cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of responses of globus pallidus and entopeduncular nucleus neurons to stimulation of the caudate nucleus and precruciate cortex.

Abstract Extracellular recordings were made from neurons in the globus pallidus and entopeduncular nucleus (GP-ENTO) of anesthetized kittens of 2 to 177 days of age and from four adult cats. Stimulation of the striatum and the precruciate cortex produced responses in GP-ENTO neurons of the youngest kittens tested (2 days of age). In kittens of 1 to 10 days, about 70% of the GP-ENTO neurons responded to either caudate or cortical stimulation with a purely excitatory response (i.e., an evoked action potential). With increasing age the frequency of occurrence of this type of response decreased and the occurrence of inhibitory responses or of sequences of excitation followed by inhibition increased. In addition to these changes in the form of the evoked responses, other response parameters exhibited age-dependent alterations. Latency to response decreased with age and the ability of GP-ENTO neurons to follow repetitive stimuli increased as the kittens became older. These findings suggest that although GP-ENTO neurons are functional as early as 2 days postnatally in the kitten, subsequent maturation of the responsiveness of these neurons continues for several postnatal months.
Toxicokinetics of DDE, Benzo(a)Pyrene, and 2, 4, 5, 2′, 4′, 5′-Hexachlorobiphenyl in Pontoporeia Hoyi and Mysis Relicta

The toxicokinetics of DDE, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), and 2, 4, 5, 2’, 4’, 5’-hexachlorobiphenyl (HB) were followed for the amphipod, Pontoporeia hoyi, and the mysid, Mysis relicta. Pontoporeia and Mysis had similar uptake clearances (Ku) for DDE (mean = 79.2 mL/g/h and 46.0 mL/g/h, respectively), BaP (mean = 75.9 mL/g/h and 39.9 mL/g/h, respectively), and HB (mean = 53.5 mL/g/h and 57.5 mL/g/hr, respectively) compounds with log octanol-water partition coefficients (Kow's) ranging from 5.7 to 6.7. Amphipods and mysids were most efficient at eliminating BaP (mean Kd = −0.0017/h and −0.0047/h, respectively) and least efficient at eliminating HB (mean = −0.0008/h and −0.0001/h respectively). Amphipods were more efficient than mysids in eliminating DDE (mean = −0.0010/h and −0.0005/h, respectively) and HB while mysids were more efficient at eliminating BaP. Because Kd's for DDE, BaP, and HB were substantially different between P. hoyi and M. relicta, there were substantial differences in the calculated bioconcentration factors (BCFs). Amphipods tended toward larger BCFs than mysids for BaP (mean = 48,582 and 8,496, respectively) but lower BCFs for DDE (mean = 95,629 and 138,760, respectively) and HB (mean = 101,663 and 442,231, respectively) than mysids.
Estimation and testing of availability of a parallel system with exponential failure and repair times

In this paper we consider the long-run availability of a parallel system having several independent renewable components with exponentially distributed failure and repair times. We are interested in testing availability of the system or constructing a lower confidence bound for the availability by using component test data. For this problem, there is no exact test or confidence bound available and only approximate methods are available in the literature. Using the generalized p-value approach, an exact test and a generalized confidence interval are given. An example is given to illustrate the proposed procedures. A simulation study is given to demonstrate their advantages over the other available approximate procedures. Based on type I and type II error rates, the simulation study shows that the generalized procedures outperform the other available methods.
Minimizing the error near discontinuities in boundary element method

Abstract This paper presents two types of discontinuity modeling elements (DME) that minimize the error near a discontinuity. The DME are elements that are discontinuous at one end, can satisfy continuity requirement up to seventh order at the other end, and may have polynomials of order up to fifteen. The error of approximation in the density function is measured by the L 1 norm, which is minimized with respect to the location of collocation points. Results show that the error for optimum location of collocation points in all cases is smaller than those for uniform location of collocation points and the differences in accuracy grows significantly with the order of polynomials. Two tables report the optimum location of collocation points for the DME for use by other researchers. The DME are used in conjunction with the hr-mesh refinement scheme to study modeling of stress near a stress discontinuity. Results of the study show that the recommendations for modeling density functions near a discontinuity are diametrically opposite to those recommendations for modeling of a smooth density function.
Fluorescent magnetic hybrid nanoprobe for multimodal bioimaging.

A fluorescent magnetic hybrid imaging nanoprobe (HINP) was fabricated by the conjugation of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and visible light emitting (~600 nm) fluorescent CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs). The assembly strategy used the covalent linking of the oxidized dextran shell of magnetic particles to the glutathione ligands of QDs. The synthesized HINP formed stable water-soluble colloidal dispersions. The structure and properties of the particles were characterized by transmission electron and atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering analysis, optical absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy, and fluorescent imaging. The luminescence imaging region of the nanoprobe was extended to the near-infrared (NIR) (~800 nm) by conjugation of the superparamagnetic nanoparticles with synthesized CdHgTe/CdS QDs. Cadmium, mercury based QDs in HINP can be easily replaced by novel water-soluble glutathione stabilized AgInS2/ZnS QDs to present a new class of cadmium-free multimodal imaging agents. The observed NIR photoluminescence of fluorescent magnetic nanocomposites supports their use for bioimaging. The developed HINP provides dual-imaging channels for simultaneous optical and magnetic resonance imaging.
In vivo protein labeling with trimethoprim conjugates: a flexible chemical tag

The introduction of green fluorescent protein and its variants (GFPs) has allowed protein analysis at the level of the cell. Now, chemical methods are needed to label proteins in vivo with a wider variety of functionalities so that mechanistic questions about protein function in the complex cellular environment can be addressed. Here we demonstrate that trimethoprim derivatives can be used to selectively tag Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (eDHFR) fusion proteins in wild-type mammalian cells with minimal background and fast kinetics.
THE APPRENDI‐BLAKELY CASES: SENTENCING REFORM COUNTER REVOLUTION?

Recent Supreme Court decisions have extended jury trial rights and beyond-reasonable-doubt proof standards to certain sentence-enhancement facts. The first two cases, Apprendi v. New Jersey and Ring v. Arizona, were narrow in scope and relatively uncontroversial. But Blakely v. Washington marked a substantial expansion of the rationale and scope of Apprendi, and threatened to invalidate entire sentencing reform systems, both legally-binding guidelines of the type at issue in Blakely and it's sequel, Booker v. United States, and statutory determinate sentence systems like the one invalidated in Cunningham v. California. Each of these decisions has potential effects not only on sentencing severity and disparity in the cases controlled by that decision, but also on prosecutorial, legislative, and sentencing commission measures designed to comply with the decision, avoid it, and/or mitigate its impact. Field resistance and avoidance measures are likely to be stronger in jurisdictions where the existing sentencing system enjoyed broad support; in such jurisdictions, resistance may be particularly strong to the more controversial Blakely ruling. Impact assessments must therefore carefully distinguish the separate impacts of Apprendi and Blakely in each jurisdiction being studied, and the extent of support for the existing sentencing system. Such assessments should also examine pre-existing trends and other independent sources of change; leadership by sentencing commissions or other officials in crafting responsive measures; structural and other features of the sentencing system which render compliance more or less difficult; and second-stage effects, on sentencing, prosecutorial, or sentencing policy decisions, that reflect the prior compliance, avoidance, and mitigation measures adopted in that jurisdiction. The greatest long-term effects may be on prosecutorial, legislative, and commission decisions, rather than on sentencing outcomes.
Controlling Catalytic Activity of a Polyion Scaffold on an Electrode via Microemulsion Composition

Electrochemical and catalytic properties of vitamin B12 hexacarboxylate−polylysine films covalently immobilized onto pyrolytic graphite electrodes were controlled by microemulsion composition. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in microemulsions and micellar solutions is incorporated to form micelles within the cationic films. This changes the net film charge from positive, characteristic of the protonated lysines, to negative, characteristic of SDS micelles. Micelle formation was supported by voltammetry and quartz crystal microbalance results, which also suggested that cationic surfactants do not enter the film. Catalytic turnover rates for the reduction of dibromocyclohexane to cyclohexene mediated by the film in SDS microemulsions were controlled by the difference between the reduction potential of the reactant and the catalyst E°‘ in the film. Thus, reaction rate in these systems is controlled by the intrinsic activation free energy. For a given reactant, catalyst E°‘, and consequently activation free ener...
First-principles calculations for a model Hamiltonian treatment of hybridizing light actinide compounds

A procedure, previously applied to Ce(${\mathit{f}}^{1}$) systems, for calculating the components of an Anderson-model lattice Hamiltonian has been extended to hybridizing actinide (${\mathit{f}}^{\mathit{n}g1}$) systems and applied to some hybridizing Pu compounds with magnetic behavior of great current interest. There are some differences in the treatment of actinide systems compared with cerium systems, arising both from the greater spatial extent of 5f states compared with 4f states and from the many-electron character of the actinide correlated quasi-ionic states. The band-f hybridization matrix elements and band energies in the Anderson Hamiltonian are obtained from warped-muffin-tin linear muffin-tin-orbital band-structure calculations with Pu 5f states treated as ``just bound'' corelike states. The calculations are performed for PuAs, PuSb, PuBi, and PuTe. Pu 5f energy levels, relative to the Fermi energy, are calculated for PuSb from total-energy supercell calculations with four, five, and six electrons in the Pu 5f core.We analyze the source in the electronic structure of trends between materials in hybridization-induced effects by considering the behavior of two quantities: (1) f-state resonance widths, characterizing the strength of hybridization, and (2) the density of states at the Fermi energy, characterizing the number and character of band states available for hybridization. Besides assessing the trend in hybridization effects in relationship to changes in the electronic structure between materials, the results are used to evaluate two quantities arising in the model Hamiltonian treatment from hybridization between Pu f states and band states: a shift in the crystal-field levels of the Pu(${\mathit{f}}^{5}$,J=5/2) multiplet and a two-ion exchange interaction between Pu ions on different sites. We compare the calculated quantities with experimental results and with previous phenomenological calculations of the magnetic behavior of PuSb, and discuss the implications of our calculations for the magnetic behavior to be expected in these materials.Experimentally, the magnetic behavior of PuSb and PuTe are quite different; so it is interesting that changes in the calculated magnitude and range dependence of the exchange parameters between PuSb and PuTe indicate a qualitative change in the nature of the expected magnetic behavior.
The Diabetic Zucker Fatty Rat

A noninsulin-dependent diabetes appeared in fatty rats in our Zucker rat colony. A breeding program yielded a genetic pattern of diabetes consistent with a dominant gene not closely linked to the fatty gene. Fatty males were more frequently affected than fatty females. Since no markers could be identified for heterozygous carriers and since affected fatty rats were 6 months old when diabetes appeared, the diabetic trait could not be sustained in our small colony. Glucose tolerance tests showed that the diabetic fatty rats had little increase in plasma insulin concentration after a glucose load was administered. Plasma insulin concentrations were unchanged relative to control fatty rats. Percentage body fat and plasma triglyceride values were decreased in fatty diabetic rats relative to control fatty rats, however, consistent with insulin resistance in fat and liver. The content of pancreatic insulin was markedly decreased in the diabetic fatty rat relative to either the ad libitum or diet-restricted fatty rats. The occurrence of a genetically based diabetes in a normally outbred colony underscores the importance of genetic traits that interact with obesity in determining diabetes in rodent models.
Secreted bacterial phospholipase A2 enzymes: better living through phospholipolysis.

Phospholipases are ubiquitous and diverse enzymes that induce changes in membrane composition, activate the inflammatory cascade and alter cell signaling pathways. Recent evidence suggests that certain bacterial pathogens have acquired genes encoding secreted phospholipase A 2 enzymes through lateral gene transfer events. The two best-studied members of this class of enzyme are ExoU and SlaA, which are produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and group A Streptococcus , respectively. These enzymes modulate the host inflammatory response, increase the severity of disease and otherwise alter host–pathogen interactions. We propose that a key function of ExoU and SlaA is to increase the fitness of the subclones expressing these enzymes, thereby increasing the population size of the PLA 2 -positive strains and enhancing the likelihood of encountering an at-risk host.
Planetary science: Refilling the oceans of early Mars

The northern plains of Mars are thought to have harboured an ocean more than 3.6 billion years ago. Delta deposits and river-valley termini ring the proposed seabed and define an equipotential palaeoshoreline.
Editorial Comment on: A Review on Follow-Up Strategies for Renal Cell Carcinoma after Nephrectomy

In this timely review article, Skolarikos et al [1] provide an in-depth summary of issues pertaining to surveillance for disease recurrence following nephrectomy for patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The reviewed topic is of paramount importance for the urologic community because it is estimated that 30% of patients undergoing nephrectomy for presumed localized disease eventually experience recurrence. Furthermore, there is still uncertainty regarding the optimum approach to detect recurrence early. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the relevant literature, the authors discuss the rationale for surveillance and the timing, intensity, duration, and methods of surveillance appropriate for various patient groupings. The authors emphasize that, at the present time, no prospective or randomized studies have been conducted to address these important questions. All currently available recommendations on surveillance are based on retrospective, mostly single-center studies achieving a maximum evidence level of only III/B. However, until the time that high-level evidence becomes available (and there are currently no plans for prospective studies to evaluate this question of which we are aware), patients must be followed using the best data available. In the distant past, the majority of clinicians followed all patients according to the same general plan, regardless of tumor histology, tumor stage, tumor grade, or other factors of tumor biology that drive the risk of tumor recurrence. At the present time, the most widespread surveillance strategies are based on stage-based protocols [2] because tumor stage is the most important predictor for recurrence after nephrectomy, allowing the intensity and duration of surveillance strategies to be tailored according to the tumor’s stage. However, in the last few
Comparative identification by fatty acid analysis of soil, rhizosphere, and geocarposphere bacteria of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Bacterial isolates were collected from the geocarposphere, rhizosphere, and root-free soil of field grown peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) at three sample dates, and the isolates were identified by analysis of fatty acid methyl-esters to determine if qualitative differences exist among the bacterial microflora of these zones. Five bacterial genera were associated with isolates from soil, while pod and root isolates constituted 16 and 13 genera, respectively, indicating that bacterial diversity was higher in the rhizosphere and geocarposphere than in soil. The dominant (most frequently identified) genus across all three samples dates was Flavobacterium, for pods, Pseudomonas for roots, and Bacillus, for root-free soil. Sixteen bacterial taxa were only isolated from the geocarposphere, 7 only from the rhizosphere, and 5 only from soil. These results show that specific bacterial taxa are preferentially adapted to colonization of the geocarposphere and suggest that the soil, rhizosphere, and geocarposphere constitute three distinct ecological niches. Bacteria which colonize the geocarposphere should be examined as potential biological control agents for pod-invading fungi such as the toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus.
Room-temperature operation of λ≈3.7µm Ga 0.47 In 0.53 As/ Al 0.48 In 0.52 As quantum cascade laser sources

We report room-temperature operation of λ≈3.7µm lattice-matched InGaAs/AlInAs/InP quantum cascade lasers based on frequency doubling with ∼2mW/W2 conversion efficiencies. Similar devices based on 1% strain-compensated materials can operate at λ=3–3.7µm.
The association between statin use and the diagnosis of prostate cancer in a population based cohort.

Purpose: The effect of statin medication use on the risk of prostate cancer is unknown.Materials and Methods: We examined data from a longitudinal, population based cohort of 2,447 men between 40 and 79 years old who were followed from 1990 to 2007. Information on statin use was self-reported and obtained by biennial questionnaires. A randomly selected subset of men (634, 26%) completed biennial urological examinations that included serum prostate specific antigen measurements. Information on prostate biopsy and prostate cancer was obtained through review of community medical records.Results: Of 634 statin users 38 (6%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer vs 186 (10%) of 1,813 nonstatin users. Statin use was associated with a decreased risk of undergoing prostate biopsy (HR 0.31; 95% CI 0.24, 0.40), receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis (HR 0.36; 95% CI 0.25, 0.53) and receiving a high grade (Gleason 7 or greater) prostate cancer diagnosis (HR 0.25; 95% CI 0.11, 0.58). Statin use was also associated with ...
Dual-language characteristics and earnings: Male Mexican workers in the United States

Abstract This paper examines income differentials between native-born white males of non-Hispanic origins and Mexican American males of varying linguistic statuses. The analysis relies on conventional modeling techniques of the earnings process and the selected use of mother tongue, English fluency, and primary language usage to categorize the Mexican American population. The findings differ among the derived groups. Among Mexican immigrants, there does not appear to be any direct economic reward for speaking English. For the U.S.-born Chicanos, there is only a small economic advantage associated with being reared as an English monolingual, and there appears to be a clear disadvantage directly associated with being a Spanish-dominant bilingual.
Plasticity in Interactions of Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF1) N Terminus with FGF Receptors Underlies Promiscuity of FGF1.

Tissue-specific alternative splicing in the second half of Ig-like domain 3 (D3) of fibroblast growth factor receptors 1-3 (FGFR1 to -3) generates epithelial FGFR1b-FGFR3b and mesenchymal FGFR1c-FGFR3c splice isoforms. This splicing event establishes a selectivity filter to restrict the ligand binding specificity of FGFRb and FGFRc isoforms to mesenchymally and epithelially derived fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), respectively. FGF1 is termed the "universal FGFR ligand" because it overrides this specificity barrier. To elucidate the molecular basis for FGF1 cross-reactivity with the "b" and "c" splice isoforms of FGFRs, we determined the first crystal structure of FGF1 in complex with an FGFRb isoform, FGFR2b, at 2.1 A resolution. Comparison of the FGF1-FGFR2b structure with the three previously published FGF1-FGFRc structures reveals that plasticity in the interactions of the N-terminal region of FGF1 with FGFR D3 is the main determinant of FGF1 cross-reactivity with both isoforms of FGFRs. In support of our structural data, we demonstrate that substitution of three N-terminal residues (Gly-19, His-25, and Phe-26) of FGF2 (a ligand that does not bind FGFR2b) for the corresponding residues of FGF1 (Phe-16, Asn-22, and Tyr-23) enables the FGF2 triple mutant to bind and activate FGFR2b. These findings taken together with our previous structural data on receptor binding specificity of FGF2, FGF8, and FGF10 conclusively show that sequence divergence at the N termini of FGFs is the primary regulator of the receptor binding specificity and promiscuity of FGFs.
Selling the wow: Albert R. Mann Library’s virtual tour

Can the Internet be an effective component of an endowment campaign? Cornell University’s Albert R. Mann Library decided to find out when it launched a virtual tour of the library in the spring of 1999. A joint project of library staff and the University Development office, the Web‐based walk‐through of the library’s collections, services and projects was designed to both complement and supplement the library’s $4 million endowment campaign launched the year before.
Modification of amino acid composition of endosperm proteins from in-vitro-selected high lysine mutants in rice.

Endosperm protein mutants in rice may be recovered by biochemical selections with inhibitory levels of lysine and threonine. Among the phenotypes recovered from in vitro selections are lines with increased protein and percent lysine in the protein. This work was designed to identify changes in proteins of rice mutants and to further our understanding of the mechanisms of lysine plus threonine selections in rice. Among the most obvious amino acid changes in mutants was a higher lysine level in all protein solubility fractions and a decrease in tyrosine. Methionine and glutamate are reduced in some protein fractions. However, methionine is significantly higher in the mutant than the control in the glutelin fraction. Several other aspartate pathway amino acids are higher in the mutant than the unselected controls. Separation of proteins in SDS-PAGE gels showed shifts in the protein profiles in the mutants, including a decrease in the major 30 kDa low lysine globulin component, and an increase in several high-molecular-weight components, approximately 60–100 kDa. Increases in the lysine content of proteins of different solubility classes and different proteins within classes are detailed.
Do Surges in International Capital Inflows Influence the Likelihood of Banking Crises

This article asks whether capital inflows bonanzas increase the probability of banking crises and whether this occurs through a lending boom mechanism. Results indicate that bonanzas more than triple the odds of a crisis, raising its probability to 14% (from an unconditional probability of 4%). This effect exists in the absence of a lending boom and is found in both net and gross inflows bonanzas. This effect is driven by portfolio-equity and debt flows. While the effect of debt is channelled through excessive lending, the effect of portfolio-equity flows is present even in the absence of a lending boom
Luminescent Gold Nanoparticles with Efficient Renal Clearance

Developing functional nanomaterials with efficient renal clearance is of fundamental importance to their in vivo biomedical applications.[1] Ideal nanomaterial based contrast agents should be effectively cleared out of the body, have little accumulation in organs and show minimum interference with other diagnostic tests.[1c, 1e, 2] While significant progress has been made toward the creation of fluorescent quantum dots with efficient renal clearance,[2] in vivo applications of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs), another promising nanomedicine in biomedical imaging, drug delivery, antibacterial and photothermal therapy,[3] are still severely hampered by their slow renal clearance and high nonspecific accumulations in the reticuloendothelial system (RES) organs (e.g. liver, spleen) after systematic administration.[4] Although NPs with hydrodynamic diameter (HD) smaller than 10 nm are generally considered being stealthy to the RES organs, they are still often found in the liver.[2a] For example, nearly ~50% of 1.4 nm gold NPs (AuNPs) were found in the liver and only ~9% of them can be excreted into urine in 24 hours after intravenous (IV) injection.[4b] Therefore, developing metal NPs with efficient renal clearance and fundamental understanding of key factors in renal clearance are highly desirable.
Using hyperspectral imagery to estimate forest floor consumption from wildfire in boreal forests of Alaska, USA

Wildfire is a major forest disturbance in interior Alaska that can both directly and indirectly alter ecological processes. We used a combination of pre- and post-fire forest floor depths and post-fire ground cover assessments measured in the field, and high-resolution airborne hyperspectral imagery, to map forest floor conditions after the 2004 Taylor Complex in Alaska's boreal forest. We applied a linear spectral unmixing model with five endmembers representing green moss, non-photosynthetic moss, charred moss, ash and soil to reflectance data to produce fractional cover maps. Our study sites spanned low to moderately high burn severity, and both black and white spruce forest types; high cover of green or non-photosyntheticmoss in the remotely sensed imagery indicated low consumption,whereas high coverofcharredmoss,ashorsoilindicatedhigherconsumption.Strongrelationships(R 2 ¼0.5to0.6)betweengreenmoss estimated from the imagery and bothpost-fire depth andpercentage consumption suggest that potentialburn severity may be predicted by a map of green (live) moss. Given that the depth of the post-fire forest floor is ecologically significant, the methodofmappingtheconditionoftheorganicforestfloorwithhyperspectralimagerypresentedheremaybeausefultool to assess the effect of future fires in the boreal region.
A software WiMAX medium access control layer using massively multithreaded processors

This paper presents a multithreaded software implementation of the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAXTM) medium access control (MAC) layer and its performance results on massively multithreaded (MMT) systems. The primary design goals of the implementation are to support the high WiMAX data rates, seamlessly scale with the number of available hardware threads, and provide per-flow guaranteed services. Our experimental results demonstrate that multithreading can be exploited to meet the high data rates of WiMAX and thus validate the IBM wire-speed processor MMT chip as a suitable platform for building WiMAX network appliances. The implementation consists of separate threads in the data and control planes, and thread coordination through concurrent data structures to enable multithreading in both the uplink and downlink data paths.
Sources of Bias and Arbitrariness in the Capital Trial

We consider whether capriciousness and/or bias play an undue role in capital trials. The potential for inequity is explored with regard to the selection of the jury, the verdict, and the determination of the penalty. It is concluded that while more data are necessary regarding most aspects of the capital trial, there is reason to believe inequities exist in the form both of caprice and of bias. Rectifying some of these inequities may be accomplished with relative ease, while reducing or eliminating others is more troublesome. As long as the death penalty remains in effect, whatever one's views on its legality or morality, we should strive to eliminate arbitrariness and bias in its application.
Fatty Acid Cycling in Human Hepatoma Cells and the Effects of Troglitazone

Fatty acid cycling by chain shortening/elongation in the peroxisomes is an important source of fatty acids for membrane lipid synthesis. Its role in the homeostasis of nonessential fatty acids is poorly understood. We report here a study on the cycling of saturated fatty acids and the effects of troglitazone in HepG2 cells in culture using [U-13C]stearate or [U-13C]oleate and mass isotopomer analysis. HepG2 cells were grown in the presence of 0.7 mmol/liter [U-13C]stearate or [U-13C]oleate, and in the presence and absence of 50 microM troglitazone for 72 h. Fatty acids extracted from cell pellets after saponification were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Peroxisomal beta-oxidation of uniformly 13C-labeled stearate (C18:0) and oleate (C18:1) resulted in chain shortening and produced uniformly labeled palmitate (C16:0) and palmitoleate (C16:1). In untreated cells, 16% of C16:0 was derived from C18:0 and 26% of C16:1 from C18:1 by chain shortening. Such contributions were significantly increased by troglitazone to 23.6 and 36.6%, respectively (p < 0.001). Desaturation of stearate contributed 67% of the oleate, while reduction of oleate contributed little to stearate (2%). The desaturation of C18:0 to C18:1 was not affected by troglitazone. Our results demonstrated a high degree of recycling of C18:0 and C18:1 to C16:0 and C16:1 through chain shortening and desaturation. Chain shortening was accompanied by chain elongation in the synthesis of other long chain fatty acids. Troglitazone specifically increased recycling by peroxisomal beta-oxidation of C18 to C16 fatty acids, and the interconversion of long chain fatty acids was associated with reduced de novo lipogenesis.
Modeling of the Pacinian corpuscle feedback loop and it's influence on postural stability

A mathematical model of the Pacinian corpuscles, a type of cutaneous mechanoreceptors that detect shear force was developed. The model results were compared to experimental data to determine if the model could accurately describe the contribution of these receptors to balance control.
Calculation of the Huang-Rhys factor for F-centers

The Huang-Rhys factors for the absorption and emission of light by F-centers are derived using a modified tight binding approximation. Preparatory to this calculation, explicit representations for the discreet local phonon eigenfrequency spectra are determined as functions of electron state. Reduced forms for the diagonalizing unitary matrices are constructed and the corresponding normal coordinates determined. Parameter dependent forms for the Feynman integrals and the Huang-Rhys factors are then derived using a coulombic electron phonon interaction and the F-center wave functions developed by Smith. The results of the calculation indicate that; (1) the Huang-Rhys factors for 1s⇄2P transitions depend on two distinct radial modes of vibration, each of which contributes significantly; (2) the forbidden s to s transitions depend only on the completely symmetric breathing mode and lead to small Huang-Rhys factors and consequently narrow band widths; (3) numerical calculations for the Huang-Rhys factors for several alkali halides indicate approximate agreement with the experimental values.
A partial least-square approach for modeling gene-gene and gene-environment interactions when multiple markers are genotyped.

Genetic association studies achieve an unprecedented level of resolution in mapping disease genes by genotyping dense SNPs in a gene region. Meanwhile, these studies require new powerful statistical tools that can optimally handle a large amount of information provided by genotype data. A question that arises is how to model interactions between two genes. Simply modeling all possible interactions between the SNPs in two gene regions is not desirable because a greatly increased number of degrees of freedom can be involved in the test statistic. We introduce an approach to reduce the genotype dimension in modeling interactions. The genotype compression of this approach is built upon the information on both the trait and the cross-locus gametic disequilibrium between SNPs in two interacting genes, in such a way as to parsimoniously model the interactions without loss of useful information in the process of dimension reduction. As a result, it improves power to detect association in the presence of gene-gene interactions. This approach can be similarly applied for modeling gene-environment interactions. We compare this method with other approaches: the corresponding test without modeling any interaction, that based on a saturated interaction model, that based on principal component analysis, and that based on Tukey’s 1-df model. Our simulations suggest that this new approach has superior power to that of the other methods. In an application to endometrial cancer case-control data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), this approach detected AKT1 and AKT2 as being significantly associated with endometrial cancer susceptibility by taking into account their interactions with BMI.
Hijama (cupping): a review of the evidence

Hijama means cupping, but in Arab and Muslim culture it refers to wet cupping. At present, there is much controversy around the practice of wet cupping. To evaluate the current scientific evidence for Hijama, specifically wet cupping, we searched for relevant literature using CAM on PubMed, ACP journal club, Cochrane controlled trials register, Cochrane database of systematic reviews, Cochrane methodology register, database of abstracts of reviews of effects, health technology assessment database, Journals@Ovid, MEDLINE and the NHS economic evaluation database. Three systematic reviews investigated the effectiveness of wet and dry cupping. Two of the reviews found some evidence of effectiveness for cupping and pain. Favourable effects were reported for wet cupping when used as an adjuvant to conventional drugs. The third systematic review found very little evidence of effectiveness for cupping and stroke rehabilitation. Other clinical and observational studies were of limited quality. Few randomised controlled trials have examined the effectiveness of cupping (specifically wet cupping), and those that have been published were generally of low quality, with many limitations.
Empirical evidence of a convection–diffusion model for pH patterns in the rhizospheres of root tips

A recently formulated convection-diffusion model predicted that root growth plus diffusion of protons in the neighbouring soil would lead to particular pH patterns around the moving root tip. To test the predictions of this theory, pH was measured at differing radial distances from the root surface after 24 h of growth in a medium with low diffusivity (sandy soil) and after a shorter period (55 min of growth) in a medium with high diffusivity (agar). In agreement with the theory, the growth zone was found to influence the pH of the soil for distances less than 1 mm from the root surface (even after many hours) and the pH of the agar for a distance of at least 5 mm (after only 1 h). The axial pattern of pH along the surface of soil-grown Zea mays L. root tips was found to be the same for roots growing at different rates under different temperatures (2.23 mm h -1 at 26 °C or 1.27 mm h -1 at 20 °C). Thus, the plant can synchronize proton flux with growth to maintain a particular surface pH pattern within the growth zone. This implies that root tips growing at different rates in response to different temperatures can carry the same microenvironment of pH through a homogeneous soil.
Optical flow from an extended frame sequence

A technique for computing optical flow from an extended (more than two) sequence of images is proposed. The technique explicitly exploits the additional information present in the extended frame sequence by utilizing the smoothness of trajectory of brightness points as a constraint. Optical flow estimation is formulated as an optimization problem which requires the minimization of a cost function involving the data conservation error and the deviation from the smoothness of brightness trajectory over the entire spatiotemporal volume. An alternative formulation as a Bayesian maximum a posteriori (MAP) probability estimation problem is shown. The corresponding distribution is shown to be a Gibbs distribution (equivalently a Markov random field). The most probable velocity state is then found by a stochastic relaxation algorithm capable of handling discontinuities in the motion field. >
Connection of surface tension with multiple tribological properties in epoxy + fluoropolymer systems

Contact angles of free liquids on solid samples were measured and the van Oss-Good method was applied for evaluating surface tensions of the solids. A parachor method was used for comparison: in this case the respective values were calculated for the polymer solids from molecular and group contributions. Surface tensions were computed from the parachors and the two methods compared. Effects of varying the fluoropolymer added to the epoxy before curing are discussed. For a given fluoropolymer, effects of changing its concentration on surface tension have also been evaluated and compared to the changes in scratch resistance (scratch penetration depth, recovery depth) and in static and dynamic friction. Morphological and phase structure changes are reflected in all these properties, showing a strong connection between the surface tension and tribological properties.  2003 Society of Chemical Industry
Using a direct method to characterize and measure flows of municipal solid waste in the United States.

Although there are a myriad of sources of municipal solid waste (MSW) data in the United States, much of these data are not transparent and are also extremely difficult to find. In addition, the two major methods of quantifying national MSW flows—the BioCycle State of Garbage in America and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/Franklin Associates’ MSW “Facts and Figures” report—differ greatly in their reported results. This study, sponsored by EPA Region 9 and concentrating on the state of California, shows how an improved method of MSW measurement can be built upon the foundation provided by the State of Garbage in America (SOG) survey and complemented by an in-depth analysis of state data from various sources within a state. The primary goal of this methodology is to provide reliable, transparent, tonnage-based, and readily available MSW data for use by policy-makers, MSW managers, and the general public. California was used as the starting point because of the high volume of data available for that state, as well as the controversy surrounding its unusual method of collecting and reporting recycling rates. Also, because of California’s size, its recycling tonnage has a large effect on overall U.S. national figures. It is therefore important to accurately quantify MSW management there. Results show that EPA underestimates U.S. MSW generation rates by a significant amount and that the methodology presented produces consistent and replicable results across different states.
Electrodiagnostic reference values for the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve: standardization of a 10-cm distance.

Abstract Buschbacher R, Koch J, Emsley C, Katz B. Electrodiagnostic reference values for the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve: standardization of a 10-cm distance. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:1563-6. Objective: To derive a normative database for nerve conduction values of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LACN) using a large and varied subject population. Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Private office or university-based clinic. Participants: Volunteers (n = 213), recruited through advertisements, who met inclusion criteria. Main Outcome Measures: Onset latency, peak latency, baseline-to-peak amplitude, peak-to-peak amplitude, area, rise time, duration, side-to-side differences, and the effects of age, race, sex, height, and body mass index (BMI) were investigated on 213 healthy volunteers between the ages of 19 and 79 years. Results: The mean ± SD onset latency was 1.7 ± 0.2ms. The 95th and 97th percentile values for onset latency were 2 and 2.1ms, respectively. Mean peak latency was 2.2 ± 0.2ms. Both the 95th and 97th percentile values for peak latency were 2.5ms. Mean onset to peak amplitude was 18 ± 10μV. The 5th and 3rd percentile values for onset to peak amplitude were 6 and 5μV, respectively. Mean peak-to-peak amplitude was 22 ± 15μV. The 5th and 3rd percentile values for peak-to-peak amplitude were 7 and 6μV, respectively. Mean area was 11 ± 7nV-s, mean rise time was 0.5 ± 0.1ms, and mean duration was 1.1 ± 0.2ms. Mean side-to-side difference was 0.1 ± 0.2ms for onset latency, 0.1 ± 0.2ms for peak latency, 1 ± 12μV for onset to peak amplitude, and 0 ± 17μV for peak-to-peak amplitude. Increasing age and BMI were associated with lower mean amplitudes, but did not affect the lower limits of normal. Conclusion: These normative values will be useful in electrodiagnostic study of the LACN. © 2000 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Mid-infrared diffuse reflection of a strongly absorbing analyte on non-absorbing and absorbing matrices. Part I: homogeneous powders.

KBr disks of caffeine were prepared quantitatively so that the absorptivity of caffeine in this environment could be measured. The disks were then ground up finely and their diffuse reflection spectrum was measured. The average path length traveled by remitted photons was then calculated by the simple application of the Beer–Lambert law. The path length that an average photon travels within a finely powdered matrix of KBr is approximately 4 mm when the concentration of a uniformly dispersed, strongly absorbing analyte such as caffeine is 0.01% or less. This path length then decreases as the concentration of the analyte increases as more photons are absorbed by the analyte. When carbon black is added to the mixture of caffeine and KBr and the measurements are repeated, the effective path length drops even further. The average photon that is remitted from a fine infrared-transparent powder containing a very low concentration of an analyte has been shown to encounter at least 400 particles, indicating a highly random path. The more strongly the matrix absorbs, the shorter the path length. When 0.1% of carbon black is added to the disk, the path length drops to about 100 μm.
Intrapartum antibiotics and childhood atopic dermatitis.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) in children significantly impacts families because of medical costs, “lost” hours, and secondary characteristics such as asthma and ancillary infections. We investigate whether children delivered vaginally to women receiving intrapartum antibiotics have a greater risk of AD when younger than the age of 2 years than their counterparts. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of women who delivered child(ren) vaginally between 1996 and 2008. Women were identified as those who received intrapartum antibiotics and those who did not. Pediatric records were used to determine the incidence of AD. Results: We collected data for 492 mother–child pairs. Intrapartum antibiotics were administered during 128 births; 28.9% of those children were diagnosed with AD by age 2 years (relative risk [RR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75–1.41). Factors with the greatest risk of diagnosis of AD by 2 years of age were intrapartum antibiotic exposure for >24 hours (RR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.13–3.49), first born (RR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.33–2.38), and higher maternal education (RR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.99–2.06). No statistical differences in the prevalence of AD related to parental eczema, maternal group B Streptococcus status, or gestational age existed. Conclusions: Exposure to antibiotics for 24 hours during the intrapartum period increases the risk of AD.
Development of liquid xenon detectors for gamma ray astronomy

The application of liquid xenon in high-resolution detectors for gamma-ray astronomy is being investigated. Initial results from a pulse-shape analysis of ionization signals in a liquid-xenon gridded chamber indicate that it is possible to achieve the necessary liquid purity for the transport of free electrons with simple techniques. The energy resolution has been measured as a function of applied electric field, using electrons and gamma =rays from a /sup 207/Bi source. At a field of 12 kV/cm the noise-subtracted energy resolution of the dominant 569-keV gamma -ray line is 34 keV FWHM (full width at half maximum). This value is mostly determined by recombination of electron-ion pairs on delta-electron tracks. >
Individual Proton Pump Inhibitors and Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease on Dual Antiplatelet Therapy: A Systematic Review

BackgroundObservational studies evaluating the possible interaction between proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and clopidogrel have shown mixed results. We conducted a systematic review comparing the sa...
Uniqueness of viscosity solutions for a class of integro-differential equations

We prove comparison theorems and uniqueness of viscosity solutions for a class of nonlocal equations. This class of equations includes Bellman–Isaacs equations containing operators of Levy type with measures depending on x and control parameters, as well as elliptic nonlocal equations that are not strictly monotone in the u variable. The proofs use the knowledge about regularity of viscosity solutions of such equations.
Survival of Listeria monocytogenes in Cottage Cheese.

Most studies on the behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in cheeses have focused on the soft, ripened types because of human listeriosis outbreaks linked to consumption of these foods, while observations in cottage cheese are limited and conflicting. Fresh market cottage cheese samples with and without sorbate, purchased in the United States and Canada, respectively, were contaminated with L. monocytogenes strain Scott A (10(3) CFU/g). Mean total plate counts/g, log10, in the fresh U.S. and Canadian cheeses were 3.54 and 5.22, respectively. After 24 days at 5 degrees C, the respective numbers were 3.51 and 6.27. Mean pH values in the U.S. cheeses at freshness and after 24 days were 5.05 and 5.03, respectively, and values in the Canadian cheese were 4.89 and 4.77. Increases of 3 logs in cell numbers were seen at temperature abuse (10 and 20 degrees C) in all cheese samples, although sorbate-containing cheese spoiled at a slower rate and samples were free of visible surface mold growth even after 21 days. Cottage cheese did not support growth of L. monocytogenes at any of the storage temperatures, and declines (0.35 and 0.81 log10, in sorbate-free and sorbate-containing cheese, respectively) were seen after 24 days at 5 degrees C. Treatment with 3% sodium or calcium lactate did not affect listerial cell numbers. These findings demonstrate that sorbates in cottage cheese are effective as preservatives but not as antilisterials. Persistence of listeriae in cottage cheese emphasizes the need to prevent contamination during manufacturing and storage