cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seasonal variation in the nitrate content of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] solms)

Abstract Water hyacinth was cultured in a flow-through system with constant nutrient availability and 1.4 mg 1−1 NO3-N as the nitrogen source. Tissue nitrate content ranged from 0.05 to 0.21% of dry wt. and accounted for 1.7–6.6% of the total nitrogen in the plant. Highest tissue nitrate levels occurred during the winter period of low plant growth rates and decreased as dry matter productivity increased. In the winter, the nitrate content of water hyacinth exceeded levels considered safe for conventional forage crops used for livestock feed.
Efficacy of Web-Based Personalized Normative Feedback: A Two-Year Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective Web-based brief alcohol interventions have the potential to reach a large number of individuals at low cost; however, few controlled evaluations have been conducted to date. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of gender-specific versus gender-nonspecific personalized normative feedback (PNF) with single versus biannual administration in a 2-year randomized controlled trial targeting a large sample of heavy-drinking college students.
Serial hemodynamics after renal allotransplantation in man.

Serial measurements of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), independent and simultaneous clearances and extractions of para-aminohippurate (PAH), radiohippuran, and iodopyracet (Diodrast) were made in 11 adults and one child who received renal transplants from living donors. Measurements were made within 3 hours and repeated two to four times during the following 14 days. Immediately after transplantation, PAH clearance averaged 385 ml/min (range, 218 to 510), GFR averaged 54 ml/min (range, 22 to 87), renal plasma flow (RPF) averaged 672 ml/min (range, 309 to 1424), and marked vasodilatation was present with an average renal blood flow (RBF) of 979 ml/min (range, 435 to 2,114). As observed in other studies, immediate diuresis and natriuresis but no glycosuria occurred. Extraction ratios for PAH (EPAH) were below normal, ranging from 0.59 to 0.94, and those for 125 (or 131)I-hippuran, and 131I-Diodrast were even lower. Extraction ratio for PAH to radiohippuran averaged 1.43 in 17 simultaneous studies. However...
A note on the step error of some finite-difference schemes used to solve kinematic wave equations

Abstract An analytical treatment is developed for the step error of some finite-difference schemes that are frequently used to solve the kinematic wave equations. It is shown that for convergent and stable schemes, the production of step error of one scheme may not be the same as that of another. This distinction must be considered in choosing between the schemes. Knowledge of step error is a useful parameter to estimate apriori the step length to be used in a given scheme.
In depth analysis of opposite channel based charge injection in SOI MOSFETs and related defect creation and annihilation

Abstract Extensive PISCES simulations, incorporating non-local effects are carried out to obtain an in-depth understanding of the recently observed opposite channel based charge injection in SOI MOSFETs [1]. This charge injection is then combined with basic transistor characteristics and charge pumping current measurements to study the hot carrier degradation mechanisms in a variety of SOI MOSFET's, and clarify the separate roles played by hot electrons and holes in the degradation. It is also used as the basis for the design of a new, SOI based flash memory cell.
Endocardial mapping during sinus rhythm in patients with coronary artery disease and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia

Programmed stimulation in patients with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and coronary artery disease (CAD) induces sustained VT in 30 to 50% of patients. The presence of inducible, sustained VT identifies patients at high risk for sudden death. This study sought to determine whether patients with nonsustained VT who have inducible, sustained VT would have differences of left ventricular endocardial activation and conduction compared with those of patients without inducible, sustained VT. Thirty-six patients with CAD referred for evaluation of nonsustained VT underwent programmed ventricular stimulation and catheter mapping of left ventricular endocardial activation. Using previously validated methods, electrograms were classified as normal, abnormal or fractionated based on measurement of local electrogram duration and amplitude. Programmed stimulation induced sustained, uniform VT in 16 of 36 patients (44%). Patients with inducible, sustained, uniform VT had significantly more sites with abnormal (48%) and fractionated (5.5%) electrograms than did those without inducible VT (35% abnormal and 0.4% fractionated; p = 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). Patients with inducible VT had a mean of 15% of mapped sites displaying late electrograms versus only 3% in those without inducible VT (p < 0.01). The duration of the longest local electrogram in patients with inducible, sustained, uniform VT was 128 ms compared with 100 ms in those without inducible VT (p < 0.001). Thus, patients with CAD presenting with nonsustained VT who have inducible, sustained, uniform VT have significantly greater degrees of local conduction slowing and delayed activation than do those without inducible, sustained, uniform VT. These observations support reentry as the mechanism of the induced arrhythmias in these patients.
Critical role of lipid composition in membrane permeabilization by rabbit neutrophil defensins

We have examined the interactions of the six known rabbit neutrophil defensin antimicrobial peptides with large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) made from various lipid mixtures based on the lipid composition of Escherichia coli membranes. We find that the permeabilization of LUV made from E. coli whole lipid extracts differs dramatically from that of single-component LUV made from palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG). Specifically, defensins NP-1, NP-2, NP-3A, NP-3B, and a natural mixture of the six defensins cause fast nonpreferential leakage of high molecular weight dextrans as well as the low molecular weight fluorophore/quencher pair 8-aminonapthalene-1,3,6 trisulfonic acid (ANTS)/p-xylene-bis-pyridinium bromide (DPX) from E. coli whole lipid LUV through large, transient membrane lesions. In contrast, release of ANTS/DPX from POPG LUV induced by the defensins is slow and graded with preference for DPX (Hristova, K., Selsted, M. E., and White, S. H. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 11888-11894). Interestingly, defensins NP-4 and NP-5 alone do not induce leakage from E. coli whole lipid LUV, whereas only NP-4 is ineffective with POPG LUV. Examination of the sequences of the six defensins suggests that the inactivity of NP-4 and NP-5 may be due to their lower net positive charge and/or the substitution of a Thr for the Arg or Lys that follows the fourth Cys residue. We found the presence of three major lipid components of E. coli whole lipid to be essential for creation of the large lesions observed in LUV: phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and cardiolipin. Cardiolipin appears to play a key role because no leakage can be induced when only phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine are present. These results indicate the importance of membrane lipid composition in the permeabilization of cell membranes by rabbit defensins.
"Translating the Untranslatable": A Note on "The Mystic Trumpeter"

Commends Whitman's achievement in his 1872 poem "The Mystic Trumpeter," published in As a Strong Bird on Pinions Free, and argues that the poem "extends Whitman's exploration and celebration of the 'eternal play' of Man."
Fit Between Strategy and IS Specialization: A Framework for Effective Choice and Customization of Information System Application Modules

As organizations implement enterprise systems, the issues of whether to "build or buy" new IT modules, and if buying, how much to customize, continue to be key concerns. In this article, we develop a framework in order to better understand effective information system module choice and customization from a strategy perspective. Analysis of the strategic importance of the IS module can provide general guidance for the amount of specialization that is appropriate. To illustrate these ideas we apply them to four case examples.
INN: an Intelligent Negotiating Neural Network for information systems: a design model

Abstract Research on the use of online catalogs reveals that information retrieval by subject is the most common form, but the least successful. Most problems are attributed to users' search terms, which are either too broad or too specific. We present an Intelligent Negotiating Neural Network (INN) design model for solving this aspect of online catalogs. The network is designed to act as an electronic information specialist capable of learning to negotiate a patron's query and translate it into a true, well formulated statement prior to accessing an online catalog. The network's architecture includes four dimensions: conceptual graphs for queries, inheritance and recognition, knowledge base, and modules. This architecture corresponds to four elements of the traditional query negotiation interview performed by information specialists. These are: query/concept; types of sources/ answer-providing tools; types of literature; and time frame. Three different sessions of the user interface are presented: negotiation of a broadly stated query; negotiation of a narrowly stated query; and negotiation of a query for which concepts are nonexistent in the knowledge base.
Characterization of messenger RNA by direct translation from agarose gels

A method for characterizing nanogram quantities of poly(A)-containing messenger RNAs that have been fractionated according to size by electrophoresis through agarose gels has been developed. The mRNAs from Friend leukemia cells were identified by the protein products they encode, as determined by slicing the agarose gel and directly translating the enclosed mRNA with an extract from rabbit reticulocytes that had been treated with micrococcal nuclease. A number of parameters which affect the efficiency of translation in this system have been examined. These include the sensitivity of the in vitro translational system to RNA, the agarose concentration, the incubation temperature, and the addition of either exogeneous tRNA or RNasin. The procedure is rapid, simple, reproducible, and applicable for the fractionation and characterization of mRNAs from any source.
A Ca-dependent Cl− conductance in cultured mouse spinal neurones

Long-lasting conductance changes triggered either by brief (millisecond) electrical stimuli and/or entry of calcium ions have been observed in a variety of excitable tissues1–4. The electrical consequences of these events depend on the ion conductance affected and on the ion concentration gradient across the membrane, while the long-lasting nature of the change sustains the cell at either sub- or supra-threshold levels for activation of regenerative action potentials. We report here that many cultured mouse spinal neurones exhibit a voltage-activated chloride conductance that lasts for seconds and is dependent on extracellular calcium, [Ca2+]0. This conductance may repolarize and stabilize the cell at a level subthreshold for generating action potentials, thus complementing the functional roles of Ca-dependent K+ conductances5–8.
Use of orthogonal collocation methods for the modeling of catalyst particles—I. Analysis of the multiplicity of the solutions

Abstract Different collocation methods are compared in their ability to predict the effectiveness factor for the general case of a catalyst particle with both internal and external resistance to mass and heat transfer. The accuracy of the methods in determining the bifurcation points which separate regions of uniqueness and multiplicity of the steady states is tested. First order orthogonal collocation and the linearization method, shown to be almost equivalent for all cases, give poor approximations. Even high order orthogonal collocation is sometimes inaccurate in predicting the low concentration steady states. An excellent alternative is a variation of the Paterson—Cresswell technique which is a combination of the low and high reactivity models. This modified technique is able to predict the existence of five steady states first demonstrated by Hatfield and Airs.
Irritable pouch syndrome: a new category of diagnosis for symptomatic patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

OBJECTIVE: Pouchitis often is diagnosed based on symptoms alone. However, increased stool frequency, urgency, and abdominal pain could be due to a condition resembling irritable bowel syndrome. This study was designed to assess the etiology of bowel symptoms using the Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI). METHODS: Symptoms, endoscopy, and histology were assessed in 61 consecutive symptomatic patients with ulcerative colitis after ileal pouch–anal anastomosis. Pouchitis was defined as a PDAI score of 7, cuffitis was defined as endoscopic and histological inflammation of the rectal cuff and no inflammation of the pouch, and irritable pouch syndrome (IPS) was defined as symptoms with a PDAI of 7 and the absence of cuffitis. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (50.8%) had pouchitis, four (6.5%) had cuffitis, and 26 (42.6%) had IPS. Demographics were similar in the three groups. Increased stool frequency, urgency, and abdominal cramps were the most common symptoms in the three groups. Rectal bleeding was seen only in cuffitis ( p 0.001). No patient in the three groups had fever. Twenty-seven patients (87.1%) with pouchitis responded to a 2-wk course of ciprofloxacin or metronidazole with a reduction in PDAI scores of 3. All four patients with cuffitis responded to topical hydrocortisone or mesalamine with a reduction in the PDAI symptom component score of 1. Twelve patients with IPS (46.2%) responded to antidiarrheal, anticholinergic, and/or antidepressant therapies with a reduction in the PDAI symptom component score of 1, whereas the remaining patients had persistent symptoms despite therapy. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of symptomatic patients after ileal pouch–anal anastomosis do not meet the diagnostic criteria for either pouchitis or cuffitis and have been classified as having IPS. There is an overlap of symptoms among patients with pouchitis, cuffitis, and IPS, and endoscopic evaluation can differentiate among these groups. Distinction between these three groups has therapeutic implications. (Am J Gastroenterol 2002;97:972–977. © 2002 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology)
SLC6A4 methylation modifies the effect of the number of traumatic events on risk for posttraumatic stress disorder

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and debilitating mental disorder that occurs following exposure to a traumatic event. However, most individuals do not develop PTSD following even a severe trauma, leading to a search for new variables, such as genetic and other molecular variation, associated with vulnerability and resilience in the face of trauma exposure. Method: We examined whether serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) promoter genotype and methylation status modified the association between number of traumatic events experienced and PTSD in a subset of 100 individuals from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study. Results: Number of traumatic events was strongly associated with risk of PTSD. Neither SLC6A4 genotype nor methylation status was associated with PTSD in main effects models. However, SLC6A4 methylation levels modified the effect of the number of traumatic events on PTSD after controlling for SLC6A4 genotype. Persons with more traumatic events were at increased risk for PTSD, but only at lower methylation levels. At higher methylation levels, individuals with more traumatic events were protected from this disorder. This interaction was observed whether the outcome was PTSD diagnosis, symptom severity, or number of symptoms. Conclusions: Gene-specific methylation patterns may offer potential molecular signatures of increased risk for and resilience to PTSD. Depression and Anxiety 28:639–647, 2011. r 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The conformation of angiotensin II in solution. III. An analysis of Gd3+-induced perturbations of the 1H nmr spectrum☆

Abstract The interactions of human angiotensin II (Asp-Arg-Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe) with Eu 3+ , La 3+ , and Gd 3+ are monitored in H 2 O and D 2 O by 1 H nmr. The peptide forms 1:1 complexes with the trivalent lanthanide ions in which the carboxyl groups of Asp-1 and Phe-8 form the metal binding site. Addition of La 3+ induces no significant perturbations in the C α H-NH coupling constants or chemical shifts of the low field resonances of the peptide, indicating that the conformation of the interior residues of the peptide backbone is unchanged upon metal complexation. The addition of Gd 3+ induces differential line-broadening of the resonances of the angiotensin II spectrum. These perturbations are discussed qualitatively in terms of the relative distance of each residue from the metal-binding site, and calculations are performed to estimate the absolute metal-proton distances for six of the hydrogens in the hormone (the NH's of Val-2, Tyr-4, Ile-5, His-6, and Phe-8, and the C2-H of the His-6 imidazole). Various literature models for the conformation of the hormone is aqueous solution are discussed in terms of their consistency with these distances.
ON THE ORIGINS OF THE MELLAH OF MARRAKESH

In the summer of 1555, by writ of Papal Bull, the ghetto of Rome came into being. Within less than half a decade, across the Mediterranean at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains, the Jews of Marrakesh met a fate not unlike that of their Italian co-religionists when they, too, were transferred to their own “city within a city.” Located where the Moroccan sultan's stables had previously stood, the new walled Jewish quarter of Marrakesh was in fact the second of its kind in Morocco, and like its predecessor in Fez it was called a mellah, 2 a name that originally referred to the salty marsh area to which the Jews of the northern Moroccan capital had been transferred. The Roman ghetto had similarly appropriated its name from its predecessor, the Venetian foundry (getto or ghetto) where a policy of Jewish confinement was first put into official practice in Italy. The terms continued to follow parallel trajectories, moreover, with ghetto and mellah each coming to describe the generic Jewish quarter within its respective environment.
A volumetric determination of arsenic and antimony in mixed manganese arsenide, antimonide and phosphide compounds

Abstract A procedure is described for the titrimetric determination, of arsenic and antimony without separation. Total combined arsenic and antimony were determined by reduction with tin(II) chloride and titration with permanganate; antimony is found by selective reduction with mercury(I) chloride and titration with permanganate. A precision of 0.1–0.2% was obtained for total combined arsenic and antimony, and approximately 1% for antimony alone (small amounts in the presence of large amounts of arsenic). The procedure was developed for and applied to the analysis of synthesized compounds of the type MnAs 1-x P x and MnAs 1-y Sb y .
Diabetes-Enhanced Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Production Promotes Apoptosis and the Loss of Retinal Microvascular Cells in Type 1 and Type 2 Models of Diabetic Retinopathy

Retinal microvascular cell loss plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. To examine this further, type 1 streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and type 2 Zucker diabetic fatty rats were treated by intravitreal injection of the tumor necrosis factor-specific inhibitor pegsunercept, and the impact was measured by analysis of retinal trypsin digests. For type 2 diabetic rats, the number of endothelial cells and pericytes positive for diabetes-enhanced activated caspase-3 decreased by 81% and 86%, respectively, when treated with pegsunercept (P < 0.05). Similarly, the number of diabetes-enhanced terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling-positive endothelial cells and pericytes decreased by 81% and 67% respectively when treated with pegsunercept (P < 0.05). Diabetes-increased activated caspase-3- and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling-positive microvascular cell numbers were both reduced by 81% and 80%, respectively, in pegsunercept-treated type 1 diabetic rats (P < 0.05). Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor reduced type 1 diabetes-enhanced pericyte ghost formation by 87% and the number of type 2 diabetes-enhanced pericyte ghosts by 62% (P < 0.05). Similarly, increased acellular capillary formation caused by type 1 and type 2 diabetes was reduced by 68% and 67%, respectively, when treated with pegsunercept (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate a previously unrecognized role of tumor necrosis factor-α in promoting the early pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy leading to loss of retinal microvascular cells and demonstrate the potential therapeutic benefit of modulating its activity.
Characterization of the ultrastructure of the gastrointestinal tract mucosa, stomach contents and liver enzyme activity of the pinfish during development

Carnivorous juveniles ( 80 mm L S ) had numerous gastric glands. Two cell types were identified in the gastric glands of larger fish: mucous secreting cells and secretory cells which had ultrastructure features typical of digestive enzymes and acid secretion. Lipid absorption occurred throughout the caeca and intestine in all sizes of fish. Microvilli found on the rectal epithelial cells of the intermediate and adult pinfish occurred on stalks and were possibly associated with water reabsorption. Liver enzyme activities changed in small fish (26-39 mm L S ) compared to the adult fish. Alanine amino transferase (ALT) and fructose diphosphotase (FDP) activities declined while pyruvate kinase (PK) activities increased significantly. These changes were consistent with a change in diet from a carnivorous (high protein) diet in juveniles to an omnivorous (lower protein) diet determined by stomach content analyses.
Knowledge of the Principles of Oxygen Transport in Solid Cancers Enables Translational Decisions

This lecture will start with a brief overview of causes of tumor hypoxia and end with clinical data, showing that optical spectroscopy holds promise in predicting treatment response from oxygen dependent cancer therapies.
Estimating the Prevalence of Agitation in Community-Dwelling Persons With Alzheimer's Disease

To estimate the prevalence of, and develop norms for, significant agitation in community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the authors applied three different criteria to persons with AD (n=235) and normal elderly control subjects (NEC; n=64). The criteria were used to identify the minimum total score on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) that represents significant or “excessive” agitation and to estimate its prevalence. The “ultraliberal” criterion resulted in 99.1% of persons with AD and 56.6% of NEC being classified as “excessively” disturbed. The “liberal” and “conservative” criteria classified 66.7% and 68.2% of persons with AD, and no NEC, as “excessively” disturbed. The authors conclude that the best estimate of prevalence of excessive agitation in this population is 67.5%, and that individuals with CMAI scores of 0 to 14 probably should not be considered to have excessive agitation.
Simulation of ion temperature gradient turbulence in tokamaks

Results are presented from non-linear gyrokinetic simulations of toroidal ion temperature gradient turbulence and transport. The ion thermal fluxes are found to have an offset linear dependence on the temperature gradient and are significantly lower than gyrofluid or IFS-PPPL model predictions. A new phenomenon of non-linear effective critical gradients larger than the linear instability threshold gradients is observed and is associated with undamped flux surface averaged shear flows. The non-linear gyrokinetic codes have passed extensive tests, including comparison against independent linear calculations, a series of non-linear convergence tests and a comparison between two independent non-linear gyrokinetic codes. The most realistic simulations to date used actual reconstructed equilibria from experiments and a model for dilution by impurity and beam ions. These simulations highlight the importance of both self-generated and external E × B flow shear as well as the need for still more physics to be included.
Topical nitrogen mustard ointment with occlusion for Langerhans' cell histiocytosis of the scalp

BACKGROUND: Topical nitrogen mustard solution has been used as an effective alternative to corticosteroids for the treatment of cutaneous eruptions of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH). When used as an ointment under occlusion, nitrogen mustard may still be effective and possess less risk of unwanted side effects. METHODS: A patient with scalp LCH was treated topically with nitrogen mustard ointment 0.01% under occlusion. RESULTS: The lesions cleared in 3 weeks without irritation. CONCLUSION: Topical nitrogen mustard ointment 0.01% under occlusion is a well-tolerated, non-irritating treatment for scalp LCH.
The experimental aerosol transmission of influenza virus

The threat of a virulent, highly transmissible pandemic virus has motivated an escalating research effort to identify the transmissible genotypes of animal viruses that cross over into the human population (animal–human transmission) and sustain human–human transmission. In addition to the pursuit of the viral genotype, a greater understanding of the host-virus phenotype of infectiousness, transmissibility and susceptibility will be required. This review examines experimental animal transmission of influenza for insights into human influenza transmission. Transmission is viewed as sequential steps that the virus must pass critical thresholds to achieve transmission and ultimately survival in the human host. In particular, a quantitative understanding in animal models of viral replication efficiency, airway viral load, exhaled viral aerosol load, environmental virus survival and host susceptibility will likely yield important insights. Computational modeling will enhance animal model data, as well as guide...
A Regression Discontinuity Test of Strategic Voting and Duverger's Law ∗

This paper uses exogenous variation in electoral rules to test the predictions of strategic voting models and the causal validity of Duverger’s Law. Exploiting a regression discontinuity design in the assignment of single-ballot and dual-ballot (runoff) plurality systems in Brazilian mayoral races, the results indicate that single-ballot plurality rule causes voters to desert third placed candidates and vote for the top two vote getters. The effects are stronger in close elections and cannot be explained by differences in the number of candidates, as well as their party affiliation and observable characteristics.
Bayesian mixture model based clustering of replicated microarray data

Motivation: Identifying patterns of co-expression in microarray data by cluster analysis has been a productive approach to uncovering molecular mechanisms underlying biological processes under investigation. Using experimental replicates can generally improve the precision of the cluster analysis by reducing the experimental variability of measurements. In such situations, Bayesian mixtures allow for an efficient use of information by precisely modeling between-replicates variability. Results: We developed different variants of Bayesian mixture based clustering procedures for clustering gene expression data with experimental replicates. In this approach, the statistical distribution of microarray data is described by a Bayesian mixture model. Clusters of co-expressed genes are created from the posterior distribution of clusterings, which is estimated by a Gibbs sampler. We define infinite and finite Bayesian mixture models with different between-replicates variance structures and investigate their utility by analyzing synthetic and the real-world datasets. Results of our analyses demonstrate that (1) improvements in precision achieved by performing only two experimental replicates can be dramatic when the between-replicates variability is high, (2) precise modeling of intra-gene variability is important for accurate identification of co-expressed genes and (3) the infinite mixture model with the 'elliptical' between-replicates variance structure performed overall better than any other method tested. We also introduce a heuristic modification to the Gibbs sampler based on the 'reverse annealing' principle. This modification effectively overcomes the tendency of the Gibbs sampler to converge to different modes of the posterior distribution when started from different initial positions. Finally, we demonstrate that the Bayesian infinite mixture model with 'elliptical' variance structure is capable of identifying the underlying structure of the data without knowing the 'correct' number of clusters. Availability: The MS Windows™ based program named Gaussian Infinite Mixture Modeling (GIMM) implementing the Gibbs sampler and corresponding C++ code are available at http://homepages.uc.edu/~medvedm/GIMM.htm Supplemental information: http://expression.microslu.washington.edu/expression/kayee/medvedovic2003/medvedovic_bioinf2003.html
Stereospecific inhibition of monoamine uptake transporters by meta-hydroxyephedrine isomers.

Meta-hydroxyephedrine (HED) comprises four stereoisomers consisting of two enantiomeric pairs related to ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. HED is transported into adrenergic neurons and radiolabeled HED has been employed in positron emission tomography (PET) to image adrenergic neurons in vivo. To extend structure-activity analyses of binding sites within monoamine transporters and to determine which stereoisomer displayed the best selectivity for PET imaging applications, we tested the HED compounds for their abilities to inhibit [3H]neurotransmitter uptake into platelets, transfected cells, and chromaffin vesicles. We hypothesized that the HED compounds would be most potent at the norepinephrine transporter (NET) compared to the serotonin or dopamine transporters and that the 1R diastereomers would be more effective than 1S diastereomers. Supporting the hypotheses, all stereoisomers were most potent at the NET and the 1R,2S stereoisomer was the most potent inhibitor overall. However, the 1S,2R isomer may be preferred for PET applications because of better selectivity among the transporters and reduced neuronal recycling.
Understanding of electrically conductive adhesives: formulation, curing and conductivity

Use of Electrically conductive adhesives has been considered an environment friendly interconnection technique, one of the two potential alternatives. Fundamental understanding of conductive adhesives has lagged far behind their commercial utilization. For isotropically conductive adhesives (ICAs), the conductive particles in the adhesives are responsible for the electrical interconnection, while the polymer matrix mainly provides the mechanical interconnection. We have found from our previous studies that there is obvious relationship between the polymerization shrinkage of epoxy curing and the electrical conductivity finally established with the material. In this paper, several epoxy resin based curing systems were used as the matrices for the ICAs. They exhibited different curing peak temperatures, which would enable us to investigate the effects of curing process upon the resultant bulk resistivity of the ICAs. To eliminate the complex effect of lubricants in silver flakes, a spherical silver powder was used as the conductive filler. The experimental results indicated a strong correlation between bulk resistivity and curing temperature or curing kinetics, which could be explained by a proposed mechanism on the establishment of electrical conductivity of ICAs during the curing process.
Corporate Profit and Credit Spread Dynamics

This study examines the dynamic response of credit spread (CS) to corporate profit growth (CP) shock. Using the bivariate VAR model to analyze quarterly data from 1952Q1 to 2012Q4, the results show that credit spread drops immediately following the positive shock to corporate profit growth, and it stays stably low for the horizon of 8 quarters. The Granger causality Wald tests indicate a causal linkage between credit spread and corporate profit growth.
Transient ventricular asystole using adenosine during minimally invasive and open sternotomy coronary artery bypass grafting

Background. The emergence of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting and recent off-pump open sternotomy clinical reports have refocused attention on the technical aspects and outcome of grafting on the beating heart. Methods. To optimize the surgical field we report a method using adenosine for induction of controlled intervals of ventricular asystole to produce a transiently still cardiac field that facilitates anastomotic accuracy. Results. Adenosine was used in 57 patients, 31 included off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (27 by minimally invasive technique, 4 by open sternotomy). In a further 26 patients adenosine pauses were used for suture placement to control anastomotic bleeding after cardiopulmonary bypass. Average adenosine boluses per anastomosis were 9 (6–14), mean dose of adenosine per bolus (mg/kg) was 0.24 (0.15–0.35), mean duration of pause (seconds) was 6 (3–19), and mean time for arterial blood pressure (mean) to return to baseline (seconds) was 35 (13–48). Presence of repolarization arrhythmias was noted in 1 patient. There were no deaths. Two patients had recurrent myocardial ischemia shown on angiography to be the result of technical problems. Conclusions. This report describes our experience with the emerging procedure of minimally invasive coronary operations and off-pump grafting with the adenosine technique. The method also includes mechanical devices and other pharmacological therapy to optimize the surgical field, and the technique has now become a standard component of our off-pump revascularization methods.
Examining e-literacy using telecenters as public spending: The case of Akshaya

The Akshaya project from Kerala has been a much discussed case for the community of practitioners and scholars working on technology and development. A unique feature of the project is its state-wide e-literacy goal in which one member of every household was trained in the telecenters set up under Akshaya. Using a survey of 1750 households in the experimental area of Malappuram and a comparison group of neighbouring Kozhikode, this work investigates the extent of e-literacy and discusses the performance of service delivery using telecenters.
Leptin, diabetes, and the brain

Diabetes is a major worldwide problem. Despite some progress in the development of new antidiabetic agents, the ability to maintain tight glycemic control in order to prevent renal, retinal, and neuropathic complications of diabetes without adverse complications still remains a challenge. Recent evidence suggests, however, that in addition to playing a key role in the regulation of energy homeostasis, the adiposity hormone leptin also plays an important role in the control of glucose metabolism via its actions in the brain. This review examines the role of leptin action in the central nervous system and the mechanisms whereby leptin mediates its effects to regulate glucose metabolism. These findings suggest that defects or dysfunction in leptin signaling may contribute to the etiology of diabetes and raise the possibility that either leptin or downstream targets of leptin may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of diabetes.
American Indian High School Completion in Rural Southeastern Montana

Factors related to dropping out of school are examined among a rural population of American Indians in southeastern Montana. Analyses assess the relative effects of community location, type of school, and student, family, and school variables on dropout behavior. Findings reveal the importance of students' community residence, parental education, and school experiences. The effects of these factors vary by school, however, suggesting that schools create different environments, opportunities, and relationships with specific communities that affect school outcomes. This research suggests the need to examine interactions among schools and Indian students, their families, and communities to understand school dropout patterns.
Experiments and Analysis for a Gust Generator in a Wind Tunnel

An experimental investigation was made of the gust field generated by a rotating slotted cylinder installed in the Duke University low-speed, closed-circuit wind tunnel. The system has a very simple configuration with low cost and can produce a controllable single or multiple harmonic gust wave in the lateral and longitudinal directions. It requires minimal power and torque input. A simplified theoretical aerodynamic model and a design estimation of the lateral and longitudinal gust flowfield is also proposed in this article. The design estimate is based on a two-dimensional dynamic lift coefficient that is given by the theoretical and experimental results. An interfering wake vortex effect is the major disadvantage of this system. Nomenclature C(k) = Theodorsen's function ICleql = magnitude of equivalent lift coefficient for rotating slotted cylinder/airfoil c = airfoil chord d = cylinder diameter dLa = airfoil lift force per span length dLrsc = rotating slotted cylinder lift force per span length e, e = gap between the o.d. of the rotating slotted cylinder and trailing edge of the airfoil, elc H, H = vertical position from tunnel bottom, HIHW Hw = height of the tunnel test section
Review of Progress in Understanding Propagating Brush Discharges

A survey of recent work in modeling propagating brush discharges is provided. Experimental data from various authors are compared to a discharge model in which areas of charged surface are modeled as capacitive cells, and bridges between cells are modeled as spark gaps driven by the tangential electric field between cells. A theory is presented that may help explain the physics of this particular type of discharge. Charge transfer and post-discharge charge distributions are compared between the theory and the experimental data of several authors.
Songs as a medium for embedded reproductive messages

Research shows that sensational news stories as well as popular romance novels often feature themes related to important topics in evolutionary psychology. In the first of four studies described in this paper we examined the song lyrics from three Billboard charts: Country, Pop, and R&B. A content analysis of the lyrics revealed 18 reproductive themes that read like an outline for a course in evolutionary psychology. Approximately 92% of the 174 songs that made it into the Top Ten in 2009 contained one or more reproductive messages, with an average of 10.49 reproductive phrases per song. Although differences in the frequency of different themes between charts were found, further analyses showed that the most popular/bestselling songs contained significantly more reproductive messages. An analysis of the lyrics of opera arias and art songs also revealed evidence for many of the same embedded reproductive messages extending back more than 400 years.
Processing word order variation within a modified ID/LP framework

From a well represented sample of world languages Steele (1078) shows that about 70% of languages exhibit significant word order variation. Only recently has this wide-spread phenomenon been drawing appropriate attention. Perhaps ID/LP (Immediate Dominance and Linear Precedence) framework is the most debated theories in this area. We point out some difficulties in processing standard ID/LP grammar and present a modified version of the grammar. In the modified version, the right hand side of phrase structure rules is treated as a set or partially ordered set. An instance of the framework is implemented.
Intraocular pigmented proliferations in the context of cytologic evaluation.

This article is written to give an overview of the various intraocular pigmented proliferations as it pertains to cytologic evaluation and interpretation. It reviews the various epithelial and melanocytic lesions, their location and the various clinical approaches the ophthalmologist uses to aspirate the lesion. It also reviews the current thinking in the differentiation between Class I and Class II melanomas and how molecular profiling may be necessary in its differentiation which could help stratify those patients whose tumors are refractory to treatment and may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy and eye-sparing surgery. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Capsid Functions of Inactivated Human Picornaviruses and Feline Calicivirus

The exceptional stability of enteric viruses probably resides in their capsids. The capsid functions of inactivated human picornaviruses and feline calicivirus (FCV) were determined. Viruses were inactivated by UV, hypochlorite, high temperature (72°C), and physiological temperature (37°C), all of which are pertinent to transmission via food and water. Poliovirus (PV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) are transmissible via water and food, and FCV is the best available surrogate for the Norwalk-like viruses, which are leading causes of food-borne and waterborne disease in the United States. The capsids of all 37°C-inactivated viruses still protected the viral RNA against RNase, even in the presence of proteinase K, which contrasted with findings with viruses inactivated at 72°C. The loss of ability of the virus to attach to homologous cell receptors was universal, regardless of virus type and inactivation method, except for UV-inactivated HAV, and so virus inactivation was almost always accompanied by the loss of virus attachment. Inactivated HAV and FCV were captured by homologous antibodies. However, inactivated PV type 1 (PV-1) was not captured by homologous antibody and 37°C-inactivated PV-1 was only partially captured. The epitopes on the capsids of HAV and FCV are evidently discrete from the receptor attachment sites, unlike those of PV-1. These findings indicate that the primary target of UV, hypochlorite, and 72°C inactivation is the capsid and that the target of thermal inactivation (37°C versus 72°C) is temperature dependent.
Consequentialism, Non-Archimedean Probabilities, and Lexicographic Expected Utility

Earlier work (Hammond, 1988a, b) on dynamically consistent “consequentialist” behaviour in decision trees was unable to treat zero probability events satisfactorily. Here the rational probability functions considered in Hammond (1992), as well as other non-Archimedean probabilities, are incorporated into decision trees. As before, the consequentialist axioms imply the existence of a preference ordering satisfying independence. In the case of rational probability functions, those axioms, together with continuity and a new refinement assumption, imply the maximization of a somewhat novel lexicographic expected utility preference relation. This is equivalent to maximization of expected utility in the ordering of the relevant non-Archimedean field.
Large-area lithography-free perfect absorbers, color filters, and photodetectors at visible frequencies using ultra-thin silver or amorphous silicon films (Presentation Recording)

Plasmonic materials and metamaterials have been widely utilized to achieve spectral transmission, reflection and absorption filters based on localized or delocalized resonances arising from the interaction of photons with nanoscale patterns. However, the realization of visible-frequency, high-performance, large-area, optical filters based on nanoplasmonic materials is rather challenging due to nanofabrication related problems (cost, fabrication imperfection, surface roughness) and optical losses of metals. Here, we propose and demonstrate large-area perfect absorbers and transmission color filters and photodectors that could overcome the difficulties associated with nanofabrication using a lithography-free approach. Our resonant flat optical design is based on a modified, asymmetric metal-insulator/semiconductor-metal (MI/SM) based Fabry-Perot cavity incorporated with plasmonic, lossy ultra-thin (~ 30 nm) Ag or (~ 5-15 nm) amorphous Si films. We demonstrated a narrow bandwidth (~17 nm) super absorber with 97% maximum absorption with a performance comparable to nanostructure/nanoparticle-based super absorbers. We also investigated transmission filters in which different colors can be obtained by controlling the spacer thickness of silicon dioxide or amorphous silicon. With measured performance of transmission peak intensity reaching 60% and a narrow-band of ~ 40 nm, our color filters exceed the performance of widely studied plasmonic nanohole array based color filters and make a good candidate for large-area narrow-band photodetection devices. Such plasmonic loss incorporated Fabry-Perot cavities using ultra-thin metallic or semiconductor films could suggest active and practical applications in spectrally selective optical (color and absorber) filters, optoelectronic devices with controlled bandwidth such as narrow-band photodetectors, and light-emitting devices.
Divided We Stand? American and European Perspectives in the Fight Against Transnational Terrorism

In the aftermath of the attacks on September 11, 2001 (hereinafter 9/11), the members of the United Nations (UN) developed a common front against international terrorism through the widespread adoption of 16 international counter-terrorism legal instruments and a pledge to foster inter-state cooperation. However, differences soon re-emerged in the implementation phase. While the government of the United States favored an exceptional or “war” approach to counter-terrorism, its European Union (EU) counterparts opted mainly for a rule of law or criminal justice approach. To assess the impact of these two approaches on international human rights, I examine counter-terrorism in the United States after 9/11, Spain after March 11, 2004 (hereinafter 3/11) and the United Kingdom (UK) after July 7, 2005 (hereinafter 7/7), with a focus on the right to due process and the right to be free from torture. Based on these case studies, I conclude, first, that since none of the three states has suffered another successful attack, the rule of law approach is at least as effective as the “war” approach. Second, States that follow the “war” approach are more prone to violations of human rights. And third, that upholding the rule of law fosters relevant counter-terrorism cooperation between the United States and Europe.
A High Likelihood of Confusion: Wal-mart, TrafFix, Moseley, and Dastar – The Supreme Court's New Trademark Jurisprudence

This article analyzes the Supreme Court’s decisions in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Samara Bros., Inc., TrafFix Devices, Inc. v. Mktg. Displays, Inc., Moseley v. V Secret Catalogue, Inc., and Dastar Corp. v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. in relation to their impact on trademark law. While each arose in very different contexts, the entirety of the case law indicates a significant reversal of the previous expansion of the nature and scope of the federal trademark protection. The article argues that the Court is moving toward consumer-related concerns as opposed to protecting property rights. The Court appears to be particularly concerned with marking and respecting the boundaries separating copyright, patent, and trademark law.
PERICARDIAL CYSTS: DO THEY GROW OVER TIME?

Pericardial cyst is an uncommon mass that represents approximately 5% of thoracic cysts. A majority of the pericardial cysts are asymptomatic and usually detected incidentally. Natural history of pericardial cyst is poorly defined in the literature. We sought to understand the characteristics and