cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The membrane of giant molluscan neurons: electrophysiologic properties and the origin of the resting potential

The molluscan neuron, because of its large size and accessibility, has been an important model for studying the electrophysiology of nerve cells. This review catalogs data about specific molluscan neurons, but the greater importance of this material is in the broad picture of how a neuronal membrane maintains internal potential and is responsive to changes in the environment. Electrical properties of the membrane. The mechanisms which contribute to the resting potential in molluscan neurons can be separated into ionic and metabolic components. When the electrogenic sodium pump is eliminated experimentally, the ionic component of the potential follows the constant field equation quite closely. Many of the "constants" and "parameters" which characterize the membrane of molluscan neurons are actually variables which depend upon temperature, ionic environment, and membrane potential. The evaluation of the electrical parameters is complicated by extensive infoldings of the somatic membrane, and by large axons which drain current from the soma. Most molluscan neurons have a very high specific membrane resistance and a correspondingly low potassium permeability. Membrane capacitance is close to the 1 microF/cm2 value which characterizes biological membranes. The current-voltage relation of molluscan neurons may be complicated by inward-going rectification, but if that is inhibited the I-V curve follows the prediction of either the constant field equation or a simple electrical model. Factors which modify membrane behavior. The resting potential of molluscan neurons is very sensitive to changes in temperature and Ko, through a combination of effects upon the electrogenic sodium pump, inward-going rectification, and the membrane "parameters". Inward-going rectification depends upon a rectifying K conductance, and can be eliminated by cold or the removal of Ko. Strong or prolonged currents have time-dependent effects upon the membrane, and excessive polarization leads to a "high conductance state". The underlying (non-rectifying) K permeability of the membrane is relatively insensitive to temperature and ionic changes, whereas the Na permeability increases with warming. Membrane resistance varies with both temperature and ions (because the I-V curve is sensitive to these conditions) but membrane capacitance is relatively insensitive to external factors. Electrogenic sodium transport. Sodium transport is electrogenic in molluscan neurons. It can be stimulated by warm temperatures and an excess of substrate (e.g. high Nai); it can be inhibited by cold, by an absence of substrate (e.g. low Ko), or by pharmacologic agents such as cyanide or ouabain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Alpha-2-plasmin inhibitor comprises a single domain

The reaction between plasmin and alpha 2PI (alpha-2-plasmin inhibitor), which constitutes a major regulatory step in fibrinolysis, involves both interactions between the kringle structures of plasmin and a complementary site on the inhibitor, and also between the inhibitor reactive center and the enzyme active site. An attempt was made to distinguish calorimetrically the two functional domains of alpha 2PI. Only one transition was seen, both in the DSC and UV experiments, contrary to the expected two. This transition was unaffected by K4 of plasminogen but was abolished in the presence of anhydrotrypsin. This suggests the major domain structure in alpha 2PI is associated with the reactive center.
A stochastic integral equation in Hilbert space with a discrete version and application to stochastic systems

A stochastic integral equation of the Volterra type in the form $$x\left( {t;\omega } \right) = h\left( {t;\omega } \right) + \int\limits_0^t k \left( {t,\tau ;\omega } \right)f\left( {\tau ,x\left( {\tau ;\omega } \right)} \right)d\tau , t \geqslant 0,$$ , is formulated in Hilbert space, whereω ∈ Ω, the supporting set of a complete probability measure space (Ω,A, P). A theorem concerning the existence of a random solution of the equation is proven. A discrete version of the above stochastic integral equation is given in the form $$x_n \left( \omega \right) = h_n \left( \omega \right) + \sum\limits_{j = 1}^n {c_{n,j} \left( \omega \right)f_j \left( {x_j \left( \omega \right)} \right), n = 1,2, \cdot \cdot \cdot ,} $$ , and a theorem concerning the existence of a unique random solution is presented. Application to a discrete stochastic control system is given.
The Quality of Written Feedback by Attendings of Internal Medicine Residents

Attending evaluations are commonly used to evaluate residents. Evaluate the quality of written feedback of internal medicine residents. Retrospective. Internal medicine residents and faculty at the Medical College of Wisconsin from 2004 to 2012. From monthly evaluations of residents by attendings, a randomly selected sample of 500 written comments by attendings were qualitatively coded and rated as high-, moderate-, or low-quality feedback by two independent coders with good inter-rater reliability (kappa: 0.94). Small group exercises with residents and attendings also coded the utterances as high, moderate, or low quality and developed criteria for this categorization. In-service examination scores were correlated with written feedback. There were 228 internal medicine residents who had 6,603 evaluations by 334 attendings. Among 500 randomly selected written comments, there were 2,056 unique utterances: 29 % were coded as nonspecific statements, 20 % were comments about resident personality, 16 % about patient care, 14 % interpersonal communication, 7 % medical knowledge, 6 % professionalism, and 4 % each on practice-based learning and systems-based practice. Based on criteria developed by group exercises, the majority of written comments were rated as moderate quality (65 %); 22 % were rated as high quality and 13 % as low quality. Attendings who provided high-quality feedback rated residents significantly lower in all six of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies (p <0.0005 for all), and had a greater range of scores. Negative comments on medical knowledge were associated with lower in-service examination scores. Most attending written evaluation was of moderate or low quality. Attendings who provided high-quality feedback appeared to be more discriminating, providing significantly lower ratings of residents in all six ACGME core competencies, and across a greater range. Attendings’ negative written comments on medical knowledge correlated with lower in-service training scores.
Intact chloroplast electron flow. Effects of ribose 5-phosphate

Additions of ribose 5-phosphate to intact spinach chloroplasts were used to probe the effects of ADP regeneration on pH-gradient formation and electron-transfer reactions. In weakly illuminated chloroplasts, the ATPADP ratio dropped by 64% and the transthylakoid pH gradient decreased by a minimum of 0.2 units in response to ribose 5-phosphate. Nitrite reduction increased 2-fold while, under conditions of cyclic electron flow, the half-time for cytochrome f reduction decreased by a factor of two from 4.1 to 1.9 ms. The results suggest that metabolic ATP consumption, during the conversion of ribulose 5-phosphate to ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, enhances electron transfer between plastohydroquinone and cytochrome f through decreases in the transthylakoid pH gradient caused by phosphorylation of ADP.
INTERSTELLAR H2O MASERS FROM J SHOCKS

We present a model in which the 22 GHz H2O masers observed in star-forming regions occur behind shocks propagating in dense regions (preshock density n 0 ~ 106-108 cm–3). We focus on high-velocity (vs 30 km s–1) dissociative J shocks in which the heat of H2 re-formation maintains a large column of ~300-400 K gas; at these temperatures the chemistry drives a considerable fraction of the oxygen not in CO to form H2O. The H2O column densities, the hydrogen densities, and the warm temperatures produced by these shocks are sufficiently high to enable powerful maser action. The observed brightness temperatures (generally ~ 1011-1014 K) are the result of coherent velocity regions that have dimensions in the shock plane that are 10-100 times the shock thickness of ~1013 cm. The masers are therefore beamed toward the observer, who typically views the shock "edge-on," or perpendicular to the shock velocity; the brightest masers are then observed with the lowest line-of-sight velocities with respect to the ambient gas. We present numerical and analytic studies of the dependence of the maser inversion, the resultant brightness temperature, the maser spot size and shape, the isotropic luminosity, and the maser region magnetic field on the shock parameters and the coherence path length; the overall result is that in galactic H2O 22 GHz masers, these observed parameters can be produced in J shocks with n 0 ~ 106-108 cm–3 and vs ~ 30-200 km s–1. A number of key observables such as maser shape, brightness temperature, and global isotropic luminosity depend only on the particle flux into the shock, j = n 0 vs , rather than on n 0 and vs separately.
n‐Pentyl N‐Acetylprolinate. A New Skin Penetration Enhancer

The activity of n-pentyl N-acetylprolinate (PNAP) as a transdermal penetration enhancer was investigated. PNAP was synthesized from L-proline by acetylation with acetic anhydride, followed by acid-catalyzed esterification with 1-pentanol. Structure confirmation was accomplished by IR and NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Benzoic acid (BA) was used as a model drug, and the effect of PNAP on the flux of BA through human cadaver skin was evaluated. The central nervous system (CNS) toxicity of PNAP was evaluated by comparing the effects of intraperitoneal administration of PNAP to mice with those of laurocapram (Azone), a known penetration enhancer. Based on preliminary studies, PNAP appears to be an effective transdermal penetration enhancer, is nontoxic at low doses, and exhibits dose-related CNS toxicity at higher doses.
Feedback versus No-Feedback in Testing Children's Knowledge of English Pluralization Rules.

Abstract Kindergarten pupils were asked to construct plurals for new synthetic singular nouns (Singular-Plural sequence) and to construct singulars for new plurals (Plural-Singular sequence). Half of the Ss performed these tasks under a Feedback condition where they were corrected if wrong, and half under a No-Feedback condition where they were not informed whether right or wrong. The Ss performed better on the Singular-Plural task than on the Plural-Singular task in the No-Feedback condition. The Feedback condition produced substantial improvement in the latter task and only mild improvement in the former, resulting in equal scores for the two tasks. It was sug-suggested that the Plural-Singular sequence is inherently easier than the Singular-Plural sequence but that the latter is more highly practiced in everyday life. Minimal learning experience (Feedback), however, seems sufficient to equate the two sequences.
Regulation of G Protein-linked Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors for Rho, PDZ-RhoGEF, and LARG by Tyrosine Phosphorylation EVIDENCE OF A ROLE FOR FOCAL ADHESION KINASE

A recently identified family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Rho that includes PDZ-RhoGEF, LARG, and p115RhoGEF exhibits a unique structural feature consisting in the presence of area of similarity to regulators of G protein signaling (RGS). This RGS-like (RGL) domain provides a structural motif by which heterotrimeric G protein α subunits of the Gα12family can bind and regulate the activity of RhoGEFs. Hence, these newly discovered RGL domain-containing RhoGEFs provide a direct link from Gα12 and Gα13 to Rho. Recently available data suggest, however, that tyrosine kinases can regulate the ability of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to stimulate Rho, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unknown. Here, we found that the activation of thrombin receptors endogenously expressed in HEK-293T cells leads to a remarkable increase in the levels of GTP-bound Rho within 1 min (11-fold) and a more limited but sustained activation (4-fold) thereafter, which lasts even for several hours. Interestingly, tyrosine kinase inhibitors did not affect the early phase of Rho activation, immediately after thrombin addition, but diminished the levels of GTP-bound Rho during the delayed phase. As thrombin receptors stimulate focal adhesion kinase (FAK) potently, we explored whether this non-receptor tyrosine kinase participates in the activation of Rho by GPCRs. We obtained evidence that FAK can be activated by thrombin, Gα12, Gα13, and Gαq through both Rho-dependent and Rho-independent mechanisms and that PDZ-RhoGEF and LARG can in turn be tyrosine-phosphorylated through FAK in response to thrombin, thereby enhancing the activation of Rho in vivo. These data indicate that FAK may act as a component of a positive feedback loop that results in the sustained activation of Rho by GPCRs, thus providing evidence of the existence of a novel biochemical route by which tyrosine kinases may regulate the activity of Rho through the tyrosine phosphorylation of RGL-containing RhoGEFs.
The future of the American campus

Purpose – This article aims to present a review of the American campus in 2015 as the physical and facilities implications of the digital transformation of higher education begin to appear. Business conditions and technological changes are beginning to require changes in the traditional physical campus. Design/methodology/approach – The author provides observations and recommendations of a former university architect and campus planner on the physical adaptation of the American campus. Findings – Predictions of the demise of traditional colleges and universities will prove accurate for some as they shrivel or merge out of existence. The survivors will adapt their business models and modify their physical campuses to better match student and faculty needs. Originality/value – A physical adaptation of the American campus will result from digital transformation of higher education, as there is less need for synchronous place and time.
Biological activity and in vivo degradation of tritiated female sex pheromone in the male european corn borer

Isomers of [11,12-(3)H2]-11-tetradecenyl acetate (57 Ci/mM) were synthesized. Behavioral assay of the two compounds using Z- and E-type European corn borer (ECB) males showed that introduction of tritons into the double bond of the pheromone caused a significant isotope effect in the E-type ECB but not in the Z-type ECB. Measurements of tritium associated with the male antennae after a 3-min exposure showed that radioactivity equivalent to 10(-7) mol pheromone was adsorbed onto male antennae. Time-course in vivo metabolic studies with picogram amounts of compound applied topically to antennae of E- and Z-type males and Z-type females showed that they metabolized pheromone similarly but females degraded pheromone more slowly than males. Pheromone was hydrolyzed, and the only other major radiolabeled metabolite observed by combined high-pressure liquid chromatography-radiodetection was tritiated water. Capillary gas chromatography and radiomonitoring permitted detection of a trace amount of 11-tetradecenoic acid, which indicated alcohol oxidase activity is associated with the antennae. Evidence shows that clearing of pheromone from the ECB male antennae involves hydrolysis and oxidation of the alcohol to fatty acid, which in turn is degraded, probably via β-oxidation, to carbon dioxide and water.
Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence. 83. Immunoassay of Human C-Reactive Protein by Using Ru(bpy)32+-Encapsulated Liposomes as Labels

Liposomes (∼100-nm diameter) containing Ru(bpy)32+ (bpy = 2,2‘-bipyridine) were prepared as an electrogenerated chemiluminescent (ECL) tag for a sandwich-type immunoassay of human C-reactive protein (CRP). Polyclonal human CRP antibodies were introduced onto liposomes and magnetic beads through biotin−streptavidin interaction. The antigen−antibody conjugates formed on addition of a CRP-containing sample were separated from unreacted species magnetically. Addition of 0.1 M tri-n-propylamine and 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.6) containing 0.1 M NaCl and 1% (v/v) Triton X-100 caused liberation of the Ru(bpy)32+ from the liposome. ECL obtained in this medium showed a detection limit of 100 ng/mL for human CRP with good linearity of ECL intensity versus antigen concentration over the range 100 ng/mL−10 μg/mL.
Automatically deriving readers' knowledge structures from texts.

Latent semantic analysis (LSA) serves as both a theory and a method for representing the meaning of words based on a statistical analysis of their contextual usage (Foltz, 1996; Landauer & Dumais, 1997). In experiments in the domains of psychology and history, we compared the representation of readers’ knowledge structures of information learned from texts with the representation generated by LSA. Results indicated that LSA’s representation is similar to readers’ representations. In addition, the degree to which the reader’s representation is similar to LSA’s representation is indicative of the amount of knowledge the reader has acquired and of the reader’s reading ability. This approach has implications both as a model of learning from text and as a practical tool for performing knowledge assessment.
The effect of cytosine-arabinoside treatment on the overexpression of c-myc protooncogene in a case of prolymphocytic leukemia

Abstract An unusually high level of expression of the c- myc protooncogene was observed in peripheral blood lymphocytes of a patient with prolymphocytic leukemia (atypical chronic lymphocytic leukemia). The overexpression of c- myc could not be attributed to a high level of proliferating activity of the leukemic cells in the blood. Treatment with cytosine-arabinoside at high doses abolished this altered expression of c- myc and resulted in a twofold increase in the expression of a gene sequence encoding the invariant γ-chain of class II histocompatibility antigens, preferentially expressed in resting B lymphocytes. These observations suggest that the leukemic cells may have been arrested in the cell cycle outside the G 0 phase. Our findings demonstrate that growth-regulated genes can be useful molecular markers of diseases with altered mechanisms of cellular proliferation.
Whole-body and body-part-specific bioconcentration of explosive compounds in sheepshead minnows.

Abstract Sheepshead minnows ( Cyprinodon variegatus ) were exposed to radiolabeled isotopes of the explosives 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), exahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (commonly known as RDX), and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (commonly known as HMX), yielding the bioconcentration factors (BCF) of 3.3, 0.7, and 0.1 L kg −1 , respectively. For TNT, the body residue of transformation product exceeded that of the parent compound by factors of 1, 8, and 16 for total aminonitrotoluenes, total extractable compounds, and total transformation products, respectively, with substantial bioaccumulation of both non-identified extractable and unextractable (i.e., tissue-bound), compounds. In comparison, the sum body residues of RDX and HMX transformation products were
Contributions of FOCI research to forecasts of year-class strength of walleye pollock in Shelikof Strait, Alaska

NOAA's Fisheries Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (FOCI) contributes information to help forecast year-class strength of walleye pollock (Theragra chakogrammu) in the Gulf of Alaska. Quantitative estimates of recruitment are obtained from models of stock assessment and stock projection employing information supplied by FOCI. To generate its information, FOCI convenes specialists in marine biology, physical and fisheries oceanography, meteorology, and statistics to assemble and analyse relevant biological and physical time series with respect to recruitment and processes hypothesized to influence fish survival. Statistical methods encompass linear and nonlinear regression, stochastic simulation modelling, transfer function time series modelling, and tree-modelling regression. The current database consists of 31 years of data, and analyses have identified factors that affect ocean stratification and circulation during spring and summer of the fish's birth year as being important to recruitment. A conceptual model of the recruitment process serves as the framework for a recruitment forecast scheme. A stochastic mathematical simulation model of the conceptual model produces similarities between simulated and observed recruitment time series. FOCI has successfully forecast recruitment observed over the past several years.
Comments on prospects of fully adaptive aircraft wings

New generations of highly maneuverable aircraft, such as Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) or Micro Air Vehicles (MAV) are likely to feature very flexible lifting surfaces. To enhance stealth properties and performance, the replacement of hinged control surfaces by smart wings and morphing airfoils is investigated. This requires a fundamental understanding of the interaction between aerodynamics, structures, and control systems. The goal is to build a model consistent with distributed control and to exercise this model to determine the progress possible in terms of flight control (lift, drag and maneuver performance) with an adaptive wing. Different modeling levels are examined and combined with a variety of distributed control approaches to determine what types of maneuvers and flight regimes may be possible. This paper describes the current progress of the project and highlights some recent findings.
Measurements of sediment movement and ripple migration in a shallow marine environment

Abstract Approximately 40 min of boundary-layer data were collected while sediment was in motion over the floor of a tidal channel in Puget Sound, Washington. Measurements consisted of bottom photographs using stereo cameras and underwater television, velocity measurements throughout the water column, and the collection and analysis of bottom sediment. Results suggest that processes of marine erosion are similar to those observed in laboratory experiments. The threshold of grain motion measured in the field compares favorably with existing competency curves for mean sizes ranging from 0.3 mm to 1.10 mm. Within the framework of the observations the rate of ripple migration roughly corresponds to the fifth power of the mean velocity 10 cm from the bed. It appears that the existing sediment erosion relationships, although derived from conditions greatly different from the marine environment (shallow flumes using uniform sand), are applicable to the conditions measured in the study area and may have application in the marine environment in general.
Fast liquid composite molding simulation of unsaturated flow in dual‐scale fiber mats using the imbibition characteristics of a fabric‐based unit cell

The use of the dual-scale fiber mats in liquid composite molding (LCM) process for making composites parts gives rise to the unsaturated flow during the mold-filling process. The usual approaches for modeling such flows involve using a sink term in the mass balance equation along with the Darcy's law. Sink functions involving complex microflows inside tows with realistic tow geometries have not been attempted in the past because of the problem of high computational costs arising from the coupling of the macroscopic gap flows with the microscopic tow flows. In this study, a new “lumped” sink function is proposed for the isothermal flow simulation, which is a function of the gap pressure, capillary pressure, and tow saturation, and which is estimated without solving for the microscopic tow simulations at each node of the FE mesh in the finite element/control volume algorithm. The sink function is calibrated with the help of the tow microflow simulation in a stand-alone unit cell of the dual-scale fiber mat. This new approach, which does not use any fitting parameters, achieved a good validation against a previous published result on the 1D unsaturated flow in a biaxial stitched mat—satisfactory comparisons of the inlet-pressure history as well as the saturation distributions were achieved. Finally, the unsaturated flow is studied in a car hood-type LCM mold geometry using the code PORE-FLOW© based on the proposed algorithm. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1790–1807, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers.
The in vivo biodegradation of nylon 6 utilized in a particular IUD.

The particular IUD of this study was composed of a plastic shield and a nylon 6 coated filament trail string. This IUD was unique in that its tail string was the only 1 (and has been to date) that consisted of a coated multifilament arrangement. Studies on the tail string have revealed bacteria and debris existing between the outer filaments that are underneath the coating. Other studies have reported that removed devices were found to exhibit an unusually high incidence of breaks in the tail string coating. Studies at the University of Lowell also found that upon examination of the devices that had been in vivo for period of 2 years or longer 67% of these devices examined had breaks in the coating of the tail string. Investigations have determined that the design of the tail string served as the means of transport for the bacteria to bypass the protective cervical mucus barrier and enter the sterile uterine cavity through breaks in the tail string coating. This mechanism has been suggested as the reason for higher frequency of uterine infection associated with this device. Research at the University of Lowell was undertaken to study the degradation of the nylon 6 coating and to determine the in vivo degradation mechanism. The biochemistry of the fluids present in the reproductive tract were carefully documented and the more aggressive ones selected for in vitro trials. The results of the study revealed that the in vivo physical breakdown of the coating may depend on a series of mechanisms and variables. (authors)
Influences of US real GDP growth and labour productivity on manufacturing real wages

This paper re-examines the dynamic casual nexus among real manufacturing wage rate, labour productivity and real GDP growth. Data from 1987 Q1 through 2011 Q2 are utilised by implementing the fairly standard cointegration methodology in a trivariate setting. All three variables are non-stationary depicting I (1) behaviour. There are evidences of at least one cointegrating relationship among the variables, based on both ltrace and lmax tests. The estimates of vector error-correction models show the weakest long-term causal flow from labour productivity and real GDP growth to real wage rate in the US manufacturing sector. Such causal flow is the strongest from manufacturing real wage rate and labour productivity to US real GDP growth. The influence of manufacturing real wage and real GDP growth on labour productivity falls in between. In all cases of vector error-correction models, there are evidences of short-run net positive interactive feedback effects in varying degrees.
Proton magnetic resonance of proteins fully deuterated except for 1H-leucine side chains.

The fully deuterated proteins C-phycocyanin, C-phycoerythrin, and cytochrome c have been obtained by biosynthesis with the leucine side chains, and only the leucine side chains, of normal (1H) isotopic composition. In these (isotopic hybrid) proteins, proton magnetic resonance analysis shows that the 1H-leucine side chains are in a variety of environments. During protein biosynthesis, the alpha hydrogen of leucine is exchanged with a hydrogen (2H) from the aqueous medium.
The effects of nonlinearities in the boundary layer characteristics on the fault currents in an MHD channel

Abstract An impulse excitation technique is used for the exact two-dimensional analysis of a short circuit between one pair of electrodes in a Faraday channel. The effects of the presence of slag layers and of arcs in the boundary layers on the fault current distributions have been included in the analysis. The results show that the presence of a slag layer tends to reduce the fault current while the arcs tend to increase it.
Apparent resistant hypertension and medication adherence.

Resistant hypertension is defined as hypertension that remains and requires four or more medications for treatment. Resistant hypertension differs from uncontrolled hypertension in that patients with the latter may have poorly controlled blood pressure resulting from poor adherence and/or a suboptimal treatment regimen. Factors contributing to inappropriately labeled treatment-resistant hypertension, or ‘pseudoresistance,’ include poor blood pressure measurement technique, the white coat effect and poor adherence to prescribed therapy. Good measurement technique is crucial and includes allowing the patient to sit quietly in a relaxed environment for 3–5 min, the use of a correctly sized cuff and correct positioning of the arm at heart level. It is important to make a distinction between uncontrolled and resistant hypertension, as patients with uncontrolled blood pressure resulting from lack of adherence do not require potentially costly and harmful diagnostic evaluations or treatment changes that are appropriate for patients with truly resistant hypertension. Furthermore, nonadherence to treatment has been shown to result in substantial morbidity and mortality.1
Inequalities involving immanants

Abstract We summarize the recent progress toward determining the ordering of the normalized immanants regarded as generalized matrix functions and restricted to the n × n positive semidefinite Hermitian matrices. Included are the most recent results of Heyfron and Pate. Moreover, we describe some of the techniques used.
Problem solving, treatment adherence, and weight-loss outcome among women participating in lifestyle treatment for obesity.

Objective This study examined whether improvements in problem-solving abilities mediate the relation between treatment adherence and weight-loss outcome in the behavioral treatment of obesity.
Mothering versus Fathering versus Parenting: Measurement Equivalence in Parenting Measures

SYNOPSIS Objective. The measurement equivalence of three commonly used parenting constructs (acceptance, psychological intrusiveness, and harshness) was examined across mothers and fathers. Design. A sample of 832 married individuals (416 mothers and 416 fathers) was used to test seven types of equivalence for each measure: configural, metric, scalar, unique variance, factor variance, factor mean, and functional. Results. Acceptance demonstrated configural, factor mean, and functional equivalence but not metric, scalar, unique variance, or factor variance equivalence. Psychological intrusiveness demonstrated equivalence at all levels except unique variance equivalence. Parental harshness demonstrated equivalence at all levels except factor variance equivalence. Conclusion. Investigations of measurement equivalence should be conducted before drawing substantive conclusions regarding mothering and fathering and their effects on children's development.
Timing tolerance for electro-optic demultiplexing of 100 Gb/s OTDM data

Optical time division multiplexed data transmission has been demonstrated at data rates well in excess of 80 Gb/s [1].
Characteristics of size distributions at urban and rural locations in New York

Abstract. Paired nano- and long-tube Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) systems were operated for four different intensive field campaigns in New York State. Two of these campaigns were at Queens College in New York City, during the summer of 2001 and the winter of 2004. The other field campaigns were at rural sites in New York State. The data with the computed diffusion loss corrections for the sampling lines and the SMPS instruments were examined and the combined SMPS data sets for each campaign were obtained. The diffusion corrections significantly affect total number concentrations, and in New York City, affect the mode structure of the size distributions. The relationship between merged and integrated SMPS total number concentrations with the diffusion loss corrections and the CPC number concentrations yield statistically significant increases (closer to 1) in the slope and correlation coefficient compared to the uncorrected values. The measurements are compared to PM2.5 mass concentrations and ion balance indications of aerosol acidity. Analysis of particle growth rate in comparison to other observations can classify the events and illustrate that urban and rural new particle formation and growth are the result of different causes. Periods of low observed PM2.5 mass, high number concentration, and low median diameter due to small fresh particles are associated with primary emissions for the urban sites; and with particle nucleation and growth for the rural sites. The observations of high PM2.5 mass, lower number concentrations, and higher median diameter are mainly due to an enhancement of photochemical reactions leading to condensation processes in relatively aged air. There are statistically different values for the condensation sink (CS) between urban and rural areas. While there is good association (r2>0.5) between the condensation sink (CS) in the range of 8.35–283.9 nm and PM2.5 mass in the urban areas, there is no discernable association in the rural areas. The average values computed for the CS lie in the range 8.7×10−3–3.5×10−2 s−1.
The Adaptive Function of Distributed Remembering: Contributions to the Formation of Collective Memory

Empirical research has increasingly turned its attention to distributed cognition. Acts of remembering are embedded in a social, interactional context; cognitive labor is divided between a rememberer and external sources. The present article examines the benefits and costs associated with distributed, collaborative, conversational remembering. Further, we examine the consequences of joint acts of remembering on subsequent individual acts of remembering. Here, we focus on influences on memory through social contagion and socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting. Extending beyond a single social interaction, we consider work that tracks the propagation of socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting throughout larger networks made up of several agents. Although much work has focused on how distributing cognition can augment memory, this is not the primary lesson we draw from the conversational remembering literature. Rather, mnemonic convergence between communicators is a boon to sociality. It allows the formation and maintenance of mnemonic communities, rather than expanding capacity or accuracy of memory per se.
IEEE 802.15.4 modifications and their impact

IEEE 802.15.4 is a popular choice for MAC/PHY protocols in low power and low data rate wireless sensor networks. In this paper, we suggest several modifications to beaconless IEEE 802.15.4 MAC operation and evaluate their impact on the performance via stochastic modeling and simulations. We found that the utility of these modifications is strongly dependent on the traffic load on the network. Accordingly, we make recommendations regarding how these modifications should be used in view of the prevalent traffic load on the network.
Adult equine bone marrow stromal cells produce a cartilage-like ECM mechanically superior to animal-matched adult chondrocytes

Our objective was to evaluate the age-dependent mechanical phenotype of bone marrow stromal cell- (BMSC-) and chondrocyte-produced cartilage-like neo-tissue and to elucidate the matrix-associated mechanisms which generate this phenotype. Cells from both immature (2-4 month-old foals) and skeletally-mature (2-5 year-old adults) mixed-breed horses were isolated from animal-matched bone marrow and cartilage tissue, encapsulated in self-assembling-peptide hydrogels, and cultured with and without TGF-beta1 supplementation. BMSCs and chondrocytes from both donor ages were encapsulated with high viability. BMSCs from both ages produced neo-tissue with higher mechanical stiffness than that produced by either young or adult chondrocytes. Young, but not adult, chondrocytes proliferated in response to TGF-beta1 while BMSCs from both age groups proliferated with TGF-beta1. Young chondrocytes stimulated by TGF-beta1 accumulated ECM with 10-fold higher sulfated-glycosaminoglycan content than adult chondrocytes and 2-3-fold higher than BMSCs of either age. The opposite trend was observed for hydroxyproline content, with BMSCs accumulating 2-3-fold more than chondrocytes, independent of age. Size-exclusion chromatography of extracted proteoglycans showed that an aggrecan-like peak was the predominant sulfated proteoglycan for all cell types. Direct measurement of aggrecan core protein length and chondroitin sulfate chain length by single molecule atomic force microscopy imaging revealed that, independent of age, BMSCs produced longer core protein and longer chondroitin sulfate chains, and fewer short core protein molecules than chondrocytes, suggesting that the BMSC-produced aggrecan has a phenotype more characteristic of young tissue than chondrocyte-produced aggrecan. Aggrecan ultrastructure, ECM composition, and cellular proliferation combine to suggest a mechanism by which BMSCs produce a superior cartilage-like neo-tissue than either young or adult chondrocytes.
Process similarity and the simultaneous acquisition retention phenomenon

When two or more lists are learned simultaneously, long-term recall is higher than when lists are learned singly. This phenomenon is called SARP. In the present study, SARP was examined as a function of process similarity. Three lists of 10 items each were learned simultaneously. When these three lists were of the same type (all serial lists, all paired associate lists, or all free recall lists), process similarity was said to be high, whereas when three different list types were learned simultaneously, process similarity was said to be low. Original learning was carried to a criterion of 8 of 10 correct responses on a given trial, with recall taken after 24 h. All three list types produced SARP, but its magnitude was independent of process similarity.
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Maximization of a Class of Preference Relations

This paper provides necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of greatest and maximal elements of weak and strict preferences, and unifies two very different approaches used in the related literature (the convexity and acyclicity approaches). Conditions called transfer FS-convexity and transfer SS-convexity are shown to be necessary and, in conjunction with transfer closedness and transfer openness, sufficient for the existence of greatest and maximal elements of weak and strict preferences, respectively. The results require neither the continuity nor convexity of preferences, and are valid for both ordered and unordered binary relations. Thus, the results generalize almost all of the theorems on existence of maximal elements of preferences that appear in the literature.
Optimal inventory control in a production flow system with failures

We consider a continuous flow production process subject to failures with an intermediate buffer. Under the practical restriction to the class of (B, b) inventory control policies, we give a procedure for determining the optimal buffer size, B, and control parameter, b. We give conditions under which these parameters can be expressed in closed form and show that otherwise they can be computed as the solution of a two-dimensional nonlinear system.
An Alternative to Aural Rehabilitation for the Older Hearing-Aid User: An Educational Model Using Supportive Services.

Over 6 million older Americans are hearing impaired. Many of them are facing the decision to seek help through hearing aids. Once the decision has been made and amplification is obtained, a program of aural rehabiliation can facilitate adjustment to the hearing aid and foster more successful communication. Unfortunately, the number of professionals trained to provide rehabilitative services to hearing‐impaired persons are few relative to the number of persons who need these services. This paper describes a model for delivering aural rehabiliation services through providers trained by audiologists certified by the American Speech‐Language‐Hearing Association. After being trained, staff at senior centers, nursing homes, and state or local agencies who deal with either hearing impairment or aging could serve as program providers. The model program consists of four phases: education, desensitization, rehabilitation strategies, and responsibility training.
Loss of apical monocilia on collecting duct principal cells impairs ATP secretion across the apical cell surface and ATP-dependent and flow-induced calcium signals

Renal epithelial cells release ATP constitutively under basal conditions and release higher quantities of purine nucleotide in response to stimuli. ATP filtered at the glomerulus, secreted by epithelial cells along the nephron, and released serosally by macula densa cells for feedback signaling to afferent arterioles within the glomerulus has important physiological signaling roles within kidneys. In autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) mice and humans, collecting duct epithelial cells lack an apical central cilium or express dysfunctional proteins within that monocilium. Collecting duct principal cells derived from an Oak Ridge polycystic kidney (orpkTg737) mouse model of ARPKD lack a well-formed apical central cilium, thought to be a sensory organelle. We compared these cells grown as polarized cell monolayers on permeable supports to the same cells where the apical monocilium was genetically rescued with the wild-type Tg737 gene that encodes Polaris, a protein essential to cilia formation. Constitutive ATP release under basal conditions was low and not different in mutant versus rescued monolayers. However, genetically rescued principal cell monolayers released ATP three- to fivefold more robustly in response to ionomycin. Principal cell monolayers with fully formed apical monocilia responded three- to fivefold greater to hypotonicity than mutant monolayers lacking monocilia. In support of the idea that monocilia are sensory organelles, intentionally harsh pipetting of medium directly onto the center of the monolayer induced ATP release in genetically rescued monolayers that possessed apical monocilia. Mechanical stimulation was much less effective, however, on mutant orpk collecting duct principal cell monolayers that lacked apical central monocilia. Our data also show that an increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ primes the ATP pool that is released in response to mechanical stimuli. It also appears that hypotonic cell swelling and mechanical pipetting stimuli trigger release of a common ATP pool. Cilium-competent monolayers responded to flow with an increase in cell Ca2+ derived from both extracellular and intracellular stores. This flow-induced Ca2+ signal was less robust in cilium-deficient monolayers. Flow-induced Ca2+ signals in both preparations were attenuated by extracellular gadolinium and by extracellular apyrase, an ATPase/ADPase. Taken together, these data suggest that apical monocilia are sensory organelles and that their presence in the apical membrane facilitates the formation of a mature ATP secretion apparatus responsive to chemical, osmotic, and mechanical stimuli. The cilium and autocrine ATP signaling appear to work in concert to control cell Ca2+. Loss of a cilium-dedicated autocrine purinergic signaling system may be a critical underlying etiology for ARPKD and may lead to disinhibition and/or upregulation of multiple sodium (Na+) absorptive mechanisms and a resultant severe hypertensive phenotype in ARPKD and, possibly, other diseases.
The Curette Prep: A Modification of the Traditional Scabies Preparation

: An accurate diagnosis of scabies is critical for proper treatment of this common infestation. In our clinic, we have developed a modification of the traditional method of performing a scabies preparation, called the curette prep, that substitutes a disposable curette for a scalpel blade when obtaining skin scrapings for examination. The major advantages of this technique are greater acceptability and safety for pediatric patients.
A 65nm CMOS low-power small-size multistandard, multiband mobile broadcasting receiver SoC

For a few years, new mobile broadcasting services were launched in Korea, Japan, Europe and China. The mobile broadcasting markets are maturing rapidly for applications such as mobile cellular phones, car navigation, PMP and so on. The market drives low-cost, low-power and small size significantly for mobile applications and drives multiple functionality and multiple bands [1]. To meet the market requirements, more integration of system blocks and functionality is needed. To achieve this goal, the 65nm CMOS and multistandard and multiband receiver SoC may be suitable solution.
The combination of GIP plus xenin-25 indirectly increases pancreatic polypeptide release in humans with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Xenin-25 (Xen) is a 25-amino acid neurotensin-related peptide that activates neurotensin receptor-1 (NTSR1). We previously showed that Xen increases the effect of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) on insulin release 1) in hyperglycemic mice via a cholinergic relay in the periphery independent from the central nervous system and 2) in humans with normal or impaired glucose tolerance, but not type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Since this blunted response to Xen defines a novel defect in T2DM, it is important to understand how Xen regulates islet physiology. On separate visits, subjects received intravenous graded glucose infusions with vehicle, GIP, Xen, or GIP plus Xen. The pancreatic polypeptide response was used as an indirect measure of cholinergic input to islets. The graded glucose infusion itself had little effect on the pancreatic polypeptide response whereas administration of Xen equally increased the pancreatic polypeptide response in humans with normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance, and T2DM. The pancreatic polypeptide response to Xen was similarly amplified by GIP in all 3 groups. Antibody staining of human pancreas showed that NTSR1 is not detectable on islet endocrine cells, sympathetic neurons, blood vessels, or endothelial cells but is expressed at high levels on PGP9.5-positive axons in the exocrine tissue and at low levels on ductal epithelial cells. PGP9.5 positive nerve fibers contacting beta cells in the islet periphery were also observed. Thus, a neural relay, potentially involving muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, indirectly increases the effects of Xen on pancreatic polypeptide release in humans.
Dopaminergic and opiate agonists and antagonists differentially decrease multiple schedule responding maintained by sucrose/ethanol and sucrose

Abstract Similar neurobiological mechanisms are hypothesized to influence ethanol- and food-related reinforcement processes. This study examined the ability of compounds with dopaminergic or opiate activity to selectively alter responding maintained by a sucrose/ethanol solution in comparison to a sucrose solution. Long-Evans rats were trained to press a lever using 5% sucrose/10% ethanol and 5% sucrose as the reinforcers on a multiple Fixed Ratio 4 Fixed Ratio 4 schedule of reinforcement. When stable responding was established, the effects of intraperitoneally administered amphetamine (0.0–3.0 mg/kg), haloperidol (0.0–1.0 mg/kg), morphine (0.0–10.0 mg/kg), and naloxone (0.0–10.0 mg/kg) were examined on total session reinforcer presentation and presentation of each reinforcer within individual multiple schedule components. Prior to drug treatment, the total number of reinforcer presentations of the sucrose/ethanol solution was significantly greater than sucrose reinforcer presentations, suggesting the sucrose/ethanol solution was a more efficacious reinforcer. All agents administered decreased responding maintained by sucrose/ethanol and sucrose. The dose-effect curves for sucrose/ethanol were shifted to the left compared to sucrose, suggesting that although the compounds did not selectively impact sucrose/ethanol-maintained responding, sucrose/ethanol-maintained responding was more sensitive to the effects of these compounds.