cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
History of Conductive Polymers

It is generally recognized that the modern study of electric conduction in conjugatedpolymers began in 1977 with the publication by the group at the University ofPennsylvania [1] describing the doping of polyacetylene. Although there was some priorwork dating back to World War II (see the review by Hush [2]) and even reports ofelectrochemicalsynthesisthenineteenthcentury[3],theNobelCommitteerecognizedtheseminal contribution of Heeger [4], MacDiarmid [5] and Shirakawa [6] by awarding themtheNobelPrizeforChemistryin2000.Shirakawa,whowasbasedattheTokyoInstituteofTechnology,hadbeenvisitingthelabofhiscollaboratorsatPennsylvaniaatthetimeofthebreakthrough research.Thestoryofpolyacetyleneisanexampleofafortunateconfluenceofcircumstancesthatis often under-appreciated in the history of scientific progress. In the 1970s, there wasworldwide interest in the unique properties of materials with such a high degree ofanisotropy that they can be considered one-dimensional (1D) systems. The Pennsylvaniagroup, of which I was privileged to be a member until 1975, was jointly led by a chemist,Tony Garito, and a physicist, Alan Heeger, and was recognized worldwide as a primarycenter for that field.Earlyfocus was onthe studyof charge-transfersalts,in which planar,conjugated,smallmoleculeswerestackedlikepokerchips.ExperimentsrevealedaPeierlstransition [7,8] and suggested the observation of Fro¨lich superconductivity [9,10]. Theemphasis then shifted to linear polymers as chemist, Alan MacDiarmid, entered into a
Culture in Mind: Cognition, Culture, and the Problem of Meaning

Culture in Mind: Cognition, Culture, and the Problem of Meaning. Bradd Shore. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. 428 pp.
Abstract 2009: Role of kallikrein 6 secretion in metastatic colon cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Growing evidence indicates that serine proteases kallikreins are associated with malignancy and may have potential diagnostic/prognostic applications in cancer. Kallikrein 6 (KLK6) is a member of the family of 15 highly conserved secreted trypsin- or chemotrypsin-like serine proteases. Overexpression of KLK6 has been observed in different pathophysiological states such as neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation and cancer. Activating K-RAS mutations are common in colon cancer progression and contribute to many cancerous phenotypes including increased proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, and increased migration and invasion. We have shown that acquisition of K-RAS mutations in colon cancer cells leads to overexpression of membrane protein caveolin 1 and results in increase of KLK6 expression and secretion. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of KLK6 expression in metastatic CRC in relation to the status of K-RAS oncogene. Analysis of KLK6 expression in CRC patients by immunohistochemistry shows the statistically significant increase in the staining score for KLK6 protein in the microscopically normal tissue 10 cm away from tumors, which carry mutant K-RAS (G12A mutation) (p=0.05 for crypts staining and p=0.0445 for the surface area). These data suggest a specific role of KLK6 in the invasive phenotype associated with the presence of K-RAS mutation. To investigate the significance of KLK6 expression in metastatic CRC, we developed HCT116 human colon cancer isogenic cell lines (K-RAS G13D mutation) with the genetic knock down of KLK6 expression (shKLK6 clones). The shKLK6 clones had decreased expression and secretion of KLK6 protein with the minimal effect on the cell growth and viability in cell culture. SCID mice injected with shKLK6 cells exhibited a statistically significant increase in the survival rates (p=0.005), decrease in the incidence of distant metastases and the shift in the location of the metastatic foci closer to the cells injection site. Levels of KLK6 protein secreted into the bloodstream were significantly lower in animals injected with shKLK6 clone compared to HCT116 control clone (p<0.04). A comprehensive array-based profiling and paired analysis of mRNA and miRNA expression in HCT116 control and KLK6 knockout cells revealed a group of specific miRNAs- mRNA target interactions involved in KLK6-mediated metastasis formation during CRC. The data reported here underscore the significance of KLK6 overexpression for distant metastasis formation in CRC and present the opportunity for therapeutic interventions. Citation Format: Bethany A. Skovan, Ritu Pandey, Raymond B. Nagle, Haiyan Cui, Julie A. Buckmeier, Robert S. Krouse, Patricia A. Thompson, Natalia A. Ignatenko. Role of kallikrein 6 secretion in metastatic colon cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2009. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2009
Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding model

A model of the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process is developed that includes the most important aspects of the processing physics. The model consists of several submodels, such as preform mechanics, Darcy flow, wicking flow, and void formation. The preform mechanics model treats the preform as a linearly elastic, one-dimensional (1D) solid. However, the key physical process is the lubrication of the preform due to fluid wetting, and this is modeled as a reduction in preform modulus, an easily measurable parameter. Residual stress, three-dimensional (3D) structural behavior, and nonlinearity are neglected, but can all be included. The fluid flow model of capillary wicking is not tacked onto the Darcy equation as a modified boundary condition, as was previously done. The wicking is treated simply, but more realistically, by performing a force balance on the fluid in a pore. Balancing the capillary pressure and the viscous drag allows the development of a wicking front that precedes the main Darcy flow front to an extent that depends on several easily measurable factors. It is this wicking front that is responsible for the small void formation that reduces the quality of VARTM parts, relative to resin transfer molding (RTM) parts. POLYM. COMPOS. 26:477–485, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers
Ribosomes Active in Protein Synthesis in Human Reticulocytes : a Defect in Thalassæmia Major

THE most prominent abnormality in thalassaemia major appears to be a decreased synthesis of haemoglobin A1,2. Ingram and Stretton3 have suggested that this defect in synthesis may be associated with an alteration in the amino-acid sequence of the haemoglobin which does not alter the electrophoretic mobility of the tryptic pep tides. However, no abnormalities have yet been detected in any of the types of haemoglobin found in thalassaemia4. An alternative hypothesis1–3 proposes that the defect involves only an altered rate of synthesis of haemoglobin A.
Establishing a Democratic Religion: Metaphysics and Democracy in the Debates Over the President's Commission on Higher Education

World War II stands as a defining moment for American higher education. During the crisis of international relations that existed by the late 1930s, American thinkers of various stripes felt compelled to mobilize the country's intellectual and educational resources in defense of democracy, thus creating “a great ideological revival of democracy that accompanied the war.” The war aims of the United States—as enunciated in the Atlantic Charter and popular portrayals of the “good war” in which the United States fought to free the world from the grips of evil dictatorships—gave tremendous legitimacy to these efforts, which built into a national discussion on the goals of higher education. Between 1943 and 1947, at least five major reports on general education or liberal education appeared, three of which explicitly treated the relation of such education to “democracy” or “free society.”
The efficiency of convective energy transport in the sun

Mixing length theory (MLT) utilizes adiabatic expansion (as well as radiative transport) to diminish the energy content of rising convective elements. Thus in MLT, the rising elements lose their energy to the environment most efficiently and consequently transport heat with the least efficiency. On the other hand Malkus proposed that convection would maximize the efficiency of energy transport. A new stellar envelope code is developed to first examine this other extreme, wherein rising turbulent elements transport heat with the greatest possible efficiency. This other extreme model differs from MLT by providing a small reduction in the upper convection zone temperatures but greatly diminished turbulent velocities below the top few hundred kilometers. Using the findings of deep atmospheric models with the Navier-Stokes equation allows the calculation of an intermediate solar envelope model. Consideration is given to solar observations, including recent helioseismology, to examine the position of the solar envelope compared with the envelope models.
Incorporation of Mullite as a Second Phase into Alumina by an Infiltration Technique

A process has been developed for incorporating mullite into alumina by infiltrating partially sintered (porous) alumina bodies with a prehydrolyzed ethyl silicate solution. The technique allows for the incorporation of mullite into only the surface (partial infiltration) or throughout the alumina body (complete infiltration). Sintering infiltrated bodies at 1600°C for 12 h yielded specimens with relative densities >98% in which only mullite and alumina were detected by X-Ray diffraction analysis. The presence of mullite significantly limited grain growth in alumina.
The decrement in conditioned fear with increased trials of simultaneous conditioning is not specific to the simultaneous procedure

Abstract Three experiments using a conditioned punishment paradigm with rat subjects examined the possibility that the nonmonotonic acquisition function previously found to characterize simultaneous conditioning was due to the noninformative nature of the conditioned stimulus (CS). In Experiment 1 the suppressive effects of a CS previously presented with an unconditioned stimulus (US) in a simultaneous and forward (informative) manner were compared following 20 and an additional 60 conditioning trials. Excitatory conditioning similarly diminished with increased trials for both the simultaneous and forward procedures. Experiment 2 employed a between-groups design. Simultaneous, forward, and trace conditioning procedures were compared following 20 or 100 trials. Each of the three 100-trial groups showed less resistance to extinction than their 20-trial counterparts. Experiment 3 determined that the decrement in excitatory conditioning for the 100-trial groups was not due to the greater number of US presentations, per se, but rather to the number of CS-US pairings. The nonmonotonic acquisition function observed with all three conditioning procedures indicated that informational factors were not responsible for the decrement observed in simultaneous conditioning. The pattern of results suggested that subjects receiving extended conditioning trials were better able to discriminate between training and testing.
Promoting Commitment to Process Safety

Successful implementation of process safety management (PSM) typically requires the use of a combination of physical and procedural safeguards. Ideally, these safeguards must be maintained in a constant state of readiness throughout the life of the process facility. The management system provides the framework for maintaining and sustaining these safeguards, but the critical ingredient that ensures that the work gets done is the individual employee's commitment to PSM. Game theory provides a useful framework for understanding how an organization can foster cooperation between management and its employees toward the common goal of safety. Using a specific game-theoretical model known as the repeated Prisoner's Dilemma, it is shown how cooperative behavior is the natural consequence of a balanced system of rewards and penalties. Here, the term “balanced” means that both employees and their managers are subject to this system of rewards and penalties. By implementing a balanced framework for feedback, an organization can promote a commitment to process safety by fostering cooperation between both the employees and the managers. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 32: 319–321, 2013
Effects of high-speed drillnoise and gunfireon dentists’ hearing

Little evidence could be found that high-speed drills have altered the hearing threshold of Minnesota dentists. More hearing damage was attributed to gunfire and other sources even though more than half the dentists tested thought that drill noise had affected their hearing.
Statistical Validation of Traffic Simulation Models

Traffic simulation models support detailed analysis of the dynamics of traffic phenomena and are important tools for analysis of transportation systems. In order to evaluate correctly the impact of different traffic management schemes, simulation models must be able to replicate reality adequately. Model validation (i.e., the process of checking to what extent the model replicates reality) is discussed. The role of validation is defined within the scope of model development and calibration, and the framework for performing the validation is discussed. A hierarchy of statistical methods to validate different types of simulation outputs against observed data is examined. Also, a validation method is proposed on the basis of statistical tests on metamodels fitted to the observed and simulated data. A case study illustrates the applicability of the various methods.
Amino acid sequence of P-57, a neurospecific calmodulin-binding protein

The amino acid sequence was determined for bovine brain P-57, a neurospecific, membrane-associated, calmodulin-binding protein. It consists of a single 239-residue polypeptide chain blocked at its amino terminus and containing an unusually hydrophilic amino acid composition. Seventy percent of the molecule is composed of Glu/Gln, Ala, Lys, Asp/Asn, and Pro; there is only one aromatic residue. A lack of favorable cleavage sites required that a particularly wide variety of digests and subdigests be performed to obtain appropriate sets of overlapping peptides. This protein is clearly homologous with the cDNA-derived sequence of mouse brain P-57, although the bovine protein is 12 amino acid residues longer; the homology is less obvious in the middle sections of the two sequences. Bovine brain P-57 lacks homology with any other protein in an updated sequence database. A segment reported to interact with calmodulin (Arg-Gly-His-Ile-Thr-Arg-Lys-Lys-Leu) is placed at residues 43-51 within the only extended segment of P-57 that carries the net positive charge that would favor that interaction. There is no hydrophobic segment characteristic of many proteins that interact with membranes.
Application of Gaussian Network Model to Elucidate Functional Modes of Motion in a Glutamate Transporter

Glutamate transporters located on the plasma membrane of glia and neurons are responsible for clearing glutamate from the extracellular space and maintaining its concentration below toxic levels. Disruption in glutamate uptake is associated with acute brain injury (ischemia, stroke, seizures) and chronic pathological conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Hungtington's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, glutamate transporters possess a substrate-activated chloride current which may regulate neuronal activity. Understanding the mechanism of transport is therefore, of great physiological and medical importance. High resolution structures of a glutamate transporter homolog (GltPh) from an archaeal species were determined recently (Boduker et al, 2007) allowing for establishing a basis for the structural mechanism of binding and transport at the molecular level. We used the Gaussian Network Model (GNM) for protein dynamics to elucidate the most cooperative modes of motions intrinsically accessible to the homotrimer. A concerted opening and closing of the extracellular vestibule is found to be the most dominant mode of motion near the equilibrium structure. This mode of motion is expected to aid in the substrate binding process of the transport machinery. The movement of the extracellular portions of the protein, towards the center of the aqueous cavity is supported by cross-linking experiments with mutants where residues mutated to cysteine are observed to form disulfide bridges with their counterparts in the neighboring subunit. In the X-ray structure, these residues are more than 40 A apart. The formation of these disulfide bridges also results in reduced transport of glutamate, suggesting a functional role for the motion induced by the most cooperative GNM mode.
Membrane Stress Caused by Octanoic acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In order to compete with petroleum-based fuel and chemicals, engineering a robust biocatalyst that can convert renewable feedstocks into biorenewable chemicals, such as carboxylic acids, is increasingly important. However, product toxicity is often problematic. In this study, the toxicity of the carboxylic acids hexanoic, octanoic, and decanoic acid on Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated, with a focus on octanoic acid. These compounds are completely inhibitory at concentrations of magnitude 1 mM, and the toxicity increases as chain length increases and as media pH decreases. Transciptome analysis, reconstruction of gene regulatory network, and network component analysis suggested decreased membrane integrity during challenge with octanoic acid. This was confirmed by quantification of dose-dependent and chain length-dependent induction of membrane leakage, though membrane fluidity was not affected. This induction of membrane leakage could be significantly decreased by a period of pre-adaptation, and this pre-adaptation was accompanied by increased oleic acid content in the membrane, significantly increased production of saturated lipids relative to unsaturated lipids, and a significant increase in the average lipid chain length in the membrane. However, during adaptation cell surface hydrophobicity was not altered. The supplementation of oleic acid to the medium not only elevated the tolerance of yeast cells to octanoic acid but also attenuated the membrane leakiness. However, while attempts to mimic the oleic acid supplementation effects through expression of the Trichoplusia ni acyl-CoA Δ9 desaturase OLE1(TniNPVE desaturase) were able to increase the oleic acid content, the magnitude of the increase was not sufficient to reproduce the supplementation effect and increase octanoic acid tolerance. Similarly, introduction of cyclopropanated fatty acids through expression of the Escherichia coli cfa gene was not helpful for tolerance. Thus, we have provided quantitative evidence that carboxylic acids damage the yeast membrane and that manipulation of the lipid content of the membrane can increase tolerance, and possibly production, of these valuable products.
B-mode nephrosonography in renal masses. Its use and some limitations.

Abstract One hundred B-mode nephrosonograms were reviewed, and 41 per cent of these had a diagnosis proved by either arteriography, cyst puncture, or tissue examination. There were 8 proved normal sonograms with one error, an upper pole renal cell carcinoma in a kidney badly distorted by chronic pyelonephritis and ureteral obstruction. Overlying ribs and anatomic distortion contributed to the misinterpretation. Sonic diagnosis of solid tumor was correct in all proved cases. Cysts were diagnosed in 23 patients; six were in error. Four were called cysts less than 3 cm. in diameter. If the lower limit of sonographic resolution is considered 3 cm., the accuracy for diagnosed simple cysts becomes 90 per cent.
Intracellular events in canavanine-treated, T4-infected Escherichia coli.

Abstract Intracellular phage production is markedly inhibited for 30–40 min in complexes treated at 5 min after infection with the arginine analog L -canavanine. Complexes treated at later times produce phage at a reduced rate and stop phage production earlier than normal. Total protein and RNA synthesis are unaffected by canavanine addition at any time, whereas DNA synthesis is rapidly inhibited at all times of addition. The major head protein of T4 is not found in canavanine-treated complexes. The major protein found in these cells has a molecular weight similar to that of the precursor of the major head protein of T4.
A note on the Waring–Goldbach problem

Abstract The focus of this paper will be the extension of the Waring–Goldbach problem to all sufficiently large integers, without congruence restrictions. By reintroducing the effect of small primes, we are able to consider questions which more naturally resemble Waring's problem and the Goldbach conjecture. We extend the results of S.S. Pillai by considering the problem without the use of zero as an addend and we give a small improvement on the number of additional terms required.
Optical Properties of Clean Molybdenum

Results are given of reflectance measurements made on clean molybdenum in ultrahigh vacuum throughout the visible and quartz ultraviolet. Samples were rolled sheet of good surface finish, not subjected to any polishing procedures. The complex refractive index is estimated from reflectance vs angle of incidence data by the method of Tousey. At the few wavelengths where comparison is possible, the optical properties agree with those measured by Worthing and by Summers on bulk molybdenum. Near normal incidence the reflectance increases from about 55% in the visible to near 65% in the quartz ultraviolet, contrary to the lower values reported for evaporated molybdenum films by other investigators.
Platelet-activating factor binding and metabolism during human platelet aggregation.

Abstract Platelet-activating, factor (PAF) binding, and metabolism were quantified during human platelet aggregation induced by [ 3 H]PAF. Platelet aggregation was maximal within 45 to 75 sec. PAF binding was maximal within 15 to 60 sec and then remained stable for at least 20 min. Total binding, during aggregation elicited by 1.2 pmol [ 3 H]PAF was 1314% ± 1.0% (0.16 ± 0.01 pmol/gx107 platelets)(mean ± SEM) and specific, receptor binding was 4.3% ± 0.3% (0.05 ± 0.003 pmol/8×10 7 platelets). Specific binding, was fully reversible at the time of r-aximal aggregation. Scatchard analysis of PAF binding at the time of maximal platelet aggregation revealed 124 ± 56 receptors per platelet with a dissociation constant of 0.56 ± 0.04 nH. Binding of 52 ± 23 PAF molecules per platelet elicited: maximal platelet aggregation (mean + SD). Less than 2% of the bound PAF was metabolized at the time of maximal aggregation and the principal metabolite was the inactive product lysoPAF. Increased metabolism to alkyl-acyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine was observed at later times. These studies indicate that PAF receptor internalization and PAF metabolism, are not essential to human platelet activation by PAF.
A distributed telecommunications network and supervisory system

Abstract A digital-circuit-switched telecommunications network and its associated supervisory system in use at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, are described in this paper. The network currently services over 1600 terminals and workstations as well as 600 computer ports. The seven circuit switches which constitute the switching network are distributed in a campus-like environment. While the circuit switches are commercial microprocessor-controlled port contenders, the controlling software has been extensively modified to meet the specific needs of this Department of Energy laboratory. The supervisory system, consisting of interconnected processors located in the major communications centers, forms the interface between operations personnel and the network switches. The processors provide a display of network activity and a convenient method of submitting commands to the individual switches. In addition, the supervisory system gathers network usage statistics, logs all system activity and generates periodic reports detailing usage.
The Impact-Echo Method: An Overview

The impact-echo method is a technique for flaw detection in concrete. It is based on monitoring the surface motion resulting from a short-duration mechanical impact. The method overcomes many of the barriers associated with flaw detection in concrete based on ultrasonic methods. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the technique and to discuss the important parameters involved in this type of testing. One of the key features of the method is the transformation of the recorded time domain waveform of the surface motion into the frequency domain. The impact gives rise to modes of vibration and the frequency of these modes is related to the geometry of the test object and the presence of flaws. The principles involved in frequency analysis are discussed. The importance of the impact duration in relation to flaw detection and other factors affecting the smallest flaw that can be detected are also reviewed. The paper concludes with a summary of the ASTM standard governing the use of the impact-echo method for measuring the thickness of plate-like structures.
Effects of experience and avpr1a microsatellite length on parental care in male prairie voles ( Microtus ochrogaster )

Pair-bonded males often make substantial contributions to the care of their offspring. Male parental behavior may be affected by a range of factors, including previous experience (parental or alloparental), genetic influences, and contributions by the female partner. Previous studies have shown that a microsatellite polymorphism in the regulatory region of the avpr1a gene influences aspects of paternal behavior in male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Specifically, males with longer avpr1a microsatellites groomed offspring more than did males with shorter avpr1a microsatellites. Previous experience with alloparental care also appears to influence subsequent paternal care in prairie voles. We investigated the influence of avpr1a microsatellite length and previous parental experience on paternal behavior in prairie voles two generations from the field and specially bred to exaggerate differences in avpr1a microsatellite length. We found that avpr1a microsatellite length alone did not affect any of the paternal behaviors that we measured. In contrast, males differed in parental behavior between first and second litters. Regardless of avpr1a microsatellite length, males licked/groomed the second litter less, and retrieved pups more quickly during the second compared to the first litter. Our results show that previous paternal experience may play a more important role than the length of the microsatellite in the regulatory region of the avpr1a gene in influencing paternal care.
Growth factor responsiveness: role of MyoD and myogenin.

Abstract A differentiation-defective variant (DD-1) of the MM14 myoblasts acquired the ability to synthesize DNA in response to treatment with epidermal growth factor (EGF) ( R. W. Lim and S. D. Hauschka, 1984 , Dev. Biol. 105, 48) and no longer expressed myogenic determinant genes (i.e., MyoD and myogenin) ( P. R. Mueller, and B. Wold, 1989 , Science 246, 780). To determine the effect of expression of MyoD on EGF responsiveness, DD-1 cells were cotransfected with a MyoD expression vector and with pRSVneo. A clone, MyoDD-1 cells, which was G418 resistant, formed multinuclear syncitia, and also expressed MyoD and myogenin, was further characterized. EGF responsiveness, as assessed by DNA synthesis, was decreased 5- to 10-fold in the MyoDD-1 cells from that in G418-resistant control DD-1 cells, despite similar EGF receptor numbers and binding affinities of the receptors. Responsiveness of MyoDD-1 cells to fibroblast growth factor (FGF) was also diminished although to a lesser extent. To determine the effects of decreased myogenic determinant gene expression on mitogen responsiveness, MM14 myoblasts were grown in medium supplemented with 5 μM 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BUdR-MM14). BUdR-MM14 cells had decreased expression of MyoD and myogenin, did not fuse, and had an altered morphology, from round to flat. The BUdR effect on fusion and cell shape was reversed by growth in control medium. BUdR-MM14 cells were responsive to EGF and had enhanced responsiveness to FGF. The combined studies support the view that expression of MyoD and/or myogenin contributes to negative regulation of mitogen responsiveness.
Free will in process perspective

Abstract Positions in the ongoing debate about free will are characterized and compared, that is, determinism, indeterminism, chaoticism, stronger and weaker versions of indeterminism and chaoticism, hard and soft determinism, and libertarianism. Libertarianism is claimed to be the most adequate of these alternatives and defended from the process perspectives of Alfred North Whitehead, Charles Hartshorne, and the psychologist-philosopher, William James. The defense is developed by responding to three objections to libertarianism: (1) that scientific explanations in psychology and other disciplines require belief in causal determinism; (2) that indeterminism, assumed by libertarianism, makes impossible moral or other kinds of responsibility for human acts; and (3) that libertarianism must assume an untenable mind-body dualism. The article concludes that libertarianism is a more subtle and cogent position than most of its opponents have recognized, that determinism has glaring deficiencies of its own, and that libertarianism is an appropriate position for psychology—even for a scientific psychology.
Simulation optimization using simulated annealing

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using a simulated annealing algorithm in conjunction with a simulation model to find the optimal parameter levels at which to operate a system. In particular, we discuss an effort to use simulated annealing to find a combination of input parameter values for a model which optimizes a nonconvex, nonconcave objective function of the input parameters. In the absence on an optimal annealing schedule, we demonstrate that multiple runs of the simulated annealing algorithm can result in an optimal or near-optimal solution to the problem.
Aggregation and gelation of divalent cell surface receptors by rigid polyvalent ligands: examination by theoretical, kinetic and thermodynamic techniques☆

Abstract Various cell surface proteins, such as the B cell receptor (BCR) or immunoglobulin E bound to the membrane Type I Fce receptor, possess two or more binding sites for soluble ligands which in turn have valences of three or more. We have devised an equilibrium model to calculate sizes and structures of cell surface aggregates formed between such species in two-dimensional systems directly from solution ligand concentration. The model explicitly treats differing ligand valences for different types of receptor-binding, monogamous bivalent binding of ligand-to-receptor and two-dimensional gelation of receptor–ligand aggregates. Of particular interest is that thermodynamic parameters reasonable for cell biological situations predict that two-dimensional receptor gelation can occur. This is the appearance of large aggregates (gel) in equilibrium with appreciable amounts of finite-sized aggregates (sol). Calculations also suggest (1) the amount of bound ligand increases with ligand concentration or ligand valence below the gel point, (2) the average number of receptors per finite aggregate increases with ligand concentration below the gel point, (3) finite aggregates generally involve less than two ligand molecules, (4) above the gel point, finite aggregate size remains approximately constant and bound ligand enters the gel-phase. Predicted gelation is also consistent with experiment. Polyvalent dinitrophenyl (DNP) antigens can aggregate bivalent DNP-specific BCR on cell or liposome surfaces. We have used the laser-microscopic method of fluorescence photobleaching recovery to examine the mobility of such protein aggregates both on B cells bearing DNP-specific BCR and on liposomal models. When either the DNP-antigen solution concentration or the number of DNP groups per antigen molecule exceeds a critical value, a fraction of the normally mobile bound antigen becomes immobile. At the same time, cells become resistant to antigenic and mitogenic stimulation. This suggests that two-dimensional gelation of antigen and BCR occurs with inhibition of subsequent BCR function. We discuss possible mechanisms by which large, immobile protein aggregates might inhibit cellular signaling systems, for example by slowing translocation of liganded receptor to lipid rafts.
The effect of aging on acquisition and retention of shuttle box avoidance in mice

Abstract Shuttle box learning in mice declined with advancing age from 3 to 15 months. The retention of this task decreased progressively with increasing acquisition-retention time intervals from 3 to 12 months. This progressive impairment with time was demonstrable when the age at retention testing was constant (15 months) as well as when the age at acquisition was constant (3 months). Therefore, the progressive impairment of retention with advancing age could not be explained by impaired acquisition which occurs with advancing age. The rate of forgetting was similar between ages 3 and 9 months and 9 and 15 months. It was therefore concluded that under the conditions of the experiment retention decreases only proportionately with the acquisition-retention time interval and is not accelerated by the effects of aging per se .
Prevention of colorectal cancer with vitamin D

The fact that colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States emphasizes the need for more effective preventive and therapeutic modalities. There is growing evidence that vitamin D may reduce the incidence of CRC. Results of epidemiologic, in vitro, in vivo animal and clinical studies suggest that a low serum vitamin D level may be a serious risk factor for CRC and a high serum vitamin D level may reduce the risk of CRC. On a molecular level, vitamin D suppresses CRC development and growth by affecting cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Vitamin D insufficiency and CRC are common in the elderly population. Vitamin D insufficiency is simple to screen for and treatable with vitamin D supplementation. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol) is the best measure of vitamin D status and should be checked routinely for individuals with risk factors for CRC. Maintaining serum concentrations of calcidiol above 32 ng/ml (80 nmol/l) in individuals whose serum calcidiol level is low may help prevent CRC as well as osteoporosis, fractures, infections, and cardiovascular disease. Daily calcidiol intake of 1000 International Units can increase serum vitamin D to sufficient levels in most elderly persons and, based on available data, may substantially lower the incidence of CRC with minimal risks.
Gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap for the treatment of recalcitrant pilonidal disease

The treatment of a patient for multiple recurrent pilonidal disease failed all forms of conventional therapy. After re-excision, a gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap, measuring 15×15 cm and based on the superior gluteal artery, was swung to cover the defect. Complete relief from severe pain was obtained immediately. No recurrence is noted after two and one-half years of follow-up.
Oxidized LDL, LOX-1 and Atherosclerosis

An elevated level of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol constitutes a major risk factor for genesis of atherosclerosis. Ox-LDL plays a more important role in the genesis and progression of atherosclerosis than the native LDL. Ox-LDL leads to endothelial dysfunction leading to expression of adhesion molecules and recruitment of monocyte in subendothelial space. Ox-LDL is taken up by macrophages via scavenger receptors, such as SR-A1, SR-A2 and LOX-1. Lately, LOX-1, a type II membrane protein receptor of ox-LDL, has gained much importance in relation to effects of ox-LDL on endothelial biology. Endothelial cells primarily express LOX-1 as receptor for ox-LDL and ox-LDL has been shown to upregulate expression of LOX-1. In addition, ox-LDL promotes the growth and migration of smooth muscle cells, monocytes/macrophages and fibroblasts. In this review we discuss the role of ox-LDL and LOX-1 in genesis and progression of atherosclerosis.
Absence of arbitrage in a general framework

Cheridito (Finance Stoch 7:533–553, 2003) studies a financial market that consists of a money market account and a risky asset driven by a fractional Brownian motion. It is shown that arbitrage possibilities in such markets can be excluded by suitably restricting the class of allowable trading strategies. In this note, we show an analogous result in a multi-asset market where the discounted risky asset prices follow more general non-semimartingale models. In our framework, investors are allowed to trade between a risk-free asset and multiple risky assets by following simple trading strategies that require a minimal deterministic waiting time between any two trading dates. We present a condition on the discounted risky asset prices that guarantee absence of arbitrage in this setting. We give examples that satisfy our condition and study its invariance under certain transformations.
Private giving and state funding of Maryland's public institutions: New perspectives on support of historically black institutions

College leaders and policymakers benefit by understanding the relationship between increases in private giving, changes in state appropriations and how to position the institution to maximize both sources of revenue. Anecdotal and attitudinal studies suggested that fundraising success may affect state funding of higher education institutions. Recent quantitative research examining all Maryland 4-year public institutions indicated that total private giving was a partial predictor of state funding per full-time equivalent student, although there was no multiplier effect on private giving leveraging increased state operating funding. This research demonstrated a new method to examine the private and state support of Historically Black Institutions (HBIs) and Traditionally White Institutions (TWIs) and the supplanting of state funding, which is the focus of this article. My analysis of data from Maryland's four HBIs compared to TWIs was undertaken to compare fundraising activity and state operating funding support during the period FY1997 – FY2006. This research was inspired from an understanding of public choice theory, the correlation of endowment size and institutional quality rankings, and the cost of excellence study. I developed a quantitative study of Maryland 4-year public institutions over a 10-year period. My research analyzed the change in private giving in terms of the institutional endowment and treatment of state funding as the equivalent of spending from a pseudo endowment. Pseudo endowment is a ratio that simulates an unrestricted endowment necessary to support an equivalent spending level equal to state funding and will be explained in greater detail within the research design section of this article.
Protein engineering of representative hydrolytic enzymes for remediation of organophosphates

Abstract Organophosphorus (OP) pesticides are highly effective insecticides used worldwide due to their low cost and ease of application. OP compounds also form the core of G-series and V-series neurotoxic warfare agents. The potential lethality of these compounds has led to research initiatives that identify and evolve promising OP degradation enzymes through protein engineering. Traits commonly targeted in these studies include enzymatic catalysis, stability, stereoselectivity, and substrate preference. Evolved OP degradation enzymes can then be used in applications that include enzymatic remediation of contaminated agricultural and industrial sites, development of biosensors for environmental monitoring, and the prevention of OP poisoning through biocatalytic prophylaxis. This review will discuss the recent protein engineering strategies and achievements made in the development of evolved broad-spectrum OP degradation enzymes. The potential applications of these enzymes and new avenues for acquiring novel templates for future studies will also be discussed.
Closure of short, wide patent ductus arteriosus with cardiopulmonary bypass and balloon occlusion

The wide, short patent ductus arteriosus in adults and older adolescents poses an extreme hazard with standard closed ligation techniques. The method of transpulmonary balloon catheter occlusion and repair of pediatric ductus arteriosus is herein reported in older patients using a Foley catheter and normothermic bypass. Transesophageal echocardiography is crucial in assessing the size of the ductus and confirming adequacy of repair. The technique is simple and safe even in the presence of a wide, short ductus.
Provision of pharmacotherapy services in a rural nurse practitioner clinic.

Purpose. Clinical pharmacy interventions and services provided in collaboration with a nurse practitioner in a medically underserved rural health center are described. Methods. Data were collected via retrospective chart review of clinical pharmacy notes for all patients referred to the clinical pharmacist from July 2001 through February 2004. Data collected included demographic information, reasons for referral, duration of follow-up, insurance status, use of medication assistance programs, educational interventions, clinical interventions, and clinical outcomes. Changes in mean low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, blood pressures, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were analyzed using a paired Student’s t test. Smoking cessation, the number of times the international normalized ratio (INR) was in a goal range, and attainment of goal LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and HbA1c levels were also recorded. Results. Clinical pharmacy interventions were summarized for 101 patients who were seen in 708 patient visits. A mean of 5.6 educational interventions were provided per visit, and a mean of 1.0 clinical intervention occurred per visit. Initiation of new drug therapy or dosage adjustment accounted for 52% of the clinical interventions. A large percentage of patients attained their goals for LDL cholesterol (76%), blood pressure (86%), HbA1c (69%), INR (82%), and smoking cessation (43%) during the study period. Conclusion. Pharmacotherapy services provided by a clinical pharmacist at a rural nurse practitioner clinic positively affected clinical outcomes and increased patients’ attainment rates for LDL cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and HbA1c.
Fibre optic accelerometer

A sensitivity of less than 1 μg for a fibre optic accelerometer is demonstrated. The accelerometer measures the strain in the fibre when a mass is accelerated. An all-fibre Mach-Zehnder interferometer was used to detect the change in optical path length produced by the strain in the fibre.
Radiation Exposure to Hand Surgeons’ Hands: A Practical Comparison of Large and Mini C-Arm Fluoroscopy

Purpose To determine and compare the radiation exposure to surgeons' hands with large and mini C-arm fluoroscopy in a practical, clinically based model. Methods Two hand surgeons monitored radiation exposure to their hands with a ring dosimeter over a 14-month period using large and mini C-arm fluoroscopic units. One surgeon performed all cases with a large C-arm unit in a hospital setting, and the other performed all cases with mini C-arms in surgical centers. For each case, fluoroscopic time, the output displayed by the unit, radiation by time, and ring dosimeter absorption were recorded and analyzed. Results A total of 160 consecutive cases were reviewed with 71 cases and 89 cases in the large and mini C-arm groups, respectively. The median output displayed by the large C-arm was 0.7 mGy/case, and the median output displayed by the mini C-arm was 10.0 mGy/case. With output as a product of time, the median calculated values were 0.02 mGy/s for the large C-arm group and 0.28 mGy/s for the mini C-arm group. Cumulative ring dosimeter absorption to the surgeons' hands was found to be 380 mrem for 71 cases in the large C-arm group versus 1,000 mrem for 89 cases in the mini C-arm group. Conclusions In our model, the use of the mini C-arm resulted in more than a 10-fold increase in the rate of output and approximately double the dosimeter absorption to the surgeon's hand compared with the large C-arm. Although it has been shown that the mini C-arm produces less radiation scatter, in a practical model, it may not be a safer alternative with respect to the surgeon's hands. Based on these findings, we recommend that surgeons be more aware of radiation exposure risk, know their C-arm unit's specifications, and try to minimize radiation exposure. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic II.
The design and implementation of multiplierless nonrecursive linear phase discrete time filters

This paper develops techniques for the design and implementation of linear phase discrete time filters that are implemented using only delays, adds and subtracts. Sometimes called discrete time linear phase transport processors, these filters have finite length integer valued impulse responses. The design technique developed in this paper determines an optimal integer valued impulse response that minimizes the mean square error in the filter's passband and stopband while bounding the impulse response values to a specified value. The implementation technique developed in this paper generates a structure that can realize integer valued impulse responses using only delays, adds and substracts.
An effect of tritiated thymidine on the incorporation of thymidine into chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid.

IN the course of a series of experiments designed to test for possible anomalies in the synthesis and behaviour of chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid resulting from the use of tritiated thymidine, the possibility arose that the tritiated precursor could interfere with the normal course of synthesis and partition by destroying the integrity of the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule or otherwise modifying the normally operative control mechanisms. This possibility was examined by comparing the incorporation of thymidine labelled with carbon-14 into meristematic cells in the presence and absence of tritiated thymidine.
Astrophysics: The inner lives of red giants

The natural pulse of a red-giant star provides crucial insight into what makes it shine. Observations of red giants by the Kepler space telescope shed light on a previously untested prediction of stellar evolution theory. See Letter p.608 NASA's Kepler mission has been remarkably productive in its primary role, that of discovering and characterizing extrasolar planets. It does this indirectly, by monitoring the brightness of many thousands of main sequence stars in search of periodic fluctuations caused by planets crossing the face of the stars. But the high-precision photometry involved is also ideal for studying the stars themselves. Bedding et al. have used Kepler data to probe the internal structure of red giants. Their detailed measurements of the gravity modes in the cores of these stars allow them to distinguish between those burning hydrogen in a shell around a relatively inactive core and those burning helium in the core.
Regulation of the HNF-1 homeodomain proteins by DCoH

The pattern of expression of homeodomain proteins often exceeds their apparent domain of activity. Tissue-specific proteins that modulate the in vivo activity of homeodomain proteins have been proposed to account for this functional restriction. The first identified example of such an accessory protein is DCoH, which confers transcriptional activity to the hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 and provides a model of how other accessory factors might modulate the function of homeodomain proteins.