cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A meshless, spectrally accurate, integral equation solver for molecular surface electrostatics

The need to determine electrostatic fields in domains bounded by molecular surfaces arises in a number of nanotechnology applications including: biomolecule design, carbon nanotube simulation, and molecular electron transport analysis. Molecular surfaces are typically smooth, without the corners common in electrical interconnect problems, but are often so geometrically complicated that numerical evaluation of the associated electrostatic fields is extremely time-consuming. In this paper we describe and demonstrate a meshless spectrally-accurate integral equation method that only requires a description of the molecular surface in the form of a collection of surface points. Our meshless method is a synthesis of techniques, suitably adapted, including: spherical harmonic surface interpolation, spectral-element-like integral equation discretization, integral desingularization via variable transformation, and matrix-implicit iterative matrix solution. The spectral accuracy of this combined method is verified using analytically solvable sphere and ellipsoid problems, and then its accuracy and efficiency is demonstrated numerically by solving capacitance and coupled Poisson/linearized Poisson-Boltzmann problems associated with a commonly used model of a molecule in solution. The results demonstrate that for a tolerance of 10−3 this new approach reduces the number of unknowns by as much as two orders of magnitude over the more commonly used flat panel methods.
Channeling the deluge: research challenges for big data and information systems

With massive amounts of data being generated and stored ubiquitously in every discipline and every aspect of our daily life, how to handle such big data poses many challenging issues to researchers in data and information systems. The participants of CIKM 2013 are active researchers on large scale data, information and knowledge management, from multiple disciplines, including database systems, data mining, information retrieval, human-computer interaction, and knowledge or information management.As a group of experienced researchers in academia and industry, we will present at this panel our visions on what should be the challenging research issues in this promising research frontier and hope to attract heated discussions and debates from the audience. We expect panelists with diverse backgrounds raise different challenging research problems and exchange their views with each other and with the audience. A heated discussion may help young researchers understand the need for research in both industry and academia and invest their efforts on more important research issues and make impacts to the development of new principles, methodologies, and technologies.
RADIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SPENT CONTROL ROD ASSEMBLIES

Three different spent control rods were obtained for direct-assay measurements and empirical sampling and analysis. They were: 1) a BWR cruciform control rod, 2) a PWR rod-cluster control assembly, and 3) a burnable poison-rod assembly. The dominant activity of the BWR cruciform control rod and the PWR burnable poison-rod assembly is60Co, whereas the PWR rod-cluster control assembly is dominated not only by60Co, but also by108mAg and110mAg, which are found in the Ag−In−Cd alloy of the absorber rods. The radionuclide inventories calculated for the three spent control rods from the empirical sampling data agree very well with data determined from the two direct assay methodologies. The concentration of108mAg in the rod-cluster control assembly will have to be considered when these types of spent control rods are prepared for waste disposal.
Sarcolemmal Biomechanics and Excitability in Malformed Muscle Fibers of Dystrophic Mice

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most common and severe dystrophy, is caused by the absence of dystrophin. Muscle weakness and fragility (i.e. increased susceptibility to damage) are presumably due to structural weakness of the myofiber cytoskeleton, but recent studies suggest that malformed/split myofibers in dystrophic muscle may also play a role. We have previously studied the biomechanical properties of the sarcolemma in single myofibers isolated mechanically from extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles in wild-type (WT) and dystrophic (mdx, mouse model for DMD) mice. PURPOSE: We use similar biomechanical methods on enzymatically-dissociated myofibers (both normal and malformed) from the flexor digitorum brevis muscle (FDB) of WT and mdx mice.Methods: FDB muscles were enzymatically-dissociated and plated on specialized coverslips. Suction pressures (P) applied through a pipette to the membrane generated a bleb, which increased in height with increasing P. Larger increases in P ruptured the connections between the sarcolemma and myofibrils (speration P, or SP) and eventually caused the sarcolemma to burst. We also examined excitability using high-speed confocal microscopy and the voltage-sensitive indicator di-8-butyl-amino-naphthyl-ethylene-pyridinium-propyl-sulfonate to assess the action potential (AP).Results: The mechanical results from dissociated FDB myofibers match findings from dissected EDL myofibers, but SP was up to 14-fold higher in the FDB than EDL. SP was 27% lower in mdx myofibers and 50% less in branches of split mdx fibers compared to the trunk. AP amplitude was not altered in between groups, but this work is ongoing.Conclusions: Data indicate a reduction in muscle stiffness, increased sarcolemmal deformability and instability in mdx muscle. This approach corroborates the labor-intensive data obtained from single fiber dissection and allows a facile high throughput model. Findings suggest mechanical differences due to altered morphology, despite comparable excitability.
A combinatorial problem in pharmacology

A novel coding scheme is used to enumerate configurations in a combinatorial problem arising in research on effects of drugs or radiation on DNA.
Hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cell G1/S arrest correlates with severity of alcoholic liver injury in the rat.

Abstract Background/Aims: Capillarization of the hepatic sinusoid occurs in alcoholic liver disease. Because endothelial cell proliferation is relevant to capillarization, we used the intragastric feeding rat model to evaluate the relationship between pathological liver injury and endothelial cell proliferation. Methods: Male Wistar rats (225–250 g) were fed liquid diets containing corn oil and ethanol for periods ranging between 1 week and 2 months. At the time the rats were killed, the severity of pathological injury and endothelial cell proliferation using anti-rat proliferating cell nuclear antigen/antibody was evaluated. Results: Two distinctly different populations of proliferating sinusoidal lining cells were identified; one population showed relatively weak granular staining consistent with cells arrested at the G1/S boundary. The other population of cells showed strong granular staining of the nucleoplasm and nucleoli (cells in mid to late S phase). A strong correlation (r = 0.85; P
ER-Mitochondrial Ultrastructure in the Liver of Normal and Ethnaol-Fed Rats

Chronic alcohol consumption causes severe pathology in liver, associated with altered metabolism and reduced ATP production. Liver mitochondria isolated from alcohol-fed animals show decreased capacity for electron transport and ATP synthesis, impaired calcium handling, and increased ROS. In parallel, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) also shows increased ROS and a stress response. The close correlation between defects in mitochondria and ER is matched by recent evidence of the functional integration of cellular responses (including calcium signaling) involving these organelles. To evaluate the ultrastructural basis of alcohol-induced changes, we performed transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography studies of rat liver. Hepatocytes showed a large number of mostly round mitochondrial cross sections, which occupied ∼20% of the cytoplasmic area. The cell cytoplasm in chronic ethanol-fed (9 months) condition exhibited reduced particle density, indicative of cell swelling, and contained large lipid vesicles. The mitochondria were generally intact but showed narrower intermembrane spacings within cristae and at the organelle periphery, consistent with low-scale matrix swelling. In both control and ethanol-fed conditions, mitochondria were typically surrounded by extensive ER, with cisternae sometimes sandwiched between neighboring mitochondria. In one case, ER was prominent at a site of mitochondrial fusion/fission. As previously reported, regions of close ER-mitochondrial association (20-60 nm) contained numerous “tethers” between outer mitochondrial membranes (OMM) and adjacent ER. While individual tethers were discernible, dense granular material (including ribosomes) within OMM-ER interfaces interfered with accurate quantitation of tethers. However, membrane spacings could be readily measured. It was found that the mitochondrial surface in close association with ER was significantly reduced in the chronic ethanol-fed condition as compared to control (17.5 ± 7% vs. 39 ± 2%). This might be expected to cause reduced calcium signaling between ER and mitochondria in liver after chronic alcohol ingestion.
Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics Calculation of the Thermal Conductivity of Solid Materials

Tully's stochastic classical trajectory method to simulate lattice dynamics has been adapted to carry out nonequilibrium molecular dynamics calculations. The method allows for a computational experiment to be performed placing the material between two heat reservoirs at different temperatures: the resulting temperature gradient generates thermal stationary nonequilibrium states in the system. A phenomenological calculation of the thermal conductivity of the material is carried out by using Fourier's law. When applied to crystalline silicon, the method accurately describes the variation of the thermal conductivity with temperature.
Western redcedar response to precommercial thinning and fertilization through 25 years posttreatment

There is little information available on the long-term effects of managing western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don). In a 15- to 20-year-old naturally regenerated second-growth redcedar stand on a poor site on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, we tested crop tree (largest 250 treesha -1 ) response to precommercial thinning and fertilization in a replicated study. Fertilization treatments were N or N+P applied at study installation and year 13; precommercial thin- ning occurred at installation. Precommercial thinning without fertilization produced a sustained increase in periodic indi- vidual-tree basal area (BA) growth rate from years 3 through 25 posttreatment. However, through year 12, higher BA growth rates resulted from fertilization. During years 13 through 25, when intraspecific competition increased, the highest BA growth rate resulted from the combination of fertilization and precommercial thinning. Compared with the unthinned- unfertilized control, fertilization without thinning increased year-25 crop-tree height by 34% and BA by 137%; thinning without fertilization increased height by 11% and BA by 91%. Height to live-crown base was decreased by thinning but increased by fertilization, while thinning significantly increased stem taper on the lower bole. Treatment responses and fo-
Differential reduction of morphine-withdrawal body shakes by butaclamol enantiomers.

Abstract Rats withdrawn from continuous morphine infusion showed reliable occurrence of withdrawal body shakes. This sign of narcotic withdrawal was inhibited by the neuroleptic drug, (+) butaclamol. (−) Butaclamol was inactive. (+) Butaclamol activity was not antagonized by naloxone (5 mg/kg). The anti-withdrawal mechanism of (+) butaclamol is discussed in terms of effects on dopamine and narcotic receptors. The butyrophenone neuroleptic, haloperidol, has been used successfully to reduce signs of narcotic withdrawal in laboratory animals (1–4) and human addicts (5). Other neuroleptics of the butyrophenone type also show anti-withdrawal action (6, 7). The mechanism of action of these neuroleptics in blocking narcotic withdrawal is not understood. Butaclamol is a new neuroleptic drug that is available in two enantiomers and only (+) butaclamol possesses neuroleptic activity (8–10). Because of its demonstrated stereo-specificity in producing its pharmacological action, we employed this drug to establish specificity of action of neuroleptics in blocking narcotic withdrawal.
Thyroid hormone regulation of prolactin binding to mouse mammary glands.

Abstract Membranes from mammary glands of mildly hypothyroid mice show a 70–85% reduction in prolactin binding while those from hyperthyroid mice bound 66% more prolactin compared to similar preparations from euthyroid animals. The prolactin binding data for mammary glands correlate well with the ability of the tissue from animals in various thyroid states to respond to prolactin in vitro with increased lactose synthetase activity. Binding of prolactin to mammary membranes is enhanced when explants from mid-pregnant mice are cultured overnight in the presence of insulin, hydrocortisone and 10−9 M L-T3. This enhancement is not blocked by puromycin. These data suggest that thyroid hormones control the level of prolactin binding in mouse mammary tissue. This may be accomplished, at least in part, by activation of preexisting receptor molecules.
Low- cycle fatigue behavior of polycrystalline nial at 1000 k

The low-cycle fatigue behavior of polycrystalline NiAl was determined at 1000 K, a temperature above the monotonic brittle-to-ductile transition temperature (BDTT). Fully reversed, plastic strain-controlled fatigue tests were conducted on B2 intermetallic samples prepared by two fab-rication techniques: hot isostatic pressing (HIP) of prealloyed powders and extrusion of vacuum induction-melted [cast plus extruded (C+E)] castings. At 1000 K, in an air environment both the hot-isostatically pressed (“hipped”) and C + E samples cyclically softened throughout most of their fatigue lives, though the absolute change in stress was no greater than about 35 MPa. At this temperature, samples were insensitive to processing defects, which were a source of failure initiation in room-temperature tests. The processing method had a small effect on fatigue life; the lives of the hipped samples were about a factor of 3 shorter than the fatigue lives of the C+E NiAl. The C+E material also underwent dynamic grain growth during testing, while the hipped NiAl maintained a constant grain size. Stable fatigue-crack growth in both materials was intergranular in nature, while final fracture by tensile overload occurred by transgranular cleavage. However, at plastic strain ranges below 0.3 pct, the fatigue lives of the hipped NiAl were controlled by intergranular cavitation and creep processes such that the fatigue lives were shorter than anticipated. Finally, hipped samples tested in vacuum had a factor of 3 longer life than specimens tested in air. A comparison of NiAl to typical superalloys (which it may replace) showed that NiAl exhibited a superior fatigue life on a plastic strain basis but was inferior to most superalloys on a stress basis.
Ignition of Fully Dense Nanocomposite Thermite Powders by an Electric Spark

Electrostatic discharge ignition of nanocomposite thermites prepared by Arrested Reactive Milling was investigated. The powders 2Al–3CuO and 8Al-MoO3 were placed in a sample holder and subjected to an electrostatic discharge from a discharging capacitor. Their optical emission was monitored. Two ignition modes were detected: immediate ignition of individual particles and delayed ignition of a cloud of aerosolized powder. Experiments addressed the effects of material composition and morphology, aging, energy input, layer thickness, and environment on the ignition mode and ignition delays. Prepared thermites were blended with pure metal powders to study ignition of such blends. Individual particle ignition was observed for samples prepared as monolayers in air and argon and for any samples in vacuum. For thicker samples in air and in argon, a delayed powder ignition mode was observed. The delays varied from 10 μs to several milliseconds. Powders of 2Al–3CuO had shorter ignition delays compared with 8Al-MoO...
Maternal diabetes increases small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) currents that alter action potential properties and excitability of cardiac motoneurons in the nucleus ambiguus.

Parasympathetic cardiac motoneurons (PCMNs) in the nucleus ambiguus (NA) play a key role in regulating cardiac functions. In this study, we examined the effects of maternal diabetes on excitability...
MULTIDIMENSIONAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSERS AND USERS

High-school-aged adolescents responded to a 48-item survey about their substance use. From an original sample of 190 respondents, groups were created through consequence variables (e.g., school, family, medical, and legal problems) into abuse (n = 41) and use (n = 115) categories. Variables were organized along multidimensional lines: stimulus (e.g., frequency of substance use, use in school), organismic (e.g., age, grade), and response (e.g., driving a car while under the influence). From 27 comparisons of the abuse and use groups 16 significant differences emerged.
Nonlinear current-voltage characteristics and spontaneous current oscillations in p-Ge

Abstract We report an experimental measurement of nonlinear dc current-voltage (I–V) characteristics in p-type Ge extrinsic photoconductors at liquid He temperatures which exhibit a region of voltage-controlled negative differential resistance (NDR) above the threshold for impurity breakdown, accompanied by a spontaneous current oscillation of frequency fs ∼ 5 to 10 kHz. The dc I–V characteristics are well explained in terms of a simple rate equation model and, it is argued, the spontaneous current oscillations are due to moving space charge waves which arise from a negative differential rate of impurity impact ionization.
Rapid SiO2 Atomic Layer Deposition Using Tris(tert-pentoxy)silanol

Rapid SiO2 atomic layer deposition (ALD) can deposit very thick and conformal SiO2 films by silanol exposure to surfaces covered with Al catalysts. In this study, we have explored the growth of rapid SiO2 ALD films using liquid tris(tert-pentoxy)silanol (TPS). The SiO2 film thicknesses were determined using quartz crystal microbalance and X-ray reflectivity measurements. The SiO2 film thicknesses deposited during one silanol exposure were dependent on the substrate temperature, silanol pressure, and silanol exposure time. The dependence of the SiO2 growth on these parameters helped to establish the mechanism of rapid SiO2 ALD. For TPS exposures of 1 s, the SiO2 ALD growth rate was larger at lower temperatures and higher TPS pressures. SiO2 ALD thicknesses of 125−140 A were observed at the highest TPS pressures of ∼1 Torr at lower temperatures of 150 and 175 °C. Rapid SiO2 ALD is believed to result from the growth of siloxane polymer chains at the Al-catalytic sites and the cross-linking of these polymer c...
Family use of community services in economically stressed rural counties

This study focuses on stresses, coping strategies, and satisfactions of respondents in eight economically distressed rural counties in the state of Washington. An adult sample is divided into two groups: those who indicate specific economic problems and/or are unemployed (n=236) and those who are still employed and do not report specific economic stresses (n=190). Although those with specific economic problems show higher levels of perceived stress and financial dissatisfaction, there are no differences reported in over-all family satisfaction. Results point to the importance of providing specific employment-related community services to family members in these types of communities.
Competition and regulation in the US video market

Abstract After decades of alternating between regulation and deregulation of cable television, the US appears to be on the verge of allowing entry from new distribution media—especially direct-to-home satellites—to provide market discipline for cable-television operators. This is a particularly welcome development given the tendency of past regulatory exercises to impede the development of cable service quality. When the US re-regulated cable television in 1992, it responded to the public outcry over rising cable rates even though these rates were accompanied by improvements in service quality that more than compensated consumers for the higher rates. Indeed, there is even evidence that cable operators have not enjoyed monopoly power in large urban areas, and that regulation of cable services in such areas was not only counter-productive, but even not justified on the basis of simplistic market-structure arguments.
Three-dimensional fan magnetic reconnection and particle acceleration in the solar corona

Aims. Particle acceleration by the reconnection electric field in three-dimensional magnetic geometries in the solar corona is discussed. The acceleration times, defined by the particle escape from the vicinity of a magnetic null, and the corresponding energy gains are calculated. Methods. An exact global magnetohydrodynamic solution for fan magnetic reconnection is used to constrain the magnetic and electric fields in the vicinity of the null. Expressions for the particle acceleration times and energy gains are derived by applying the WKB approximation to the equation of motion in nonrelativistic and ultrarelativistic limits. Results. It is shown that the energies of the accelerated particles can be limited by the particle escape from the null rather than by the total electric potential at the reconnection site. For typical coronal parameters, the finite escape time limits proton energies if the Lundquist number is less than 10 12 and electron energies if the Lundquist number is less than 10 18 . Conclusions. Particle acceleration by the electric field, associated with fan magnetic reconnection in solar flares, can explain proton energies of the order of a few MeV and electron energies of the order of a few hundred keV in the case of classical electric resistivity. Energies up to a few hundred MeV can be reached if the resistivity at the reconnection site is turbulent. These estimates agree with typical solar flare observations.
Prevention of mother-to-infant transmission of HIV-1

The number of children with AIDS continues to increase worldwide. Children who become infected with HIV-1 acquire the infection almost exclusively from their mothers during pregnancy or delivery, or via breast feeding. Mother-to-infant transmission has been, and continues to be, an area of active research with the goal being complete prevention. Treatment with zidovudine, an antiviral agent, has been found to decrease transmission from 25% to 8%. However, multiple obstacles impede the worldwide application of this advance.
Generalized treatment of spatial and temporal column parameters, applicable to gas, liquid and supercritical fluid chromatography

Abstract Starting with Darcy's law, rearranged and expressed in terms of the local carrier density at a given temperature, general equations are derived for the spatial and temporal density distribution functions, average densities and column profiles of the mobile-phase fluid, and the observed (column-averaged) capacity factor(s) and column profiles of the solute component(s). These more direct, exact and tractable equations are applied to gas, liquid and supercritical fluid chromatography, and the results are discussed.
Role of Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes in Multistage Carcinogenesis

The introduction of the techniques of molecular biology as tools to study skin carcinogenesis has provided more precise localization of biochemical pathways that regulate the tumor phenotype. This approach has identified genetic changes that are characteristic of each of the specific stages of squamous cancer pathogenesis: initiation, exogenous promotion, premalig-nant progression, and malignant conversion. Initiation can result from mutations in a single gene, and the Harvey allele of the ras gene family has been identified as a frequent site for initiating mutations. Heterozygous activating mutations in c-ras H2 are dominant, and affected keratinocytes hyperproliferate and are resistant to signals for terminal differentiation. An important pathway impacted by c-ras H2 activation is the protein kinase C (PKC) path-way, a major regulator of keratinocyte differentiation. Increased activity of PKCα and suppression of PKC δ by tyrosine phospho-rylation contribute to the phenotypic consequences of ras H2 gene activation in keratinocytes. Tumor promoters disturb epidermal homeostasis and cause selective clonal expansion of initiated cells to produce multiple benign squamous papillomas. Resistance to differentiation and enhanced growth rate of initiated cells impart a growth advantage when the epidermis is exposed to promoters. The frequency of premalignant progression varies among papillomas, and subpopulations at high risk for progression have been identified. These high-risk papillomas overexpress the α 6 β 4 integrin and are deficient in transforming growth factor β 1 and β 2 peptides, two changes associated with a very high proliferation rate in this subset of tumors. The introduction of an oncogenic ras H2 gene into epidermal cells derived from transgenic mice with a null mutation in the TGF β 1 gene have an accelerated rate of malignant progression when examined in vivo . Thus members of the TGF β gene family contribute a tumor-suppressor function in carcinogenesis. Accelerated malignant progression is also found with v- ras H2 transduced keratinocytes from skin of mice with a null mutation in the p53 gene. The similarities in risk for malignant conversion by initiated keratinocytes from TG β 1 and p53 null geneotypes suggest that a common, growth-related pathway may underly the tumor-suppressive functions of these proteins in the skin carcinogenesis model. J Invest Dermatol 103:90S-95S, 1994
Structural features of growth of short cracks in a high-strength steel

In the fatigue fracture surfaces of the high-strength steel the zone of failure borders with the structure-sensitive zone (SSZ), whose microrelief depends on the microstructure of the steel (diameter of the primary grain, the size of the martensite packet and its orientation). Outside the limits of the SSZ there is a regular fatigue relief-secondary cracks and striations with the same orientation. The SSZ dimensions determine the boundary between the short and long cracks. The short cracks in the examined steels are 2–2.5 mm long. At high stresses this boundary is displaced to even shorter cracks and may be smaller than a millimeter.
Stress-Strain Relationships in Yarns Subjected to Rapid Impact Loading: Part III. Effect of Wave Propagation

The tensile behavior of a Hookean material elongated by rapid impact at one end has been calculated, using a theory in which wave propagation is considered. As a result of these calculations, limits have been established on the applicability of a simpler theory, discussed in a preceding publication, in which wave propagation was neglected.
Functional assessment of HDL: Moving beyond static measures for risk assessment.

of cardiovascular disease events in 27,748 apparently healthy women [1]. After 11-years, fully-adjusted hazard ratios associated with lower levels of HDL cholesterol were 1.00, 1.18 (0.90–1.53), 1.32 (1.01–1.72), 1.50 (1.15–1.96), and 1.66 (1.26–2.19), Ptrend<0.001. Similar adjusted hazard ratios were observed for apo A-I quintiles: 1.00, 1.11 (0.88–1.41), 1.08 (0.83–1.39), 1.51 (1.18–1.92), and 1.42 (1.10–1.83), Ptrend=0.001. This study of apparently healthy women provides information concerning the additive risk associated with low levels of HDL cholesterol and apo A-I in multivariate models. Despite other studies that showed stronger associations between apo A-I levels and cardiovascular events, the hazard ratios for apo A-I and HDL cholesterol were not different.
Blood—Brain Barrier Taurine Transport during Osmotic Stress and in Focal Cerebral Ischemia:

Little is known about blood to brain taurine transport despite substantial evidence suggesting a role of taurine in brain volume regulation during osmotic stress or conditions inducing cell swelling, such as ischemia. We have made measurements of the taurine influx rate constant (K1) with [3H]taurine in three conditions: raised plasma taurine concentrations induced by infusion with 50 mM taurine (10 μl/100 g/min); osmotic stress induced by i.p. injections of 1.5 M NaCl (2 ml/100 g) or distilled water (10 ml/100 g); and 4 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). In rats with MCAo, additional determinations were made of tissue water and taurine contents, and blood-brain barrier passive permeability with [3H]α-aminoisobutyric acid. Taurine infusion increased plasma taurine from 110 ± 63 μM (SD) to 407 ± 63 (p < 0.001) and decreased taurine K1 at the blood–brain barrier by 70% (p < 0.001), signifying saturable uptake that maintained unidirectional influx constant. Similarly, although hypo- and hyperosmol...
A computer program for regression analysis of ordered categorical repeated measurements

Abstract RMORD is an easy-to-use FORTRAN program for the analysis of clustered ordinal data using the method of Stram, Wei, and Ware [1]. This method constitutes an extension of the proportional-odds model [2] to the situation in which groups of responses are correlated. At each measurement occasion, a proportional-odds regression model is fit to the data by maximizing the occasion-specific likelihood function. The joint asymptotic distribution of the occasion-specific regression parameter estimators is obtained along with a consistent estimator of their asymptotic covariance matrix. RMORD may be used when ordinal measurements are obtained at a common set of observation times for multiple subjects or clusters. Both missing data and covariates which vary within clusters can be accommodated. The program can be run on microcomputers, workstations, and mainframe computers. Two examples illustrating the usage and features of RMORD are provided.
Role of the highly conserved middle region of prion protein (PrP) in PrP-lipid interaction.

Converting normal prion protein (PrPC) to the pathogenic PrPSc isoform is central to prion disease. We previously showed that, in the presence of lipids, recombinant mouse PrP (rPrP) can be converted into the highly infectious conformation, suggesting a crucial role of lipid−rPrP interaction in PrP conversion. To understand the mechanism of lipid−rPrP interaction, we analyzed the ability of various rPrP mutants to bind anionic lipids and to gain lipid-induced proteinase K (PK) resistance. We found that the N-terminal positively charged region contributes to electrostatic rPrP−lipid binding but does not affect lipid-induced PK resistance. In contrast, the highly conserved middle region of PrP, consisting of a positively charged region and a hydrophobic domain, is essential for lipid-induced rPrP conversion. The hydrophobic domain deletion mutant significantly weakened the hydrophobic rPrP−lipid interaction and abolished the lipid-induced C-terminal PK resistance. The rPrP mutant without positive charges in...
A survey of expert follow-up practices after successful endoscopic eradication therapy for Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia and intramucosal adenocarcinoma

Background Despite the increasing number of patients undergoing endoscopic therapy for Barrett's esophagus (BE) with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or intramucosal cancer (IMC), there are few data to guide clinical decision making and research initiatives in the area of posttreatment follow-up. Objectives We aimed to define expert practice patterns regarding follow-up after endoscopic treatment of BE with HGD and IMC. Design Electronic survey. Subjects Forty-eight endoscopists in the United States with expertise in BE endotherapy based on high-impact publications and national reputation. Intervention A 21-item Web-based survey inquiring about post-BE endotherapy follow-up practices. Results Of 48 expert endoscopists, 42 completed the survey. After successful treatment of BE with HGD or IMC, all experts perform surveillance upper endoscopy, most commonly at 3-month intervals in the first posttreatment year, every 6 months during the second year, and annually thereafter. None of the experts perform surveillance EUS after treatment of HGD, and only 19% perform EUS after treatment of IMC. After cancer eradication, only 36% of experts refer patients for CT, and 24% refer patients for positron emission tomography. Thirty-eight percent of experts refer patients for a surgical opinion when IMC extends into the muscularis mucosa; 100% refer when IMC extends into submucosa. Limitations Not a consensus document; only U.S. experts included. Conclusions This study reports the follow-up practices of expert endoscopists after successful endotherapy for BE with HGD and IMC. Additional research is necessary to establish optimal surveillance intervals, the role of follow-up EUS, CT, and positron emission tomography, as well as the surgical implications of low-risk IMC extending into the muscularis mucosa.
Psychological and Personal Dimensions of Prospective Teachers Reflective Abilities

With an increasing concern that teachers develop reflective thinking abilities as part of their teacher training programs, there comes a need to know more about the reflector. This knowledge can gu...
Studies on the dietary regulation of jejunal pyruvate kinase and sucrase activities

The dietary regulation of jejunal glycolytic and disaccharidase enzyme activities is well documented, however failure of adaptation has been described (Gastroenterology 58:990 1970). The mechanism of these adaptive changes is not known. This report describes 2 females aged 9 and 11 years with exogenous obesity. Both had 5 hour oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) with serial measurement of blood glucose, insulin and serum inorganic phosphorous (SIP). There was an inappropriate insulin-glucose ratio (I/G), mean 1.4, range 0.6 to 1.8 (normal controls, mean 0.4 range 0.2 to 0.7) and a lack of fall in SIP during the OGTT, suggesting that the insulin was biologically abnormal (Clin. Res. 19:201 1971). Jejunal biopsies were performed after 48 hours of fasting and again after 96 hours of a high carbohydrate (CHO) diet. The activities of jejunal pyruvate kinase (PK) lactase and sucrase(S) were assayed. The PK activities (U/g wet wt. and the sucrase-lactase ratio (S/L) with fasting were 34.6 and 1.81 in one and 39.6 and 2.54 in the other subject, while with feeding were 36.2, 1.63, 40.4 and 2.38 respectively. Both patients were re-studied 2 months after the institution of a low simple CHO diet. At this time I/G and SIP fall during the OGTT were normal . The PK activities with fasting and feeding were 27.2 and 51.8 in one and 42.2 and 53.1 in the other, while the S/L with fasting and feeding were 1.73, 2.79, and 1.88, 2.41 respectively. These data suggest that the dietary regulation of PK and S is mediated through insulin and the lack of adaptation in obesity may be due to the presence of biologically abnormal insulin.
Transposition of the great arteries and sinus venosus defect with partially anomalous pulmonary venous return: physiological and anatomic considerations

Transposition of the great arteries is a common congenital heart defect causing cyanosis in neonates, occurring in 0.2 per 1000 live births. It has been reported to occur with other associated congenital heart lesions. However, its association with a superior sinus venosus defect and partially anomalous pulmonary venous return has not been reported. We present a neonate with transposition of the great arteries, superior sinus venosus defect with partially anomalous pulmonary venous return that underwent successful complete neonatal repair, and discuss important physiological and anatomic considerations.
Older Women and Grief: A New Direction for Research

ABSTRACT While the grief of older women is often assumed to result from recent losses associated with the aging process, the grief reaction of many older women may be influenced by much earlier losses which are unique to women. We propose the effect of these unique losses may complicate the grief process by intensifying both the emotional and physical reaction to recent losses. We encourage researchers to consider losses which are unique to women in the research on grieving in the later stages of life, so that we may understand the impact of such losses.
Stepwise determination of cadmium, mercury and tellurium

Abstract Methods for the analysis of the tellurides of cadmium and mercury are described and discussed. In analysing mixtures of the two tellurides, cadmium and mercury can be determined by two stepwise EDTA titrations and tellurium is then determined by difference. Alternatively, tellurium and mercury can be directly determined gravimetrically in the presence of EDTA as tellurium dioxide and mercury-Bismuthiol II. For analysing small quantities, both cadmium and mercury are determined photometrically by dithizone methods at different acidities, and tellurium is determined photoetrically by the Bismuthiol II method. The three elements may be determined in one solution, so that accurate results may be obtained on a small amount of sample. The methods are simple and rapid.
Trans-fatty acid patterns in patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease

Abstract The plasma trans-fatty acids of 47 patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease were compared with those of 56 reference subjects using high-resolution capillary column gas-liquid chromatography to test the hypothesis that trans-fatty acid intake is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Individual and total trans-fatty acids were higher in patients than in reference subjects (1.38 vs 1.11% for total trans-fatty acids, p
Laboratory and field investigation of the adsorption of gaseous organic compounds onto quartz filters

Abstract A common method for measuring the mass of organic carbon in airborne particulate matter involves collection on a quartz filter and subsequent thermal analysis. If unaccounted for, the adsorption of organic gases onto quartz filters will lead to the overestimation of aerosol organic carbon concentrations (positive artifact). A recommended method of correction for the positive artifact involves sampling with a backup filter. Placed behind either the primary quartz filter, or behind a Teflon filter and collected in parallel with the primary quartz filter, the carbon content of the quartz backup filter is a measure of the adsorbed organic material on the primary quartz filter. In this paper, we illustrate the application of this technique to samples collected in Berkeley, California. While the tandem quartz filter method can be successfully applied to correct for the positive artifact, we discuss two cases when this method will fail. We have found that the capacity for adsorption of organic gases is not uniform for all filters. Instead, filters manufactured by the same company, but having different lot numbers, exhibit variable adsorption capacity. Thus, a filter pair composed of filters from different lots may lead to significant under- or overestimation of particulate organic carbon concentration. Additionally, we have observed that the tandem filter method under-corrects for the positive artifact if the sampling time is short (few hours). Laboratory experiments with vapors of single organic compounds corroborate results based on ambient samples. The evolution of adsorbed organic gases, particularly polar compounds, during thermal analysis indicates that a single compound may experience two distinct adsorbent–adsorbate binding energies. Adsorbed gases may co-evolve with particles at temperatures in excess of 250°C.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF CONCANAVALIN A BINDING TO LECTIN-INITIATED CELL AGGLUTINATION

We have investigated the relationship of concanavalin. A binding to the cell surface of normal and transformed cells and the subsequent agglutination of the transformed cells. At room temperature almost no differences could be detected in agglutinin binding between transformed and untransformed cells. At 0°C, however, where endocytosis was negligible, the transformed cells bound three times more agglutinin. However, transformed cells and trypsin-treated normal cells do not agglutinate at 0°C although the amounts of agglutinin bound at 0°C are sufficient to permit agglutination when such cells are shifted up to room temperature. Both transformed and trypsin-treated normal cells show a marked increase in agglutination at 15°C as compared to agglutination at 0°C. From this, as well as the observation that mild glutaraldehyde fixation of the cell surface inhibited agglutination but not agglutinin binding, it was concluded that concanavalin A-mediated cell agglutination requires free movement of the agglutinin receptor sites within the plane of the cell surface.
The synthesis of nitrosyl complexes of technetium with sulfur-containing cores

Abstract The reaction of [Tc(NO)Cl 2 (PPh 3 ) 2 (NCCH 3 )] with 1 equiv. of potassium alkylxanthate in CH 2 Cl 2 yields complexes of the type [Tc(NO)Cl(PPh 3 ) 2 (S 2 COiBu)], in which the weakly coordinated acetonitrile ligand and one of the chloride ligands have been replaced by the bidentate, monoanionic xanthate ligand. The 1 H NMR spectrum of this complex displays equivalent triphenylphosphine ligands, indicating mutually trans coordination geometry. The IR spectrum of this complex displays the absorption associated with ν(NO) at 1702 cm −1 from the linearly coordinated nitrosyl ligand. The FAB (+) mass spectrum of this complex contains the parent ion of 837 m / z which corresponds to [Tc(NO)Cl(PPh 3 ) 2 (S 2 COiBu)] + plus various fragments associated with the loss of the chloride and phosphine ligands. The reaction of [Tc(NO)Cl 2 (PPh 3 ) 2 (NCCH 3 )] with excess potassium alkylxanthate in CH 2 Cl 2 yields complexes of the type [Tc(NO) (PPh 3 ) (S 2 COiBu) 2 ], in which two, bidentate alkylxanthate ligands have been incorporated into the reaction product. The IR spectrum of this complex displays the absorption from ν(NO) at 1701 cm −1 which indicates a linearly coordinated nitrosyl ligand. The FAB(+) mass spectrum of the species displays the parent ion of 689 m / z which corresponds to [Tc(NO) (PPh 3 ) (S 2 COiBu) 2 ] + . The 1 H NMR spectrum of this species displays inequivalent alkylxanthate ligands which indicates that the phosphine and nitrosyl ligands are coordinated in a cis conformation. The analogous reaction chemistry of [Tc(NO)Cl 2 (PPh 3 ) 2 (NCCH 3 )] with the potentially bidentate ligand 2-mercaptopyridine is also presented.
Corrosion of Phosphorus Oxynitride Glasses in Water and Humid Air

Phosphorus oxynitride (PON) glasses, prepared by remelting phosphate glasses in anhydrous ammonia vapor, are more resistant to dissolution in water and corrosion in humid environments than the parent phosphate glasses. The chemical durability of PON glasses is directly related to their nitrogen content. Solution analyses, pH stat titrations, and hydrogen depth profiles suggest that nitrogen improves the durability of phosphate glasses by cross-linking the polymeric phosphate chains in the network structure.
Pre-school obesity is inversely associated with vegetable intake, grocery stores and outdoor play

The study determined the association between body mass index (BMI) z score and fruit and vegetable intake, frequency and ratio of fast food outlets and grocery stores in concentric areas around the child's residence, outdoor play and total crime index. Data from 78 Louisiana pre-school children were analyzed using Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis. Parental-reported fruit intake was linearly associated with increased number of grocery store counts in concentric areas around the child's residence (P = 0.0406, P = 0.0281). Vegetable intake was inversely (P = 0.04) and the ratio of fast food outlets to grocery stores in a 2-mile concentric area around the child's residence was positively (P = 0.05) associated to BMI z score after applying Best Model regression analysis (F = 3.06, P = 0.0346). Children residing in neighbourhoods with greater access to fast foods and lower access to fruits and vegetables may be at higher risk for developing obesity during pre-school years.
Elevated expression of type II Na+ channels in hypomyelinated axons of shiverer mouse brain

Type I and type III Na+ channels are localized mainly in neuronal cell bodies in mouse brain. Type II channels are preferentially localized in unmyelinated fiber tracts but are not detectable in normally myelinated fibers. In shiverer mice, which lack compact myelin due to a defect in the myelin basic protein gene, elevated expression of type II Na+ channels was observed in the hypomyelinated axons of large-caliber fiber tracts such as the corpus callosum, internal capsule, fimbria, fornix, corpus medullare of the cerebellum, and nigrostriatal pathway by immunocytochemical analysis with subtype-specific antibodies. No difference was observed in the localization of type I and type III Na+ channels between wild-type and shiverer mice. These findings support the hypothesis that type II Na+ channels are preferentially localized in axons of brain neurons and suggest that their density and localization are regulated by myelination. The selective increase in the number of type II channels in hypomyelinated fiber tracts may contribute to the hyperexcitable phenotype of the shiverer mouse.
A low power FPGA routing architecture

Significant headway has been made in logic density and performance of FPGAs in the past decade. Power efficiency of FPGA architectures is arguably the next most important criterion that needs improvement. In this paper, we propose an interconnect architecture, where voltage scaling is applied within the programmable interconnect structure of the FPGA. We present an evaluation of the overhead associated with dual-V/sub dd/-dual-V/sub t/ interconnect architecture and present results on the impact of this routing architecture on area and delay. Our experiments reveal that an average reduction of 23.45% (as high as 47%) in total interconnect power is achievable with 11.75% worst-case delay penalty and 6% area overhead on average.