cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract LB-486: Overexpression of a mutated, constitutively active HIF2α promotes the carcinogenesis of TRACK mouse

Background: VHL disease patients have an increased risk of developing clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC). Increased expression of HIF1α and/or HIF2α has been proposed as a key step in ccRCC carcinogenesis. We recently reported a mouse model of VHL renal cancer, the TRACK model (Fu et al, Cancer research. 2011;71(21):6848-56.). In the TRACK model, proximal tubule (PT) cell overexpression of a triple mutant (P402A, P564A and N803A) HIF1α in the mouse mimics human VHL kidney disease. Methods: Here we report a mouse model expressing a triple mutant (P405A, P531A and N847A) HIF2α in PT cells. Mutant HIF2α was expressed in both WT and HIF1α-expressing C57BL/6 mice. Results: Transgenic (TG) mice expressing this HIF2α construct specifically in PT cells exhibit vacuolization consistent with glycogen accumulation and hydropic degeneration. The activation of HIF2α was confirmed by increased expression of HIF2α target genes, e.g. CA9. Neoplastic transformation was not observed in the kidneys of HIF2α TG+ mice. In HIF1α/HIF2α-expressing mice, disorganized PT cells mimicking in situ carcinoma was observed in 5 mo old mouse kidneys, which was seen only at 14 mo in mice expressing only mutant HIF1α. Conclusions: These data suggest HIF2α accelerates carcinogenesis in the mutant HIF1α TRACK model. These mouse models provide excellent models to study VHL renal disease and carcinogenesis, and provide an opportunity for chemoprevention studies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-486. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-486
Staffing and job satisfaction: nurses and nursing assistants

Aim The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between staffing and job satisfaction of registered nurses (RNs) and nursing assistants (NAs). Background Although a number of previous studies have demonstrated the link between the numbers of patients cared for on the last shift and/or perceptions of staffing adequacy, we could find only one study that utilized a measure of actual staffing (opposed to perceptions of staffing adequacy) and correlated it with job satisfaction of registered nurses. Methods This cross-sectional study included 3523 RNs and 1012 NAs in 131 patient care units. Staff were surveyed to determine job satisfaction and demographic variables. In addition, actual staffing data were collected from each of the study units. Results Hours per patient day was a significant positive predictor for registered nurse job satisfaction after controlling for covariates. For NAs, a lower skill mix was marginally significant with higher job satisfaction. In addition, the more work experience the NAs reported, the lower their job satisfaction. Conclusion Adequate staffing levels are essential for RN job satisfaction whereas NA job satisfaction depends on the number of assistive personnel in the mix of nursing staff. Implications for Nursing Management Two implications are (1) providing adequate staffing is critical to maintain RN job satisfaction and (2) the NA job needs to be re-engineered to make it a more attractive and satisfying career.
Endoscopic versus open saphenous vein harvest for femoral to below the knee arterial bypass using saphenous vein graft.

Background Although the use of endoscopic vein harvest (EVH) in coronary artery bypass grafting is accepted, few studies have documented the implementation of EVH in peripheral vascular disease surgery. We hypothesized that EVH improves outcomes compared with open vein harvest (OVH) in patients undergoing femoral to below the knee arterial bypass surgery. Methods The charts of 144 consecutive patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass surgery over the course of 27 months were reviewed. A femoral to below the knee arterial bypass with saphenous vein was done in 88 patients (29 had EVH, 59 had OVH). The preoperative characteristics evaluated were age, gender, renal function, history of diabetes, hypertension, tobacco use, and previous infrainguinal bypass surgery on the affected side. End points included wound complications, length of hospital stay, operative time, angiographic and operative interventions for graft occlusion, patency rates, limb salvage, acute renal failure, myocardial infarction, and death. Results Patient characteristics and demographics were similar in the EVH and OVH groups. No operative intervention for occlusion was required in the EVH group (0/29) compared with 13.4% in the OVH group (8/59) ( P = .03). At the mean follow-up time of 21 months, primary patency rate was 92.8% in the EVH group and 80.6% in the OVH group ( P = .12). No significant differences were found between the EVH and OVH groups in postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, operative time, patency rates, limb salvage, and death. Conclusion Despite our initial concerns of damaging the venous conduit with a minimally invasive approach to saphenous vein harvest, EVH in our experience has resulted in a trend toward improved patency rates and decreased infectious wound complications while affording the benefit of improved cosmesis. An endoscopic approach results in smaller incisions, decreased interventions for occlusion, and improved outcomes compared with OVH. EVH is the procedure of choice for harvesting saphenous vein for femoral to below the knee arterial bypass surgery.
Outcome of renal transplantation in ninety-seven cyclosporine-era patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and matched controls.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of renal transplantation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods A total of 97 SLE patients who underwent renal transplantation between January 1984 and September 1996 were selected for study and were matched with a group of non-SLE controls (1 control for each SLE patient) who also received transplants during that period. SLE patients and controls were matched on 6 covariates: age, sex, race, type of allograft (cadaveric versus living-related), number of previous transplants, and year of transplantation. All study subjects received either cyclosporine or FK-506/tacrolimus as part of their immunosuppressive regimen. In a rigorous medical records review, the status of each allograft and the cause of each graft loss was determined. Using a stratified Cox proportional hazards model, the transplantation outcomes of the SLE patients were compared with those of the controls. The effects of 9 individual variables on transplantation outcomes were also examined, and the statistically significant variables were compared in a stratified, multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Results The control group included patients with 20 different causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The mean followup times for the SLE patients and controls were 323 weeks and 320 weeks, respectively. During the followup period, 52 SLE patients and 37 controls lost their allografts. The 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10-year allograft survival probabilities for the 2 groups (SLE versus controls) were as follows: 81.7% versus 88.2% (1-year); 74.7% versus 84.4% (2-year); 45.9% versus 75.0% (5-year); and 18.5% versus 34.8% (10-year). In the multivariate model, the relative hazard of allograft loss associated with SLE as the cause of ESRD was 2.1 (95% confidence interval 1.06-4.06, P = 0.0328). The total number of HLA mismatches, smoking status, and delayed allograft function were also associated with allograft loss in the multivariate model. Conclusion Compared with matched controls, renal transplant patients with SLE had inferior transplantation outcomes, with more than twice the risk of allograft loss.
ON THE ASYMMETRY OF THE MIDDLE-LATITUDE CIRCUMPOLAR CURRENT

Abstract Evidence is presented that the circumpolar current of temperature latitudes often is not symmetric about the earth's axis of rotation. This asymmetry, which varies with time, is frequently so large that the “zonal index” no longer represents the true features of the current. Simple methods are developed to measure the asymmetry in terms of a circulation pole about which the current is symmetric, and to compute a representative circulation index. The detailed discussion of a typical example, supplemented by a summary of several other cases, establishes the following: periods of large asymmetry average about a week in duration and occur in the colder season, preferably during the “high-index” stage of a poleward index trend ; at such times the circumpolar current attains maximum strength, concentrated in a narrow zone, and resembles the classical high-index pattern ; the intensity of disturbances superimposed on the current falls to minimum values; for all large displacements of the circulation pol...
The effects of a phagostimulant and a deterrent on the microstructure of feeding by Manduca sexta caterpillars

Caterpillars of the hawkmoth Manduca sexta Johan. (Lepidoptera : Sphingidae) were offered discs of agar containing one of a range of concentrations of sucrose or of quinine, and the microstructure of the resulting feeding behaviour was quantified. As sucrose concentration increased caterpillars ate more by increasing the rate of biting and the lengths of meals. Bite frequency increased, after a latency of seconds to minutes, over the entire range tested (0.005 M to 0.5 M) whereas meal length reached a maximum at 0.1 M. Larvae spent less time feeding on agar containing 1 mM quinine than on quinine-free agar. This was accomplished by a reduction in the size of meals ; numbers of chewing bouts in meals were lower. No other feeding behaviours were affected. In addition there was no orderly relationship between quinine concentration and changes in feeding behaviours. These observations suggested that postingestive effects were important in decreasing feeding.
The Operational Characteristics of a cw Nd:CaWO Laser in the Range of Dry Ice to Room Temperature

Experiments with continuous operation of Nd:CaWO4 lasers at liquid nitrogen and room temperature were reported previously [ L. F. Johnson G. D. Boyd K. Nassau R. R. Soden , Phys. Rev.126, 1406 ( 1962)]. This paper presents the operational characteristics of a continuous-wave Nd :CawO4 laser in the range of dry ice to room temperature. The experimental results are compared with the predicted equations for power output and threshold power. We have found that output power is a linear function of absorbed pump power as predicted from the rate equations for a four-level laser medium. The threshold equation agrees qualitatively with the experimental results in that it decreases with decreasing temperature due to the consequent narrowing of the fluorescent line-width. We have used the threshold condition to indicate the quantities that must be monitored to optimize the crystal preparation and growth conditions. Continuous-wave operation has been obtained with an ac and dc pump lamp.
Single-neuron mnemonics.

How can you remember what you've just read or seen or done? The issue of short-term memory has vexed neuroscientists for more than half a century; a new study adds an unexpected piece to the puzzle.
Buckling the equatorial anion plane: octahedral anion distortions in ferroic perovskites and related systems resolved via neutron diffraction

A framework for describing anion displacements from perfect octahedra in perovskites has been developed for use with neutron diffraction data sets. We describe the distortions as noncoplanar arrangements, or buckling, of oxygen ions in any central plane of the octahedron, ignoring the central cation. Nonplanar distortions of octahedra have been calculated for perovskite structures contained within the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database. We find that antiferroelectric materials have buckling angles larger than ~2° and ferroelectric materials have buckling angles between 0° and 1°. The trend is found as a function of solid solution composition and temperature for common antiferroelectrics. For example, the described method resolves a structural difference between the end members PbTiO3 and PbZrO3, which exhibit ferroelectric and antiferroelectric responses, respectively. This technique is applicable to other structures containing anion octahedra, e.g., pyrochlores, spinels, and tungsten bronzes.
Highly photoactive Ti-doped α-Fe2O3 thin film electrodes: resurrection of the dead layer

Uniform thin films of hematite and Ti-doped hematite (α-Fe2O3) were deposited on transparent conductive substrates using atomic layer deposition (ALD). ALD's epitaxial growth mechanism allowed the control of the morphology and thickness of the hematite films as well as the concentration and distribution of Ti atoms. The photoelectrochemical performances of Ti-doped and undoped hematite electrodes were examined and compared under water oxidation conditions. The incorporation of Ti atoms into hematite electrodes was found to dramatically enhance the water oxidation performance, with much greater enhancement found for the thinnest films. An optimum concentration ∼3 atomic% of Ti atoms was also determined. A series of electrochemical, photoelectrochemical and impedance spectroscopy measurements were employed to elucidate the cause of the improved photoactivity of the Ti-doped hematite thin films. This performance enhancement was a combination of improved bulk properties (hole collection length) and surface properties (water oxidation efficiency). The improvement in both bulk and surface properties is attributed to the resurrection of a dead layer by the Ti dopant atoms.
Modulation of anomalous and galactic cosmic rays beyond the termination shock

[1] When Voyager 1 passed through the termination shock (TS), it did not observe unfolding of the energetic particle spectrum into a single power law up to anomalous cosmic ray (ACR) energies. Instead, Voyager continued to observe the modulation of ACRs, showing that ACRs were not accelerated at the termination shock where Voyager moved through it. Here, we show how the strongly correlated modulation of anomalous and galactic cosmic rays requires that the ACR accelerator must be on field lines that connect far beyond Voyager 1 on either the distant reaches of termination shock flanks or far out in the inner heliosheath near the heliopause.
Regulatory cells develop after the spontaneous acceptance of rat liver allografts

Background After donor-specific transfusion, tolerance to heart transplants is serially passed to naive rats by the adoptive transfer of long-term survivor (LTS)-tolerant splenocytes (SC). We examined whether regulatory cells similarly develop after the spontaneously accepted Lewis (LEW) to Dark Agouti (DA) liver transplants. Methods SC from a LTS DA rat with a LEW liver were adoptively transferred to a naive DA 1 day before transplantation of an irradiated (1000 rad) LEW liver. Results Untreated LEW to DA liver allografts were uniformly accepted; whereas all irradiated LEW liver grafts were rejected. In contrast, when 1.5 × 108 DA LTS SC were transferred to a naive DA recipient, all irradiated LEW liver grafts were accepted. When decreased to 1.0 × 108 LTS DA SC, only 1 of 4 irradiated LEW grafts was accepted. However, if 1.5 × 108 DA SC harvested only 30 days after liver transplantation were transferred, only 2 of 5 irradiated LEW liver grafts were accepted. The serial second and third adoptive transfers of 1.5 × 108 DA LTS SC also resulted in the uniform acceptance of irradiated LEW livers. Conclusion Regulatory cells that develop after the spontaneous acceptance of a LEW to DA liver transplant can serially transfer tolerance to new naive LEW liver allograft DA recipients. This “infectious tolerance” is dependent on the time of cell harvest after transplantation and on the cell dose given.
Nutritional status of children with leukemia

Children with cancer represent a high-risk group for protein-energy malnutrition due to side effects associated with treatment. Assessment of nutritional status at the time of diagnosis and during treatment is, therefore, essential for planning nutritional intervention. We studied the nutritional status of 25 children with leukemia [9 newly diagnosed/relapsed (D/R) leukemic patients and 16 children with leukemia in remission (REM)]. Plasma proteins (prealbumin, PA; albumin, Alb; transferrin, Tr; retinol-binding protein, RBP) and acute phase-reactant proteins (alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, AGP; C-reactive protein, CRP; ceruloplasmin, CER) were measured by radial immunodiffusion. Results show that there were no significant deficits in anthropometric measurements among leukemic children. In contrast, the mean levels of all plasma proteins, especially PA (P < 0.005), were significantly lower in the D/R group than in the REM group. All D/R children, compared to 59% of those in remission, had PA levels < 20 mg/dl. Only the D/R group had abnormal levels of RBP, Tr, and Alb. Children who were treated with prednisone had significantly higher mean levels of PA, RBP, and AGP than those who were not receiving prednisone. The mean levels of acute phase-reactant proteins in these leukemic children were comparable to those of healthy children. We conclude that mild/moderate malnutrition is common in leukemic patients at D/R and that PA seems to be the most sensitive indicator of visceral protein status.
Immunologically mediated lung disease—introduction

The spectrum of pulmonary immune disease encompasses forms of acute, reversible, predominantly airway disease (e.g., acute asthma) and forms with chronic, irreversible, largely interstitial changes (e.g., pulmonary fibrosis). Significant overlap between these disease categories does occur, as evidenced by the induction of pulmonary fibrosis in certain subjects with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. This symposium updates information on both of these important clinical groupings--asthma and pulmonary fibrosis---and includes a discussion of occupational lung disease and pulmonary manifestations of the collagen vascular diseases. We begin with a discussion of delayed or late-phase responses in asthma and subsequently describe two disease syndromes, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and mold-sensitive asthma, which are associated with latephase pulmonary responses. Information in each of these reviews supports the concept that delayed-in-time asthmatic responses represent clinically important expressions of allergic respiratory disease. Polyclonal cell activators (silica, asbestos) and their role in pulmonary immune disease (e.g., silicosis) have recently received detailed investigative attention. Therefore, a discussion of this important topic is included here. Sarcoidosis and the pneumoconioses share a number of pulmonary architectural and immunologic changes. The importance of pulmonary T lymphocytes as regulators of disease activity in sarcoidosis and the significance of pulmonary macrophages as regulators of disease expression in silicosis are discussed in separate informative articles. In addition to the pneumoconioses, occupational lung disease induced by reactive chemicals represents a clinically important form of pulmonary immune disease. Accordingly, this topic is reviewed with special reference to disease induced by trimellitic anhydride. Finally, although an increased frequency of autoantibodies (antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factors) are commonly observed in several pulmonary immune diseases (e.g., sarcoidosis, silicosis, asbestosis), the pulmonary man-ifestations of the collagen vascular diseases reflect distinct disease forms and
The consequences of metropolitan decentralization for personal gasoline consumption

It is often argued that more decentralized and spatially dispersed metropolitan areas require their residents to consume more gasoline than more centralized metropolitan areas. This notion is deduced from the assumption that, (1) populations decentralize, and (2) as this happens, people locate at distances farther removed from metropolitan centers which house most of the services, shops and jobs which suburban residents must travel to. In this article, it is argued that, at advanced stages of metropolitanization, the places to which people travel also decentralize and as this happens the gasoline consumption of metropolitan residents in more decentralized areas actually becomes lower than that of residents in more centralized areas. The latter argument is tested using multiple indicators of decentralization, and a number of control variables. All of the indicators of expansion relate to gasoline consumption in the predicted direction; the implications of this for energy and location policy are discussed.
PCB dechlorinases revealed at last

It has taken three decades from the first report of microbial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) dechlorination to identify even one of the enzymes responsible. By combining conventional techniques with their own ingenuity, the latest technologies, and a bit of luck, Wang et al., in PNAS, have identified not one, but three distinct enzymes that can reductively dechlorinate PCBs (1). This finding is important because, despite being banned in the 1970s, PCBs still contaminate the sediments of rivers, lakes, and harbors worldwide. PCBs are notorious for their ability to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain, and for their multiple suspected health effects.
Orthogonal Laurent-polynomials and continued fractions associated with log-normal distributions

Abstract This paper describes properties and computational procedures related to orthogonal Laurent-polynomials, continued fractions, two-point Pade approximants, strong moment problems and L-Gaussian quadrature associated with log-normal distribution functions φ(t) defined by φ′(t) = (q1/2/2ϰ√π) e−(lnt/2ϰ)2, 0
MRI of hippocampal volume loss in early Alzheimer's disease in relation to ApoE genotype and biomarkers.

Hippocampal volume change over time, measured with MRI, has huge potential as a marker for Alzheimer's disease. The objectives of this study were: (i) to test if constant and accelerated hippocampal loss can be detected in Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment and normal ageing over short periods, e.g. 6–12 months, with MRI in the large multicentre setting of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI); (ii) to determine the extent to which the polymorphism of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene modulates hippocampal change; and (iii) to determine if rates of hippocampal loss correlate with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, such as the β-amyloid (Aβ1–42) and tau proteins (tau). The MRI multicentre study included 112 cognitive normal elderly individuals, 226 mild cognitive impairment and 96 Alzheimer's disease patients who all had at least three successive MRI scans, involving 47 different imaging centres. The mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease groups showed hippocampal volume loss over 6 months and accelerated loss over 1 year. Moreover, increased rates of hippocampal loss were associated with presence of the ApoE allele ɛ4 gene in Alzheimer's disease and lower CSF Aβ1–42 in mild cognitive impairment, irrespective of ApoE genotype, whereas relations with tau were only trends. The power to measure hippocampal change was improved by exploiting correlations statistically between successive MRI observations. The demonstration of considerable hippocampal loss in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease patients over only 6 months and accelerated loss over 12 months illustrates the power of MRI to track morphological brain changes over time in a large multisite setting. Furthermore, the relations between faster hippocampal loss in the presence of ApoE allele ɛ4 and decreased CSF Aβ1–42 supports the concept that increased hippocampal loss is an indicator of Alzheimer's disease pathology and a potential marker for the efficacy of therapeutic interventions in Alzheimer's disease.
Batch forwarding in wireless sensor networks

Many-to-one traffic pattern in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) causes significant performance degradation toward the sink. To mitigate this so called funneling phenomenon, researchers have proposed various mechanisms at different layers. In this paper, we consider batch forwarding or packet concatenation at network layer, and experimentally demonstrate how it improves the delivery ratio and end2end delay in WSNs. Accordingly, we first develop analytical models under simplified assumptions. We then conduct extensive actual experiments using TinyOS and IRIS motes from Crossbow. Both analytical and actual experimental results show that batch forwarding significantly improves the efficiency and delivery radio, particularly in heavily loaded network environments. Despite some delay due to batch formation, batch forwarding also improves the overall end2end delay performance due to its efficient use of resources. As a result, batch forwarding is a viable data gathering solution and should be used in WSN applications that generate significant amount of sensing data and require high delivery ratio and less delay.
Northeastern Ozark earthquakes

In recent years, instrumentally-determined epicenters of five earthquakes have been located on the northeastern flank of the Ozark uplift. The local distribution of these epicenters shows: (1) The dangers of considering northeastern Ozark seismic activity as arising from geographically delineated seismic districts, and (2) the importance of discussing the earthquakes in relation to the zone of faults and flexures which lies between the Ozark dome and other major tectonic features to the north and east. Interesting structural features are found in the vicinity of the epicenters of individual earthquakes. The epicenters were situated (1) on the limb of the Eureka, Missouri, anticline; (2) adjacent to the faulted Waterloo-Dupo, Illinois, anticline; (3) in the Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, fault zone; (4) in the vicinity of the Moselle, Missouri, fault; and (5) in the large faulted block southwest of the magnetic high near Bourbon, Missouri. Depth of foci of at least five miles is indicated by the distribution of intensities and the character of the seismograms. In this connection the possible shielding effect of the Ozark core invites further study.
A pilot study of the combination of cyclosporin A and interferon alfacon-1 for the treatment of hepatitis C in previous nonresponder patients

Goals To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of interferon and cyclosporine for the treatment of hepatitis C in previous nonresponder patients. Background Preliminary data indicated that adding the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A to interferon might improve response rates in patients with hepatitis C. Study Ten previous virologic nonresponders with genotype 1 infection were included. Treatment consisted of interferon alfacon-1, 15 microg/d, and cyclosporine, 100 mg twice daily, for 4 weeks. The dose of interferon alfacon-1 was then decreased to 15 microg three times weekly, and cyclosporine was reduced to 50 mg twice daily. Therapy was continued for 48 weeks unless viremia persisted at week 24. Results Three of 10 subjects had an on-treatment virologic response, although one had a breakthrough with recurrent viremia during treatment and two relapsed after therapy was completed. On treatment responders had significantly higher trough cyclosporine levels at week 4 compared with nonresponders (P = 0.025). Serum creatinine levels remained stable, and no patient developed diabetes. Triglyceride levels increased during treatment. Cyclosporine was dose reduced in two patients for hypertension. Conclusions Selected patients with hepatitis C tolerated therapy, including cyclosporine without severe or irreversible toxicity. Despite an association between higher cyclosporine levels and on-treatment response, the combination of cyclosporine and interferon was ineffective in producing a sustained response in previous nonresponder patients.
A Study of Emission Policy Effects on Optimal Vehicle Design Decisions

A methodology is presented for studying the effects of automobile emission policies on the design decisions of profitseeking automobile producers in a free-entry oligopoly market. The study does not attempt to model short-term decisions of specific producers. Instead, mathematical models of engineering performance, consumer demand, cost, and competition are integrated to predict the effects of design decisions on manufacturing cost, demand, and producer profit. Game theory is then used to predict vehicle designs that producers would have economic incentive to produce at market equilibrium under several policy scenarios. The methodology is illustrated with three policy alternatives for the small car market: corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) regulations, carbon dioxide emissions taxes, and diesel fuel vehicle quotas. Interesting results are derived, for example, it is predicted that in some cases a stiffer regulatory penalty can result in lower producer costs because of competition. This mathematical formulation establishes a link between engineering design, business, and marketing through an integrated optimization model that is used to provide insight necessary to make informed environmental policy.
A DLL-regulated SIMO power converter for DVS-enabled power-aware VLSI systems

A delay-locked loop (DLL) regulated single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) power converter is presented. It takes advantage of the fast phase locking property of a DLL to identify the SIMO converter's regulation errors between the output voltages and their corresponding references. In response to these errors, an adaptive peak current modulation technique is proposed to adjust the instantaneous duty ratios, and thus minimize the regulation errors in the converter. The DLL acquires locking within 350 ns, allowing it to respond to load dynamics promptly, which is very desirable for DVS-enabled power-efficient VLSI systems. The system was designed and simulated in IBM 130-nm CMOS process. Fully transistor-based HSPICE simulations show that, with a 1.8 V nominal input supply, the converter precisely regulates two independent output voltages at 0.9 V and 1.5 V, respectively. It achieves the maximum efficiency of 87.2% at a total power of 104.8 mW and a switching frequency of 500 kHz.
A general semi‐lagrangian advection scheme employing forward trajectories

We propose a semi-Lagrangian advection scheme using forward trajectories, and a general interpolation procedure from the irregularly distributed Lagrangian grid to the regularly distributed Eulerian grid. the general interpolation procedure has virtually no restrictions, and the advection scheme is absolutely stable due to the direct calculation of forward trajectories. They are, therefore, applicable to problems of any extent of deformation with arbitrary Courant numbers. the scheme is also quite efficient, because this interpolation procedure converts a two-dimensional problem into a sequence of one-dimensional problems by employing an intermediate grid. the slotted cylinder of Zalesak under the motion of solid-body rotation is tested to assess the accuracy of this ‘internet interpolation method’. the idealized cyclogenesis of Doswell is simulated to demonstrate the ability of the advection scheme to accommodate strong deformation flows. Both tests indicate satisfactory accuracy.
Evidence of stimulation of glucagon secretion by alanine in the human fetus at term.

ABSTRACT Intravenous administration of alanine (0.15 gm/kg) to normal women during labor resulted in umbilical vein and maternal glucagon levels which were 150–170% higher than in control subjects. Higher umbilical vein and maternal glucose concentrations accompanied the elevation in plasma glucagon. The data suggest that the human fetal alpha cell at term is responsive to aminogenic stimulation.
Recovery of native zooplankton associated with increased mortality of an invasive mussel

Impacts of alien species may change with time but there are few long-term studies of invasions. Here, we present an example of a substantial change in the impact of an alien species that appeared more than a decade after initial invasion. We studied an invasion of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) into the Hudson River (New York, USA) over a 22 year period (1987–2008) including five years of pre-invasion observations. Zebra mussels caused a substantial and sustained decline in phytoplankton, and until recently, zooplankton. However from 2005–2008, the abundance of copepods, copepod nauplii, and rotifers recovered while tintinnid ciliates partially recovered. These changes are consistent with an increased mortality of larger (> 20 mm) zebra mussels that has altered the filter-feeding impact of the population. Large mussels had a threshold relationship with the abundance of nauplii, rotifers, and zebra mussel veligers suppressing these microzooplankton when filtration by large mussels was > 0.5 m3 m−2 d−...
Glutathione (GSH)-decorated magnetic nanoparticles for binding glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein and manipulating live cells

Iron oxide-based magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) surface-decorated with glutathione (GSH) via a dopamine anchor bind to human α1-glutathione S-transferase (GST) with high affinity and specificity and are able to separate GST fusion proteins from cell lysates. Both the purified GST and the protein of interest (POI) preserve their innate properties. The conjugate of MNP and the GST fusion protein also enables magnetic manipulation of cells.
An high speed integrated equalizer for dispersion compensation in 10Gb/s fiber networks

This paper presents the design of a high-speed analog transversal equalizer for dispersion compensation in 10Gbit/s fiber networks. We present design details of a seven tap transversal equalizer with delay amplifiers and tap variable gain amplifiers. The seven tap equalizer is implemented in a 47GHz SiGe technology.
Natural versus human-caused variability of water clarity in the Southern California Bight

This paper examines the spatial and temporal variability of two optical properties (percent transmissivity and Secchi disk depth) measured near three areas in the Southern California Bight in which strong human influence, in the form of sewage discharge, is present. Fifteen years of data collected monthly at test and control stations were examined by time-series and other statistical analyses. By comparing the variability of these properties between the three areas (50-200 km apart) and within areas with the local discharges, we have attempted to distinguish anthropogenically induced variability (variations associated with the local discharges) from natural variability (bightwide fluctuations). Although our results do not provide a totally unambiguous picture, they do indicate that most of the variability of these water-column properties is driven by bightwide natural phenomena. As required by California law, the sewage treatment plants of the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and the City of San Diego have been monitoring the water around their sewer outfalls monthly for > 15 yr. These outfalls are located respectively in Santa Monica Bay and offshore of Palos Verdes and Point Loma, all within the Southern California Bight (Fig. 1). The result of this ongoing monitoring is a rare (from the biological oceanographer’s point of view) set of time series of water-column properties. These time series encompass
Development of a Hybrid Model for Dynamic Travel Time Prediction

Travel-time prediction has been an interesting research subject for decades, and various prediction models have been developed. A prediction model was derived by integrating path-based and link-based prediction models. Prediction results generated by the hybrid model and their accuracy are compared with those generated by the path-based and link-based models individually. The models were developed with real-time and historic data collected from the New York State Thruway by the Transportation Operations Coordinating Committee. In these models, the Kalman filtering algorithm is applied for travel-time prediction because of its significance in continuously updating the state variables as new observations. The experimental results reveal that the travel times predicted with the path-based model are better than those predicted with the link-based model during peak periods, and vice versa. The hybrid model derives results from the best model at a given time, thus optimizing the performance. A prototype prediction system was developed on the World Wide Web.
Genetic, Genomic, and Functional Analysis of the Granule Lattice Proteins in Tetrahymena Secretory Granules

In some cells, the polypeptides stored in dense core secretory granules condense as ordered arrays. In ciliates such as Tetrahymena thermophila, the resulting crystals function as projectiles, expanding upon exocytosis. Isolation of granule contents previously defined five Granule lattice (Grl) proteins as abundant core constituents, whereas a functional screen identified a sixth family member. We have now expanded this screen to identify the nonredundant components required for projectile assembly. The results, further supported by gene disruption experiments, indicate that six Grl proteins define the core structure. Both in vivo and in vitro data indicate that core assembly begins in the endoplasmic reticulum with formation of specific hetero-oligomeric Grl proprotein complexes. Four additional GRL-like genes were found in the T. thermophila genome. Grl2p and Grl6p are targeted to granules, but the transcripts are present at low levels and neither is essential for core assembly. The DeltaGRL6 cells nonetheless showed a subtle change in granule morphology and a marked reduction in granule accumulation. Epistasis analysis suggests this results from accelerated loss of DeltaGRL6 granules, rather than from decreased synthesis. Our results not only provide insight into the organization of Grl-based granule cores but also imply that the functions of Grl proteins extend beyond core assembly.
Students' Views of Mentors in Psychology Graduate Training.

This study examined the prevalence and role of mentors in graduate training from the viewpoint of students. Ninety graduate psychology students from a large midwestern university responded to a survey about the characteristics of mentors, the roles mentors play in their professional and social lives, and why some students do not have a mentor. Over 50% of the respondents had mentors. Inability to find a satisfactory mentor was the predominant reason for not having one. Findings suggest that mentors serve supportive functions and promote professional productivity as indicated by research involvement, publications, and conference papers. Personality characteristics distinguish good from poor mentors much more frequently than do intellectual competence or professional activity.
A low ripple fully integrated charge pump regulator

This paper presents a low-ripple voltage-controlled charge pump regulator intended to feed internal blocks in a chip to guarantee regular operation when the power supply voltage drops below some predefined value. The circuit was implemented using an array of voltage doublers with a regulation system improved by a voltage controlled oscillator in the feedback path and a voltage ripple minimization technique. The circuit size is 0.556 mm/sup 2/ when fabricated in a 0.25 /spl mu/m CMOS technology and can supply loads consuming up to 8 mA from a 1.6 V to 2.3 V power supply.
More Prayer, Less Hope: Empirical Findings on Spiritual Instability

Spiritual instability is a spiritual struggle characterized by emotional dysregulation, fear of abandonment, and fear of punishment in relation to the sacred. The present study tested the relationships between spiritual instability, petitionary prayer, and hope among graduate trainees in the helping professions. The sample consisted of 206 graduate students from a Protestant-affiliated university in the United States. Results revealed moderator effect for petitionary prayer in the negative association between spiritual instability and hope. As frequency of petitionary prayer increased the correlation between spiritual instability and hope became increasingly negative. Future directions for research and implications for clinical practice are considered.
Asphaltene Particle Size Distribution Studies by Fractals

The solubilities of three different asphalt colloidal types (sol, sol-gel, and gel) were determined in various solvents. Asphalt cannot completely dissolve in the solvent, and therefore forms a colloidal system. An unknown number of hydrocarbon particles of different particle size are dispersed in this solution. Korcak distribution has been proposed previously to estimate the size distribution of islands in ocean archipelagos using the concept of fractals; it was employed in this work as an attempt to estimate the size distribution of asphalts. From Korcak distribution, we derived an additional equation to determine the size distribution and particle irregularity in the asphalt colloidal solution. From the relationship between the solvent molecule size and the mass of asphalt precipitated per molar solvent in various solvents, size distribution and irregularity could be obtained by the derived Korcak distribution. It was found that the value of size distribution for the three different colloidal asphalts is different, and it can be used to indicate sol, solgel, and gel types of asphalt. In this particular study, however, the values of irregularity were random among the samples, and therefore failed to be a tool to differentiate the three colloidal types.
Cardiac nerve blockade by infusion of procaine into the pericardial space of conscious dogs

A technique was developed to produce acute, reversible cardiac nerve blockade (CNB) in the conscious dog by infusion of 2% procaine into the pericardial (PC) space. During CNB, reflex changes in heart rate (HR) in response to intravenous bolus injections of phenylephrine (100 micrograms) and nitroglycerin (300 micrograms) and the reflex tachycardia and hypotension after a 50-micrograms bolus injection of veratridine into the left atrium were abolished. In response to CNB, HR increased from 79 +/- 10 to 142 +/- 10 beats/min and mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased from 101 +/- 5 to 117 +/- 6 mmHg. Baseline values for plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP), plasma renin activity (PRA), and plasma norepinephrine (NE) were unchanged by CNB, but there was a small increase in plasma cortisol levels (1.4 +/- 0.3 to 2.3 +/- 0.3 micrograms/dl) during CNB. There was no significant change in the baseline levels of any of these hormones during PC infusion of 0.9% saline. To control for the possibility that procaine leaked into the systemic circulation, identical amounts of procaine were infused intravenously. Systemic administration of procaine caused a rise in MAP but had no effect on HR and did not alter plasma levels of AVP, PRA, NE, or cortisol. The relationship between plasma osmolality and plasma AVP, as well as the drinking response to a 60-min infusion of hypertonic NaCl, was unaltered by CNB. We conclude that PC procaine infusion is an effective technique for producing acute, reversible blockade of the cardiac nerves in the conscious dog.
Fracture Toughness of Aligned Carbon Nanotube Polymer Nanocomposites for the Reinforcement of Hierarchical Composite Materials

Aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are being investigated for application to numerous material disciplines including structural composite materials due to their unique scaledependent physical properties. Nanoengineered architectures called Fuzzy Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FFRP) have been developed, where CNTs are grown radially on advanced fibers and extend into inter and intralaminar spaces. The aligned CNT forests induce a swelling of the tows and cloth causing fibers to spread apart, and the demonstrated improvements in Mode I toughness could be attributed to changes in matrix properties, interlaminar region morphology due to the swelling of the plies, or a combination of both. The work here aims to decouple the two effects by determining the toughness of the matrix region in the absence of fibers, employing aligned-CNT polymer nanocomposites with relevant CNT loadings (volume fractions). A single edge notch beam specimen has been demonstrated to isolate the fracture toughness of such aligned-CNT reinforced polymer nanocomposites.
The introduction of HDTV into digital television networks

The development of larger displays with higher spatial and/or temporal resolution, combined with the need to differentiate new digital services from existing ones, has led to a new drive toward digital high-definition television (HDTV) transmissions. To deliver better picture quality into the home, it has been proposed to start HDTV transmissions (with upconversion at the studio output) despite the fact that much production will remain at standard resolution for the foreseeable future. This paper demonstrates that early adoption of HDTV transmissions is unlikely to achieve the highest picture quality in the home at first, due to uncertainties in the display format. It is shown that upconversion should be matched to the display process and thus achieve a better picture quality. If the consumer display supports only standard resolution, the combined effect of upconversion, compression, and downconversion is shown to lead to severe degradation in picture quality. Furthermore, additional factors such as the increase in required transmission bandwidth are also discussed.
Effects of meglumine adenosine cyclophosphate for treatment of bronchiolitis

Objective To explore the effect of meglumine adenosine cyclophosphate on bronchiolitis.Method 120 infants with bronchiolitis were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.Two groups were given conventional treatment,and the treatment group plus meglumine adenosine cyelophosphate injection,daily 2~5 mg/kg,intravenous drip,1 time a day.The symptoms such as cough,wheezing and shortness of breath,time of improvement in pulmonary sign and hospital days were observed.Result The effective rate of treatment group(93.3%) was significantly higher than that in control group(80%),and the difference was statistically significant(x2 =4.615,P0.05).The symptoms such as cough,wheezing and shortness of breath,time of improvement in pulmonary sign and hospital days in treatment group was significantly shorter than those in the control group(P0.05).Conclusion Meglumine adenosine cyclophosphate had a good effect on bronchiolitis,which is safe,reliable and worthy of clinical application.
The Sialoglycoproteins (Glycophorins) in the Plasma Membranes of Different Cells and their Receptor Functions

Abstract Heavily glycosylated proteins have been identified in the plasma membranes of several different cell types including blood and tissue cells. They share certain structural features and contain as one marker abundant amounts of sialic acid linked to serine- or threonine-type oligosaccharides. The protein which has been most extensively studied is glycophorin A. It is expressed in human nucleated red cell precursors and the mature red cell in addition to a number of other like molecules. Although its presumably complex biological function, e.g. in differentiation, is not understood, the molecules carry receptors for viruses, several plant lectins and the MNSs blood group system. The difficulties in dealing with these complex glycoconjugates are demonstrated by recent immunochemical and 13 C-NMR studies on the MN antigenic determinant, which suggest a complex tertiary structure composed of carbohydrate and protein.
Circulating microRNAs and sudden cardiac arrest outcomes.

Aim MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have regulatory functions in organs critical in resuscitation from sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF-SCA); therefore, circulating miRNAs may be markers of VF-SCA outcome.