cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Going Remote-Demonstration and Evaluation of Remote Technology Delivery and Usability Assessment With Older Adults: Survey Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated “going remote” with the delivery, support, and assessment of a study intervention targeting older adults enrolled in a clinical trial. While remotely delivering and assessing technology is not new, there are few methods available in the literature that are proven to be effective with diverse populations, and none for older adults specifically. Older adults comprise a diverse population, including in terms of their experience with and access to technology, making this a challenging endeavor. Objective: Our objective was to remotely deliver and conduct usability testing for a mobile health (mHealth) technology intervention for older adult participants enrolled in a clinical trial of the technology. This paper describes the methodology used, its successes, and its limitations. Methods: We developed a conceptual model for remote operations, called the Framework for Agile and Remote Operations (FAR Ops), that combined the general requirements for spaceflight operations with Agile project management processes to quickly respond to this challenge. Using this framework, we iteratively created care packages that differed in their contents based on participant needs and were sent to study participants to deliver the study intervention—a medication management app—and assess its usability. Usability data were collected using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and a novel usability questionnaire developed to collect more in-depth data. Results: In the first 6 months of the project, we successfully delivered 21 care packages. We successfully designed and deployed a minimum viable product in less than 6 weeks, generally maintained a 2-week sprint cycle, and achieved a 40% to 50% return rate for both usability assessment instruments. We hypothesize that lack of engagement due to the pandemic and our use of asynchronous communication channels contributed to the return rate of usability assessments being lower than desired. We also provide general recommendations for performing remote usability testing with diverse populations based on the results of our work, including implementing screen sharing capabilities when possible, and determining participant preference for phone or email communications. Conclusions: The FAR Ops model allowed our team to adopt remote operations for our mHealth trial in response to interruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach can be useful for other research or practice-based projects under similar circumstances or to improve efficiency, cost, effectiveness, and participant diversity in general. In addition to offering a replicable approach, this paper tells the often-untold story of practical challenges faced by mHealth projects and practical strategies used to address them. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04121858; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04121858
Single-shot high-contrast multiplane imaging with a z-splitter prism

We present a single-shot multiplane widefield imaging strategy using a z-splitter prism, which can be assembled from off-the-self components and only requires a single camera. We further introduce a novel extended-volume 3D deconvolution strategy to suppress far-out-of-focus fluorescence background to significantly improve the contrast of our recorded images, conferring to our system a capacity for quasi optical sectioning. By swapping in different z-splitter configurations, we can prioritize high speed or large 3D field-of-view imaging depending on the application of interest. Moreover, our system can be readily applied to a variety of imaging modalities in addition to fluorescence, such as phase-contrast and darkfield imaging, making it a versatile tool for a wide range of biological or biomedical imaging applications.
Language Preference and Risk of Primary Cesarean Delivery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

While some medical indications for cesarean delivery are clear, subjective provider and patient factors contribute to the rising cesarean delivery rates and marked disparities between racial/ethnic groups. We aimed to determine the association between language preference and risk of primary cesarean delivery. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) deliveries of patients over 18 years old from 2011–2016 at an academic medical center, supplemented with data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. We used modified Poisson regression with robust error variance to calculate risk ratios for cesarean delivery between patients with English language preference and other language preference, with secondary outcomes of Apgar score, maternal readmission, blood transfusion, and NICU admission. Of the 11,298 patients included, 10.3% reported a preferred language other than English, including Mandarin and Cantonese (61.7%), Portuguese (9.7%), and Spanish (7.5%). The adjusted risk ratio for cesarean delivery among patients with a language preference other than English was 0.85 (95% CI 0.72–0.997; p = 0.046) compared to patients with English language preference. No significant differences in risk of secondary outcomes between English and other language preference were found. After adjusting for confounders, this analysis demonstrates a decreased risk of cesarean delivery among women who do not have an English language preference at one institution. This disparity in cesarean delivery rates in an NTSV population warrants future research, raising the question of what clinical and social factors may be contributing to these lower cesarean delivery rates.
Expressivism, Moral Fallibility, and the Approved Change Strategy

Blackburn’s “quasi-realism” aims to show that expressivism can accommodate the sorts of claims about moral truth, facts, objectivity, and the like that are found in ordinary moral thought and discourse. Egan (2007) argues that expressivists cannot accommodate certain claims about the possibility that one’s own fundamental moral commitments are mistaken. He criticizes what I call the approved change strategy, which explains that judgment in terms of the belief that one might change one’s mind as a result of favored processes such as getting more information. Egan targets a simple version of that strategy; I raise objections to a more sophisticated expressivist alternative. I argue against Horgan and Timmons’ (2015) claim that quasi-realists need not accommodate certain thoughts about moral fallibility on the grounds that they are metaethical rather than first-order moral claims, and that the implied orientation toward others that results is not objectionably smug. I also argue that the sophisticated strategy problematically commits the expressivist to an ideal observer or advisor theory (or coextensive theory) in first-order ethics.
Microarrays: Applications in Environmental Microbiology

Microarray Basics Using Microarrays to Monitor Gene Expression Applications of Microarrays for Microbial Detection in Natural Environments Keywords: biotechnology; gene chips; DNA chips; methodology; microarrays; microchips
Peripheral Vascular Disease in Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a ubiquitous disease which affects millions of Americans (7% of the US population),1 incurs significant comorbidities, and costs billions annually in health-care dollars. The morbidities associated with diabetes mellitus include a substantial increase in both small vessel (microvascular) and large vessel (macrovascular) diseases. The macrovascular effects of diabetes, causing serious morbidity and mortality, are found in the coronary, cerebral (extra- and intracranial), and peripheral vascular circulation. The focus of this chapter’s discussion will be on the lower extremity peripheral vascular complications of diabetes.
Studies on Heart Phosphofructokinase THIOL GROUPS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO ACTIVITY

Phosphofructokinase from sheep heart contains approximately 4.7 sulfhydryl groups per 32,000 g of protein as determined by titration of the enzyme with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) in 5 m urea. The number of half-cystines per 32,000 g of protein is 4.5 as determined by amino acid analysis. Thus, there are no disulfide bonds in the native enzyme. In the absence of urea, approximately 2.0 thiol groups per 32,000 g of protein are accessible to titration with either DTNB or p-chloromercuribenzoate (CMB). In addition, only 2.1 moles of 14C-CMB are bound in the absence of urea. The two accessible groups per 32,000 g of protein are very reactive with CMB, and at least one of the two is very reactive with DTNB. The reaction with DTNB and the biphasic loss in activity with time when the enzyme was incubated with cystamine suggest that at least two types of thiol groups are accessible in the absence of a denaturing agent. The enzyme activity is inhibited by monovalent and divalent mercurials, by disulfides, and by oxidizing agents. The extent of inhibition, and the reversal of the inhibition by 2-mercaptoethanol are dependent on the reagent used. The disulfide reagents are more effective inhibitors than p-chloromercuribenzoate. The inhibition caused by the different reagents is greater on the activity at pH 6.9 than on the activity at pH 8.2. Studies on the role of thiol residues on the kinetics of the enzyme revealed that when one-half of the accessible thiol groups are allowed to react with CMB, the enzyme has the following properties: (a) a decreased affinity for fructose-6-P, (b) a decreased maximum catalytic activity, (c) a loss in cooperativity between fructose-6-P binding sites at pH 6.9 and (d) a complete loss in cooperativity in the presence of an activator. Reacting the enzyme sulfhydryl groups with the various reagents apparently results in a conformational change in the protein, thus modifying the catalytic sites.
Adaptive agent tracking in real-world multiagent domains

Intelligent interaction in multi-agent domains frequently requires an agent to track other agents' mental states: their current goals, beliefs and intentions. Accuracy in thisagent-trackingtask is critically dependent on the accuracy of the tracker's (tracking agent's) model of the trackee (tracked agent). Unfortunately, in real-world situations, model imperfections arise due to the tracker's resource and information constraints, as well as due to trackees' dynamic behavior modification. While such model imperfections are unavoidable, a tracker must nonetheless attempt to be adaptive in its agent tracking. This article identifies key issues in adaptive agent tracking and presents an approach called DEFT. At its core, DEFT is based on discrimination-based learning. The main idea is to identify the deficiency of a model based on tracking failures, and revise the model by using features that are critical in discriminating successful and failed tracking episodes. Because in real-world situations the set of candidate discriminating features is very large, DEFT relies on knowledge-based focusing to limit the discrimination to those features that it determines were relevant in successful tracking episodes?with an autonomous explanation capability as a major source of this knowledge. This article reports on experiments with an implementation of key aspects of DEFT in a complex synthetic air-to-air combat domain.
Reducing the mutual-coupling between the elements of a printed dipole array using planar EBG structures

Printed elements of a phased array antenna can often suffer from significant mutual coupling between them due to the excitation of surface waves. In this paper, an array of two identical printed dipoles operating at 4.2 GHz along with a planar EBG inserted between the array elements has been designed, fabricated and tested. Computed and measured results show that as much as 13 dB reduction in mutual coupling can be achieved. Insertion of the planar EBG also improves the return loss and gain.
Electron spin resonance studies of spin-labeled carbonic anhydrase.

Carbonic anhydrase has been spin labeled at the active center with a nitroxide-substituted sulfonamide and a nitroxide derivative of bromosuccinic acid which reacts with a histidyl residue near the zinc ion in human carbonic anhydrase B. The spin label on the sulfonamide is highly immobilized in all species and isozyme variants of carbonic anhydrase. The spin-labeled sulfonamide attached to bovine carbonic anhydrase shows no rotation relative to the protein molecule, whereas complexes with other species variants show slight rotation of the sulfonamide relative to the protein. ESR spectra of the spin-labeled sulfonamide bound to Co(II) and Zn(II) derivatives of the enzyme are almost identical, suggesting similar conformations at the active centers of the two active metallocarbonic anhydrases. Only one binding site for the spin-labeled sulfonamide is present on carbonic anhydrase and carboxymethylation of a histidyl residue near the zinc ion of human carbonic anhydrase B does not prevent sulfonamide binding, but increases the dissociation constant by an order of magnitude. In contrast to the spin label on the sulfonamide, the spin label attached to the succinyl histidyl residue in the active center undergoes considerable rotation relative to the protein molecule. Sulfonamide binding is prevented by the presence of the covalently linked nitroxide-succinyl group. Specific denaturation of the active center by urea and guanidine hydrochloride has been followed by the release of free label from the spin-labeled sulfonamide complex with carbonic anhydrase and is compared with general denaturation of the molecule as followed by difference spectra and circular dichroism. Active center denaturation proceeds more rapidly than denaturation of the whole molecule, but appears to be part of the same process. The spin-labeled sulfonamide protects against denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride, but not against denaturation by urea.
Limit on the Applicability of the Low Theorem for Proton-Proton Bremsstrahlung

A valuable guide for bremsstrahlung calculations is the soft photon approximation (SPA), which is based on the Low theorem1 and strictly valid when Eγ→0. The input to the SPA calculation is just the on-mass-shell pp-scattering amplitudes which are combined in a recipe that originated with F. Low and later was simplified by Burnett and Kroll2. It has been found, somewhat surprisingly, that SPA calculations give a good description of pion-proton bremsstrahlung3 (π±pγ) and low energy proton-proton bremsstrahlung4,5 (ppγ) experiments up to the maximum investigated photon energy, ∿150 MeV for πpγ and somewhat less for ppγ. In a measurement of ppγ at Tp =730 MeV for photon energies above 100 MeV, we have recently observed the first strong indications of the limits of applicability of SPA6.
Free energies of isolated five- and sevenfold disclinations in hexatic membranes.

We examine the shapes and energies of 5- and 7-fold disclinations in low-temperature hexatic membranes. These defects buckle at different values of the ratio of the bending rigidity, $\kappa$, to the hexatic stiffness constant, $K_A$, suggesting {\em two} distinct Kosterlitz-Thouless defect proliferation temperatures. Seven-fold disclinations are studied in detail numerically for arbitrary $\kappa/K_A$. We argue that thermal fluctuations always drive $\kappa/K_A$ into an ``unbuckled'' regime at long wavelengths, so that disclinations should, in fact, proliferate at the {\em same} critical temperature. We show analytically that both types of defects have power law shapes with continuously variable exponents in the ``unbuckled'' regime. Thermal fluctuations then lock in specific power laws at long wavelengths, which we calculate for 5- and 7-fold defects at low temperatures.
Chaotic classification of electromyographic (EMG) signals via correlation dimension measurement

A set of intramuscular electromyographic signals were collected from various patient groups during ramp muscle contraction. The signals were collected using a real-time data acquisition system. The signals were tested for their chaotic behavior using spectral analysis and Poincare map techniques. MATLAB based software tools were developed to compute and plot the correlation function for each data set to determine the time lag for the first zero crossing. This time lag was used to create the signals state-space model. A two-dimensional state-space was created and plotted one state versus the other to observe the Poincare map. A correlation integral was computed for each state-space data set, and the correlation dimension values were then calculated by differentiating these correlation integral signals for each data set. The correlation dimension values were found to be different for different patient groups. The results show promise for online classification of neuromuscular patient groups. >
Hypothalamic Melanin-Concentrating Hormone and Estrogen-Induced Weight Loss

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is an orexigenic neuropeptide produced by neurons of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). Because genetic MCH deficiency induces hypophagia and loss of body fat, we hypothesized that MCH neurons may represent a specific LHA pathway that, when inhibited, contributes to the pathogenesis of certain anorexia syndromes. To test this hypothesis, we measured behavioral, hormonal, and hypothalamic neuropeptide responses in two models of hyperestrogenemia in male rats, a highly reproducible anorexia paradigm. Whereas estrogen-induced weight loss engaged multiple systems that normally favor recovery of lost weight, the expected increase of MCH mRNA expression induced by energy restriction was selectively and completely abolished. These findings identify MCH neurons as specific targets of estrogen action and suggest that inhibition of these neurons may contribute to the hypophagic effect of estrogen.
Electrocardiogram as a screening tool in the general population: A strategic review

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major public health concern, accounting for 400,000 deaths in the US each year. Clinical and autopsy studies have consistently demonstrated a predominant, common pathophysiology in Western populations, showing that the most common electrophysiological mechanism of SCD is ventricular fibrillation, and the most common pathologic substrate is coronary heart disease (CHD). In about half of SCD cases, death is the first clinical manifestation of CHD. Yet risk factors of SCD early in the natural history of conditions predisposing SCD have not been fully identified, and SCD risk stratification strategy in the general population has not been developed. ECG is an easily available, non-expensive and non-invasive tool, which carries valuable information on electrophysiological properties of the heart. However, traditional analysis of ECG includes very limited assessment of the arrhythmogenic substrate. In this review rationale for development of ECG SCD risk score for screening in the general population is discussed.
Transition between neck-controlled and grain-boundary-controlled sensitivity of metal-oxide gas sensors

This paper studies the principles of gas-modulated grain-size effects on the electrical conductivity and gas sensitivity of metal-oxide gas sensors. A model that combines both the grain-boundary and neck mechanisms is formulated based on the theories of thermionic emission and junction modulation. The gas sensitivity is quantitatively discussed as a function of grain size and chemisorbed gas concentration.
Expression of a monoclonal antibody (3G5) defined ganglioside antigen in the renal cortex

Expression of a monoclonal antibody (3G5) defined ganglioside antigen in the renal cortex. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) 3G5 was found, by indirect immunofluorescence, to bind to renal cortical structures in frozen sections of human, rat and calf kidneys. Double indirect immunofluorescence studies on frozen sections of rat kidneys showed that 3G5 stained only the glomerulus and the distribution of the 3G5 antigen on the glomerulus was more extensive than the staining observed with antibodies to Factor VIII antigen. 3G5 stained the proximal convoluted tubules and collecting tubules in bovine renal sections but glomeruli did not stain with 3G5. The 3G5 mAb did not stain tissue cultured bovine glomerular endothelial cells or mesangial cells, but did stain bovine glomerular epithelial cell cultures. 3G5 did not stain MDCK cell cultures. The binding of mAb 3G5 to glomeruli was investigated by immunoelectron microscopy of rat renal tissue. In contrast to the podocyte specificity on bovine glomerular cells in vitro, it was found that the specificity of 3G5 expression on rat glomerular cells in vivo was broader. No binding of mAb 3G5 was found outside the glomerulus in the rat renal cortex. Podocytes, endothelial cells and capsular epithelial cells expressed the 3G5 antigen most strongly. A lesser amount of binding was found in the glomerular basement membrane. The mesangium showed a little binding of mAb 3G5 and no binding at all was found to other cortical structures. The 3G5 antigen in rat renal tissue was found to be a glycolipid that migrated between the ganglioside markers GM 2 and GM 1 by immunostaining of thin layer chromatograms. The 3G5 mAb has previously been shown to react with microvascular pericytes, resting T-lymphocytes and cells of the brain, thyroid gland and adrenal gland as well as various malignancies. The significance of the tissue specific patterns of expression remains unclear and will be understood only when the function of this ganglioside is elucidated.
Hybrids: The best of both worlds

There is a kind of schism, a schizophrenia, in the space community about people and machines. There has been a split historically between those who insist on doing everything in space with people and those who insist on doing everything with machines. But there has been remarkably little work done on how people can work with machines in space.
Intussusception and the diagnostic value of testing stool for occult blood

Abstract A retrospective review was performed to determine the diagnostic value of testing for occull blood in stool of children suspect for intussusception. Ninety-six children had barium enema studies for suspected intussusception. Of the 57 children who had barium enema confirmed intussusception, 29 did not have history or physical findings of gross blood per rectum. Stool was tested for occult blood in 16 of these 29 patients, and 12 (75%) were positive. In comparison, three (20%) of the children who did not have intussusception had stool positive for occult blood. Stool with occult blood was significantly associated with intussusception ( P P
Responses of some newly developed salt-tolerant genotypes of spring wheat to salt stress: II. Water relations and photosynthetic capacity

SUMMARY Photosynthetic capacity and water relations of two newly developed salt-tolerant genotypes of spring wheat, S24 and S36, were assessed with respect to their parents, LU26S (from Pakistan) and Kharchia (from India). These four lines, together with a salt-tolerant genotype SARC-1 and two salt-sensitive cvs Potohar and Yecora Rojo, were grown until the booting stage in salinized sand culture containing 0, 125 or 250 mol m−3 NaCl in full strength Hoagland's nutrient solution. S24 and S36 produced significantly greater fresh and dry plant biomass than their parents and the two salt-sensitive lines under saline conditions. There was no consistent relationship between growth and assimilation rate of all cultivars differing in degree of salt tolerance. Stomatal conductance was reduced due to salt stress in all cultivars except Yecora Rojo. The newly evolved genotypes showed relatively higher stomatal conductance than the other cultivars at the highest salt treatment, but there was no consistent relationship between assimilation rate and stomatal conductance. Transpiration in all cultivars reduced consistently with increase in salt concentration of the growth medium, but S36 and S24 had higher transpiration than that of the other lines. The higher transpiration rate in S24 and S36 resulted in lowering their water use efficiency compared with the other cultivars. Water potential and turgor potential of only the two salt-sensitive cultivars, Potohar and Yecora Rojo, were significantly lower than those of the other lines, which themselves did not differ. The physiological traits, such as assimilation rate and water-use efficiency, did not prove conducive to discriminate high salt-tolerant and low salt-tolerant lines examined in this study.
A dual temperature simulated annealing approach for solving bilevel programming problems

This paper presents a dual temperature simulated annealing approach to bilevel programming problems. Bilevel programming problems arise when one optimization problem, the inner problem, is a constraint of a second optimization problem, the outer problem. In this paper, the inner problem is stochastically relaxed with a parameter that can be used as a temperature scale in simulated annealing. Solving the outer problem with simulated annealing as well leads to the dual temperature approach. The technique is demonstrated with several linear, nonlinear, and mixed integer nonlinear bilevel programming problems, including a safe plant layout problem that simultaneously minimizes cost and the damage caused during a worst case scenario accident.
Introduction and Survey of Group Decision Making with Applications to Worth Assessment

In a society, decisions often affect groups of people instead of isolated individuals. In such cases, planners and decision makers are usually expected to consider the preferences of Previous approaches to the problem of amalgamating the individual preferences into a form which can be used to guide the decision maker are surveyed, and the role worth assessment plays in the group decision making problem is considered. Our approach here is to define the problem of group decision making and develop acceptable methodologies to treat the problem. Arrow has presented a set of conditions which acceptable methodologies should satisfy, and we use those conditions as our guide. Black has considered the case of single-peaked preferences and majority rule as acceptable methodologies, and we also examine his work. We extend the concept of single-peaked preferences to the problem of selecting a numerical quantity from a continuous interval. We arbitrarily define the mean as an acceptable social welfare function for such a case. We then couple the mean with the method of majority voting for two alternatives to create a procedure for assessment of the worth of complex alternatives by a group. Applications to worth assessment are discussed.
Finding prime pairs with particular gaps

By a prime gap of size g, we mean that there are primes p and p + g such that the g - 1 numbers between p and p + g are all composite. It is widely believed that infinitely many prime gaps of size g exist for all even integers g. However, it had not previously been known whether a prime gap of size 1000 existed. The objective of this article was to be the first to find a prime gap of size 1000, by using a systematic method that would also apply to finding prime gaps of any size. By this method, we find prime gaps for all even integers from 746 to 1000, and some beyond. What we find are not necessarily the first occurrences of these gaps, but, being examples, they give an upper bound on the first such occurrences. The prime gaps of size 1000 listed in this article were first announced on the Number Theory Listing to the World Wide Web on Tuesday, April 8, 1997. Since then, others, including Sol Weintraub and A.O.L. Atkin, have found prime gaps of size 1000 with smaller integers, using more ad hoc methods. At the end of the article, related computations to find prime triples of the form 6m + 1, 12m - 1, 12m + 1 and their application to divisibility of binomial coefficients by a square will also be discussed.
Video microscopy of colloidal gold particles and immuno-gold labelled microtubules in improved rectified DIC and epi-illumination

Modification of rectified Nomarski differential interference contrast optics (Nikon) and the epi-illumination system (Nikon IGS-cube) improved the detection of colloidal gold particles with analog video enhanced microscopy. Immuno-gold labelled microtubules of Haemanthus endosperm are visualized at a level of detection unmatched in conventional light micro-scopy. Single gold, or gold silver enhanced particles in suspension viewed with the modified epi-illumination after pressure injection into cells, are well distinguished from other granular cell components. Immuno-gold has also been detected on the surface of chromosomes and the nuclear envelopes in cells during the rapid experimental disassembly of microtubules. Thus, under certain conditions tubulin in a form other than microtubules may be detected. Practical applications of this "optical stain" for non fading immuno-gold 5-40 nm markers are discussed.
Osmosis in cortical collecting tubules. ADH-independent osmotic flow rectification.

The present experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of varying the osmolality of luminal solutions on the antidiuretic hormone (ADH)-independent water and solute permeability properties of isolated rabbit cortical collecting tubules. In the absence of ADH, the osmotic water permeability coefficient (cm s–1) Pfl→b, computed from volume flows from hypotonic lumen to isotonic bath, was 20 ± 4 x 10–4 (SEM); the value of Pfb→l in the absence of ADH, computed from volume flows from isotonic bath to hypertonic lumen, was 88 ± 15 x 10–4 cm s–1. We also measured apparent urea permeability coefficients (cm s–1) from 14C-urea fluxes from lumen to bath (PDDureal→b) and from bath to lumen (PDDureab→l). For hypotonic luminal solutions and isotonic bathing solutions, PDDureal→b was 0.045 ± 0.004 x 10–4 and was unaffected by ADH. The ADH-independent values of PDDureal→b and Pureab→l were, respectively, 0.216 ± 0.022 x 10–4 cm s–1 and 0.033 ± 0.002 x 10–4 cm s–1 for isotonic bathing solutions and luminal solutions made hypertonic with urea, i.e., there was an absolute increase in urea permeability and asymmetry of urea fluxes. Significantly, PDDureal→b did not rise when luminal hypertonicity was produced by sucrose; and, bathing fluid hypertonicity did not alter tubular permeability to water or to urea. We interpret these data to indicate that luminal hypertonicity increased the leakiness of tight junctions to water and urea but not sucrose. Since the value of Pfb→l in the absence of ADH, when tight junctions were open to urea, was approximately half of the value of Pfl→b in the presence of ADH, when tight junctions were closed to urea, we conclude that tight junctions are negligible paracellular shunts for lumen to bath osmosis with ADH. These findings, together with those in the preceding paper, are discussed in terms of a solubility-diffusion model for water permeation in which ADH increases water solubility in luminal plasma membranes.
A Microprocessor Based Monitoring and Protection System for a Series Capacitor Zn0 Nonlinear Bypass Resistor

The result of this development effort is the successful application of microprocessor and fiber optic technologies to the monitoring and protection of ZnO nonlinear bypass resistors. Two systems have been implemented and have undergone extensive fault testing. Both systems have operated correctly and have exhibited excellent noise and transient surpression. The developed monitoring and protection algorithm is unique, demonstrating the versatility of the microprocessor technology as applied to power system monitoring and protection problems. The fiber optic analog channel developed for this application is unique, exhibiting a high level of accuracy, and providing excellent electrical isolation between an active power system and sensitive digital systems.
Spontaneous Closure of a Ventricular Septal Defect in a Patient with Prior Pulmonary Artery Banding

The fourth case of spontaneous closure of a ventricular septal defect in a patient having prior pulmonary artery banding is reported. Statistics to date indicate that ventricular septal defects in patients who require banding may close with lesser frequency than those for which banding is not required. The apparent lower incidence of spontaneous closure of these defects should not influence the use of banding for the control of intractable cardiac failure in infants with ventricular septal defects.
Isolation and physical mapping of T7 gene 1 messenger RNA.

Abstract T7 gene 1 messenger RNA has been isolated free from other bacteriophage mRNA's by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by sucrose gradient sedimentation. The RNA-DNA hybrid composed of this messenger RNA and the separated r -strand of T7 DNA has been constructed in vitro and visualized in the electron microscope. From direct observation of the hybrid, gene 1 can be positioned on the physical map of T7 as extending between map positions 0.08 and 0·17 (relative length of T7 DNA measured from the left end).
An Integrative Approach to Inferring Gene Regulatory Module Networks

Background: Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) provide insight into the mechanisms of differential gene expression at a system level. However, the methods for inference, functional analysis and visualization of gene regulatory modules and GRNs require the user to collect heterogeneous data from many sources using numerous bioinformatics tools. This makes the analysis expensive and time-consuming. Results: In this work, the BiologicalNetworks application–the data integration and network based research environment– was extended with tools for inference and analysis of gene regulatory modules and networks. The backend database of the application integrates public data on gene expression, pathways, transcription factor binding sites, gene and protein sequences, and functional annotations. Thus, all data essential for the gene regulation analysis can be mined publicly. In addition, the user’s data can either be integrated in the database and become public, or kept private within the application. The capabilities to analyze multiple gene expression experiments are also provided. Conclusion: The generated modular networks, regulatory modules and binding sites can be visualized and further analyzed within this same application. The developed tools were applied to the mouse model of asthma and the OCT4 regulatory network in embryonic stem cells. Developed methods and data are available through the Java application from BiologicalNetworks program at http://www.biologicalnetworks.org.
Laparoscopic vs. hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis.

Sigmoid colectomy for diverticulitis can be technically challenging because of severe inflammation in the left-lower quadrant and pelvis. We hypothesized that hand-assisted laparoscopic technique may facilitate laparoscopic completion of this surgery while retaining the short-term benefits associated with “pure” laparoscopic surgery, in which an incision is made only for extracting the specimen. This study was designed to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent totally laparoscopic or hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis. We reviewed our prospectively collected patient database from July 2001 to June 2004 and compared the intraoperative data and postoperative outcomes of patients who underwent elective laparoscopic or hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoidectomies for diverticulitis. Complicated patients (with abscess or fistulas) also were separately analyzed. The hand-assisted laparoscopic (mode age, 57 years; 48 percent male) and laparoscopic sigmoidectomy (mode age, 56 years; 90 percent male) groups were similar with regard to age and gender. Overall, patients who underwent laparoscopic (n = 21) vs. hand-assisted laparoscopic (n = 21) sigmoidectomies had a significantly longer operative time (197 ± 42 vs. 171 ± 34 minutes, P = 0.04) and shorter incision length (5 ± 2.1 vs. 9.3 ± 4.1 cm, P = 0.0001). Patients with complicated diverticulitis (n = 14; abscess, colovesical fistula, enterocolic fistula) who underwent laparoscopic sigmoidectomies (n=4) had a significantly longer operative time compared with hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoidectomy (n = 10) group (255 ± 18 vs. 177 ± 34 minutes, P = 0.001). Conversion rate for the laparoscopic group was significantly higher (3/4 vs. 1/10, P = 0.04, Fisher exact) when complicated diverticulitis was present. There were no differences in postoperative outcomes or incision lengths in thecomplicated group. Outcomes after hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis are similar to those seen in the pure laparoscopic method, with lower conversion rates and shorter operative times. Hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoid resection for diverticulitis is an attractive alternative to a “pure” laparoscopic method in complicated cases.
Exact and efficient Collision Detection for a multi-section Continuum Manipulator

Continuum manipulators, featuring “continuous backbone structures”, are promising for deft manipulation of a wide range of objects under uncertain conditions in less-structured and cluttered environments. A multi-section trunk/tentacle robot is such a continuum manipulator. With a continuum robot, manipulation means a continuous whole arm motion, where the arm is often bent into a continuously deforming concave shape. To approximate such an arm with a polygonal mesh for collision detection is expensive not only because a fine mesh is required to approximate concavity but also because each time the manipulator deforms, a new mesh has to be built for the new configuration. However, most generic collision detection algorithms apply to only polygonal meshes or objects of convex primitives. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm for Collision Detection between an Exact Continuum Manipulator (CD-ECoM) and its environments, which is applicable to any continuum manipulator featuring multiple constant-curvature sections. Our test results show that using this algorithm is both accurate and more efficient in both time and space to detect collisions than approximating the continuum manipulator as polygonal meshes and applying an existing generic collision detection algorithm. The algorithm is essential for path/trajectory planning of continuum manipulators.
Adenovirus-mediated delivery of fas ligand inhibits intimal hyperplasia after balloon injury in immunologically primed animals.

Background —Adenoviral constructs have been used for studies of injury-induced vascular hyperplasia in immunologically naive laboratory animals, but their usefulness for intra-arterial gene therapy may be limited by the prevalence of preexisting immunity to adenovirus in the patient population. Here, we explored the efficacy of adenovirus-mediated transfer of Fas ligand , a cytotoxic gene with immunomodulatory properties, in inhibiting injury-induced vascular lesion formation in both naive and immunologically primed animals. Methods and Results —Lesion formation was evaluated in balloon-injured carotid arteries of naive and adenovirus-immunized rats that were infected with adenoviral constructs expressing Fas ligand (Ad-FasL), the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (Ad-p21), or β-galactosidase (Ad-βgal). In naive rats, Ad-FasL induced apoptosis in medial vascular smooth muscle cells and inhibited intimal hyperplasia by 60% relative to Ad-βgal–treated vessels ( P <0.05), whereas the cytostatic agent Ad-p21 decreased lesion size by 58% ( P <0.05). In animals preimmunized with an adenoviral vector containing no transgene, Ad-FasL significantly inhibited neointima formation (73% reduction, P <0.05), but Ad-p21 failed to inhibit neointima formation relative to controls. Immunologically primed rats displayed robust T-cell infiltration in Ad-p21– and Ad-βgal–treated vessels, but T-cell infiltration was markedly attenuated in Ad-FasL–treated vessels. Conclusions —Our data demonstrate that adenovirus-mediated Fas ligand delivery can inhibit intimal hyperplasia in both immunologically primed and naive animals, whereas the efficacy of an adenovirus-mediated p21 delivery is limited to immunologically naive animals. This study documents, for the first time, the therapeutic efficacy of intravascular adenoviral gene transfer in animals with preexisting immunity to adenovirus.
Learning based DVFS for simultaneous temperature, performance and energy management

Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) has been widely used for energy reduction in the modern processors. How to select the optimal frequency that minimizes energy dissipation for the given performance constraint at runtime is a nontrivial problem. The problem becomes more complicated if temperature needs to be constrained (or minimized) simultaneously. The temperature, performance and energy have different nonlinear relationships with frequency/voltage scaling ratio and this relationship is closely related to the characteristics of hardware and applications. In this paper, we design a reinforcement learning algorithm to tackle the problem of simultaneous temperature, performance and energy management. The proposed approach allows continuous tradeoff among these three quality measurement of a computer system. It also enables us to set two of the measurements as constraints and optimize the third one. The proposed approach is validated on an Intel Core 2 processor running Linux system.
On the unpredictability of contact effects

Os estudiosos da linguistica historica saben que calquera busqueda de prediccions deterministicas do cambio linguistico esta destinada o fracaso. Pero o desexo de atopar explicacions do cambio linguistico e forte, e moitos linguistas tenen proposto xeneralizacions que implican prediccions limitadas sobre o que pode ou non pode suceder na historia da lingua. En situacions de contacto de linguas, os principais pronosticos de posibles resultados linguisticos son sociais mais ca linguisticos. Pero explicitar os factores sociais que son cruciais e unha tarefa dificil. Unicamente un factor social semella capaz de producir autenticas restriccions sobre os efectos linguisticos do contacto: a presencia ou ausencia dun bilinguismo pleno entre os falantes que introducen as interferencias nunha lingua. Por outra banda, intentar atopar unha correlacion fiable, a traves dunha ampla gama de situacions de contacto, entre factores actitudinais especificos e resultados linguisticos especificos e, probablemente, unha tarefa imposible. Xa que logo, o obxectivo deste estudio non e fornecer xeneralizacions predictivas sobre os xeitos en que as actitudes determinan os resultados linguisticos do contacto, senon mostrar por que e tan dificil atopar algunha
Analysis of Arsenic Uptake by Plant Species Selected for Growth in Northwest Ohio by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectroscopy

Abstract Arsenic (As) contamination is widespread in the industrial areas of northwest Ohio. Plant species that both take up As and are appropriate for the climate and growth conditions of the region are needed for phytoremediation to be successfully employed. Actively growing plants from 22 species of native genera were exposed to As in hydroponics systems (either 0, 10, or 50 mg As L−1; 1 week) and commercially available potting mix (either 0, 10, 25, 100, or 250 mg As L−1; 2 weeks), depending on their growth conditions. Aboveground plant tissues were harvested and digested, and concentrations of As were determined by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry. The highest tissue concentrations of As (mg As kg−1 dw) were recorded in seven plant species: Rudbeckia hirta (661), Helenium autumnale (363 in tissues formed after exposure to As), Lupinus perennis (333), Echinacea purpurea (298), Coreopsis lanceolata (258), Lepidium virginicum (214), and Linum lewisii (214). These seven species ar...
Enzyme replacement using liposome carriers in feline GM1 gangliosidosis fibroblasts

CURRENT emphasis in research on lysosomal storage diseases is directed towards enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for these inherited enzyme deficiencies1–3. The rationale for ERT is based on the assumption that endocytosed enzyme would enter lysosomes and function in the degradation of accumulated substrates. However, inactivation of enzyme, immunological reactions and low cellular uptake have prevented successful application of this promising approach to therapy. Circumvention of these limitations requires the use of carriers which protect and stabilise replacement enzyme while enhancing uptake and subcellular distribution2–5. We report here the use of lipid vesicles (liposomes)6–9 as carriers for replacement enzyme in feline GM1 gangliosidosis fibroblasts which have deficient β-galactosidase (β-gal) activity and lysosomal storage of glycopeptides9–11. Our results demonstrate increased β-gal activity and corresponding catabolism of stored glycopeptides in feline GM1 gangliosidosis fibroblasts treated with liposomes containing β-gal.
Sums of roots of unity in cyclotomic fields

Abstract Let ζ n denote a primitive n th root of unity, n ≥ 4. For any integer k , 2 ≤ k ≤ n − 2 it is shown that the diophantine equation 1 + ζ n + ⋯ + ζ n k −1 = ϱα q has no solutions with ϱ, α in Q (ζ n ), ϱ a root of unity, α an algebraic integer, and q an integer ≥ 2, except when n = 10, 12, or 30, where the solutions are completely determined.
Luteinizing hormone acts directly at granulosa cells to stimulate periovulatory processes: modulation of luteinizing hormone effects by prostaglandins.

The midcycle surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers events within the primate periovulatory follicle that culminate in follicle rupture and luteinization of the follicle wall; these events include the shift from primarily estrogen to primarily progesterone production, vascularization of the granulosa cell layer, and expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors (MMPs and TIMPs) thought to be necessary for follicle rupture. However, it is unknown if LH acts directly at granulosa cells to regulate these important periovulatory processes. The ovulatory LH surge also stimulates the production of prostaglandins (PGs) by the follicle just before follicle rupture, suggesting that LH may have both PG-dependent and PG-independent actions. To address these questions, gonadotropins were administered to adult female rhesus monkeys to stimulate the development of multiple, large preovulatory follicles. Granulosa cells were aspirated and maintained in vitro for up to 48 h in serum-free, chemically defined medium. Granulosa cells were cultured with LH alone or in combination with PGs to determine if these hormones act directly at granulosa cells to induce the production of factors implicated in periovulatory processes. LH treatment increased media progesterone (p<0.05) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; p<0.05) levels as well as stimulating expression of mRNAs for MMP-1 (p=0.05), MMP-9 (p<0.05), and TIMP-1 (p<0.05), similar to the effects of an ovulatory dose of gonadotropin in vivo. PGE2 alone elevated media progesterone levels but decreased LH stimulation of MMP-1 mRNA (p<0.05). PGF2α reduced LH-stimulated TIMP-1 mRNA (p<0.05) levels. These studies suggest a direct action of LH on granulosa cells to stimulate the processes involved in tissue remodeling and neovascularization, i.e., MMPs/TIMPs and angiogenic factors, as well as steroidogenesis. LH-stimulated PGs may have a regulatory role to modulate some effects of the LH surge, such as MMP/TIMP expression.