cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deep Learning for Automating the Organization of Institutional Dermatology Image Stores

A common challenge faced by researchers associated with healthcare institutions is that data of interest are often contained in electronic medical informatics systems that are centered on optimizing clinician/clinician and patient/clinician communication. While this focus naturally enhances the primary goal of care delivery, it is often suboptimal for secondary research purposes. For example at our institution while it is easy for a clinician to view images associated with a specific patient visit, it remains a challenge for an investigator to assemble a cohort of specific images in order to further research objectives. In order to address this important optimization gap we have developed a system for automated image categorization based on a deep neural network. This image classifier organizes the contents of an electronic health record system in a manner which is more amenable to further research by specifically dividing all available images into a lexicon of subclasses. While the current study is focused on dermatology-related images collected by a combined primary and tertiary care center, we expect similar approaches to aid a variety of institutions and clinical specialties.
Abstract 862: SGK-1 Metabolically Reprograms VSMC Energy Metabolism by Modulation of Substrate Utilization and Mitochondrial Structure

Obesity is associated with vascular remodeling which increases the risk of developing heart disease; the leading cause of death world-wide. The mechanisms underlying vascular remodeling during obes...
I Had It All Figured Out…Or So I Thought

When I began my career in the field of educational technology over 30 years ago, my plan was to complete my master’s degree in (what is now called) Instructional Psychology and Technology at Brigham Young University and then complete the Educational Technology Ph.D. program at Arizona State University. This would allow me to move into a tenure-track faculty position at a state university, as ASU’s program was known nationally for its strong scholarly productivity and its success in preparing future faculty.
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Induces a Distinct Signature of Circulating Metabolites

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an incurable, progressive disorder, and the early diagnosis and treatment of PAH are associated with increased survival [...].
Spatiotemporal fluctuation scaling law and metapopulation modeling of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and SARS outbreaks.

We comparatively analyzed the spatiotemporal fluctuations of the 2019-novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and SARS outbreaks to understand their epidemiological characteristics. Methodologically, we introduced TPL (Taylor power law) to characterize their spatiotemporal heterogeneity/stability and Hubbell (2001) unified neutral theory of biodiversity (UNTB) [specifically Harris et al. (2015) HDP-MSN model (hierarchical Dirichlet process multi-site neutral model)] to approximate the metapopulation of coronavirus infections. First, TPL analysis suggested that the coronaviruses appear to have a specific heterogeneity/stability scaling parameter (TPL-b) slightly exceeding 2 for cumulative infections or exceeding 1 for daily incremental infections, suggesting their potentially chaotic, unstable outbreaks. Another TPL parameter (M0) (i.e., infection critical threshold) depends on virus kinds (COVID-19/SARS), time (disease-stages), space (regions) and public-health interventions (e.g., quarantines and mobility control). M0 measures the infection level, at which infections are random (Poisson distribution) and below which infections follow uniform distribution and may die off if M0 coincides or below the level of Allee effects. It was found that COVID-19 outbreak seems nearly twice more risky than SARS, and the lower infection threshold may be due to its lower lethality than SARS since lower fatality rates can facilitate the survival and spread of pathogen. Second, metacommunity UNTB neutrality testing seems appropriate for approximating metapopulation of coronavirus infections. Specifically, two parameters {\theta} and M, borrowed from neutral theory, may be used to assess the relative significance of infection through local contagion vs. infection through migration, both of which may depend on time, space, virus kinds, and particularly public-health interventions.
Reteaching/retouching Heimat: expellees, home and belonging in German schools’ post-war curricula

This essay explores how both German and international educators mobilised history curricula to reshape German collective identity between 1945 and 1950, focusing particular attention on depictions ...
Asymmetrical multiphase front propagation and localized oscillations in a reaction-migration iron electrodissolution model with microfluidic flow cell geometry

We study nonlinear patterns in a reaction-migration system in microfluidic flow cell geometry with potentiostatic metal electrodissolution by using one- and two-variable electrode kinetics to model bistable, excitable, and oscillatory dynamics. On long electrodes in flow channel geometry, which is often used in lab-on-chip devices, the propagation of activity front (in the bistable region) was found to be a strongly asymmetrical, complex, multiphase process, with the onset of spontaneous secondary inactivation waves. On segmented electrodes, because of strong coupling, the activation front can hop over insulating segments. A common feature of bistable and excitable dynamics is that the front initiation from the remote (high resistance) edge is easier (requires less perturbation) compared to the close (low resistance) edge. In the oscillatory region, we found spatially localized oscillations located on the close part of the electrode, with oscillation properties depending on cell geometry parameters. The flow cell geometry induces large changes in the local resistance along the electrodes in the flow channel, especially between the remote and close edges; this variation creates largely heterogeneous dynamical units, whose coupling accounts for many features of the observed complex behavior.
Why We Can't Always Establish Shared Goals on Projects

For a project to be successful team members must be aligned with each other on their goal. The purpose of this study was to understand how a cross-functional project team engages in accepting a project goal as real. We framed our study using shared reality theory and a qualitative approach to analyze the video and audio recorded meetings of three cross-functional project teams over a four-month period in a mid-sized private fintech firm. We proposed that the establishment of a goal as a project teams reality requires the integration of functional and organizational identity for the project team to align. We found that when teams faced events of uncertainty related to their goal, the team that had integrated their goal as reality had reconciled identity. Teams that had not accepted their goal as reality engaged in continuous interpretations of an events meaning and challenged each other’s functional identity. Given this validation we then examined how the goal aligned with the organization’s identity in the form of their mission statement. We found that the team’s inability to create a shared goal was because the goal itself conflicted with the organization’s identity. Functional team members have an identity that is partially supported by this identity rendering the integration of the goal as reality impossible. The findings of this study contribute an important understanding about the interrelationship between organizational goals and identity alignment. It exposes the critical role goal formation plays in maintaining a coherent organizational story so that functional team members may correctly act their part. This research also extends goal theory by considering the implications of the relational context of a goal within the organizational context.
The mechanism of thermal transformation hysteresis in ZrO2-CeO2 shape-memory ceramics

ABSTRACT Hysteresis is an important phase transformation property to understand and control in shape-memory materials. While a detailed understanding of hysteresis has been developed in shape-memory alloys (SMAs), it is far less understood in emerging shape-memory ceramics (SMCs). Here, we systematically study thermal hysteresis of the tetragonal-monoclinic martensitic transformation in ZrO2-CeO2 SMCs. We present calorimetry measurements of thermal hysteresis, which reveal a non-monotonic trend with CeO2 content as well as significant rate dependence, and correlate these findings with the transformation crystallography measured by in situ X-ray diffraction. We quantitatively analyze these results in the framework of martensite nucleation theory and conclude that the initial decrease in hysteresis with CeO2 content can be attributed to improving interface compatibility (λ2) for coherent nucleation whereas the sharp increase in hysteresis at higher CeO2 contents (below temperatures of ~773 K) is a result of interface friction consistent with thermally-activated interactions with the Peierls barrier of the crystal. Our analysis gives an activation energy of ~136 kJ/mol, which is consistent with previously reported activation energies of isothermal transformation in these materials. These findings clarify contradicting reports in the ZrO2 literature and confirm that the same controlling factors of hysteresis in SMAs, namely λ2 and thermal friction, are also operative in SMCs.
Parent-child conversations about animals on a visit to a (virtual) zoo

Abstract Children face multiple challenges in constructing an organized understanding of the animal domain, and parent-child conversations are a potential source of relevant information, both explicit and implicit. To understand these contributions, this study examined 41 parent-child dyads (child age range: 3–7 years) as they visited a virtual zoo displaying videos of a wide range of animals (humans, chimps, rhinos, beavers, owls, fish, and bees). Conversations were coded for mention of biological, psychological, and perceptual properties; gendered and neuter pronouns; comparisons between animals; and generic utterances. Conversations demonstrated principled variation in organizing the domain, using three subgroups: humans, non-human mammals, and fish and bees. This organization differed substantially from the responses participants provided in a subsequent biological property projection task. These findings inform the role of parent-child conversations in the development of the animal domain, and have implications for downstream consequences on beliefs regarding the natural world.
Angiotensin II Receptor Subtypes and Growth

It is becoming increasingly clear that the renin-angiotensin system has a profound influence on growth besides the well-known physiological action on blood pressure regulation and control of fluid volume.1–4 Angiotensin II (ANG II) induces the expression of growth-related proto-oncogenes c-fos 5–7 and c-myc 8 Expression of growth factors like platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)8,9 and extracellular matrix components like thrombospondin10 and tenascin11,12 is also induced by ANG II. Recently, hepatocyte nuclei have been demonstrated to express binding sites for ANG II,13,14 indicating that the peptide may also act through nuclear receptors. ANG II therefore may exert a direct action on growth or in some cases mediate its effect by interacting with growth factors.
Applying Options in the Classroom: Selling Calls and Puts on Grades

Trading simulations have become more common in the finance classroom. One problem with traditional trading simulations is that using play money as currency often creates a situation where the winning strategy is an excessively risky strategy. In this paper, we introduce an options simulation which allows students to buy a call or a put on their final exam score. Because the students pay for the options with an important currency, final exam points, they are required to fully analyze the decision to buy the option since there is a real potential loss in the purchase.
Representing Attribute-Based Concepts in a Classifier System

Abstract Legitimate concerns have been raised about the expressive adequacy of the classifier language. This paper shows that many of those concerns stem from the inadequacies of the binary encodings typically used with classifier systems, not the classifier language per se. In particular, we describe some straightforward binary encodings for attribute-based instance spaces. These encodings give classifier systems the ability to represent ordinal and nominal attributes as expressively as most symbolic machine learning systems, without sacrificing the building blocks required by the genetic algorithm.
Identification of O-alkyldihydroxyacetone phosphate, O-alkyldihydroxyacetone, and diacyl glyceryl ethers after enzymic synthesis.

Abstract O-Alkyldihydroxyacetone-P and O-alkyldihydroxyacetone were identified as intermediates in the biosynthesis of O-alkyl-linked lipids. The substrates for the initial reaction are dihydroxyacetone-P and fatty alcohols, and the cofactor requirements are coenzyme A, ATP, and Mg++. The enzyme complex that carries out this reaction was found in microsomes of preputial gland tumors. The keto-intermediates were identified by thin layer and gas-liquid chromatography of derivatives and standards prepared by the following techniques: LiAlH4 reduction, periodate oxidation before and after LiAlH4 reduction, acid and alkaline hydrolysis, and removal of the phosphate moiety by bacterial alkaline phosphatase. We analyzed the fatty alcohols and O-alkyl ethylene glycols resulting from these treatments as the acetates; the O-alkylglycerols were identified as the isopropylidene derivatives. Both keto-intermediates can be enzymically reduced with NADPH. After reduction of the ketone group of the phosphorylated intermediate, acylation can result in the formation of diacyl glyceryl ethers.
Energetics of Madden Julian Oscillations in the NCAR CAM3: A Composite View

[1] This study further examines the simulation of the tropical Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) using the modified Zhang-McFarlane convection scheme in the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Atmospheric Model version 3 (CAM3). The results demonstrate that modifications to the Zhang-McFarlane scheme lead to significantly enhanced MJO and much improvement of the MJO structures. However, the propagation speed is too fast compared to observations. The westward tilting structures of moisture flux convergence over the western Pacific warm pool are simulated very well by the modified CAM3 (CAM3m). The modified Zhang-McFarlane convection scheme also improves the energetic structures of the MJOs. With the climatological mean of the energetics from the composite MJO removed, the energy budget terms show clear eastward propagation following MJO movement in the CAM3m and ECMWF reanalysis (ERA40). The results further support that the interaction between convection and large-scale circulation is important in the maintenance and growth of the MJO through perturbation kinetic energy (PKE) conversion from perturbation available potential energy (PAPE) generated by the correlation of specific volume (α) and large-scale heating (Q1). Too weak Q1 and PAPE generated through (α, Q1) is responsible for the weak MJO and intraseasonal variability simulated by the standard CAM3. Too strong climatology mean of the energetics in the CAM3m may be caused by too strong stationary intraseasonal variability. Moisture flux convergence is responsible for the changes of specific humidity in the CAM3m and CAM3 during the cycle of the MJO over the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. These results indicate that interaction between convection, moisture and convergence in the lower troposphere may be responsible for the MJO development over the Indian and western Pacific Ocean in both observations and simulations. The weak intraseasonal variability and MJO simulated by the original Zhang-McFarlane deep convection scheme is attributed to the lack of coherent shallow convection ahead of deep convection in the MJO cycle.
The Effects of Industry-Wide Price Regulation on Industrial Organization

In this article, we use laboratory methods to examine the effects of industrywide price regulation on industry structure and firm behavior. Such regulation, wherein prices are set with regard to an industry-wide aggregate performance measure, has bleen (and still is) widely used in a number of industries. We use the data generated in laboratory markets to examine two aspects of industry-wide regulation. First, does this type of regulation influence the formation and structure of e(luililrium, that is, does it affect the types of equilibria that appear? Second, are the resulting regulated oligopoly equilibria welfare-improving or welfare-impairing vis-a-vis ulnregulated oligopoly equilibria? In other words, does industry-wide regulation "help"? The answer to the first question is yes, while the answer to the second is a guarded no. Industry-wide regulation, wherein prices are set with regard to an industry-wide aggregate performance measure, has beenl (and still is) widely used. Examples include trucking, the airlines, natlural gas production, insurance, portions of the dairy industry, World War II industry price controls, taxicabs, and (in the near future) hospital cost reimbursement by
Learning the learning parameters

A variation of the backpropagation procedure that dynamically adjusts the values of the learning rate and momentum parameters during learning is proposed. These values are made dependent on the standard deviation of the activation distribution of each hidden unit, which allows the network to adapt the parameter values to each individual weight. The new procedure was applied to a simple categorization task and it gave better convergence results than the standard backpropagation procedure. >
Customer service call centers: managing rapid personnel changes

This paper examines academic and practitioner literature relative to service quality and the changing personnel requirements for customer service call centers (CSCC). From this review, propositions are developed which (1) may be useful to call center managers in meeting this critical need, and, (2) may be used to direct future academic research in this growth area. This review is organized around eight key human resource management practices consisting of: 1. Recruiting, 2. Selection, 3. Retention, 4. Teamwork, 5. Training and Development, 6. Appraisal, 7. Rewarding Quality, and 8. Employee Involvement. Propositions based on the literature review are developed for each key practice. Conclusions are drawn and implications for managerial and academic implications are discussed.
Downregulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and signal transduction response in salivary glands of NOD mice

The nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse is subject to autoimmune disease-associated lymphocytic attack on the salivary glands with a corresponding loss of exocrine function. Downregulation of stimulus response to the beta-adrenoceptor agonist, isoproterenol, appears to be related to a decline in beta-adrenergic receptor density, changes in the level of intracellular second messenger signaling component adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, and protein kinase A activity. An autoantibody to the beta 1-adrenergic receptor present in the sera of diabetic NOD mice may be involved in the reduced agonist response by virtue of its ability to retard dihydroalprenolol radioligand binding to receptors in the membranes of salivary glands from control mice and recognition of purified beta 1-adrenergic receptor by immunoblotting techniques.
SiC pressure sensor for detection of combustor thermoacoustic instabilities [aircraft engine applications]

We have utilized a single crystal silicon carbide (SiC) pressure sensor to validate the existence of thermo-acoustic instability at 310 Hz in a combustor test rig operating at 420 /spl deg/C and about 180 psi. The MEMS SiC pressure sensor was packaged by the direct chip attach (DCA) method, which eliminated the wire bonding process and the reliability issues associated with it when exposed to high temperature and high vibration environments. The result obtained by using this un-cooled SiC pressure sensor was in excellent agreement with the result obtained from a water-cooled piezoceramic pressure transducer located in close proximity to the SiC sensor. This result provides further confirmation of the viability of a robust SiC pressure sensor with less complex packaging for application in high temperature and high vibration environments.
Bacteremia in private pediatric practice.

The capillary white blood cell count and differential, a test easily done in office practice, was used in unexplained febrile illness of infants and toddlers to help distinguish those babies most likely to have bacteremia who would benefit from blood culture and early bacteriologic diagnosis. Four criteria were used as indicators suggestive of bacterial infection: white blood cell count ≥15,000/cu mm, total segmented neutrophils ≥10,000/cu mm, total band cells ≥500/cu mm, and total polymorphonuclear leukocytes (segmented neutrophils plus band cells) ≥10,500/cu mm. These measurements were found helpful in separating a small group of bacteremic babies at high risk of complications from a large group of babies who recovered without antibiotic treatment and without complications. There were 146 febrile illnesses recorded in babies 3 to 24 months of age; bacteremia was proven in eight of these. Three or four blood cell count criteria were fulfilled in seven of the eight bacteremic babies and in only ten (7.2%) of the remaining 138 febrile illnesses (P
Genetic Elements Novel for Corynebacterium diphtheriae: Specialized Transducing Elements and Transposons

It was shown in an accompanying paper (Buck and Groman, J. Bacteriol. 148: 131-142, 1981) that γ- tsr -1 phage stocks produced by heat induction of lysogens are a mixture of two phages which differ in the content of their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). This difference is evidenced by the appearance of “heterogeneous” (HET) fragments in restriction enzyme digests of γ- tsr -1 phage DNA. It was estimated that 20 to 80% of the phage in these lysates produced HET fragments. The appearance of HET fragments correlated with the appearance of a DNA insertion (DI-1) in the γ phage genome as revealed in heteroduplexes of DNA from γ- tsr -1 and β corynebacteriophages. The HET fragments were seen in DNA from heat-induced lysates, but not in DNA from phage stocks produced by lytic infection. By DNA-DNA hybridization analysis it was shown that a fraction of γ- tsr -1 phages from heat-induced lysates carried an insertion of bacterial DNA in the vegetative phage attachment site ( att P), and that this insertion was responsible for the formation of HET fragments. Since the phage produced by this event carried a complete phage genome plus a small segment of bacterial DNA, they were called transducing elements. On the basis of these facts it was concluded that heat-induced γ- tsr -1 prophage was excised at an abnormal site at a very high frequency. Abnormal excision was highly specific, and the change in excision specificity occurred simultaneously with the spontaneous mutation of the phage to heat inducibility. From this and other data it was postulated that a mutation in the immune repressor was reponsible for an alteration in the specificity of the normal excision process. This distinguishes the mechanism of formation of γ- tsr -1 transducing elements from that employed by other phages. A second DNA insertion (DI-2) in the tox (diphtheria toxin) gene of γ- tsr -1 and γ- tsr -2 was also identified as an insertion of bacterial DNA. The DI-2 insertion had a stem-and-loop structure similar to that seen in heteroduplexes visualizing transposons or insertion elements. It seems likely that γ wild-type phage, which is mutant for tox , was originally tox + , but that transposition of bacterial DNA into the gene inactivated it. Images
Meteorite impact! The danger from space and South Africa's mega-impact, the Vredefort structure, by W. U. Reimold and R. L. Gibson, with a chapter by A. Pelser, M. Naude, and K. Balkwill

Book Review: Meteorite Impact! The Danger from Space and South Africa's Mega-impact, the Vredefort Structure, W. U. Reimold, R. L. Gibson. Chris van Rensburg Publications (Pty) Ltd., Melville, South Africa (2005).
Electrophoresis of milk proteins. I. Some comparisons of salt-acid and salt-lyophilized whey fractions.

Summary 1.Electrophoretic patterns were obtained for whey proteins. These proteins were prepared by two different procedures, namely, salt-acid and salt-lyophilized. 2.Six electrophoretically distinguishable components were split off by electrophoresis of these whey proteins. 3.No qualitative difference in whey proteins prepared by these methods was recognized. 4.The electrophoretic concentration of euglobulin by the salt-acid method was less than half the salt-lyophilized value, while for pseudoglobulin the salt-acid value was nearly double the salt-lyophilized. 5.The change of concentration could have been due to action of HC1 upon the immune lactoglobulins. 6.Relative percentages of component areas from salt-lyophilized proteins agreed qualitatively with those obtained by Smith and only for one component did areas from salt-acid proteins agree better with the data of Smith and of Deutsch.
Effect of field exposure to 38-year-old residual petroleum hydrocarbons on growth, condition index, and filtration rate of the ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa.

Abstract In September 1969, the Florida barge spilled 700,000 L of No. 2 fuel oil into the salt marsh sediments of Wild Harbor, MA. Today a substantial amount, approximately 100 kg, of moderately degraded petroleum remains within the sediment and along eroding creek banks. The ribbed mussels, Geukensia demissa , which inhabit the salt marsh creek bank, are exposed to the spilled oil. Examination of short-term exposure was done with transplantation of G. demissa from a control site, Great Sippewissett marsh, into Wild Harbor. We also examined the effects of long-term exposure with transplantation of mussels from Wild Harbor into Great Sippewissett. Both the short- and long-term exposure transplants exhibited slower growth rates, shorter mean shell lengths, lower condition indices, and decreased filtration rates. The results add new knowledge about long-term consequences of spilled oil, a dimension that should be included when assessing oil-impacted areas and developing management plans designed to restore, rehabilitate, or replace impacted areas.
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF INFILTRATIVE LIPOMA IN 22 DOGS

Twenty two dogs with an infiltrative lipoma had computed tomographic (CT) images acquired to evaluate the extent of local disease. Ten dogs had undergone at least one cytoreductive surgical procedure (range = 1-3; median = 2) prior to imaging. Twenty dogs had measurable disease on CT images; 2 dogs had diffuse disease at a previous surgical site that could not be measured. Tumor volume (n = 20) ranged from 20 to 5,632 cm3 (median = 345 cm3; mean = 996 cm3). None of the dogs had evidence of bone involvement on the CT images; 2 of the 22 dogs had tumors that did not come into direct contact with osseous structures. All dogs with measurable disease had evidence of a fat opacity mass with variable degrees of muscle infiltration. Eleven of 22 dogs were given intravenous contrast medium prior to image acquisition and there was not evidence of enhancement of the infiltrative lipoma in any dog. Based on CT images, tumors were classified as well-defined in 9 dogs, moderately well-defined in 4, not well-defined in 3 and a mix of well-defined and not well-defined in 6 dogs. Tumors tended to be less well-defined in regions where the infiltrative lipoma interdigitated with normal body fat. It appears CT imaging allows adequate discrimination of tumor with the caveat that differentiation of normal fat from infiltrative lipoma can be problematic.
Stabilization of molecular atoms

We demonstrate the possibility of stabilizing the motion of ion-pair states through the use of external electric and magnetic fields. In conjunction with the Coulomb force, these fields can be engineered so as to lead to the creation of outer equilibrium points which can support non-spreading coherent wavepackets and long-lived states. Specific application is made to the H+–H− ion pair, recently investigated using threshold ion-pair production spectroscopy (TIPPS).
A Patient with Recurrent Arteriovenous Graft Thrombosis

Arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) are prone to frequent thrombosis that is superimposed on underlying hemodynamically significant stenosis, most commonly at the graft-vein anastomosis. There has been great interest in detecting AVG stenosis in a timely fashion and performing preemptive angioplasty, in the belief that this will prevent AVG thrombosis. Three surveillance methods (static dialysis venous pressure, flow monitoring, and duplex ultrasound) can detect AVG stenosis. Whereas observational studies have reported that surveillance with preemptive angioplasty substantially reduces AVG thrombosis, randomized clinical trials have failed to confirm such a benefit. There is a high frequency of early AVG restenosis after angioplasty caused by aggressive neointimal hyperplasia resulting from vascular injury. Stent grafts prevent AVG restenosis better than balloon angioplasty, but they do not prevent AVG thrombosis. Several pharmacologic interventions to prevent AVG failure have been evaluated in randomized clinical trials. Anticoagulation or aspirin plus clopidogrel do not prevent AVG thrombosis, but increase hemorrhagic events. Treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia does not prevent AVG thrombosis. Dipyridamole plus aspirin modestly decreases AVG stenosis or thrombosis. Fish oil substantially decreases the frequency of AVG stenosis and thrombosis. In patients who have exhausted all options for vascular access in the upper extremities, thigh AVGs are a superior option to tunneled internal jugular vein central vein catheters (CVCs). An immediate-use AVG is a reasonable option in patients with recurrent CVC dysfunction or infection. Tunneled femoral CVCs have much worse survival than internal jugular CVCs.
Oxygen Reduction by Nitric-oxide Synthases*

Nitric-oxide synthases (NOS, EC 1.14.13.39) are hemeproteins that catalyze oxidation of L-arginine to NOz and L-citrulline. Three main isozymes exist in mammals that are regulated by distinct genes (1–6): a constitutive neuronal NOS (nNOS or NOS I), (7, 8), an endotoxinand cytokine-inducible NOS (iNOS or NOS II) (9, 10), and a constitutive endothelial NOS (eNOS or NOS III) (11). Although NOS have some unique features that distinguish them from other hemeprotein monooxygenases such as cytochrome P-450s, there are, nevertheless, a number of similarities that allow comparisons to be made (12). One such finding is that both enzymes inadvertently secrete O2 . (13, 14). Indeed, NOSs contain four redox active prosthetic groups (FAD, FMN, iron protoporphyrin IX (heme), and (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B)) that could conceivably pass electrons to O2. Understanding the extent to which this occurs independent of NOz synthesis is important from a mechanistic standpoint. In particular, how does the enzyme control O2 activation? From a biologic perspective, NOz and O2 . initiate different cell signaling pathways (15, 16). This is further complicated by the fact that NOzand O2 . combine to form peroxynitrite (17), which has physiological activities that differ greatly from those of the parent free radicals (18). In this review we examine the electron transport chain of NOS with special emphasis on O2 . production and interpret these findings with a view toward NOS structure-function and the kinetics of the electron transfer reactions.
Stochastic resonance in a random walk.

I demonstrate stochastic resonance in a discrete-state, continuous-time random walk in one dimension. The probabilities for the walker to step to the right or to the left depend on an external field. The field varies in space and time such that the walker feels a bistable, periodically modulated random potential. Unbiased random forces act on the walker in addition to the field. When the field is strong relative to the unbiased forces, the walker is confined to a single well, and a power spectrum shows low noise levels and little power at the modulation frequency. When the field is weak relative to the unbiased forces, the walker moves erratically between the wells, and a power spectrum is noisy. For intermediate field strengths, the walker moves periodically from one well to another, and the power at the modulation frequency increases dramatically with respect to the noise level. In this respect, the behavior of the discrete-state model is analogous to the standard, continuous-state Langevin models.
Alloy heats of formation: Theory versus experiment

Comparison is made among calculated heats of formation of ordered transition metal compounds, experimental heats obtained by Kleppa and coworkers, and parameters appropriate to CALPHAD constructs. The calculated heats are precise representatives of band theory granted the class of local density potential which was employed; comparison with experiment suggests that they are less accurate than is desired. The issue of the stability of excited phases against local distortion is explored indicating that some systems,which are normally presumed to be metastable, are not. This has consequences for CALPHAD phase diagram constructs and suggests that entropy is an important contribution to the local stability of some high- temperature phases.
Complexity and community: Finding what works in workplace ESL

This chapter addresses the complexity of providing workplace ESL by identifying patterns of “best practices” in the related fields of human resource management, adult education, and training and development, all of which have a stake in workplace ESL and the integration of immigrant workers.
Tissue transglutaminase expression and activity in normal and glaucomatous human trabecular meshwork cells and tissues.

Purpose—Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible visual impairment and blindness in the world. A major risk factor for glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure due to increased resistance of aqueous humor outflow through the trabecular meshwork (TM). In the glaucomatous TM, there is increased accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) material due to a disruption of the normal balance between ECM deposition and degradation. Tissue transglutaminase (TGM2) belongs to a family of calcium-dependent enzymes that catalyze the posttranslational modification of the ECM by cross-linking proteins, thus making these proteins resistant to enzymatic and physical degradation. It is possible that the increase in ECM proteins in the glaucomatous TM is due to increased crosslinking activity of TGM2. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in expression and activity of TGM2 between normal and glaucoma TM cells and tissues. Methods—Normal (n = 3 NTM) and glaucomatous (n = 3 GTM) human TM cell lines were grown until confluent. Western immunoblot analysis of cell lysates was used to compare TGM2 protein levels in NTM and GTM cells. TGM2 enzyme activity between NTM and GTM cells was studied by using a biotin cadaverine assay. In addition, immunohistochemistry of three normal and three glaucomatous TM tissues was used to evaluate the in vivo expression of TGM2, fibronectin (FN) and e-(γ-glutamyl) lysine (GGEL) proteins. Results—Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of TGM2 protein in both NTM and GTM cells. There was an increase in TGM2 protein in GTM cells compared with NTM cells, and GTM cells also had increased in TGM2 enzyme activity compared with NTM cells. Immunohistochemical results demonstrated increased expression of TGM2 and FN in GTM tissues. FN and GGEL proteins were colocalized in GTM tissues, indicating significant cross-linking of FN by TGM2. Conclusions—This study demonstrated that both NTM and GTM cells express TGM2. In addition, TGM2 protein levels and enzyme activities were elevated in GTM cells. There was also an increase in colocalization of FN and GGEL protein in GTM tissues. These results indicate that TGM2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma by cross-linking ECM proteins such as FN and thus making the ECM more resistant to degradation.
Data Sharing in Toxicology: Beyond Show and Tell

In the past several months I have participated in numerous discussions about data sharing. It reminded me of kindergarten. The teacher would ask the students to bring in objects for “show and tell.” I recall proudly showing some artifact of childhood to my peers. I would beam as my friends acknowledge the treasure I beheld with “oohs” and “ahhs.” Yet, minutes later when a friend asks to hold it or play I would reflexively wince as a wave of unease washed over me. What happened? I had something very exciting to share with my friends. Why did I bristle at the logical step of letting my friends experience what I had? I suspect that the visceral resistance to sharing may not be such a bad thing. Those feelings emanate from the strong connection with the object. When one has cared for and nurtured an item, one feels an obligation to protect it. In kindergarten, we were encouraged to overcome these feelings. In fact, when possessions are shared with like-minded friends the experience around that object can grow and lead to new avenues of play and interaction—hobbies, clubs, etc. My teacher was correct. It is good to share.
Emergency department multimarker point-of-care testing reduces time to cardiac marker results without loss of diagnostic accuracy

Abstract:We assessed the hypothesis that emergency department point-of-care (POC) testing for myoglobin and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) reduces the time to result with no reduction in diagnostic accuracy for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) compared with standard-of-care local laboratory (LL) tests for c
Career conflict: Management's inelegant dysfunction

The article reviews the book “Career Conflict: Management's Inelegant Dysfunction,” by Robert Kirk Mueller.
Conformational Entropies of Unfolded Peptides: The Source of a Realistic Estimation of the Entropy of Unfolded Peptides and Proteins

All theories of protein folding agree in suggesting that the folded state is promoted by a gain in enthalpy, whereas the unfolded state is favored by entropy. The entropy of the latter and thus the entropic loss associated with protein folding is generally estimated by utilizing the rather random conformational distributions of the so-called random coil model which assumes that all amino acid residues sample the entire sterically allowed region of the Ramachandran space. However, recent spectroscopic studies as well as analyses of coil libraries have revealed residue specific and generally less pronounced conformational sampling than suggested by the random coil model. These findings imply that unfolded peptides and proteins carry less entropy than expected. We used experimentally obtained Ramachandran plots of amino acid residues in GxG and GxyG host guest systems (x,y,: selected amino acid residues) in water to calculate the Boltzmann entropy of individual residues in the absence and presence of nearest neighbor interactions. Our results suggest that entropic chains of polypeptides exhibit conformational entropies which at room temperature contribute 3-5 kJ/mol less to the Gibbs/Helmholtz free energy. This suggest that classical random coil distributions lead to a substantial overestimation of conformational entropies. Thermodynamic data inferred from the temperature dependence of 1H 3J(HNHα) coupling constants and UVCD spectra of the investigated peptides allowed an estimation of the temperature dependence of the conformational entropies and a comparison with changes of the enthalpies and entropies of solvation.
The BST1 Gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeIs the Sphingosine-1-phosphate Lyase *

Abstract Sphingolipids elicit a wide variety of eukaryotic cellular responses, most involving regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Sphingosine 1-phosphate, a sphingolipid catabolite, is mitogenic in fibroblasts and inhibits the chemotactic mobility and invasiveness of human tumor cells. Sphingosine 1-phosphate degradation requires cleavage at the C2–3 carbon bond by sphingosine phosphate lyase. A yeast genetic approach was used to clone the first sphingosine phosphate lyase gene, BST1. BST1 overexpression conferred resistance to sphingosine in yeast.BST1 deletion produced sensitivity to exogenousd-erythro-sphingosine and phytosphingosine and intracellular accumulation of sphingosine 1-phosphate upon exposure to exogenous sphingosine. This study confirms that sphingoid base metabolism is similar in all eukaryotes and suggests that yeast genetics may be useful in the isolation and identification of other genes involved in sphingolipid signaling and metabolism.
The crystal growth and dissolution of barium sulfate in the presence of additives

Abstract The crystallization and dissolution of barium sulfate in the presence of N,N,N′,N′ triethylenediaminetetra(methylene phosphonic acid) (TENTMP), sodium tetrametaphosphate, and sodium tripolyphosphate have been studied conductimetrically at 25°C. Quadratic equations, second order with respect to relative supersaturation and subsaturation, have been satisfactorily used to interpret the kinetic data for the growth and dissolution reactions, respectively. Delay periods in the growth of barium sulfate crystals in the presence of sodium tripolyphosphate strongly suggest that this additive is incorporated into the crystals during growth. In the corresponding dissolution reactions, the presence of polyphosphates results in an initial surge indicating that the adsorption of the polyphosphates on the surface of the barium sulfate seed crystals is not an instantaneous process. The marked inhibition of dissolution in the presence of 4.4 × 10−8 M sodium tripolyphosphate adds strong support to the suggested surface control for this reaction. For all the additives, the relative effectiveness as inhibitors both for crystal growth and dissolution is sodium tripolyphosphate > sodium tetrametaphosphate > TENTMP.
Measuring e-government readiness

We proposed a way of assessing readiness of a government organization to transform itself into a provider of fully integrated e-government services. We identified major components of e-government and discussed how it could evolve from a simple website into a fully integrated portal that delivers services to the public. Drawing upon strategic IS theory, we proposed three levels - strategic, system, and data - at which the governmental office's readiness for e-government should be addressed. We empirically tested our model of e-government readiness with data collected from a U.S. municipal government. However, the results supported only a two-level model rather than the three we had theorized. This finding had important implications because it supported our contention that discrepancies can occur when e-government initiatives are at a relatively early stage and some critical e-government issues have not yet emerged.
Lead oxide hydroxide clusters in Pb9O(OH)4A, zeolite A exchanged with Pb2+ at Ph 6.0

Abstract The crystal structure of Pb9O(OH)4A, zeolite 4A exchanged with Pb2+ at pH 6.0 and evacuated at 26°C, has been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Two separate (Pb2+, OH−, O2−) clusters were found. In each sodalite unit, a (Pb2+)3(O2−)(OH−)3 cluster, a distorted Pb4O4 cube with one Pb2+ missing, coordinates via its oxygens to four Pb2+ ions at 6-ring sites to give [Pb7O(OH)3]9+. In half of the large cavities, a [Pb2(OH)2]2+ cluster may have formed. The remaining Pb2+ ion is near the center of an 8-ring. The oxygen positions are somewhat uncertain, and the presence of hydrogen atoms is inferred.
Multiproduct purchase scheduling with limited budget and/or group discounts

Abstract A grouping scheme is employed whereby the products are ranked by the ratio of the inventory carrying cost per period and the order placing cost, and are assigned to the groups so that the products belonging to a group are consecutive in their rank-order. The product to group assignment is achieved using a “shortest-path” approach. We show that the above grouping scheme minimizes the total cost composed of the order placing cost, inventory carrying cost and purchase cost with group discounts. We also establish a powerful and somewhat surprising result that the composition of the optimal groups is not affected even if a limit is placed on the purchase budget.
Experimental Benchmarking of the Numerical Model of a Radial Lip Seal with a Surface Textured Shaft

A numerical study was conducted on radial lip seals running against shafts with deterministic surface structures and the results were compared to previously reported experimental results. For the experimental cases modeled, the lip seal operating conditions during oil drop testing were observed to be in full film lubrication with little or no contact. As such, a soft elastohydrodynamic (SEHL) model of the experiment was developed that uses the finite element (FE) method to determine contact conditions and structural deformation of the elastomer. The finite element model was also used to generate an influence coefficient matrix that is used in a coupled structural–fluid model. The fluid mechanics model is steady state and the mass conserving Jakobsson Floberg Olsson (JFO) cavition conditions are used to calculate the load-carrying capacity and the flow rate of the lubricant film. The potential impacts of two phenomena that are consistent with a steady-state model are also examined in this article. These ar...
Opposing effects of spinal nerve ligation on calcium-activated potassium currents in axotomized and adjacent mammalian primary afferent neurons.

Calcium-activated potassium channels regulate AHP and excitability in neurons. Since we have previously shown that axotomy decreases ICa in DRG neurons, we investigated the association between ICa and K(Ca) currents in control medium-sized (30–39 μM) neurons, as well as axotomized L5 or adjacent L4 DRG neurons from hyperalgesic rats following L5 SNL. Currents in response to AP waveform voltage commands were recorded first in Tyrode’s solution and sequentially after: 1) blocking Na+ current with NMDG and TTX; 2) addition of K(Ca) blockers with a combination of apamin 1μM, iberiotoxin 200 nM, and clotrimazole 500 nM; 3) blocking remaining K+ current with the addition of 4-AP, TEA-Cl, and glibenclamide; and 4) blocking ICa with cadmium. In separate experiments, currents were evoked (HP −60 mV, 200 ms square command pulses from −100 to +50 mV) while ensuring high levels of activation of IK(Ca) by clamping cytosolic Ca2+ concentration with pipette solution in which Ca2+ was buffered to1μM. This revealed IK(Ca) with components sensitive to apamin, clotrimazole and iberiotoxin. SNL decreases total IK(Ca) in axotomized (L5) neurons, but increases total IK(Ca) in adjacent (L4) DRG neurons. All IK(Ca) subtypes are decreased by axotomy, but iberiotoxin-sensitive and clotrimazole-sensitive current densities are increased in adjacent L4 neurons after SNL. In an additional set of experiments we found that small sized control DRG neurons also expressed iberiotoxin–sensitive currents, which are reduced in both axotomized (L5) and adjacent (L4) neurons. Conclusions: Axotomy decreases IK(Ca) due to a direct effect on K(Ca) channels. Axotomy-induced loss of ICa may further potentiate current reduction. This reduction in IK(Ca) may contribute to elevated excitability after axotomy. Adjacent neurons (L4 after SNL) exhibit increased IK(Ca) current.