cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FM processing with generalized amplitude & phase: Application to modulation domain geometric image transformations

We introduce new generalized AM and FM functions to perform nonlinear image filtering in the modulation domain with consistent, artifact free phase reconstruction. The new framework enables us to design nonlinear filters in the modulation domain that are capable of producing perceptually motivated signal processing results. As an illustration, we demonstrate that the modulation domain geometric image transformations designed under this framework deliver artifact-free results that are consistent with those of classical intensity-based geometric image transformations.
Traumatic Aneurysm of the Cavernous Carotid Artery: Management of Delayed Massive Epistaxis:

Traumatic aneurysm of the internal carotid artery (ICA) occasionally may present with delayed cataclysmic epistaxis. Lack of awareness of this phenomenon has led to misdiagnosis and delay of treatm...
First Report of Tomato spotted wilt virus in Habanero and Tabasco Peppers in Florida

In spring 2000, symptoms similar to thrips-vectored spotted wilt disease caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) were observed on habanero (Capsicum chinense) and tabasco (Capsicum frutescens) peppers in north Florida. Habanero peppers were from commercial fields grown for specialty markets and tabasco peppers were from research plots. Symptoms observed were leaf necrosis, fruit drop, necrotic stem lesions, and stunting. Fruit symptoms included chlorotic and necrotic spotting and distinct ring pattern and distortion. The incidence of symptomatic habanero peppers was 7 to 8% in one of the three production fields visited, and a lower incidence in two other fields (all in Jackson County). In tabasco pepper, TSWV was detected in spring and fall 1999, and spring 2000 seasons in 10 to 15% of the plants (Gadsden County). Adjacent tomato fields contained scattered plants exhibiting symptoms of TSWV. Diagnosis of TSWV from symptomatic stems, leaves, and fruit of habanero and tabasco peppers was confirmed by a double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a commercially available kit (Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN). ELISA values ranged from 1.57 to 1.95 for habanero pepper and 0.80 to 0.95 for tabasco pepper. The mean ELISA value of the negative controls was 0.001. To further verify TSWV infection, immunocapture reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR) was performed (1). The primer pair 5'-ATGTCTAAGGTTAAGCTC-3' and 5'-TTAAGCAAGTTCTGTGAG-3' represented the first and last 18 bases of the coding region of the nucleocapsid gene of TSWV, respectively, and produces approximately 800 bp PCR product (1). IC-RT-PCR gave a single DNA band of expected size in both habanero and tabasco samples, while no amplification was found in an uninfected pepper sample. This is the first report of TSWV on habanero and tabasco peppers in Florida. TSWV continues to be an economically important disease constraint to the production of tomato, pepper (C. annuum), peanut, and tobacco in the southeastern United States (observations from Georgia and Florida). Meanwhile, the known host range is expanding to include new species of cultivated vegetables. References: (1) R. K. Jain et al.. Plant Dis. 82:900, 1998.
DIRECT CYCLIC VOLTAMMETRY OF THREE RUTHENIUM-MODIFIED ELECTRON-TRANSFER PROTEINS

A comparison is made between the voltammetric behavior of three electron-transfer proteins and that of their derivatives obtained by attachment of a single Ru(NH 3 ) 5 3+/2+ group to specific histidine (imidazole) residues. The native proteins-plastocyanin from the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus, cytochrome C 551 from Pseudomonas stutzeri, and high-potential iron-sulfur protein from Chromatium vinosum ([4Fe-4S] 3+/2+ center), require the presence of a cationic reagent (neomycin is used here) to promote their interaction and electron exchange with the pyrolytic graphite-«edge» electrode
Rank Analysis of Covariance

Abstract Various methods are discussed for the problem of comparing two or more populations with respect to a response variable Y in the presence of a (possibly multivariate) concomitant variable X—a situation in which the usual method is the standard one-way analysis of covariance. A method based on ranks is developed.
Enhanced stochastic optimization algorithm for finding effective multi-target therapeutics

Background For treating a complex disease such as cancer, we need effective means to control the biological network that underlies the disease. However, biological networks are typically robust to external perturbations, making it difficult to beneficially alter the network dynamics by controlling a single target. In fact, multi-target therapeutics is often more effective compared to monotherapies, and combinatory drugs are commonly used these days for treating various diseases. A practical challenge in combination therapy is that the number of possible drug combinations increases exponentially, which makes the prediction of the optimal drug combination a difficult combinatorial optimization problem. Recently, a stochastic optimization algorithm called the Gur Game algorithm was proposed for drug optimization, which was shown to be very efficient in finding potent drug combinations.
The Epidemiology and Health Care Burden of Tennis Elbow: A Population-Based Study

Background:Lateral elbow tendinosis (epicondylitis) is a common condition both in primary care and specialty clinics.Purpose:To evaluate the natural history (ie, incidence, recurrence, and progression to surgery) of lateral elbow tendinosis in a large population.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Methods:The study population comprised a population-based incidence cohort of patients with new-onset lateral elbow tendinosis between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2012. The medical records of a 10% random sample (n = 576) were reviewed to ascertain information on patient and disease characteristics, treatment modalities, recurrence, and progression to surgery. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates were calculated and adjusted to the 2010 US population.Results:The age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence of lateral elbow tendinosis decreased significantly over time from 4.5 per 1000 people in 2000 to 2.4 per 1000 in 2012 (P < .001). The recurrence rate within 2 years was 8.5% and remained constant ove...
Use of packed beds for demisting gases: High-temperature applications

The performance of commercially available wire mesh packing was compared to three different ceramic materials in packed bed demisters. Removal efficiencies similar to wire-mesh pads were achieved by certain ceramic packing; however, pressure drops were greater than those associated with commercially available wire mesh demisting pads. Despite higher-pressure drops, ceramic materials have operational advantages at higher temperatures where most metal materials would fail. In particular, ceramic packed beds would be useful with coal-or biomass-fueled slagging combustors, molten salt oxidation of hazardous wastes, molten carbonate fuel cells, and direct contact heat exchange for removing entrained salts and metals from effluent gases. Commercially available ceramic packing of sizes less than 0.75 cm represent a good initial choice for high-temperature demisting: however, further work is needed to optimize both the packing and equipment configuration.
All-Oxide Embedded-Nanowire Solar Cell

We describe electrodeposition of a (Cu2O)-(ZnO nanowire) thin film p-n junction solar cell. The efficiency of this prototype large junction-area nanostructured cell is 1.6 times that of a planar cell fabricated from the same materials.
A Review of Factors that Affect Mortality Following Colectomy

Background The tightening focus on optimizing surgical outcomes has pushed tracking perioperative mortality to the forefront of interest. The goal of this study is to analyze factors affecting mortality after colorectal resection at a single tertiary care center. Materials and Methods Data were collected from a prospective database for all patients undergoing a colorectal resection at our institution over a 12-y period. Data points included patient demographics, comorbidities, operative details, clinical presentation, postoperative complications, and mortality. Results A total of 1245 patients were evaluated with 41 deaths (3.3%). Our population was 51% male with an average age of 60.1 ± 15.2 y, mean BMI of 27.5 ± 6.4 kg/m2, average ASA score of 2.6 ± 0.9, and average of 2.2 ± 1.9 comorbidities. Preoperative factors associated with increased mortality included age, high ASA score, emergent surgery, and the presence of bowel perforation or obstruction (P Conclusion Preoperative ASA, emergent procedure, age, open procedure, subtotal colectomy, and obstruction were the independent predictors of mortality in our review. Preoperative optimization and counseling of elderly patients with a high ASA score and/or those requiring an emergency operation should be utilized by surgeons in an effort to improve surgical mortality and patient education.
Assessing functional clothing needs of bicycle patrol officers

Bicycle police patrol officers require functional occupational clothing to perform a variety of daily tasks. Vonk (2003) reported officers' difficulty with finding specialised uniforms. The purpose of this study was to identify the needs specific to bicycle patrol officers for uniforms that address instrumental and expressive performance requirements. Survey data were collected from 238 United States bicycle patrol officers in 29 units from 15 states across the country. Officers expressed neutral to moderately high satisfaction with uniform components and overall performance of their uniforms, but also provided numerous comments regarding areas for improvement. Uniform needs identified by the officers were primarily instrumental, but some expressive needs were also expressed. On the basis of the results, challenges to improving bicycle patrol uniforms are discussed within the design process framework and next steps are proposed.
The song remains the same: Coactivators and sex differences in the songbird brain

The majority of songbird species have sexually dimorphic neuronal circuits for song learning and production and these differences are paralleled by sex differences in behavior, with only males singing or singing at a higher rate than females. Therefore songbirds serve as an excellent model for studying the mechanisms that influence the sexually dimorphic development of the brain and behavior. Past research focused on the actions of steroid hormones or their receptors in the development of these sex differences. This review examines the distribution and action of steroid receptor coactivators in the songbird brain; more specifically the actions of RPL7, SRC-1, and CBP on the song control system. Coactivators enhance the transcriptional activity of the nuclear steroid receptors with which they associate, and therefore may play a role in modulating the development of sex differences in the brain and behavior. The actions of these proteins may help elucidate the hormonal mechanisms that underlie song nuclei development and steroid activated singing behavior in adulthood.
Resolution effects in spin-lattice relaxation time measurements

Abstract A systematic error in spin-lattice relaxation time measurements that arises from partial overlap of resonances is examined for several typical cases. It is shown that substantial error may be introduced in the measured T 1 values of partially overlapping resonances that have different relaxation times, when the calculations are based on peak heights obtained directly from the spectra. This error depends on the spectral separation between the resonances and on the ratios of their relaxation times, amplitudes, and linewidths. It is recommended that line simulations of spectral regions with partially overlapping resonances be used to determine the correct amplitudes thereby improving the accuracy in the T 1 measurements.
On measuring depth-dose distribution of range-modulated proton therapy fields

Depth-dose profile measurements are frequently performed for the characterization of spread-out Bragg peak treatment fields in proton therapy. The measured distribution often contains a significant amount of noise with a persistent pattern. As a result, substantial smoothing has to be applied which can alter a measurement. We explored the origin of the observed noise by closely examining the sampling process in the scanning algorithm. We will show that the time characteristics of the signal in the range-modulated proton therapy beams differ significantly from those in the photon beams, and as a result the measurement error is very sensitive to the sampling duration. The observed noise results mainly from inappropriate choices for this value, rather than from the dose distribution itself. Increasing the value arbitrarily may actually increase the noise magnitude. We will demonstrate that with an optimal value for the sampling duration and its accurate control, the noise magnitude can be reduced significantly, without increasing the measurement time.
Test-Driven GUI Development with TestNG and Abbot

Testing GUIs can make the entire system safer and more robust. Any GUI, even one providing only the simplest capabilities, likely encloses some level of complexity. The more user-friendly a GUI is the more complexity it might be hiding from the user. Any complexity in software must be tested because code without tests is a potential source of bugs. A well-tested application has a greater chance of success. Several recommendations and practices can simplify test-driven GUI development for Java Swing applications. TestNG-Abbot, a developer-friendly library, provides a simple API that facilitates the application of TDD to Java GUIs
Cluster arc statistics

Abstract We study the strong gravitational lensing properties of galaxy clusters obtained from N -body simulations with a standard ΛCDM cosmology. We have used the 32 most massive clusters from a simulation at various redshifts and ray-traced through the clusters to investigate giant arc statistics. We have investigated the prevalence of multiple arc systems, finding that almost half of the clusters that produce giant arcs give multiple arcs, which agrees with the RCS ii observations. We have also investigated the mass distributions that are efficient in lensing and the effect of source size on lensing cross section. We find that the latter is important, despite previous claims to the contrary. We also investigate a number of other factors that are important in the formation of giant arcs.
Use of the pen delivery system for intensive insulin therapy in college-age students with type I diabetes

The present report describes our experience with 16 adolescents and young adults with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM; Type I) who switched from two injections of insulin per day to the NovolinPen and four insulin injections a day. Their mean age at the initiation of therapy was 19.2 years with a duration of diabetes of 8.9 years. Sixteen random computer-matched (for age, sex, and duration of diabetes) controls who remained on two insulin injections a day were evaluated for comparison. Most subjects were preparing to leave home for college. After a minimum of 1 year of using the pen, the mean weight gain of the test subjects was significantly greater (P less than .05) than for the computer-matched controls. Glycemic control, as monitored by mean HbA1c values, were similar for the NovolinPen and the control groups (10.8 versus 10.9, respectively) after almost 2 years. The main advantage to the pen expressed by the users was a sense of freedom of lifestyle.
Uncatalyzed polymerization of bistriazolinediones with electron‐rich aromatic compounds via electrophilic aromatic substitution

The reaction of 4-substituted-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-diones(4R-TD's), i.e., MeTD(4-methyl substituted) and PhTD(4-Phenyl substituted) with electron rich aromatic compounds were investigated. N,N-Dimethylaniline undergoes reaction instantaneously with MeTD and PhTD. Electrophilic aromatic substitution occurred at room temperature at the para position without use of any catalyst. N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-m-phenylenediamine (TMPDA) undergoes reaction with 2 mol of PhTD and MeTD which lead to the formation of 2:1 adducts in high yields. These compounds were fully characterized by IR, 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR and elemental analysis and were used as model compounds. The reaction of bistriazolinediones with TMPDA was performed in dimethylformamid at room temperature. The reactions are exothermic, fast, and gave novel polymer structures via electrophilic aromatic substitution. Some physical properties and structural characterization of these new polymers have been studied, and will be reported.
The role of 3-O-methyldopa in the side effects of L-dopa.

Long-term treatment of l-dopa for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients induces adverse effects, including dyskinesia, on–off and wearing-off symptoms. However, the cause of these side effects has not been established to date. In the present study, therefore, 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD), which is a major metabolite of l-dopa, was tested to determine whether it plays a role in the aforementioned adverse effects. The effects of 3-OMD on the dopaminergic nervous system in the brain were investigated, by examining behavioral, biochemical, and cellular changes in male Sprague–Dawley rats and catecholamine-producing PC12 neuronal cells. The results revealed that the intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of 1 μmol of 3-OMD impaired locomotor activities by decreasing movement time (MT), total distance (TD), and the number of movement (NM) by 70, 74 and 61%, respectively. The biochemical analysis results showed that a single administration of 1 μmole of 3-OMD decreased the dopamine turnover rate (DOPAC/DA) by 40.0% in the rat striatum. 3-OMD inhibited dopamine transporter and uptake in rat brain striatal membranes and PC12 cells. The subacute administration of 3-OMD (5 days, icv) also significantly impaired the locomotor activities and catecholamine levels. 3-OMD induced cytotoxic effects via oxidative stress and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in PC12 cells, indicating that 3-OMD can damage neuronal cells. Furthermore, 3-OMD potentiated l-dopa toxicity and these toxic effects induced by both 3-OMD and l-dopa were blocked by vitamin E (α-tocopherol) in PC12 cells, indicating that 3-OMD may increase the toxic effects of l-dopa to some extent by oxidative stress. Therefore, the present study reveals that 3-OMD accumulation from long-term l-dopa treatment may be involved in the adverse effects of l-dopa therapy. Moreover, l-dopa treatment might accelerate the progression of PD, at least in part, by 3-OMD.
CTH11-3: Spectral Outage due to Aggregate Interference in a Poisson Field of Nodes

This paper puts forth the new concept of spectral outage probability (SOP), which can be used to quantify and limit the impact of the aggregate network interference on any given receiver operating in the same frequency band. We consider a scenario with asynchronous, slowly-moving interferers which are scattered according to a spatial Poisson process, and are operating in a wireless environment subject to path loss, shadowing, and multipath fading. We determine the power spectral density (PSD) of the aggregate interference at any location in the plane, and then define and provide expressions for the corresponding SOP. Lastly, we quantify the PSD and SOP as a function of various parameters, such as the path loss exponent, and the interferers' power and spatial density. Our analysis is valid for any linear modulation scheme, and provides insights that may be of value to the network designer.
Inhibited Spontaneous Emission

The radiative properties of an atom in a cavity differ fundamentally from the atom's radiative properties in free space. Spontaneous emission is inhibited if the cavity has characteristic dimensions which are small compared to the radiation wavelength, and enhanced if the cavity is resonant. The cavity causes slight shifts in the energies of the atom, analogous to radiative shifts. Experiments are proposed for observing these effects.
Productivity of radiologists in 1997: estimates based on analysis of resource-based relative value units.

OBJECTIVE. Productivity of radiologists was quantified using the resource-based relative value scale for examining trends in workload.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Staffing and workload data for 1997 were collected in a survey of radiology departments in multispecialty clinics. Workload ratios were calculated and were compared with prior surveys of the same clinics and with published data.RESULTS. Fifteen clinics reported 3,234,730 examinations and 1,860,729 resource-based relative value units (RBRVUs) performed by 284 radiologists and 28 fellows serving 6305 providers. Productivity ratios were as follows: physician index, 19 physicians per radiologist; provider index, 23 providers per radiologist; availability index, 0.78; difficulty index, 0.54 RBRVUs per examination; examination index, 11,559 examinations per year per radiologist; RBRVU index, 6090 RBRVUs per year per radiologist. Each index had roughly a twofold range of variation from lowest to highest ratio observed. Among diagnostic and interventional pro...
Animal models of the anxiogenic effects of ethanol withdrawal

Although anxiety is a major feature of ethanol withdrawal (EW) and much of treatment related to EW is focused on amelioration of the anxiety experienced during EW, less attention has been given to the anxiogenic effects of EW than to the convulsant effects. In this article, we review the animal literature on the anxiogenic effects of EW. Both GABAA and serotonin (5-HT) receptors are important targets in the treatment of anxiety. The roles of each of these two receptors on the anxiogenic effects of EW as well as their potential interrelation are discussed. The contribution of other receptor systems to the modulation of these effects is reviewed. Additionally, males and females show very different levels of anxiety during EW and studies on the role of the HPA axis in mediating these effects are examined. Finally, potential directions for better treatments for EW are discussed. Drug Dev. Res. 54:95–115, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Toward a limbic cortical inhibitory network: implications for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses following chronic stress

A network of interconnected cell groups in the limbic forebrain regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation during emotionally stressful experiences, and disruption of these systems is broadly implicated in the onset of psychiatric illnesses. A significant challenge has been to unravel the circuitry and mechanisms providing for regulation of HPA output, as these limbic forebrain regions do not provide any direct innervation of HPA effector cell groups in the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH). Recent evidence will be highlighted that endorses a discrete region within the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis serving as a neural hub for integrating and relaying HPA-inhibitory influences to the PVH during emotional stress, whereas the prevailing view has involved a more complex organization of mulitple cell groups arranged in parallel between the forebrain and PVH. A hypothesis will be advanced that accounts for the capacity of this network to constrain the magnitude and/or duration of HPA axis output in response to emotionally stressful experiences, and for how chronic stress-induced synaptic reorganization in key cell groups may lead to an attrition of these influences, resulting in HPA axis hyperactivity.
A unified approach to class E versus quasi-resonant switch topologies

A generalized methodology of achieving class E versus quasi-resonant (QR) switching is introduced, and the associated resonant switch topologies are analyzed, with the conclusion that class E operation can be achieved for a given switching edge if the respective current or voltage is continuously differentiable (C/sup 1/) through the switching instant. This concept is applied to show how the category of class E switches includes the QR switches, but contains a wider variety of configurations.
Building ease of use into the IBM user experience

This issue of the IBM Systems Journal explores the topic of building ease of use into the IBM user experience with hardware, software, Web sites, and services. This paper provides an overview of the process and organizational transformation that IBM has gone through in improving the user experience with our offerings. IBM's process for building ease of use into the user experience is described and two versions of the process are introduced and contrasted. The IBM User-Centered Design (UCD) approach, which has been used for the last several years, is contrasted with the traditional approach to the development of offerings. A recent major enhanced version of the process, called User Engineering (UE), which is optimized for the IBM e-business on demandTM strategy, is contrasted with the existing UCD process. The key elements of our enablement, leadership, and guidance strategy for these processes are outlined, including mission, process integration, education and training, communication, collaboration, and tools and technology. An overview of the papers in this issue is also provided.
Heat stress reduces glutamate toxicity in cultured neurons without HSP70 expression

Consistent with known cytoprotective effects, mild heat stress reduced the vulnerability of cultured cortical neurons to glutamate-induced cell death. However, this neuroprotective effect occurred without expression of the inducible heat stress protein, hsp70, as detected by immunocytochemistry, immunoblotting, or metabolic labeling. Present data suggest that the anti-excitotoxic effect of mild heat stress is mediated outside of the traditional hsp70 mechanism.
IL-1 Induces Proinflammatory Leukocyte Infiltration and Regulates Fibroblast Phenotype in the Infarcted Myocardium

In the infarcted myocardium, activation of the inflammatory cascade clears the wound from dead cells, whereas stimulating matrix degradation and chamber dilation, thus contributing to the development of heart failure. IL-1 is critically involved in the postinfarction inflammatory reaction and mediates adverse dilative remodeling. We hypothesized that IL-1 may regulate postinfarction repair and remodeling through cell-specific actions on leukocytes and fibroblasts. Flow cytometry demonstrated that in mouse infarcts, early recruitment of proinflammatory Ly6C(hi) cells expressing IL-1R1, the signaling receptor for IL-1, was followed by infiltration with cells expressing the decoy receptor, IL-1R2. Increased expression of IL-1R2 may serve to terminate IL-1-driven inflammation after infarction. Loss of IL-1 signaling in IL-1R1 null mice globally attenuated leukocyte recruitment, reducing the number of infiltrating Ly6C(hi) and Ly6C(lo) cells. Nonmyeloid CD11b(-) cells harvested during the inflammatory phase of cardiac repair exhibited marked upregulation of chemokines and cytokines; their inflammatory activation was IL-1R1 dependent. Moreover, IL-1β attenuated TGF-β-induced contractile activity of fibroblasts populating collagen pads, attenuated α-smooth muscle actin expression, and stimulated matrix metalloproteinase synthesis in an IL-1R1-dependent manner. The effects of IL-1 on TGF-β responses in cardiac fibroblasts were not due to direct effects on Smad activation, but were associated with endoglin suppression and accentuated expression of bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor, a negative regulator of TGF-β signaling. IL-1 may orchestrate fibroblast responses in the infarct; early stimulation of fibroblast IL-1R1 signaling during the inflammatory phase may prevent premature activation of a matrix-synthetic contractile phenotype until the wound is cleared, and the infarct microenvironment can support mesenchymal cell growth.
Mechanisms involved in progesterone contraception and estrogen interception

Abstract While there are certain differences between biological responses to C-21 progestogens and the 19-norsteroids, precoital progestogens in general interfere with sperm transport, fertilization, and ovum transport. A 36 hour interval was required to achieve 100 per cent precoital contraceptive effectiveness in the rabbit. At marginal doses or timing, blastocyst degeneration may occur, and with large doses of progesterone at the time of coitus some teratogenic effects were noted. Postcoital estrogen is associated with lowering of plasma progesterone levels. Concomitant progesterone administartion, however, does not completely reverse the interceptive effect of estrogen. Direct effects on the endometrium include disintegration of the nucleolar channel system, retention of glycogen in endometrial glands, decreased alkaline phosphatase, and lowered endometrial carbonic anhydrase. The latter may be the basic mechanism of action.
Phosphatase inhibition promotes antiapoptotic but not proliferative signaling pathways in erythropoietin-dependent HCD57 cells

Erythropoietin (EPO) allows erythroid precursors to proliferate while protecting them from apoptosis. Treatment of the EPO-dependent HCD57 murine cell line with 70 μmol/L orthovanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, resulted in both increased tyrosine protein phosphorylation and prevention of apoptosis in the absence of EPO without promoting proliferation. Orthovanadate also delayed apoptosis in primary human erythroid progenitors. Thus, we investigated what survival signals were activated by orthovanadate treatment. Expression of Bcl-XL and BAD phosphorylation are critical for the survival of erythroid cells, and orthovanadate in the absence of EPO both maintained expression levels of antiapoptotic Bcl-XLand induced BAD phosphorylation at serine 112. Orthovanadate activated JAK2, STAT1, STAT5, the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase) pathway, and other signals such as JNK and p38 without activating the EPO receptor, JAK1, Tyk2, Vav, STAT3, and SHC. Neither JNK nor p38 appeared to have a central role in either apoptosis or survival induced by orthovanadate. Treatment with cells with LY294002, an inhibitor of PI-3 kinase activity, triggered apoptosis in orthovanadate-treated cells, suggesting a critical role of PI-3 kinase in orthovanadate-stimulated survival. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was poorly activated by orthovanadate, and inhibition of MAPK with PD98059 blocked proliferation without inducing apoptosis. Thus, orthovanadate likely acts to greatly increase JAK/STAT and PI-3 kinase basal activity in untreated cells by blocking tyrosine protein phosphatase activity. Activated JAK2/STAT5 then likely acts upstream of Bcl-XL expression and PI-3 kinase likely promotes BAD phosphorylation to protect from apoptosis. In contrast, MAPK/ERK activity correlates with only EPO-dependent proliferation but is not required for survival of HCD57 cells.
Vancomycin mass transfer characteristics of high-flux cellulosic dialysers.

Background. In comparison to conventional haemodialysis membranes, highly permeable membranes allow a broader spectrum of solute removal, including enhanced elimination of vancomycin (1448 Daltons). However, the mass transfer characteristics of vancomycin removal by highly permeable membranes have not been adequately assessed. An understanding of vancomycin's predominant dialytic mass transfer mechanism under a given set of operating conditions, including dialyser type and flow rates, may permit more accurate dosing of the drug. Methods. We performed a mass transfer analysis of vancomycin removal by a high-flux dialyser, cellulose triacetate (CT). In a cross-over fashion with a 3-week washout between treatments, eight subjects received vancomycin 1000 mg (1) during the last hour of CT haemodialysis; or (2) after dialysis. Serial urea and vancomycin serum concentrations were used to assess dialytic removal. Results. Dialysis removed 26.2% (mean; range 16-44%) of the administered vancomycin dose. While vancomycin removal and (Kt/V) urea were directly correlated (r=0.88; P<0.005), no correlation was observed between vancomycin removal and weight-normalized ultrafiltration rate. Conclusions. These findings suggest that for the CT dialyser and dialysis operating conditions employed in this study, vancomycin clearance was primarily mediated by diffusion. As such, these data challenge the general concept that convection is primarily responsible for the removal of solutes in the same molecular weight class as vancomycin during high-flux dialysis.
Comparison of Medial Growth of Human Thoracic and Abdominal Aortas

Recent morphologic studies of adult mammalian thoracic and abdominal aortic segments have shown that the adult human abdominal aorta deviates significantly from the usual pattern of medial lamellar architecture. In the present study medial growth of these two aortic segments from prenatal life to adulthood was compared in terms of medial architecture and calculated tangential tension levels. During prenatal life, these parameters were very similar in the two segments. However, the postnatal increase in the medial thickness of the thoracic segment was due mainly to the addition of lamellar units which increased in number from 35 to 56; only a minor contribution was made by increased thickness of each unit which changed from 0.012 to 0.017 mm. The converse was true for the abdominal segment; the number of lamellar units increased only from 25 to 28, but lamellar unit thickness increased strikingly from 0.012 to 0.026 mm. Calculated wall stress was similar in the two segments throughout growth, but tension per lamellar unit became disparate in the segments during the first decade of life, culminating in unusually elevated values in the adult human abdominal aortic media.
Characterization of CmaA, an Adenylation-Thiolation Didomain Enzyme Involved in the Biosynthesis of Coronatine

Several pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae produce the phytotoxin coronatine (COR), which contains an unusual amino acid, the 1-amino-2-ethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid called coronamic acid (CMA), which is covalently linked to a polyketide-derived carboxylic acid, coronafacic acid, by an amide bond. The region of the COR biosynthetic gene cluster proposed to be responsible for CMA biosynthesis was resequenced, and errors in previously deposited cmaA sequences were corrected. These efforts allowed overproduction of P. syringae pv. glycinea PG4180 CmaA in P. syringae pv. syringae FF5 as a FLAG-tagged protein and overproduction of P. syringae pv. tomato CmaA in Escherichia coli as a His-tagged protein; both proteins were in an enzymatically active form. Sequence analysis of CmaA indicated that there were two domains, an adenylation domain (A domain) and a thiolation domain (T domain). ATP-(32)PP(i) exchange assays showed that the A domain of CmaA catalyzes the conversion of branched-chain L-amino acids and ATP into the corresponding aminoacyl-AMP derivatives, with a kinetic preference for L-allo-isoleucine. Additional experiments demonstrated that the T domain of CmaA, which is posttranslationally modified with a 4'-phosphopantetheinyl group, reacts with the AMP derivative of L-allo-isoleucine to produce an aminoacyl thiolester intermediate. This covalent species was detected by incubating CmaA with ATP and L-[G-(3)H]allo-isoleucine, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. It is postulated that the L-allo-isoleucine covalently tethered to CmaA serves as the substrate for additional enzymes in the CMA biosynthetic pathway that catalyze cyclopropane ring formation, which is followed by thiolester hydrolysis, yielding free CMA. The availability of catalytically active CmaA should facilitate elucidation of the details of the subsequent steps in the formation of this novel cyclopropyl amino acid.
Identifying and Evaluating the Threat of Transitive Information Leakage in Healthcare Systems

Electronic protected health information is a priority among politicians and healthcare providers alike. Under the current circumstances with increased data breaches and their associated costs ensuring information security is essential for the success of healthcare providers. This paper presents a detailed case study of a major hospital in the NY/NJ metropolitan area demonstrating the complexity of the healthcare system and its inherent information security risks. The study shows that only a systemic perspective allows identifying all potential risks and providing solutions for improved information security. The main conclusion of this study is that transitive information risks have major implications for healthcare organizations and regulators. Identifying these risks will significantly improve information security in the healthcare environment.
Risk Assessment/Risk Management Is a Three-Step Process: In Defense of EPA's Risk Assessment Guidelines

The purpose of this article is to focus on the appropriate use and development of risk assessment and to point out that many of the perceived shortcomings, in fact, represent limitations imposed by...
Nonlinear programming computations

This paper is concerned with two recently developed computational algorithms for the solution of particular classes of nonlinear programming problems.
Stretching the Moral Gray Zone Positive Affect, Moral Disengagement, and Dishonesty

We propose that positive affect promotes dishonest behavior by providing the cognitive flexibility necessary to reframe and to rationalize dishonest acts. This hypothesis was tested in two studies. The results of Study 1 showed that individuals experiencing positive affect morally disengage to a greater extent than do individuals experiencing neutral affect. Study 2 built on this finding by demonstrating that the ability to morally disengage can lead individuals who experience positive affect to behave dishonestly. Specifically, the results of Study 2 showed that people experiencing positive affect are more likely to steal than individuals experiencing neutral affect, particularly when self-awareness is low. Furthermore, moral disengagement fully mediated this effect. Taken together, the results suggest that positive affect paves the way for the commission of dishonest acts by altering how individuals evaluate the moral implications of their own behavior.
Introduction to the Current State of Satellite Precipitation Products

Floods cause more deaths than any other natural disaster around the world, with a death toll of more than 5000 individuals per year. The United States also has a long history of catastrophic flooding. Most flood deaths are due to flash floods that occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall over a region. Flash floods cause more deaths annually than any other weather phenomenon in the United States, with a death toll of more than 1000 individuals over a 10-year period between 1983–92, and an average of greater than $ 2 billion in annual losses over the same 10-year period (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1993). In the period between 1950 and 1997, the National Weather Service reported an average of 110 deaths per year in flood-related accidents. In addition, recent major flood events around the world (e.g. Aug 2010 severe flood in Pakistan, Dec 2010 flood in Brazil) emphasize the need for hydro-meteorological information to address natural hazards with major socio-economic impacts.
Does a Weak Social Fabric Fuel the Predatory Lending Industry? The Link Between Payday Lending Activity and Community Trust

The purpose of this paper is to address a gap in theory pertaining to the relation between payday lending activity in each state and the level of trust and social capital in that state. This research has been motivated by the fact that no study has explicitly looked at the association between predatory lending and the overall level of trust and social capital in a community, nor has a nation-wide study been done. Multiple years of data is employed in this study to examine both the concentration of payday lenders in each state and the volume of payday activity in relation to trust. Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis was used to test the effect of an increase in the level of trust in each state, which serves as the independent variable of interest, on the level of payday lending activity in each state, which serves as the dependent variable. The contributions of this study include evidence that there is a relationship between both the concentration of payday lenders in each state and trust, as well as the volume of payday activity and trust. This paper may serve as the catalyst for new directions of future research.
Essential Measures: Ancestry, Race, and Social Difference

Race and ancestry are both popularly viewed in the United States as different but intertwined reflections on a person’s essentialized identity that answer the question of “who is what?” Despite this loose but well-understood connection between the two concepts and the availability of ancestry data on the U.S. census, researchers have rarely used the two sources of data in combination. In this article, drawing on theories of boundary formation, I compare these two forms of identification to explore the salience and social closure of racial boundaries. Specifically, I analyze race-reporting inconsistency and predict college completion at multiple levels of racial ancestry aggregation using Census data. The results suggest that, while much of the variation in these measures corresponds to popular “big race” conceptions of difference, considerable variation remains among individual ancestries.
The 5-Year BSW–MSW Program: A New Curricular Option

This article describes and analyzes the development and implementation of a 5-year BSW–MSW program at a Midwestern school of social work. Key pedagogical and programmatic considerations in the development of such programs are identified. Specific information about the admission process and curricular pathway is provided. Five-year and traditional MSW students are compared on their performance in foundation-level MSW courses. The results of evaluative surveys of faculty members and 5-year students are also presented. The potential role of 5-year programs in social work education is discussed.
Nanotechnology and the Law of Patents: A Collision Course

In the ill-defined world of "nanotechnology," a simple sphericule or rod of carbon - the "buckyball" or "nanotube" has been patented not once, but more than 250 times in slightly different forms. The dream of nanotechnology - engineering substances at the scale of one nanometer - reveals many of the dangers of an overprotective patent system. Paradoxically, an overprotective patent system threatens the potential benefits of a fully realized nanotechnology industry. The patent system is supposed to generate a limited monopoly for a specific invention so that the patent holder may extract monopoly rents for a limited time. But by its very nature, nanotechnology complicates the assumptions that underlie the principles of patenting inventions. Nanotechnology bridges the conceptual gaps between substance and information, hardware and software, and technology and science.
Remote Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition of Epitaxial Silicon On Silicon (100) at 150°C

Low temperature processing will be an essential requirement for the device sizes, structures, and materials being considered for future integrated circuit applications. In particular, low temperature silicon epitaxy will be required for new devices and technologies utilizing three-dimensional epitaxial structures and silicon-based heterostructures. A novel technique, Remote Plasma-enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (RPCVD), has achieved epitaxial silicon films at a temperature as low as 150°C which is believed to be the lowest temperature to date for silicon epitaxy. The process relies on a stringent ex-situ preparation procedure, a controlled wafer loading sequence, and an in-situ remote hydrogen plasma clean of the sample surface, all of which provide a surface free of carbon, oxygen, and other contaminants. The system is constructed using ultra-high vacuum technology (10−10 Torr) to achieve and maintain contaminantion-free surfaces and films. Plasma excitation of argon is used in lieu of thermal energy to provide energetic species that dissociate silane and affect surface chemical processes. Excellent crystallinity is observed from the thin films grown at 150°C using the analytical techniques of Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Nomarski interference contrast microscopy after defect etching.
Chronic pelvic pain

The basic approach to the patient with chronic pelvic pain as practiced at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, has been described here. Using this approach allows the practicing physician to evaluate and manage realistically or refer appropriately most patients with chronic pelvic pain. The key to management of patients who have chronic pelvic pain is to use any and all available diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to identify the source(s) and direct therapy. By having at least a working knowledge of the various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities available to the patient, the individual clinician can better aid the patient in her understanding of chronic pelvic pain, generally, and her own pelvic pain, specifically.
Copulatory Response of Gamma Irradiated Adult Male Lesser Peachtree Borers

When male moths of Synanthedon pictipes (Grote and Robinson) were exposed to 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 krad of gamma irradiation and caged with virgin females, there was significant reduction in the sexual vigor of males irradiated with 30 krad or more as compared with unirradiated males. However, irradiation did not alter the lifespan of the moths.
Sensitive Force-Detection with Optically-Levitated Microspheres in Vacuum

Optically levitated and cooled dielectric microspheres in vacuum show great promise as resonant force detectors with an expected sub-attonewton sensitivity. Hence, they can be used to investigate Casimir forces or for testing non-Newtonian gravity.
pyrF as a counterselectable marker for unmarked genetic manipulations in Treponema denticola

The pathophysiology of Treponema denticola, an oral pathogen associated with both periodontal and endodontic infections, is poorly understood due to its fastidious growth and recalcitrance to genetic manipulations. Counterselectable markers are instrumental in constructing clean and unmarked mutations in bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that pyrF, a gene encoding orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase, can be used as a counterselectable marker in T. denticola to construct marker-free mutants. T. denticola is susceptible to 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA). To establish a pyrF-based counterselectable knockout system in T. denticola, the pyrF gene was deleted. The deletion conferred resistance to 5-FOA in T. denticola. Next, a single-crossover mutant was constructed by reintroducing pyrF along with a gentamicin resistance gene (aacC1) back into the chromosome of the pyrF mutant at the locus of choice. In this study, we chose flgE, a flagellar hook gene that is located within a large polycistronic motility gene operon, as our target gene. The obtained single-crossover mutant (named FlgE(in)) regained the susceptibility to 5-FOA. Finally, FlgE(in) was plated on solid agar containing 5-FOA. Numerous colonies of the 5-FOA-resistant mutant (named FlgE(out)) were obtained and characterized by PCR and Southern blotting analyses. The results showed that the flgE gene was deleted and FlgE(out) was free of selection markers (i.e., pyrF and aacC1). Compared to previously constructed flgE mutants that contain an antibiotic selection marker, the deletion of flgE in FlgE(out) has no polar effect on its downstream gene expression. The system developed here will provide us with a new tool for investigating the genetics and pathogenicity of T. denticola.