cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Melatonin inhibits mitogenic cross-talk between retinoic acid-related orphan receptor alpha (RORα) and ERα in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Luciferase reporter constructs and transient co-transfection approaches demonstrate that elevated expression of RORalpha1 augments 17-beta-estradiol (E(2))-induced transcriptional activation of the full-length ERalpha, but not truncated ERalpha constructs (ABCD or CDEF), in MCF-7 breast cancer and HEK293 embryonic kidney cells, and that physiologic concentrations of MLT inhibit the individual and combined transcriptional activity of ERalpha by RORalpha1 and E(2). Gel mobility shift and co-immunoprecipitation (IP)/pull-down assays demonstrate that RORalpha1 and ERalpha do not interact directly at the DNA-binding level or as heterodimers, however, RORalpha1 augments E(2)-induced pS2 and cyclin D1 mRNA expression while MLT inhibits RORalpha1/E(2)-induced expression of pS2 and cyclin D1 in MCF-7 cells.
Rotationally resolved threshold photoionization of H 2 S

Threshold spectroscopy based on pulsed field ionization (PFI) has been used in conjunction with a VUV laser source to obtain the rovibronic distributions of molecular cations following single photon ionization. The technique selectively detects electrons produced from field ionization of very high-n Rydberg levels (n >= 200) which lie within 1 - 2 cm -1 of each rovibronic threshold. Since the oscillator strength is continuous across an ionization threshold, the PFI spectrum reflects the rovibronic state population at threshold. The nascent rotational state distribution of the molecular ion reflects the exchanges of energy and angular momentum in the `scattering' of the photoexcited electron with the anisotropic molecular ion potential. Rotationally resolved studies on several molecular systems (O 2 , HCl, OH(OD), H 2 O and N 2 O) have shown that photoionization can lead to large changes in core rotation, e.g., (Delta) J equals J + - J' 2 + , when accompanied by ejection of photoelectrons with high orbital angular momentum (l >= 3). For photoionization of nonlinear molecules (H 2 O), transitions between asymmetric top levels involving the rotational angular momentum projections, K a ,K b ,K c , permit resolution of the photoelectron continua according to symmetry. PFI studies on the van der Waals dimer, Xe 2 , demonstrate the utility of this technique for investigating low frequency vibrations in molecular cations and for studying minor species (<EQ 1%) in molecular beams.
Molecular classification of doxazosin-induced alterations in the rat prostate using gene expression profiling.

Abstract We investigated molecular changes that occurred during chronic administration of doxazosin, an α1-adrenoceptor (AR) antagonist, using Affymetrix GeneChip analysis of gene expression. Rats were treated with doxazosin (4 mg/kg/day subcutaneously, supplemented with 4 mg/kg/day orally) for 12 weeks. Labeled cRNA was prepared and the subsequent hybridization to rat 230A arrays was performed. The alterations in gene expression levels of candidate genes identified by microarray analysis with potential biological relevance were verified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using SYBR Green I. Doxazosin treated rats had significantly heavier prostates compared to control rats. Microarray analysis revealed that chronic doxazosin treatment caused changes in the expression levels of 625 genes, of which 39 were related to cell death, necrosis, growth, proliferation and G-protein signalling pathways in the rat prostate. Furthermore, RT-PCR experiments, in accord with the microarray analysis, indicated that chronic doxazosin treatment caused an up-regulation in the mRNA expression level of clusterin, an antiapoptotic mediator, and epiregulin, a mitogen, in the ventral and dorsolateral prostate, respectively. These findings, that demonstrate chronic doxazosin administration causes significant changes in the expression of several hundred genes in the rat prostate, may provide insight into the long-term efficacy of α1-AR antagonists in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Market structure and cooperative advertising

Abstract Cooperative advertising is advertising whose demand-stimulating effects do not accrue exclusively to the firm that makes the advertising expenditure. This paper examines the effect of market structure on the equilibrium level of cooperative advertising.
Reframing the Science and Anthropology of Autism

The papers in this collection represent an important step forward in the ethnographic study of autism. Their focus on sociality and social context is especially important today as so much of the attention paid to autism in the scholarly literature and in the media concerns advances in neuroscience, cellular and molecular biology, and does not examine the non-medical aspects of autism. The field of genetics, to cite just one example, offers an enormous range of possibilities for using genetic variations to identify the alleles and mutations that influence neurological development. But as the papers in this collection suggest, we can take the medicalized, genetic approach to autism too far, to a point at which a disease construct is so profoundly fetishized that we fail to question the validity of the construct, and to see its cultural constitution. Medicalized approaches to autism, at least as autism is now conceptualized as an expansive spectrum, also risk making a disease out of traits that are likely distributed in varying degrees among the general population, obscuring the positive characteristics of autism that contribute to human diversity and creativity, neglecting the possibility for new forms of sociality to emerge, and diminishing the role that autism can play in forming new social identities. The value of an anthropologically informed approach to autism, in my view, has less to do with relativism—in which we recognize autism as just another form of being, and then appreciate that form for its differences from an assumed norm— than with its ability to unmask the cultural foundations of scientific representations, and to comprehend both the social life of autism, as a construct, and autistic sociality. The experiences of an autistic person—whether his strengths and abilities
Carbon-13 and proton magnetic resonance studies of some carbonyl-bis-(amino acid esters)

A number of carbonyl-bis-(amino acid esters) have been examined by proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. All but one of the compounds were synthesized with two chiral centers of like-configuration. In one series, the diastereotopic nonequivalence of isopropyl methyl groups attached to the asymmetric centers is apparent in both the proton and the carbon spectra, and the relative magnitude of the observed nonequivalence increases slightly with increasing ‘bulk’ of the neighboring ester groups. Carbon-13 chemical shifts are reported, and a linear correlation of Taft σ* inductive constants with ester carbonyl carbon chemical shifts and with amide proton chemical shifts (for a series in which only variation of the ester substituent occurs) is presented. In addition, the effect in terms of chemical shift differences of keeping the same ester group at the asymmetric centers while varying the other substituent group, is examined.
31P-NMR studies of the release of diphospholygeric acid on carbon monoxide binding to hemoglobin☆

Abstract The binding of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate to human hemoglobin at intermediate stages of ligand saturation has been studied by visible and 31 P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Release of diphosphoglycerate was found to lag behind the ligand binding, supporting the previous finding that α chains bind ligands before the β chains, and suggesting that the resulting intermediate molecules may still bind diphosphoglycerate. Comparison of the fraction of free diphosphoglycerate at any stage of fractional ligation to the fraction of molecules containing four, or three and four, bound ligands showed that the dissociation of diphosphoglycerate does not occur completely during any single step of ligand binding.
Complementary roles of laparoscopic abdominal exploration and diagnostic peritoneal lavage for evaluating abdominal stab wounds: a prospective study.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine the roles of laparoscopic abdominal exploration (LE) and diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) in the evaluation of abdominal stab wounds, we prospectively compared LE with mandatory celiotomy (MC) in 76 patients having anterior abdominal stab wounds penetrating the fascia over a 22-month period. Patients and Methods: Twenty-two patients underwent emergency celiotomy. The remaining patients were subjected to DPL and assigned to treatment by either celiotomy or initial LE with subsequent conversion to open exploration at the discretion of the attending surgeon. Results: Laparotomy was avoided in 55% of the 31 patients undergoing initial laparoscopy, and this group demonstrated a significant decrease in the incidence of nontherapeutic celiotomy, from 19% to 57% (P < 0.05), as well as decreased length of hospital stay (4 ± 0.6 v 5.9 ± 0.4 days; P < 0.05), and total hospital cost ($6119 ± 756 v $8312 ± 627; P < 0.05). There were no missed intraabdominal injuries or morbidity from l...
Insulin-like growth factors as determinants of follicular fate.

OBJECTIVE To review the English-language literature as it relates to the rat intraovarian insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system, special emphasis being placed on the hypotheses under study. METHODS A thorough literature review of the English-language literature. RESULTS Current data support the view that intraovarian IGF-I may act as an amplifier of gonadotropin hormonal action. The role of IGF-I as a determinant of follicular fate remains a matter of study. CONCLUSIONS The intraovarian IGF-I system may play a central role in ovarian physiology by amplifying gonadotropin hormonal action and, possibly, by playing a role in determining follicular fate.
Agonist-induced modulation of agonist binding to α1-adrenoceptors in bovine aorta

Abstract Prolonged exposure of tissues to hormone agonists results in a subsequent reduction in the sensitivity of the tissue through a process known as desensitization. The desensitization response, either homologous or heterologous, has been shown to be correlated with receptor phosphorylation. Recently we have provided evidence that protein kinase C, when activated by a phorbol ester, regulates α1-adrenoceptor coupling to a G-protein. In the present study, the effects of epinephrine (10 μM) pretreatment on the binding behavior of the α1-adrenoceptor were determined from radioligand binding assays at 25° and 2°C. Pretreatment of tissues with epinephrine for 25 min moderately decreased [3H]prazosin binding by 12% (Bmax 121.5 fmol/mg) in comparison to control (139.3 fmol/mg) with no change in its affinity. The second consequence of desensiization by epinephrine is a decrease in the affinity of agonist binding to α1-adrenoceptors associated with uncoupling of the receptors from the G-protein. In control membranes, at 25°C, epinephrine defined two different affinity states of the receptor, viz. high affinity (KDH 16.5 nM, % RH 21) and low affinity (KDL 710 nM, % RL 79). The high affinity state formed at 25°C is stabilized by forming a ternary complex with a G-protein. Addition of guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) reduced the stability of this complex resulting in a loss of high affinity sites in control membranes. On the other hand, epinephrine treated membranes exhibited only a single class of low affinity agonist binding (KDH 659 nM) and further, Gpp(NH)p had no significant effect on binding. In low-temperature binding studies, both treated and untreated preparations exhibited a large proportion of sites (% RH 88 and 87) in the high affinity state indicating that receptors retain the ability to achieve a high affinity conformation, as established by the reduced temperature. Our results indicate that epinephrine desensitization includes a selective loss in the ability of G-proteins to stabilize a high affinity state of the α1-adrenoceptor. This effect of agonist preexposure, thus, resembles receptor/G-protein uncoupling described previously following protein kinase C activation.
Extracellular functions of galectin-3

Galectin-3 has been suspected of modulating cell to extracellular matrix interactions in a novel fashion ever since it was first described. However, the rapid accumulation of research data in just the last 8 years alone has completely changed our perspective of this multifunctional protein. Its chimeric nature (consists of carbohydrate recognition and collagen like domains) somehow makes it suited to interact with a plethora of interesting extracellular matrix proteins some of which might enable it to cross the plasma membrane despite its lack of appropriate signal peptides. It is now becoming established as a mediator of signal transduction events on the cell surface as well as a mediator of a variety of extra-cellular processes such as kidney development, angiogenesis, neuronal functions, tumor metastasis, autoimmune disorders, endocytosis and possibly exocytosis. Nevertheless, it still retains its unique position as a mediator/modulator of cell to extracellular matrix adhesive interactions. Cells, particularly epithelial cells which lack galectin-3 expression, interact poorly with their extracellular matrices. In some of these processes, it functions as a matricellular protein, displaying both pro- and anti-adhesive properties.
Coronary Artery Bypass in Hereditary Factor XI Deficiency

Hereditary factor XI deficiency is a disorder of coagulation that has been associated with postoperative bleeding. Because cardiopulmonary bypass itself induces transient abnormalities in hemostasis, the patient with factor XI deficiency could be at increased risk for bleeding after cardiac surgical procedures. We report the successful management of a 61-year-old man with hereditary factor XI deficiency who had coronary artery bypass. Treatment with low-dose aspirin, begun 24 hours postoperatively for graft patency, was well tolerated. Once recognized and aggressively treated, factor XI deficiency does not appear to be a contraindication to potentially life-saving procedures like coronary revascularization.
Bringing the Real World to Psychometric Evaluation of Cervical Cancer Literacy Assessments with Black, Latina, and Arab Women in Real-World Settings

This research describes the development and evaluation of a new scale for assessing functional cervical cancer health literacy, the Cervical Cancer Literacy Assessment Tool (C-CLAT). In phase 1, 35 items in English, Spanish, and Arabic for C-CLAT were generated, taking into account three content domains-Awareness, Knowledge, and Prevention/Control. After content validation, 24 items were retained for psychometric evaluation. In phase 2, the 24-item C-CLAT was evaluated in three racial/ethnic populations of urban women (N = 543). Psychometric methods included item analysis, multifactor item response theory modeling, and concurrent correlations. The final C-CLAT consisted of 16 items, with an internal consistency reliability of 0.72. C-CLAT reliabilities in Black, Latina, and Arab women were 0.73, 0.76, and 0.60, respectively. The rank order correlations of item difficulties across racial/ethnic groups was high (r's = 0.97 to 0.98). The C-CLAT was positively related to educational level, and Arab women scored significantly higher than the Black and Latina participants. This study presents a psychometrically sound instrument that measures health literacy related to cervical cancer. The C-CLAT is a tool that can be orally administered by a lay person and used in a community-based health promotion intervention.
Diversity of New World Mammals: Universality of the Latitudinal Gradients of Species and Bauplans

Thirty years of study to demonstrate, quantify, and explain the latitudinal gradient of species richness in mammals of the New World have produced two results; a surety that such a gradient exists and a lack of consensus as to what causes the inverse relationship between species richness and latitude. If the effects of continental area are removed, the latitudinal gradient remains strong and proves to be universal for the New World. This gradient in richness occurs not only at the species level, but also at a series of macrotaxonomic levels (generic, familial, and ordinal), which represents a distribution of ecological types, or bauplans. What causes these phenomena? I assert that none of the specific explanations that have been proposed (e.g., competition or spatial heterogeneity) alone can account for the latitudinal pattern. A universal explanation is likely to be more general; I propose that there is a shift in the impact of abiotic and biotic factors that limit species along the gradient from the poles to the equator. This shift, in turn, produces a change in factors that influence species richness from one that limits the number of species in polar regions to one that limits the physical or niche space of species in the tropics. Ultimately, these phenomena produce the latitudinal gradient (as well as the Rapoport's rule phenomena). Effects of abiotic and biotic factors are different for species and bauplans; species are impacted heavily by both, whereas bauplans are influenced much more strongly by abiotic factors.
Vision and change in biology undergraduate education: Vision and change from the funding front

The purpose of this short article is to (a) briefly summarize the findings of two important recent resources concerning the future of biology in the 21(st) century; one, Vision and Change, A Call to Action [AAAS, 2009. AAAS, Washington, DC], concerned with undergraduate education in biology, the other, A New Biology for the 21st Century [National Research Council, 2009. National Academies Press, Washington, DC], concerned with advances within the discipline itself; (b) urge you, the reader of BAMBED, to review the material on the Vision and Change website [AAAS, 2009. AAAS: Washington, DC] and then to think how you might change things at your own institution and within your courses, and; (c) make readers aware of the programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) that might support change efforts, as well as refer you to efforts other funding agencies are making to help biology undergraduate education respond to the challenges and opportunities chronicled in these two reports. Although NSF funding opportunities are specifically available to US investigators, the recommendations of the two reports should be of interest to a wide spectrum of international researchers.
A Spectral Difference Method for Viscous Compressible Flows With Shocks

The current work focuses on applying an artificial viscosity approach to the Spectral Difference (SD) method to enable high-order computation of compressible fluid flows with discontinuities. The study uses an artificial viscosity approach similar to the high-wavenumber biased artificial viscosity approach introduced by Cook and Cabot, 5,6 and modified by Kawai and Lele. 9 The model employs a bulk viscosity for treating shocks, a shear viscosity for treating turbulence, and an artificial conductivity to handle contact discontinuities. The high-wavenumber biased viscosity is found to stabilize numerical calculations and reduce oscillations near discontinuities. Promising results are demonstrated for 1-D and 2-D test problems.
Photomicrographs of profile angles on crystals of asparagin

Photomicrographs of asparagine crystals from as many diverse sources as could be found have been collected. However well they may have served their original purpose, they are all unsuitable for profile angle measurement. Accordingly explicit directions are offered for obtaining asparagin crystals perfect enough to serve this special purpose.
Determining the cost-effectiveness of managing acute diarrhoea through social franchising of ORASEL: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract Background Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) along with zinc supplementation (ORS-Z) can reduce mortality more so than plain ORS if properly prepared and administered. Because ORS-Z is still infrequently used in many rural settings, health planners are looking for strategies to increase coverage wherever children can be reached. Given the high number of children seeking care for diarrhoea in the private sector, this study examined the cost-effectiveness of a strategy to introduce a Population Services International (PSI)-developed ORS-Z product, an ORASEL Kit, into a network of private providers. The cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted in the context of data on programme impact from a community-level, cluster randomised trial of the introduction of ORASEL through a social franchising programme. Methods Economic costs were obtained from a societal perspective inclusive of programme, provider, and household costs for the 2010 calendar year. Data were gathered during key informant interviews with staff in the central Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) office as well as through PSI payroll and cost data. We also estimated providers' retail costs as well as patients' opportunity costs of care seeking. Incremental cost-effectiveness relative to status quo conditions was calculated per child death and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted in 2010. Health effects included deaths and DALYs averted with a 3% discount rate; the former modelled based on coverage estimates obtained through a cross-sectional household survey and inputted into the lives saved tool. Uncertainty was tested with acceptability curves and other sensitivity analyses. Findings The children in the treatment arm of the trial had a 13·7% (95% CI 7·3–20·2) point increase in probability of using ORASEL for a case of diarrhoea compared with no treatment or plain ORS. Based on the model, this would translate to 3·12 deaths averted in a population of 10 000 person-years. The incremental cost-effectiveness of the franchised approach to improving ORASEL coverage is estimated at US$2557 (2457–2568) per death averted and $94·50 (94·13–94·89) per discounted DALY averted. Interpretation Distribution of ORASEL through private sector franchising is highly cost effective according to the thresholds set forth by the Commission for Macroeconomics and Health. Results are comparable to other priority interventions recommended for adoption in south Asia by the Disease Control Priorities Project and are anticipated to contribute to the discourse on achieving the fourth Millennium Development Goal. Further work is recommended to assess the cost-effectiveness of this delivery modality in other settings. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Regenerative Feedback in the Medium of Radio: Study 1.0 (FM) for Radio Transceiver

The author discusses compositional applications of feedback in the medium of radio as a means of exploring the nature of transmission and reception. His Studies for Radio Transceiver are presented here along with a detailed discussion of Study 1.0 (FM). This composition juxtaposes the historical and technical use of feedback in radio with audio signal recursion. Regenerative feedback is used to redefine the compositional capabilities of the medium.
Structural Characterization of a Unique Interface between Carbohydrate Response Element-binding Protein (ChREBP) and 14-3-3β Protein

Carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) is an insulin-independent, glucose-responsive transcription factor that is expressed at high levels in liver hepatocytes where it plays a critical role in converting excess carbohydrates to fat for storage. In response to fluctuating glucose levels, hepatic ChREBP activity is regulated in large part by nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of ChREBP protein via interactions with 14-3-3 proteins. The N-terminal ChREBP regulatory region is necessary and sufficient for glucose-responsive ChREBP nuclear import and export. Here, we report the crystal structure of a complex of 14-3-3β bound to the N-terminal regulatory region of ChREBP at 2.4 Å resolution. The crystal structure revealed that the α2 helix of ChREBP (residues 117–137) adopts a well defined α-helical conformation and binds 14-3-3 in a phosphorylation-independent manner that is different from all previously characterized 14-3-3 and target protein-binding modes. ChREBP α2 interacts with 14-3-3 through both electrostatic and van der Waals interactions, and the binding is partially mediated by a free sulfate or phosphate. Structure-based mutagenesis and binding assays indicated that disrupting the observed 14-3-3 and ChREBP α2 interface resulted in a loss of complex formation, thus validating the novel protein interaction mode in the 14-3-3β·ChREBP α2 complex.
The Cosmic-ray Spectrum: from the knee to the ankle

This talk addresses the question, «Where is the transition from cosmic rays of galactic origin to extra-galactic cosmic-rays?» I have addressed the background of this topic recently in lectures at Erice and, with Todor Stanev, in a collection of papers on various aspects of nuclear astrophysics. Here I concentrate on primary composition as a signature of the transition and mention some new air-shower experiments aimed at the energy region from the knee to the ankle (PeV to 10 EeV).
A REVERSIBLE DARK STATE MECHANISM FOR COMPLEXITY OF THE FLUORESCENCE OF TRYPTOPHAN IN PROTEINS

A model is described for the complex fluorescence of tryptophan in proteins involving a reversible process between the excited singlet state of tryptophan and a “dark” (nonemissive) state of high energy. A specific hypothesis for the nature of this dark state is given that involves rapid ionization of the excited tryptophan followed by indole nitrogen proton transfer on the nanosecond time scale. The general kinetic scheme involved predicts that there will be a change in amplitude of the decay components when an external quencher is added. This experiment is presented and shown to be consistent with the model. It is argued that this result is inconsistent with any static conformational heterogeneity hypothesis.
Hydraulic optimization of a combined sewer overflow (CSO) storage facility using numerical and physical modelingA paper submitted to the Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science.

A commercially available 3-D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model (STAR-CD) was used to investigate capacity upgrading options for a combined sewer overflow (CSO) facility of inadequate capacity. The numerical model was verified against the data collected in two physical models. The need for verifying the CFD model was given by the complexity of the CSO facility, which comprises several interconnected tanks. The verified numerical model was then applied to analyze hydraulic conditions in the whole facility for major structural modifications with the aim of reducing or eliminating untreated overflows from the facility. Many scenarios were proposed and tested in the study and the two most promising structural modifications, scenarios 1 and 2, are presented in the paper. Both appeared to meet the design condition of increasing the facility capacity to 60 m3/s, but better performing scenario 1 would be significantly more costly to implement than scenario 2. Even though the study focused on a particular CS...
Identification of a Ganglioside Recognition Domain of Tetanus Toxin Using a Novel Ganglioside Photoaffinity Ligand

Abstract Tetanus toxin entry into vertebrate motorneurons may involve binding of neuronal surface gangliosides containing the “1b” substructure (a NeuAcα2,8NeuAc group on an internal galactose residue). The domains of tetanus toxin involved in ganglioside binding are known to reside within the carboxyl-terminal half of the toxin’s heavy chain (“C fragment”). We developed a novel photoaffinity reagent based upon the structure of the 1b ganglioside GD1b(125I-azido-GD1b) to define the ganglioside-binding domains of tetanus toxin. Using this ligand, we observed radiolabeling of tetanus toxin C fragment which could be specifically inhibited by a ganglioside of the 1b series (GT1b), but not by a non-1b series ganglioside (GM3). When tetanus toxin C fragment was proteolyzed with clostripain, whether before or after reaction with125I-azido-GD1b, a radiolabeled band was observed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis autoradiography, which was selectively inhibited by GT1b. Protein sequencing of proteolyzed tetanus toxin C fragment co-migrating with that band revealed the carboxyl-terminal 34 amino acid residues of tetanus toxin. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of a photoaffinity labeled synthetic polypeptide representing the 34-amino acid domain revealed modification at a single residue (His1293). We propose that this domain of tetanus toxin is sufficient for ganglioside binding.
Long-term structural changes in pH-sensitive hydrogels.

Abstract The long-term swelling properties of lightly cross-linked copolymer hydrogels consisting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and N , N -dimethylaminoethyl methacrylamide (DMAA) were studied as a function of pH at 25°C and 37°C. In acidic pH regions, the swelling equilibria were found to be stable over 200 d. In alkaline pH environments, however, the ‘equilibrium’ swelling increases slowly with time. Gas chromatography of the supernatant shows that substantial methanol is produced, along with trace amounts of N , N -dimethylethylene diamine. Thus, the primary mechanism underlying the structural changes appears to be hydrolysis of ester groups in the MMA side-chains, with a much smaller contribution due to amidolysis of the DMAA side-chains. The implications of these structural changes for the application of this hydrogel, as well as other related hydrogels as long-term implantable biomaterials, are discussed.
Immunocytochemistry of a vasopressin (AVP) receptor with anti-idiotype antibody: Inhibition of staining with a peptide (PVA) encoded by an RNA that is complementary to AVP mRNA

Immunocytochemical staining of putative presynaptic (auto-) receptors associated with vasopressin (AVP) neurons by anti-idiotype antibody can be markedly reduced or abolished by preincubation of the antibody with peptide PVA. This peptide, Ser-Ser-Trp-Ala-Val-Leu-Glu-Val-Ala, represents amino acids encoded by a nucleotide sequence complementary to the mRNA code of AVP. These results suggest that PVA may have some binding characteristics similar to the AVP autoreceptor.
Identification of a potential effector function for IgE autoantibodies in the organ-specific autoimmune disease bullous pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune skin disease characterized by autoantibodies against the hemidesmosomal protein BP180. In addition to IgG autoantibodies, IgE class autoantibodies have been reported in BP patients. Because animal models utilizing only IgG antibodies do not totally replicate human BP, we examined the specificity and potential relevance of IgE autoantibodies in this disease. Thirty BP patients participated in these studies. Serum IgE was measured and the IgE specificity was determined by immunoblotting. Double labeling Immunofluorescence was performed using combinations of specific antibodies to human mast cell tryptase, IgE and BP180. BP180-stimulated histamine release was measured from basophils of untreated BP patients (n=9), BP patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy (n=9) and controls (n=16). Elevated IgE levels were found In 70% of untreated BP patients. IgE autoantibodies directed against BP180 were detected in 86% of untreated patients and in all but one of these patients the IgE reacted with the NC16A domain of BP180. IgE-coated mast cells were detected in perilesional skin of the BP patients. Moreover, BP180 peptides were detected on these mast cells. BP180-stimulated histamine release was significantly higher in basophils obtained from untreated BP patients compared with control basophils (p=0.006) or from treated BP patients (p=0.01). These findings support the hypothesis that IgE autoantibodies are involved in the pathogenesis of BP. IgE and IgG BP autoantibodies share the same antigenic specificity. Antigen-specific degranulation of basophils and/or mast cells from BP patients suggests a mechanism by which IgE may contribute to lesion development.
Regulation of signal transduction pathways in development by glycosylation

Recent studies from several laboratories have provided evidence that cell surface complex carbohydrates play key roles in the regulation of developmentally relevant signal transduction events. The demonstration that Fringe, a known modifier of Notch function, is a fucose-specific N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase provided strong evidence that the Notch signaling pathway could be regulated by alterations of O-fucose structures. More recently, the demonstration that O-fucose modification of Cripto is essential for Nodal-dependent signaling provides further evidence of a role for glycosylation in signal transduction. These and other examples provide a new paradigm for the regulation of signal transduction events by glycosylation.
Quantifying Efficacy and Avoidance Behavior by Tawny Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae: Scapteriscus vicinus) to Three Synthetic Insecticides

ABSTRACT Mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) are among the most economically important turf-grass insect pests in the southeastern United States. The tawny mole cricket Scapteriscus vicinus (Scudder) causes damage by feeding on the roots and shoots of turfgrass and by creating surface tunnels. Previous research on mole cricket control showed behavior modification, including reduced surface tunneling and avoidance of the treated soil, when a control agent was applied. The objectives of these studies were: a) to determine the mortality of 3 synthetic insecticides and their residues against small and large mole cricket nymphs in 2 bioassays and b) to monitor mole cricket behavioral responses to these insecticides. We used 3 synthetic insecticides (bifenthrin, chlorantraniliprole, and fipronil) to conduct 2 mortality bioassays and 2 behavioral studies, where we quantified surface tunneling, to determine the scope of this modified behavior. We found that, in general, the greater the efficacy of the prod...
Vector-Valued Support Vector Regression

A vector-valued extension of the support vector regression problem is presented here. The vector-valued variant is developed by extending the notions of the estimator, loss function and regularization functional from the scalar-valued case. A particular emphasis is placed on the class of loss functions chosen which apply the epsiv-insensitive loss function to the p-norm of the error. The primal and dual optimization problems are derived and the KKT conditions are developed. The general case for the p-norm is specialized for the 1-, 2- and p-norms. It is shown that the vector-valued variant is a true extension of the scalar-valued case. It is then shown that the vector-valued approach results in sparse representations in terms of support vectors as compared to aggregated scalar-valued learning.
Effects of drivetrain hybridization on fuel economy and dynamic performance of parallel hybrid electric vehicles

Hybrid electric vehicles have proved to be the most practical solution in reaching very high fuel economy as well as very low emissions. However, there is no standard solution for the optimal size or ratio of the internal combustion engine and the electric system. The optimum choice includes complex tradeoffs between the heat engine and electric propulsion system on one hand and cost, fuel economy, and performance on the other. Each component, as well as the overall system, have to be optimized to give optimal performance and durability at a low price. In this paper, we look at the effects of hybridization on fuel economy and dynamic performances of vehicles. Different hybridization levels from mild to full hybrid electric traction systems are examined. We also present the optimum level of hybridization for typical passenger cars. This study shows that low hybridization levels provide an acceptable fuel economy benefit at a low price, while the optimal level of hybridization ranges between 0.3 and 0.5, depending on the total vehicle power.
Rotator cuff repair as an outpatient procedure.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate outpatient rotator cuff repair on the basis of patient satisfaction, pain control, early postoperative complications, and cost control. Patients were considered good candidates for an outpatient repair if they were in good health and had adequate support at home. Seventy-five rotator cuff repairs were performed on an outpatient basis. The average age of the patients was 58 years. Patients with tears smaller than 2 cm in diameter were excluded. Postoperative pain was managed effectively in 74 of 75 outpatients. There were no cases of deltoid origin compromise, deep infection, or early failure of repair, and no outpatient required readmission to the hospital. This study demonstrates that outpatient rotator cuff repair is possible in the appropriately selected patient and can be performed safely and effectively with a 43% reduction in overall cost. (J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2000;9:27-30.)
Psychosurgery: past, present, and future

Psychosurgery, the neurosurgical treatment of psychiatric disease, has a history dating back to antiquity, and involves all of the clinical neurosciences. This review discusses the history of psychosurgery, its development in the 19th century, and the conditions of its use and abuse in the 20th century, with a particular focus on the frontal lobotomy. The transition to the modern era of psychosurgery is discussed, as well as the neurobiology underlying current psychosurgical procedures. The techniques of stereotactic cingulotomy, capsulotomy, subcaudate tractotomy, and limbic leukotomy are described, as well their indications and side effects. Due to the past abuse of psychosurgery, procedures are currently under strict control, and the example of the Cingulotomy Committee at the Massachusetts General Hospital is discussed. Finally, future directions of psychosurgery and somatic therapies are explored, including transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagal nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy. In summary, this review provides a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the history, current practice, and future trends of neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Theme: Disorders of the nervous system Topic: Neuropsychiatric disorders
Warlords, Politicians and the Post-First Civil War Election in Liberia

The issue of post-conflict elections has become one of the major areas in both the scholarly literature and in policy circles. This is because post-conflict elections are considered critical to the peacebuilding process in war-torn societies. The rationale is that post-conflict elections can be used to address the vexing problem of choosing the leadership for states recovering from war. With the leadership chosen in the context of free, fair and transparent elections, it can then shepherd the arduous process of rebuilding the society. In this vein, using the first post-conflict election in Liberia as a case study, this article examines the electoral landscape, and the factors that led to the Taylor-led National Patriotic Party (NPP) winning a landslide victory.
GPEB: Power-efficient geographic broadcasting in sensor networks

Nodes in a sensor network, operating on power limited batteries, must save power to minimize the need for battery replacement. In this paper, we study the power efficiency issues related to geographic broadcast protocols in wireless sensor networks. Specifically, we study the problems in existing flooding based and pruning based broadcast algorithm and propose a new geographic power efficient broadcast algorithm to reduce the overlaps of broadcast coverage area and thus the total power consumption. The proposed algorithm is a hybrid protocol that combines broadcasts of maximum transmission radio range and forwards of much smaller transmission radio range. Through simulation, we show that the GPEB protocol proposed in this paper can save total power consumption up to 23% compared to existing geographic broadcast protocols.
Design Considerations and Performance Analysis of Good π-Rotation LDPC Codes

In this paper we present two theoretical results that lead to the development of good π-rotation LDPC codes. The first theorem derives bounds on the weight of the parity vector when the weight of the information vector is two. The second theorem establishes the expected number of short-loops in the parity check matrix. We then present construction tools that are used to reduce the complexity of searching minimum distance and girth for π-rotation LDPC codes. Several performance examples are given.
Modeling and optimization of a novel pressurized CHP system with water extraction and refrigeration

A novel cooling, heat, and power (CHP) system has been proposed that features a semi-closed Brayton cycle with pressurized recuperation, integrated with a vapor absorption refrigeration system (VARS). The semi-closed Brayton cycle is called the high-pressure regenerative turbine engine (HPRTE). The VARS interacts with the HPRTE power cycle through heat exchange in the generator and the evaporator. Waste heat from the recirculated combustion gas of the HPRTE is used to power the absorption refrigeration unit, which cools the high-pressure compressor inlet of the HPRTE to below ambient conditions and also produces excess refrigeration in an amount that depends on ambient conditions. Water produced as a product of combustion is intentionally condensed in the evaporator of the VARS, which is designed to provide sufficient cooling for the inlet air to the high-pressure compressor, water extraction, and for an external cooling load. The computer model of the combined HPRTE/VARS cycle predicts that with steam blade cooling and a medium-sized engine, the cycle will have a thermal efficiency of 49% for a turbine inlet temperature of 1400°C. This thermal efficiency, is in addition to the large external cooling load, generated in the combined cycle, which is 13% of the net work output. In addition, it also produces up to 1.4 kg of water for each kg of fuel consumed, depending upon the fuel type. When the combined HPRTE/VARS cycle is optimized for maximum thermal efficiency, the optimum occurs for a broad range of operating conditions. Details of the multivariate optimization procedure and results are presented in this paper. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive correction of dynamic range in small animal wide-field fluorescence tomography

In this work, we present a measurement-guided pattern optimization scheme directed towards maximizing signal-noise-ratio in tomographic measurements by reducing the dynamic range in transmitted signal intensity in small animal models.
Some Electrical Characteristics of a DC Superconducting Cable

When fully developed, dc superconducting power transmission lines (SPTL's) will be able to transmit 5GW or more of power at very high power densities and efficiencies. Although the SPTL has zero resistance to pure dc, it experiences hysteresis and resistive losses under ac and ripple. During faults, the current may be driven out of the superconductor into the cryostabilizer which causes additional resistive losses. A well-designed SPTL should have minimum steady-state ac losses, and it should be able to recover from a transient fault quickly and reliably. The paper discusses the performance of three dc SPTL designs, rated at 2.5 GW, 5 GW, and 7.5 GW, and shows that the operating conditions can be met successfully.
Coexistence of cardiac troponin T variants reduces heart efficiency

Corresponding to the synchronized contraction of the myocardium and rhythmic pumping function of the heart, a single form of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is present in the adult cardiac muscle of humans and most other vertebrate species. Alternative splicing variants of cTnT are found in failing human hearts and animal dilated cardiomyopathies. Biochemical analyses have shown that these cTnT variants are functional and produce shifted myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity. We proposed a hypothesis that the coexistence of two or more functionally distinct TnT variants in the adult ventricular muscle that is normally activated as a syncytium may decrease heart function and cause cardiomyopathy (Huang et al., Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 294: C213–C222, 2008). In the present study, we studied transgenic mouse hearts expressing one or two cTnT variants in addition to normal adult cTnT to investigate whether desynchronized myofilament activation decreases ventricular efficiency. The function of ex vivo working hearts was examined in the absence of systemic neurohumoral influence. The results showed that the transgenic mouse hearts produced lower maximum left ventricular pressure, slower contractile and relaxation velocities, and decreased stroke volume compared with wild-type controls. Ventricular pumping efficiency, calculated by the ejection integral versus total systolic integral and cardiac work versus oxygen consumption, was significantly lower in transgenic mouse hearts and corresponded to the number of cTnT variants present. The results indicated a pathogenic mechanism in which the coexistence of functionally different cTnT variants in cardiac muscle reduces myocardial efficiency due to desynchronized thin filament activation.
Partial hardware partitioning: a new pseudo-exhaustive test implementation

A pseudoexhaustive-test implementation technique is presented which combines the advantages of hardware partitioning and sensitized partitioning, offering lower hardware overhead than hardware partitioning, and lower test-set generation complexity and higher fault coverage than sensitized partitioning. >
Note---On Marketing Strategy and the Optimal Production Schedule---A Rejoinder

Author's rejoinder to the discussion about his paper Leitch, R. A. 1974. Marketing strategy and the optimal production schedule. Management Sci.21 3 302--312..
Ambulatory Surgery: How Much Testing Do We Need?

Patient selection is a major factor in running a successful ambulatory surgery unit with good patient outcomes. Different models of ambulatory surgery centers have different selection criteria. Some may offer full-service anesthesia and physically be part of the main hospital making admission a possibility, as part of the process. Others may not want the inefficiency of fiber-optic intubation for the difficult intubation and screen these patients out. Still others are free standing and admission is not an acceptable option, rather a complication and continuous quality improvement factor; consequently they have stricter selection criteria for appropriate patients. Traditionally, preoperative testing has been part of the screening process for appropriate preoperative care and selection. Preoperative testing costs this country an estimated $18 billion annually. Ambulatory surgery is by definition low-risk surgery 2 and patients, who are usually American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1 or 2, expect to be discharged home safely. Mortality risk in ASA 1 and 2 patients is 0.06% to 0.08% and 0.27% to 0.4% 3–5 in all surgeries, much lower in this low-risk category.
Situated state hidden Markov models

The authors introduce a probabilistic model called a situated state hidden Markov model (SSHMM), in which states are situated (i.e., assigned positions) and assumed to correspond to regions of an underlying continuous state space. Transition probabilities among states are induced by the assigned state positions in such a way that transitions occur more frequently between nearby states. The model is formally defined, and a maximum likelihood estimation procedure is described. Experiments on synthetic data demonstrate the SSHMMs can learn the structure of an underlying continuous state space even when observed through high-dimensional discontinuous functions. Experiments using SSHMMs for speaker-independent phonetic classification are also reported. >