cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polypropylene photo-stabilization by hindered secondary amines. A spectroscopic investigation☆☆☆

Abstract The conversion products from a commercially important photo-stabilizer based on 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine have been identified and quantified during the photo-oxidation of polypropylene. From a comparison with model compounds and model systems, direct evidence for the dominant involvement of grafted substituted hydroxylamine species was obtained by infra-red spectroscopy. Non-stabilizing conversion products, including N -acyloxy compounds, were also identified and the overall mechanism of photo-protection by hindered amine stabilizers is discussed.
On the capillary problem

The problem of the determination of the free surface of a fluid in a capillary tube is studied.
Soluble E-Selectin (sE-Selectin) is Increased at 24 Hours in Premature Baboons that Develop Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) 1728

Lung inflammation is a major factor in the development of BPD. Previously, we have found that serum levels of the inflammatory adhesion molecule, sE-Selectin, was higher on day of life one in premature infants that develop BPD than in infants that do not. The goal in this study was to test the hypothesis that sE-Selectin concentrations would increase early in the baboon model of BPD. We measured serum concentrations of sE-Selectin and sP-Selectin at delivery, and at 24, 72 and 120h after delivery in baboons delivered at 75% term gestation. The animals were maintained on mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen to maintain normal arterial blood gas values throughout the experimental period. We found that serum levels of sE-Selectin were higher at 24h than at birth and the levels remained increased through 120h. In contrast, we found no differences in sP-Selectin through 120h. These data are similar to findings in premature humans, and suggest that sE-Selectin may be useful as an indicator for developing BPD. In addition, the similarity of the premature human and baboon soluble adhesion molecule profiles in developing BPD, suggests that the mechanisms of lung inflammation may be similar, and that further studies in the baboon model of BPD may provide useful insights into mechanisms of lung inflammation in both the baboon BPD model, and in premature infants.
Vertical distribution of bacteria in arctic sea ice

Heterotrophic bacteria were enumerated in north polar sea ice cores obtained near Point Barrow, Alaska. Highest concentrations of total and viable bacteria were found in the layer containing the sea ice microbial community identified by the maximum chlorophyll a content. Gas vacuolate bacteria were also found in the sea ice, a discovery which is consistent with their recent report from antarctic sea ice microbial communities. The gas vacuolate bacteria comprised 0.2% or less of the viable bacteria isolated from sea ice cores, lower than concentrations reported for most antarctic samples. Most gas vacuolate isolates from the sea ice cores were pigmented pink, orange, or yellow. An ice core from nearby saline Elson Lagoon contained an inverted sea ice microbial community with highest chlorophyll a concentrations and bacterial counts found in the top 0–20 cm of the ice. This surface layer also contained high numbers (up to 186 bacteria/ml) of a nonpigmented, gas vacuolate, elongated rod-shaped bacterium.
Relationship between selected static an dynamic lower extremity measures

Abstract Twenty-four non-symptomatic subjects were recruited for this study. They were evaluated for foot-type and selected static parameters to determine their influence on kinematic and kinetic variables measured during barefoot overground walking. Foot-type and lower extremity characteristics were examined through the measurement of arch index, range of motion measurements of the ankle, subtalar, first metatarsal and hip joints, and the measurement of the orientation of the calcaneus and tibia. Measurements collected during the support phase of the gait cycle included kinetic measures via a force platform, kinematic measures of the knee joint using a three-dimensional electrogoniometer and kinematic measures of the rearfoot angle using a high speed motion camera. Angle of gait and step parameters were also measured utilizing an inked paper track system. Using the static evaluation measures to predict dynamic gait resulted in significant canonical correlations between first ray mobility and rotational values at the knee, first ray mobility and anteroposterior ground reaction force variables, and static hip internal-external rotation with varus-vaigus motion at the knee. The results suggest that static lower extremity measures have limited value in predicting dynamic lower extremity function to any great degree.
Dealing with romantic jealousy by finding a replacement relationship

For Western Illinois University women, romantic jealousy (as measured on the Interpersonal Jealousy Scale) resulting from a terminated relationship correlated negatively with year in school, time since the terminated relationship, number of subsequent relationships, and the extent to which subsequent relationships provided rewards and self-esteem. For men at this university jealousy only correlated negatively with year in school.
The Solicitation Situation: Examining the Language of Team Science in Federally-Funded Research

This paper is part of an ongoing research project that investigates the socio-technical infrastructure required for successful team science. A comprehensive analysis of 96 grant solicitations provided a representation of how U.S. federal agencies conceptualize and communicate team science. This research has implications for the management and evaluation of team science projects.
Stability of the compressible laminar boundary layer

In previous theoretical treatments of the stability of the compressible laminar boundary layer the effect of the temperature fluctuations on the 11viscous11 (rapidly-varying) disturbances is either ignored (Lees-Lin), or is accounted for incompletely (Dunn-Lin). A thorough reexamination of this problem shows that temperature fluctuations have a profound influence on both the "inviscid" (slowly-varying) and viscous disturbances above a Mach number of about 2.0. The present analysis includes the effect of temperature fluctuations on the viscosity and thermal conductivity, and also introduces the viscous dissipation term that was dropped in the earlier theoretical treatments. Some important results of the present study are: (1), the rate of conversion of energy from the mean flow to the disturbance flow through the action of viscosity in the vicinity of the wall increases with Mach number; (2), instead of being nearly constant across the boundary layer, the amplitude of inviscid pressure fluctuations for Mach numbers greater than 3 decreases markedly with distance outward from the plate surface. This behavior means that the jump in magnitude of the Reynolds stress in the neighborhood of the critical layer is greatly reduced; (3), at Mach numbers less than about 2 dissipation effects are minor, but they become extremely important at higher Mach numbers since for neutral disturbances they must compensate for the generally destabilizing effects of items (1) and (2). Numerical examples illustrating the effects of compressibility (including neutral stability characteristics) are obtained and are compared with the experimental results of Laufer and Vrebalovich at M = 2.2, and of Demetriades at M = 5.8.
The effect of calcium on labeling of nucleic acids with radioactive precursors in heart tissue slices.

Abstract Heart tissue slices were incubated in the presence of various radioactive precursors of pyrimidine nucleotides. Labeling of RNA of the tissue slices was greater with [3H]uridine, [3H]UMP, and [3H]cytidine than with [3H]uracil or [3H]orotic acid. The labeling of RNA was linear for at least 4 h, and all components of RNA (28 S, 19 S and 4 S) were stimulated with an increase in calcium concentration in the medium from 10−5 to 10−3 m . Contrarily, the labeling of DNA with [3H]thymidine was not influenced by changes in calcium in the medium. Under conditions where RNA labeling with [3H]uridine was stimulated with an increase in calcium, there was no change in radio-activity in the acid soluble pool. Chromatography of the acid soluble pool showed a shift in distribution of radioactivity toward nucleotides and away from uracil when calcium concentration in the medium was increased. The stimulatory effect of calcium on RNA labeling was not replaced with other divalent cations. The data suggest that calcium may influence RNA metabolism in heart tissue, possibly through an effect on intermediate pyrimidine metabolism.
A Transferrin Variant in a Kindred with Cystic Fibrosis

An electrophoretically fast transferrin (Tf) variant, TfB, was found in a cystic fibrosis homozygote. Since neither cystic fibrosis nor the transferrin structural gene has been mapped on human chromosomes, a study was made of this kindred. Genetic markers including ABO, MN, Rh, Fy blood groups and Tf, group-specific component, and haptoglobin serum protein polymorphisms were determined in available members of the kindred. The genes for cystic fibrosis and Tf appear to segregate independently in the kindred, although crossing-over between linked genes in the homozygous cystic fibrosis brother of the propositus could account for the genotypes observed.
Spins and parities of states in Gd152

Abstract The energy level spectrum of Gd152 excited in the beta decay of Eu152 was investigated by the method of directional correlation. Gamma-gamma correlations were performed in triple coincidence with a 4π beta detector, and beta-gamma correlations were performed with a thin lens beta spectrometer. These measuremnts, together with previously determined internal conversion coefficients, establish the spin and parity of the levels at 755, 1444, and 1604 keV as 4+, 3(+), and 2−, respectively.
Hepatic regulation of pancreatic α-cell function

The direct feedback regulation between the endocrine gland and its target organ is an expected biological relationship. However, such a phenomenon is far from being well established in the case of the endocrine pancreas and its major target organ, the liver, especially since plasma glucose has been established as the prime regulator. In this perspective, I have reexamined the feedback regulation between plasma glucose and glucagon secretion by the pancreatic alpha cell. Surprisingly, available data in the literature appear to document a frequent breakdown of this well-established interdependence between plasma glucose and pancreatic alpha cells, as reflected by a sustained elevation of plasma glucagon levels in several physiologic and pathologic states with concurrent euglycemia or hyperglycemia. Moreover, normal or low glucagon concentrations in the presence of fasting hypoglycemia in patients with insulinoma or non-islet cell tumors secreting insulin-like peptides and in patients with hepatic glycogen storage disorders may enhance our hypothesis that plasma glucose level may not be the major regulator of glucagon secretion. Extensive data in the literature show that hyperglucagonemic states are characterized by a unique metabolic environment, namely hepatic glycogen depletion. Similarly, hepatic glycogen stores are abundant in the presence of normal or low glucagon concentrations. These findings imply a distinct relationship between hepatic glycogen content and plasma glucagon level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Literature Review of Wind Forecasting Methods

In this paper, an overview of new and current developments in wind forecasting is given where the focus lies upon principles and practical implementations. High penetration of wind power in the electricity system provides many challenges to the power system operators, mainly due to the unpredictability and variability of wind power generation. Although wind energy may not be dispatched, an accurate forecasting method of wind speed and power generation can help the power system operators reduce the risk of unreliability of electricity supply. This paper gives a literature survey on the categories and major methods of wind forecasting. Based on the assessment of wind speed and power forecasting methods, the future development direction of wind forecasting is proposed.
Host and parasite-derived IKK activities direct distinct temporal phases of NF-κB activation and target gene expression following Toxoplasma gondii infection

Activation of NF-κB by the intracellular pathogen Toxoplasma gondii is associated with the localization of phosphorylated IκBα to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM). This is mediated by a parasite-derived IκB kinase (TgIKK) activity and is independent of host IKK function. In the present study, we examined the roles of host IKK and parasite-derived TgIKK on the temporal modulation of NF-κB activation. Despite the presence of TgIKK activity at the PVM, nuclear translocation of NF-κB and subsequent gene expression exhibited a requirement for the host IKK complex. A detailed kinetic analysis of NF-κB activation revealed a biphasic, hierarchical and temporally regulated response. We propose a novel paradigm for the modulation of NF-κB-dependent gene expression by T. gondii that involves both the host IKK complex and TgIKK activity at different phases of infection. Thus, T. gondii effectively alters gene expression in a temporal dimension by exploiting the NF-κB signaling machinery and subsequently rewiring the activation circuits of the infected host cell.
Lysine decarboxylase activity and alkaloid production in Heimia salicifolia cultures

Abstract Levels of lysine decarboxylase, thought to exercise control over the biosynthesis of alkaloids derived from the amino acid, have been determined in alkaloid-producing and non-producing cell and organ cultures of Heimia salicifolia . The level of this enzyme has also been measured in cultures grown in the presence and absence of light. In chlorophyllous cell cultures enzyme activity correlates positively with chlorophyll; in shoot cultures the activity also parallels alkaloid production.
Time-frequency Wigner evolution of the quantum Langevin equation

We obtain an explicit equation for the time-frequency Wigner spectrum of momentum governed by the Langevin equation when the random driving term is quantum noise. The equation is solved exactly and includes both the transient and the stationary part. The time-dependent Wigner spectrum generalizes the result of Wang and Uhlenbeck wherein they showed that for the white noise driving force the power spectrum in the stationary state regime is Lorenzian. We show that our solution reduces to the classical solution when the parameters of the quantum noise are such that the white noise limit is approached and when the long time limit is taken.
272 A ROLE FOR PROLACTIN, CORTISOL AND INSULIN IN PHOSPHATIDYLGLYCEROL SYNTHESIS BY HUMAN FETAL LUNG

Late in human gestation, the fetal lung synthesizes increased amounts of phosphatidylcholine (PC) followed in time, by an increase in phosphatidylglycerol (PG) synthesis with concomitant decrease in phosphatidylinositol (PI) synthesis. We reported previously that prolactin (P), cortisol (F) and insulin (I), in combination, stimulate PC synthesis and surfactant secretion by mid-trimester human fetal lung explants cultured in serum-free medium. Therefore, we examined the effect of these hormones on the relative amounts of PG and PI in surfactant. Lung tissue explants from 20-24 wk human abortuses were maintained for 7 d in medium without hormones (control) or with P (2.5 μg/ml), F (0.2 μg/ml) and I (2.5 μg/ml) added alone or in various combinations. During the last 24 h of culture [14C]glycerol (1 μC/ml) was added to the medium. A lamellar body (LB) fraction was isolated and the percent incorporation of [14 C] into LB glycerolipids was measured using two-dimensional TLC. The incorporation of [14C] into PC was 74% in all groups. In control explants [14C] incorporation into PG was 3.9% and into PI was 7.1% (PG/PI = 0.7). P+F+I and F+I increased significantly [14C] incorporation into PG (11.9% and 10.9%, respectively) and decreased [14C] incorporation into PI (3.5% and 4.1%, respectively). These treatments increased the PG/PI ratio (F+P+I = 3.5; F+I = 2.7). F and F+P also increased PG/PI (2.2 and 2.0, respectively). These results are suggestive that PG and PI synthesis in human fetal lung are under multi-hormonal control.
Skills for normalisation work

Abstract Normalisation is a fashionable term linked to deinstitutionalisation and community care, which so far has not received the scrutiny it deserves. This paper focuses on the skills aspect of normalisation work. It outlines those skills which are either relatively new, carried out differently, or put to different use from the pattern of current social work practice. The discussion illustrates briefly instances in whieh these skills could and should be used. It links the skills to the different objectives and types of knowledge of which the normalisation approach is based.
An Approach to Drawing-Like View Generation From 3D Models

In this paper we propose a method to generate 2D drawing-like views from 3D models automatically. The view generation process is conducted in object space and supported by two algorithms: (1) pose determination for 3D models: unifying the space between 2D drawings and 3D models; and (2) 2D drawing-like view generation from 3D models: building the correspondence between 2D drawings and 3D models. The pose determination method for 3D objects is proposed on the basis of a concept called Virtual Contact Area. Meanwhile an efficient occlusion algorithm based regular grid is described to generate orthogonal drawing-like views from 3D models along the pose orientations. To evaluate the validity of the proposed methods, respective experiments are presented.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
A Placebo-Controlled, Blinded Comparison Between Betamethasone and Dexamethasone to Enhance Lung Maturation in the Fetal Mouse

Objective:To compare the effects of betamethasone and dexamethasone used to enhance lung maturity of the fetal mouse.Methods:Adult CD-1 mice were administered a single does of either a placebo or different strengths of betamethasone (0.01, 0.025, or 0.10 mg) or dexamethasone (0.025 or 0.10 mg) on day 14.0 (74%) of gestation. The either gravid mice in each treatment cohort were killed on day 16.5 to assess fetal lung maturity (histologic changes and respiratory patterns) in a blinded manner. Another ten gravid mice in each treatment group were allowed to deliver spontaneously to assess perinatal outcomes.Results:Compared with the effects from placebo exposure, the 0.10-mg doese of both betamethasone and dexamethasone demonstrated enhanced histologic maturational changes and improved neonatal respiratory efforts. Betamethasone was twofold to threefold more potent than dexamethasone. The fetal crown-rump lengths and the fetal body, lung, and heart weights were indistinguishable among the three treatment grou...
Effects of Lymphotoxin β Receptor Blockade on Intestinal Mucosal Immunity

Background: Mucosal addressin cellular adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) directs lymphocyte migration into gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) through Peyer's patches (PPs). Parenteral nutrition (PN) impairs mucosal immunity by reducing PPs MAdCAM-1 expression, T and B cells in GALT, and intestinal and respiratory immunoglobulin (Ig) A levels. We previously showed that PN reduces lymphotoxin β receptor blockade (LTβR) in PPs and intestine, and that stimulation with LTβR agonist antibodies reverses these defects. To confirm that LTβR regulates transcription of MAdCAM-1 message and more fully understand the effects of LTβR on MAdCAM-1 function within the mucosal immune system, we studied the effect of LTβR blockade with a chimeric LTβR Ig-fusion protein on MAdCAM-1 mRNA levels, PP lymphocyte mass and IgA levels in the intestinal and respiratory tracts. Methods: Mice were cannulated and killed 3 days after receiving chow + control Ig, chow + LTβR-Ig fusion protein (100 μg IV), or PN + control Ig. The PPs of h...
Sensitivity and specificity of electrocardiographic criteria for left and right ventricular hypertrophy in morbid obesity

Abstract To determine the sensitivity and specificity of standard electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy in morbid obesity, resting electrocardiograms and M-mode echocardiograms were obtained in 65 patients whose actual body weight was more than twice their ideal body weight and who were free from hypertension and organic heart disease not directly attributable to obesity. Electrocardiographic criteria for LV hypertrophy were tested using increased LV wall thickness, LV enlargement and increased LV mass (all determined echocardiographically) as diagnostic standards. Electrocardiographic criteria for RV hypertrophy were tested using echocardiographic RV enlargement or RV hypertrophy as a diagnostic standard. Sensitivity values for the electrocardiographic criteria for LV hypertrophy ranged from 0 to 13%, 0 to 20% and 0 to 12% using echocardiographic increased LV wall thickness, LV enlargement and increased LV mass, respectively, as diagnostic standards. Specificity values ranged from 73 to 100%, 87 to 100% and 83 to 100%, respectively, using these diagnostic standards. Sensitivity values for the electrocardiographic criteria for RV hypertrophy ranged from 0 to 16% and specificity values ranged from 95 to 100%. Combining electrocardiographic criteria within groups did not appreciably increase sensitivity and often decreased specificity to unacceptably low levels. The electrocardiogram is very limited in its ability to detect ventricular hypertrophy and chamber enlargement in morbidiv obese patients.
The occurrence of hydrogen peroxide in edible oils; chemical and microbiological consequences

Evidence is presented for the occurrence of hydrogen peroxide at low concentration in edible oils and fats of both vegetable and animal origin. In soya bean, corn, groundnut, sunflower, rapeseed, olive, safflower, sesame, linseed and mackerel oils, and in the oil from lard, margarine and a solid vegetable fat, hydrogen peroxide was found at concentrations within the range 0.1-11.5 μg g−1 of oil. The highest ‘natural’ concentrations were found in soya bean oil. Detection of hydrogen peroxide in aqueous extracts of the various oils examined was based upon measurements by high performance liquid chromatography, luminescence, colorimetry and fluorimetry. The quantitative measurement of hydrogen peroxide was made using a fluorimetric assay. The hydrogen peroxide concentration found in a given oil was not directly related to the peroxide value of that oil. Hydrogen peroxide was found to re-accumulate in oil samples which had been washed free of their initial content. This process took place slowly over a period of days, and led to a steady state concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the oil. It is suggested that hydrogen peroxide arises as a by-product of the lipid autoxidation process. The rate of oxidation and the induction period at 40°C of soya bean oil ‘naturally’ containing 2.76 μg hydrogen peroxide per gram of oil were unaffected by the removal of hydrogen peroxide by water washing or by addition of further hydrogen peroxide to the oil. The hydrogen peroxide did not therefore appear to function as a significant source of hydroxyl radicals capable of initiating autoxidation reactions. In the presence of soya bean oil containing hydrogen peroxide (5 μg g−1) the lethal effect of heating at 90°C on spores of Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 was much greater than that in a liquid paraffin control. Removal of hydrogen peroxide from the soya bean oil by washing with water considerably reduced the lethal effect, which was restored by the addition of hydrogen peroxide (7.5 μg g−1) to the washed oil.
Pulmonary fungal infections- recent updates

The field of pulmonary fungal infections is constantly evolving. The at-risk population continues to increase, and the endemic areas for the dimorphic fungi are expanding with new outbreaks reported across the world. Novel diagnostic methods are being developed and existing methods improved and refined. If started in a timely fashion, currently available antifungal agents are fairly effective. In this review we highlight the recent updates in fungal pneumonias focusing on epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment.
Evidence-Based Interventions for Preventing Substance Use Disorders in Adolescents

Substantial progress has been made in developing prevention programs for adolescent drug abuse. The most effective interventions target salient risk and protective factors at the individual, family, and community levels and are guided by relevant psychosocial theories regarding the etiology of substance use and abuse. This article reviews the epidemiology, etiologic risk and protective factors, and evidence-based approaches that have been found to be most effective in preventing adolescent substance use and abuse. Exemplary school- and family-based prevention programs for universal (everyone in population), selected (members of at-risk groups), and indicated (at-risk individuals) target populations are reviewed, along with model community-based prevention approaches. Challenges remain in widely disseminating evidence-based prevention programs into schools, families, and communities.
Factors influencing macrophyte growth and recovery following shoreline restoration activity

Abstract Macrophytes are increasingly being used worldwide for assessing aquatic ecological condition. Because their growth is influenced by physical habitat conditions, such as sediment quality and near-shore gradient, macrophytes may also be valuable indicators of shoreline restoration efforts. An extensive shoreline restoration project in a lake with a history of industrial activity provided the opportunity to examine macrophyte and sediment status as metrics of aquatic ecosystem health and response. We surveyed macrophyte beds in Muskegon Lake, Michigan over a 4-year period to assess the ecological benefits of the restoration project. Macrophyte biomass was affected strongly by the physical features of the individual sites, including hydrologic exposure (i.e., wind and wave action) and sediment organic matter, which contributed to a large degree of variability among the sites. Declines in macrophyte biomass the year following restoration suggested a short-term negative impact on macrophyte communities. Recovery to at least pre-restoration biomass was evident two years following restoration. However, concurrent changes at the reference sites, though to a lesser degree, also suggested a possible overriding environmental cause (i.e., water level, air temperature, precipitation) for the observed changes in macrophyte growth. Lake restoration projects are usually designed to improve water quality and enhance the fishery. Although both goals are influenced by macrophytes, the plants themselves are rarely a focal point of restoration. Our study allowed us to address this information gap; even after 4 years of sampling, it appears the timeline is too short to detect a definitive response to restoration, but our results provide important baseline information and lessons learned for future studies.
Role for Protein Kinase C in the Mediation of Increased Fibronectin Accumulation by Mesangial Cells Grown in High-Glucose Medium

The fibronectin content of RMC cultures grown for 8-14 days in medium containing 30 mM (540 mg/dl) D-glucose was increased 30-60% relative to that of control cells cultured in 10 mM (180 mg/dl) glucose. Addition of equiosmolar concentrations (20 mM, 360 mg/dl) of L-glucose, 3-O-methylglucose, or mannitol to 10 mM glucose media did not alter fibronectin accumulation compared with values observed in 10 mM glucose alone. The basal phosphorylation of the 80,000-M(r) MARKS protein, which is a substrate for PKC, and the phosphorylation induced by acute (15-min) exposure of cells to 15% FCS or to 0.1 microM (50 ng/ml) PDBu were all increased in cells grown in 30 mM compared with 10 mM glucose. By contrast, phosphorylation of the 80,000-M(r) protein in response to a maximal concentration of PDBu (1 microM, 500 ng/ml) was not different in cells grown in 30 mM compared with 10 mM glucose. The acute increases in phosphorylation of the 80,000-M(r) protein were blocked by the PKC inhibitor calphostin C. Chronic (7-day) exposure of mesangial cells grown in 10 mM glucose to 0.1 microM of the PKC agonist PDBu also resulted in a sustained 40% increase in 80,000-M(r) phosphorylation and a 20-30% increase in fibronectin accumulation. As assessed by [35S]methionine incorporation, mesangial cell fibronectin synthesis was increased by exposure to PDBu, a finding consistent with earlier observations with 30 mM glucose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Geometrical Optics of Parabolic Index-Gradient Cylindrical Lenses

The first-order imaging properties of dielectric rods with refractive index decreasing quadratically with distance from the axis are analyzed from the viewpoint of gaussian ray optics. Cardinal-point locations vary with rod length, but the usual object–image relationships are then still applicable. Several ray diagrams are shown; one of the examples is a contact magnifier.
Loss of synaptotagmin IV results in a reduction in synaptic vesicles and a distortion of the Golgi structure in cultured hippocampal neurons

Fusion of synaptic vesicles with the plasma membrane is mediated by the SNARE (soluble NSF attachment receptor) proteins and is regulated by synaptotagmin (syt). There are at least 17 syt isoforms that have the potential to act as modulators of membrane fusion events. Synaptotagmin IV (syt IV) is particularly interesting; it is an immediate early gene that is regulated by seizures and certain classes of drugs, and, in humans, syt IV maps to a region of chromosome 18 associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disease. Syt IV has recently been found to localize to dense core vesicles in hippocampal neurons, where it regulates neurotrophin release. Here we have examined the ultrastructure of cultured hippocampal neurons from wild-type and syt IV −/− mice using electron tomography. Perhaps surprisingly, we observed a potential synaptic vesicle transport defect in syt IV −/− neurons, with the accumulation of large numbers of small clear vesicles (putative axonal transport vesicles) near the trans-Golgi network. We also found an interaction between syt IV and KIF1A, a kinesin known to be involved in vesicle trafficking to the synapse. Finally, we found that syt IV −/− synapses exhibited reduced numbers of synaptic vesicles and a twofold reduction in the proportion of docked vesicles compared to wild-type. The proportion of docked vesicles in syt IV −/− boutons was further reduced, 5-fold, following depolarization.
Behavioral Health and Social Normative Influence: Correlates of Concurrent Sexual Partnering Among Heterosexually-Active Homeless Men

Sexual concurrency poses significant HIV/STI transmission risk. The correlates of concurrency have not been examined among homeless men. A representative sample of 305 heterosexually active homeless men utilizing meal programs in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles reported on their mental health, substance use, and social network characteristics. Nearly 40% of men reported concurrency with one of their four most recent sex partners. Results indicated that HIV seropositivity (OR = 4.39, CI: 1.10, 17.46; P = 0.04), PTSD (OR = 2.29, CI: 1.05, 5.01; P = 0.04), hard drug use (OR = 2.45, CI: 1.07, 5.58; P = 0.03), and the perception that network alters engage in risky sex (OR = 3.72, CI: 1.49, 9.30; P = 0.01) were associated with increased odds of concurrency. Programs aimed at reducing HIV/STI transmission in this vulnerable population must take into account the roles that behavioral health and social networks may play in sexual concurrency.
Optimizing prices for consumer credit

Pricing of consumer credit was long considered to be straightforward. However, the recent financial crisis has shown that mispricing and misallocating consumer credit can have severe consequences for the global economy. For many years, risk-based pricing has been the state-of-the art in credit pricing. In the past few years, lenders have begun to adopt pricing optimization approaches that consider customer willingness-to-pay as well as risk in setting prices for credit. In this article, we describe the pricing problem faced by providers of consumer credit. We focus on aspects of the problem that differ from other pricing settings – in particular, the non-linearity of incremental contribution in rate, the uncertainty of the return on a loan, the role of information, and the interaction between pricing and risk. We describe how these aspects can be incorporated into the determination of optimal rates for consumer credit. Finally, we discuss current challenges and open areas for research.
Lack of Effect of Hypertonic Sodium Bicarbonate on QRS Duration in Patients Taking Therapeutic Doses of Class IC Antiarrhythmic Drugs

Hypertonic sodium bicarbonate (HSB) has been reported to reduce the toxicity of Class IC antiarrhythmic agents in rats and, anecdotally, in patients. A pilot study was conducted of the safety and efficacy of HSB for reversing the electrocardiographic effects of therapeutic doses of encainide or flecainide in ten patients taking these drugs for chronic ventricular arrhythmias. Patients had a mean drug-induced QRS prolongation before treatment of 27.6 +/- 8.8%. Each patient received a single dose of HSB 100 mEq or normal saline IV over 5 minutes on two separate occasions. The administration of treatments was blinded and balanced. There were no important side effects of HSB. Venous blood pH, CO2 content and sodium concentration were all significantly increased by HSB in comparison to saline. No differences were found during the 2-hour observation period in the primary endpoint, QRS duration, the PR or QT intervals, or the frequency of premature ventricular beats. It was concluded that HSB 100 mEq does not reduce QRS duration in patients taking therapeutic doses of flecainide or encainide. Because HSB was well tolerated, investigation of its use in higher doses or in patients with overt toxicity due to Class IC drugs is feasible.
Chemically-Selective and Spatially-Localized Redox Activity at Ta/Ta2O5 Electrodes

Electron-transfer reactions at Ta electrodes covered by a thin (∼2.5 nm) native oxide film, hereafter designated as Ta/Ta2O5, have been investigated using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)...
Forbidden subgraphs and hamiitonian properties in the square of a connected graph

Various Harniltonian-like properties are investigated in the squares of connected graphs free of some set of forbidden subgraphs. The star K1,4 the subdivision graph of K1,3, and the subdivision graph of K1,3 minus an endvertex play central roles. In particular, we show that connected graphs free of the subdivision graph of K1,3 minus an endvertex have vertex pancyclic squares.
Network-based genomic discovery: Application and comparison of Markov random-field models

As biological knowledge accumulates rapidly, gene networks encoding genome-wide gene-gene interactions have been constructed. As an improvement over the standard mixture model that tests all the genes iid a priori, Wei and Li (2007) and Wei and Pan (2008) proposed modeling a gene network as a Discrete- or Gaussian-Markov random field (DMRF or GMRF) respectively in a mixture model to analyze genomic data. However, how these methods compare in practical applications in not well understood and this is the aim here. We also propose two novel constraints in prior specifications for the GMRF model and a fully Bayesian approach to the DMRF model. We assess the accuracy of estimating the False Discovery Rate (FDR) by posterior probabilities in the context of MRF models. Applications to a ChIP-chip data set and simulated data show that the modified GMRF models has superior performance as compared with other models, while both MRF-based mixture models, with reasonable robustness to misspecified gene networks, outperform the standard mixture model.
Community-based trauma system development: key barriers and facilitating factors.

Background: Local progress in developing trauma systems has been slow, because of a variety of political, financial, social, and organizational challenges. The purpose of this study is to discuss effective community strategies for dealing with these obstacles to trauma system development. Methods: In-depth case studies were conducted in 12 study sites across the United States. These communities had similar sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., resident populations of 1 million or more) but had varying progress in the development of trauma systems. Results: Several factors were identified in community and leadership characteristics that promoted the development of comprehensive trauma systems. Conclusion: The most important strategies included broad-based participation of key stakeholders (especially community representatives), local trauma leaders who were patient and resourceful, local events (some of which were orchestrated) that demonstrated the need for change in trauma delivery, and financial programs that recognized the needs of trauma centers with high numbers of uninsured patients.
A comparison of charge coupled devices and film sensitivities

Abstract The response of a charge coupled device (Fairchild CCD-202) to a Ne light source is studied and compared to the Kodak SO-143 film commonly used for streamer chamber applications. It is found that the CCD-202 cooled to −10°C is considerably more sensitive than the film. The advantages of using a CCD camera system for streamer chamber and other applications is discussed.
Stabilized finite element method for viscoplastic flow: formulation with state variable evolution

A stabilized, mixed finite element formulation for modelling viscoplastic flow, which can be used to model approximately steady-state metal-forming processes, is presented. The mixed formulation is expressed in terms of the velocity, pressure and state variable fields, where the state variable is used to describe the evolution of the material's resistance to plastic flow. The resulting system of equations has two sources of well-known instabilities, one due to the incompressibility constraint and one due to the convection-type state variable equation. Both of these instabilities are handled by adding mesh-dependent stabilization terms, which are functions of the Euler-Lagrange equations, to the usual Galerkin method. Linearization of the weak form is derived to enable a Newton-Raphson implementation into an object-oriented finite element framework. A progressive solution strategy is used for improving convergence for highly non-linear material behaviour, typical for metals. Numerical experiments using the stabilization method with hierarchic shape functions for the velocity, pressure and state variable fields in viscoplastic flow and metal-forming problems show that the stabilized finite element method is effective and efficient for non-linear steady forming problems. Finally, the results are discussed and conclusions are inferred.
Multipath modeling using canonical scatterers

Multipath modeling is presented using infinitely long cylinders. It is shown that the known stochastic fading models, Rayleigh and Rician, can be obtained by treating multipath deterministically, that is, by solving the electromagnetic scattering problem.
Human-robot interaction and performance in telerobotic systems

It has been noted that operators in robot arm teleoperation systems, when guiding a slave arm amongst surrounding objects, have difficulty making sure that the arm does not collide with objects along its nay. When there are objects closeby, and especially when more that one object are simultaneously in the vicinity of the anll, operators prefer to stop the arm and move it in a stopand- go fashion, sometimes one linkljoint at the time. While acceptable in some special cases, this is not so in many TO help the human operator, a good teleoperation sys- others, for example if some objects are not stationary or if tem includes, besides the proper robotic hardware, a data one ofthose objects is a person (e.g. an astronaut). While gathering and preprocessing system. One critical compc- designers often blame technob3' for such Subpa Perfor- nent is strategically placed TV canieras and TV monitors, mance (not enough TV monitors or cameras, slow reaction which the operator of the servesystem etc.), one serious culprit is the human arm manipulators at the US Shuttle and dexterous arms in nuclear reactors are well known. The trend is likely to continue, especially in space applications, pushed by high costs of human space-walk and by hostility of the space environment. The nature of decision-making in such tasks suggests that for the time being a human operator will likely be a part of the control loop.
A Statistical Approach to Mel-Domain Mask Estimation for Missing-Feature ASR

In this letter, we present a statistical approach to Mel-domain mask estimation for missing feature (MF)-based automatic speech recognition (ASR). Mel-domain time-frequency masks are of interest, since MF systems have been shown successful in that domain. Time- and channel-specific reliability measures are derived as posterior probabilities of active speech using a 2-state speech model. Since closed form distributions for Mel-domain spectra do not exist, they are instead modeled as χ2 processes with empirically-determined degrees of freedom. Additionally, we present HMM-based decoding to exploit temporal correlation of spectral speech data. The proposed mask estimation algorithm is integrated with an example MF-based ASR front-end from, and is shown to outperform the spectral subtraction (SS)-based method from in terms of word-accuracy, when applied to the Aurora-2 database.
Phosphorus accelerates the development of parathyroid hyperplasia and secondary hyperparathyroidism in rats with renal failure

Several studies have suggested that phosphorus (P) restriction, independent of serum levels of ionized calcium and 1,25-(OH)2D3, may prevent parathyroid hyperplasia and secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients and animals with chronic renal failure. A direct role of phosphorus in the pathogenesis of these abnormalities is, however, still controversial. Thus, studies were performed to examine the direct role of phosphorus on the development of these abnormalities. Female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy or sham operation. The animals were then divided into two dietary groups (High-P: 0.8% P diet, Low-P: 0.2% P diet). Six to eight rats per group per time-point were killed at the following intervals: 0, 1, 2, and 4 days, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in uremic rats fed the high-P diet increased 1 day after nephrectomy, and high levels persisted for the duration of the study. Parathyroid gland growth in uremic rats fed the high-P diet was apparent within 2 days of uremia and increased nearly twofold by 2 weeks. These abnormalities, however, did not develop in uremic rats fed the low-P diet. Serum P levels in uremic rats fed the high-P diet were significantly higher than those of uremic rats fed the low-P diet, but there was no significant difference in serum ionized calcium or 1,25-(OH)2D3 levels. These results demonstrate that phosphorus accelerates the development of parathyroid hyperplasia and secondary hyperparathyroidism in rats with renal failure, and that phosphorus restriction prevents these abnormalities independent of changes in serum ionized calcium and 1,25-(OH)2D3.
Analytic performance modeling for a spectrum of multithreaded processor architectures

The throughput of pipelined processors suffers from delays associated with instruction dependencies and memory latencies. Multithreaded architectures attempt to hide such delays by sharing the processor with multiple instruction streams. In this paper we develop a comprehensive analytic framework to quantitatively evaluate the performance of a wide spectrum of mulithreaded machines, ranging from those that are capable of switching threads every cycle to those that switch threads only on long delays. The models are validated against previously published simulation and modeling results, and then used to assess the performance potential of multithreading given current processor technology. >
Mice deficient in TNF receptors are protected against dopaminergic neurotoxicity: implications for Parkinson’s disease

The pathogenic mechanisms underlying idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) remain enigmatic. Recent findings suggest that inflammatory processes are associated with several neurodegenerative disorders, including PD. Enhanced expression of the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, has been found in association with glial cells in the substantia nigra of patients with PD. To determine the potential role for TNF-alpha in PD, we examined the effects of the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a dopaminergic neurotoxin that mimics some of the key features associated with PD, using transgenic mice lacking TNF receptors. Administration of MPTP to wild-type (+/+) mice resulted in a time-dependent expression of TNF-alpha in striatum, which preceded the loss of dopaminergic markers and reactive gliosis. In contrast, transgenic mice carrying homozygous mutant alleles for both the TNF receptors (TNFR-DKO), but not the individual receptors, were completely protected against the dopaminergic neurotoxicity of MPTP. The data indicate that the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha is an obligatory component of dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Moreover, because TNF-alpha is synthesized predominantly by microglia and astrocytes, our findings implicate the participation of glial cells in MPTP-induced neurotoxicity. Similar mechanisms may underlie the etiopathogenesis of PD.
Reputation Systems for Anonymous Networks

We present a reputation scheme for a pseudonymous peer-to-peer (P2P) system in an anonymous network. Misbehavior is one of the biggest problems in pseudonymous P2P systems, where there is little incentive for proper behavior. In our scheme, using ecash for reputation points, the reputation of each user is closely related to his real identity rather than to his current pseudonym. Thus, our scheme allows an honest user to switch to a new pseudonym keeping his good reputation, while hindering a malicious user from erasing his trail of evil deeds with a new pseudonym.
β-Amyloid Fibrils Activate Parallel Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways in Microglia and THP1 Monocytes

The senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease are foci of local inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the presence of acute phase proteins and oxidative damage. Fibrillar forms of beta-amyloid (Abeta), which are the primary constituents of senile plaques, have been shown to activate tyrosine kinase-dependent signal transduction cascades, resulting in inflammatory responses in microglia. However, the downstream signaling pathways mediating Abeta-induced inflammatory events are not well characterized. We report that exposure of primary rat microglia and human THP1 monocytes to fibrillar Abeta results in the tyrosine kinase-dependent activation of two parallel signal transduction cascades involving members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) superfamily. Abeta stimulated the rapid, transient activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2 in microglia and ERK2 in THP1 monocytes. A second superfamily member, p38 MAPK, was also activated with similar kinetics. Scavenger receptor and receptor for advanced glycated end products (RAGE) ligands failed to activate ERK and p38 MAPK in the absence of significant increases in protein tyrosine phosphorylation, demonstrating that scavenger receptors and RAGE are not linked to these pathways. Importantly, the stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs) were not significantly activated in response to Abeta. Downstream effectors of the MAPK signal transduction cascades include MAPKAP kinases, such as RSK1 and RSK2, as well as transcription factors. Exposure of microglia and THP1 monocytes to Abeta resulted in the activation of RSK1 and RSK2 and phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein at Ser133, providing a mechanism for Abeta-induced changes in gene expression.