yet target vacuole proteins correctly.

Abstract In Saccharomyces cerevisiae the vacuoles are partitioned from mother cells to daughter cells in a cell-cycle-coordinated process. The molecular basis of this event remains obscure. To date, few yeast mutants had been identified that are defective in vacuole partitioning (vac), and most such mutants are also defective in vacuole protein sorting (vps) from the Golgi to the vacuole. Both the vps mutants and previously identified non-vps vac mutants display an altered vacuolar morphology. Here, we report a new method to monitor vacuole inheritance and the isolation of six new non-vps vac mutants. They define five complementation groups (VAC8-VAC12). Unlike mutants identified previously, three of the complementation groups exhibit normal vacuolar morphology. Zygote studies revealed that these vac mutants are also defective in intervacuole communication. Although at least four pathways of protein delivery to the vacuole are known, only the Vps pathway seems to significantly overlap with vacuole partitioning. Mutants defective in both vacuole partitioning and endocytosis or vacuole partitioning and autophagy were not observed. However, one of the new vac mutants was additionally defective in direct protein transport from the cytoplasm to the vacuole.
Indoor Tracking With RFID Systems

This paper addresses the problem of indoor tracking of tagged objects with Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems. A new and more realistic observation model of the system is proposed, where the probability of detecting a tag by a reader is described by a Beta distribution. We model the probability of detection as a function of both the distance and the angle between the tag and the reader. The considered model also accounts for the possibility of a tag being in a dead-zone, that is, in a space where the tag cannot be detected even if it is well within the range of a reader. For tracking, we propose the use of the particle filtering methodology that takes into account the asynchronous nature of the measurements. The needed parameters for modeling the system are obtained from laboratory experiments and the performance of the algorithm is shown by extensive computer simulations.
Enhanced, unaltered and impaired nitric oxide-mediated endothelium-dependent relaxation in experimental diabetes mellitus: importance of disease duration.

Long-term diabetes mellitus is characterized by impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation. In contrast, there is limited information on endothelial function in the early stages of the disease. In this study, we evaluated endothelial function ex vivo at early, intermediate and later stages of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus. We also evaluated the contribution of various endothelium-derived vasoactive factors at these stages of disease. In aortic rings contracted with norepinephrine, endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetycholine was increased at 24 h following injection with streptozotocin compared with controls, normal after 1 and 2 weeks of disease or impaired at 8 weeks of disease. Endothelium-independent relaxation to nitroglycerin was unaltered at all stages. The enhanced relaxation at 24 h was mimicked in rings from alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Acute exposure of normal rings to streptozotocin in vitro caused no perturbation in acetylcholine-stimulated relaxation. Enhanced relaxation in diabetic rings at 24 h persisted in the presence of either indomethacin or tetraethylammonium. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was blocked in both control and diabetic rings using l-nitroarginine but not by aminoguanidine. This suggests that the increased response was mediated by enhanced constitutive nitric oxide (NO). These studies show a triphasic response of increased, unaltered and impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation within the same model but dependent on the duration of disease. These studies could reconcile previous conflicting data in the literature and account for the observations of increases in tissue blood flow seen in early stages of experimental and human diabetes mellitus. [Diabetologia (1999) 42: 204–213]
Electrochemistry of azidothymidine

The electrochemical properties of 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, differential-pulse voltammetry and chronocoulometry. These methods were used to determine the reduction pathway of AZT and the number of protons and electrons involved in the reduction process. Experiments using a narrow range of moderate scan rates (50–1000 mV s−1) indicate that the electrochemical reduction of AZT proceeds via a four-electron, two-proton mechanism to a reduced species that undergoes a fast chemical reaction to give a species that precipitates on the electrode surface, hindering further electron transfer. The fouling is a function of the concentration of AZT and the electroanalysis time. Evidence of fouling was seen for electrolysis times between 10 and 30 ms during a chronocoulometric experiment. AZT also adsorbs on mercury electrodes at potentials more positive than its reduction potential. The diffusion coefficient for AZT was calculated to be 4.90 × 10−6 cm2 s−1 using the irreversible cyclic voltammetry equation and an n value of four electrons.
Characterization of the Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype K11:01 capsular antigen

The capsular antigen of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 11 was characterized by one-dimensional high-field nuclear magnetic resonance methods and chemical analyses, as a teichoic-acid-type polymer composed of a repeating unit with the structure [see text].
Prevalence of the breed-related glaucomas in pure-bred dogs in North America.

Objective To determine the prevalence of the breed-related glaucomas in pure-bred dogs presented to the veterinary medical teaching hospitals in North America that participate in the Veterinary Medical Data Base (VMDB). Materials and methods In this retrospective study, age of first diagnosis, breed, and gender data for all breeds of dogs were collected from the VMDB with the clinical diagnosis of primary glaucoma (glaucoma-NOS) at 5–10 year intervals from 1964 to 2002. The prevalence for each breed (affected dogs compared to all dogs of each breed), any changes over the 38 years, and any gender differences for these glaucomas were determined. Results The prevalence of the primary breed-related glaucomas has gradually increased from 0.29% (1964–1973); 0.46% (1974–1983); 0.76% (1984–1993); to 0.89% (1994–2002). Breeds that consistently featured among the highest 10 for glaucoma prevalence from four different periods (1964 to 2002) included American Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Wire Fox Terrier, and Boston Terrier. During the last observation period (1994–2002), 22 different breeds had 1% or higher prevalence of the glaucomas. The highest prevalence of glaucomas in 1994–2002 by breed included: American Cocker Spaniel (5.52%); Basset Hound (5.44%); Chow Chow (4.70%); Shar-Pei (4.40%); Boston Terrier (2.88%); Wire Fox Terrier (2.28%); Norwegian ElkHound (1.98%); Siberian Husky (1.88%); Cairn Terrier (1.82%); and Miniature Poodle (1.68%). A predominance of females with glaucoma occurred in the American Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Cairn Terrier, Chow Chow, English Cocker Spaniel, Samoyed, and perhaps the Siberian Husky, and a predominance of males in the Australian Cattle dog and St Bernard. Age affected the time for first presentation of the glaucomas in the pure-bred dog. In the majority of breeds the glaucomas were presented for initial diagnosis in dogs between 4 and 10 years of age. Conclusion Breed-related glaucomas in pure-bred dogs are frequently presented to the veterinary medical teaching hospitals in North America. The prevalence of the breed-related glaucomas in the dog appears similar to humans, and in some breeds exceeds that in humans. In many breeds the high prevalence of the glaucomas suggests a genetic basis.
Thrombopoietin is ineffective in a mouse model of motor neuron disease.

This study assessed the therapeutic efficacy of thrombopoietin (TPO) in the mouse model of ALS using two treatment paradigms. TPO was administered either daily or in 13-day treatment cycles to SOD1-G93A mice. Quantitative analysis of platelet levels, VEGF and TGF-β1 trophic factors were assessed. The effect of TPO on disease progression was analyzed by behavioral analysis and clinical examination. TPO treatment increased levels of platelets and TGF-β1 but not VEGF. This treatment did not affect onset or survival in these mice. Although biologically active, demonstrated by increased platelet and TGF-β1 levels, rmTPO did not attenuate disease progression in ALS mice.
Effects of varying dietary protein and lipid levels on growth performance and hepatocyte changes in juvenile African cichlids (Pseudotropheus socolofi and Haplochromis ahli).

African cichlids are popular species produced commercially in South Florida for the aquarium trade. In their natural habitat, African cichlids show variations in feeding behavior, ranging from strict herbivory to omnivory to carnivory, and they are therefore excellent model species for nutrition work. The effects of varying dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth performance and hepatocyte changes of juvenile ornamental African cichlids were compared between Pseudotropheus socolofi, an omnivore, and Haplochromis ahli, a carnivore. It was hypothesized that the omnivore would have a lower protein requirement and show a higher incidence and severity of liver pathology when fed a high-fat diet than the carnivore. Four diets were formulated using two crude protein (CP) levels (35–36% and 55–56% CP) and two lipid levels (8–10% and 19–20%), with resulting gross energy levels between 4000 and 5300 kcal/kg. P.socolofi (0.89 g, 4.1 cm) and H.ahli (2.1 g, 5.7 cm) were fed three times daily at 10% body weight per day (BW/d) for the first 3 wk, then 6% BW/d for the remaining 5 wks. Survival was greater than 86% for all treatments. Average weight gain of carnivorous H.ahli did not differ among the four diets and was greater than that of P.socolofi. P.socolofi grew larger when fed a high-protein/high-lipid diet compared to a high-protein/low-lipid diet or both the low-protein diets. However, pathological changes to the liver were observed in P.socolofi fed a diet high in both protein and lipid. Carnivorous H.ahli tolerated higher levels of dietary lipid than the omnivorous P.socolofi. Both species showed significant growth, with no pathological changes occurring in the liver when they were fed a diet of 36% CP, 10% lipid, and 4000 kcal/kg gross energy.
TU‐D‐342‐04: Dedicated Breast CT Imaging of the Breast

Dedicated breast computed tomography(CT)systems were designed and fabricated in our laboratory, and patient scanning commenced in November 2004. The breast CTscanner was designed utilizing several off‐the‐shelf components, including the x‐ray system, the flat‐panel detector, and a position encoder/bearing/motor system. These components were integrated into a custom designed scanner frame and gantry. The breast CTscanners were designed for 33 second acquisition, utilizing 500 projection images acquired over 360° around the breast. The breast CTscanner uses 80 kVp and mAs levels adjusted to the size of the woman's breast. The radiation levels are adjusted such that the mean glandular dose is equal to that of two‐view mammography for each woman. The acquisition protocols requires patient breath hold during the 17 second scan. As of May 2008, 150 patients have been scanned, including healthy volunteers (phase 1) and BIRADS 4 and 5 patients who were suspicious for having breast cancer (phase 2). Of the patients imaged, >20 were imaged with and without contrast agent injection. While our clinical evaluation of breast CT technology is still under way, initial evaluation indicates that high‐quality tomographic images of the breast can be achieved at dose levels comparable to two view mammography. The ultimate utility of breast CT may include breast cancer screening, or for diagnostic studies as part of a comprehensive diagnostic breast examination. The breast CT platform also appears ideal for robotically controlled biopsy and other interventional procedures.
Evaluating road surface conditions using tire generated noise

Classifications of road conditions are crucial because officials prioritize road maintenance decisions based on them. Pavement condition index (PCI) surveys are performed manually and used by many cities in the U.S. to evaluate road surface conditions. In this research, a more efficient method is used to detect road surface conditions. This method applies a probabilistic analysis to acoustic pressure data collected from a vehicle-mounted microphone. The data is collected while the driving and processed in real time. Acoustic pressure data contains information on road surface conditions because acoustic pressures change when the tire impacts different road surfaces. This change is audible to human ears, for example, a driver transitions from a normal road to a bridge. The acoustic pressure data used in this research was collected from roads with known PCI values that are used as a reference. To reveal the dominant common features and neglect trivial differences within a certain length of road, a probabilistic method is used to evaluate road surface conditions. This approach uses the Weibull probability density function (PDF) to evaluate road surface conditions. This distribution was chosen because it is closest to the actual PDF among other distributions such as the normal distribution and lognormal distribution. A key finding of this paper is that the Weibull PDF shows the largest change between roads with different PCI values. Another finding is that the Weibull pdf changes when the van hits road defects such as cracks and patches.
Color correction using principal components

The problem of color correction for changes in illumination is briefly reviewed. A new method using the spectral reflectance distribution in the image is introduced and compared to a white-point mapping method. The new method is based on principal component analysis and thus is dependent upon the characteristics of the images that are to be viewed. These two methods are compared using chromaticity plots and the CIE L*a*b* ΔE measurement, for test samples which include color copiers, thermal writers, ink-jet printers, and lithography.
New experimental techniques and new detectors

Abstract Recent developments of colliding beam detectors are reviewed. Similarities are discussed in terms of common physics goals and non-physics constraints. As an extrapolation of present technologies the development of a low-mass drift chamber is discussed. As an example of a much larger extrapolation of present technologies to the next generation of collider detectors at the SSC/LHC, the Silicon Tracker program is presented.
Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometric analysis of metal-ion selected dynamic protein libraries.

The application of electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry to the investigation of the relative stabilities (and thus packing efficiencies) of Fe-bound trihelix peptide bundles is demonstrated. Small dynamic protein libraries are created by metal-ion assisted assembly of peptide subunits. Control of the trimeric aggregation state is coupled to stability selection by exploiting the coordination requirements of Fe2+ in the presence of bidentate 2,2‘-bipyridyl ligands covalently appended to the peptide monomers. At limiting metal-ion concentration, the most thermodynamically stable, optimally packed peptide trimers dominate the mass spectrum. The identities of optimally stable candidate trimers observed in the ESI FT-ICR mass spectra are confirmed by resynthesis of exchange-inert analogues and measurement of their folding free energies. The peptide composition of the trimers may be determined by infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) MS3 experimen...
The Synaptic Vesicle Protein SV2 Is Complexed with an α5-Containing Laminin on the Nerve Terminal Surface

Interactions between growing axons and synaptic basal lamina components direct the formation of neuromuscular junctions during nerve regeneration. Isoforms of laminin containing α5 or β2 chains are potential basal lamina ligands for these interactions. The nerve terminal receptors are unknown. Here we show that SV2, a synaptic vesicle transmembrane proteoglycan, is complexed with a 900-kDa laminin on synaptosomes from the electric organ synapse that is similar to the neuromuscular junctions. Although two laminins are present on synaptosomes, only the 900-kDa laminin is associated with SV2. Other nerve terminal components are absent from this complex. The 900-kDa laminin contains an α5, a β1, and a novel γ chain. To test whether SV2 directly binds the 900-kDa laminin, we looked for interaction between purified SV2 and laminin-1, a laminin isoform with a similar structure. We find SV2 binds with high affinity to purified laminin-1. Our results suggest that a synaptic vesicle component may act as a laminin receptor on the presynaptic plasma membrane; they also suggest a mechanism for activity-dependent adhesion at the synapse.
A pilot study of pesticides and PCBs in the breast milk of women residing in urban and agricultural communities of California

Currently, there is no nationally representative human milk biomonitoring program in the United States (U.S.) and no studies have reported non-persistent pesticides in the milk of U.S. women. In this pilot study we developed a multiresidue laboratory method to measure non-persistent and persistent pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in human milk samples from women residing in the agricultural region of Salinas, CA (n = 13) and the urban San Francisco Bay Area, CA (n = 21). Samples were collected from 2002–2007. Median concentrations in pg g−1 milk among urban and agricultural women, respectively were reported for: chlorpyrifos (24.5 and 28.0), cis-permethrin (81.9 and 103), trans-permethrin (93.1 and 176), hexachlorobenzene (191 and 223), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (220 and 443), o,p′-DDT (36.6 and 62.4), p,p′-DDT,(107 and 102), o,p′-DDE (5.65 and 5.17), p,p′-DDE (3170 and 3490), dacthal (2.79 and 3.43), PCB 118 (92.8 and 17.0), PCB 138 (183 and 38.2), PCB 153 (242 and 43.6) and PCB 180 (239 and 683). Among urban women, median concentrations were 4.02 and 4.32 pg g−1 milk for chlorpyrifos-methyl and propoxur, respectively. These results suggest that neonates and young children may be exposed to persistent and non-persistent pesticides and PCBs via breast milk.
Light scattering studies on the deformation of flexible macromolecules in flow

The theoretical background and a suitable apparatus have been developed for deriving from light scattering measurements in streaming polymer solutions information on the deformability, and therefore on the degree of flexibility of macromolecules. In order to differentiate between effects due to polymer deformation and those due to an extrusion, an argument based on the classical Langevin relation is used. Preliminary results on the flow deformation of polyacrylamide were encouraging as regards the potential of the method.
Can small and medium multinational enterprises offer an alternative to multinational corporations in African countries? Evidence from Nigeria

Promotion of private investment is a necessity for capital formation in African countries. Foreign private investment in particular, is considered to be a source of the scarce capital resources, valuable technological know-how and corporate norms and practices. However, given the political unpredictability, lack of sufficient infrastructures, inadequate human capital and local technological capacities in these countries, attracting foreign investors outside of the natural resources sector, especially multinational corporations, has been a troubling concern to the policy makers in the region. Using Nigeria as our case study, we attempt to answer the following two questions: Are the small and medium multinational enterprises (SMMEs) an alternative to the traditional larger multinational corporations (MNCs) that have eluded African countries? What are the motivations and investment characteristics of the SMMEs? We evaluate these issues using primary data.
Changes in the Plant and Fish Communities in Enhanced Littoral Areas of Lake Kissimmee, Florida, Following a Habitat Enhancement

ABSTRACT A 1995–96 habitat enhancement project was conducted at Lake Kissimmee, Florida, which included a major drawdown and organic sediment removal from about half of the lake's shoreline. Previous studies have compared enhanced versus control sites following habitat enhancements, but no studies have assessed how plant and fish communities change through time in enhanced habitats. We sampled plant and fish communities in two enhanced littoral areas three times each summer from 1998 to 2000. Quality fish habitat (i.e., sandy bottom, moderate coverage of aquatic macrophytes, high dissolved oxygen concentrations) was present in enhanced sites throughout this study. Irrespective of water level, plant abundance (percent area covered, PAC) and biomass increased during the study period, but mean plant biomass and abundance were < 2 kg · m−2 and < 50%, respectively, in 2000. Mean dissolved oxygen concentrations in enhanced sites generally exceeded 3 mg · L−1 in all years. Diverse fish communities also reflected...
NEONATAL ANDROGEN LEVELS AND ANTIBODY PRODUCTION

While data suggest that the effects of sex hormones mainly estrogen(E), may be the basis for sex differences in immunity in later life, the reason for the differences in infancy are obscure. Though serum levels of E in male and female babies are low and not significant, recent data show marked sex differences in serum concentrations(C)of testosterone(T)with levels in males of 0-3months ranging from 350pg/ml to 2000pg/ml and those in females from 50-100pg/ml. To determine what effects these C of T might have on numbers of anti-bacterial antibody producing cells (APC)spleen cells from outbred male Swiss mice injected with 3×106heat-killed E.coli 3 days before were incubated in vitro with C of T of 5-5000pg/ml. After 24hours, numbers of anti-E.coli APC as determined in an agar-gel were compared in T-treated and untreated(U)portions of the same suspension. At 50pg/ml 21 of 27(77%)of T-treated suspensions had increased numbers of APC over U(p=.003). The mean number of APC/spleen of 1280 for T-treated was 45% greater than that of U. By contrast, at 500pg/ml and above, APC were reduced;at 500pg/ml 27 of 36 suspensions had fewer APC than U(p=.002). T-treated averaged 42% fewer. Similar studies show that at C of estradiol(E2)of 500-5000pg/ml and of progesterone(P) of 500pg-50ng/ml increases in APC occur but at C of 50ng/ml and 500ng/ml respectively AFC are reduced. T, E2 and P enhance at lower and suppress numbers of APC at higher C. T is the most potent with its effects at the lowest C. Findings suggest that serum levels of T in male infants may suppress whereas those in female infants may enhance the proliferation and/or differentiation of APC.
Acute Hypoxia Activates the Neuroimmune System, Which Diabetes Exacerbates

Acute hypoxia is experienced in an array of ailments and conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, sleep apnea, acute hypotension, and blast lung injury. Classically, infection activates the neuroimmune system, causing loss of interest in the social environment. We report that the non-infectious stimulus acute hypoxia triggers neuroimmune system activation (NSA), causing loss of interest in the social environment, and that recovery from hypoxia-induced NSA is impaired in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes. Importantly, recovery from the behavioral consequences of hypoxia-induced NSA was nearly ablated in MyD88 (myeloid differentiation factor 88) knock-out mice and in mice intracerebroventricularly administered the caspase-1 inhibitor ac-YVAD-CMK (ac-Tyr-Val-Asp-2,6-dimethylbenzoyloxymethylketone). Diabetic mice had prolonged recovery from NSA that could be halved by administration of subcutaneous interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (RA). These results show that acute hypoxia activates the IL-1β arm of the neuroimmune system, which diabetes exacerbates and treatment with IL-1RA ameliorates.
Phase Equilibria in Binary Mixtures of Water with Cyclic Alkylene Carbonates

Vapor–liquid equilibrium (P,T,x) of water/ethylene carbonate was measured at T = (312.91 to 383.13) K by the ebulliometric method. Liquid–liquid equilibria of water/propylene carbonate and water/butylene carbonate systems were measured at atmospheric pressure and T = (280.65 to 293.15) K using analytical sampling techniques. The experimental results were correlated with a NRTL model.
Structural Basis for Dimerization of LAP2α, a Component of the Nuclear Lamina

Summary Lamina-associated polypeptides (LAPs) are important components of the nuclear lamina, the dense network of filaments that supports the nuclear envelope and also extends into the nucleoplasm. The main protein constituents of the nuclear lamina are the constitutively expressed B-type lamins and the developmentally regulated A- and C-type lamins. LAP2α is the only non-membrane-associated member of the LAP family. It preferentially binds lamin A/C, has been implicated in cell-cycle regulation and chromatin organization, and has also been found to be a component of retroviral preintegration complexes. As an approach to understanding the role of LAP2α in cellular pathways, we have determined the crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of LAP2α, residues 459–693. The C-terminal domain is dimeric and possesses an extensive four-stranded, antiparallel coiled coil. The surface involved in binding lamin A/C is proposed based on results from alanine-scanning mutagenesis and a solid-phase overlay binding assay.
A constrained optimal control approach to smoothing splines

This paper addresses smoothing spline estimation of complex functions subject to shape and/or dynamics constraints. Such estimation problems receive growing interest in engineering and statistics, particularly newly emerging areas such as systems biology. In this paper, we formulate the estimation problem as an optimal control problem subject to convex control constraints. By exploring techniques from convex and variational analysis, the existence and uniqueness of optimal solutions is established and explicit optimality conditions are obtained. It is shown that the optimality conditions are given in term of a two-point boundary value problem for a complementarity system. To compute an optimal solution, we formulate the optimality conditions as a B-differentiable equation. A nonsmooth Newton's method is exploited to solve this equation; global convergence of this method is established.
SpartanRPC: Remote Procedure Call Authorization in Wireless Sensor Networks

We describe SpartanRPC, a secure middleware technology that supports cooperation between distinct security domains in wireless sensor networks. SpartanRPC extends nesC to provide a link-layer remote procedure call (RPC) mechanism, along with an enhancement of configuration wirings that allow specification of remote, dynamic endpoints. RPC invocation is secured via an authorization logic that enables servers to specify access policies and requires clients to prove authorization. This mechanism is implemented using a combination of symmetric and public key cryptography. We report on benchmark testing of a prototype implementation and on an application of the framework that supports secure collaborative use and administration of an existing WSN data-gathering system.
Treatment of transplant ureteral stenosis with endoureterotomy

AbstractPurpose: The safety and efficacy of treating renal transplant ureteral stenosis with the Acucise1 endoureterotomy catheter are described.Materials and Methods: We treated 4 women and 3 men 31 to 63 years old (mean age 45) with Acucise endoureterotomy for distal (6) and proximal (1) ureteral stenosis. Diagnosis was based on increasing serum creatinine and hydronephrosis on ultrasound, and confirmed by antegrade nephrostogram. One patient had recurrence and, therefore, 8 procedures were performed. Mean followup was 13 months (range 7 to 21).Results: Technical success was 100%. One patient had a recurrent stricture and was successfully re-treated. Of the patients 3 had chronic rejection and renal failure, and 4 had stable renal function. All ureters remain patent to date.Conclusions: Treatment of short ureteral stenosis with Acucise endoureterotomy in a renal transplant is safe and effective. Furthermore, it can be performed in an ambulatory setting with minimal morbidity. This procedure should be co...
Summaries of Papers Delivered at the 113th Annual Meeting of the American Statistical Association in Washington, D. C., December 27 to 30, 1953

Abstract The present section contains all available abstracts of papers presented at the 1953 national meeting of the American Statistical Association in Washington, D. C. The sequence of presentation here conforms to a grouping of abstracts according to the various sessions at which they were delivered.
Florida Bay: A history of recent ecological changes

Florida Bay is a unique subtropical estuary at the southern tip of the Florida peninsula. Recent ecological changes (seagrass die-off, algal blooms, increased turbidity) to the Florida Bay ecosystem have focused the attention of the public, commercial interests, scientists, and resource managers on the factors influencing the structure and function of Florida Bay. Restoring Florida Bay to some historic condition is the goal of resource managers, but what is not clear is what an anthropogenically-unaltered Florida Bay would look like. While there is general consensus that human activities have contributed to the changes occurring in the Florida Bay ecosystem, a high degree of natural system variability has made elucidation of the links between human activity and Florida Bay dynamics difficult. Paleoecological analyses, examination of long-term datasets, and directed measurements of aspects of the ecology of Florida Bay all contribute to our understanding of the behavior of the bay, and allow quantification of the magnitude of the recent ecological changes with respect to historical variability of the system.
The Role of Information Technology as a Complementary Resource in Healthcare Integrated Delivery Systems

As in many industries, it is recognized that there is a need to increase the use of information technology (IT) in the healthcare industry. However, until now, this has not occurred. In fact, some say that IT in healthcare has consistently fallen far short of expectations. The purpose of this study was to illuminate the need for a more holistic view of healthcare network integration and demonstrate that simply applying the latest technology to the network is not adequate for improving overall effectiveness. The study results showed that the more holistic view has to include management commitment, of complementarity between IT integration and organizational integration, and continued investments.
Nitrogen deposition, distribution and cycling in a subalpine spruce-fir forest in the Adirondacks, New York, USA

Nitrogen inputs, fluxes, internal generation and consumption, and outputs were monitored in a subalpine spruce-fir forest at approximately 1000-m elevation on Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks of New York, USA. Nitrogen in precipitation, cloudwater and dry deposition was collected on an event basis and quantified as an input. Throughfall, stemflow, litterfall and soil water were measured to determine fluxes within the forest. Nitrogen mineralization in the forest floor was estimated to determine internal sources of available N. Lower mineral horizon soil water was used to estimate output from the ecosystem. Vegetation and soil N pools were determined. During four years of continuous monitoring, an average of 16 kg N ha−1 yr−1 was delivered to the forest canopy as precipitation, cloudwater and dry deposition from the atmosphere. Approximately 30% of the input was retained by the canopy. Canopy retention is likely the result of both foliar uptake and immobilization by bark, foliage and microorganisms. Approximately 40 kg of N was made available within the forest floor from mineralization of organic matter. Virtually all the available ammonium (mineralized plus input from throughfall) is utilized in the forest floor, either by microorganisms or through uptake by vegetation. The most abundant N component of soil water solutions leaving the system was nitrate. Net ecosystem fluxes indicate accumulation of both ammonium and nitrate. There is a small net loss of organic N from the ecosystem. Some nitrate leaves the bottom of the B horizon throughout the year. Comparisons with other temperate coniferous sites and examination of the ecosystem N mass balance indicate that N use efficiency is less at our site, which suggests that the site is not severely limited by N.