cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electromechanical coupling in feline basilar artery in response to serotonin.

Abstract This study was undertaken to define some of the cellular mechanisms of mechanisms of action of serotonin on cerebral vascular muscle. Application of serotonin to cat basilar artery resulted in a dose dependent depolarization and contraction beginning at 10 −8 M. The correlation coefficient relating the degree of force development with the change in membrane potential (E m ) was 0.98. Excess K + depolarized these vascular muscle cells with a slope (between 10 and 100 mM [K] 0 ) of 54 mV/decade. When the muscle cells within this artery were depolarized by only 7 mV by addition of excess K + there was a significant reduction in force development in response to serotonin. When the membrane was depolarized from −63 to −40 mV the mechanical response to serotonin was reduced by around 50%. Steady state current/voltage curves demonstrated a reduction in input resistance suggesting that serotonin's mechanism of depolarization is not due to a reduction in g k . These data demonstrate that serotonin contracts cat basilar artery through mechanisms involving vascular muscle cell depolarization and that factors which influence the level of E m will markedly effect the contractile response to serotonin.
Improved Theoretical π−π* Absorption and Circular Dichroic Spectra of Helical Polypeptides Using New Polarizabilities of Atoms and NC‘O Chromophores

Polarizability and π−π* transition parameters for the amide NC‘O chromophore are reoptimized from optical properties of amides and peptides using the dipole interaction model and updated atom polarizabilities. The parameters differ somewhat from those of a similar optimization in 1979 due to the inclusion of the new atom values and additional experimental target data. The effects of shifting the NC‘O center within a small “optimal” neighborhood of the NC‘ bond center are examined. The new parameters are used to calculate π−π* absorption and circular dichroic spectra of several helical polypeptide structures, including the α-helix, the parallel and antiparallel β-sheets, the 310-helix, and the poly(proline) I and II helices. The results are in a form that permits estimation of properties for any choice of NC‘O center within the optimal neighborhood. New findings include the following: (i) the predicted CD intensities of the undistorted parallel and antiparallel β-sheets are sensitive to the choice of NC‘O...
Growth, properties and applications of HgCdTe

Abstract This paper provides primarily a review of the methods used to grow HgCdTe with a summary of some of its basic properties and applications. Methods of crystal growth fall generally into three classes: growth from the melt, from solution and from the vapor phase. All three methods have been and are being used to grow HgCdTe. The high vapor pressure of HgCdTe at the melting point, combined with a large segregation coefficient, have effectively limited the use of Czochralski or zone melting techniques, but two melt growth techniques have survived: (1) a variation of Bridgman growth called quench-anneal wherein a dendritic crystal is formed by quenching the melt and is homogenized by solid state recrystallization below the melting point, (2) a variation of freezing from a large volume called slush-growth wherein a melt is held in a temperature gradient for several weeks while a crystal grows. Growth from solution has taken the form of liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) on CdTe with the LPE systems including growth from Hg-rich, HgTe-rich and Te-rich solutions and using tipping, vertical dipping, vertical sliding and horizontal sliding. Vapor phase growth is very promising but is not yet in production. Techniques include growth by isothermal close spaced epitaxy in which HgTe is transported isothermally by chemical potential onto CdTe, molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) in which elements are evaporated in a high vacuum, and metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) in which some of the metal atoms are carried to the substrate bound to organic radicals before being freed by pyrolysis. In all these methods, control of Hg pressure is a major concern. The fundamental properties discussed briefly are those of prime interest to detector manufacturers: energy gap (Eg), intrinsic carrier concentration (ni), and electrical activity of dopants. A reasonable fit to the Eg data from ȣ 20 papers is given by Eg = -0.302+1.93x+5.35×10-4T(1ȡ2x)-0.810x2+0.832x3. This gap, combined with k·p calculations, gives the intrinsic carrier concentration as a function of composition and temperature: ni = (5.585-3.820x+1.753×10-3T-1.364×10-3xT)×1014E3/4gT3/2 exp(-Eg/2kT). HgCdTe is typically used in the manufacture of infrared (IR) detectors, with both commercial applications such as medical thermography and building heat loss analysis and military applications such as surveillance of activities on the surface of the earth and terminal guidance of missiles. Detectors operating in the atmospheric windows are able to see both in the dark and through clouds. HgCdTe is the material of choice for the 3ȁ5 μm and the 8ȁ12 μm wavelength IR detectors. HgCdTe is not strong or easy to work with, but the technology is maturing and sophisticated devices are now being built.
A Transaction Cost Explanation of Vertical Control in International Markets

The author applies a model based on transaction cost analysis to explain the vertical control selections made by a sample of exporters. The model, which obtains significant support, suggests that an important contingency when deciding on the desired level of vertical control in a particular instance, is the ability of the market to limit the opportunistic tendencies of outside intermediaries. In effect, the market’s ability to enforce contractual arrangements is often limited. When such enforcement cannot be relied upon, greater control represents a necessary alternative.
Probing Convex polygons with half-planes

Abstract A half-plane probe through a polygon measures the area of intersection between a half-plane and the polygon. We develop techniques based on X-ray probing to determine convex n-gons in 7n + 7 half-plane probes. We also show n + 1 half-plane probes are sufficient to verify a specified convex polygon and prove linear lower bounds for determination and verification.
Hollow Copper Sulfide Nanoparticle-Mediated Transdermal Drug Delivery

A photothermal ablation-enhanced transdermal drug delivery methodology is developed based on hollow copper sulfide nanoparticles (HCuSNPs) with intense photothermal coupling effects. Application of nanosecond-pulsed near-infrared laser allows rapid heating of the nanoparticles and instantaneous heat conduction. This provides very short periods of time but extremely high temperatures in local regions, with focused thermal ablation of the stratum corneum. The depth of skin perforations can be controlled by adjusting the laser power. Skin disruption by HCuSNP-mediated photothermal ablation significantly increases the permeability of human growth hormone. This technique offers compelling opportunities for macromolecular drug and vaccine delivery.
Adsorption of C1-C7 Normal Alkanes on BAX Activated Carbon. 1. Potential Theory Correlation and Adsorbent Characterization

Single-component adsorption equilibria of the n-alkane series C1- C7 on Westvaco BAX-1100 activated carbon were measured over very broad ranges of temperature and pressure, spanning 293-393 K and 0.06-4964 Torr, depending on the n-alkane. The 4278 data points were correlated successfully with potential theory and collapsed essentially into one characteristic curve. A useful functional form of the characteristic curve was also obtained. A new potential theory approach, based on a multisegment Gaussian distribution, qualitatively predicted both the pore size distribution and the total pore volume of the BAX-1100 activated carbon from the adsorption equilibria of the C3-C7 n-alkanes, with errors in the total pore volume ranging between 1 and 5%. This extensive data set should prove to be very useful for testing adsorbent characterization schemes, evaluating adsorption isotherm models, estimating adsorption thermodynamic properties of these systems, and modeling adsorption processes concerning hydrocarbon separations and purification, in general.
Hemoglobin GCoushatta: A beta variant with a delta-like substitution

Abstract Hemoglobin G Coushatta is an electrophoretically slow variant of human hemoglobin which was found to be inherited in several members of the Alabama-Coushatta Indian tribe who live on a reservation in Texas (Schneider, et al., 1964) . Fingerprints and amino acid analysis revealed that in tryptic peptide β-III one of the two glutamic acid residues had been replaced by alanine in Hb G Coushatta . The study described here indicates that the site of alteration in this hemoglobin variant is the 22nd residue from the N-terminus of the β chain. Alanine also occurs in the 22nd residue of the δ chain in the normally occurring minor component, Hb A 2 , and in rare hemoglobins which are composed of junction products of both β and δ chains, i.e., the Lepore type hemoglobins (Baglioni, 1965). This latter class of hemoglobins appears to be the result of genetic events related to chromosomal crossing over. In Hb G Coushatta , however, the amino acid substitution appears to be the result of a single transversion in the nucleotide triplet specifying the 22nd amino acid of the β chain.
Factors Affecting Decisions to Institutionalize Demented Elderly

This study followed 321 community-based patients with documented dementias, 22% of whom were institutionalized after 1 year. Multivariate analyses indicated that none of the patient characteristics, such as level of cognitive, psychiatric, or neurological impairment, predicted institutionalization. Social psychological characteristics, type and number of caregivers, and subjective caregiver distress did predict which patients were ultimately institutionalized. Implications for treatment planning are discussed.
Some comments on the parameter choices for S.C.M.O. calculations on five membered heteroatomic π-electron systems

It has been reported [1] that the usual semi-empirical S.C.M.O. treatments of heteroatomic π-electron systems yield unexpected dependencies of charge distribution on the βcore terms involving the heteroatoms. Other workers [2] have claimed that the most usual choices of parameters yield chemically unreasonable charge densities in furan and pyrrole. It is shown here that the first effect is related to the relative magnitudes of the diagonal elements of the Fock matrix and that the second depends very strongly on the nonnearest neighbor F matrix elements but can be overcome with certain parameter choices by the inclusion of non-nearest neighbor βcore terms in the calculations.
From scientific practice to high school science classrooms: Transfer of scientific technologies and realizations of authentic inquiry

The Biology Workbench (BW) is a web-based tool enabling scientists to search a wide array of protein and nucleic acid sequence databases with integrated access to a variety of analysis and modeling tools. The present study examined the development of this scientific tool and its consequent adoption into the context of high school science teaching in the form of the Biology Student Workbench (BSW). Participants included scientists, programmers, science educators, and science teachers who played key roles along the pathway of the design and development of BW, and/or the adaptation and implementation of BSW in high school science classrooms. Participants also included four teachers who, with their students, continue to use BSW. Data sources included interviews, classroom observations, and relevant artifacts. Contrary to what often is advocated as a major benefit accruing from the integration of authentic scientific tools into precollege science teaching, classroom enactments of BSW lacked elements of inquiry and were teacher-centered with prescribed convergent activities. Students mostly were preoccupied with following instructions and a focus on science content. The desired and actual realizations of BSW fell on two extremes that reflected the disparity between scientists' and educators' views on science, inquiry science teaching, and the related roles of technological tools. Research on large-scale adoptions of technological tools into precollege science classrooms needs to expand beyond its current focus on teacher knowledge, skills, beliefs, and practices to examine the role of the scientists, researchers, and teacher educators who often are involved in such adoptions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 48: 37–70, 2011
Multinational Real Options and Hysteresis: An Examination of FDI in Manufacturing and Hard- and Soft-Service Industries

Growth option benefits in foreign direct investment may be limited by a low probability of exercise due to less demand or corporate focus change. Acquisitions driven by management self-interest may even decrease shareholder wealth. Flexibility option benefits are negligible among soft-service multinational enterprises (MNEs), but are better realized by hard-service MNEs, which are operationally less encumbered by hysteresis than manufacturing MNEs. For 235 foreign acquisitions announced by U.S. firms during 1999 and 2000, flexibility options have a positive effect on shareholder value especially for the hard-service acquirers, which are less subject to the muting effects of hysteresis.
Polymorphism in intron 2 of the fetal interleukin-1 receptor antagonist genotype influences midtrimester amniotic fluid concentrations of interleukin-1β and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and pregnancy outcome

Abstract Objective Preterm labor in experimental models is initiated by intra-amniotic interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and inhibited by interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). The IL-1ra gene is polymorphic and the different alleles are associated with variations in IL-1β and IL-1ra production. The relationship among the IL-1ra genotype of the fetus, concentrations of IL-1β and IL-1ra in second-trimester amniotic fluid, and pregnancy outcome was determined. Study design Amniotic fluids from 291 consecutive women with singleton pregnancies, obtained at 15 to 17 weeks' gestation, were tested for IL-1β and IL-1ra concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. DNA from fetal cells was analyzed for a length polymorphism in intron 2 of the IL-1ra gene by polymerase chain reaction. Pregnancy outcomes were obtained after completion of testing. Results The distribution of fetal IL-1ra genotypes was similar to that found in other populations: 50.9% (148) were homozygous for allele 1 (IL1RN ∗ 1), 39.5% (115) were IL1RN ∗ 1/allele 2 (IL1RN ∗ 2) heterozygotes, 6.9% (20) were IL1RN ∗ 2 homozygotes, whereas 2.7% (8) had combinations of other alleles. Fetal possession of IL1RN ∗ 2 was associated with a greater than 50% increase in midtrimester intra-amniotic IL-1β levels ( P =.006) and a smaller increase in IL-1ra levels ( P =.01) compared with fetuses who were IL1RN ∗ 1 homozygotes. Despite the low sample size, IL1RN ∗ 2 homozygosity, but not midtrimester intraamniotic levels of IL-1β and IL-1ra, was related to an increased rate of preterm birth ( P ∗ 1 homozygosity ( P =.04). Birth weight was unrelated to IL-1ra genotype. Conclusion Possession by the fetus of the IL1RN ∗ 2 allele is associated with enhanced intraamniotic IL-1β production. Induction of an intra-amniotic proinflammatory immune response might be more likely to lead to preterm labor in fetuses carrying the IL1RN ∗ 2 allele.
The design and applications of superomniphobic surfaces

Surfaces that display contact angles >150° along with low contact angle hysteresis with essentially all high and low surface tension liquids, including water, oils and alcohols, are known as superomniphobic surfaces. Such surfaces have a range of commercial applications, including self-cleaning, non-fouling, stain-free clothing, drag reduction, corrosion prevention and separation of liquids. Such surfaces have thus generated immense academic and industrial interest in recent years. In this review, we discuss the systematic design of superomniphobic surfaces. In particular, we discuss the significance of surface energy, roughness and the critical role of re-entrant texture in obtaining the so-called Cassie–Baxter state with low surface tension liquids. We also discuss how hierarchical scales of texture can yield high contact angles and decrease the contact angle hysteresis of superomniphobic surfaces by reducing the solid–liquid contact area. On the basis of this understanding, we discuss dimensionless design parameters that allow for the systematic design of superomniphobic surfaces. We also review the current literature on superomniphobic surfaces, paying particular attention to surfaces that demonstrate good mechanical, chemical and radiation durability—traits that are essential for any commercial application of superomniphobic surfaces. Finally, we conclude by identifying the unresolved challenges in the fabrication of durable superomniphobic surfaces and highlight the future needs in the field. Surfaces that display contact angles >150° along with a low contact angle hysteresis for both low and high surface tension liquids are known as superomniphobic surfaces. Such surfaces have several applications, including self-cleaning, non-fouling, stain-free clothing, drag reduction, corrosion prevention and separation of liquids. In this review, we discuss the design criteria, recent studies, applications, challenges and potential of superomniphobic surfaces. Surfaces that strongly repel low surface tension liquids (e.g. oils and alcohols) are classified as superoleophobic and those that strongly repel high surface tension liquids (e.g. water) are classified as superhydrophobic. However, if a surface shows both these characteristics, it can be considered superomniphobic. Liquid droplets on superomniphobic surfaces roll off very easily and, as a result, these surfaces are attractive as non-fouling coatings, self-cleaning surfaces and liquid-separation techniques. Anish Tuteja at the University of Michigan, United States, and colleagues review the design principles required to fabricate superomniphobic surfaces. They discuss surface energy, roughness and hierarchical scales of surface texture, and recognize the importance of re-entrant textures (i.e. convex topography) to achieve superomniphobicity. Several examples of superomniphobic surfaces are presented with particular focus on the need to improve chemical and mechanical durability, to realize their full potential in commercial and industrial applications.
Control Of Screening Of A Charged Particle In Electrolytic Aqueous Paul Trap.

Individual charged particles could be trapped and confined by the combined radio‐frequency and DC quadrupole electric field of an aqueous Paul trap. Viscosity of water improves confinement and extends the range of the trap parameters which characterize the stability of the trap. Electrolyte, if present in aqueous solution, may screen the charged particle and thus partially or fully suppress electrophoretic interaction with the applied filed, possibly reducing it to a generally much weaker dielectrophoretic interaction with an induced dipole. Applying molecular dynamics simulation we show that the quadrupole field has a different effect at the electrolyte ions and at much heavier charged particle, effectively eliminating the screening by electrolyte ions and reinstating the electrophoretic confinement.
Lost Rhythms and the Failing Heart

Heart failure affects more than 5 million Americans and can be more lethal than many cancers. Arrhythmias often occur in heart failure, but the mechanisms behind them are poorly understood. Now, in an in vitro investigation, Grand et al . explain that some heart failure arrhythmias may occur because of the strain placed on the heart’s myofibroblasts, which in turn negatively affect their neighboring cells, the beating cardiomyocytes. The investigators cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and myofibroblasts on a collagen-containing matrix that could be stretched. When different strains were applied, conduction velocities (measured with voltage-dependent dye and high-speed optical mapping) and cellular electrophysiology (assessed by using patch clamp) could be recorded. The authors created conditions that simulated both normal tissue and myocardial scar, which is commonly found in patients with heart failure. Grand et al . found that in contrast to healthy tissue, fibrotic myocardium demonstrated substantial electrophysiologic changes in response to stretching, including significant slowing of conduction velocities. This conduction-slowing effect was attributed to mechanoreceptor channels on the cultured myofibroblasts, which influenced local cardiomyocytes through gap junction coupling. This in vitro study adds insight into intra- and intercellular mechanisms that make scarred myocardium more prone to arrhythmia when subjected to stretching forces—a common scenario in the setting of acute heart failure. Translational research building on these findings could lead to new ideas to restore the heart’s rhythm and prevent death for patients with heart failure. In the future, high-risk patients could be identified by using biomarker imaging of high-risk myocardial scars, or new drug treatments could be developed to target mechanoreceptors in new ways. T. Grand et al., Aggravation of cardiac myofibroblast arrhythmogeneicity by mechanical stress. Cardiovasc. Res. 10.1093/cvr/cvu227 (2014). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://cardiovascres.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/10/23/cvr.cvu227
Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on bile acid-induced gastric mucosal injury.

Arachidonic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid precursor to prostaglandin formation in the stomach. When applied topically to gastric mucosa it prevents injury from a variety of damaging agents, similar to the effects observed with exogenous prostaglandins. Alternatively, fatty acids could act as mild irritants and protect the gastric mucosa in an adaptive cytoprotective process. This study was undertaken to ascertain whether arachidonic acid attenuates gastric injury from bile acid by acting as a mild irritant to the gastric epithelium or by increasing biosynthesis of cytoprotective prostaglandins. Accordingly, adult anesthetized rat stomachs were pretreated for 30 min with either topical 1 mMarachidonic acid, docusahexaenoic acid or eicosatrienoic acid prior to injury with topical 5 mMacidified taurocholate. In a second set of experiments using a similar protocol, the role of prostaglandins was evaluated by giving indomethacin (5 mg/kg/sc) 30 min prior to fatty acid pretreatment. Mucosal injury was assessed by measuring net transmucosal ion fluxes, the appearance of DNA into the gastric lumen, and histology. Gastric luminal PGE2content was determined by radioimmunoassay. Pretreatment with topical arachidonic acid, but not docusahexaenoic acid or eicosatrienoic acid, significantly (P< 0.05) decreased bile acid induced net luminal ion fluxes, DNA accumulation and histologic injury scores, an effect negated by indomethacin. Further, pretreatment with arachidonic acid was associated with increased luminal PGE2content, an effect also abolished by indomethacin. Thus, arachidonic acid does not act as a mild irritant, but protects the gastric mucosa from bile acid injury through a mechanism involving increased bioavailability of substrate for prostaglandin formation.
HINDERED ROTATION ABOUT SINGLE BONDS IN RUHX(CO)(PTBU2ME)2 AND IRHCL2(PTBU2ME)2

Abstract Ru[C(O)Me]I(CO)L 2 (L=P t Bu 2 Me) shows 1 H and 31 P NMR evidence for existence of two conformers (distinguished by their rotational conformation about the RuP bonds) which show (at − 80 °C) (a) no symmetry and (b) mirror symmetry (defined by the Ru[C(O)Me]I(CO) plane). The same is true of RuH(Cl)(CO)L 2 . Ru(Me)I(CO)L 2 shows ( 1 H and 31 P evidence) two conformers, each mirror symmetric, with a lower interconversion barrier than in the acetyl analog. The molecules RuCl(Ph)(CO)L 2 and RuH(Ph)(CO) 2 L 2 exhibit slow ( 1 H and 13 C NMR time scales) rotation about the RuC( ipso ) bond at 23 °C. Already at 23 °C, IrL 2 Cl 2 H shows 1 H and 31 P NMR evidence for two equally abundant (mirror symmetric) conformers due to hindered rotation about IrP bonds.
Evaluation capacity building in complex organizations

Evaluation capacity building, or ECB, is an area of great interest within the field of evaluation as well as in Extension evaluation. Internal Extension evaluators have long offered training and technical assistance to help Extension educators conduct evaluation. Today ECB in Extension encompasses myriad activities and processes to advance evaluation practice and evaluative thinking. They can be described in a three-component framework: professional development, resources and supports, and organizational environment. This chapter describes the Extension experience, highlighting practices and challenges within each component, and presents the case of logic model dissemination as an illustration. The authors discuss the distinction between evaluator and ECB practitioner and call for clarity in purpose, role delineation, and expectations. They include a simple logic model for evaluating ECB, which focuses on linking ECB investments to individual, team, program, and organizational change. The authors conclude with a list of their own learnings and reflections as they have faced the challenges and many rewards of building evaluation capacity in complex organizations. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermodynamic parameters of thorium-fluoride complexes from measurements with the fluoride-selective electrode at 5, 25, and 45°C

Abstract Stability quotients for the thorium-fluoride and hydrogen-fluoride systems in 0·01 M NH4NO3 at 5, 25, and 45°C were determined from measurements of free fluoride ion concentration by the lanthanum fluoride membrane electrode. Thermodynamic stability constants, standard enthalpies, and standard entropies were derived from the experimental data for formation of ThF3+, ThF22+, ThF3+, ThF4, and HF.
Phonemic-analysis training helps children benefit from spelling-sound rules.

It has been frequently suggested that the ability to analyze spoken words into phonemes facilitates children’s learning of spelling-sound rules. This research attempts to demonstrate that link by showing that phonemic-analysis training helps children take advantage of spelling sound rules in learning to read. In two experiments, preschool and kindergarten prereaders participated in an analysis condition and a control condition on each of 4 test days. In the analysis condition, children learned to segment (and in Experiment 2, also to blend) selected spoken syllables. In the control condition, they merely repeated syllables. Children were then introduced to printed items that corresponded to the spoken syllables with which they had worked. The pronunciation of the “related” item could be deduced from those of other printed items in the set; the pronunciation of the “unrelated” item could not be so deduced. Both experiments revealed a significant interaction between condition (analysis vs. control) and item type (related vs. unrelated). In the control condition, children tended to make more errors on the related item than on the unrelated item; in the analysis condition, they tended to make fewer errors on the related item than on the unrelated item. These results suggest a causal link between the ability to analyze spoken syllables and the ability to benefit from spelling-sound relations in reading.
Leveraging Technology to Alleviate Student Bottlenecks: The Self-Paced Online Tutorial—Writing (SPOT)

SPOT represents the best kind of innovation because it uses digital technologies wisely and because it is based on well-established theory, research and practice. By drawing on highly regarded work...
Symbols to grow on.

The importance of symbols in the communication of religious traditions is considered in order to develop a critique for enhancing their potential for facilitating integration and wholeness. Four questions are proposed: 1) What precise segment of one's experience comes into focus through the symbol employed? 2) How is this experience related to the person? 3) What does the symbol contribute to self-identity? 4) How does the symbol reorient the person? In conclusion, an example is suggested from contemporary changes in the Roman Catholic Eucharistic liturgy.
Type correlated equilibria for games with payoff uncertainty

Aumann's notion of correlated equilibrium is extended to games with payoff uncertainty. A type correlated equilibrium is a correlated equilibrium for Harsanyi's game in player-types. An equivalent definition is a probability distribution over types and actions which is consistent with the prior distribution over types, such that when each player observes its type and action, the observed action is optimal and no further information about other players' types is obtained. Any such equilibrium can be implemented by a type-independent correlation device when players' observations may be type-dependent. The type correlated equilibrium correspondence is shown to be upperhemicontinuous with respect to player information.
Phrases as subtopical concepts in scholarly text

Retrieval of subtopical concepts from scholarly communication systems is now possible through a combination of text and metadata analysis, augmented by user search queries and click logs. Here we investigate how a "phrase", defined as a variable length sequence of vocabulary words, can be used to represent a concept. We present a method to extract such phrases from a text corpus, and rank them using a citation network measure, the compensated normalized link count (CNLC), which measures the extent to which they are propagated along the citation structure of articles. We validate the ranking with actively and passively determined metrics: comparison with human-assigned keywords, and comparison with passively harvested terms from search query logs. This method is demonstrated on full texts and abstracts from 7 years of high energy physics articles from the arXiv preprint database.
High-order echoes in vibrational spectroscopy of liquids

Abstract Multidimensional infrared and Raman spectroscopy of liquids conducted using sequences of femtosecond pulses may be used to directly probe intramolecular and intermolecular nuclear motions. These techniques provide an additional insight into the nature of the nuclear spectral density observed in optical Kerr measurements. Photon echoes predicted in these systems are calculated and analyzed using multilevel coherences.
On the nature and origins of visibility-reducing aerosols in the los angeles air basin

Simultaneous measurements of the light-scattering coefficient and chemical composition of ambient aerosols were made during selected smog episodes in the Los Angeles air basin. These data are statistically analyzed to determine the effective scattering efficiencies of the major secondary aerosol species. The individual scattering efficiencies are then used to estimate the contributions of major sources of reactive gases to the reduction of visibility in Los Angeles. Sulfate and nitrate compounds appear to have scattered more light at a given mass concentration than did other chemical fractions of the aerosol. The observed relationship of SO2 and NOx, concentrations to the concentrations of tracers for major source types was consistent with existing inventories of SO2 and NOx emissions in the basin. Because of the high scattering efficiency of sulfates, the estimated contribution of large stationary sources of SO2 to the reduction of visibility was comparable with that of the automobile.
Can we design and replicate clinical trials with a multiple drug focus.

The motivation behind the proposals by Rounsaville et al. (2003) is totally understandable. Homogeneous samples are difficult to obtain. Since most patients who request treatment have been using multiple drugs, findings from a group of ‘pure’ users of one substance may not generalize to poly-substance users. While we sympathize with many of the points made by Rounsaville et al. we disagree with their conclusions and recommendations for the following reasons.
Triton-stimulated nucleoside diphosphatase: Characterization

Our previous report indicated a Triton-stimulated NDPase was specifically associated with Golgi membranes isolated from corn roots. Characterization of the enzyme indicates that UDP is the slightly preferred substrate with Mn2+ the preferred divalent cation. Monovalent cations do not further activate the Triton-stimulated UDPase activity. The enzyme has a pH optimum at 6.5 and a temperature optimum between 38–40°C. Kinetic analyses indicate that UDP-Mn2+ is the substrate for the enzyme.
The scheme environment: continuations

I can think of no better way to introduce this department than to quote the first two paragraphs of the introduction to the new Scheme standard, the Revisea3 Report on the Algorithmic Language Sche...
Role-based adaptation for video conferencing in healthcare applications

A large number of health-related applications are being developed using web infrastructure. Video is increasingly used in healthcare applications to enable communications between patients and care providers. We present a video conferencing system designed for healthcare applications. In face of network congestion, the system uses role-based adaptation to ensure seamless service. A new web technology, WebRTC, is used to enable seamless conferencing applications. We present the video conferencing application and demonstrate the usefulness of role based adaptation.
JAK/STAT: the enigma within the mystery of NMDAR-LTD.

In this issue of Neuron, Nicolas et al. (2012) show that JAK2/STAT3 signaling, a canonical pathway for transmitting information from the cell membrane to the nucleus, is critical for NMDAR-LTD, even in the absence of new DNA transcription.
Delay in performing ERCP and adverse events increase the 30-day readmission risk in patients with acute cholangitis

Background Readmission to the hospital within 30 days of discharge (30-day readmission rate) is used as a quality measure. Objective To investigate the incidence and factors that contribute to readmissions in patients with acute cholangitis. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary-care referral center. Patients Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients admitted to our center for acute cholangitis and ERCP. Intervention ERCP. Main Outcome Measurements Incidence and variables associated with 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality. Results ERCP was successful in 98.8% of patients during the index admission. The 30-day readmission rate was 22.0%. Recurrence of cholangitis was the most common etiology for readmissions (37.8%). Readmission within 30 days was independently associated with failed ERCP or ERCP delayed for >48 hours (odds ratio [OR] 2.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-6.07), development of any after-ERCP adverse event (OR 11.0; 95% CI, 3.06-39.30), and the etiology of cholangitis (etiologies not related to stones) (OR 3.3; 95% CI, 1.17-9.18). Every 1-point increase in the Charlson Comorbidity Index score (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.05-1.69) was associated significantly with 1-year mortality. In unadjusted analysis, 30-day readmission after ERCP was associated significantly with 1-year mortality (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.16-7.07). This association, however, was not present after adjustment for other covariates. Limitations Retrospective study. Conclusion Delays in performing ERCP during the index admission, development of after-ERCP adverse events, and etiology of cholangitis not related to stones increased the risk of 30-day readmissions.
Convergence in the Americas: Some Lessons from the DR‐CAFTA Process

The proliferation of trade agreements in the Americas is a major cause for concern as it might fragment or inhibit the emergence of a hemispheric trading system. In addition to establishing a free trade area between the US and six countries in Latin America, the DR-CAFTA consolidates a set of trade arrangements among those six Latin American countries. The approaches and techniques employed to achieve this consolidation should be studied by policy analysts and negotiators of broader hemispheric-wide negotiations since the DR-CAFTA is in fact a microcosm of the spaghetti bowl of trade agreements now existing in the Americas. This paper points out the potential consequences of the proliferation of trade agreements in the Americas and provides an analysis of the convergence techniques and approaches used in the DR-CAFTA, in particular in the areas of market access and rules of origin.
Bose-fermi Equivalence in Witten's Interacting String Field Theory

Abstract We show that the bosonic and fermionic ghost realizations of the gauge invariant open bosonic string field theory of Witten are equivalent.
Developmental Changes in the Consideration of Sample Diversity in Inductive Reasoning

Determining whether a sample provides a good basis for broader generalizations is a basic challenge of inductive reasoning. Adults apply a diversity-based strategy to this challenge, expecting diverse samples to be a better basis for generalization than homogeneous samples. For example, adults expect that a property shared by two diverse mammals (e.g., a lion and a mouse) is more likely to be shared by all mammals than a property that is shared by two more similar mammals (e.g., a lion and a tiger). Across four studies, we document a developmental progression in children's understanding that diverse samples provide a strong basis for generalizations, such that young children (grade 1) consistently failed to consider sample diversity within their inductive reasoning, but older children (grade 5) preferred to create diverse samples on which to base inferences about basic-level categories. These results suggest that recognizing the value of a diverse sample for inductive reasoning emerges slowly across the e...
Endocytosis as a mechanism of regulating natural killer cell function: unique endocytic and trafficking pathway for CD94/NKG2A

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes generally recognized as sentinels of the innate immune system due to their inherent capacity to deal with diseased (stressed) cells, including malignant and infected. This ability to recognize many potentially pathogenic situations is due to the expression of a diverse panel of activation receptors. Because NK cell activation triggers an aggressive inflammatory response, it is important to have a means of throttling this response. Hence, NK cells also express a panel of inhibitory receptors that recognize ligands expressed by “normal” cells. Little or nothing is known about the endocytosis and trafficking of NK cell receptors, which are of great relevance to understanding how NK cells maintain the appropriate balance of activating and inhibitory receptors on their cell surface. In this review, we focus on the ITIM-containing inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A showing that it is endocytosed by a previously undescribed macropinocytic-like process that may be related to the maintenance of its surface expression.
Splenosis Presenting as a Right Suprarenal Retroperitoneal Mass

CASE REPORT A 52-year-old man was referred for evaluation o fa5c m. mass in the right suprarenal position, which was 3 cm. in diameter in 1996, as well as a contrast enhancing 1.5 cm. mass in the lower pole of the right native kidney. History was remarkable for a motor vehicle accident when the patient was 16 years old, which resulted in splenectomy and left nephrectomy performed via laparotomy using a chevron incision. Progressive renal failure and acquired cystic disease of the native right kidney subsequently developed, and in 1999 the patient underwent a cadaveric renal transplant. During a routine followup examination microscopic hematuria was noted, which prompted a hematuria evaluation. Ultrasound revealed a suprarenal mass and a solid renal mass on the right side. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showe da6c m. suprarenal mass adjacent and posterior to the right adrenal gland (fig. 1). The mass was intermediate to dark on T1 and T2-weighted images. MRI also demonstrated the 1.5 cm. contrast enhancing lesion in the lower pole of the right kidney. Functional evaluation revealed no evidence of abnormal hormonal production. After an extensive discussion of surgical options, the patient expressed an interest in a laparoscopic approach, realizing that he would be at increased risk for conversion. A transperitoneal laparoscopic approach was used, and we were able to complete the nephrectomy portion of the case. However, the case was converted to an open approach through a thoracoabdominal incision when it was discovered that the suprarenal mass was densely adherent to the liver at its superior margin in the region of the retrohepatic vena cava. The mass had a distinct venous drainage system that consisted of 1 vein draining into the inferior vena cava. The arterial supply was less distinct. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged home on postoperative day 5. Pathological evaluation of the suprarenal mass revealed mature splenic tissue with no malignancy (fig. 2). The splenic tissue had a distinct capsule and
Sensitizing curium luminescence through an antenna protein to investigate biological actinide transport mechanisms.

Worldwide stocks of actinides and lanthanide fission products produced through conventional nuclear spent fuel are increasing continuously, resulting in a growing risk of environmental and human exposure to these toxic radioactive metal ions. Understanding the biomolecular pathways involved in mammalian uptake, transport and storage of these f-elements is crucial to the development of new decontamination strategies and could also be beneficial to the design of new containment and separation processes. To start unraveling these pathways, our approach takes advantage of the unique spectroscopic properties of trivalent curium. We clearly show that the human iron transporter transferrin acts as an antenna that sensitizes curium luminescence through intramolecular energy transfer. This behavior has been used to describe the coordination of curium within the two binding sites of the protein and to investigate the recognition of curium–transferrin complexes by the cognate transferrin receptor. In addition to pro...
The Role of Patient Activation on Patient–Provider Communication and Quality of Care for US and Foreign Born Latino Patients

BACKGROUND Previous research has shown positive effects of patient activation on healthcare outcomes, but there is practically no information on the generalization of these findings for Latino patients. Little data are available on whether patient activation is associated with healthcare outcomes for Latino patients and whether activation varies by language proficiency and nativity status.
Cellular maturation of oncornavirus glycoproteins: topological arrangement of precursor and product forms in cellular membranes.

Abstract Two-dimensional (isoelectric point and molecular weight) analysis of immunoprecipitates from oncornavirus-infected cells demonstrates two major species of the major envelope viral glycoprotein. The first is identical to the finished virion species with a molecular weight of 69,000 to 71,000 and a diffuse range of pI from pH 4.5 to 6.2. The second is of higher molecular weight (80,000), and has a sharp pI range of pH 6.6–6.8. Both forms incorporate glucosamine as well as amino acid labels. Pulse chase analysis demonstrates that the higher molecular weight species is long-lived in the cell, rising to maximum specific activity within 20 min and remaining at that level for approximately 90 min. In addition, analyses of total virion proteins and immunoprecipitates from virus in a two-dimensional system employing reducing and nonreducing SDS gels demonstrate a disulfide linkage between some copies of gp69,71 and a low molecular weight protein (14,000) of acidic isoelectric point pH 4.4–4.6. Differential cellular localization for the two glycoprotein forms has been demonstrated using techniques of lactoperoxidase surface iodination, proteolytic surface digestion, and membrane fractionation studies. All three techniques show that the low molecular weight virion-like form is found on the outer aspect of the cell membrane, while a vast majority of the higher molecular weight form is inaccessible to surface probes in its native state in the cell. Some of this higher molecular weight form is revealed on the cell membrane following mild proteolytic digestion of intact cells, but most is found in association with rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi-like membrane fractions. Defining the precise lineage and sequence relationship of these two oncornavirus glycoprotein forms is as yet incomplete; however, it appears that the gp80 form is proteolytically cleaved and sialidated at the plasma membrane to give rise to “mature” copies of gp69,71, some of which is disulfide linked to p14. Only these mature forms are accessible to surface membrane probes and are incorporated into oncornavirus-budding sites.
A quantitative morphological analysis of the cerebellar nuclei in normal and lurcher mutant mice. II. Volumetric changes in cytological components

In the present study the stereological point counting method has been used to determine volumetric changes in the cytological components of the lurcher cerebellar nuclei. The volume fraction of neuronal somata was estimated, using semithin toludine blue stained sections. Seven categories of profiles were analyzed in electron micrographs: (1) dendrites, (2) boutons on dendrites, (3) boutons on somata (4) myelinated fibers, (5) glial perikarya, (6) vascular elements, and (7) unclassified components. Volume fraction data indicate that the volumetric composition of the wild-type murine cerebellar nuclei is: 38% myelinated fibers, 8% neuronal somata, 11% dendrites, 10% boutons on dendrites, less than 1% boutons on somata, 2.5% glial somata, and 6% vascular elements. Unclassified elements, consisting primarily of glial processes and intercellular space, comprised 23% of the volume of the wild-type cerebellar nuclei. In lurcher, the loss of myelinated axons and boutons accounts for 59% of the atrophy of the cerebellar nuclei. Loss of nuclear neurons accounts for 2%, and a reduction in dendritic arbors for another 8.3% of this atrophy. The remaining 30.7% of the lost nuclear volume results from reduced volume of glial processes, vascular elements, and intercellular space. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A hybrid genetic algorithm for multiobjective problems with activity analysis-based local search

The objective of this research was the development of a method that integrated an activity analysis model of profits from production with a biophysical model, and included the capacity for optimization over multiple objectives. We specified a hybrid genetic algorithm using activity analysis as a local search method, and NSGA-II for calculation of the multiple objective Pareto optimal set. We describe a parallel computing approach to computation of the genetic algorithm, and apply the algorithm to evaluation of an input tax to regulate pollution from agricultural production.