cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
iMMS: interactive multimedia messaging service

Multimedia messaging service (MMS) promises a dramatic increase in messaging capabilities for mobile phone users that will enrich their experience. For network operators and content and service providers, it will create a major new source of revenue because it adds features such as color pictures, animations, audio samples, and video clips. However, the current MMS standard provides only a few features that support user interaction, limiting the wide use of value-added messaging services. In this paper, we propose interactive MMS (iMMS) technology that can extend the current MMS standard and enhance interaction capability by embedding eXtensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML) technology into MMS Presentation Language. Moreover, an MMS application server (MAS) is presented in our research work. This framework can help service providers to quickly develop and deploy MMS services. We have implemented and tested a prototype that includes an interactive MMS client on a handheld device and an MAS on a Microsoft Windows® 2000 server.
A comparison of ketorolac and fentanyl for controlling postoperative uterine cramping pain in ambulatory surgery patients

Abstract Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to reduce the pain of dysmenorrhea by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins that cause the uterus to contract. Studies have not been undertaken previously to determine the effectiveness of NSAIDs in controlling uterine pain resulting from gynecological surgery. This study compares the NSAID ketorolac tromethamine to fentanyl, a commonly used opioid, in 100 women undergoing gynecological surgery in an ambulatory setting. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either fentanyl or ketorolac IM at the end of the surgical procedure. Uterine cramp pain and non-uterine pain were rated on separate verbal analog scales in the recovery room. Incidence of nausea and vomiting and need for postoperative opioid analgesics were also compared between the two study groups. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the severity of uterine cramp pain, in the need for supplemental analgesia or in the incidence of nausea or vomiting. Both drugs appeared to provide reasonable patient comfort, but in the sub-group of patients who required postoperative opioid, the ketorolac group had lower non-uterine pain scores in the late postoperative period than did the fentanyl group. The absence of clear superiority of the NSAID may indicate that a biochemical pathway other than the prostaglandin mechanism is involved in the production of postoperative uterine cramping pain.
Variability and the nature of the insect electroretinogram

Abstract A study was made of the electroretinogram (ERG) waveform of over eighty species of diurnal Lepidoptera. In all, the two major components were found to be a cornea-negative potential originating in the retinula cells, and a cornea-positive component originating deep in the retina. These components can be shown to be physiologically independent of each other on the basis of the selective action of drugs, various inorganic ions, etc. They are different from each other in terms of flicker fusion frequency, latency, spectral sensitivity, and the effect of light adaptation. It is proposed that the cornea-positive component originates in the eccentric retinula cell, located close to the basement membrane. These cells appear to function as a photopic photoreceptor. The nature of the response of such cells varies as a result of small shifts in inorganic (Na+) ion concentration, thereby accounting for the observed variability of the insect ERG. It is suggested that such cells are associated with inhibitory events occurring in the optic lobe.
The effect of tuberculosis treatment at combination antiretroviral therapy initiation on subsequent mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the impact of TB treatment at the time of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation on subsequent mortality. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and selected conference proceedings for studies that report adult mortality on cART, stratified by TB treatment status at cART initiation. Stratified random-effects and meta-regression analyses were used to examine the influence of study and population characteristics. Results 22 eligible cohort studies reported data on 98,350 (range 74-15,225) adults, of whom 14,779 (15%) were receiving TB treatment at cART initiation. Studies of those receiving vs. not receiving TB treatment had an average mortality relative risk of 1.10 (95% confidence interval 0.87-1.40) at 1-3 months (based upon 8 estimates), 1.15 (0.94-1.41) at 6-12 months (11 estimates), and 1.33 (1.02-1.75) at 18-98 months (10 estimates) following cART initiation. However, there was a wide range of estimates and those at later time points were markedly heterogeneous. Meta-regression identified factors associated with elevated average risk estimates: lower median baseline CD4 counts and adjustment for baseline hemoglobin at 1-3 months; longer length of follow-up and women-only studies at 6-12 months; and not adjusting for BMI/weight at 18-98 months. Conclusions Patients receiving TB treatment at cART initiation did not have a statistically significant estimated increase in short-term risk of all-cause mortality as compared to those not receiving TB treatment. TB treatment was significantly associated with increased mortality after about a year of cART, suggesting that patients with concurrent TB treatment at cART initiation may benefit from continued support after TB treatment completion.
Parent–Teacher E-Mail Strategies at the Elementary and Secondary Levels

Parent–teacher e-mail communication represents an increasingly prevalent form of computer-mediated communication at the elementary and secondary levels. Research is needed to identify the problems parents and teachers encounter when communicating via e-mail, as well as the strategies they employ to address these issues. The author conducted 30 parent and 30 teacher interviews and analyzed 341 parent–teacher e-mail messages. The findings revealed several noteworthy problems including misinterpretations, reductions in face-to-face communication, new boundaries crossed, and impacts on student responsibility. The findings also revealed a variety of e-mail strategies, providing teachers and parents ways to address problems they may encounter.
Plasma membrane regeneration in the myxomycete Badhamia utricularis

Plasmodial strands of the myxomyceteBadhamia utricularis were injured and, after fixation and sectioning, examined using light and transmission electron microscopy. Injury results in the formation of a cytoplasmic droplet that rapidly regenerates a plasma membrane by the apparent fusion of vesicles at its surface. During the same time several structurally distinct layers form within the droplet. Some of these internal layers, which persist for several minutes after injury, may also arise from vesicle fusion. These results have differences from those reported for the relatedPhysarum polycephalum.
Studies on the primary process in photosynthesis. II. Some relationships between light-induced absorption spectrum changes and chemiluminescence during photosynthesis.

Abstract 1. 1. Photosynthetically active light has been shown to produce reversible changes in the absorption spectra of green plants (Chlorella). 2. 2. These changes occur at 480, 520, 555–590, 648, and 660 mμ. 3. 3. The changes at 520 and 480 mμ change sign after illumination, provided that the illumination is of several seconds' duration. 4. 4. The time course of transmission changes exhibits induction characteristics reminiscent of other photosynthetic reactions. 5. 5. Luminescence and absorption changes exhibit parallelisms which strongly suggest that the colored substances produced during illumination are reactants in the luminescence reaction. 6. 6. Heat treatment of algae produces a new saturating effect which is somewhat wavelength unspecific. 7. 7. It is suggested that the 520-mμ band is due to photoproduced reductant and that the 648-mμ band is due to the concurrently produced oxidant. The possibility that the compounds involved are flavines, carotenoids, or cytochromes is suggested.
Effect of Gravity Compensation on the Geotropic Sensitivity of Avena Seedlings.

6. HOSHIZAKI, T. AND K. C. HAMNER. 1962. An unusual stem bending response of Xanthium pensylvianicum to horizontal rotation. Plant Physic 1. 37: 453-59. 7. KUSE, G. Effect of 2, 3, 5-triiodobenzoic acid on the growth of lateral bud and on tropism of petiole. Mem. Coll. Sci. Univ. Kyoto B20: 207-15. 8. LYON, C. J. 1961. Measurement of geotropic sensitivity of seedlings. Sciknce 133: 194-95. 9. LYON, C. J. 1962. Gravity factor for auxin transport. Science 137: 432-33. 10. LYON, C. J. 1963. Auxin factor in branch epirnasty. Plant Physiol. 38: 145-52. 11. LYON, C. J. 1963. Auxin transport in leaf epinasty. Plant Physiol. 38: 567-74. 12. LYON, C. J. 1965. Auxin transport in geotropic curvatures of a branched plant. Plant Physiol. 40: 18-24. 13. NIEDERGANG-KAMIEN, E. AND F. SKOOG. 1956. Studies on polarity and auxin transport in plants. I. Modification of polarity and auxin transport by triiodobenzoic acid. Physiol. Plantarum 9: 60473. 14. S6DMNG, H. 1952. Die Wuchsstofflehre. Thieme, Stuttgart. 15. THIMANN, K. V. 1934. Studies on the growth hormone of plants. VI. The distribution of the growth substance in plant tissues. J. Gen. Physiol. 18: 23-34. 16. VENDRIG, J. C. 1960. On the abscission of debladed petioles in Coleus rhenaltianus especially .n relation to the effect of gravity. Wentia 3: 1-96. 17. WAREING, P. F. AND T. NASR. 1958. Effects of gravity on growth, apical dominance and flowering in fruit trees. Nature 182: 37940. 18. WENT, F. W. AND K. V. THIMANN. 1937. Phytohormones. MacMillan Company, New York. 19. YAMAKI, T. 1941. Einfluss der Schwerkraft auf den Wuchsstoffetransport im Stengel von Solanuin tutberosumit L. Botan. Alag. (Tokyo) 55: 462-75.
Associations of Alterations in Pulsatile Arterial Load With Left Ventricular Longitudinal Strain.

Background Increased arterial stiffness leads to increased pulsatile load on the heart. We investigated associations of components of pulsatile load with a measure of left ventricular (LV) systolic function—global longitudinal strain (GLS), in a community-based cohort ascertained based on family history of hypertension. Methods Arterial tonometry and echocardiography with speckle tracking were performed in 520 adults with normal LV ejection fraction (EF) (age 67 ± 9 y ears, 70% hypertensive) to quantify measures of pulsatile load (characteristic aortic impedance (Zc), total arterial compliance (TAC), and augmentation index (AI)) and GLS. The associations of log-Zc, log-TAC, and AI with GLS were assessed using sex-specific z-scores for each measure of arterial load. r esults In univariable analyses, higher Zc was associated with worse GLS (less negative) and higher TAC and AI were associated with better GLS (all P 0.5). Additional adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and history of coronary heart disease and stroke did not attenuate the association of Zc with GLS; Zc, sex, HR, LVEF remained associated with GLS after stepwise elimination (all P < 0.001). conclusions Greater proximal aortic stiffness, as manifested by a higher Zc, is inde pendently associated with worse LV longitudinal function.
Perception of Overweight Is Associated With Poor Academic Performance in US Adolescents

BACKGROUND: To improve understanding of the mechanisms affecting the relationship between adolescent obesity and poor academic performance, we examined the association of overweight or perceived weight status with academic achievement. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 14–17-year-olds (N = 11,012) from the nationally representative 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The main outcome measure was self-reported grades (mostly A, B, C, D, or F). The primary independent variables were medically defined overweight (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 85th percentile), obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile), and participants' perception of their weight status. RESULTS: Medically defined overweight youth were less likely to report higher grades in unadjusted analysis (OR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.60-0.76, p < .001) and after adjustment for demographics, depression, television and video game use, and physical activity (OR 0.83, 95% CI: 0.74–0.94, p = .003). Statistically significant results also were seen with medically defined obese participants. Youth who perceived themselves as overweight were less likely to report higher grades (OR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.73–0.92, p = .001) in unadjusted analysis and after adjustment for the same variables (OR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.68–0.91, p = .002). The perception of overweight was a more significant determinant of academic performance (OR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.69–0.95, p = .012) compared to medically defined obesity (OR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.77–1.05, p = .174). CONCLUSIONS: Perceived overweight status is negatively associated with academic performance, regardless of actual weight status. These findings suggest that perception of overweight may be a mechanism for prior results indicating a negative association of obesity and academic achievements, and have implications for the academic health of these adolescents.
Tethering ribozymes to a retroviral packaging signal for destruction of viral RNA

Cellular compartmentalization of RNAs is thought to influence their susceptibility to ribozyme cleavage. As a test of this idea, two retroviral vectors--one encoding a hammer-head ribozyme designed to cleave lacZ transcripts and another encoding the lacZ messenger RNA--were coexpressed inside retroviral packaging cells. Because of the retroviral packaging signal, the ribozyme would be expected to colocalize with the lacZ-containing viral genomic RNA but not with the lacZ messenger RNA. The ribozyme was found to reduce the titer of infectious virus containing lacZ by 90 percent, but had no effect on translation of lacZ messenger RNA. These results indicate that sorting gene inhibitors to appropriate intracellular sites may increase their effectiveness.
Knockdown of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 expression in murine mammary cancer cells leads to an increase in tumor growth and bone metastasis.

Abstract #1156 The c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK) family of proteins are involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis depending on the specific isoform, cell type, and activating stimuli. The JNK proteins are known as the predominant c-Jun kinases, resulting in AP-1 activation and increased expression of AP-1 transcriptional targets. More specifically, it has been reported that osteoclast differentiation is impaired in jnk1-/- mice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether expression of JNK1 in cancer cells will influence the bone microenvironment during metastatic growth. The 4T1.2 murine mammary cancer cell line was studied as an established model for mammary cancer mediated bone metastasis. Using a JNK1α1 shRNA approach, we observed 75% reduction in expression Orthotopic injection of the shJNK1α1 cells into the mammary fat pad of Balb/c mice significantly increased tumor growth rates and shortened survival compared to the respective empty vector cell line (p Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 1156.
Evidence that glucocorticoid response elements in the 5′-noncoding region of the hamster β2-adrenergic receptor gene are obligate for glucocoticoid regulation of receptor mRNA levels

Glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones regulate the expression of G-protein-linked receptors, typified by the beta-adrenergic receptor. The influence of glucocorticoids on the steady-state levels of receptor and receptor mRNA were examined in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in culture. Incubation of wild-type CHO cells with dexamethasone, a potent glucocorticoid, elevated both receptor number (as measured by radioligand binding) and receptor mRNA levels (as measured by DNA-excess solution hybridization). Both responses were time- and dose-dependent. Stable transfectant CHO clones harboring the hamster beta 2-adrenergic receptor cDNA under the control of the SV40 early promoter were investigated for their ability to respond to glucocorticoid stimulation. The cDNA employed in these studies displays glucocorticoid-response elements (GREs) in the coding and 3'-noncoding regions, but lacks GREs identified in the 5'-noncoding regions of the gene. Transfectant clones expressing 200 (X13), 600 (32E), or 1580 (32A) fmol of receptor/10(6) cells, as compared to wild-type CHO clones expressing 15 fmol/10(6) cells, displayed elevated steady-state levels of receptor mRNA. Incubating the transfectant CHO clones with glucocorticoids, however, failed to enhance the level of receptor or receptor mRNA derived from the expression vector employed in the transfection. These data demonstrate for wild-type CHO cells that glucocorticoids stimulate an increase in receptor mRNA and receptor expression, but that in CHO clones stably transfected with a cDNA lacking specifically the GREs in the 5'-noncoding region of the gene, the glucocorticoid-stimulated increase in beta-adrenergic receptor mRNA is not evident.
Hostile–vs.–white‐knight bidders

We examine the hypothesis that white knights enter control contests to spend free cash flow instead of paying it out to shareholders. Tobin's q is used to measure management's inclination to invest in negative NPV investments. We find that historically, white knights have over-invested and their acquisition of the target is one more negative NPV investment. Alternatively, hostile bidders' past investment decisions have increased shareholder wealth. Furthermore, white knights' returns upon the announcement of their bid have a significant negative relationship with free cash flow, implying that their bid reveals information about white knights management's investment decisions. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca with associated secondary uveitis elicited in rats after systemic xylazine/ketamine anesthesia

The systemic administration of an anesthetic dosage of a combination of xylazine and ketamine hydrochloride produced an acute exposure keratopathy which progressed into a syndrome resembling keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Within a few minutes corneal changes occurred that were characterized by viscous mucus, loss of corneal luster and dryness. Other acute but transient changes included development of cataracts, mydriasis and proptosis. Progressive changes were observed in the cornea within 4 days which lasted at least 8 weeks in some cases, and included punctate epithelial keratopathy progressing to devitalized or keratinized epithelial plaques. Polymorphonuclear cell infiltration of the corneal stroma associated with plaques occurred. Epithelial denudation and neovascularization of the cornea, dilation and engorgement of iridial blood vessels, as well as flare in the anterior chamber were also seen. The ocular lesions induced by xylazine/ketamine should be considered carefully when designing or interpreting research on the anterior segment. Ketamine hydrochloride with sodium pentobarbital produced excellent anesthesia without any significant ocular side-effects and may be preferred in many instances.
Extrapleural Harvesting of the Mammary Artery in the Costodiaphragmatic Sulcus

In coronary artery bypass surgery the most commonly used conduit for grafting the left anterior descending artery is the left internal mammary artery. In harvesting the internal mammary artery the parietal pleura is frequently breached. This is associated with increased post operative complications. The diaphragm is not in contact with the parietal pleura anteriorly. The risk of opening the pleura is considerably reduced if the costodiaphragmatic sulcus is developed first. If more cardiac surgeons were aware of the potential of the costodiaphragmatic sulcus then some of the complications associated with coronary artery surgery could be reduced.
Biosensor for direct detection of pathogens on fresh produce

A type of biosensor is recently developed using magnetostrictive particle (MSP) resonator as sensor platform and phage/antibody as bio-probe. The MSP sensors have following unique features: wireless, concentration and separation of the target species from the analytes and in-situ detection capability. The MSP sensors are very inexpensive and sensitive. All the advantages of the MSP sensors are demonstrated by the in-situ detection of pathogens in water and liquid food. To fully utilize the advantages of the MSP sensors, the direct detection of pathogens on the surface of fresh produce was demonstrated.
THE DROSOPHILA TUMOR SUPPRESSOR GENE DLG IS REQUIRED FOR NORMAL SYNAPTIC BOUTON STRUCTURE

Abstract The Drosophila tumor suppressor gene lethal (1) discs large (dlg) encodes a protein necessary for normal cell growth in epithelial and brain tissue. It shares high sequence identity to the mammalian synaptic proteins PSD-95 and SAP-70, whose functions are unknown. To determine the localization and role of dig at synapses, we investigated its distribution and the effects of dlg mutations on Drosophila neuromuscular junctions. We show that dig immunoreactivity is expressed at one type of glutamatergic synapse and is associated with both presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes. Mutations in dlg alter the expression of dig and cause striking changes in the structure of the subsynaptic reticulum, a postsynaptic specialization at these synapses. These results indicate that dlg is required for normal synaptic structure and offer insights regarding the role of dlg homologs at vertebrate synapses.
The electronic structure of tungsten impurities in diamond films

A model for the electronic structure of the tungsten impurity in diamond is presented that explains recent photoluminescence results. The model is based on the Ludwig and Woodbury model for interstitial transition-metal impurities in silicon and includes Jahn-Teller coupling, which almost entirely quenches the orbital angular momentum.
A versatile stable platform for multifunctional applications: synthesis of a nitroDOPA–PEO–alkyne scaffold for iron oxide nanoparticles

Contemporary magnetic nanoparticle composites are individually designed for specific biomedical applications. We describe the syntheses and characterization of a heterobifunctional polyethylene oxide (PEO) using nitroDOPA as a robust anchoring group on one end and an alkyne as the reactive surface for additional application specific modification.
Course and composition of the nerves that supply the mandibular teeth of the rat.

The rodent dentition has become an important model for investigations of interactions between dental tissues and peripheral neurons. Although experimental nerve injury has been widely used for such studies, there is uncertainty about the courses of nerve fibers supplying the mandibular teeth. In order to clarify this, we used a mixture of monoclonal antibodies against neurofilament proteins to enhance demonstration of nerve fibers so that small nerves could be readily traced in serial frozen sections of mandibles of Sprague Dawley rats ranging in age from embryonic day (E) 18 to postnatal day (P) 90. The 1st molar and anterior portion of the 2nd molar were innervated by small nerves that emerged as distinct branches of the IAN trunk at or near the mandibular foramen. In contrast, the nerve supply to the 3rd molar and posterior part of the 2nd molar was a branch of the lingual nerve that bypassed the mandibular canal altogether. The IAN trunk split into the mental nerve and a large branch to the incisor about 2 mm anterior to the mandibular foramen. Thick branches of the incisor nerve descended into the incisor socket to form a dense plexus of nerve fiber bundles extending along the length of the incisor periodontium. The sparse pulpal innervation of the incisor was provided by a few thin fascicles that emerged from the caudal portion of the periodontal plexus to enter the incisor apex. The dental branches of the IAN and lingual nerve seen in the adult were well established and readily identifiable at age E18 even though their targets were limited to the follicles of the developing teeth. These studies show that the trigeminal branches that supply the mandibular teeth can be identified at a wide range of ages as distinct nerves at a considerable distance proximal to their targets. This detailed information on the courses taken by the dental nerves can provide an anatomical basis for increased precision in characterization and perturbation of neural pathways from the molars and incisor.
Of birds, people (and coffee): research and conservation in Costa Rica.

I am a wildlife veterinarian and currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Odum School of Ecology. Years ago, I was fortunate enough to collaborate with an ecologist on a study on tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) in a stretch of lowland rainforest in Costa Rica. That opened up a world for me and set me on a path towards my current professional passion: to merge veterinary medicine with an ecological perspective, in particular towards applied conservation. However, I felt I was missing the tools to truly take the host-pathogen interactions I had learned in veterinary school to the population, community, or landscape level, which an advanced ecology degree could offer. The general theme of my dissertation work revolves around how human-altered landscapes affect disease dynamics. In specific, I am investigating how shade-grown coffee plantations influence the biodiversity, abundance, and health of wild birds. Shadegrown coffee (or ‘‘bird-friendly’’ coffee) is a method by which forest either is never cleared and coffee bushes are planted in between existing trees or previously cleared coffee plots are replanted with native trees. Traditional coffee plantations are monoculture operations that clear large areas of forest and replace them with coffee. This requires generous amounts of fertilizers and pesticides, because coffee is originally an understory, shade-loving plant, heavily stressed under the sun; however, it makes harvesting a lot easier. Shade-grown coffee works well in small plantations, and studies have shown that avian biodiversity is much improved in these operations, which is important in areas in Central America where neotropical migrants are running out of available habitat. These plantations also act as points of contact between forest birds and humans and their domestic animals (including free-roaming chickens), and I am particularly interested in the balance of benefits and potential problems these plantations create for wild birds. I have worked as an exotic animal and zoo veterinarian and have been an avid bird-watcher all my life, but working with wild birds in the field has given me the opportunity to really see them in their element and appreciate the issues that threaten free-ranging birds worldwide.
WATERWAY TRAFFIC ANALYSIS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER AND LOCK.

The vessel-carrying capacity of the Chicago River, Illinois, is restricted by a lock. separating the river from Lake Michigan. Currently, vessels passing through the lock experience long delays during summer months. An investigation and analysis of this system determined that although the system is now generally operating below capacity, the peak periods during summer weekends do approach capacity, and the situation is likely to deteriorate in the future. In addition, the river and lock have safety and traffic conflict problems that need attention. Recommendations to mitigate these problems are described.
Side-chain conformational restriction in template-competitive inhibitors of E. coli DNA polymerase I klenow fragment: Synthesis, structural characterization and inhibition activity

Nucleotide triphosphate α‐(4‐azidophenyl)‐1,N6‐etheno‐dATP 3 and its monophosphate 3m were synthesized by condensation of 2‐halo‐2‐(4‐azidophenyl)acetaldehyes with dATP and dAMP, respectively. Stru...
Metaphors of the Adult Asthma Experience in a Suburban Area

Metaphor is one element of language capable of capturing human’s perception of reality. Nursing care can improve as patients’ perceptions of their illnesses are better understood. Realizing how pat...
A 0.25 mW sigma-delta modulator for voice-band applications

A very low power and high resolution analog to digital converter has been developed for voice-band applications. It employs a third-order cascaded sigma-delta modulator and operates with supply range from 2 V to 5 V. When this modulator is used at an oversampling ratio (OSR) of 64 and clock frequency of 500 kHz, it achieves 81.5 dB dynamic range and 77 dB peak signal-to-noise plus distortion ratio (SNDR). The power required for this performance is only 0.25 mW at 2 V power-supply voltage.
Strategic Supply Management and Dyadic Quality Performance: A Path Analytical Model

Summary A number of studies have addressed the critical role of strategic purchasing and its impact on buyer–supplier relationships. Most studies, however, treat buyer–supplier relationships as a single construct. Recognizing that buyer–supplier relationships are a much more complex phenomenon, this study first identifies three critical constructs including supply base reduction, communication and long-term relationships for a broader conceptualization of buyer–supplier relationships. It then explores the effects of strategic purchasing on these three constructs, along with their impacts on dyadic quality performance. The proposed path analytical model was tested using structural equation modeling. Results provide robust support for the notion that strategic supply management improves the quality performance of both supplier and buyer firms.
Instrumented indentation probing of laser surface-refined cast Al alloy

The surface layer of A319 alloy was refined by selective remelting using laser energy. Instrumented indentation technique was used to measure hardness (H) and elastic modulus (E) of the laser-melted layer. Berkovich tip was used to indent the material for 100-nm, 200-nm, 500-nm, and 1000-nm depths. The H and the E were found to be 1.22 GPa and 78.2 GPa, respectively, for 1000-nm indentation depths. The variances associated with H and E were minimal, whereas, the same for substrate possessed significant scattering. Also, H and E increased with decreasing depth of indentation. Closer examination suggested that when the heterogeneity in the material was in the scale of indentation depth, significant scattering took place and the hard phase Si influenced the average hardness. However, the influence of indentation depth on elastic modulus was not statistically significant.
Introduction to the Special Issue on remote sensing

In 1977, the first Special Issue on remote sensing published by Geophysics contained papers selected from two special sessions at the 45th Annual International SEG Meeting, October 12–16, 1975, in Denver, Colorado. That first Special Issue consisted of eight papers: four are primarily tutorial (image processing, spectral signatures in the visible and near infrared, microwave spectra of layered media, and factor analysis of gamma-ray spectrometry), two involve structural interpretations with implications for mineral exploration and seismicity, and two examine multispectral reflectance data for detecting hydrothermal alteration and for uranium exploration. Although these papers indicate the importance of physical properties and models in the interpretation of remote sensing data, the studies were constrained by the instruments that collected the data and by the availability of image-processing software. Circumstances have changed significantly in the intervening decade, as illustrated in recent review papers (Watson, 1985; Goetz et al., 1983) and demonstrated by the papers in this Special Issue.
Proteolytic Processing of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Envelope Glycoprotein Precursor Decreases Conformational Flexibility

The mature envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike on the surface of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions is derived by proteolytic cleavage of a trimeric gp160 glycoprotein precursor. Remarkably, proteolytic processing of the HIV-1 Env precursor results in changes in Env antigenicity that resemble those associated with glutaraldehyde fixation. Apparently, proteolytic processing of the HIV-1 Env precursor decreases conformational flexibility of the Env trimeric complex, differentially affecting the integrity/accessibility of epitopes for neutralizing and nonneutralizing antibodies.
Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells transduced with reporter genes for imaging

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, myocardial, or neural lineages when exposed to specific stimuli, making them attractive for tissue repair and regeneration. We have used reporter gene-based imaging technology to track MSC transplantation or implantation in vivo. However, the effects of lentiviral transduction with the fluc-mrfp-ttk triple-fusion vector on the transcriptional profiles of MSCs remain unknown. In this study, gene expression differences between wild-type and transduced hMSCs were evaluated using an oligonucleotide human microarray. Significance Analysis of Microarray identified differential genes with high accuracy; RT-PCR validated the microarray results. Annotation analysis showed that transduced hMSCs upregulated cell differentiation and antiapoptosis genes while downregulating cell cycle, proliferation genes. Despite transcriptional changes associated with bone and cartilage remodeling, their random pattern indicates no systematic change of crucial genes that are associated with osteogenic, adipogenic, or chondrogenic differentiation. This correlates with the experimental results that lentiviral transduction did not cause the transduced MSCs to lose their basic stem cell identity as demonstrated by osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation assays with both transduced and wild-type MSCs, although a certain degree of alterations occurred. Histological analysis demonstrated osteogenic differentiation in MSC-loaded ceramic cubes in vivo. In conclusion, transduction of reporter genes into MSCs preserved the basic properties of stem cells while enabling noninvasive imaging in living animals to study the biodistribution and other biological activities of the cells.
Reversal of mitochondrial proteomic loss in Type 1 diabetic heart with overexpression of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a contributor to diabetic cardiomyopathy. Previously, we observed proteomic decrements within the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) and matrix of diabetic cardiac interfibrillar mitochondria (IFM) correlating with dysfunctional mitochondrial protein import. The goal of this study was to determine whether overexpression of mitochondria phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase 4 (mPHGPx), an antioxidant enzyme capable of scavenging membrane-associated lipid peroxides in the IMM, could reverse proteomic alterations, dysfunctional protein import, and ultimately, mitochondrial dysfunction associated with the diabetic heart. MPHGPx transgenic mice and controls were made diabetic by multiple low-dose streptozotocin injections and examined after 5 wk of hyperglycemia. Five weeks after hyperglycemia onset, in vivo analysis of cardiac contractile function revealed decreased ejection fraction and fractional shortening in diabetic hearts that was reversed with mPHGPx overexpression. MPHGPx overexpression increased electron transport chain function while attenuating hydrogen peroxide production and lipid peroxidation in diabetic mPHGPx IFM. MPHGPx overexpression lessened proteomic loss observed in diabetic IFM. Posttranslational modifications, including oxidations and deamidations, were attenuated in diabetic IFM with mPHGPx overexpression. Mitochondrial protein import dysfunction in diabetic IFM was reversed with mPHGPx overexpression correlating with protein import constituent preservation. Ingenuity Pathway Analyses indicated that oxidative phosphorylation, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and fatty acid oxidation processes most influenced in diabetic IFM were preserved by mPHGPx overexpression. Specific mitochondrial networks preserved included complex I and II, mitochondrial ultrastructure, and mitochondrial protein import. These results indicate that mPHGPx overexpression can preserve the mitochondrial proteome and provide cardioprotective benefits to the diabetic heart.
The Effects of Water Depth and Emergent Vegetation on Foraging Success and Habitat Selection of Wading Birds in the Everglades

Abstract. Wading bird foraging success and habitat preference can be greatly affected by prey availability, which encompasses both prey density and the vulnerability of prey to capture. Two components of prey vulnerability, water depth and emergent vegetation, were manipulated within 10 m × 10 m enclosures to determine the relative effects on foraging habitat preference for eight species of wading birds and foraging success for a subset of four species that strike their prey. All species showed a strong preference for shallow water, and within this water depth showed a preference for the sparse vegetation density treatment. The preference for foraging habitat with a sparse or intermediate vegetation density has been documented in other studies, and may represent a tradeoff between selecting more heavily vegetated areas, which have a higher prey density, and more open areas, where prey are more vulnerable to capture. Almost all foraging occurred in the shallow water treatment, suggesting that preferred wat...
Full-Scale Wind Tunnel Tests of Production and Prototype, Second-Generation Aerodynamic Drag-Reducing Devices for Tractor-Trailers

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has completed the second round of full-scale wind tunnel tests on Class-8 tractor-trailer combinations. The primary intent of the program is to effect a reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions by reducing the fuel consumption of trucks through aerodynamic drag reduction. Add-on aerodynamic components developed at the NRC several decades ago have become important contenders for drag reduction. This program has encouraged the commercialization of these technologies and this round of tests evaluated the first commercial products. Three primary devices have been evaluated, with the combination able to reduce fuel consumption by approximately 6,667 liters (1,761 US gal) annually, based on 130,000 km (81,000 miles) traveled per tractor at a speed of 100 km/hr (62 mi/hr).
Post-Molding Crosslinking of Polyethylene in Automotive Connection Systems

Twenty plies of low density polyethylene (LDPE) were stacked and irradiated with 200 kGy of 5 MeV electron beam. The plies were analyzed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) for crosslink density using melting point depression and equilibrium storage modulus respectively. Infra-red spectroscopic analysis was conducted to examine the samples for the presence of chemical modification. The thermal stability of the irradiated samples and an unexposed control was investigated using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA).
How to compress sequential memory patterns into periodic oscillations: General reduction rules

A neural network with symmetric reciprocal connections always admits a Lyapunov function, whose minima correspond to the memory states stored in the network. Networks with suitable asymmetric connections can store and retrieve a sequence of memory patterns, but the dynamics of these networks cannot be characterized as readily as that of the symmetric networks due to the lack of established general methods. Here, a reduction method is developed for a class of asymmetric attractor networks that store sequences of activity patterns as associative memories, as in a Hopfield network. The method projects the original activity pattern of the network to a low-dimensional space such that sequential memory retrievals in the original network correspond to periodic oscillations in the reduced system. The reduced system is self-contained and provides quantitative information about the stability and speed of sequential memory retrieval in the original network. The time evolution of the overlaps between the network state and the stored memory patterns can also be determined from extended reduced systems. The reduction procedure can be summarized by a few reduction rules, which are applied to several network models, including coupled networks and networks with time-delayed connections, and the analytical solutions of the reduced systems are confirmed by numerical simulations of the original networks. Finally, a local learning rule that provides an approximation to the connection weights involving the pseudoinverse is also presented.
Participation in Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Review

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the published literature on adherence to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and sigmoidoscopy. Specifically, the review addresses the following: 1) prevalence of FOBT and sigmoidoscopy; 2) interventions to increase adherence to FOBT and sigmoidoscopy; 3) correlates or predictors of adherence to FOBT and sigmoidoscopy; and 4) reasons for nonadherence. Other objectives are to put the literature on CRC screening adherence in the context of recently reported findings from experimental interventions to change prevention and early detection behaviors and to suggest directions for future research on CRC screening adherence. CRC screening offers the potential both for primary and for secondary prevention. Data from the 1992 National Health Interview Survey show that 26% of the population more than 49 years of age report FOBT within the past 3 years and 33% report ever having had sigmoidoscopy. The Year 2000 goals set forth in Healthy People 2000 are for 50% of the population more than 49 years of age to report FOBT within the past 2 years and for 40% to report that they ever had sigmoidoscopy. Thus, systematic efforts to increase CRC screening are warranted. To date, attempts to promote CRC screening have used both a public health model that targets entire communities, e.g., mass media campaigns, and a medical model that targets individuals, e.g., general practice patients. Most of these efforts, however, did not include systematic evaluation of strategies to increase adherence. The data on FOBT show that the median adherence rate to programmatic offers of FOBT is between 40% and 50%, depending on the type of population offered the test, e.g., patients or employees. Approximately, 50% of those initially offered testing in unselected populations will respond to minimal prompts or interventions. A salient issue for FOBT, however, is whether or not the behavior can be sustained over time. Fewer studies examined adherence to sigmoidoscopy. Adherence was highest in relatives of CRC cases and in employer-sponsored programs offered to workers at increased risk of CRC. At present, we know very little about the determinants of CRC screening behaviors, particularly as they relate to rescreening.
Design and optimization of a biomechanical energy harvesting device

This paper addresses a design and optimization procedure of a biomechanical energy conversion system. First, the center-of-mass motion is identified as an energetic motion. Based on the characteristics of the motion, a linear permanent magnet generator topology is proposed. Magnetic equivalent circuits are developed for the linear generator, which are then used to optimize for the maximum-power output. A maximum-power extraction circuit is proposed as the interface between the generator and battery load. The circuit functions as a matched resistor to the generator internal resistance. A test generator is built and tested with impedance-matching circuit. Average power of 90 mW to 780 mW was measured for different walking conditions for a 1-kg swing weight.
A comparison of two neural network architectures for vector quantization

The authors investigate the performance of two neural network architectures for vector quantization. The two architectures are the multilayer feedforward network and the Hopfield analog neural network. If is found that for the feedforward network to have reasonably good performance, the number of hidden units must be unrealistically high: exponential in the number of dimensions and codewords. For the Hopfield analog model, on the other hand, the number of processors required is equal to the number of codewords and the resulting performance is very close to the optimum mean squared error. >
Panel Summary: High-Speed Transition Experiments

The need for transition information at high speeds is both urgent and vital to the success of several national programs, most notably NASP. Several classes of experimental facilities can be used to provide such information, but each has problems vis-a-vis transition research. The usual litany of high-speed facility options includes: (a) conventional (blowdown, impulse, continuous) “cold” tunnels, (b) hot/high-energy tunnels (e.g., propulsion facilities), (c) ballistic ranges and, (d) atmospheric flight. Research in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s strongly indicated that sound radiation from turbulent nozzle wall boundary layers tended to dominate the transition physics in conventional wind tunnels. Especially in the high-energy facility case, stagnation enthalpy fluctuations can also create stream velocity fluctuations. The problems in the free-flight case, both range and atmospheric, tend to inlove questions of data coverage and measurement capability, repeatability, and expense.
U.S. Migration from Latin America: Gendered Patterns and Shifts

Since the second half of the twentieth century, studies have documented the presence of women and men among migrants to and from Latin America. This study analyzes gendered patterns of U.S. migration from a variety of nations south of the border and examines how the probabilities of migrating on a first U.S. trip shift over the life course and by legal status. Using life history data from the Mexican and Latin American Migration Projects (MMP and LAMP), the author estimates the conditional likelihoods that male and female household heads and spouses of a given age migrate with or without documents on a first U.S. trip from four nations (Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica) and from Puerto Rico. On the whole, findings suggest that the male-led process of undocumented migration from Mexico differs sharply from the female-led process of documented migration from the Dominican Republic and that the gendered patterns of U.S. migration from Nicaragua and Costa Rica fall somewhere in betwee...
A novel virus-inducible enhancer of the interferon-β gene with tightly linked promoter and enhancer activities

Long-range enhancers of transcription are a key component of the genomic regulatory architecture. Recent studies have identified bi-directionally transcribed RNAs emanating from these enhancers known as eRNAs. However, it remains unclear how tightly coupled eRNA production is with enhancer activity. Through our systematic search for long-range elements that interact with the interferon-β gene, a model system for studying inducible transcription, we have identified a novel enhancer, which we have named L2 that regulates the expression of interferon-β. We have demonstrated its virus-inducible enhancer activity by analyzing epigenomic profiles, transcription factor association, nascent RNA production and activity in reporter assays. This enhancer exhibits intimately linked virus-inducible enhancer and bidirectional promoter activity that is largely dependent on a conserved Interferon Stimulated Response Element and robustly generates virus inducible eRNAs. Notably, its enhancer and promoter activities are fully retained in reporter assays even upon a complete elimination of its associated eRNA sequences. Finally, we show that L2 regulates IFNB1 expression by siRNA knockdown of eRNAs, and the deletion of L2 in a BAC transfection assay. Thus, L2 is a novel enhancer that regulates IFNB1 and whose eRNAs exert significant activity in vivo that is distinct from those activities recapitulated in the luciferase reporter assays.