cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Screening and large-scale expression of membrane proteins in mammalian cells for structural studies

Structural, biochemical and biophysical studies of eukaryotic membrane proteins are often hampered by difficulties in overexpression of the candidate molecule. Baculovirus transduction of mammalian cells (BacMam), although a powerful method to heterologously express membrane proteins, can be cumbersome for screening and expression of multiple constructs. We therefore developed plasmid Eric Gouaux (pEG) BacMam, a vector optimized for use in screening assays, as well as for efficient production of baculovirus and robust expression of the target protein. In this protocol, we show how to use small-scale transient transfection and fluorescence-detection size-exclusion chromatography (FSEC) experiments using a GFP-His8-tagged candidate protein to screen for monodispersity and expression level. Once promising candidates are identified, we describe how to generate baculovirus, transduce HEK293S GnTI(-) (N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I-negative) cells in suspension culture and overexpress the candidate protein. We have used these methods to prepare pure samples of chicken acid-sensing ion channel 1a (cASIC1) and Caenorhabditis elegans glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCl) for X-ray crystallography, demonstrating how to rapidly and efficiently screen hundreds of constructs and accomplish large-scale expression in 4-6 weeks.
Modeling program predictability

Basic properties of program predictability --- for both values and control --- are defined and studied. We take the view that program predictability originates at certain points during a program's execution, flows through subsequent instructions, and then ends at other points in the program. These key components of predictability: generation, propagation, and termination; are defined in terms of a model. The model is based on a graph derived from dynamic data dependences and a predictor.Using the SPEC95 benchmarks, we analyze the predictability phenomena both separately and in combination. Examples are provided to illustrate relationships between model-based characteristics and program constructs. It is shown that most predictability derives from program control structure and immediate values, not program input data. Furthermore, most predictability originates from a relatively small number of generate points. The analysis of obtained results suggests a number of ramifications regarding predictability and its use.
Association between dietary glycemic index, glycemic load and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein

Objective This study examined the relationship between quality of dietary carbohydrate intake, as measured by glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL), and high sensitivity serum C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels.
Diabetes and injection site infections in children

Injection site infections in a paediatric diabetic population are reviewed and possible aetiological factors examined. The incidence of infection was found to be significantly higher (5%) than that reported from adult clinics. Adolescent girls are particularly at risk.
Methods for haptic feedback in teleoperated robot-assisted surgery.

Teleoperated minimally invasive surgical robots can significantly enhance a surgeon's accuracy, dexterity and visualization. However, current commercially available systems do not include significant haptic (force and tactile) feedback to the operator. This paper describes experiments to characterize this problem, as well as several methods to provide haptic feedback in order to improve surgeon's performance. There exist a variety of sensing and control methods that enable haptic feedback, although a number of practical considerations, e.g. cost, complexity and biocompatibility, present significant challenges. The ability of teleoperated robot‐assisted surgical systems to measure and display haptic information leads to a number of additional exciting clinical and scientific opportunities, such as active operator assistance through “virtual fixtures” and the automatic acquisition of tissue properties.
End-Use Load and Consumer Assessment Program: motivation and overview

Abstract The End-Use Load and Consumer Assessment Program (ELCAP) was a major end-use data collection program undertaken by the Bonneville Power Administration from 1983 through 1990 to obtain specific information to support a variety of conservation and forecasting activities. The objectives of the program were to test key assumptions used in current engineering and forecasting models, provide insights regarding how various factors affect energy consumption, provide information to support load management conservation and marketing programs, and identify conservation resource potential from new demand-side technologies or programs. To accomplish this, a well-designed experiment was required that accounted for adequate representation of both existing and new buildings in the residential and commercial sector of the Pacific Northwest. This paper summarizes the motivations for obtaining the data, information regarding the sample, an overview of the analysis agenda, and specifics regarding the data set, both engineering and characteristics.
Surgical Management and Outcomes of Patients with Duodenal Crohn's Disease

Background Duodenal Crohn's disease (DCD) has been reported to occur in 0.5% to 4% of patients with Crohn's disease. When patients fail to respond to conservative therapy or severe narrowing of the duodenum develops, operation is required. The recent literature is limited in description of surgical treatment of such patients. We reviewed our experience with surgical management and outcomes in patients with DCD, including outcomes of laparoscopic bypass procedures. Study Design A retrospective review was undertaken of all patients who underwent surgical intervention for DCD between 1995 and 2006. Data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, operative and hospital course, and postoperative followup. Results Thirty patients had surgical intervention for DCD during the selected period. Four patients had duodenoenteric fistulas, resulting from complications of their disease in the distal gastrointestinal tract. Operations done for intrinsic DCD were: open bypass (n = 11), laparoscopic bypass (n = 13), and stricturoplasty (n = 2). Only one vagotomy was done. Mean followup was 58 months (range 6 to 144 months). Patients resumed oral diet 3.0 days after laparoscopic bypass, with mean discharge of 6.9 days, as compared with 4.4 days and 12.2 days after open bypass, respectively. In the early postoperative period (0 to 30 days), six major complications (n=5, 19%): persistent obstruction, anastomotic leak, small bowel obstruction, anastomotic bleeding (two patients), and respiratory failure, developed in four patients in the open (36%) and one patient in the laparoscopic (8%) bypass group. There were two more complications during longterm followup, for an overall major morbidity rate of 27%. Two patients experienced recurrence requiring revision (one in the open group and one in the laparoscopic group). Gastroduodenal ulcers requiring operation did not develop in any of the patients. Conclusions Surgery is a viable and safe option for patients with intractable duodenal Crohn's disease. The laparoscopic approach during a bypass procedure, as opposed to an open bypass, may result in faster recovery, less morbidity, and comparable recurrence rate. There is no role for vagotomy in bypass procedures.
Exposure of Drosophila melanogaster embryonic cell cultures to 60‐Hz sinusoidal magnetic fields: Assessment of potential teratogenic effects

There is considerable concern about potential detrimental health effects associated with exposure to environmentally relevant magnetic fields. One specific concern relates to potential effects of magnetic field (MF) exposure on reproduction and development. Consequently, an in vitro teratogenesis (developmental toxicity) assay employing embryonic Drosophila cells has been used to determine whether exposure to a 60-Hz MF of 100 μT for 16-18 hr is itself teratogenic and whether such an exposure could potentiate the teratogenic response induced by a chemical teratogen (developmental toxicant). The results demonstrated that (1) MF exposure alone did not induce a teratogenic response, whether the MF was oriented parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the culture dishes ; and (2) MF exposure did not alter the teratogenic response induced by optimal or suboptimal concentrations of three chemical teratogens (retinoic acid, hydroxyurea, and cadmium). Furthermore, in additional studies, Drosophila embryos were exposed to 60-Hz MFs of 10 and 100 μT for 24 hr or for their entire development time (i.e., until adult ecolsion, about 10 days). Results demonstrated that MF exposure did not produce an increase in developmental abnormalities over those observed in unexposed controls.
Effects of hippocampal lesions on the monkey's ability to learn large sets of object-place associations.

Earlier studies found that recognition memory for object-place associations was impaired in patients with relatively selective hippocampal damage (Vargha-Khadem et al., Science 1997; 277:376–380), but was unaffected after selective hippocampal lesions in monkeys (Malkova and Mishkin, J Neurosci 2003; 23:1956–1965). A potentially important methodological difference between the two studies is that the patients were required to remember a set of 20 object-place associations for several minutes, whereas the monkeys had to remember only two such associations at a time, and only for a few seconds. To approximate more closely the task given to the patients, we trained monkeys on several successive sets of 10 object-place pairs each, with each set requiring learning across days. Despite the increased associative memory demands, monkeys given hippocampal lesions were unimpaired relative to their unoperated controls, suggesting that differences other than set size and memory duration underlie the different outcomes in the human and animal studies. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Prostate cancer risk and IRS1, IRS2, IGF1, and INS polymorphisms: strong association of IRS1 G972R variant and cancer risk.

BACKGROUND As cellular proliferation is central to the carcinogenic process, pathways that regulate proliferation may be important. Therefore, genes in the insulin and the insulin-like growth factor signaling pathways are plausible candidates for susceptibility genes for prostate cancer. We hypothesized that functional polymorphisms in INS, IRS1, IRS2, and IGF1 may be associated with prostate cancer. METHODS We studied 199 incident prostate cancer cases and 267 age-matched controls. Genotyping was performed for the INS +1127 Ins-PstI, IRS1 G972R, IRS2 G1079D, and the IGF1 CA-repeat polymorphisms. Outcomes were prostate cancer, Gleason score, and AJCC stage. RESULTS The IRS1 G972R GR/RR genotypes were associated with a significant 2.8-fold increased risk for prostate cancer (95% CI 1.5–5.1, P = 0.0007). The other variants were not significantly associated with prostate cancer. The IRS1 G972R GR/RR genotypes were also significantly associated with more advanced Gleason score (P = 0.001) and AJCC stage (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS These results support a role of the insulin and/or insulin-like growth factor pathways in the etiology of prostate cancer. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Maximization of the quality factor of an optical resonator

Abstract We consider resonance phenomena for the scalar wave equation in an inhomogeneous medium. Resonance is a solution to the wave equation which is spatially localized while its time dependence is harmonic except for decay due to radiation. The decay rate, which is inversely proportional to the qualify factor, depends on the material properties of the medium. In this work, the problem of designing a resonator which has high quality factor (low loss) is considered. The design variable is the index of refraction of the medium. High quality resonators are desirable in a variety of applications, including photonic band gap devices. Finding resonance in a linear wave equation with radiation boundary condition involves solving a nonlinear eigenvalue problem. The magnitude of the ratio between real and imaginary part of the eigenvalue is proportional to the quality factor Q . The optimization we perform is finding a structure which possesses an eigenvalue with largest possible Q . We present a numerical approach for solving this problem. The method consists of first finding a resonance eigenvalue and eigenfunction for a non-optimal structure. The gradient of Q with respect to index of refraction at that state is calculated. Ascent steps are taken in order to increase the quality factor Q . We demonstrate how this approach can be implemented and present numerical examples of high Q structures.
A further analysis of the affective meanings associated with male and female sex-trait stereotypes

This study was concerned with the qualitative differences in the male and female sex-trait stereotypes. Previous research employing the item pool of the Adjective Check List (ACL) had indicated no relationship between the stereotype loading of the adjectives and their “favorability” ratings. In the present study, university students rated the ACL items for “strength” and “activity,” and these ratings were used to demonstrate that the male stereotype was appreciably stronger and more active than the female stereotype. It was found that the strength ratings were highly correlated with both activity and favorability ratings which were, themselves, unrelated. It was concluded that the principal qualitative difference between the stereotypes lay in the connotations of activity and passivity associated, respectively, with the male and female stereotype traits, and that any assertion of greater “social desirability” for the male stereotype was based on its greater “activity” and not, as is often supposed, on its greater “favorability.”
Heat transfer in large particle fluidized beds

Abstract A physically based model is proposed for heat transfer to immersed surfaces in large particle fluidized beds. ‘Large’ particles are distinguished as those with thermal time constants substantially greater than their residence time at a heat transfer surface. At typical fluidized bed combustor operating conditions, particles 1 mm or larger are ‘largeȁ. Conduction through the gas near points of solid contact and convection by the interstitial gas flow both contribute to heat transfer during emulsion (or dense phase) contact. As particle size increases the heat transfer by gas convection provides a greater share of the heat transfer. It is shown that the gas convective component in fluidized bed heat transfer is not simply related to overall gas convection in a packed or quiescently fluidized bed. The model is shown to provide good agreement with data from several sources.
Overweight and obesity in preschool children from developing countries

OBJECTIVES: To estimate levels and trends in overweight and obesity in preschool children from developing countries; to study how overweight varies by the educational level of the mother, by urban or rural residence, and by gender; to investigate how these relationships are related to the gross national product (GNP). DESIGN: 71 national nutrition surveys since 1986 from 50 countries were used. SUBJECTS: 150,482 children 12 to 60 months from the most recent survey from each country were the primary sample. MEASUREMENTS: Overweight and obesity were defined as weight-for-height (>1 or >2 s.d., respectively) of the WHO/NCHS reference curves. Stunting was <−2 s.d. of the same reference. Urban was as defined in each of the surveys and higher education was defined as at least one year of secondary schooling or higher. RESULTS: 32 of 50 countries had a prevalence of obesity below 2.3%, the value in the reference population. The prevalences of overweight and obesity were lowest in Asia and in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 17 countries with serial data, no consistent regional trends could be detected. Overweight was more common in urban areas, in children of mothers with higher education, and in girls; these relationships did not differ by GNP but GNP was related negatively to stunting and positively to overweight. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity does not appear to be a public health problem among preschool children in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. In a number of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and the region of Central Eastern Europe/Commonwealth of Independent States, levels are as high as in the United States.
Characterization of C-11-SCH 23390 and its possible metabolites in primate blood using high performance liquid chromatography

A selective dopamine D1 antagonist, SCH 23390, is routinely labelled with C-11 at our institution for use in imaging dopamine D1 receptors in primate brain using positron emission tomography.However, little is known about the metabolism of this compound. In this report, a method is presented for the HPLC characterization of SCH 23390 and its possible metabolites in blood using a liquid-solid extraction technique. This procedure was applied to the analysis of blood samples collected at time intervals from rhesus monkeys after the injection of C-11-SCH 23390. About 4 minutes after injection, polar metabolite(s) were found in the circulation. However, the amounts detected would not be expected to interfere with the analysis of brain PET scans.
Contribution of Cyclic-Nucleotide-Gated Channels to the Resting Conductance of Olfactory Receptor Neurons

The basal conductance of unstimulated frog olfactory receptor neurons was investigated using whole-cell and perforated-patch recording. The input conductance, measured between -80 mV and -60 mV, averaged 0.25 nS in physiological saline. Studies were conducted to determine whether part of the input conductance is due to gating of neuronal cyclic-nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels. In support of this idea, the neuronal resting conductance was reduced by each of five treatments that reduce current through CNG channels: external application of divalent cations or amiloride; treatment with either of two adenylate cyclase inhibitors; and application of AMP-PNP, a competitive substrate for adenylate cyclase. The current blocked by divalent cations or by a cyclase inhibitor reversed near 0 mV, as expected for a CNG current. Under physiological conditions, gating of CNG channels contributes approximately 0.06 nS to the resting neuronal conductance. This implies a resting cAMP concentration of 0.1-0.3 micro M. A theoretical model suggests that a neuron containing 0.1-0.3 micro M cAMP is poised to give the largest possible depolarization in response to a very small olfactory stimulus. Although having CNG channels open at rest decreases the voltage change resulting from a given receptor current, it more substantially increases the receptor current resulting from a given increase in [cAMP].
The boom and bust and boom of educational games

The history of computer-based learning games has a story arc that rises dramatically, and then plummets steeply. In the early days of personal computers, creative minds drawn to the new medium explored a variety of approaches to learning games, ranging from behaviorist drill-and-practice exercises, to open-ended environments suitable for either exploration or construction. Early practitioners were inventing new forms, and even the fundamentally limited drill-and-practice games were infused with a measure of creative energy and humor. The late 1980s and mid 1990s were a heyday for the CDROM edutainment era. However, this era came to a crashing halt as the Internet dawned and the market for edutainment dried up in the late 1990s. Despite the downfall of the edutainment era there is new energy and perspective behind the idea of learning games. While edutainment of the 1990s style has gone, there is a new take on what learning games can be. In this era, we are finding that "making a game out of learning is most certainly not the way to approach the development of learning games. However, finding the fun in that learning" and devising ways to focus on and enhance that fun as a core game dynamic is a good strategy.
The performance of time-dependent adaptive filters for interference rejection

Time-dependent adaptive filters (TDAFs) that allow for the cyclostationary nature of communication signals by periodically changing the filter and adaptation parameters are examined. The TDAF has an advantage over the conventional time-independent adaptive filter in achieving better performance, i.e. reduced mean square error (MSE), for signals with periodic statistics. The basic theory of the TDAF is presented. The TDAF is shown to be more effective than the time-independent adaptive filter for interference rejection. This is verified by theoretical analysis and computer simulation of specific cases of extracting a signal in noise or interference. The criteria for judging the performance of the TDAF for interference rejection are MSE, bit error rate measurements, and constellation diagrams. >
WAGE REDUCTION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND SPECIFIC HUMAN CAPITAL

This paper re-examines the specific human capital hypothesis concerning short-run employment variation to analyze the circumstances in which wage reductions and/or layoffs will occur. By relaxing the usual assumption of downward wage rigidity, we show that the specificity of training influences the attractiveness of wage reduction compared to job separation. The choice of adjustments is analyzed and implications are drawn concerning the impact of the level of specific skill and of other factors on the choice and on the magnitude of such wage reductions as occur. These implications are tested with data on the Seattle recession of 1970-72.
Reporting of stable hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen isotopic abundances

To eliminate possible confusion in the reporting of isotopic abundances on non-corresponding scales, the Commission on Atomic Weights and Isotopic Abundances recommended at the 37 th General Assembly at Lisbon, Portugal that (i) 2 H/ 1 H relative ratios of all substances be expressed relative to VSMOW (Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water) on a scale such that 2 H/ 1 H of SLAP (Standard Light Antarctic Precipitation) is 0.572 times that of VSMOW, (ii) 13 C/ 12 C relative ratios of all substances be expressed relative to VPDB (Vienna Peedee belemnite) on a scale such that 13 C/ 12 C of NBS 19 carbonate is 1.00195 times that of VPDB, and (iii) 18 O/ 16 O ratios of all substances be expressed relative to either VSMOW or VPDB on scales such that 18 O/ 16 O of SLAP is 0.9445 times that of VSMOW.
Incremental Validity of Empirically Keyed Biodata Scales over GMA and the Five Factor Personality Constructs

The major purpose of this study was to determine whether empirically keyed, cross-validated biodata scales accounted for incremental variance over that accounted for by the five factor model (FFM) of personality and GMA predictors. A concurrent validation study was employed using 376 employees in a clerical job (222 in the developmental sample and 154 in the cross-validation sample). Results for the cross-validation sample provided support for the hypothesis that biodata predictors accounted for substantial incremental variance beyond that accounted for by the FFM predictors and GMA for 3 of the 4 criteria. Support was also found for the hypothesized zero-order correlations between GMA, FFM, and biodata predictors and the 4 criteria. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Successive interference cancellation for direct sequence code division multiple access

Conventional DS/CDMA detectors operate by enhancing a desired user while suppressing other users, considered as interference (multiple access interference, MAI) or noise. A different viewpoint is to consider other users not as noise but to jointly detect all users' signals (multiuser detection). This has significant potential of increasing capacity and near/far resistance. Optimal multiuser detection is, however, too complex to implement, thus motivating the search for suboptimal algorithms. Our objective is to underline the need for simplicity and to discuss what is a relatively simple form of multiuser detection, successive interference cancellation. The cancellation scheme uses only components already present in a conventional detector. >
Multihop Progressive Decentralized Estimation in Wireless Sensor Networks

A multihop progressive decentralized estimation scheme is presented for 1-D, 2-D, or 3-D sensor networks where routing trees are available. The bit allocation for each sensor is optimized in a multihop setting. This new scheme is shown to be much more efficient in energy consumption than the nonprogressive decentralized estimation scheme available in the literature. The transmission energy model is based on spectrum-limited applications.
Voltage stability and thermal limit: constraints on the maximum loading of electrical energy distribution feeders

The loading condition of distribution systems is assessed with respect to voltage stability as well as to thermal limit. Real networks of a distribution utility of Brazil are used in the tests performed. Results show that the maximum loading may be limited by voltage stability rather than by thermal limit. The paper shows the necessity of considering voltage stability as a new constraint on the operational loading of electrical energy distribution feeders, including the connection of new consumers. The voltage stability constraint should be considered in studies concerning distribution systems expansion. The new planning constraint may avoid the building of new lines and transformers which could never be fully used in systems already stressed by voltage stability.
Service quality programme developments and lean management aspects: a multi-case study

For an overall effective strategy, companies must think about the long term based on the factors that help them avoid making frequent, costly changes to their strategy. Operational effectiveness in terms of quality assurance, coupled with consistent output, may be the method to survive the current financial crisis. This paper will inspect and document, from an operational management viewpoint, how three unique service-orientated organisations comprising both service and manufacturing sectors (an electrical utility, an automobile parts supplier and a cable/information provider) manage quality, specifically within the unique functions of the organisation: human resources, investor relations and finance. These aspects will be viewed through the lens of the recent financial crisis that has hit the global marketplace, beginning with the general situation, and then managing quality company-wide, managing quality within specific financial business functions, and the impact of the current credit crisis in terms of managing quality. The first section of this paper will examine the concepts of organisation quality via Six Sigma Programme (SSP) development and lean manufacturing principles as a precursor to the case studies in order to lay down the foundations for comparative analysis among the firms studied.
Combined deficiency of vitamins E and C causes paralysis and death in guinea pigs

Background On the basis of in vitro studies, the antioxidant nutrients vitamins E and C are postulated to interact in vivo. Objective We developed a guinea pig model to evaluate the combined deficiency of vitamins E and C in vivo. Design Weanling guinea pigs were fed a control diet or a vitamin E-deficient diet for 14 d, after which one-half of each group had vitamin C removed from their diet, thus creating 4 diet groups. Some animals were observed for clinical signs. Others were killed for evaluation. Results Of 21 guinea pigs that were observed after being fed the diet deficient in both vitamins, 8 died 9 +/- 2 d (x +/- SD) after starting the diet. Eight additional guinea pigs developed a characteristic syndrome at 11 +/- 3 d. First, they became paralyzed in the hind limbs. Within a few hours, the paralysis progressed to include all 4 limbs and caused difficulty in breathing, which would have caused death had the animals not been euthanized. Histopathologic evaluation did not identify a lesion in the muscles or nervous system that could account for the paralysis. Biochemical measurements confirmed the deficiencies and indicated that the double deficiency caused lipid peroxidation in the central nervous system. Conclusions A distinct clinical syndrome of combined vitamin E and vitamin C deficiency occurs in guinea pigs. This syndrome indicates that these antioxidant vitamins are related in vivo. We speculate that acute oxidative injury in the central nervous system underlies the clinical syndrome.
P053: Secular trends of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) over a 12-year period.

Controlling MRSA has been a challenge for Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), particularly after the introduction of ST228 SCCmecI hyperendemic clone in 1999.
Duty cycle scheduling in dynamic sensor networks for controlling event detection probabilities

A sensor network comprising of RF or radar-based sensors has a deteriorating performance in that the effective sensor footprint shrinks as the power level decreases. Power is typically only drawn from the sensor nodes when they are turned on, and as a consequence, the power consumption can be controlled by controlling the duty cycle of the sensors. In this paper, we provide a probabilistic scheduling of the duty cycles in a sensor network deployed in an area of interest based on a Poisson distribution which ensures that a performance measure, e.g., the probability of event detection, is achieved throughout the lifetime of the network. Upper bounds on the performance of the network are given in terms of the decay rates, the spatial distribution intensity, and the desired performance of the network.
Evidence for [D‐Ala2,D‐Leu5]Enkephalin‐Induced Supersensitivity to 5‐Hydroxytryptamine in a Neurotumor × Brain Hybrid Cell Line (NCB‐20)

A neuroblastoma X Chinese hamster embryonic brain explant hybrid cell line (NCB-20) expressed 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT1) receptors, linked to adenylate cyclase, which closely resembled 5-HT1 receptors previously characterized in central nervous tissue. However, the affinity of the receptors for 5-HT was only 150 nM compared to 5 nM in membranes prepared from cerebral cortex. The elevation of cyclic AMP levels in NCB-20 cells produced by 5-HT was found additive to that produced by cholera toxin but synergistic with that produced by either prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or forskolin, suggesting that these latter two agents elevate cyclic AMP levels by a different mechanism than 5-HT. The elevation of cyclic AMP levels by either 5-HT or PGE1 was reversed by [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE), morphine, clonidine, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) on a short (30 min) time scale. However, continued exposure to DADLE resulted in loss of the initial inhibitory effects of DADLE after 6 h and return of cyclic AMP levels to that seen with either 5-HT or PGE1 alone. When the DADLE exposure time was increased to 48 h, 5-HT produced a further twofold increase in cyclic AMP levels, but there was no increase in the responsiveness of the cells to PGE1 unless naloxone was added 1 h prior to treatment with PGE1. Scatchard analysis showed that the increased potency of 5-HT resulted from an increase in receptor affinity for 5-HT (from a KD of 150 +/- 20 nM to one of 20 +/- 7 nM), with a reduction in the number of apparent binding sites. The 5-HT supersensitivity observed in NCB-20 cells may be a good model for neurotransmitter interactions that produce desensitization or facilitation in the intact nervous system.
Hemisphere Specific Impairments in Reach-to-Grasp Control After Stroke: Effects of Object Size

Background and objective. The authors investigated hemispheric specialization for the visuomotor transformation of grasp preshaping and the coordination between transport and grasp in individuals p...
Membrane interaction of retroviral Gag proteins.

Assembly of an infectious retroviral particle relies on multimerization of the Gag polyprotein at the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. The three domains of Gag common to all retroviruses-- MA, CA, and NC-- provide the signals for membrane binding, assembly, and viral RNA packaging, respectively. These signals do not function independently of one another. For example, Gag multimerization enhances membrane binding and is more efficient when NC is interacting with RNA. MA binding to the plasma membrane is governed by several principles, including electrostatics, recognition of specific lipid head groups, hydrophobic interactions, and membrane order. HIV-1 uses many of these principles while Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) appears to use fewer. This review describes the principles that govern Gag interactions with membranes, focusing on RSV and HIV-1 Gag. The review also defines lipid and membrane behavior, and discusses the complexities in determining how lipid and membrane behavior impact Gag membrane binding.
A Study of Clinical Supervision Techniques and Training in Substance Abuse Treatment.

Data from 57 clinical supervisors in licensed substance abuse treatment programs indicate that 28% had completed formal graduate course work in clinical supervision and 33% were professionally licensed or certified. Findings raise concerns about the scope and quality of clinical supervision available to substance abuse counselors.
Determination of the Cell Number of Each Cell Type in the Anterior Pituitary of Euthyroid and Hypothyroid Rats

A method combining enzymatic cellular dispersal, direct cell counting, differential cell counts at the electron microscope level and DNA determinations was devised and employed for determination of the cell numbers of each anterior pituitary cell type in euthyroid (E) and hypothyroid (Tx) rats. Pituitaries from Tx rats had increased cell number as demonstrated by a mean 33.7% increase in DNA content (μg DNA/pituitary). Total cells increased from (3.14 ± 0.36) × 106 in E rats to (3.98 ± 0.27) × 106 in Tx rats, P < 0.005. The cellular DNA content (pg/cell) in E rats, 10.84 ± 0.63 (SD), was indistinguishable statistically from that of Tx rats, 11.24 ± 0.52. Cell distribution among various pituitary cell types was virtually identical when determined in pellets from dispersed cells and randomized solid tissue from the same groups of E and Tx rats. These data indicated that there was no selective cell loss during the cell dispersion procedure. Major changes in Tx rats compared to E rats were a marked increase i...
The sensitivity of nonlinear computational models of trabecular bone to tissue level constitutive model

Microarchitectural finite element models have become a key tool in the analysis of trabecular bone. Robust, accurate, and validated constitutive models would enhance confidence in predictive applications of these models and in their usefulness as accurate assays of tissue properties. Human trabecular bone specimens from the femoral neck (n = 3), greater trochanter (n = 6), and lumbar vertebra (n = 1) of eight different donors were scanned by μ-CT and converted to voxel-based finite element models. Unconfined uniaxial compression and shear loading were simulated for each of three different constitutive models: a principal strain-based model, Drucker–Lode, and Drucker–Prager. The latter was applied with both infinitesimal and finite kinematics. Apparent yield strains exhibited minimal dependence on the constitutive model, differing by at most 16.1%, with the kinematic formulation being influential in compression loading. At the tissue level, the quantities and locations of yielded tissue were insensitive to...
MESENTERIC CYSTS IN INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD Review of the Literature and Report of a Case

The pathologic, clinical and radiologic features, diagnosis and treatment of mesenteric cysts in infancy and childhood, based upon a study of 82 cases in the literature, are discussed. An additional case of mesenteric cyst is presented. Mesenteric cysts were usually noted in male children from 2 to 10 years of age, presenting with abdominal enlargement and abdominal pain, and revealing characteristic roentgenographic findings. Excision of the cyst was often complicated by adhesions to the intestinal wall; simultaneous resection of the involved intestine has become a safe procedure, with an operative mortality of 7% in recent years.
The pharmacokinetic profile of methylphenidate use in pregnancy: A study in mice

The purpose of this study was to quantify the amounts of the d- and l-threo enantiomers of methylphenidate in maternal plasma, placenta, and maternal and fetal brain tissue following prenatal exposure and to establish a pharmacokinetic profile for MPH during pregnancy. Due to increasing rates of use of methylphenidate amongst females of childbearing age, it is important to understand the extent of exposure to the fetus. Briefly, pregnant mice were injected with 5 mg/kg methylphenidate at 18 days gestation, and tissue was collected 1, 5, 10, 30, 60, and 120 min following injection. Methylphenidate was extracted from tissue via solid phase extraction, and concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Because methylphenidate is administered as a racemic mixture of d- and l-threo enantiomers and the d-enantiomer is more pharmacologically active, the enantiomers were quantified separately. Interestingly, we found that methylphenidate does cross the placenta and enter the fetal brain. Although the highest concentrations were achieved in maternal brain, the concentrations of d- and l-methylphenidate in fetal brain were comparable to those of maternal plasma. Additionally, both d- and l-methylphenidate had longer half-lives in placenta than in maternal or fetal brain. Interestingly, there was a bimodal peak in maternal brain concentrations, at 5 min and again at 60 min, which was not observed in maternal plasma. Finally, the total exposure (as represented by area under the curve) was statistically significantly higher for the active d-enantiomer than the l-enantiomer in maternal brain tissue. In conclusion, methylphenidate crosses the placenta and reaches measurable concentrations in fetal brain. Although long-term behavioral and developmental studies are needed to determine specific outcomes of prenatal exposure, discussion with pregnant patients on the potential risks of methylphenidate exposure is warranted.
The student becomes the patient.

When a medical student needs to be hospitalized, the paramount concern of the student affairs dean is promoting the student's health, followed by protecting her privacy and supporting her medical education.
Design and Implementation of the Game-Design and Learning Program

Design involves solving complex, ill-structured problems. Design tasks are consequently, appropriate contexts for children to exercise higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills. Although creating engaging and authentic design contexts for young children is difficult within the confines of traditional schooling, recently, game-design has emerged as an alternative context to provide young children with opportunities to practice design and thinking skills. Despite the increasing interest from educators and researchers to use game-design as a platform to teach young students higher-order thinking skills, literature documenting design and development of such learning experiences has been scarce. This paper provides a detailed account of how a complex network of pedagogies, theories, and technologies were brought together to design and develop the Game Design and Learning (GDL) program, with the purpose of teaching students basics of computer programming, and to give them hands-on experiences in game-design, and teach them complex problem-solving skills. The GDL program can serve as an example for efforts aiming to create similar technology-rich environments.
Remediation of Feedlot Nutrients Runoff by Electrocoagulation Process

Nutrient runoff from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) may cause ground and surface water pollution. Scientists and researchers are continually searching for appropriate technologies to mitigate feedlot nutrient runoff pollution. In this study, suitability of electrocoagulation treatment process was examined under laboratory conditions to mitigate nutrient pollutants from the feedlot runoff. Feedlot runoff was treated with three different type of electrodes such as aluminum (Al-Al), iron (Fe-Fe) and hybrid (Al-Fe) at different electrical voltage potentials (5, 10 and 15 Volts) for a designated time step (up to 30 min). The electrocoagulation cell consisted of two parallel rectangular plate electrodes, immersed in a beaker with 500 mL feedlot runoff and powered by a Direct Current (DC) supply. This study was conducted in batches at room temperature. Results indicated that Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Phosphorus (TP), Total Nitrogen (TN) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) concentration reduced significantly irrespective of electrode types. Overall, TP concentration reduction was higher (100%) followed by COD (50-75%) and TN (25-60%) concentration. Nutrient removal and specific electrical energy consumption increased with increasing voltage level. Aluminum electrodes were more effective than the other two electrodes for TP reduction at all applied potentials and COD reduction was better at lower applied potential. Hybrid electrodes (Al-Fe) reduced TN better than the other two electrodes.
Demonstration of Glucose-6-Phosphatase in Mammalian Pancreas.

SummaryGlucose-6-phosphatase has been demonstrated in pancreatic B cells of rabbit. guinea pig and dog. and in canine ductular epithelium. Short fixation of fresh frozen cryostat sections in cold neutral 6% calcium formol does not inhibit its activity or alter its distribution in liver or pancreas. Furthermore, specificity of histochemical reaction for glucose-6-phosphatase was demonstrated by differences in staining when other substrates were incubated at same pH for equal time. In view of known relationship of blood sugar concentration to rate of insulin secretion, a hypothesis is advanced relating presence of this enzyme in B cells to control of insulin secretion. It is suggested that net rate of glucose-6-phosphate formation is the controlling factor and that this would be influenced by any increase or decrease of glucose-6-phosphatase activity.
COSTING CRIME: What value is there for policy making?

Studies that purport to count the cost of crime have wide appeal in the private and public sectors, and in the media. Information on the cost of a particular problem and its solution can no doubt assist decision makers. But in the case of crime, assessing the ‘cost’ is so fraught with difficulty that the results hardly seem worth the effort. Some kinds of ‘cost of crime’ studies are more beneficial to the policy process than others, and the findings need to be used with great care.
Uncertainties in Coastal Ocean Color Products: Impacts of Spatial Sampling

With increasing demands for ocean color (OC) products with improved accuracy and well characterized, per-retrieval uncertainty budgets, it is vital to decompose overall estimated errors into their primary components. Amongst various contributing elements (e.g., instrument calibration, atmospheric correction, inversion algorithms) in the uncertainty of an OC observation, less attention has been paid to uncertainties associated with spatial sampling. In this paper, we simulate MODIS and VIIRS OC products from 30m resolution OC products derived from the Operational Land Imager (OLI) aboard Landsat-8, to examine impacts of spatial sampling on both cross-sensor product intercomparisons and in-situ validations of Rrs products in coastal waters. The simulations were carried out for OLI scenes "scanned" for one full orbital-repeat cycle of each ocean color satellite. While some view-angle dependent differences in simulated Aqua-MODIS and VIIRS were observed, the average uncertainties (absolute) in product intercomparisons (due to differences in spatial sampling) at regional scales are found to be 1.8%, 1.9%, 2.4%, 4.3%, 2.7%, 1.8%, and 4% for the Rrs(443), Rrs(482), Rrs(561), Rrs(655), [Chla], Kd(482), and bbp(655) products, respectively. It is also found that, depending on in-water spatial variability and the sensor's footprint size, the errors for an in-situ validation location in coastal areas can reach as high as ±18%. We conclude that a) expected biases induced by the spatial sampling in product intercomparisons are mitigated when products are averaged over at least 7km×7km windows, b) VIIRS observations, with improved consistency in cross-track spatial sampling yields more precise calibration/validation results than MODIS, and c) use of a single pixel centered on in-situ coastal sites provides an optimal sampling size for validation efforts. These findings will have implications for enhancing our understanding of uncertainties in ocean color retrievals and for planning of future calibration/validation exercises.
Analysis on failure cause of columnar explosion device

Based on test failure of penetration steel c olumn with columnar explosion device,the effects of some factors on penetration efficiency with columnar explosion device were analyzed,such as material and str ucture of energy collection cover,explosive performance with main charge,structu re of charge,casting process of main charge,explosive height,reliability of inte rface detonation transmission and environment conditions so on.The relevant reli ability tests were conducted so that the failure recurred.The failure is due t o thinner wall of the shell of columnar explosion device which can' t meet overl oad demand of mechanical environment test.The failure location was determined,an d design structure was improved.
Welding CCT Curve and Microstructure of the Magnesium Treated X100 Pipeline Steel

Microstructure in a continuously cool of magnesium treated X100 high strength pipeline steel was investigated by means of heat simulation technique with a DIL805A simulator,optical microscopy(OM) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The results show that comparing the welding simulation CCT with 950℃ insulated CCT process,the AC1 and AC3 temperatures of the former are 25℃ higher than those of the latter,and the austenite grain size is also significantly larger than that of the latter too,but the temperature of cooling phase is 30~50℃ lower than that of the latter.Microstructure of X100 high strength pipeline steel is mainly composed of quasi-polygonal ferrite(QF) and granular bainite(GB) when the cooling rate is in the range of 0.1~3℃/s.Acicular ferrite and granular ferrite(GB+BF) prevail in the steel when the cooling rate is in the range of 3~30℃/s.Martensite(M) forms in the steel when the cooling rate is higher than 50℃/s.
Finding and analyzing compiler warning defects

Good compiler diagnostic warnings facilitate software development as they indicate likely programming mistakes or code smells. However, due to compiler bugs, the warnings may be erroneous, superfluous or missing, even for mature production compilers like GCC and Clang. In this paper, we (1) propose the first randomized differential testing technique to detect compiler warning defects and (2) describe our extensive evaluation in finding warning defects in widely-used C compilers. At the high level, our technique starts with generating random programs to trigger compilers to emit a variety of compiler warnings, aligns the warnings from different compilers, and identifies inconsistencies as potential bugs. We develop effective techniques to overcome three specific challenges: (1) How to generate random programs, (2) how to align textual warnings, and (3) how to reduce test programs for bug reporting? Our technique is very effective --- we have found and reported 60 bugs for GCC (38 confirmed, assigned or fixed) and 39 for Clang (14 confirmed or fixed). This case study not only demonstrates our technique's effectiveness, but also highlights the need to continue improving compilers' warning support, an essential, but rather neglected aspect of compilers.