cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical determination of lead and lead ion transfer at liquid-liquid interfaces

Abstract The transfer behavior of lead (II) ion at a liquid-liquid interface, facilitated by neutral carriers (polyethylene glycols), is studied by an electrochemical method. The transfer process is discussed in terms of the formation of complexes in two phases and attributed to the transfer of a complex ion across the interface. The apparent standard transfer potential, ΔwoφPbL2+o, apparent standard Gibbs energy of transfer, ΔwoGPbL2+o, and the dissociation constant of the complex, KPbL2+, in the aqueous phase are obtained from the experimental data. The results suggest a new electrochemical method for the determination of lead.
Complications Associated with Proximal Duodenal Resection and Cholecystoduodenostomy in Two Cats

Two cats having resections of duodenal lesions involving the major duodenal papilla are described. The operative technique of cholecystoduodenostomy and the postoperative complications are presented. Pancreatic insufficiency and cholangitis developed in both cats and responded to specific treatment. Recommendations for performing successful cholecystoduodenostomy are made.
A Unified Computational Architecture for Preprocessing Visual Information in Space and Time.

The success of autonomous mobile robots depends on the ability to understand continuously changing scenery. Present techniques for analysis of images are not always suitable because in sequential paradigm, computation of visual functions based on absolute values of stimuli is inefficient. Important aspects of visual information are encoded in discontinuities of intensity, hence a representation in terms of relative values seems advantageous. We present the computing architecture of a massively parallel vision module which optimizes the detection of relative intensity changes in space and time. Visual information must remain constant despite variation in ambient light level or velocity of target and robot. Constancy can be achieved by normalizing motion and lightness scales. In both cases, basic computation involves a comparison of the center pixels with the context of surrounding values. Therefore, a similar computing architecture, composed of three functionally-different and hierarchically-arranged layers of overlapping operators, can be used for two integrated parts of the module. The first part maintains high sensitivity to spatial changes by reducing noise and normalizing the lightness scale. The result is used by the second part to maintain high sensitivity to temporal discontinuities and to compute relative motion information. Simulation results show that response of the module is proportional to contrast of the stimulus and remains constant over the whole domain of intensity. It is also proportional to velocity of motion limited to any small portion of the visual field. Uniform motion throughout the visual field results in constant response, independent of velocity. Spatial and temporal intensity changes are enhanced because computationally, the module resembles the behavior of a DOG function.
Identification of CDCP1 as a hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α) target gene that is associated with survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients

CUB domain-containing protein 1 (CDCP1) is a transmembrane protein that is highly expressed in stem cells and frequently overexpressed and tyrosine-phosphorylated in cancer. CDCP1 promotes cancer cell metastasis. However, the mechanisms that regulate CDCP1 are not well-defined. Here we show that hypoxia induces CDCP1 expression and tyrosine phosphorylation in hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α–, but not HIF-1α–, dependent fashion. shRNA knockdown of CDCP1 impairs cancer cell migration under hypoxic conditions, whereas overexpression of HIF-2α promotes the growth of tumor xenografts in association with enhanced CDCP1 expression and tyrosine phosphorylation. Immunohistochemistry analysis of tissue microarray samples from tumors of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma shows that increased CDCP1 expression correlates with decreased overall survival. Together, these data support a critical role for CDCP1 as a unique HIF-2α target gene involved in the regulation of cancer metastasis, and suggest that CDCP1 is a biomarker and potential therapeutic target for metastatic cancers.
Optimization of automated solid-phase extraction for quantitation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous media by high-performance liquid chromatography-UV detection

Abstract A solid-phase extraction method for the quantitation of 16 regulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was developed and conditions were optimized to meet the recoveries stated in US Environmental Protection Agency Method 550.1. The best elution procedure soaked the extraction cartridge with acetonitrile followed by elution with methylene chloride. Rinsing the sample bottle with acetonitrile and combining the rinse with the sample extract was necessary to achieve the desired recoveries. The average recovery for a mixture of the sixteen regulated PAHs was 83%.
Multiple testings: multiple comparisons and multiple endpoints.

This paper gives a brief overview of some issues and some general concepts related to multiple testing problems as they are encountered in clinical drug trials. Some recent methods for handling mul...
RAD51 and XRCC3 polymorphism frequency and risk of myelodysplastic syndromes.

To the Editor: Single nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA repair genes are known to influence cancer risk. One common SNP in the 5'UTR of the RAD51 gene, “135G>C” (rs1801320), increases promoter activity, thus altering gene transcription and protein expression. Overexpression of RAD51 impairs initiation of HR.(1,2) Likewise, a C>T alteration in exon 8 of the XRCC3 gene (rs861539) changes the amino acid sequence (p.T241M, NP_005423). Cells with the XRCC3 T241M allele have nuclear abnormalities and low rates of spontaneous apoptosis, possibly promoting their malignant transformation, but the specific mechanism by with the SNP causes this behavior is unclear.(3,4) Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by ineffective hematopoesis, recurrent clonal chromosomal abnormalities, and a predilection to progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML).(5) Disease progression along the MDS-AML continuum is believed to be a consequence of stepwise accumulation of DNA mutations which infers a defect in DNA repair.(6) Seedhouse and colleagues showed that patients possessing both the RAD51 135G>C or XRCC3 T241M variants are at a 3.77-fold increase in risk of developing AML compared to controls.(7) Because 20-30% of patients with MDS develop AML, similar underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms may be present. We hypothesized that the presence of RAD51 135G>C or XRCC3 T241M would impair DSB repair and lead to genetic instability, consequently increasing the risk of developing MDS and the likelihood of having a karyotypic abnormality. We analyzed genomic DNA extracted from blood mononuclear cells from 292 consenting patients diagnosed with MDS using FAB criteria; 90 well-characterized DNA samples obtained from Coriell Institute panel NDPT024 (Camden, NJ) served as controls. Average age of the MDS patients was 70.9 versus 66.9 years in the control group. The MDS patients were 69.9% men versus 50% men in the controls. MDS subtypes are as noted in Table 1. Allele frequencies for RAD51 135G>C and XRCC3 T241M in all disease and controls were compared using the χ 2 test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. Univariate logistic regression models were constructed to assess the relationship between each polymorphism and specific disease subtypes or IPSS stratification(8). The models were adjusted for age, gender, and
TRANSFORMATION FACILITATORS: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF RECONFIGURABLE PRODUCTS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

Products that transform into multiple states give access to greater flexibility and functionality in a single system. These “transformers” capture the imagination and can be elegant, compact, and convenient. Mechanical transformers are usually designed ad hoc; a methodology specifically aimed at creating transformation processes would help the designer better understand when to use transformation and how to best seize its advantages and avoid its pitfalls. There is an underlying common basis of principles and facilitators (e.g. Fold, Share Core Structure, Segment) that describes transformation processes. We conducted an empirical study of 190 reconfigurable products across several domains, observing the overall trends in how transformation occurs. We confirmed the consistent use of similar principles and facilitators across the design space, and we quantitatively determined the extent of correlation among them. This paper lays out characteristics and interactions that are popular in current transformer design, as well as opportunities for innovation in new directions. A case study is also presented that illustrates how these results can be used in the future to help develop a step-by-step methodology for generating concepts of transforming products.
Comparative assessment of beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents as simple competitive antagonists in isolated heart muscle: similarity of inotropic and chronotropic blocking potencies against isoproterenol.

The pattern of antagonism between isoproterenol and various β-adrenoceptor blocking agents was explored in spontaneously beating right atria and in driven left atrial strips from kittens and guinea pigs. The onset of β-adrenoceptor blockade is usually very slow in such preparations; incubation periods of up to an hour may be required for equilibrium conditions. The speed of onset of the blocking action is directly related to the concentration of the antagonist, and therefore, for a given degree of blockade, inversely related to its potency. β-adrenoceptor blocking agents were found to interact with isoproterenol in a manner consistent with a simple competitive antagonism provided that (1) the antagonist had little intrinsic stimulant action on the preparation under study, (2) the concentrations of antagonist used had no direct depressant action on the preparation, (3) precautions were taken to assure that the pattern of antagonism was not distorted by loss of agonist into tissue sinks, and (4) dose-response curves were normalized for changes in the baseline frequency or force in successive curves. Corrections for desensitization were necessary only in inotropic dose-response curves. Estimates of the equilibrium dissociation constants (K B ) derived from the antagonism of the chronotropic and inotropic effects of isoproterenol were determined for fifteen β-adrenoceptor blocking agents of widely differing potency. In no case was there a substantial difference between the inotropic and chronotropic values. Published estimates of binding constants for β-blockers determined on cardiac membrane particles are more variable than those determined on intact tissues, and tend to be slightly (adenylyl cyclase measurements) or considerably (radioligand binding studies) lower than the values obtained in intact tissues. These differences raise the possibility that the properties of the β-adrenoceptor may sometimes be altered during the isolation and partial purification of membrane fragments.
Evaluation of instructional skills of medical teachers: the participant observer in the Medical School

Summary A model for the evaluation and development of instructional skills utilizing a participant observer is presented. Examples from a medical school context are provided. Other sources of evaluative information on performance of teachers including student based surveys are reviewed.
Plasmon resonant particles for biological detection

Several recent advances in the optical observation, fabrication, and bioconjugation of nanometer-sized gold or silver colloids have produced a robust new class of label. These plasmon resonant particle (PRP) conjugates have several important advantages: they are ultra-bright, so the light scattered from the individual particles can be viewed using a simple optical microscope system with a white light illumination source; they do not photo-bleach; PRPs can be prepared that preferentially scatter light of a chosen color; and it is possible to prepare bioconjugated PRPs that are stable in solution. These properties, and the automation of PRP identification, discrimination, and counting, have enabled the development of ultrasensitive, multicolor, and multiplex applications in the life science field.
The role of cyclic AMP in the phosphorylation of proteins in human erythrocyte membranes.

Abstract Three protein components of human erythrocyte membranes served as substrates for membrane-bound protein kinase. Cyclic AMP stimulated the rates of phosphorylation of two polypeptides, but the phosphorylation of the principal phosphate-acceptor was not enhanced by the cyclic nucleotide. These observations demonstrate the presence of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and its homologous substrates in erythrocyte membranes and suggest that cyclic AMP could mediate alterations in the properties of membranes.
Clarence Pendieton and the rhetoric of paradox

In his role as chair of the Commission on Civil Rights, Clarence M. Pendleton created a paradoxical worldview by playing the role of a clown to express the Reagan‐Bush administration's policy on affirmative action. He sustained this worldview through a formal paradox, “I am the nonblack black leader/’ Three speeches that Pendleton gave show that he sustained this formal paradox by rhetorically creating a constituency and by incorporating African American styles of address into his speeches.
The Effectiveness of Relationship Education in the College Classroom

The effectiveness of relationship education (RE) has been a topic of great interest over the last decade, as has the focus on emerging adulthood as an important developmental stage. However, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of RE with emerging adults who may be single or early in dating relationships, instead focusing primarily on engaged couples or married couples. This study investigated the effectiveness of RE with emerging adults in a college course on relationship dynamics. Using the Within My Reach curriculum, the authors found significant positive increases in attitudes, knowledge, communication skills, and relationship characteristics. The implications of these findings and future directions are discussed.
The military and politics in modern times: A decade later

(1986). The military and politics in modern times: A decade later. Journal of Strategic Studies: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 5-15.
Physiology and pharmacology of nasal function and mucus secretion.

Abstract The nose plays an important part in the normal physiological function of the body and is a key defense against airborne noxious influences. The ability of the nose to play these roles is dependent upon a normal nasal airway and healthy nasal mucosa. Most nasal diseases run a self-limited course, and injury resulting therefrom is quickly followed by a restoration of normal function. In the treatment of nasal symptoms the physician must carefully weigh the desire to alleviate the patient's discomfort against the possibility of acutely or chronically impairing nasal function. Even a cursory examination of the literature reveals the paucity of reliable information not only on the relative effectiveness of most pharmacological agents employed in nasal disease, but also on their adverse effects upon nasal function. We now have a better understanding of nasal function which can serve as a guide to those seeking the discovery of improved nasal medications. We also have readily available tools for measuring some of the desired effects of drugs upon nasal function and some of the functions which might be injured. Rhinomanometry (Brown, 1967; Bridger and Proctor, 1970) and measurement of mucociliary function (Hill, 1957; Gosselin, 1961; Quinlan et al., 1969; Dadaian, 1971; Sakakura et al., 1973) can be carried out by intelligent investigators in most first class clinical environments. Climate chambers are available for testing the effects of environmental influences and for measuring the effect of therapeutic agents under controlled conditions (Proctor et al., 1973a). We urge that appropriate studies be employed for weighing the relative usefulness of currently used drugs and for testing new ones prior to their release for public consumption. Clinical impression, upon which we must now to a large degree rely, should not be accepted in the future as adequate evidence supporting pharmacological therapy of nasal disease.
Mechanism of half-frequency electric dipole spin resonance in double quantum dots: Effect of nonlinear charge dynamics inside the singlet manifold

Electron dynamics in quantum dots manifests itself in spin-flip spectra through electric dipole spin resonance (EDSR). Near a neutrality point separating two different singlet charged states of a double quantum dot, charge dynamics inside a $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2$ singlet manifold can be described by a $1/2$ pseudospin. In this region, charge dynamics is highly nonlinear and strongly influenced by flopping its soft pseudospin mode. As a result, the responses to external driving include first and second harmonics of the driving frequency and their Raman satellites shifted by the pseudospin frequency. In EDSR spectra of a spin-orbit couplet doublet dot, they manifest themselves as charge satellites of spin-flip transitions. The theory describes gross features of the anomalous half-frequency EDSR in spin blockade spectra [E. A. Laird et al., Semicond. Sci. Techol. 24, 064004 (2009)].
Regulation of prescription drug promotion: direct-to-consumer advertising

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating the information on prescription drugs disseminated by sponsors to health care providers and consumers to ensure that it is truthful and not misleading, and that it presents a fair balance of benefit and risk information. Thus the public health is both protected and promoted by the dissemination of honest, accurate information about regulated products. This paper discusses the regulatory requirements for promotional materials for prescription drugs and the standards used by the FDA to evaluate these materials. It also discusses the agency's views on direct-to-consumer advertising, the enforcement actions that are available to the FDA, the process used by the FDA to determine what action should be taken and when, and what remedies are available.
Ca++T LAB - A Computational Model for Intracellular Calcium Signaling In T Lymphocytes

Calcium signaling is crucial for T cell activation. T cell receptor activation leads to the down-stream generation of IP3 which opens IP3 receptors on the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), resulting in an initial small rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+. T cells do not have sufficiently large Ca2+ stores to sustain Ca2+ elevation and therefore require additional Ca2+ influx through the voltage-independent Ca2+ channel CRAC, which is encoded by the ORAI1 or CRACM1 gene and is activated by STIM1, which “senses” decrease in ER Ca2+ content. However, CRAC can only bring in Ca2+ at negative membrane potentials. This potential is generated by the potassium channels Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 which drive the membrane potential back to -60 mV and facilitate Ca2+ entry for the duration of T cell activation ultimately leading to cytokine production and T cell proliferation. While there have been tremendous strides acquiring biophysical data on the implicated ion channels this data has not been integrated into a dynamic model. A computer model has been developed that integrates the available data on calcium signaling in T lymphocytes and that can be utilized to illustrate and theoretically probe T cell activation. The design is implemented in LabVIEW and can be run on a PC. The program allows free reign over the cell's environment and channel characteristics. The interface provides visualization of IP3 production, membrane potential, charge flow and open probability of the aforementioned channels. We suggest this program as a tool for identifying pharmaceutical targets for intervening with immune cell activation and as a teaching aid for immunology, physiology and cell signaling.
Muslims and modern education in Tanzania

(1993). Muslims and modern education in Tanzania. Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs. Journal: Vol. 14, No. 1-2, pp. 1-16.
Counting Retirement Expenditures Before They Hatch: GASB and the New Reporting Requirements for Other Postemployment Benefits

In June of 2004, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board issued a new standard that requires governments to place other postemployment benefits on their books. Previously these obligations were reported on a cash basis. Under the new standard, expenses and liabilities will be accrued over the life of the employee's service. Governments that fail to fully fund these new expenses will be required to post a liability to their books.
Characterization of photo-degradation of a polyurethane coating system by electron spin resonance

Abstract Photo-degradation studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) is described. Selected polyurethane film samples were exposed to different accelerated aging environments. These included narrow-band irradiation from 340 and 313 nm UV sources, broadband irradiation from a xenon arc lamp, and elevated temperature without irradiation. The effect of oxygen was investigated. In addition, the influence of titania on free radical formation was examined. Early stage radicals were detected by generating them in the ESR cavity at −196°C. A correlation between ESR and positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) data is shown, which indicates that free-radical-type chemical defects may be the cause of sub-nanometer physical defects.
Optimal selection of build–operate-transfer projects on transportation networks

Abstract This paper considers the problem of how to select highway projects for the build–operate-transfer (BOT) development with the objective of improving the social benefit while ensuring the marketability of those selected. The problem can be viewed as a tri-level leader–follower game and is formulated as a mixed integer program with equilibrium constraints. Without solving the associated problem, we show that optimal tolls and travel times on selected BOT highways can be determined from their attributes under mild assumptions. This leads to an efficient heuristic algorithm for solving the project selection problem.
Injury control in Honduras: a survey of injury mortality.

Abstract Study Objective: We sought to evaluate the methods and accuracy of mortality data collection and summarize the injury mortality rate in one sector of the State of Olancho, Honduras, with the intent to establish a baseline of injury mortality that will identify potential areas of intervention and serve as a comparison after subsequent interventions. Methods: Mortality data were collected from a rural, regional, health center database containing age, sex, and cause of death for one geographic sector in the State of Olancho, Honduras. Causes of death were classified as medical or intentional versus nonintentional injury. Results: Accurate mortality data were difficult to obtain for several reasons: (1) deaths are often recorded by untrained health care workers, (2) causes of death are not coded in a standard manner, and (3) infant mortality is underreported. We found 132 recorded noninfant deaths. A disproportionate number of these resulted from injury, especially from intentional injury, particularly among male subjects aged 12 to 49 years. Eighty-two percent of male subjects aged 12 to 49 years who died did so from injuries, and 52% died from intentional injuries. Overall, 48% of all male deaths were injury related. The estimated male mortality rate (age 12 to 49 years) from injuries was 4.5 times that of the United States. Conclusion: Injury, particularly intentional injury, is an important cause of mortality in rural Honduras, particularly among male subjects aged 12 to 49 years. This suggests a fertile opportunity for intervention. More reliable data collection will be necessary to accurately target which specific causes of injury death are most amenable to interventions and to monitor the effect of injury control programs. [Richman M, Shayne P, Heron S, Lowery D, Todd KH. Injury control in Honduras: a survey of injury mortality. Ann Emerg Med. October 2000;36:333-339.]
A Limited Capacity Information Processing Interpretation of Conditioned Emotional Responding.

Summary This investigation assessed the usefulness of a limited capacity information processing model for evaluation of stress. The assumption is that the task of anticipating an impending aversive event requires a portion of the limited capacity. Thus, such stress can be measured by a performance decrement in a concurrent task. Stress was manipulated in 14 male and female college students by means of a conditioned emotional response (CER) technique. Two tasks, motor tracking and counting backwards, were systematically studied as both primary and secondary tasks, depending on the presence or absence of reinforcement. The cognitive task of counting backwards was more sensitive to the processing demands imposed by stress than the motor task of tracking.
Health care system chaos should spur innovation: summary of a report of the Society of General Internal Medicine Task Force on the Domain of General Internal Medicine.

Today's chaotic health care scene gives general internal medicine an opportunity to innovate and move beyond its current state of confusion. The field must adapt to a new world of consumerism, risi...
Low-salt diet increases insulin resistance in healthy subjects

Abstract Low-salt (LS) diet activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathetic nervous systems, both of which can increase insulin resistance (IR). We investigated the hypothesis that LS diet is associated with an increase in IR in healthy subjects. Healthy individuals were studied after 7 days of LS diet (urine sodium 150 mmol/d) in a random order. Insulin resistance was measured after each diet and compared statistically, unadjusted and adjusted for important covariates. One hundred fifty-two healthy men and women, aged 39.1 ± 12.5 years (range, 18-65) and with body mass index of 25.3 ± 4.0 kg/m 2 , were included in this study. Mean (SD) homeostasis model assessment index was significantly higher on LS compared with HS diet (2.8 ± 1.6 vs 2.4 ± 1.7, P P μ g/d, P μ g/d, P
Revisiting Prebisch and Singer: beyond the declining terms of trade thesis and on to technological capability development.

Rather than the thesis of a secular decline in the commodity terms of trade, Prebisch and Singer were more concerned with the income terms of trade. Consequently, they advocated (moderate) import substitution (IS) and recommended having it interweaved with export promotion (EP). To avoid technological dependence but achieve integrated industrialisation while coordinating IS with EP, Prebisch emphasised enhancing indigenous 'technological densities' and Singer stressed building the indigenous 'capacities to create wealth'. That means while foreign direct investments should be attracted, those activities should be managed and directed accordingly. Prebisch hoped to narrow the gap in centre--periphery technological uneven development while Singer aimed at tackling international dualism between rich and poor countries in the use of science and technology. Copyright The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Cambridge Political Economy Society. All rights reserved., Oxford University Press.
SOLID WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPING URBAN AREAS OF SOUTH AFRICA: AN OVERVIEW AND CASE STUDY☆

Experience with appropriate collection systems for urban and peri-urban areas of developing countries is accumulating. Nonetheless, the primary lesson learned from studying such systems is that collection systems must be designed to accommodate the particular conditions of the community. This paper reflects on international experience with such collection systems and examines their relevance to South Africa. A case study is presented of designing a solid waste collection system for the Winterveld, Bophuthatswana, including a community survey, a waste composition study, and exploration of resource recovery options. Detailed data from the case study show that, even within one country, solid waste collection systems are not automatically transferable from one community to another. Particular recommendations for the South African situation are given.
Towards a Reconciliation of Mysticism and Dualism

At a time when mysticism is at last emerging as a respectable field of study for philosophers and religious phenomenologists, we find this new field in considerable disarray. We see, for example, Eliot Deutsch defending as philosophically intelligible and as significant śankara's non-dualistic interpretation of the mystic's experience.1 There is R. C. Zaehner, on the other hand, labelling śankara's mysticism ‘profane’ and sharply distinguishing it from the fuller, or ‘sacred’, mysticism of the theist.2 A third modern-day interpreter, W. T. Stace, finds both the ‘monism’ of śankara and the dualism of the theist inadequate and proposes ‘pantheism’ as the most plausible interpretation of the mystic's experience.3 Still another interpreter, Ben-Ami Scharfstein, rejects, as did Bertrand Russell much earlier,4 every metaphysical claim put forward by the mystic; any such claim, be it monist, pantheist, or dualist, is but an ‘ontological fairy tale’.5
High‐throughput micro plate assays for screening flavonoid content and DPPH‐scavenging activity in sorghum bran and flour

BACKGROUND: Sorghum possesses phenolic compounds that are health-promoting constituents of the grain. There are approximately40000sorghumaccessions, manyofwhichhavenotbeenevaluatedforthegrain’shealth-promotingpotential. Conventional methods for measuring total phenolic content, flavonoid content and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)scavenging capacity are time-consuming and labour-intensive, resulting in low overall throughput. The objective of this study was to develop a high-throughput screening assay for large sorghum sample sets to determineflavonoid and phenolic content and to modify existing DPPH and total phenolic assays. RESULTS: The 96-well assays exhibited a correlation of >0.9 with the conventional assays. The 96-well assays allowed for up to 64 samples to be run per day compared with 20‐24 samples (depending on the test) for the conventional methods. The 96-well assays had excellent accuracy (97.65‐106.16% recovery), precision (1.06‐8.28% coefficient of variation (CV)) and reproducibility (1.32‐2.13% CV inter-day and 1.36‐2.09% CV intra-day).
Estrogen Receptor in Liver of Male and Female Rats: Endocrine Regulation and Molecular Properties

Estrogen receptors from livers of adult male and female rats were compared. Hepatic cytosol estrogen receptors from both sexes were similar using the criteria of percent of saturation with ammonium sulfate required for precipitation, and isoelectric point (p1) of the receptor. The estrogen receptor from male or female rat liver cytosol was maximally precipitated with ammonium sulfate at 30% of saturation (30% AS ppt). As previously described, demonstration of the estrogen receptor in liver cytosol of male rats required this partial purification step because of the presence of an additional sex hormone binder with unusual properties. The p1 of the liver cytosol receptor from females was 6.9. After 30% AS ppt, the p1 of the cytosol receptor from male or female rat livers was 4.7. Liver estrogen receptors from male or female rats had similar affinity
Max U versus Humanomics: a critique of neo-institutionalism

‘Institutions’ do not mean the same thing to Samuelsonian economists as they mean to other people. North's ‘rules of game’, like chess, dominates, even when it is claimed that ‘informal institutions’ are allowed into the tale. The tale is that institutions were once clotted, and then became unclotted, and the Great Enrichment occurred. But the enrichment was by a factor of upwards of a hundred, which cannot be explained by routine movements to an efficient equilibrium. And changes of institutions did not in fact happen much in England. Ethics changed, not laws and procedures. For presently poor countries, too, it will not suffice, as the World Bank and Acemoglu recommend, to add institutions and stir. Economies rely on ethics, which neo-institutionalists, being at heart Samuelsonian, have not wanted to admit. Ideas matter. Indeed, metaphors and stories matter, as in Searle's account.
Endoscopic Treatment of Luminal Anastomotic Strictures

Benign anastomotic strictures following gastrointestinal surgery are a common problem seen in a gastroenterology practice. They can be associated with significant morbidity, including malnutrition, weight loss, obstructive symptoms, and aspiration. Although traditionally often requiring surgical correction, the advent of therapeutic endoscopy has allowed for the safe and definitive management of most of these strictures. This review will discuss the endoscopic options for management of anastomotic strictures most commonly encountered in the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, and colon.
Digestive physiology of the Burmese python: broad regulation of integrated performance

As an apparent adaptation to predictably long episodes of fasting, the sit-and-wait foraging Burmese python experiences unprecedented regulation of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular performance with feeding and fasting. The ingestion of a meal signals the quiescent gut tissues to start secreting digestive acid and enzymes, to upregulate intestinal brush-border enzymes and nutrient transporters, and to grow. An integrated phenomenon, digestion is also characterized by increases in the mass, and presumably the function, of the heart, pancreas, liver and kidneys. Once digestion is complete, the python's stomach and small intestine rapidly downregulate performance. Much of the modulation of intestinal function can be explained by the 5-fold increase in microvillus length and apical surface area with feeding, and the subsequent shortening of the microvilli after digestion has finished. Digestion for the Burmese python is a relatively expensive endeavor, evident by the as much as a 44-fold increase in metabolic rate and equivalent in cost to as much as 37% of the meal's energy. Their large metabolic response is supported by substantial increases in ventilation and cardiac output and the apparent catabolism of glucose and lipids. Unmatched in the magnitude of its numerous physiological responses to feeding, the Burmese python is a very attractive model for examining the capacities and regulatory mechanisms of physiological performance.
Characteristics associated with US Walk to School programs.

Participation in Walk to School (WTS) programs has grown substantially in the US since its inception; however, no attempt has been made to systematically describe program use or factors associated with implementation of environment/policy changes.
Bond percolation-based Gibbs-Markow random fields for image segmentation

A new bond percolation-based approach is presented to determine the clique potential parameters of a Gibbs-Markov random field (GMRF) model used in image segmentation. Previously, experimentally determined fixed values were used for these parameters independent of the underlying image. Using the proposed approach, these parameters are now derived as a function of local characteristics of the image under consideration. An additional salient feature of this method is its suitability for a renormalization group approach to multi-scale description of the clique potential parameters. >
Internal Ethnicity: Iranians in Los Angeles:

Case studies of immigrant groups have contributed significantly to theoretical developments in the fields of immigration and ethnic studies. The focus on the immigrant group as a whole has resulted in ignoring immigrant subgroups, reducing ethnicity to national-origin. Ethnically diverse immigrant groups contain more than one type of ethnicity. Internal ethnicity refers to the presence of ethnic groups within an immigrant group. It is argued that, in the destination country, the immigrant subgroups who were already minorities in the country of origin are less assimilated than the immigrant subgroup which was part of the majority population. Survey data collected in a probability sample of Iranians in Los Angeles allow us to address this issue. Ethnicity of the Muslim majority in the United States is compared with that of Armenian, Bahai, and Jewish ethno-religious minorities from Iran. The data analysis supports the argument, and further shows that pre-migration ethnicity is an important and neglected asp...
Transitioning From Blackboard To Moodle - Course Management Software: Faculty And Student Opinions

Colleges and universities have increasingly invested in specialized software and hardware designed to enhance and facilitate the instructional process for faculty and students. One type of technological assistance is commonly known as course management software (CMS). Once learned, these CMS packages can greatly enhance and enrich the classroom experience and provide internet based access to course materials, assignments, grades, supplementary materials, such as quizzes, PPTs, and study aids. Like all moderately complex software packages (Blackboard is proprietary software and Moodle is open source software), there is a learning curve involved in mastering the functionality of each CMS. This paper examines the process of changing from one type of CMS (Blackboard) to another (Moodle). Faulty (FT & PT) and students (graduate & undergraduate) were surveyed to obtain opinions about the transition from one CMS system to another. The goal is to identify issues that may be addressed by targeted training and insights which would improve the transition process.
A computational model of the music of Stevie Ray Vaughan

Every musician who improvises has a unique musical vocabulary, which may be perceived in his or her compositions. In this paper, we explain our design of a computational model that predicts the creative decisions made by the blues musician, Stevie Ray Vaughan for various input scenarios. Our design brings into effect the fact that creative works involve the use of pre-existing structures stored in the creator's mind or knowledge base, retrieved and reconstructed on the basis of appropriate rules, which are triggered by the nature of specific input. The model was partially implemented as a limited production system using a probabilistic method. It was tested with three different input scenarios. The model predicted the musician's decisions with a limited degree of accuracy. The tests provided valuable insight on ways to improve the current performance and suggested revising the definition of a musical pattern to include specific limits on its duration.
Sex differences in the effects of stressful life events on changes in smoking status.

Aims Stressful life events known to be associated with substance use were examined to determine if there were sex-specific responses to stress resulting in changes in smoking status. Participants and measurements A community-based sample of ever smokers from the Americans’ Changing Lives study (n = 1512, 45% female based on sample weights) was used to examine the interactive effects of sex and stressful life events on the likelihood of two outcomes; relapse among former smokers and failure to quit among current smokers. Logistic regression procedures were used to calculate odds ratios. Factors known to be associated with smoking status (e.g. depression, self-esteem, social support) were assessed as control variables. Findings In the sample of former smokers (n = 729) interpersonal loss events were associated with continued abstinence, whereas change of residence and adverse financial events were associated with increased occurrence of relapse. Women were more likely than men to relapse in response to a financial event. In the sample of current smokers (n = 783), financial events were associated with continued smoking, whereas health events were associated with increased likelihood of quitting. Women were more likely than men to continue smoking in the presence of an adverse financial event and less likely than men to quit in response to an adverse health event. Conclusions Overall, stressful life events appear to have a greater deleterious effect on continued abstinence and the ability to quit smoking for women when compared to men. In particular, health and financial events are important risk factors for women and tobacco use.
A Conceptual Framework for Mapping Data Representation in the AEC Domain

There is a need in the construction industry to develop strong interaction between customers, contractors, and owners, using emerging technologies to facilitate communication and collaborative use of project information. A successful implementation of these technologies enables integration of project information based on real time and transparent information transfers to make decis ions or to work on concurrent engineering. New approaches using data representation standards, which allow stakeholders’ computer systems to exchange information between actors, have been used for the implementation of this integration. However, the main o bstacle in enabling integration of the data representation is the matching process involved in tying data together. This process is complex but it is the ‘glue’ of the integration process and is very critical in making the exchange of information possible. This research is intended to develop new approaches for data representations in the construction domain to facilitate the mapping process between stakeholders. The research will determine the main characteristics of the data representations needed to per form matching operations in order to formulate alternative solutions and expedite the information exchange process. The proposed approach uses schema-matching prototypes. The result of this approach is to produce a framework that contains an analysis of th e typical data representation of the actors in the construction domain.
Paleoecology of Echinoderm Assemblages from the Upper Ordovician (Katian) Dunleith Formation of Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota

The Dunleith Formation echinoderms lived on a shallow water carbonate platform (Benthic Assemblages outer 2 and 3 during the latter part of the Dunleith Regressive Cycle). The echinoderms were buried rapidly by storms or a volcanic ash bed in one example. The presence of complete specimens, entire crowns, attachment structures, and excellent preservation strongly suggests that these assemblages reflect in situ communities on the seafloor that have not been significantly mixed, transported, or concentrated in time. Most taxa are suspension feeders, namely 21 crinoids, one glyptocystitid rhombiferan, a paracrinoid, and two edrioasteroids, but a deposit feeding pleurocystitid rhombiferan is also common. Three assemblages are recognized and defined by their dominant taxa; in order of increasing depth, these are the Cotylacrinna sandra, Pleurocystites strimplei, and Cupulocrinus crossmani assemblages. Substrates ranged from hard- or firm-ground carbonates to soft carbonate and siliciclastic muds. Diverse attachment structures are recognized: the recumbent stems of calceocrinids, lichenocrinids on shells, small distal stem tips, and round to lobate calcite pads cemented to shells or the substrate, open distal stem coils directly on the seabed or coiled around soft objects thereon, and large conical and highly modified cirrus holdfasts on hard- or firm-grounds. The echinoderms were located at levels ranging from the seafloor to almost a meter above, with maximum diversity at about 50 mm above the seafloor. The size frequency distributions of food particles and the ranges of ambient current velocities for successful feeding by the juveniles and adults of the common crinoids are modeled using filtration theory. The food particle size distributions and the current velocities for feeding are correlated with the arm or filtration fan morphology of the crinoids. Differences between these parameters tend to partially separate the feeding ecologies of species located at the same elevation. Nevertheless, considerable overlap remains between species for small sized food particles and the lower ranges of ambient current velocities for feeding. Except for the Cotylacrinna sandra Assemblage, competition for space does not seem to have been important in regulating the ecological structure of the Dunleith crinoids. However, the deposit feeding pleurocystitids possibly competed for food and space in one example. The Dunleith assemblages are much more diverse with greater ecological complexity than seen in the relatively deep water fauna from the Upper Ordovician Trenton Group of the Walcott-Rust Quarry in New York (Benthic Assemblage 5).
Detection of hypervascular brown tumors on three-phase bone scan

A patient with hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic renal failure had multiple bony lesions with increased activity on both immediate static as well as delayed scintiphotos. One lesion in the distal femur was also exceptionally hot on the flow phase. Plain radiographs demonstrated lytic lesions with sclerotic margins and a narrow zone of transition. Open biopsy revealed histology consistent with brown tumor (osteoclastoma).
Consumer social responsibility: is it a new barrier for international marketers?

As global consumers are more aware of the social consequences of their purchases, will consumer social responsibility become a new barrier for international marketers? To answer this question, we conduct a survey on 210 American consumers and find that consumers with high social responsibility tend to have negative attitudes towards foreign products. In addition, demographic segmentation such as gender, income, and race would strengthen such observation. Consumers’ age and education have little impact on this trend. Marketing implications and future research directions are provided.
Mining and Classification of Neologisms in Persian Blogs

The exponential growth of the Persian blogosphere and the increased number of neologisms create a major challenge in NLP applications of Persian blogs. This paper describes a method for extracting and classifying newly constructed words and borrowings from Persian blog posts. The analysis of the occurrence of neologisms across five distinct topic categories points to a correspondence between the topic domain and the type of neologism that is most commonly encountered. The results suggest that different approaches should be implemented for the automatic detection and processing of neologisms depending on the domain of application.
Chilling-Induced Inhibition of Photosynthesis in Tomato

Photosynthesis, in a fairly diverse group of chilling-sensitive plants, is inhibited for an extended period by brief exposure to low temperature (>0°<12°). Dramatic reductions in the rate of whole plant photosynthesis have been documented in numerous plants (1–5) including several of the commercially most significant crop plants of temperate North America. Although it is clear that chilling of thermophilic plants in the dark results in inhibition of photosynthesis which is often severe and persistent, there has been no general agreement in the literature regarding the site of this inhibition (1,2,4,6,7,8) (i.e. at the level of stomatal control of gas exchange or at the level of the chloroplast). As a consequence a consensus regarding the underlying physiological and biochemical basis of the inhibition has not been possible.
Gynecologic care for transgender youth.

Purpose of reviewTo provide an overview of the care of the adolescent transgender patient with regard to the guidelines and recommendations that currently exist, and to review the role of the clinician caring for transgender youth.Recent findingsThe World Professional Association for Transgender Hea