cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differentiation promoting factors induced in Acanthamoeba by inhibitors of mitochondrial macromolecule synthesis

Abstract Acanthamoeba castellanii (line OS4) differentiates into a cyst when treated with mitochondrial inhibitors berenil, ethidium bromide, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol. The process is a function of cell density at the time of inhibition: Early log phase cells yield 0–20% cysts, whereas mid-log phase cells yield up to 55, 65, or 95% cysts when treated with chloramphenicol or erythromycin, ethidium bromide, or berenil, respectively. Medium from encysting mid-log phase cells contains an encystment enhancing activity (EEA) which, when transferred to low-density early log phase cultures, causes high levels of encystment. EEA has a nominal molecular weight of between 1000 and 10,000. It is resistant to nucleases, proteases, amylase, boiling, and 1 N NaOH, 25°C, but is inactivated by snake venom phosphodiesterase, autoclaving, and acidic or harsher alkaline treatments. Other lines, OS1 and OS5, which do not encyst well at any cell density in response to the four inhibitors or to EEA, nevertheless produce EEAs to which OS4 can respond. OS4 has been adapted to growth in a chemically defined medium; when starved for glucose and acetate, the cells produce a phosphodiesterase-sensitive EEA. A similar activity can be obtained from mitochondria treated with berenil in vitro. Several lines of evidence suggest that EEAs from the various sources are the same. We propose that they may be of mitochondrial origin and may act as developmental effectors under conditions unfavorable for cell growth.
A Method for Selecting Affordable System Concepts: A Case Application to Naval Ship Design☆

Abstract The current defense acquisition environment includes much uncertainty regarding future budgets, political developments, and global geopolitical events. With affordability of systems now mandated by the US Department of Defense, it is imperative to ensure that future acquisitions will be feasible from their inception given resource considerations, and can remain feasible given various future perturbations of those resources. This paper introduces a method for early conceptual development (inception) of major defense systems and demonstrates the method's application to a case study of a hypothetical naval ship acquisition. The results of the application and the implications of the method for system development are discussed.
Women in Personnel Management

This article is the result of a co‐operative research supported by the IAPW, Los Angeles Chapter. The response, over 50 per cent, has been very gratifying. The data were gathered during May‐June, 1980. The author is grateful for the support of the IAPW, Los Angeles Chapter and to the respondents. The high response is a testimonial to the high level of professionalism of women in personnel management.
Integrated QSPR--pharmacodynamic model of genomic effects of several corticosteroids.

The results from a quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) model was integrated into a fifth-generation pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model of corticosteroid receptor/gene-mediated effects. The proposed model was developed using previously reported tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity data following a 50 mg/kg intravenous dose of methylprednisolone in male adrenalectomized (ADX) rats. Induced TAT activity is a classical measure of corticosteroid genomic effects and the typical time course shows an initial lag-time, a slow rise to peak response, and a gradual return toward baseline values. The TAT activity profiles were subsequently predicted for two additional steroids (dexamethasone and hydrocortisone), which were confirmed experimentally. Two groups of male ADX Wistar rats (n = 18 each) were given either 0.1 mg/kg dexamethasone or 50 mg/kg hydrocortisone by penile vein injections. Plasma drug concentrations and liver TAT activity were measured at various time points. Baseline TAT activity was significantly lower in this study as compared to previous reports. Model simulations well captured the pharmacodynamic data once initial conditions were corrected for observed baseline values. Additional TAT profiles reported in the literature for prednisolone were also reasonably predicted using the final model. This study serves as a demonstration of how in vitro pharmacologic data and QSPR modeling results may be incorporated into existing mechanistic PK/PD models to anticipate the effects of other chemically related compounds.
Effects of thermal stability and melt viscosity of thermoplastics on piloted ignition

The effects of material characteristics on piloted ignition were studied by using two different polystyrene, PS, samples and two different poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, samples. The difference between the two PS samples was melt viscosity due to two different initial molecular weights and that between the two PMMA samples was thermal stability and melt viscosity also due to two different initial molecular weights. Ignition delay times and time histories of surface temperature and sample weight changes were measured in the external radiant flux range of 0.9–3.0 W/cm2. A comparison of results between the two PS samples and between the two PMMA samples was made. The comparison indicates that the transport process of indepth degradation products through the molten polymer layer to the sample surface has negligible effects on piloted ignition. However, the thermal stability of the material has significant effects on the piloted ignition delay time and the surface temperature at ignition. The surface temperature at ignition is 260–270°C for the thermally unstable PMMA sample and 320–340°C for the thermally stable PMMA sample. The surface temperatures at ignition of the two PS samples are 350–370°C. The mass flux at ignition for PMMA is 0.06–0.09×10−3 g/cm2 s and larger than 0.03–0.05×10−3 g/cm2 s for PS.
Bounds on Generalized Linear Predictors with Incomplete Outcome Data

This paper develops easily computed, tight bounds on Generalized Linear Predictors and instrumental variable estimators when outcome data are partially identified. A salient example is given by Best Linear Predictors under square loss, or Ordinary Least Squares regressions, with missing outcome data, in which case the setup specializes the more general but intractable problem examined by Horowitz et al. [9]. The result is illustrated by re-analyzing the data used in that paper.
Focus First on Teaching and Learning

As I write this brief column, the calendar turns to 2015. A glance over the shoulder can be both disappointing and gratifying. Nevertheless, the triumphs and missteps (or no steps) of 2014 are behind; and opportunities and challenges in the New Year await. As educators, we can look into the rear-view mirror and see that many postsecondary problems remain as we enter a new calendar or school year; and significant issues are on the horizon. Based on our individual places in the great diversity of post-secondary institutions and programs, we could each make our own list of most pressing problems and potential solutions. Thus, I read with interest a few days ago a Forbes column by contributor John Ebersole (2015), President of Excelsior College, naming the top 15 higher education issues for 2015. Excelsior College, previously New York’s Regents College, is a virtual university, operating as a private nonprofit since 2001. The philosophy of the institution is Bwhat you know is more important than where or how you learned it.^ (See http://www.excelsior.edu/ about). The website notes that Excelsior focuses on adult learners and is committed to workforce development and career advancement through online education, assessment of prior learning, and degree completion advising. Dr. Ebersole does indeed lead a 21 century institution. In 2014, Dr. Ebersole’s take on the current status of higher education was that Bwhite water^ was ahead and that the currents of change would continue to be rocky. He was right. Commentators, supporters, and critics alike asked ongoing questions about the increasing costs of higher education and student debt, the value of a degree, workplace skills, and the relevance and quality of outcomes. Appearing on both the 2014 and 2015 lists of top issues were college costs, the Reauthorization of Higher Education Act, the skills gap and associated workforce development, assessment and outcomes, and competency-based education. New topics on the Ebersole list in 2015 included unionization, the President’s rating system, new business models, state protectionism, jobs for veterans, the completion agenda, and internationalization. In fact, Dr. Ebersole’s list identifies the dominant issues in the media and on many agendas of educational leaders and legislators. I would not take issue with the importance of each topic. I am disappointed, however, in the distinct possibility of another year with more ill-defined problems, partial solutions, external playmakers, and a focus on the Bbusiness^ of college. Of course, colleges should be concerned about demographics and international and national competitors, should be accountable in the use of resources, and should be concerned about Innov High Educ (2015) 40:95–96 DOI 10.1007/s10755-015-9317-8
In Trust We Trust

Trust isn't a static property; it must be evaluated perpetually. Can we regain trust? Can the level of trust ever be the same?
Rupture and Internal Pressurization Creep of Nb-Modified Zircalloy-4 Tubing: Application to Dry Storage Feasibility

Burst rupture properties of Zircaloy-4 and Nb-Modified Zircaloy-4 are investigated at temperatures ranging from 638K to 843K by internal pressurization of closed-end tubing samples. Various pressurization levels were imposed and rupture times were noted. The data enabled an evaluation of Larson-Miller parameter and the present experimental results on Zircaloy-4 were in excellent agreement with those reported in the literature. The effect of 1% Nb addition to Zircaloy-4 was studied since these materials are now known to resist long-time corrosion in water reactors and are thus considered for high burn-up applications. Negligible differences were noted in the rupture characteristics between the standard Zircaloy-4 and Nb-added Zircaloy-4. In addition, a limited amount of testing was performed to characterize the hoop creep behavior of these materials using a creep tester with hoop strain monitored in-situ by a Laser telemetric extensometer. Both the alloys followed an exponential stress variation of the creep-rate at high (>10−3 E) stresses. At very low stresses, viscous creep (n = 1) was noted identifiable with Coble creep corresponding to small grain sized materials. These results have significance on the feasibility of surface storage of spent fuel where the creep deformation of the cladding could be a failure mode because of the residual heat and fission products following exposure to neutron irradiation in commercial nuclear plants. Blind extrapolation of short-term creep results to low stresses encountered during dry storage lead to nonconservative estimates of the creep-rates and creep-strains due to contributions of viscous creep to the total strain.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Similarity solutions for the converging or diverging steady flow of non-newtonian elastic power law fluids with wall suction or injection—II Axisymmetric conical flow

Abstract Similarity solutions are developed for the steady flow of an incompressible elastic power law fluid in an axisymmetric conical tube. Wall suction or injection and power law indices of unity are required for the existence of a solution. In diverging flows a singularity in the momentum equation exists which corresponds to a Deborah number of unity. It is shown that the similarity equation does not have a unique solution and that there may be numerous different stable physically realizable velocity profiles.
An efficient climate model with a 3D ocean and statistical–dynamical atmosphere*

We describe a coupled climate model of intermediate complexity designed for use in global warming experiments. The atmospheric component is a two-dimensional (zonally averaged) statistical–dynamical model based on the Goddard Institute for Space Study's atmospheric general circulation model (GCM). In contrast with energy-balance models used in some climate models of intermediate complexity, this model includes full representation of the hydrological and momentum cycles. It also has parameterizations of the main physical processes, including a sophisticated radiation code. The ocean component is a coarse resolution ocean GCM with simplified global geometry based on the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory modular ocean model. Because of the simplified geometry the resolution in the western boundary layers can be readily increased compared to conventional coarse resolution models, without increasing the model's computational requirements in a significant way. The ocean model's efficiency is also greatly increased by using a moderate degree of asynchronous coupling between the oceanic momentum and tracer fields. We demonstrate that this still allows an accurate simulation of transient behavior, including the seasonal cycle. A 100 years simulation with the model requires less than 8 hours on a state-of the art workstation. The main novelty of the model is therefore a combination of computational efficiency, statistical–dynamical atmosphere and 3D ocean. Long-term present-day climate simulations are carried out using the coupled model with and without flux adjustments, and with either the Gent-McWilliams (GM) parametrization scheme or horizontal diffusion (HD) in the ocean. Deep ocean temperatures systematically decrease in the runs without flux adjustment. We demonstrate that the mismatch between heat transports in the uncoupled states of two models is the main cause for the systematic drift. In addition, changes in the circulation and sea-ice formation also contribute to the drift. Flux adjustments in the freshwater fluxes are shown to have a stabilizing effect on the thermohaline circulation in the model, whereas the adjustments in the heat fluxes tend to weaken the global "conveyor". To evaluate the model's response to transient external forcing global warming simulations are also carried out with the flux-adjusted version of the coupled model. The coupled model reproduces reasonably well the behavior of more sophisticated coupled GCMs for both current climate and for the global warming scenarios.
Effects of process variables on fretting fatigue crack initiation in Ti-6A1-4V

A fretting fatigue crack initiation mechanism (number of cycles, location and orientation angle) using critical plane based parameters has been addressed by several researchers. There are several process variables that can affect these parameters and thereby the prediction of fretting fatigue crack initiation behaviour. Effects of two such parameters, viz. process volume and the coefficient of friction, were investigated in this work. Fretting fatigue experiments with a titanium alloy were conducted with different contact pad geometries. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to obtain a stress state in specimens for the experimental conditions used during fretting fatigue tests. Analysis was carried out for two values of the coefficient of friction, thereby providing a framework for calculation of several critical plane based multiaxial fatigue parameters for different process volumes. A program was developed to compute these multiaxial fatigue parameters from the FEA data for different values of process...
Superoxide dismutase multigene family: a comparison of the CuZn-SOD (SOD1), Mn-SOD (SOD2), and EC-SOD (SOD3) gene structures, evolution, and expression

Superoxide dismutases are an ubiquitous family of enzymes that function to efficiently catalyze the dismutation of superoxide anions. Three unique and highly compartmentalized mammalian superoxide dismutases have been biochemically and molecularly characterized to date. SOD1, or CuZn-SOD (EC 1.15.1.1), was the first enzyme to be characterized and is a copper and zinc-containing homodimer that is found almost exclusively in intracellular cytoplasmic spaces. SOD2, or Mn-SOD (EC 1.15.1.1), exists as a tetramer and is initially synthesized containing a leader peptide, which targets this manganese-containing enzyme exclusively to the mitochondrial spaces. SOD3, or EC-SOD (EC 1.15.1.1), is the most recently characterized SOD, exists as a copper and zinc-containing tetramer, and is synthesized containing a signal peptide that directs this enzyme exclusively to extracellular spaces. What role(s) these SODs play in both normal and disease states is only slowly beginning to be understood. A molecular understanding of each of these genes has proven useful toward the deciphering of their biological roles. For example, a variety of single amino acid mutations in SOD1 have been linked to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Knocking out the SOD2 gene in mice results in a lethal cardiomyopathy. A single amino acid mutation in human SOD3 is associated with 10 to 30-fold increases in serum SOD3 levels. As more information is obtained, further insights will be gained.
802.11 wireless implementation - existing network infrastructure issues

Since the widespread availability of wireless networking products based on the 802.11 standard allowing speeds of up to 54 Mb/second, many companies are now implementing this technology. A major aspect of any wireless technology is the ability to seamlessly change from one wireless access point to the next access point. This movement, known as "roaming", is critical to the functioning and usefulness of the wireless network. But, the typical network infrastructure is often not ready to support "roaming" over a campus-area as the wireless equipment is expecting the cabled network behavior to be that of a "repeater-based" network. This article examines several of the underlining requirements and pitfalls of supporting wireless "roaming" over a campus-area IP network environment.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis: A Roy Adaptation Model-Based Study

This Roy adaptation model-based study examined how people make sense of the experience of living with multiple sclerosis. Eighteen persons diagnosed with multiple sclerosis participated in three interviews over a period of 1 year. Content analysis of the interview transcripts and the researcher's logs and analytic memos yielded five recurring themes that reflect the Roy model adaptive modes: we're not completely the same (physiological mode), how I view my future (self-concept mode), let me tell you about my feelings (self-concept mode), how I see work (role function mode), and let me tell you about my life (interdependence mode).
Age-related factors in child heart transplants

Abstract Age-related differences in the type, clinical presentation, pre-transplant management and post-transplant course of children with cardiomyopathy impact outcomes following heart transplant. Although infants have the highest incidence of cardiomyopathy in the pediatric population, adolescents comprise 49% of the children Important age-related differences in morbidity and mortality occur following transplant in children. The etiology of these differences is multifactorial and includes biological and psychological factors. The relative immaturity of the neonatal immune system may confer a long-term survival benefit by decreasing rejection and coronary artery vasculopathy. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the immunosuppressive agents differ by age and may contribute to the effectiveness and toxicity of these medications. Age-specific limitations in cognitive, behavioral and psychological function have been also been identified in transplant recipients and influence survival and quality of life following transplant. Further efforts to characterize the relative importance of age-related differences on transplant outcomes are needed in order to enable effective implementation of age-specific management strategies in the care of pediatric transplant recipients.
Automatic communication refinement for system level design

This paper presents a methodology and algorithms for automatic communication refinement. The communication refinement task in system-level synthesis transforms abstract data-transfer between components to its actual bus level implementation. The input model of the communication refinement is a set of concurrently executing components, communicating with each other through abstract communication channels. The refined model reflects the actual communication architecture. Choosing a good communication architecture in system level designs requires sufficient exploration through evaluation of various architectures. However, this would not be possible with manually refining the system model for each communication architecture. For one, manual refinement is tedious and error-prone. Secondly, it wastes substantial amount of precious designer time. We solve this problem with automatic model refinement. We also present a set of experimental results to demonstrate how the proposed approach works on a typical system level design.
Green by Choice?: Cross-National Variations in Firms' Responses to EMS-Based Environmental Regimes

Environmental Management Systems (EMSS) represent a new generation of voluntary “beyond compliance” environmental policies that neither set substantive goals nor specify final outcomes. As a result, many stakeholder groups are lukewarm toward them. Since 1993 two major supranational EMSs—ISO 14001 and the European Union's Environmental Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)—have been introduced. Firms receive formal accreditation after their EMS has been certified by outside verifiers. This accreditation can potentially bestow monetary and nonmonetary benefits on these firms.Firm-level EMS adoption patterns in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States vary, thereby suggesting that national contexts influence firms' responses to them. In Germany and the U.K. a significant number of sites have become either ISO 14001 or EMAS certified, while the take-up of ISO 14001 in the U.S. (EMAS is available only to European sites) has been less enthusiastic.This article begins with the hypothesis that firms in countries with adversarial economies— where regulators and business are on less than friendly terms—are less likely to adopt EMS-based programs. This hypothesis explains why ISO 14001 take-up has been relatively high in the U.K. and relatively low in the U.S. However, it cannot explain (1) the high rate of take-up of both ISO 14001 and EMAS in Germany, where the stringency of environmental legislation has been a contentious issue between the government and industry and (2) why EMAS has been more popular in Germany than in the U.K. This article argues that the original hypothesis, while largely correct, is underspecified. To better explain the cross-national differences in EMS adoption, one must take into account the type of adversarial economy (adversarial legalism versus prescriptive interventionism) and the nature of the policy regime (procedural versus substantive).
Spatial resolution of EEG cortical source imaging revealed by localization of retinotopic organization in human primary visual cortex.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the spatial resolution of electroencephalography (EEG) cortical source imaging by localizing the retinotopic organization in the human primary visual cortex (V1). Retinotopic characteristics in V1 obtained from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study were used as reference to assess the spatial resolution of EEG since fMRI can discriminate small changes in activation in visual field. It is well-known that the activation of the early C1 component in the visual evoked potential (VEP) elicited by pattern onset stimuli coincides well with the activation in the striate cortex localized by fMRI. In the present experiments, we moved small circular checkerboard stimuli along horizontal meridian and compared the activations localized by EEG cortical source imaging with those from fMRI. Both fMRI and EEG cortical source imaging identified spatially correlated activity within V1 in each subject studied. The mean location error, between the fMRI-determined activation centers in V1 and the EEG source imaging activation peak estimated at equivalent C1 components (peak latency: 74.8 ± 10.6 ms), was 7 mm (25% and 75% percentiles are 6.45 mm and 8.4 mm, respectively), which is less than the change in fMRI activation map by a 3° visual field change (7.8 mm). Moreover, the source estimates at the earliest major VEP component showed statistically good correlation with those obtained by fMRI. The present results suggest that the spatial resolution of the EEG cortical source imaging is can correctly discriminate cortical activation changes in V1 corresponding to less than 3° visual field changes.
The association of fast food consumption with poor dietary outcomes and obesity among children: is it the fast food or the remainder of the diet?

Background: Although fast food consumption has been linked to adverse health outcomes, the relative contribution of fast food itself compared with the rest of the diet to these associations remains unclear. Objective: Our objective was to compare the independent associations with overweight/obesity or dietary outcomes for fast food consumption compared with dietary pattern for the remainder of intake. Design: This cross-sectional analysis studied 4466 US children aged 2–18 y from NHANES 2007–2010. Cluster analysis identified 2 dietary patterns for the non–fast food remainder of intake: Western (50.3%) and Prudent. Multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression models examined the association between fast food consumption and dietary pattern for the remainder of intake and estimated their independent associations with overweight/obesity and dietary outcomes. Results: Half of US children consumed fast food: 39.5% lowconsumers (#30% of energy from fast food) and 10.5% highconsumers (.30% of energy). Consuming a Western dietary pattern for the remainder of intake was more likely among fast food lowconsumers (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.85) and high-consumers (OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.60, 3.05) than among nonconsumers. The remainder of diet was independently associated with overweight/ obesity (b: 5.9; 95% CI: 1.3, 10.5), whereas fast food consumption was not, and the remainder of diet had stronger associations with poor total intake than did fast food consumption. Conclusions: Outside the fast food restaurant, fast food consumers ate Western diets, which might have stronger associations with overweight/obesity and poor dietary outcomes than fast food consumption itself. Our findings support the need for prospective studies and randomized trials to confirm these hypotheses. Am J Clin Nutr 2014;99:162–71.
The scintigraphic diagnosis of osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis is a serious health problem that results in multiple limb amputations annually. This article reviews the current scintigraphic procedures used in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and discusses some of the newer radiopharmaceuticals now being developed. The goal is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each method so that the procedure most effective for specific clinical settings can be selected. In general, the three-phase bone scan is the procedure of choice if the suspected osteomyelitis is not superimposed on another disease that causes increased bone remodeling (i.e., findings on the radiograph are normal). If the suspected osteomyelitis is superimposed on a disease that causes increased bone remodeling, the combined 111In-labeled leukocyte-99mTc bone scan is the procedure of choice in the non-marrow-containing skeleton and the 111In-labeled leukocyte and 99mTc bone marrow scans are the procedures of choice in the marrow-containing skeleton.
Muscle and nerve biopsy

Biopsy of muscle and nerve is an essential component of the diagnostic plan for animals with suspected neuromuscular disease. This article includes descriptions of the biopsy procedures and information regarding appropriate biopsy site selection and correct handling and processing of the tissues. The normal and pathological appearance of muscle and nerve using routine histochemical and histological techniques are described and illustrated emphasizing the basic myopathic and neuropathic responses of the neuromuscular system.
Cytochrome c oxidase: Structural studies by electron microscopy of two-dimensional crystals

Cytochrome c oxidase is a complex integral membrane protein consisting of 13 different polypeptide chains and four metal centers having a total molecular weight of approximately 200,000 daltons. It can be isolated in two 2-dimensional crystalline forms differing in aggregation state of the enzyme. One crystal form consists of cytochrome oxidase dimers (approximately 400,000 daltons) embedded unidirectionally in the lipid bilayer of a collapsed vesicle while the other form consists of crystalline sheets of cytochrome oxidase monomers. Both crystal forms have been studied by electron microscopy during the past two decades, and this paper summarizes the results of early structural studies as well as more recent results applying techniques of cryelectron microscopy and digital image processing. The structure of frozen-hydrated cytochrome oxidase dimers at 20 A resolution is discussed as well as the packing of monomers within dimers and the site of cytochrome c binding. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Inferences on a simple step-stress model with type-II censored exponential data

This paper presents the inferences of parameters on the simple step-stress model in accelerated life testing with type-II censoring. An exponential life distribution with a mean that is a log-linear function of stress, and a cumulative exposure model are assumed. Maximum likelihood methods are used to estimate the parameters of these models. Hypothesis tests about model parameters are discussed. Confidence intervals for parameter-estimates are constructed using a pivotal quantity. The advantage of these results is that they apply to any sample size. A numerical example illustrates the inferential procedure.
Bidirectional shufflenet: a multihop topology for backpressure flow control

The traditional shufflenet multihop virtual topology for optical networks does not provide easy support for backpressure flow control on a hop-by-hop basis. In the context of an optical backbone network interconnecting high speed electronic LANs that use wormhole routing, as in the Supercomputer SuperNet (SSN) project, hop-by-hop flow control is required in the optical network to eliminate losses due to buffer overflows. We modify the shufflenet topology by using bidirectional links to obtain a new topology called bidirectional shufflenet. This topology provides a natural support for the hop-by-hop backpressure flow control mechanism. We demonstrate the need for flow control in the wormhole routing context. We compare the average hops with the shufflenet and bilayered shufflenet. Then, we compare shufflenet with bidirectional shufflenet via simulation to show the performance improvements yielded by the latter. The throughput of the bidirectional shufflenet is better for large worms while the delay is comparable. The length of the worm has a clear effect on the throughput and delay values obtained.
Prenatal Hypoxia Reduces Mitochondrial Protein Levels and Cytochrome c Oxidase Activity in Offspring Guinea Pig Hearts

Prenatal hypoxia (HPX) reduces mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (CCO and COX) activity in fetal guinea pig (GP) hearts. The aim of this study was to quantify the lasting effects of chronic prenatal HPX on cardiac mitochondrial enzyme activity and protein expression in offspring hearts. Pregnant GPs were exposed to either normoxia (NMX) or HPX (10.5%O2) during the last 14 days of pregnancy. Both NMX and HPX fetuses, delivered vaginally, were housed under NMX conditions until 90 days of age. Total RNA and mitochondrial fractions were isolated from hearts of anesthetized NMX and HPX offspring and showed decreased levels of CCO but not medium-chain acyl dehydrogenase activity, protein levels of nuclear- and mitochondrial-encoded COX4 and COX1, respectively, and messenger RNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha, COX5b, and 4.1 compared to NMX controls. Prenatal HPX may alter mitochondrial function in the offspring by disrupting protein expression associated with the respiratory chain.
Automatic generation of exploded view by graph transformation

A method for automatically deriving exploded views of uni-axial assemblies has been extended to handle 3D cases. Products are initially designed in terms of high-level features and mating conditions. Next, a graph of planar contacts between parts is created and transformed into a new graph depicting an exploded view of the product. The transformation rules combine knowledge of part geometry and assembly process heuristics to infer the relative spatial locations in the exploded layout. Automatic generation of correct exploded views is useful for CAD systems as an aid in visualization. The current research uses exploded views as a first step toward assembly sequence planning. >
Household Labor, Wage Labor, and the Transformation of the Family

This paper develops a model of the relation between household labor and wage labor within a Marxian value theory framework. The model is used to show that the male wage laborer/female household lab...
“Mr. Mayhew, Meet Mr. DeLay,” or the Electoral Connection in the Post-Reform Congress

In regard to these member needs the best service a party can supply to its congressmen is a negative one; it can loeave them alone. And this in general is what the congressional parties do. Party leaders are chosen not to be program salesman or vote mobilizers, but to be brokers, favor-doers, agenda-setters, and protectors of established institutional routines. Party “pressure” to vote one way or another is minimal. Party “whipping” hardly deserves the name. (Mayhew 1974, 99–100) The House Republican Party acted remarkably like the cohesive, responsible party of party government theory. It proposed and ran on a policy agenda; it organized the chamber and empowered its leaders so as to facilitate the expeditious translation of the agenda into law; with the members maintaining high cohesion, the party delivered on its promises. The fragmentation and lack of discipline most observers of American Politics claim to be cardinal characteristics of American political parties were not in evidence. (Sinclair 1998, 263)
Demonstrating the Managerial Benefits of Conjoint Analysis: An In-Class Exercise for Marketing Students

An exercise is described which helps students understand the benefits of conjoint analysis. The exercise may be used with undergraduate students who have little or no statistical background or may be adapted for students with a basic understanding of ANO VA and/or regression techniques. The exercise has proven effective in communicating the variety of benefits available from the results of a conjoint study and the principal ideas underlying the calculation of conjoint results.
Acne and milk, the diet myth, and beyond

Background: Previous studies suggest possible associations between Western diet and acne. We examined data from the Nurses Health Study II to retrospectively evaluate whether intakes of dairy foods during high school were associated with physician-diagnosed severe teenage acne. Methods: We studied 47,355 women who completed questionnaires on high school diet in 1998 and physician-diagnosed severe teenage acne in 1989. We estimated the prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals of acne history across categories of intakes. Results: After accounting for age, age at menarche, body mass index, and energy intake, the multivariate prevalence ratio (95% confidence intervals; P value for test of trend) of acne, comparing extreme categories of intake, were: 1.22 (1.03, 1.44; .002) for total milk; 1.12 (1.00, 1.25; .56) for whole milk; 1.16 (1.01, 1.34; .25) for low-fat milk; and 1.44 (1.21, 1.72; .003) for skim milk. Instant breakfast drink, sherbet, cottage cheese, and cream cheese were also positively associated with acne. Conclusion: We found a positive association with acne for intake of total milk and skim milk. We hypothesize that the association with milk may be because of the presence of hormones and bioactive molecules in milk.
Twenty Golden Years of Battery R&D at CSIR,1974-1994

This paper is a personal reflection of 20 years of sodium- and lithium-based battery R&D in South Africa between 1974 and 1994. The impact of the innovative materials science and engineering research conducted during this period is highlighted by the later successful implementation of batteries in powering practical systems, as well as in technology licensing.
Inputs from upper airway affect firing of respiratory-associated midbrain neurons

Chen, Zibin, and Frederic L. Eldridge. Inputs from upper airway affect firing of respiratory-associated midbrain neurons.J. Appl. Physiol. 83(1): 196–203, 1997.—In 16 decerebrated unanesthetized ca...
Electricity, Contract Rules, and the Environment: Welcome to the Hotel California

This is the first of two Articles by Professor Ferrey on the California electricity crisis. Professor Ferrey surveys developments in California, describing the ongoing and threatened litigation.
The "Origin" of Geometry

The German phenomenologist Edmund Husserl wrote a famous essay, “The Origin of Geometry” that called for a new kind of “historical” research, to recover the “original” meaning of geometry, to the man, whoever he was, who first invented it. It seems to me not that hard to imagine the origin of geometry. Once upon a time, even twice or several times, someone first noticed some simple facts. For example, when one stick lies across another stick, there are four spaces that you can see. You can see that they are equal in pairs, opposite to opposite. It happened something like this, perhaps at some campfire, 20 or 30,000 years ago. In the dead ashes are lying two sticks, one across the other. Ancient #1: Look at that! Do you see that? Ancient #2: What? See what? 1: Those two sticks. How they cross—see, they make four spaces. Two big ones, two little ones. The big ones are across from each other on the sides, and the little ones are across from each other, one the top and bottom. 2: So what? (Kicks one of the stocks.) Now what happened to your four spaces? 1: You changed them around. Now the top and bottom are bigger, and the ones on the side are littler. There are still four spaces. And you still have little facing little, big facing big. 2: Yes, that’s the way it is now. 1: Turn them any way you like, you always get four spaces, and they are equal in opposite pairs. 2: I don’t believe it. 1: How can’t you believe it? Can’t you see it? 2: Just watch now. I turn the top stick, little by little. The top and bottom spaces get smaller, the side spaces get bigger. 1: All right. 2: What if I stop now? Where are your big and little spaces now, Mr. Smart Aleck Wise Guy? 1: You stopped before they could switch around. Before the little spaces became bigger than the big ones and the big spaces became smaller than the little ones. 2: Yes, that’s what I did. That shows you’re way off, you’re screwed up. 1: When the sticks cross now, they make four equal spaces. That’s a special interesting way to make two sticks cross. I like that. You did something good. 2: Let’s go chase a rabbit and eat it. Something like this must have happened more than once. Someone noticed something interesting about a couple of sticks, or bits of straw, or crossed fingers. Something that has to be so, whether you want it or not. An invariant. A geometric fact.
Biological Inspiration: Lessons from Many-Legged Locomotors

Nature’s technologies should not be copied blindly, but used to inspire design. Nature’s lessons on legged locomotion involve energy exchange, transfer, storage and return. Animals operating as low degree of freedom, spring-loaded, inverted pendulums can capitalize on the passive, dynamic self-stabilization possible from many legs and a sprawled posture. Recent advancements in system controls and materials manufacturing promise to permit the application of nature’s lessons to engineered robots.
Experimental Study on Reducing the Adverse Effects of Oxcarbazepine in Pregnancy Mice

Objective To study the influence of oxcarbazepine administration at single or repetitive(multiple) dose in pregnant mice and the interference effects of folic acid on the unexpected adverse event induced by oxcarbazepine in pregnant mice,and to investigate the measures to reduce the adverse effects of oxcarbazepine in pregnant mice.Methods One hundred and fifty mice were randomly divided into 5 groups(n=30 of each group,ratio of female to male was 2:1).In control group,the mice were perfused with distilled water(10 mL·kg-1) in stomach;in single-dose oxcarbazepine group,the mice were perfused with oxcarbazepine(150 mg·kg-1) in stomach;in single-dose oxcarbazepine + folic acid group,the mice were perfused with oxcarbazepine(150 mg·kg-1) and folic acid(0.07 mg·kg-1) in stomach;in repetitive dose oxcarbazepine group,the mice were perfused with oxcarbazepine(75 mg·kg-1) in stomach in the morning and afternoon,respectively;in repetitive dose oxcarbazepine + folic acid group,the mice were perfused with oxcarbazepine(75 mg·kg-1) and folic acid(0.07 mg·kg-1) in stomach in the morning and afternoon.Conception rate,abortion rate,the absorptions and dead rate,aberration rate,number of normal newborn mice,weight increment during pregnancy,the content of serum folic acid were detected.Results The pregnancy rates of mice in oxcarbazepine single-dose group,oxcarbazepine single-dose + folic acid group,repetitive dose oxcarbazepine group,and repetitive dose oxcarbazepine + folic acid group were 20%,30%,40%,and 50%,respectively.The absorptions and dead rates were 18.8%,9.8%,11.6% and 9.2%,respectively.The weight increment during pregnancy and the contents of serum folic acid were increased in these groups in turn.No significant teratogenic effects caused by oxcarbazepine were found.Conclusion Oxcarbazepine can lead to unexpected adverse events in mice during pregnancy without significant teratogenic effects;multiple small dose of oxcarbazepine and supplement of folic acid can reduce the adverse effects.
Paradoxical Effect of QX-314 on Persistent Inward Currents and Bistable Behavior in Spinal Motoneurons In Vivo

Spinal motoneurons can exhibit bistable behavior, which consists of stable self-sustained firing that is initiated by a brief excitatory input and terminated by brief inhibitory input. This bistabl...
Assessment of the impact of an antibiotic shortage: Patient outcomes and costs

During the piperacillin/tazobactam (P/T) shortage of 2002, alternative antibiotics were recommended and used at our institution. The purpose of this analysis was to identify which antibiotics were used as substitutes and the effect that this substitution had on antibiotic expenditures and patient outcomes. The study was conducted at a 600-bed tertiary care, teaching institution. To assess the effects of the shortage, P/T and alternative antibiotic use for P/T indications was quantified and normalized for hospital census over the period of the shortage (March 1 to August 30, 2002). Cost was determined from actual purchase prices. For the same time period, numbers of patients with diagnoses related to potential P/T use, their in-house mortality, and length of stay (LOS) were also quantified. Antibiotic use, cost, and patient outcomes were compared with the same time period during 2001. The shortage of P/T during 2002 was, for the most part, accommodated by increased use of cefepime (146% increase), ticarcillin/clavulanate, and antibiotics with antianaerobic activity. The number of cases and in-house morbidity for targeted ICD-9s were largely unchanged over the two comparative time periods (P > 0.05). However, cumulative LOS decreased by 1.7 days and, although overall drug use increased 4.9%, total antibiotic expenditures for P/T and its alternatives decreased by 11.7% during the shortage. Patient outcomes were not adversely affected during the P/T shortage of 2002 and the use of alternative agents was associated with decreased LOS and cost reductions for the institution.
The Rastakhiz Party and Pahlavism: the beginnings of state anti-Westernism in Iran

AbstractThe historiography of Pahlavi Iran has been unduly influenced, in the words of Cyrus Schayegh, by ‘a methodological statist’ paradigm based on the assumption that the state, dominating society, strove to implement radical Westernization while society’s role was passive and reactive—and that society did not exercise substantial influence on Pahlavi policy-making, in particular during the period covered here, 1967–1979. Consequently, a large gap between state and society emerged and in 1979 the monarchy was overthrown. This article argues that this paradigm needs revision given its inadequate attention to the changes the shah made in the state’s discourses on Westernization and Iranian authenticity and national identity in response to a growing societal and intellectual backlash to Pahlavi Westernization. The Rastakhiz Party and its publications played the key role in this emerging Pahlavi anti-Westernism. The article shows that these changes were more substantial and impactful on the state’s discou...
Efficacy of Azacytidine (5-AC) Given as Maintenance or Salvage Therapy for Patients (pts) with Acute Leukemia Post Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).

Background. Relapse is the most frequent cause of treatment failure in pts with refractory acute leukemia undergoing HSCT. Modifications of the preparative regimen using multiple combinations of chemotherapy and physical agents have failed to reduce the risk of relapse without an increase in non relapse mortality. 5-AC is a DNA hypomethylating agent that may induce leukemic cell differentiation and increased immunogenicity, therefore potentially increasing the graft-versus-leukemia effect. 5-AC, at low doses, through its hypomethylation effect has shown significant activity in pts with myelodysplastic syndromes. Furthermore, low doses are likely to be better tolerated after ASCT. Patients 5-AC was given as salvage therapy for post HSCT relapse in 7 pts with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and as maintenance therapy in 5 (4 AML, 1 acute lymphocytic leukemia) with high-risk disease. Median age was 52 years (range, 29–67 years). At the time of HSCT, 8 pts were refractory and 4 pts (AML) were in second (n=2) and third complete remission (CR) (n=2). Four pts received and failed previous HSCT following ablative regimen. Donors were HLA-compatible related (n=2), unrelated (n=7; cord blood, n=2), or syngeneic (n=1). Conditioning regimen was gemtuzumab ozogamicin 2 mg/m2, fludarabine and melphalan 140 mg/m2 in 3 pts, fludarabine and melphalan 140 mg/m2 in 6, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine and low dose TBI in 2, and busulfan and cyclophosphamide in 1.GVHD prophylaxis was tacrolimus and mini-methotrexate. ATG was administered to recipients of unrelated donor transplants. Results. After HSCT all pts were in CR. 5-AC was administered at the time of relapse that occurred at a median of 11 months (range, 5–26), and at a median of 4 months (range, 1–12) post HSCT as a maintenance therapy. 5-AC was given at the dose of 16 mg/m2 daily × 5 repeated every 4 weeks (n=3) and 25 mg/m2 daily × 5 (n=9). A median of 7 cycles (range, 2–18 cycles) were delivered. Among 7 pts with relapsed disease [medullary relapse in 4 (median percentage of blasts, 39), extramedullary relapse in 3], 3 achieved a sustained CR for 7+ months, 2 had sustained partial remission for 3+ months, and 2 pts did not respond. All pts receiving 5 AC as maintenance therapy remain in CR for a median of 14+ months (4–28). There was no significant increase in the rates of GVHD. After a median follow-up of 14 months (range, 3–20 months) from the start of 5-AC therapy,11 out of 12 pts are alive, 9 in CR. The 12-month actuarial survival from HSCT is 91%. There were no extra-medullary toxicities and only grade I/II hematologic toxicities were noted. Conclusion. Low dose 5-AC may be effective in the post HSCT setting. Further follow-up and larger number of patients will be necessary to confirm these observations.