cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of the nonlinear observability rank condition for improved parametric estimation

The correct way to design controllers for dynamic robots is still very much an open question. This is in a large part due to the complexity and uncertainty in modeling their nonlinear dynamics. In this work, we focus on deriving concise dynamic expressions for a particular class of robots that can be used to better reduce uncertainty with respect to unknown parameters in realtime. We accomplish this by using an extended Kalman filtering framework in conjunction with an online controller that continuously maximizes a local measure of nonlinear observability. The main novel contribution of this work is that we directly use the nonlinear observability rank condition to derive the measure of observability at each time step. We are able to make this extension in part by focusing on serial-chain systems and exploiting the geometric structure in their dynamic models. In particular, we derive concise, closed-form and exact analytical representations for the forward dynamics, linearization, and nonlinear observability rank condition of a fixed-base serial manipulator with actively controlled elastic joints. An example is presented in which the spring constants and damping coefficients for a series-elastic actuated manipulator are estimated using the online observability maximizing techniques we derive.
Evidence for Roles of Brain Peptides in Thermoregulation

The sections in this article are: 1 Hypothermic Peptides 1.1 Angiotensin II (All) 1.2 Neurotensin (NT) 1.3 Summary 2 Hyperthermic Peptides 2.1 Beta-Endorphin (BE) 2.2 Luteinizing Hormone–Releasing Hormone (LH-RH) 2.3 Somatostatin (SS) 2.4 Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) 2.5 Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP) 2.6 Summary 3 Antipyretic Peptides 3.1 AVP 3.2 Alpha-MSH 3.3 Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF) 3.4 Summary 4 Concluding Comments
Wiskott-aldrich syndrome (WAS) with renal failure: To transplant or not to☆

Abstract Rationale The standard treatment for optimal outcome in WAS, is sibling matched BMT before age 5. Unrelated donor BMT, in the absence of a sibling match, may potentially improve the outcome for patients with WAS and ESRD. Methods Case report. Results CJ, a 13 year Native American boy was diagnosed with WAS at 6 months of age. In the absence of a sibling matched donor supportive treatment included monthly IVIG. A splenectomy was preformed for bleeding problems at age 5. At age 12 he developed chronic glomerulonephritis with autosomal polycystic kidney disease that deteriorated to ESRD requiring hemodialysis. Renal transplantation was contemplated, however, BMT was prioritized as opposed to renal transplant to improve viability of the transplanted kidney and to prevent complications of untreated WAS. Since a sibling matched donor was still not available, an unrelated matched non-myeloablative PBSC transplant was done. Within 2 months, he developed host origin, B cell lymphoma requiring aggressive chemotherapy. Nine months after PBSC transplant, he developed severe GVHD of the liver, resulting in death from liver failure and intra-cranial bleeds, 2 months before his 14th birthday. Conclusions The median survival of untransplanted splenectomized WAS is 25 years. In the absence of a sibling match, these patients are at risk of complications from WAS and additional conditions like ESRD. Further more, unrelated matched hematopoietic transplantation may not improve the ultimate outcome of complicated WAS with ESRD.
Improved exercise tolerance of the polycythemic lung patient following phlebotomy

Abstract The present study evaluated the effects of therapeutic phlebotomy on the exercise tolerance and the maximal carbon dioxide output of polycythemic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Fifteen maximal exercise studies were performed before and after phlebotomy in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (mean forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV 1 ] = 970 ml). After phlebotomy there were no significant differences in pulmonary function, blood gases, oxygen consumption, or carbon dioxide production at rest. However, after phlebotomy there was a significant increase in the exercise tolerance of the patients. The mean workload, the duration of exercise, the maximal oxygen consumption, the maximal carbon dioxide production, and the ventilation at maximal exercise all increased significantly. The improved exercise tolerance after phlebotomy appeared due to an increased cardiac output generated mainly through an increased stroke volume. We hypothesize that the increased stroke volume was due to a higher ejection fraction of the right ventricle secondary to a lower pulmonary artery pressure. This study provides further evidence that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have polycythemia benefit by therapeutic interventions that maintain their hematocrits below 55 percent.
Steady-state limiting currents determined by coupled diffusion, migration, and chemical equilibrium.

A simple theoretical model is presented for the reduction of a singly charged cation under conditions where migration is important and the cation is coupled to a neutral species through a chemical equilibrium, AB = A + + B - . Only the steady-state transport-limited current, I l , is considered. Simple algebraic equations describe the ratio of I l to the diffusion-limited current, I d , as it depends on the degree of dissociation, determined by the ratio of equilibrium constant to formal concentration, K AB /C* AB . The ratio I l /I d is found to depend on the ratio of electrolyte to equilibrium concentration of A + in bulk solution just as for the well-known result for the case without the equilibrium (i.e., K AB →∞).The results are in accord with published experimental data for weak acids. Agreement and disagreement with other theoretical treatments of this problem are discussed. The main results are for 1 :1 supporting electrolytes ; extensions are made to 2 :1, 1 :2, and 2 :2 supporting electrolytes.
FOUR-HOLE-LINE DIAGRAMS IN NUCLEAR MATTER.

The Brueckner-Goldstone diagrams with four independent hole lines, which give the third term in the expansion for the ground-state energy of infinite nuclear matter, are enumerated. These diagrams are grouped in a natural way into 16 distinct classes. Only one of these classes (the four-body clusters) involves the solution of a four-body equation. Six classes require the solution of the three-body Bethe-Faddeev equations, and nine classes can be evaluated in terms of two-body matrix elements alone. Exact formal expresions are given for the contribution to the energy from each class of diagrams. In these expressions, all exchange diagrams are included, and all energy denominators are clearly defined. Numerical estimates are made for each class of diagrams, assuming the two-body interaction to be the Reid soft-core potential. The sum of all contributions is attractive and is about 0.6-1.6 MeV. Most of the uncertainty in this result is caused by omission of the tensor force in certain diagrams. The implications of these results for the convergence of the energy expansion are discussed.
Counterfactuals and Hypothesis Testing in Political Science

Scholars in comparative politics and international relations routinely evaluate causal hypotheses by referring to counterfactual cases where a hypothesized causal factor is supposed to have been absent. The methodological status and the viability of this very common procedure are unclear and are worth examining. How does the strategy of counterfactual argument relate, if at all, to methods of hypothesis testing based on the comparison of actual cases, such as regression analysis or Mill's Method of Difference? Are counterfactual thought experiments a viable means of assessing hypotheses about national and international outcomes, or are they methodologically invalid in principle? The paper addresses the first question in some detail and begins discussion of the second. Examples from work on the causes of World War I, the nonoccurrence of World War III, social revolutions, the breakdown of democratic regimes in Latin America, and the origins of fascism and corporatism in Europe illustrate the use, problems and potential of counterfactual argument in small-N-oriented political science research.
Phytoplankton enrichment experiments and bioassays in natural coastal sea water and in sewage outfall receiving waters off Southern California

Nutrient enrichment experiments with near-shore Southern California surface water showed that nitrogen was the principal nutrient limiting phytoplankton growth. Bioassays of receiving waters taken above major sewage outfalls were carried out using representative Southern California phytoplankton cultures. The bioassays showed that the receiving waters were sometimes stimulatory, and at other times inhibitory, to algal growth. These studies were done using in vivo fluorescence to measure the growth of the algae. In cultures, cell division rates and increases in vivo fluorescence were comparable and this indicates that fluorescence is a reasonable way of following growth.
Qualitative behavior of a fishery system

Abstract A global portrait of the phase plane for a fishery model is obtained for any acceptable values of the parameters. Three different structures of the phase plane are recovered. The first predicts an eventual collapse of the fishery. The second predicts an unstable limit cycle and an eventual stability of solutions which start inside the limit cycle. The last structure predicts two possible stable equilibria, one with high catch rate, and the other with no catch. Each structure corresponds to a different domain in the parameter space. The boundaries of these domains are found by solving the relevant differential equation for a saddle-to-saddle separatrix in the phase plane by perturbation methods.
Dietary protein, resistance training and health: a call for evidence

Background Purposeful intake of ample dietary protein remains controversial, as illustrated by uncertain and/or dissuasive material in introductory dietetics texts and statements by professional organizations (Lowery L and Huffman J, Dietary Protein in Sport: Still Controversial, ASEP National Meeting, 2008). Common health concerns include undue "stress" on renal function, bone loss, and deleterious effects on other dietary components such as fiber and saturated fat. Particularly dissuasive language has been targeted toward strength athletes.
Outcome and cost analysis for outpatient skin grafting

Background: To reduce cost, outpatient surgery is advocated when feasible; however, the potential of compromising outcome is a concern. The purpose of this review is to assess patient outcome and cost for managing operative burn injuries without hospitalization. Methods: During the past 18 months, 54 patients were identified with burns amenable to operative debridement and skin grafting without hospitalization. Twenty patients chose to be hospitalized and underwent prompt skin grafting. Operative skin grafting as an outpatient was chosen by the remaining 34 patients. Of these, four patients were subsequently hospitalized postoperatively (two for pain, one for cellulitis, and one for vomiting). Results: Hospitalized patients and outpatients were similar in age and extent of burn; however, those hospitalized underwent skin grafting sooner after injury (2.1 ± 0.4 days for inpatients vs. 11.5 ± 0.8 days for outpatients; mean ± SEM). Inpatients also had a significantly larger area skin-grafted (286 ± 24 cm 2 for inpatients vs. 178 ± 14 cm 2 for outpatients). Graft take was very good in each group. Cost, as indexed by patient charge, was substantially less for outpatients ($2,397 ± $222) than for inpatients ($17,220 ± $410). Conclusion: These results demonstrate a significant cost reduction with nonhospitalized operative care of burn injuries without any overt detriment in outcome, thus endorsing outpatient skin grafting when amenable. This review also illustrates that delaying operative intervention reduces the burn area required for grafting.
Modeling the Effects of Lakes and Wetlands on the Water Balance of Arctic Environments

Abstract Lakes, ponds, and wetlands are common features in many low-gradient arctic watersheds. Storage of snowmelt runoff in lakes and wetlands exerts a strong influence on both the interannual and interseasonal variability of northern rivers. This influence is often not well represented in hydrology models and the land surface schemes used in climate models. In this paper, an algorithm to represent the evaporation and storage effects of lakes and wetlands within the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) macroscale hydrology model is described. The model is evaluated with respect to its ability to represent water temperatures, net radiation, ice freeze–thaw, and runoff production for a variety of high-latitude locations. It is then used to investigate the influence of surface storage on the spatial and temporal distribution of water and energy fluxes for the Kuparuk and Putuligayuk Rivers, on the Alaskan arctic coastal plain. Inclusion of the lake and wetland algorithm results in a substantial improvement...
Treatment of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents

Despite the recent advances in treatment and technology, intensive insulin therapy for treatment of type 1 diabetes remains a challenge in children due to developmental issues, wide glycemic fluctuations and unpredictable eating and activity patterns. Many children with diabetes nowadays use a basal-bolus regimen by means of either multiple daily injections or CSII in an attempt to mimic closely the physiological insulin and serum glucose profiles in order to achieve optimal glycemic control. This article reviews the different regimens employed to treat type 1 diabetes in children, using short- and intermediate-acting insulins, newer insulin analogues, as well as continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). With the ongoing development of new technologies allowing better monitoring of blood glucose and insulin delivery, it is hoped that in the near future a “closed loop system” will help in achieving normal glycemic control while minimizing side effects related to administration of exogenous insulin. Drug Dev Res 69:158–164, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
hSET1: A novel approach for colon cancer therapy

Histone-methyl transferases (HMTs) are key enzymes that post-translationally modify histones, and serve key role in gene expression, epigenetic regulation, and as determinants of survival in malignant cells. Recent studies have shed light on the role of hSET1 which is a key element of highly conserved multi-protein HMT complex that catalyze methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) regulating expression of specific proteins important for the malignant phenotype. To understand the importance of differential expression of H3K4 HMTs in cancer, we specifically down-regulated hSET1 the only H3K4 specific histone-methyl transferase present in yeast as well as in human that is directly involved in gene expression. hSET1 has been shown to be differentially over-expressed in the malignant cells as compared to the normal cells at the RNA as well as protein level. In a wide array of normal and malignant cells it has been demonstrated that phosphorothioate antisense against hSET1 (DN5) caused selective and differential apoptosis in malignant cells only while the normal cells remains unaffected. Down-regulation of hSET1 leads to rapid and complete regression of SW480 colon xenograft in mice model. These findings demonstrate that hSET1 over-expression promotes cell proliferation and cancer cell survival, and may be a novel target for cancer therapy.
Dynamic response of an axially loaded tendon of a tension leg platform

Abstract In this work, a set of nonlinear equations of motion for a coupled axial and transverse vibration of a tower subjected to end tension is derived using Hamilton's principle. The in-plane fluid forces are represented by the Morison equation. The tower is modeled as an elastic beam subjected to end tension with only in-plane motions due to random wave loadings. The dynamic response of the tower is analyzed for various end tensions by the finite difference method. The effects of parameter variations such as an increase in significant wave height, an increase in the constant end tension, and harmonically varying end tension are analyzed both for a reduced model and for an actual tether. It was observed that at low tension, the axial motion is mainly induced by geometry while at higher tension, the axial motion is mainly due to elongation. Analysis of a 260 m tendon showed that increasing the significant wave heights increased the amplitude of transverse response, while the magnitude of axial response remained almost the same. The bending stress in the tendon decreases with an increase in tension due to decreased transverse displacement, but the total stress in the tendon increases with an increase in end tension. The magnitude of transverse displacement could be kept within specific limits by constantly varying the end tension.
Effects of Incremental Halothane Levels on the Reflex Responses to Carotid Hypotension in the Dog

Arterial baroreceptor function was assessed in trained, chronically instrumented dogs by measuring the systemic haemodynamic responses to brachiocephalic artery occlusion (BCO). BCO was carried out in awake dogs and repeated at end-tidal halothane levels of 0.75 +/- 0.01% (H1), 0.94 +/- 0.02% (H2) and 1.13 +/- 0.02% (H3). Before BCO, at H1 only the increased heart rate and decreased stroke volume were significantly different from awake controls (P less than 0.01). Mean atrial pressure and cardiac output at H2 and H3 were significantly lower than in the awake controls (P less than 0.05). The pressor response to BCO fell progressively with increasing halothane levels, the decrease being significant at the H2 and H3 levels (P less than 0.001). There was a good linear correlation between the pressor response to BCO as a percentage of the response in awake animals, and the end-tidal halothane levels (r = -0.816, P less than 0.001). This indicated a sensitive dose-dependent modification of the haemodynamic response to BCO by halothane. However, halothane levels existed between about 0.7-0.8%, at which levels the average pressor response to BCO was not significantly different from awake values.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Naphthyldesferrithiocin Iron Chelators

The synthesis and iron-clearing properties of the naphthyldesferrithiocins 2-(2‘-hydroxynaphth-1‘-yl)-Δ2-thiazoline-(4R)-carboxylic acid, 2-(2‘-hydroxynaphth-1‘-yl)-Δ2-thiazoline-(4S)-carboxylic acid, 2-(3‘-hydroxynaphth-2‘-yl)-Δ2-thiazoline-(4R)-carboxylic acid, and 2-(3‘-hydroxynaphth-2‘-yl)-Δ2-thiazoline-(4S)-carboxylic acid are described. While the bile duct-cannulated rat model clearly demonstrates that the 3‘-hydroxynaphthyl-2‘-yl compounds are orally active iron-clearing agents and the corresponding 2‘-hydroxynaphthyl-1‘-yl compounds are not, in the primate model none of the benz-fused desazadesferrithiocin analogues are active. Oral versus subcutaneous administration of these ligands strongly suggests that metabolism is a key issue in their iron-clearing properties and that these benz-fused desferrithiocins are not good candidates for orally active iron-clearing drugs.
Finite-size effects in a CuMn spin-glass.

Using dc sputtering in an UHV system we have prepared multilayer samples of Cu:Mn-Si with Cu:Mn thicknesses, $L$, between 4 and 500 nm. The temperature of the peak in the dc magnetic susceptibility of these spin-glass samples shifts with $L$ as $\frac{({T}_{g0}\ensuremath{-}{T}_{g})}{{T}_{g0}}\ensuremath{\approx}{L}^{\ensuremath{-}0.75\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06}$ over the whole range of sample thickness. These results are discussed in terms of finite-size scaling and the possible effects of the electron mean free path on the effective exchange interaction.
Promotional Opportunities: How Women in Corrections Perceive their Chances for Advancement at Work

Utilizing a theoretically derived sample, selected women who worked in corrections were interviewed in order to better understand what barriers women thought most impeded their success in moving up the organizational ladder. This work rests on the qualitative case study methodology. Three major themes emerged from interviews. Women believed that their chances for promotion within corrections were negatively impacted by: a belief that they could not perform the job as well as comparable men, an environment marked by sexual harassment, and problems in balancing work and home responsibilities. Male correctional officers were viewed as dominating the field. Further, there was a belief among these women, who worked in corrections, that comparable men were generally perceived as more capable.
Multistate equilibrium unfolding of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase: thermodynamic and spectroscopic description of the native, intermediate, and unfolded ensembles.

The thermodynamic and spectroscopic properties of a cysteine-free variant of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (AS-DHFR) were investigated using the combined effects of urea and temperature as denaturing agents. Circular dichroism (CD), absorption, and fluorescence spectra were recorded during temperature-induced unfolding at different urea concentrations and during urea-induced unfolding at different temperatures. The first three vectors obtained by singular-value decomposition of each set of unfolding spectra were incorporated into a global analysis of a unique thermodynamic model. Although individual unfolding profiles can be described as a two-state process, a simultaneous fit of 99 vectors requires a three-state model as the minimal scheme to describe the unfolding reaction along both perturbation axes. The model, which involves native (N), intermediate (I), and unfolded (U) states, predicts a maximum apparent stability, ΔG°NU, of 6 kcal mol-1 at 15 °C, an apparent mNU value of 2 kcal mol-1 M-...
The international autoimmune hepatitis score in chronic hepatitis C

SUMMARY. Clinical and laboratory findings of autoimmunity are common in chronic hepatitis C. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), a disease of unknown cause, has been defined by use of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group Score (AIH score), which quantifies clinical and laboratory parameters. To further validate the specificity of the International AIH score and investigate the similarities between hepatitis C and AIH, we measured the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group Score in patients with well-defined chronic hepatitis C. Thirty consecutive non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C were evaluated. Scoring was performed using both components of the AIH score: a set of minimum required parameters including laboratory and historical data and a second set of additional parameters dominated by histological criteria. Autoantibodies were positive in 21 of 30 hepatitis C patients and associated (patient or first-degree relative) autoimmune diseases were present in eight of 30 patients. Histologically, chronic active hepatitis with periportal piecemeal necrosis was seen in 24 of 30 patients and lymphoid follicles in 16 of 30 patients. No patient scored as probable or definite AIH using the minimum required parameters of the AIH score. When histological parameters were included, four of 30 patients scored as probable AIH but none as definite AIH. Therefore, AIH was excluded by the minimal and additional criteria of the AIH score in 86% of patients with hepatitis C despite a high prevalence of autoantibodies in these patients. We conclude that the criteria set forth by the International AIH scoring system defines a distinct disease although it shares some features with chronic hepatitis C. Modification of the AIH scoring system to include other commonly accepted risk factors for hepatitis C and additional histological parameters would further improve its specificity.
Separable spatial modeling of spillovers and disturbances

The single spatial parameter in the spatial autoregressive model affects both the estimation of spillovers and the estimation of spatial disturbances. Consequently, the spatial autoregressive model has the undesirable property that if the degree of spatial dependence in the disturbances differs from that in the spillovers, neither may be estimated correctly. We show theoretically that the dependence structure for the spillovers and disturbances can differ and conduct a Monte Carlo experiment that verifies these findings. In contrast, estimates from a simple separable model show little bias in all the scenarios. We also show differences between the spatial autoregressive model and the separable model on five empirical examples.
Magnetization study of the ultra-hard material MgAlB14

Abstract Magnetic susceptibility χ versus temperature T , magnetization M versus T , and isothermal M versus magnetic field H studies of the ultra-hard material MgAlB 14 were carried out in search of superconductivity or ferromagnetism in this compound. Two types of samples were synthesized: (1) powder and (2) chemically substituted and unsubstituted hot pressed pellets prepared from mechanically alloyed powders. χ ( T ) measurements on a powder sample revealed temperature-independent diamagnetism with a Curie–Weiss impurity concentration equivalent to ∼1 mol % of spin- 1 2 ions. In contrast, M ( T ) and M ( H ) data on the hot pressed samples, both substituted and unsubstituted, showed evidence of ferromagnetic transitions above ∼330 K . Scanning electron microscopy and Auger microprobe analysis of the hot pressed samples indicated that both substituted and unsubstituted samples contained significant concentrations of Fe impurities. We conclude that pure MgAlB 14 is neither a superconductor nor a ferromagnet above 1.8 K and exhibits temperature-independent diamagnetism from 1.8 K up to room temperature. The ferromagnetism observed in the hot pressed samples is likely due to Fe impurities abraded from the stainless steel mills used to mix the starting materials prior to hot pressing the samples.
Characterization of a neuronal κB-binding factor distinct from NF-κB

Abstract Transcription factors that bind κB enhancer elements have begun to garner wide attention in neurobiology. Data suggest that activation of κB-binding factors in neurons can be protective against various neurotoxins, but other data have connected NF-κB to cell death. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays of κB-binding activity, we have found that the predominant activity in rat brain tissue, in primary neurons, and in neuronal cell lines has a mobility inconsistent with that of bona fide NF-κB (RelA-p50 heterodimer). We have tentatively termed this activity neuronal κB-binding factor (NKBF). Competition assays with various DNA probes distinguished NKBF from NF-κB. Probes that efficiently bind the p50 homodimer were able to compete with a conventional NF-κB probe for NKBF binding, but NKBF did not react with antibodies to p50 (or any other known Rel family members). Furthermore, UV-crosslinking indicated that NKBF is composed of two polypeptides of 82 kDa and 27 kDa. Although NKBF activity can be elevated in a manner independent of new macromolecular synthesis, it does not appear to be modulated by IκB. Finally, no NF-κB was induced by glutamate in highly enriched neuronal cultures, although it was induced in neuron-glia cocultures. These data suggest that the primary κB-binding transcription factor in neurons is a novel protein complex distinct from NF-κB.
A normative analysis of home care goals.

Home-and community-based services (HCBS) can contribute to full social and economic participation in society by people with disabilities. Of 16 client-level and system-level HCBS goals, three are emphasized: targeting the neediest, individual choice, and strengthening informal systems. Projections are made of how selected goals would play out under two different resource conditions. Efforts to expand and strengthen HCBS involve trade-offs—for example, increasing access and comprehensiveness undermines affordability, increased targeting to the neediest means less access for those below the need threshold, and expanding client choice raises fears about trade-offs with quality and effectiveness. Targeting and choice seem to represent central and compatible goals for the design of anHCBSsystem. The combination minimizes trade-offs with affordability and enhances political feasibility.
Circular Patterns and Exfoliation in Crystalline Terrane, Grandfather Mountain Area, North Carolina

Aerial photographs of areas of crystalline rock in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge of western North Carolina reveal numerous large-scale arcuate, circular, and elliptical patterns with diameters from 1000 to more than 4000 feet. They are commonly defined by curving streams, curving ridges, and curving belts of contrasting vegetation. Geologic mapping shows that the circular patterns are not related to primary geologic structures; circumstantial evidence indicates that they are related to exfoliation or sheeting. Rock spalls up to half a mile in diameter may be formed by dilation of the rock as the erosion surface is lowered. The spalls enable tectonic joints to open, forming thin layers of rock of differing permeability and susceptibility to erosion. Exfoliation is probably involved in the erosive process and is probably more important than has been realized, especially in crystalline terrane.
Retrograde labeling of locus coeruleus neurons after lesion-induced sprouting of the coeruleohippocampal projection.

Abstract Locus coeruleus axons have been observed to proliferate and reinnervate targets after the partial removal of normal locus coeruleus inputs. Sixteen weeks after a large electrolytic lesion of the septal region, wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) injections of the dorsal area dentata resulted in the labeling of neurons of the dorsal half of the locus coeruleus. Similar injections made earlier postlesion times failed to produce visible HRP labeling in the locus coeruleus. These observations are consitent with our previous report of the time course for the noradrenergic reinnervation of the dorsal area dentata after septal lesions. Using double-labeling techniques, we have also demonstrated that collaterals of locus coeruleus axons that originally innervated the dorsal area dentata sprout to neinnervate that region 4 months after a lession of the septal region. Thus the homotypic compensatory proliferation of locus coeruleus projections appears to be mediated, at least in part, by a pruning effect.
Managing channel coordination in a multi-channel manufacturer–retailer supply chain

Abstract With the rapid development of e-commerce and the adoption of dual channels, increasingly manufacturers and retailers are implementing differentiated branding and profit sharing strategies in order to improve channel coordination and supply chain performance. In this study, we focus on the strategic roles played by differentiated branding and profit sharing in a multi-channel manufacturer–retailer supply chain. We use an analytical model to investigate this issue. Our results show that although differentiated branding effectively alleviates channel competition and conflict, it is general not sufficient to achieve full channel coordination, and an additional coordination mechanism is necessary. The additional coordination mechanism we consider is profit sharing, using the Nash bargaining model. Based on our results, we derive optimal market strategies and identify probable paths for future research.
An Analysis of Reported Counseling Services in Selected Public Community Colleges in the Southeastern United States.

Abstract 87% of the small, public coeducational community/junior colleges in the United States, having total student enrollments of 5,000 or fewer students, reported that they provided student counseling services. The median ratio was 1 counselor per 338 students; education counseling was reported to be the primary service rendered, while job-placement counseling was seen as the least important function of the counseling center. Of the institutions responding, 77% provide counseling services to nonstudents, and 37% indicated that vocational counseling was the area in which they most needed to improve services for students.
The regulation of growth and metabolism of kidney stem cells with regional specificity using extracellular matrix derived from kidney

Native extracellular matrix (ECM) that is secreted and maintained by resident cells is of great interest for cell culture and cell delivery. We hypothesized that specialized bioengineered niches for stem cells can be established using ECM-derived scaffolding materials. Kidney was selected as a model system because of the high regional diversification of renal tissue matrix. By preparing the ECM from three specialized regions of the kidney (cortex, medulla, and papilla; whole kidney, heart, and bladder as controls) in three forms: (i) intact sheets of decellularized ECM, (ii) ECM hydrogels, and (iii) solubilized ECM, we investigated how the structure and composition of ECM affect the function of kidney stem cells (with mesenchymal stem cells, MSCs, as controls). All three forms of the ECM regulated KSC function, with differential structural and compositional effects. KSCs cultured on papilla ECM consistently displayed lower proliferation, higher metabolic activity, and differences in cell morphology, alignment, and structure formation as compared to KSCs on cortex and medulla ECM, effects not observed in corresponding MSC cultures. These data suggest that tissue- and region-specific ECM can provide an effective substrate for in vitro studies of therapeutic stem cells.
Thermodynamic optimization method of a triple effect absorption system with wasted heat recovery

Abstract A detailed performance study is done for a water-lithium bromide triple regenerative effect absorption refrigerating system, with heat recovery. An analysis method is developed and implemented on a computer code to simulate the operation and control of the system under realistic conditions. The thermodynamic performances of the system are described by means of exergetic and energetic based criteria. The numerical results revealed that, by recovering wasted thermal energy into a heating effect, the system global exergetic efficiency is sensibly increased. It is also demonstrated that the amount of heat produced by the system decreases with the temperature of the heating effect while the global exergetic efficiency is increased.
Comparison of Suburban Vaccine Distribution Strategies to Control Raccoon Rabies

Helicopters and hand baiting are commonly used to distribute vaccine-laden baits to help control raccoon (Procyon lotor) rabies in suburban landscapes, but these techniques may be labor intensive, costly, or unavailable in some areas. We tested conventional baiting strategies against polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) bait stations in Erie County (New York, USA) during July and August 2003–05. Hand, helicopter, and bait station treatments were randomly assigned to six 25-km2 suburban study sites. To estimate the proportion of raccoons that ingested baits, tooth and blood samples from 954 raccoons were collected and examined for tetracycline biomarker and rabies-neutralizing antibodies, respectively. Overall, 38% (358/954) of the raccoons in Erie County tested positive for tetracycline; 16% (155/954) tested seropositive for rabies virus. Year of study significantly impacted biomarker prevalence; fewer raccoons tested positive for tetracycline in 2004. Probability of seropositivity increased with raccoon age. No stat...
Altered behavior and its influence on endocrines and water metabolism.

Abstract It was observed that the ablation of various limbic lobe nuclei in male Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in altered behavior which was not influenced by the manipulation of endocrine glands. Furthermore, it was noted that the lesioning of limbic lobe nuclei in male rats with intact endocrines resulted in significant weight changes in various endocrine glands. The limbic ablations did not result in significant change in weights of the endocrine glands of endocrine manipulated animals. Likewise, it was observed that neither the alteration of behavior or endocrine manipulation influenced water balance.
Predicting movement of stalk borer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae in corn

Abstract The stalk borer [Papaipema nebris (Guenee)], is a sporadic, yet serious pest of corn, (Zea mays L.), in the midwestern USA, particularly where corn fields are adjacent to grassy areas, such as roadside ditches, grass waterways, and terraces. An important management strategy is to apply an insecticide when the larvae move from the initial grass or broadleaf hosts to corn hosts. After the larvae bore into corn stalks, they are much more difficult to manage. Therefore, predicting the movement of larvae from weed hosts to corn hosts is crucial. This study was conducted to determine probable dates for stalk borer larval movement using climatic data from 67 locations across portions of South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. We also examined the difference in probable dates of larval movement using the entire climate data record (60–90 yr) as opposed to using the 30-yr climatic normal record (1961–1990). The minimum number of degree-days (780 Celsius degree-days 4.4 °C base temperature) in which larvae move from initial weed hosts to corn, were accumulated for each year in the climate record beginning 1 March and correlated with calendar dates. The mean date of larval movement in the in the states examined spans approximately 3 weeks, from 2 June in the southern portions to 23 June in the northern portions. Standard deviations about the mean date of larval movement were 5, 6, and 7 days in the southern, central, and northern portions, respectively. There was little difference between predicted dates using long-term climatic data compared to those using 30-yr climatic normal data.
John Laragh and the Renin Thesis: Creating a Paradigm

I first heard from John Laragh when I was a research fellow with Gordon Stokes at Sydney Hospital. My main area of interest was the regulation of renin release from the kidney, and Dr. Laragh had noticed some of my published reports describing the effects on renin of beta blockade and other interventions. Of course I was already aware of John Laragh’s two dramatic observations published in the New England Journal of Medicine.1,2 The first of these was to forever change the landscape of cardiovascular medicine, for John and his group provided evidence that inappropriately high plasma levels of renin in patients with hypertension were associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and other outcomes.1 This critical observation was later confirmed by a larger prospective study conducted by Michael Alderman.3 Over time, this discovery became progressively broadened and led to the recognition that excess activity of the renin-angiotensin system is an adverse factor in several forms of cardiovascular and renal disease. The second major finding by the Laragh group was that the efficacy of antihypertensive treatment with a betablocker was largely dependent on the drug’s ability to reduce plasma renin activity.2 This sentinel observation demonstrated that the renin-angiotensin system plays a causative role in blood pressure elevations in a large proportion of patients with hypertension. Based on this discovery, drugs that block the renin-angiotensin system have now become one of the mainstays of hypertension therapy.
Relationships between cell-substratum interactions and the distribution of concanavalin A receptors of mouse embryo fibroblasts

Abstract The mobility of concanavalin A (ConA) receptors on the surfaces of mouse embryo cells are affected by cell-substratum interactions. When the cells are grown on a substratum from which they are easily detached by EDTA, their receptors have an increased mobility and are redistributed into patches after incubation with ConA at 37 °C.
Morphine-conditioned analgesia using a taste cue: dissociation of taste aversion and analgesia

The present study examined the ability of a taste cue to serve as a conditioned stimulus (CS) for conditioning the analgesic effect of morphine. Rats were given three pairings of a taste CS with a morphine unconditioned stimulus (US). As expected, there was a decrease in CS intake across repeated pairings, indicating that a conditioned taste aversion was obtained. More important, presentation of the CS alone also increased paw-lick latencies on a hot plate test (either 50°C or 54°C hot plate), suggesting that an analgesic conditioned response (CR) was obtained. The dose of morphine required to produce conditioned analgesia was higher than the dose of morphine required to produce conditioned taste aversion. Using 15 mg/kg morphine, however, both conditioned taste aversion and conditioned analgesia were present when the morphine US was given immediately following CS intake, but not when given 6 h following CS intake. In contrast to morphine, pairing a taste CS with lithium produced a conditioned taste aversion without any conditioned analgesic response. These results indicate that acquisition of an analgesic CR is not the result of stress induced by an aversion to the taste CS.
The effect on income distribution of development, the growth rate and economic strategy

Abstract An analysis of cross-section and time series data for 83 countries confirms some, and contradicts other work on income distribution. New findings include: a dualistic socio-political system is highly unfavorable for equality. Neither the extent of government intervention in the economy nor the rate of manufactured exports are systematically related to income distribution. The analysis confirms that there is no systematic relationship between equality and the rate of economic growth. Educational participation and a reduction in the share of primary exports in GDP are both favorable for equality. There is some support for the Kuznets hypothesis that inequality increases as per capita income rises to about $400 and then declines, with further income increase, but the empirical support is not strong and may be weakening over time. These findings lead to more optimistic conclusions then other work: that rapid growth in a mixed economy is quite consistent with unchanged, or even improved, income distribution, even at early stages of development.
Parabolic Loci for Two Tuned Coupled Circuits

It is pointed out that the reciprocal of the system-response function E 1 /E 2, or its equivalent, of conventional two-mesh tuned coupled circuits when plotted in the complex plane leads to parabolic loci under certain restrictions. The simple geometric properties of parabolas will facilitate the design work and may throw lights as to the applications and limitations of the coupled circuits in different fields, electrical or nonelectrical.
Equilibrium model of a vascularized spherical carcinoma with central necrosis — Some properties of the solution

Properties of the solutions of a nonlinear time-independent diffusion equation are studied. The equation arises in a model of a spherically symmetric vascularized carcinoma with a central necrotic core. The boundary value problem as posed possesses a constant solution when the nutrient consumption rate and deposition rate (from the vascular network) are equal. This solution can lose uniqueness at a critical tumor dimension which corresponds to the onset of instability with respect to deviations from that uniform equilibrium state.
Urinary Podocyte mRNA Excretion in Children with D+HUS: A Potential Marker of Long-Term Outcome

Background. Diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (D+HUS) causes acute renal failure and may lead to podocyte loss. Objective. To determine if the urinary mRNA excretion of podocyte proteins is detectable in children with D+HUS and if it is a biomarker of a poor long-term outcome. Methods. Patients were randomly selected from participants in the SYNSORB Pk® trial. Urine samples were collected daily during the first week of hospitalization. Specimens were also obtained in healthy volunteers. Synaptopodin and nephrin mRNA levels were measured using real-time PCR. Results. Fifteen children, aged 4.9±2.8 years, were studied. Patients were categorized based on urinary mRNA levels into normal (marker:GAPDH≤mean + SD) or high (marker:GAPDH>mean + SD) in controls. Twelve patients (80%) had increased urinary podocyte mRNA excretion; 11 (73%) had high synaptopodin and 5 (33%) had high nephrin mRNA levels. Follow-up data were available in 13/15 patients, all of whom had normal blood pressure, urinalysis, and...
Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in asthmatics

Abstract Using a 51 Cr-labeled, antibody-coated chicken red blood cell assay system, mononuclear cell and granulocyte preparations from infectious asthmatics, noninfectious asthmatics, and normal controls were tested for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) capacity. The corrected cytotoxic indices of mononuclear cell preparations from infectious asthmatics were reduced (34 ± 10 SD) as compared to noninfectious asthmatics (47 ± 7 SD) or normal controls (47 ± 6 SD). Granulocyte preparations from infectious asthmatics and normal controls had a similar ADCC capacity. Data also demonstrated that the results were not influenced by the severity of the disease or in vivo drug treatment.
CONSTITUTION OF MAMEY WAX.

Mamey wax, m.p. 79.5°, isolated from the seed oil of Mammea americana L. is shown to be a mixture of saturated, long straight-chain fatty esters with carbon contents ranging from C 38 to C 54 . The major constituent is the symmetrical C 48 homolog, tetracosanyl tetracosanoate. After hydrolysis, in addition to even carbon-numbered species, small amounts of odd carbon-numbered acids were detected.
ATP-Mg+2 Mediated Assembly of Rubisco Activase Investigated using Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase, commonly known as RuBisCO is an enzyme involved in carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms. The enzyme is subject to deactivation during its catalytic cycle. RuBisCO activase (Rca) regenerates active RuBisCO enzyme by facilitating the removal of the tightly bound inhibitory sugar phosphates from the active sites of RuBisCO. As an expansion to our previous work on the in vitro assembly pathway of Rca in presence of ADP-Mg+2, we investigated the self-assembly of the enzyme in ATP- Mg+2. For this purpose, we produced a functionally impaired Rca mutant that lacks ATPase activity. We estimated the average size of the oligomeric species as a function of Rca concentration using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). In line with our earlier observations with wild type Rca in ADP, the protein assembled in a stepwise manner in ATP in the 0.05-15 µM concentration range. Remarkably, the average oligomeric size remained relatively unchanged around a value of six subunits per oligomer at higher concentrations (30-75µM). This is in sharp contrast with our previous observations in ADP, where we observed a marked decrease in the diffusion coefficient of the protein consistent with the formation of oligomers containing tens of protomers. The estimated values of the dissociation constants obtained from the analysis of the FCS decays were similar for the first steps of the assembly process in both ADP and ATP. However, the formation of the hexamer from the tetramer is favored in ATP, as evidenced from the lower Kd associated with this assembly step. This suggests that the formation of a hexameric ring confers extra stability in the presence of ATP.