cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of warm mix asphalt through resonant column testing

As the usage of warm mix asphalt (WMA) has gained popularity in recent years, the need has arisen for more characterization techniques and performance prediction through accelerated laboratory testing. This paper presents an experimental study on the shear modulus and damping ratio of asphalt specimens prepared using three WMA technologies: Evotherm, Sasobit, and water foaming, as well as conventional hot mix asphalt (HMA) technology through resonant column (RC) testing. To enable RC testing of asphalt concrete specimens, minor modifications to a traditional RC apparatus were made, which included rigidly attaching additional mass to the driving system to lower the resonant frequency and using epoxy to fix asphalt concrete specimens to the loading plates of the apparatus. The effect of temperature and WMA technology on the dynamic properties was investigated. It is concluded that for the range of temperature tested, specimens prepared using Sasobit technology exhibited the highest shear modulus. Evotherm did not alter the shear modulus of asphalt concrete in a significant manner; while specimens prepared using water foaming technology exhibited slightly softer behavior as compared to those prepared using the conventional HMA technology. It was observed that damping ratio was not significantly altered as a result of using WMA technologies. The four technologies investigated in this study have different temperature sensitivities at different temperature ranges. Hence, it is suggested that shear modulus at a given temperature and its temperature sensitivity at different temperature ranges must be taken into account for evaluating different WMA technologies.
Specificity of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetate on tetraethylammonium transport☆

Renal cortical slices from rats pretreated acutely with 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4,5-T) show a reduced ability to transport 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D) and tetraethylammonium (TEA). The depression in renal transport is dependent on the 2,4-D or TEA concentration in the incubation medium and is surmountable at high concentrations of 2,4-D or TEA. The steady-state transport of TEA by normal renal slices is inhibited by the organic anion 2,4,5-T, in a dose-related manner. Kinetic analysis of the effect of 2,4,5-T on TEA transport appears to demonstrate that 2,4,5-T is a competitive inhibitor of the steady-state accumulation of TEA. However, the initial influx of TEA was found to be unaffected by 2,4,5-T. The transport of another organic cation, N1-methylnicotinamide, was depressed only modestly by 2,4,5-T.
Preparation and characterization of biodegradable copolyester–starch based foams

Regular (25% amylose) and waxy corn starches blended to various ratios with Eastar Bio Copolyester® 14766 (EBC) were extruded into loose-fill foams using a twin screw extruder. Included in this study were two types of corn starch, three levels of EBC content, and three levels of starch moisture content. Waxy starch produced foams with greater radial expansions and lower unit and bulk densities than regular starch. Regular starch foams had lower water solubility indices (WSIs) than waxy starch foams. Foams made of both types of starch possessed similar mechanical properties. No differences were observed in compressibilities and spring indices of either waxy or regular starch foams. Higher levels of EBC addition resulted in less radial expansion and higher unit and bulk densities. Foams made with 10% EBC had higher compressibility than foams containing 25% EBC. Spring indices of single-piece samples and compressibilities and spring indices of bulk samples were not affected by the differences in the level of EBC addition. At 19% and 22% of moisture contents, foams had greater radial expansion than at 25% moisture content. Unit and bulk densities were not affected by variations in moisture content. At 22% moisture content, a lower WSI of 18.5% was obtained. At 22% moisture content, softer foams were produced. At all three levels of moisture content, no differences were detected in the spring indices.
A well-conditioned volume-surface combined field integral equation (VSCFIE) for inhomogeneous scatterers with negative permittivities

Plasmas have numerous applications ranging from microelectronic device manufacturing to the development of military stealth systems. To facilitate the design of new technologies that leverage plasmas, novel fast electromagnetic simulators are called for. Indeed, plasmas often are highly inhomogeneous and contain regions of negative permittivity. Unfortunately, the application of standard differential and volume integral equation (VIE) techniques to the analysis of fields inside such media yields ill-conditioned systems of equations that converge slowly. Here we propose a novel volume-surface combined field integral equation (VSCFIE) that alleviates this problem.
Immunolocalization of avenin and globulin storage proteins in developing endosperm of Avena sativa L

The seed storage proteins of oats (Avena sativa L.) are synthesized and assembled into vacuolar protein bodies in developing endosperm tissue. We used double-label immunolocalization to study the distribution of these proteins within protein bodies of the starchy endosperm. When sections of developing oat endosperm sampled 8 d after anthesis were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, the vacuolar protein bodies consisted of light-staining regions which were usually surrounded by a darker-staining matrix. Immunogold staining of this tissue demonstrated a distinct segregation of proteins within protein bodies; globulins were localized in the dark-staining regions and prolamines were localized in the light-staining regions. We observed two additional components of vacuolar protein bodies: a membranous component which was often appressed to the outside of the globulin, and a granular, dark-staining region which resembled tightly clustered ribosomes. Neither antibody immunostained the membranous component, but the granular region was lightly labelled with the anti-globulin antibody. Anti-globulin immunostaining was also observed adjacent to cell walls and appeared to be associated with plasmodesmata. Immunostaining for both antigens was also observed within the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Based on the immunostaining patterns, the prolamine proteins appeared to aggregate within the rough endoplasmic reticulum while most of the globulin appeared to aggregate in the vacuole.
Results of a prospective study evaluating the effects of mantle irradiation on pulmonary function.

Abstract Thirty patients with Stages I–III Hodgkin's disease receiving mantle irradiation were prospectively evaluated prior to therapy with spirometry, lung volumes, and tests of diffusing capacity (D L CO). Follow-up examinations were performed at 3, 6, and 12 months and then yearly. Sixteen patients had Hodgkin's disease involving the mediastinum at presentation, 10 were smokers, and 16 received either preirradiation or postirradiation chemotherapy. Mantle doses ranged between 2300 cGy and 4000 cGy (mode of 3750 cGy) given at 150 cGy to 170 cGy tumor dose per day with split-course technique. Pulmonary function test results were translated to percent change from predicted values obtained from normal standards for each age, sex, race, and height. These percent changes were then analyzed as a linear function of time. Twenty patients have been tested ≥4 years after treatment with a median time from treatment to last pulmonary function test of 8 years. Changes over time in spirometry included an early, mild decrease in both forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV 1 ), which returned to baseline by 2 years and then gradually decreased to a 10–15% deficit as compared with predicted values at 6–10 years. Additionally, there was a very slight decrease in FEV 1 /FVC beginning at 1 year and gradually increasing to an 8% deficit at 6–10 years. Changes over time in lung volumes included a mild nadir of total lung capacity (TLC) and functional residual capacity (FRC) at 6 months to a year, which returned to baseline at 2–4 years and then gradually dropped to a 5–10% deficit at 6–10 years. Mean DLCO for the study group was 20% below predicted values prior to treatment and dropped to a low of 30% below predicted at 6 months following treatment, then gradually returned to baseline by 4 years and showed continued improvement to an overall deficit of approximately 10% at 6–10 years. With the exception of FEV 1 /FVC, the changes noted in spirometry and lung volumes were of insufficient degree to be classified as abnormal. The decrease in FEV 1 /FVC is indicative of a significant and progressive obstructive ventilatory defect. The effects on pulmonary function tests of smoking, the presence of mediastinal involvement by Hodgkin's disease, and exposure to chemotherapy were assessed by statistical analysis. No subset of patients demonstrated consistent evidence of a restrictive ventilatory defect expected after irradiation. All subsets of patients demonstrated baseline D L CO values significantly below predicted values, but significant improvements over time in D L CO were observed in patients presenting with Hodgkin's disease involving the mediastinum. The significant decrease with time in FEV 1 /FVC consistent with a progressive obstructive ventilatory defect was confined to the subset of patients who smoked. Chemotherapy had no clinically significant effect on the pulmonary function test results. In summary, no significant late effects on pulmonary function attributable to mantle irradiation have been observed.
Two-pupil synthesis of optical transfer functions: 2: pupil function relationships.

Although different methods have been proposed for realizing bipolar point spread functions in hybrid two-channel incoherent spatial filtering systems, each method relies either on interference or noninterference between the two channels to achieve the desired synthesis. It is shown that the pupil functions appropriate for synthesis in these two regimes are related through a linear transformation. Furthermore, the pupil functions appropriate for a noninteractive synthesis can be used to specify pupil functions appropriate for any other synthesis.
Head pose estimation using view based eigenspaces

View based eigenspaces can improve the performance of face recognition algorithms. In this work, we demonstrate their use in head pose estimation from head and shoulders video sequences. Our method compares the projected energies of the test image in multiple eigenspaces. We also demonstrate that very few eigenspaces are necessary for a rough estimate of head pose. The method is robust and computationally inexpensive.
Submillimeter-wave astronomy satellite: science objectives and instrument description

The Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS) mission is dedicated to the study of star formation and interstellar chemistry. To carry out this mission, SWAS will survey dense [n(H2) greater than 103 cm-3) molecular clouds within our galaxy in either the ground-state or a low- lying transition of five astrophysically important species: H2O, H218O, O2, CI, and 13CO. By observing these lines SWAS will: (1) test long-standing theories that predict that these species are the dominant coolants of molecular clouds during the early stages of their collapse to form stars and planets; and (2) supply heretofore missing information about the abundance of key species central to the chemical models of dense interstellar gas. SWAS will employ two independent Schottky barrier diode mixers, passively cooled to approximately 170 K, coupled to a 53 X 68-cm off- axis Cassegrain antenna with an aggregate surface error less than or equal to 11 micrometer rms. During its baseline two- year mission, SWAS will observe giant and dark cloud cores with the goal of detecting or setting an upper limit on the water and molecular oxygen abundance of 3 X 10-6 (relative to H2). In addition, advantage will be taken of SWAS's relatively large beamsize of 3.3 X 4.2 arcminutes at 557 GHz and 3.8 X 4.8 arcminutes at 492 GHz to obtain large-area (approximately 1 degree X 1 degree) maps of giant and dark clouds in the 13CO and CI lines. With the use of a 1.4 GHz bandwidth acousto-optical spectrometer, SWAS will have the ability to simultaneously observe the H2O, H218O, O2, CI, and 13CO lines. All measurements will be conducted with a velocity resolution of less than 1 km s-1.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
US Navy unmanned undersea vehicle navigation

The ability to guide and position an undersea vehicle with high precision lends itself to multiple missions, including mine warfare and undersea surveillance. In addition, precise navigation provides the capability to locate security threats and biological and oceanographic anomalies. Unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) navigation systems must provide accurate position, velocity, and attitude information over long distances and time periods. The sensors typically perform dual functions as navigation sensors and as guidance and control sensors. The implementation of an extremely precise navigation system on a tactical size UUV is a formidable task, because of limitations on size, weight, and power usage. Complicating the task are other UUV requirements, e.g. covert operation, high reliability, operation in severe environments, and world-wide operation. Low cost for procurement and maintenance are also major considerations. Two key areas must be addressed for UUV navigation systems: (1) advancement of navigation sensor technology, and (2) integration of sensor data, resulting in a synergistic navigation system. >
Patients' Willingness to Contribute to Cost of Novel Implants in Total Joint Arthroplasty

Abstract As health care organizations adapt to more accountable financial models, it is increasingly important to assess how patients value new technologies, and their willingness to contribute to their cost. A questionnaire described features of a ‘standard’ implant including its longevity and risk of complications. We asked if participants would be willing to contribute to the cost of 3 novel implants with differing longevity and risk of complications. Our cohort included 195 patients, 45% were willing to add a co-pay to increase the longevity. Willingness to pay decreased to 26% with increased risk of complications, and 29% were willing to pay for a decreased risk of complications. Patients with higher education level, private insurance and males were more willing to contribute for a novel prosthesis. This study demonstrated that 26%–45% of patients are willing to share costs of a novel prosthesis. Willingness to pay was associated with the proposed implant benefits and with patient characteristics.
Follow the Leader: Adoption Behavior in Food Retailers' Decision to Offer Fresh Irradiated Ground Beef

During the 14-month period from May 2002 through June 2003, approximately 10% of U+S+ supermarkets began to offer fresh irradiated ground beef under the stores’own labels+ Using a survey of supermarket store managers from this period, the authors investigate the factors that influenced stores’adoption of irradiated ground beef+ Results from the adoption model show that factors associated with competition, merchandising philosophy, and structure in the food retailing industry play a strong role in the decision+Among other results,it was found that variables relating to a competitor’s adoption status and proximity can increase the likelihood of a store’s adoption+ @EconLit citations: L660, M310, Q180# © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc+
Image analysis for the study of radionuclide distribution in tissue sections

Tissue section autoradiographs are often prepared to review the precise spatial locations of a radiolabeled molecule relative to cells, such as in the study of radiolabeled antibody distribution. The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate a method to automatically detect both grains and cell nuclei from stained tissue autoradiographs using a microscope and image analyzer. Using a sequence of morphological image operations, the densely stained regions of the section, representing the cell nuclei, are identified first and then subtracted from the original image. This enables the identification of autoradiographic grains under conditions of variable contrast, by separation of the grains overlapping the cell nuclei from the extra-cellular spaces, permitting a more accurate and robust automatic segmentation routine. The accuracy of the method to detect grains has been evaluated at different threshold levels. The highest accuracy obtained was approximately 90%. The accuracy in the detection of cell nuclei was histology-dependent. As examples, the authors have estimated accuracies of approximately-86%, 81% and 77% for kidney, EL-4 lymphoma and pneumonocyte sections, respectively. This method was tested using specimens designed to study radiolabeled antibody distribution, but it should be applicable with comparable accuracy to other radiolabeled compounds for which quantitative informationmore » on the heterogeneity of distribution is required. 24 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.« less
Using Proximity Search to Estimate Authority Flow

Authority flow and proximity search have been used extensively in measuring the association between entities in data graphs, ranging from the web to relational and XML databases. These two ranking factors have been used and studied separately in the past. In addition to their semantic differences, a key advantage of proximity search is the existence of efficient execution algorithms. In contrast, due to the complexity of calculating the authority flow, current systems only use precomputed authority flows in runtime. This limitation prohibits authority flow to be used more effectively as a ranking factor. In this paper, we present a comparative analysis of the two ranking factors. We present an efficient approximation of authority flow based on proximity search. We analytically estimate the approximation error and how this affects the ranking of the results of a query.
Individualized family-centered developmental care: Reflections on implementation

Abstract Despite the growing evidence, implementation of individualized family-centered developmentally supportive care (IFDC) remains a challenge in most institutions. Cognitive acceptance has been easier to gain than actual implementation into everyday practice in the neonatal intensive care unit. Understanding the cultural dynamics of the neonatal intensive care unit necessary for shifting care delivery paradigms along with effective leadership and a reflective process that facilitates sustained change in knowledge, skills, and attitudes may foster the long-term changes fundamental to an individualized family-centered developmentally supportive care philosophy. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Piperacillin-induced encephalopathy.

Dear Sir, Piperacillin (PIPC) is a new semisynthetic ampicillin derivative which is effective against Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas. It has a lower CNS toxicity compared with benzylpenicillin. We have recently experienced a case of PIPC-induced encephalopathy. A 82-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever and anorexia. On admission physical examination showed systolic cardiac murmur over apex. Laboratory examinations showed normocytic normochromic anemia, hypoalbuminemia and hypergammaglobulinemia. White blood cell count was 5000/mm3 and CRP was 3.8 mg/dl (N < 0.2 mg/dl). Serum electrolytes, liver enzymes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and urinalysis were normal. Initially PIPC 2 g/day was administered for possible infection. Fever resolved on the third hospital day. PIPC therapy was continued for ten days and discontinued on the twelfth hospital day. During this period no side effects were observed. Fever developed again on nineteenth hospital day. Blood cultures were performed twice. They showed o-streptococcus was positive. The diagnosis of subacute bacterial endocarditis was made judging from the findings of anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypergammaglobulinemia and cardiac murmur. PIPC 6 g/day was administered. Five days later she became confused, disoriented and developed hallucinations. These symptoms continued for five days. PIPC was discontinued for possible side effects of PIPC. The symptoms resolved 24 h after withdrawal. Thereafter cephamezin 4 g/day was
Acid-fog deposition at Kilauea volcano: A possible mechanism for the formation of siliceous-sulfate rock coatings on Mars

On the summit of Kilauea volcano, sulfur dioxide, which is continuously emitted from Halemaumau crater and rapidly sequestered into sulfuric-acid–rich aerosol entrained in the prevailing trade winds, is subsequently precipitated as acid fog immediately downwind from Kilauea caldera in the Kau Desert. The characteristic pH of surface tephra deposits is <4.0 in Sand Wash, a region of nearly continuous, acidic aerosol fallout immediately southwest of the caldera. Vertical exposures of unconsolidated tephras of the Keanakakoi Ash found within fissures and small, dry gullies are coated with thin rock coatings of amorphous silica and jarosite. These rock coatings are formed via an evaporative mechanism whereby acidic pore fluids, circulating in the upper few meters within the highly porous tephra, are wicked toward the walls of the gullies. Geochemical modeling of the rock coating formation process implies that the sulfate formation via evaporation occurs subsequent to minimal interaction of acidic pore fluids with the basaltic tephra. This also suggests that the cycle from acid-fog fallout to precipitation of the siliceous-sulfate rock coatings must occur quite rapidly. Acid-fog deposition of sulfate and silica at Kilauea may provide one mechanism for the origin of jarosite-bearing outcrops on Mars.
Remote Sensing of Sea Surface Salinity: An Overview with Case Studies

Abstract Sea surface salinity (SSS) is critical for studying biological and physical processes in the ocean, such as the global water balance, ocean currents, and evaporation rates. The water and heat fluxes associated with precipitation and evaporation over global oceans are fundamental in regulating climate and weather. Yet measurements of global SSSs are sparse and do not show the required temporal and spatial variability of SSS distributions. Airborne microwave radiometers, such as the Scanning Low-Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SLFMR) and the Salinity, Temperature, and Roughness Remote Scanner (STARRS), have been used successfully to map SSS and its variability, but only in estuaries and coastal waters. Since 2009, SSS has been measured from satellite orbit by the European Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity satellite, which is designed to provide synthesized SSS maps with a high accuracy. Other salinity-related satellites are being developed, such as Aquarius, which will provide the global view of sal...
Commentary: Peering Inside the Black Box of Policy Interventions

Abstract The New Hope evaluation generated a variety of useful ﬁndings that will help guide future iterationsof antipoverty policymaking, despite the fact that the intervention was only selectively effective and impactswere generally short lived. The evaluation process itself, however, representing a blend of sound design, mixedmethods,andtheoriesdrawnfrompsychologicalanthropologyaswellasotherdisciplines,islikelytosigniﬁcantlyshape future large-scale policy evaluation efforts. [mixed methods, poverty, policy and practice] The late 1980s and early 1990s were years of great turmoil with respect to poverty policy inthe United States. In 1988, U.S. Congress passed the Family Support Act, which requiredwelfare recipients to engage in job search, education, and related activities to continue re-ceiving beneﬁts. Across the country, states were taking advantage of new ﬂexibility providedby the federal government to explore new variations on the old Aid to Families with De-pendent Children (AFDC) program. President Clinton called for the “end of welfare as weknow it.” New Hope (NH) was one of the many responses to this turmoil.The emergence of NH in Wisconsin reﬂected several different and sometimes-antagonistictrends in welfare policy. Local leaders of the effort were convinced that a ﬂexible suite ofbeneﬁts in exchange for a commitment to working full time would help families make thetransition from welfare to work and poverty to self-sufﬁciency. State politicians were lessconcerned about ﬂexibility—they believed in mandated work requirements and set beneﬁtsand were more concerned about what they saw as a set of overly generous welfare beneﬁtsthat they feared attracted welfare recipients from neighboring states—but were willing tojoinlocalactivistsand businessleadersinatestoftheNHideas.Fortunately,thedevelopersof NH recognized that careful evaluation would be essential in achieving their goal ofestablishing the approach as a viable model for other localities and states (Duncan et al.2007).As Weisner (this issue) notes, NH was not the grand success its designers had hoped for.Thisbecameevidentwiththeearlyresultspointingtothesurprisinglylowuptakeofbeneﬁtsby those in the NH experimental group. Nevertheless, the program did demonstrate thatsoundly conceived public policies can bring a measure of economic stability to the lives
Distribution of Glut1 in detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) and non-DRM domains: effect of treatment with azide

We have previously shown that the acute stimulation of glucose transport in Clone 9 cells in response to azide is mediated by activation of Glut1 and that stomatin, a Glut1-binding protein, appears...
HIV Prevalence and Predictors of Infection in Sex-Trafficked Nepalese Girls and Women

ContextSex trafficking of girls and women is widespread across South Asia and is recognized as both a violent gender-based crime and major human rights violation. Inadequate empirical data exist to characterize this phenomenon and its related health consequences, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of HIV infection among repatriated sex-trafficked Nepalese girls and women and to identify trafficking-related predictors of such infection.DesignMedical and case records of 287 repatriated girls and women reporting being trafficked from Nepal for sexual exploitation and receiving rehabilitative services between January 1997 and December 2005 at a major nongovernmental organization were systematically reviewed in January 2006.SettingMajor Nepalese nongovernmental organization providing shelter and care to repatriated survivors of sex trafficking.Main Outcome MeasuresPrevalence of and risk for HIV based on demographic characteristics and on trafficking- and prostitution-related experiences.ResultsAmong 287 repatriated Nepalese sex-trafficked girls and women, 109 (38.0%) tested positive for HIV. Among those with complete documentation of trafficking experiences (n = 225), median age at time of trafficking was 17.0 years, with 33 (14.7%) trafficked prior to age 15 years. Compared with those trafficked at 18 years or older, girls trafficked prior to age 15 years were at increased risk for HIV (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-10.34), with 20 of 33 (60.6%) infected among this youngest age group. Additional factors associated with HIV positivity included being trafficked to Mumbai (AOR, 4.85; 95% CI, 2.16-10.89) and longer duration of forced prostitution (AOR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03; indicating increased risk per additional month of brothel servitude). In post hoc analyses, girls trafficked prior to age 15 years had increased odds of having been detained in multiple brothels (odds ratio [OR], 5.03; 95% CI, 1.96-12.93) and in brothels for a duration of 1 year or more (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.12-6.33) vs those trafficked at 18 years or older.ConclusionsIn this study, repatriated Nepalese sex-trafficked girls and women were found to have a high prevalence of HIV infection, with increased risk among those trafficked prior to age 15 years. Present findings demonstrate the need for greater attention to reducing and intervening in sex trafficking in South Asia, particularly among the very young.
Increased H2O2 counteracts the vasodilator and natriuretic effects of superoxide dismutation by tempol in renal medulla

A membrane-permeable SOD mimetic, 4-hydroxytetramethyl-piperidine-1-oxyl (tempol), has been used as an antioxidant to prevent hypertension. We recently found that this SOD mimetic could not prevent...
Differentiation of bacterial strains by thermal gradient gel electrophoresis using non-GC-Clamped PCR primers for the 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer region

The method for DNA fingerprinting of the 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer region was modified to increase resolution of bacterial strains by thermal gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) analysis. By utilizing the high melting temperature region of the tRNA gene located in the middle of the 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer region as an internal clamp for TGGE, multiple melting domain problems were solved. PCR primers lacking a stretch of GC-rich sequences (GC-clamp) amplified the intergenic spacer region more efficiently than GC-clamped primers. Therefore, PCR artifacts were avoided by using low, 17-cycle, PCR. The method was successfully applied to diverse bacterial species for strain differentiation by TGGE without requiring a special PCR primer set.
Activation of lipoprotein lipase. Comparative study of man and other mammals.

Injection of heparin into a number of animal species releases lipoprotein lipase into the circulation. We have studied the effect of heparin added in vitro to the lipase activity in post-heparin serum from six mammalian species. With the exception of man, all animals were studied under anesthesia. Our results demonstrate that only post-heparin serum from the rat developed increasing lipoprotein lipase activity when increasing concentrations of heparin were added to the assay system. Heparin decreased activity in the other species. These results prompted us to test the effect of adding rat serum to post-heparin serum from the other species in the presence of increasing concentrations of heparin. Rat serum stimulated lipoprotein lipase activity markedly. In guinea pigs, post-heparin serum activity increased 2,700% at a heparin concentration of 1.0 U/ml in the assay system. This effect may be related to the extremely low level of high-density lipoprotein in the guinea pig and the presence of a unique high-density lipoprotein in the rat.
Association of β-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 1 and β-1,4-galactosyltransferase 1, trans-Golgi enzymes involved in coupled poly-N-acetyllactosamine synthesis

Poly-N-acetyllactosamine (polyLacNAc) is a linear carbohydrate polymer composed of alternating N-acetylglucosamine and galactose residues involved in cellular functions ranging from differentiation to metastasis. PolyLacNAc also serves as a scaffold on which other oligosaccharides such as sialyl Lewis X are displayed. The polymerization of the alternating N-acetylglucosamine and galactose residues is catalyzed by the successive action of UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal beta-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 1 (B3GNT1) and UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase, polypeptide 1 (B4GALT1), respectively. The functional association between these two glycosyltransferases led us to investigate whether the enzymes also associate physically. We show that B3GNT1 and B4GALT1 colocalize by immunofluorescence microscopy, interact by coimmunoprecipitation, and affect each other's subcellular localization when one of the two proteins is artificially retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. These results demonstrate that B3GNT1 and B4GALT1 physically associate in vitro and in cultured cells, providing insight into possible mechanisms for regulation of polyLacNAc production.
Endothelium-dependent dilation to L-arginine in isolated rat skeletal muscle arterioles

The vascular actions of L-arginine (L-Arg) were studied in isolated, pressurized first-order rat cremaster muscle arterioles (93 +/- 2.9 microns) bathed in a Krebs bicarbonate-buffered solution, pH 7.4, equilibrated with 21% O2-5% CO2. Arterioles were studied before and after either the administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10(-3) M), an inhibitor of the synthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), or the removal of the endothelium. Acetylcholine (ACh, 10(-8) and 10(-6) M), sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10(-8) M) and phenylephrine (PE, 10(-7) M) evoked dilation and constriction, respectively. L-Arg, (10(-5)-10(-3) M) the precursor of EDRF, evoked dose-dependent arteriolar dilation; whereas D-arginine (D-Arg, 10(-5)-10(-3) M) was without any significant effect. Administration of L-NNA significantly reduced basal diameters and significantly inhibited the arteriolar dilations to both ACh and L-Arg but had no effect on the dilation to SNP. Removal of the arteriolar endothelium with air inhibited dilations to both ACh and L-Arg, had no effect on responses to SNP, and potentiated vasoconstrictor responses to PE. These findings suggest that in skeletal muscle arterioles the dilations to ACh and L-Arg are endothelium dependent and that microvascular endothelium modulates constrictor responses to PE. Thus EDRF may play an important role in the local regulation of arteriolar resistance and blood flow.
Using co-expression analysis and stress-based screens to uncover Arabidopsis peroxisomal proteins involved in drought response

Peroxisomes are essential organelles that house a wide array of metabolic reactions important for plant growth and development. However, our knowledge regarding the role of peroxisomal proteins in various biological processes, including plant stress response, is still incomplete. Recent proteomic studies of plant peroxisomes significantly increased the number of known peroxisomal proteins and greatly facilitated the study of peroxisomes at the systems level. The objectives of this study were to determine whether genes that encode peroxisomal proteins with related functions are co-expressed in Arabidopsis and identify peroxisomal proteins involved in stress response using in silico analysis and mutant screens. Using microarray data from online databases, we performed hierarchical clustering analysis to generate a comprehensive view of transcript level changes for Arabidopsis peroxisomal genes during development and under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Many genes involved in the same metabolic pathways exhibited co-expression, some genes known to be involved in stress response are regulated by the corresponding stress conditions, and function of some peroxisomal proteins could be predicted based on their co-expression pattern. Since drought caused expression changes to the highest number of genes that encode peroxisomal proteins, we subjected a subset of Arabidopsis peroxisomal mutants to a drought stress assay. Mutants of the LON2 protease and the photorespiratory enzyme hydroxypyruvate reductase 1 (HPR1) showed enhanced susceptibility to drought, suggesting the involvement of peroxisomal quality control and photorespiration in drought resistance. Our study provided a global view of how genes that encode peroxisomal proteins respond to developmental and environmental cues and began to reveal additional peroxisomal proteins involved in stress response, thus opening up new avenues to investigate the role of peroxisomes in plant adaptation to environmental stresses.
The Voting Rights Act and the Era of Maintenance

Since its initial passage in 1965, the Voting Rights Act has seen two distinct Eras of enforcement that have been relatively well-recognized in the literature - the Era of Participation, during which the bald-faced denial of access to voting booths for minority voters was virtually eliminated, and the Era of Descriptive Representation, during which minority voters were able to integrate legislative bodies by electing candidates who shared their same immutable characteristics. This Article contends that we have entered a third Era of Voting Rights Act enforcement - the Era of Maintenance. After identifying and laying the parameters of the Era of Maintenance the Article then tackles the question of whether the Era represents an appropriate approach to the Voting Rights Act going forward.
Myxoid Chondrosarcoma of the Os Calcis: A Case Report

This case report of a myxoid chondrosarcoma of the oscalcis is presented because of its rarity. The clinical, roentgenographic, and pathological features are discussed, and the difficulty in diagnosis is elaborated
New journals for publishing medical case reports

Because they do not rank highly in the hierarchy of evidence and are not frequently cited, case reports describing the clinical circumstances of single patients are seldom published by medical journals. However, many clinicians argue that case reports have significant educational value, advance medical knowledge, and complement evidence-based medicine. Over the last several years, a vast number (~160) of new peer-reviewed journals have emerged that focus on publishing case reports. These journals are typically open access and have relatively high acceptance rates. However, approximately half of the publishers of case reports journals engage in questionable or ‘‘predatory’’ publishing practices. Authors of case reports may benefit from greater awareness of these new publication venues as well as an ability to discriminate between reputable and non-reputable journal publishers.
Ground states of conjugated molecules—XVIII : Azepines and oxepines

Abstract Calculations have been carried out by a semiempirical SCF MO method for azepine, oxepine and their benzo derivatives. The results imply that these 7-membered ring systems are not aromatic, as would be expected since they are isoconjugate with the tropylium anion.
Determination factor for super-high yield of rice

Super-high yielding rice cultivars which were newly bred in China were exemined respectively in Taoyuan of Yunnan and Longhai of Fujian. The results indicated the yield was not correlated with single yield component factor, it was very significantly positive correlation with the sink size (panicle number X grain number per panicle X grain weight). Super-high yielding ricecultivars appeared diversity of yield components due to cultivar type's; However, their same characteristic was larger sink size. The yield was not significantly correlated with harvest index, very significantly correlated with biomass. Super-high yielding rice had accumulative superiority of biomass and higher colong growth rate (CGR) at the middle and late growth stages. These results showed larger sink size and higher biomass were the determinants for super-high yield of rice.
‘My Brain is Feminine’: Byron and the Poetry of Deception

I begin with a mouldy anecdote, a late supplement to that once-flourishing industry — now part of the imagination’s rust belt — called ‘Curiosities of Literature’.
Multi-Scale Analysis of Granulopoiesis: A Bottoms-Up Approach.

Abstract Granulopoiesis constitutes a dynamical system, able to respond acutely to internal or external stimuli, with production of neutrophils. Because neutrophils are short-lived (
Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Similar Efficacy of Non-Myeloablative and Myeloablative Conditioning; Long-Term Evaluation From the University of Minnesota.

Abstract 3385 Poster Board III-273 Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is increasingly utilized. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of HCT for 43 patients with CLL at the University of Minnesota from February 1985 through March 2009 using myeloablative (MA, n=19) (total body irradiation [TBI] 1320 cGY in 8 fractions and cyclophosphamide [Cy] 60 mg/kg x 2 days) and non-myeloablative (NMA, n=24) preparative regimens (fludarabine 40 mg/m2 × 5 days or cladribine 50 mg/m2 IV with TBI 200cGy in 1 fraction and either oral busulfan [Bu] 8 mg/kg divided every 6 hours over 2 days or Cy 50 mg/kg x1 day). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis included cyclosporine (CSA) and methotrexate in most MA patients and CSA and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for all NMA patients. Median follow up for survivors was 3.3 years. Nine-two percent of NMA HCT took place after 2000 whereas only 26% of MA HCTs happened during this time. Most patients were male (15/19 MA, 20/24 NMA). Time from diagnosis to treatment was nearly twice as long in NMA vs. MA patients (median 72 vs. 39 months) with MA patients progressing through a median of 3 regimens (range, 1-5) and NMA 4 (1-7). Poor-risk cytogenetics (11q-, 17p-) were found in 5 MA and 10 NMA patients. Seven and 13 patients were fludarabine refractory in the MA and NMA groups, respectively. Eighteen patients in the MA group had matched related donors (MRD), while only 10 MRD were amongst the NMA patients. Umbilical cord blood stem cells were used in 12 NMA patients. Neutrophil recovery was slightly faster after NMA HCT vs. MA (median 12.5 vs. 18.5 days; p=0.14). Incidence of acute GVHD, grades II-IV, was similar (p=0.11) but grades III-IV at day 100 was more frequent in the NMA than the MA group (33% vs. 5%, p=0.04). The chronic GVHD incidence was 43% (95% CI, 18-68%) in MA and 29% in NMA (11-47%, p=0.08) patients. Transplant-related mortality (TRM) at 1 year was 42% (20-64) in the MA arm vs. 25% (8-42) (p=0.34) for the NMA group. Relapse rates at 3 years were higher in the NMA HCT group (MA 18% [0-36] vs. NMA 26% [8-44]). Three-year progression-free survival (PFS) was similar in MA (33% [13-55]) and NMA (39% [19-58]) patients (p=0.61). Overall survival at three years was also similar (MA 37%, [15-60] vs. NMA 52%, [30-70]) (p=0.28). While these data suggest that dose intensity may affect TRM and relapse, NMA HCT yields equivalent and encouraging PFS and OS as compared to MA HCT. Our results support further investigation of the role of allogeneic transplantation in the treatment of high risk and advanced CLL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
It Is Time to Cancel Medicine's Social Contract Metaphor

There is agreement that the complex relationship between medicine and society is best described as a metaphorical social contract and that professionalism is the medical profession's contribution to this contract. Metaphors can help clarify abstract concepts, but they can also be abused if the counterfactual attributes of a metaphor become attributed to its subject. This seems to be happening with medical professionalism, which has sometimes been reduced to a contracted deliverable and a bargaining chip. The undesirable attributes of the social contract metaphor may be hindering efforts to understand and teach medical professionalism.Despite its theoretical weaknesses, the social contract metaphor has historical credibility because of its alleged association with the 1847 Code of Medical Ethics and the subsequent ascension of regular (allopathic) medicine in the early 20th century. However, the record does not support an argument that the intended purpose of the 1847 Code was to create a social contract or that one ever arose. The alternative account that a contract did arise, but physicians were poor partners, is neither satisfying nor explanatory.As now used, medicine's social contract metaphor has serious theoretical and historic weaknesses. Medical educators should remove this narrow and overworked metaphor from their discussions of professionalism. By doing this, educators and the profession in general would only lose the ability to threaten themselves with the cancellation of their social contract. In return they would open the door to a more complex and fruitful consideration of medical professionalism and medicine's relationship with society.
Effect of Cold Water Immersion on Metabolic Rate in Humans

Background : Cold water immersion is a widely used form of cryotherapy in the active population despite the limited knowledge on its physiological effects. From an injury standpoint, reducing metabolic rate is advantageous to prevent secondary injury. In contrast, increased metabolism can be beneficial in ridding the body of unwanted metabolites. This study looked to determine the effect of cold water immersion on metabolic rate. Understanding this phenomenon will help determine appropriate clinical applications of cold water immersion and lead to a better understanding of cryotherapy in general. This study looked to determine the effect of cryotherapy in the form of waist deep cold water immersion at 9° C on metabolic rate. Methods : 10 participants from a university student population volunteered and completed a 15-minute treatment of waist deep cold water (9° C) immersion. Metabolic rate measurements were taken using a Jaeger Oxycon Mobile Unit for 5 minutes prior to treatment, 15 minutes of treatment, and 5 minutes post treatment for a total of 25 minutes. Statistical analysis was completed using a one way repeated measures ANOVA test to compare treatment intervals to baseline intervals. Results : Cold water immersion resulted in elevated metabolic rates for 8 of 10 participants during the first 5 minutes of treatment and for 6 of 10 in the 5 minute post treatment (p < 0.05). A second statistical analysis excluding the first 30 second data point in the 5-10 and 20-25 minute treatments was used to account for movement in and out of the whirlpool. The second analysis showed the same results as the first with the exception of one participant who no longer displayed a statistically significant change in the 20-25 minute interval. Conclusion : These results indicate that cold water immersion should not be used as a measure of reducing secondary injury because of its potential to increase metabolic rate, but instead may have potential benefits in exercise recovery.
Trends in Joint Replacement Surgery in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective. This study analyzed trends in large total joint arthroplasties (TJA) and in the proportion of these procedures performed on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. The US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002–2012) was used to identify the incidences of total shoulder (TSA), elbow (TEA), knee (TKA), hip (THA), and ankle (TAA) arthroplasty and the proportion of these performed with coexisting RA. Results. The prevalence of RA among patients with TJA increased 3.0%. The prevalence of RA among cases of TEA and TSA decreased by 50% (p Conclusion. The prevalence of RA has decreased among TSA and TEA patients. A nonsignificant decline occurred among TAA patients. The average age of TJA patients with RA is beginning to mirror those without RA. Sex ratios for TSA, TEA, and TAA patients are following a similar pattern. These results may be evidence of the success of modern RA treatment strategies.
The Beginning and the End: A Commentary. Part I - The Beginning

This commentary is not a traditional commentary. Part I, The Beginning, is an explication of the Creation account as revealed in Genesis with additional revelation in Job. Its purpose is to correct mistranslations and misinterpretations that have been propounded by well-meaning, Bible-believing believing Christians but who failed to ask critical questions and who often ignored the unity of the Bible. Their polemic is rife with unsupportable assumptions, invalid premises, and erroneous conclusions which are exposed herein. They convey the impression that God created the universe much like Hermione Granger created the wreath at the grave of James and Lily Potter—by magic.