cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SAMPDI-3D: predicting the effects of protein and DNA mutations on protein–DNA interactions

MOTIVATION Mutations that alter protein-DNA interactions may be pathogenic and cause diseases. Therefore, it is extremely important to quantify the effect of mutations on protein-DNA binding free energy to reveal the molecular origin of diseases and to assist the development of treatments. Although several methods that predict the change of protein-DNA binding affinity upon mutations in the binding protein were developed, the effect of DNA mutations was not considered yet. RESULTS Here, we report a new version of SAMPDI, the SAMPDI-3D, which is a gradient boosting decision tree machine learning method to predict the change of the protein-DNA binding free energy caused by mutations in both the binding protein and the bases of the corresponding DNA. The method is shown to achieve Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.76 and 0.80 in a benchmarking test against experimentally determined change of the binding free energy caused by mutations in the binding protein or DNA, respectively. Furthermore, three datasets collected from literature were used to do blind benchmark for SAMPDI-3D and it is shown that it outperforms all existing state-of-the-art methods. The method is very fast allowing for genome-scale investigations. AVAILABILITY It is available as a web server and a stand-code at http://compbio.clemson.edu/SAMPDI-3D/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A Joint Model Provisioning and Request Dispatch Solution for Low-Latency Inference Services on Edge

With the advancement of machine learning, a growing number of mobile users rely on machine learning inference for making time-sensitive and safety-critical decisions. Therefore, the demand for high-quality and low-latency inference services at the network edge has become the key to modern intelligent society. This paper proposes a novel solution that jointly provisions machine learning models and dispatches inference requests to reduce inference latency on edge nodes. Existing solutions either direct inference requests to the nearest edge node to save network latency or balance edge nodes’ workload by reducing queuing and computing time. The proposed solution provisions each edge node with the optimal number and type of inference instances under a holistic consideration of networking, computing, and memory resources. Mobile users can thus be directed to utilize inference services on the edge nodes that offer minimal serving latency. The proposed solution has been implemented using TensorFlow Serving and Kubernetes on an edge cluster. Through simulation and testbed experiments under various system settings, the evaluation results showed that the joint strategy could consistently achieve lower latency than simply searching for the best edge node to serve inference requests.
Climate Change: The Ethical Dimensions

Although much has been written about global climate change, less has been written about the ethical dimensions. This paper starts a conversation about many of these issues, including the plight of poor people, of refugees, and of people in developing countries.
Spatially Resolved Imaging at 350 Micrometers of Cold Dust in Nearby Elliptical Galaxies

Continuum observations at 350 micrometers of seven nearby elliptical galaxies for which CO gas disks have recently been resolved with interferometry mapping are presented. These SHARC II mapping results provide the first clearly resolved far-infrared (FIR)-to-submillimeter continuum emission from cold dust (with temperatures 31 K is approximately greater than T approximately greater than 23 K) of any elliptical galaxy at a distance greater than 40 Mpc. The measured FIR excess shows that the most likely and dominant heating source of this dust is not dilute stellar radiation or cooling flows, but rather star formation that could have been triggered by an accretion or merger event and fueled by dust-rich material that has settled in a dense region cospatial with the central CO gas disks. The dust is detected even in two cluster ellipticals that are deficient in H (sub I), showing that, unlike H (sub I), cold dust and CO in ellipticals can survive in the presence of hot X-ray gas, even in galaxy clusters. No dust cooler than 20 K, either distributed outside the CO disks or cospatial with and heated by the entire dilute stellar optical galaxy (or very extended H (sub I)), is currently evident.
Management of Rectovaginal Fistula

A rectovaginal fistula (RVF) is defined as an abnormal epithelial-lined connection between the rectum and vagina. It represents a disabling condition for the patients and a challenge for surgeons due to the high failure rate after repair. An individualized, systematic approach to these fistulas based on their size, location, and etiology provides a more concise treatment plan. RVFs are due to various conditions, including obstetric injury, cryptoglandular infection, inflammatory bowel disease, rectal or vaginal surgery, radiation, neoplasia, or accidental injury. In this chapter, we review the current options for management of RVFs.
36 Chinese Strategies Applied to Negotiations

The following is a PowerPoint presentation about the 36 Chinese Strategies as applied to negotiations that I have used many times. You can find more about this subject in, John Barkai, 'Cultural Dimension Interests, the Dance of Negotiation, and Weather Forecasting: A Perspective on Cross-Cultural Negotiation and Dispute Resolution,' (8 Pepp. Disp. Resol. L.J. 403 (2007-2008)). I was first introduced to the 36 Chinese Strategies in the late 1980s when my former student, Laurence Brahm - who has been a lawyer, global activist, international mediator, political, columnist, and author in Hong Kong and China since 1987 – wrote a paper for my negotiations class about the 36 Chinese Strategies. Later, Laurence turned the paper into a book called, Negotiating in China: 36 Strategies (1996). Just about anyone who has 'grown up Chinese' (meaning that they have grown up in a Chinese home that respects and teaches Chinese traditions and values) knows these 36 Strategies. It does not matter whether they grew up in The People’s Republic of China (PRC), The Republic of China (Taiwan); Singapore, Vancouver, San Francisco, Honolulu, or anywhere else. People who 'grew up Chinese' know these strategies. People who negotiate with Chinese (or anyone else) should also know these strategies. For further information on the 36 Strategies, See, Laurence J. Brahm, Negotiating in China: 36 Strategies (1996); Chin-Ning Chu, The Chinese Mind Game (1988) (describing thirty-two of the thirty-six strategies); Chin-Ning Chu, The Asian Mind Game: Unlocking the Hidden Agenda of the Asian Business Culture – A Westerner’s Survival Manual (1991) (describing all thirty-six strategies); Tony Fang, Chinese Business Negotiation Styles, (1999); or, simply 'Google' the phrase '36 Strategies.'
HST and JWST: Present and Future

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has had a transformative impact on science, the science community, and the public around the world. As HST completes its 17th year of operations, NASA is preparing to send astronauts to service Hubble a fifth time in order to refurbish critical systems, install a new generation of powerful instruments, and possibly repair instruments that have currently failed. This mission is planned to extend Hubble’s operational life until 2014, potentially overlapping the initial operations of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). In this paper I review the impact and status of HST and the promise of JWST and beyond.
Observational evidence for propagation of decadal spiciness anomalies in the North Pacific

[1] The propagation of density-compensated (warm/salty or cool/fresh) spiciness anomalies in the North Pacific thermocline is investigated using Argo profiles for the period 2001–2008. A cool/fresh spiciness anomaly on 25 < σθ < 25.5 kg m−3 isopycnals appears in the eastern subtropical North Pacific at 120°W–150°W in 2003–2004 with a salinity anomaly of about −0.15 PSS-78. This spiciness anomaly migrates southwestward, and arrives in the western tropical North Pacific at 145°E–175°W in 2008 with the salinity anomaly decreasing to about −0.043 PSS-78. Two warm/salty anomalies are observed to propagate along the same path from 2003 to 2005, and after 2005. The propagation path and speed of the anomalies are in good agreement with advection by the mean geostrophic current. In the course of propagation, the anomalies are diffused and are subject to high frequency injection of spiciness anomalies, especially in the eastern subtropical North Pacific.
Heuristic algorithms for automated space planning

This paper reviews the major characteristics of existing programs for automatically solving space planning problems. It outlines general features of this class of problem and introduces a set of heuristic decision rules called Constraint Structured Planning, which in preliminary tests have efficiently solved a variety of problems. Developments allowing even greater efficiencies are also outlined.
Efficacy of disinfecting solutions in removing biofilms from polyvinyl chloride tracheostomy tubes.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Bacterial biofilms are prevalent in pediatric tracheostomy tubes (TTs) and are not completely cleared by standard cleaning with gauze and household detergents. We aimed to examine the effectiveness of different disinfecting solutions to remove Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aerginosa (PA) biofilms from TTs. Study Design: Prospective, controlled, in vitro microbiologic study. Methods: Uniform coupons obtained from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pediatric TTs were briefly exposed to human plasma. The samples were incubated in growth media with either PA or SA for 7 days, and total bacterial growth was monitored by media turbidity. Five sets of 18 coupons each were exposed for 5 minutes to one of five different solutions: 2% aqueous chlorhexidine gluconate solution, 0.3% aqueous sodium hypochlorite, Polident denture cleanser, 3% hydrogen peroxide, or preservative-free phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as a negative control. Biofilm presence was measured with bacterial counts, and surface integrity was assessed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: All treatments significantly reduced mean SA counts (P = <.001). Sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine were more effective than peroxide and Polident. Chlorhexidine, sodium hypochlorite, and peroxide reduced PA counts (P = .001, .001, and .002, respectively), but Polident tabs had no significant effect. SEM revealed preserved TT surface integrity after exposure to all solutions. Conclusions: Disinfection with sodium hypochlorite or chlorhexidine solutions significantly reduces SA and PA biofilms on PVC TTs. Standard home care of reusable pediatric TTs may be improved by use of these readily available solutions. Laryngoscope, 2013
Radiolytic synthesis of iridium nanoparticles onto carbon nanotubes

Iridium nanoparticles on multiwalled carbon nanotubes were synthesized in a single-step process by gamma irradiation from a cobalt-60 source. These particles were prepared at various absorbed doses, precursors, and surfactant concentrations. The nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed onto the nanotubes’ surface with average particle sizes between 2 and 5 nm. The particle size was found to decrease from 4.5 to 3.4 nm, when the absorbed dose increased from 20 to 60 kGy. An increase in the surfactant concentration also reduced the particle size from 3.8 to 2.5 nm. No significant variation in particle size was observed when the precursor concentration was increased. Although no Iridium-Carbon bonds were detected by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Iridium-Oxigen bonds were observed. The interaction between the nanoparticles and the nanotubes seems to occur through oxygenated sites on the nanotubes’ surface.
Anti-interleukin-3 and anti-nerve growth factor increase neonatal mice survival to reovirus type 3 clone 9 per oral challenge.

Abstract Reovirus type 3 clone 9 (T3C9) induces lethal encephalitis in neonatal, but not adult mice. Whether host factors that promote the development and/or functioning of nervous and gastrointestinal tissues could modulate the pathogenesis of this enteric virus was examined. The results showed that antibody specific for interleukin-3 or nerve growth factor antiserum, but not anti-interleukin-6 or anti-tumor necrosis factor-α/β increased mice survival to T3C9 and decreased viral titers in nervous tissues early after infection. These data suggest that IL-3 and NGF are involved in the pathogenesis of T3C9 infection in neonatal mice.
A comparison of linear theory with measurements of the variation of shear stress along a solid wave

Abstract Measurements have been made of the variation of the wall shear stress accompanying the turbulent flow of a liquid along the surface of solid waves with 0.01. At smaller wave numbers it is necessary to use a model of the wave induced variation of the Reynolds stresses which takes account of the change o
Employing User-Created Pictures to Enhance the Recall of System- Generated Mnemonic Phrases and the Security of Passwords

User-created passwords are typically higher in usability but lower in security than computer-generated passwords. This study evaluates the usability and security of a password scheme in which users are assigned computer-generated random passwords and corresponding computer-generated mnemonic phrases. Users created images that matched the phrases to cue password recall at the time of login. Different picture creation methods (drawing, online images, and a combination of both) and a control condition (no picture) were used to examine the effects of picture creation method on password memorability. Login success was measured the day of account creation and after approximately one week. To measure security during the second session, participants were also asked to simulate attackers by attempting to derive others’ passwords from viewing their images. Analysis revealed that pictures enhanced password memorability but picture creation method had no effect on password memorability. There were no significant diff...
AGE DIFFERENCES IN FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING: USING SIMPLE HEURISTICS

The present study examined age differences in financial decision-making. Fourteen young adults and 14 older adults participated in a simulated Yard Sale, in which they were asked to sell a series of objects at the highest price possible when three offers were randomly and sequentially presented. In addition, participants performed a working memory task. No age differences were found in the total monetary earning, in spite of significant age differences in working memory capacities. Furthermore, both young and older adults used heuristic strategies in the Yard Sale task and outperformed computer simulations using a random guess strategy. Finally, older adults were more likely than young adults to use a single-deal strategy and were more consistent in using this "satisficing heuristic," perhaps to compensate for their reduced working memory capacities.
Dietary Intake, Physical Activity and the Development of Obesity in Three to Seven Year Old Children

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To identify diet and physical activity factors associated with the development of obesity in three to seven year old children. The relationship of carbohydrate, protein, fat and caloric intake and physical activity to the development of obesity in three to seven year old children was examined in a four year longitudinal study. Four annual measures of the sum of seven skinfolds (SSS) were obtained from 125 children. Observations of diet and physical activity were conducted on one to four days between each measurement. Children in the "adiposity take-off" group (n = 15) were defined as those whose SSS was equal to or greater than one and a half standard deviations above the mean of the previous annual SSS. Cases were matched on age, gender, and ethnicity with "non-take-off" children (n = 33). Analysis of variance was used to compare diet and physical activity measures between groups during the "take-off" year. The results indicate that the children in the "adiposity take-off" group had significantly higher carbohydrate (p
Preparation in the Art of Teaching English

(1973). Preparation in the Art of Teaching English. Improving College and University Teaching: Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 117-120.
The contribution of subclinical cancer to Denver's high prostatic cancer incidence rate.

Abstract In order to quantitate the contribution of latent prostatic cancer to the very high prostatic cancer incidence rate in Denver, we conducted a population-based study. In 1979, 33% of 402 incidence cases were discovered incidentally, 4% at autopsy and 29% because of surgery for presumably benign prostatic disease. Of the unsuspected cases, 43% were stage Al, i.e. low grade and focal. The rest were high grade, more extensive, or both. It is expected that unsuspected cancers are a highly variable component of reported rates of prostatic cancer from other areas since their frequency of discovery depends upon urological and pathological practices that have been demonstrated to vary greatly from region to region.
The traits of a biotype of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) from South India

Abstract The South India strain of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), which has been in culture for 10 yr, cannot be distinguished from three cultures established from beetles collected in South India in 1989. These cultures represent a geographic biotype of C. maculatus that is widely distributed in the state of Tamil Nadu, India and is stable in culture. Females of the biotype disperse their eggs uniformly, lay eggs on larger beans first, have their oviposition inhibited if beans already carry eggs, and the larvae exhibit contest competition. Fecundity varies greatly within and between cultures. The extremes of fecundity have less effect on the contribution of offspring to the next generation than the elimination of intraspecific competition by selective oviposition.
Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury: The Role of Psychostimulants

Objective:The primary purpose of this article is to review certain neuropsychiatric sequelae of stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the role of the psychostimulants methylphenidate (MPD) and dextroamphetamine (DAMP) in their treatment.Method:A general review of the topic is presented. Controlled and uncontrolled studies involving the use of the psychostimulants are discussed. These consist of 11 studies listed with Medline 2000 that deal specifically with stroke or head injury, with the oldest study reviewed dating back to 1984. Studies concerning the use of psychostimulants in the medically or neurologically ill are reviewed to the extent that they are pertinent.Results:The current literature consists primarily of uncontrolled case studies. However, these are reviewed and found to suggest a role for the use of the psychostimulants, which is discussed.Conclusions:In general, these drugs appear to be a reasonable treatment choice for certain types of mood, behavior, and cognitive symptoms followin...
Person-to-person spread of Salmonella: A problem in hospitals?

Abstract 8 patients with acute diarrhœa were admitted to hospital and appropriate stool-barrier techniques were not used to avoid secondary spread. These patients later proved to have salmonellosis. Their surroundings were extensively contaminated, exposing 265 patients and staff to infected faeces. No case of symptomatic or asymptomatic salmonellosis was found as a result of person-to-person spread. It is concluded that person-to-person spread of salmonella in hospital is difficult to accomplish without an intermediary common vehicle.
Role of cortical feedback in regulating inhibitory microcircuits

The olfactory bulb contains an impressive array of specialized inhibitory local circuits. The most frequent inhibitory microcircuit in this brain region is the reciprocal dendrodendritic synapse formed between the lateral dendrites of mitral cells and distal dendritic spines of GABAergic granule cells. Recent work discussed in this review suggests that release of GABA from granule cell spines may reflect near-coincident activation of both mitral cell-to-granule cell synapses and proximal excitatory synapses on granule cells that originate from pyramidal cells in piriform cortex. Recent work using two-photon guided microstimulation demonstrated that proximal and distal excitatory synapses onto granule cells exhibit different forms of short-term plasticity, with feedback inputs from piriform cortex facilitating when tested with brief ( approximately 50 ms) interstimulus intervals. One consequence of this synaptic plasticity is that short duration, gamma-frequency, oscillatory discharges in piriform cortical cells evoke summating excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in granule cells that effectively trigger action potentials. Piriform cortex stimulation can gate dendrodendritic inhibition onto mitral cells, presumably through the ability of EPSP-driven action potentials in granule cells to temporarily relieve the tonic blockade of NMDA receptors by extracellular Mg(2+) ions. Feedback projections in other CNS systems also may target inhibitory neurons, such as the backprojection from CA3 pyramidal neurons to GABAergic hilar interneurons. The ability of downstream processing areas to rapidly and selectively activate inhibitory interneurons in other brain regions may provide an important mechanism to dynamically modulate biological information processing.
Neural Control of Voluntary Movement Initiation

When humans respond to sensory stimulation, their reaction times tend to be long and variable relative to neural transduction and transmission times. The neural processes responsible for the duration and variability of reaction times are not understood. Single-cell recordings in a motor area of the cerebral cortex in behaving rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were used to evaluate two alternative mathematical models of the processes that underlie reaction times. Movements were initiated if and only if the neural activity reached a specific and constant threshold activation level. Stochastic variability in the rate at which neural activity grew toward that threshold resulted in the distribution of reaction times. This finding elucidates a specific link between motor behavior and activation of neurons in the cerebral cortex.
Self-Assembly of an Environmentally Responsive Polymer/Silica Nanocomposite

As we have learned from natural materials such as seashells, layered hard (inorganic)/soft (organic) materials may be simultaneously hard and tough and strong. However, it has proven difficult to organize and react inorganic and organic precursors efficiently and controllably on the nanoscale. Recently, we demonstrated that evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) can organize hydrophilic, inorganic and hydrophobic, organic precursors into ordered layered nanostructures. 1 Starting with a solution of oligosilicic acid, surfactant, alkyl methacrylate monomers, cross-linkers, and initiators in an ethanol/water solvent, preferential ethanol evaporation induces the formation of micelles and the partitioning of the organic constituents into the hydrophobic interiors, while organizing oligosilicic acid species around the hydrophilic micellar exteriors. 2 Continued evaporation results in the self-assembly of hybrid (silica -surfactant-organic) mesophases, simultaneously positioning the inorganic and organic precursors into the desired nanolaminated form. Here, we extend this approach to form films with environmentally responsive nanostructures. Polymers such as poly(methacrylates) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) show a pronounced response toward changes in pH and temperature, respectively.3 In water, PNIPAM exhibits a phase transition at the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of approximately 32 °C.3 This temperature can be controlled through random copolymerization of NIPAM with methacrylic acid. 4 Below the LCST, the hydrogel incorporates water and swells, whereas water release at higher temperatures causes shrinkage. The (de)swelling of these films upon change of pH or temperature is of interest for controlled release of molecules or for membranes with switchable permeabilities. PNIPAM and random NIPAM/acrylate copolymers are normally prepared by solution polymerization resulting in mechanically fragile bulk gels. 3,4 Thermoresponsive poly(acrylamides) were incorporated into lamellar clay-nanocomposites, but the thermoresponsive behavior was maintained only with low clay loadings or was less pronounced as compared to that of the bulk polymer. 5,6 Liang et al. incorporated larger amounts of PNIPAM into montmorillonite, but the mesostructure was almost lost upon swelling/deswelling. 7 Here, we report the incorporation of PNIPAM or its copolymers with dodecyl methacrylate (DM) into mesoscopically ordered nanocomposite thin films with silica contents of up to 80%. Nanocomposite films were prepared by evaporation-induced selfassembly followed by polymerization and washing as depicted in Scheme 1. EISA begins with a homogeneous solution of silicic acid, 1 monomers (NIPAM and/or dodecyl methacrylate), surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB), coupling agent (trimethoxy(7-octen-1-yl)silane, 7-OTS, featuring an alkoxysilane headgroup and a polymerizable double bond), and thermal initiator, 1,1′
The absence of endogenic methane on Titan and its implications for the origin of atmospheric nitrogen

Abstract We calculate the D/H ratio of CH 4 from serpentinization on Titan to determine whether Titan’s atmospheric CH 4 was originally produced inside the giant satellite. This is done by performing equilibrium isotopic fractionation calculations in the CH 4 –H 2 O–H 2 system, with the assumption that the bulk D/H ratio of the system is equivalent to that of the H 2 O in the plume of Enceladus. These calculations show that the D/H ratio of hydrothermally produced CH 4 would be markedly higher than that of atmospheric CH 4 on Titan. The implication is that Titan’s CH 4 is a primordial chemical species that was accreted by the moon during its formation. There are two evolutionary scenarios that are consistent with the apparent absence of endogenic CH 4 in Titan’s atmosphere. The first is that hydrothermal systems capable of making CH 4 never existed on Titan because Titan’s interior has always been too cold. The second is that hydrothermal systems on Titan were sufficiently oxidized so that C existed in them predominately in the form of CO 2 . The latter scenario naturally predicts the formation of endogenic N 2 , providing a new hypothesis for the origin of Titan’s atmospheric N 2 : the hydrothermal oxidation of 15 N-enriched NH 3 . A primordial origin for CH 4 and an endogenic origin for N 2 are self-consistent, but both hypotheses need to be tested further by acquiring isotopic data, especially the D/H ratio of CH 4 in comets, and the 15 N/ 14 N ratio of NH 3 in comets and that of N 2 in one of Enceladus’ plumes.
Natural selection on floral traits of Lobelia (Lobeliaceae): spatial and temporal variation

The strength and direction of natural selection on floral traits can vary spatially and temporally because of variation in the biotic and abiotic environment. High spatial variation in selection should lead to differentiation of floral traits among populations. In contrast, high temporal variation in selection should retard the evolution of population-specific floral phenotypes. To determine the relative importance of spatial vs. temporal variation in natural selection, we measured phenotypic selection on seven floral traits of the wildflowers Lobelia cardinalis and L. siphilitica in 1999 and 2000. Lobelia cardinalis experienced significant temporal variation in selection, whereas L. siphilitica experienced spatial variation in selection on the same traits. This variation in selection on floral traits was associated with spatial and temporal differences in the soil microenvironment. Although few studies of natural selection include spatial or temporal replicates, our results suggest that such replication is critical for understanding the distribution of phenotypes in nature.
Bretylium, an organic quaternary amine, inhibits the Na,K-ATPase by binding to the extracellular K-site.

Abstract The quaternary amine, bretylium, is a class III antiarrhythmic drug used to treat ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. The primary mode of action for bretylium is thought to be inhibition of voltage-gated K + channels. While the Na,K-ATPase has been the pharmacological target of cardiac glycosides for over a century, recent evidence has shown that bretylium may also inhibit the Na pump. Our experimental findings support and extend these previous reports and provide definitive evidence supporting the previous suggestion that bretylium and K compete for the Na pump. We find that bretylium inhibits the Na pump in a dose-dependent manner in both Na,K-ATPase (IC 50 4.5 mM) and Rb flux experiments (IC 50 3.5 mM). Furthermore, we show that bretylium and Rb + competes for an extracellular site by measuring ouabain-sensitive 86 Rb flux in intact human red blood cells; that is, there is an apparent increase in K m for Rb + in the presence of 5 mM bretylium, while V max remains unchanged. We also determined that unlike K + , bretylium does not facilitate the hydrolysis of E2-P. However, it stabilizes this conformation by reducing the ability of K + to facilitate dephosphorylation. Finally, we show that bretylium, like K + , reduces [ 3 H]ouabain binding to the Na pump. Taken together, these data are consistent with bretylium binding to the extracellular facing cation site within the E2-P state of the enzyme. Moreover, these findings suggest that bretylium may serve as an effective tool for freezing the pump in an extracellularly cation-bound phosphorylated intermediate, which will aid in future structural analyses.
Learning and communication in sender‐receiver games: an econometric investigation

This paper compares the performance of stimulus response (SR) and belief-based learning (BBL) using data from game theory experiments. The environment, extensive form games played in a population setting, is novel in the empirical literature on learning in games. Both the SR and BBL models fit the data reasonably well in common interest games with history while the test results accept SR and reject BBL in games with no history and in all but one of the divergent interest games. Estimation is challenging since the likelihood function is not globally concave and the results may be subject to convergence bias.
On the minimum degree of returns to scale in sunspot models of the business cycle

Abstract Bennett and Farmer (J. Econ. Theory 93 (2000) 118) claim that the degree of increasing returns to scale required for indeterminacy in a single sector growth model can be lowered by allowing for preferences that are non-separable in consumption and leisure. In this paper I show that the example they give violates concavity. In a more general setup, which does not impose specific functional forms on utility, I prove that there are no concave utility functions compatible with indeterminacy if the elasticity of scale is lower than the inverse of the labor share in production.
Helping Persons with Mental Illness: Partnerships between Police and Mobile Crisis Units

AbstractPeople with mental illness (PMI) have increased dramatically, and these individuals are at greater risk for repeated contact with the criminal justice system. Mobile crisis units (MCUs) have been heralded as effective partners with law enforcement to provide appropriate interventions to PMI and reduce the possibilities of criminalization of this population. The purpose of this research is to examine a partnership between law enforcement and a county-wide MCU to determine (1) the nature of interactions between police-referred calls to the MCU and (2) to determine the outcomes of these calls and the factors that might influence the outcomes. Significant differences in the type of PMI calls from law enforcement–referred calls to MCUs are found; the PMI are twice as likely to be violent, intoxicated, psychotic, mood-order diagnosed, and in emergent need of care. The type of referral is no longer significant when the model includes risk factors. Policy implications of the partnership between law enforc...
Choosing Sides: Economic Interdependence and Interstate Disputes

Recent work on economic interdependence and conflict has focused largely on explaining whether trading states fight each other while ignoring the possibility that trade has broader political implications on state behavior. In this study, I claim that states’ trade interests affect their decisions to militarily assist their partners in armed conflicts and their choice of sides. The empirical analysis offers evidence that economics shapes the expansion of conflicts to third-party states. When third parties have important trade interests in a conflict participant, they join with their partners to protect their economic stakes against the potential externalities of armed confrontations. Yet, in cases where an outside state has interests in opposing sides of the conflict, it does not support one trade partner against another and abstain from joining on either side.
Automatic Operation For A Robot Lawn Mower

A domestic mobile robot, lawn mower, which performs the automatic operation mode, has been built up in the Center of Robotics Research, University of Cincinnati. The robot lawn mower automatically completes its work with the region filling operation, a new kind of path planning for mobile robots. Some strategies for region filling of path planning have been developed for a partly-known or a unknown environment. Also, an advanced omnidirectional navigation system and a multisensor-based control system are used in the automatic operation. Research on the robot lawn mower, especially on the region filling of path planning, is significant in industrial and agricultural applications.
Design for temperature and thermal buckling constraints employing a noneigenvalue formulation

A numerical procedure for simultaneous consideration of structural/thermal interactions during aircraft design is presented, with an emphasis on reentry vehicles such as the Orbiter. It has been shown that sequential design is inappropriate for reentry vehicles, due to the degradation of the material properties at elevated reentry temperatures. Attention is focused on thermal buckling, using an analytical technique that involves requiring that the stability matrix be positive definite, with the diagonal terms on the Gauss-Doolittle factor of the matrix also constrained to be positive. A finite element method is employed to calculate the derivative of the diagonal matrix, with optimization achieved by minimization of the mass of the structure and thermal protection system. Sample calculations are presented in terms of the aluminum structure and insulation for a section of the Orbiter wing bay.
Effect of Pressure on the Reversible Binding of Acetonitrile to the “Co(I)−CO2” Adduct To Form Cobalt(III) Carboxylate

The square-planar, low-spin d8 cobalt(I) macrocycles react with CO2 to yield five-coordinate CO2 adducts containing a bent OCO moiety bonded to cobalt through carbon. As the temperature is lowered, a solvent molecule binds to cobalt, and Co(III) carboxylates form. The pressure dependence of the equilibrium constant between five-coordinate [CoHMD(CO2)]+ and six-coordinate [CoHMD(CO22-)(CH3CN)]+ (HMD = 5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,11-diene) shows that increasing pressure shifts the equilibrium to the six-coordinate species with an overall reaction volume of ΔV° = −17.7 ± 1.0 mL mol-1 at 15 °C in CH3CN.
Analysis of heavy-ion fusion reactions at extreme sub-barrier energies

A coupled-channels analysis has been carried out for fusion reactions in the system $^{60}\mathrm{Ni}+^{89}\mathrm{Y}$. It demonstrates that conventional coupled-channels calculations are unable to reproduce the unexpected steep falloff of the recently measured cross sections at extreme sub-barrier energies. Heavy-ion fusion excitation functions are also analyzed in terms of the $S$ factor, as this offers a pragmatic way to study fusion behavior in the energy regime of interest. It is shown that the steep falloff in cross section observed in several heavy-ion systems translates into a maximum of the $S$ factor. The energies where the maximum occurs can be parametrized with a simple empirical formula. The parametrization, which is derived here for rather stiff heavy-ion systems, provides an upper limit for reactions involving softer nuclei.
The Effects of Sieving and Paste Content on the Setting Behavior of Mortars as Measured by ASTM C403

Setting of concrete is measured by ASTM C403 via penetration resistance of mortar extracted from concrete by removing coarse aggregates larger than the 4.75 mm (#4) sieve. However, C403 is sometimes performed on mortar prepared to represent the mortar fraction of the concrete in question; thus avoiding the time-and-labor intensive sieving operation. As noted in STM C403, “… it has been shown that the initial and final setting times may be increased when using the prepared mortar.” The authors previously reported this difference quantitatively, having observed or discovered in the literature prepared mortars with an initial setting time up to 8 %–14 % greater than that of sieved mortar, and final setting time 5 %–16 % greater than that of sieved mortar. These differences are 1 to 3 times greater than the single operator precision for acceptable range of test results, and are thus significant in the context of C403. The authors propose that this difference is associated with the reduction in paste content in the mortar that accompanies the sieving operation, having observed a 3 to 8 % paste volume reduction in sieved mortar. The authors suggest a general correlation between changes in setting time as a function of changes in paste content.
U.S. Integrated Transportation Systems in the Future, 2030 to 2050: Application of a Scenario Planning Tool

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) have focused primarily on systems management. To improve connectivity and safety further, ITS might embrace a more holistic planning approach. Although the future of ITS remains an open question, Its evolution is closely linked to the social, political, economic, legal, and environmental dimensions. This paper presents the results from four expert workshops: (a) initial steering committee workshop (February 2011), (b) two expert scenario-planning workshops (June 2011), and (c) a final steering committee workshop (July 2011). The scenario planning workshops explored the implications of alternative futures in ITS and incorporated a broad, interdisciplinary approach to develop a long-term transportation vision (2030 to 2050 time horizon) for the United States. Twenty-four experts, who represented diverse disciplines, participated in a series of workshops to envision plausible futures and to assess their effects on the transportation system. By exploring different futu...
Localization and regulation of ryanodine receptor in bovine oocytes.

We have previously reported that injection of ryanodine receptor agonists into mature bovine oocytes induces intracellular calcium release, indicative of the existence of ryanodine receptors. In this experiment, further evidence of the ryanodine receptor localization, and developmental regulation in bovine oocytes is presented. The possible physiological significance is also suggested. Using a rabbit antibody against the rabbit cardiac muscle ryanodine receptor, the ryanodine receptor was observed uniformly localized in the periphery of mature bovine oocytes, while a weak and discontinuous signal was observed in the germinal vesicle intact stage of bovine oocytes. As oocytes progress to the metaphase I stage, the ryanodine receptor localization became more intense and continuous, yet not comparable to that observed in the metaphase II oocytes. These modifications correlate with the intracellular calcium responsiveness to ryanodine. A 200-μM injection of ryanodine induces a low intracellular calcium transient in germinal vesicle-stage bovine oocytes, while peaked intracellular calcium transients are subsequently observed in the metaphase II-stage oocytes. However, no significant changes in the amplitude of intracellular calcium transients induced by 250 nM inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 10 μM ionomycin were observed in oocytes at a comparable stage. Fertilization induced a significant decrease in ryanodine receptor signal; similar changes were also observed in oocytes injected with 200 μM ryanodine or incubated with 10 μM ionomycin. However, no changes in ryanodine signal were observed in oocytes injected with vehicle medium. Furthermore, injection of either ryanodine or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate induced subsequent pronuclear formation and cleavage. These data indicate that the ryanodine receptor is closely regulated and associated with early cellular changes following fertilization; stimulation of this receptor results in the activation of bovine oocytes, and it is likely that this receptor may play a role at fertilization.
Inhaled Insulin is Better Absorbed When Administered as a Dry Powder Compared to Solution in the Presence or Absence of Alkylglycosides

This study was performed to investigate the safety of alkylglycosides administered via the respiratory route and to compare the pulmonary absorption profiles of insulin administered as dry powder inhaler and inhaler solution. The safety of a series of alkylglycosides with varying alkyl chain lengths was studied by measuring the enzymatic activities in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of rat lungs. Pulmonary formulations of insulin plus octylmaltoside were administered either as solution or lyophilized dry powder to anesthetized rats, and absorption of insulin was assessed by measuring plasma insulin and glucose levels. The physical characterization of the dry powder formulation was performed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR). The BAL analysis showed that there was a gradual increase in the amount of lung injury markers released with the increase in the hydrophobic chain length of alkylglycosides. The pulmonary administration of lyophilized dry powder of insulin plus octylmaltoside or its solution counterpart showed that the bioavailability of powder formulation was about 2-fold higher than that of the formulation administered as solution. The SEM studies showed a subtle difference in the surface morphologies of formulation particles after lyophilization. FTIR data showed minor interactions between the peptide and excipients upon lyophilization. Of the alkylglycosides tested, octylmaltoside was least toxic in releasing lung injury markers. Octylmaltoside-based dry powder insulin formulations were more efficacious in enhancing pulmonary insulin absorption and reducing plasma glucose levels compared with the formulations administered as a solution.
Enhancement of Fuel-Nitrogen Oxidation by Fuel-Sulfur in Fuel Rich Flames

Abstract C2H2/O2/Ar and H2/O2/Ar premixed, laminar, one-dimensional flames, seeded with small amounts of fuel-N (C2N2) and fuel-S(SO2) and burning at 1 atm were investigated in order to gather information concerning fuel-S/fuel-N interactions in combustion systems. Temperature and nitric oxide profiles were obtained from the burner surface to 5 cm down-stream (—∼56 ms residence time). Large increases in fuel-NO emissions were observed due to SO2 addition to the premixed gases (up to 60 percent for acetylene and 140 percent for hydrogen flames at equivalence ratios of 1.2). The enhancement of NO emissions is analysed in terms of the possible interactions of sulfurous species with the fuel-nitrogen oxidation mechanism. Results are compared with those obtained previously in methane flames, and found to show reasonable qualitative agreement. The effect of SO2 addition on flame temperature is also discussed in terms of sulfur species equilibrium in the flame and the effect of flame inhibition (via sulfur catal...
218 VALIDATION OF THE NEAR INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY METHODOLOGY FOR MEASURING CEREBRAL BLOOD VOLUME CHANGES

Spectrophotometric methods (IRM) of measuring cerebral blood volume (CBV) provide qualitative estimates of this variable, but to date the method has not been validated. In this study we evaluate IRM with a double-indicator method of CBV measurement. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured by the microsphere method in four pentobarbital dogs. Light at 775, 815 and 905 nm was presented to the brain and changes in relative CBV computed from the reflectance signals. Absolute CBV was calculated from the equation CBV = rCBF/60 × t, where t is the mean transit time of cardiogreen dye injected into a carotid artery monitored via the 815 wavelength. Mild hypercapnia (PaCO2; 34 ± 2 to 54 ± 3 mmHg) increased rCBF from 29 ± 4 to 95 ± 33 ml/min/100gm and shortened t (8.2 ± 1.8 to 6.0 ± 2 sec). CBV increased from 3.7 ± .4 to 8.7 ± 3.6 ml/100gm. Moderate hypercapnia (PaCO2 = 72 ± 4 mmHg) further increased rCBF to 244 ± 69 ml/min/100gm and shortened t to 4.4 ± 2.2 sec. CBV was 14.1 ± 3.8 ml/100gm. In each study a significant correlation was found between the change in relative and absolute CBV measurements. The overall correlation was r = .961. We conclude that IRM is a potentially useful technique for obtaining qualitative, continuous changes in CBV. Supported by NS~20020.
Generic medications for you, but brand-name medications for me.

Abstract Background Because generic medications are less expensive than brand-name medications, government and private insurers have encouraged and/or mandated the use of generics. Objective This study aimed at evaluating perceptions about generic medications among English-speaking women of childbearing age currently enrolled in U.S. TennCare (Medicaid). Methods We recruited a convenience sample of patients from the waiting room of a primary care/gynecology health clinic, with 80% recruitment rate among those approached. We orally administered a 25-item questionnaire to gather sociodemographic information and to assess beliefs regarding the efficacy, safety, cost, and preferences for personal use of generic medications. Results The average age of the women (n = 172) was 28.8 ± 6.4 years, and most were white (82.0%) and currently married (58.1%). Nearly one-fifth (19.2%) had not completed high school. Most women believed that generic medications were less expensive (97.6%) and better value (60.5%) than brand-name medications, but only 45.3% preferred to take generics themselves. About a quarter (23.3%) believed that brand-name medications were more effective than generics, whereas 13.4% believed that generics caused more side effects. Few women reported that their doctor (29.7%) and/or pharmacist (35.5%) had ever talked to them about taking generics. Conclusion Awareness of the benefits of generics did not equal preferences for personal use of generics among this sample of women enrolled in U.S. TennCare. Furthermore, women reported that providers—both physicians and pharmacists—infrequently discussed generic substitution with them.
Sensitive High-pressure Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Disopyramide and Mono-N-dealkyldisopyramide

Abstract A high-pressure liquid chromatographic procedure for the accurate determination of disopyramide and its chief metabolite in plasma is presented. The method is suitable for monitoring patients receiving disopyramide therapy. A reversed-phase cyanopropylsilane column is utilized with a mobile phase of 50% acetonitrile and 50% 0.01 M sodium acetate buffer at pH 4.0. Absorption was monitored at 254 nm with a detection limit of 0.2 μ g/ml of plasma. The reproducibility and precision of the procedure were demonstrated on samples containing 0.50-12 μ g/ml of plasma.