cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality assurance issues in oncology nursing.

Oncology nursing has been given the challenge to determine if oncology patients are provided with the highest quality nursing care. Inherent in this challenge is the development of indicators to measure clinical excellence in oncology nursing practice as well as organizational excellence. The Standards of Oncology Nursing Practice by the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and the American Nurses' Association (ANA) provides the framework for the development of specific clinical indicators to measure oncology nursing practice. These standards contain structure, process, and outcome criteria to measure oncology nursing practice. Within these practice standards, emphasis is placed on 11 high-incidence problem areas that can occur in cancer patients at any stage of the disease process, regardless of the care setting. These problem areas should serve as the broad basis for the development of specific clinical indicators to measure the quality of nursing care provided to the oncology patient. This report provides suggestions for possible clinical indicators based on the ONS/ANA Standards and the scope of care provided by nursing to oncology patients. This report also discusses problems and issues related to quality assurance in cancer nursing, i.e., (1) the diversity of the patient populations that are cared for by oncology nurses; (2) the lack of research on clinical indicators in oncology nursing practice; and (3) the lack of a national data base on cancer nursing practice to aid in the establishment of "thresholds of acceptable performance." Possible solutions and recommendations for action are given.
Effects of histamine-sensitizing factor and cortisol on lymphocyte adenyl cyclase responses

Abstract Levels of cyclic adenosime monophosphate (cAMP) in lymphocytes are regulated by β-adrenergic agonists and PGE 1 . The effect of these agonists is potentiated by cortisol. Incubation of lymphocytes with histamine-sensitizing factor (HSF) leads to loss of response to epinephrine and PGE 1 . The response can be partially restored by cortisol. Incubation of lymphocytes with β-adrenergic antagonists such as propranolol leads to the loss of β-adrenergic agents but not PGE 1 The inhibition by propranolol is not reversed by cortisol. These results suggest that the action of HSF and Bordetella pertussis vaccine is not mediated through the inhibition of β-adrenergic receptors alone.
Cytochemical Studies of the Effects of Activin on Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone (GnRH) Binding by Pituitary Gonadotropes and Growth Hormone Cells

Activin stimulates the synthesis and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). It inhibits the synthesis and release of growth hormone (GH). It acts on gonadotropes by stimulating the synthesis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptors. To test activin's effects on GnRH target cells, pituitary cells from diestrous or proestrous rats were exposed to media with and without 60 ng/ml activin for 24 hr and stimulated with biotinylated GnRH (Bio-GnRH). The populations were double-labeled for Bio-GnRH and/or luteinizing hormone-beta (LH-beta), FSH-beta, or GH antigens. In both diestrous and proestrous rats, activin stimulated more LH and FSH cells and increased the percentages of GnRH target cells. In diestrous rats, activin stimulated increases in the average area and density of Bio-GnRH label on target cells. In addition, more FSH, LH, and GH cells bound Bio-GnRH. The increment in binding by gonadotropes was not as great as that normally seen from diestrus to proestrus, suggesting that additional factors (such as estradiol) may be needed. These data suggest that activin plays an important role in the augmentation of Bio-GnRH target cells normally seen before ovulation. Its actions on GH cells may reflect a role in the transitory change from a somatotrope to a somatogonadotrope that is seen from diestrus to proestrus.
Characterization of functional melanotropin receptors in lacrimal glands of the rat.

The specific melanotropin (MSH) binding sites of rat lacrimal glands were characterized with respect to anatomic distribution, peptide specificity and selectivity, and coupling to a biological response. Tissue distribution of MSH binding sites was determined by autoradiography following in situ binding of a radiolabeled, biologically active preparation of a superpotent alpha-MSH analog, [125I]-[Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH ([125I]-NDP-MSH). Intense, specific (i.e., alpha-MSH-displaceable) [125I]-NDP-MSH binding was observed throughout lacrimal acinar tissue, but not in ducts or stroma. In freshly isolated lacrimal acinar cells, specific binding of [125I]-NDP-MSH was maximal within 30 min and rapidly reversible, with a dissociation half-time of about 15 min. A number of melanotropins [alpha-MSH, [N,O-diacetyl-Ser1]-alpha-MSH, [des-acetyl-Ser1]-alpha-MSH, beta-MSH, ACTH(1-24) and ACTH(1-39)] were recognized by these binding sites, as assessed by their inhibition of [125I]-NDP-MSH binding; NDP-MSH was the most potent (IC50 = 1.3 x 10(-9) M). In contrast, other peptides, including ACTH(4-10) and the nonmelanotropic peptides VIP, substance P, somatostatin, and ACTH(18-39) (CLIP), had no effects on tracer binding. In isolated lacrimal acinar cells, alpha-MSH and NDP-MSH stimulated intracellular cyclic AMP accumulation. We conclude that lacrimal acinar cells express functional receptors recognizing melanotropins, suggesting that the lacrimal gland may be a target for physiological regulation by endogenous melanotropins.
Chemical cleavage of fusion proteins for high-level production of transmembrane peptides and protein domains containing conserved methionines.

Abstract Due to their high hydrophobicity, it is a challenge to obtain high yields of transmembrane peptides for structural and functional characterization. In the present work, a robust method is developed for the expression, purification and reconstitution of transmembrane peptides, especially for those containing conserved methionines. By using a truncated and mutated glutathione-S-transferase construct as the carrier protein and hydroxylamine (which specifically cleaves the peptide bond between Asn and Gly) as the cleavage reagent, 10 mg of the first transmembrane helix of CorA, a Mg2+ transporter from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, can be conveniently obtained with high purity from 1 L of M9 minimal media under optimized conditions. The biophysical properties of the peptide were studied by circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the results show that this CorA peptide is well folded in detergent micelles and the secondary structure is very similar to that in recent crystal structures. In addition, this CorA construct is oligomeric in perfluoro-octanoic acid micelles. The compatibility with the transmembrane peptides containing conserved methionines, the high yield and the simple process make the present method competitive with other commonly used methods to produce such peptides for structural and functional studies.
Health Promotion, Health Locus of Control, and Health Behavior: Two Field Experiments1

In spite of a sizable body of research on the effects of information promotions on health knowledge and health behavior, relatively little is known about how such efforts affect change (or why they do not). This paper addresses that problem by exploring the particular role that health locus of control (HLC) beliefs play in individual responses to health promotion efforts aimed at encouraging preventive health behaviors. Two field experiments are presented. The first experiment examined the extent to which HLC beliefs are related to differences in individual levels of health knowledge following the distribution of an informational booklet on health. Internals high on health value who received the information booklet demonstrated greater health knowledge three months later than did other subjects, although this difference was greater among men than among women. The second experiment explored how HLC beliefs interact with differently framed “control” messages to promote behavior change in breast self-examination (BSE). HLC beliefs interacted with the control language of the BSE promotional message and a neutral reminder to affect subsequent BSE practice. Together, these studies suggest a more influential role for health locus of control beliefs in shaping responses to health messages than has previously been documented in field settings.
Effect of particle mobility on aggregate structure formation in asphalt mixtures

During compaction of asphalt mixtures, aggregate structure starts building up by proximity and direct contact of aggregates. In the previous studies, it has been shown that the aggregate structure directly affects the service performance. However, the mechanisms of the aggregate structure formation are not clearly understood. This study is focused on the mechanisms affecting aggregate mobility during compaction and the effect of material properties on the aggregate structure formation. At the initial stages of compaction, there is a relatively thick layer of mastic (i.e. mix of binder and filler) between aggregates, which allows for a shearing mobility in the mix, if the mastic viscosity is sufficiently low. However, as compaction proceeds, the mastic layer at proximity zone of aggregates becomes thinner due to high stress intensity and the higher viscosity of thin mastic film or the aggregates dry contact effect increases the shearing resistance against compaction (i.e. mix becomes locked). In this study...
Paring MiRNAs Through Pairing

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) repress gene expression by forming base pairs with specific sequences in protein-coding messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The degree of complementarity between a miRNA and its target mRNA determines the mechanism of posttranscriptional regulation ( 1 ). Nearly perfect pairing induces cleavage of the target mRNA, whereas partial pairing results in translational repression and mRNA decay through deadenylation pathways. On pages 1534 and 1563 of this issue, Ameres et al. ( 2 ) and Cazalla et al. ( 3 ) reveal that, surprisingly, the extent of base-pairing also affects stability of the miRNA itself.
Engineering for the Customer: Combining Preference and Physical System Models. Part II—Application

SUMMARY This paper describes an application of a methodology to engineer for customer preference. The methodology is illustrated with an example from automobile door design. Customer preference for solidness of closing-sound is addressed. A model is developed to quantify closing-sound preference, and also the preference for closing-sound/cost trade-off. The model also links customer preference to specific system responses, allowing the designer to address these physical responses. An improved door design is suggested and compared to the current design. The preferred design is selected based on customer preference. The customer preference model was developed using a jury representing customers. A number quantifying preference for closing-sound was assigned to several doors. These doors were then measured for closing-sound pressure time-history. Several factors in the time histories were quantified, and the preference value was regressed on them. A strong correlation was found with one factor, high frequenc...
Development and pathologies of the arterial wall

Arteries consist of an inner single layer of endothelial cells surrounded by layers of smooth muscle and an outer adventitia. The majority of vascular developmental studies focus on the construction of endothelial networks through the process of angiogenesis. Although many devastating vascular diseases involve abnormalities in components of the smooth muscle and adventitia (i.e., the vascular wall), the morphogenesis of these layers has received relatively less attention. Here, we briefly review key elements underlying endothelial layer formation and then focus on vascular wall development, specifically on smooth muscle cell origins and differentiation, patterning of the vascular wall, and the role of extracellular matrix and adventitial progenitor cells. Finally, we discuss select human diseases characterized by marked vascular wall abnormalities. We propose that continuing to apply approaches from developmental biology to the study of vascular disease will stimulate important advancements in elucidating disease mechanism and devising novel therapeutic strategies.
Serving Patients Who May Die Soon and Their Families The Role of Hospice and Other Services

The case story of a 47-year-old man with advanced rectal carcinoma illustrates the professional services and care system strategies available to help clinicians serve patients coming to the end of life. For this patient, who understands his prognosis, primary care physician services include (1) prevention and relief of symptoms, (2) assessment of each treatment before and during implementation, (3) ensuring that the patient designates a surrogate decision-maker and makes advance plans, and (4) preparation of patient and family for the time near death. Good care may entail enduring unavoidably difficult times with patients and their families.Enrollment in a hospice program requires that decision-makers confront the prognosis and their uncertainties about it, consider the desirability of other services, recognize variations among available hospice programs, address financial issues, and weigh the distress of patients and loved ones at being labeled as "dying." Hospice provides competent, continuous, and reasonably comprehensive care, but it has some constraints.Function and symptoms for those living with serious chronic illness at the end of life generally follow 1 of 3 trajectories: (a) a short period of obvious decline at the end, which is typical of cancer; (b) long-term disability, with periodic exacerbations, and unpredictable timing of death, which characterizes dying with chronic organ system failures; or (c) self-care deficits and a slowly dwindling course to death, which usually results from frailty or dementia. Effective and reliable care for persons coming to the end of life will require changes in the organization and financing of care to match these trajectories, as well as compassionate and skillful clinicians.
Application of Scattered Data Approximation to a Rotorcraft Health Monitoring Problem

An adaptive and matrix–free scheme has been developed for interpolating and approximating sparse multi–dimensional scattered data and has been applied to a timeseries problem in rotorcraft. The Sequential Function Approximation (SFA) method is based on a sequential Galerkin approach to artificial neural networks and requires neither ad–hoc parameters for the user to tune, nor rescaling of the inputs. It is linear in storage with respect to the number of samples. The SFA method has been used to model and extrapolate the time series data from a critical temperature sensor in a 1/4 scale model of the V-22 Osprey. The SFA regression model, constructed with radial basis functions, has also been used satisfactorily to evaluate the sensitivity to 74 system health and safety–of–flight parameters during a series of wind–tunnel tests. An upper bound on the error convergence rate that is exponential and does not explicitly depend on the dimensionality of the approximation was derived and confirmed for the time series data.
Use of gracilis musculocutaneous flap in urologic cancer surgery

Abstract The recently increased use of musculocutaneous flaps has revolutionized plastic surgery. The gracilis musculocutaneous flap, complete with its own blood and nerve supply, can be rotated on its vascular pedicle to close safely defects in the lower pelvis. This flap can be especially useful for patients with urogenital cancer when surgery, irradiation, or chemotherapy creates a wound too large for primary closure.
The crystal structure of the complex of triphenylarsine oxide with tetrachlorocatechol; an adduct stabilized by chelating hydrogen bonds

The 1/1 triphenylarsine oxide adduct of tetrachlorocatechol crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with a =15.07±0.02, b =18.82±0.03, and c =16.53±0.02A. An observed density of 1.58g/cm 3 and calculated density of 1.62g/cm 3 indicated the presence of 8 molecules per unit cell. 1219 reflections above background were collected with Cu-Kα radiation using a manual diffractometer of Weissenberg geometry. The structure was solved by Patterson and Fourier techniques and refined by least squares methods (As, O, Cl anisotropic; C, H isotropic) to a conventional R of 0.070 and a weighted R of 0.041. The structure consists of triphenylarsine oxide and tetrachlorocatechol moieties hydrogen bonded together to give discrete monomeric adducts. The arsine oxide oxygen (O As ) is hydrogen bonded symmetrically to the two OH groups of the catechol with an O-O As -O angle of 65.4(4)° and O As -O distances averaging 2.616(11)A. The dimensions of the triphenylarsine oxide and tetrachlorocatechol are equivalent to those observed in other similar compounds except that the configuration of the phenyl rings with respect to the As-O bond is quite distorted. This distortion results from the alternate packing of approximately parallel phenyl and catechol rings along the a axis.
A novel junior transition course for students of applied information technology

An overview of a new junior transition course offered to undergraduate students in the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology program at George Mason University is presented. The course was offered for the first time in the fall 2010 semester and integrated into the curriculum as a core requirement with the main objective of guiding students to make informed decisions when choosing an area of focus within the program that best suits their interest and abilities. Other aspects of the course include providing general information on the program, ensuring that students get the proper advising that they need, bringing awareness to the career paths that are available within each concentration area, informing students of the options they have available for completing minors, second majors as well as graduate studies. Other important issues such as insights into the senior design project experience, certifications, and school resources are also discussed. The course thus far has been offered both in a classroom setting as well as a virtual environment through the distance education initiative of the school. Results from two semesters of teaching the course across three sections indicate positive outcomes and encouraging results with more favorable effects achieved in the classroom setting.
Exploring evidence of reflective thinking in student artifacts of blogging-mapping tool: a design-based research approach

Reflective learning can assist a learner’s purposeful and conscious manipulation of ideas toward meaningful learning and knowledge integration. Blogs have been used to support reflection, but Blogs usually do not provide overt mechanisms for students to make connections between different parts of an experience, which is integral to reflective activity. A blogging-mapping tool was designed to support the reflective learning process. The tool allowed students to write blog posts, attach up to five keywords to each post, and link the keywords on a concept map. This study aimed to seek patterns of participants’ use of the tool, including evidence of reflective learning, identified as integration between concept maps and blogs. Nine graduate students participated in the study for a semester. Data analysis included examining concept maps for knowledge integration over time. Participants’ various mapping activities implied different levels of thinking. Some participants’ final concept maps showed signs that they tried to integrate knowledge around the content area. Yet, the inconsistent and inconclusive patterns of participants’ concept mapping activities signaled that more strategies were needed to sustain their commitment.
The effect of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine on cultured dog gallbladder epithelial cells.

Normal dog gallbladder epithelial cells in long-term culture were used as a model to study the morphologic, genetic, and secretory processes associated with the progression to cancer formation. Dog gallbladder epithelial cells cultured on collagen-coated plates grew into polarized monolayers, could be passaged repeatedly, and showed the typical morphological profile of well-differentiated columnar epithelial cells. After cells were exposed to N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) at 10-5 mol/L for 48 hours, the treated cells grew on plastic and could be cloned. Flow cytometry revealed emergence of an aneuploid cell subpopulation. In organotypic culture, treated cells showed a pseudostratified appearance, with cellular and nuclear pleomorphism. Large and hyperchromatic nuclei were present as well as increased mitotic rate. The proteins of MNNG-treated dog gallbladder epithelial cells showed increased phosphorylation of tyrosine residues. Treated cells showed a decrease in mucin secretion in response to prostaglandin E2, manifesting an altered pattern of mucin secretion. Transforming growth factor-β failed to inhibit cell proliferation in the MNNG-treated cells compared with the prominent inhibition in normal cells. Together, the data reflected changes representing preliminary steps on the pathway to develop cancer cells. Our results indicate that carcinogenic chemicals can cause measurable chromosomal and cellular modifications to normal biliary epithelial cells in vitro. This model may be useful in understanding the sequential steps in carcinogenesis and affords an opportunity to study chromosomal damage, cytokinetics, changes in molecular genetic markers, and expression, as well as cell biological function during cellular transformation.
Generation of Primes by a One-Dimensional Real-Time Iterative Array

A construction is given of a one-dimensional iterative of finite-state sequential machines, which can generate in real time the binary sequence representing the set of prime numbers.
Use of a Parent Questionnaire in Emergent and Early Literacy Assessment of Preschool Children

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the use of a parent questionnaire in the assessment of emergent and early literacy skills of preschool children with language impairments (LI) and their typically developing (TD) peers to determine the relationship between parent report and more formal measures of early literacy, as well as to compare home literacy practices of these two groups of children. Method: Preschool children with LI (n = 17) were referred by area school district speech-language pathologists, and age-matched peers (n = 20) were recruited from local preschools. Examiner-administered measures of early literacy included assessment of rhyme, knowledge of environmental print, knowledge of print conventions, and letter-name and letter-sound knowledge, as well as analyses of narrative abilities. The parent questionnaire included 31 closed questions with responses chosen on a 5-point scale that addressed a number of domains of knowledge: phonological awareness, response to print in the ...
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtype mediated bidirectional control of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase

N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) stimulation activates many downstream mechanisms involved in both cell survival and cell death. The manner in which the NMDAR regulates one of these pathways, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) pathway, is currently unknown. In the present study, we have defined a developmental-, concentration-, and time-dependent phosphorylation and subsequent dephosphorylation of p38. In cultured hippocampal neurons 7-8 days in vitro (DIV7-8), NMDAR stimulation leads to a concentration-dependent increase in p38 phosphorylation (phospho-p38). However, in more mature neurons (>DIV17) application of NMDA produces concentration-dependent effects, such that low concentrations result in sustained increases in phospho-p38 levels, and high concentrations dephosphorylate p38 within 5 min. Conantokin G, an antagonist of NR1/2A/2B and NR1/2B receptors, inhibits p38 phosphorylation, while NR1/2B-specific antagonists prevent the rapid dephosphorylation of p38 without affecting p38 activation. Furthermore, inhibition of calcineurin prevents the activation of p38, whereas inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) prevents the rapid dephosphorylation of p38. Our results support the presence of subtype-dependent pathways regulating p38 activation and deactivation: one involves NR1/2A/2B receptors activating calcineurin and resulting in p38 phosphorylation, and the other utilizes NR1/2B receptors binding to and activating PI3K and leading to the dephosphorylation of p38 in a manner involving both NR1/2A/2B receptor activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B. The ability of NMDAR subtype-specific mechanisms to regulate p38 has implications for NMDAR-mediated synaptic plasticity, gene regulation, and excitotoxicity.
Heat Conductivity of Amorphous Solids: Simulation Results on Model Structures

Through numerical simulation and consideration of phonon scattering by two-level states, the heat conductivity κ(T), where T is temperature, has been calculated on model structures. The values obtained are in good quantitative agreement with measured data on polymethylmethacrylate, epoxy, amorphous selenium, and amorphous silicon dioxide over the temperature range 0.1 to 100 K. The calculated results reproduce the plateau feature, in the range of 5 to 20 K, that is generic to the heat conductivity of amorphous solids. Two model parameters, one characterizing the degree of structural disorder and the other related to the relaxational absorption of two-level states, are identified as being responsible for the behavior of κ(T) at T ≥ 5 K. The simulation results indicate the existence of a frequency-independent phonon diffusion regime that is consistent with the minimum phonon mean-free-path hypothesis. The magnitude of the phonon diffusion constant in this regime is shown to give a reasonable quantitative account of high-temperature κ(T) in amorphous systems.
Strain hardening of titanium: role of deformation twinning

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of deformation twinning in the strain-hardening behavior of high purity, polycrystalline α-titanium in a number of different deformation modes. Constant strain rate tests were conducted on this material in simple compression, plane-strain compression and simple shear, and the true stress (σ)-true strain (e) responses were documented. From the measured data, the strain hardening rates were numerically computed, normalized by the shear modulus (G), and plotted against both normalized stress and e. These normalized strain hardening plots exhibited three distinct stages of strain hardening that were similar to those observed in previous studies on low stacking fault energy fcc metals (e.g. 70/30 brass) in which deformation twinning has been known to play an important role. Optical microscopy and Orientation imaging microscopy were conducted on samples deformed to different strain levels in the various deformation paths. It was found that the onset of deformation twinning correlated with a sudden increase in strain hardening rate in compression tests. The falling strain hardening rate correlated with saturation in the twin volume fraction. In shear testing a much lower rate of strain hardening was found, at all strains, and this correlated with a lower density of deformation twinning.
Improvements to algorithms for computing the Minkowski sum of 3-polytopes

A Minkowski sum is a geometric operation that is equivalent either to the vector additions of all points in two operands or to the sweeping of one operand around the profile of the other without changing the relative orientation. Applications of Minkowski sums are found in computer graphics, robotics, spatial planning, and CAD. This paper presents two algorithms for computing Minkowski sum of convex polyhedron in three space (3-polytopes). Both algorithms are improvements on current ones found in the literature. One is based on convex hulls and the other on slope diagrams. The original convex hull based Minkowski algorithm is costly, while the original slope diagram based algorithms require the operation of stereographic projection from 3D to 2D for merging the slope diagrams of the two operands. Implementation of stereographic projection is complicated which increases the computation time and reduces the accuracy of the geometric information that is needed for constructing the resultant solid. This paper reports on improvements that have been made to these two algorithms and their implementation. These improvements include using vector operations to find the interrelations between points, arcs and regions on a unit sphere for the slope diagram algorithm, and addition of a pre-sorting procedure before constructing convex hull for convex hull based Minkowski sum algorithm. With these improvements, the computation time and complexity for both algorithms have been reduced significantly, and the computational accuracy of the slope diagram algorithm has been improved. This paper also compares these two algorithms to each other and to their original counterparts. The potential for extending these algorithms to higher dimensions is briefly discussed.
The Role of Guesswork in Conserving the Threatened Sand Skink

Because we possess little understanding of what constitutes optimal habitat for the threatened sand skink, any individual charged with choosing among habitat fragments to promote recovery of the species will need to employ some guesswork. We examined the relative values of employing two kinds of guesswork, “uneducated guesswork,” from literature descriptions of optimal habitat, and “educated guesswork,” from expert judgments of optimal habitat. The rank order of seven areas of scrub habitat in central Florida based on abundance of the sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) was compared with the rank order of the areas based on literature descriptions and on expert judgments. Ranks of areas based on expert judgments predicted ranks of areas based on sand skink abundance much better than did ranks of areas based on literature descriptions. Our results show, on the one hand, how uneducated guesswork could challenge recovery of the sand skink and, on the other hand, how educated guesswork could support its recovery. Debido a que poseemos muy poca informacion de lo que constituye el habitat optimo de la especie amenazada Neoseps reynoldsi, cualquier individuo encargado de seleccionar entre fragmentos de habitat para promover la recuperacion de la especie debera emplear algunas conjeturas. Examinamos los valores relativos del empleo de dos tipos de conjeturas, la “conjetura no educada” de las descripciones de habitat optimo de la literatura y la “conjetura educada” de la opinion de expertos en habitat optimo. El orden de rangos de siete areas de habitat de matorral en Florida central basados en la abundancia de N. reynoldsi se compararon con los rangos de las areas basadas en las descripciones de la literatura y en base a las opiniones de expertos. Los rangos de areas basadas en la opinion de los expertos predijo rangos de areas en base a la abundancia de la especie mucho mejor que los rangos de area basados en las descripciones de la literatura. Nuestros resultados muestran que por un lado las conjeturas no educadas podrian amenazar la recuperacion de la especie y por otro lado como las conjeturas educadas pueden soportar su recuparacion.
Partial nucleotide sequence of the 300-nucleotide interspersed repeated human DNA sequences

In most eukaryotic genomes, including human, 300-nucleotide repeated DNA sequences are interspersed with longer (∼1,000 nucleotide) single copy sequences1–3. We have recently found that most 300-nucleotide interspersed repeats in human share a common site for cleavage by the restriction enzyme AluI and should be regarded as a single family of sequences4. We designate this as the Alu family of sequences. Similarly, most of the 300-nucleotide inverted repeated sequences, which are also interspersed with single copy DNA, share this same restriction site and belong to the Alu family4. There are approximately 300,000 members of this family of sequences, which together make up at least 3% of the human genome4. It is conceivable that individual members of the Alu family repeats share only very limited regions of homology, one of which happens to contain the restriction site for AluI and others which share the additional restriction sites reported here. In this case, members of the Alu family could be essentially different DNA sequences. DNA renaturation studies support the alternative view that members of the Alu family share extensive homology over the entire sequence length4. According to this view, individual members of the family could exhibit some divergence from the ancestral sequence but all members would be recognised as a closely related group of sequences5. We have distinguished between these alternatives by directly determining the base sequence of a part of the Alu family. This base sequence shows that individual members of the Alu family share a common ancestral nucleotide sequence.
Responses to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in patients with renal failure and after infusion in normal men.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was administered iv to 8 patients with renal failure, 8 normal men, and 5 children. Injection of 1600 μg TRH as a bolus to healthy adults or a smaller dose to children resulted in a normal pattern of TSH release. The prolonged release of TSH which occurred after stat injection of 400 μg TRH to the patients with greatly diminished renal function was similar to that found after a 4-hr infusion of 1600 μg in normal men. In the men receiving the iv infusion, TSH levels began to diminish after 2 hr, despite the continued infusion of TRH for an additional 2 hr. An unexpected increase of hGH was also found in 7 of 8 patients with renal failure after injection of TRH.
Positron Lifetimes of the 2H-TASE2 Crystal as a Function of Temperature

Abstract The positron lifetimes of a 2H-TaSe2 crystal were measured as a function of temperature between 10 and 490 K. Two distinct and constant lifetimes, i.e. 0.130 ± .007 and .378 ± .008 nsec, were found in the temperature range studied. These two lifetimes are thought due to the anisotropy character of the two-dimensional layered structure of the crystal. The applications of the positron annihilation methods to study the charge density wave and related phenomena are discussed.
Morphological instability induced by the interaction of a particle with a solid-liquid interface

We show that the interaction of a particle with a directionally solidified interface induces the onset of morphological instability provided that the particle-interface distance falls below a critical value. This instability occurs at pulling velocities that are below the threshold for the onset of the Mullins-Sekerka instability. The expression for the critical distance reveals that this instability is manifested only for certain combinations of the physical and processing parameters. Its occurence is attributed to the reversal of the thermal gradient in the melt ahead of the interface and behind the particle.
The problem of edge-atom depression on a Cu{410} surface

Abstract Calculations based on our modified point-ion electrostatic model of the multilayer relaxation expected on a stepped Cu{410} surface predict an average edge-atom depression normal to the surface of 0.15 A. This value is in good agreement with the results obtained in another laboratory with ion-scattering experiments yielding 0.18±0.05 A, but disagrees with the results obtained elsewhere with kinematic LEED analysis, which revealed no measurable edge-atom depression.
Human gene/protein synonym dictionary from WikiLinks

Many genes and proteins have alternate names (synonyms) in scientific literature, posing a challenge to effectively organize and exchange information. To address this issue, there have been several initiatives to collate the synonyms into dictionaries. Biothesaurus is an extensive dictionary derived from multiple authoritative sources. Despite its extensive coverage, there are still some synonyms not covered by Biothesaurus. Wikipedia could be a useful source of the missing synonyms, as it has a diverse set of contributors in comparison with authoritative resources, that constitute Biothesaurus. This paper reports a feasibility study of using WikiLinks to find synonyms that are not currently covered by Biothesaurus.Wikipedia pages containing the word gene or protein were included in this study. 121 candidate synonyms were extracted from WikiLinks referencing 7,339 (16%) human genes. This number is significant, given that Biothesaurus has been earlier evaluated to have a coverage of 87%. Hence, WikiLinks were found to be a useful source for collating gene synonyms that are not recorded in authoritative databases. Biothesaurus was evaluated to cover 52% of the extracted candidate synonyms not documented in NCBI. The current study will be extended in scope to cover all genes and to extract synonyms from free text in Wikipedia pages.
Analysis of data assembling activities for radiologists and its implications for clinical acceptance of PACS

This paper discusses the tasks that a Intelligent Diagnostic Radiology Workstation (IDRW) should be able to perform in addition to serving as an image review station. Included in our discussion are the types of data that an IDRW must handle. It is hoped that this discussion will lead to improved, friendlier, and more intelligent workstations which will be accepted by radiologists.
Growth laws for surfactant-coated nanocrystals: Ostwald ripening and size focusing

The growth of surfactant-coated nanocrystals is examined theoretically. A new single-particle growth rate is derived that explicitly models monomer diffusion through the layer of surfactant molecules, different from diffusion through bulk solution. From the single-particle growth rate, new theories for Ostwald ripening and size focusing are developed. Long surfactant molecules can strongly affect the dynamics of both growth regimes, depending on the mobility of monomers through the surfactant layer. It is implied that size focusing of nanocrystals that are coated with a well-chosen surfactant species can (in the maximal limit) be made much more monodisperse than the equivalent nanocrystals that are bare. This new maximal limit of size focusing could permit new optimized syntheses of monodisperse nanocrystals through the choice of appropriate surfactant molecules.
A Model for Convectively Coupled Tropical Waves: Nonlinearity, Rotation, and Comparison with Observations

Abstract Recent observational analysis of both individual realizations and statistical ensembles identifies moist convectively coupled Kelvin waves in the Tropics with supercluster envelopes of convection. This observational analysis elucidates several key features of these waves including their propagation speed of roughly 15 m s−1 and many aspects of their dynamical structure. This structure includes anomalously cold temperatures in the lower troposphere and warm temperatures in the upper troposphere (below 250 hPa) within and sometimes leading the heating region and strong updrafts in the wave, and an upward and westward tilting structure with height below roughly 250 hPa. Other key features in the wave are that anomalous increases in convective available potential energy (CAPE) and surface precipitation lead the wave while the trailing part of the supercluster is dominated by stratiform precipitation. The main result in this paper is the development of a simple model convective parameterization with n...
Effect of resistance exercises on function in older adults with osteoporosis or osteopenia: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To examine the effect of resistance exercises on self-reported physical function and activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults with osteoporosis or osteopenia. Methods: A search of available literature was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PEDro, ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Studies were included if they involved (1) randomized controlled trials; (2) participants with osteoporosis or osteopenia; (3) resistance exercise as an intervention; and (4) self-report of physical function or ADL. Articles were independently reviewed for quality by two authors using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Cohen's d effect size was calculated by dividing standardized mean differences by the standard deviation to determine treatment effect in terms of physical function or ADL. Results: Five full-text articles were selected for inclusion. PEDro scores ranged from 5 to 7 (out of 10). Effect size mean differences as a re...
In Situ Tem Study of Reactions in Iron/amorphous Carbon Layered Thin Films

Reactions between Fe and amorphous carbon (a-C) below 600oC have been investigated. In situ annealing in a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed on a-C/Fe/a-C trilayer films deposited by DC sputtering. As-deposited films showed a well defined tri-layered structure and an average Fe grain size of about 50A. Cementite (Fe3C) grains appeared in the Fe layer by annealing around 300oC. As the annealing temperature was raised, the number and size of the cementite grains increased. When the annealing temperature reached 500oC, the Fe layer completely turned into cementite with an average grain size of 1000A. At this point the film still kept a well defined tri-layered structure even though some parts of the cementitelayer agglomerated. Above 500oC, the cementite layer started to “move” into the a-C leaving graphite behind. Graphite formed in this process is strongly textured with the (0002) graphite basal planes parallel to the surface of the moving cementite. This process is concluded to be carbide mediated crystallization of a-C, similar to silicide mediated crystallization of silicon in Ni-Si and Pd-Si systems.
PKC and PKA inhibitors reverse tolerance to morphine-induced hypothermia and supraspinal analgesia in mice

Morphine antinociceptive tolerance in the tail-flick test is completely reversed by inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) or cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). The effects of these inhibitors on tolerance to supraspinally mediated antinociception, such as the hot-plate test was unknown, as well as their effects in tests of mechanical nociception. The PKC inhibitors bisinolylmaleimide I ((2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-maleimide) and Go-7874 {2[1[(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-5-methozyindol-3-yl]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl) hydrochloride} completely reversed the tolerance to morphine in both the hot-plate and tail-pinch tests. Similarly, the PKA inhibitor KT-5720 (8R, 9S, 11S)-(−)-9-hydroxy-9-hexoxycarbonyl-8-methyl-2,3,9,10-tetrahydro-8,11-epoxy-1H,8H,11H-2,7b,11a-triazadibenzo[a,g]cycloocta[cde]trinden-1-one also reversed tolerance in both tests. The role of PKC and PKA in mediating tolerance to morphine-induced hypothermia was also investigated. Bisinolylmaleimide I, Go-7874 and KT-5720 only partly reversed the 32-fold level of tolerance induced by the morphine pellets. However, co-administration of bisinolylmaleimide I with KT-5720 or Go-7874 with KT-5720 completely reversed the tolerance. This demonstrates that tolerance in a non-behavioral system involves the actions of PKC and PKA.
A narrow band high-resolution synthesizer using a direct digital synthesizer followed by repeated dividing and mixing

A synthesizer is described that generates a narrow band of frequencies around 10 MHz with extremely small step size and high spectral purity. A DDS running at 667 kHz is upconverted to 10.667 MHz and divided back to 667 kHz several times to improve the resolution and spurious suppression of the DDS. The final 10.667 MHz offset frequency is then mixed with 667 kHz resulting in a 10 MHz output. The post mixer filtering is done with inexpensive 10.7 MHz ceramic filters of the type used in FM broadcast receivers.
Insect olfactory neurons in vitro: morphological and physiological characterization of cells from the developing antennal lobes of Manduca sexta

To facilitate studies of the development and membrane biophysics of cells in the central olfactory pathway of the moth Manduca sexta, we have dissociated neurons and glial cells from the antennal lobes (ALs) and cultivated them in the controlled environment of tissue culture. Cultures produced from cells of the lateral group of AL neurons alone are enriched in local interneurons (LNs), while cultures made from cells of the median and anterior groups of AL neurons contain projection neurons (PNs) but lack LNs. Cultures containing only PNs, but not cultures with both PNs and LNs, require a conditioning factor derived from a conspecific cell line in order to ensure survival. Under these conditions, we identify 5 types of cells in the “PN-only” cultures that are consistently observed and distinguishable on the basis of their morphology and characteristic whole-cell current profiles. In cultures that contain both PNs and LNs, we find 3 additional types of cells with neuronlike appearance. Whereas the PNs have whole-cell currents that suggest a neuronal phenotype, we have not yet observed similar currents in the 3 other types of cells. We tentatively identify the latter 3 cell types as LNs whose development has been arrested. The conditioning factor also has a trophic effect on phase-dark, multipolar cells that are observed in freshly dispersed cultures. Their morphology and whole-cell currents lead us to suggest that they are glial cells.
Estimation of modulation based on FM-to-AM transduction: two-sinusoid case

A method is described for estimating the amplitude modulation (AM) and the frequency modulation (FM) of the components of a signal that consists of two AM-FM sinusoids. The approach is based on the transduction of FM to AM that occurs whenever a signal of varying frequency passes through a filter with a nonflat frequency response. The objective is to separate the AM and FM of the sinusoids from the amplitude envelopes of the output of two transduction filters, where the AM and FM are nonlinearly combined in the amplitude envelopes. The current scheme is first refined for AM-FM estimation of a single AM-FM sinusoid by iteratively inverting the AM and FM estimates to reduce error introduced in transduction. The transduction filter pair is designed relying on both a time- and frequency-domain characterization of transduction error. The approach is then extended to the case of two AM-FM sinusoids by essentially reducing the problem to two single-component AM-FM estimation problems. By exploiting the beating in the amplitude envelope of each filter output due to the two-sinusoidal input, a closed-form solution is obtained. This solution is also improved upon by iterative refinement. The AM-FM estimation methods are evaluated through an error analysis and are illustrated for a wide range of AM-FM signals.