cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multivariate Analysis and Visualization of Splicing Correlations in Single-Gene Transcriptomes

RNA metabolism, through 'combinatorial splicing', can generate enormous structural diversity in the proteome. Alternative domains may interact, however, with unpredictable phenotypic consequences, necessitating integrated RNA-level regulation of molecular composition. Splicing correlations within transcripts of single genes provide valuable clues to functional relationships among molecular domains as well as genomic targets for higher-order splicing regulation. We present tools to visualize complex splicing patterns in full-length cDNA libraries. Developmental changes in pair-wise correlations are presented vectorially in 'clock plots' and linkage grids. Higher-order correlations are assessed statistically through Monte Carlo analysis of a log-linear model with an empirical-Bayes estimate of the true probabilities of observed and unobserved splice forms. Log-linear coefficients are visualized in a 'spliceprint,' a signature of splice correlations in the transcriptome. We present two novel metrics: the linkage change index, which measures the directional change in pair-wise correlation with tissue differentiation, and the accuracy index, a very simple goodness-of-fit metric that is more sensitive than the integrated squared error when applied to sparsely populated tables, and unlike chi-square, does not diverge at low variance. Considerable attention is given to sparse contingency tables, which are inherent to single-gene libraries. Patterns of splicing correlations are revealed, which span a broad range of interaction order and change in development. The methods have a broad scope of applicability, beyond the single gene – including, for example, multiple gene interactions in the complete transcriptome.
Offensive advertising in the fashion industry: Sexual objectification and ethical judgments of consumers

Facebook pages of two selected companies were examined: Dolce & Gabbana (D&G) and American Apparel (AA). The current study compares two brands with different target markets, products, and price points, both of which are known for their provocative and controversial advertising campaigns. This study aims to understand consumers' perceptions of the controversial marketing practices based on the two theories of sexual objectification and ethical judgments, using qualitative content analysis. Our findings confirm that sexual appeal is no longer a compelling factor in advertising for consumers. Consumers noted problems with branding strategies that have been used by AA, claiming such advertising harms their brand image. Considering the brand's financial struggles and media criticism aimed at it, it would seem wise for AA to cease its inappropriate marketing campaigns and focus on ethical marketing claims. It is time for the company to consider its role in social responsibility from both the ideological and uti...
Flexible low-mass devices and mechanisms actuated by electroactive polymers

Miniature, lightweight, miser actuators that operate similar to biological muscles can be used to develop robotic devices with unmatched capabilities to impact many technology areas. Electroactive polymers (EAP) offer the potential to producing such actuators and their main attractive feature is their ability to induce relatively large bending or longitudinal strain. Generally, these materials produce a relatively low force and the applications that can be considered at the current state of the art are relatively limited. This reported study is concentrating on the development of effective EAPs and the resultant enabling mechanisms employing their unique characteristics. Several EAP driven mechanisms, which emulate human hand, were developed including a gripper, manipulator arm and surface wiper. The manipulator arm was made of a composite rod with an EAP actuator consisting of a scrolled rope that is activated longitudinally by an electrostatic field. A gripper was made to serve as an end effector and it consisted of multiple bending EAP fingers for grabbing and holding such objects as rocks. An EAP surface wiper was developed to operate like a human finger and to demonstrate the potential to remove dust from optical and IR windows as well as solar cells. These EAP driven devices are taking advantage of the large actuation displacement of these materials but there is need for a significantly greater actuation force capability.
Socio-economic determinants of child immunization in rural Ethiopia.

Using cross section data from rural Ethiopia this paper investigates the socio-economic determinants of child immunization. Results of a generalized ordered logit model show that child immunization is strongly associated with childs age housing quality presence of health extension worker in a village proximity to district capital access to primary school and ethnic diversity. The paper draws both supply-side and demand-side implications to increase full immunization for children in rural Ethiopia.
Optimal Fleet Allocation of Freeway Service Patrols

As one component of traffic incident management systems, freeway service patrols (FSP) facilitate quick removal of incidents through faster response and reduced clearance time. This paper is to investigate how to allocate tow trucks among patrol beats to maximize the effectiveness of the FSP services. A min–max bi-level programming model is proposed to determine an optimal fleet allocation that minimizes the maximal system travel time that incidents may incur. A heuristic iterative solution algorithm is proposed to solve the model. Both the model and the algorithm are demonstrated and validated through a numerical example.
Re-Inventing Digital Delivery for Multimodal Composing: A Theory and Heuristic for Composition Pedagogy

Abstract This essay recasts James E. Porter's topoi for digital delivery theory as a pedagogical heuristic that guides students to reconsider delivery throughout the process of composing a multimodal video in first-year writing. The article showcases students’ engagement with the fifth canon. It reports the findings from a pilot classroom study examining the affordances and limitations of the heuristic by three teacher-researchers, offers pedagogical implications, and presents a re-modification of Porter's topoi for different situated uses. Through examining students’ uses of the digital delivery heuristic for video composing, four interrelated finding strands were discovered: interdependency of the topoi and rhetorical canons, rhetorical and ethical use of multimedia resources, identification across differences and commonalities, and reinscription and norming. The article makes explicit the dynamic, interactive, and recursive nature of delivery in multimodal writing and resituates digital delivery as a composition theory and pedagogy for teaching multimedia composition.
Creating a Constitutional Order of Freedom in Emerging Market Economies

Economic liberalisation offers the greatest hope for bringing the developing world out of poverty, but to be successful economic liberalisation also requires political and constitutional reform to safeguard private property rights and secure the rule of law. This article examines the process of constitutional reform in a number of developing nations that have recently undergone economic liberalisation, with particular reference to the experience of reform in China.
Orb-web visibility: the influence of insect flight behaviour and visual physiology on the evolution of web designs within the Araneoidea

Abstract Ecological differentiation among spiders that build orb-webs depends on the ability of webs both to absorb the kinetic energy of prey impact and to intercept prey (web visibility). Analyses of Diptera flying near webs show that Drosophila melanogaster Meigen avoids high-fibre-density orb-webs sooner than they avoid low-fibre-density webs. From analyses of the flight potential and visual capabilities of D. melanogaster, Trichoporosopon digitatum (Rondani) and Culex quinquesfasciatus Say, it seems surprising that orb-webs capture any prey at all. The thin diameter and refractive properties of web silks give spider webs a translucent quality that greatly reduces visibility. Web suspension in low- and diffuse-light environments, as well as against visually confused backgrounds, decreases one of the most important visual cues for prey, contrast between the web and its background. Among spiders that capture prey which are characterized by specialized visual and flight capabilities, oscillating webs and three-dimensional webs may enhance web capture effectiveness. Web oscillation and the static distortion of the plane of some orb-webs allow webs to ‘escape’ from the range of visual resolution of potential prey.
Incidence of metacarpal fractures in the US population

There are scarce data regarding the epidemiology of metacarpal fractures within the US population. The purpose of this study is to report the epidemiology of metacarpal fractures in the USA using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Database (NEISS). The NEISS database represents a national probability sample of approximately 100 hospitals in the USA and its territories. The database was queried for metacarpal fractures during the time period 2002–2006. US census data were used to calculate incidence rate (IR) for various demographic criteria. A total of 4,718 metacarpal fractures were identified, representing approximately 160,790 metacarpal fractures. The calculated IR was 13.6 (95 % CI, 13.6–13.67) per 100,000 person-years. The highest IR occurred in the 10–19 age group (IR 38.8; 95 % CI, 38.6–38.9) followed by those 20–29 years of age (IR 28.4; 95 % CI, 28.3–28.5). Metacarpal fractures were found more commonly in males (IR 23; 95 % CI, 22.9–23.1) than females (IR 4.5; 95 % CI, 4.5–4.5), with an incidence rate ratio of 5.08. The most common mechanisms of injury were contact with a wall or door, and falls. The most common setting was in the home, followed by recreational locations. The estimated incidence of metacarpal fractures presenting for acute hospital care in the USA is 13.6 per 100,000 person-years. Males in the second and third decades of life sustain this injury most commonly. Metacarpal fractures occur frequently in the home or recreational setting, with contact force as the primary mechanism of injury.
Immunoassay Studies Using Adenosine Deaminase Enzyme with Potentiometric Rate Measurement

Abstract An enzyme immunoassay method using adenosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.4) as the enzyme label is described. Potentiometric rate measurements with an ammonia gas-sensing electrode were used to determine the activity of enzyme label bound to agarose bead immobilized second antibody. The activity is related to the concentration of either a model haptenic group dinitrophenyl, DNP, or antiDNP antibody. Detection limits of 50 ng antibody and 10−10 M DNP hapten were obtained when incubations were carried out at pH 7.5 and assays at pH 9.0.
Reconfiguring a Remanufacturing Line at Visteon, Mexico

Visteon's remanufacturing facility in Lamosa, Mexico was plagued with heavy fluctuations of supply and demand, leading to periods of severe capacity shortage. Management asked us to assess options for improving capacity. We developed a simulation-based line-configuration model that simultaneously considers line balancing and line length (number of production stations) to maximize the remanufacturing system's effective throughput. We computationally analyzed the effect of processing-time variability on line-reconfiguration decisions, the effect of correlated task-processing times on throughput, and the marginal benefits of using dynamic line balancing. Based on the data we collected, we made recommendations for reconfiguring Visteon's remanufacturing line. Management successfully implemented these changes, increased asset utilization, and reduced its planned new investments in capital equipment.
Sexual effects of androgens in women: some theoretical considerations

Abstract Objective: To consider explanations for the inconsistent evidence concerning behavioral effects of androgens in women. The following possible explanatory mechanisms are explored: [1] Women vary in their behavioral responsiveness to T. [2] Some reported effects of exogenous T may be induced by increasing bioavailable estrogen. [3] Sexual effects of T may be secondary to direct effects on mood. [4] The relationship between T and sexuality is readily obscured by psychological mechanisms. [5] Stress-induced increases in adrenal androgens may further confuse the picture. [6] Women who respond to T respond to levels that are ineffective in men. There is no evidence of a threshold in women above which further increases in T have no additional effect. Conclusion(s): A theoretical model, involving desensitization of the central nervous system to T during early development in the male, is presented as a possible explanation for some of these relevant differences between men and women and for much of the conflicting evidence in the literature on women.
An outcomes protocol for carpal tunnel release: a comparison of outcomes in patients with and without medical comorbidities.

Purpose To prospectively report the outcomes of open carpal tunnel release with respect to patient age and medical comorbidities. Methods Nine hundred fifty open carpal tunnel procedures in 826 patients (age range, 21–100 y) at a high-volume orthopedic surgery center were evaluated. Self-reported symptom severity and functional scores were collected using the validated Boston Carpal Tunnel Outcomes questionnaire preoperatively, and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Results Patients demonstrated a significant improvement in symptom severity scores at 2 weeks and functional severity scores at 6 weeks. Documented patient medical comorbidities did not affect improvement after surgery. Patients with diabetes improved more slowly but were not significantly different at 6 weeks. Patients with workers’ compensation insurance were significantly worse at baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks but were not significantly different at 3 months. The risk of negative postoperative endpoints was slightly higher in patients with a medical comorbidity, though not statistically different. Conclusions Significant improvements in symptom severity and hand function may be expected after open carpal tunnel release in the general population regardless of age, medical comorbidities, or workers’ compensation status. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic III.
Lattice dynamic effects in electron paramagnetic resonance

Abstract The electron-phonon interaction for a paramagnetic impurity in an insulating crystal is derived and from that an electron-electron interaction in a higher order is considered. An attempt is made to provide a unified presentation of the effect of phonons on the parameters measured in an electron-paramagnetic resonance experiment. The phonon-induced corrections to the zero-field splitting, the hyperfine field, the superhyperfine splitting and line intensities is reviewed theoretically along with experimental data. Both the point charge and covalent models are discussed. The effect of local and resonance modes is calculated and discussed in terms of isotope effect. Some related problems of the energy levels, dispersion, screening and phonon force are also included in appendices.
Transforming Faith: The Sacred and Secular in Modern American History.

Preface Introduction The Sacred and Secular in American History From Covenant to Constitution: The Americanization of Judaism Black Theology and Historical Necessity Southern Protestant Clergy and the Disfranchisement of Blacks Citizens and Believers: Always Strangers? Women and Christ: The Transformer of Culture The Chicago Campaign King Tut and the Scopes Trial Revive Us Again: Alienation, Hope, and the Resurgence of Fundamentalism, 1930-1950 Evangelical Broadcasting: Its Meaning for Evangelicals God and Jimmy Carter Biodivinity: The Encounter of Religion and Medicine Selected Bibliography Index
Mass spectrometric evidence for mechanisms of fragmentation of charge-derivatized peptides.

Mass spectrometry of charged derivatives of peptides has been a growing area of interest in the past decade. Fragmentation of charged derivatives of peptides is believed to be different from than that of protonated peptides when analyzed by collisionally activated dissociation-tandem mass spectrometry (CAD-MS/MS). The charged derivatives fragment by charge-remote fragmentation mechanisms, which are usually classified as high-energy (HE)-CAD processes. Our objective in the present study is to investigate the mechanism of fragmentation of charged derivatives of peptides when analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-post-source decay-mass spectrometry (MALDI-PSD-MS) and electrospray ionization (ESI)-CAD-MS/MS (ion trap), which involve low-energy processes. Three major types of hydrogens (α, β, and amide) are available for migration during the formation of the *a n ions (the predominant ion series produced from these charged derivatives). To pinpoint which of the three hydrogens is involved in the formation of the *a n ions, deuterium-labeled peptide derivatives with labels at specific sites were synthesized and analyzed by MALDI-PSD-MS and ESI-CAD-MS/MS. Our results suggest that the amide hydrogen of the residue at which the cleavage occurs shifts during the formation of *a n; this observation serves as evidence for the mechanism proposed earlier by Liao et al. for fragmentation of such charged derivatives. The results also help elucidate the structure of the *a n ions, *b n ions, and others formed during cleavage at the proline residue, as well as the ions formed during loss of the C-terminal residue from these charged derivatives.
Triclosan-resistant bacteria isolated from feedlot and residential soils

Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent that is currently incorporated into hundreds of consumer and medical products. It can be either a bacteriostatic or bactericidal agent, depending on its formulation. It has activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as some viruses and protists. The purpose of this study was to determine whether triclosan-resistant bacteria could be isolated from the soil. Soils from cattle feedlots and residential lawns were collected and assayed for the presence of these organisms by plating samples on growth media containing triclosan. Organisms were subsequently identified by partial 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. All the organisms isolated in this study were Gram-negative rods, with members of genus Pseudomonas being particularly well represented. This result may not be surprising because Gram-negative organisms are generally more resistant to triclosan, and since Pseudomonas bacteria are known to have numerous efflux mechanisms for dealing with harmful substances.
The functions of space

This paper describes a participant observation study carried out on a ward for elderly functionally ill people in a large psychiatric hospital in the Midlands, England. My initial interest was in observing the process of institutionalization, and attempts made to counter this process. As the project developed I became interested in four specific cultural domains: the use of space, particularly the ward office; the relationship between ward staff and 'outsiders' or 'others'; the functions of staff handovers; and the characteristics of the physical setting. In my conclusions I describe the relationship between space and the use of space, and the structure of authority and communication on the ward and between the ward and the 'outside world'. I also discuss the functions of handover in terms of the transfer of responsibility, and the psychological process which, it seems to me, underlines the split between 'good' and 'bad' others. I suggest the possibility that this line of research might be extended, and that a synthesy between sociological insight and group dynamic theory might offer a fruitful way forward.
A Note on the Names in Names

AbstractNames, the journal of the American Name Society, has been publishing articles on names since 1953, but, in the fifty-plus years of publication, Names has yet to publish any studies on the names of the authors who have contributed to the journal. This article examines the names of these contributors in terms of academic associations, prosody, and diversity.
Oral Kaposi's sarcoma: a clinicopathologic study of 23 homosexual and bisexual men from the New York metropolitan area.

Abstract A total of 3970 cases of Kaposis's sarcoma (KS) associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome had been reported to the Centers for Disease Control by the end of 1986. The prevalence of oral KS in patients with KS of the skin varies, reaching a maximum of 44% in one published study. We present a retrospective clinicopathologic analysis of 23 previously unreported cases of oral KS in male homosexual and bisexual patients from the New York metropolitan area. Our data reveal that 21 of the patients had KS confined to the oral cavity and that, in 16 cases, the oral KS was the first presenting sign of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Sixteen of the 23 patients had solitary oral lesions. Nineteen of the tumors showed prominent endothelium-lined capillaries resembling lymphatics, 16 exhibited a prominent spindle cell component, and 17 demonstrated areas of fibrosis. Of the 13 patients for whom there was adequate follow-up information, five were dead within 6 to 15 months. All five deaths were due to Pneumocystis pneumonia.
The combined effects of delay and probability in discounting.

Abstract Human discounting studies have frequently observed hyperbolic discounting of rewards that are delayed or probabilistic. However, no studies have systematically combined delay and probability in a single discounting procedure. Indifference points of hypothetical money rewards that are both delayed and probabilistic were determined. Probabilities were converted into comparable delays according to the h/k constant of proportionality determined by Rachlin et al. (1991) , and discounting rates were calculated. These data provided a very good fit to the hyperbolic model of discounting, suggesting that delay and probability can be combined into a single metric in studies of discounting. The inclusion of a magnitude condition found the Magnitude Effect commonly found in studies of temporal discounting. A temporal resolution of uncertainty condition found no effect. The present paper offers a novel statistical method, within an established framework, for the analysis of data from studies of discounting that combine delay and probability.
A note on a computational approximation to the two-machine problem

Suppose that two machines A and B are available, and that at each successive trial a choice is to be made as to which of the two machines to use. It is assumed that the outcomes of using the machines are Bernouilli random variables with unknown constant probabilities pA and pB of success, for which a score of unity is assigned, and consequent probabilities 1 — pA and 1 — pB of failure. In previous work of Robbins and others, consideration has been given to determining policies of choice that eventually converge on the better machine; i.e., the machine that has the greater probability of success. Also, Thompson, Wald, and others have considered specific policies, and the statistical significance of the difference between the two machines obtained by using these policies. In this paper, the objective is to minimize the expected number of failures before a decision is reached as to which is the better machine. This formulation of the problem is similar to one proposed by Bellman, and the method of solution is analogous to that used by Kalaba on a different model.
Detection of enlarged yolk sac on early ultrasound is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Pregnancies with mean yolk sac diameter ≥5 mm on early ultrasound require monitoring and counseling about a threefold increased risk for first-trimester loss independent of maternal risk factors such as age, body mass index, polycystic ovary syndrome, smoking, and diabetes. In addition, our study shows for the first time that enlarged yolk sac diameter may be associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery.
1H NMR study of ternary ammonia-alkali metal-graphite intercalation compounds

For the first-stage ternary ammonia-alkali metal-graphite intercalation compounds M(NH3)(x)C24(x of about 4, M = K, Rb, Cs), three sets of triplet H-1 NMR spectral lines have been observed at various temperatures and orientations due to the H-1 - H-1 and N-14 - H-1 dipolar interactions. The structures of these compounds have been inferred as mobile (liquid-like) intercalant layers of planar M(NH3)4 ions in between the carbon layers. For the intercalated ammonia molecules, the potential barrier is about 0.2 eV and the molecular geometry is very close to the free NH3 in gas phase.
Collective Action, Environmental Activism, and Air Quality Policy

This article attempts to respond to Ostrom’s call for a behavioral model of collective action by generalizing the collective interest model of mass political action to explain citizen policy support and personal behavioral intentions in the context of air quality policy. The collective action problems inherent in air quality policy provide a critical research setting for testing hypotheses of the collective interest model. Key elements of the collective interest model—perceived risk, trust in policy elites, knowledge of the policy problem, and efficacy—are found to be directly, and positively, related to support of government policies and intentions to engage in personal behaviors that might improve air quality. The article discusses the implications for using the collective interest model as general behavioral theory of collective action.
Regulation of devices.

Lessons can be learnt from drug regulation The development, approval, and surveillance of medical devices have some features in common with those for prescription drugs, as well as others that are even more challenging. Yet the regulatory traditions of the device world are strikingly different from those of drugs and often much more problematic. This is shown in the linked feature by Lenzer and Brownlee (doi:10.1136/bmj.c4753), which describes the history of a vagus nerve stimulator to treat epilepsy—a device with a worrying risk-benefit ratio⇓.1 BSIP, Laurent/Science Photo Library It would be unthinkable for a drug company to go to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States or the European Medicines Agency and say, in effect, “This new drug is much like an older product we sell, except that we have added a new amine group and modified one of the side chains. Apart from that it’s pretty close, so we won’t be doing any new clinical tests on it. When can we begin marketing?” But this is essentially what happens with many new medical devices when they are approved. Unlike drugs, a new device can be approved for use if it is “substantially equivalent” to an existing product.2 The industry argues that many of its products, such as defibrillators or pacemakers, represent incremental modifications of predecessors, so the efficacy and safety of the older products can be presumed to apply to the new version as well.2 The device industry has …
Fabrication of high-quality cross-linked LD-3 nonlinear optical polymer waveguide films

Crosslinked polymers offer the promise of great long term temporal stability and chemical resistance. However, a crosslinkable nonlinear optical (NLO) polymer is more difficult to be processed into high optical quality thin films than other type of NLO polymers such as side-chain, main-chain or guest-host polymers. The crosslinking process imposes more stringent requirements on the solvents. The process of searching for a compatible solvent for a crosslinkable NLO polymer is described. Two detrimental phenomena during the fabrication of electrooptic waveguides from crosslinkable polymers are reported. One is the crystallization of the crosslinker. The other is the formation of wavy surfaces when a commercially available optical adhesive is used to prepare the cladding. By anchoring the small molecules to the long chain NLO polymer and precuring the optical adhesive, good optical quality polymer waveguides are prepared.
Nuclear Data Needs for U.S. Fast Reactor Programs

Abstract Recent developments in U.S. Fast Reactor Programs are reviewed to provide a background for the nuclear data needs of these programs. Innovative designs, inherent, safety, and space nuclear power are receiving increased emphasis. Longstanding and newly-identified nuclear data requirements are reviewed. These requirements are based on information obtained early in 1985 in response to an inquiry sent out by the authors. Finally, plans are outlined for development of an adjusted cross section set for FFTF reload design. The adjustment process suggests some possible changes in ENDF/B-V nuclear data.
Knocking Out the Dopamine Reuptake Transporter (DAT) Does not Change the Baseline Brain Arachidonic Acid Signal in the Mouse

ABSTRACTBackground. Dopamine transporter (DAT) homozygous knockout (DAT−/−) mice have a 10-fold higher extracellular (DA) concentration in the caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens than do wildtype (DAT+/+) mice, but show reduced presynaptic DA synthesis and fewer postsynaptic D2 receptors. One aspect of neurotransmission involves DA binding to postsynaptic D2-like receptors coupled to cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), which releases the second messenger, arachidonic acid (AA), from synaptic membrane phospholipid. We hypothesized that tonic overactivation of D2-like receptors in DAT−/− mice due to the excess DA would not increase brain AA signaling, because of compensatory downregulation of postsynaptic DA signaling mechanisms. Methods: [1–14C]AA was infused intravenously for 3 min in unanesthetized DAT+/+, heterozygous (DAT+/−), and DAT−/− mice. AA incorporation coefficients k* and rates Jin, markers of AA metabolism and signaling, were imaged in 83 brain regions using quantitative autoradiography; bra...
Differences in the chemical reactivity of individual molecules of an enzyme

Much attention has been focused recently on the detection and physical characterization of individual molecules. Using such methods to study the chemical properties, such as reactivity, of single molecules offers the potential to investigate how these might vary from molecule to molecule, and for individual molecules as a function of time. The complex structures of biomolecules such as enzymes make them particularly attractive targets for studying how subtle changes or differences at the molecular level might influence chemical reactivity. We have shown previously that very small (zeptomole) amounts of enzymes can be studied using a fluorescence microassay; single enzyme molecules have also been detected in oil-dispersed droplets by fluorescence microscopy. Here we report the observation of reactions of individual molecules of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-1), which produces NADH from lactate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). When they are present at very low concentrations in a narrow capillary, each enzyme molecule produces a discrete zone of NADH; these can be manipulated electrophoretically and monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy. We find that the activity of individual electrophoretically pure enzyme molecules can vary by up to a factor of four, and that these activities remain unchanged over a two-hour period. We suggest that the origin of the activity differences may lie in the presence of several stable forms of the enzyme.
Solar absorptivity and thermal emissivity of aluminum coated with silicon oxide films prepared by evaporation of silicon monoxide

The solar absorptivity (alpha) and the total normal and hemispherical emissivities (? (n) and ?) of vacuum deposited Al coated with silicon oxide films prepared by evaporation of SiO were determined. For Al coated with true SiO films evaporated at 5 x 10(-7) Torr and deposited at rates >30 A/sec, both and e increase but alpha/? decreases more rapidly with increasing SiO thickness. Such coatings were found to be very stable under simulated space conditions, but they should not be used as temperature control coatings since their alpha, ? and alpha/? values are for most applications too high. The proper way to produce silicon oxide films on Al for temperature control coatings is reactive evaporation of SiO in the presence of oxygen followed by an uv treatment in air. Aluminum surfaces coated with such films have predictable alpha values of 11.0%-11.5% which remain essentially independent of the silicon oxide thickness. By increasing the thickness of reactively deposited silicon oxide on Al from zero to 2.96 micro, ? increases from 0.017 to 0.53, and alpha/? decreases from about 5 to 0.2. Such coatings have been successfully used as temperature control surfaces on many satellites, and there are ample laboratory and flight data to assure their high stability in space environment.
Noninvasive cell-tracking methods

Cell-based therapies, such as adoptive immunotherapy and stem-cell therapy, have received considerable attention as novel therapeutics in oncological research and clinical practice. The development of effective therapeutic strategies using tumor-targeted cells requires the ability to determine in vivo the location, distribution, and long-term viability of the therapeutic cell populations as well as their biological fate with respect to cell activation and differentiation. In conjunction with various noninvasive imaging modalities, cell-labeling methods, such as exogenous labeling or transfection with a reporter gene, allow visualization of labeled cells in vivo in real time, as well as monitoring and quantifying cell accumulation and function. Such cell-tracking methods also have an important role in basic cancer research, where they serve to elucidate novel biological mechanisms. In this Review, we describe the basic principles of cell-tracking methods, explain various approaches to cell tracking, and highlight recent examples for the application of such methods in animals and humans.
Recent Progress in Developing and Qualifying Nanostructured Ferritic Alloys for Advanced Fission and Fusion Applications

This article summarizes the recent progress on developing a class of potentially transformational structural materials called nanostructured ferritic alloys, which are leading candidates for advanced fission and fusion energy applications. Here, we focus on Fe-Cr-based ferritic stainless steels containing a very high concentration of Y-Ti-O nano-oxide features that enable a host of outstanding high-temperature properties, along with unique irradiation tolerance and thermal stability. Perhaps most notably, these alloys have an unprecedented capability to manage very high helium concentrations, pertinent to fusion service, in a way that transforms this element from a severe liability to a potential asset. In addition to providing some necessary background, we update progress on: (I) the character of the nanofeatures; (II) some unifying insights on key mechanical properties; (III) a quantitative model for nanofeature coarsening; (IV) recent irradiation experiments of the effects of helium on cavity evolution and void swelling; and (V) a powerful new mechanism controlling the transport, fate, and consequences of helium.
Serotonin dysregulation in adolescents with major depression: hormone response to meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) infusion

Abstract This study examined central serotonin disturbance, as reflected by neuroendocrine hormones, among adolescents with major depression. Prolactin, cortisol, and growth hormone were measured following the infusion of a serotonin agonist, meta -chlorophenylpiperazine ( m CPP). Twelve (M=6, F=6) medication-free adolescents with major depression (MDD) were compared with 12 (M=6, F=6) matched normal control subjects, ranging in age from 13 to 17 years. Baseline evaluations and a battery of laboratory tests were completed. m CPP, 0.1 mg/kg i.v., was administered in a placebo-controlled design. Analyses of the neuroendocrine hormones revealed that the depressed group had a higher baseline prolactin level and an augmented prolactin response to m CPP challenge than did the control group. The depressed group experienced a sharper baseline-cortisol decline between 08.00 and 11.00 h, and compared to control subjects they displayed an augmented response to the challenge. The depressed group reported more side effects than the control group during saline infusion, but not during m CPP infusion. Findings suggest that depressed adolescents have an elevated baseline prolactin level, and also experience enhanced prolactin and cortisol responses to the serotonergic challenge. These preliminary findings will be confirmed during our ongoing study.
Serial Imaging Surveillance for Patients With a History of Intracranial Aneurysm: Risk of De Novo Aneurysm Formation.

BACKGROUND Although rare, de novo intracranial aneurysms (DNIAs) may develop in patients with a history of intracranial aneurysms (IAs). OBJECTIVE To evaluate the benefit of routine radiographic screening for DNIAs. METHODS Data for 2153 patients with IAs were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 185 patients underwent screening for DNIAs at frequent intervals. RESULTS Overall, DNIAs were detected in 26 patients (1.2%). Of the 185 patients with surveillance, DNIAs developed in 9 (4.9%). The risk of DNIA detection was 1.14% per person-year of follow-up (95% confidence interval: 0.6%-2.2%). Patients with imaging follow-up had a significantly higher rate of DNIA detection compared with patients without regular imaging surveillance (4.9% vs 0.86%; P < .001), but surveillance was associated with smaller lesions (with surveillance: 3.8 ± 1.8 mm, without: 7.0 ± 4.4 mm, mean ± standard deviation; P = .026). A unimodal distribution of time to detection was found in those with surveillance, with a peak between 0 and 2 years. There was a trend toward an association of cigarette smoking and DNIA detection within 10 years (P = .06); 6 of the 26 patients (23.1%) with DNIAs had a history of cigarette smoking, with all 6 patients continuing to smoke up to the detection of the DNIAs, which were detected in 2.5 ± 1.8 years. CONCLUSION The low 1.14% per-person year risk of DNIA detection and small DNIA size at detection cannot justify routine screening for DNIAs in all patients with a personal history of IAs. If imaging follow-up is considered for selected patients, early screening will likely yield the most benefit in patients who continue to smoke cigarettes.
Mechanism of 24,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3‐mediated inhibition of rapid, 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3‐induced responses: Role of reactive oxygen species

In intestine, 24,25(OH)(2)D(3), which is made under conditions of calcium-, phosphate-, and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) sufficiency, inhibits the stimulatory actions of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) on phosphate and calcium absorption. In the current work, we provide evidence that 24,25(OH)(2)D(3)-mediated signal transduction occurs mechanistically through increased H(2)O(2) production which involves binding of 24,25(OH)(2)D(3) to catalase and resultant decreases in enzyme activity. Physiological levels of H(2)O(2) mimicked the action of 24,25(OH)(2)D(3) on inhibiting 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-stimulated phosphate uptake in isolated enterocytes. Moreover, the molecular basis of such inhibition was suggested by the presence of two thioredoxin domains in the 1,25D(3)-MARRS protein/ERp57: Exposure of cells to either 24,25(OH)(2)D(3) or H(2)O(2) gradually reduced 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) binding to 1,25D(3)-MARRS protein, between 10 and 20 min of incubation, but not to VDR. Feeding studies with diets enriched in the antioxidants vitamins C and E showed that net phosphate absorption in vivo nearly doubled relative to chicks on control diet. Antioxidant diets also resulted in increased [(3)H]1,25(OH)(2)D(3) binding to both 1,25D(3)-MARRS and VDR, suggesting benefits to both transcription- and membrane-initiated signaling pathways. Intriguingly, phosphorous content of bones from birds on antioxidant diets was reduced, suggesting increased osteoclast activity. Because mature osteoclasts lack VDR, we analyzed a clonal osteoclast cell line by RT-PCR and found it contained the 1,25D(3)-MARRS mRNA. The combined data provide mechanistic details for the 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)/24,25(OH)(2)D(3) endocrine system, and point to a role for the 1,25D(3)-MARRS protein as a redox-sensitive mediator of osteoclast activity and potential therapeutic target.
Testing the Predictions of the Multidimensional Spatial Voting Model with Roll Call Data

This paper develops a procedure for locating proposals and legislators in a multidimensional policy space by applying agenda-constrained ideal point estimation. Placing proposals and legislators on the same scale allows an empirical test of the predictions of the spatial voting model. I illustrate this procedure by testing the predictive power of the uncovered set—a solution concept of the multidimensional spatial voting model—using roll call data from the U.S. Senate. Since empirical tests of the predictive power of the uncovered set have been limited to experimental data, this is the first empirical test of the concept's predictive power using real-world data.
The relationship between mouse killing and intraspecific fighting in the albino rat

Thirty albino rats were tested for mouse killing and then tested for intraspecific aggression in a paradigm that generates fighting without the use of electric shock. Mouse killers showed significantly more attacks and lateral blocks than did nonkillers; they also inflicted more wounds on their opponents. The two groups did not significantly differ on other often used measures of social dominance; they also did not differ in the display of stereotypic defensive behavior. The experience of fighting or of cyclic food deprivation did not induce killing in the nonkillers. The results suggest that there may be some relationship between mouse killing and intraspecific fighting.
Anconeus epitrochlearis, a rare cause of cubital tunnel syndrome: A case report

A case of an aberrant muscle, the anconeus epitrochlearis, causing a cubital tunnel syndrome is reported.
Fascia: A missing link in our understanding of the pathology of fibromyalgia

Significant evidence exists for central sensitization in fibromyalgia, however the cause of this process in fibromyalgia-and how it relates to other known abnormalities in fibromyalgia-remains unclear. Central sensitization occurs when persistent nociceptive input leads to increased excitability in the dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord. In this hyperexcited state, spinal cord neurons produce an enhanced responsiveness to noxious stimulation, and even to formerly innocuous stimulation. No definite evidence of muscle pathology in fibromyalgia has been found. However, there is some evidence for dysfunction of the intramuscular connective tissue, or fascia, in fibromyalgia. This paper proposes that inflammation of the fascia is the source of peripheral nociceptive input that leads to central sensitization in fibromyalgia. The fascial dysfunction is proposed to be due to inadequate growth hormone production and HPA axis dysfunction in fibromyalgia. Fascia is richly innervated, and the major cell of the fascia, the fibroblast, has been shown to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-6, in response to strain. Recent biopsy studies using immuno-histochemical staining techniques have found increased levels of collagen and inflammatory mediators in the connective tissue surrounding the muscle cells in fibromyalgia patients. The inflammation of the fascia is similar to that described in conditions such as plantar fasciitis and lateral epicondylitis, and may be better described as a dysfunctional healing response. This may explain why NSAIDs and oral steroids have not been found effective in fibromyalgia. Inflammation and dysfunction of the fascia may lead to central sensitization in fibromyalgia. If this hypothesis is confirmed, it could significantly expand treatment options to include manual therapies directed at the fascia such as Rolfing and myofascial release, and direct further research on the peripheral pathology in fibromyalgia to the fascia.
MDCT Angiography of Middle Mesenteric Artery with Associated Bowel Nonrotation Complicating Management of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

WEB This is a Web exclusive article. middle mesenteric artery is a very rare mesenteric arterial anomaly resulting from incomplete regression of the primitive paired segmental ventral arteries of the dorsal abdominal aorta which supply variable amounts of the small and large bowel [1–8]. We report the imaging findings of a middle mesenteric artery with associated bowel nonrotation in a patient undergoing preoperative MDCT angiography for a known abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The patient was subsequently excluded from aortic stent-graft repair because the middle mesenteric artery was originating from the proximal aspect of the AAA, which, to our knowledge, has not previously been reported. In addition, findings of a middle mesenteric artery with associated bowel nonrotation on MDCT angiography examination have not been previously reported in the literature.
LYMPHOCYTE RESPONSES TO HISTAMINE AND CORTISONE ARE ALTERED FOR ONE YEAR FOLLOWING ACUTE EBV INFECTION

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PEL) of 12 normal young adults studied for 1 year after acute Epstein-Barr virus infection(EBV), responded differently from 12 age-matched normals to stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA 3 ug/ml) or pokeweed mitogen (PWM 20 ug/ml) when modified by histamine (HT 10-4 M) or hydrocortisone (HC 10-5 M). Measured monthly by tritiated thymidine incorporation, suppression of PHA stimulation index (SI) by HT in normals (32+/−19% SD of original PHA SI) was less in EBV patients : EBV-PHA + HT/PHA year ave.= 67+/−19% (p<0.001). EBV may have altered PEL HI and H2 receptors since neither cimetidine (C 10-4M) nor diphenhydramine (D 10-4M) addition could restore the original PHA SI. Further, normal PWM SI suppression by HT (58+/−22% of original PWM SI) was absent : EBV-PWM + HT/PWM year ave = 101+t/−21% ( p< 0.001). while C had no effect on PWM SI, D enhanced the PWM + HT cultures 2-3 times, during most of the year in only post-EBV PEL. Addition of HC to PHA cultures produced normal amounts of suppression (95%) after EBV. In contrast, normal suppression of PWM SI ( 49+/−18%) by HC addition was significantly lost ( p<0.001) at 1 and 4-5 months and at 1 year after EBV. These abnormal responses to HT and HC suggest that profound changes in lymphocyte behavior occur for at least 1 year during the normal recovery from acute EBV, and that they may be related to post-EBV symptoms. Their relationship to serum Immunoglobulin E content is being investigated.
Product Configuration Knowledge Modeling Using Extend Object Model

This paper presents an extended object model for case-based reasoning in product configuration design. In the extended object model a few of methods of knowledge expression are adopted such as constraints, rules, objects etc. On the basis of extended object model, case representation model for case-based reasoning is applied to product configuration design system. The product configuration knowledge can be represented by the extended object. The model can support all the processes of case-based reasoning in product configuration design such as case representation, indexing, retrieving and case revising. The model extends traditional object-oriented model by including the relationship class used to express the relation between the cases, constraints class used in the product configuration knowledge representation, index class used in case retrieving, solution class used in case revise. So the product configuration knowledge that used in the product configuration design can be represented by using this model. In the end a Metering pump product configuration design systems is developed on the basis of the proposed product configuration model to support customized products.