cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
L‐type calcium channels in the photoreceptor ribbon synapse: Localization and role in plasticity

Calcium (Ca2+) influx through voltage-gated Ca2+channels stimulates a variety of neural activities, including process outgrowth, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity. In general, L-type channels control Ca2+ influx into the soma and dendrites, whereas other Ca2+ channel types control presynaptic activities. Neurons that make ribbon synapses, however, are among a select group of nerve cells whose presynaptic Ca2+-dependent secretion is linked to L-type channels. Recently, photoreceptor ribbon synapses have been shown to be capable of dramatic structural remodeling and neuritic outgrowth. Here, we have examined 1) the distribution of dihydropyridine (DHP)-sensitive (L-type) Ca2+ channels in photoreceptor presynaptic structures and 2) the role of these channels in axonal plasticity and process outgrowth in culture. Using anti-alpha1C and the fluorescent dihydropyridine, (–)-DM-BODIPY DHP, L-type channels were localized in the outer plexiform layer of retinal sections and in presynaptic terminals of freshly isolated photoreceptors. In the rod terminal, dense patches of label were present; their distribution and number matched that of synaptic ribbons. After 1–7 days in vitro, punctate alpha1C staining occurred along newly formed neurites and presynaptic varicosities. Functional channels were present throughout the culture period, as determined by fura-2 imaging. Channel blockage by nicardipine, a DHP antagonist, inhibited axonal remodeling. Specifically, it prevented axon retraction and lamellipodium formation, reduced neurite growth, and produced long, thin processes on some, primarily cone, photoreceptors. L-type Ca2+ channel activity, therefore, not only stimulates neurotransmission but contributes to presynaptic structural plasticity at the ribbon synapse. J. Comp. Neurol. 415:1–16, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Hypercalcemia and pancreatic endocrine neoplasia with elevated PTH-rP: Report of two new cases and subject review

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy is widely associated with tumor production of parathyroid hormone related protein (PTH-rP). This peptide functions in endocrine, autocrine and paracrine mechanisms in a manner similar to PTH; increasing renal uptake of calcium, decreasing retention of phosphorous, and stimulating adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C. Although PTH-rP production has been well documented in neoplasms of the exocrine pancreas, we present here two cases of endocrine pancreatic neoplasms elaborating PTH-rP. We then review the literature of previous cases and delve into the pathophysiology of this peptide.
Role of the LTR region between the enhancer and promoter in mink cell focus-forming murine leukemia virus pathogenesis.

Abstract Long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences are important determinants of mink cell focus-forming (MCF) murine leukemia virus pathogenesis. These sequences include the enhancer and sequences between the enhancer and promoter (DEN). In a previous study we showed that a virus missing the DEN region in its LTR was severely attenuated in its ability to induce thymic lymphoma. In this study we observed that a virus with an LTR consisting of DEN but no enhancer sequences was pathogenic. We compared the pathogenicity of this DEN virus with other LTR mutant MCF13 viruses that contained a single enhancer (1R) or a single enhancer plus DEN (1R + DEN). All LTR mutant viruses generated thymic lymphoma, however, at a much lower incidence and with a longer latency compared with wild-type (WT) MCF13 virus. DEN virus replication in the thymus was the lowest compared with the 1R and 1R + DEN viruses. Viral replication in a different thymic subpopulation could not explain the decreased pathogenicity of the LTR mutant viruses compared with WT virus. However, lower levels of mutant virus replication in the thymus compared with WT during the preleukemic period may contribute to the attenuation of pathogenicity. The phenotype of tumors induced by the mutant viruses was similar and differed from tumors induced by WT virus by the presence of CD3 − CD4 − CD8 − cells. Analysis of LTR sequences of infectious virus rescued from tumors induced by the 1R and 1R + DEN viruses showed that amplification of enhancer sequences had occurred during tumor development. The lack of DEN virus expression by tumor cells led us to propose that DEN sequences may play a role at an early step in tumorigenesis.
Further Studies of the Interaction of Hydrogen with Graphite Nanofibers

Catalytically grown graphite nanofibers (GNF) are molecularly engineered structures that are produced by the interaction of carbon-containing gases with small metal particles at temperatures around 600 °C. The fibrous solids consist of minuscule graphene sheets stacked at various angles with respect to the fiber axis. This arrangement generates a material possessing unique chemical properties because unlike conventional graphite crystals, only edges are exposed. Such a conformation produces a material composed entirely of nanopores that can accommodate small-sized adsorbate molecules, such as hydrogen, in the most efficient manner. In addition, the nonrigid pore walls can expand to accommodate the gas in a multilayer conformation. GNF exhibit extraordinary behavior toward the sorption and retention of hydrogen at high pressures and abnormally high temperatures. In this paper we discuss some of the critical factors involved in the adsorption of molecular hydrogen and the influence that this process exerts ...
Effects of stimulus transformations on estimates of sensory neuron selectivity

Stimulus selectivity of sensory systems is often characterized by analyzing response-conditioned stimulus ensembles. However, in many cases these response-triggered stimulus sets have structure that is more complex than assumed. If not taken into account, when present it will bias the estimates of many simple statistics, and distort the estimated stimulus selectivity of a neural sensory system. We present an approach that mitigates these problems by modeling some of the response-conditioned stimulus structure as being generated by a set of transformations acting on a simple stimulus distribution. This approach corrects the estimates of key statistics and counters biases introduced by the transformations. In cases involving temporal spike jitter or spatial jitter of images, the main observed effects of transformations are blurring of the conditional mean and introduction of artefacts in the spectral decomposition of the conditional covariance matrix. We illustrate this approach by analyzing and correcting a set of model stimuli perturbed by temporal and spatial jitter. We apply the approach to neurophysiological data from the cricket cercal sensory system to correct the effects of temporal jitter.
Larval skin of the flathead sole, Hippoglossoides elassodon.

The skin of newly-hatched larval flathead sole, Hippoglossoides elassodon, is described by light and electron microscopy. The epidermis is usually two cells thick and shows differentiation into both squamous and mucous cells. The squamous cells are characterized by numerous cytoplasmic filaments, typical desmosomes, and lack of keratinization; the mucous cells are distended with mucous droplets, which appear to originate in the Golgi apparatus. A basement membrane is present, although thinner and less dense than that of older fish, and the dermis contains loose formations of collagen and pigment cells.
Polymeric Membrane pH Electrodes Based on Electrically Charged Ionophores

Solvent polymeric membranes containing electrically charged H+ carriers show dramatic variations in their pH response behavior depending on the charge type of lipophilic ionic sites present in the membrane. These shifts are predicted with a simplified phase boundary potential model. Membranes without ion-exchanger sites are expected to show half-Nernstian electrode slopes with extended measuring ranges if the ionophore has acidic as well as basic properties. Relevant experiments with membrane electrodes on the basis of the electrically charged carriers 4‘,5‘-dibromofluorescein octadecyl ester (ETH 7075) and 5-(octadecanoyloxy)-2-(4-nitrophenylazo)phenol (ETH 2412), lipophilic indicators formerly used in optode films, confirm these predictions. It is shown that the incorporation of tridodecylmethylammonium chloride into NPOE−PVC membranes with ETH 7075 induces a dynamic range from 4 to 10.4 in 0.1 M KCl while membranes with ETH 2412 show a dynamic range that is shifted by ∼4 orders of magnitude toward high...
Deficiency of biotinyl-AMP synthetase activity in fibroblasts of patients with holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency.

A simple, rapid assay was developed to diagnose holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency. Holocarboxylase synthetase first catalyzes the formation of biotinyl-AMP from biotin and ATP, an activity designated as biotinyl-AMP synthetase. In the second step of the reaction, biotin is transferred from biotinyl-AMP to the enzymatically inactive apocarboxylase to form an active holocarboxylase. The assay for holocarboxylase synthetase activity therefore requires a protein apocarboxylase substrate which is not readily available. In the assay for biotinyl-AMP synthetase, hydroxylamine reacts nonenzymatically with the product of the enzymatic reaction, biotinyl-AMP, to form biotinylhydroxamate. At the end of the reaction, unreacted radioactive biotin substrate, which is negatively charged at neutral pH, is bound to an anion-exchange resin and a neutral radioactive biotinylhydroxamate product in the supernatant is counted. In fibroblasts from 11 patients with proven holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency, the mean biotinyl-AMP synthetase activity at 25 nM biotin was 4% of the control mean with a range of 0.2 to 8%. This is an improved assay because it does not require preparation of an apocarboxylase substrate and is suitable for the diagnosis of patients with holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency.
Data decomposition in Monte Carlo neutron transport simulations using global view arrays

Accommodating large tally data can be a challenging problem for Monte Carlo neutron transport simulations. Current approaches include either simple data replication, or are based on application-controlled decomposition such as domain partitioning or client/server models, which are limited by either memory cost or performance loss. We propose and analyze an alternative solution based on global view arrays. By using global view arrays, tallies are naturally partitioned into small globally addressable blocks that fit in the limited on-node memory of compute nodes, achieving both highly scalable memory and performance efficiency. This approach also greatly simplifies the programmability compared with application-controlled approaches. Our implementation is based on integrating a global view library built on MPI one-sided communication, global view resilience GVR, into the OpenMC Monte Carlo transport code. The remote memory access RMA-based global view array implementation is able to achieve 85% efficiency at 16,384 processes compared with 1,000 processes with 2.39 TB mesh tally across 1,366 nodes on a Cray XC30 supercomputer. Our results improve scalability significantly compared with the tally server approach and are better than any other published results, indicating that global view array is a promising alternative to enable full-core light water reactor analysis on current and future computer systems.
The euclidean bianchi group

The Bianchi Groups Γd are PSL2(0d) where 0d is the ring of integers in the quadratic imaginary number field Q√-d with d a positive square-free rational integer. If d=1,2,3,7,11 0d has a Euclidean algorithm and the corresponding groups are called the Euclidean Bianchi Groups. The group Γ1 is the Picard Group has been studied independently. Here the subgroup structure of the remaining Euclidean Bianchi Groups is investigated. We show that they have a unique normal subgroup of index in if(n,6)=1 among other results. We also classify the abelian and nilpotent subgroups and discuss the structure of both congruence and non-congruence subgroups.
Observation of Charge-Transfer States for Pyridine Chemisorbed on Ag(111)

The excited states of chemisorbed pyridine on Ag(111) have been determined with use of electron-energy-loss spectroscopy. In addition to weakly perturbed molecular states we observe new excitations above \ensuremath{\sim}1.4 eV, which we identify as metal-molecule charge-transfer excitations. These new electronic states provide an explanation for several features observed in surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
MiRs with a sweet tooth.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been found to be critical regulators of metabolic homeostasis. A study in Nature by Trajkovski et al. (2011) shows that the highly related miRNAs miR-103 and miR-107 modulate insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis in obese mice. These miRNAs might represent therapeutic targets to ameliorate obesity-associated insulin resistance.
The relation of C - reactive protein to chronic kidney disease in African Americans: the Jackson Heart Study

African Americans have an increased incidence and worse prognosis with chronic kidney disease (CKD - estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] 30 mg/g). Participants (n = 4320, 63.2% women) had a mean age ± SD of 54.0 ± 12.8 years. The prevalence of CKD was 5.2% (n = 228 cases). In multivariable regression, CRP concentrations were higher in those with CKD compared to those without CKD (mean CRP 3.2 ± 1.1 mg/L vs. 2.4 ± 1.0 mg/L, respectively p 0.05). CRP was associated with CKD however not albuminuria in multivariable-adjusted analyses. The study of inflammation in the progression of renal disease in African Americans merits further investigation.
The extraction system for the K-500 cyclotron at M.S.U.

Abstract The final design features of the extraction system for the K-500 cyclotron under construction at MSU are presented. The resulting cyclotron performance for a number of typical ions are reviewed and the expected extracted beam phase space characteristics are also discussed.
Partial purification of male mus musculus urinary aggression‐promoting chemosignal

An attempt was made to purify an aggression-promoting chemosignal of male SJL/J mice. It was shown in Experiment 1 that the chemosignal is present in intact-male urine (IU) but not in urine (CU) from castrated males. In Experiments 3 and 4, a head-space distillation technique was used to isolate the volatile components of IU. It was shown that aggression-promoting cues were present in the volatile portion of IU and not in the nonvolatile portion. Also CU was tested for behavioral activity under the procedures of Experiments 3 and 4 and was found not to contain the chemosensory cue.
Hydrothermal synthesis of MCM-41 using different ratios of colloidal and soluble silica

Abstract The influence of different ratios of colloidal (Cab-O-Sil, HiSil-915 and sodium silicate) and soluble (tetramethylammonium silicate) silica on the physicochemical properties (surface area, porosity, degree of structural order, thermal stability, density of free silanol group) of MCM-41 has been investigated. MCM-41 materials synthesized hydrothermally have been characterized by XRD, N2 physisorption, and IR spectroscopy. The results show that colloidal silica (HiSil-915 or Cab-O-Sil) to soluble silica ratio corresponding to 80:20 favors the formation of MCM-41 material with higher degree of structural order and uniformity of mesopores than those synthesized from the conventional ratios (∼70:30). Also, a new approach for tailoring the pore diameter within a modest range (∼20–30 A) and controlling the other properties (surface area, porosity, and pore wall thickness) of MCM-41 has been demonstrated in this study. MCM-41 materials synthesized from Cab-O-Sil have thicker pore walls (15–20 A) and show better thermal stability than when HiSil-915 is used.
Inhibition of human erythroid colony formation by ceramide

In previous studies, we have demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-1 on human erythroid colony formation are indirect and mediated by beta and gamma interferon (IFN), respectively, which act directly upon erythroid colony forming units (CFU-E). The in vitro inhibitory effect of gammaIFN but not betaIFN is reversed by exposure to high concentrations of recombinant human (rh) erythropoietin (EPO). Ceramide, a product of sphingomyelin hydrolysis, is a known mediator of apoptotic effects of TNF, IL-1, and gammaIFN. In this report, the effects of ceramide on CFU-E colony formation and its implication in the model described above are evaluated. Endogenous ceramide produced by exposure to bacterial sphingomyelinase (0.2-2.0 U/mL) and exogenous cell-permeable ceramide (C2-ceramide; 5 and 10 mM) significantly inhibited bone marrow CFU-E colony formation. This effect was reversed by the ceramide antagonist sphingosine-1-phosphate (S-1-P). Inhibition of CFU-E by rhgammaIFN, but not rhbetaIFN, was significantly reversed by S-1-P. rhEPO 10 U/mL reversed CFU-E inhibition by C2-ceramide 10 mM. Exposure of marrow cells to rhgammaIFN led to a 57% increase in ceramide content. The present study demonstrates that colony formation by human CFU-E is inhibited by endogenous and exogenous ceramide, and that inhibition by rhgammaIFN can be reversed by the ceramide antagonist S-1-P. Inhibition of CFU-E colony formation by ceramide and by are both reversed by high concentrations of rhEPO. These findings strongly suggest that ceramide mediates inhibition of human CFU-E colony formation by gammaIFN.
Comparing Real-Time and Conventional PCR to Culture-Based Methods for Detecting and Quantifying Escherichia coli O157 in Cattle Feces

Detection of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle feces has traditionally used culture-based methods; PCR-based methods have been suggested as an alternative. We aimed to determine if multiplex real-time (mq) or conventional PCR methods could reliably detect cattle naturally shedding high (≥104 CFU/g of feces) and low (~102 CFU/g of feces) concentrations of E. coli O157. Feces were collected from pens of feedlot cattle and evaluated for E. coli O157 by culture methods. Samples were categorized as (i) high shedders, (ii) immunomagnetic separation (IMS) positive after enrichment, or (iii) culture negative. DNA was extracted pre- and postenrichment from 100 fecal samples from each category (high shedder, IMS positive, culture negative) and subjected to mqPCR and conventional PCR assays based on detecting three genes, rfbE, stx1, and stx2. In feces from cattle determined to be E. coli O157 high shedders by culture, 37% were positive by mqPCR prior to enrichment; 85% of samples were positive after enrichment. In IM...
Issue Intractability and the Persistence of International Rivalry

Rivalries are likely to persist as long as contentious issues remain unresolved. Due to differing issue characteristics, some issues may be more intractable than others and therefore especially lik...
4-Oxocyclo-hexa-neacetic acid: catemeric hydrogen bonding and spontaneous resolution of a single conformational enanti-omer in an achiral ∊-keto acid.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C8H12O3, consists of a single conformational enanti­omer, which aggregates in the catemeric acid-to-ketone hydrogen-bonding mode [O⋯O = 2.682 (4) A and O—H⋯O = 172 (6)°]. Four hydrogen-bonding chains of translationally related mol­ecules pass through the cell orthogonal to the 43 screw axis along c, alternating in the 110 and the \overline{1}10 direction, with alignment with respect to this axis of + + − −. Successive chains are rotated by 90° around the c axis. One C—H⋯O=C close contact, involving the carboxyl group, exists.
POST OPERATIVE EPIDURAL MORPHINE IN CHILDREN ANDADOLESCENTS

Following 15 major surgical procedures in 9 patients, epidural morphine was used for postoperative analgesia. The patients included a 9 yr old status-post (S/P) thoracotomy for bronchiectasis, a 4 yr old S/P thoracotomy for metastasis of a rhabdomyosarcoma, six adolescents S/P thoracotomy for metastasis of osteogenic sarcoma (OGS) and a 14 yr old with cystic fibrosis S/P abdominal surgery.
Relation of acute antiarrhythmic drug efficacy to left ventricular function in coronary artery disease.

Abstract This study assessed the relation between acute antiarrhythmic drug efficacy and left ventricular (LV) function in patients with sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias, that is, sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). Electrophysiologic studies (n = 560) were performed in 201 patients, separated for analysis into
Estimation of the Concentration of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Plasma, Without Use of the Preparative Ultracentrifuge

A method for estimating the cholesterol content of the serum low-density lipoprotein fraction (Sf0-20) is presented. The method involves measurements of fasting plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, none of which requires the use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Comparison of this suggested procedure with the more direct procedure, in which the ultracentrifuge is used, yielded correlation coefficients of .94 to .99, depending on the patient population compared.
Global change and mercury cycling: Challenges for implementing a global mercury treaty

The Minamata Convention aims to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury. In the present study, the provisions of the Minamata Convention are examined to assess their influence on global biogeochemical cycling of Hg. Although the convention's scope covers all major categories of atmospheric emissions, the degree to which it will affect future emissions trajectories remains unclear. A box model analysis shows that future global biogeochemical cycling under projected technological provisions would result mainly in avoided increases and that estimated differences in atmospheric concentrations resulting from policies would be on the order of 1% to 2% per year. Present experience suggests that scientific knowledge is not currently sufficient to attribute causes to changes of this magnitude. Enhancements to capacity to measure the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention are suggested, including both measurement and modeling. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:1202–1210. © 2013 SETAC
Horizons of Understanding: A Review of Ray Fair's Estimating How the Macroeconomy Works

Ray Fair's Estimating How the Macroeconomy Works is the latest in a series of books by Fair that build, estimate, and apply his macroeconometric model to study the U.S. economy. In this book, Fair updates the model to incorporate the most recent data and uses it to analyze several important empirical questions, such as whether the U.S. economy moved into a new age of high productivity in the last half of the 1990s and the dynamics of prices, output, and unemployment. This review places his work in the context of the historical evolution of aggregate econometric models, compares it with the current developments in the estimation of dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models, and discusses some salient aspects of Fair's contributions.
Generating implied alignments under direct optimization using POY

The concept of implied alignments, as used in modern systematics literature, is discussed. Basic notions about how to generate implied alignments are given together with explicit examples. The objective of this article is to guide researchers on how to produce implied alignments for validating purposes in an efficient manner using POY. © The Willi Hennig Society 2005.
Multiphase Transport in the Space of Stochastic Tempered Distributions

On construit une theorie de distribution stochastique pour le transport dans un milieu polyphasique a echelle multiple
Complexity-constrained LS estimation for sparse systems

In an increasing number of applications the complexity of so-called fast RLS algorithms is prohibitive for real-time RLS estimation. One notable example is the adaptive equalization problem for intersymbol interference channels, where the number of equalizer taps grows linearly with the data rate. Due to the substantial memory in some ISI channels (for example the shallow-water acoustic telemetry channel) the uncoded data rate of real-time telemetry is limited not by the channel distortion or background noise, but by the complexity of the tap update algorithms. >
Restoration of Freshwater Cypress-Tupelo Wetlands in the Southeastern US Following Severe Hurricanes

Freshwater forested wetlands commonly occur in the lower Coastal Plain of the southeastern US with baldcypress (Taxodium distichum [L.] L.C. Rich.) and water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.) often being the dominant trees. Extensive anthropogenic activities combined with eustatic sea-level rise and land subsidence have caused widespread hydrological changes in many of these forests. In addition, hurricanes (a common, although aperiodic occurrence) cause wide-spread damage from wind and storm surge events, with impacts exacerbated by human-mediated coastal modifications (e.g., dredging, navigation channels, etc.). Restoration of forested wetlands in coastal areas is important because emergent canopies can greatly diminish wind penetration, thereby reducing the wind stress available to generate surface waves and storm surge that are the major cause of damage to coastal ecosystems and their surrounding communities. While there is an overall paucity of large-scale restoration efforts within coastal forested wetlands of the southeastern US, we have determined important characteristics that should drive future efforts. Restoration efforts may be enhanced considerably if coupled with hydrological enhancement, such as freshwater, sediment, or sewage wastewater diversions. Large-scale restoration of coastal forests should be attempted to create a landscape capable of minimizing storm impacts and maximizing wetland sustainability in the face of climate change. Planting is the preferred regeneration method in many forested wetland sites because hydrological alterations have increased flooding, and planted seedlings must be protected from herbivory to enhance establishment. Programs identifying salt tolerance in coastal forest tree species need to be continued to help increase resilience to repetitive storm surge events.
Rash followed by muscle weakness in a child

From Te Fund Conf Repr H An 8-year-old boy presented with a 1-year history of a nonpruritic erythematous malar rash and shiny violaceous papules on the metacarpophalangeal joints and proximal and distal interphalangeal joints, with sparing of the interphalangeal spaces (Fig 1). The patient noticed weakness and difficulty climbing stairs for the past 2 months. Levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were all elevated.
Distinct Constrictive Processes, Separated in Time and Space, Divide Caulobacter Inner and Outer Membranes

Cryoelectron microscope tomography (cryoEM) and a fluorescence loss in photobleaching (FLIP) assay were used to characterize progression of the terminal stages of Caulobacter crescentus cell division. Tomographic cryoEM images of the cell division site show separate constrictive processes closing first the inner membrane (IM) and then the outer membrane (OM) in a manner distinctly different from that of septum-forming bacteria. FLIP experiments had previously shown cytoplasmic compartmentalization (when cytoplasmic proteins can no longer diffuse between the two nascent progeny cell compartments) occurring 18 min before daughter cell separation in a 135-min cell cycle so the two constrictive processes are separated in both time and space. In the very latest stages of both IM and OM constriction, short membrane tether structures are observed. The smallest observed prefission tethers were 60 nm in diameter for both the inner and outer membranes. Here, we also used FLIP experiments to show that both membrane-bound and periplasmic fluorescent proteins diffuse freely through the FtsZ ring during most of the constriction procession.
Gender-Related Barriers and Delays in Accessing Tuberculosis Diagnostic and Treatment Services: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global public health problem with known gender-related (male versus female) disparities. We reviewed the qualitative evidence (written/spoken narrative) for gender-related differences limiting TB service access from symptom onset to treatment initiation. Methods. Following a systematic process, we searched 12 electronic databases, included qualitative studies that assessed gender differences in accessing TB diagnostic and treatment services, abstracted data, and assessed study validity. Using a modified “inductive coding” system, we synthesized emergent themes within defined barriers and delays limiting access at the individual and provider/system levels and examined gender-related differences. Results. Among 13,448 studies, 28 studies were included. All were conducted in developing countries and assessed individual-level barriers; 11 (39%) assessed provider/system-level barriers, 18 (64%) surveyed persons with suspected or diagnosed TB, and 7 (25%) exclusively surveyed randomly sampled community members or health care workers. Each barrier affected both genders but had gender-variable nature and impact reflecting sociodemographic themes. Women experienced financial and physical dependence, lower general literacy, and household stigma, whereas men faced work-related financial and physical barriers and community-based stigma. Conclusions. In developing countries, barriers limiting access to TB care have context-specific gender-related differences that can inform integrated interventions to optimize TB services.
Classifying software components using design characteristics

Classifying software modules in a component library is a major problem in software reuse. Indexing criteria must adequately reflect the semantics of the components. This must be done without undue effort in either classifying the software, or developing "queries" to find candidates for reuse. We present an architecture for automatically classifying and querying software based on design information. We present a method for determining if indexing criteria are effective, and show results using a set of criteria automatically extracted from an existing collection of programs.
Veni, Vidi, Disseri: Churches and the Promise of Democratic Deliberation

As the most popular voluntary association in the United States, churches are sometimes touted as saviors of democracy. However, those who espouse deliberative models of democracy rarely see churches as nurturing the decision-making abilities of attenders. Thus, the authors examine the extent to which church small group sessions fulfill the conditions for deliberation as set forth by political theorists. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, the authors find that churches offer authentic opportunities through small group involvements and, accordingly, tentatively declare the existence of a religious civility, with churches acting in the service of democratic capacity.
Reduced Matrix Elements for Symmetry-Constructed Systems

Eigenvalue problems involving symmetry, such as the Schrodinger equation when the Hamilto- nian commutes with a group, can generally be reduced in size using group theoretical techniques such as the Wigner-Eckart theorem. The key step is calculation of the reduced matrix elements followed by ei- genvalue determination by the secular equation. For finite groups it is usual to obtain reduced matrices by transformation to the symmetry adapted basis. Direct determination of reduced matrix elements by some means would be computationally more efficient with better precision.It is shown here that this direct de- termination is possible to some extent for symmetry-constructed systems such as symmetry-generated molecules. A simple illustration is given using the Huckel treatment of the cyclopropenyl radical (doi: 10.5562/cca2307)
Printer models and the direct binary search algorithm

We incorporate a higher order measurement-based model for printer dot interactions within the iterative direct binary search (DBS) halftoning algorithm. We also present an efficient strategy for evaluating the change in computational cost as the search progresses. Experimental results are shown which demonstrate the efficacy of the approach.
Weight cycling alters the effects of D -fenfluramine on susceptibility to activity-based anorexia

It has been proposed that anorexia nervosa (AN) is treatable with serotonergic (5-HT) agonists. It seems paradoxical to treat a disorder characterized by reduced food intake with appetite suppressants. The effects of the indirect-acting 5-HT agonist D-fenfluramine on activity-based anorexia (ABA) were investigated, coincident with ABA (experiment 1), and after tolerance and weight cycling (experiment 2). Rats were chronically infused with D-fenfluramine by using subcutaneous mini-pumps and then tested for susceptibility to ABA (22.5 h free running wheel access, 1.5 h access to food). Concurrent D-fenfluramine increased the risk of ABA by decreasing food consumption. Conversely, D-fenfluramine reduced the incidence of ABA in tolerant rats with a history of weight cycling. Therefore, the effects of D-fenfluramine depend on whether drug administration coincides with ABA or whether tolerance and weight cycling precede ABA onset. The results were related to the metabolic effects of weight cycling and the treatment of anorexia nervosa.
Set-valued Filtering And Smoothing

In this paper, we apply a theory of set- valued estimation to derive a set-valued filter and a set-valued smoother for a lin- ear discrete-time system. The resulting estimators provide the set of all state sequences that are consistent with the available data, allowing application to weakly or partially observable systems. Simulation results demonstrating the es- sential features of the filter and smoother are presented.
Adorno's Modernism: Art, Experience, and Catastrophe

Preface Introduction 1. Art and the problem of modernity 2. The beautiful and the sublime: an aesthetics of nature 3. The dialectic of aesthetic autonomy 4. Language, truth, and semblance 5. A topography of nothingness: Adorno on Beckett 6. Experience and metaphysics: the legacy of Kant 7. An aesthetics of negativity Concluding remarks Bibliography Index.
CASE STUDY: Retention and readability of radio frequency identification transponders in beef cows over a 5-year period 1

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate failure (loss or inability to read) of radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tags in beef cows over a 2- to 5-yr period under ranch conditions. One of 5 types of RFID tags (Allflex HDX, Allflex FDX, Y-Tex FDX, Z-Tag FDX, and Destron FDX) was applied in the ear of a total of 4,316 cows on 4 separate locations (ranches). Tags were evaluated at approximately yearly intervals for either 2 (ranch 1), 3 (ranch 2 and 3), or 5 yr. Percentages of tags that were lost or that failed to read were 1.4, 1.6, 3.7, 5.1, and 5.0 for the 5 consecutive annual evaluations, respectively, when averaged across ranches and RFID tag type. Cumulative losses of 3.0, 6.0, and 19.8% were observed when averaged over all tag types after 2 (all 4 ranches), 3 (3 ranches), and 5 yr (1 ranch). A ranch by tag type interaction was evident for failure of the 2 types of tags evaluated on all 4 ranches; a greater proportion of Allflex HDX tags were lost than Allflex FDX tags at ranch 4 (36 vs. 4%) but not at other ranches (4.7 vs. 5.1% cumulative loss–fail rate for HDX and FDX). This interaction may be due to differences in tag placement. Tags were placed in the top of the ear at ranch 4 but were attached between the second and third ribs of the ear at ranch 1, 2, and 3. Results indicate that loss of RFID tags increases with time after application and may exceed 5% after 3 yr.
Rheology of Acrylic Bone Cements

The rheological properties of setting acrylic bone cements were examined with a rotational cone and plate viscometer. The cements were tested over two orders of magnitude of shear rate to determine the nature of any non-Newtonian flow behavior. All three cements behaved with moderate pseudoplasticity (i.e., shear thinning) during setting, suggesting the use of higher pressures during administration for better flow and penetration. The low viscosity brand was found to be nearly one-half as viscous as the conventional cements during the working time (i.e., 2-5 minutes). A series of sieving experiments were performed to determine the particle size distributions of the powder components. Statistical analysis (chi square) showed the cements to have different distributions, with the low viscosity brand containing a larger proportion of smaller polymer particles. This difference is thought to contribute to the lower viscosity of this cement.
Unenumerated Rights and the Limits of Analogy: A Critique of the Right to Medical Self Defense (Invited Response to Eugene Volkh – Medical Self Defence, Prohibited Experimental Therapies, and Payment for Organs)

Volokh’s project stands or falls with the claim that the entitlement he proposes is of constitutional dimension. If there is no fundamental right to medical self-defense, the individual must, for better or worse, yield to the regulation of this domain in the name of the values agreed to by the political branches of government. Indeed, the government routinely restricts the instrumentalities of self-help (including self-defense) in the name of avoiding what it takes to be more significant harms. This same rationale accounts for current governmental limitations on access to unapproved drugs and the current ban on organ sales. The FDA restricts access to unapproved drugs (subject to certain exceptions) in the interest of public health, that is, to prevent patient exposure to unsafe or ineffective drugs and to maintain a functional clinical trial system (the chief mechanism of bringing safe and effective drugs to the market). Congress banned the sale of organs to avoid what it took to be a number of practical and ethical harms, including coercion of the poor and commodification of the body and its parts. The only way for the individual to avoid the political process and substitute his own normative balancing of these goods and harms for that of the government, is to do so pursuant to a fundamental constitutional right. Thus, for Volokh’s project to succeed, he must demonstrate that the right he proposes is “objectively, deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition and implicit in the concept of ordered liberty, such that neither liberty nor justice would exist if they were sacrificed.”This Article examines Volokh’s case for a fundamental right to medical self-defense, and concludes that none of his suggested common law grounds are adequate to justify it. Self-defense is not a fitting analogy to, and thus does not provide support for, this entitlement. The doctrine of necessity (or choice of evils) is a more promising common law analogy, but it is also an unsound foundation. Lacking any roots in the nation’s history and tradition, the entitlement to medical self-help cannot, therefore, rise to the level of a fundamental constitutional right.
The water-energy-food nexus and process systems engineering: A new focus

Abstract As the global population grows, consumption of water, energy, and food will also increase, placing stresses on these three sectors, raising the importance of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEFN). This article highlights research challenges and identifies process systems engineering research opportunities to appropriately model and optimize the WEFN. A brief overview of relevant, foundational WEFN research is first presented. We then identify challenges in the multiple scales of the WEFN, ranging from the household scale to the global scale. There are further challenges with appropriate system boundary definitions, and challenges in modeling the decision-making and conflicting objectives of multiple stakeholders in the WEFN. Uncertainties of all kinds appear at all scales of the WEFN and must also be considered. We use two motivating WEFN examples to frame these challenges and propose future avenues and opportunities for research. Possible approaches to the abovementioned challenges are proposed.
Origin of "Hidden Momentum Forces" on Magnets

Shockley and James have noted that an electrically neutral magnet whose moment is changing with time exerts a force on an electric charge of negligible velocity at a large distance from it, but that there is no obvious corresponding back-action of the charge on the magnet, although required by general considerations of the conservation of momentum. In the present paper, it is shown that the back-force is a consequence of the relativity corrections to the motion of the particles composing the magnet. The proof is given generally in terms of the relativistic theorem on the motion of the "center of energy" and explicitly in terms of a Lagrangian for a system of particles obtained many years ago by Darwin. The effect of spin is examined and found not to affect the action-reaction balance. In the Appendix, the properties of the center of energy are utilized to show how the Darwin Lagrangian should be modified when there are nonelectric classical forces acting between the particles of the magnet.
STUDIES IN AGGLUTINATION : II. THE RELATIONSHIP OF REDUCTION OF ELECTRICAL CHARGE TO SPECIFIC BACTERIAL AGGLUTINATION

1. The effect of immune serum upon the electrical charge on bacteria has been studied. 2. Immune agglutinating serum possesses a specific charge-reducing effect which is quantitatively related to the agglutination titer of the serum. This effect is lost when the serum loses its agglutinating power, that is after adsorption of agglutinin by homologous bacteria; adsorption by heterologous organisms does not affect this property. 3. A highly protective, non-agglutinating serum did not show this specific charge-reducing effect. 4. It is suggested that the reaction may have practical diagnostic application. 5. The findings of Northrop and De Kruif, that unsensitized and sensitized bacteria agglutinate only when the charge on the bacteria has been reduced to a critical potential zone lying between +15 and -15 millivolts, have been confirmed in the case of all electrolytes tested except Na(2)HPO(4). 6. When Na(2)HPO(4)or phosphate buffer solutions are used as electrolytes, specific bacterial agglutination occurs at negative charges well above -15 millivolts, and with serum in high dilution, specific agglutination takes place without any observable reduction of charge.
Overview of ControUable Reactor

This paper introduces the development history and present research condition of controllable reactors. According to the way of adjusting of controllable reactors, the classification is given, and their operating principle, their advantages and defects and the applicability range are analyzed, and a preliminary assessment for these controllable reactors are pointed out.
Analysis of Quality Evaluation Results of HIV/AIDS Antibody Screening Laboratories in Maoming Area in 2007

OBJECTIVE To understand the development condition of HIV/AIDS antibody screening laboratories in Maoming Area and improve the specialized quality of laboratory worker and the quality of laboratory working in order to accelerate the standardization construction and management of HIV/AIDS antibody screening laboratories in Maoming Area. METHODS A set of blind serum panel(including 3 strong positive, 2 weak positive, 5 negative) was issued to every HIV/AIDS antibody screening laboratory which must accomplish the HIV/AIDS antibody screening and report according to the demand of National Guideline for Detection of HIV/AIDS (version in 2004) within regulation time;And every laboratory must fill out a quality assessment questionnaire according to the facts and provide the corresponding certificate datas. RESULTS A total of 13 laboratories took part in quality evaluation. CONCLUSION Laboratory network for HIV/AIDS antibody screening has been established preliminarily in Maoming Area , which can meet the basic need for HIV/AIDS antibody screening at present. But according to the requirements of National Guideline for Detection of HIV/AIDS (version in 2004), these laboratories should build up a better quality management system. The specialized level of technical staff and HIV/AIDS screening test skill need to be improved.
Supplemental health insurance: did Croatia miss an opportunity?

Croatia continues to face a health-funding crisis. A recent supplemental health insurance law increases revenues through first increasing co-payments, then raising the payroll tax to cover those co-payments. This public finance “slight-of-hand” will not solve the system’s structural issues and may worsen system performance both in terms of efficiency and equity. Should Croatia have considered private supplemental insurance as an alternative? There is a new single private supplemental health insurance market now evolving over the EU countries and into Eastern Europe. Croatians could take advantage of lowered costs due to larger risk pooling and the lower administrative overheads of mature insurance organizations. Private supplemental insurance, when designed well, can address several objectives, including a) increased revenues into the health sector; b) removal of the public burden of coverage of selected services for certain population groups; and c) encourage new management and organizational innovations into the sector. Private and multiple company insurance markets are thought to be superior in terms of consumer responsiveness; choice of benefits; adoption of new, more expensive technology; and use of private sector providers. Private sector insurers may also encourage “spillover” effects encouraging reforms with public sector insurance performance. There is already an emerging private insurance market in Croatia, but can it be expanded and properly regulated? The private insurance companies might capture as much as 30-70% of the market for certain services, such as high cost procedures, preferred providers, and hotel amenities. But the Government will need to strengthen the regulatory framework for private insurance and assure that there is adequate regulatory capacity.
Perineal exposure to talc and ovarian cancer risk.

Objective We sought to determine whether the use of talc in genital hygiene increases the risk for epithelial ovarian cancer. Methods We interviewed 235 white women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer between 1984-1987 at ten Boston metropolitan area hospitals and 239 population-based controls of similar race, age, and residence. Results Overall, 49% of cases and 39% of controls reported exposure to talc, via direct application to the perineum or to undergarments, sanitary napkins, or diaphragms, which yielded a 1.5 odds ratio (OR) for ovarian cancer (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-2.1). Among women with perineal exposure to talc, the risk was significantly elevated in the subgroups of women who applied it: 1) directly as a body powder (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7), 2) on a daily basis (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0), and 3) for more than 10 years (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.7). The greatest ovarian cancer risk associated with perineal talc use was observed in the subgroup of women estimated to have made more than 10,000 applications during years when they were ovulating and had an intact genital tract (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4-5.4); however, this exposure was found in only 14% of the women with ovarian cancer. Conclusions These data support the concept that a life-time pattern of perineal talc use may increase the risk for epithelial ovarian cancer but is unlikely to be the etiology for the majority of epithelial ovarian cancers.