cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the effects of body mass index on safety: reliability of a video coding procedure and utility of a rhythmic walking task.

Abstract Gill SV, Narain A. Quantifying the effects of body mass index on safety: reliability of a video coding procedure and utility of a rhythmic walking task. Objectives To evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and motor actions related to safety risks (primary aim), and to examine the reliability of a video coding procedure and the utility of a rhythmic walking task in identifying safety risks (secondary aims). Design Using a cross-sectional design, participants were filmed during a rhythmic walking task at slow, normal, and fast audio metronome paces. A video coding procedure was used to quantify signs of safety risks from the videotaped sessions. Setting Motor development laboratory in a university. Participants Adults (N=32) with normal (n=15) and overweight (n=17) BMI scores participated. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Chi-squared analyses were conducted to compare the occurrence of coded motor actions (forward and lateral tripping) between participants with normal and overweight BMI scores. A kappa coefficient was computed as a measure of interrater reliability on the video codes. Results Participants who were overweight exhibited more safety risks compared with participants with normal BMI scores at the slow (χ 2 1,N=32 =3.94, P d =.75) and fast (χ 2 1,N=32 =3.85, P d =.74) metronome paces. Interrater reliability was high (κ=.90, P Conclusions In support of the primary aim, the findings show a relationship between overweight BMI scores and safety risks. Toward the secondary aims, the results demonstrate that a video coding procedure can be reliably used to assess safety risks and that creating tasks appropriate for assessing safety risks in overweight adults is needed.
A Semiempirical Model for Electroultrafiltration-Diafiltration

Abstract An exponential relationship between protein concentration and time is used to predict the solution flux when concentrating bovine serum albumin solutions with electroultrafiltration. The time constant can also be predicted from a plot of flux versus the logarithm of the bulk concentration. The limitations of this prediction are also discussed. The average flux during electrodiafiltration is used to predict the exponential relationship between salt concentration and time when using electrodiafiltration to remove NaCl from bovine serum albumin solutions. The processing time saved by using an electric field is easily calculated from these equations.
Novel inhalation device for the simultaneous anaesthesia of several laboratory rodents.

A plastic unit with several outlets which connect with lucite polycarbonate animal holders produces good inhalation anaesthesia in several laboratory rodents simultaneously. The anaesthesia produced is easily controllable, and the gases cannot escape into the environment.
Vibrational spectroscopy of nonlinear excitations via excited-state resonant impulsive Raman spectroscopy

We probe the vibrational modes associated with the equilibrated self-trapped exciton state in a quasi-one-dimensional system using resonant impulsive Raman excitation of the excited state in a pump-pump-probe measurement.
Large area YBa2Cu3O7 and Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 thin films for microwave and electronic applications

This paper reviews recent work at DuPont to develop high performance Tl 2 Ba 2 CaCu 2 O 8 and YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 thin films for microwave and electronic device applications. The YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 thin films are produced by off-axis magnetron sputtering onto radiatively heated substrates and have surface roughness levels of less than 1 nm over 2 in, diameter wafers as determined by atomic force microscopy. Double-sided Tl 2 Ba 2 CaCu 2 O 8 films are produced on 3 in, diameter CeO 2 buffered sapphire substrates with excellent uniformity of structural and electrical properties. These films have low microwave surface resistance up to high microwave power levels. We also report on the establishment of a Six Sigma manufacturing capability for Tl 2 Ba 2 CaCu 2 O 8 films. These films are used to fabricate a compact high performance eight-pole bandpass filter operating at 1.85 GHz and 80 K.
Influence of prenatal d-amphetamine administration on development and behavior of rats.

Abstract Beginning on the fifth day of gestation, rats were administered 1 or 3 mg/kg of d -amphetamine sulfate s.c. twice daily until term. The administration of d -amphetamine caused a dose-related increase in pup mortality. However, the increase in pup death could not be correlated with any gross pathological signs. The surviving 3 mg/kg amphetamine pups were analyzed for changes in motor behavior and brain biogenic amine levels. It was found that the amphetamine offspring showed a marked reduction in the ability to habituate to new surroundings, and this effect persisted for at least three months after birth. On day 35, brain levels of norepinephrine in the “amphetamine” offspring were decreased 21 percent. On day 84, in the “amphetamine offspring,” norepinephrine levels were reduced 18 percent in both the diencephalon and brainstem; dopamine levels were reduced 21 percent in the brainstem compared to control offspring.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Shock-Defect Interactions in Two-Dimensional Nonreactive Crystals

The interactions of shocks with defects in two-dimensional square and hexagonal lattices of particles interacting through Lennard-Jones potentials are studied using molecular dynamics. In perfect lattices at zero temperature, shocks directed along one of the principal axes propagate through the crystal causing no permanent disruption. Vacancies, interstitials, and to a lesser degree, massive defects are all effective at converting directed shock motion into thermalized two-dimensional motion. Measures of lattice disruption quantitatively describe the effects of the different defects. The square lattice is unstable at nonzero temperatures, as shown by its tendency upon impact to reorganize into the lower-energy hexagonal state. This transition also occurs in the disordered region associated with the shock-defect interaction. The hexagonal lattice can be made arbitrarily stable even for shock-vacancy interactions through appropriate choice of potential parameters. In reactive crystals, these defect sites may be responsible for the onset of detonation. All calculations are performed using a program optimized for the massively parallel Connection Machine.
Worst-case false alarm analysis of fault detection systems

Model-based fault detection methods can be used to reduce the size, weight, and cost of safety-critical aerospace systems. However, the implementation of these methods is based on models. Therefore, disturbance and model uncertainty must be considered in order to certify the fault detection system. This paper considers the worst-case false alarm probability over a class of stochastic disturbances and model uncertainty. This is one analysis needed to assess the overall system reliability. The single step, worst-case false alarm probability is shown to be equivalent to a robust ℌ 2 analysis problem. Hence known results from the robust ℌ 2 literature can be used to upper bound this worst-case probability. Next, bounds are derived for the worst-case false alarm probability over multiple time steps. The multi-step analysis is important because reliability requirements for aerospace systems are typically specified over a time window, e.g. per hour. The bounds derived for the multi-step analysis account for the time correlations introduced by the system dynamics and fault detection filters. Finally, a numerical example is presented to demonstrate the proposed technique.
A comparison of various cubic equation of state mixing rules for the simultaneous description of excess enthalpies and vapor-liquid equilibria

Abstract Recent new mixing and combining rules for cubic equations of state (EOS) have extended the range of such equations to the accurate description of the vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE) of highly nonideal mixtures. However, the simultaneous correlation and/or prediction of vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) and liquid mixture excess enthalpies ( H ex ) by either activity coefficient models or equations of state has been a difficult problem in applied thermodynamics. In this communication, we re-examine this problem using a modified version of the Peng-Robinson equation of state and the two-parameter van der Waals one-fluid, Wong-Sandler and modified Huron-Vidal mixing rules. For comparison, the direct use of activity coefficient models is also considered. In each case a temperature dependence of the model parameters is introduced in an attempt to represent simultaneously VLE and H ex behavior. Four highly nonideal binary mixtures (2-propanol + water, methanol + benzene, benzene + cyclohexane, and acetone + water) are considered. The results indicate that while all the models can accurately correlate VLE and H ex data separately, attempting to predict the values of one property with parameters obtained from the other does not give satisfactory results with any model. Also, we find that the simultaneous correlation of both VLE and H ex with the EOS models at one temperature is possible, but extrapolations to other temperatures with parameters obtained in this way did not result in accurate predictions of either VLE or H ex . The main problem appears to be that the excess free energy (activity coefficient) models used are not capable of representing both VLE and H ex over a range of temperatures, and so equations of state that incorporate these free energy models have the same shortcoming.
Every sperm – and germ cell protocol – is sacred

Germ cell development is essential for sexually reproducing organisms and, with due respect to Monty Python, fertilization is just the culmination of a vast repertoire of developmental accomplishments by these cells. Upon fertilization, germ cells directly contribute to both the genetic and
Diagnosis and treatment of a case of recurrent ventricular tachycardia

Abstract A man with a history of remote myocardial infarction developed refractory recurrent tachyarrhythmia with widened QRS complexes. Conversion to sinus rhythm during administration of intravenous vasopressors occurred on several occasions, and the arrhythmia was considered to be supraventricular tachycardia with aberration of the QRS. Atrial recording, competitive atrial pacing, and Holter monitoring were used to establish a diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia. Subsequent to coronary artery bypass surgery and partial excision of a noncontractile scar from the posterior wall of the left ventricle, he has had no further tachyarrhythmias. The difficulties in differential diagnosis and the techniques used are discussed.
Evidence of angiogenic vessels in Alzheimer’s disease

Alterations in the blood brain barrier and brain vasculature may be involved in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. We sought to determine if vascular remodeling characterized by angiogenic vessels or increased vascular density, occurred in pathologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease (AD) postmortem human brain tissues. We examined brains of deceased, older catholic clergy from the Religious Order Study, a longitudinal clinical-pathological study of aging and AD. The hippocampus, midfrontal cortex, substantia nigra, globus pallidus and locus ceruleus were examined for integrin alphavbeta3 immunoreactivity, a marker of angiogenesis, and vascular densities. Activated microglia cell counts were also performed. All areas except the globus pallidus exhibited elevated alphavbeta3 immunoreactivity in AD cases compared with controls. Only in the hippocampus did the ongoing angiogenesis result in increased vascular density compared with controls. Vascular density was correlated with Abeta load in the hippocampus and alphavbeta3 reactivity was correlated with neurofibrillary tangles in the midfrontal cortex and in the substantia nigra. These data indicate that ongoing angiogenesis is present in brain regions affected by AD pathology and may be related to tissue injury.
Tandem synthesis of the 16S and 23S ribosomal RNA sequences of Escherichia coli.

16S and 23S ribosomal RNAs are synthesized in E. coli as one transcriptional unit, starting with 16S RNA.
Design and decoding of an M-array pattern for low-cost structured light 3D reconstruction systems

3D shape reconstruction is one of the most important topics in computer vision due to its wide field of application. Among various technologies, structured light is considered to be one of the most reliable techniques. This paper addresses the problem of finding correspondences in a structured-light 3D shape reconstruction system. The work is based on the 3-symbol binary M-array encoded pattern proposed by Albitar. A new 6-symbol M-array pattern is designed with guaranteed minimum Hamming distance of three among all 3 × 3 windows. Improvements to the decoding algorithm are made, which allows successful identification of most symbols, and which corrects one possible error or missing symbol in each 3 × 3 window. Finally, refinements are made to the algorithm for finding correspondences, including back-projection of the captured structured light pattern to the projector plane to eliminate projective distortion.
Post Hoc Construction of Self-Performance and Other Performance in Self-Serving Social Comparison

Making self-serving social comparisons of performance depends on the freedom with which we can construct post hoc estimates of our own performance and that of comparison others. Three studies test the counterintuitive hypothesis that we make the most self-serving comparisons when (a) it is easy to construct our own standing on a dimension (in a positive direction) and (b) the standing of comparison others is relatively fixed (thus not easily constructed). In the first two studies, participants received performance feedback for themselves and others that each varied in susceptibility to construction. In Study 3, the availability of performance feedback for self and others was varied. Analyses on ratings of comparative performance showed that all studies supported the hypothesis. The effect seemed to derive from self-enhancement rather than denigration of others. Moreover, individuals in the high-self-construction/low-other-construction conditions rated performance as relatively more personally important an...
Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for prostates larger than 175 grams.

Abstract Background and Purpose: Open simple prostatectomy has been considered the treatment of choice for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) of large prostates because traditional endo...
Shock temperature measurement using neutron resonance spectroscopy.

We report a direct measurement of temperature in a shocked metal using Doppler broadening of neutron resonances. The 21.1-eV resonance in $^{182}\mathrm{W}$ was used to measure the temperature in molybdenum shocked to $\ensuremath{\sim}63\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{a}$. An explosively launched aluminum flyer produced a planar shock in a molybdenum target that contained a 1-mm thick layer doped with $1.7\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{a}\mathrm{t}.\text{ }%^{182}\mathrm{W}$. A single neutron pulse, containing resonant neutrons of less than $1\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ duration, probed the shocked material. Fits to the neutron time-of-flight data were used to determine the temperature of the shocked molybdenum.
Simultaneous Detection of Dopamine, Ascorbic Acid and Uric Acid at Lithographically‐Defined 3D Graphene Electrodes

Three dimensional graphene electrodes are presented as highly sensitive electrochemical transducers for the detection of dopamine, ascorbic acid, and uric acid. The detection limits for each separate analyte is approximately 5 µM. In addition the oxidative peak potentials for each are sufficiently separated such that the simultaneous detection of a mixture can be accomplished without any modification steps leading to three well resolved peaks. Increased steady state mass transport profiles due to enhanced diffusion effects at the open porous three dimensional graphene electrodes are also observed.
Treatment of intrauterine and large pedunculated subserosal leiomyomata with sequential uterine artery embolization and myomectomy

Successful clinical outcomes were obtained after a combined therapy of uterine artery embolization (UAE) and subsequent myomectomy for gigantic subserosal leiomyoma exceeding 1,000 cm3 in volume on a short stalk and multiple intrauterine leiomyomata in young patients who desired fertility and uterine preservation. UAE effectively treated symptomatic multiple intramural and submucosal leiomyomata for menorrhagia symptoms, which also facilitated uncomplicated subsequent myomectomy with devascularized gigantic leiomyoma for the treatment of bulk symptoms.
Biochemical analysis of long non-coding RNA-containing ribonucleoprotein complexes

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), once relegated to junk products of the genome, are becoming better appreciated for the myriad functions they play in cellular processes. It is clear that for most of the cases studied, lncRNAs carry out their functions at least in part through interactions with proteins. Here we present two complementary biochemical methods for the analysis of lncRNA-containing ribonucleoprotein complexes, hereafter referred to as RNPs. The first strategy offers users the ability to purify RNPs based on a protein component and to analyze the spectrum of lncRNAs, other proteins, and, if present, other types of RNAs that are bound to it. The second makes use of a bacteriophage MS2 binding-site affinity-handle grafted onto an lncRNA of interest to investigate the proteins and RNAs that co-purify with the tagged RNA.
Antibiotic overuse: Stop the killing of beneficial bacteria

Concerns about antibiotics focus on bacterial resistance — but permanent changes to our protective flora could have more serious consequences, says Martin Blaser.
Post-irradiation pituitary sarcoma.

A fibrosarcoma developed in the pituitary fossa of a patient who had been irradiated 13 years previously for treatment of pituitary adenoma. The tumor was a large aggressively growing spindle cell neoplasm which eroded adjacent structures, causing increased intracranial pressure, and eventual cerebellar tonsillar herniation. In common with previously described post-irradiation sarcomas of the pituitary, this lesion developed in the path of irradiation after a long latent period, did not metastasize, and contained histologically recognizable benign appearing pituitary adenoma interspersed among the spindle cell tumor. The dose of radiation (5000 rads) also lay within the range associated with sarcomatous transformation.
Phenol, the odour compound from Agaricus praeclaresquamosus

were placed in dichloro-methane for 48h. The mixture was frozen and the dichloromethane layer decanted.Traces of water were removed from the dichloromethane with anhydrous sodiumsulphate. Phenol, the only volatile compound detected, was identiÞed using GC-MSanalysis.Anauthenticsampleofphenolhadidenticalretentiontimeandmassspectra[
Analysis of Current-Stabilizer Circuits

The performance of any current stabilizer can be predicted in terms of two parameters defined as the stabilization transconductance, g s , and the output conductance, g o . Together with the equivalent circuits of Figs. 2 and 3 these two factors permit the calculation of the stabilizer performance in conjunction with any load circuit and direct-current supply. Fundamental stabilizer circuits based on the degenerative and mu-bridge principles are developed and analyzed for the two parameters defined. For simple circuits, the analysis suggests the use of pentodes to obtain best stabilization. Superior performance can be obtained by the mubalance circuit described. This circuit provides an output current substantially independent of any input-voltage or load-circuit change.
Bitwidth aware global register allocation

Multimedia and network processing applications make extensive use of subword data. Since registers are capable of holding a full data word, when a subword variable is assigned a register, only part of the register is used. New embedded processors have started supporting instruction sets that allow direct referencing of bit sections within registers and therefore multiple subword variables can be made to simultaneously reside in the same register without hindering accesses to these variables. However, a new register allocation algorithm is needed that is aware of the bitwidths of program variables and is capable of packing multiple subword variables into a single register. This paper presents one such algorithm.The algorithm we propose has two key steps. First, a combination of forward and backward data flow analyses are developed to determine the bitwidths of program variables throughout the program. This analysis is required because the declared bitwidths of variables are often larger than their true bitwidths and moreover the minimal bitwidths of a program variable can vary from one program point to another. Second, a novel interference graph representation is designed to enable support for a fast and highly accurate algorithm for packing of subword variables into a single register. Packing is carried out by a node coalescing phase that precedes the conventional graph coloring phase of register allocation. In contrast to traditional node coalescing, packing coalesces a set of interfering nodes. Our experiments show that our bitwidth aware register allocation algorithm reduces the register requirements by 10\% to 50% over a traditional register allocation algorithm that assigns separate registers to simultaneously live subword variables.
Roles and Microenvironments of Tryptophanyl Residues of Spinach Phosphoribulokinase

Abstract Phosphoribulokinase is one of several Calvin cycle enzymes that are light-regulated via the ferredoxin–thioredoxin system (R. A. Wolosiuk and B. B. Buchanan, 1978,Arch. Biochem. Biophys.189, 97–101). Substitution of the only two Trp residues of the enzyme was prompted by the following goals: to identify each tryptophanyl residue with respect to prior classifications as exposed and buried (C. A. Ghironet al.,1988,Arch. Biochem. Biophys.260, 267–272); to explore the possible active-site location and function of conserved Trp155, as suggested by sequence proximity to catalytic Asp160 (H. A. Charlieret al.,1994,Biochemistry33, 9343–9350); and to determine if fluorescence of a Trp residue can serve as a gauge of conformational differences between the reduced (active) and the oxidized (inactive) forms of the enzyme. Emission spectra and acrylamide quenching data demonstrate that Trp155 is solvent exposed, while Trp241 is buried. Kinetic parameters of the W241F mutant are not significantly altered relative to those of wild-type enzyme, thereby discounting any requirement for Trp at position 241. While substitution of Trp155 with Phe or Ala has little impact onVmax, theKmfor Ru5P and ATP are increased substantially; the diminished affinity for ATP is particularly pronounced in the case of the Ala substitution. In further support of an active-site location of Trp155, its fluorescence emission is subject to quenching by nucleotides. Fluorescence quenching of reduced W241F by ATP gives a dissociation constant (Kd) of 37 μM, virtually identical with itsKmof 46 μM, and provides for the first time a direct measurement of the interaction of the kinase with product ADP (Kdof 1.3 mM). Fluorescence quenching of oxidized W241F by ATP reveals aKdof 28 mM; however, this weakened binding does not reflect an altered microenvironment of Trp155, as its steady-state emission and fluorescence lifetimes are unaffected by the oxidation state.
Chlorpyrifos and Chlorpyrifos-Oxon Inhibit Axonal Growth by Interfering with the Morphogenic Activity of Acetylcholinesterase

A primary role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is regulation of cholinergic neurotransmission by hydrolysis of synaptic acetylcholine. In the developing nervous system, however, AChE also functions as a morphogenic factor to promote axonal growth. This raises the question of whether organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) that are known to selectively bind to and inactivate the enzymatic function of AChE also interfere with its morphogenic function to perturb axonogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we exposed primary cultures of sensory neurons derived from embryonic rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) to chlorpyrifos (CPF) or its oxon metabolite (CPFO). Both OPs significantly decreased axonal length at concentrations that had no effect on cell viability, protein synthesis or the enzymatic activity of AChE. Comparative analyses of the effects of CPF and CPFO on axonal growth in DRG neurons cultured from AChE nullizygous (AChE -/-) versus wild type (AChE +/+) mice indicated that while these OPs inhibited axonal growth in AChE+/+ DRG neurons, they had no effect on axonal growth in AChE -/- DRG neurons. However, transfection of AChE -/- DRG neurons with cDNA encoding full-length AChE restored the wild type response to the axon inhibitory effects of OPs. These data indicate that inhibition of axonal growth by OPs requires AChE, but the mechanism involves inhibition of the morphogenic rather than enzymatic activity of AChE. These findings suggest a novel mechanism for explaining not only the functional deficits observed in children and animals following developmental exposure to OPs, but also the increased vulnerability of the developing nervous system to OPs.
Application of Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) to naturally weathered hornblende

Abstract The surface chemistry of naturally weathered hornblende has been analyzed using Auger Electron Spectroscopy. The high spatial resolution and depth profiling capabilities of this technique allow changes in the relative concentrations of cations to be determined over micron-scale areas and at depths resolvable on the sub-micron scale. These data indicate that during chemical weathering: 1) there is a systematic change in surface chemistry through a thickness up to 1200 angstroms, 2) complete cation depletion at the surface layer does not occur, 3) different components are leached to different depths to varying degrees, and 4) no new phase such as clay or smectite necessarily forms. A nonsteady state diffusion model is most consistent with these data.
High temperature perturbation study of two-dimensional interacting electrons in a partly-filled Landau level

Abstract Using the Matsubara formalism, we have examined the finite-temperature perturbation expansion series for the grand potential of interacting electrons confined to the lowest Landau level of a two-dimensional electron gas. We have evaluated the perturbation expansion exactly up to the third order for the case of the hard-core interaction model. We have also evaluated the infinite-order subseries of the perturbation expansion which gives the leading contribution to the grand potential at small filling factors. In the zero temperature limit this class of diagrams leads to a ground state energy which has a cusp at v = 1 2 .
Development of hepatocytes in the pancreas of hamsters treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Transdifferentiation is a process in which one differentiated cell type is converted to another. A unique example of transdifferentiation is the development of hepatocytes from pancreatic cells in adult hamsters and rats. In this communication we report the induction of pancreatic hepatocytes in hamsters that were given 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodi‐benzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD). Two or 6 intraperitoneal (ip) injections of TCDD at a dose of 100 μg/kg body weight at 4‐wk intervals induced pancreatic hepatocytes in 75% and 89% of the animals respectively. In animals given only two doses of TCDD each pancreas contained one to two hepatic foci, whereas when six injections were administered multiple hepatic foci were observed. By hematoxylin and eosin stain and by periodic acid Schiff stain, the pancreatic hepatocytes were morphologically identical to those in normal liver. Although the exact mechanism by which TCDD induces the transformation is not clear, it is conceivable that TCDD acting through receptor‐mediated mechanism...
Cosmic Radiation and Radioactive Disintegration

IN view of the foregoing interesting experiments of Dr. L. R. Maxwell, the following considerations will be of interest since they suggest that a modern view of the nature of cosmic radiation would render highly improbable any measurable effect of such a radiation in the matter of stimulating radioactivity.
Design issues and an architecture for a heterogenous multidatabase system

Many sophisticated computer applications could be significantly simplified if they are built on top of a general-purpose distributed database management system. In spite of much research on distributed database management systems there are only a few homogenous distributed database system architectures, that have reached the development stage. The situation with heterogeneous multidatabase systems, which connect a number of possibly incompatible pre-existing database systems, is even less satisfactory. To understand the complexity of designing a heterogeneous multidatabase system, we have presented some issues that have been a topic of research in this area. We propose a heterogeneous multidatabase system architecture which solves some of the inherent problems of heterogeneity such as reliability, semantic integrity, and protection. The heterogeneous multidatabase system environment that has been considered involves a connection of pre-existing database systems, with a possibility of adding new database systems at any time during system lifetime.
How the protease thrombin talks to cells.

How does a protease act like a hormone to regulate cellular functions? The coagulation protease thrombin (EC 3.4.21.5) activates platelets and regulates the behavior of other cells by means of G protein-coupled protease-activated receptors (PARs). PAR1 is activated when thrombin binds to and cleaves its amino-terminal exodomain to unmask a new receptor amino terminus. This new amino terminus then serves as a tethered peptide ligand, binding intramolecularly to the body of the receptor to effect transmembrane signaling. The irreversibility of PAR1's proteolytic activation mechanism stands in contrast to the reversible ligand binding that activates classical G protein-coupled receptors and compels special mechanisms for desensitization and resensitization. In endothelial cells and fibroblasts, activated PAR1 rapidly internalizes and then sorts to lysosomes rather than recycling to the plasma membrane as do classical G protein-coupled receptors. This trafficking behavior is critical for termination of thrombin signaling. An intracellular pool of thrombin receptors refreshes the cell surface with naive receptors, thereby maintaining thrombin responsiveness. Thus cells have evolved a trafficking solution to the signaling problem presented by PARs. Four PARs have now been identified. PAR1, PAR3, and PAR4 can all be activated by thrombin. PAR2 is activated by trypsin and by trypsin-like proteases but not by thrombin. Recent studies with knockout mice, receptor-activating peptides, and blocking antibodies are beginning to define the role of these receptors in vivo.
HAND Proteins: Molecular Mediators of Cardiac Development and Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart defects are the clinical manifestation of anomalies in embryonic cardiac development. Such defects occur in distinct regions or chambers of the heart. A molecular framework in which to consider cardiac development and congenital heart disease in a segmental fashion has begun to emerge. dHAND and eHAND are two related basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors that are expressed in a complementary fashion in the developing right and left ventricles, respectively. They are also expressed in the neural crest-derived cardiac outflow tract and aortic arch arteries. Targeted mutations of dHAND and eHAND in mice have revealed novel pathways of organogenesis in mesodermal and neural crest derivatives. dHAND mutants exhibit hypoplasia of the right ventricle, branchial arches, and aortic arch arteries. The distinct nature of cardiac defects in dHAND mutants provides an entry into dissecting molecular pathways governing morphogenesis of specific components of the heart. Congenital heart disease is considered as a defect in segmental development of the heart and the role of dHAND and eHAND in regulating such developmental pathways in normal and abnormal cardiogenesis is examined.
Self-organized TiO2 nanotubular arrays for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation: effect of crystallization and defect structures

The effect of crystallization and surface chemistry of nanotubular titanium dioxide (TiO2) in connection with the photoelectrochemical process is reported in this investigation. TiO2 nanotubular arrays were synthesized by a simple anodization process in an acidified fluoride electrolyte at room temperature. The TiO2 nanotubes were amorphous in as-anodized condition; their transformation to crystalline phases was a function of annealing temperature and gaseous environment. The anatase phase was observed predominantly after annealing in non-oxidizing atmospheres, whereas annealing in an oxygen environment showed a mixture of anatase and rutile phases. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine the chemical environment of the surface, which revealed the presence of phosphate, oxygen vacancies and pentacoordinated Ti in hydrogen annealed samples. Diffuse reflectance photospectrometry of non-oxygen annealed samples showed long absorption tails extending in the visible region. The photoelectrochemical response of the TiO2 nanotubes annealed in different conditions was investigated. Photoelectrochemical performance under simulated solar light was improved by annealing the nanotubular TiO2 samples in non-oxidizing environment.
Paleoenvironmental reconstruction at Canyon del Muerto, Arizona, based on principal-component analysis

Abstract A multivariate statistical technique, principal-component analysis, is used to interpret pollen assemblages from archaeological context in terms of paleoenvironmental information. The pollen samples originate from an archaeological site in northeastern Arizona (Canyon del Muerto) covering the period between AD 700 and AD 1300. Through the use of principal-component analysis the percentage constraint in the pollen counts is removed and the data set effectively reduced to groups of co-varying taxa. Once these groups are ecologically defined as to the environment they represent, their changes of dominance through time can be analysed. This study has shown a correlation between a population expansion in Canyon del Muerto (AD 1050–1150) and the dominance of upland forest types suggesting slightly cooler and/or wetter conditions. The pollen data compare well with the tree-ring indices for this region. Local disturbance is reflected in the record during the period of greatest population. A shift to a shrubland vegetation during the peak construction phase indicates the clearing of cottonwood, fir, spruce and pine (all found within the site) by local inhabitants. Thus, the palynological evidence suggests both cultural and climatic factors are involved in the explanation of pollen deposition.
Three-nucleon force in the quark compound bag model

Abstract A model of the three-nucleon force is derived from the one-pion-exchange interaction between the nucleon and a six-quark bag excited during the NN collision at short distances. The parameters determining the excitation of the six-quark bag are taken from the quark-compound bag model of NN scattering up to 1 GeV. The pionic couplings with the bag states are deduced from the cloudy bag model. Their effect on the binding energy of the three-nucleon system is calculated and found to be about - 0.05 MeV. Future development of the model is discussed.
Access to and use of paid sick leave among low-income families with children.

OBJECTIVE. The ability of employed parents to meet the health needs of their children may depend on their access to sick leave, especially for low-income workers, who may be afforded less flexibility in their work schedules to accommodate these needs yet also more likely to have children in poor health. Our goal was to provide rates of access to paid sick leave and paid vacation leave among low-income families with children and to assess whether access to these benefits is associated with parents’ leave taking to care for themselves or others. METHODS. We used a sample of low-income families ( RESULTS. Access to paid leave was lower among children in low-income families than among those in families with higher income. Within low-income families, children without ≥1 full-time worker in the household were especially likely to lack access to this benefit, as were children whose parents work for small employers. Among children whose parents had access to paid sick leave, parents were more likely to take time away from work to care for themselves or others. This relationship is even more pronounced among families with the highest need, such as children in fair or poor health and children with all parents in full-time employment. CONCLUSIONS. Legislation mandating paid sick leave could dramatically increase access to this benefit among low-income families. It would likely diminish gaps in parents’ leave taking to care for others between families with and without the benefit. However, until the health-related consequences are better understood, the full impact of such legislation remains unknown.
Unconventional processing of the 3' termini of the Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase mRNA

Abstract Northern blot analysis of the Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase mRNA identified two discrete sizes of virally encoded polymerase transcripts, 5.08 kb detected in strains P3HR1, Raji, W-91, and FF-41 and 3.7 kb detected solely in the prototype B95-8 strain. 3' S1-nuclease mapping and analysis of cDNA sequence generated by RNA-based PCR demonstrated that the 3.7-kb polymerase mRNA from B95-8 terminates 484 base pairs downstream of the open reading frame in a region of the genome remarkable for its lack of an apparent polyadenylylation signal. Moreover, between the cleavage point and the poly(A) tract of the cDNAs are a series of inserted nucleotides, mostly adenosine and uridine residues of unknown origin. A similar analysis of the 3' terminus of the 5.0-kb mRNA from the other cell lines revealed that polyadenylylation occurs 1.4 kb downstream of the B95-8 terminus. This region is deleted in B95-8, which accounts for the alternate upstream terminus used in B95-8. Like the 3.7-kb terminus, the 5.0-kb terminus lacks a canonical polyadenylylation signal, but contains a rarely used UAUAAA sequence 32 bp upstream of the poly(A) tail. These results indicate that the mRNA encoded by the Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase gene is polyadenylylated at two different termini without the use of canonical signals, raising the possibility of involvement of a virus-encoded factor in 3' processing of this message.
A review of the effects of high refractive index overlays on tunable long period fiber gratings

An optimized high refractive index overlay can be coated on the surface of a thin cladding long period fiber grating to achieve an enhanced tuning range and a stable resonant peak depth.
Values anglo-american and mexican-american mothers hold for their children with physical disabilities.

PURPOSE This study investigated the values held by Anglo-American and Mexican-American mothers of children with physical disabilities. The study also examined whether these values affected the mothers' satisfaction with their children's habilitative services. METHODS Sixty mothers of Anglo-American or Mexican-American background from low- and middle-income groups participated. Each mother ranked 12 value traits, which represented various aspects of her child's development, and completed 15 statements regarding her satisfaction with the habilitative services provided to her child. RESULTS Mothers in the middle-income Anglo-American group were found to place greater emphasis on morality and less emphasis on health and neatness/cleanliness than mothers in the other three groups. Mothers in the middle-income Anglo-American group were also more confident about the future of their children and their own ability to help their children. CONCLUSIONS These findings can be interpreted using the contact hypothesis theory, in which middle-income Anglo-Americans represent the "in-group." The author suggests physical therapists need to be aware and sensitive to differences among patients' families, especially as they relate to socioeconomic class and ethnicity.
Dynamics and Statics of DNA-Programmable Nanoparticle Self-Assembly and Crystallization

DNA linker mediated self-assembly is emerging as a very general strategy for designing new materials. In this Letter, we characterize both the dynamics and thermodynamics of nanoparticle-DNA self-assembly by molecular dynamics simulations from a new coarse-grained model. We establish the general phase diagram and discuss the stability of a previously overlooked crystalline phase (D-bcc). We also characterize universal properties about the dynamics of crystallization. We point out the connection to $f$-star polymer systems and discuss the implications for ongoing experiments as well as for the general field of DNA mediated self-assembly.
Transplantation of vascular endothelial cells mediates the hematopoietic recovery and survival of lethally irradiated mice.

Flk-1+ endothelial progenitors contribute critically to the definitive onset of hematopoiesis during embryogenesis. Recent studies have suggested that adult sources of endothelial cells also possess hematopoietic activity. In this study, we sought to determine whether transplantation of primary vascular endothelial cells (ECs) could enhance the hematopoietic recovery and survival of irradiated mice. C57Bl6 mice were exposed to sublethal and lethal doses of irradiation and were subsequently given transplants of either primary murine brain–derived ECs (MBECs) or fetal blood-derived ECs (FBECs). Mice that received a transplant with MBECs alone demonstrated accelerated BM cellular recovery, radioprotection of BM c-kit+sca-1−lin− progenitors and enhanced regeneration of c-kit+sca-1+lin− (KSL) stem/progenitor cells following irradiation compared with controls. MBEC transplantation also facilitated the recovery of circulating white blood cell and platelet counts following radiation exposure. Remarkably, 57% of mice that received a transplant with MBECs alone survived long term following 1050 cGy exposure, which was 100% lethal in control mice. FBEC transplantation was also associated with increased survival compared with controls, although these mice did not survive in the long term. These data suggest that reestablishment of endothelial cell activity can improve the hematopoietic recovery and survival of irradiated mice.
A generic approach to color modeling

Color modeling defines the relationships between colorants, their mixtures, and their resulting spectral and colorimetric properties. A “colorant” can refer to a dye, pigment, or ink, as well as chromatic lights used in various display technologies. Computer colorant formulation systems are an embodiment of the color modeling of materials such as textiles, plastics, and paint. Color management systems for imaging applications exploit color models of CRT displays, photographic materials, and printers. The literature on modeling material and imaging systems tends to be segregated. In the process of teaching color modeling, common methodologies and theories have emerged leading to a “generic” approach. All of these systems can be modeled using two basic stages. The first stage consists of defining a spectral description where colorants and their mixtures can be described using linear algebra. The second stage defines the relationship between “user controls” and the scalars associated with the linear description of each colorant where the user control may be digital counts, volumetric or gravimetric concentration. The commonalities between characterizing the colorimetry of computer-controlled CRT displays and computer colorant formulation are presented. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 22, 318–325, 1997
Mandatory seat belt laws in eight states: a time-series evaluation☆

We examined state-specific and aggregate effects of U.S. legislation requiring the use of seat belts among front-seat motor vehicle occupants. Effects of compulsory seat belt use on the number of occupants fatally injured in traffic crashes were examined in the first eight states adopting such laws. Monthly data on crash fatalities between January 1976 and June 1986 were analyzed using Box-Tiao intervention analysis time-series methods. Because the new laws apply only to front-seat occupants, front-seat occupant fatalities were compared with: (1) rear-seat fatalities; (2) nonoccupant fatalities (motorcyclists, pedalcyclists, pedestrians); and (3) fatalities among front-seat occupants in neighboring states without compulsory seat belt use. Exposure to risk of crash involvement was controlled by analyzing fatality rates per vehicle mile traveled. Results revealed a statistically significant decline of 8.7% in the rate of front-seat fatalities in the first eight states with seat belt laws. The fatality rate declined 9.9% in states with primary enforcement laws and 6.8% in states with secondary enforcement only. Rates of rear-seat and non-occupant fatalities did not change when the belt laws were implemented.
Commentary on Varnado-Sullivan et al.'s (2001) “development and implementation of the body logic program for adolescents: A two-stage prevention program for eating disorders”

This commentary offers a critical evaluation of the Body Logic Program for the prevention of eating disorders (Varnado-Sullivan et al., 2001). This ambitious project was designed to affect middle-school students in general (universal prevention), as well as high-risk students and their parents (selective prevention). The evaluation includes a consideration of, and appreciation for, the challenges of this type of research, what the researchers accomplished in the way of universal prevention, and the nature of the project as seen in the context of three different models of prevention. Ways that this type of prevention program could be improved and expanded are discussed. Special attention is given to various forms of participatory action designed to engage students, teachers, parents, and other adults in the process of changing group and community norms so as to reduce negative sociocultural effects on female body images and to foster personal and collective resilience in the participants.
Does dysregulated expression of a deregulated viral GPCR trigger Kaposi’s sarcomagenesis?

In 1994, the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8) was identified as the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). KSHV has since been associated with two additional AIDS-related malignancies: primary effusion lymphomas (PEL) and multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). Although molecular characterization of the KSHV genome has revealed several candidate oncogenes, infection with KSHV alone is not sufficient to cause KS, suggestive of an accomplice in KS initiation. Recent experimental evidence supports a key role for a particular KSHV gene, a constitutively-active G-protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR), in the development of KS. However, it is unclear how a lytic gene expressed in cells destined to die can cause cancer. Here we propose that dysregulation of the viral gene program may lead to nonlytic vGPCR expression. Several candidate cofactors (e.g., HIV-1 Tat, inflammation, aborted lytic cycle progression) are identified that may trigger vGPCR dysregulation, enabling oncogenic signaling pathways up-regulated by vGPCR, combined with the paracrine secretions from vGPCR-expressing cells, to promote the initiation of KS. If KS is indeed dependent on vGPCR dysregulation, then the development of new therapeutic modalities specifically targeting this viral protein or its downstream targets may ultimately prove to be the most effective treatment strategy for this enigmatic disease.