cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative studies on lipogenesis and cholesterogenesis in lipemic BHE rats and normal wistar rats

Abstract The BHE strain of rat is characterized by early hyperinsulinemia and maturity onset hyperlipemia and hyperglycemia. Since we have previously shown that insulin is required for the coordinate regulation of a number of lipogenic enzymes in rat liver, a comparative study of the hepatic activities of the rate-limiting enzymes of lipid synthesis and the in vivo rates of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in the liver and the adipose tissue has been conducted in BHE and Wistar rats. In the liver, BHE rats had 25–28% higher acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase activities as measured in vitro but a 100% greater rate of fatty acid synthesis in vivo as compared to Wistar animals. These results strongly suggest that factors other than the amount of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, such as allosteric effectors, must be operating in vivo , thereby facilitating the carboxylase to function at its maximal capacity in BHE rats. Such a regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis by allosteric modifiers of acetyl-CoA carboxylase is already known, although the mechanism of this regulation is not fully understood. BHE rats also exhibited a twofold greater rate of fatty acid synthesis in the adipose tissue compared to the Wistar rats. Thus, increased lipogenic capacity and increased lipogenesis in BHE rats are consistent with early hyperinsulinemia in this strain. Furthermore, BHE rats had 71% more 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase activity with a 97% greater rate of cholesterol synthesis as compared to Wistar rats. In contrast, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity was only 20% greater in BHE rats compared to Wistar rats, suggesting that the BHE rat does not have the capacity to degrade cholesterol to bile acids at a rate commensurate with the increased rate of cholesterol synthesis. This difference in synthesis versus degradation might account for the hypercholesterolemia which occurs in BHE rats, but not in Wistar rats.
Inferring link weights using end-to-end measurements

We describe a novel constraint-based approach to approximate ISP link weights using only end-to-end measurements. Common routing protocols such as OSPF and IS-IS choose least-cost paths using link weights, so inferred weights provide a simple, concise, and useful model of intradomain routing. Our approach extends router-level ISP maps, which include only connectivity, with link weights that are consistent with routing. Our inferred weights agree well with observed routing: while our inferred weights fully characterize the set of shortest paths between 84--99% of the router-pairs, alternative models based on hop count and latency do so for only 47--81% of the pairs.
Littoral cell angioma: a case report and review.

ittoral cell angioma (LCA) is a benign tumor of the spleen that as first described by Falk et al in 1991 when they illustrated 7 cases of “a novel type of vascular tumor.” In 1998, Bisceglia t al made the association of LCA with epithelial malignancies. ince then, a total of 74 cases have been reported, 25 (33%) of hich are associated with other malignancies, and 16 cases are ssociated with other issues of immune dysregulation. The first ase of LCA associated with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) f the bladder is reported.
The metabolism of storage carbohydrates in yeast, studied with glucose-1-C14 and dinitrophenol.

Abstract The incorporation of glucose into five carbohydrate fractions was studied by chemical and by isotope procedures with C 14 -labeled glucose. Mannan and glucan were metabolically inert with no chemical changes under any condition tested, and only a small C 14 uptake of questionable significance. Two fractions, the glycogen and the alkali-insoluble glycogen, showed parallel behavior, and the latter entity appears to be an artifact of alkali treatment. The amounts of glycogen and trehalose increased in the presence of glucose and decreased in the presence of appropriate concentrations of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) whether or not glucose was present. The trehalose was especially sensitive to the inhibitor. The C 14 incorporation in the glycogen was the result of accretion, with little turnover, whereas that in trehalose was the result of both accretion and turnover. In the presence of DNP, there was a high rate of C 14 incorporation into trehalose even though this material was rapidly depleted, suggesting that DNP acts by increasing the rate of dissimilation rather than by inhibiting assimilation. Part of the DNP-mobilized carbohydrates appears as products of fermentation, and part as free glucose excreted into the medium. Uranyl ion blocks the excretion of glucose, but not the DNP-induced endogenous fermentation.
The effect of prehatch and posthatch exposure to cadmium on salinity tolerance of larval grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio

Groups of embryonic grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio, were exposed to 0.1 and 0.3 mg/l cadmium at 30 ppt salinity and 25°C for the last 1, 4 or 8 days prior to hatching. Other groups of embryos were cultured in uncontaminated seawater.
Absorption Band Spectra of Germanous Sulfide: The Isotopic Constitution of Germanium

The absorption spectrum of GeS has been photographed with a 6 foot grating. Two band systems were found in the ultraviolet, the first lying in the region 3358-2709A, the second in the region 2782-2464A. All of the bands are degraded toward the red. The first system consisted of sharp heads, in which the vibrational isotope effect was clearly resolved. Rotational structure could also be observed but only at a considerable distance from the heads. The three abundant isotopes of germanium, 74, 72 and 70, and one of the five less abundant isotopes cited by Aston, 76, were recognized. The vibrational analysis led to the following equation for the bands due to ${\mathrm{Ge}}^{74}$S: - $\ensuremath{\nu}=32889.5+374.99({v}^{\ensuremath{'}}+\frac{1}{2})\ensuremath{-}1.514{({v}^{\ensuremath{'}}+\frac{1}{2})}^{2}\ensuremath{-}575.80({v}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}+\frac{1}{2})+1.80{({v}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}+\frac{1}{2})}^{2}.$ The band heads of the second system, for which no isotope analysis was possible because of the low intensity and poor contrast of the bands, can be fitted by the equation: - $\ensuremath{\nu}=38890.0+310.4({v}^{\ensuremath{'}}+\frac{1}{2})\ensuremath{-}1.35{({v}^{\ensuremath{'}}+\frac{1}{2})}^{2}\ensuremath{-}575.8({v}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}+\frac{1}{2})+1.8{({v}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}+\frac{1}{2})}^{2}.$ Direct extrapolation of the vibrational constants leads to the following values for the energies of dissociation: for the normal state, common to the two electronic transitions, 5.65 volts and for the two excited states, 2.84 and 2.17 volts respectively. Assuming that the products of dissociation from the normal state are normal atoms, calculation yields for the atomic excitation energy of the dissociation products from the excited state, an average value of 1.27 volts. Both Ge and S have a $^{1}D_{2}$ low-lying, metastable level arising from their basic configurations, the energy values for which are 0.88 volts for Ge and 1.18 volts for S (estimated by McLennan).
Diagnosis Dilemmas in Vital Pulp Therapy: Treatment for the Toothache Is Changing, Especially in Young, Immature Teeth

The literature is almost devoid of scientific studies of diagnosis of pulpal pathology in primary and permanent teeth with open apices. Most reports are empirical or retrospective studies without adequate prior knowledge of preexisting conditions or histologic findings leading to the necessity of pulpal procedures. Appropriate diagnostic tests and their effectiveness are documented for both groups. This article reviews the available literature and current techniques of indirect pulp therapy, pulp capping, and pulpotomy for primary teeth and permanent teeth with open apex. The apical barrier with mineral trioxide aggregate followed by root strengthening with bonded composite is reviewed.
Identification of a locus on chromosome 1q44 for familial cold urticaria

Familial cold urticaria (FCU) is a rare autosomal dominant inflammatory disorder characterized by intermittent episodes of rash with fever, arthralgias, conjunctivitis, and leukocytosis. These symptoms develop after generalized exposure to cold. Some individuals with FCU also develop late-onset reactive renal amyloidosis, which is consistent with Muckle-Wells syndrome. By analyzing individuals with FCU from five families, we identified linkage to chromosome 1q44. Two-point linkage analysis revealed a maximum LOD score (Zmax) of 8.13 (recombination fraction 0) for marker D1S2836; multipoint linkage analysis identified a Zmax of 10. 92 in the same region; and haplotype analysis defined a 10.5-cM region between markers D1S423 and D1S2682. Muckle-Wells syndrome was recently linked to chromosome 1q44, which suggests that the two disorders may be linked to the same locus.
Information Needs of the Bank Loan Officer in Evaluating Loan Requests from Small Businesses

Commercial loans are a major source of financing for small businesses. To enhance the likelihood of obtaining a commercial loan with the most favorable terms, sufficient information must be made available to the bank loan officer (BLO). Based on a review of the banking literature and a study of 138 BLOs, the author identifies the primary information needs of the BLO, sources of this information, and procedures in processing this information. Findings of the study identify two information sources thatr are within the control of the load applicant. The data from these two important sources could have a significant influence in determining the outcome of a commercial load decision.
TOTAL ELECTRON LOSS, CHARGE TRANSFER, AND IONIZATION IN PROTON-HYDROGEN COLLISIONS AT 10-100 KEV

A three-dimensional lattice solution of the time-dependent Schr{umlt o}dinger equation for low quantum states (n{le}3) is combined with classical trajectory Monte Carlo results for high quantum states (n{ge}4) to predict total electron loss and total charge-transfer cross sections for proton collisions with atomic hydrogen at intermediate energies. The total charge-transfer cross sections range from 5{percent} above to 10{percent} below the furnace target measurements of McClure [Phys. Rev. {bold 148}, 47 (1966)], while the total electron-loss cross sections range from 5{percent} to 15{percent} above the pulsed crossed-beams measurements of Shah, Elliot, and Gilbody [J. Phys. B {bold 20}, 3501 (1987)]. The calculation of ionization as a difference between electron loss and charge transfer leads to theoretical ionization cross sections that are 10{percent} to 35{percent} larger than the crossed-beams measurements of Shah and Gilbody [J. Phys. B {bold 14}, 2361 (1981)] and Shah, Elliott, and Gilbody [J. Phys. B {bold 20}, 2481 (1987)]. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
The Ethics of Newborn Resuscitation

It is widely believed in neonatology and obstetrics that there are situations in which it is inappropriate to attempt newborn resuscitation, and other times when newborn resuscitation is obligatory despite parental refusal. In each case, an ethical justification for the decision needs to be identified. This essay is intended to provide guidance in deciding when resuscitation should be attempted, and in identifying ethical considerations that should be taken into account. It specifically addresses the issue of extreme prematurity, including an analysis of current recommendations, the data, relevant rights of patient and parents, and a discussion of the relative merits of withholding resuscitation vs providing resuscitation and possibly withdrawing intensive care later. In addition to extreme prematurity, the considerations presented are also relevant to a wider spectrum of newborn problems, including Trisomy 13, Trisomy 18, and severe congenital anomalies.
Angular Conditions, Relations between Breit and Light-Front Frames, and Subleading Power Corrections

We analyze the current matrix elements in the general collinear (Breit) frames and find the relation between the ordinary (or canonical) helicity amplitudes and the light-front helicity amplitudes. Using the conservation of angular momentum, we derive a general angular condition which should be satisfied by the light-front helicity amplitudes for any spin system. In addition, we obtain the light-front parity and time-reversal relations for the light-front helicity amplitudes. Applying these relations to the spin-1 form factor analysis, we note that the general angular condition relating the five helicity amplitudes is reduced to the usual angular condition relating the four helicity amplitudes due to the light-front time-reversal condition. We make some comments on the consequences of the angular condition for the analysis of the high-Q{sup 2} deuteron electromagnetic form factors, and we further apply the general angular condition to the electromagnetic transition between spin-1 /2 and spin-3/2 systems and find a relation useful for the analysis of the N-Delta transition form factors. We also discuss the scaling law and the subleading power corrections in the Breit and light-front frames.
Effectiveness of a Theoretically-Based Judgment and Decision Making Intervention for Adolescents

Although adolescents demonstrate capacity for rational decision making, their tendency to be impulsive, place emphasis on peers, and ignore potential consequences of their actions often translates into higher risk-taking including drug use, illegal activity, and physical harm. Problems with judgment and decision making contribute to risky behavior and are core issues for youth in treatment. Based on theoretical and empirical advances in cognitive science, the Treatment Readiness and Induction Program (TRIP) represents a curriculum-based decision making intervention that can be easily inserted into a variety of content-oriented modalities as well as administered as a separate therapeutic course. The current study examined the effectiveness of TRIP for promoting better judgment among 519 adolescents (37 % female; primarily Hispanic and Caucasian) in residential substance abuse treatment. Change over time in decision making and premeditation (i.e., thinking before acting) was compared among youth receiving standard operating practice (n = 281) versus those receiving standard practice plus TRIP (n = 238). Change in TRIP-specific content knowledge was examined among clients receiving TRIP. Premeditation improved among youth in both groups; TRIP clients showed greater improvement in decision making. TRIP clients also reported significant increases over time in self-awareness, positive-focused thinking (e.g., positive self-talk, goal setting), and recognition of the negative effects of drug use. While both genders showed significant improvement, males showed greater gains in metacognitive strategies (i.e., awareness of one’s own cognitive process) and recognition of the negative effects of drug use. These results suggest that efforts to teach core thinking strategies and apply/practice them through independent intervention modules may benefit adolescents when used in conjunction with content-based programs designed to change problematic behaviors.
Cervical Spine Trauma in the Pediatric Patient

Injuries to the pediatric cervical spine occur infrequently. Numerous unique anatomic and biomechanical features of the pediatric spine render it much more flexible than the adult spine. These features give rise to significant differences in the presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of pediatric cervical trauma compared with adults. Younger children more often suffer injury to the upper cervical spine with greater neurologic injury and fewer fractures. Once the child reaches the age of 10 years, he or she develops a more adult-type spine, and injuries are thus more similar to those seen in the adult population. The unique anatomic and biomechanical differences in the pediatric spine are discussed, along with the various common and unique injuries.
Roots, nutrients and their relationship to spatial patterns

Ecosystem sustainability and resilience after a disturbance may be regulated by processes occurring at smaller spatial scales. The matrix of different spatial environments are created by (1) individual plants that accumulate higher concentrations of specific nutrients, trace elements or defensive plant secondary chemicals and thereby modify the chemistry of their ecological space and/or rates of processes, (2) the presence of structures (e.g., coarse woody debris) that may buffer some micro-environments from disturbances by functioning as a hospitable environment or as a reservoir for mycorrhizal fungi to sustain them into the next phase of stand development, and (3) chemical changes in soils during soil development which may result in distinct soil chemical environments. The response of the plants or change in the sustainability of carbon and nutrient cycles may be expressed more strongly at this smaller ecological space of an individual plant and furthermore must be frequently examined separately by the above- and belowground space of that individual.
Considerations in genetic counseling for inherited breast cancer predisposition

Of the 190,000 women estimated to have been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, between 5% and 10% of them are likely to have developed their disease as the result of an inherited susceptibility. Although breast cancer is a component tumor of several familial cancer predisposition syndromes, mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the most commonly identified germline changes. Recognition of hereditary breast cancer is critical to allow the implementation of appropriate treatment, screening, and prevention strategies for the affected woman and her family members. Genetic testing may play an important role in refining risk assessment, identifying individuals at risk before cancer has developed, and relieving anxiety in family members who have not inherited the predisposition.
Esophageal-pericardial fistula presenting as pericarditis

Esophageal pericardial fistula is a rare and usually fatal entity. Twenty-seven cases have been reported in the medical literature with only four survivors’ ‘; esophageal pericardial fistulas are usually the result of benign ulcers, foreign bodies, and esophageal malignancies.’ The clinical manifestations vary and can include chest and epigastric pain, dysphagia, fever, weight loss, coughing, and dyspnea. Early recognition and proper therapy should improve the outcome of these patients. The case presented here reports an occurrence of esophageal pericardial fistula presenting as pericarditis. A 24-year-old mentally retarded white man was transferred to our institution from a state facility. In the
Lazarus Fuchs′ Transformation for Solving Rational First-Order Differential Equations

Abstract The neglect for over 108 years of a useful method that L. Fuchs introduced in 1884 to solve rational first-order differential equations is easily explained. Namely, no one had formulated the method precisely and no one had pointed out its wide applicability. This paper removes both of these deficiencies. In particular, it motivates details through a carefully selected series of examples and thereby provides a suitable context so that readers can learn to use the procedure effectively. Experts in computer programming could adapt the technique as a basis for desirable additions to current systems of computer algebra.
Moisture transport studies on newly developed aromatic and aromatic/aliphatic copolyester thin films

In polymers for microelectronics applications, moisture is known to have a deleterious effect upon device reliability. In this paper, the moisture transport behaviors of a newly developed family of all-aromatic and aromatic/aliphatic copolyester thermosetting films were described. The moisture uptake as a function of temperature, relative humidity, sample thickness, and processing conditions were presented via conjugate moisture sorption tests. It was found that the post curing near but below T g resulted in an increase in both total moisture uptake and diffusion coefficient due to the effect of physical aging and the generation of sample defect volume.
Gap junctions in CO2-chemoreception and respiratory control

Recent evidence indicates that gap junctions play a more prominent role in normal functioning of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) than was once believed. Accumulating evidence from both neonatal and adult rodents indicates that gap junctions participate in multiple aspects of respiratory control, including central CO(2) chemoreception, respiratory rhythmogenesis, and respiratory motoneuron output. This review provides an overview of gap junction neurobiology in the mammalian CNS and presents the anatomical and electrophysiological evidence for gap junctions in CO(2) chemoreception and respiratory control.
Combined Acquisition/Processing For Data Reduction

Digital image processing systems necessarily consist of three components: acquisition, storage/retrieval and processing. The acquisition component requires the greatest data handling rates. By coupling together the acquisition witn some online hardwired processing, data rates and capacities for short term storage can be reduced. Furthermore, long term storage requirements can be reduced further by appropriate processing and editing of image data contained in short term memory. The net result could be reduced performance requirements for mass storage, processing and communication systems. Reduced amounts of data also snouid speed later data analysis and diagnostic decision making.
CPHASH: a cache-partitioned hash table

CPHash is a concurrent hash table for multicore processors. CPHash partitions its table across the caches of cores and uses message passing to transfer lookups/inserts to a partition. CPHash's message passing avoids the need for locks, pipelines batches of asynchronous messages, and packs multiple messages into a single cache line transfer. Experiments on a 80-core machine with 2 hardware threads per core show that CPHash has ~1.6x higher throughput than a hash table implemented using fine-grained locks. An analysis shows that CPHash wins because it experiences fewer cache misses and its cache misses are less expensive, because of less contention for the on-chip interconnect and DRAM. CPServer, a key/value cache server using CPHash, achieves ~5% higher throughput than a key/value cache server that uses a hash table with fine-grained locks, but both achieve better throughput and scalability than memcached. The throughput of CPHash and CPServer also scale near-linearly with the number of cores.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Cholinesterase inhibitors are the ‘first-line’ agents in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This article presents the latest information on their pharmacokinetic properties and pharmacodynamic activity. Tacrine was the first cholinesterase inhibitor approved by regulatory agencies, followed by donepezil, rivastigmine and recently galantamine. With the exception of low doses of tacrine, the cholinesterase inhibitors exhibit a linear relationship between dose and area under the plasma concentration-time curve. Cholinesterase inhibitors are rapidly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, with time to peak concentration usually less than 2 hours; donepezil has the longest absorption time of 3 to 5 hours. Donepezil and tacrine are highly protein bound, whereas protein binding of rivastigmine and galantamine is less than 40%. Tacrine is metabolised by hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, and donepezil and galantamine are metabolised by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. Rivastigmine is metabolised by sulfate conjugation. Two cholinesterase enzymes are present in the body, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Tacrine and rivastigmine inhibit both enzymes, whereas donepezil and galantamine specifically inhibit AChE. Galantamine also modulates nicotine receptors, thereby enhancing acetylcholinergic activity at the synapse. These different pharmacological profiles provide distinctions between these agents. Cholinesterase inhibitors show a nonlinear relationship between dose and cholinesterase inhibition, where a plateau effect occurs. Cholinesterase inhibitors display a different profile as each agent achieves its plateau at different doses. In clinical trials, cholinesterase inhibitors demonstrate a dose-dependent effect on cognition and functional activities. Improvement in behavioural symptoms also occurs, but without a dose-response relationship. Gastrointestinal adverse events are dose-related. Clinical improvement occurs with between 40 and 70% inhibition of cholinesterase. A conceptual model for cholinesterase inhibitors has been proposed, linking enzyme inhibition, clinical efficacy and adverse effects. Currently, measurement of enzyme inhibition is used as the biomarker for cholinesterase inhibitors. New approaches to determining the efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors in the brain could involve the use of various imaging techniques. The knowledge base for the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cholinesterase inhibitors continues to expand. The increased information available to clinicians can optimise the use of these agents in the management of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Azimuthal Redistribution of Beam in the Fermilab Main Ring

A technique is described by which the proton beam in the Fermilab main accelerator can be relocated from its original uniform distribution into a much smaller azimuthal region. This allows fast extraction of the entire beam in such a way as to allow single turn injection into a much smaller ring. The technique is applicable to generation, capture, and subsequent cooling of antiprotons. Experimental results are presented.
Rassvet: Backward Monte Carlo radiative transfer in spherical-shell planetary atmospheres

Abstract Validation of global numerical models of planetary atmospheres requires simulating images and spectra from the IR to UV spectral regions in order to compare them with remote observations. This paper describes Rassvet, a 3-D spherical-shell backward Monte Carlo radiative transfer model developed for such simulations. It utilizes a new methodology for calculating atmospheric brightness in scattered sunlight by introducing the concept of an “effective emission source”. This allows for the accumulation of the scattered contribution along the entire path of a ray and the calculation of the atmospheric radiation when both scattered sunlight and thermal emission contribute to the remote measurement – which was not possible in previous models. A “polychromatic” algorithm is extended for applications with the backward Monte Carlo method and implemented in the model. It allows for the calculation of radiative intensity for several wavelengths simultaneously, resulting in improved efficiency. The capabilities of the model are demonstrated by simulating remote measurements from the atmosphere of Io.
Versatile fiber-coupled system for simultaneous photon correlation spectroscopy and Fabry-Perot interferometry

We demonstrate an experimental setup utilizing fiber-optic detection and coupling of scattered light into existing photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and Fabry–Perot (F–P) interferometry systems. The performance of the fiber coupled F–P as a high-resolution interferometer is considered in detail. Several practical issues and limitations are discussed, including the selection of optic and fiber-optic components, collimation, effects of the fiber mode structure and core diameter, and alignment issues. A series of test measurements on standard systems with well known properties shows that the proposed fiber-optic design meets the performance expectations for both PCS and F–P instruments and presents an attractive alternative to the classical pinhole design.
Structure, Dynamics, and Interaction of the Stationary Phase and Xenon Atoms in the Zorbax SB-C18 HPLC Column Material Studied by Solid State NMR and 129Xe NMR

This research applied the techniques of CP MAS 29Si and 13C, MAS high power decoupling 13C, and MAS 1H solid-state NMR, variable-temperature dependent 1H NMR, 129Xe NMR, low temperature 1H diffusio...
Persistence of improvement in insulin sensitivity following a dietary weight loss programme.

Aim: Short-term dietary weight loss can improve insulin resistance but long-term studies are lacking. We sought to quantify the degree to which maintenance of weight loss after a short-term dietary intervention was associated with persistent metabolic benefits. Methods: Fifty-seven insulin-resistant obese subjects had insulin-mediated glucose disposal quantified through the steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) test, and associated metabolic risk markers quantified at baseline, after a 16-week dietary weight loss intervention, and in 25 subjects, at follow-up of 28.8 ± 13 months. Changes in metabolic variables over time were analysed and correlation with weight loss ascertained. Those with greatest vs. least long-term SSPG response (responders vs. non-responders) were compared. Multivariate analysis was performed for predictors of persistent SSPG response. Results: At follow-up, the 25 subjects who returned for metabolic testing had, on average, maintained their weight loss. Insulin-mediated glucose disposal remained significantly improved vs. baseline, as did plasma triglyceride and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations, and improvement correlated with total amount of weight lost. Comparison of SSPG responders to non-responders showed no difference in amount of weight lost and SSPG change during the 16-week dietary intervention; however, SSPG non-responders regained 2.6% of weight lost, whereas responders lost an additional 1.5% at follow-up (p < 0.05 vs. non-responders). Non-responders had baseline characteristics consistent with more severe insulin resistance, including higher fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.03). Long-term SSPG change was independently predicted by both total weight loss (p = 0.005) and baseline fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.007). Conclusions: Improvement in insulin sensitivity is maintained for 2–3 years following dietary weight loss if weight is not regained. Triglyceride and HDL-C concentrations also remain improved over time, consistent with improvement in insulin sensitivity. Fasting glucose and weight regain predict less long-term response in insulin sensitivity. These results highlight the potential long-term benefits of weight loss and importance of preventing weight regain among high-risk individuals.
Simplified micro modeling of partially grouted masonry assemblages

Abstract Masonry is an anisotropy structure due to the presence of different components within the assembly. Although, the concepts of concrete modeling are applicable to fully grouted masonry there are difficulties for modeling hollow and partially grouted masonry. Cohesive surface-based behavior (interface elements) has been used in this study as a discontinuity for hollow and grouted masonry. The mortar joints and concrete masonry units were smeared into one homogeneous material using concrete damage plasticity model (CDP). The traction–separation behavior of the cohesive element was employed to model the mortar joints. Damage initiation was considered based on compressive strength of mortar and grout in the hollow and grouted masonry, respectively. A set of tests were conducted on masonry assemblages and properties were used as input in the model. It is evident from results that the responses predicted by the analysis are generally in good agreement with the behavior observed in the experiments for the hollow and grouted prisms, shear and diagonal tension assemblages. The proposed model can be successfully used to model hollow and partially grouted masonry walls.
Sleep characteristics and health-related quality of life among a national sample of American young adults: assessment of possible health disparities

The aim of the study is to examine the associations of sleep characteristics with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and sleep health disparities among US young adults using national survey data. The study sample consisted of 2,391 young adults aged 20–39 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2008. HRQOL was assessed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HRQOL-4 scale. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the sleep–HRQOL associations. Stratified analyses were conducted to examine whether the associations varied by sociodemographic characteristics. Approximately 35.6 % of young adults slept <7 h, 41.9 % had insomnia, 4.4 % had sleep disorder, and 8.5 % had sleep apnea. More females had insomnia than males (48.6 vs. 35.9 %, P < 0.001). US-born young adults had more sleep disturbances than their foreign-born counterparts. Compared with those sleeping 7–8 h, the adjusted odds ratio of poor general health was 1.60 (95 % confidence interval, 1.08–2.35) for individuals sleeping 6–7 h and 1.88 (1.23–2.86) for those sleeping <6 h. Similar results were found for low mental HRQOL and overall HRQOL. Insomnia, long sleep latency, troubling falling asleep, daytime sleepiness, and frequent sleeping pill use were significantly associated with low mental HRQOL and overall HRQOL. The associations between sleep disturbances and low HRQOL varied little by sex, race/ethnicity, and country of birth. Sleep disturbances are common among US young adults and are significantly associated with low HRQOL. Objective measures of sleep are warranted to confirm our findings.
L-type Ca2+ channels and K+ channels specifically modulate the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations and have distinct roles in prolactin release in GH3 cells

Abstract GH3 cells showed spontaneous rhythmic oscillations in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and spontaneous prolactin release. The L-type Ca2+ channel inhibitor nimodipine reduced the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations at lower concentrations (100nm–1 μm), whereas at higher concentrations (10 μm), it completely abolished them. Ca2+ oscillations persisted following exposure to thapsigargin, indicating that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores were not required for spontaneous activity. The K+ channel inhibitors Ba2+, Cs+, and tetraethylammonium (TEA) had distinct effects on different K+ currents, as well as on Ca2+oscillations and prolactin release. Cs+ inhibited the inward rectifier K+ current (KIR) and increased the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations. TEA inhibited outward K+ currents activated at voltages above –40 mV (grouped within the category of Ca2+ and voltage-activated currents, KCa,V) and increased the amplitude of Ca2+oscillations. Ba2+ inhibited both KIR and KCa,V and increased both the amplitude and the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations. Prolactin release was increased by Ba2+ and Cs+ but not by TEA. These results indicate that L-type Ca2+ channels and KIRchannels modulate the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations and prolactin release, whereas TEA-sensitive KCa,V channels modulate the amplitude of Ca2+ oscillations without altering prolactin release. Differential regulation of these channels can produce frequency or amplitude modulation of calcium signaling that stimulates specific pituitary cell functions.
Serum protein‐bound carbohydrates and small cell carcinoma of the lung correlations with extent of disease, tumor burden, survival, and clinical response categories

The levels for serum protein bound neutral carbohydrates (fucose, mannose, and galactose) were determined at specific intervals for 40 patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung and compared to the corresponding carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels. In pretreatment samples, the frequency of elevation was 92.5% for fucose and 77.5% each for mannose and for galactose. CEA determined in these same samples was elevated (greater than 5 ng/ml) in 45.0%. One or more of the three carbohydrate levels were elevated in pretreatment serum of 95.0% of the patients. The individual frequency of elevation for each carbohydrate was significantly related to initial stage of disease (P less than 0.01). Median survival was significantly longer for patients based on a discriminant of less than 3 carbohydrates elevated in pretreatment samples (25 months) to all 3 elevated (11 months) with P = 0.0302. A single value, termed the biomarker index, was calculated to represent the summation of the individual carbohydrate levels per individual serum sample. The biomarker index was found to be directly correlated with extent of primary disease, number of metastic sites, tumor burden, and clinical response categories assessed at serial time points. For patients with both low Biomarker Index values and normal CEA levels in pretreatment samples, an initial rise in both determinations occurred frequently corresponding to partial or complete tumor response. The occurrence of such discordant results must be considered as a likely possibility for those patients with low or normal pretreatment biological marker levels and subsequent response to primary chemotherapy.
The unexpected formation of a mixed bis(η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)tetracarbonyl(μ3-ethylidene)triangulotricobalt compound and its structural characterization

Abstract The title compound was first obtained photolytically from (η 5 -Me 5 C 5 )Co(CO) 2 (by a mechanism not understood) and later by refluxing C 5 Me 5 H with Co 3 (CO) 9 CCH 3 . It was identified and characterized structurally by X-ray crystallography. The crystals belong to space group P 2 1 /n with a 9.529(2), b 18.325(4), c 14.801(3) A, β 95.69(2)° with Z = 4, making one entire molecule the asymmetric unit. Using 2641 reflections with F 0 2 > 3σ (F 0 2 the structure was solved and refined to R 1 = 0.051 and R 2 = 0.067. It consists of a triangular pyramid with two (η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )Co groups and one Co(CO) 3 group in the base and CCH 3 at the apex. The basal edge between the (η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )Co groups has a bridging CO group and a Co—Co distance of 2.405(1) A, while the other two unbridged Co—Co distances are 2.484(1) and 2.501(1) A. The distances from the apical C atom to the bridged Co atoms are 1.857(6) and 1.866(6) but 1.932(6) A to the unique Co atom. The C—C distance in the ethylidyne group is 1.497(9) A. The structure is closely similar to that of the analogous (η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) 2 Co 3 (CO) 4 CCH 3 compound.
Role of the activation peptide domain in human factor X activation by the extrinsic Xase complex.

Abstract The activation of factor X by the extrinsic coagulation system results from the action of an enzyme complex composed of factor VIIa bound to tissue factor on phospholipid membranes in the presence of calcium ions (extrinsic Xase complex). Proteolysis at the Arg52-Ile53 peptide bond in the heavy chain of factor X leads to the formation of the serine protease, factor Xa, and the generation of a heavily glycosylated activation peptide comprising residues 1–52 of the heavy chain. The role of the activation peptide region in mediating substrate recognition and cleavage by the extrinsic Xase complex is unclear. The protease Agkistrodon rhodostoma hydrolase γ (ARHγ), from the venom of the Malayan pit viper, was used to selectively cleave human factor X in the activation peptide region. Three cleavage sites were found within this region and gave products designated Xdes1-34, Xdes1-43, and Xdes1-49. The products were purified to yield Xdes 1–49 and a mixture of Xdes 1–34 and Xdes 1–43. Reversed phase high pressure liquid chromatography analysis indicated that the cleaved portion of the activation peptide was likely removed during purification. All cleaved species were inactive and could be completely activated to factor Xa by the extrinsic Xase complex or by a purified activator from Russell's viper venom. Steady state kinetic studies using tissue factor reconstituted into membranes yielded essentially equivalent kinetic constants for the activation of intact factor X and the cleaved derivatives under a wide range of conditions. Since Xdes 1–49 lacks all but three residues of the activation peptide and is devoid of the carbohydrate present in this region, the data suggest that the specific recognition of human factor X by the extrinsic Xase complex is not achieved through specific interactions with residues 1–49 of the activation peptide or with carbohydrate structures attached to these residues.
Entropy effects in viscoelastic fluid theory

Abstract A derivation of viscoelastic fluid theory is given which includes the effect of the entropy dependence upon deformation history. The theory is then specialized to model second-order effects. The resulting theory predicts the observed effects of shear thinning and stress overshoot. Comparison is made with experimental data.
High Efficiency Oxide-Confined High-Index-Contrast Broad-Area Lasers with Reduced Threshold Current Density and Improved Near-Field Profile

We have recently developed a simple, self-aligned ridge waveguide laser fabrication process for high-performance GaAs-based narrow-stripe devices. A high-index-contrast (HIC) structure is formed by deep etching (through the waveguide core layer), followed by non-selective O2-enhanced wet thermal oxidation to grow a uniform thickness layer of high-quality native oxide (200-300 nm) at the sidewalls of the etch-exposed high Al-composition cladding layers and low Al-composition core layer and active region. All devices in this work are fabricated in an 808 nm single quantum well graded-index separate-confinement heterostructure (GRINSCH) with no facet coating or heatsinking employed, and are tested p-side up with 1% duty cycle current pulses at room temperature. Conventional weak index-guided broad-area devices are also made from the same material to comparatively study the benefit of good lateral electrical and optical confinement in our HIC oxide-confined devices.
The effects of restraint stress on the neuropathogenesis of Theiler’s virus infection II: NK cell function and cytokine levels in acute disease

Abstract Psychological stress is thought to play an important role in multiple sclerosis. We have been investigating the role of restraint stress in Theiler’s virus infection in mice as a model for multiple sclerosis. We have previously determined that restraint stressed CBA mice had higher levels of mortality following infection with Theiler’s virus. We proposed that this was due to high levels of stress-induced corticosterone, which resulted in decreased numbers of circulating lymphocytes, decreased inflammatory cell infiltrates into the brain and consequently decreased viral clearance from the central nervous system (CNS). The effect of restraint stress on the innate immune response to Theiler’s virus is further investigated in the current study. Restraint stressed mice developed clinical signs of encephalitis, thymic atrophy, and adrenal hypertrophy. Decreased numbers of circulating lymphocytes and increased numbers of neutrophils were observed in the stressed mice. Stressed mice also had lower numbers of spleen cells which correlated with the decreased numbers of lymphocytes in circulation. Restraint stress caused elevations in serum tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α). Virus-induced natural killer cell (NK) cytotoxic activity was significantly reduced in restrained mice at one day post infection which may account for the reduced viral clearance from the CNS. These data suggest that stress-induced immunosuppression of cytolytic NK cell activity may account in part for the reduced ability to clear virus from the CNS and increased mortality observed in this model.
The Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factor and Transforming Growth Factor-β on Porcine Chondrocytes and Tissue-Engineered Autologous Elastic Cartilage

Elastic cartilage responds mitogenically in vitro to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and basic fibroblast growth factor (basic FGF). We studied the effects of these growth factors separately or in a combination on porcine auricular chondrocytes in vitro and on the autologous elastic cartilage produced. Cells were harvested from the elastic auricular cartilage of 16- to 18-kg Yorkshire swine. Viability and quantification of the cells was determined. Cells were plated at equal concentration and studied in vitro in one of four identical media environments except for the growth factors: Group I contained Ham's F-12 with supplements but no growth factors, Group II also contained basic-FGF, Group III also contained TGF-β, and Group IV also contained a combination of both growth factors. After 3 weeks in vitro, the cells were chemically dissociated with 0.25% trypsin. Cell suspensions composed of 3 × 107 cells/cc in 30% Pluronic F-127/Ham's F-12 were injected subcutaneously. Implants were harvested at 6, 8,...
A survey on multi person identification and localization

In this paper, we present a survey of technology and algorithms used to identify and localize multiple people simultaneously in an assistive environment. The survey summarizes localization approaches based on video cameras and RFID, as well as describes identification methods based on RFID tags or wearable devices. The paper also describes state-of-the-art multimodal data fusion methods that estimate the identification and location of every person more precisely.
Biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid and protein in vivo by neonatal mice after a toxic dose of cyclophosphamide.

Abstract Swiss-Webster mice received 80 mg kg of cyclophosphamide 1 day after birth and were allowed to develop or were given 100 μCi kg of [14C]labeled thymidine, uridine or leucine at various times afterwards. Growth retardation and increased mortality were noted during the postnatal period. DNA synthesis, as measured by [14C]thymidine incorporation, was inhibited in the liver, brain and carcass for at least 3 days after cyclophosphamide treatment. DNA synthesis was reduced 1 day after treatment to 8.4, 26 and 25 per cent of control in the liver, brain and carcass respectively. RNA synthesis, as measured by [14C]uridine incorporation, was reduced only in the liver and brain. Liver RNA synthesis was reduced to 36 and 64 per cent of control at 1 and 5 days after cyclophosphamide treatment respectively. Brain RNA synthesis was reduced to 78 and 64 per cent of control 1 and 4 days after treatment. [14C]leucine incorporation, taken as a measure of protein synthesis, was not affected in a manner which would indicate that drug treatment altered this parameter of differentiation. The data suggested that cyclophosphamide neonatal toxicity may be related to a prolonged inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis during the first 5 days of life. This observation was correlated with the slow rate of cyclophosphamide activation and excretion in neonatal mice.
Textual entailment features for machine translation evaluation

We present two regression models for the prediction of pairwise preference judgments among MT hypotheses. Both models are based on feature sets that are motivated by textual entailment and incorporate lexical similarity as well as local syntactic features and specific semantic phenomena. One model predicts absolute scores; the other one direct pairwise judgments. We find that both models are competitive with regression models built over the scores of established MT evaluation metrics. Further data analysis clarifies the complementary behavior of the two feature sets.
Mapping the aperiodic landscape, 1982–2007

The discovery of quasicrystals galvanized mathematics research in long-range aperiodic order, accelerating the dissolution of the the ancient periodic/non-periodic dichotomy begun by Penrose, Ammann, de Bruijn, and Mackay. What does the aperiodic landscape look like now, 25 years later, and what frontiers are still to be mapped?