cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association constants of anti‐hapten monoclonal IgGI with mouse FcγRII in the presence and absence of hapten

Abstract The binding of five different mouse monoclonal anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgGI monomers, in the presence and absence of DNP-glycine, to FcγRII on the mouse macrophage-like cell line J774 has been investigated. Membrane association constants were estimated using a competitive radioimmunoassay in which the ability of the IgGl monomers to block the binding of 125 I-labelled Fabs of the anti-FcγRII monoclonal antibody 2.4G2 was monitored. The IgGl-FcγRII association constants ranged from (8 ± 1) × 10 4 M −1 to (6 ± 2) × 10 5 M −1 . No large differences in the IgGl-FcγRII association constants were measured for different IgG1 antibodies or for any single IgG1 antibody in the presence and absence of DNP-glycine.
Item Response Theory Analysis of DSM-IV Cannabis Abuse and Dependence Criteria in Adolescents

Objective To examine three aspects of adolescent cannabis problems: 1) do DSM-IV cannabis abuse and dependence criteria represent two different levels of severity of substance involvement, 2) to what degree do each of the 11 abuse and dependence criteria assess adolescent cannabis problems, and 3) do the DSM-IV items function similarly across different adolescent populations?
Social theory and agent architectures: prospective issues in rapid-discovery social science

This article interleaves two themes: (a) the prospective role of agent simulation in developing a high-consensus, rapid-discovery social science and (b) the use of situation modeling to illustrate how the interaction of social theory, and agent architectures may contribute toward such a development. The first theme suggests that computational techniques have the potential to contribute to the advancement of broadly shared social science goals. The second theme uses a relatively specialized epistemological focus, the social situation as a focus of attention and action, to illustrate how agent architectures based on that focus may contribute to scientific progress and, in particular, how they may need to evolve. Situationist epistemology is invoked to convey the important role of ontological assumptions and architectural frameworks in social scientific modeling but also to advance situational models within multilevel social theory.
Shaded pole motor design and evaluation using coupled field and circuit equations

The circuit and field equations of the shaded pole motor are combined to provide a system of differential equations that completely describe it. The Crank - Nicolson - Galerkin method is used for the finite element formulation of the parabolic field equations and the solution in the time domain. A true time solution is described, where the rotor movement is modelled, along with the time variation of the iron permeability. The field is completely determined at every point in the motor cross section. Both current densities in the conductors and flux densities are calculated from this solution, allowing the estimation of torque, currents and losses.
The effect of light quality on the induction of apogamy in prothalli of Pteridium aquilinum.

Pteridium gametophytes cultured on a medium containing 4% sucrose under various qualities of light exhibit different developmental responses. Under far-red illumination (690–730 nm) apogamy is produced without enhanced gametophytic growth, thus allowing a distinct separation of the specific induction of apogamy from a general enhancement of gametophytic growth.
Quantitative characterization of mineralized silk film remodeling during long-term osteoblast-osteoclast co-culture.

Abstract The goal of this study was to explore quantitative assessments of mineralized silk protein biomaterial films by co-cultures of human mesenchymal stem cell-derived osteoblasts and human acute monocytic leukemia cell line-derived osteoclasts during long-term culture (8–32 weeks). The remodeled films were quantitatively assessed using three different techniques during this extended cultivation to provide more comprehensive insight into the impact of co-cultures on surface remodeling. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with three dimensional surface reconstructions was used to quantitatively determine various surface morphological features and measures of roughness indicative of remodeling by the cells. Additionally, reconstructed surfaces were converted to depth images for Fourier analysis to quantify the potential fractal organization of biomineralization. The long-term remodeled films were also imaged using confocal reflectance microscopy and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to further quantify morphological changes. Films remodeled in co-culture demonstrated increased roughness parameters, fractal organization, and volume compared to films remodeled by osteoblasts alone. The combination of these techniques to quantify remodeling of mineralized protein films shows promise for quantifying processes related to mineralized surfaces.
Evidence for mitosis in the adult corneal endothelium.

Abstract Intracellular structures probably representative of mitotic figures were seen by specular microscopy in the endothelium of a corneal graft following a rejection reaction. Serial measurements over an eight month period initially showed grossly enlarged cells and apparent mitotic figures. Subsequently, clusters of cells smaller than any cells previously seen were observed. Measurements of endothelial cell area over this period demonstrated a highly significant ( P
Neurogenesis in the vomeronasal epithelium of adult rats: evidence for different mechanisms for growth and neuronal turnover.

The pattern of cell migration during neuronal turnover in the vomeronasal sensory epithelium (VN-SE) is controversial. In mice, proliferating cells were detected at the edges and were described as migrating to the center of the VN-SE. In rats, in addition to proliferating cells at the margins of the epithelium, dividing cells are also present along the entire basal lamina of the VN-SE. In marsupials, dividing cells have also been observed in the margins and in the center of the VN-SE, the latter of which migrate vertically and become neurons. To investigate whether the process of neuronal turnover in placental mammals consists of horizontal and/or vertical migration, and whether or not this process is common to mammals, adult rats were injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and allowed to survive for different periods of time. The distribution of BrdU-labeled cells in the horizontal and vertical dimension of the VN-SE was analyzed as a function of time. Both horizontal and vertical migrations of BrdU-labeled cells were detected. Since cells in the center of the VN-SE migrate vertically, and, as demonstrated by coexpression of markers of neuronal maturity and BrdU, become mature one day after undergoing mitosis, it is very likely that these cells participate in neuronal turnover. Conversely, because cells in the margins of the VN-SE stop migrating horizontally on day 14 before they have reached the center of the VN-SE, and since the VN-SE continues to grow during adulthood, it is likely that most of these latter cells constitute pools for growth.
MR of superior mesenteric arteryrenal vein fistula

Abstract Traumatic arteriovcnous fistulas involving the superior mesenteric artery are rare. Diagnosis is most commonly made shortly after the injury. Symptoms, when present, are usually related to intestinal ischemia. Angiography has been the conventional modality used in diagnosing arteriovcnous fistulas. We report a patient with a superior mesenteric artery to left renal vein fistula who presented in overt heart failure five years after a gun shot wound. The fistula was evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging.
Chromosome telomere integrity of human solid neoplasms

Eukaryotic chromosomes contain specialized structures at the termini called telomeres. This region of DNA is required for replication and stability of the chromosome. Telomere reduction can contribute to genetic instability and has been described in certain malignancies (e.g., colon, leukemia, giant cell tumor of bone). To determine whether telomere reduction is a generalized phenomenon in malignancies, the telomere integrity of genomic DNA isolated from tumor cells was determined from 39 individuals with 15 different malignancies categorized as musculoskeletal, epithelial, cranial, or other, and peripheral blood leukocytes from the same patient, when possible, or age-matched controls. Significant telomere reduction occurred randomly across histopathologic groups including giant cell tumor of bone, glioblastoma, colon cancer, and Wilms' tumor while telomere elongation occurred in chrodoma. The other remaining 10 malignancies did not show significant differences in telomere lengths compared with controls.
Assessment of Advanced Gastric Cancer Management in the United States

Background Increasing attention is being placed on utilization of treatment for advanced malignancies. Though some suggest it is futile, recent reports have advocated noncurative surgery for advanced gastric cancer. Our objectives were to (1) assess treatment trends, (2) identify predictors of surgery, and (3) evaluate the effect of treatment on outcomes.
Metamorphic fractional crystallization and internal metasomatism by diffusional homogenization of zoned garnets

Metamorphic fractional crystallization involves fractionation of material into the interior of a crystallizing mineral such as garnet with consequent change in the effective bulk composition. In assemblages with thermodynamic variance of 3 or greater, the mineral assemblage, compositions of coexisting phases and the zoning profile preserved in the garnet are a function of the amount of material that is fractionated. Homogenization of zoned garnet by intracrystalline diffusion at elevated temperatures operates on a time scale of millions to tens of millions of years depending on the temperature-time path and radius of the garnet. One effect of homogenization is to drive chemical reactions by a metasomatic mechanism (internal metasomatism), even in the absence of changes in pressure or temperature. This process may affect the appearance or disappearance of minerals, and may, in some rocks, be responsible for the first appearance of kyanite or the disappearance of staurolite in Barrovian terranes.
Activated carbon cloth adsorption-cryogenic system to recover toxic volatile organic compounds

There is an emergent need to reduce the emissions of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the atmosphere. One strategy to reduce the emissions of VOCs from point sources is to use air pollution control devices on the sources' discharge streams. This paper describes the development of a new activated carbon cloth (ACC) adsorption system that is integrated with cryogenic vapor recovery to reduce the amount of VOCs emitted to the atmosphere from point sources and provide for reuse of the VOCs that are recovered. Electrical current is used to regenerate the ACC. ACC adsorption followed by electrothermal regeneration results in formation of a concentrated organic vapor which is cryogenically condensed from the gas phase. Electrothermal desorption allows for careful control of the desorption time and the concentration profile of the desorbed VOC to allow minimal use of cryogen. Adsorption, followed by cryogenic treatment enables VOC sources to meet air quality control regulations while providing a high quality liquid VOC product for reuse.
Tracking and learning: exploring dual functions of residential energy feedback

Residential energy feedback is widely promoted as a promising form of persuasive technology based on its effectiveness in field studies. However, previous research has treated "feedback" as a unified construct, despite a wide variety of device types and categories, and has devoted little energy to understanding how or for whom feedback works. An improved understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying feedback would be of great benefit at both a theoretical and practical level. The current paper presents results of survey data from 86 individuals who self-reported use of feedback devices. Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses revealed a distinction between the use of feedback for tracking (e.g. monitoring ongoing energy use) and learning (e.g., gaining specific information about energy use). This distinction emerged throughout user responses about adoption (how, where, and why they obtained feedback), usability (likes and dislikes about the use of feedback), and outcomes (changes in knowledge and/or behavior due to use of feedback). These two functions have implications for both the design of energy feedback and its outcomes. Features such as time-series graphs and social comparisons are most likely to facilitate tracking; whereas the provision of discrete information tied to a specific appliance or behavior is most likely to facilitate learning. There may also be individual level differences that moderate who would benefit from a tracking vs. learning approach to feedback provision. It appears that the most beneficial feedback may facilitate both a tracking and learning function.
EEG multiscale entropy dynamics in mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a neurological condition that is often the early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This pilot study explores event-related multiscale entropy (MSE) measures as features for effectively discriminating between normal aging, MCI, and AD participants. Thirty two-channel scalp EEG records recorded during a working memory task from 43 age-matched participants (mean age 75.7 years)-17 normal controls (NC), 16 MCI, and 10 early ADare examined. Multiscale entropy curves are computed for responses during the working memory task. Support vector machine models are constructed to perform binary discriminations among the three groups. Leave-one-out cross-validation accuracies of 87.9% (p-value <1.322E-4) for MCI vs. NC, 88.9% (p-value <2.886E-5) for AD vs. NC, and 92.3% (p-value <4.910E-6) for MCI vs. AD are achieved. Results demonstrate links between event-related multiscale entropy dynamics of EEG and short-term memory deficits.
Different predictors of memory scanning with unidimensional and digit stimuli

The processing of digit and unidimensional brightness stimuli was examined in the traditional Sternberg fixed-set paradigm. From a total set size of 10, 18 different memory sets were studied, 6 each at memory set sizes of 1, 2, and 3. Three different variables, which are in general correlated, were used to predict performance: memory set size (M), a measure based on inferred distance relationships among the stimuli constituting the positive and negative sets (d), and a measure based on the number of inferred “decision boundaries” necessary to separate all memory set items from the items remaining in the set (DB). For the digit stimuli the results were consistent with previous research, and memory set size was the prepotent predictor. For the unidimensional brightnesses, DB was the prepotent predictor, and choice reaction times (CRTs) to both positive and negative probes were a function of the distance of the probe item from the closest member of the complementary set. However, for the digit stimuli this was found only for negative probes; CRTs to positive digit probes were independent of the distance from the closest negative set member.
Methotrexate treatment for sarcoid-associated panuveitis

Abstract Objective To determine the safety and efficacy of low-dose methotrexate (MTX) for sarcoid-associated panuveitis. Design Retrospective noncomparative case series. Participants Twenty eyes from 11 patients were analyzed. Eight patients had sarcoidosis. Three patients were clinically suspected of sarcoidosis despite negative laboratory testing. All charts of patients with sarcoidosis and idiopathic uveitis seen by the Duke Uveitis Service from 1989 to 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. Those with sarcoid-associated or sarcoid-suspected panuveitis treated with MTX with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up were studied. Intervention Low-dose MTX was administered to patients weekly and patients were followed with serial ophthalmologic and medical examinations. Main outcome measures Visual acuity, oral and topical corticosteroid requirements, anterior chamber inflammation, and ability to undergo successful cataract extraction were used to measure the efficacy of MTX therapy. Results After MTX treatment was initiated, 90% of eyes had preserved or improved visual acuity. Mean initial Snellen visual acuity was 20/62 and mean final acuity was 20/40 ( P = 0.044). Of those patients initially requiring oral corticosteroids, the dosage was decreased in 100%, and they were completely discontinued in 86%. The mean initial oral corticosteroid dose was 26.6 mg and the mean final dose was 1.5 mg ( P = 0.012). Topical corticosteroids were decreased in 63% of eyes. The mean initial use was once every 1.6 hours, and the mean final use was once every 3.9 hours ( P = 0.001). Ninety-five percent of eyes had stabilized or decreased inflammation. The mean initial inflammation score was 1.2, and the mean final score was 0.5 ( P = 0.007). Five of six eyes previously unable to have cataract extraction because of uncontrolled inflammation became quiet on MTX and underwent surgery. One hundred percent of these eyes had improved vision after surgery. Side effects were mild and transient or reversible. Conclusion Low-dose MTX is an effective and safe adjunct to treat chronic sarcoid-associated panuveitis.
Higher correlation inequalities

We prove a correlation inequality for n increasing functions on a distributive lattice, which for n = 2 reduces to a special case of the FKG inequality. The key new idea is to reformulate the inequalities for all n into a single positivity statement in the ring of formal power series. We also conjecture that our results hold in greater generality.
Maturation of speech and language functional neuroanatomy in pediatric normal controls.

Purpose This study explores the relationship between age and resting-state regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in regions associated with higher order language skills using a population of normal c...
Temporal conventions in planning discourse

In this paper, I describe the rhetorical conventions which allow participants in a planning or policy discussion to distinguish publicly between memories and anticipations and to agree as to what time it is now. The principal contribution of the paper is the conception of an ‘artificial present’ which allows both historical knowledge and forecasts to be brought to bear upon current decisions.
CRYOGENIC ARTERIAL THROMBOLYSIS

: Twenty experiments were performed in dogs upon frozen thrombosed segments of the femoral artery. The special cryogenic technique is described. The results are demonstrated by arteriograms. The walls of major arteries have a peculiar ability to withstand the effects of extreme cold, relative to other tissues. Freezing and thawing a major artery in the dog, within the time-temperature parameters described, has thus far not produced rupture or necrosis of the vessel, within a two-month period of observation. Moreover, blood which is frozen solid within the artery does not clot, but rather is lysed when the vessel thaws, and is carried off as circulation is resumed. This differential effect of extreme cold upon the arterial wall and the circulating blood accounts for the fact that a relatively fresh thrombus within an artery can be lysed by freezing the artery and permitting it to thaw. These observations indicate the possible future application of cryogenic arterial thrombolysis in selected clinical situations. However, many aspects need further experimental investigation. The long-range effects of extreme cold upon major arteries and veins remain to be elucidated. The possibility of late aneurysm formation or other anatomic changes must be objectively evaluated. The effect of extreme cold upon chronic organized thrombi needs experimental study. In addition, the possible variation of effect upon thrombi of varying etiology, some of which produce pathologic lesions in the arterial wall, must be evaluated. On the basis of our present findings, the technique of cryogenic arterial thrombolysis merits continued investigation.
Energy dependence of opaqueness for pp collisions at high energies

Opaqueness of pp collisions is evaluated at three CERN-ISR energies. Comparisons with predictions of the factorizable eikonal models and the scaling hypothesis are made. It appears that results are in favor of the factorizable models.
Response of Sandhill Crane ( Grus canadensis Riverine Roosting Habitat to Changes in Stage and Sandbar Morphology

Over the past century, flow regulation and vegetation encroachment have reduced active channel widths along the central Platte River, Nebraska. During the last two decades, an annual program of in-channel vegetation management has been implemented to stabilize or expand active channel widths. Vegetation management practices are intended to enhance riverine habitats which include nocturnal roosting habitat for sandhill cranes. Evaluating the success of other management treatments such as streamflow modification requires an understanding of how flow shapes the sandbars in the river and how sandbar morphology interacts with flow to create crane habitat. These linkages were investigated along a 1-km managed river reach by comparing the spatial pattern of riverine roosts and emergent sandbars identified with aerial infrared imagery to variables computed with a two-dimensional hydraulic model. Nocturnal observations made multiple years showed that the area and patterns of riverine roosts and emergent sandbars and the densities of cranes within roosts changed with stage. Despite sandbar vegetation management, low flows were concentrated into incised channels rather than spread out over broad sandbars. The flow model was used to compute hydraulic variables for identical streamflows through two sandbar morphologies; one following a period of relatively high flow and the other following the low-flow period. Compared with the simulation using the morphology from the antecedent high flow, the simulation using the morphology from the antecedent low flow produced a smaller quantity of available wetted area. These remote-sensing observations and hydraulic simulations illustrate the importance of considering flow history when designing streamflows to manage in-channel habitat for cranes. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Three-year surveillance of community onset health care-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections in children

Background:Staphylococcus aureus causes skin and soft tissue or invasive infections in children in the community, in the hospital or in other ways associated with the health care system (HCA).Methods:Prospective community-acquired S. aureus infection surveillance at Texas Children’s Hospital was ini
Mutual Support between Learning Community Development and Technology Integration: Impact on School Practices and Student Achievement.

Traditional schools are notorious for being isolated, inflexible, and reluctant to change. This lack of professional dialogue among educators remains a significant barrier to successful school improvement, resulting in teachers' practices becoming stagnant and student achievement suffering. The K20 Center for Educational and Community Renewal at the University of Oklahoma addresses this barrier through research and professional development focused on teaching and learning innovations. Knowledge gained from these research activities is transferred to network schools through professional development for K–12 teachers, principals, superintendents, and other key stakeholders. This article describes the K20 Center's research-based systemic change model, which moves beyond a conceptual framework to actually improving teacher quality and student success.
In Search of Multicultural Competence within Counselor Education Programs.

The authors examine the current status of multicultural training in counselor education. Leading multicultural training programs are identified and described, and specific guidelines for improving multicultural training are provided.
Studies on the adrenal cortex of hypophysectomized rats: a model for abnormal cellular atrophy and death.

Biochemical and ultrastructural studies indicate that the atrophy of adrenal cortex in hypoyhysectomized rats involves the following changes: (1) One to two days after hypophysectomy, there is loss of “template activity” resulting from cumulative DNA-damage and heterochromatinization.In vivo ACTH-administration led to recuperation of these cells, indicating damage during hypophysectomized state to be reversible. (2) If the duration of hypophysectomy is prolonged, some of the cells become irreversibly damaged and can no longer recuperate afterin vivo ACTH administration. (3) The period of most rapid cell death is from the third to seventh day after hypophysectomy. The cause of cell death is probably due to membrane damage in the absence of protein synthesis, leading to lysis of the cells. Lysozomes and macrophages are apparently not involved.
AN INDEX OF PEELABILITY FOR SHRIMP

A quantitative measure of force to pull shell from meat was developed as an index of peelability for Pacific shrimp (Pandalus jordani). An average, normalized tensile strength measured with a spring force gage, correlated positively (r = 0.98) with weight of unremoved shell found with a prototype mechanical peeler. In an example application, the force index shows shell removal to be influenced by holding shrimp in different refrigerating media for varying lengths of time.
The Earth's shadow in the lithium 6707 Å line

Abstract Observations on the Earth's shadow, rising on a trail of lithium released from a rocket, have shown that its sharp definition was produced by cirrus cloud. The shadow profile was time-invariant, if the Sun's rays are defined in terms of their grazing height. The conclusions drawn from the observations on the shadow have implications for the crepuscular (twilight) ray method of determining the profile of the alkali elements in the upper atmosphere. In particular, it appears that least ambiguous results are obtained when cloud is present at the grazing point.
New Advances in the Functional Modeling of Electro-Mechanical Components

This paper presents some key extensions to a representation for electromechanical components that is sufficiently detailed enough to provide for the automated construction of new design configurations. The extensions, shown here, build upon a representation that is both formal and implemented, and can handle the interactions between components even if such interactions represent only partial configurations. The results of these new additions elucidate the power and flexibility of this functional representation for electromechanical components. The method can be used as an interactive tool to allow an engineering designer to explore new design concepts or can be combined with additional software tools to achieve a computational design synthesis approach to topological design problems. The inclusion of function sharing, component layout, and qualitative dynamics achieve a closer approach to how the human mind represents components.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Denitrification Potential, Root Biomass, and Organic Matter in Degraded and Restored Urban Riparian Zones

Hydrologic changes associated with urbanization often lead to lower water tables and drier, more aerobic soils in riparian zones. These changes reduce the potential for denitrification, an anaerobic microbial process that converts nitrate, a common water pollutant, into nitrogen gas. In addition to oxygen, denitrification is controlled by soil organic matter and nitrate. Geomorphic stream restorations are common in urban areas, but their effects on riparian soil conditions and denitrification have not been evaluated. We measured root biomass, soil organic matter, and denitrification potential (anaerobic slurry assay) at four depths in duplicate degraded, restored, and reference riparian zones in the Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A., metropolitan area. There were three main findings in this study. First, although reference sites were wet and had high soil organic matter, they had low levels of nitrate relative to degraded and restored sites and therefore there were few differences in denitrification potential among sites. Evaluations of riparian restorations that have nitrate removal by denitrification as a goal should consider the complex controls of this process and how they vary between sites. Second, all variables declined markedly with depth in the soil. Restorations that increase riparian water tables will thus foster interaction of groundwater nitrate with near-surface soils with higher denitrification potential. Third, we observed strong positive relationships between root biomass and soil organic matter and between soil organic matter and denitrification potential, which suggest that establishment of deep-rooted vegetation may be particularly important for increasing the depth of the active denitrification zone in restored riparian zones.
Analytical Solutions of Emanuel's Model of Precipitating Convection

Abstract The fastest growing modes in Emanuel's recent model of inviscid precipitating convection in a saturated atmosphere with no shear have large horizontal wavenumbers, permitting a simple analytical analysis of their phase speed, growth rate, and modal structure as functions of the model parameters. It is found that the fastest growing modes are always localized near the ground, are slightly sloped, and grow almost as fast as if precipitation were to fall instantly to the ground. In any wind profile with weak unidirectional shear, rolls aligned along the shear vector grow fastest.
Counsellor Actions Needed for the New Career Perspective.

Abstract The perspective of a self-reliant ‘new career’ can be seen as a positive stimulus for career counsellors to reform their profession. Recommended actions include: (1) making life satisfaction the major goal; (2) advocating open-mindedness rather than decisiveness; (3) assuming a broad role in dealing with client concerns; (4) normalising unplanned events; (5) teaching clients to create beneficial unplanned events; and (6) using increased learning and life satisfaction as outcome measures.
Pancreatic polypeptide response to a mixed meal is blunted in pancreatic head cancer associated with diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Introduction Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) is a hormone secreted by islet cells of the ventral pancreas. It has been proposed that a blunted PP response to a mixed meal can distinguish diabetes mellitus (DM) secondary to pancreatic disease from other types of DM. We performed a proof of concept study to determine if PP response to a mixed meal discriminates DM secondary to pancreatic cancer (PaCDM) from type 2 DM (T2DM). Methods We studied 18 subjects with new onset DM (PaCDM (n = 9) and T2DM (n = 9); matched for age and gender). Serum PP levels were measured at 0, 30, and 60 min following a mixed meal. Increases in PP levels from baseline were compared using the Wilcoxon test. Results In PaCDM the PP increase following a mixed meal was less than T2DM at 30 min (median 60.0%, IQR, 33.0–119.8 vs. 134.5%, IQR, 117.5–265.9; p = 0.03), but statistically similar at 60 min (median 55.8%, interquartile range (IQR) 23.7–121.5 vs. 100.0%, IQR, 47.7–202.5; p = 0.17). In PaCDM subjects, the PP increase over baseline was smaller in those with a tumor located in the pancreatic head (n = 6) compared to the body/tail (n = 3) at 30 min (41.3% vs. 158.7%, p = 0.02) and at 60 min (37.4% vs. 167.4%,p = 0.04). Conclusions Subjects with PaCDM have a blunted PP response to a mixed meal compared to T2DM. However, the blunted PP response is only observed in those PaC subjects with a tumor located in the head of the pancreas. Confirmation in larger studies may suggest this could be used to aid screening for sporadic PaC.
Thermoregulation in the Papuan‐New Guinean boid and colubrid snakes, Candoia carinata, Candoia aspera and Boiga irregularis

Thermoregulation was investigated in the Papuan-New Guinean boids, Candoia carinata and C. aspera, and the arboreal colubrid, Boiga irregularis, based upon radiant and solar heating with thermocouple implants in the head and mid-body. Significant differences were found between head and body thermal preferenda values with either grouped data or between specimens in C. carinata and B. irregularis, but not in C. aspera, although higher temperatures were tolerated by the body than the head in all species examined. Less diversity in thermal control methods was found in this study than in previous investigations on some Australian pythons and elapid snakes, suggesting that possibly there is less need for such diversity in tropical rainforest snakes, as compared to those living in more temperate or arid environments.
Enzymes in intracellular organelles of adult and developing rat brain.

Abstract Eighty percent of the hexokinase and about a half of the lactate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, and aldolase activities of adult rat cerebral homogenates is particulate, associated to a large extent, with the sediment (P 2 ) obtained by centrifugation at 17,000 g . Centrifugation of P 2 into sucrose gradients shows that all four enzymes are associated with synaptosomes: their peak concentration coincides with that of glutamate decarboxylase rather than with those of mitochondrial enzymes, glutamate dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase. After hypoosmotic shock and high-speed centrifugation considerable portions of synaptosomal enzymes are recovered in the supernatant phase; the composition of this fluid, as indicated by the higher specific activity of several enzymes, is different from that of the soluble fraction of whole homogenates. The concentration of the seven enzymes studied is considerably lower in fetal than in adult brain and, in general, a larger fraction of the total is soluble. Preferential accumulation with age in the particulate fraction is especially striking in the case of hexokinase. Between fetal and adult life there are changes in the enzymic composition as well as increases in the amount of the total protein attributable to the synaptosomal fraction. Glutamate decarboxylase and lactate dehydrogenase are the synaptosomal enzymes to rise first (before or at birth), followed by hexokinase and, in the third postnatal week, by aldolase and pyruvate kinase. The upsurge of mitochondrial enzymes (that of glutamate dehydrogenase at term and of aspartate aminotransferase 10 days later) is accompanied by insignificant or small increases in the total protein content of the same fraction. The results indicate that the maturation of subcellular organelles involves a stepwise enrichment with various enzymes; some signs of biochemical differentiation precede and others coincide with the development of cerebral functions known to occur in 2- to 4-wk-old rats.
Modeling Drosophila Positional Preferences in Open Field Arenas with Directional Persistence and Wall Attraction

In open field arenas, Drosophila adults exhibit a preference for arena boundaries over internal walls and open regions. Herein, we investigate the nature of this preference using phenomenological modeling of locomotion to determine whether local arena features and constraints on movement alone are sufficient to drive positional preferences within open field arenas of different shapes and with different internal features. Our model has two components: directional persistence and local wall force. In regions far away from walls, the trajectory is entirely characterized by a directional persistence probability, P(r,θ), for each movement defined by the step size, r, and the turn angle, θ. In close proximity to walls, motion is computed from P(r,θ), and a local attractive force which depends on the distance between the fly and points on the walls. The directional persistence probability was obtained experimentally from trajectories of wild type Drosophila in a circular open field arena and the wall force was computed to minimize the difference between the radial distributions from the model and Drosophila in the same circular arena. The two-component model for fly movement was challenged by comparing the positional preferences from the two-component model to wild type Drosophila in a variety of open field arenas. In most arenas there was a strong concordance between the two-component model and Drosophila. In more complex arenas, the model exhibits similar trends, but some significant differences were found. These differences suggest that there are emergent features within these complex arenas that have significance for the fly, such as potential shelter. Hence, the two-component model is an important step in defining how Drosophila interact with their environment.
Comparison between Medgem and Deltatrac resting metabolic rate measurements.

The primary aims of this trial were to evaluate the reproducibility of a portable handheld calorimeter (Medgem) in a clinical population, and to compare its measures with a calorimeter in typical use with these patients. Cross-sectional clinical validation study. Outpatient Clinical Research Center. A total of 24 stable home nutrition support patients. In random order three measures of resting metabolic rate (RMR) were taken after a 4-h fast, 15 min rest and 2-h abstention from exercise. Two measures were taken with the same Medgem (MG) and one with the traditional calorimeter (Deltatrac). Reproducibility of MG measures and their comparability to a Deltatrac measure were assessed by Bland–Altman analysis, with >±250 kcal/day established a priori as a clinically unacceptable error. In addition, disagreement between the two types of measures was defined as greater than 10% difference. The mean difference between two MG measures was −6.8 kcal/day, with limits of agreement between 233 and −247 kcal/day and clinically acceptable. The mean difference between the Deltatrac and mean of two MG measures was −162 kcal/day, with limits of agreement between 577 and −253 kcal/day and clinically unacceptable. In all, 80% of the repeated MG RMR measures agreed within 10%, and the mean MG reading agreed with the Deltatrac in 60% of cases. RMR obtained using the MG calorimeter has an acceptable degree of reproducibility, and is acceptable to patients. The MG measures, however, are frequently lower than traditional measures and require further validation prior to application to practice in this vulnerable patient group. This research was conducted in part with support from NIH Grant RR00040, and with loan of equipment and technical assistance from Healthetech.
Amateurization and professionalization from the perspective of missionary effectiveness

Missionary effectiveness is found at the confluence of divine calling, human need, and missionary ability. Missionaries are ineffective when their abilities—including spiritual formation, missiolog...
Nonperturbative, Unitary Quantum-Particle Scattering Amplitudes from Three-Particle Equations

We here use our nonperturbative, cluster decomposable relativistic scattering formalism to calculate photon–spinor scattering, including the related particle–antiparticle annihilation amplitude. We start from a three-body system in which the unitary pair interactions contain the kinematic possibility of single quantum exchange and the symmetry properties needed to identify and substitute antiparticles for particles. We extract from it a unitary two-particle amplitude for quantum–particle scattering. We verify that we have done this correctly by showing that our calculated photon–spinor amplitude reduces in the weak coupling limit to the usual lowest order, manifestly covariant (QED) result with the correct normalization. That we are able to successfully do this directly demonstrates that renormalizability need not be a fundamental requirement for all physically viable models.
Staged survival models for overlay performance prediction

Asphalt concrete (AC) resurfacing is used by highway agencies to maintain and improve existing pavement conditions. With a large portion of their budgets being spent on road maintenance and rehabilitation, the agencies are interested in identifying the optimal timing of resurfacing and its life expectations. Using Kentucky's pavement management data, the research as presented by this paper investigated the procedures and methods of establishing thresholds and developing performance prediction models for AC overlays. Both transition probability matrix and data plots were used to investigate the performance trend of overlays. Based on the trend, two stage survival models were proposed to predict the resurfacing cycles. The first stage model can be used to predict the useful life of an overlay before a new resurfacing is required, while the second one can be used to predict the time window during which the new overlay must be applied to avoid accelerated pavement deterioration.
Springs on rangelands: runoff dynamics and influence of woody plant cover

To date, little effort has been devoted to understanding the nature of streamflow from dryland catchments where springs are found, and little is known about how changes in vegetation may alter that streamflow. But where they do occur in drylands, springs are important—ecologically as well as hydrologically. Areas that naturally support spring flow, such as those having an underlying karst geology, hold the most promise for increasing streamflow through control of woody plants. For rangelands, this possibility is a particularly appealing one. However, few studies have documented that such a method is effective (except in Mediterranean climates). For this reason, we studied runoff generation for a site on the Edwards Plateau of Texas: a first-order (19-ha) rangeland catchment supplied with intermittent streamflow from a spring at its base. Using hydrometric as well as isotopic characterization, we evaluated the extent to which runoff changed following removal of most of the woody plant cover (predominantly Ashe juniper). After monitoring streamflow for 4 years (two before plant removal and two following removal), we found that (1) streamflow increased following removal of juniper, by about 46 mm annually, except during the summer; (2) for the 4 years of observation, runoff made up about 22% of the water budget, with baseflow from the spring accounting for about half the total flow; and (3) hydrograph separation analysis conducted for two events following juniper removal indicated that pre-event water made up 25% and 50% of the runoff (these numbers represent lower bounds for the percentage of water derived from the spring during storm events). These findings are important, not only because they add to our understanding of runoff generation from spring-fed catchments, but also in particular because they demonstrate that where springs are present, decreasing woody plant cover may augment runoff. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular cloning and characterization of an adenosine receptor: the A3 adenosine receptor.

Abstract We have previously reported the selective amplification of several rat striatal cDNA sequences that encode guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (G protein)-coupled receptors. One of these sequences (R226) exhibited high sequence identity (58%) with the two previously cloned adenosine receptors. A full-length cDNA clone for R226 has been isolated from a rat brain cDNA library. The cDNA clone encodes a protein of 320 amino acids that can be organized into seven transmembrane stretches. R226 has been expressed in COS-7 and CHO cells and membranes from the transfected cells were screened with adenosine receptor radioligands. R226 could bind the nonselective adenosine agonist tritiated N-ethyladenosine 5'-uronic acid ([3H]NECA) and A1-selective agonist radioiodinated N6-2-(4-amino-3-iodophenyl)-ethyladenosine ([125I]APNEA) but not A1-selective antagonists tritiated 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine ([3H]DPCPX) and 8-(4-[([[(2-aminoethyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl)oxy]-phenyl)-1, 3-dipropylxanthine ([3H]XAC) or the A2-selective agonist ligands tritiated 2-[4-(2-carboxyethyl)phenyl]ethyl-amino 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine ([3H]CGS21680) and radioiodinated 2-[4-([2-[(4-aminophenyl)methylcarbonylamino] ethylaminocarbonyl]ethyl)phenyl]ethylamino 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine. Extensive characterization with [125I]APNEA showed that R226 binds [125I]APNEA with high affinity (Kd = 15.5 +/- 2.4 nM) and the specific [125I]APNEA binding could be inhibited by adenosine ligands with a potency order of (R)-N6-phenyl-2-propyladenosine (R-PIA) = NECA greater than S-PIA greater than adenosine greater than ATP = ADP but not by antagonists XAC, isobutylmethylxanthine, and DPCPX. In R226 stably transfected CHO cells, adenosine agonists R-PIA, NECA, and CGS21680 inhibited by 40-50% the forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein with an EC50 of 18 +/- 5.6 nM, 23 +/- 3.5 nM, and 144 +/- 34 nM, respectively. Based on these observations we conclude that R226 encodes an adenosine receptor with non-A1 and non-A2 specificity, and we thus name it the A3 adenosine receptor. mRNA analyses revealed that the highest expression of R226 was in the testis and low-level mRNAs were also found in the lung, kidneys, heart, and some parts of the central nervous system such as cortex, striatum, and olfactory bulb. The high-expression level of the A3 receptor in the testis suggests a possible role for adenosine in reproduction.
Architectural Underpinnings of the Genetic Code for Glutamine

Structure-based mutational analysis was used to probe the architecture of the glutamine binding pocket in Escherichia coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS). Crystallographic studies of several different GlnRS complexes in a lattice that supports catalytic activity have shown that the glutamine amide group makes only ambiguous hydrogen-bonding interactions with a tyrosine hydroxyl and bound water molecule, rather than the highly specific hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions made by the substrate amino acid in all other nonediting tRNA synthetases. Further, the amide oxygen of substrate glutamine accepts a hydrogen bond from the 3'-ribose hydroxyl group of ATP, an unusual distal substrate-substrate interaction also not observed in any other tRNA synthetase complex. Steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetic analysis using a 3'-dATP analogue in place of ATP shows that removal of this distal interaction does not affect K(m) for the analogue as compared with ATP, yet decreases the efficiency of aminoacylation by 10(3)-fold while significantly elevating K(m) for glutamine. In other experiments, mutation of eight nearly fully conserved residues in the glutamine binding pocket reveals decreases in k(cat)/K(m) ranging from 5- to 400-fold, and in K(d) for glutamine of up to at least 60-fold. Amino acid replacements at Tyr211 and Gln255, which participate with substrate glutamine in an antidromic circular arrangement of hydrogen bonds, cause the most severe decreases in catalytic efficiency. This finding suggests that the relative absence of direct hydrogen bonds to glutamine may be in part compensated by additional binding energy derived from the enhanced stability of this circular network. Calculations of electrostatic surface potential in the active site further suggest that a complementary electrostatic environment is also an important determinant of glutamine binding.