cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Philosophy of Selection: Units and Levels

A hierarchical approach to natural selection picks out the levels and units of biological organization that causally interact with the selective environment leading to differential reproduction. Keywords: units of selection; levels of selection; genic selection; hierarchical selection
Techniques in genomic imprinting research

Contemporary assays to evaluate candidate-imprinted genes are varied, but they generally fall into two categories: those that assess monoallelic expression and those that assess DNA methylation. Parental origin-dependent expression is the most definitive test for imprinted gene determination. Alternatively, cytosine DNA methylation is a measurable epigenetic feature that correlates with gene transcription and thus commonly serves as a DNA-based indicator of monoallelic expression. Outlined below are approaches that examine both differential expression by RT-PCR of transcribed polymorphisms, and differential cytosine methylation by amplification of bisulfite-converted genomic DNA. Keywords: bisulfite conversion; differential transcription; differential methylation; epigenetic; genomic sequencing; methylation-specific PCR
Recent results on cosmic strings and galaxy formation

The origin of galactic angular momentum via tidal torquing and the evolution of the mass function of galactic halos are discussed in the context of the cosmic string model.
Clinical validation of machine learning for automatic analysis of multichannel magnetocardiography

Magnetocardiographic (MCG) mapping measures magnetic fields generated by the electrophysiological activity of the heart. Quantitative analysis of MCG ventricular repolarization (VR) parameters may be useful to detect myocardial ischemia in patients with apparently normal ECG. However, manual calculation of MCG VR is time consuming and can be dependent on the examiner’s experience. Alternatively, the use of machine learning (ML) has been proposed recently to automate the interpretation of MCG recordings and to minimize human interference with the analysis. The aim of this study was to validate the predictive value of ML techniques in comparison with interactive, computer-aided, MCG analysis. ML testing was done on a set of 140 randomly analysed MCG recordings from 74 subjects: 41 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) (group 1), 32 of them untreated (group 2), and 33 subjects without any evidence of cardiac disease (group 3). For each case at least 2 MCG datasets, recorded in different sessions, were analysed. Two ML techniques combined identified abnormal VR in 25 IHD patients (group 1) and excluded VR abnormalities in 28 controls (group 3) providing 75% sensitivity, 85% specificity, 83% positive predictive value, 78% negative predictive value, 80% predictive accuracy This result was for the most part in agreement, but statistically better than that obtained with interactive analysis. This study confirms that ML, applied on MCG recording at rest, has a predictive accuracy of 80% in detecting electrophysiological alterations associated with untreated IHD. Further work is needed to test the ML capability to differentiate VR alterations due to IHD from those due to non-ischemic cardiomyopathies.
A single point mutation resulting in an adversely reduced expression of DPM2 in the Lec15.1 cells.

Abstract Mammalian dolichol–phosphate–mannose (DPM) synthase consists of three subunits, DPM1, DPM2, and DPM3. Lec15.1 Chinese hamster ovary cells are deficient in DPM synthase activity. The present paper reports that DPM1 cDNA from wild type and Lec15.1 CHO cells were found to be identical, and transfection with CHO DPM1 cDNA did not reverse the Lec15.1 phenotype. Neither did a chimeric cDNA containing the complete hamster DPM1 open reading frame fused to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DPM1 C-terminal transmembrane domain. In contrast, Lec15.1 cells were found to have a single point mutation G29A within the coding region of the DPM2 gene, resulting in a glycine to glutamic acid change in amino acid residue 10 of the peptide. Moreover, mutant DPM2 cDNA expressed a drastically reduced amount of DPM2 protein and poorly corrects the Lec15.1 cell phenotype when compared with wild type CHO DPM2 cDNA (G 29 form).
Synthesis and Characterization of Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes with Tetra-2-pyridylpyrazine as a Bridge

The syntheses and characterization of a series of complexes of the general formula [Cl(bpy‘)Ru(tppz)Ru(bpy‘)Cl](PF6)2, where tppz is tetra-2-pyridylpyrazine and bpy‘ is 2,2‘-bipyridine or substituted 2,2‘-bipyridine, are described. Preparations with 2,2‘-bipyridine or 4,4‘-dimethyl-2,2‘-bipyridine (1 and 2, respectively) give mixtures of two isomers. The isomers of 2 were separated chromatographically and the X-ray crystal structure of the cis isomer was solved. Significant distortion is observed in both the coordination geometry around each ruthenium atom and in the tppz ligand resulting in short intramolecular Ru···Ru and Cl···Cl separations (6.558(1) and 5.880(2) A, respectively). Ligands containing two bipyridine groups linked through eight- and nine-atom bridges have also been synthesized. The length of the bridge between bipyridine groups allows for the formation of cis complexes 3−5 having the general formula shown above but prevents formation of a trans isomer.
Contribution of the transmembrane domain 6 of melanocortin-4 receptor to peptide [Pro5, dNal (2′)8]-γ-MSH selectivity

Abstract The melanocortin receptor (MCR) subtype family is a member of the GPCR superfamily and each of them has a different pharmacological profile regarding the relative potency of the endogenous and synthetic melanocortin peptides. Substitution of Trp with d Nal (2′) in γ-MSH resulted in the loss of binding affinity and potency at hMC4R. However, the molecular mechanism of this ligand selectivity is unclear. In this study, we utilized chimeric receptors and site-directed mutagenesis approaches to investigate the molecular basis of MC4R responsible for peptide [Pro 5 , d Nal (2′) 8 ]-γ-MSH selectivity. Cassette substitutions of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth TM of the human MC4R (hMC4R) with the homologous regions of hMC1R were constructed and the binding affinity of peptide [Pro 5 , d Nal (2′) 8 ]-γ-MSH at these chimeric receptors was evaluated. Our results indicate that the cassette substitutions of TM2, TM3, TM4 and TM5 of hMC4R with homologous regions of the hMC1R did not significantly increase peptide [Pro 5 , d Nal (2′) 8 ]-γ-MSH binding affinity and potency but substitution of the TM6 of the hMC4R with the same region of the hMC1R significantly enhances [Pro 5 , d Nal (2′) 8 ]-γ-MSH binding affinity and potency. Further site-directed mutagenesis study indicates that four amino acid residues, Phe267, Tyr268, Ile269 and Ser270, in TM6 of the hMC4R may play an important role in [Pro5, d Nal (2′)-γ-MSH selective activity at MC4R.
T Cell Co-Stimulatory Molecules: A Co-conspirator in the Pathogenesis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis?

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has become a common gastrointestinal disease. It is characterized by severe eosinophil infiltration in the esophagus. EoE is strongly associated with food allergy, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and other allergic diseases. T lymphocytes, especially Th2 cells, play an instrumental role in the development of allergic inflammation. Recent studies have shown that the ligation of co-stimulatory molecules contributes to the activation, differentiation, and proliferation of T cells. In this review, we will discuss the growing evidence of co-stimulatory molecules including OX40, Light, and HVEM in the pathogenesis of Th2-driven EoE. Our goal is to provide the rationale for the development of novel therapy therapies that target co-stimulatory molecules.
The thermal expansion of niobium pentoxide and its effect on the spalling of niobium oxidation films

Abstract The thermal expansion coefficients of stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric niobium, pentoxide have been determined from 20°–1000°C and 20°–500°C, respectively, and were found to be significantly smaller than that of niobium metal. The thermal stresses were calculated which are induced during cooling of a coherent oxide-coated niobium plate. In the absence of volume mismatch of oxide and metal it was concluded that thermal stresses due to differences in expansion coefficients should not cause spalling when the oxidized sample is cooled from 600°C. A more realistic appraisal, which is consistent with experimentally observed spalling, was made by consideration of the very large strains arising from coherency of the voluminous oxide on the more dense metal. The surface layers of the substrate may deform plastically during oxidation at high temperatures, even though appreciable contamination and strengthening has occurred. Upon cooling, however, the added thermal stresses and decreasing plasticity of the contaminated substrate may lead to spalling, the crack initiating in the contaminated metal and propagating into the brittle oxide.
Modeling the combustion of JA2 and solid propellants of similar composition

Abstract A theoretical study on combustion of JA2, RPD-380, and RPD-351, which are modified double-base propellants composed primarily of three identical nitrate ester ingredients, is presented. A one-dimensional, two-phase model was used [M.S. Miller, W.R. Anderson, in: V. Yang, T.B. Brill, W.Z. Ren (Eds.), Solid Propellant Combustion Chemistry, Combustion and Motor Interior Ballistics, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, vol. 185, AIAA, Reston, VA, 2000, pp. 501–531, (a) M.S. Miller, W.R. Anderson, J. Propul. Power 20 (3) (2004) 440–454. (b) M.S. Miller, W.R. Anderson, CYCLOPS, A Breakthrough Code to Predict Solid-Propellant Burning Rates, U.S. Army Research Laboratory Technical Report, 1987 ARL-TR-2910.]. This approach has been shown to give good agreement between predicted and experimental results for several nitrate ester propellants, including JA2 [(a) M.S. Miller, W.R. Anderson, J. Propul. Power 20 (3) (2004) 440–454. (b) M.S. Miller, W.R. Anderson, CYCLOPS, A Breakthrough Code to Predict Solid-Propellant Burning Rates, U.S. Army Research Laboratory Technical Report, 1987 ARL-TR-2910.]. Extension of the model to the two RPD variants yields results in good agreement with existing experimental data. Comparisons of the response of predicted burning rates to experimental formulation changes at gun pressures, and to the initial propellant temperature are particularly encouraging. Our results show the burning rate ordering of these propellants is JA2
Genetic and evolutionary consequences of metapopulation structure

Abstract Extinction and recolonization of populations may have various effects on the degree and distribution of genetic variation, but turnover is generally associated with low levels of among-population variation, in both ‘classical' and other types of metapopulation. Therefore, adaptive evolution is unlikely to be promoted by selection among populations. Whether adaptation is promoted or slowed by population subdivision, with or without turnover, remains a subject of theoretical debate.
Automatic biosystems comparison using semantic and name similarity

With the growth of bio-systems model development, automatic approaches are needed to support systems biologists in model similarity evaluation. Several algorithms have been proposed, but they lack efficiency. We have developed an efficient, intuitive approach using name and semantic similarity checking. Individual components in two given SBML models are compared by their names using ParaABioS (a heuristic Parallelizable Algorithm for Similarity Based Biosystems Comparison) and by their meaning using annotated URI (Unified Resource Identifier). We developed a tool SMBLcompare, an implementation of this approach for automatic bio-systems model comparison in SBML format. This implementation has been embedded into a web portal for small biosystems comparison and also integrated into the Bioextract Server (bioextract.org) in order to be able to use within workflows designed to address escience challenges. SBMLcompare has been successfully used on FOCM (Folate One Carbon Metabolite) models and two genome-scale yeast metabolic models iND750, iFF708. The similarity result showed a significant improvement compared to existing related work (over 10%).
Analysis of cores of ferruginous bodies from former asbestos workers

Abstract The coating was removed from 442 isolated ferruginous bodies which had been collected from tissues of occupationally exposed individuals. The core material was determined to be amosite asbestos, consistent with that used in their previous industrial setting. While length has been reported to play a determining role regarding which fibers become coated, the process used in this study allowed characterization of other distinguishing traits of the cores. These included surface irregularities, consisting of etching, fractures, fraying, and complexities involving multifibers or fibrillar composition. The majority of the uncoated fibers were short in length, but they also had much smoother surface features with fewer irregularities than the coated fibers.
Inhibition of the effect of lithium on brain inositol by atropine and scopolamine.

Atropine and scopolamine were found to inhibit the reduction in levels of brain myo-inositol (inositol) which occurs in lithium treated rats. There was no effect on the elevation of serum inositol levels induced by lithium. The anticholinergic agents produced no changes in inositol levels in brain or serum when administered alone and also they did not affect the concentrations of lithium in the tissues. The effect of lithium on brain inositol was not inhibited by methylatropine or methylscopolamine.
EFFECTIVE PROPERTIES OF SMART ELASTIC LAMINATES AND THE SCREENING PHENOMENON

Non-stationary phenomena arising in structures can be effectively controlled via smart (intelligent) materials. The corresponding mathematical problems contain controls in the coefficients of hyperbolic equations, these controls depending both on position and time. When appropriately activated, such controls may provide 100% screening of some extended parts of the structure from the invasion of dynamic disturbances. For bars exposed to longitudinal vibrations, the material pattern producing such a screening effect can be the combination of rank-one laminar composites in space-time. Such a composite is described as an array of alternating segments with different pairs (p,, k,) and (pz, kJ of density and stiffness of smart material, this whole array traveling along the bar with a suitable constant speed V. 0 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. The appearance of smart materials has made it realistic to claim for the structures properties that may vary both in space and time, thus making these structures highly responsive to the non-stationary environment. We shall place emphasis on the design of material patterns able to block the propagation of undesirable disturbances caused by impulsive loads, impacts, etc., into some extended parts of the structure vulnerable to a material damage. Such screening may be achieved through the deployment of special assemblages of smart materials, e.g., smart laminar composites, activated at appropriate location at appropriate time. Mathematically, the problem reduces to that of the control of coefficients in hyperbolic equations both in space and time. This control is assumed to be materialized through the sensors and actuators distributed throughout a smart structure.
A novel design of a feedback-controlled optical microphone for aeroacoustics research

This study constitutes a proof of concept of a new feedback-controlled optical microphone for potential use in phased 'beam-forming' arrays utilized in aeroacoustics research. In the new microphone design, a fiber-optic lever sensor is employed as a means for measuring the center displacement of a stretched thin membrane caused by incident acoustic pressure. The membrane is constructed from polyvinylidene-fluoride which exhibits piezoelectric properties allowing actuation of the membrane in a feedback system to nullify the optically detected deflection. The feedback provision was used to actively modify sensor parameters, most notably membrane stiffness, resonant frequency and damping. Testing of a prototype microphone was performed using a plane wave tube calibrator. Using feedback control, the fundamental resonant frequency of the prototype capsule was increased from 3.61 to 5.1 kHz, a 41% increase. Also, feedback was used for dc attenuation, equivalent to 'stiffening' of the microphone membrane. The results demonstrate that feedback control is an effective method for improving the microphone's transient response, as well as for 'self-tuning' and matching of microphone parameters in sensing arrays.
Nursing Knowledge Development through Research: Using the Roy Adaptation Model

Almost half of the ancillary propositions tested in the metaparadigm category were related to the concept of person, and 94% were supported. Theoretically and empirically, there is support for Roy's conceptualization of the person as an adaptive system. Almost 25% of the ancillary propositions tested were related to the concept of health, of which the great majority were supported. Theoretically and empirically, there is support for Roy's conceptualization of health as an outcome of adaptation. Approximately 75% of the ancillary propositions tested were related to the concept of person or health. Of these, only 5 out of 55 ancillary propositions were not supported, or less than 10%. Less than 13% of the ancillary propositions that were tested focused on the metaparadigm concepts of environment or nursing. Of these, 15% were not supported. These findings are not surprising, because conceptual clarity is the foundation of practice theory. The hierarchy of research, according to the classic work by Dickoff and James (1968), progresses from understanding and describing phenomena to situation-producing theory. Nursing models are relatively young. Research is required to validate the concepts within the models. Situation-producing theory, based on the concepts, guides nursing actions and is necessary for a practice discipline to maintain its status as a profession. Based on the findings of the integrative research review, adequate research has provided support for Roy's conceptualization of the metaparadigm concepts of person and health. Future research needs to be directed toward testing propositions derived from the RAM concepts of environment and nursing. Intervention studies need to be designed based on concepts that have been supported. Knowledge development through research and testing of propositions based on the RAM continues to contribute to nursing science. Future directions for RAM research are clear.
Amniotic Sac Infection Syndrome Features Fetal Lung Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperfunction

Neuroendocrine cells (NEC) are abundant in fetal and neonatal lungs, but reduced in infants with hyaline membrane disease. Perinatal neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (NCH) has been reported in the hypoplastic lung in diaphragmatic hernia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and Wilson-Mikity syndrome. Since we are unaware of any reports on NCH in fetal inflammatory conditions, this report addresses the NEC in fetuses with congenital pneumonia. Twenty-one fetuses/neonates with congenital pneumonia, autopsied between 1995 and 2001, were compared to 21 fetuses without a congenital infection matched for gestational age. Lung sections were immunostained for chromogranin, bombesin, calcitonin, and synaptophysin. Proportions of immunopositive cells lining 20 consecutive bronchioles calculated from digital images were significantly higher in the study than the control group for chromogranin (1.8 vs. 0.8%, P = 2.4 E-06), calcitonin (1.2 vs. 0.7%, P = 0.005), and bombesin (1.1 vs. 0.7%, P = 0.005). There was no difference in synaptophysin (11.7% vs. 12.6%, P = 0.07). The absence of significant differences in the synaptophysin ratio excludes simple NCH in the study group. The synchronous increase in three neurohormones is indicative of NEC hyperfunction, due to either altered enzymatic inactivation by neutral endopeptidase, known to be reduced in adult lung inflammation, or by an increase in expression of the neurohormone genes. These data indicate that NEC hyperfunction may be responsible for the deranged fetal/neonatal lung function and circulatory adaptation, and contribute to the lethality of the amniotic sac infection syndrome.
Wafer-Scale Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrates with Highly Reproducible Enhancement

Here, we report a simple colloidal templating approach for fabricating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with highly reproducible enhancement over wafer-sized areas. The substrates are produced by evaporating a thin layer of gold on highly ordered silica colloidal crystal−polymer nanocomposites created by a scalable spin-coating technology. The ordered inorganic−organic composite structure induces the formation of island-type gold films. Systematic measurements and statistical analysis show that the substrates exhibit high SERS reproducibility with less than 28% standard deviation over a 4 in. wafer surface. Finite element electromagnetic modeling has also been employed to simulate SERS enhancement from these structured substrates.
Delinquency model predictive power among low-documentation loans

Abstract Using data from a major mortgage bank, we examine the predictive power of mortgage delinquency models as an aggregate measure of the quality of information recorded at loan origination. We measure model predictive power using an out-of-sample prediction criterion and compare predictive power of delinquency models over time and across loans of different documentation levels and origination channels. We found that model predictive power declined over time throughout the housing boom; further, predictive power is attenuated in delinquency models for low-documentation loans, providing suggestive evidence that loan and borrower characteristics used in the delinquency predictions may be inaccurate or falsified for such loans. We do not find differences in model predictive power when comparing bank- versus third party (broker) originated loans.
Classification of the maximal cliques of size in the quadratic forms graph in odd characteristic

Let V denote a d -dimensional vector space over F q . Associated to V is a distance-regular graph Quad( d, q ), the vertex set of which consists of all quadratic forms on V and the edges ( x, y ) of which are defined by the property rk ( x - y ) = 1 or 2. In [8] it is shown that there are three distinguished classes of maximal cliques of respective sizes q d , q d and q 3 , and that all remaining maximal cliques M satisfy ❘ M ❘ ⩽ q 2 + q + 2. In the present work, we obtain a strong refinement of this result when q ⩾ 5 is odd, providing a complete classification of all maximal cliques of size at least q + 4.
Crosshole seismic methods to assess the seismic stability of earthen dams

An in situ geophysical investigation consisting of crosshole and downhole shear wave (S-wave) and surface vibratory tests was performed at Sardis Dam, located on the Tallahatchie River in northwest Mississippi. Tests were conducted in a pile test section at the downstream toe of the dam. The purpose of the investigation was to determine changes in S-wave velocities, which are related to soil strength, in the test section due to pile driving activities. Comparison tests were conducted three times: prior to driving the piles, immediately after, and three months after the piles had been driven. The S-wave crosshole and surface vibratory tests indicated a significant velocity increase, averaging more than 20 percent, due to the driving of piles in the test section. Of the geophysical tests conducted, crosshole testing was the most sensitive in denoting velocity changes. The downhole S-wave test did not detect any significant velocity increases. The scope of this paper is limited to results of crosshole testing.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Web-based home telemedicine system for orthopedics

Traditionally, telemedicine systems have been designed to improve access to care by allowing physicians to consult a specialist about a case without sending the patient to another location, which may be difficult or time-consuming to reach. The cost of the equipment and network bandwidth needed for this consultation has restricted telemedicine use to contact between physicians instead of between patients and physicians. Recently, however, the wide availability of Internet connectivity and client and server software for e- mail, world wide web, and conferencing has made low-cost telemedicine applications feasible. In this work, we present a web-based system for asynchronous multimedia messaging between shoulder replacement surgery patients at home and their surgeons. A web browser plug-in was developed to simplify the process of capturing video and transferring it to a web site. The video capture plug-in can be used as a template to construct a plug-in that captures and transfers any type of data to a web server. For example, readings from home biosensor instruments (e.g., blood glucose meters and spirometers) that can be connected to a computing platform can be transferred to a home telemedicine web site. Both patients and doctors can access this web site to monitor progress longitudinally. The system has been tested with 3 subjects for the past 7 weeks, and we plan to continue testing in the foreseeable future.
Variation in readmission by hospital after colorectal cancer surgery.

Importance Hospital readmission after colorectal surgery is common, with reported 30-day readmission rates ranging from 10% to 14%. Readmission has become a major hospital quality metric, but it is unclear whether there is much difference in readmission among hospitals after appropriate risk adjustment. Objective To assess the variability in risk-adjusted readmission rates among hospitals after colorectal surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants We performed a hierarchical multivariable logistic regression analysis of observational data obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare linked database, a nationally representative cancer registry. We studied 44 822 patients who underwent colorectal resection for cancer at 1401 US hospitals from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2002. Main Outcomes and Measures Variation in risk-adjusted 30-day readmission among hospitals. Results The median age of the study patients was 78 years (interquartile range [IQR], 72-83 years). The overall 30-day readmission rate was 12.3% (n = 5502). Looking at hospitals that performed at least 5 operations annually, we found marked variation in raw readmission rates, with a range of 0% to 41.2% (IQR, 9.5%-14.8%). However, after adjusting for patient characteristics, comorbidities, and operation types in a hierarchical model, no significant variability was found in readmission rates among hospitals, with a range of 11.3% to 13.2% (IQR, 12.1%-12.4%). Furthermore, the 95% CI for hospital-specific readmission overlapped the overall mean at every hospital. Conclusions and Relevance Little risk-adjusted variation exists in hospital readmission rates after colorectal surgery. The use of readmission rates as a high-stakes quality measure for payment adjustment or public reporting across surgical specialties should proceed cautiously and must include appropriate risk adjustment.
Spin‐Wave Theory on Quasi‐One‐Dimensional Heisenberg Antiferromagnets

The low-temperature of quasi-one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnets with ferromagnetic coupling between nerest-neighbor spins within a chain and antiferromagnetic couplng between nearest-neighbor spins withina chain and antiferromagnetic coupling between chains are studied by the spin-wave theory. The effects of interchain coupoling on the ground state energy, sublattice magnetization, and perpendicular susceptibility at zero temperture are calculated numerically. At low temperatures, asympototic expressions of sublattice magnetization, internal energy, magnetic specific heat, parallel and perpendicular susceptibilities are given as functions of temperature and interchain coupling strength within tow sub-temerature regions. It is found that if interchain coupling is weak, with increasing temperature the properties of the system change from threedimensional behavior (Δm ∝ T2, ΔE ∝T4, Cm ∝ T3, X∥ ∝ T5/2, ΔX⊥ ∝ T2) To quasi-one-dimensional bahavior (Δm ∝ T, ΔE ∝ T3/2, Cm ∝ T1/2, X∥ ∝ T3/2, ΔX⊥ ∝ T).
Recent Results on the Optoelectronic Feedback Preamplifier

A brief description of the optoelectronic feedback system is followed by an account of some interesting aspects of low-noise preamplifiers and detectors revealed by this work. These include the following items: 1. The observation of hole collection at the gate of a FET analogous to ion collection at the grid of a vacuum tube. 2. Mechanical failure modes of light-emitting diodes when cycling their temperature to and from 77°K. 3. A counting-rate effect due to the mean current in the feedback path. This naturally leads to a philosophical discussion of the equivalence of resistor and light-coupled feedback systems. It also suggests the potential advantages of using a pulsed, rather than dc, feedback system. We also report the use of the optoelectronic feedback system for the observation of a Fano factor of .08 or less for a germanium detector.
A comparison of health complaints of settled and nomadic Turkana men.

This article examines the health complaints of settled and nomadic Ngisonyoka Turkana of northwest Kenya. Samples of 152 nomadic and 124 settled men, aged 14 and over, were surveyed about their health status. The general pattern of disease reported concurs with previous studies of health among Turkana; that is, the primary complaints are respiratory tract infections and eye infections. The settled Turkana reported more severe complaints and higher rates of infectious disease than the nomads, including a significantly higher frequency of cold with cough, eye infection, and chest infection. Although the settled males as a group had slightly higher body mass index and other measures of body fat than the nomadic group, none of these indicators of body composition were predictive of health complaints. Observed differences in health patterns are possibly related to differences in dietary composition, exposure to pathogens associated with population density and environmental pollution, physical activity patterns, and psychosocial stress, [sedentarization, epidemiologic transition, nutrition and health, Turkana, pastoralists]
CONTRACTILE BEHAVIOR OF NEW BORN LAMB LEFT ANTERIOR DESCENDING CORONARY ARTERY (LAD) IS REGULATED BY PROTEIN TYROSINE KINASE-DEPENDENT MECHANISM † 130

The complex post-receptor signaling events which ultimately regulate coronary circulation during perinatal development remain to be elucidated. Protein tyrosine kinase (PTK;ATP:protein-tyrosine-O-phosphotransferase) plays a key role in intracellular signal transduction associated with vascular growth, development and function. In order to test the hypothesis that contractile behavior of newborn lamb LAD may be regulated by PTK- and/or protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)-dependent mechanisms, we evaluated, using tissue chamber technique, the effect of genistein[G], an inhibitor of PTK, and sodium orthovanadate [SOV], an inhibitor of PTP, on isolated LAD preparations(wet weight≈0.9 mg). [SOV](50, 100, 500 μM) stimulated contraction of LAD in a dose-dependent manner (0.05±0.03, 0.21±0.08, 1.09±0.23 g/mg tissue, respectively; which was equal to 13%, 47%, 111% of the maximal response to 120 mM KCl, respectively). [G] pretreatment (100μM) completely suppressed the SOV-induced contraction (0.01±0.02,-0.07±0.04,-0.02±0.05 g/mg tissue, respectively). In additional experiments, [G] reduced (from 0.33±0.12g/mg to 0.05±0.02 g/mg,≈85%) the contractile response of LAD to angiotensin II [A] (100 nM). However, [SOV] (500 μM) augmented (from 0.35±0.07g/mg to 0.42±0.07 g/mg, ≈21%) the [A]-induced contraction. Based on these data, we conclude that PTK/PTP-dependent signal transduction pathway(s) may be an important factor in the regulation of the basal tone and in the post receptor signaling associated with [A]-induced force generation in LAD of newborn lamb. {Supported by American Heart Association national council,#95009270}
Self-adjoint operators of transport in interacting solid-fluid systems

Abstract An operator formulation of the problem of heat transfer between an axially dispersed fluid and a bed of particles is provided. Several peculiar properties of the operator are unearthed and exploited to gain vital physical information about the nature of the interaction between the two phases with a minimum of computation. The analysis is indicated to be of more general value and demonstrated for the simple situation in this paper only for the purposes of clarity.
Design of opto-electronic nano-structures, capability for optimization of different solar cells

Development of CAD tools for optical devices is under way to include multi-physics tools. Previously, tools like “RCWA” was used for the diffraction mode of periodic structure analysis, while FDTD is typically used as a general numerical method for analyzing field propagation in the time domain to investigate transmission, reflection, and absorption of electromagnetic energy for devices like optical ring resonators. Meanwhile, for sources it is essential to analyze the semiconductor physics, generation and recombination of electron/hole pairs and the photons generation efficiency linking current to light like in lasers, LEDs, photodiodes, and solar cells.
Serum bilirubin binding capacity and free bilirubin concentration: a comparison between sephadex G-25 filtration and peroxidase oxidation techniques.

Summary: In 35 neonatal sera, comparisons were made of bilirubin binding capacity determined by Sephadex gel filtration and by peroxidase oxidation techniques. The serum indirect bilirubin concentration was 11.1 ± 4.6 mg/100 ml (190 ± 79 μM/liter); the serum concentration of unbound bilirubin was 50 ± 60 μg/100 ml (0.85 ± 1.03 μM/liter) by gel filtration and 0.77 ± 0.66 μg/100 ml (0.013 ± 0.011 μM/liter) by peroxidase oxidation. Binding capacity averaged 22.9 ± 5.6 mg/100 ml (392 ± 96 μM/liter) by gel filtration and 22.1 ± 6.1 mg/100 ml (378 ± 104 μM/liter) by peroxidase oxidation. The binding capacity, expressed as moles of bilirubin bound per mole of albumin, was 0.80 mol bilirubin/mol albumin by the Sephadex method and 0.77 by the peroxidase method. Individual values for binding capacity were in close agreement (r = 0.961, P < 0.001). At saturation of the first bilirubin binding site, the unbound bilirubin concentration was 190 ± 80 μg/100 ml (3.25 ± 1.37 μM/liter) by gel filtration and 1.87 ± 0.54 μg/100 ml (0.032 ± 0.009 μM/liter) by peroxidase oxidation. There was no correlation between unbound bilirubin concentrations estimated by the two methods. The peroxidase method requires a smaller volume of serum than the Sephadex method and is more sensitive to small changes in free bilirubin concentration. Speculation: Both Sephadex gel filtration and peroxidase oxidation techniques appear capable of predicting the indirect bilirubin concentration at which the first or “tight” bilirubin binding site will be saturated, and above which free bilirubin concentration will be greatly increased. In neonatal sera, the two methods showed close agreement for individual determinations of binding capacity over a wide range of molar ratios. The lower limit for the neurotoxic concentration of unbound or “free” bilirubin is not precisely known and may vary in the face of multiple clinical factors. However, it seems likely that free bilirubin concentrations in excess of those measured at saturation of the first binding site would be potentially neurotoxic, and that bilirubin bound to secondary binding sites would be more readily dissociable.
Assessment of functional recovery and axonal sprouting in oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMgp) null mice after spinal cord injury.

Abstract Oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMgp) is a myelin component that has been shown in vitro to inhibit neurite outgrowth by binding to the Nogo-66 receptor (NgR1)/Lingo-1/Taj (TROY)/p75 receptor complex to activate the RhoA pathway. To investigate the effects of OMgp on axon regeneration in vivo, OMgp−/− mice on a mixed 129/Sv/C57BL/6 (129BL6) or a C57BL/6 (BL6) genetic background were tested in two spinal cord injury (SCI) models — a severe complete transection or a milder dorsal hemisection. OMgp−/− mice on the mixed 129BL6 genetic background showed greater functional improvement compared to OMgp+/+ littermates, with increased numbers of cholera toxin B-labeled ascending sensory axons and 5-HT+ descending axons and less RhoA activation after spinal cord injury. Myelin isolated from OMgp−/− mice (129BL6) was significantly less inhibitory to neurite outgrowth than wild-type (wt) myelin in vitro. However, OMgp−/− mice on a BL/6 genetic background showed neither statistically significant functional recovery nor axonal sprouting following dorsal hemisection.
The morality of sex: Contra Kant

While much that is admirable in romanticism stems from Kant's philosophy, a better account of how sexuality can be an ethical possibility exceeds the cramped parameters that he imposes. His conception of marriage and its dependence upon a contractual exchange of rights may well be irremediable because of its formal emptinesses. His idea of human love as good will and an interest in the welfare of the beloved is defensible as far as it goes. But it does not go far enough to explain the morality of love, either in sexuality or in marriage.
Performance characteristics of a curved-channel microchannel plate with a curved input face and a plane output face

The presently performance-evaluated format, in which a high-gain curved-channel microchannel plate (M2MCP) has a spherical concave input face and a plane output face, allows the input face of the MCP (1) to match such curved focal surfaces as that of a Rowland-circle spectrometer mounting, while (2) having a high-resolution plane readout array in proximity focus with the output face. This MCP has been evaluated in a discrete-anode multicathode microchannel array detector system. The saturated modal gain was found to be inversely proportional to the length/diameter ratio of the channels and directly proportional to the applied MCP voltage.
An empirical test of linkages proposed in the walker, churchill, and ford model of salesforce motivation and performance

In their model of salesforce motivation and performance, Ford, Churchill, and Walker hypothesize that a salesman's selling experience, participation in his supervisor's decision making, and closeness with which he is supervised are negatively related to his perception of role ambiguity and positively related to his job satisfaction. In addition, they hypothesize that the salesman's perception of role ambiguity is negatively related to his job satisfaction. The present study supports these hypotheses in terms of the following findings: (1) participation and closeness of supervision were negatively related to the salesman's perception of role ambiguity, (2) closeness of supervision was positively related to his extrinsic job satisfaction, and (3) participation was positively related to intrinsic job satisfaction. Finally, role ambiguity was negatively related to both extrinsic and intrinsic job satisfaction.
Generalized invexity for nonsmooth vector-valued mappings

We define four types of invexity for Lipschitz vector-valued mappings from Rp to Rq that generalize previous definitions of invexity in the differentiable setting. After establishing relationships between the various definitions, we show the importance of the concept of nonsmooth invexity in the field of optimization. In particular, we obtain conditions sufficient for optimality in unconstrained and cone-constrained nondifferentiable programming that are weaker than previous conditions presented in the literature; we also obtain weak and strong duality results.
Three New Genetic Loci (R1210C in CFH, Variants in COL8A1 and RAD51B) Are Independently Related to Progression to Advanced Macular Degeneration

Objectives To assess the independent impact of new genetic variants on conversion to advanced stages of AMD, controlling for established risk factors, and to determine the contribution of genes in predictive models. Methods In this prospective longitudinal study of 2765 individuals, 777 subjects progressed to neovascular disease (NV) or geographic atrophy (GA) in either eye over 12 years. Recently reported genetic loci were assessed for their independent effects on incident advanced AMD after controlling for 6 established loci in 5 genes, and demographic, behavioral, and macular characteristics. New variants which remained significantly related to progression were then added to a final multivariate model to assess their independent effects. The contribution of genes to risk models was assessed using reclassification tables by determining risk within cross-classified quintiles for alternative models. Results Three new genetic variants were significantly related to progression: rare variant R1210C in CFH (hazard ratio (HR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–5.3, P = 0.01), and common variants in genes COL8A1 (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.5, P = 0.02) and RAD51B (HR 0.8, 95% CI 0.60–0.97, P = 0.03). The area under the curve statistic (AUC) was significantly higher for the 9 gene model (.884) vs the 0 gene model (.873), P = .01. AUC’s for the 9 vs 6 gene models were not significantly different, but reclassification analyses indicated significant added information for more genes, with adjusted odds ratios (OR) for progression within 5 years per one quintile increase in risk score of 2.7, P<0.001 for the 9 vs 6 loci model, and OR 3.5, P<0.001 for the 9 vs. 0 gene model. Similar results were seen for NV and GA. Conclusions Rare variant CFH R1210C and common variants in COL8A1 and RAD51B plus six genes in previous models contribute additional predictive information for advanced AMD beyond macular and behavioral phenotypes.
American County Government: A Mid-Century Review.

Government in the United States is in considerable part local government, and of all local governmental units the county is most widely prevalent. Every state has counties (they are called parishes in Louisiana); in all states but Rhode Island the county is organized for governmental purposes; and, not with standing the existence of some areas without county organization, county government may be said virtually to blanket the nation. A generation ago, in a sub-title to one of the earlier books on the subject, the county was characterized as the “Dark Continent” of American Politics. Now, at mid-point in the century, it seems appropriate to reexamine the county with a view to determining the extent to which the backward institution of the early 1900's has since been modernized and the directions in which further improvement may reasonably be expected in the future.Perhaps most striking, in a comparison of present-day counties with those of a half-century ago, is the fact that, in total number of organized units (now 3,051) and in geographic outline, the county setup remains practically unchanged. Most present-day counties were established well before the turn of the century and, by and large, subsequent boundary changes have been few and of minor nature. A map of the nation's counties as of today would be scarcely distinguishable from one portraying the counties as of 1900 or even earlier.
An ergonomic study of the optimum operating table height for laparoscopic surgery.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery requires the use of longer instruments than open surgery, thus changing the relation between the height of the surgeon's hands and the desirable height of the operating room table. The optimum height of the operating room table for laparoscopic surgery is investigated in this study. Methods: Twenty-one surgeons performed a two-handed, one-fourth circle cutting task using a laparoscopic video system and laparoscopic instruments positioned at five instrument handle heights relative to subjects' elbow height (?20, ?10, 0, +10, and +20 cm) by adjusting the height of the trainer box. Subjects rated the difficulty and discomfort experienced during each task on a visual analog scale. Skin conductance (SC) was measured in Micromhos via paired surface electrodes placed near the ulnar edge of the palm of the right (cutting) hand. The mean electromyographic (EMG) signal from the right deltoid and trapezius muscles was measured. Arm orientation was measured in three dimensions using a magnetometer/accelerometer. Signals were acquired using analog circuitry and digitally sampled using a National Instruments DAQCard 700 connected to a Macintosh PowerBook 5300c running LabVIEW software. Statistical analysis was carried out by analysis of variance and post hoc testing. Results: Statistically significant changes were found in the subjective rating of discomfort (p <0.002), deltoid EMG (p <0.0006), trapezius EMG (p <0.0001), and arm elevation (p <0.0001) between instrument handle heights. SC values and task times did not change significantly. Discomfort and difficulty ratings were lowest when instrument handles were positioned at elbow height. EMG values and arm elevation all decreased with lower instrument height. Conclusion: This study suggests that the optimum table height for laparoscopic surgery should position the laparoscopic instrument handles close to surgeons' elbow level to minimize discomfort and upper arm and shoulder muscle work. This corresponds to an approximate table height of 64 to 77 cm above floor level. A redesign of current operating room tables may be required to meet these ergonomic guidelines.
Protein composition of rabbit alveolar surfactant subfractions.

Abstract The goal of this investigation was to characterize the proteins in subfractions of alveolar surfactant obtained by lung lavage and separated by differential centrifugation. It was previously demonstrated that the material in the more sedimentable fraction, which was enriched in tubular-myelin and was surface-active may be a precursor to the less sedimentable, vesicular, inactive material [1]. Separation of the proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the more sedimentable subfractions and rabbit surfactant isolated by conventional methods contained proteins with molecular weights comparable to those previously reported for alveolar surface active material (approximately 36 000 and 10 000). The less sedimentable subfractions contained less of these proteins. Immunoblots with anti-dog surfactant apoprotein antibodies, which cross-react with rabbit proteins, supported these observtions. Immunoblots also showed that all the subfractions contained serum proteins and secretory IgA, with the less sedimentable subfractions containing more secretory IgA. These results suggested that changes in protein composition may accompany functional changes in surfactant in the alveoli.
Cyclone separator scaling revisited

Abstract It is customary to assume cyclone separator fractional efficiency is independent of the mass distribution of the incoming dust. To test this hypothesis and to clarify the role of other variables known to influence cyclone performance, an experimental investigation of cyclome scaling using response surface techniques was undertaken. Both the overall collection efficiency and dimensionless pressure drop were found to be smooth, well-estimated functions of the Reynolds number, the dust loading, and their interaction over the experimental region, demonstrating that the effects of these variables must be studied concurrently. A simple similarity condition for fractional efficiency expressed in terms of the inlet distribution is proposed and experimentally confirmed. Both local reduction in overall efficiency with increased loading and unclassified particle collection, that is, collection independent of particle size, were observed experimentally and were described in a natural way using the present approach.