cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Abstract There is growing experience that supports the use of vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) therapy as an effective treatment for complex epilepsy. The number of clinical conditions for which VNS has been tried and reported anecdotally to help continues to grow. As such, VNS represents the most widely clinically utilized form of neuromodulation therapy in clinical practice today. This chapter reviews the evolution of understanding of the rationale for VNS, summarizes outcomes and indications reported to date, and discusses surgical considerations in the surgical placement of a VNS device.
Applying cyber-archaeology

Online spaces that enable public shared inter-personal communications are of significant social and economic importance. This paper outlines a theoretical model and methodology, labeled cyber-archaeology, for researching the relationship between such spaces and the behaviors they contain. The methodology utilizes large-scale field studies into user behavior in online spaces to identify technology-associated user constraints to sustainable patterns of online large-scale shared social interactions. Empirical research was conducted to assess the validity of both the theoretical model and methodology. It was based on the analysis of 2.65 million messages posted to 600 Usenet newsgroups over a six month period, and 478,240 email messages sent to 487 email lists managed by Listserv software over a 5-month period. Overall, our findings support a key aspect of the model, namely that individual 'information overload' coping strategies have an observable impact on mass-interaction discourse dynamics. Further, that it is possible to demonstrate a link between technology type and information overload impacts through field studies of online behavior. Cyber-archaeology is discussed in terms of its ability to offer insight into aspects of CMC-tool usability, technology design, and to guide future empirical research.
Cross-talk noise in volume holographic storage

In volume holographic storage, a large number of holograms are stored in the same volume of the recording medium. Therefore, cross-talk is an important issue. In this talk, we present a weak scattering model for analyzing the cross-talk noise in both data retrieval and correlation.
Postreceptor inhibition of antral gastrin release by somatostatin

Abstract This study was performed to examine the effects of somatostatin on antral gastrin release stimulated by postreceptor increases in adenosine cyclic nucleotide. Increases in intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate were achieved through the use of the dibutyryl derivative of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor theophylline. The effects of somatostatin on basal and stimulated gastrin release were examined in rat antral organ culture experiments. Inclusion of somatostatin in the culture medium (1 × 10 −8 to 1 × 10 −4 M) resulted in significant inhibition of gastrin release at somatostatin concentrations of 1 × 10 −5 and 1 × 10 −4 M: both doses of somatostatin inhibited gastrin release by ~52% at 30 min and by 32% at 6 h. Gastrin release stimulated by dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate was significantly inhibited by 1 × 10 −5 and 1 × 10 −4 M somatostatin to 133% and 121% at 30 min and 77% and 98% at 6 h, respectively. Gastrin release stimulated by theophylline (1 mM) was also significantly inhibited by somatostatin in doses ranging from 1 × 10 −6 to 1 × 10 −4 M. The degree of inhibition by somatostatin of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate- and theophylline-stimulated gastrin release declined over the duration of culture. In conclusion, these results suggest that somatostatin inhibits adenosine cyclic nucleotide-stimulated gastrin release by acting at a point distal to the formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate.
COMBINED CONDUCTION AND RADIATION IN A TWO-DIMENSIONAL RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE

The steady-state combined conduction and radiation heat transfer for an absorbing, emitting, and isotropically scattering two-dimensional rectangular enclosure is investigated. The boundary surfaces art considered to be black and subjected to a constant temperature on one surface and to zero temperature on others. The Galerkin method is used to obtain an exact solution to the radiation part of the problem, and a finite-difference scheme is applied to solve the conduction part. The effects of the conduction-to-radiation parameter, the single scattering albedo, and the aspect ratio on the temperature distribution are examined.
Mapping of the mouse actin capping protein beta subunit gene.

Background Capping protein (CP), a heterodimer of α and β subunits, is found in all eukaryotes. CP binds to the barbed ends of actin filaments in vitro and controls actin assembly and cell motility in vivo. Vertebrates have three isoforms of CPβ produced by alternatively splicing from one gene; lower organisms have one gene and one isoform.
Use of Jackknifing to Evaluate Effects of Anchor Item Selection on Equating With the Nonequivalent Groups With Anchor Test (NEAT) Design

In this study, we apply jackknifing to anchor items to evaluate the impact of anchor selection on equating stability. In an ideal world, the choice of anchor items should have little impact on equating results. When this ideal does not correspond to reality, selection of anchor items can strongly influence equating results. This influence does not disappear even if large examinee samples are present. Consequently, it provides a major hazard in practical use of equating. Although the effect of anchor selection does not disappear with increasing sample size, it is reasonable to expect smaller effects with test anchors with more items. To illustrate results, two examples of real equating data were evaluated using two classical equating methods. The results show that rather large effects may be associated with sampling of anchor items.
Automatically analyzing software processes: experience report

Sound methods of analysis and comparison of software processes are crucial for such tasks as process understanding, process correctness verification, evolution management, process classification, process improvement, and choosing the appropriate process for a certain project. The purpose of our research is to lay the foundations for a systematic and rigorous comparison of processes by establishing fixed methods and conceptual frameworks that are able to assure that comparison efforts will yield predictable, reproducible results. The analysis framework presented here assumes that the comparison will be done relative to a fixed standard feature classification schema for the processes used, and with the use of a fixed formalism for modeling the processes. The aspect of the system described in this paper is focused on functional analysis of processes according to the predefined comparison topics, well formedness constraints, and instrumented agents. The paper describes our experience using our analysis system and its application to a logistics software process from the telecommunication domain.
The baby boom and the housing market

Abstract Based on tests for cointegration, the growth of housing demand resulting from the Baby Boom appears to be the major factor behind increased real residential investment, but not the major factor behind increased real housing prices in the postwar U.S. The housing market also passes a simple test for efficiency.
Self-Interest or Altruism Corrections and Extensions

It is shown that altruism is not, in general, sufficient to reduce the area of contention between two actors. Altruism can reduce or eliminate contention, leave it unchanged, or lead to a new form of contention, a contest in beneficence. Which result obtains is an empirical question. Several recent applications of the assumption of altruism are summarized.
Consumer Information Sharing: Where the Sun Still Don't Shine

In late 2007, the popular social networking site Facebook.com adopted "Beacon," an application that informs Facebook users' friends about purchases made and activities on other websites. For example, if a Facebook user bought a movie ticket on Fandango.com, that user's friends would be informed of that fact through a news "feed" on Facebook. Some users objected vigorously to the Beacon application, because their activities were reported on an opt-out basis, meaning that the user had to take affirmative action to prevent others from learning about their activities. An activism website, Moveon.org, organized a protest, calling users to action by asking, "When you buy a book or movie online - do you want that information automatically shared with the world on Facebook?" Facebook responded to these critiques by changing its policy to obtain express approval before activities on other sites would be shared with friends. The Facebook folly demonstrates how intensely consumers reject the "sharing" of personal information for marketing purposes. In this instance, consumers learned of Facebook's strategy because it was transparent and obvious to the individual. But what most do not realize is that, in the absence of a specific law prohibiting information sharing, businesses are generally free to monetize their customer databases by selling, renting, or trading them to others. In fact, the sale of customer information is a common, albeit opaque practice that, if disclosed at all, is usually mentioned in a "privacy policy." Facebook's Beacon simply made information sharing obvious to users. Studies have shown that most consumers oppose the sale of personal information. Unfortunately, most consumers are under the misimpression that a company with a "privacy policy" is barred from selling data. To learn more about information selling, the authors, using a California privacy law, made requests to 86 companies for a disclosure of information sharing practices. The results show that while many companies have voluntarily adopted a policy of not sharing personal information with third parties, many still operate under an opt-out model that is inconsistent with consumer expectations, and others simply did not respond to the request. Based on these results, the authors propose several public policy approaches to bringing business practices in information sharing in line with consumer expectations.
Charitable Accountability and Social Norms

This paper examines the use of social norms in influencing nonprofit board behavior. Directors and officers of charities are fiduciaries to their organization. Once a person assumes a fiduciary obligation, a series of moral and legal demands are placed upon her. The generality of fiduciary norms makes application difficult in concrete situations. Fiduciary accountability presents a paradox. Though the number of nonprofit organizations has expanded enormously, at the same time enforcement efforts by regulators have declined, so there is little chance of legal sanction for violations. Yet, most organizations and trustees abide by the rules, adhere to good practices and demonstrate fidelity to the organization's charitable mission. Why do most fiduciaries do what's right? Charitable fiduciaries have internalized the norms of appropriate behavior and that most fiduciary law is the explication of social norms. The paper argues that Section 4958 of the Internal Revenue Code, which imposes an intermediate sanction of an excise tax on excessive benefit transactions of insiders or "disqualified persons" of section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofits other than private foundations, was less important as a sanction or tax than in creating new behavioral norms, because in the years following enactment there was almost no enforcement. The particular change in normative behavior the intermediate sanctions legislation produced, though effective is inefficient, because of the costs incurred by all nonprofit organizations to adhere to the new norm.
Low-grade inflammation in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: prognostic value of inflammatory plasma lipids and peripheral blood leukocyte biomarkers.

Objective Inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), are produced by osteoarthritic (OA) joint tissue, where they may contribute to disease pathogenesis. We undertook the present study to examine whether inflammation, evidenced in plasma and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), reflects the presence, progression, or specific symptoms of symptomatic knee OA. Methods Patients with symptomatic knee OA were enrolled in a 24-month prospective study of radiographic progression. Standardized knee radiographs were obtained at baseline and 24 months. At baseline, levels of the plasma lipids PGE2 and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) were measured, and transcriptome analysis of PBLs was performed by microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Baseline PGE2 synthase (PGES) levels determined by PBL microarray gene expression and plasma PGE2 levels distinguished patients with symptomatic knee OA from non-OA controls (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] 0.87 and 0.89, respectively, P 0.0 mm, JSN >0.2 mm, and JSN >0.5 mm; AUC 0.62–0.67). Conclusion The inflammatory plasma lipid biomarkers PGE2 and 15-HETE identify patients with symptomatic knee OA, and the PBL inflammatory transcriptome identifies a subset of patients with symptomatic knee OA who are at increased risk of radiographic progression. These findings may reflect low-grade inflammation in OA and may be useful as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in clinical development of disease-modifying OA drugs.
Financial Evaluation of the Product Line

Abstract When decisions are being made about adding or dropping a product, most managers will make a financial evaluation of the product and they may try to get some sense of the riskiness of the decision. They will also probably consider the effect of the add/drop decision on other products in the line. Seldom, however, do they consider the risk of a product mix decision in the context of the risk level of the overall product line. Professors Rabino and Wright argue that product managers should take a leaf from the analytical book of financial analysts and calculate a “product Beta” that shows the impact of the risk of the individual product on the risk of the whole portfolio of products. They also suggest some other ways of sharpening the financial picture in what are often strictly marketing evaluations. This is Professor Rabino's second article in JPIM. As in the previous one he coauthored with Howard Moskowitz, this one adds some interesting analytical methodology to managerial decision making.
Generation of an equine oviductal epithelial cell line for the study of sperm-oviduct interactions.

Abstract Equine oviductal epithelial cells (OEC) were transformed with simian virus 40 large T antigen (SV 40 T-ag) to create a cell line for the study of the interaction of equine spermatozoa with oviductal epithelium. One cell line was established based on the expression of the S V 40 Tag and extended lifespan in culture. Immortalized equine OEC retained the characteristics of differentiated OEC such as the formation of monolayers with characteristic epithelial morphology and cell polarization as well as expression of cytokeratin and equine major histocompatibility complex I. Monolayers of immortalized equine OEC retained their functional competence to bind equine spermatozoa in a dose-dependent manner comparable to that of primary equine OEC cultures. This immortalized cell line of equine OEC provides a uniform, readily available system for sperm-OEC co-cultures, and may be a useful model for the study of sperm-oviduct interactions in the horse.
Ring substituted analogues of 5-aminomethyl-10,11-dihydro-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene (AMDH): potential modes of binding to the 5-HT2A receptor

The synthesis and 5-HT(2A) receptor affinities of 2-substituted-5-aminomethyl-10,11-dihydrodibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene (AMDH) derivatives are described. Comparison of the effects of substitution on affinities allowed assignment of potential binding modes in comparison with DOB-like agonists/antagonists and 3-substituted 1-(aminomethyl)-9,10-dihydroanthracene structures.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide rapidly inhibits calcium uptake in osteoblastic cell lines via activation of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels.

In certain neurons, alternative RNA processing generates calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from the same gene that encodes the hormone calcitonin. As CGRP-containing nerve fibers are prominent in skeleton, we evaluated the effects of CGRP on osteoblasts. Because the vasodilatory effect of neural CGRP in smooth muscle probably involves inhibition of unstimulated Ca2+ uptake, we examined the acute effects of CGRP on this parameter in rat osteoblastic cells. CGRP inhibits 45Ca2+ uptake in both UMR 106 osteosarcoma and RCOB-3 osteoblastic cells. This inhibition is rapid (0.5 min), occurs with an EC50 of 1 nM, and cannot be demonstrated in the presence of 0.1 mM diltiazem, a blocker of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Depolarization of bone cells with high extracellular potassium (K+) also blocks the effect of CGRP on 45Ca2+ uptake, suggesting a central role for K+ channels in mediating this action. In agreement with this hypothesis, the effect of CGRP is blocked by 1 microM glybenclamide, a specific inhi...
Normal functional and spaces of weights

It is shown that the cone of positive normal functionals on a hypergraphA may be substantially larger than the cone of positive weights onA. For a semiclassical hypergraphA the two cones coincide if and only if the number of edges ofA of cardinality ≥2 is finite. This disproves an earlier statement of T. A. Cook.
Preparation and characterization of M2(SeAr′)6 and mixed ligand M2(OR)2(SeAr′)4 species (M = Mo, W)

Abstract Toluene solutions of M2(NMe2)6 (M = Mo, W) react with mesitylene selenol (Ar′SeH) to give M2(SeAr′) 6 complexes. MO2(OR)6 (R = tBu, CH2tBu) react with excess > 6 fold) Ar′SeH to give Mo2 (SeAr′)6, whilst W2(OR)6(py)2 (R = iPr, CH2tBu) react with excess (> 6 fold) Ar′SeH to give W2(OR)2(SeAr′)4. Reaction of MO2(OPri)6 with Ar′SeH produces Mo2(OPri)2 (SeAr′)4 which crystallizes in two different space groups. These areneselenato complexes are air-stable and insoluble in common organic solvents. X-ray crystallographic studies revealed that the Mo2(SeAr′)6 and W2(SeAr′)6 compounds are isostructural in the solid state and adopt ethane-like staggered configurations with the following important structural parameters, MM (WW/MoMo) 2.3000(11)/2.2175(13) A, MSe 2.430 (av.)/2.440 (av.) A, MMSE 97.0° (av.)°. In the solid state W2(OiPr)2(SeAr′)4 adopts the anti-configuration with crystallographically imposed Ci symmetry and WW 2.3077(7) A, WSe 2.435 (av.) A, WO 1.858(6) A; WWSE 100.27(3)°, 93.8(3)° and WWO 108.41(17)°. Mo2(OPri)2(SeAr′) 4 crystallizes in both P 1 and A2/a space groups in which the molecules are isostructural with each other and the tungsten analogue. Important bond lengths and angles are MoMo 2.180(24) A, MoSe 2.432(av.) A, MoO 1.872(9) A, MoMoSe 99.39(9)°, 94.71(8)°, MoMoO 107.55(28)°.
Political economy and the closet: heteronormativity in feminist economics

Abstract Returning to a question raised by M. V. Lee Badgett in the first issue of Feminist Economics, this paper traces the persistence of heteronormativity in feminist economics to assumptions that kinship is organized around conjugal bonds. These assumptions let “the family” stand automatically for a husband, wife, and their children. “Heteronormativity” is not a synonym for heterosexual privilege, but rather names tacit conceptions about what is socially normal, conceptions that make it possible to think of heterosexuals or homosexuals as essential categories of people. Critique of heteronormativity makes visible a pattern of state repression that makes proper citizens by opposing them to improper ones, a process that simultaneously shapes gender, sexuality, citizenship, and race. Such critique opens the opportunity to better understand gender, integrate scholarship on lesbians and gays, link gender analysis more directly to racializing processes, and reopen the category of heterosexuality.
Aronszajn trees and partitions

A kind ofk+-Aronszajn tree is used to construct some strong negative partition relations onk+.
Promoting emergency medical care systems in the developing world: Weighing the costs

Abstract Despite the global health community's historical focus on providing basic, cost-effective primary health care delivered at the community level, recent trends in the developing world show increasing demand for the implementation of emergency care infrastructures, such as prehospital care systems and emergency departments, as well as specialised training programmes. However, the question remains whether, in a setting of limited global health care resources, it is logical to divert these already-sparse resources into the development of emergency care frameworks. The existing literature overwhelmingly supports the idea that emergency care systems, both community-based and within medical institutions, improve important outcomes, including significant morbidity and mortality. Crucial to the success of any public health or policy intervention, emergency care systems also seem to be strongly desired at the community and governmental levels. Integrating emergency care into existing health care systems wil...
Digital speech synthesis: Tutorial

Digital speech synthesis typically involves conversion of text typed at a keyboard or input through an alternative method into digitally coded speech. Synthesis of speech using waveform coding is well understood, requires simple hardware and software, and results in high-quality, natural-sounding speech. However, waveform coding is memory intensive, which limits its use to restricted text-to-speech (TTS) output and digital recording and playback of several seconds worth of speech. Two parametric coding techniques, formant coding and linear predictive coding, are suitable for unrestricted TTS synthesis because of their relatively small memory overhead. Parametrically synthesized speech varies widely in quality and intelligibility from poor to very good, depending on the size of the linguistic units used for synthesis (e.g., word concatenation produces better results than phoneme concatenation) and on algorithmic sophistication, especially that used for handling text to phonetic code conversion and transiti...
Opposing actions of Ca++ and ATP plus Mg++ in controlling the kynurenine aminotransferase activity of isolated rat kidney mitochondria.

A new method of monitoring changes in the permeability of the mitochondrial inner membrane to substrates, based on mitochondrial kynurenine aminotransferase activity, is applied in this study of a requirement for Ca++ for optimal translocation. At pH 7.25, the Ca++ requirement was satisfied by endogenous (non-added) Ca++. The endogenous activity was decreased by 1.4 mM SrCl2, MnCl2, MgCl2, BaCl2, and LaCl3 and was unaffected by 1.4 mM NaCl, KCl, and NH4Cl. It was depressed to a minimum by 70 μM EGTA and rapidly restored by 70 μM CaCl2. The restored level was again depressed (rapidly) by added ATP + Mg++. The observations are discussed as a possible reflection of a known role of the Ca++Mg++ ratio in determining mitochondrial membrane permeability.
Response Of Nerve Growth Cone To Focal Electric Currents.

Monopolar electric current pulses were focally applied through a micropipette to the growth cone of Xenopus embryonic neurons in culture. Application of the current directly in front of the growth cone modulated the rate of growth cone extension: Negative (sink) currents increased the growth rate, while positive (source) currents reduced the growth rate. When the currents were applied in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the neurite growth, both negative and positive currents produced inhibitory effects. Application of a negative focal current at a 45 degree angle with respect to the direction of neurite growth resulted in an oriented growth of the neurite toward the current sink. However, after the growth cone had been attracted to the vicinity of a current sink, further extension of the neurite was inhibited. These current effects occur rapidly after the onset of the current application, and are at least partially reversible within 1 hr after the termination of the current. The magnitude of current density required to induce a growth cone response was found to be in the order of a few pA per micron2. Such current density is close to that which may be generated at the muscle cell surface by the acetylcholine molecules released from the growth cone during the early phase of nerve-muscle contact.
Polymer-supported (2,6-Dichloro-4-alkoxyphenyl)(2,4-dichlorophenyl)methanol: A New Linker for Solid-Phase Organic Synthesis

An acid and base stable hydroxytetrachlorodiphenylmethyl (HTPM) linker is developed for polymer-supported organic synthesis. The linkers reported here are utilized for loading carboxylic acids, amines, alcohols, and phenols, and are stable to Bronsted and Lewis acids, Bronsted bases, and a wide variety of nucleophiles. However, the HTPM linkers can conveniently be cleaved by the solvolytic displacement reactions with 20% TFA.
New quantum Monte-Carlo method for strongly correlated systems. Quantum melting

Abstract A new quantum Monte-Carlo method, efficient for system with diagonal-dominated Hamiltonians, is proposed. The eigenstates are found by diagonalization of the Hamiltonian in a truncated basis generated by a Monte-Carlo algorithm. The method is applied to the problem of the quantum melting of a Wigner crystal on a lattice. Arguments are given that this is a second order phase transition and a connection between the melting and the distribution of the lowest energy levels is demonstrated.
Interferometric resolution determinations in the fovea and parafovea.

Foveal and extrafoveal interferometric determinations of retinal resolution were made on two observers. Resolution fell with increasing decentration of fixation. For example, the two subjects exhibited retinal resolution ‘equivalent’ to Snellen 20/40 respectively at 6.3° and 3.75° from fixation. The test criterion was the ability to distinguish the vertical line (fringe) interferometric pattern formed on the retina. One must conclude that comparable interferometric determinations (resulting in equivalent resolution measurements) do not imply that a patient has central fixation. This finding means that we must use care when interpreting the results of such tests on patients. Of course, if test parameters are altered, or if media are hazy or cloudy, the result may be somewhat different.
Echocardiography in the Normal Neonate

Utilizing the atrioventricular and semilunar valves as ultrasonic landmarks, a simple reproducible technic is described for the ultrasonic evaluation of the heart and its great vessels in the normal neonate. The importance of the clinical application of this method is discussed. Echocardiographic studies were performed on 240 normal newborns. Qualitative assessment was made of the interrelationships of the pulmonary, aortic, tricuspid, and mitral valves, and of interventricular septal motion. Quantitative norms were obtained for the following parameters: amplitude of motion of anterior leaflets of tricuspid and mitral valves, anteroposterior diameter of the ventricular and left atrial cavities, thickness of ventricular walls and interventricular septum, outside diameter of aortic and pulmonary roots, and interaortic and interpulmonary cusp distances.
The capacity region of a channel with s senders and r receivers

The study of multi-way channels was initiated by Shannon in his basic paper “Two-way communication channels” ( Shannon, 1961 ). Ahlswede (1971b) has defined and classified multi-way channels of various kinds and proved simple characterizations for the capacity regions of channels with (a) two senders and one receiver, and (b) three senders and one receiver. Subsequently, Ahlswede (1974) found a new approach to the coding problem for a channel with two senders and one receiver which led to an alternative characterization of the capacity region of this channel. This approach seems to be more canonical than the earlier one, and was used successfully in determining the capacity region of a channel with two senders and two receivers in case both senders send messages simultaneously to both receivers ( Ahlswede, 1974 ). In the earlier paper, Ahlswede conjectured that the results of that paper would hold for any channel with s ⩾ 2 senders and one receiver. A conjecture of the later paper was that its results would hold for any channel with s ⩾ 2 senders and r ⩾ 1 receivers in case all senders send independent messages simultaneously to all receivers. In this paper, we have proved the latter conjecture to be true. The characterization we get for the special case s = 3 and r = 1 is different from that of Ahlswede's (1971b) earlier paper. All of our results are obtained under the assumption of independent sources.
Creating a Colorful Classroom: Incorporating Multimedia and Graphics into Library Instruction

Students need varied and engaging content to learn more effectively, but librarians struggle to bring interesting and engaging techniques and tools into the library classroom. Incorporation of multimedia and graphics will not only engage students, but help them better grasp various concepts and skills. As educators learn more about how people learn, we know that traditional slideshows and database walkthroughs are not the most effective tactics. This article presents ideas for librarians to use multimedia and graphics to engage students and learn research skills in the library classroom.
JAK and STAT Signaling Molecules in Immunoregulation and Immune-Mediated Disease

The discovery of the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcripton (STAT) signaling pathway, a landmark in cell biology, provided a simple mechanism for gene regulation that dramatically advanced our understanding of the action of hormones, interferons, colony-stimulating factors, and interleukins. As we learn more about the complexities of immune responses, new insights into the functions of this pathway continue to be revealed, aided by technology that permits genome-wide views. As we celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the discovery of this paradigm in cell signaling, it is particularly edifying to see how this knowledge has rapidly been translated to human immune disease. Not only have genome-wide association studies demonstrated that this pathway is highly relevant to human autoimmunity, but targeting JAKs is now a reality in immune-mediated disease.
Spatiotemporal Mechanical Variation Reveals Critical Role for Rho Kinase During Primitive Streak Morphogenesis

Large-scale morphogenetic movements during early embryo development are driven by complex changes in biochemical and biophysical factors. Current models for amniote primitive streak morphogenesis and gastrulation take into account numerous genetic pathways but largely ignore the role of mechanical forces. Here, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to obtain for the first time precise biomechanical properties of the early avian embryo. Our data reveal that the primitive streak is significantly stiffer than neighboring regions of the epiblast, and that it is stiffer than the pre-primitive streak epiblast. To test our hypothesis that these changes in mechanical properties are due to a localized increase of actomyosin contractility, we inhibited actomyosin contractility via the Rho kinase (ROCK) pathway using the small-molecule inhibitor Y-27632. Our results using several different assays show the following: (1) primitive streak formation was blocked; (2) the time-dependent increase in primitive streak stiffness was abolished; and (3) convergence of epiblast cells to the midline was inhibited. Taken together, our data suggest that actomyosin contractility is necessary for primitive streak morphogenesis, and specifically, ROCK plays a critical role. To better understand the underlying mechanisms of this fundamental process, future models should account for the findings presented in this study.
Energy levels of Si29, Si30 and Si31 from (d, p) reactions

The Si/sup 28/(d,p)Si/sup 29/ reaction was used to locate nuclear energy levels in Si/sup 29/ in the range of excitation energy between 3.5 and 9.1 Mev. The bombarding energy was 7.03 Mev and the MIT broadrange spectrograph was used to resolve the particle groups. Identification was based on a change of observation angle and a change of isotopic abundance in the target. A total of 65 levels of Si/sup 29/ was found in the range covered, 54 of which were not previously reported. In addition, l6 particle groups were assigned to the reaction Si/sup 29/(d,p)Si/sup 30/ and 7 groups to the reaction Si/sup 30/(d,p)Si/ sup 31/. The Si/sup 30/ levels lie in the range of excitation of 6.4 to 10.8 Mev, whereas the Si/sup 31/ levels lie between 2.3 and 5.5 Mev. Q-values and excitation energies are listed for all these groups. The uncertainty in Q-value for most of the levels is plus or minus 5 kev. (auth)
PGD4 Cost‐Effectiveness Analysis of Screening of Type II Diabetes Mellitus in Nonpregnant Adults

An estimated 8 million people in the U.S. have type II diabetes mellitus but are unaware of it. OBJECTIVES: The study investigated the cost-effectiveness of early detection of type II diabetes mellitus in various risk groups. METHODS: A Markov model was constructed based on a societal perspective. There were 4 stages in the model: (1) unknown diabetes status; (2) alive with diagnosed diabetes; (3) alive with diagnosed diabetes and related complications, namely, retinopathy, blindness, neuropathy, end-state renal disease, lower leg amputations, circulatiory disorders; and (4) die secondary to diabetes or its complications. Individuals could transit from one state to another annually as a function of the predicted risk factors from epidemiological studies. The model assumed that the patients who were screened positive for diabetes and received treatment would have reduced rate of related complications as observed in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. Health care costs included in the model were screening tests, diabetes treatment cost, complications and death. Various screening test thresholds have also been considered in the model analysis. RESULTS: Diabetes screening of the entire nonpregnant adult US population yielded a cost-effectiveness ratio of $24,600 per quality-adjusted life year. The cost-effectiveness of screening only extremely obese patients with a family history of diabetes was $10,083 per quality adjusted life year. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggested that active screening for type II diabetes mellitus in high-risk individuals was cost-effective. More information on the actual clinical outcomes for oral diabetes medications is needed to establish the precision of these estimates.
Effects of selective fusion on the thermal history of the Moon, Mars, and Venus

Abstract A comparative study on the thermal history of the Moon, Mars, and Venus was made by numerical solutions of the heat equation including and excluding selective fusion of silicates. Selective fusion was approximated by melting in a multicomponent system and redistribution of radioactive elements. Effects on selective fusion on the thermal models are (1) lowering (by several hundred degrees centigrade) and stabilizing the internal temperature distribution, and (2) increasing the surface heat-flow.
Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Cocaine Users

Background and Purpose— Cocaine is a cause of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), but there are no large studies that have characterized the location, pathology, and outcome of patients with cocaine-associated ICH. Methods— We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients admitted to our stroke service from 2004 to 2007 who had nontraumatic ICH and urine drug screens positive for cocaine and compared them with similar patients who had negative drug screens for cocaine. Results— We identified 45 patients with cocaine-associated ICH and 105 patients with cocaine-negative ICH. There were no significant differences in age or gender, but there was a significantly higher incidence of black patients in the cocaine-positive group. Cocaine-associated ICH patients had higher admission blood pressures, significantly more subcortical hemorrhages, and higher rates of intraventricular hemorrhage compared to patients with cocaine-negative ICH. Cocaine-positive patients had worse functional outcome, defined as modified ...
Molecular genetic evaluation of sorghum germplasm differing in response to fungal diseases: Rust ( Puccinia purpurea ) and anthracnose ( Collectotrichum graminicola )

To evaluate genetic diversity in relation to rust and anthracnose disease response, ninety-six accessions were randomly selected from the core collection database of the Germplasm Research Information Network (GRIN) and characterized by a set of 40 SSR markers. The mean value of polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.8228. Two dendrograms were generated from the molecular genetic data and field morphological data, respectively. The genetic dendrogram demonstrates that the accessions can be classified into three main clades and nine subgroups. The branched subgroups correlated very well with the locations where the accessions were collected. Geographical origin of accessions had significant influences on genetic similarity of sorghum germplasm. Out of 96 accessions, only eight accessions were highly resistant to both rust and anthracnose. All the accessions from South Africa and Mali were highly resistant to anthracnose. The information from genetic classification would be useful for choosing parents to make crosses in sorghum breeding programs and classifying sorghum accessions in germplasm management.
Attitude Manipulation in Restricted Environments: IV. Psychologically Addicted Smokers Treated in Sensory Deprivation *

Summary Five psychologically addicted smokers with smoking rates of between 30–50 cigarettes per day, underwent a procedur consisting of 24 hours of sensory deprivation with periodic taped messages. Two of the subjects were given “booster” sessions two months later. All five subjects reported that their craving for cigarettes disappeared during and for some days after the treatment, and all showed significant reductions in smoking rate (75–100 per cent) for at least two weeks afterwards. Three subjects have quit smoking and have each gone at least one month without any cigarettes or craving for cigarettes.
A Formal Method for Assessing Architecture Model and Design Maturity Using Domain-independent Patterns

Abstract Design patterns have been used as a formal or systematic means for extracting and patterning knowledge about good design choices, as well as capturing lessons learned associated with poor design choices (or so-called anti-patterns). Yet little attention is devoted specifically to pattern languages that are based on the fabric of architecture models – the conceptual data model – to capture reusable design knowledge and architecting best practices that can be applied in more than one domain at a high level of abstraction. This paper demonstrates a simple model-based method for identifying and patterning architecture design aspects that are domain-independent, and thus transferable and reusable in any system design with a comparable data model. The use of this method in formally documenting good and poor patterns in an abstract way is demonstrated by example. Discovered patterns such as those presented herein can be distributed, codified in a tool of choice, and sought out in actual architecture models of systems using automation. Since there may not be universal agreement on a common set of “good” and “poor” patterns, individual architects or organizations can use this method to state their particular practices as formal axioms, and structure them to assist in the assessment of model and design maturity against their own specific standards.
Intersections ofk-element sets

LetF be a collection ofk-element sets with the property that the intersection of no two should be included in a third. We show that such a collection of maximum size satisfies .2715k+o(k)≦≦log2 |F|≦.7549k+o(k) settling a question raised by Erdős. The lower bound is probabilistic, the upper bound is deduced via an entropy argument. Some open questions are posed.
Effect of pH and soluble solids on the serum viscosity and serum color of tomato juice at elevated temperatures

Effects of heating time and temperature, pH, and soluble solid levels on serum viscosity and serum color of tomato juice were studied. The samples were canned in 18 mL TDT cans and exposed to processing temperatures of 88C, 102C, and 112C for 30, 60, and 120 min. Depending upon the time and temperature of heating, and initial viscosity of the serum, the losses in viscosity ranged from 3.0–55.6% being higher in serum with higher initial viscosity. Percent losses in serum viscosity during heating of juice increased (6–60%) with increase in pH (3.8–4.9) and soluble solids (6°–24°) in the juice. An increase in pH and soluble solids also enhanced heat induced browning in the serum with values varying from 0.1–2.69.
Concerns about Landsat 5 failure

An electronic component on board the Landsat 5 Earth observation satellite has indicated signs of impending failure, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has stopped acquiring images from the satellite, the agency announced on 18 November. USGS engineers have suspended imaging activities for 90 days to explore options for restoring image transmissions from the satellite, which was launched in 1984 and has operated long beyond the 3 years it was designed to last. “This anticipated decline of Landsat 5 provides confirmation of the importance of the timely launch of the next Landsat mission and the need for an operational and reliable National Land Imaging System,” said Anne Castle, assistant secretary for water and science at the U.S. Department of the Interior. USGS is part of the Interior department. Landsat 7, launched in 1999 with a 5-year design life, remains in orbit. Landsat 8, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission, has a January 2013 scheduled launch.
Synthesis of β-Hydroxy Ketones and Vinylsilanes from Homopropargylic Alcohols by Intramolecular Hydrosilation

Catalytic intramolecular hydrosilation of nonracemic homopropargylic alcohols affords the corresponding five-membered cyclic siloxanes regiospecifically. Oxidation or alkylmetal addition converts these intermediates into β-hydroxy ketones or vinylsilanes under mild conditions.
Optimal and Adaptive Operation of a Hydropower System with Unit Commitment and Water Quality Constraints

Management of water resources has become more complex in recent years as a result of changing attitudes towards sustainability and the attribution of greater attention to environmental issues, especially under a scenario of water scarcity risk introduced by climate changes and anthropogenic pressures. This study addresses the optimal short-term operation of a multi-purpose hydropower system under an environment where objectives are conflicting. New optimization models using mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) with binary variables adopted for incorporating unit commitment constraints and adaptive real-time operations are developed and applied to a real life hydropower reservoir in Brazil, utilizing evolutionary algorithms. These formulations address water quality concerns downstream of the reservoir and optimal operations for power generation in an integrated manner and deal with uncertain future flows due to climate change. Results obtained using genetic algorithm (GA) solvers were superior to gradient based methods, converging to superior optimal solutions especially due to computational intractability problems associated with combinatorial domain of integer variables in the unit commitment formulation. The adaptive operation formulation in conjunction with the solution of turbine unit commitment problem yielded more reliable solutions, reducing forecasting uncertainty and providing more flexible operational rules.
Targeted delivery of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to folate receptor-overexpressing tumor cells

A major problem in exploring the full potential of antisense ODN is the lack of a safe and efficient delivery system. In this study a new method has been developed that is highly efficient in encapsulating ODN inside folate receptor (FR)-targeted lipid vesicles. ODN formulated in these vesicles were efficiently protected from degradation by nucleases compared to free ODN. Folate efficiently mediated intracellular delivery of ODN to KB tumor cells that overexpress FR. Delivery of EGFR antisense ODN via FR-targeted lipid vesicles resulted in a significant down-regulation of EGFR expression in KB cells and cell growth inhibition, far more efficient than that with free ODN or ODN encapsulated in ligand-free lipid vesicles. Intracellular delivery of EGFR antisense ODN also sensitized KB cells to doxorubicin (DOX) treatment. Thus targeted delivery of ODN via this novel lipid vector may have potential in treating tumors that overexpress FR.
The regulatory challenges of ensuring commercial human spaceflight safety

Abstract Space tourism is the term commonly used to refer to ordinary members of the public buying tickets to travel to space and back, but has recently become more broadly associated with “any commercial activity offering customers direct or indirect experience with space travel”. The nascent commercial human spaceflight market presents a challenge to regulators with regard to the potential certification and licensing of the flight vehicles and their use (both within and outside the atmosphere), from the perspective of the operator, the flight participants, and third parties who might be affected by the operations. The UK is currently reviewing the issues posed by this emerging sector and its licensing/certification authorities are considering how best to balance their statutory responsibilities with the need to facilitate the development of this new industry and the favour positioning of UK players, eliminating unnecessary regulatory barriers to participation.
Purine metabolism in Schistosoma mansoni.

Abstract Schistosoma mansoni has been found to have a spectrum of purine nucleotides which is similar, but not identical to mammalian cells. The principal component of this system is ATP, which is present at a level of about 5·5 × 10 −9 moles/mg worm pairs. The ATP concentration falls if worms are incubated in a defined medium containing no purines. When worms are incubated in the presence of adenine or adenosine, ATP levels rise sharply and may be maintained at higher than normal levels. Schistosomes were found not to incorporate labelled glycine or glucose into purine nucleotide bases. In contrast, 14 C-8-adenine is taken up from the medium and can be detected in nucleotides, principally as ATP. In comparison with various mammalian cell systems, schistosomes show a much higher rate of uptake of free adenine. These findings suggest that schistosomes do not utilize the de novo pathway for the synthesis of nucleotides. It is postulated that the salvage mechanism is required to fulfil the worm's purine requirements. A new rational chemotherapeutic approach for schistosomiasis, based on interference with their specific nucleotide pathways, may thus become possible.