cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diphosphopyridine nucleotide-linked d-lactate dehydrogenases from the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, and the seaworm, Nereis virens: II. Catalytic properties☆

Abstract The catalytic properties of the purified horseshoe crab and seaworm d -lactate dehydrogenases were determined and compared with those of several l -lactate dehydrogenases. Apparent Km's and degrees of substrate inhibition have been determined for both enzymes for pyruvate, d -lactate, NAD+ and NADH. They are similar to those found for l -lactate dehydrogenases. The Limulus “muscle”-type lactate dehydrogenase is notably different from the “heart”-type lactate dehydrogenase of this organism in a number of properties. The Limulus heart and muscle enzymes have been shown by several criteria to be stereospecific for d -lactate. They also stereospecifically transfer the 4-α hydrogen of NADH to pyruvate. The turnover number for purified Limulus muscle lactate dehydrogenase is 38,000 moles NADH oxidized per mole of enzyme, per minute. Limulus and Nereis lactate dehydrogenases are inhibited by oxamate and the reduced NAD-pyruvate adduct. Limulus muscle lactate dehydrogenase is stoichiometrically inhibited by para-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Extrapolation to two moles parahydroxymercuribenzoate bound to one mole of enzyme yields 100% inhibition. Alkylation by iodoacetamide or iodoacetate occurs even in the absence of urea or guanidine-HCl. Evidence suggests that the reactive sulfhydryl group may not be located at the coenzyme binding site. Reduced coenzyme (NADH or the 3-acetyl-pyridine analogue of NADH) stoichiometrically binds to Limulus muscle lactate dehydrogenase (two moles per mole of enzyme). Several pieces of physical and catalytic evidence suggest that the d - and l -lactate dehydrogenase are products of homologous genes. A consideration of a possible “active site” shows that as few as one or two key conservative amino acid changes could lead to a reversal of the lactate stereospecificity.
Large scale sequencing

DNA sequencing and assembly is the Philosopher's Stone of bioinformatics, where the raw material of wet lab enzymatic chemistry is transformed into the bits and bytes of sequence information. The sequence information becomes the foundation for extensive downstream analyses. This unit provides a brief overview of the sequencing process. It describes several software programs typically used for base calling, assembling, and finishing sequence data such as STADEN, Phred, Phrap, and Consed.
Pressure recovery in a constant-area, two-stream supersonic diffuser

The quasi-one-dimensional theoretical analysis is based on the assumption of steady, uniform flow at the inlet and outlet locations. The primary and secondary streams are assumed to behave as perfect gases, and the base area between the two streams at the diffuser entrance plane is assumed to be zero. The fundamental equations of continuity, momentum, and energy are applied to the control volume shown in the inset of Fig. 1. Knowledge of the inflow conditions and manipulation of these equations produces -a series of equations which determines flow properties such as static pressure and Mach number at the diffuser exit plane for the case of maximum compression. Based on the "equivalent" entering Mach number concept, the analysis provides theoretical values of the subsonic Mach number and the maximum static pressure at the diffuser exit plane for comparison with experimentally measured values. Details of the analysis are covered in Ref. 9. Experimental Program
Abnormal flowers and pattern formation in floral

“From our acquaintance with this abnormal enabled to unveil the secrets that normal us, and to see distinctly what, from the regular we can only infer.” - J. W. von Goethe (1790)
Assessing Adolescent Personality Disorders With the Shedler–Westen Assessment Procedure for Adolescents

This two-part study describes the development and validation of a method for quantifying adolescent personality pathology using the latest edition of the Shedler–Westen Assessment Procedure for Adolescents (SWAP-II-A), an instrument designed to be used by clinically experienced observers. In Study 1, experienced psychologists and psychiatrists described a normative clinical sample of 950 North American patients. Study 2 applied the SWAP-II-A in a day treatment setting. Results indicated that SWAP-II-A personality disorder (PD) scales evidenced high internal consistency, construct validity with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) symptoms and diagnoses, and concurrent validity with Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) ratings. Independent observers saw patients similarly, and PD assessments were significantly associated with CBCL scale scores and ward behavior.
Gastric effects of methylnaltrexone on μ, κ and δ opioid agonists induced brainstem unitary responses

In this study, we evaluated the gastric effects of methylnaltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist that does not cross the blood-brain barrier in vivo, on mu, kappa and delta opioid agonists induced brainstem unitary responses in an in vitro neonatal rat brainstem-gastric preparation. Single units in the medial subnucleus of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), responding to electrical stimulation of subdiaphragmatic vagal fibers, were recorded. Selective opioid receptor agonists and antagonists were applied only to the gastric compartment of the bath chamber and thus, the brainstem functions of the preparation were not affected by the drugs. The peripheral gastric effects of a mu opioid receptor agonist, DAMGO, and a kappa opioid receptor agonist, U-50,488H, were evaluated on 58 tonic units that received the subdiaphragmatic vagal inputs. For approximately 78% of the units observed, DAMGO (1.0 microM) and U-50,488H (1.0 microM) induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of 62.1+/-9.3% (mean +/- SE) and 49.2+/-6.5% of the control level of the NTS neuronal activity, respectively. Methylnaltrexone competitively antagonized the DAMGO-induced brainstem neuronal effects. Methylnaltrexone at an 18.8-fold higher concentration also reversed U-50,488H-induced NTS neuronal responses. Naloxone, a non-selective opioid receptor antagonist, reversed the inhibitory effects of DAMGO and U-50,488H at much lower concentrations (3.8% and 0.5%, respectively) compared to methylnaltrexone. Only 18% of the NTS neurons evaluated showed inhibitory responses to a delta receptor agonist, DPDPE, (19.7+/-5.0% at 10 microM), and this inhibition could not be reversed by methylnaltrexone in the concentration range we tested. In addition, when methylnaltrexone (1.0 microM) alone was applied to the gastric compartment, there was an activation (8.5+/-2.1%) of the NTS neurons receiving subdiaphragmatic vagal inputs, suggesting an endogenous gastric opioid action in the modulation of brainstem neuronal activities.
Associations among alcoholism, drug abuse, and antisocial personality: a review of literature.

Current practice through both diagnostic systems and clinical approaches tends to view alcoholism, drug abuse, and antisocial personality as completely distinct systems. In the course of research with other goals, the authors noted the apparent associations of each pair within this triad. As prior reviews of the literature on associations among these did not deal with implications of frequent association, this literature was re-evaluated with a more comprehensive assessment of the studies and reports bearing on these associations. After a broad search, studies were examined that reponed statistics indicating an association or none between one or more of the pairs of the triad. About 75% to 80% of the studies meeting the criteria showed positive associations between pairs. Also, a common etiological matrix may predispose one to behaviors diagnostic of each aspect of the triad: alcoholism, drug abuse, and antisocial personality. Although many studies contained methodological difficulties, the review suggest...
Smoking quit success genotype score predicts quit success and distinct patterns of developmental involvement with common addictive substances.

Smoking quit success genotype score predicts quit success and distinct patterns of developmental involvement with common addictive substances
Development of Rumination in the Young Calf

Summary The activities of 12 Jersey and 14 Holstein calves, with special attention to rumination, were observed for a full day's time each 2 wk. from 1–2 to 15–16 wk. of age. Rumination had begun in 18 of the calves in the first 2 wk., 25 in the second 2 wk., and in all calves in subsequent periods. Rumination time increased rapidly to an average of nearly 5 hr. per day at 6–8 wk. of age. Thereafter, the rate of increase in rumination time was reduced. Rumination time was positively correlated with dry feed consumption, but less time per pound of feed was spent ruminating as the calves aged. The appearance of rumen contents of 17 calves sacrificed at 12–22 days of age indicated that more than half of the calves were ruminating effectively at 2 wk. of age. Observations are also presented of the times spent eating and drinking and lying down, as well as correlations between blood glucose content and rumination time.
Directed evolution of a recombinase for improved genomic integration at a native human sequence

We previously established that a unidirectional site-specific recombinase, the phage phiC31 integrase, can mediate integration into mammalian chromosomes. The enzyme directs integration of plasmids bearing the phage attB recognition site into pseudo attP sites, a set of native sequences related to the phage attP recognition site. Here we use two cycles of DNA shuffling and screening in Escherichia coli to obtain evolved integrases that possess significant improvements in integration frequency and sequence specificity at a pseudo attP sequence located on human chromosome 8, when measured in the native genomic environment of living human cells. Such integrases represent custom integration tools that will be useful for modifying the genomes of higher eukaryotic cells.
Objectives and requirements of unmanned rover exploration of the moon

Unmanned lunar rover exploration objectives and requirements, considering heterogeneous surface
Cassini at Saturn Proximal Orbits - Attitude Control Challenges

The Cassini mission at Saturn will come to an end in the spring and summer of 2017 with a series of 22 orbits that will dip inside the rings of Saturn. These are called proximal orbits and will conclude with spacecraft disposal into the atmosphere of the ringed world on September 15, 2017. These unique orbits that cross the ring plane only a few thousand kilometers above the cloud tops of the planet present new attitude control challenges for the Cassini operations team. Crossing the ring plane so close to the inner edge of the rings means that the Cassini orientation during the crossing will be tailored to protect the sensitive electronics bus of the spacecraft. This orientation will put the sun sensors at some extra risk so this paper discusses how the team prepares for dust hazards. Periapsis is so close to the planet that spacecraft controllability with RCS thrusters needs to be evaluated because of the predicted atmospheric torque near closest approach to Saturn. Radiation during the ring plane crossings will likely trigger single event transients in some attitude control sensors. This paper discusses how the attitude control team deals with radiation hazards. The angular size and unique geometry of the rings and Saturn near periapsis means that star identification will be interrupted and this paper discusses how the safe mode attitude is selected to best deal with these large bright bodies during the proximal orbits.
Gemtuzumab ozogamicin, fludarabine, cytarabine and cyclosporine combination regimen in patients with CD33+ primary resistant or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia

Clinical resistance to gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with blast multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. A Phase II study of Mylotarg, fludarabine, ara-C and the MDR-modifier, cyclosporine (CSA) (MFAC) was conducted in 32 patients with primary resistant (11, 34%) or relapsed (21, 66%) AML. Nine (28%) patients obtained complete remission (CR), two (6%) CR with incomplete platelet recovery. Overall median survival was 5.3 months, 12-month survival rate 19%. Fourteen patients (44%) developed grade 3/4 hyperbilirubinemia; six (18%) grade 3/4 hepatic transaminitis; three (9%) hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD). CSA inclusion in gemtuzumab ozogamicin-based regimens is feasible. MFAC is an effective regimen for refractory AML.
Standards for galvanomagnetic devices

Abstract A summary is given of existing and “in-process” standards for galvanomagnetic devices. Controversial items in the IEC standard for Hall effect devices, 47(Secretariat)196, May 1965, are reviewed, and note is made of USA and Japanese comments on this document. Items in the USA Document, 47(USA), September 1965, commenting on 47(Secretariat)196, are reviewed, and particular emphasis is given to items relating to linearity error, particularly as a per cent of reading, to residual voltages, and to sensitivity indices. A summary of items in an “in-process” document for “Standard Definitions and Terminology for Magnetoresistive Devices,” is given. The concept of compatibility between definitions for flux and temperature sensitive resistors (i.e. magnetoresistors, thermistors and photoresistors) is introduced. Some overlapping areas of application are noted. The linear input-output characteristics obtainable from a device which has a square law characteristic are noted and appropriate definitions for both characteristics are introduced. Copies of four documents dealing with standard terminology and definitions for Hall effect devices are included as appendices.
Testing of performance in common carp Cyprinus carpio L. under pond husbandry conditions I: top-crossing with Northern mirror carp

Performance tests of Northern mirror carp (M72) and three different crossbreds were conducted in semi-intensive pond conditions from the larval stage up to market size. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible utilization of new hybrid combinations (M72 × PL – Pohořelice mirror carp) and (M72 × Dor – Israeli mirror carp), and to compare them with a hybrid widely reared as a commercial product (M72 × M2 – Hungarian mirror carp) and with M72 purebred. The testing model was derived from similar studies carried out in the conditions of the Czech Republic, where an internal control of different scale cover is used to eliminate all non-genetic effects. ancova revealed at market size significantly better growth in M72 × Dor (1 619±28.3 g; LS mean±SE) and M72 × PL (1475±29.8 g) compared with M72 (1278±26.3 g). Survival during the test of 3 years duration was significantly the best in the M72 × Dor hybrid as were the dressing out parameters measured at market size, even if these were significantly different only in proportion of fillets with skin (39.1±0.28%). Interestingly, the crossbred M72 × M2 commonly used by Czech fishermen showed for both, growth (1371±26.2 g) and survival, the lowest values among crossbreds and with regard to dressing out parameters mostly among all tested groups.
The effects of chronic tannic acid intake on prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) reproduction.

The hypothesis was tested that the reproductive performance of voles would be reduced when fed diets containing tannins either because of increased metabolic rates, decreased intake, or decreased digestive efficiency. We fed a ration containing 4% tannic acid (TA) (dry mass basis) to 24 pair of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and compared reproductive performance (litter size, birth weights, body mass of the young until weaning, and mass changes in the dams) to that of 24 pair of prairie vole fed a control ration. We also compared the intake rates, digestive efficiency, and metabolic rates [as measured by Vo2 consumption (cm3/hr)] of dams and young fed both rations. Voles consuming 4% TA diets produced litters of similar size and mass as did voles fed the control ration. Furthermore, the mass of the young of dams fed the tannic acid ration were similar to the young of dams consuming the control ration through day 19 postpartum. However, dams consuming the tannic acid ration lost mass throughout lactation while the control dams maintained mass. Because the Vo2 rates of both treated and control dams and litters were similar, we conclude increased metabolic costs were not the reason for the observed mass loss but, rather, reduced digestive efficiency, reduced intake of digestible dry mass, and apparent digestible nitrogen.
Antigen presentation by peritoneal macrophages from young adult and old mice.

Abstract Macrophages perform vital inductive and regulatory functions in immune processes and host defense mechanisms. However, macrophage function during senescence has not been extensively studied. Although antibody response is dramatically reduced in old animals, antigen presentation has never been directly assessed. Therefore, the antigen-presenting capabilities of purified peritoneal macrophages from young adult and old mice were studied by quantitatively measuring their ability to induce antigen specific proliferation of lymph node T lymphocytes. Increasing numbers (10 2 to 10 5 ) of macrophages from nonimmunized young adult (3 to 6 months) or aged (27 to 36 months) animals were cultured in the presence of antigen with a constant number (2 × 10 5 ) of column-separated popliteal lymph node cells from young adult mice. The latter had been immunized with the dinitrophenyl conjugate of bovine γ-globulin in complete Freund's adjuvant by footpad injection. Macrophages from old animals were equal to macrophages from young adult animals in stimulating T-lymphocyte proliferation, and the kinetics of incorporation was identical with increasing numbers of macrophages from either young adult or old animals. However, greater numbers of resident or induced peritoneal macrophages were always harvested from old animals. Differences in macrophage activity as assessed by different functional parameters may be reconciled by implicating subpopulations of macrophages that perform separate functions e.g., Ia-positive antigen presenter and Ia-negative scavenger macrophages.
Neuroanatomy of the external urethral sphincter: implications for urinary continence preservation during radical prostate surgery.

ABSTRACTPost-prostatectomy urinary incontinence probably is multifactorial and sphincteric nerve injury could be a contributing cause. Controversy still exists regarding the innervation of the external sphincter, and currently pudendal nerve injury is not believed to be an etiological factor in post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence. To understand better the sphincter and its innervation, we undertook an anatomical and histological study of 18 adult male cadavers, which revealed that the external urethral sphincter receives part of its innervation through special branches originating from the dorsal nerve of the penis after it splits from the pudendal nerve. These nerve branches were located 0.3 to 1.3 cm. from the prostatic apex, and in 50% of the cadavers they were identified only unilaterally or had only 1 branch on each side. The proximity of these nerves to the prostatic apex may make them liable to injury during radical prostatectomy. These nerves are most likely sensory in nature although the pres...
Nodular fasciitis and solitary fibrous tumor of the oral regionTumors of fibroblast heterogeneity

Abstract Objective. Fibroblastic proliferations of the oral cavity are extremely varied, yet they share certain features—spindle cell morphology, collagen synthesis, and fasciculation. Nodular fasciitis is a cellular fibroblastic lesion, uncommonly located in the oral submucosa, that shows smooth muscle actin (SMA) immunoreactivity. Solitary fibrous tumor expresses a CD34 fibroblast phenotype. The aim of this study is to report instances of nodular fasciitis and solitary fibrous tumor in the orofacial region and investigate immunohistochemical markers to compare and contrast fibroblastic phenotypic heterogeneity in these tumors. Study design. Seven benign cellular fibrogenic tumors intially diagnosed as nodular fasciitis over a 10-year period were examined. Immunohistochemical markers, including S-100 protein, SMA, CD68, CD34, and vimentin, were used to further characterize these lesions. Results. All tumors occurred in adults, and the buccal mucosa was found to be the favored site. The spindle cells in these tumors showed phenotypic heterogeneity both within and between tumors. All were vimentin-reactive and harbored small populations of CD68-positive macrophage/dendrocytes. Five tumors were SMA-positive and CD34-negative; the tumor in one case was SMA-negative and CD34-positive, and that in another was SMA-positive and CD34-positive. Conclusion. Although rare, nodular fasciitis and solitary fibrous tumor arise in oral submucosa, usually in the cheek. The histopathologic features and immunomarkers indicative of myofibroblastic differentiation are seen in nodular fasciitis, whereas solitary fibrous tumor is CD34-positive; however, one instance was found to be positive for both markers. All of these cases harbored subpopulations of CD68-positive cells. Immunomarkers are a valuable adjunct in differentiating nodular fasciitis from solitary fibrous tumor, yet some tumors may harbor heterogeneous fibroblast phenotypes. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1999;87:471-6)
What Are International Institutions

International institutions are a central focus of international relations scholarship as well as of policymaking efforts around the world. Despite their importance, our scholarly literature lacks a widely accepted definition of just what they are. Instead, scholars have employed a range of largely nonoverlapping conceptions, contributing to a fragmentation of the literature and hindering theoretical cumulation. This essay seeks to remedy this unsatisfactory state of affairs. It first reviews the principal ways in which international institutions have been conceptualized and identifies their shortcomings. It then develops a definition that promises to be inclusive of what are commonly regarded as the most important institutional forms without losing analytical coherence. A final section discusses some of the concrete benefits that result from employing the new definition, both in improving existing scholarship and by suggesting valuable new avenues of research.
Problems in the measurement of the Ar2+/Ar+ partial ionization cross-section ratio by use of the pulsed-electron-beam time-of-flight method

In order to clarify a long standing problem in mass spectroscopy we have carried out a careful reanalysis of our earlier work on the ratio of the Ar2+ to Ar+ partial ionization cross-section ratio using the pulsed-electron-beam time-of-flight method. Of all the possible error sources investigated only three were found to have a significant effect on the ratio but all three acted in the same direction. We have thus revised our previous estimates for the value of the ratio downward and increased our estimates of the uncertainy in our measurements. Our new results agree with those recently published in this journal as determined from a careful re-examination of the fast neutral beam technique.
Dealkylation as a mechanism for aging of cholinesterase after poisoning with pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate

Abstract The decrease in the mole fraction of 32 P-pinacolyl methylphosphonic acid ( 32 P-PMPA) derived from acetylcholinesterase inhibited with 32 P-labeled pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate (Soman) was used to measure the rate of dealkylation of the phosphonylated enzyme in vitro . First-order rate constants for dealkylation and for “aging,” as measured by decrease in reactivatability by monoisonitrosoacetone were not significantly different. Dealkylation in the brain of the rat poisoned with 32 P-Soman in vivo reached a maximum within 30 min after poisoning. Eserine, given prior to poisoning with 32 P-Soman in vivo , raised the LD 50 of Soman 3–8-fold and appeared to shunt the Soman to nondealkylating sites, as judged by the high mole-fraction of 32 P-PMPA and the large retention of cholinesterase activity in the brains of these animals.
Collisional shear instability in the equatorial F region ionosphere

[1] A collisional shear instability in a magnetized plasma is described and evaluated. The instability is related to electrostatic Kelvin Helmholtz but operates in inhomogeneous plasmas in the collisional regime. Boundary value analysis predicts that the linear growth rate for the instability could be comparable to that of the collisional interchange instability in the equatorial F region ionosphere under ideal conditions. An initial value simulation of a nonlinear model of the instability run under realistic conditions produces growing waves with a relatively long growth time (50 min) and with an initial wavelength of about 30 km. The simulation results are consistent with recent radar observations showing large-scale plasma waves in the bottomside equatorial ionosphere at sunset prior to the onset of spread F conditions. The role of shear instability in preconditioning the F region for interchange instabilities to occur after sunset is discussed.
Block the Inhibitor Binding Site in the Interior of Dehaloperoxidase from Amphitrite Ornata

Dehaloperoxidase (DHP A) from the annelid Amphitrite ornata is a catalytically active hemoglobin-peroxidase that possesses an internal binding site in the distal pocket and an external binding site near the heme edge. We have recently demonstrated that DHP A has a unique two-site competitive binding mechanism, in which the internal and external binding sites communicate through two conformations of the distal histidine (H55). The native substrate is 2,4,6-tribromophenol, but DHP A is capable of oxidizing any 2,4,6-trihalophenol to the corresponding dihaloquinone and other products. While DHP A is very effective at oxidizing 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, assays of DHP A on 2,4-dichlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol show little to no activity. Binding of 4-halophenols in the internal site prevents oxidation of trihalogenated phenols at the external site, i.e. they are inhibitors. X-ray crystallography shows that when para-halogenated phenols (4-iodo-, 4-bromo-, 4-chlorophenol) bind internally, the halogen is accommodated by a hydrophobic cavity that is analogous to the Xenon 4 binding site in Sperm whale myoglobin. Using resonance Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the apparent dissociation constants of the para-halogenated phenols mimic the trend observed in the X-ray crystal structures. The results suggest that a few amino acids (L100, V59, F21, F24, and F35) surrounding the hydrophobic cavity regulate internal binding of the inhibitor. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have changed several of these amino acids to prevent internal binding, and thus to increase DHP A activity towards mono- and dichlorinated phenols. Mutation to tryptophan (F21W and V59W) gives rise to new radical intermediates which complicates the interpretation in terms of inhibitor binding. Alternatively, aliphatic amino acids and phenylalanine provide steric effects that can alter the oxidation of rates of 4-chloro-, and 2,4-dichlorophenol.
Game theoretic power allocation in sparsely distributed clusters of wireless sensors (GPAS)

Sparsely distributed clusters of wireless sensors with applications ranging from state-wide wireless bridge monitoring to animal herds tracking have gained recent attention due to their special characteristics and challenging resource allocation problem. A novel optimal power allocation paradigm based on game theory is proposed to minimize the inter and intra-cluster interference. Cost functions are assigned to the transmission power, estimate of the aggregate interference generated by the cluster on the overall network, and the signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) at the node level. It is observed that the proposed algorithm demonstrates acceptable convergence properties when used after a channel allocation scheme and is more power efficient if used in parallel with a channel allocation method. Simulation results are presented to support the proposed analysis.
Automatic design and planning of scaffolding systems using building information modeling

Considering their significant impact on construction projects, scaffolding as part of the temporary facilities category in construction must be thoroughly designed, planned, procured, and managed. The current practices in planning and managing scaffolding though is often manual and reactive, especially when a construction project is already underway. Widespread results are code compliance problems, inefficiency, and waste of procuring and managing material for scaffolding systems. We developed a rule-based system that automatically plans scaffolding systems for pro-active management in Building Information Modeling (BIM). The scope of the presented work is limited to traditional pipe and board scaffolding systems. A rule was prepared based on the current practice of planning and installing scaffolding systems. Our computational algorithms automatically recognize geometric and non-geometric conditions in building models and produce a scaffolding system design which a practitioner can use in the field. We implemented our automated scaffolding system for a commercially-available BIM software and tested it in a case study project. The system thoroughly identified the locations in need of scaffolding and generated the corresponding scaffolding design in BIM. Further results show, the proposed approach successfully generated a scaffolding system-loaded BIM model that can be utilized in communication, billing of materials, scheduling simulation, and as a benchmark for accurate field installation and performance measurement.
Phenomenology of solvent matrix spectroscopic effects

Abstract Rigid-matrix perturbations are applied to various molecular potentials in accordance with the Born-Oppenhelmer approach developed in an earlier paper. The potentials considered are the (a) Morse vibrational, (b) repulsive, (c) double-bond torsional, (d) double-minimum, and (e) pseudo-Jahn-Teller. Predictions are made concerning the novel phenomenology expected for each matrix-perturbed potential.
The Germination and Staining of Basidia in Gymnosporangium

A procedure is described for germinating and staining rust teliospores on the slide. The spores are germinated on slides in a damp chamber, about 3 hours being required for the production of sporidia. The material is killed by inverting slides over osmic acid fumes for a few minutes. Germinated spores are then allowed to dry on the slide, thus becoming fixed to the slide in a gelatin produced by the breaking down of their own stalks during germination. No other fixative is required. Material must be thoroly dehydrated in the alcohols (one or more hours in each of the higher alcohols); returned to water; mordanted for 2-3 hours in 4% iron alum; stained for 2-3 hours in 0.5% aqueous solution of Heidenhain's hematoxylin; destained in 2% iron alum. The material is passed back thru the alcohols and mixtures of xylol and absolute alcohol (1:2, 1:1, 2:1) to xylol and mounted in balsam. The method is particularly satisfactory for the Gymnosporanghim rusts, which have telia very readily gelatinized. The details of...
Understanding urban neighborhood differences in willingness to implement green infrastructure measures: a case study of Syracuse, NY

Abstract Green infrastructure is increasing in use in many major cities of the United States as a measure of stormwater control. Policy makers have opted for the use of green infrastructure measures as they add both aesthetic and functional value to the landscape. There is a need to understand the view of the public regarding the use of green infrastructure in their neighborhoods, specifically the factors that influence the public's willingness to implement green infrastructure on private properties. This study utilizes a door-to-door survey to examine citizens’ knowledge and willingness to implement green infrastructure technologies within two neighborhoods in Syracuse, New York. Results indicate that residents have high levels of knowledge regarding the use of green infrastructure methods for stormwater control, with no differences in socio-demographic variables affecting such green infrastructure knowledge. There is also strong willingness to implement green infrastructure measures whether provided free or whether a savings is accrued with implementation. Additionally, key factors affecting citizens’ willingness to implement green infrastructure are efficacy, aesthetics, and cost. This study indicates that perhaps a targeted approach can be taken for implementing green infrastructure measures. The profile of the most likely person to target includes those that are low income, desire to improve the overall aesthetic of their community and their personal space, and those whose financial commitments will not be strained. The study therefore provides valuable information for policy makers interested in using urban private properties to expand green spaces.
Intracellular Calcium and Myocardial Contractility

Postextrasystolic potentiation was studied in the isolated perfused rabbit heart to determine its effect on intracellular calcium, sodium, and potassium concentration, 45Ca uptake, and calcium distribution in mitochondria and microsomes. Paired stimulation at 80/min augmented myocardial contractility with a gradually developing increase in total intracellular calcium and sodium. A greater 45Ca uptake was also observed and this was proportionate to the increase of intracellular calcium so that no change in exchangeable calcium occurred. A small but statistically insignificant increment was observed in mitochondrial and microsomal calcium. An increase of the rate of single stimuli to 160/min produced a minimal change in myocardial contractility compared to paired stimulation at 80/min, no change in total intracellular calcium, and a greater calcium uptake so that there was a significant increment in exchangeable calcium. Although these experiments do not identify the cellular processes responsible for the p...
Relationship Between Vehicle Miles Traveled and Economic Activity

Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the United States has exhibited an upward trend over time similar to that observed for the gross domestic product (GDP) and personal income. Although conventional wisdom suggests that economic growth leads to more driving and thus higher VMT, it is theoretically possible that the causation could be the other way around. If causation is from VMT to GDP, a directive from legislation such as the Federal Surface Transportation Policy and Planning Act of 2009 to reduce national per capita VMT annually could have an adverse impact on the overall economic activity. This study uses times series techniques to test empirically for Granger causality between VMT and various measures of the national economic activity over time. In most circumstances the causal relationship is found to be from economic activity to VMT; this relationship confirms conventional wisdom and suggests that exogenous shocks to VMT will not negatively affect the national GDP. The relationship between national VMT...
Preliminary experiences with telemedicine, multimedia, and ATM

With the goal of eventually increasing the quality of medical care, especially in remote areas, we have developed a system for telemedicine research based on a combination of ATM networking and a high-speed DSP board based on the Texas Instruments TMS320C80. The purpose of the system is to give health care providers at remote locations the ability to consult with specialists using a combination of video, audio, and externally-acquired images. The system can also be used for education purposes to support bi-directional video/audio communications for grand round lectures, classes, and case conferences. In order to maximize the utilization of the available transmission medium (ranging from land-based copper and fiber optic cable to satellite link) while providing the best possible video and audio quality, the compression performed by the system is adaptable to a wide variety of bandwidths. After about two years of experience with telemedicine in a research environment, we have some preliminary findings to report regarding the performance of a telemedicine application combining ATM and programmable multimedia processors in PC environments.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Time-dependent density-matrix functional in Liouville space and the optical response of many-electron systems.

A time-dependent functional approach is developed for calculating the dynamical optical response and ground-state properties of nonrelativistic fermion systems. The functional (effective action) uses the particle-hole components of the reduced single-electron density matrix as variables and is constructed using the natural orbitals as a reference. It is defined on pairs of trajectories that constitute a Liouville space path in the phase space of the classical analog of the quantum system. A perturbative ``semiclassical'' calculation of the effective Liouville-space action is used to incorporate correlation effects in the linear optical response.
Enumerative Cuts: I

This paper presents new types of cutting-plane algorithms for integer-constrained optimization problems. The underlying idea of the method of enumerative cuts is to make use of an enumeration procedure in order to construct cutting planes that can be made arbitrarily deep. In recent publications, Balas and Young have established in somewhat different contexts that valid cutting planes can be generated from the intersection of basic rays with adequately constructed hyperspheres. This paper introduces a family of polyhedra to replace the sphere; these polyhedra are not tangential to the hypersphere and produce cutting planes with particular characteristics that are discussed. Constructive procedures are sketched for generating step-by-step cutting planes that become deeper and deeper at every step, until the deepest cut is obtained. This construction often relies on a partial enumeration scheme of the set of integer solutions.
Serum amyloid P component: its role in platelet activation stimulated by sphingomyelinase D purified from the venom of the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa).

Abstract C. A. Gates and R. S. Rees . Serum amyloid P component: its role in platelet activation stimulated by sphingomyelinase D purified from the venom of the brown recluse spider ( Loxosceles reclusa ). Toxicon 28, 1303–1315, 1990.—Serum amyloid P component or serum amyloid protein is a ubiquitous, highly conserved glycoprotein whose function is unknown. Although the related pentraxin, C-reactive protein, is an acute phase reactant in man, there is no direct evidence that human serum amyloid protein is involved in an inflammatory response. Here we show that serum amyloid protein is required by sphingomyelinase D, the principal necrotic agent of the venom of Loxosceles reclusa , for the in vitro-activation of human platelets. Furthermore, this platelet activation is dependent upon the presence of only serum amyloid protein; no other plasma components are necessary. Secretion of [ 3 H]-serotonin and aggregation of platelets are nearly maximal following incubation of the platelets with purified sphingomyelinase D (0.3 μg/ml) and 5 μg/ml pure serum amyloid protein in the presence of calcium. Since the platelets are no longer activated when this 10% physiologic amount of serum amyloid protein is omitted, serum amyloid protein is likely to have a role in the necrosis caused by brown recluse spider venom.
The stochastic collocation method for radiation transport in random media

Abstract Stochastic spectral expansions are used to represent random input parameters and the random unknown solution to describe radiation transport in random media. The total macroscopic cross section is taken to be a spatially continuous log-normal random process with known covariance function and expressed as a memoryless transformation of a Gaussian random process. The Karhunen–Loeve expansion is applied to represent the spatially continuous random cross section in terms of a finite number of discrete Gaussian random variables. The angular flux is then expanded in terms of Hermite polynomials and, using a quadrature-based stochastic collocation method, the expansion coefficients are shown to satisfy uncoupled deterministic transport equations. Sparse grid Gauss quadrature rules are investigated to establish the efficacy of the polynomial chaos-collocation scheme. Numerical results for the mean and standard deviation of the scalar flux as well as probability density functions of the scalar flux and transmission function are obtained for a deterministic incident source, contrasting between absorbing and diffusive media.
Oncogenes and growth control

Abstract Retroviral oncogenes are known to have been acquired from normal cells. Two of these oncogenes were derived from genes for proteins which function in cellular growth control pathways. The v- sis oncogene encodes a protein closely related to platelet-derived growth factor, while the v- erb -B oncogene encodes a truncated form of the epidermal growth factor receptor.
Strategies for reaching poor blacks and hispanics in Dade County, Florida

A need to reach poor blacks and Hispanics in Dade County, Florida, with information about the prevention and early detection of cancer was documented in data from the Florida Cancer Data System for 1981 through 1983. This information was brought to the target population through community media, churches, and agencies serving the poor. Guidelines for productive presentations evolved during the 4-year experience. A significant portion of the community was recruited for mammograms. A significant change to in situ and local stage of disease occurred among the screened group as compared to an unscreened cohort treated at the same facility. An estimated savings of about $9700 in treatment costs per cancer found has shown that mammography of the poor community saves money as well as lives. The establishment of a One-Stop Breast Diagnostic Center compliments the screening program and removes many barriers in reaching the goal of early cancer detection among the poor.
Reaction of t-butyllithium with 1-phenylcycloalkenes

Abstract The course of reaction of 1-phenylcycloalkenes, Ph CCH(C H2)n with t-butyllithium in the presence of THF or TMEDA is found to vary with ring size as follows: n  2, polymerization; n  3, allylic deprotonation and addition to the double bond; n  4, allylic deprotonation only; n  5, metalation of the aromatic ring. These results are in accord with the stereochemistries of starting olefins.
Separation of gangliosides, corticosteroids and water-soluble non-lipids from lipid extracts by sephadex columns.

Abstract Two column chromatographic systems (benzene-Sephadex and hexane-Sephadex) are described which effectively separate water-soluble intermediates from lipid extracts of tissues incubated with radioactive precursors. Biphasic solvent systems were prepared by equilibrating either benzene or hexane with aqueous ethanol. Sephadex G-25 was allowed to swell in the aqueous ethanol (stationary phase). From crude lipid extracts the mobile phase (benzene or hexane) eluted neutral and phospholipids; polar lipids and non-lipids were retained, but were eluted by aqueous ethanol. The hexane-Sephadex column was more effective in separating gangliosides from glycerolipids and separated corticosteroids from sterols, ketosteroids and progestins.
Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by loss of intra-mitochondrial K+.

Abstract 1. A system is described in which intra-mitochondrial K + concentration can be manipulated by the use of dinitrophenol and valinomycin. 2. As mitochondria lose K + a striking inhibition of O 2 consumption occurs with both succinate and DPN-linked substrates, but not if tetramethyl- p -phenylenediamine + ascorbate serves as substrate. Respiration can be re-activated by adding K + to the medium. 3. Results are discussed in terms of sensitivity of electron transport or substrate dehydrogenation to intra-mitochondrial K + content.
Emotional Support and Affect: Associations with Health Behaviors and Active Coping Efforts in Men Living with HIV

The present study represents a cross-sectional examination of the relationship between affect, social support and illness adjustment in men diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Positive and negative affect were examined as separate mediators of the relationship between emotional support received from a primary support provider and illness adjustment in 105 men living with HIV. Results suggested that depressive symptoms emerged as a mediator between emotional support and engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors (assessed by summary index). In contrast, positive affect emerged as the primary mediator between emotional support and greater amounts of active coping. Overall, findings suggested that emotional support from close others was indirectly associated with health behaviors and coping through recipients' affective states, and that these positive and negative affective states had differential relationships with multiple aspects of illness adjustment in men living with HIV.
Toll-like receptors and pregnancy.

The maternal-fetal interface represents an immunologically unique site that must promote tolerance to the allogenic fetus, whilst maintaining host defense against a diverse array of possible pathogens. Clinical studies have shown a strong association between certain pregnancy complications and intrauterine infections. Therefore, innate immune responses to microorganisms at the maternal-fetal interface may have a significant impact on the success of a pregnancy. There is growing evidence that trophoblast cells are able to recognize and respond to pathogens through the expression of Toll-like receptors, a system characteristic of innate immune cells. This review will discuss the role of Toll-like receptors at the maternal-fetal interface, the potential for trophoblast cells to function as components of the innate immune system and the impact TLR-mediated trophoblast responses may have on a pregnancy.
Use of a conductance catheter to detect increased left ventricular inotropic state by end-systolic pressure-volume analysis

The slope of the left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship is thought to be a load-independent index of contractile state. However, clinical application requires a practical technique to simultaneously measure pressure and volume in man. We used a left ventricular conductance catheter to derive the left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship over a range of arterial pressures during nitroprusside infusion and washout in 14 patients, and to characterize the effect of dobutamine, a positive inotropic drug. End-systole was defined as the maximum pressure-to-volume ratio. Dobutamine (5 µg/kg/min) increased the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship in 11 of 14 patients, the mean slope increasing by 43% from 1.4±0.1 to 2.1±0.2 mm Hg/% end-diastolic volume (p<0.01). In 12 of 14 patients there was a leftward and upward shift of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship with dobutamine. To quantitate this shift, we derived left ventricular pressure at control end-systolic volume before and after dobutamine. Dobutamine increased the mean end-systolic pressure at control end-systolic volume in 12 of 14 patients, the average increased by 37% from 134±10 to 189±23 mm Hg (p<0.01). We conclude that the conductance catheter can be used in man to detect a drug-induced change in left ventricular contractile state. This technique may be useful in the evaluation of drugs with positive inotropic actions, and in assessing the response of individual patients to positive inotropic agents.