cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phosphoinositides as Co-Factors for the Ion Channel TRPM3

The regulation of numerous ion channels by membrane lipids is widely known and well accepted. Of all the ion channel families, the modulation of members of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels is complex, especially by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2). PtdIns(4,5)P2, predominantly present at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane, has been shown to be a positive regulator for all the members of the TRPM family, except TRPM3 and TRPM1. Here we show that PtdIns(4,5)P2 is required for the activity of TRPM3. TRPM3 is a Ca2+ permeable outwardly rectifying nonselective cation channel expressed in sensory neurons, brain, pancreas, kidney and vascular smooth muscle. In sensory dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons it was shown to function as a sensor for noxious heat. In DRG neurons as well as pancreatic beta cells, the neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate has been shown to activate TRPM3.In the current study we modulated the levels of PtdIns(4,5)P2 in Xenopus laevis oocytes and HEK cells heterologously expressing TRPM3. In inside-out patches, TRPM3 currents ran down rapidly after excision. This current could be restored by the exogenous application of naturally occurring arachidonyl-stearyl (AASt) PtdIns(4,5)P2, water soluble diC8 PtdIns(4,5)P2, diC8 PtdIns(3,4)P2, diC8 PtdIns(3,5)P2, diC8 PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and MgATP to excised inside-out patches. The effect of MgATP was inhibited by PI4 kinase inhibitors (LY294002 and A1) and phosphatidylinositol specific PLC (PI-PLC) but not by a PKC inhibitor (Go 6976). Thus the effect of MgATP can be attributed to restoration of membrane PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns(4)P. In addition, inducing the activity of PtdIns(4,5)P2-5-phosphatases in whole-cell patch clamp experiments also decreased TRPM3 currents. In conclusion, our data collected through excised inside-out and whole-cell patch clamp measurements suggest that TRPM3 requires PtdIns(4,5)P2 as a cofactor.
Electron-electron interactions in the fulvalene family of organic metals

Abstract Magnetic susceptibility as well as optical reflectivity data in the metallic regime of the conductivity of HMTTF-TCNQ are presented. It is shown that: 1. (1) The spin susceptibility of the donor stack is temperature independent in the temperature range of the metallic conductivity 50 ⩽T⩽300 K. 2. (2) By comparing the magnitude of this susceptibility with the value estimated from plasma frequency measurements based on the model of non-interacting electrons, we conclude that the donor stack susceptibility is not enhanced. 3. (3) A comparison of data on the three compounds (HMTTF, TTF, TSeF)-TCNQ leads to the conclusion that the donor stack susceptibility is enhanced only in TTF-TCNQ.
Postpartum colic in a mare caused by pneumouterus

PNEUMOUTERUS is a predisposing factor for endometritis and suboptimal fertility in the mare ([Asbury 1993][1], [Pinto and Paccamonti 2004][2]). This short communication describes a case of postpartum colic in a broodmare caused by severe pneumouterus. A mixed-breed mare of undetermined age was
An algorithm for rings of invariants

If R is a factorial domain and R o is a factorial subring containing all units of R, and if every prime element of R o remains prime in R, then being the fraction field of R o. This yields the first main theorem of invariant theory for several classical groups over an infinite factorial base ring.
Predator behavior in the wild web world of bugs: An information foraging theory perspective

Web active end users often coalesce web information using web mashups. Web contents, however, tend to evolve frequently, and along with the black box nature of visual languages this complicates the process of debugging mashups. While debugging, end users need to locate faults within the code and then find a way to correct them; this process requires them to seek information related to web page content and behavior. In this paper, using an information foraging theory lens, we qualitatively study the debugging behaviors of 16 web-active end users. Our results show that the stronger scents available within mashup programming environments can improve users' foraging success. Our results lead to a new model for debugging activities framed in terms of information foraging theory, and to a better understanding of ways in which end-user programming environments can be enhanced to better support debugging.
Generating strategic thinking through multi-level teams

Abstract Cross-functional strategic planning teams, made up of the CEO and his executive staff, have been common industry practice for several years. General disappointment with this approach has also pevailed. This is because strategic thinking and operational thinking are not synonymous. Attainment of a high managerial position is evidence of a possession of operational and not strategic thinking skills. The inter-functional/ multilevel planning (IMP) approach solves the deficiencies of the traditional cross-functional planning team by (1) providing a paradigm for identifying the firm's best strategic thinkers, (2) appointing them to the strategic planning group regardless of their functional speciality or level in the management hierarchy, (3) describing the planning groups relationship to the CEO's executive staff, and (4) describing the planning groups relationship to the organization. The IMP approach also contains provision for the continuation of the high level strategic thinking capability in the firm by identifying those managers with latent strategic thinking capability and exposing them to opportunities that will foster its development through the use of an incubator group. The major hurdles to be encountered in using the non-traditional IMP approach are identified and proven solutions are suggested and illustrated with three case examples. The IMP approach has been successfully implemented in recent years in several firms ranging from $50–$800m.
Residual stresses in cold-coiled helical compression springs for automotive suspensions measured by neutron diffraction

Abstract Residual stresses in cold-coiled helical compression springs for automotive suspensions were determined at several manufacturing stages using neutron diffraction. These results indicate that the residual stresses in the as-coiled springs are nearly uniaxial with peak values of ±900 MPa and independent of coil position. A factory stress-relieved spring showed the same pattern of stresses, but with the peak values reduced to ∼±200 MPa. Residual stresses in a spring annealed in a laboratory furnace at 56 K over the normal factory annealing temperature were ∼35% lower. The effect of cutting the springs either by electric discharge machining (EDM) or by abusive grinding was also examined. From these data, the smallest spring segment that can yield reliable stress data was determined.
Comparison of the target-thickness dependence of the convoy electron yield and the Rydberg electron yield measured in coincidence with exit charge states in fast ion-solid collisions

Abstract We have simultaneously measured the yield of convoy electrons and the yield of electrons in high Rydberg states of the projectile (n ≳ 70), produced by 2 MeV/u C projectiles passing through C foils, whose thicknesses range from 4–10 μg/cm2, for incident charge states qi = 4–6 and exit charge states qe = 4–6. We have found that these yields exhibit similar trends as a function of foil thickness, but that, nevertheless, the ratio of the number of convoy electrons detected in coincidence with ions of exit charge state q to the number of electrons detected in high Rydberg states of ions with the same exit charge state is a function of foil thickness. This may be due to a broadening of the convoy electron energy spectrum with increasing foil thickness.
Replacing members with managers? Mutualism among membership and nonmembership advocacy organizations in the United States

Associations with a professional staff but no members (nonmembership advocacy organizations, or NMAOs) are the subject of lively debate. Many argue that their proliferation has allowed an expansion of advocacy without an accompanying growth in civic engagement. This article asks if there has been significant recent growth of NMAOs and if those organizations have displaced membership advocacy organizations (MAOs). The authors find no evidence for a proportional increase of NMAOs since the 1960s. Further, among all organizations in three populations—peace, women's issues, and human rights—NMAOs have not displaced MAOs. In particular, the authors find that MAO density shapes NMAO founding, as membership groups provide a base for professional advocacy. These findings challenge the notion that U.S. civic life has undergone a systemic transformation away from organizational forms that promote civic engagement.
Overcoming barriers to NLP for clinical text: the role of shared tasks and the need for additional creative solutions

This issue of JAMIA focuses on natural language processing (NLP) techniques for clinical-text information extraction. Several articles are offshoots of the yearly ‘Informatics for Integrating Biology and the Bedside’ (i2b2) (http://www.i2b2.org) NLP shared-task challenge, introduced by Uzuner et al ( see page 552 )1 and co-sponsored by the Veteran's Administration for the last 2 years. This shared task follows long-running challenge evaluations in other fields, such as the Message Understanding Conference (MUC) for information extraction,2 TREC3 for text information retrieval, and CASP4 for protein structure prediction. Shared tasks in the clinical domain are recent and include annual i2b2 Challenges that began in 2006, a challenge for multi-label classification of radiology reports sponsored by Cincinnati Children's Hospital in 2007,5 a 2011 Cincinnati Children's Hospital challenge on suicide notes,6 and the 2011 TREC information retrieval shared task involving retrieval of clinical cases from narrative records.7 Although NLP research in the clinical domain has been active since the 1960s, progress in the development of NLP applications for clinical text has been slow and lags behind progress in the general NLP domain. There are several barriers to NLP development in the clinical domain, and shared tasks like the i2b2/VA Challenge address some of these barriers. Nevertheless, many barriers remain and unless the community takes a more active role in developing novel approaches for addressing the barriers, advancement and innovation will continue to be slow. Historically, there have been substantial barriers to NLP development in the clinical domain. These barriers are not unique to the clinical domain: they also occur in the fields of software engineering and general NLP. ### Lack of access to shared data Because of concerns regarding patient privacy and worry about revealing unfavorable institutional practices, hospitals and clinics have been extremely reluctant to allow access to clinical data for researchers from outside … Correspondence to Dr Wendy W Chapman, Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, Bldg 2 #0728, La Jolla, California, USA; wwchapman{at}ucsd.edu
Management of juvenile gender dysphoria.

Purpose of reviewTo describe the treatment of gender dysphoria in adolescents.Recent findingsCareful study and evaluation of children with persistent severe gender dysphoria has led to the recommendation that puberty be suppressed at Tanner Stage II. If the dysphoria persists until age 16, treatment
Production and Evaluation Criteria of Specific Monoclonal Antibodies to the Hemagglutinin of the H7N2 Subtype of Avian Influenza Virus

To enhance the rapidity in diagnosing the spread of avian influenza virus (AIV) in chicken layer flocks, studies were initiated to develop more sensitive and specific immunological and molecular methods for the detection of AIV. In this study, the purification of the hemagglutinin protein (H) from field isolates of H7N2, the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), and their evaluation as diagnostic reagents are reported. Hybridomas were generated by fusion of SP2/0-Ag14 myelomas and spleen cells from immunized mice. Hybridomas secreting antibodies specific for the H protein were assayed by an ELISA and cloned using limiting dilution. The MAbs produced were characterized by hemagglutination inhibition (HI), immunohistochemistry (IHC), indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA), Western blots, and IFA flow cytometry using various AIV subtypes (i.e., H4N2, H5N3, H7N2). Of the various MAbs assayed, 6 had consistent and reproducible results in each of the assays used. The results obtained in this investigation enhanced the usage of the MAbs to viral H protein in the surveillance of AIV in chickens.
Incomplete demand systems and semilogarithmic demand models.

The methodology of LaFrance and Hanemann for analysing the structure of incomplete demand systems is applied to models that are linear or logarithmic in quantities, prices and/or income. The structure of each model is presented when the implications of consumer choice theory are satisfied. The usefulness of the approach is illustrated. It is shown that considerable prior information is obtained from the theory of consumer choice when it is applied to this set of functional forms for demand equations.
Predicting functional decline in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia

Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia is characterized by a change in comportment. It is associated with considerable functional decline over the course of the illness albeit with sometimes dramatic variability among patients. It is unknown whether any baseline features, or combination of features, could predict rate of functional decline in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different baseline clinical, neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric, genetic and anatomic predictors on the rate of functional decline as measured by the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes scale. We identified 86 subjects with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia that had multiple serial Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes assessments (mean 4, range 2-18). Atlas-based parcellation was used to generate volumes for specific regions of interest at baseline. Volumes were utilized to classify subjects into different anatomical subtypes using the advanced statistical technique of cluster analysis and were assessed as predictor variables. Composite scores were generated for the neuropsychological domains of executive, language, memory and visuospatial function. Behaviours from the brief questionnaire form of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory were assessed. Linear mixed-effects regression modelling was used to determine which baseline features predict rate of future functional decline. Rates of functional decline differed across the anatomical subtypes of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, with faster rates observed in the frontal dominant and frontotemporal subtypes. In addition, subjects with poorer performance on neuropsychological tests of executive, language and visuospatial function, less disinhibition, agitation/aggression and night-time behaviours at presentation, and smaller medial, lateral and orbital frontal lobe volumes showed faster rates of decline. In many instances, the effect of the predictor variables observed across all subjects was also preserved within anatomical subtypes. Furthermore, some of the predictor variables improved our prediction of rate of functional decline after anatomical subtype was taken into account. In particular, age at onset was a highly significant predictor but only after adjusting for subtype. We also found that although some predictor variables, for example gender, Mini-Mental State Examination score, and apathy/indifference, did not affect the rate of functional decline; these variables were associated with the actual Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes score estimated for any given time-point. These findings suggest that in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, rate of functional decline is driven by the combination of anatomical pattern of atrophy, age at onset, and neuropsychiatric characteristics of the subject at baseline.
Lack of Production of Electron-Shuttling Compounds or Solubilization of Fe(III) during Reduction of Insoluble Fe(III) Oxide by Geobacter metallireducens

Studies with the dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing microorganism Geobacter metallireducens demonstrated that the common technique of separating Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms and Fe(III) oxides with semipermeable membranes in order to determine whether the Fe(III) reducers release electron-shuttling compounds and/or Fe(III) chelators is invalid. This raised doubts about the mechanisms for Fe(III) oxide reduction by this organism. However, several experimental approaches indicated that G. metallireducens does not release electron-shuttling compounds and does not significantly solubilize Fe(III) during Fe(III) oxide reduction. These results suggest that G. metallireducens directly reduces insoluble Fe(III) oxide.
Utility of high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray/mass spectrometry of polar lipids in specifically Per-13C labeled Gram-negative bacteria DA001 as a tracer for acceleration of bioremediation in the subsurface.

Specific fatty acids from phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) recovered from a per 13C-labeled bacteria can be detected in environmental samples and used as measures of bacterial transport in the subsurface. Detection of palmitic acid (16:0) and oleic acid (18:1) at m/z 271 (255+16) and 299 (281+18) as negative ions in PG and PE separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and detected after up-front collisionally induced dissociation (CID) utilizing electrospray (ES) mass spectrometry (MS) provided sufficient sensitivity and specificity for detection in the presence of the indigenous microbiota. Application of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was use to monitor selected transitions. MRM can increase the sensitivity so that polar lipids recovered from cell densities currently at about 104 cells/sample can be detected. This technology provides a non-intrusive mechanism for monitoring the distribution of bacteria added to accelerate in situ bioremediation of subsurface sediments.
An asymmetric RF tagging IC for ingestible medication compliance capsules

This paper presents a feasibility study of a low power electronic RF tagging device and a printed capsule antenna for medication compliance monitoring. RF transponders attached directly to the outer surface of a standard sized capsule can potentially serve as a cost-effective method of validating medication compliance via electronic detection of an ingested pill inside the digestive tract. The electrical radiation characteristics of a small biocompatible antenna are analyzed inside a human body model for various FCC telemetry bands using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. Based on this study, a novel asymmetric RF tagging IC is reported. The device is powered by low frequency AC signals to create externally detectable RF bursts in the 915MHz ISM band. A test chip was fabricated in 130nm CMOS technology and experimentally validated inside a phantom solution that mimics the human torso.
Evaluation of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Print Patient Education Materials for Use with Low Health Literate Populations

OBJECTIVE —Populations with the lowest literacy and health literacy in the U.S. are also among those disproportionately burdened by diabetes and its complications. Yet, suitability of publicly available diabetes and cardiovascular (CVD) patient education materials for these patients is not clear. We evaluated selected American Diabetes Association (ADA) and American Heart Association (AHA) print education materials for accessibility and usability characteristics. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —English-language, print patient education brochures addressing lifestyle/behavioral management of diabetes and CVD were obtained from the ADA ( n = 21) and the AHA ( n = 19). Materials were evaluated using 32 criteria, 23 addressing literacy demand and 9 addressing behavioral activation, compiled from authoritative sources on development of low-literacy consumer health information. RESULTS —Of the 32 criteria identified by two or more sources, ADA materials consistently met 11 (34%) and AHA materials consistently met 8 (25%). Criteria most frequently achieved were text case, use of cues (e.g., bullets) to emphasize key points, design of graphics/illustrations, some provision of “how to” information, and positive depiction of cultural images. The least consistently achieved criteria were reading grade, word usage (e.g., scientific jargon), sentence length, font size, line length, white space, visual organization, limited scope, clear and specific (e.g., step-by-step) behavioral recommendations, and demonstration of audience relevance and cultural appropriateness. CONCLUSIONS —Materials consistently met few criteria for usability by patients with low literacy, limited prior medical knowledge, and/or limited resource availability. Use of available criteria and methods for increasing reach of print education materials to these underserved patient populations is indicated.
Absorbed Radiation Dose in Radiosensitive Organs Using 64- and 320-Row Multidetector Computed Tomography: A Comparative Study

Aim. To determine absorbed radiation dose (ARD) in radiosensitive organs during prospective and full phase dose modulation using ECG-gated MDCTA scanner under 64- and 320-row detector modes. Methods. Female phantom was used to measure organ radiation dose. Five DP-3 radiation detectors were used to measure ARD to lungs, breast, and thyroid using the Aquilion ONE scanner in 64- and 320-row modes using both prospective and dose modulation in full phase acquisition. Five measurements were made using three tube voltages: 100, 120, and 135 kVp at 400 mA at heart rate (HR) of 60 and 75 bpm for each protocol. Mean acquisition was recorded in milligrays (mGy). Results. Mean ARD was less for 320-row versus 64-row mode for each imaging protocol. Prospective EKG-gated imaging protocol resulted in a statistically lower ARD using 320-row versus 64-row modes for midbreast (6.728 versus 19.687 mGy, ), lung (6.102 versus 21.841 mGy, ), and thyroid gland (0.208 versus 0.913 mGy; ). Retrospective imaging using 320- versus 64-row modes showed lower ARD for midbreast (10.839 versus 43.169 mGy, ), lung (8.848 versus 47.877 mGy, ), and thyroid gland (0.057 versus 2.091 mGy; ). ARD reduction was observed at lower kVp and heart rate. Conclusions. Dose reduction to radiosensitive organs is achieved using 320-row compared to 64-row modes for both prospective and retrospective gating, whereas 64-row mode is equivalent to the same model 64-row MDCT scanner.
An apparatus to measure force in a simple truss system

A simple bench-top apparatus has been developed to experimentally determine the forces in the members of a simple truss system. The device is notable in being an inexpensive stand-alone device, which is easily constructed. The truss is a fundamental design element in many structures. There is a need for a low-cost truss experiment which allows first or second year engineering students to compare theory with experiment. While the truss is a simple structure, obtaining convincing agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements requires careful design of the laboratory device. With the apparatus developed, it is possible to obtain experimental measurements of forces in a truss member which agree within a few percent to predictions from elementary mechanics. The apparatus is easy to operate, and is suitable as either a classroom demonstration or a laboratory experiment. The total cost of materials to fabricate the apparatus is less than $100. The apparatus is appropriate for inclusion in freshman physics laboratories, engineering statics, mechanics of materials, or an experimental methods course.
Medication use and control of urination among community-dwelling older adults.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the use of medications with urological activity (UA) is associated with self-reported difficulty in control of urination. Methods: This i...
Essays and Polemics: Latin American Society from Diverse Perspectives. A Review Article

The authors of these six books span the disciplines of history, anthropology, sociology, economics, and regional and city planning, and offer interesting contrasts in approach to Latin American social issues. Happily, the quality of scholarship is high in every case, and in several the writing is also very good. The most common problem is a tendency to avoid theoretical issues and leave the author's biases unstated. Two of the books are by historians. The collection of essays edited by Alden and Dean was originally to be presented at a Luso-Brazilian Colloquium that never took place; this volume is offered in lieu of that colloquium. This may help explain why no single theme, problem, or set of issues links the essays together. The essays are, however, well written and intrinsically interesting. Briefly, they are:
Further examination of modifying patient-preferred movement and alignment strategies in patients with low back pain during symptomatic tests.

Our purpose was to examine the effect of modifying symptomatic movement and alignment tests in a sample of people with LBP referred to physical therapy. Fifty-one patients (19 males, 32 females; mean age 37±10.59 y) with LBP and a mean Oswestry Disability Index score of 34±18% were examined. The examination included 28 primary tests in which patients used their preferred movement or alignment strategy and reported symptoms. Symptomatic tests were followed by a secondary test in which the patient’s strategy was standardly modified to correct the spinal alignment or movement that occurred with the primary test. Symptoms and directions of movement or alignment modified were recorded. For 82% of the secondary tests, the majority of the patients’ symptoms improved. For 54% of the secondary tests, some patients required modification of more than one direction of movement or alignment to eliminate symptoms. The findings suggest that the modifications described are generalizable across a number of tests with a moderately involved group of patients, and for individual tests there is variability in the numbers and directions of movements or alignments that appear to contribute to symptoms. Information obtained from the modifications is important because it can be used to confirm the patient’s LBP classification and, within the context of the examination, immediately be used to teach the patient strategies to change movements and positions that appear to be contributing to his LBP.
The Role Hierarchy Mining Problem: Discovery of Optimal Role Hierarchies

Role hierarchies are fundamental to the role based access control (RBAC) model. The notion of role hierarchy is a well understood concept that allows senior roles to inherit the permissions of the corresponding junior roles. Role hierarchies further ease the burden of security administration, as there is no need to explicitly specify and maintain a large number of permissions. Given a set of roles or user permissions, one may construct a number of alternative hierarchies. However, there does not exist the notion of an optimal role hierarchy. Optimality helps in maximizing the benefit of employing the role hierarchy. In this paper, we propose such a formal metric. Our optimality notion is based on the smallest graph representation of the role hierarchy (minimal in the number of edges) having the same transitive closure as any alternate representation. We show why this makes sense as well as ways to achieve this. The main contributions of this paper are to formalize the notion of optimality for role hierarchy construction, along with proposing heuristic solutions to achieve this objective, thus making role hierarchies feasible and practical.
Sites of Selective cAMP-dependent Phosphorylation of the L-type Calcium Channel α1 Subunit from Intact Rabbit Skeletal Muscle Myotubes

The principal (alpha 1) subunit of purified skeletal muscle dihydropyridine-sensitive (L-type) calcium channels is present in full-length (212 kDa) and COOH-terminal truncated (190 kDa) forms, which are both phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cA-PK) in vitro. Immunoprecipitation of the calcium channel from rabbit muscle myotubes in primary cell culture followed by phosphorylation with cA-PK, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping revealed comparable phosphorylation of three COOH-terminal phosphopeptides found in the purified full-length alpha 1 subunit. Stimulation of muscle myotubes with a permeant cAMP analogue, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio) adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, prior to immunoprecipitation of alpha 1 results in a 60-80% reduction of cA-PK catalyzed "back" phosphorylation of each of these sites in vitro in calcium channels purified from the cells, indicating that these sites are phosphorylated in vivo in response to increased intracellular cAMP. Serine 687, the most rapidly phosphorylated site in the truncated 190-kDa alpha 1 subunit, was observed as a minor phosphopeptide whose level of phosphorylation was not significantly affected by stimulation of endogenous cA-PK in the myotubes. The COOH-terminal sites, designated tryptic phosphopeptides 4, 5, and 6, were identified as serine 1757 (phosphopeptides 4 and 6) and 1854 (phosphopeptide 5) by a combination of protease cleavage, phosphorylation of synthetic peptides and fusion proteins, specific immunoprecipitation, and phosphopeptide mapping. Phosphorylation of serines 1757 and 1854 in the COOH-terminal region of the 212-kDa alpha 1 subunit in intact skeletal muscle cells may play a pivotal role in the regulation of calcium channel function by cA-PK.
An evanescent wave biosensor. I. Fluorescent signal acquisition from step-etched fiber optic probes

A fiber-optic biosensor capable of remote continuous monitoring has recently been designed. To permit sensing at locations separate from the optoelectronic instrumentation, long optical fibers are utilized. An evanescent wave immune-probe is prepared by removing the cladding near the distal end of the fiber and covalently attaching antibodies to the core. Probes with a radius unaltered from that of the original core inefficiently returned the signal produced upon binding the fluorescent-labelled antigen. To elucidate the limiting factors in signal acquisition, a series of fibers with increasingly reduced probe core radius was examined. The results were consistent with the V-number mismatch, the difference in mode carrying capacity between the clad and unclad fiber, being a critical factor in limiting signal coupling from the fiber probe. However, it was also delineated that conditions which conserve excitation power, such that power In the evanescent wave is optimized, must also be met to obtain a maximal signal. The threshold sensitivity for the optimal step-etched fiber probe was improved by over 20-fold in an immunoassay, although, it was demonstrated that signal acquisition decreased along the probe length, suggesting that a sensor region of uniform radius is not ideal. >
Computing with continuous change

Abstract A central challenge in computer science and knowledge representation is the integration of conceptual frameworks for continuous and discrete change, as exemplified by the theory of differential equations and real analysis on the one hand, and the theory of programming languages on the other. We take the first steps towards such an integrated theory by presenting a recipe for the construction of continuous programming languages — languages in which state dynamics can be described by differential equations. The basic idea is to start with an untimed language and extend it uniformly over dense (real) time. We present a concrete mathematical model and language (the Hybrid concurrent constraint programming model, Hybrid cc) instantiating these ideas. The language is intended to be used for modeling and programming hybrid systems. The language is declarative — programs can be understood as formulas that place constraints on the (temporal) evolution of the system, with parallel composition regarded as conjunction. It is expressive — it allows the definition of continuous versions of the preemption control constructs. The language is obtained by extending the general-purpose computational formalism of (default) concurrent constraint programming (Default cc) with a single temporal construct, called hence — hence A is read as asserting that A holds continuously beyond the current instant. Various patterns of temporal activity can be generated from this single construct by use of the other combinators in Default cc. We provide a precise operational semantics according to which execution alternates between (i) points at which discontinuous change can occur, and (ii) open intervals in which the state of the system changes continuously. Transitions from a state of continuous evolution are triggered when some condition starts or stops holding. We show that the denotational semantics is correct for reasoning about the operational semantics, through an adequacy theorem.
Paget disease of bone

Paget disease of bone (PD) is characterized by excessive bone resorption in focal areas followed by abundant new bone formation, with eventual replacement of the normal bone marrow by vascular and fibrous tissue. The etiology of PD is not well understood, but one PD-linked gene and several other susceptibility loci have been identified, and paramyxoviral gene products have been detected in pagetic osteoclasts. In this review, the pathophysiology of PD and evidence for both a genetic and a viral etiology for PD will be discussed.
POSTALCOHOLIC HYPOGLYCEMIA VERSUS ISLET CELL TUMOR.

Summary A woman with chronic alcoholism and recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia developed profound hypoglycemia after prolonged fasting and the intravenous tolbutamide test. No islet cell tumor was found at exploration. Patients with alcoholism and hypoglycemia may have the usual findings suggestive of a functioning islet cell tumor, namely, sustained hypoglycemia after tolbutamide administration and after prolonged fasting.
Spontaneous vitreous hemorrhage

The causes of 653 cases of spontaneous vitreous hemorrhage were evaluated. The four most common causes, accounting for over 84% of the cases, were diabetic retinopathy (34.1%), retinal break without retinal detachment (22.4%), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (14.9%), and retinal vein occlusion (13.0%). Other diagnoses accounting for a significant number of cases of spontaneous vitreous hemorrhage included posterior vitreous detachment, retinal vasculitis, senescent macular degeneration, intraocular tumor, and retinopathy of prematurity. The remaining, uncommon, diagnoses accounted for less than 5% of the cases.
A Numerical Method for Estimating the Variance of Age at Maximum Growth Rate in Growth Models

Studies on maturation and body composition mention age at peak height velocity (PHV) as an important measure that could predict adulthood outcome. The age at PHV is often derived from growth models such as the triple logistic fitted to the stature (height) data. Theoretically, for a well-behaved growth function, age at PHV could be obtained by setting the second derivative of the growth function to zero and solving for age. Such a solution obviously depends on the parameters of the growth function. Therefore, the uncertainty in the estimation of age at PHV resulting from the uncertainty in the estimation of the growth model, need to be accounted for in the models in which it is used as a predictor. Explicit expressions for the age at PHV and, consequently the variance of the estimate of the age at PHV, do not exist for some of the commonly used nonlinear growth functions, such as the triple logistic function. Once an estimate of this variance is obtained, it could be incorporated in subsequent modeling ei...
Ncm Personal Computer Displays

"Prior planning prevents poor performance" is the moral of this note about predicting bid prices on new personal-computer display models based only on past vendors' bids. Students gain respect for a set of 71 data points that might be used to explore the relationships between bid price per unit and the specifications and quantities of previous displays. The note illustrates the importance of understanding the available data and circumstances surrounding its collection before using regression analysis to summarize relationships. See also UVA-QA-0522, the optional supplement to this note.
Cystic fibrosis and the war for iron at the host–pathogen battlefront

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by genetic mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), an anion transporter normally expressed in secretory glands of the lungs, pancreas, digestive tract, liver, skin, and reproductive organs. When functioning properly, the CFTR protein conducts intracellular chloride anions across an epithelial cell membrane into the extracellular space. In CF, a dysfunctional or absent CFTR protein results in the production of abnormally thick, sticky mucus in the respiratory tract, as well as impaired secretion of bodily fluids, like digestive enzymes, bile, sweat, tears, and semen. Although the clinical manifestations of CF are protean, most people with two abnormal CFTR alleles suffer some degree of digestive and respiratory disease and, particularly in males, infertility; currently, in the developed world, the median life expectancy in CF is around 40 y (1). CFTR gene defects are particularly common among persons of European heritage; ∼1 in 30 non-Hispanic whites is a carrier of a mutant CFTR allele, and 1 of every 2,300 white infants is born with CF (2). One of the dreaded complications of CF lung disease is infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa , which is an independent risk factor for excess morbidity and mortality in children with CF (3). In PNAS, Hendricks et al. (4) explore respiratory virus infection as a potential facilitator of P. aeruginosa acquisition in the CF airway. Environmental isolates of P. aeruginosa are responsible for initial infection in infancy or early childhood, and subsequent transient infections are common in CF (Fig. 1). However, over time P. aeruginosa undergoes genetic adaptations to the CF airway, including increased production of alginate, an exopolysaccharide that confers a slimy mucoid coat; decreased synthesis of flagellin, a protein that enables bacterial movement and navigation; and modifications to the cell wall component lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In … [↵][1]1Email: nicole.bouvier{at}mssm.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Abstinence halls (zhaitang 齋堂) in lay households in early medieval China

Most of what we know of religion in early medieval China concerns religious virtuosi, the spiritual and intellectual elite. But often, in texts focused on them, we glimpse the activities of some of the surrounding laypersons whose responses to virtuosi are in many cases the reason we have the texts in the first place. We possess normative writings of various kinds prescribing how laypeople should or should not practice religion. Evidence of how they actually did practice religion is harder to find. This modest article attempts to fill a very small part of this gap. I argue that, from at least the late third century, some households in China were furnished with a special room reserved for Buddhist observances, in effect a domestic shrine. I will show what these rooms were used for and something of the significance they were thought to have.
Evaluation of an Automated Differential Leukocyte Counting System: III. Detection of Abnormal Cells

Preliminary data on the performance of a new semiautomated pattern recognition instrument (Hematrak) in the detection of abnormal nucleated blood cells on peripheral slides are presented. The Hematrak instrument offers performance at least equivalent to the hospital laboratory’s 100-cell differential in detecting nucleated erythrocytes, blasts, immature myelocytes, and combinations of these abnormal cells, even when present in low concentrations. Evaluation of the instrument with regard to the detection of plasma cells and atypical lymphocytes remains uncertain. The problems of both manual and automated differentials in regard to the necessity for improved criteria for cell identification are briefly discussed.
Differences in Gay Male Couples' Use of Drugs and Alcohol With Sex by Relationship HIV Status.

Prior studies with men who have sex with men have documented a strong association between substance use with sex and risk for acquisition of HIV. However, few studies have been conducted about gay male couples’ use of substances with sex, despite the fact that between one third and two thirds of men who have sex with men acquire HIV from their relationship partners. The present study sought to (1) describe whether one or both partners in the male couple uses substances with sex—by substance type—within and/or outside of their relationship, and (2) assess whether differences exist in those who use substances with sex within and outside the relationship by the couples’ HIV status. Dyadic data for this analysis were collected in the United States from a nation-wide cross-sectional Internet study about male couples’ relationships and behaviors. Couple-level descriptive and comparative analyses were employed with 361 male couples. Except for alcohol, most couples did not use substances with sex. Of those who d...
Mass Spectrometric Analysis of the Gas Produced from Overloaded Power Transformer

The gaseous products from a power transformer under overloading were analyzed by means of a mass spectrometer. Substantial amounts of hydrogen, carbon dioxide and lower hydrocarbons were detected in the gas formed from the overloaded transformer, while no detectable amount of these compounds were found in the case of normal condition. These results suggest that the mass spectrometric analysis of the transformer gas is a convenient method for checking up the operating condition of the power transformer.
Differentiation of tobacco mosaic virus strains by complement fixation.

SummaryTests with purified preparations of 6 strains of tobacco mosaic virus and anti-sera produced in rabbits with each of these strains show that the complement fixation reaction can be used for differentiating mutant strains of this virus. In some cases, antibody remaining after absorption of specific antiserum with heterologous antigen could be detected by complement fixation in the presence of homologous antigen. In one case, a significantly lower antiserum dilution end-point was attained in the heterologous reaction than in the homologous reaction. Finally, strains were found to differ in optimum antigenic units, in the weight of antigen required to react optimally with specific immune serum. The suggestion is made that complement fixation can be used to measure tobacco mosaic virus concentration.
Using Elluminate Live to assist distance learning of information assurance capstone seminar

The development of distance learning course of information assurance capstone seminar has fostered a revolution in the manner we communicate between/among teacher and students, and in fair evaluation. This paper describes the limitation of traditional on-line teaching management system and the improvement by introducing Elluminate Live to the teaching of an information assurance capstone seminar through distance learning which demonstrate the students' ability of meeting at least three subcategory level standards of NSTISSI No. 4011 at the performance level.
LAB training in simulator for clinical skills

Objective: To explore effective method for training clinical skills in order to strengthen students' practical ability.Method: Teachers gave short-term intensive training in simulator to 92 pediatric trainees focusing the routine skills of puncture and medical check-up by making full use of all facilities in labs.Result: Students' performance after the training shows obvious improvement(P0,05).The method is widely accepted by students.Conclusion: The short-term intensive training in simulator can effectively improve students' clinical skills.Meanwhile the training in the lab can make sure each process strictly controlled.
Alabama's Water Crisis

Alabama faces a major and expanding water crisis. Population growth and economic development are putting more pressure on water resources already strained by recent droughts, and such droughts are likely to become more frequent and more severe in the future. Disputes with neighboring states over shared water resources threaten Alabama’s use of interstate waters to meet future needs. And Alabama’s current legal regime is wholly inadequate to meet these challenges.The failures of Alabama’s state water law could be corrected with one statute. The State Legislature should act swiftly to adopt a comprehensive water management statute based on the Regulated Riparian Model Water Code; the resulting statute should regulate the state’s surface and groundwater as one unified resource and should coordinate water quality regulation with water quantity regulation. Adopting such a statute will prepare the state for future water shortages, as well as putting it on a better footing for future negotiations with neighboring states.
The sexual communication scale: a measure of frequency of sexual communication between parents and adolescents.

This study reports on the psychometric properties of a brief instrument that can be used in research or practice to measure the frequency of communication about sexual matters between parents and adolescents: The Sexual Communication Scale (SCS). The instrument was designed to assess communication between a mother/mother-figure and an adolescent and between a father/father-figure and an adolescent. The instrument, which contains 20 items for mothers and the same 20 for fathers, addresses sexual topics ranging from dating to sexual intercourse to homosexuality to HIV/AIDS. The sample used to establish reliability and validity of the SCS consisted of 158 males and females, who were primarily Caucasian, suburban, low to upper middle socioeconomic status, and in the 9th through 12th grades. Factor analyses revealed a strong unidimensional construct. Further, internal consistency was found to be very high. In sum, the SCS demonstrated adequate psychometric properties.
Heart Sounds: Use of Audio Recordings to Improve Patient Discharge Communication

Nearly 80 % of verbal information doctors provide to patients is immediately forgotten (within 1 min) and 50 % of information that is recalled is recalled incorrectly. Several factors influence this phenomenon including age, health literacy, education, preferred learning style, and provider communication ability. Given these complexities, it is not surprising then to learn that patients often report poor communication about their medical care on HCAHPS surveys. Poor communication can lead to increased readmission rates, decreased patient satisfaction scores, and decreased hospital reimbursements. Patients with diagnoses associated with the highest readmission rates (heart failure, heart attack, pneumonia) appear to be at greatest risk for the effects of failed communication. Effective communication at the point of discharge is therefore crucial for these high-risk patients, and our current process of paper + verbal review of discharge instruction is failing to meet their complex communication needs. In this project, the “DMAIC” improvement process tool and several Lean tools are used to define and analyze the problem of inadequate discharge communication for these high-risk patients. We determined that adding a layer of “audio communication” at the point of discharge could serve as an educational tool with the potential to impact a patient’s ability to self-manage care by improving understanding of discharge instructions and increasing satisfaction with the discharge communication process.