cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Minor tranquilizers: Prescribing practices of primary physicians

Abstract A study of the prescription of minor tranquilizers in a health maintenance organization revealed that primary care physicians consistently availed themselves of psychiatric consultation regarding patients receiving the drugs for more than 30 days for a psychiatric indication. This was not true when the same drugs were used for somatic conditions. The overall prescribing practices of the physicians, particularly the pediatricians and family practitioners, were conservative.
Theory of error for target factor analysis with applications to mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry

Abstract Based on the theory of error for abstract factor analysis described earlier, a theory of error for target factor analysis is developed. The theory shows how the error in the data matrix mixes with the error in the target test vector. The apparent error in a target test is found to be a vector sum of the real error in the target vector and the real error in the predicted vector. The theory predicts the magnitudes of these errors without requiring any a priori knowledge of the error in the data matrix or the target vector. A reliability function and a spoil function are developed for the purpose of assessing the validity and the worthi-ness of a target vector. Examples from model data, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic -resonance spectrometry are presented.
The impact of exchange rate risk on the foreign direct investment of U.S. multinational manufacturing companies

This paper extends the examination of the effects of exchange rate risk on the foreign direct investment decision of U.S. multinationals in manufacturing. It does so by explicitly developing a model which incorporates exchange rate risk into the objective function of the firm and tests the model on cross-sectional data over the years 1974 to 1977 for investment in both developed and less developed countries. These are the only years for which data on all crucial variables are available. In all cases the risk aversity hypothesis was substantiated and the same model was appropriate for both developed and less developed countries.
Comparison of misoprostol plasma concentrations following buccal and sublingual administration.

Abstract Background New indications for misoprostol include medical abortion, cervical softening, induction of labor and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage. Various routes of misoprostol administration under study include oral, vaginal, buccal, sublingual and rectal. Materials and Methods This was an open-label, randomized, cross-over study of the pharmacokinetic differences of buccal vs. sublingual misoprostol 800 μg in 10 healthy women. Results Of the 10 women enrolled, 2 withdrew after experiencing excessive cramping from the sublingual route of misoprostol. The mean misoprostol plasma concentration–time curves at 4 h [area under the curve (AUC) 0–4 )] and the maximum concentration ( C max ) showed that levels were significantly higher for sublingual administration than the buccal route. Buccal misoprostol administration resulted in fewer symptoms and was found to be more acceptable. Conclusions Sublingual administration of misoprostol had a higher AUC and C max compared with buccal administration. The pharmacokinetics may help to determine the best application of misoprostol depending on the indication.
Transforming growth factor-β is involved in the pathogenesis of dialysis-related amyloidosis

Transforming growth factor-β is involved in the pathogenesis of dialysis-related amyloidosis. Background Advanced glycation end product-modified β 2 -microglobulin (AGE-β 2 m) is an important component of dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA). Its presence induces monocyte chemotaxis and the release of the proinflammatory cytokines through macrophage activation. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a multifunctional cytokine that also has chemotactic activity for monocytes at very low (0.1 to 10 pg/mL) concentrations and inhibits proinflammatory cytokine production of macrophages. In this study, we investigated the role of TGF-β in the pathogenesis of DRA. Methods We performed an immunohistochemical study of DRA tissues (8 cases) to confirm the existence of TGF-βs and their receptors; we also performed a chemotaxis assay of human monocytes as well as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of TGF-β1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in the supernatant of human monocyte-derived macrophage cell culture under varying conditions of incubation with TGF-β1, AGE-β 2 m, and TGF-β1 antibody additions. Results There was positive staining for TGF-βs (types 1, 2, and 3) and their receptors (types I, II, and III) in infiltrated macrophages (CD68+), synovial lining cell, as well as vascular walls around amyloid deposition. AGE-β 2 m also induced TGF-β1 production by macrophages in a dose-dependent manner (410 ± 80 pg/mL at 12.5 μg/mL, 621 ± 62 pg/mL at 25 μg/mL, and 776 ± 62 pg/mL at 50 μg/mL of AGE-β 2 m). AGE-β 2 m induced significant TNF-α and IL-1Ra production by macrophage. The addition of exogenous TGF-β1 (0.1 to 10 ng/mL) decreased AGE-β 2 m–induced TNF-α production and increased IL-1Ra production in a dose-dependent fashion. IL-1β production was not effected by any experimental conditions. In chemotaxis assay, anti–TGF-β1 antibody (0.1 to 10 μg/mL) attenuated AGE-β 2 m–induced monocyte chemotaxis. Conclusions These results provide the first evidence to our knowledge for the presence of TGF-β in DRA tissue, as well as the stimulatory action of AGE-β 2 m on tissue macrophages. In turn, TGF-β suppresses the proinflammatory activation of macrophages, suggesting a dual role for TGF-β in the inflammatory process of DRA. These observations may provide a pathophysiologic link between TGF-β and DRA.
Effects of Salt and Phosphates on Some Functional Characteristics of Hand and Mechanically Deboned Turkey Meat

Abstract Mechanically deboned turkey meat (MDTM) and hand deboned, ground turkey meat were evaluated for proximate composition and percentage salt soluble proteins, as well as for water binding (WBC), water holding (WHC), and emulsification capacities (EC), using several salt solutions. MDTM was found to have less protein and more fat than hand deboned, ground turkey meat, as expected. Addition of 0.5% phosphate to a 3% NaCl solution increased the amount of extractable protein obtained from both meat systems; however, a significant interaction between meat types and solutions occurred. The MDTM was affected to a lesser degree by the phosphates than the hand deboned meat. WHC, WBC, and EC in hand deboned meats followed expected trends with improved function when salt was added, and a combination of NaCl and phosphate salts had a synergistic effect. However, MDTM showed unexpected results, with a 0.5% phosphate solution improving WHC, WBC, and EC to a greater extent than either 3% NaCl alone or a 3% NaCl-0.5% phosphate combination.
The sources and composition of mercury in Pacific Ocean rain

Here we report measurements of total Hg (HgT), reactive Hg (HgR), and methylmercury (MMHg) in precipitation from the equatorial Pacific Ocean, collected during a cruise in January and February 1990, and from a mid-continental location in the rural temperate lacustrine northcentral Wisconsin environs. The concentrations of HgT (14.4±6.5 pM), HgR (8.9±4.5 pM) and MMHg (<50 fM) found in equatorial Pacific rain were less than the average concentrations found in Wisconsin. In general, the results indicate that although particulate Hg is a small fraction of the total atmospheric Hg burden, it is the major contributor to Hg in precipitation. Furthermore, deposition could be an important source of HgR to the equatorial Pacific Ocean. In contrast, deposition is not a significant source of MMHg to either the equatorial Pacific Ocean or the remote seepage lakes of Wisconsin. This implies that methylated mercury is formedin situ in these systems.
Stochastic boundary conditions for coastal flow modeling

[1] Recent high-resolution radar data of surface velocity between the Florida Current and the coast allow us for the first time to deduce coastal boundary conditions for ocean models based on observations. A stochastic model is found to be a better choice for simulating properties of the observed vorticity than a model with deterministic boundary conditions. A stochastic model parameterizing boundary conditions is developed and embedded in a simple quasigeostrophic ocean model. Comparison of numerical simulations of western boundary flow with stochastic boundary conditions against simulations with traditional no-slip and free-slip conditions reveals significant differences in the formation of coherent mesoscale structures and the energetics of the western boundary current. Coherent structures such as dipoles and submesoscale vortices can be generated using stochastic boundary conditions. The boundary current variability becomes more energetic and “episodic” than quasi-periodic circulation features in the simulations using the conventional boundary conditions.
Global aspects of hamiltonian normal forms

Abstract We derive simple global characterizations for the normal forms of hamiltonian systems with constant and periodic coefficients.
Some properties of reticulocyte ribosomal subunits.

Abstract A method for preparing the subunits of reticulocyte ribosomes is described. These subunits are active for hemoglobin and polyphenylalanine synthesis. The subunits bind phenylalanyl-RNA enzymically using poly U as a messenger RNA. These three activities are a result of reassociation of the subunits into primarily monomeric ribosomes. The ability of the subunit preparation to participate in the above reactions is rapidly lost at 0 °. This loss of activity is paralleled by a loss in the ability to reassociate into monomeric ribosomes. The smaller 30S subunit can bind polyuridylic acid while nascent polyphenylalanine is bound to the 47S subunit.
Space qualification for an intersatellite laser communications system (Invited Paper)

The development of an optical system for space applications requires that careful attention be given to hardware design and testing. A procedure for developing and qualifying a laser intersatellite communications package is presented along with the derivation of specific levels used in the successful testing of its transmitter assembly. This general approach may also be useful for the development of other high-reliability optical systems.
Political ecologies of health

Emerging research within health geography and related fields is attending to the social dimensions of human health. Notwithstanding these contributions, health geography has provided less rigorous attention to the role of political economy in producing disease and shaping health decision-making. Additionally, the reciprocal relationships between health and environment have been underexplored. This paper asserts that political ecology would contribute by examining the political economy of disease, interrogating health discourses, and understanding the interactions between social and environmental systems. The benefits of a political ecology of health are demonstrated through an examination of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa.
Keep Your Head in the Gutter: Engendering Empathy Through Participatory Delusion in Christian de Metter's Graphic Adaptation of Shutter Island.

This paper argues that the graphic adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s Shutter Island utilizes the medium to evoke an affective participation and investment from the reader. It explores the ways the graphic novel overcomes problematic representations of mental illness in the popular film version. Drawing on graphic fiction theory, I contend that readers’ engagement in and construction of the story between panels, in the “gutters,” allows them to participate in the protagonist’s persecutory delusion. Additionally, I draw on Foucault’s conceptualizations of the medical gaze and historical figurations of madness connected to water in order to demonstrate the mechanism by which the reader is placed in a dual subject position, becoming both observer and observed. In this capacity, I suggest that graphic fiction provides a unique experience to engender empathy for psychiatric illness.
Teaching students software engineering practices for micro-teams

Standard methodologies, which have been developed for large software development teams, and Agile practices, developed for small teams, make up the software engineering practices taught in the Computer Science classroom. However, we have found that there is a significant prevalence of “micro” teams doing business-critical software development in the field. Thus, software development best practices for micro teams must be incorporated into the software curriculum. Towards this end, we created a multiple-case case study (comprising five micro team projects) showing how micro teams handle the software development process. Through each of these projects, we seek to showcase what practices from existing software development methodologies are undertaken by the developers of the projects, to achieve similar ends as developers in larger teams. Specifically, the case study highlights how existing software development methodologies need to be modified, adapted or extended for micro teams. The case study and micro team guidelines were presented to students in a software engineering class within the Computer Science department at a large R1 university. The teaching was assessed using a mix of surveys and structured interviews. Initial evaluations showed promise. Students were positively inclined to accept the lessons, and showed good recall of the concepts taught in tests.
High-order grating coupler for high-efficiency vertical to in-plane coupling

We present here the design of a robust broadband high efficiency surface-normal vertical to in-plane optical coupler using fourth-order gratings. The fourth-order gratings can be designed such that the zero-order diffraction is suppressed while the diffraction efficiencies of the higher orders are enhanced for the in-plane coupling. We numerically demonstrated the surface normal incidence light coupling efficiency of 88.5% at 1,535 nm with a 3 dB bandwidth of 42 nm and 1dB bandwidth of 28 nm. Large fabrication tolerance of the fourth-order grating is also assessed.
Economic Restructuring of Cities, Suburbs, and Nonmetropolitan Areas, 1977-1992

Earlier research on the impact of national economic restructuring on central-city economies suffered from several problems, including excessive aggregation of the data and reliance on absolute change in economic activity to measure growth. When these factors are corrected, one sees that central cities frequently attracted more new firms than other locations (absolute growth), but their growth rate was below that in suburbs and nonmetropolitan areas (relative growth) as well as the national rate. These below-average rates occurred in many of the 13 economic sectors studied, including low-skill and high-skill services, in which central cities were expected to perform well. The few bright spots—central cities in the South and West, which initially outperformed all other locations in those regions—have faded as well.
Literacy Training for Early Childhood Providers: Changes in Knowledge, Beliefs, and Instructional Practices

While it is clear that reading is critical to children's success throughout schooling and reading instruction research has dramatically increased over the past 2 decades, few early childhood providers have the necessary knowledge, skills and/or confidence to effectively implement evidence-based, emergent literacy strategies in their settings. This article explores the impact of the Early Learning Opportunities (ELO) initiative that provided funding to train early childhood providers to utilize the HeadsUp! Reading (HUR) curriculum in their settings. Noteworthy in this initiative was the inclusion of a coaching component designed to increase participants' ability to generalize HUR instructional practices into their classroom. Also important here was the opportunity to evaluate teaching outcomes. Results from this study indicate that all participants benefited from their involvement in the professional development activities, and that those who received coaching had an advantage with respect to growth in kn...
Submillimeter Source Needs for NASA Missions

Submillimeter source needs for the NASA astrophysics Submillimeter Intermediate Mission and the Earth Observing System Microwave Limb Sounder instrument are presented. Solid state local oscillators using planar devices are planned. State-of-the- art performance for these components is reviewed.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Critical behavior of transport in percolation-controlled smart composites

The electrical transport properties of many smart composites and other technologically important materials are dominated by the connectedness, or percolation properties of a particular component. Predicting the critical behavior of such media near their percolation threshold, where one typically obtains the most interesting and useful material properties, is a formidable challenge, and not well understood from a modeling perspective. Here we report on recent mathematical results on lattice and continuum percolation models of these types of materials. In particular, we have found a direct, analytic correspondence between the critical behavior of transport in two component random media around a percolation threshold, and the critical behavior exhibited by phase transitions in statistical mechanics, such as by the magnetization of a ferromagnet around its Curie point. This correspondence has been used to establish that the critical exponents for DC conduction ear a percolation threshold, for both lattice and continuum systems, satisfy the same scaling relations as their counterparts in statistical mechanics. Underlying our correspondence is an integral representation for the effective conductivity, which has exactly the same mathematical form as a corresponding representation for the magnetization of an Ising ferromagnet. The integral representation applies in general to many classical transport coefficients for two component media, and we have used it to obtain rigorous insulator-conductor composites is investigated here, and even when the inclusions are near to touching, the new bounds give a dramatic improvement over the complex versions of the fixed volume fraction and Hashin-Shtrikman bounds found independently by Milton and Bergman in the late 1970's.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Novel endophytic yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa strain PTD3 I: production of xylitol and ethanol

An endophytic yeast, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa strain PTD3, that was isolated from stems of hybrid poplar was found to be capable of production of xylitol from xylose, of ethanol from glucose, galactose, and mannose, and of arabitol from arabinose. The utilization of 30 g/L of each of the five sugars during fermentation by PTD3 was studied in liquid batch cultures. Glucose-acclimated PTD3 produced enhanced yields of xylitol (67% of theoretical yield) from xylose and of ethanol (84, 86, and 94% of theoretical yield, respectively) from glucose, galactose, and mannose. Additionally, this yeast was capable of metabolizing high concentrations of mixed sugars (150 g/L), with high yields of xylitol (61% of theoretical yield) and ethanol (83% of theoretical yield). A 1:1 glucose:xylose ratio with 30 g/L of each during double sugar fermentation did not affect PTD3’s ability to produce high yields of xylitol (65% of theoretical yield) and ethanol (92% of theoretical yield). Surprisingly, the highest yields of xylitol (76% of theoretical yield) and ethanol (100% of theoretical yield) were observed during fermentation of sugars present in the lignocellulosic hydrolysate obtained after steam pretreatment of a mixture of hybrid poplar and Douglas fir. PTD3 demonstrated an exceptional ability to ferment the hydrolysate, overcome hexose repression of xylose utilization with a short lag period of 10 h, and tolerate sugar degradation products. In direct comparison, PTD3 had higher xylitol yields from the mixed sugar hydrolysate compared with the widely studied and used xylitol producer Candida guilliermondii.
PLAQUETTE FORMULATION AND THE BIANCHI IDENTITY FOR LATTICE GAUGE THEORIES

Abstract We extend Halpern's field-strength formulation and dual potentials (for continuum gauge theories) to abelian and non-abelian lattice gauge theories. New results include: (i) plaquette formulation of all lattice gauge theories, (ii) the strong coupling expansion is seen as (a) a perturbation in dual links or (b) a gradual restoration of the lattice Bianchi identity. To leading order in the strong coupling expansion the lattice Bianchi identity is completely ignored. Geometrical interpretation of the lattice Bianchi identity is presented along with a discussion of the “abelianization” of the non-abelian identity and its connection with gauge-invariant variables. For abelian theories we also show that the dual potential is Fourier conjugate to the Bianchi identity and that the Coulomb gas representation of these theories is easily obtained in this formulation.
Modification of histamine- and methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction by calcium antagonist gallopamil in asthmatics.

We studied the comparative modification of histamine- and methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction by a calcium antagonist, gallopamil, in 8 subjects with bronchial asthma. Dose-response curves to aerosolized methacholine or histamine were performed, without and following pretreatment with inhaled gallopamil (10 mg), on 6 different experiment days to determine the cumulative provocative dose (PD50) of each agonist in breath units which caused a 50% decrease in specific airway conductance (SGaw). Baseline values of SGaw were similar on different experiment days and gallopamil had no significant effect on SGaw. PD50 values for histamine on control and placebo days were 6.8 ± 2.8 and 5.2 ± 2.8 breath units (mean ± SE), respectively. Pretreatment with gallopamil increased histamine PD50 to 19.8 ± 7.5 breath units, which was significantly greater than on control and placebo days (p 50 values for methacholine on control and placebo days were 9.5 ± 5.6 and 8.8 ± 5.8 breath units, respectively. Gallopamil pretreatment had no significant effect on methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction; methacholine PD50 increased to 13.4 ± 5.5 breath units (p = NS). The mean dose ratio (ratio of PD50 for the agonist in the presence and absence of gallopamil) for histamine was 6.9, which was 3.7-fold higher than the dose ratio of 1.9 methacholine in the same subjects. These data suggest that gallopamil causes greater inhibition of histamine- versus methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction. This suggests that calcium influx in airway smooth muscle through voltage-dependent channels primarily occurs in response to histamine and not to methacholine.
Preparation of azulene derivatives: An aminoacid, dicarboxylates, an isothiocyanate, and related compounds

(1989). PREPARATION OF AZULENE DERIVATIVES: AN AMINOACID, DICARBOXYLATES, AN ISOTHIOCYANATE, AND RELATED COMPOUNDS. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 633-641.
Effects of cortical and thalamic lesions upon primary afferent terminations, distributions of projection neurons, and the cytochrome oxidase pattern in the trigeminal brainstem complex

Early postnatal lesions of the primary somatosensory cortex alter the vibrissa-related cytochrome oxidase (CO) pattern in nucleus principalis (PrV) of the rat's trigeminal (V) brainstem complex (Erzurumlu and Ebner, '88: Dev. Brain Res. 44:302-308). At present, the reason for this change is not clear. It may be that the corticotrigeminal projection is necessary for the maintenance of vibrissa-related patterns in PrV. However, it is also possible that the loss of the normal pattern of CO activity reflects a change in the organization of brainstem cells resulting from transneuronal retrograde degeneration. In order to address this question, we made lesions of either the primary somatosensory cortex (S-I) or ventrobasal thalamus (VB) in newborn rats and directly assayed distribution of V primary afferents by transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase and V-thalamic neurons by retrograde transport of either fluorogold or true blue. Neonatal cortical and thalamic lesions produced no qualitative change in the distribution of primary afferent terminals in either PrV or V subnucleus interpolaris (SpI) beyond that which could be attributed to shrinkage of the brainstem resulting from retrograde degeneration. Most importantly, the "patchy" pattern of terminations observed in normal rats remained apparent in the brain-damaged animals. The normal distribution of V-thalamic neurons in PrV was disrupted by both cortical and thalamic lesions. These cells are normally patterned in a way that matches the distribution of primary afferent terminals and thus that of the mystacial vibrissae. This was not the case in the neonatally brain-damaged rats. Taken together, these results are consistent with the conclusion that neonatal cortical and thalamic lesions disrupt the normal CO pattern in PrV primarily because of their effects upon the patterning of brainstem cells. The present findings demonstrate further that clustering of primary afferents does not require a normal complement of postsynaptic neurons.
AN OPEN INVITATION?: ADDING LINKS TO THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF HISTORICAL REPRESENTATIONS

Gradual changes in the way historians select, interpret, and represent aspects of the past are related to equally or perhaps more gradual changes in museum practice. Edited collections on this subject reflect the state of both disciplines and offer an opportunity to evaluate trends, assess progress, and forecast the future. The collection examined in this review essay focuses on the idea of sharing historical authority: How far have we come? What methods have been used? What is the value of collaborative effort? Have technological developments, including digital media and the “participatory Web,” really enabled more inclusive participation? The analysis of the collection includes specific attention to the text itself as an exhibitionary object and emphasizes the effects of its unusual design elements, deictic signals, and heterogeneous genres—particularly the case studies and “thought pieces” that form a significant part of the collection. Other focal points include: the interrogative mood of the text and its call for active reading; explicit historical, social, and disciplinary contexts; and precursor texts that have addressed similar subject matter.
Eczema and thrombocytopenia in an 8-month-old infant boy.

The child has had severe eczema since birth involving the face, neck, back, wrists, and antecubital and popliteal fossae. Skin treatment regimen included daily bathing with a mild soap, application of a mild to moderate potency corticosteroid creams to the affected area, and daily use of a skin moisturizing cream. The patient has had multiple episodes of cellulitis requiring oral antibiotic treatment. There are no known food triggers for his eczema but the infant was placed on soy formula because of vomiting after cow milk consumption and a positive radioallergosorbent test (RAST) to cow milk. Milk avoidance did not affect the severity of his eczema.
Complementarity Between Money and Capital in a Developing Economy: A Test of Stability

The author argues that the success of a policy of financial liberalization in stimulating the rate of capital formation depends on the extent to which the demand for money and the investment functions are stable. Time varying parameter technique is used to test alternative specifications of the demand for money and the investment functions. The author concludes that a modified version of the McKinnon hypothesis explains the success of the monetary policy pursued by the Reserve Bank of India during the period under review. [310]
Cell type-specific expression of the Kv3.1 gene is mediated by a negative element in the 5' untranslated region of the Kv3.1 promoter.

Abstract : The Kv3.1 potassium channel gene is restrictively expressed in the CNS, and its expression level is especially high in neurons that are able to follow synaptic inputs at high frequencies. To understand the transcriptional mechanisms controlling Kv3.1 expression, we have conducted a functional analysis of the Kv3.1 promoter in various cell lines of different tissue origins and in transgenic mice. Our results suggest that an upstream regulatory fragment coupled with the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) is able to confer tissue-specific expression in both cell lines and in transgenic mice. Deletion analysis of the regulatory region carried out in cell lines reveals that a strong negatively acting element, uniquely residing in the 5′ UTR (+350 to +158), appears able to confer cell type specificity on both the Kv3.1 promoter and the thymidine kinase promoter in transient transfection assays. A weak cell type-specific enhancer in the proximal region of the promoter (-123 to -71) also contributes to cell type-specific expression of the Kv3.1 gene.
Intentionality and Self‐Awareness

In this essay I defend both the individual plausibility and conjoint consistency of two theses. One is the Intentionality Thesis: that all mental states are intentional (object-directed, exhibit ‘aboutness’). The other is the Self-Awareness Thesis: that if a subject is aware of an object, then the subject is also aware of being aware of that object. I begin by arguing for the individual prima facie plausibility of both theses. I then go on to consider a regress argument to the effect that the two theses are incompatible. I discuss three responses to that argument, and defend one of them.
Functional messenger RNAs are produced by SP6 in vitro transcription of cloned cDNAs

We describe a method for the synthesis of microgram quantities of eucaryotic messenger RNAs. Injection into the cytoplasm of frog oocytes and addition to wheat germ extracts show that these synthetic RNAs function efficiently as messenger RNAs. We confirm that a 5' cap on the mRNA is essential for translation in injected oocytes and show that most of the 3' flanking region, including the poly A tail, can be deleted without the abolition of protein synthesis. The method of mRNA synthesis involves in vitro transcription of cDNAs which have been cloned into SP6 vectors (described in the accompanying paper). This method enables one to produce large amounts of mRNA and consequently protein from any cDNA clone.
The mismatch theorem and second-order load-flow algorithms

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on and compare the second-order load-flow (SOLF) methods. To do this, the mismatch theorem is developed, which relates the neglected terms for a Taylor series, during an iteration to the mismatches at the end of that iteration. This theorem suggests improvements on the reported SOLF methods. It is shown that all these second-order methods propose either reusing the matrix of coefficients until convergence, or using it more than once before updating it. The examined SOLF algorithms and other suggested algorithms are tested using 5, 13, 14 and 30-node systems, each one with different loading conditions. Guidelines for selecting the best algorithm for a particular network can be derived from the presented results.
INTRAOPERATIVE USE OF ANTICOAGULANTS AND ANTITHROMBOTICS: Heparin and Beyond

Certain surgical interventions can perturb the hemostatic system significantly, making the patient prone to intraoperative and postoperative thrombus formation. The consequences of unabated thrombus formation can be devastating. The risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after certain surgical procedures can be as high as 40% to 80%, while the incidence of fatal pulmonary embolism is 1% to 5%.11,49 Antithrombotic therapy is usually instituted perioperatively, and has significant impact on the choice of anesthetic technique.1,26 Anticoagulation is an imperative part of vascular reconstructive procedures, as iatrogenic cessation of blood flow and exposure of thrombogenic subepithelial surfaces can act as a nidus for arterial thrombus formation. Furthermore, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures with extracorporeal circulation cannot be possible without intraoperative anticoagulation. Intraoperatively, unfractionated heparin (UH) is used most commonly to inhibit coagulation. Although it will likely continue to be used extensively in the near future, newer agents are on the horizon. These agents may be used in clinical situations where heparin is either contraindicated, or where more predictable responses with less side effects are needed. Because of their wide clinical use, it is imperative to be familiar with heparin and the newer anticoagulant agents. Furthermore, surgical interventions, anesthetics, and some commonly used medications affect coagulation. These effects on the hemostatic system will be reviewed, followed by a discussion of antithrombotics, perioperative monitoring, and clinical management. Intraoperative use of thrombolytics and anesthetic implications of anticoagulation will be discussed.
Nitrogen fixation by biological soil crusts and heterotrophic bacteria in an intact Mojave Desert ecosystem with elevated CO2 and added soil carbon

Abstract Fixation of N by biological soil crusts and free-living heterotrophic soil microbes provides a significant proportion of ecosystem N in arid lands. To gain a better understanding of how elevated CO 2 may affect N 2 -fixation in aridland ecosystems, we measured C 2 H 2 reduction as a proxy for nitrogenase activity in biological soil crusts for 2 yr, and in soils either with or without dextrose-C additions for 1 yr, in an intact Mojave Desert ecosystem exposed to elevated CO 2 . We also measured crust and soil δ 15 N and total N to assess changes in N sources, and δ 13 C of crusts to determine a functional shift in crust species, with elevated CO 2 . The mean rate of C 2 H 2 reduction by biological soil crusts was 76.9±5.6 μmol C 2 H 4 m −2 h −1 . There was no significant CO 2 effect, but crusts from plant interspaces showed high variability in nitrogenase activity with elevated CO 2 . Additions of dextrose-C had a positive effect on rates of C 2 H 2 reduction in soil. There was no elevated CO 2 effect on soil nitrogenase activity. Plant cover affected soil response to C addition, with the largest response in plant interspaces. The mean rate of C 2 H 2 reduction in soils either with or without C additions were 8.5±3.6 μmol C 2 H 4 m −2 h −1 and 4.8±2.1 μmol m −2 h −1 , respectively. Crust and soil δ 15 N and δ 13 C values were not affected by CO 2 treatment, but did show an effect of cover type. Crust and soil samples in plant interspaces had the lowest values for both measurements. Analysis of soil and crust [N] and δ 15 N data with the Rayleigh distillation model suggests that any plant community changes with elevated CO 2 and concomitant changes in litter composition likely will overwhelm any physiological changes in N 2 -fixation.
Semi-automated method to measure pneumonia severity in mice through computed tomography (CT) scan analysis

Imaging is a crucial clinical tool for diagnosis and assessment of pneumonia, but quantitative methods are lacking. Micro-computed tomography (micro CT), designed for lab animals, provides opportunities for non-invasive radiographic endpoints for pneumonia studies. HYPOTHESIS: In vivo micro CT scans of mice with early bacterial pneumonia can be scored quantitatively by semiautomated imaging methods, with good reproducibility and correlation with bacterial dose inoculated, pneumonia survival outcome, and radiologists' scores. METHODS: Healthy mice had intratracheal inoculation of E. coli bacteria (n=24) or saline control (n=11). In vivo micro CT scans were performed 24 hours later with microCAT II (Siemens). Two independent radiologists scored the extent of airspace abnormality, on a scale of 0 (normal) to 24 (completely abnormal). Using the Amira 5.2 software (Mercury Computer Systems), a histogram distribution of voxel counts between the Hounsfield range of -510 to 0 was created and analyzed, and a segmentation procedure was devised. RESULTS: A t-test was performed to determine whether there was a significant difference in the mean voxel value of each mouse in the three experimental groups: Saline Survivors, Pneumonia Survivors, and Pneumonia Non-survivors. It was found that the voxel count method was able to statistically tell apart the Saline Survivors from the Pneumonia Survivors, the Saline Survivors from the Pneumonia Non-survivors, but not the Pneumonia Survivors vs. Pneumonia Non-survivors. The segmentation method, however, was successfully able to distinguish the two Pneumonia groups. CONCLUSION: We have pilot-tested an evaluation of early pneumonia in mice using micro CT and a semi-automated method for lung segmentation and scoring system. Statistical analysis indicates that the system is reliable and merits further evaluation.
A Preliminary Examination of Family Environment and Social Support Among African American Nongrandmothers, Grandmothers, and Grandmothers-to-Be

The present study examined the impact of teenage pregnancy on the family system by investigating differences in perceptions of the family environment, role satisfaction, social support, and psychological symptoms among African American mothers whose teenager was never pregnant, pregnant, or already a mother The Family Environment Scale, the Symptom Check-List-90-Revised, and a structured interview were used to assess study variables. Forty-two mothers of teenagers, whose ages ranged from 29 to 60, served as participants and were identified as belonging to the nongrandmother, grandmother, or grandmother-to-be groups. The results indicate thatnongrandmothers reported a more positive family environment and less satisfaction with the role of grandmother than grandmothers and grandmothers-to-be. These results were discussed in light of the life transitions that the mothers of teenagers make when they become a grandmother
Optimization of a widefield structured illumination microscope for non-destructive assessment and quantification of nuclear features in tumor margins of a primary mouse model of sarcoma.

Cancer is associated with specific cellular morphological changes, such as increased nuclear size and crowding from rapidly proliferating cells. In situ tissue imaging using fluorescent stains may be useful for intraoperative detection of residual cancer in surgical tumor margins. We developed a widefield fluorescence structured illumination microscope (SIM) system with a single-shot FOV of 2.1×1.6 mm (3.4 mm2) and sub-cellular resolution (4.4 µm). The objectives of this work were to measure the relationship between illumination pattern frequency and optical sectioning strength and signal-to-noise ratio in turbid (i.e. thick) samples for selection of the optimum frequency, and to determine feasibility for detecting residual cancer on tumor resection margins, using a genetically engineered primary mouse model of sarcoma. The SIM system was tested in tissue mimicking solid phantoms with various scattering levels to determine impact of both turbidity and illumination frequency on two SIM metrics, optical section thickness and modulation depth. To demonstrate preclinical feasibility, ex vivo 50 µm frozen sections and fresh intact thick tissue samples excised from a primary mouse model of sarcoma were stained with acridine orange, which stains cell nuclei, skeletal muscle, and collagenous stroma. The cell nuclei were segmented using a high-pass filter algorithm, which allowed quantification of nuclear density. The results showed that the optimal illumination frequency was 31.7 µm−1 used in conjunction with a 4×0.1 NA objective ( = 0.165). This yielded an optical section thickness of 128 µm and an 8.9×contrast enhancement over uniform illumination. We successfully demonstrated the ability to resolve cell nuclei in situ achieved via SIM, which allowed segmentation of nuclei from heterogeneous tissues in the presence of considerable background fluorescence. Specifically, we demonstrate that optical sectioning of fresh intact thick tissues performed equivalently in regards to nuclear density quantification, to physical frozen sectioning and standard microscopy.
E‐shopping in a multiple channel environment

In the present study, the authors propose a segmentation schema based on patterns of e‐browsing and e‐purchasing. We examine self‐reports of browsing and purchasing using five specific non‐store channels: the Internet, television infomercials, advertising that accompanies regular television programming, television shopping channels, and print catalogs. Our findings indicate that shoppers who browse and/or purchase on the Internet differ in their use of multi‐channel options related to their perceptions of convenience. Some shoppers clearly want to purchase in the store setting and reject multiple forms of non‐store shopping. Others like to browse various non‐store media and have extended their browsing to the Internet, yet maintain their loyalty to in‐store purchases. Retailers who attempt to “convert” such shoppers to Internet‐only purchasing may alienate the shoppers who rely on the Internet solely for information.
Vibration Control of Toroidal Shells With Parallel and Diagonal Piezoelectric Actuators

Effective control of toroidal shells, e.g., cooling tubes, space colonies, inflatable space structures, etc., enhances their operational precision, accuracy, and reliability. Dynamics and control effectiveness of toroidal shell panels laminated with distributed piezoelectric sensor/actuator layers are investigated in this study. Mathematical model and finite element formulations of piezo(electric)-elastic shell structures are presented. Element and system matrix equations of the piezoelastic shell structronic (sensor/actuator/structure/ control) system are defined and the system equations reveal the coupling of mechanical and electric (or control) fields. Free vibration analyses of two toroidal shells are investigated and compared favorably with published data. Two sensor/actuator configurations based on identical sensor/actuator sizes, namely the parallel configuration and the diagonal configuration, laminated on the toroidal shell are investigated and analysis data suggest that the diagonal configuration provides better control effects, as compared with the parallel configuration. The parallel configuration is ineffective to anti-symmetrical modes; the diagonal configuration is effective to most natural modes and ineffective to quad-anti-symmetrical modes with respect to the panel center.
Dynamic method of optical coherence elastography in determining viscoelasticity of polymers and tissues

In this paper, we report on a novel quantitative elastography technique that combines optical coherence tomography (OCT) with acoustic radiation force (ARF) excitation to estimate the complex modulus. Sinusoidally modulated ARF excitations between 200 - 4000 Hz generate a surface wave at the tissue surface that can be related to bulk viscoelastic (VE) properties in a manner that is both precise and quantitative. This method is very well suited to studying media at high spatial resolution and over a very broad range of force frequencies. Mechanical characterization was calibrated using hydropolymers before studying liver samples. Fresh porcine liver samples were measured over time with and without formalin fixation. These data were used to evaluate the utility of the Kelvin-Voigt rheological model commonly used to fit dispersion data when estimating modulus values. We also investigated use of square-wave force excitation to measure the step response of tissues.
Schizophrenia in Translation: Disrupted in Schizophrenia (DISC1): Integrating Clinical and Basic Findings

The disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) gene has been linked to schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses in multiple pedigrees. This article will review the neurobiology of DISC1 in normal developing and adult brain and the putative role of the mutant form in major mental illness, particularly schizophrenia. The initial genetic finding of an association between DISC1 and schizophrenia in a Scottish population has now been replicated in Finnish, American, Japanese, and Taiwanese populations. DISC1 is present throughout the brain of a variety of species during development and adulthood, including many of the brain regions known to be abnormal in schizophrenia, such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus. The functions of DISC1 in the developing brain include neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth, and neurite extension. In the adult, DISC1 has been identified in multiple populations of neurons and in structures associated with synaptic function, suggesting that one of its adult functions may be synaptic plasticity. DISC1 is associated with numerous cognitive functions that are abnormal in schizophrenia. Converging evidence from cell culture, mice mutants, postmortem brain, and genetics implicates mutant DISC1 in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.
Conditional inactivation of the mouse Hus1 cell cycle checkpoint gene.

The Hus1 cell cycle checkpoint protein plays a central role in genome maintenance by mediating cellular responses to DNA damage and replication stress. Targeted deletion of mouse Hus1 results in spontaneous chromosomal abnormalities and embryonic lethality. To study the physiological impact of Hus1 deficiency in adult mice, we generated a conditional Hus1 allele, Hus1 flox , in which exons two and three are flanked by loxP sites. Cre-mediated excision of the loxP-flanked region produces Hus1 D2,3 , which is capable of encoding only 19 of 281 Hus1 amino acids. Germline homozygosity for Hus1 D2,3 resulted in mid-gestational embryonic lethality that was indistinguishable from that caused by an established null allele, Hus1 D1n . Hus1 was inactivated in adult mice using a transgenic strain in which Cre is sporadically expressed in a variety of tissues from the Hsp70-1 promoter. Conditional Hus1 knockout mice were produced at unexpectedly low frequency and, unlike control animals, demonstrated limited inactivation of the conditional allele, suggesting that Hus1-deficient cells were at a strong selective disadvantage in adult animals. However, viable conditional Hus1 knockout mice consistently showed the greatest degree of Hus1 inactivation specifically in lung and mammary gland, highlighting varying requirements for Hus1 in different tissues. The novel tools described here hold promise for elucidating how the Hus1-dependent checkpoint mechanism contributes to chromosomal stability, DNA damage responses, and tumor suppression in adult mice.
Highly stable loading of Mcm proteins onto chromatin in living cells requires replication to unload

The heterohexameric minichromosome maintenance protein complex (Mcm2-7) functions as the eukaryotic helicase during DNA replication. Mcm2-7 loads onto chromatin during early G1 phase but is not converted into an active helicase until much later during S phase. Hence, inactive Mcm complexes are presumed to remain stably bound from early G1 through the completion of S phase. Here, we investigated Mcm protein dynamics in live mammalian cells. We demonstrate that Mcm proteins are irreversibly loaded onto chromatin cumulatively throughout G1 phase, showing no detectable exchange with a gradually diminishing soluble pool. Eviction of Mcm requires replication; during replication arrest, Mcm proteins remained bound indefinitely. Moreover, the density of immobile Mcms is reduced together with chromatin decondensation within sites of active replication, which provides an explanation for the lack of colocalization of Mcm with replication fork proteins. These results provide in vivo evidence for an exceptionally stable lockdown mechanism to retain all loaded Mcm proteins on chromatin throughout prolonged cell cycles.