cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A method for effectively comparing gene effects in multiple conditions in RNAi and expression-profiling research.

Aim: To develop a new analytical method to address the issues of traditional contrast analysis for comparing gene effects in RNAi and expression-profiling research. Methods & results: I propose a new method consisting of contrast variable, standardized mean of contrast (SMC) and c+-probability analysis for comparing gene effects in multiple conditions. Compared with traditional contrast analysis, this new method has the following major advantages: it directly addresses the primary question of interest, namely the assessment of the strength of comparison; SMC and c+-probability capture data variability and are robust to sample size. The simulation and application studies show that traditional contrast analysis produces misleading results and erroneous conclusions whereas the new method produces reasonable results and sensible conclusions. Conclusions: The new method may have a broad utility in comparing gene effects in multiple conditions including selecting hits in RNAi research and identifying differenti...
Pulsed EPR studies of polycrystalline cesium hexamethyl hexacyclen sodide

The electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) technique of pulsed EPR spectroscopy has been used to measure weak133Cs hyperfine couplings to trapped electrons in polycrystalline cesium hexamethyl hexacyclen sodide. Two magnetically distinct groups of weakly coupled133Cs nuclei were found — one with an isotropic electron-nuclear hyperfine (Fermi contact) coupling of 0.34 MHz and the other with a contact coupling less than 0.1 MHz. Analysis of these data, by computer simulation, shows that the number of Cs nuclei that give rise to these interactions and their distance from the paramagnetic center is consistent with the hypothesis that the trapped electrons occupy vacant anion sites. The results indicate that the spread of unpaired electron spin density, along the axis formed by the “contact ion pair,” may be greater than that in the plane perpendicular to this axis.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus/Human Herpesvirus 8 Transcriptional Activator Rta Is an Oligomeric DNA-Binding Protein That Interacts with Tandem Arrays of Phased A/T-Trinucleotide Motifs

Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) encodes an immediate early transcriptional activator, Rta, which mediates viral reactivation from latency and lytic viral replication. Here we report the purification and characterizations of HHV-8 Rta and its interaction with Rta-responsive DNA elements. The Rta response element (RtaRE) in the promoter of the KSHV/HHV-8 K8 open reading frame was mapped to a 47-bp sequence (RtaRE1) and a 60-bp sequence (RtaRE2) upstream of the TATA motif. A comparison of the K8 RtaREs with other viral RtaREs revealed a pattern of multiple A/T triplets spaced with a periodicity of 10 or 20 bp. Substitutions of the in-phase A/T trinucleotides of the RtaRE1 with G/C bases greatly diminished Rta responsiveness and Rta binding. By contrast, base substitutions in an out-of-phase A/T-trinucleotide sequence had no effect. Importantly, multimers of (A/T)(3)N(7) and N(5)(A/T)(5)N(6)(A/T)(4) motifs supported a strong Rta response in a copy number-dependent manner. No specific sequence motifs in the spacer regions could be discerned. Potent Rta response, however, was obtained with phased A/T trinucleotides with 7-bp spacers of arbitrary sequences with high G/C content. Lengthening of the phased A/T motifs or lowering of the G/C content of the spacers resulted in a reduction in Rta response. Finally, Escherichia coli-derived Rta is an oligomer of 440 kDa in molecular size and binds RtaRE as an oligomer. These results support a model of Rta transactivation wherein the subunits of the Rta oligomer make multiple contacts with a tandem array of phased A/T triplets in the configuration of (A/T)(3)(G/C)(7) repeats.
Sculpting the visual map: the distribution and function of serotonin-1A and serotonin-1B receptors in the optic tectum of the frog

Abstract Agonists of serotonin (5-HT)-1 receptors modulate the synaptic strength of the connection between retinal ganglion cells and neurons of the frog optic tectum in brain slices (Brain Res. 1998;781:167–181). We have now used autoradiographic receptor binding techniques to determine the location of 5-HT 1A and 5-HT 1B binding sites in the laminated optic tectum. 5-HT 1A binding sites, as labeled with [ 3 H]8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin (8-OH-DPAT), were highest in the superficial, retinorecipient layers of the tectum, intermediate in layers 6 and 7 and low in the remaining layers. Binding densities in all of these layers were unaffected by optic nerve lesion. 5-HT 1B binding sites were visualized using [ 125 I]iodocyanopindolol (ICYP). Binding densities were highest in the plexiform layers 5 and 7 and intermediate in layers 6 and 8. Binding sites were present at low levels in layer 9; however, optic nerve lesion resulted in a strong upregulation of these sites in this layer. Pharmacological manipulation of receptor activation resulted in changes in the activity-dependent visual map that is created at the tectum by retinal ganglion cell terminals. Chronic treatment of the tectum with SB-224289, a selective antagonist of 5-HT 1B receptors, disrupted the topographic map. In contrast, exposure to WAY-100635, a selective antagonist of 5-HT 1A receptors, refined it. We conclude that both 5-HT 1A and 5-HT 1B receptors are present in the adult frog tectum and that changes in their activation levels can produce changes in retinotectal transmission levels that drive visual plasticity in opposite directions.
Power-law scaling in human EEG: relation to Fourier power spectrum

Abstract We discuss a method of analyzing spontaneous human EEG time series, which emphasizes scale-independent behavior. We use detrended fluctuation analysis to quantify the temporal fluctuations as a function of window width, and show how power-law scaling behavior is frequently manifest over two distinct temporal ranges. These ranges encompass time scales associated with meaningful aspects of cortical physiology. This paper shows a simple way of quantifying the existence of such scaling behavior, and determining the characteristic time scale which separates the two regions. By making a qualitative connection with the discrete Fourier transform, we show how the violation of scaling between the two regions is associated with the normal human alpha rhythm, but that the existence scale-independent behavior on either side of the alpha rhythm enables a succinct description of the complex dynamics not accessible in the Fourier power spectrum.
Thermodynamic properties of reactive gas mixtures

Abstract The foregoing study shows that the comparative behavior of fixed composition and chemical equilibrium, when compelled to undergo isentropic changes of state from the same initial point, depends first on the type of chemical reaction present. Chemical reactions are shown to fall into three classes, depending upon the algebraic sign of the product of the mole change and heat of reaction. The order of magnitude of the difference between the two systems depends on the magnitudes of temperature, heat of reaction, heat capacities and a fourth quantity best described as the mobility of the system. To include more general problems in which inert gases may be present, or more than a single reaction takes place, the analysis must be extended considerably.
Studies with the Ruthenacarborane Complex [Ru(CO)(PPh3)(THF)(η5-7,8-C2B9H11)]: Reactions with Terminal Alkynes†

The syntheses of the complexes [Y][RuX(L)(PPh3)(η5-7,8-C2B9H11)] (X = Cl, Y = K(18-crown-6), L = CO (1), PPh3 (2); X = I, Y = NEt4, L = CO (3)) are reported, and the structure of 3 has been established by an X-ray diffraction study. The anion adopts the “piano stool” structure with the ruthenium atom η5-coordinated on one side by a nido-7,8-C2B9H11 group and on the other by the CO, PPh3, and I ligands. Treatment of 1 with TlPF6 in THF (tetrahydrofuran) affords solutions of the labile species [Ru(THF)(CO)(PPh3)(η5-7,8-C2B9H11)] (5), which readily react with a 3-fold excess of the monosubstituted alkynes RC⋮CH (R = Ph, But, SiMe3). The product from PhC⋮CH is [Ru(CO)(PPh3)(η2: η5-9-(E)-C(H)C(H)Ph-7,8-C2B9H10)] (8), the structure of which was determined by X-ray crystallography. The metal atom is η5-coordinated by the open face of the nido-7,8-C2B9 cage and also η2-coordinated by the CC bond of the E-C(H)C(H)Ph group, the latter being attached to a boron atom in an α-site with respect to the carbons of the ri...
Miscellaneous descriptions and notes on parasitic Hymenoptera

Descriptions of eleven new species and one variety together with synonymical and distributional notes on several described species make up this paper. Species belonging to the families Braconidae, Chalcididae, Eurytomidae, Pteromalidae, Elasmidae, Eulophidae, Mymaridae, and Scelionidae are treated and these include representatives from Australia, Philippine Islands, Java, Mexico, United States, Cuba, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent, and Europe.
Turbulent kinetic energy during wildfires in the north central and north-eastern US

The suite of operational fire-weather indices available for assessing the atmospheric potential for extreme fire behaviour typically does not include indices that account for atmospheric boundary-layer turbulence or wind gustiness that can increase the erratic behaviour of fires. As a first step in testing the feasibility of using a quantitative measure of turbulence as a stand-alone fire-weather index or as a component of a fire-weather index, simulations of the spatial and temporal patterns of turbulent kinetic energy during major recent wildfire events in the western Great Lakes and north-eastern US regions were performed. Simulation results indicate that the larger wildfires in these regions of the US were associated with episodes of significant boundary-layer ambient turbulence. Case studies of the largest recent wildfires to occur in these regions indicate that the periods of most rapid fire growth were generally coincident with occurrences of the product of the Haines Index and near-surface turbulent kinetic energy exceeding a value of 15 m2 s–2, a threshold indicative of a highly turbulent boundary layer beneath unstable and dry atmospheric layers, which is a condition that can be conducive to erratic fire behaviour.
Multiprocessor interconnection network using pairwise balanced combinatorial designs

Abstract This paper presents a multiprocessor interconnection structure similar to bus interconnection networks using a combinatorial arrangement with pairwise balanced design property. By reversing the roles of processing and connecting elements in such an arrangement, the suggested structure allows to directly support object-oriented constructs in distributed fault-tolerant systems.
Antisocial, Aggressive, and Violent Behavior in Children and Adolescents Within Alternative Education Settings: Prevention and Intervention

The display of antisocial behavior by children and youths in America is recognized as one of the most pressing concerns facing educators today. To meet the educational needs of these students while maintaining safe school environments, school districts across the nation have increasingly looked toward alternative educational programs. Approximately 2%, or roughly 280,000 youths, attend alternative schools in the United States (J. A. Grunbaum et al., 1999). For the most part, these students are at high risk for school failure or display significantly challenging behavior so that school officials have sought to have them educated in classrooms or facilities away from other students. As a result, students with significant behavioral concerns or educational disabilities are clustered together into alternative educational programs. The author explores alternative education programs serving students who display antisocial behavior and discusses research on the impact of alternative school placement on the displ...
Employee and Supervisor Ratings of Motivation: Main Effects and Discrepancies Associated with Job Satisfaction and Adjustment in a Factory Setting1

Research and theory on employee job satisfaction and well-being has increasingly concentrated on both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors. According to self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985). autonomy, relatedness, and competence are three intrinsic psychological needs that, if fulfilled in the workplace, will lead to greater satisfaction, performance, and general well-being. This study examines employee and supervisor perceptions of the employee's autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the workplace, as well as the degree and direction of discrepancies between employee and supervisor reports. Both employee and supervisor ratings of intrinsic motivational factors were significantly related to work satisfaction, psychological health, and self-esteem, after controlling for the extrinsic factors of pay and job status. Results of discrepancy analyses were somewhat supportive of overrating being associated with greater well-being and job satisfaction. Discussion of the results ties this study to relevant research from a self-determination perspective and to the growing literature on discrepancies and self-perception.
To have or not to have: The critical importance of reproductive rights to the paradox of population policies in the 21st century

Reproductive rights continue to be under threat, even some 15 years after the landmark International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo declared the importance of a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to have children, and the right to decide on the timing, number, and spacing. The right to choose whether and when to have children is at risk both from some who seek to increase birth rates through pronatalist policies and from some who seek a return to "population control" as a response to global climate change, environmental degradation, endemic poverty, global recession, and food shortages. This paper argues the success of the rights-based approach to family planning, reproductive health and health education, and outlines issues and policy responses related to low fertility. This is contrasted with the unmet need for family planning in the poorest countries. It calls for health providers to advocate for reproductive rights, affirming that the freedom of women to control their fertility is the basis for other essential freedoms.
A Nonparametric Test for Interaction in Factorial Experiments

Abstract A measure of interaction in factorial experiments is introduced and the problem of estimating it and testing it for nullity is considered. The asymptotic power efficiencies are studied and Monte Carlo power comparisons are made when samples are drawn from normal and scale contaminated compound normal distributions. The proposed test showed improved power over the normal theory F test and other rank tests for moderately large samples taken from the heavy tailed distributions.
Soil management alters seedling emergence and subsequent autumn growth and yield in dryland winter wheat–fallow systems in the Central Great Plains on a clay loam soil

Stand establishment and subsequent autumn development and growth are important determinants of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield. Soil management practices change soil properties and conditions, which alter seedling emergence, crop development and growth. Pre-plant soil management practices were studied for 6 years in a wheat–fallow rotation in eastern Colorado, USA, to isolate the impacts of pre-plant tillage (PT) and residue level on winter wheat seedling emergence and autumn development and growth. A split plot design was used with PT, using a moldboard plow that incorporated surface residue, and with no-tillage (NT). The tillage systems represented the main plots and three residue levels within each tillage treatment as subplots: no residue (0R), normal residue (1R) and twice-normal residue (2R). Residue amount had little effect on emergence or autumn growth and development. PT resulted in soil water loss from the plow zone. NT plots had more favorable soil water levels in the seeding zone which resulted in faster, more uniform and greater seedling emergence in 4 out of the 6 years. This is especially critical for stand establishment in years with low rainfall after planting. Soil or air temperature did not account for differences among treatments. Earlier and greater seedling emergence in NT treatments resulted in greater autumn development and growth. Shoot biomass, tiller density and leaf numbers were greater in NT, and again residue amount had little effect. At spring green-up, NT treatments had greater soil water in the profile. Grain yield was always equal or greater in NT than in PT, and positively correlated with earlier/greater seedling emergence and autumn growth. NT will enhance soil protection and likely increase snow catch, reduce evaporation and benefit yield in semiarid eastern Colorado.
Importance of nutrition visits after gastric bypass surgery for American veterans, San Francisco, 2004-2010.

INTRODUCTION Nutrition counseling is important for veterans undergoing gastric bypass surgery. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the number of nutrition visits a patient attended and change in body mass index (BMI) after gastric bypass surgery for the veteran population. METHODS A retrospective study examined veterans (N = 79) who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery from June 2004 through July 2010. Spearman's correlation and multivariate regression analysis were used to analyze data. RESULTS A significant correlation was found between the number of postoperative nutrition visits and the change in postsurgery BMI at 2 years (Spearman's ρ = 0.21; P = .017). After adjusting for age, sex, and race, the association between postsurgery nutrition visits and BMI change persisted (β = 0.255; 95% confidence interval, 0.015-0.581; P = .039). CONCLUSION Veterans with more nutrition visits following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery experienced greater declines in BMI. This finding underscores the importance of the dietitian on the bariatric surgery team.
Creativity and education: an American retrospective

Although early childhood education in America has always had the creative child at the core of its approach, the field itself has generated little systematic research on the topic. In contrast, the scholarly field of creativity studies, with its focus on basic research and theoretical questions, has impacted education only slightly. Creativity and education may have been disconnected topics in a scholarly sense in the US primarily because (1) early childhood education has relied primarily on theory imported from abroad as a guide to practice; (2) psychometric research on creativity proved conceptually and methodologically flawed, short circuiting widespread use of creativity tests by American public schools; and (3) contemporary approaches to creativity have tended to be either broadly theoretical or primarily concerned with answering basic research questions. The article discusses contemporary creativity research; cautionary notes, drawn from the American experience, are also included.
Disorder-induced far infrared absorption in amorphous materials

Abstract In a variety of amorphous materials, the far infrared and microwave absorption (3–3000 GHz or 0.1–100 cm−1) is orders of magnitude greater than that observed in corresponding crystalline materials. This absorption is temperature independent and rises with frequency as νβ (β ≲ 2). The magnitude of the absorption correlates with the density of states inferred from the T3 term in specific heat, and is interpreted as due to a disorder-induced coupling of the far infrared radiation to a density of low frequency Debye modes in the amorphous solids.
Modeling of magnetically enhanced capacitively coupled plasma sources: Ar discharges

Magnetically enhanced, capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma sources are finding continued use for etching of materials for microelectronics fabrication. MERIE (magnetically enhanced reactive ion etching) sources typically use magnetic fields of tens to hundreds of gauss parallel to the substrate to either increase the plasma density at a given pressure or to lower the operating pressure. The use of MERIEs for etching of dielectric materials, such as SiO2, often involves the use of complex gas mixtures, such as Ar/C4F8/O2/CO. In this paper results from a two-dimensional hybrid-fluid computational investigation of MERIE reactors operating in such mixtures are discussed. Fluxes and energy distributions for ions incident on the wafer are discussed for an industrially relevant geometry. The reduction in transverse electron mobility as the magnetic field increases produces a decrease in the sheath electric fields and a decrease in the dc bias (becoming more positive) at large magnetic fields thereby decr...
Optimal Placement of Critical Speeds in Rotor-Bearing Systems

The design of a rotor-bearing system is an iterative process in which the parameters that influence the design are modified until the desired design objectives are achieved. Primary among the design objectives is the minimization of the response amplitude within the operating range of the rotor system. An automated design procedure for the optimal placement of the critical speeds of a rotor is presented. The desired design objective is cast as a nonlinear programming problem that minimizes an objective function subject to constraints. The optimization program interacts with an analysis program to search for the feasible optimal design.
Evaluation of C. diff.-CUBE test for detection of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea

The toxin B assay was used to evaluate C. diff.-CUBE, a new dot-immunobinding assay (DIA) for the laboratory diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. The widely used latex agglutination test was also included for comparison. Stools from 100 patients suspected of having C. difficile-associated diarrhea were tested. The toxin B assay, latex agglutination, and DIA tests were positive for 12%, 9%, and 22% of the specimens, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the DIA test were 67%, 84%, 36%, and 95%, respectively, compared with the toxin B assay. The specificity (98%) and positive predictive value (78%) for the latex agglutination test were significantly higher than those of the DIA test. Of 13 specimens solely positive by the DIA test, 11 were cultured and none were positive. Clinical assessment supported only two of the 13 positive DIA results. When clinical assessment was included in the analysis, the DIA positive predictive value rose to 45%. Although the sensitivity and negative predictive values of the DIA test are comparable to the latex agglutination test, the low specificity and positive predictive values of the DIA test make it an inappropriate method to use for screening in a population with a low prevalence of true positives.
Nanomechanical and chemical characterization of the interface between concrete, glass–ceramic bonding enamel and reinforcing steel

Abstract A glass–ceramic coating made by fusing dicalcium silicate and tricalcium silicate to the surface of glass-enameled steel has been successfully used to increase the bond between reinforcing steel and concrete and provide corrosion protection for the steel. A very strong interface that consists of hydrated cement and enameled glass over the top of a second strong interface between the enameled glass and the surface of the steel results from the outer layer of water-reactive silicates hydrating on contact with fresh concrete. Currently the mechanical characteristics (hardness, elastic modulus and strain-rate sensitivity), micromorphology, and the variation in interface chemical composition are being examined. Preliminary results indicate that the more gradual transition between the mechanical properties of the steel and the paste combined with improved integration between the coating and cement hydration products in the paste results in the increased bond strength observed in macroscale tests. Results from this study to characterize the developed coating are being used to engineer new optimized enamels for this unique application.
Engaging Citizens on the Internet: An Assessment of Local Governments in Ohio

This article presents empirical results relating to citizen-government relations on the internet that are based on an assessment of the World Wide Web presence of 428 local governments in northeast Ohio. Northeast Ohio provides a useful picture of E-government-citizen relationships because it includes a range of local government forms counties, townships, etc., urban and rural populations, and Midwestern influences that many consider "typical" of American states. The website reviews conducted assess citizen-government engagement in a variety of areas. The measures used include simple engagements like the ability to sign up for email updates and the presence of event calendars to more involved interactions, such as blogs, e-pay services, and open records requests. Using these measures, the authors assess citizen-government engagement among local governments in the sample This article presents empirical results relating to citizen-government relations on the internet that are based on an assessment of the World Wide Web presence of 428 local governments in northeast Ohio. Northeast Ohio provides a useful picture of E-government-citizen relationships because it includes a range of local government forms counties and Midwestern influences that many consider "typical" of American states. The website reviews conducted assess citizen-government engagement in a variety of areas. The measures used include simple engagements like the ability to sign up for email updates and the presence of event calendars to more involved interactions and open records requests. Using these measures e-pay services etc. such as blogs, the authors assess citizen-government engagement among local governments in the sample townships urban and rural populations
Yield, Quality, and Fruit Distribution in Bollgard/Roundup Ready and Bollgard II/Roundup Ready Flex Cottons

New transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) technologies Bollgard II/Roundup Ready Flex (BGII/RRF) provide additional mechanisms for the cotton crop to retain early initiated fruiting structures positioned in the lower canopy. It may be possible, therefore, for early fruit retention to become too high with these new technologies resulting in early cutout and reduced yield. The objective of this investigation was to determine if glyphosate-induced differences in early season retention occur between BGII/RRF and the older Bollgard/Roundup Ready (BG/RR) technologies and if so, to test if these differences in retention impact crop maturity, yield, or quality under irrigated and nonirrigated conditions. A study was conducted in 2004 and 2005 at two locations in southwestern Georgia to compare the two technologies under dryland vs. irrigation with or without flower removal. The BG/RR matured later than BGII/RRF when glyphosate was applied late at the seventh and 11th leaf stages. The BG/RR compensated for fruit loss by producing heavier remaining bolls. The BGII/RRF maturity was unaffected by the late glyphosate applications and produced a higher percentage of plants having a harvestable boll in the lower canopy than BG/RR. The BGII/RRF cotton had increased boll number and weight at the first sympodial position at lower main stem nodes while BG/RR produced more and heavier bolls on upper main stem nodes. Flower removal did not negatively affect BGII/RRF or BG/RR yields. Few differences in fiber quality were observed. The BGII/RRF retained more early reproductive structures than BG/RR but also cutout earlier. Yield differences between the two technologies may be due to agronomic performance of the variety backgrounds used.
Dynamically restricted pricing in the simplex method for linear programming

A modification of the conventional simplex method has been developed for use on linear programming problems with large numbers of columns. The basic concept underlying the method is the trade-off between the cost of calculating many reduced costs and the increase in number of iterations resulting from calculating very vew. Under suitable assumptions a cost function can be constructed. The optimal choice of the number of reduced costs can then be computed by means of Dynamic Programming. Several approximated solutions are developed which are computationally simpler. Experiments on a number of problems indicate that the method may offer a promising technique for large-scale problems.
Structured lipids: Synthesis and applications

Abstract Structured lipids (SL) are defined as triacylglycerols (TAG) restructured or modified to change the fatty acid composition and/or their positional distribution in glycerol molecules by chemical or enzymatic processes. SL may provide the most effective means of delivering desired fatty acids for nutritive or therapeutic purposes. In this review, the synthesis and applications of structured lipids, nutritional/clinical aspects of fatty acids, immobilization, and characteristics of lipases are discussed.
Glucose sham drinking in the rat: Satiety for the sweet taste without the sweet taste

Abstract In rats sham drinking through oesophageal fistulae, sham intake of a dilute glucose solution (0.25 m ) is greatly reduced, but not abolished, by an intragastric water preload. Since no further fluid enters the body, the early cessation of sham drinking must reflect a purely oral control, set by hydrational status. We show that lapping after the water load is abolished if the rat has sham-drunk appreciable quantities before the load is delivered. This is true even if the initial sham drinking is of plain water, with no sweet taste. Therefore, (1) the effect of the preload is to set the total quantity of oral feedback required to end the sham drinking bout; and (2) the necessary oral feedback is provided by the lapping response itself. It does not depend upon gustation.
Phospholipid requirements in thrombin formation

Abstract Lipids normally found in plasma do not appreciably effect formation of thrombin from prothrombin. This was demonstrated by finding that normal and lipid-poor plasma clotted almost with equal rapidity when calcium ions and purified autoprothrombin C (Factor Xa) were added. Lipid-poor plasma and normal plasma served equally well to test the lipid requirements of autoprothrombin C in thrombin formation. Of the purified phospholipids tested, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol were the most effective. Whole brain thromboplastin or its lipid portion alone or platelet factor 3 preparations also accelerated thrombin formation. Phosphatidylethanolamine and choline were virtually ineffective. The lipid requirements for autoprothrombin C formation are different from those required by autoprothrombin C to generate thrombin from prothrombin.
Magnetic barcode assay for genetic detection of pathogens

The task of rapidly identifying patients infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in resource-constrained environments remains a challenge. A sensitive and robust platform that does not require bacterial isolation or culture is critical in making informed diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Here we introduce a platform for the detection of nucleic acids based on a magnetic barcoding strategy. PCR-amplified mycobacterial genes are sequence-specifically captured on microspheres, labelled by magnetic nanoprobes and detected by nuclear magnetic resonance. All components are integrated into a single, small fluidic cartridge for streamlined on-chip operation. We use this platform to detect M. tuberculosis and identify drug-resistance strains from mechanically processed sputum samples within 2.5 h. The specificity of the assay is confirmed by detecting a panel of clinically relevant non-M. tuberculosis bacteria, and the clinical utility is demonstrated by the measurements in M. tuberculosis-positive patient specimens. Combined with portable systems, the magnetic barcode assay holds promise to become a sensitive, high-throughput and low-cost platform for point-of-care diagnostics.
A state space model approach for HIV infection dynamics

Mathematical models have been proposed and developed to model HIV dynamics over the past few decades, achieving remarkable gains. However, it remains a challenging problem to accurately and efficiently estimate all key parameters in these models from clinical data. In this article, we propose a state space approach to link these models with clinical data and estimate the corresponding parameters. Specifically, we approximate the target nonlinear differential equations by difference equations and add a stochastic perturbation in the dynamic of all cells and virions. The proposed model and methodology provide an alternative tool in HIV dynamic modeling and can be easily applied in other biomedical system characterized by dynamic systems. Simulation studies are conducted to compare the performance of the proposed model with some previous approaches and show superior performance. With moderate sample size, the approach is successful in estimating all HIV viral dynamic parameters without many constraints on the parameters. To illustrate the proposed method, we apply it on the clinical data of two individual HIV infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapies.
Sibling Differences in Problem Behavior and Parental Treatment in Nondivorced and Remarried Families

This article examines within-family differences in parenting and problem behavior in nondivorced and remarried families, with a specific focus on whether sibling differences are magnified and whether the links between differential treatment and sibling adjustment are stronger in remarried families. Multimethod assessments of parenting and problem behavior were done on 516 families with 2 same-sex adolescent siblings. The remarried families included those in which one or neither sibling was the mother's stepchild and one or both siblings were the father's stepchildren. Within-family differences in parenting and problem behavior were greatest in remarried families where siblings did not share the same biological parent. Differential treatment was also more strongly related to problem behavior in this family context, with the mother's biological child and father's stepchild at greater risk. Results are discussed in terms of the differing experiences of biological children and stepchildren in remarried households.
Frequent Alterations of p16INK4a and p14ARF in Oral Proliferative Verrucous Leukoplakia

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) represents a rare but highly aggressive form of oral leukoplakia with >70% progressing to malignancy. Yet, PVL remains biologically and genetically poorly understood. This study evaluated the cell cycle regulatory genes, p16INK4a and p14ARF , for homozygous deletion, loss of heterozygosity, and mutation events in 20 PVL cases. Deletion of exon 1β, 1α, or 2 was detected in 40%, 35%, and 0% of patients, respectively. Deletions of exons 1α and 1β markedly exceed levels reported in non-PVL dysplasias and approximate or exceed levels reported in oral squamous cell carcinomas. Allelic imbalance was assessed for markers reported to be highly polymorphic in squamous cell carcinomas and in oral dysplasias. Loss of heterozygosity was detected in 35.3%, 26.3%, and 45.5% of PVLs for the markers IFNα, D9S1748 , and D9S171 , respectively. INK4a and ARF sequence alterations were detected in 20% and 10% of PVL lesions, accordingly. These data show, for the first time, that both p16INK4a and p14ARF aberrations are common in oral verrucous leukoplakia; however, the mode and incidence of inactivation events differ considerably from those reported in non-PVL oral premalignancy. Specifically, concomitant loss of p16INK4a and p14ARF occurred in 45% of PVL patients greatly exceeding loss reported in non-PVL dysplastic oral epithelium (15%). In addition, p14ARF exon 1β deletions were highly elevated in PVLs compared with non-PVL dysplasias. These data illustrate that molecular alterations, even within a specific genetic region, are associated with distinct histologic types of oral premalignancy, which may affect disease progression, treatment strategies, and ultimately patient prognosis. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):3179–87)
A model for growth cone guidance by attractive or repulsive cues

During development and regeneration the neuronal growth cone is responsible for guiding the axon to its final target. Much of our insight into this process has been obtained from experimental studies, both in vitro and in vivo. Additional understanding is possible through quantitative models that divide complex migration behavior into components that can be manipulated through simulation experiments. This work focuses on the development of a model for growth cone guidance based on previous models of filopodial dynamics and growth cone migration. Two parameters have been incorporated to represent guidance behavior; a permissivity index, PI, accounts for the repulsive or attractive nature of a guidance cue, and a constraint parameter, /spl delta/, quantifies a bias in growth cone migration either toward or away from a guidance cue. Simulated guidance cues range from strongly attractive to strongly repulsive and appear to the growth cone as either discrete or continuous. From these simulations we can infer how the arrangement and permissivity of guidance cues might affect growth cone pathfinding.
Estimating length of survival in end-stage cancer: A review of the literature

Accurately estimating survival times in patients with end-stage cancer is on ongoing challenge for palliative care clinicians. Psychosocial as well as physiological factors have been thought to influence the length of the terminal phase of illness, but conclusive findings remain elusive. This review examines the studies that have addressed the issue using observable, measurable criteria associated with physiological, clinical status. Improving the ability to estimate accurately a patient's length of survival may improve patient/family quality of life and assist in the efficient, appropriate use of resources. Additional research in this and other palliative care issues will need to be better funded and organized if progress is to be made.
The structure of ecosystems

Abstract Input-output theory is developed for an ecosystem in terms of production and respiration energy flows. The theory reveals a “structure” of the system by demonstrating the direct and indirect energy flow dependence of each member of the system upon the others. A method for tracing the direct and indirect element flows through the ecosystem is proposed. The structure is determined for two examples and a perturbation technique for the energy flow is suggested.
Is genetic variability so important? Non-native salmonids in South America

Three salmonid species introduced in Patagonian national parks in Argentine have experienced different degrees of expansion. Atlantic salmon Salmo salar is restricted to a few river-lake systems and its populations have been declining over recent years. Both rainbow Oncorhynchus mykiss and brown trout Salmo trutta populations have expanded from their introduction sites and now occupy a wide range of freshwater ecosystems. Genetic variation at the same neutral markers (microsatellite loci) was examined for different populations of the three species acclimatized to the same areas, and compared with that of native populations. Founder effects denoted as reduced variability and great differentiation with respect to the native populations were detected. Significant reduction in variability has not been an obstacle for successful adaptation of rainbow and brown trout, indicating that genetic variability per se cannot be claimed as the reason for their different outcomes in the new habitats. # 2007 The Authors Journal compilation # 2007 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Effect of methylene blue, indigo carmine, and renografin on human sperm motility

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate the effect of commonly used intraoperative vasography and tissue staining agents, indigo carmine, methylene blue, and Renografin, on sperm motility. Methods. Semen from 20 healthy men was obtained after 2 to 4 days of abstinence. Sperm motility was initially evaluated in each specimen. Standard solutions of indigo carmine, methylene blue, and Renografin-60 were diluted 2× and 4× with lactated Ringer’s solution. Equal aliquots of sperm were mixed with undiluted and diluted drugs, and sperm motility was assessed. Results. Initial mean sperm motility was 70.3% ± 3.0%. Undiluted methylene blue and Renografin severely depressed sperm motility to 1.1% ± 0.5% and 2.3% ± 0.7%, respectively (P 0.05). Lactated Ringer’s solution had no effect on sperm motility. Conclusions. We found a severe, immediate reduction in sperm motility after exposure to undiluted standard solutions of methylene blue and Renografin. Dilution of Renografin significantly decreased its negative impact on the sperm motility, whereas the adverse effect of methylene blue remained fairly constant even with increasing dilution. Sperm motility should be assessed prior to application of these agents. Sperm should be aspirated for immediate use and/or cryopreservation prior to the use of these agents. Indigo carmine may be safely used as a tissue stain or vasography agent with a minimal effect on sperm motility in dilutions of 4× and higher.
Interreligious Studies: A Relational Approach to Religious Activism and the Study of Religion

Oddbjorn Leirvik, Professor of Interreligious Studies at the University of Oslo, is the author of Images of Jesus Christ in Islam (1999), and he is also one of the initiators of the European Societ...
Prediction of far-field patterns using synthesized steerable spatial filtering functions

An improved version of the integral equation formulation proposed earlier by Biraud (1971, 1976) for predicting the far-field patterns of aperture antennas from measured near-field data is presented. It is shown that the numerical computational work can be significantly reduced by performing the near-field measurements over a large surface so as to realize a band-pass spatial filtering function which is inserted into the integrand. This filtering function, corresponding to the pattern of a synthesized array, can be beam-steered by means of multiplying the near-field measurement values with appropriate sets of coefficients and then summing them up vectorially. The synthesized array may have a semicylindrical or spherical surface as well as a planar one. The solution of the integral equation is based on converting it into a simple matrix equation by expanding the unknown plane wave spectrum functions of the measured antenna into sampling series with unknown coefficients. The sampling series may assume different forms according to the type of the zero-one function of the aperture. >
Interconnect properties and multilayer bandpass filter design in LTCC substrates

The effects of a perforated ground plane on multilayer interconnect structures fabricated in low temperature cofired ceramic are examined. Simple transmission lines and coupled transmission lines have been designed and simulated. Results are presented to aid in the design of planar passive embedded components such as couplers, filters, and transformers. Several geometries are considered to increase design flexibility. These geometries include lines with various amounts of dielectric overlay and lines over perforations in the ground plane. In addition, several bandpass filters, including multilayer filters, are designed using simulation results to further examine the LTCC environment.
Towards wearable cognitive assistance

We describe the architecture and prototype implementation of an assistive system based on Google Glass devices for users in cognitive decline. It combines the first-person image capture and sensing capabilities of Glass with remote processing to perform real-time scene interpretation. The system architecture is multi-tiered. It offers tight end-to-end latency bounds on compute-intensive operations, while addressing concerns such as limited battery capacity and limited processing capability of wearable devices. The system gracefully degrades services in the face of network failures and unavailability of distant architectural tiers.
A Multi-Interface Multi-Channel Routing (MMCR) Protocol for Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Multiple non-interfering channels are available in 802.11 and 802.15.4 based wireless networks. Capacity of such channels can be combined to achieve a better performance thus providing a higher quality of service (QoS) than for a single channel network. However, existing routing protocols often are not suited to fully take advantage of these channels. The proposed multi-interface multi-channel routing (MMCR) protocol considers various QoS parameters such as throughput, end-to-end delay, and energy utilization as a single unified cost metric and identifies the route that optimizes the cost metric and balances the traffic among the channels on a per flow basis. Multipoint relay nodes (MPRs) are first selected using available energy and bandwidth and utilized in routing. A novel load balancing scheme is introduced and analytical performance guarantees are demonstrated. Simulation results using the Ns2 show superior performance of the MMCR over the multi-channel optimal link state routing protocol (m-OLSR) in terms of throughput end-to-end delay, and energy efficiency.
Parent–adolescent relationships and the development of weight concerns from early to late adolescence

Objective: This work describes the developmental course of adolescents' weight concerns and examines links with changes in parent–adolescent relationships for girls and boys. Method: Adolescents and parents in 191 families participated in 3 annual home interviews; adolescents rated their weight concerns and their intimacy and conflict with parents. Parental knowledge was measured based on the match between adolescents' and parents' reports of youth's experiences each day during 7 evening telephone calls. Results: Girls' weight concerns increased from age 11 to 16 and then declined, whereas boys' concerns declined beginning at age 11. Increases in girls' weight concerns were linked to increases in conflict with mothers and fathers and decreases in maternal intimacy and knowledge. At a trend level, declines in boys' weight concerns were associated with declines in father conflict. Conclusion: Mothers and fathers may have unique influences on adolescent weight concerns. Intervention programming should target parent–adolescent relationships. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006; 39:729–740
College Students With Learning Disability Diagnoses Who Are They and How Do They Perform

The purpose of this study is to provide an up-to-date review of the literature on postsecondary students classified as having learning disabilities (LD). The review focused on the criteria by which students were classified as LD and the cognitive and achievement characteristics of the participants. From almost 400 studies, only 30% were empirical (data-based) investigations reporting original data. Findings showed that a wide range of criteria was used to classify students as LD, although various discrepancy criteria and registration with university offices of disability services were most often cited. Participants' mean scores on standardized intelligence and achievement tests were in the average range but somewhat lower than those of other college students. Generally, the findings show a lack of consensus among diagnosticians and researchers about how LD should be diagnosed and also show that college students classified as LD tend to have average achievement, despite scoring below their classmates.