cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AF64A-induced cytotoxicity and changes in choline acetyltransferase activity in the LA-N-2 neuroblastoma cell line are modulated by choline and hemicholinium-3

Abstract The cholinergic neurotoxin AF64A (ethylcholine aziridinium) has been used to selectively destroy the cholinergic system. Due to its structural similarity to choline, this compound may be selectively taken up by the cholinergic terminal via the high-affinity choline transport (HAChT) system to produce persistent and selective cholinergic deficits. The mechanism by which it exerts its cholinotoxicity remains to be elucidated. We have examined the effects of AF64A in the human neuroblastoma cell line, LA-N-2, which has an intact sodium-coupled choline uptake system, and is capable of synthesizing acetylcholine (ACh). AF64A (25, 50 and 100 μM) produced dose-dependent increases in cell kill as measured by colony formation assay. The addition of increasing concentrations (10 −5 , 10 −4 and 10 −3 M) of choline and hemicholinium-3 (HC-3) protected the cells from the cytotoxic effects of AF64A. At the same doses, AF64A also decreased choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity. In the presence of the highest concentration of choline or HC-3 (10 −3 M) which produced complete protection against AF64A's cytotoxicity in the colony formation assay, ChAT activity was restored to control values. These results demonstrate that agents that utilize (i.e., choline) or inhibit (i.e., HC-3) the choline uptake system prevented AF64A-induced cytotoxicity and decreases in ChAT activity, in a manner similar to that which has been observed in chick and rat primary cholinergic cultures in vitro. The LA-N-2 neuroblastoma cell line thus serves well as an in vitro model of the cholinergic neuron and provides a useful system to study the mode of cholinotoxicity induced by AF64A.
Femtosecond studies of electron dynamics at dielectric-metal interfaces

Ultrafast relaxation dynamics of electrons at dielectric-metal interfaces reflect the nature of the electronic interaction with both the substrate and the adsorbed layer. The full understanding of ...
Comments on: Intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment plan optimization

It has been a pleasure to read the paper by Romeijn and Dempsey on Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). IMRT treatment planning has been an active research area and it has attracted the attention of the best and brightest in the optimization community; far more so than any other application in the medical field. The reason is simple: not only will improvements in the quality of IMRT treatment plans and efficiency gains in their generation save lives, efficient generation of high-quality IMRT treatment plans is an enormously challenging optimization problem. In fact, it encompasses a variety of related optimization problems, as pointed out in Romeijn and Dwempsey’s paper, from beam angle selection to collimator leaf sequencing.
Experimentally generated high-g shock loads using Hydraulic Blast Simulator

Abstract Reliable and repeatable experimental generation of high-g shock environments is a long-standing problem which faces significant difficulty. The shock levels experienced by various defense-related structural and mechanical components are not always easily obtained in the true environments but are known to span a significant range of peak accelerations and pulse durations. The reproduction of these high-g shock levels in a controlled setting is highly important but also quite complicated. A system which is characterized by substantial energy output, a high level of precision, and adjustability is ideal for producing the varying and intense conditions experienced by structures and components subjected to shock loads. The Blast Simulator, a complex experimental device which simulates explosive blasts without the use of explosive materials, has proven to be an appropriate tool for this application. The system uses high-precision, computer-controlled hydraulic actuators to fire a piston mounted with various impact materials at high velocities into the specified test article. In the developed experimental series, a cylindrical steel specimen is launched by the Blast Simulator from a set of custom pedestals into a catcher pit. The response of the test article to the impact is acquired and analyzed using the shock response spectrum. The results are used to display the capabilities of the Blast Simulator to induce a wide range of shocks on the test article and display the effectiveness of the device as a shock loading tool.
The Primary Structure of Rat Ribosomal Protein L10a

Abstract The amino acid sequence of the rat 60S ribosomal subunit protein L10a was deduced from the sequence of nucleotides in a recombinant cDNA. Ribosomal protein L10a has 217 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 24,815. Hybridization of the cDNA to digests of nuclear DNA suggests that there are 7 to 10 copies of the L10a gene. The mRNA for the protein is about 760 nucleotides in length. Rat L10a is related to ribosomal proteins from other eukaryotes and from archaebacteria.
Association of suicide rates, gun ownership, conservatism and individual suicide risk

The purpose of the study was to examine the association of suicide rates, firearm ownership, political conservatism, religious integration at the state level, and individual suicide risk. Social structural and social learning and social integration theories were theoretical frameworks employed. It was hypothesized that higher suicide rates, higher state firearm availability, and state conservatism elevate individual suicide risk. Data were pooled from the Multiple Cause of Death Files. Multilevel logistic regression models were fitted to all deaths occurring in 2000 through 2004 by suicide. The state suicide rate significantly elevated individual suicide risk (AOR = 1.042, CI = 1.037, 1.046). Firearm availability at the state level was associated with significantly higher odds of individual suicide (AOR = 1.004, CI = 1.003, 1.006). State political conservatism elevated the odds of individual suicides (AOR = 1.005, CI = 1.003, 1.007), while church membership at the state level reduced individual odds of suicide (AOR = 0.995, CI = 0.993, 0.996). The results held even after controlling for socioeconomic and demographic variables at the individual level. It was concluded that the observed association between individual suicide odds and national suicide rates, and firearm ownership cannot be discounted. Future research ought to focus on integrating individual level data and contextual variables when testing for the impact of firearm ownership. Support was found for social learning and social integration theories.
Organische Phosphorverbindungen X. Alkylierung von Phosphorthiohalogen‐Verbindungen mit aluminiumorganischen Verbindungen. Ein neues Verfahren zur Darstellung von Halogenverbindungen von Thiophosphonsäuren, Thiophosphinsäuren und tertiären Phosphinsulfiden

The reaction of PSCl3, RPSCI2, (EtO)2PSCI, [(CH3)2N]2PSCl and PSBr3 with CH3AICl2, EtAlCl2, EtAI(OEt)2, Et3A1, Ph3A1 and (i-C4H9)3Al has been studied. The preparation of thiophosphonic dihalides, RPSX2 [R =CH3, C2H5, i-C4H9; X =C1, Br], thiophosphinic halides, RR′PSX [RR′ = C2H5, i-C4H9, Ph; X = C1, Br, and R′ = CH3, R′ = C2H5, X =Cl], as well as tertiary phosphine sulfides, R3PS [R = C2H5, i-C4H9, Ph] is described. The preparation of [(CH3)2N]2P(S)Et is also reported.
Chinese Food: Perceptions and Publications in the United States

In the United States, very few research articles are written about Chinese food. A handful of English-language books have been written about Chinese food history but none discuss their food or any perceptions of it in America. One book did look at Chinese cookbooks but did not evaluate them even though cookbooks are increasingly important resources representing lifestyle choices and food attitudes. Because Chinese people believe that nothing is more important than eating, exploring their cookbooks looks at a food culture consumed by more people in the world than any other. This paper located and assessed 2,500 English-language Chinese cookbooks, 40 percent published in the United States. Their content, place of publication, ethnicity of author, types of recipes, cookbook trends, and content changes are explored from the first government document published in 1899 and the first recipe book published in 1911 through the 1990s. The perceptions of authors, publishers, and restauranteurs explain some of these ...
Performance of a 3-Phase Permanent Magnet Transverse Flux Wind Power Generator with Internal Stator

Performance of a 3-phase PM transverse flux generator with internal stator is analyzed. Magnetic flux density distribution, induced voltage, output power, and cogging torque are determined using 3-D FEM. Application of generator version with internal stator allows to increase a power to volume ratio as well as to compose easily the wind turbine - generator aggregate which is proposed.
Charges and Potentials at the Nerve Surface : Divalent ions and pH

The voltage dependence of the voltage clamp responses of myelinated nerve fibers depends on the concentration of divalent cations and of hydrogen ions in the bathing medium. In general, increases of the [Ca], [Ni], or [H] increase the depolarization needed to elicit a given response of the nerve. An e-fold increase of the [Ca] produces the following shifts of the voltage dependence of the parameters in the Hodgkin-Huxley model: m∞, 8.7 mv; h∞, 6.5 mv; τn, 0.0 mv. The same increase of the [H], if done below pH 5.5, produces the following shifts: m∞, 13.5 mv; h∞, 13.5 mv; τn, 13.5 mv; and if done above pH 5.5: m∞, 1.3 mv; h∞, 1.3 mv; τn, 4.0 mv. The voltage shifts are proportional to the logarithm of the concentration of the divalent ions and of the hydrogen ion. The observed voltage shifts are interpreted as evidence for negative fixed charges near the sodium and potassium channels. The charged groups are assumed to comprise several types, of varying affinity for divalent and hydrogen ions. The charges near the sodium channels differ from those near the potassium channels. As the pH is lowered below pH 6, the maximum sodium conductance decreases quickly and reversibly in a manner that suggests that the protonation of an acidic group with a pKa of 5.2 blocks individual sodium channels.
Reliability and Preliminary Use of a Rubric to Assess Pre-Kindergarten Teachers' Video Uses

The presence and use of new technologies in early childhood settings are rapidly increasing. One technology tool used in early childhood settings is monthly DVD classroom newsletters, yet there is a lack of assessments to support pre-kindergarten teachers’ uses of such DVD newsletter technology—in general and in specific. The present study helps to fill this gap by developing and testing a revised rubric to evaluate the quality of monthly DVD classroom newsletters. Results indicate that the revised Monthly DVD Classroom Newsletter-Rubric exhibited good overall reliability. We suggest that the use of a rubric to assess pre-kindergarten teacher-created monthly DVD classroom newsletters supports teachers’ decision making about technology uses and professional development.
Engineered modeling and the secrets of Parkinson's disease

The development of new methods for manipulating the animal genome by transgenic and gene-targeting technologies provides a unique means of studying the most intimate aspects of countless human diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). In this review, the contribution of such engineered models to our current understanding of the pathophysiology, etiology and pathogenesis of PD will be discussed.
Arthroscopic bankart repair with the suretac device. part II: experimental observations

Arthroscopic Bankart repair using the Suretac device (Acufex Microsurgical, Mansfield, MA) was developed as an alternative to both the staple and suture repair techniques. While offering some technical advantages compared with these other approaches, it's technical limitations and pitfalls have only been described anecdotally based on the clinical experience of several surgeons. The purpose of this study was to define these limitations and pitfalls. Eight cadaver shoulders underwent arthroscopic Bankart repair using the Suretac device after first arthroscopically creating a Bankart lesion. These shoulders were then dissected to reveal the placement of the Suretacs and the adequacy of the Bankart lesion repair. Glenoids were transected in the transverse plane and embedded in clear methylmethacrylate to show placement of the Suretac device relative to the articular surface. There were several technical errors that occurred: (1) Inadequate abrasion of the anterior and inferior juxta-articular scapular neck; (2) inadequate superior and medial shift of the inferior glenohumeral ligament before placement of the lowest Suretac, (3) medial placement of the Suretac relative to the articular margin; and (4) insufficient capture and compression of capsular tissue by the Suretac device. This procedure is technically difficult and careful attention must be paid to each step of preparation and repair. Recognition of the common errors may help the surgeon to avoid these pitfalls in the clinical situation.
Design of RF needle applicators for optimum SAR distributions in irregularly shaped tumors

The impedance method has been used to obtain specific absorption rate (SAR) distributions for a model of a brain tumor for which the shape was determined from CT head scans. Different locations of 4, 5, or 6 needles were used to obtain optimum arrangements that gave minimum standard deviations (SDs) for the SARs in the volume of the tumor. Further work, presently underway, will develop the thermal model to obtain 3-D temperature distributions for the tumor and its surrounding volume to help design applicators giving tumor temperatures with minimum SDs. The procedure described should be applicable for treatment planning of thermotherapy for a number of tumors for which local hyperthermia by RF needle applicators has been found useful. >
Genetic Optimization of a Young Bull Sampling Program in Dairy Cattle

Abstract Two parameters designed to characterize an artificially inseminated dairy cattle population were developed. They were: M=(population size) (percentage of population on test) (replacement rate); and S=(number of proven bulls required to breed the whole population) (Fraction of bulls in the stud replaced every year). The fraction selected among progeny tested bulls and the fraction of the cow population bred to young bulls that maximized genetic effect per generation of the young bull sampling program were determined in terms of M/aS where a is a function of heritability. As M/aS increases, optimums of both fractions decrease. The optimum selection intensity among progeny tested bulls to maximize genetic effect of the sampling program seems much higher than the intensity currently applied. On the other hand, the fraction of the cow population used for testing seems nearer optimum.
Fixed poles in compton amplitudes and bound-state nature of the physical nucleon

Abstract High-energy asymptotic behavior of the Compton scattering amplitudes is investigated in the bound-state model of Drell and Lee. It is shown that the bound-state nature of the physical nucleon together with local electromagnetic interactions leads to the existence of a right-signatured fixed pole at J = 0 with a residue function being a simple polynomial in virtual photon mass squared. Some consequences of this feature are discussed.
Palaeontology: Slowed by sulphide

The Triassic–Jurassic period extinction marked a rapid turnover in the marine realm. Biomarkers in marine rocks suggest that the development of sulphidic conditions in the early Jurassic delayed marine recovery.
REVIEW Metabolic Engineering of Isoprenoids

The metabolic engineering of natural products has begun to prosper in the past few years due to genomic research and the discovery of biosynthetic genes. While the biosynthetic pathways and genes for some isoprenoids have been known for many years, new pathways have been found and known pathways have been further investigated. In this article, we review the recent advances in metabolic engineering of isoprenoids, focusing on the molecular genetics that affects pathway engineering the most. Examples in mono- sequi-, and diterpenoid synthesis as well as carotenoid production are discussed.
The Fancy Dance of Racializing Discourse

In the United States, the Euro-American practice of using stereotypical Native American imagery and dancing in association with athletic mascots continues despite vigorous protest. This suggests th...
The variability of municipal solid waste and its relationship to the determination of the calorific value of refuse-derived fuels

Abstract A study was carried out to examine the variability, over a two-week period, of municipal solid waste (MSW) at the Baltimore County Resource Recovery Facility in Cockeysville, Haryland. Samples of municipal solid waste which had been processed through a primary shredder were collected daily for two weeks. After the total moisture content was determined, the samples were reduced in particle size to 2mm or less. A total of 40 samples were prepared for measurements. Testing was carried out for residual moisture, furnace ash, bomb ash, and calorific or higher heating value. The daily variability (i.e., excluding the within bag variability) of MSW is 36 % and 37 % for moisture and ash, respectively. The combustible fraction of MSW is directly related to the moisture and bomb-ash free higher heating value (HHV3-B) which has a daily variability (i.e., excluding the within bag variability) of only 4%. Statistical analysis of the data suggests that the day to day variability of MSW constitutes 70 to 30% of the overall variability, with the other variables being errors in sampling, size reduction procedures, and measurement techniques.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization investigation of cutaneous lesions in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Fluorescence in situ hybridization investigation of cutaneous lesions in acute promyelocytic leukemia
Improvements in current treatments and emerging therapies for adult obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common and is associated with a number of adverse outcomes, including an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Typical treatment approaches, including positive airway pressure, oral appliances, various upper airway surgeries, and/or weight loss, can improve symptoms and reduce the severity of disease in select patient groups. However, these approaches have several potential limitations, including suboptimal adherence, lack of suitability for all patient groups, and/or absence of adequate outcomes data. Emerging potential therapeutic options, including nasal expiratory positive airway pressure (PAP), oral negative pressure, upper airway muscle stimulation, and bariatric surgery, as well as improvements in existing treatments and the utilization of improving technologies are moving the field forward and should offer effective therapies to a wider group of patients with OSA.
Reconfigurable vector register windows for fast matrix computation on the orthogonal multiprocessor

The authors present the concept of vector register windows (VRWs) geared towards large scale matrix computation and image processing applications. The VRWs consist of multiple windows for vector registers providing parallel access and manipulation of large matrix data in the orthogonal multiprocessor (OMP). The number of windows and the number of registers in a window are dynamically reconfigurable over a range of values to match with the application problem size. An associated index manipulator provides programmable and on-the-fly data manipulation. The index manipulation feature is shown to be quite powerful for carrying out complex data manipulation functions like row (column) shift, row (column) exchange, matrix rotation, etc. Some matrix algorithms, efficiently utilizing the VRWs, are illustrated. >
Hemodynamic comparison of direct vision versus blind oral endotracheal intubation

Abstract Study Objective: To determine the hemodynamic response to airway manipulation and endotracheal intubation by comparing the direct oral method of the Macintosh laryngoscope to the blind oral method of the Augustine guide. Design: Prospective, comparative, randomized study. Setting: University medical center. Patients: 24 ASA physical status I and II, nonpregnant female patients aged 18 years or older, undergoing outpatient gynecologic surgery with general anesthesia. Interventions: Patients were preoxygenated and received alfentanil 10 mcg/kg five minutes prior to anesthesia induction with thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg and succinylcholine 1 mg/kg. Under random assignment, patients (n = 12 in each group) were intubated with the Macintosh laryngoscope or the Augustine guide. After intubation, 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen and 1.5% inspired concentration of isoflurane were administered. Measurements and Main Results: Oxygen saturation, heart rate (HR), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured at baseline and at minutes 1 to 6 postinduction (time zero). Intubation time was defined as the interval between removal of the face mask from the patient's face and reconnection of the circle system airway connector after successful endotracheal intubation. The number of attempts and time to successful endotracheal intubation were noted. There was no difference between groups in age, weight, height, Mallampati airway class, oxygen saturation (at least 98%), or MAP. There was a significant difference ( p p Conclusions: The Augustine guide, a new technique for orally intubating patients blindly and when head and neck manipulations are contraindicated, had less of an effect on HR compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope. Minimal lifting of the tongue and mandible required with the Augustine guide could account for the decreased HR response. The Augustine guide appears to be a promising new addition to the airway armamentarium and deserves further testing.
Problem-Based Learning in Management Education: A Framework for Designing Context.

Problem-based learning has great potential for management education. Placing students in a problem-centered environment may help bridge the gap between theory and practice. One important but underdeveloped issue for problem-based learning is the context design of the problem-solving situation. This article’s purpose is to develop a framework for designing the context for problem-based learning in management education. Background information is presented for problem-based learning, situated cognition, and the organization, leading to the development of such a framework. Cases are presented that illustrate the framework’s use, and learning outcomes are discussed.
Cyclotron Resonance and de Haas-van Alphen Oscillations of an Interacting Electron Gas

An electron gas with short-range interactions is considered in the presence of a uniform magnetic field. It is shown that (1) the cyclotron resonance frequency is independent of the interaction; (2) for a two-dimensional gas, the de Haas-van Alphen period is independent of the interaction. The low-lying excited states are briefly discussed.
Calana: a general-purpose agent-based grid scheduler

Grid resource allocation is a complex task usually solved by systems relying on a centralized information system. In order to create a lightweight scheduling system, we investigated the potential of auctions for resource allocation. Each resource provider runs an agent bidding on the execution of software with respect to local restrictions. This way, the information system becomes obsolete. In addition, each provider can implement different bidding strategies in order to reflect his preferences.
Influence of caloric intake on aging and on the response to stressors.

Reducing the food intake of rodents to well below that of ad libitum fed animals increases the life span. This action, which gerontologists often refer to as the antiaging action of dietary restriction (DR), is due to the slowing of the aging processes. DR also maintains most physiological processes in a youthful state and delays the occurrence and/or slows the progression of age‐associated disease processes. This antiaging action of DR results from the reduced intake of calories. Reduction of the body fat content does not play a causal role in the antiaging action of DR, nor does reduction in the metabolic rate. Alterations in the characteristics of carbohydrate metabolism and of oxidative metabolism in response to DR have been found that are of such a nature that they could, at least in part, underlie the antiaging action. Several theories have recently been proposed in regard to the mechanisms responsible for the antiaging action of DR, but none has been tested by rigorously designed studies. Of these ...
Superconductivity and eutectics

Eutectics show a drastically reduced lattice stiffness, an inherent lattice instability, and frequently superconductivity strictly as a consequence of pronounced soft modes.
Some classical mathematical results related to the problems of the firmware/hardware interface

The paper reviews the Shannon and Reed-Muller Decomposition Theorems and notes the relationship of the former to machine instruction set. It hypothesizes an instruction set based on Galois field operations and applies the divided difference methods of Newton to the automatic generation of a polynomial representation of an arbitrary function. Some numeric results are given for the fields GF(9) and GF(16). An extension of the methods to the representation of functions by rational forms is suggested.
Attention Reduces Spatial Uncertainty in Human Ventral Temporal Cortex

Summary Ventral temporal cortex (VTC) is the latest stage of the ventral "what" visual pathway, which is thought to code the identity of a stimulus regardless of its position or size [1, 2]. Surprisingly, recent studies show that position information can be decoded from VTC [3–5]. However, the computational mechanisms by which spatial information is encoded in VTC are unknown. Furthermore, how attention influences spatial representations in human VTC is also unknown because the effect of attention on spatial representations has only been examined in the dorsal "where" visual pathway [6–10]. Here, we fill these significant gaps in knowledge using an approach that combines functional magnetic resonance imaging and sophisticated computational methods. We first develop a population receptive field (pRF) model [11, 12] of spatial responses in human VTC. Consisting of spatial summation followed by a compressive nonlinearity, this model accurately predicts responses of individual voxels to stimuli at any position and size, explains how spatial information is encoded, and reveals a functional hierarchy in VTC. We then manipulate attention and use our model to decipher the effects of attention. We find that attention to the stimulus systematically and selectively modulates responses in VTC, but not early visual areas. Locally, attention increases eccentricity, size, and gain of individual pRFs, thereby increasing position tolerance. However, globally, these effects reduce uncertainty regarding stimulus location and actually increase position sensitivity of distributed responses across VTC. These results demonstrate that attention actively shapes and enhances spatial representations in the ventral visual pathway.
The Impact of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children on Child Health

Data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey are used to analyze the effect of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program and other factors on the health of U.S. preschool children. Ordered probit equations are estimated for the physician’s overall evaluation of the child’s health. The WIC Program has a significant positive impact on the overall health of children. In particular, children in households participating in WIC are significantly more likely to be in excellent health. Increased household income also improves their health.
Distribution of serum total homocysteine and its association with diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors of the insulin resistance syndrome in Mexican American men: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Few data have been published on the association of variables of the insulin resistance syndrome and serum total homocysteine (tHcy), a putative risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity, in representative samples of total populations or in Hispanic Americans. To describe the distributions of serum tHcy concentration and variables associated with insulin resistance in Mexican American men and to assess their association, data from a cross-sectional survey of a large national sample, the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Analyses were restricted to Mexican American men aged 40–74 years with data on glycated hemoglobin (%), body mass index (BMI), body fat distribution, HDL cholesterol, fasting serum insulin, serum triglycerides and serum tHcy concentrations. Cumulative distributions of serum tHcy shifted to the right with increasing age. Log serum tHcy was not associated with prevalence of diagnosed diabetes mellitus or glycated hemoglobin percent or other risk factors other than age. Log serum tHcy concentration showed borderline significant (p = 0.049) positive association with fasting serum insulin concentration independent of age and BMI, only in men aged 60–74. No consistent association of tHcy with diabetes prevalence or variables of the insulin resistance syndrome were found in Mexican American men aged 40–74 years. Further research is needed on the associations of serum tHcy concentration with insulin resistance and other components of the insulin resistance syndrome in persons of varying ethnicity.
Recurrent Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in children follows a diarrheal prodrome (D+) approximately 90% of the time, and recurrence due to enteric reinfection with Shiga toxin producing E. coli (e.g., O157:H7) can occur but is rare. It is not well recognized that nondiarrheal (D-) recurrences can also follow an episode of D+ HUS; we report 2 unrelated females who experienced multiple D- episodes following an initial episode of D+ HUS. We also present an HUS classification system that includes recurrence risk. It illustrates that recurrence is seen most frequently with familial HUS but can also occur in cases that are secondary to drugs, cancer, and pregnancy.
Glucose transporter localization in brain using light and electron immunocytochemistry

A polyclonal antibody to a synthetic 13 amino acidpeptide found at the carboxyl-terminal end of the glucose transporter protein was raised in rabbit and used in light and electron immunocytochemical studies of human and canine brain. This antibody identified a broad band of polypeptide of average Mr 55,000 on immunoblots (immunogold-silver stains) of electrophoresed membrane proteins from human red blood cells. A similar polypeptide band (Mr 45,000-60,000) was identified on immunoblots of microvessel membrane proteins isolated from canine cerebrum, suggesting that this antibody is a useful tool for studying the distribution and abundance of the glucose transporter protein in mammalian nervous tissue. Peroxidase antiperoxidase stains of cerebrum using this antibody demonstrated that transporters are abundant in the intima pia, in the endothelium of blood vessels in the subarachnoid space, and in the endothelium of arterioles, venules, and capillaries of gray and white matter. In cerebellum, reaction product was localized in the vessels of the subarachnoid space and in microvessels of the molecular layer, the granular layer, and the white matter. However, transporters were not found in the intima pia of cerebellum. In medulla oblongata, transporters were found in the intima pia, the endothelium of some subarachnoid vessels, and the microvessels of gray and white matter. In pituitary, microvessels in adenohypophysis contained no reaction product, but the antigen was detected in some microvessels in neurohypophysis. Electron microscopy of cerebral cortex using a protein A-gold technique demonstrated that glucose transporters are equally abundant on the luminal and abluminal membranes of microvessel endothelial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DBMSs on a Modern Processor: Where Does Time Go?

Recent high-performance processors employ sophisticated techniques to overlap and simultaneously execute multiple computation and memory operations. Intuitively, these techniques should help database applications, which are becoming increasingly compute and memory bound. Unfortunately, recent studies report that faster processors do not improve database system performance to the same extent as scientific workloads. Recent work on database systems focusing on minimizing memory latencies, such as cache-conscious algorithms for sorting and data placement, is one step toward addressing this problem. However, to best design high performance DBMSs we must carefully evaluate and understand the processor and memory behavior of commercial DBMSs on today’s hardware platforms. In this paper we answer the question “Where does time go when a database system is executed on a modern computer platform?” We examine four commercial DBMSs running on an Intel Xeon and NT 4.0. We introduce a framework for analyzing query execution time on a DBMS running on a server with a modern processor and memory architecture. To focus on processor and memory interactions and exclude effects from the I/O subsystem, we use a memory resident database. Using simple queries we find that database developers should (a) optimize data placement for the second level of data cache, and not the first, (b) optimize instruction placement to reduce first-level instruction cache stalls, but (c) not expect the overall execution time to decrease significantly without addressing stalls related to subtle implementation issues (e.g., branch prediction).
Lethality of Listeria monocytogenes in Fully cooked and vacuum packaged chicken leg quarters during steam pasteurization

ABSTRACT Fully cooked chicken leg quarters (160 g to 300 g) were injected to contain 107 to 108 colony-forming units (CFU)/g of a 5-strain Listeria monocytogenes culture. The inoculated leg quarters were vacuum-packaged in 0.08-mm-thick packaging films and then pasteurized at 96°C via steam. The heat transfer coefficient was about 760 W/m2 K in the steam cooker. Seven log10 (CFU/g) reduction of L. monocytogenes was achieved in about 22 min of steam treatment. Results from the inoculation tests agreed with the process lethality model prediction using the kinetic values that were obtained for the same product. This information helps industry to validate the lethality of L. monocytogenes in similar products during postcook pasteurization.
Generating Spreading Codes for MC-CDMA with Desirable Crest Factor and Error Weight Distribution

In this paper, criteria for designing spreading codes for multicarrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) are derived, and a novel approach for generating customized codesets without any length and size restrictions is proposed. In addition to cross-correlation requirements, MC-CDMA systems have to deal with the issue of high peak to average power ratio (or crest factor). In this work, we map the crest factor requirement to the mean-square aperiodic auto-correlation measure of the spreading codes. Using the proposed trellis approach, we design spreading codes with desired aperiodic auto-correlation, while offering the best possible aperiodic cross-correlation properties. Additionally, we improve the diversity gain by improving the error weight distribution. We demonstrate that this is achieved by increasing the number of allowable phases in the spreading code. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first approach that considers a wide range of performance metrics for code design in MC-CDMA, while offering a flexible approach to design custom codesets
Detecting Phantom Nodes in Wireless Sensor Networks

In an adversarial environment, various kinds of security attacks become possible if malicious nodes could claim fake locations that are different from where they are physically located. In this paper, we propose a secure localization mechanism that detects the existence of these nodes, termed as phantom nodes, without relying on any trusted entities, an approach significantly different from the existing ones. The proposed mechanism enjoys a set of nice features. First, it does not have any central point of attack. All nodes play the role of verifier, by generating local map, i.e. a view constructed based on ranging information from its neighbors. Second, this distributed and localized construction results in quite strong results: even when the number of phantom nodes is greater than that of honest nodes, we can Alter out most phantom nodes. Our analysis and simulations under realistic noisy settings demonstrate our scheme is effective in the presence of a large number of phantom nodes.
Comparison of the Verigene Clostridium difficile, Simplexa C. difficile Universal Direct, BD MAX Cdiff, and Xpert C. difficile assays for the detection of toxigenic C. difficile

We compared the Verigene Clostridium difficile test (Nanosphere, Northbrook, IL, USA), the Simplexa C. difficile Universal Direct (Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA, USA), the BD MAX Cdiff (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA), and the Xpert C. difficile (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) assays for the detection of toxigenic C. difficile. One hundred and ninety deidentified, remnant diarrheal specimens were included in this study. After resolution of discordant results by toxigenic culture, the Xpert C. difficile assay displayed the highest sensitivity (100%), with a specificity of 98.8%. The sensitivity and specificity were 95.2% and 99.4% and 87% and 100% for the Verigene CDF and Simplexa Universal Direct assays, respectively. Finally, the BD MAX assay showed a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 98.8%. Despite differences in the overall performance of these assays, these results support the routine use of these platforms for the detection of toxigenic C. difficile in the clinical laboratory.
Systems biology of the self-regulating morphogenetic gradient of the Xenopus gastrula.

A unique aspect of embryology is its vocation to understand the ability of biological systems to generate self-regulating patterns after experimental perturbation. This ability is crucial to ensure the robustness of embryonic development, and is reused in the adult for the homeostasis and regeneration of tissues and organs. This property was discovered by early experimental embryologists who coined the term “morphogenetic field” to describe groups of cells that can differentiate autonomously and regenerate missing parts (for review, see De Robertis et al. 1991; Eivers et al. 2008). An important step in understanding the behavior of morphogenetic fields has been the concept of diffusing chemical signals or “morphogens” (Turing 1952). Wolpert (1969) proposed in his “French flag” model that a diffusing morphogen, flowing over a field of cells from a source to a sink, can form a linear gradient and pattern this field, provided that the cells are able to respond to different concentrations of the morphogen. Crick (1970) showed via a back of the envelope calculation that this model was physically plausible because the reaching of a steady-state gradient could occur in a reasonable amount of time in a field of 1 mm size. Turing (1952) was the first to formulate reaction–diffusion equations for a morphogen diffusing in a field of cells. Gierer and Meinhardt (1972) further showed that an activator and an inhibitor pair diffusing from the same source can generate stable patterns, provided the inhibitor diffuses faster than the activator. These simple models have proven to be very useful to qualitatively interpret embryological observations such as the patterning of the early Drosophila blastoderm by bicoid (Driever and Nusslein-Volhard 1988; Gregor et al. 2007) or of the Drosophila segment by hedgehog (Heemskerk and DiNardo 1994).
Detecting LV Thrombi: “T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)”

Detection of intracardiac masses has long been recognized as a strength of transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiography (TTE) ([1][1]). The sensitivity and specificity of TTE for detection of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) was established by comparison of “adequate” TTEs on highly select
Defining a stem cell hierarchy in the intestine: markers, caveats and controversies

The past decade has appreciated rapid advance in identifying the once elusive intestinal stem cell (ISC) populations that fuel the continual renewal of the epithelial layer. This advance was largely driven by identification of novel stem cell marker genes, revealing the existence of quiescent, slowly- and active-cycling ISC populations. However, a critical barrier for translating this knowledge to human health and disease remains elucidating the functional interplay between diverse stem cell populations. Currently, the precise hierarchical and regulatory relationships between these ISC populations are under intense scrutiny. The classical theory of a linear hierarchy, where quiescent and slowly-cycling stem cells self-renew but replenish an active-cycling population, is well established in other rapidly renewing tissues such as the haematopoietic system. Efforts to definitively establish a similar stem cell hierarchy within the intestinal epithelium have yielded conflicting results, been difficult to interpret, and suggest non-conventional alternatives to a linear hierarchy. While these new and potentially paradigm-shifting discoveries are intriguing, the field will require development of a number of critical tools, including highly specific stem cell marker genes along with more rigorous experimental methodologies, to delineate the complex cellular relationships within this dynamic organ system.
THE EMERGING MICROECONOMICS IN EMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION THEORY

This chapter discusses three types of disequilibrium models to be found in the new microeconomics under incomplete information. Perhaps the simplest model would be a picture of the economy as a group of islands among which information flows are costly: to learn of the wage paid on an adjacent island, the worker must spend the day traveling to that island to sample its wage instead of spending the day at work. Recent work by Sidney Winter analyzes a model in which, because of sluggishness in the diffusion of information, the firm finds itself at every moment having at least transient monopoly power: It will not instantaneously lose all its customers if it raises its price nor gain the whole market if it cuts its price. The supply prices of outputs and of labor services and the demand prices for labor are linear-homogeneous in known and expected prices—present and future; and quantity decisions are homogeneous of degree zero in these variables.
Epidemiology of severe carbon monoxide poisoning in children

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of severe pediatric CO poisoning cases treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) to determine key features that might aid prevention efforts. DESIGN: Using data on 250 consecutive children treated with HBO2 for CO poisoning at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, we calculated descriptive statistics and used Fisher's Exact test to determine differences in case frequency of CO sources with respect to race/ethnicity. RESULTS: There were 236 (94%) unintentional and 14 (6%) intentional poisonings. Loss of consciousness occurred in 50%. The average initial carboxyhemoglobin level was 19.0 +/- 10.3% (mean +/- SD; range 0.3% to 57.6%). Months with the highest proportion of incidents were November (15%), December (12%) and January (14%). Children 0-2 years old were most often poisoned by charcoal briquettes (40%), in contrast to older children who were most often poisoned by motor vehicle. Females were most often poisoned by charcoal briquettes (28%), in contrast to males in which motor vehicle exhaust predominated (41%). Minorities were disproportionately affected by CO poisoning compared with non-Latino whites (P Language: en
Improved deterministic algorithms for linear programming in low dimensions

Chazelle and Matousek [J. Algorithms, 1996] presented a derandomization of Clarkson’s sampling-based algorithm [J. ACM, 1995] for solving linear programs with n constraints and d variables in d(7+o(1))dn deterministic time. The time bound can be improved to d(5+o(1))dn with subsequent work by Bronnimann, Chazelle, and Matousek [SIAM J. Comput., 1999]. We first point out a much simpler derandomization of Clarkson’s algorithm that avoids e-approximations and runs in d(3+o(1))dn time. We then describe a few additional ideas that eventually improve the deterministic time bound to d(1/2+o(1))dn.
Outcome characteristics of multiple-valve surgery: comparison with single-valve procedures.

ObjectiveMultiple-valve (MUV) procedures currently exhibit higher operative mortality than do single-valve procedures, but a paucity of scientific information exists to explain the observation. Thi...
First-principles analysis of defect-mediated Li adsorption on graphene.

To evaluate the possible utility of single layer graphene for applications in Li ion batteries, an extensive series of periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed on graphene sheets with both point and extended defects for a wide range of lithium coverages. Consistent with recent reports, it is found that Li adsorption on defect-free single layer graphene is not thermodynamically favorable compared to bulk metallic Li. However, graphene surfaces activated by defects are generally found to bind Li more strongly, and the interaction strength is sensitive to both the nature of the defects and their densities. Double vacancy defects are found to have much stronger interactions with Li as compared to Stone–Wales defects, and increasing defect density also enhances the interaction of the Stone–Wales defects with Li. Li interaction with one-dimensional extended defects on graphene is additionally found to be strong and leads to increased Li adsorption. A rigorous thermodynamic analysis of...
A Randomized Study of Intraoperative Autologous Retropubic Urethral Sling on Urinary Control after Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

Purpose: We evaluated whether placement of a retropubic urethral sling fashioned from autologous vas deferens during robotic assisted radical prostatectomy would improve recovery of continence.Materials and Methods: In a phase 2, single blind trial age stratified patients were randomized to undergo robotic assisted radical prostatectomy by multiple surgeons with or without sling placement. The outcomes were complete continence (0 urinary pads of any type) and near continence (0, an occasional or 1 pad per day) at 6 months, which was assessed by the Fisher exact test and logistic regression. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log rank test were used to evaluate time to continence. EPIC-UIN (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-Urinary Inventory) and I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) 1, 3 and 6 months after catheter removal were evaluated by mixed models for repeated measures.Results: Of 203 patients who were recruited 95 and 100 were randomized to undergo sling and no sling placement, respectiv...