cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Membrane Cholesterol Strongly Influences Confined Diffusion of Prestin

Prestin is the membrane motor protein that drives outer hair cell (OHC) electromotility, a process that is essential for mammalian hearing. Prestin function is sensitive to membrane cholesterol levels, and numerous studies have suggested that prestin localizes in cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains. Previously, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments were performed in HEK cells expressing prestin-GFP after cholesterol manipulations, and revealed evidence of transient confinement. To further characterize this apparent confined diffusion of prestin, we conjugated prestin to a photostable fluorophore (tetramethylrhodamine) and performed single-molecule fluorescence microscopy. Using single-particle tracking, we determined the microscopic diffusion coefficient from the full time course of the mean-squared deviation. Our results indicate that prestin undergoes diffusion in confinement regions, and that depletion of membrane cholesterol increases confinement size and decreases confinement strength. By interpreting the data in terms of a mathematical model of hop-diffusion, we quantified these cholesterol-induced changes in membrane organization. A complementary analysis of the distribution of squared displacements confirmed that cholesterol depletion reduces prestin confinement. These findings support the hypothesis that prestin function is intimately linked to membrane organization, and further promote a regulatory role for cholesterol in OHC and auditory function.
c-MET Regulates Myoblast Motility and Myocyte Fusion during Adult Skeletal Muscle Regeneration

Adult muscle stem cells, satellite cells (SCs), endow skeletal muscle with tremendous regenerative capacity. Upon injury, SCs activate, proliferate, and migrate as myoblasts to the injury site where they become myocytes that fuse to form new muscle. How migration is regulated, though, remains largely unknown. Additionally, how migration and fusion, which both require dynamic rearrangement of the cytoskeleton, might be related is not well understood. c-MET, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is required for myogenic precursor cell migration into the limb for muscle development during embryogenesis. Using a genetic system to eliminate c-MET function specifically in adult mouse SCs, we found that c-MET was required for muscle regeneration in response to acute muscle injury. c-MET mutant myoblasts were defective in lamellipodia formation, had shorter ranges of migration, and migrated slower compared to control myoblasts. Surprisingly, c-MET was also required for efficient myocyte fusion, implicating c-MET in dual functions of regulating myoblast migration and myocyte fusion.
THE ROLE OF HORMONES IN ADIPOSE GLYCOGEN SYNTHESIS IN THE RAT. ANTERIOR PITUITARY GROWTH HORMONE

Anterior pituitary growth hormone exerts an influence on fat and carbohydrate metabolism in addition to its well known effect of promoting nitrogen storage and growth (Li and Evans, 1948). In the fasting animal, ketosis and an accumulation of fat in the liver occur rapidly after the injection of purified growth hormone (Bennett et al., 1948, Szego and White, 1949). The latter authors showed that the adrenal is not essential for this response. In the fasting normal, hypophysectomized or adrenalectomized rat crude anterior pituitary extract (Harrison and Long, 1940) and purified growth hormone (Milman and Russell, 1949) both produce a prolonged depression of the blood sugar. These latter observations suggest that some of the effects of growth hormone may be mediated in part by insulin. Such a viewpoint was first proposed by Mirsky in 1939 and further developed by Young (1939, 1941, 1944, 1945) and by Gaebler and Galbraith (1941) and Gaebler and Robinson (1942).
Deep-UV diagnostics using continuous tone photoresist

Lines with steep sidewalls formed in high contrast photoresist with low absorption tend to hide the character of the dose distribution that formed them. For highly absorbing resists, the depth removed during development is directly proportional to Log(dose) and therefore gives a continuous tone record of the exposure dose distribution. Many photoresists useful at 436 nm with low absorption coefficients become highly absorptive at 248 nm and no longer produce sharp profiles. This continuous record of the dose distribution is used to measure uniformity of dose within a field, stability of dose control from exposure to exposure, dose unit matching, and the recording of high resolution dose profiles. Application of continuous tone photoresist to deep-UV lithography tool diagnostics is presented along with a model describing performance.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Sodium satellite structure.

A sample of sodium was bombarded by proton, helium, and oxygen beams and the subsequentK X-ray spectra measured. The spectra exhibit a preponderance of structure which is speculated upon in light of HFS calculations. The strongest lines are ascertained to be the normalKα satellite spectra produced by multiple electron vacancies in single ion-atom collisions.
Determinants of exchange-rate regimes for currencies of developing countries: Some preliminary results

Abstract The breakdown of the Bretton Woods system gave the LDCs an opportunity to move away from exchange-rate regimes based on pegging to a single currency. Relatively few chose to do so, thus providing some evidence that, from their point of view, the recognized advantages of more flexible exchange-rate arrangements are more than outweighed by the recognized drawbacks. The aim of this article is to set up a suitable econometric model and use it for a preliminary assessment of the quantitative significance of various factors affecting the choice of exchange-rate regimes by the LDCs.
Lessons Learned from Animal Models of Osteomyelitis

Because of the marked variability in presentation and management of osteomyelitis in patients, research with animal models that mimic the human disease offers a more controlled approach. Presently available animal models have been used to study pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of osteomyelitis. Each model has advantages and disadvantages. Although it seems improbable that an ideal model of osteomyelitis will be achieved in the near future, further efforts to develop new experimental models and innovative research with present models are clearly needed.
Intravitreal injection of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) causes peripheral remodeling and does not prevent photoreceptor loss in canine RPGR mutant retina.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) rescues photoreceptors in several animal models of retinal degeneration and is currently being evaluated as a potential treatment for retinitis pigmentosa in humans. This study was conducted to test whether CNTF prevents photoreceptor cell loss in XLPRA2, an early onset canine model of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa caused by a frameshift mutation in RPGR exon ORF15. Four different treatment regimens of CNTF were tested in XLPRA2 dogs. Under anesthesia, the animals received at different ages an intravitreal injection of 12 microg of CNTF in the left eye. The right eye served as a control and was injected with a similar volume of phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Ocular examinations were performed regularly during the treatment periods. At termination, the dogs were euthanatized, eyes collected and the retinas were processed for embedding in optimal cutting temperature (OCT) medium. The outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness was evaluated on H&E sections and values in both CNTF- and PBS-treated eyes were compared. Morphologic alterations in the peripheral retina were characterized by immunohistochemistry using cell-specific markers. Cell proliferation in the retinas was examined on semi-thin plastic sections, and by BrdU pulse-labeling and Ki67 immunohistochemistry on cryosections. All CNTF-treated eyes showed early clinical signs of corneal epitheliopathy, subcapsular cataracts and uveitis. No statistically significant difference in ONL thickness was seen between the CNTF- and PBS-injected eyes. Prominent retinal remodeling that consisted in an abnormal increase in the number of rods, and in misplacement of some rods, cones, bipolar and Muller cells, was observed in the peripheral retina of CNTF-treated eyes. This was only seen when CNTF was in injected before the age at which the canine retina reaches full maturation. In XLPRA2 dogs, intravitreal injections of CNTF failed to prevent photoreceptors from undergoing cell death in the central and mid-peripheral retina. CNTF also caused ocular side-effects and morphologic alterations in the periphery that were consistent with cell dedifferentiation and proliferation. Our findings suggest that some inherited forms of retinal degeneration may not respond to CNTF's neuroprotective effects.
Debord, Constant, and the Politics of Situationist Urbanism

In the first years of its existence between 1957 and 1960 the efforts of the radical collective the Situationist International (SI) centred on its program of "unitary urbanism. " This program sought to challenge the functionalist character of hegemonic forms of urban planning through novel practices of urban experimentation and contestation. Situationist urbanism arose largely through the collaboration between Guy Debord and the Dutch avant-garde architect Constant. This article explores the political dimension of situationist urbanism and the tensions that led to Constant's secession from the group in 1960. Through analysis of the affinities and divergences between urbanism in its modernist and situationist forms a case is made for the crucial contribution situationist practices might make to the restoration of public space as a vital arena of contemporary political contestation and community.
Cardiometabolic and Fitness Improvements in Obese Girls Who Either Gained or Lost Weight during Treatment

Objective To evaluate the quality of weight change (change in fat mass vs fat-free mass [FFM]), changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and frequencies of metabolic risk factors in adolescent females with obesity who either lost or gained weight following lifestyle treatment. Study design Fifty-eight girls (mean age = 13.0 ± 1.6 years; 77% black; mean body mass index = 36.5 ± 4.5 kg/m 2 ) completed a 6-month lifestyle intervention combining dietary and behavioral counseling with aerobic and resistance exercise training. We examined baseline to 6-month differences in weight (kg), body composition, CRF, and frequencies of metabolic risk factors between weight loss and weight gain groups. Results In the weight loss group, body weight (−4.50 ± 3.53 kg, P P P P P P P Conclusions Participation in a weight management program might elicit health improvements in obese adolescent females who increase weight and fat mass, provided that FFM gains are sufficient to negate increases in body fat percentage. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00167830.
Sensor networks: an overview

Advances in hardware and wireless network technologies have created low-cost, low-power, multifunctional miniature sensor devices. These devices make up hundreds or thousands of ad hoc tiny sensor nodes spread across a geographical area. These sensor nodes collaborate among themselves to establish a sensing network. A sensor network can provide access to information anytime, anywhere by collecting, processing, analyzing and disseminating data. Thus, the network actively participates in creating a smart environment.
Nash games with decision-dependent information structures

This paper considers a class of two-person Nash games where the players announce their strategies at the same time but they apply their strategies at different times. The player who makes the last move can formulate his strategy as a function of the other player's decision. A single stage two person Nash game with this type of decision-dependent information structure is discussed and a static game model of a market structure is given. This market contains two sellers who are assumed to behave as Cournot-Nash duopolist, but with a decision-dependent information structure. It is shown that the seller who makes the last move can always increase his profits by using his knowledge of the other seller's strategy. This type of a decision-dependent information structure is then examined in the multi-stage dynamic case.
Single sensor that outputs narrowband multispectral images

We report the work of developing a hand-held (or miniaturized), low-cost, stand-alone, real-time-operation, narrow bandwidth multispectral imaging device for the detection of early stage pressure ulcers.
Why Do Children Experience Multiple Placement Changes in Foster Care? Content Analysis on Reasons for Instability

This study used content analysis and qualitative analysis to examine reasons for moves in 53 child welfare cases with placement instability. Coding from case records of reasons for placement moves revealed three categories in most cases: 1) caregiver-related reasons, such as maltreatment by caregivers or changes in caregivers' lives; 2) child behavior-related reasons such as aggressive behaviors; and 3) system- or policy-related reasons, such as the need to use temporary placements or the aim of placing children with siblings. Children's previous instability should be considered in choosing and supporting caregivers, providing mental health resources, and considering moves to improve care.
Tensor products of digraphs and the structure of groups of pairs

The tensor product of two digraphs turns out to be a digraph with certain special properties. Several theorems presenting some of these properties are proved, and a characterization of tensor products having a prime number of lines is obtained. Applications are presented in which tensor products are used as structural models of groups of pairs of individuals formed from two original groups of singles.
A Semantic Imitation Model of Social Tag Choices

We describe a semantic imitation model of social tagging that integrates formal representations of semantics and a stochastic tag choice process to explain and predict emergent behavioral patterns. The model adopts a probabilistic topic model to separately represent external word-topic and internal word-concept relations. These representations are coupled with a tag-based topic inference process that predicts how existing tags may influence the semantic interpretation of a document. The inferred topics influence the choice of tags assigned to a document through a random utility model of tag choices. We show that the model is successful in explaining the stability in tag proportions across time and power-law frequency-rank distributions of tag co-occurrences for semantically general and narrow tags. The model also generates novel predictions on how emergent behavioral patterns may change when users with different domain expertise interact with a social tagging system. The model demonstrates the weaknesses of single-level analyses and highlights the importance of adopting a multi-level modeling approach to explain online social behavior.
Diagnosis and Management of Congenital and Developmental Cataracts

ONGENITAL AND early developmental C cataracts are common ocular abnormalities and represent an important cause of visual impairment in childhood. Francois showed that between 10% and 38.8% of all blindness in children is caused by congenital cataracts.' In two other studies of 112 and 776 blind children, 13.4% and 13.8%, respectively, had congenital cataract^.^!^ According to Gregorieva and Prokofieva; of 226 children operated on for congenital cataract only 26% were able to attend an ordinary school. The extent to which cataracts in the pediatric age group create a major ocular problem can best be appreciated by the fact that 1 of 250 newborns (0.4%) has some form of congenital cataract.' This is relatively high compared with other ocular disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa, which affects from 1 to 5 of 1 million individuals, and retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular malignancy of childhood, which has an incidence of approximately 1 of 18,000 live Both the clinical presentation of a cataract and the optical care required in the pediatric patient are different from that required in an adult. Fortunately, the presence of cataracts in children are less common than in adults. The purpose of this article is to discuss the diagnosis, etiologic factors, indications for treatment, and management of congenital and developmental cataracts in the pediatric age group. CLINICAL PRESENTATION Many adults who become aware of reduced visual acuity from a significant cataract will seek immediate ophthalmic evaluation. However, for an infant or young child with a cataract, especially if it is monocular, a delay in seeking
Comparing parents' and children's views of children's quality of life after heart transplant.

Purpose The purpose of this focused ethnographic study was to explore the quality of life (QOL) of school-age heart-transplant recipients. Design and methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 parent-child dyads. Data were analyzed using content analysis and constant comparison. Results Participants identified key factors impacting the children's QOL including: participation in normal activities, normalcy, staying healthy, sources of strength and support, and struggles (parents' perspectives) and doing what kids do, being with family and friends, and being a heart transplant kid (children's perspectives). Practice implications Interventions focusing on the key factors identified by participants may impact the QOL of school-age heart-transplant recipients.
Challenges for process and product integration at 45nm

Abstract form only given. To fully realize the benefits of CMOS scaling, new process generations must reach high yield at low cost, rapidly. Product design faces both higher complexity of process integration, including geometrical effects like strain engineering, as well as a larger need to accurately predict many systematic and random variations. These design-for-manufacturing challenges force an unprecedented interaction of physical design and process optimization for the first generation of 45nm CMOS systems
A survey on air bubble detector placement in the CPB circuit: a 2011 cross-sectional analysis of the practice of Certified Clinical Perfusionists:

The ideal location of air bubble detector (ABD) placement on the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit is debatable. There is, however, very little data characterizing the prevalence of specific ABD placement preferences by perfusionists. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to survey the perfusion community to collect data describing the primary locations of air bubble detector placement on the CPB circuit. In June 2011, an 18-question on-line survey was conducted. Completed surveys were received from 627 participants. Of these, analysis of the responses from the 559 certified clinical perfusionists (CCP) was performed. The routine use of ABD during CPB was reported by 96.8% of CCPs. Of this group, specific placement of the bubble detector is as follows: distal to the venous reservoir outlet (35.6%), between the arterial pump and oxygenator (3.8%), between the oxygenator and arterial line filter (35.1%), distal to the arterial line filter (ALF) (23.6%), and other (1.8%). Those placing the ABD distal to the venous reservoir predominately argued that an emptied venous reservoir was the most likely place to introduce air into the circuit. Those who placed the ABD between the oxygenator and the arterial line filter commonly reasoned that this placement protects against air exiting the membrane. Those placing the ABD distal to the ALF (23.6%) cited that this location protects from all possible entry points of air. A recent false alarm event from an ABD during a case was reported by 36.1% of CCPs. This study demonstrates that the majority of CCPs use an ABD during the conduct of CPB. The placement of the ABD on the circuit, however, is highly variable across the perfusion community. A strong rationale for the various ABD placements suggests that the adoption of multiple ABD may offer the greatest comprehensive protection against air emboli.
Effects of Intravenous Levosimendan on Plasma Neurohormone Levels in Patients with Heart Failure: Relation to Hemodynamic Response

Abstract The administration of intravenous levosimendan (0.1–0.4 μg/kg per minute) was associated with a statistically significant reduction in plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in 79 patients with advanced (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV) heart failure. These data are compatible with the premise that reduction in ET-1 levels contributes to the hemodynamic effects of levosimendan in heart failure, although more extensive investigations are needed to confirm this hypothesis. The present study provided no evidence that levosimendan, in the doses used, had a significant effect on plasma levels of norepine- phrine.
Is Cognitive Aging Predicted by Educational Level

A higher educational level has consistently been associated with a lower incidence of dementia. However, in the current issue of the Journal, Glymour et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2012;175(8):750-759.) present findings that are in agreement with other research in showing a lack of association between educational level and cognitive decline in the elderly. These findings are not inconsistent with the hope, yet unproven, that persons might reduce their risk of dementia by engaging in cognitively stimulating activities.
Spray Cooling Heat Transfer Enhancement and Degradation Using Fractal-Like Micro-Structured Surfaces

In the present study, spray cooling curves are presented for two micro-structured surfaces and are compared to smooth surface results. The micro-structured surfaces consisted of bio-inspired fractal-like geometries, denoted as grooves or fins, extending in a radial direction from the center to the periphery of a 37.8 mm circular disc. Depending on the location on the surface, dimensions of groove widths and heights varied from 100 to 500 μm, and 30 to 60 μm, respectively. Fin width and height dimensions remained constant over the surface at 127 and 60 μm, respectively. Results are presented as heat flux versus the surface-to-exit spray temperature difference at each of five volume flux conditions ranging from 0.54 to 2.04 × 10−3 m3 /m2 -s. Convection heat transfer coefficients are also presented for each case as a function of heat flux. Results indicate that at low and high volume fluxes, an improvement in heat transfer occurs in the single phase regime for the fin geometry. Enhancement in the single phase regime does not occur at the intermediate volume flux condition. In the two phase regime for the fin structure significant enhancements, up to 50%, are observed. Whereas the groove structure performs similarly to the smooth surface in the single phase regime and exhibits large degradation in the two phase and critical heat flux regimes, up to 50%. Critical heat flux for the fin surface compares well to that of the flat surface, with a slightly increase at high volume flux conditions.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Tire Dynamic Deflection and Its Impact on Vehicle Longitudinal Dynamics and Control

Vehicle longitudinal dynamics are shaped by tire characteristics. A number of empirical tire models have been proposed to explain longitudinal tire behaviors. These models typically explain the static tire behaviors and overlook the behaviors during transients. As a result, they often do not reflect the dynamic interactions between the tire and the vehicle under operational environments, most noticeably, the longitudinal overshoots and oscillations that occur immediately after a vehicle is stopped with hard braking. This paper proposes a dynamic-deflection tire (DDT) model that not only specifies the known longitudinal tire characteristics but also captures the dominant tire transient properties. When incorporating this DDT model into a conventional vehicle longitudinal model, these often-ignored tire-vehicle structure modes can be predicted accurately. The resultant model shows that the tire transient characteristics do impact ride comfort and affect longitudinal control designs at low vehicle speeds. A passenger car was tested under both open-loop and closed-loop scenarios, and the experimental results verified the model predictions.
Inflammation controls B lymphopoiesis by regulating chemokine CXCL12 expression.

Inflammation removes developing and mature lymphocytes from the bone marrow (BM) and induces the appearance of developing B cells in the spleen. BM granulocyte numbers increase after lymphocyte reductions to support a reactive granulocytosis. Here, we demonstrate that inflammation, acting primarily through tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), mobilizes BM lymphocytes. Mobilization reflects a reduced CXCL12 message and protein in BM and changes to the BM environment that prevents homing by cells from naive donors. The effects of TNFα are potentiated by interleukin 1 β (IL-1β), which acts primarily to expand the BM granulocyte compartment. Our observations indicate that inflammation induces lymphocyte mobilization by suppressing CXCL12 retention signals in BM, which, in turn, increases the ability of IL-1β to expand the BM granulocyte compartment. Consistent with this idea, lymphocyte mobilization and a modest expansion of BM granulocyte numbers follow injections of pertussis toxin. We propose that TNFα and IL-1β transiently specialize the BM to support acute granulocytic responses and consequently promote extramedullary lymphopoiesis.
Outcomes of Salvage Surgery With Free Flap Reconstruction for Recurrent Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer

Objectives/Hypothesis: To evaluate outcomes of salvage surgery with free flap reconstruction for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx and oral cavity with increased use of chemoradiotherapy. Study Design: Retrospective patient review. Methods: All patients undergoing salvage surgery with free flap reconstruction for oropharynx (n = 36) and oral cavity (n = 36) squamous cell carcinomas between January 2001 and January 2008 were obtained. Mean follow-up was 14 months. Previous chemoradiotherapy was used in 40% and radiotherapy alone in 60%. Results: Complications were more frequent in oropharynx than oral cavity tumors (36% and 14%, respectively; P = .05) requiring more secondary procedures (15 for oropharynx vs. six for oral cavity). Few patients returned to a normal diet (8%), and a majority retained an enterogastric feeding tube (56%). Median survival overall following salvage surgery was 44.8 months for oral cavity and 53.8 months for oropharynx head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Overall estimated 1-, 2-, and 5-year observed survivals were 98%, 77.2%, and 43.7%, respectively. Twelve patients had a disease-free interval of <6 months, 92% of whom died of disease. Of 17 patients with disease at the primary site and involved regional lymph nodes, 94% died of disease. Conclusions: Salvage surgery with free flap reconstruction for recurrent oral and oropharyngeal tumors after chemoradiotherapy has acceptable morbidity and similar cure rates as salvage following radiotherapy without chemotherapy. Concurrent nodal recurrence and short disease-free interval are associated with reduced cure rates. A significant proportion will require enterogastric feeding and few will tolerate a normal diet.
Scaling constraints imposed by self-heating in submicron SOI MOSFET's

The presence of a buried oxide layer in silicon causes enhanced self-heating in Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) n-channel MOSFETs. The self-heating becomes more pronounced as device dimensions are reduced into the submicron regime because of increased electric field density and reduced silicon volume available for heat removal. Two-dimensional numerical simulations are used to show that self-heating manifests itself in the form of degraded drive current due to mobility reduction and premature breakdown. The heat flow equation was consistently solved with the classical semiconductor equations to study the effect of power dissipation on carrier transport. The simulated temperature increases in the channel region are shown to be in close agreement with recently measured data. Numerical simulation results also demonstrated accelerated turn-on of the parasitic bipolar transistor due to self-heating. Simulation results were used to identify scaling constraints caused by the parasitic bipolar transistor turn-on effect in SOI CMOS ULSI. For a quarter-micron n-channel SOI MOSFET, results suggest a maximum power supply of 1.8 V. In the deep submicron regime, SOI devices exhibited a negative differential resistance due to increased self-heating with drain bias voltage. Detailed comparison with bulk devices suggested significant reduction in the drain-source avalanche breakdown voltage due to increased carrier injection at the source-body junction. >
Early computation of part structure: Evidence from visual search

The visual system represents object shapes in terms of intermediate-level parts. The minima rule proposes that the visual system uses negative minima of curvature to define boundaries between parts. We used visual search to test whether part structures consistent with the minima rule are computed preattentively—or at least, rapidly and early in visual processing. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 showed that whereas the search for a non-minima-segmented shape is fast and efficient among minimasegmented shapes, the reverse search is slow and inefficient. This asymmetry is expected if parsing at negative minima occurs obligatorily. The results of Experiments 3 and 4 showed that although both minima- and non-minima-segmented shapes pop out among unsegmented shapes, the search for minimasegmented shapes is significantly slower. Together, these results demonstrate that the visual system segments shapes into parts, using negative minima of curvature, and that it does so rapidly in early stages of visual processing.
Cobalamin-responsive disorders in the ambulatory care setting: unreliability of cobalamin, methylmalonic acid and homocysteine testing

Early recognition of cobalamin (Cbl)– responsive disorders in the ambulatory care setting is essential to prevent irreversible neurologic deficits. However, diagnostic algorithms using Cbl, methylmalonic acid (MMA), and homocysteine (HCys) measurements reflect studies in academic centers, and their negative predictive values have not been established. Thus, records of 456 ambulatory patients evaluated for Cbl deficiency at a staff model HMO were reviewed. Pretherapy Cbl, MMA, and HCys values in individual patients varied by 23%, 23%, and 17%, respectively, over 2 to 6 weeks. Hematologic or neurologic responses to pharmacologic doses of Cbl occurred in 37 of the 95 evaluable patients. In these patients, pretherapy Cbl, MMA, and HCys values were normal in 54%, 23%, and 50%, respectively. If therapy had been restricted to symptomatic patients with both low or intermediate Cbl levelsand increased metabolite values, 63% of responders would not have been treated. Twenty-five patients did not respond to treatment, including 5 of 11 patients (45%) with low Cbl, 22 of 49 patients (45%) with high MMA, and 13 of 30 patients (43%) with high HCys values. It is concluded that Cbl, MMA, and HCys levels fluctuate with time and neither predict nor preclude the presence of Cbl-responsive hematologic or neurologic disorders. (Blood. 2005;105:978-985)
Comment on effect of Al2O3 and Bi2O3 on the formation mechanism of Sn-doped Ba2Ti9O20

in a recent article of the Journal, Yu et al.1 reported their experimental results on the effect of Al2O3 and Bi2O3 on the formation mechanism of Sn-doped Ba2Ti9O20. They claimed that both Al2O3 and Bi2O3 can dramatically assist the formation of Sn-doped Ba2Ti9O20 but are based on different mechanisms. They concluded that first, Bi2O3 melts above 830°C and accelerates the migration of the involved reactants to form Ba2Ti9O20; second, Al2O3 can reduce the height of the potential energy barrier of the formation of Ba2Ti9O20 due to the intergrowth of BaAl2Ti6O16 phase. They explained their results from a point of view that the formation of Ba2Ti9O20 is controlled by (1) the migration of reactants to the interfaces and (2) the height of the potential-energy barrier of the reaction at the interfaces. However, based on their results, we feel their conclusions are incautious and may be misleading, as will be discussed later.
Readiness to change problematic drinking assessed in the emergency department as a predictor of change.

Abstract Objectives The goal of this study was to determine if baseline readiness to change the drinking behavior (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action stages) was predictive of change in drinking after unrelated emergency department (ED) visit and screening and interviewing for alcohol problems. Methods From August 1998 through December 2000, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was administered to all consented ED patients aged 18 to 29 years. A brief motivational interviewing was provided to screen-positive patients (AUDIT score >5 of 40). Outcome at 3-month follow-up was measured as a decrease in the scores within the AUDIT domains of alcohol intake, harm, and dependency. Results Sixty percent of the screen-positive patients continued to drink at 3 months. Patients became more open to change their drinking behavior. Compared with patients in the precontemplation stage, those in the action stage were twice as likely to reduce their alcohol intake (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.06-4.72), nearly 3 times as likely to reduce their alcohol-related harm behavior (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.59-4.91), and almost 4 times more likely to decrease their dependency symptoms (OR, 3.59; 95% CI, 1.97-6.57). Compared with precontemplation patients, those in the contemplation stage were nearly twice as likely to reduce their alcohol-related harm (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.02-3.33) and those in the preparation stage were more than twice as likely to reduce their dependency symptoms (OR, 2.20, 95% CI, 1.13-4.27). Conclusions Stages of change at baseline appeared to be significant predictors of change in alcohol intake, harm, and dependency symptoms among young adult ED patients.
Parameter Sensitivity of the Arctic Biome–BGC Model for Estimating Evapotranspiration in the Arctic Coastal Plain

Abstract Previous research has indicated that modeling evapotranspiration (ET) in the Arctic Coastal Plain is challenging due to unique ecosystem conditions which include mosses, permafrost, and standing dead vegetation. A new version of the commonly used Biome–BGC (Biogeochemical Cycles) model (Arctic Biome–BGC) was developed that included: (1) a water storage and vertical drainage/infiltration routine that accounts for permafrost and mosses, (2) a modified representation of energy available at the surface which includes ground heat flux and simulates interception of incoming radiation by standing dead vegetation, and (3) a background evaporation routine that allows for moss and open water evaporation. In this study we investigated the sensitivity of model predictions to variations in parameter values, and to provide a conceptual validation of Arctic Biome–BGC. Using the generalized sensitivity analysis methodology, 13 parameters were evaluated. Results indicate that the model was sensitive to 8 of the 1...
Energy budget in Rayleigh-Bénard convection.

It is shown using three series of Rayleigh number simulations of varying aspect ratio AR and Prandtl number Pr that the normalized dissipation at the wall, while significantly greater than 1, approaches a constant dependent upon AR and Pr. It is also found that the peak velocity, not the mean square velocity, obeys the experimental scaling of Ra 0.5 . The scaling of the mean square velocity is closer to Ra 0.46 , which is shown to be consistent with experimental measurements and the numerical results for the scaling of Nu and the temperature if there are strong correlations between the velocity and temperature.
Statistical Analysis Of Spatial Structure In Microbial Communities

This chapter provides a review of the basic statistical techniques used to detect and quantify spatial structure in ecological data as they can be applied to the analysis of microbial communities. It also discusses the general implications of spatial structure in data analysis, including the inappropriate use of parametric statistical tests with spatially autocorrelated data, and suggests possible alternative procedures. Methods discussed include geostatistics and variogram analysis, kriging, correlograms, Mantel and partial Mantel tests, and time-series analysis.
Contextual Influences on Consumer Price Responses: An Experimental Analysis:

Presentation of price is a common form of retail advertising. The authors examine the influences of semantic, comparison, and store name cues on consumer price perceptions. The research, unlike ear...
Institutional Affiliation of Contributors to the Academy of Management Journal

The article discusses the importance of being knowledgeable of the institutional affiliation of contributors to the “Academy of Management Journal” (AMJ). The assessment of journal publications by their faculties is a criteria for evaluation of the quality of collegiate departments. AMJ is compared to psychological periodicals such as “Journal of Applied Psychology” for the purpose of analysis despite its place as a business journal. A study is discussed in which the contributions of articles by various Universities are compared.
Size of the bursa of fabricius in relation to gonad size and age in Laysan and black-footed albatrosses

Age determination can be difficult for birds that undergo little or no plumage change during life. This is the case for Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses (Diomedea immutabilis and D. nigripes). The juvenile plumage for both these North Pacific albatrosses is completely grown by about five to six months of age, just prior to their first flight, and is largely indistinguishable from the definitive basic plumage. Consequently, no well-documented methods ofdistinguishing newly fledged birds, older pre-breeders, or breeding-aged adults has been described for these species (Harrison 1985). One potentially useful non-plumage-based technique of age determination involves the size of the bursa of Fabricius. The bursa is a dorsal diverticulum of the cloaca that performs an immunosuppressive function in immature birds (Glick 1983). In the few galliform birds in which the ontogeny of the bursa has been carefully described, the bursa begins to enlarge shortly after hatching and reaches a maximum size in four to six months. Soon after reaching peak size, the bursa decreases in size in a linear fashion. Involution is typically complete by the end of a bird's first year of life. The bursa is greatly reduced in size or absent in adult birds (Glick 1983, Mercer-Oltjen and Woodward 1987, Mase and Oishi 1991). At least among galliforms, testosterone and progesterone have been demonstrated experimentally both to inhibit bursal development and stimulate bursa involution (e.g., Vujic et al. 1983, Mase and Oishi 1991). These findings may explain the inverse relationship between gonadal development and bursa size reported for a number of bird species (Kirkpatrick 1944, Davis 1947, Lewin 1963). Since bursa size is correlated with age, it has long been used in wildlife management settings to separate birds-of-the-year from breeding-age birds (e.g., Davis 1947, Henny et al. 1981). In addition, because the decrease in bursa size appears to be nearly linear for most species examined (but see Siegel-Causey 1990), the size of the bursa should provide information on age on an even finer scale. A series of banded known-age Laysan and Blackfooted Albatrosses were salvaged from North Pacific driftnet fisheries in 1990-1991. With these specimens, I have examined the relationship between age, bursa size, and gonad size. This is the first chronological study of bursa involution for species that are long-lived and have delayed sexual maturity. This analysis has implications concerning the use of the bursa of Fabricius for age determination in albatrosses and for our understanding of the endocrine influences on the reproductive biology of these species.
616 Bradykinin Targeted Therapy Decreases Mortality in Pulmonary Hypertension

ated PAH [SSc-PAH], and 3 idiopathic/heritable PAH [I/HPAH]) in WHO functional class III receiving 2 PAH agents were treated with imatinib (100-400 mg/day). Right heart catheterization (RHC) was performed to evaluate their hemodynamic status before treatment and at 3 or 6 months after treatment. Results: Seven patients underwent RHC at 6 months after beginning treatment; 1 IPAH patient underwent RHC at 3 months and died from an exacerbation of right heart failure within 6 months. There was no difference in maintenance dose of imatinib (180 130 mg vs 167 58 mg, P 0.85). Baseline pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was lower in SScPAH patients than in I/HPAH patients but differences were not statistically significant (920 429 dyne·s·cm-5 vs 1417 664 dyne·s·cm-5, P 0.33). Hemodynamic assessments revealed that improvements in PVR and pulmonary arterial pressure were greater in patients with SSc-PAH than in those with I/HPAH, albeit the differences were only significant for PVR ( 28 21 % vs 2 7 %, P 0.04, 13 12 % vs 0 5 %, P 0.09 respectively). Conclusions: The data presented here suggest that patients with SSc-PAH may benefit more from the imatinib treatment than those with I/HPAH. Further large trials are necessary to assess the efficacy of imatinib in patients with SSc-PAH compared with other etiologies of PAHs.
Artificial substrates for prenyltransferase

Four out of 16 new allylic pyrophosphates synthesized were found to be artificial substrates for liver prenyltransferase (EC 2.5.1.1). These were the trans-and the cis-3-ethyl-3-methylallyl, the 3,3-diethylallyl and the (mixture of cis and trans) 3-methyl-3-n-propylallyl pyrophosphates. The products synthesized from these substrates and isopentenyl pyrophosphate were the appropriate homo- and bishomo-farnesyl pyrophosphates. Substitution of 3,3-dimethylallyl pyrophosphate at C-2 with a methyl group destroyed its reactivity with the enzyme. Neither the unsubstituted allyl pyrophosphate nor the cis- or trans-3-methylallyl pyrophosphate could be condensed with isopentenyl pyrophosphate. Thus the simplest allylic substrate for prenyltransferase is 3,3-dimethylallyl pyrophosphate.
Class in the Chinese American Society:A Study Based on the Individual Interviews

Class or class relations as a research concept has largely been absent in the study of Chinese America.This article looks into the development and changes of the concept and its different forms exhibited.Issues examined include class characteristics and the concept of class in the Chinese American society,the importance of class in the ethnic community,class relations among Chinese Americans,and class status of undocumented migrants.The article concludes that after World War II,the concept of class among Chinese Americans has become increasingly important.Meanwhile,the ways that individuals draw lines of class distinctions have also become more complex.Aside from wealth,factors such as family background,migration history,levels of assimilation and legal status also play important roles in shaping class identifications among Chinese Americans.
Influence of health education on quality of life in community hypertensive patients

Objective To study the effect of health education on quality of life(QOL)in community hypertensive patients.Methods Three hundred hypertensive patients sampled from two community service stations in Xiangshan County were randomly divided into control group(n=150)and intervention group(n=150).The patients in control group received routine management and those in intervention group received routine management plus health education.Their QOL was assessed according to the SF-36 Scale in aspects of physiological function(PF),role of physiology(RP),role of emotion(RE),social function(SF),body pain(BP),vitality(VT),mental health(MH)and general health(GH).Results No significant difference was found in PF,RP,RE,SF,BP,VT,MH and GH scores of QOL between the two groups before health education(P0.05).The PF,RP,RE,SF,BP,VT,MH and GH scores of QOL were significantly higher in intervention group than in control group 1year after health education(P0.05).The PF,RP,SF,BP,VT,MH and GH scores of QOL were significantly higher in intervention group 1year after health education than before health education(P0.05).The PF and MH scores of QOL were significantly lower in control group 1year after health education than before health eduction(P0.05).The systolic blood pressure was lower in intervention group 1year after health education than before health eduction(129.11±9.25 mm Hg vs 132.20±12.91 mm Hg,P0.05).Conclusion Drug treatment combined with appropriate health education can effectively control blood pressure and improve QOL in hypertensive patients.
Application of "Six Key" Management in Children's Rehabilitation Wards

Objective To improve the nursing quality of specialist rehabilitation wards and levels of professional theories and skills of the nurses.Methods A total of 240 children with cerebral palsy from June, 2008 to August,2009 from the department in the hospital were divided into the observational group with the"six key"management(managements of the key nursing staff,the key care system,the key period,the key children,the key processes and key technology) and the control group with the routine management according to admission number.A comparison was conducted on the satisfaction rate of nursing quality, satisfaction rate of successful venipuncture,parents' mastering level of exercise and functional training and the incidence of adverse events.Results Significant differences were observed in the satisfaction rate of nursing quality,satisfaction rate of successful venipuncture,parents' mastering level of exercise and functional training and the incidence of adverse events between the two groups(Z=5.14,P0.01;Z=4.04,P 0.01;Z=4.21,P0.01;x~2=66.41,P0.05).Conclusion The"six key"management achieves effective control of the key nursing process with management of nursing staff in different levels,and effectively improves the specialist nursing quality and nurses' professional levels of theories and skills.
AOD: A Next Generation Digital Broadband Service

Traditional advertising media platforms include TV, outdoors, Internet, newspaper, radio and more. Along with the construction of IPTV and 3G networks, the exploration and deployment of new value-added services has become a matter of the utmost concern to network operators and customers. Nowadays information technology, and network and market environments have been suitable to developing a new advertising model: Advertisement On Demand (AOD). Contrasting to the advertisement rotation, AOD possesses more interactivity, pertinence and flexibility. AOD is more applicable to communication networks than Video On Demand (VOD) because it lets advertising clients pay the bills, uses diversified access terminals, and is prone to meeting demands of enterprises, businesses and customers. AOD may be expected to be an important service to greatly promote the development of telecommunication networks and improve the profitability of network operators.
New Directions for Research on Argumentation: Insights from the AIR Framework for Epistemic Cognition

Neue Wege fur Forschung uber das Argumentieren: Einblicke aus dem AIR-Framework for Epistemic Cognition Zusammenfassung. Dieser Kommentar befasst sich mit den vielen unterschiedlichen und interessanten Artikeln des Themenhefts. Zuerst wird uberblicksartig eine Zusammenschau der Befunde mit Blick auf neue Erkenntnisse gegeben. Dabei werden Aspekte von Argumentation und Lernen kritisiert, um die Wichtigkeit dieser Erkenntnisse fur die weiterfuhrende Forschung in diesem Bereich herauszustellen. Anschliesend wird kurz ein neues Bezugssystem fur epistemische Kognition beschrieben und als Linse verwendet, um einige Themen der Artikel genauer zu beleuchten. Dies hat das Ziel, neue Denkweisen in Bezug auf Argumentation und das Erlernen und Vermitteln dieser zentralen Praxis zu eroffnen.