cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trypanosoma brucei: Characterization of a Life Cycle Stage-Specific G-Protein

Abstract G-proteins have important and diverse roles in cellular signaling in higher eukaryotes but as yet little is known about the involvement of these GTP-binding proteins in protozoan parasites. Bacterial toxin-catalysed ADP-ribosylation, routinely used in the characterisation of G-proteins in higher eukaryotes, was used to determine whether functional G-protein homologues could be detected in Trypanosama brucei . A 43-kDa polypeptide that was ADP-ribosylated in the presence of pertussis toxin was identified in membrane fractions. This polypeptide was also recognised by an antibody generated against a peptide sequence representing a mammalian G O α G-protein subunit. GTP and GTPγS (a nonhydrolysable analogue of GTP) abolished the ADP-ribosylation reaction, indicating that the 43-kDa polypeptide also binds GTP. Furthermore, this T. brucei G-protein is present in bloodstream but not procyclic life cycle stages. Using an in situ GTP binding assay, a further group of small-molecular-size GTP-binding proteins which are present in both bloodstream and procyclic stages have been identified. This demonstration of G-proteins in T. brucei suggests possible intracellular mechanisms that may be involved in the transduction of host or other parasite signals.
Processing recursive XQuery over XML streams: The Raindrop approach

XML stream applications bring the challenge of efficiently processing queries on sequentially accessible token-based data. For efficient processing of queries, we need to ensure that memory usage stays low. This in turn requires that we avoid holding data in the query buffer, by outputting it at the earliest possible time. In this paper, we propose a new class of stream algebra operators for efficient recursive XQuery stream processing. Our plan generator will analyze the query, and the schema when available to determine which join operators in the query need recursive join support and thus can plug in the more inexpensive just-in-time structural join whenever possible. In particular, we propose two strategies for implementing structural joins: (a) the just-in-time structural join strategy efficiently processes joins over non-recursive XML token streams; and (b) the recursive structural join strategy supports structural joins over recursive XML substreams, however, at an added cost of generating and comparing tuple-level ID. Both structural join strategies are complemented by an automata-driven invocation mechanism that triggers the execution of each join process at the first possible moment upon recognizing the end of the targeted input stream subelement. Further, we design this StructuralJoin operator itself to be context-aware. The operator is capable of at run-time switching from the efficient just-in-time join strategy for elements that are recognized to be non-recursive to the more powerful ID-based structural join strategy for elements that are identified to be recursive. We incorporate the proposed techniques into the Raindrop stream engine. We also report on experimental studies we conducted using the ToXgene benchmark that demonstrate that the performance improvements of the techniques.
Laser chemical processing for microelectronics [Book Review]

Summary form only given, as follws. This book is a compilation of chapters by several authors consisting of a general introduction to laser-based processing and four chapters that discuss in detail several important areas of research into the possible application of lasers in microelectronic fabrication. The topics covered include metal deposition using metal-acetylacetonate precursors, laser direct writing, photocarrier-driven wet etching, and laser doping. Each of these areas is well described and ample references to the original literature are provided. Especially thorough treatments are provided on metal deposition, where discussions range from fundamental chemical considerations to deposit morphology, and laser direct write, where the discussions include detailed thermal modeling and real-time optical diagnostics of the depositing films. Indeed, the reviewer feels the chapter on direct write alone would be sufficient justification for acquiring the book. Two additional topics would be required for complete coverage of important laser chemical processing, however. Wet chemical processes that use the laser as a heat source (thermal processes) or to photolytically generate the active etchant species (photochemical processes) are only mentioned in passing. More significantly, the area of dry etching is omitted entirely. Since dry processing is the backbone of semiconductor fabrication, a chapter covering the many laser-driven dry processes that have been studied would have made this a more complete overview of potentially useful laser applications. Nevertheless, this book is a worthwhile addition to the laserprocessing literature.
Ileal conduit staple reflux: a nidus for renal calculi.

A man with an ileal conduit urinary diversion presented with microscopic hematuria. His ileal conduit was formed at another institution more than 10 years earlier. As part of his workup, a retrograde contrast study of his ileal conduit was performed. The preliminary KUB revealed two calcifications, one in the right lower quadrant and the other in the left upper quadrant (Fig. 1). Further inspection demonstrated that both stones were superimposed on fine intestinal staples (Fig. 2A, B). The operative report confirmed usage of an intestinal stapling device to close the proximal end of the ileal conduit. Retrograde contrast into the ileal conduit illustrates the presence of both stones within the urinary tract and encasing intestinal staples. The left renal stone demonstrates staple reflux into a lower pole renal calyx (Fig. 3A, B). An exhaustive MEDLINE search revealed 1 prior reported case of staple reflux from urinary diversions.1 Patients with urinary diversions are at increased risk for urinary tract calculi.2 This case illustrates a theoretical concern with the use of permanent stapling material in urinary diversions. With time, the staples can migrate into the lumen of the urinary diversion and act as a nidus for calculi.
Review article: historic changes of Helicobacter pylori-associated diseases.

Summary Background The long-term time trends of multiple gastrointestinal diseases are characterised by a striking rise and fall. These temporal changes provide important clues about disease aetiology. Aim To highlight the importance of Helicobacter pylori infection in shaping the temporal trends of many common gastrointestinal diseases. Methods Literature review of the time trends associated with common digestive diseases. Results The general trends of gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, colon cancer, rectum cancer have all been shaped by a similar underlying birth-cohort phenomenon. Mortality associated with these diagnoses increased in all generations born during the nineteenth century. It peaked among generations born shortly before the turn of the century and then decreased in all subsequent generations born throughout the twentieth century. These patterns can be observed in the incidence, hospitalisation and mortality data from many different countries. They reflect similar rising and falling trends of H. pylori infection in the general population. Diseases that are inversely associated with H. pylori, such as reflux disease, erosive oesophagitis, Barrett's oesophagus, and oesophageal adenocarcinoma, have seen a striking rise during the recent decline of H. pylori infection. Conclusion The temporal variations of H. pylori infection have affected the occurrence of gastroenterology's most common disorders.
Effects of picture presentations on customers' behavioral intentions on the web.

SUMMARY As the Web is becoming a major communication channel to bridge hotels and customers, great marketing efforts have been made to attract new customers and repeat business. A wide variety of studies have been conducted to identify factors that could affect customers' purchase behavior on the Web. Little research, however, has been documented that assessed the effects different pictures presented on the Web had on customers' online purchase behavior. Based on the content analyses with 203 existing hotel Websites, this study examined the potential effects of Website format, Website contents, and Website realism on customers' behavioral intentions. Results indicate that the content and realism of picture presentations are important predictors of customers' attitudes toward the Website. The attitudes appear to be a strong predictor of behavioral intentions on the Web. Suggestions and implications are included for the lodging industry and future research.
An evaluation of the taxonomic distinctness of two Geonoma macrostachys (Arecaceae) varieties based on intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) variation

The latest taxonomic account for the palms of the Amazon recognizes two common and widespread varieties of Geonoma macrostachys (Arecaceae) in western Amazonia: acaulis and macrostachys. These varieties are joined by intermediates, which obscure their taxonomic boundaries. An evaluation of the genetic distinctness between G. macrostachys varieties at a local and regional scale is presented. Thirty-one G. macrostachys individuals were randomly sampled from four Peruvian tropical moist forests. Twenty-seven intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers were used, and all clear and reproducible bands were scored and analysed. Of the 99 ISSR bands produced, 51.52% were polymorphic. Nei’s gene diversity value (H) was 0.2274 and Shannon’s information index (I) was 0.3237. Clustering, ordination, and analyses of molecular variance (AMOVAs) suggested a lack of genetic distinctness between varieties at the regional level. Individuals clustered by geographical provenance, and two main groups were identified. A significant genetic differentiation between sympatric varieties occurred only in the northern locality (ΦST = 0.359, P = 0.000). A hierarchical AMOVA revealed that the genetic diversity in G. macrostachys mainly lies between localities (76.58%). Mantel’s test revealed no significant correlation between the geographical and genetic distances between individuals. We do not support the recognition of the two taxonomic varieties studied. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 153, 381–392.
Identification of missense, nonsense, and deletion mutations in the GRHPR gene in patients with primary hyperoxaluria type II (PH2)

Primary hyperoxaluria type II (PH2) is a rare disease characterized by the absence of an enzyme with glyoxylate reductase, hydroxypyruvate reductase, and D-glycerate dehydrogenase activities. The gene encoding this enzyme (GRHPR) has been characterized, and a single mutation has been detected in four PH2 patients. In this report, we have identified five novel mutations. One nonsense mutation (C295T) results in a premature stop codon at codon 99. A 4-bp deletion mutation has been found in the 5' consensus splice site of intron D, resulting in a predicted splicing error. Three missense mutations have been detected, including a missense transversion (T965G) in exon 9 (Met322Arg), a missense transition (G494A) in the putative co-factor binding site in exon 6 (Gly165Asp), and a substitution of an adenosine for a guanine in the 3' splice site of intron G. The functional consequences of the missense transversion and transition mutations have been investigated by transfection of cDNA encoding the mutated protein into COS cells. Cells transfected with either mutant construct have no enzymatic activity, a finding that is not significantly different from the control (empty) vector (P<0.05). These results further confirm that mutations in the GRHPR gene form the genetic basis of PH2. Ten of the 11 patients that we have genotyped are homozygous for one of the six mutations identified to date. Because of this high proportion of homozygotes, we have used microsatellite markers in close linkage with the GRHPR gene to investigate the possibility that the patients are the offspring of related individuals. Our data suggest that two thirds of our patients are the offspring of either closely or distantly related persons. Furthermore, genotyping has revealed the possible presence of a founder effect for the two most common mutations and the location of the gene near the marker D9S1874.
Instantaneous Feedback Controlled PWM Inverter with Adaptive Hysteresis

A new control strategy for a PWM inverter controlled through adaptive hysteresis in an instantaneous feedback loop is theoretically analyzed and verified through simulations and a low-power experimental circuit. This control gives excellent performance under various load conditions, and it is especially effective in reducing load injected harmonics.
Protein kinase C activator PMA reduces the Ca2+ response to antigen stimulation of adherent RBL-2H3 mucosal mast cells by inhibiting depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores

Activation of protein kinase C has been shown to reduce the Ca(2+) responses of a variety of cell types. In most cases, the reduction is due to inhibition of Ca(2+) influx, but acceleration of Ca(2+) efflux and inhibition of Ca(2+) store depletion by protein kinase C activation have also been described. For adherent RBL-2H3 mucosal mast cells, results from whole-cell patch clamp experiments suggest that protein kinase C activation reduces Ca(2+) influx, while experiments with intact, fura-2-loaded cells suggest that Ca(2+) influx is not affected. Here we present single-cell data from Ca(2+) imaging experiments with adherent RBL-2H3 cells, showing that antigen-stimulated Ca(2+) responses of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-treated cells are more transient than those of control cells. PMA also reduced the response to antigen in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+), indicating that depletion of intracellular Ca(2+) stores is inhibited. If PMA was added after stores had been depleted by thapsigargin, a small decrease in [Ca(2+)](i) was observed, consistent with a slight inhibition of Ca(2+) influx. However, the major effect of PMA on the antigen-stimulated Ca(2+) response is to inhibit depletion of intracellular Ca(2+) stores. We also show that inhibition of protein kinase C did not enhance the Ca(2+) response to antigen, suggesting that inhibition of the Ca(2+) response by activation of protein kinase C does not contribute to the physiological response to antigen.
Operating systems development: driving forces, critical steps, decision processes

Operating systems for server environments are seen as mature entities of Information Technology. The most visible Software Architecture enhancements are done on the middleware or even the application layers. Nevertheless operating systems lay out the architectural base for the higher software levels. Especially an operating system like z/OS for IBM mainframe servers highly interacts with middleware for assuring advanced quality of service attributes.This presentation will take a look at the development process of an operating system component of z/OS. We will take a look at the driving forces which lead to new developments or enhancements and the critical steps of the development process which ensure a high quality standard. At the end we will discuss an example how a decision for a functional enhancement is reached and which driving forces all need to be considered to come to the final conclusion.
Rapakivi texture from the O’Leary Porphyry, Arizona (U.S.A.)

The rhyodactic O’Leary Porphyry which forms the Pleistocene (0.233±0.37 m.y.) volcanic domes of O’Leary Peak and Darton Dome in the San Francisco Volcanic Field (northern Arizona, U.S.A.) contains sanidine phenocrysts with oligoclase mantles (rapakivi texture). Rapakivi texture occurs worldwide in silicic rocks of many ages and has been attributed to various igneous and metamorphic processes. The O’Leary Porphyry contains both mantled and unmantled sanidine (both are Or63–69 Ab30–36An1), oligoclase and quartz phenocrysts, labradorite (An53Ab45Or2) and kaersutite xenocrysts and andesite xenoliths. The compositional range of oligoclase is the same (An11–26Ab70–80Orr–10) for the rapakivi mantles, the oligoclase phenocrysts, and the oligoclase crystals poikilitic within sanidines. Most mantles are discontinuous. The sanidine appears to have been resorbed prior to mantling. Experimental melting studies on the O’Leary Prophyry show that, for a 15 wgt.% water system, plagioclase crystallized prior to sanidine and quartz crystallized last. The O’Leary Porphyry, although inhomogeneous, plots on a Q-Or-Ab-An diagram well within the plagioclase stability field. Poikilitic plagioclases within sanidines further support crystallization of plagioclase prior to sanidine in the O’Leary Porphyry. Exsolution of a ternary feldspar to form a plagioclase mantle is the most commonly accepted igneous theory of rapakivi texture formation but has been eliminated as the origin of the O’Leary Porphyry rapakivi. Petrologic models by Tuttle and Bowen and by Stewart are rejected for the O’Leary rapakivi because of inconsistencies with the O’Leary occurrences. Two theories are viable for the O’Leary rapakivi texture. First, is a decrease in water vapor pressure which would enlarge the plagioclase stability field possibility causing mantling of metastable sanidines. The second and preferred theory is that of an addition of sodium and calcium by basification (chemical assimilation without melting) of the xenoliths within the O’Leary Porphyry. This would move the bulk composition of the melt into the plagioclase field possibly resulting in crystallization of plagioclase on sanidine crystals. Diffusion of sodium and calcium from the xenoliths to sanidine would result in mantling only those crystals near to the xenoliths. Later, convection would result in distribution throughout the melt of rapakivi, unmantled sanidines, and xenolithic kaersutite as is seen in the porphyry. Basic xenoliths are extremely common in rapakivi-bearing rocks. Those within the O’Leary Porphyry are andesitic and show resorption, and in some areas of O’Leary Peak itself, have been drawn out into schlieren.
Participant-centered analysis in complementary and alternative medicine comparative trials.

Participant-centered analysis involves applying the customary methods of statistical decision making at the level of the individual research participant. Consequently, each individual is declared a responder who benefited, a nonresponder, or possibly a responder who was harmed, using intensively collected data that were specific to that individual. There are several implications of the participant-centered approach. More data actually relevant to the important outcome need to be collected on individuals. The study results can be summarized in a simple table of responders/nonresponders by treatment group, and probabilities of true response can be estimated. The actual nature of the data collected and the statistical models used to analyze them drop into the background. Finally, production of individual-level decisions permits standard statistical approaches to be applied to the issue of which modality should be recommended for which person, instead of focusing on average effects and which modality should b...
Pharmacokinetics of multiple oral doses of selected polychlorinated biphenyls in mice.

Abstract The disposition of multiple oral doses of selected polychlorinated biphenyls, 4-chloro-, 4,4′-dichloro-, 2,4,5,2′,5′-pentachloro-, and 2,4,5,2′,4′,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl, were studied in mice. The rate of metabolism and excretion decreased with increasing chlorination but was most profoundly affected by the elimination of adjacent unsubstituted carbon atoms. Accumulation occurred mainly in adipose tissue, skin, and muscle. The tissue distribution for a particular polychlorinated biphenyl was found to be similar regardless of the route of administration and the number of doses. The fecal excretion rates of pentachloro- or hexachlorobiphenyl following multiple oral doses could be predicted from the excretion rates obtained after a single iv dose. Conservative lower limits and liberal upper limits of pentachloro- or hexachlorobiphenyl body burdens, following a single iv or multiple oral doses, were estimated by pharmacokinetic analysis of the fecal excretion rates observed after a single iv dose. Estimates of minimum body burden were based on a two-compartment open model, whereas estimates of the maximum body burden were based on a model that included a third, permanent retention, compartment. The experimental body burdens fell between the predicted upper and lower limit values. At a dose of 0.6 mg/kg/day, a steady state was obtained within 2 days with either monochloro- or dichlorobiphenyl, whereas pharmacokinetic analysis based on the two-compartment model predicted that it would require at least 15 days to reach steady state with the pentachlorobiphenyl and at least 7 weeks with the hexachlorobiphenyl.
Soybean Light Interception and Yield Response to Row Spacing and Biomass Removal

Biomass removal effects on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] light interception and yield under different row spacings have not been documented. Objectives for this study were to evaluate biomass re moval, light interception, seed yield, and yield components of soybean under seven clipping treatments. Treatments in this study were clipping at V5. R1. R4, V5 + R1, V5 + R4, R1 + R4, and V5 + R1 + R4, and a control in 18- or 20-cm and 76-cm rows. In 1998, a dry year, biomass removal exhibited a negative linear relationship with seed yield in narrow rows (r 2 = 0.62). A row spacing-clipping interaction was observed. In wide rows, clipping at V5 or R1 produced a compensatory response by increasing yield 12 and 5%, respectively. Generally, soyhean in 76-cm rows maintained seed yield by adjusting the number of pods or seed weight, except when clipping occurred at V5 + R4 or at three growth stages. In 1999, under severe moisture stress, row spacing influenced seed yield. Averaged across clipping treatments, narrow rows yielded 16% more (301 vs. 254 g m -2 ) than wide rows. Generally, soybean yield declined as clipping timing was delayed and as clipping frequency increased in narrow rows, except when clipping occurred at V5 + R1. Clipping at V5 and V5 - R1 did not affect yield in wide rows. All other clipping treatments suffered yield reductions ranging from 20 to 58%. A quadratic relationship (R 2 = 0.83) was observed between biomass removal and seed yield.
Controllable synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotube framework membranes and capsules.

Controlling the morphology of membrane components at the nanometer scale is central to many next-generation technologies in water purification, gas separation, fuel cell, and nanofiltration applications. Toward this end, we report the covalent assembly of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) into three-dimensional framework materials with intertube pores controllable by adjusting the size of organic linker molecules. The frameworks are fashioned into multilayer membranes possessing linker spacings from 1.7 to 3.0 nm, and the resulting framework films were characterized, including transport properties. Nanoindentation measurements by atomic force microscopy show that the spring constant of the SWNT framework film (22.6 ± 1.2 N/m) increased by a factor of 2 from the control value (10.4 ± 0.1 N/m). The flux ratio comparison in a membrane-permeation experiment showed that larger spacer sizes resulted in larger pore structures. This synthetic method was equally efficient on silica microspheres, which could t...
Pursuing moral outrage: Anger at torture

Abstract Moral outrage—anger at violation of a moral standard—should be distinguished from anger at the harm caused by standard-violating behavior. Recent research that used experimental manipulation to disentangle these different forms of anger found evidence of personal and empathic anger, but not of moral outrage. We sought to extend this research by assessing anger at a more extreme moral violation: torture. If the person tortured is a member of one’s group (nationality), anger may not be over the moral violation but over the harm done to one of “us.” In an experiment designed to create the necessary appraisal conditions, we found clear evidence of identity-relevant personal anger (anger when a person from one’s nationality is tortured) but little evidence of moral outrage (anger even when a person from an identity-irrelevant nationality is tortured). Implications for understanding moral emotion and moral motivation are discussed.
The influence of oxide and adsorbates on the nanomechanical response of silicon surfaces

In this article we report the influence of surface oxides and relative humidity on the nanomechanical response of hydrophobic and hydrophilic Si surfaces. Depth-sensing nanoindentation combined with force modulation enabled measurement of surface forces, surface energy, and interaction stiffness prior to contact. Several regimes of contact were investigated: pre-contact, apparent contact, elastic contact, and elasto-plastic contact. Both humidity and surface preparation influenced the surface mechanical properties in the pre- and apparent-contact regimes. Meniscus formation was observed for both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces at high humidity. Influence of humidity was much less pronounced on hydrophobic surfaces and was fully reversible. In the elastic and elasto-plastic regimes, the mechanical response was dependent on oxide layer thickness. Irreversibility at small loads (300 nN) was due to the deformation of the surface oxide. Above 1 μN, the deformation was elastic until the mean contact pressure reached 11 GPa, whereby Si underwent a pressure-induced phase transformation resulting in oxide layer pop-in and breakthrough. The critical load required for pop-in was dependent on oxide thickness and tip radius. For thicker oxide layers, substrate influence was reduced and plastic deformation occurred within the oxide film itself without pop-in. Elastic modulus and hardness of both the oxide layer and Si substrate were measured quantitatively for depths <5 nm.
Time Symmetry in the Quantum Process of Measurement

We examine the assertion that the "reduction of the wave packet," implicit in the quantum theory of measurement introduces into the foundations of quantum physics a time-asymmetric element, which in turn leads to irreversibility. We argue that this time assymmetry is actually related to the manner in which statistical ensembles are constructed. If we construct an ensemble time symmetrically by using both initial and final states of the system to delimit the sample, then the resulting probability distribution turns out to be time symmetric as well. The conventional expressions for prediction as well as those for "retrodiction" may be recovered from the time-symmetric expressions formally by separating the final (or the initial) selection procedure from the measurements under consideration by sequences of "coherence destroying" manipulations. We can proceed from this situation, which resembles prediction, to true prediction (which does not involve any postselection) by adding to the time-symmetric theory a postulate which asserts that ensembles with unambiguous probability distributions may be constructed on the basis of preselection only. If, as we believe, the validity of this postulate and the falsity of its time reverse result from the macroscopic irreversibility of our universe as a whole, then the basic laws of quantum physics, including those referring to measurements, are as completely time symmetric as the laws of classical physics. As a by-product of our analysis, we also find that during the time interval between two noncommuting observations, we may assign to a system the quantum state corresponding to the observation that follows with as much justification as we assign, ordinarily, the state corresponding to the preceding measurement.
Botticelli: a supply chain management agent designed to optimize under uncertainty

The paper describes the design of the agent BOTTICELLI, a finalist in the 2003 Trading Agent Competition in Supply Chain Management (TAC SCM). In TAC SCM, a simulated computer manufacturing scenario, BOTTICELLI competes with other agents to win customer orders and negotiates with suppliers to procure the components necessary to complete its orders. We formalize subproblems that dictate BOTTICELLI's behavior. Stochastic programming approaches to bidding and scheduling are developed in attempt to solve these problems optimally. In addition, we describe greedy methods that yield useful approximations. Test results compare the performance and computational effciency of these two techniques.
Anabolic-androgenic steroid induced alterations in choline acetyltransferase messenger RNA levels of spinal cord motoneurons in the male rat

The effect of chronic supraphysiological doses of anabolic-androgenic steroids, such as those illegally used by recreational, amateur and professional athletes to increase muscle mass and strength, on motoneurons has not been established. The choline acetyltransferase activity levels of perineal muscles in the male rat are modulated by plasma testosterone levels. These muscles are innervated by the sexually dimorphic motoneurons of the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus. Since the primary source of choline acetyltransferase in muscle is motoneuronal, testosterone may modulate perineal muscle choline acetyltransferase activity by regulating choline acetyltransferase messenger RNA levels in motoneurons. The purpose of this study was to determine if choline acetyltransferase messenger RNA levels in cervical and lumbar spinal motoneurons are affected by chronic (four weeks) changes of plasma testosterone levels in the adult male rat. Using in situ hybridization, choline acetyltransferase messenger RNA levels were analysed in four motor columns: the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus, the retrodorsal lateral nucleus of the lumbar spinal cord, and the lateral motor columns of the cervical and lumbar spinal cords. Chronic exposure to supraphysiological levels of testosterone (five- to ten-times physiologic levels) significantly increased choline acetyltransferase messenger RNA in all four motor columns. Subsequent to castration, choline acetyltransferase messenger RNA levels decreased in motoneurons of the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus and the retrodorsal lateral nucleus. This observation suggests that the decrease in choline acetyltransferase activity levels of muscles innervated by spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus motoneurons may be due to changes in choline acetyltransferase protein levels. Indeed, testosterone replacement therapy of castrated males prevented the decline of choline acetyltransferase messenger RNA levels in motoneurons. The results of this study demonstrate that anabolic-androgenic steroids can affect the levels of specific messenger RNAs in motoneuron populations throughout the spinal cord suggesting that motoneuronal characteristics are modulated by circulating anabolic-androgenic steroid levels regardless of the purported "androgen sensitivity" of the specific neuromuscular system.
Easy A, or, Who's Your Daddy: The Scarlet Letter Once More

Will Gluck's new teen adaptation of Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter stars a perky Emma Stone who steals the film as Olive Penderghast. Like Clueless, the story takes place in a California high school where Olive is enrolled. Hawthorne's novel has been adapted to film numerous times since the beginning of cinema, though never very well, and Easy A enjoys staging its own relation- ship to the most unfaithful adaptations, including the notorious Roland Joffe version with Demi Moore. When we shift our assumption about which character from the novel Olive represents, we discover a hidden theme of the film, one never fully adopted but cunningly introduced through sly references to Leslie Fiedler's reading of another American classic, Huckleberry Finn. Easy A drops the theme of unwanted pregnancy so important to Hawthorne's tale. Yet, the nod towards clos- eted sexuality that this allows is not fully sustained by the drive towards a happy ending.
L₂ Kernel Classification

Nonparametric kernel methods are widely used and proven to be successful in many statistical learning problems. Well--known examples include the kernel density estimate (KDE) for density estimation and the support vector machine (SVM) for classification. We propose a kernel classifier that optimizes the L2 or integrated squared error (ISE) of a “difference of densities.” We focus on the Gaussian kernel, although the method applies to other kernels suitable for density estimation. Like a support vector machine (SVM), the classifier is sparse and results from solving a quadratic program. We provide statistical performance guarantees for the proposed L2 kernel classifier in the form of a finite sample oracle inequality and strong consistency in the sense of both ISE and probability of error. A special case of our analysis applies to a previously introduced ISE-based method for kernel density estimation. For dimensionality greater than 15, the basic L2 kernel classifier performs poorly in practice. Thus, we extend the method through the introduction of a natural regularization parameter, which allows it to remain competitive with the SVM in high dimensions. Simulation results for both synthetic and real-world data are presented.
Theoretical Model for Water Diffusion in Tissues

Water diffusion in a tissue model is studied both analytically and numerically. Tissue is regarded as a periodic array of boxes surrounded by partially permeable membranes (cells), embedded in an extracellular medium. intracellular and extracellular diffusion coefficients may differ. Expressions for the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) in isotropic and nonisotropic tissues are derived and compared with Monte Carlo simulations. Calculated ADCs disagree with values obtained from the widely used "fast exchange" formula. Effects of differences between intracellular and extracellular T2 relaxation times on measured values of ADC and T2 are discussed. The general analysis is specifically applied to the changes occurring in ADC following ischemic insults to brain tissue. It is found that although membranes affect ADC significantly, the observed changes in diffusion cannot be due to reduced membrane permeabilities. They may result from the combined effect of changes in cellular volume fraction, extracellular and intracellular diffusion.
Interfacial kinetics of titanium- and cobalt-based implant alloys in human serum: metal release and biofilm formation.

The biocompatibility of metallic implant surfaces is governed in large part by the interfacial kinetics associated with metal release and protein binding. The kinetics of metal release from, and protein binding to, cobalt- and titanium-based implant alloys in human serum were investigated by (1) measuring the temporal release of Cr and Ti into serum from Co-Cr-Mo (ASTM F-75) and Ti implant alloys (Ti-6Al-4V: ASTM F136, and commercially pure Ti, cpTi: ASTM F67), respectively; (2) examining the composition of human serum proteins adsorbed onto the surfaces of Co- and Ti-based implant alloys; and (3) identifying the serum proteins associated with the binding of soluble Cr and Ti degradation products. Analysis of metal dissolution kinetics found that Cr was released from Co-based implant alloy at an order of magnitude higher than Ti was released from Ti-based implant alloys. Serum became saturated with soluble CR and Ti at levels as high as 3,250 ng/mL Ti from cpTi; 3,750 ng/mL Ti from Ti-6Al-4V; and 35,400 ng/mL Cr from Co-Cr-Mo degradation. The observation that human serum binds more released metal from Co-based alloy dissolution was consistent with the observed differences in biofilm composition between the two alloys, where additional serum protein(s) of approximately ≈140 (kDa) molecular weight were detected on Co-based implant alloy surfaces. However, both Cr and Ti released from Co- and Ti-based alloys exhibited a bimodal binding pattern to both low molecular weight serum protein(s) (<32 kDa), and to higher molecular weight protein(s) in the 180–250 kDa range. Identification of metal alloy–dependent biofilm compositions and dissolution products provides the basis for understanding the bioavailability and bioreactivity of these implant alloys and their degradation products. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 65A: 311–318, 2003
Deep-dwelling planktonic foraminifera of the northeastern Pacific Ocean reveal environmental control of oxygen and carbon isotopic disequilibria

Abstract We assess the utility of four species of living planktonic foraminifera as tracers of thermocline and intermediate water masses in the northern Pacific Ocean, based on their water-column distribution and shell isotopic composition. Assuming oxygen isotopic equilibria with the water column, we infer apparent calcification depths. This allows an estimate of apparent carbon isotopic disequilibria. We then relax the assumption of oxygen isotopic equilibrium to examine habitat effects on kinetic disequilibrium processes. In the California Current, left-coiling Neogloboquadrina pachyderma and Globigerina calida calcify in the upper thermocline. Globorotalia scitula resides within the Shallow Salinity Minumum (potential density σ θ = 25.1–26.7), while Globoquadrina hexagona is associated with the deeper, North Pacific Intermediate Water (σ θ = 26.7–26.9). Apparent carbon isotopic disequilibria corrected for oxygen isotopic disequilibria, range from 1.0–1.9‰ in these asymbiotic species. The carbon isotopic disequilibrium can be modeled as a single exponential function of temperature or a logarithmic function of potential food supply. We infer that carbon isotopic disequilibrium increases with metabolic rate, related to temperature and/or food supply. Kinetic processes of oxygen and carbon isotopic disequilibria yields reasonable depth habitats if the slope of the oxygen:carbon isotopic shift is about 0.35, consistent with culture data. Our finding of a link between environment, metabolism, and isotopic disequilibrium observed in oceanic settings suggests the potential to better reconstruct the structure and biological processes of the upper water column from geologic data.
The mechanism of the decomposition of methanethiol on Fe(100)

Abstract The mechanism of decomposition of methanethiol on the clean Fe(100) surface, and the Fe(100) surface modified by sulfur has been investigated. Temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy, high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been used to investigate the adsorption and decomposition of methanethiol on these surfaces. At low coverage, methanethiol undergoes SH bond scission upon adsorption at temperatures as low as 102 K. In the case of multilayer adsorption, associative CH 3 SH is also detected. Thermal decomposition of methanethiol on the Fe(100) surface results in the formation of methane (CH 4 ) and hydrogen (H 2 ). The amount of CH 4 formed increases as methanethiol coverage is increased, while the production of H 2 shows a maximum as a function of coverage. On a c(2 × 2)S-Fe(100) surface almost all adsorbed CH 3 SH desorbs without decomposition. Thiomethoxy (−SCH 3 ) and methyl (−CH 3 ) are identified as surface intermediates during thermal decomposition of CH 3 SH, using HREELS. The existence of these intermediates is supported by XPS data. A mechanism for the decomposition involving the thiomethoxy and methyl intermediates is proposed.
The ischemic window: a method for the objective quantitation of the training effect in exercise therapy for intermittent claudication

Twenty-two patients with intermittent claudication were prospectively enrolled in a 12-week program of supervised, graded treadmill exercise therapy. Severity and distribution of arterial occlusive disease were ascertained by noninvasive determination of segmental lower extremity blood pressures and waveforms. No attempt was made to modify risk factors for atherosclerotic occlusive disease. The exercise-induced reduction of the ankle pressure and its recovery were recorded over time, and the area under this curve, the "ischemic window," represents the severity of the ischemic deficit. Absolute systolic ankle pressure, ankle-brachial index, maximum walking time, claudication pain time, and the ischemic window were measured before and after exercise training in all subjects. Maximum walking time and claudication pain time increased 659% and 846%, respectively, among the 19 patients completing the 12-week program (p = 0.001; p = 0.0002). These patients underwent a mean reduction of 58.7% in the ischemic window after a standardized workload (p less than 0.05), and this correlated with the degree of symptomatic improvement. Absolute ankle pressure and ankle-brachial index were unchanged after exercise training. This study confirms the utility of supervised exercise therapy in the treatment of intermittent claudication. The ischemic window is a useful method for quantifying the ischemic deficit produced by exercise and provides a reproducible means of documenting functional improvement in patients undergoing exercise training.
Inhibition of aromatase activity and growth suppression by 4-methoxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione in an androgen sensitive human prostatic carcinoma cell line

Abstract Aromatization of testosterone to estradiol was investigated in a human prostatic carcinoma cell line, LNCaP. A saturable, dose and time-dependent aromatization of testosterone was observed. Kinetic parameters, K m (201 nM) and V max (0.76 pmol/h per mg) and also the inhibition constants ( K i ) for various aromatase inhibitors were calculated from standard Lineweaver-Burke plots. The steroidal aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (4-OHA) and its derivative, 4-methoxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (4-OMA), inhibited aromatization of testosterone in a competitive pattern of inhibition. The derivative 4-OMA is the stronger inhibitor of the two, with an apparent K i of 1.12 μM, whereas the apparent K i of 4-OHA is 3.28 μM. Long term incubation with 4-OMA suppressed proliferative activity of LNCaP cells in the presence of physiological levels of testosterone (10 −10 M to 10 −7 M). In contrast, 4-OHA was a growth promoter. These results suggest a potential role for aromatase in hormone responsive prostate cancer.
Multidimensional pattern recognition problems and combining classifiers

Abstract An algebraic approach for solving multidimensional supervised pattern recognition problems is considered. The original problem is first partitioned to a number of individual problems of lower dimensions. Then the optimal output classifier is constructed by combining classifiers for the individual problems.
Calcium and magnesium sequestration by sodium and potassium polyphosphates

The sequestration of calcium by polyphosphates in the presence of oxalate as a precipitating agent is reported at 25 and 60C in the pH range of 5–12. Sequestration increased with temperature. The sensitivity of sequestration to pH changes decreased with increase in the chain length of the polyphosphates. Magnesium sequestration by polyphosphates in the presence of sodium oleate is given at pH values of 10.5 and 9.0. In dilute solution with pH values higher than 9.5, tripolyphosphate and pyrophosphate were found to be the most effective calcium and magnesium polyphosphate sequestrants on a weight basis, respectively. The results are discussed from a semi-theoretical viewpoint.
Speeding up Exponentiation using an Untrusted Computational Resource

We present protocols for speeding up fixed-base variable-exponent exponentiation and variable-base fixed-exponent exponentiation using an untrusted computational resource. In the fixed-base protocols, the exponent may be blinded. In the variable-base protocols, the base may be blinded. The protocols are described for exponentiation in a cyclic group. We describe how to extend them to exponentiation modulo an integer where the modulus is the product of primes with single multiplicity. The protocols provide a speedup of $$\frac{3}{2}((\log k)-1)$$ over the square-and-multiply algorithm, where k is the bitlength of the exponent. One application of the protocols is to speed up exponentiation-based verification in discrete log-based signature and credential schemes. The protocols also allow signature verifiers to dynamically choose, for each message, the amount of work it would like to perform to verify the signature. This results in a work-security tradeoff. We introduce a fifth protocol to perform variable-base variable- exponent exponentiation, which also has this feature. Our model allows the trusted resource to perform computations in its idle time. The protocols facilitate the offloading of work to the offline stage, such that the work the trusted resource performs when it has to do an exponentiation is smaller. Our protocols are unconditionally secure.
Analyzing power in below 15 MeV

Abstract Analyzing powers, A y , were measured for protons elastically scattered from a natural silicon target from 5 to 15 MeV. The results indicate that silicon has only limited usefulness as a polarimeter for protons in this energy range.
Is Nutritional Status Associated With Self-reported Sleep Quality in the HEMO Study Cohort?

Objectives To explore the relationship between sleep quality and common measures of nutritional status in the Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study cohort. To investigate sleep quality scores based on longitudinal changes in measures of nutritional status, adjusting for case mix, lifestyle, and comorbidity factors. Design Secondary analysis of the HEMO Study data. Setting A 7-year, prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Patients Eighteen hundred forty-six patients aged between 18 and 80 years were randomized; 1,803 (97.7%) completed the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Long Form (KDQOL-LF) at baseline. Mean age was 58 years, 44% were male, 64% were Black, 37% had diabetes, and 32% had hypertension; mean duration of dialysis was 3.8 years. Main Outcome Measures The univariate and multivariate relationships of measures of nutritional status (i.e., serum albumin, serum creatinine, postdialysis weight, body mass index, dietary protein and energy intake, and assessment of appetite) and sleep quality assessed using the sleep subscale from the KDQOL-LF. Results In univariate analysis, sleep quality score decreased significantly in a linear fashion as appetite rating decreased from very good to very poor on both dialysis days (63.6 ± 21.8 to 43.6 ± 22.9, P P β = 0.49, P = .0004). Poorer appetite on both dialysis days ( β = −1.5, P β = −1.7, P Conclusions Self-reported sleep quality was associated with appetite and serum creatinine. A simple questionnaire to assess sleep disorders in dialysis patients should be administered routinely to detect those patients at risk of sleep complaints. However, further studies are needed to determine whether improving sleep quality, directly or indirectly, would improve morbidity and mortality.