cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The MHC class II transactivator (CIITA) requires conserved leucine charged domains for interactions with the conserved W box promoter element

The class II transactivator CIITA is required for transcriptional activation of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II genes. Aside from an N-terminal acidic transcriptional activation domain, little is known about how this factor functions. Extensive mutagenesis of CIITA was undertaken to identify structural motifs required for function. The ability of mutants to activate a reporter gene under the control of MHC class II conserved W-X-Y or X-Y regulatory elements was determined. Two mutants displayed differential activity between the two promoters, activating transcription with the W-X-Y but not the X-Y elements. All mutants were tested for their ability to interfere with wild-type CIITA activity. Five CIITA mutant constructions were able to down-regulate wild-type CIITA activity. Three of these mutants contained targeted disruptions of potential functional motifs: the acidic activation domain, a putative GTP-binding motif and two leucine charged domains (LCD motifs). The other two contained mutations in regions that do not have homology to described proteins. The characterization of CIITA mutants that are able to discriminate between promoters with or without the W box strongly suggests that CIITA requires such interactions for function. The identification of LCD motifs required for CIITA function brings to light a previously undefined role of these motifs in CIITA function.
Dynamics of Glass Relaxation at Room Temperature

The problem of glass relaxation under ambient conditions has intrigued scientists and the general public for centuries, most notably in the legend of flowing cathedral glass windows. Here we report quantitative measurement of glass relaxation at room temperature. We find that Corning\textregistered{} Gorilla\textregistered{} Glass shows measurable and reproducible relaxation at room temperature. Remarkably, this relaxation follows a stretched exponential decay rather than simple exponential relaxation, and the value of the stretching exponent ($\ensuremath{\beta}=3/7$) follows a theoretical prediction made by Phillips for homogeneous glasses.
Working Memory Underpins Cognitive Development, Learning, and Education

Working memory is the retention of a small amount of information in a readily accessible form. It facilitates planning, comprehension, reasoning, and problem-solving. I examine the historical roots and conceptual development of the concept and the theoretical and practical implications of current debates about working memory mechanisms. Then I explore the nature of cognitive developmental improvements in working memory, the role of working memory in learning, and some potential implications of working memory and its development for the education of children and adults. The use of working memory is quite ubiquitous in human thought, but the best way to improve education using what we know about working memory is still controversial. I hope to provide some directions for research and educational practice.
Initial in vivo experience with EIT as a thermal estimator during hyperthermia

Thermal imaging experiments using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) have been conducted during hyperthermia treatments delivered to two human patients and one animal subject. Coplanar and circumferential arrays of 16 and 32 tin-plated copper electrodes etched on a 0.005" polyimide sheet were used to inject 12.5 KHz current patterns of increasing sinusoidal spatial frequencies and subsequent potential distributions were recorded at each electrode site. Image reconstruction was achieved with a finite element method and difference images of conductivity changes during the course of treatment were formed. An assumed linear relationship (2%/degree C increase) between tissue impedance change and temperature change was used to produce thermal images of the treatment field in patients whereas an empirically measured nonlinear relationship obtained from excised tissue samples was applied retrospectively in the animal subject case. Reconstructed conductivity changes are shown to be possible given electrical data measured in vivo during hyperthermia delivery with conventional equipment (spiral microstrip applicator at 433 MHz). These correlated well with direct temperature measurements and demonstrated quantitative levels of agreement to the extent that estimated temperature accuracies were approximately 1.5 degrees C; although large errors (> 5 degrees C) did exist. This work suggests that EIT is a potentially useful tool for hyperthermia treatment monitoring and assessment. The relationship between tissue impedance and temperature is complex and confounds the ability to make simple correlations between conductivity and temperature changes. Further, study is required to discern whether this will ultimately limit EIT as a thermal estimator or whether it will lead to more fundamental uses of impedance as an indicator of thermal effect.
Scattered and reactive current, voltage, and power in circuits with nonsinusoidal waveforms and their compensation (power systems)

Properties of the current and power decomposition into the active, scattered and reactive components are discussed. The relative character of this decomposition is analyzed along with orthogonal decomposition of the load voltage. It is shown that this relative character emphasizes the change of the power flow with the cross section observed. The difference in the efficiency of the source apparent power compensation that can be obtained with a shunt and with a series compensator is emphasized. It is also shown that not only the reactive power Q/sub r/, but also the scattered power D/sub s/ can be wholly compensated by a linear reactive compensator, so that the apparent power S of the load can be minimized to its active power P. >
The Charge Injection Device (CID) As A Stellar Tracking Sensor

A 128 x 128 element CID imager was operated in a simulated stellar trackling environment and evaluated for temporal and pattern noise and spectral response over a temperature range of -40 C to +25 C. The test devices were fabricated on long-lifetime bulk silicon material and utilized very thin upper-level polysilicon electrodes for enhanced spectral response. A standard microcomputer was used to generate all control signals and to collect and process performance data. The results of this program were used to predict the performance of a 400 x 400 CID array designed specifically for stellar-tracking.
Relationship of shame and guilt to gender and parenting practices

Abstract This study examines individual, joint and interaction effects of gender and six clusters of parenting practices on shame and guilt evoked by five clusters of scenarios: Impersonal Transgression, Harm to Another Person, Trust Violation, Social Impropriety, and Exposed Inadequacy. Women expressed significantly higher shame and guilt than men toward all scenario clusters. Women's responses were affected little by the parenting practices of either parent. Largely consistent with earlier findings, feelings of shame and guilt correlated positively with factors of Identification, Empathy Induction, Protective Interdependence, and Competency Interdependence, and correlated negatively with Physical Coercion and Psychological Coercion factors, particularly for men. Multiple regressions, however, found far fewer of these relationships significant. Identification, Physical Coercion, and Protective Interdependence parenting had almost no effect on shame or guilt for men or women, contrary to historical assumptions. The frequently reported negative relationship between corporal punishment and shame and guilt hence may be due more to the denigration of Psychological Coercion that generally accompanies corporal punishment than to corporal punishment itself.
Simulation of the Great Bay Estuarine System: Tides with tidal flats wetting and drying

[1] Realistic lunar tides of the Great Bay Estuarine System have been simulated using a fixed boundary finite element numerical model as described by Ip et al. [1998]. It is a two-dimensional, nonlinear, time-stepping model with a groundwater component coupled to a kinematic force balance to facilitate the realistic drainage and filling of elements during ebb and flood, respectively. The numerical model reproduces the observed M2 tides as described by Swift and Brown [1983], and it successfully captures qualitatively correct residual currents and transports, realistic mass-conserving flooding and dewatering of the tidal flats, and current asymmetry between flood and ebb. The simulation results were sensitive to local bathymetry and the implemented friction law. The accuracy of the model is demonstrated by comparison with the 1975 Great Bay study [Swift and Brown, 1983] in terms of tidal elevations at 14 tidal stations and 4 cross-sectionally averaged current measurements in the estuary. Quantitatively, the model results show good agreement with observations, displaying correlation coefficients of ≥0.96 in surface elevation and ≥0.95 in averaged current, with average RMS errors of 0.12 m and 0.26 m s−1, respectively. In addition, tidal flat hydrodynamics, characteristic distributions of residual current, sediment bed load transport, and influence of topography on the overall circulation in the region are also discussed.
Relatedness and investment in children in South Africa.

Investment in children is examined using a nationally representative sample of 11,211 black (African) households in South Africa. I randomly selected one child from each household in the sample and calculated the average genetic relatedness of the other household members to the focal child. Using multivariate statistical analysis to control for background variables such as age and sex of child, household size, and socioeconomic status, I examine whether the coefficient of relatedness predicts greater household expenditures on food, on health care, and on children’s clothing. I also test whether relatedness is associated with health and schooling outcomes. The results are consistent with an inclusive fitness model: Households invest more in children who are more closely related. Two exceptions were found: in rural areas, genetic relatedness was negatively associated with money spent on food and on health care. Explanations for these results are discussed.
Return to Work for Healthcare Professionals with Substance Use Disorders: Clinical, Legal, and Ethical Challenges

Occupational health providers (OHPs) and other clinicians who assess readiness to work have a difficult task in assessing return to work for healthcare professionals (HCPs) with substance use disorders (SUDs). About 10 to 15 % of HCPs will misuse drugs or alcohol at some time in their career, yet they are often reluctant to seek help. This paper reviews the clinical challenges of assessing SUDs in HCPs, including risk factors, prognosis, and limited evidence base for work restrictions. Furthermore, ethical and legal challenges throughout the return to work process are reviewed for stakeholders such as HCPs with SUDs, OHPs, other providers, employers, and the public at large. Suggestions are made for stakeholders, particularly for OHPs and other providers, who are navigating this complex environment.
Increased polyclonal CD5+ B1a lymphocytes in a haploidentical stem cell transplant recipient.

Background: Atypical lymphocyte populations may be seen in the peritransplant setting. In this case report, we describe an unusually high number of CD5+ B-cells (B1a cells) following transplant. Methods: B1a cells identified during routine follow-up by immunophenotypic analysis in a middle-aged man who had a haploidentical stem cell transplant for acute myeloid leukemia were compared with a reference set of post-transplant samples. Results: Increased but polyclonal B1a cells were identified with 100% donor chimerism. Conclusions: Our case demonstrates that a high absolute number of B1a cells may be seen post-transplant and should not be confused with an atypical CD5+ lymphoproliferative disorder. Furthermore, the population of polyclonal CD5+ B lymphocytes from the patient's donor is prominent 7 months post-transplant. This suggests that the maintenance of CD5+ B1 cells prior to conversion to adult-type CD5− B2 cells is not hindered by the recipient adult stromal environment. © 2010 International Clinical Cytometry Society
The Aborted Phase-in of Marginal Effective Corporate Tax Rates

Although the statutory rate of tax on most corporate capital income is .46, the expected tax on a new investment under consideration can be quite different. In this article, we measure the effective corporate tax rate on a marginal investment in four different assets. We test the sensitivity of these results to alternative assumptions about inflation and the nominal interest rate. Effective tax rates under the 1980 law are compared to those under each transition period of the 1981 Tax Act and to those under the 1982 Tax Act. We find that, had the phase-in provisions of 1981 Act continued through 1986, all assets would have experienced substantial effective tax rate reductions. Autos and equipment would have benefited from larger declines in the effective tax rate than would public utility structures and other structures. Under the 1982 Act, however, the rates for autos, equipment, and public utility structures are higher than under 1981 law. In fact, under certain conditions, effective rates in 1982 are h...
Successful PACS at a community-based hospital

This paper retrospectively evaluates our experience with PACS, assessing referring physician and radiologist acceptance and satisfaction, as well as cost justification.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Conversion of arachidonic acid to tetradecadienoic acid by peroxisomal oxidation

Human skin fibroblasts convert [5,6,8,9,11,12,14,15-3H]arachidonic acid to two radiolabeled polar metabolites that accumulate in the culture medium. Previous studies identified the most abundant of these products as 4,7,10-hexadecatrienoic acid (16:3). We have now identified the second metabolite as 5,8-tetradecadienoic acid (14:2). Fibroblasts deficient in mitochondrial long-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase produce increased amounts of 14:2 from arachidonic acid. By contrast, Zellweger fibroblasts which are deficient in peroxisomal beta-oxidation do not convert arachidonic acid to either 14:2 or 16:3. These results demonstrate that 14:2 can be synthesized from arachidonic acid, that this oxidative process occurs in the peroxisomes, and that the pathway does not function in Zellweger's syndrome and similar diseases where there is a genetic deficiency in peroxisomal beta-oxidation.
Conjoint Design and Analysis of the Bilinear Model: An Application to Judgments of Risk

Abstract Conjoint measurement tests which are applicable to a (2 × 2) × (2 × 2) experimental design for the study of the general bilinear model are developed. The tests permit detecting the cause of each failure of the data to satisfy the model, and of measuring the tradeoffs between variables when the model is satisfied. All tests and analyses are illustrated with an application of the model to the assessment of the riskiness of gambles. The method is compared with the use of duplex gambles and other compound and contingent compositions in terms of their appropriate roles in the study of the decision process.
Risk identification in Green IT practice

A variety of risk factors may affect Green IT's practice and eventually displease the goal of environmental sustainability. This paper adopts the value model approach to analyze potential risk effect in Green IT. The Green IT value model has been used to depict the process and mechanism of achieving Green IT and environmental sustainability. This study provides a comprehensive analysis that focuses on various risk factors that may affect each component in the Green IT value model.
Transformation and regeneration of Lobelia erinus using Agrobacterium tumefaciens

A transformation/regeneration system was developed for the common garden Lobelia (Lobelia erinus). Using an Agrobacterium-based protocol, over 40 transformants have been generated with four different binary vectors. The explant source was hypocotyl-root sections from axenically grown seedlings. Stable transformation was demonstrated by Southern hybridization analysis, β-glucuronidase staining, and transmission of the T-DNA to progeny. This extends the ever-widening range of transformable plant species to the Campanulaceae and will allow molecular studies of development and physiology in this easily cultured and popular garden plant.
PS1-05: Disparities in Breast Cancer Survival by Molecular Subtype and Race/Ethnicity

Background/AimsLittle information exists on breast cancer survival rates according to molecular profiles among different race/ethnic groups. We investigated the impact of molecular subtypes on breast cancer-specific survival by race/ethnicity in a large group of medically-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer.MethodsThe cohort included 20,749 diverse Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) women diagnosed with breast cancer (AJCC Stage 0?IV) between 1996 and 2007, and followed through 2009. The women?s cancers were classified into four main molecular subtypes: luminal A (ER+ and/or PR+/HER2?); luminal B (ER+ and/or PR+/HER2+); basal-like (?triple negative?, ER?/PR?/HER2?); and HER2+/ER?. The outcome was breast cancer mortality. Follow-up began on the date of surgery and ended on date of death, health plan disenrollment, or study?s end. Hazard rate ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. We adjusted for age, tumor characteristics, cancer treatments, income, and comorbidity.ResultsOf the 20,749 women, 65% were white non-Hispanic (n=13,487); 13% Black (n=2,697); 12% Hispanic (n=2,490); and 10% Asian (n=2,075). We observed 2,019 deaths (10%) deaths due to breast cancer over 14 years of follow-up. In all race/ethnic groups combined, breast cancer mortality was higher in women with basal-like (HR 2.90, 2.38?3.53) and HER2+/ER? (HR 1.98, 1.55?2.54) tumors compared to women with luminal A subtype (referent group). In addition, we examined breast cancer mortality in each molecular subtype, stratified by race/ethnic group. Among women with luminal A tumors, Black women were more likely to die of breast cancer (HR 1.53, 1.02?2.29) than white women (referent group). In women with luminal B tumors, South Asians had a 10-fold increase in breast cancer mortality (HR=10.57, 1.42?78.64) compared to whites; however, numbers were small and the confidence interval was wide. Among women with basal-like tumors, Black women had a greater mortality risk (HR 1.36, 1.02?1.82) compared to white women. In women with HER2+/ER? tumors, breast cancer mortality was similar across the race/ethnic groups. No other comparisons were significant.DiscussionDespite similar access to healthcare, we found survival disparities by race/ethnic groups within the luminal A, luminal B, and basal-like molecular subtypes of breast cancer.
All Thyroid Ultrasound Evaluations are Not Equal: Sonographers Specialized in Thyroid Cancer Correctly Label Clinical N0 Disease in Well Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Background Ultrasound (US) is a standard preoperative study in thyroid cancer. Accurate identification of lymph node (LN) disease in the central neck by US is debated, leading some surgeons to perform prophylactic central dissection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if US performed by a surgeon with specialization in thyroid sonography correctly determined clinical N0 status.
Science performance assessments: benchmarks and surrogates

Abstract This study examined the exchangeability of alternative methods for measuring science achievement at the elementary level. Observation of a student performing a hands-on investigation was considered to be the “benchmark” method for science performance assessments. Four less-costly methods — or possible “surrogates” for the benchmark — were, in order of decreasing verisimilitude: (a) A notebook report of an investigation, (b) a computer simulation of an investigation, (c) short-answer questions about an investigation, and (d) multiple-choice questions about an investigation. Exchangeability of each of the four surrogates for the benchmark was examined using three different investigations: “Electric Mysteries,” “Paper Towels,” and “Bugs.” One hundred and ninety-seven fifth- and sixth-grade students were given: (a) All investigations with each method, (b) a multiple-choice science achievement test, and (c) an aptitude test. Results of exchangeability analyses indicated that only the notebook provided a reasonable surrogate for the benchmark. This finding was replicated across the three investigations. Moreover, combinations of surrogates, including the multiple-choice science achievement test, failed to approximate information gained from direct observation of student performance, over and above information provided by the notebook surrogate.
A Comparison of Candling Eggs With Other Methods of Determining Internal Egg Quality

Abstract The eggs from 23 strains of White Leghorns were used to study different internal egg quality measurements. Twenty-five eggs from each of the strains were candled by three experienced persons the day after the eggs were laid. After candling, the eggs were broken-out, and internal quality was determined by U.S.D.A. scores, Haugh units, albumen height and yolk index. The entire experiment was repeated using seven-day old eggs. Correlations were run on all of the strains for each of the internal quality measurements. There appears to be a high correlation between such measurements as U.S.D.A. scores and albumen height, U.S.D.A. scores and Haugh units, and albumen height and Haugh units. Candling did not appear to correlate with any of the other measurements of internal egg quality. There was a poor correlation between yolk index and other measurements. The “r” values on all of the measurements varied considerably among the twenty-three strains. Analysis of variance was used to detect differences among the candlers. The results show that there was a highly significant difference among the individuals who candled the eggs.
The effect of monochromatic infrared energy on sensation in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

We thank Dr. Burke (1) for his thoughtful comments and critical review of our research study (2). In responding to his comments, we have addressed each of his stated concerns in order. First, regarding the level of photo energy delivered, the manufacturer preset our active monochromatic infrared energy (MIRE) units to deliver the recommended 6–8 bars of energy or 1.95 J · cm−2 · min−1 for 30 min (total energy of 58.5 J/cm2), whereas the MIRE units used in the Leonard study (2) delivered 1.3 J · cm−2 · …
Are Main-Belt Asteroids a Sufficient Source for the Earth-Approaching Asteroids?

This paper predicts the size distribution of the Earth-approaching asteroids with diameterd= 10 m to 10 km, assuming they originate as the fragments of main-belt asteroids with a cumulative size distribution proportional tod−2.5and that they have self-similar fragmentation properties. The resulting distribution is dominated by “fast-track” bodies originating from parent asteroids with orbits close to the 3:1 mean-motion resonance with Jupiter. Because the dynamical lifetimes of these Earth approachers are shorter than their collisional lifetimes, their size distribution is nearly proportional tod−3.0, the production distribution in the main belt. This prediction, however, is at odds with the Spacewatch observations. The observed distribution is relatively flat ford> ∼100 m, and relatively steep ford< ∼100 m, so that the number of Earth approachers withd∼ 10 m to 0.3 km is overestimated. If these populations are predominantly of main-belt origin, then the size distribution in the main belt is not a simple power law. A nonuniform size distribution with wave-like oscillations, possibly caused by a cutoff at small sizes, would lead to Earth approachers with a size distribution in better agreement with the observations. If such wave-like oscillations are realistic, then the main belt is sufficient to supply the observed number of Earth approachers throughout the observed size range.
The interplanetary magnetic field and energetic electrons from Jupiter

The reported four-month 'season' for observation of Jovian electron events at AU is shown to be a plausible consequence of field-line random walk in the solar wind. Values of the field-line random-walk coefficient deduced earlier in connection with observations of solar protons, photospheric supergranulation, and the interplanetary magnetic-field power spectrum, lead to an approximate value for the spread of Jovian electrons at 1 AU, which corresponds to an approximate four-month duration of events. This model is consistent with a point source at Jupiter.
Alkaloids of Vinca rosea L. (Catharanthus roseus G. Don) XXXVI: Isolation and Characterization of New Dimeric Alkaloids

In a continuing effort to study thoroughly the alkaloids of Catharanthus roseus, new dimeric alkaloids were isolated and characterized. Structures are proposed for leurocolombine and vinamidine based on UV, IR, PMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and CMR. Pseudovincaleukoblastine diol was identified by PMR and mass spectrometry. Leurocolombine exhibited antimitotic activity and marginal antitumor activity against the Ridgeway osteogenic sarcoma.
Re-examining the Mechanisms of Competing Pericyclic Reactions of 1,3,7-Octatriene

DFT (both B3LYP and M06-2X), CASSCF, and CASPT2 calculations were used to investigate competing [3, 3] and [3, 5] sigmatropic shifts and intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of 1,3,7-octatriene. In accord with previous results on 1,5-hexadiene, CASSCF calculations found both stepwise and concerted pathways for the [3, 3] rearrangement. For the competing [3, 5] sigmatropic rearrangement, CASSCF and CASPT2 calculations revealed three stepwise pathways with similar barriers. UB3LYP and UM06-2X calculations predicted a different potential energy landscape: no stepwise [3, 3] pathway, only two competing [3, 5] sigmatropic shifts, and an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition/homolytic ring-opening pathway. Significant lowering of barriers for all rearrangements was predicted for some 1,3,7-octatrienes with substituents at the 4- and 7-positions.
Spatio-temporal sampling rates and energy efficiency in wireless sensor networks

A multi-hop network of wireless sensors can be used to gather spatio-temporal samples of a physical phenomenon and transmit these samples to a processing center. This paper addresses an important issue in the design of such networks: determining the spatio-temporal sampling rate of the network under conditions of minimum energy usage. A new collision-free protocol for gathering sensor data is used to obtain analytical results that characterize the tradeoffs among sensor density, energy usage, throughput, delay, temporal sampling rates and spatial sampling rates in wireless sensor networks. We also show that the lower bound on the delay incurred in gathering data is O(k/sup 2/n) in a clustered network of n sensors with at most k hops between any sensor and its clusterhead (CH). Simulation results on the tradeoff between the achievable spatial sampling rates and the achievable temporal sampling rates when IEEE 802.11 distributed coordination function (DCF) is used as the media access scheme are provided and compared with the analytical results obtained in this paper.
Boundary integral method for the flow of vesicles with viscosity contrast in three dimensions

We propose numerical algorithms for the simulation of the dynamics of three-dimensional vesicles suspended in viscous Stokesian fluid. Our method is an extension of our previous work (S.K. Veerapaneni et al., 2011) 37 to flows with viscosity contrast. This generalization requires a change in the boundary integral formulation of the solution, in which a double-layer Stokes integral is introduced, and leads to changes in the fluid dynamics due to the viscosity contrast of the vesicles, which can no longer be efficiently resolved with existing algorithms.In this paper we describe the algorithms needed to handle flows with viscosity contrast accurately and efficiently. We show that a globally semi-implicit method does not have any time-step stability constraint for flows with single and multiple vesicles with moderate viscosity contrast and the computational cost per simulation unit time is comparable to or less than that of an explicit scheme. Automatic oversampling adaptation enables us to achieve high accuracy with very low spectral resolution. We conduct numerical experiments to investigate the stability, accuracy, and the computational cost of the algorithms. Overall, our method achieves several orders of magnitude speed-up compared to the standard explicit schemes.
Uptake of transferrin-bound iron by rat cells in tissue culture.

Summary. The in vitro uptake of transferrin-bound iron by rat liver cells and rat embryo cells in culture, and by rat reticulocytes, was studied using labelled rat serum. The uptake of iron by rat liver cells was linear with time and showed a curvilinear relationship with the serum iron concentration. Over 40% of the cell radioactivity was found to be ferritin associated. Incubation of rat transferrin doubly labelled with 59Fe and 125l showed a difference between the uptakes of the two isotopes suggesting reflux of transferrin from the cell after iron uptake. In order to compare iron uptake from half saturated (Tf-Fe 1) and fully saturated (Tf-Fe2) transferrin, the three cell systems were each incubated in sera labelled with 55Fe at 10% saturation and with 59Fe at varying iron saturations ranging from 10% to 90%. Similar experiments were performed with sera having been randomly labelled with 55Fe and labelled with 59Fe but preincubated with reticulocytes in order to produce iron bound to non-reticulocyte orientated transferrin binding sites. The data obtained confirms the presence of a functional heterogeneity with respect to the half and fully saturated transferrin. Thus iron uptake from fully saturated transferrin was almost twice that for the half saturated molecule with rat liver cells or reticulocytes, and over three times that of the half saturated molecule with rat embryo cells. In contrast no such differences could be detected when iron uptake from serum randomly labelled with iron and serum with labelled non-reticulocyte orientated binding sites were compared. Finally, the effect of pre-incubating each of the three cell systems in unlabelled sera of varying percentage iron saturations on subsequent radio-iron uptake was studied. An inverse relationship between percentage saturation of the preincubation serum and subsequent uptake was demonstrated indicating that cellular mechanisms also influence cell iron uptake.
Macromolecular crowding and molecular recognition

The effects of macromolecular crowding upon macromolecular associations in solution, and upon binding of a macromolecular ligand to a surface site, are reviewed. It is demonstrated, by means of two examples, that crowding may lead to significant alterations of biochemical or biological recognition processes at the molecular level.
Potential Interaction Involving Warfarin and Ritonavir

OBJECTIVE:To report an unexpected decrease in warfarin effect following the addition of ritonavir to the medication regimen.CASE SUMMARY:A 27-year-old patient with advanced HIV taking warfarin for an inferior vena cava thrombus was started on ritonavir, clarithromycin, and zidovudine. The international normalized ratio (INR) decreased over a period of weeks after the addition of ritonavir, clarithromycin, and zidovudine to the drug therapy regimen. The warfarin dosage was almost doubled in order to maintain a therapeutic INR. Months later, when ritonavir alone was discontinued, the INR rose rapidly and the warfarin dose requirements decreased significantly.DISCUSSION:Potential interactions between warfarin and the protease inhibitors are described in the literature. Ritonavir has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4, an enzyme responsible for warfarin metabolism. Potentiation of warfarin effect and subsequent decrease in the warfarin dosage requirement was anticipated following ritonavir administ...
Balloon augmented Onyx embolization utilizing a dual lumen balloon catheter: utility in the treatment of a variety of head and neck lesions

Introduction Endovascular embolization for tumors and vascular malformations has emerged as an important preoperative adjunct prior to resection. We describe the advantages of utilizing a recently released dual lumen balloon catheter for ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, also known as Onyx (ev3, Irvine, California, USA), embolization for a variety of head and neck pathologies. Methods A retrospective review of all cases utilizing the Scepter C balloon catheter (MicroVention Inc, Tustin, California, USA) for use in balloon augmented embolization was performed over a 4 month period from October 2012 to February 2013 at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Charts and angiographic images were reviewed. Representative cases involving diverse pathologies are summarized and illustrate the observed advantages of balloon augmented Onyx embolization with a dual lumen balloon catheter. Case illustrations Balloon augmented Onyx embolization utilizing a novel dual lumen balloon catheter was employed to treat both ruptured and unruptured arteriovenous malformations, intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulae, intracranial neoplasms, carotid body tumors, a thyroid mass, and an extracranial arteriovenous fistula. Conclusions The dual lumen balloon catheter has several advantages for use with Onyx embolization over older devices, including more efficient proximal plug formation and enhanced navigability for placement deep within the pedicles. The balloon augmented Onyx embolization technique represents a valuable tool to add to the armamentarium of the neurointerventionalist to address a variety of head and neck lesions.
Nature Reserves and Authoritarian Rule in Egypt: Embedded Autonomy Revisited

This article explores how Egypt's system of authoritarian rule initially fostered and subsequently undermined nature conservation efforts. During the 1990s, international donors and local scientists established a well-managed network of nature preserves in the South Sinai region of Egypt. The concentration of state authority in a few executive institutions, such as the military and centrally appointed provincial governors, facilitated the creation of an effective management regime. However, these achievements have come under threat. Executive institutions charged with tourism development have challenged the authority of the protected areas division, and the capacity of the protected areas network has been undermined through systematic underinvestment and diversion of park revenues. In addition, local Bedouin communities that benefited from effectively managed parks remain politically marginalized. Although reformers in the authoritarian regimes of the Middle East can build environmental capacities, some o...
A utility-based approach for secondary spectrum sharing

This paper provides a social welfare framework for coexistence of secondary users of spectrum in the presence of static primary users. We consider a formulation that captures spatial differences in available spectrum while considering general system topologies and utility functions: a collection of wireless sessions is considered under an arbitrary conflict graph that indicates the sessions which cannot transmit simultaneously on a common channel. It is assumed that each session has a utility associated with its spectrum utilization. A carrier sense multiple access-based randomized channel selection technique is considered to maximize the resulting sum of utilities. A measurement-based gradient ascent method is used to improve the channel selection performance and to achieve local maxima of the social welfare. Distributed versions of the method are discussed and shown to outperform previously published work in a variety of simulation scenarios that study effects of primary user presence, varying secondary user density, varying total channel availability.
Applying computer simulation to increase the surgical center occupation rate at a university hospital in Curitiba - Brazil

The purpose of this document is to discuss the use of computer simulation for increasing the surgical center occupation rate at a University Hospital located in Curitiba, Brazil. For the attainment of this work three scenarios were created. The first scenario has six surgical rooms. It was possible to improve the orthopedic surgical occupation rate specially through changing some input variables. The two following scenarios demonstrated the impact of adding more room capacity. The second scenario uses input data from the real system, making it possible to obtain a better occupation rate. The third scenario showed an increase in occupancy using the input data. These results provided help for the reduction of idleness in this sector.
Isolation of Sulfonamides from Whole Egg by Supercritical Fluid Extraction

A supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method is described for the isolation of sulfonamides from chicken eggs. Whole egg is mixed with Hydromatrix and added to an extraction vessel containing neutral alumina. The sample is extracted at 40°C with supercritical CO 2 at 10,000 psi (680 bar) and an expanded gas flow rate of 3.0 L/min to a total volume of 120 L. The sulfonamides are trapped in-line on an alumina sorbent bed. The sulfonamides are eluted post-SFE by using the high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) mobile phase solvent system (phosphate buffer and methanol), followed by separation on an HPLC system using a C 18 column and ultraviolet detection at 265 nm. Recoveries from fortified liquid whole eggs (six replicates) at the 0.1-ppm level are 99.5% ± 2.2 for sulfamethazine, 87.8% + 6.0 for sulfadimethoxine, and 97.6% ± 2.5 for sulfaquinoxaline. The detection limit is 0.025 ppm
Prenatal Testosterone Treatment Leads to Changes in the Morphology of KNDy Neurons, Their Inputs, and Projections to GnRH Cells in Female Sheep

Prenatal testosterone (T)-treated ewes display a constellation of reproductive defects that closely mirror those seen in PCOS women, including altered hormonal feedback control of GnRH. Kisspeptin/neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons of the arcuate nucleus (ARC) play a key role in steroid feedback control of GnRH secretion, and prenatal T treatment in sheep causes an imbalance of KNDy peptide expression within the ARC. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that prenatal T exposure, in addition to altering KNDy peptides, leads to changes in the morphology and synaptic inputs of this population, kisspeptin cells of the preoptic area (POA), and GnRH cells. Prenatal T treatment significantly increased the size of KNDy cell somas, whereas POA kisspeptin, GnRH, agouti-related peptide, and proopiomelanocortin neurons were each unchanged in size. Prenatal T treatment also significantly reduced the total number of synaptic inputs onto KNDy neurons and POA kisspeptin neurons; for KNDy neurons, the decrease was partly due to a decrease in KNDy-KNDy synapses, whereas KNDy inputs to POA kisspeptin cells were unaltered. Finally, prenatal T reduced the total number of inputs to GnRH cells in both the POA and medial basal hypothalamus, and this change was in part due to a decreased number of inputs from KNDy neurons. The hypertrophy of KNDy cells in prenatal T sheep resembles that seen in ARC kisspeptin cells of postmenopausal women, and together with changes in their synaptic inputs and projections to GnRH neurons, may contribute to defects in steroidal control of GnRH observed in this animal model.
Functional organization of mouse and rat SmI barrel cortex following vibrissal damage on different postnatal days.

This study was undertaken to determine the functional properties of neurons in the anatomically altered somatosensory cortex after neonatal whisker damage. In mice and rats neonatal lesions of the facial vibrissae change the anatomical organization of barrels in the contralateral SmI cortex. These changes depend on the pattern and severity of the peripheral damage and the developmental age of the animals. To understand some of the functional correlates of these anatomical changes, the middle row of vibrissae (row C) was damaged in mice on postnatal days 1, 3, and 5 and in rats on postnatal days 1 and 5. The receptive field properties of single cortical units were studied after the animals matured. In 24 mice and 15 rats a total of 1,370 units were characterized in microelectrode penetrations which passed through the somatosensory cortex either tangential or perpendicular to the pia. Units were localized anatomically with respect to both barrel and laminar boundaries, and the extent of the peripheral damag...
Analysis of the Improvement in Accuracy Using Multiple Gyros

The possibility to improve the accuracy of angular velocity estimate by optimally combining multiple individual micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscopes is analyzed in this paper. Kalman filter (KF) is used to fuse the numerous measurements into a single improved rate estimate. Based on the virtual gyro idea, a revised approach can give an unbiased estimator regardless of the true angular velocity signal. Numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the desirable performance, reducing the bias drift and noise.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Surface Preparation of Single Crystal C(001) Substrates for Homoepitaxial Diamond Growth

A novel substrate preparation procedure which can be employed to remove the original surface from as-received C(001) natural diamond substrates has been developed. A description of the various substrate processing steps which includes, low-energy ion implantation of C and O, high-temperature annealing, electrochemical etching and surface plasmas treatments is presented. Also demonstrated is the growth of topographically excellent homoepitaxial films by rf-plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using water/ethanol mixtures on C(001) substrates.
The derivation of D’Arcy Thompson’s theory of transformations from the theory of optimal design

It is shown informally that Cohn’s theory of Optimal Forms can be construed as a comparative theory, and that when this is done the celebrated theory of transformations of D’Arcy Thompson follows as a consequence. The implications of this type of theoretical foundation for the Thompson theory with regard to problems of comparative morphology are discussed, and some suggestions for the further implementation of the theory are described.
Who or What is God, According to John Hick?

I summarize John Hick’s pluralistic theory of the world’s great religions, largely in his own voice. I then focus on the core posit of his theory, what he calls “the Real,” but which I less tendentiously call “Godhick”. Godhick is supposed to be the ultimate religious reality. As such, it must be both possible and capable of explanatory and religious significance. Unfortunately, Godhick is, by definition, transcategorial, i.e. necessarily, for any creaturely conceivable substantial property F, it is neither an F nor a non-F. As a result, Godhick is impossible, as shown by the Self-Identity Problem, the Number Problem, and the Pairing Problem. Moreover, even if Godhick is possible, it faces the Insignificance Problem. The upshot is that, so far as I can see, John Hick’s God is unworthy of any further interest.
RESEARCH ON HYDROCARBON GENERATION PHASE BEHAVIOR BY USING THE DATA OF HIGH TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE SIMULATION EXPERIMENT

Based on three domestic groups of simulation experiment data of kerogen type Ⅰ,Ⅱ, and Ⅲ, and through the calculation of mole composition of hydrocarbon-generation products, pvt phase maps are computed by applying pr state equation; analysis to oil/gas ration of hydrocarbon-generating products and PVT phase maps shows there are two types of hydrocarbon-generating phase behavior of kerogen typeⅠand Ⅱ, i.e., “oil phase” and “gas phase”, the critical percentage for Ro is 1.5%~1.6% and 0.9%~1.0% respectively; and the hydrocarbon-generating products by kerogen type Ⅲ are all “gas phase”.
Influencing factor analysis of a calicivirus-borne gastroenteritis outbreak in a school of Pudong New Area,Shanghai City

Objective To explore the source,mode of transmission and risk factors of a gastroenteritis outbreak in a middle school in Pudong New Area.Methods Suspected and confirmed case definition was established.A case control study was used to find the risk factors such as hygienic habits,drinking water source and so on.54 suspected cases that were indentified earlier and 108 controls with frequency-matched by class and gender were selected.Data was analyzed using COX regression method.Samples were tested with bacterial culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results 5.57% of the 1 671 students and 0.60% of the 168 teachers developed the disease.The main symptoms were abdomen pain,vomiting and diarrhea.No severe or death cases were found.Direct drinking water sites were close to the toilets.A plenty of students,boys mostly,drank the water with mouth-to-tap or with hand-to-mouth directly instead of using bottles.79.63% of the cases and 38.89% of the controls had drunk the direct drinking water(Ⅹ2= 22.51,P 0.001,OR = 6.75).Conclusions This outbreak was probably caused by a contact transmission related with the behavior of getting direct drinking water.Health education and water supply supervision should be taken in schools.
Clinical Analysis of 25 Children with Noncompaction of Ventricular Myocardium

Objective To investigate the clinical features of noncompaction of ventricular myocardium(NVM) in children in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of NVM.Method A retrospective review of 25 pediatric patients with NVM was performed,who were hospitalized in Wuhan Children′s Hospital between Jan.2005 and Dec.2010.Results Cardiac dysfunction was present in 19 cases(76%),while arrhythmia in 7 cases(28%),among the 7 cases,ventricular arrhythmia were in 4 cases(16%).Endocardial thrombosis was not found in any of these cases.The typical change of NVM was spotted in all 25 cases through the color doppler echocardiography.Left ventricular involvement was present in 23 cases(92%),right ventricular involvement in 2 cases(8%),and enlargement of the heart in 24 cases(96%),left ventri-cular ejection fraction less than 50% was in 20 cases(80%).Before hospitalization,3 cases were misdiagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM),and 1 case was misdiagnosed as endocardial fibroelastosis(EFE).During 0.4 to 5.6 years followed up,6 cases died of severe heart failure,1 case had sudden death probably due to severe arrhythmia,while 4 cases failed to follow up.Conclusions The main clinical manifestations of NVM in children are cardiac dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias.NVM can easily be misdiagnosed as DCM and EFE in children.Color doppler echocardiography has great value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of NVM.Due to the lack of effectual treatment,the prognosis of NVM in children is poor.