cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bounds on Sample Variation Measures Based on Majorization

Using majorization theory, upper and lower bounds are derived for different measures of variation as progressively more items of information are available about the sample data. As a convenient starting point, bounds are first established for a one-parameter family of variation measures, which is a generalized mean difference measure of which Gini's mean difference, the standard deviation, and the range are particular cases. While, as pointed out, some of the derived bounds are well known, others do not appear to have been published and are tighter than established bounds. Some 40 different bounds are derived, besides any number of bounds given for the generalized family of variation measures. A number of interesting inequalities are also derived on the basis of some of the bounds. While the bounds have been developed in terms of real-valued sample data generally, the paper concludes with a brief discussion of the bounds for categorical data when the sample data consists of frequencies (counts).
Conjugate natural convection from an array of discrete heat sources: part 1 — two- and three-dimensional model validation

Two- and three-dimensional (2- and 3-D) numerical models have been developed for conjugate natural convection in a discretely heated cavity. Experimental results obtained for the same geometry, using water and FC-77 as the coolants, were in excellent agreement with the 3-D numerical predictions. In contrast, because of the inability to account for thermal spreading in the lateral direction, the 2-D model overpredicted measured average surface temperatures of the discrete heat sources. However, the 2-D model still predicted general trends and flow patterns that were experimentally obtained. The nature and extent of 3-D effects on the flow and heat transfer have been delineated.
Neuronal firing patterns during the spread of an occipital lobe seizure to the temporal lobes in man

Abstract Neuronal recordings from occipital cortex and hippocampus during a seizure originating in the occipital lobe of a patient with an occipito-temporal tumor demonstrated that the visual aura resulted from neuronal activation of medial peristriate and possibly other occipital lobe neurons while the psychomotor automatisms followed 10–20 sec later and were caused by recruitment of hippocampal neurons bilaterally. This confirmed that the complex seizure symptoms were caused by propagation from an occipital lobe focus. The psychomotor symptoms have not recurred for the 6 months since interruption of occipito-temporal connections; however, the spared medial occipital neurons still produce visual auras.
An analysis of the phase dispersion in the symmetric beam combiner

An astronomical beam combiner combines the two beams of starlight to form white-light fringes. It is desirable that the dispersion of the beam combiner be minimized across the observation wavelength range. We present here an analysis of the phase dispersion from coatings for a symmetric beam combiner. The sensitivity of the dispersion to a slight mismatch in beamsplitter coatings is also studied.
Parallel screening of selective and high-affinity displacers for proteins in ion-exchange systems

Abstract This paper employs a parallel batch screening technique for the identification of both selective and high-affinity displacers for a model binary mixture of proteins in a cation-exchange system. A variety of molecules were screened as possible displacers for the proteins ribonuclease A (RNAseA) and α-chymotrypsinogen A (α-chyA) on high performance Sepharose SP. The batch screening data for each protein was used to select leads for selective and high-affinity displacers and column experiments were carried out to evaluate the performance of the selected leads. The data from the batch displacements was also employed to generate quantitative structure–efficacy relationship (QSER) models based on a support vector machine regression approach. The resulting models had high correlation coefficients and were able to predict the behaviour of molecules not included in the training set. The descriptors selected in the QSER models for both proteins were examined to provide insights into factors influencing displacer selectivity in ion-exchange systems. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that this parallel batch screening–QSER approach can be employed for the identification of selective and high-affinity displacers for protein mixtures.
Disagreements over cloud absorption.

In their Letter “Have clouds darkened since 1995?” (14 Nov. 2003, p. [1151][1]), Z. Li and colleagues discuss points raised in an earlier news article on climate models and clouds (“Making clouds darker sharpens cloudy climate models,” R. A. Kerr, News of the Week, 20 June 2003, p. [1859][2
Multiple processing streams in occipitotemporal visual cortex

The earliest stages of cortical visual processing in areas V1 and V2 of the macaque monkey contain internal subdivisions ('blobs' and 'interblobs' in layer 4B in V1; thin, thick and interstripes in V2) that are selectively interconnected and contain neurons with distinctive visual response properties. Here we use anatomical pathway tracing to demonstrate that higher visual areas, V4 and the ventral posterior inferotemporal cortex, each contain anatomical subdivisions that have distinct input and output projections. These findings, in conjunction with others, suggest that modularity and multistream processing within individual cortical areas are widespread features of neocortical organization.
A functional analysis of the inverted repeat of the γδ transposable element

We have constructed a library of point mutants of the 35 base-pair terminal inverted repeat (IR) of the bacterial transposon γδ, a member of the Tn3 family of transposable elements. The effect of the mutant ends, both on the immunity conferred on an IR-containing target plasmid and on the transposition of model transposons, was determined. The region important for immunity was shown to be a 30 base-pair stretch of DNA, running from G8 and A9 to G38; mutations in the outermost seven or eight base-pairs did not significantly affect immunity. Positions at which mutations disrupted immunity chiefly coincided with positions previously determined to constitute three segments of the IR with which γδ transposase protein interacts via major groove contacts. We conclude that sequence-specific binding contacts between γδ transposase and its cognate IR are limited to a specific subset of positions (those sensitive to mutation in the immunity assay) within this 30 base-pair region. We found that the innermost of the three major groove contact regions was the most susceptible to mutation, while the outermost was the least. Indications of minor groove contacts were also found. Very few point mutations within the 30 base-pair sequencespecific binding region had much effect on transposition when the mutant ends were in the “wild-type” context with the adjacent integration host factor (IHF) binding site. However, deletion of the IHF site, in some cases, revealed a transposition defect, suggesting that for transposition (but not immunity), IHF-transposase cooperation can largely overcome the effects of reduced transposase binding. Although the outer seven base-pairs were not important for immunity, mutations in the outer three or four eliminated or reduced transposition activity, suggesting that these positions are involved in a step in transposition that follows transposase binding.
Effect of 1,4-dibromobenzene and 1,2,4-tribromobenzene on xenobiotic metabolism.

Abstract 1,4-Dibromobenzene and 1,2,4-tribromobenzene were administered po to male rats for 45 and 90 days, with or without a 30-day recovery period. After 45 or 90 days of administration, both 1,4-dibromobenzene (10 and 20 mg/kg) and 1,2,4-tribromobenzene (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) increased liver to body weight ratios, cytochrome P -450 content, EPN detoxification, and azoreductase activity. In addition, 1,2,4-tribromobenzene, which was the more potent inducer, increased NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity and benzpyrene hydroxylase activity. Glucuronyltransferase activity was not increased by either compound. These effects were not found following the 30-day recovery period. It is concluded that both of these simple brominated benzenes can induce the metabolism of xenobiotics but that the effects are not prolonged following the cessation of administration of the compounds.
APN Knowledge, Self‐Efficacy, and Practices in Providing Women's Healthcare Services to Women with Disabilities

Women with disabilities require the same gynecological and reproductive healthcare services as women without disabilities, yet they often experience difficulty obtaining them. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) increasingly provide primary care services that include women's health care, yet their influence on this population has not been systematically examined. This study examined the practices, environments, knowledge, and self-efficacy of APNs in Texas regarding provision of women's health care to women with disabilities. The study's respondents are 744 women who replied to a mailed survey. The results reveal that while nurses do not lack knowledge, work environments do not support competent care of women with disabilities and practices do not always follow national guidelines. Predictors of self-efficacy in provision of health care to women with disabilities were status as a women's health nurse practitioner, previous rehabilitation experience, high knowledge scores, and a working environment perceived as accessible. Until changes are made in APN education and environmental barriers are addressed, APNs may not be able to provide optimal women's healthcare services to women with disabilities.
THEORY OF THE PHASE TRANSITION IN IV-VI COMPOUNDS

R6sum6. - La thkorie thermodynamique des transitions de phase du second ordre dans les cristaux avec les modifications et les simplifications faites rkcemment par l'auteur et ses collabora- teurs, est appliquke a la structure du sel gernme pour prkdire plusieurs phases de plus basse syme- trie rkalisables par des transitions de dkplacement du second ordre qui ne changent pas la cellule unitk, en plus de la structure trigonale vue dans GeTe. Nous proposons un modele microscopique pour de telles transitions qui impliquent une instabilitk configurationnelle de groupe d'espace (Jahn-Teller) d'un modele propose pour les liaisons de valence dans ces composes. Nous donnons des propositions de ~Qifications expkrimentales de ces hypothkses. Abstract. - The thermodynamic theory of second order phase transitions in crystals with the modifications and simplifications recently made by the author and co-workers is applied to the rocksalt structure. We predict several lower symmetry phases achievable via second-order displacive transitions which do not change the unit cell, in addition to the trigonal structure seen in GeTe. A microscopic model is proposed for such transitions, involving space-group configurational (Jahn-Teller) instability of a proposed valence-bond model of electronic structure of binding of these compounds. Some experimentally verifiable tests of these proposals are given. 1. Introduction. - In this paper a theory of the phase transition in IV-VI Compounds will be given. The paper consists of two parts. First, the thermodynamic theory of second order phase transitions in crystals is applied to rocksalt structure. It is found that several lower symmetry space groups can be achieved by second order phase transition without change of unit cell. One of these, the trigonal (rhombohedra)) has been observed in GeTe. The others are new predictions. It is found that the transformation from rocksalt may be driven by the physical tensor field of the optic mode displace- ments. Secondly a proposal is made that the observed GeTe phase transition represents a space group configura- tional instability. It is proposed that cohesion in the GeTe structure be understood on the basis of valence bonds. The phase transition is then a configurational instability of such bonds with respect to the optic mode displacement. Experiments are proposed to test these results and proposals.
Alterations of airway smooth muscle cell membrane by sensitization

The sensitization of guinea pigs with ovalbumin and Bacillus pertussis vaccine caused an increase (P less than 0.001) in the resting membrane potential (Em) of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells, from -61.3 +/- 0.5 mV (+/- SE) to -72.7 +/- 0.6 mV (+/- SE). One, two, and three weeks after resensitization of sensitized animals with ovalbumin, Em further increased (P less than 0.001) to -76.2 +/- 0.2 mV (+/- SE), -77.4 +/- 0.3 mV, and -78.1 +/- 0.5 mV, respectively. Similarly, both in vivo and in vitro passive sensitization caused an increase (P less than 0.001) in Em of ASM cells to -69.5 +/- 0.3 mV and -68.5 +/- 0.4 mV, respectively. ASM preparations isolated from rabbits showed a similar increase (P less than 0.001) in Em after passive in vitro sensitization with serum from ovalbumin-sensitized rabbits. An increase in the contribution of the electrogenic Na+-pump was found to be responsible for the observed changes in Em following both active and passive sensitization. The presence of diphenhydramine (anti-H1), methysergide, indomethacin, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (ETYA), FPL 55712 (a leukotriene receptor blocker), phenoxybenzamine, and disodium cromoglycate (a stabilizing agent) during passive in vitro sensitization failed to prevent an increase in the Em of ASM cells. However, incubation of normal guinea pig and rabbit ASM preparations with heated serum (60 degrees C for 2 hours) from ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs or rabbits partially inhibited (in guinea pigs) or completely abolished (in rabbits) such an increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Superposition and Destructive Residual Stress Measurements

The paper describes destructive measurement of residual stress profiles across two perpendicular planes in a single coupon. Several established destructive measurement techniques can determine the residual stress locked in a coupon of interest, but in general, only a single measurement can be taken without releasing stress and affecting subsequent measurements. However, when the first measurement determines a stress profile across an entire plane, the released stress can be determined, through a supplemental stress analysis incorporating results from the first measurement, and then accounted for in a subsequent measurement. To demonstrate the capability, we describe measurements of residual stress profiles across two perpendicular planes in aluminum compact tension coupons. Residual stress was introduced into the coupons by laser shock peening, and measurements were performed using the slitting method. For each coupon, the measured stress profile on the first plane was used to compute stress released on the second plane. By adding this released stress to measured stress for the second plane, we obtain a stress profile for the second plane in the original configuration. Results of a numerical model that predicts residual stress due to laser shock peening are presented, and agreement between the model and experimental results gives confidence in the superposition method applied.
Potentiometric titration behavior of poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether)-b-poly(ethylenimine)

Poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether)-b-poly(ethylenimine hydrochloride) was characterized using potentiometric and viscosimetric titration methods. The average chemical compositions of the polyamine hydrochloride salts estimated by the acid-base titration,1H-NMR, and elemental analysis were compared. The apparent dissociation constant, pK, and the inherent viscosity of the polyamine hydrochloride were found to be highly dependent on the degree of neutralization. Very strong coulombic interactions among the charged sites were observed at low pH's for this polymer.
Recognizing and reducing the risks of helminthic eosinophilic meningitis in travelers: differential diagnosis, disease management, prevention, and control.

The helminthic infestations that can cause eosinophilic meningitis (EM), including neuroangiostrongyliasis (NAS), baylisascariasis (BAS), gnathostomiasis, and neurocysticercosis (NCC), have now been recognized as emerging infectious diseases. NAS is endemic throughout the Indo‐Pacific Basin and many Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico port cities following the worldwide importation of its causative parasite, Angiostrongylus cantonensis , by stowaway rats on container ships.1–6 Today, giant African land snails and most indigenous snail and slug species serve as competent intermediate hosts of A cantonensis , now capable of completing its complex life cycle almost anywhere.3–6 BAS, a raccoon zoonosis, extended its US distribution range from the northern United States to the southeast and west coast in the 1980s; was shortly thereafter exported to Japan in the exotic pet trade; and is now enzootic in raccoons throughout the United States. Gnathostomiasis, a tropical zoonosis of wild carnivores, is an endemic cause of EM throughout Asia and Latin America and has been recognized recently as an emerging etiology of EM among travelers returning to the UK. NCC, a central nervous system (CNS) infestation with the larval or cystic (cysticercus) stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium , is now the most common parasitic disease of the CNS worldwide and a leading cause of late‐onset epilepsy in adults.7,8 This review will compare and contrast the presenting manifestations and outcomes of the most common causes of helminthic EM in returning travelers, describe the most dependable diagnostic and treatment strategies, recommend proven methods to prevent helminthic EM in travelers, and suggest strategies for the control of regional outbreaks of helminthic EM. This review analyzes scientific articles selected by MEDLINE search, 1966 to 2008, to differentially compare the presenting clinical manifestations and outcomes of the most common causes of infectious and noninfectious EM worldwide; to assess the utilities … Corresponding Author: James Diaz, MD, MPH&TM, DrPH, Program in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, 1615 Poydras Street Suite 1400, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. E‐mail: jdiaz{at}lsuhsc.edu
GREENING THE VALUE STREAM: TOWARDS AN ENVIRONMENTAL INDEX

Abstract Lean is all about the removal of waste. Typically, waste is considered that which is non-value added. Lean takes a process view and calls it a value stream (the process from the start to end product). The value stream is typically documented with a value stream map (VSM). The value stream map contains pertinent details to enable improvement. These details usually consist of a cycle time, changeover time, and number of shifts and other items of interest. A mechanism for measuring items for improvement is required for notation on this map. This paper presents a preliminary investigation into a method to calculate an environmental index for incorporation into a value stream map to increase opportunities for waste minimization.
Selection and Optimization of Piezoelectric Polyvinylidene Fluoride Polymers for Adaptive Optics in Space Environments

Various piezoelectric polymers based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are of interest for large aperture space-based telescopes. Dimensional adjustments of adaptive polymer films depend on charge ...
Mechanical and Optical Properties of Block Polymers II. Polyether Urethanes

Block polymers are a novel class of macromolecules with properties distinct from their parent homopolymers or a random copolymer of equivalent composition. Typically, an elastomeric block polymer is built of alternate segments of a glassy or rigid polymer and a rubbery polymer resulting in a material which is more flexible than the pure rigid polymer, but possessing a higher modulus than the pure rubbery segment. The intelligent design of block polymers has opened an additional opportunity to “tailormake” molecules for a variety of applications.
Personal reference in English

Personal reference is the use of an expression to pick out a person, as in When did John eat the cookies? or Tell Dr. Elwood that I need to see him. This article explores the social factors involved in how speakers choose a referring expression in a given situation. Five experiments were conducted which presented speakers with scenarios and asked them how they would refer to a particular person in that situation. The results showed that speakers were sensitive to the level of intimacy between the speaker and referent, between the addressee and referent, and between a nonparticipating audience and the referent. To a lesser degree, the relation between the speaker and the addressee also influenced choice of referring expression. The results can be explained by a theory that posits that speakers are attempting to preserve their faces and the faces of their addressees in choosing these terms, and so they avoid references that could be face threatening. This theory can be integrated with current theories of object reference and the choice of address terms. (Reference, address, politeness, personal reference)
Identification of residues critical for metallo‐β‐lactamase function by codon randomization and selection

IMP-1 β-lactamase is a zinc metallo-enzyme encoded by the transferable blaIMP-1 gene, which confers resistance to virtually all β-lactam antibiotics including carbapenems. To understand how IMP-1 recognizes and hydrolyzes β-lactam antibiotics it is important to determine which amino acid residues are critical for catalysis and which residues control substrate specificity. We randomized 27 individual codons in the blaIMP-1 gene to create libraries that contain all possible amino acid substitutions at residue positions in and near the active site of IMP-1. Mutants from the random libraries were selected for the ability to confer ampicillin resistance to Escherichia coli. Of the positions randomized, >50% do not tolerate amino acid substitutions, suggesting they are essential for IMP-1 function. The remaining positions tolerate amino acid substitutions and may influence the substrate specificity of the enzyme. Interestingly, kinetic studies for one of the functional mutants, Asn233Ala, indicate that an alanine substitution at this position significantly increases catalytic efficiency as compared with the wild-type enzyme.
Design and fabrication of movable silicon plates suspended by flexible supports

A process for fabricating silicon plates of varying thicknesses suspended by thin, flexible polyimide arms has been developed. The process uses bulk micromachining techniques and consists of four steps: a diaphragm etch from the back of the wafer; a trench etch from the front side (to define the plates); deposition and patterning of the plate support beams; and a self-aligned backside plasma etch to release the plates. The authors have used this process to fabricate square silicon plates two millimeters on a side and 7-10- mu m-thick suspended by polyimide beams 500- mu m long, 4- mu m thick, and 100-200- mu m wide. By evaporating aluminum on the topside of the plates, it was possible to deflect them electrostatically approximately 60 mu m at 40 V applied voltage. These structures were designed for application as micromachined mirrors, although their sensitivity to motion and electrical and thermal isolation suggest other potential applications such as gas sensors, flow sensors, and accelerometers. >
Current-feedthrough effects and cancellation techniques in switched-current circuits

Distortion due to device mismatches and clock-feedthrough in switched-current circuits is analyzed. A replication-based current feedthrough cancellation technique that reduces the clock-feedthrough current more than 20 dB is proposed. SPICE simulation results for this circuit are given. >
Differential Pathways to Violence and Self-Injurious Behavior: African American and White Girls in the Juvenile Justice System

Since the early 1990s, research, largely from a feminist perspective, has been devoted to identifying the “gender-specific needs” of delinquent girls. This article explores racial differences between girls and how these differences may affect the commission of violent behavior and self-injurious behavior. Self-report data were collected from 163 girls incarcerated in Ohio in 1998. Data were collected on a wide range of variables, including potentially criminogenic areas such as abuse, antisocial attitudes, drug use, type of parenting received, self-esteem, family experiences, and mental health. The findings indicate that some of these variables differ significantly by race. Furthermore, these criminogenic areas are investigated in order to test their relationship to self-reports of violence, self-injurious behavior, suicide attempts, and overall delinquency. These models are then examined by race with findings that demonstrate the fallacy of representing girls as a homogeneous group. Of particular interes...
Guiding the Decision to Transfuse Interventions That Do and Do Not Work

Abstract Guiding the decision to transfuse can improve transfusion practices. Effective processes must first identify problem(s) in transfusion practice and then include the attending physician as an educational target. Process improvements that have been shown to be effective include the following: (1) briefly meeting one-on-one with physicians, (2) teaching at scheduled conferences, (3) making daily clinical rounds of patients who receive transfusion, (4) concurrently reviewing orders for transfusion before issue of the blood product, and (5) installing algorithms and guidelines in the operating room. Transfusion practices improved with these process improvements.
You deplete me: The cognitive costs of colorblindness on ethnic minorities

Abstract This study examined how priming Whites with colorblind or multicultural approaches to diversity prior to an interracial interaction affects ethnic minorities' cognitive functioning. Although ethnic minorities did not explicitly know which prime their White partner received, ethnic minorities paired with Whites primed with colorblindness (vs. multiculturalism) showed poorer cognitive performance on the Stroop (1935) color-naming task following the interaction. Furthermore, Whites in interracial interactions primed with colorblindness exhibited more behavioral prejudice, which mediated ethnic minorities' decreased cognitive performance. These findings suggest that Whites' exposure to certain ideologies may affect the cognitive performance of the ethnic minorities they encounter.
Noncooperative Distributed Wireless Relay Networks under Channel Uncertainty and Power Constraint

This paper derives an optimum relay amplifying matrix for a wireless relay network under channel uncertainty and received power constraints at the destination node. To achieve this objective, an amplify-and-forward strategy is employed at the relay nodes, and the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criteria is applied. And, for simplicity, this paper will assume a one-source-one-destination pair and N multiple relays. Then this paper will compare the bit error rate (BER) performance of the proposed relay network with that of other existing schemes, and also claim that the proposed relay amplifying matrix can improve BER significantly, compared to other existing schemes.
GENETIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE LOCUS vnd IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Genetic and developmental analysis of an X-linked vital locus vnd was undertaken. Embryos hemizygous for the original allele vnd did not hatch and exhibited a disorganized ventral nervous system (VNS). The mutation maps in the region 1B6-7 to 1B9-10, a subregion of an area previously shown to be essential to normal neural development. In this paper, we report isolation of five new alleles at the locus vnd. Genetic complementation analysis of all mutations at the vnd locus, with lethal alleles at adjacent loci, indicates that all lesions at the locus vnd affect only one vital gene function in the region. Four of the five alleles are embryonic lethal; one allele is subvital and behaves like an hypomorphic mutation. Hemizygous embryos for three of the four embryonic lethal alleles were inspected in histological sections; all exhibited disorganized VNS similar to the original allele. The developmental analysis in gynandromorphic genetic mosaics shows that (1) vnd+ gene function is not essential in most imaginal-disc cell derivatives, (2) only about 30% of the mosaic zygotes survive as adults, (3) mosaic zygotes with mutant tissue close to the head cuticle are least likely to survive, and (4) mutant tissue in the thoracic ganglion in the adult is not necessarily lethal. The mosaic data are consistent with the vnd+ gene function being necessary in neural cells derived from the anterioventral region of the blastoderm.
A FRAMEWORK LINKAGE MAP OF BERMUDAGRASS (CYNODON DACTYLON X TRANSVAALENSIS) BASED ON SINGLE-DOSE RESTRICTION FRAGMENTS

This study describes the first detailed linkage maps of two bermudagrass species, Cynodon dactylon (T89) and Cynodon transvaalensis (T574), based on single-dose restriction fragments (SDRFs). The mapping population consisted of 113 F1 progeny of a cross between the two parents. Loci were generated using 179 bermudagrass genomic clones and 50 heterologous cDNAs from Pennisetum and rice. The map of T89 is based on 155 SDRFs and 17 double-dose restriction fragments on 35 linkage groups, with an average marker spacing of 15.3 cM. The map of T574 is based on 77 SDRF loci on 18 linkage groups with an average marker spacing of 16.5 cM. About 16 T89 linkage groups were arranged into four complete and eight into four incomplete homologous sets, while 15 T574 linkage groups were arranged into seven complete homologous sets, all on the basis of multi-locus probes and repulsion linkages. Eleven T89 and three T574 linkage groups remain unassigned. In each parent consensus maps were built based on alignments of homologous linkage groups. Four ancestral chromosomes were inferred after aligning T89 and T574 parental consensus maps using multi-locus probes. The inferred ancestral marker orders were used in comparisons to a detailed Sorghum linkage map using 40 common probes, and to the rice genome sequence using 98 significant BLAST hits, to find regions of colinearity. Using these maps we have estimated the recombinational length of the T89 and T574 genomes at 3,012 and 1,569 cM, respectively, which are 61 and 62% covered by our maps.
Mevastatin Can Cause G1 Arrest and Induce Apoptosis in Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells Through a p27Kip1-Independent Pathway

Advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterized by extensive vascular remodeling that is usually resistant to vasodilator therapy. Mevastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate-limiting step for cholesterol synthesis. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have been shown to upregulate the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 and to block cell proliferation through cholesterol-independent pathways. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of mevastatin on DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression, and cell proliferation in rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). We found that mevastatin induced G1 arrest and decreased DNA synthesis in rat PASMCs and did so in association with an increase in both total and cyclin E-bound p27Kip1. This caused a marked decrease in cyclin E kinase activity, which suggests an important role for p27Kip1 in the ability of mevastatin to induce G1 arrest. However, in PASMCs lacking functional p27Kip1, mevastatin still decreased cyclin E kinase activity, caused G1 arrest, and decreased DNA synthesis. In p27Kip1-deficient PASMCs, mevastatin induced a greater reduction of cyclin E protein levels (to 35% of control) than in wild-type cells (to 70% of control) and also reduced the phosphorylation of cdk2 on threonine 160. Mevastatin also caused apoptosis in both wild-type and p27Kip1-deficient PASMCs and was able to do so at a dose that did not induce cell cycle arrest. These data suggest that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors can both inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in PASMCs through p27Kip1-independent pathways and may be important therapeutic agents in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
CD8 and CD4 T cell‐mediated polymyositis complicating the HTLV‐1 associated myelopathy. Quantitative evaluation of corticosteroid treatment

Introduction - Inflammatory myopathy is a treatable cause of worsening in the spectrum of neurological conditions that may develop during the course of HTLV-1 infection. Material and methods - To investigate the cause of subacute worsening in the strength of a 46-y-old black male with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy we performed electrodiagnostic examination and a muscle biopsy which was studied with histochemistry, immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Serial measurements of isometric muscle strength were performed during the course of corticosteroid treatment. Results - The muscle biopsy showed evidence of denervation atrophy and prominent inflammatory changes with autoaggressive features. Lymphocyte typing showed a predominance of CD8 + T cells. The patient had sustained, marked improvement in strength, especially of the upper extremities, with oral, high single-dose, alternate-day prednisone therapy. Conclusion - A muscle biopsy should be considered in all patients with HTLV-1 associated weakness, especially when electromyography indicates possible coexisting primary muscle involvement and/or serum creatine kinase levels are elevated. HTLV-1-associated polymyositis can be successfully treated with corticosteroids.
Interventional Nephrology and Dialysis: Bone Biopsy: Indications, Techniques, and Complications

Bone biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing the type and severity of renal osteodystrophy (ROD) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. In this article we review the indications, techniques, and complications of this minimally invasive procedure. The importance of careful preparation is emphasized.
Multilevel optimization: A mathematical programming perspective

Decentralized planning has long been recognized as an important decision making problem. Many approaches based on the concepts of large scale system decomposition have generally lacked the ability to model the type of truly independent subsystems which have often existed in practice. Similarly, tractable game-theoretic approaches have not allowed for a continuous solution space in which one player's decision restricts the feasible region of another. This paper offers a formulation to help model this type of decision making hierarchy. In addition, characterizations and algorithmic approaches are discussed. The ultimate purpose of this paper is to motivate wider interest in the areas of both modelling and solution strategies for this large class of nonconvex programming problems.
PhishCatch - A Phishing Detection Tool

Phishing has become the most popular practice among the criminals of the Web. Phishing attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated. The impact of phishing is drastic and significant since it can involve the risk of identity theft and financial losses. This paper explains the most popular methods used for phishing and the PhishCatch algorithm developed to detect phishing. The PhishCatch algorithm is a heuristic based algorithm which will detect phishing emails and alert the users about the phishing emails. The phishing filters and rules in the algorithm are formulated after extensive research of phishing methodologies and tactics. After testing, we determined that PhishCatch algorithm has a catch rate of 80% and an accuracy of 99%. The approach used in developing this algorithm, the implementation details and testing results are discussed in this paper.
Adipose tissue tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 expression in human obesity and insulin resistance

Adipose tissue expresses tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-6, which may cause obesity-related insulin resistance. We measured TNF and IL-6 expression in the adipose tissue of 50 lean...
Experimental Response of Simple Gas Hybrid Bearings for Oil-Free Turbomachinery

Gas film bearings offer unique advantages enabling successful deployment of high-speed micro-turbomachinery (< 0.4 MW). Current applications encompass micro power generators, air cycle machines and turbo expanders. Mechanically complex gas foil bearings are in use; however, their excessive cost and lack of calibrated predictive tools deter their application to mass-produced systems. The present investigation provides experimental results for the rotordynamic performance of a small rotor supported on simple and inexpensive hybrid gas bearings with static and dynamic force characteristics desirable in high-speed turbomachinery. These characteristics are adequate load support, stiffness and damping coefficients, low friction and wear during rotor startup and shutdown, and most importantly, enhanced rotordynamic stability. The test results evidence the paramount effect of feed pressure on early rotor lift off and substantially higher threshold speeds of rotordynamic instability. Higher supply pressures also determine larger bearing direct stiffnesses, and thus bring an increase in the rotor-bearing system critical speed albeit with a reduction in damping ratio.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Non-canonical Roles for the Hippo Pathway

The Hippo pathway is a conserved signaling pathway that mediates tissue and organ growth, and is commonly deregulated in diseases such as cancer. A series of phosphorylation events and protein interactions propagate Hippo pathway signaling and culminate in the modulation of the transcriptional regulators TAZ and YAP. The majority of effort to date has focused on identifying new players in the pathway and understanding the transcriptional processes regulated by TAZ and YAP. However, it has become clear that the ramifications of Hippo pathway activity extend well beyond that of transcriptional regulation. Hippo pathway components have been implicated in a wide-range of processes that range from the organization of cell polarity to the fine-tuning of morphogen signaling. This chapter highlights some of the non-canonical roles for the Hippo pathway and discusses how these functions influence organogenesis and disease.
Local Pro- and Anti-Coagulation Therapy in the Plastic Surgical Patient: A Literature Review of the Evidence and Clinical Applications

The risks of systemic anti-coagulation or its reversal are well known but accepted as necessary under certain circumstances. However, particularly in the plastic surgical patient, systemic alteration to hemostasis is often unnecessary when local therapy could provide the needed adjustments. The aim of this review was to provide a summarized overview of the clinical applications of topical anti- and pro-coagulant therapy in plastic and reconstructive surgery. While not a robust field as of yet, local tranexamic acid (TXA) has shown promise in achieving hemostasis under various circumstances, hemostats are widely used to halt bleeding, and local anticoagulants such as heparin can improve flap survival. The main challenge to the advancement of local therapy is drug delivery. However, with increasingly promising innovations underway, the field will hopefully expand to the betterment of patient care.
Mating behavior of Mediterranean fruit flies (Diptera : Tephritidae) in a natural environment)

Systematic quantitative observations of the mating behavior of wild Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) were made in a semi-isolated orchard in Kula, Maui, Hawaii. Matings occurred on only a small proportion of the available trees, and most occurred on only three trees. All matings occurred on the bottom surfaces of sunlit leaves. Most matings occurred during midday and lasted nearly 3 h. In almost all cases, 1-10 other males were present in the same tree as the mating pair. Intruders won more than two-thirds of all male-male interactions and females terminated most failed courtship attempts. Male size and territory location did not correlate with mating success, and a small percentage of the males mated more than once.
Biosynthesis of ethylene. Methanesulphinic acid as cofactor in the enzymic formation of ethylene from methional

The second cofactor in the peroxidase-catalysed formation of ethylene from methional in cauliflower extracts was identified as methanesulphinic acid. The progress of the reaction is described and the activities of related sulphinic acids were determined.
Recent thymic emigrants are tolerized in the absence of inflammation

T cell development requires a period of postthymic maturation. Why this is the case has remained a mystery, particularly given the rigors of intrathymic developmental checkpoints, successfully traversed by only ∼5% of thymocytes. We now show that the first few weeks of T cell residence in the lymphoid periphery define a period of heightened susceptibility to tolerance induction to tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs), the outcome of which depends on the context in which recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) encounter antigen. After encounter with TRAs in the absence of inflammation, RTEs exhibited defects in proliferation, diminished cytokine production, elevated expression of anergy-associated genes, and diminished diabetogenicity. These properties were mirrored in vitro by enhanced RTE susceptibility to regulatory T cell-mediated suppression. In the presence of inflammation, RTEs and mature T cells were, in contrast, equally capable of inducing diabetes, proliferating, and producing cytokines. Thus, recirculating RTEs encounter TRAs during a transitional developmental stage that facilitates tolerance induction, but inflammation converts antigen-exposed, tolerance-prone RTEs into competent effector cells.
Epidemic characteristics of syphilis in Dongling District of Shenyang City from 2006-2010

[Objective]To analyze the incidence and epidemic levels of syphilis in Dongling District of Shenyang City in recent years,to explore its control measures,and provide scientific evidence for syphilis control. [Methods]The descriptive epidemiology was used to analyze the reported data about syphilis in Dongling District from 2006-2010. [Results]The annul incidence rate of syphilis was 29.46/100 000 from 2006 to 2010 in Dongling district of Shenyang,which showed an overall increasing trend(not including the data of 2010),and there was a significant difference of incidence rate between years(P0.01);Latent syphilis and phase II syphilis were the major,accounted for 76.16%,without significant seasonal peak;The ratio of male and female was 1.07∶1,and the incidence rate was 30.08/100 000 in male,and 28.83/100 000 in female,without significant difference between genders(P0.05);The young adult aged 20-59 years were sensitive to syphilis,accounted for 82.07 %.The patients unemployed,with housework,unknown occupation and farming occupied 85.02% of total cases. [Conclusion]It is necessary to strengthen sanitation propagandizing and health education,to increase people's preventive consciousness,to supervise the high-risk population of syphilis,to do well in screening and testing of syphilis,to standardize diagnosis and treatment of syphilis,to improve the accurate rate and promptness rate of diagnosis and report,and to carry on integrated intervention in order to minimize the high-risk factors of syphilis spread.
Association of the von Willebrand Factor-ADAMTS13 Ratio With Incident Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease.

Background:Platelet adhesion is mediated by von Willebrand factor (vWF), and disintegrin-like and metalloprotease domain with thrombospondin type-1 motif, number 13 (ADAMTS13) is a protease that cleaves vWF. A change in the balance between vWF and ADAMTS13 in favor of thrombosis might occur shortly before ischemic cardiovascular (CV) events.Objective:To determine whether vWF, ADAMTS13, and the ratio of vWF and ADAMTS13 change during the months preceding an acute CV event.Design:Prospective longitudinal observational study.Setting:Outpatient.Patients:A total of 595 participants with peripheral artery disease (PAD).Measurements:Blood samples were obtained every 2 months for up to 3 years and hemostatic factors examined at intervals preceding events.Results:Sixty-one participants (cases) experienced events and were matched to 122 PAD controls. During the 2-month interval prior to an event, cases (n = 48) had higher levels of the vWF and ADAMTS13 than controls (n = 95; P = .05), but significance was lost afte...
A qualitative exploration of motivations and challenges for implementing US accreditation in three Canadian universities

The adoption of US accreditation by non-US universities is one of the most salient manifestations of the internationalization of quality assurance in higher education. This process has been conceptualized as an exercise of global position taking by which institutions with limited financial and symbolic resources become associated with more prestigious institutions across national borders by sharing a common accreditation. However, the adoption of US accreditation has yet to be studied among institutions in well-positioned higher education systems. This study explored perceptions and experiences associated with the adoption of US institutional accreditation in three Canadian universities. The study reveals that several features of US higher education reflected in the accreditation standards, for example, general education, pose challenges for Canadian universities seeking US recognition. In addition, increased workload, resulting from the accreditation demands, became a source of disagreement between acade...
The Capitalist Determination of Technical Change

One of the most pervasive illusions of our time is technological determinism. Our culture promotes a firm belief in the ‘march of technical progress’, seen as an inevitable and external motor driving the shape of our social and economic life. This belief actually encompasses and contains its apparent opposite: the ritual rebellion against technology, science, and progress. The rejection of technology in its entirety appears as a futile gesture, which in fact confirms what we really thought all along: technology follows a preordained curve, and will ultimately prevail. This plays a direct ideological role, as when ‘technical change’ is blamed for a variety of ills, from the fragmentation of personality and loss of community to unemployment, regional decline, and many other symptoms and components of capitalist crisis.