cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Night Shifts in Emergency Medicine: The American Board of Emergency Medicine Longitudinal Study of Emergency Physicians

Abstract Background Night shift work is an integral component of the practice of emergency medicine (EM). Previous studies have demonstrated the challenges of night shift work to health and well being among health care providers. Objective This study was undertaken to describe the self-reported experience of emergency physicians regarding night shift work with respect to quality of life and career satisfaction. Methods The 2008 American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) Longitudinal Study of Emergency Physicians (LSEP) was administered by mail to 1003 ABEM diplomates. Results Among 819 participants in the 2008 LSEP Physician Survey, most participants responded that night shift work negatively influenced job satisfaction with a moderate or major negative influence (58%; n = 467/800). Forty-three percent of participants indicated that night shifts had caused them to think about leaving EM (n = 344/809). Most participants responded that working night shifts has had mild negative effects (51%; n = 407/800) or major negative effects (9%; n = 68) on their health. Respondents were asked to describe how working night shifts has affected their health. Common themes included fatigue (36%), poor quality of sleep (35%), mood decrement/irritability (29%), and health maintenance challenges (19%). Among participants in the 2008 LSEP Retired Physician Survey, night shifts were a factor in the decision to retire for 56% of participants. Conclusions Emergency physicians report negative impacts of night shift work, including fatigue, poor quality of sleep, mood decrement, irritability, and health challenges. Night shifts have a negative influence on job satisfaction and can be a factor in the decision to retire.
Putting surveillance data into context: the role of health care utilization surveys in understanding population burden of pneumonia in developing countries

Abstract Background Surveillance is essential to estimating the global burden of pneumonia, yet differences in surveillance methodology and health care-seeking behaviors limit inter-country comparisons. Methods Results were compared from community surveys measuring health care-seeking for pneumonia defined as: (1) cough and difficulty breathing for ⩾2 days; or, (2) provider-diagnosed pneumonia. Surveys were conducted in six sites in Guatemala, Kenya and Thailand; these sites also conduct, active, hospital- and population-based disease surveillance for pneumonia. Results Frequency of self-reported pneumonia during the preceding year ranged from 1.1% (Thailand) to 6.3% (Guatemala) and was highest in children aged Conclusions Health care-seeking patterns varied widely across countries. Using results from standardized health care utilization surveys to adjust facility-based surveillance estimates of pneumonia allows for more accurate and comparable estimates.
Position selective mannich reactions of some 5- and 6-hydroxyindoles

Abstract Mannich condensation in the 5-hydroxyindole series (5-hydroxyindole and 6-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole substrates) resulted in selective introduction of an aminomethyl substituent at C-4; if this position was blocked, condensation occurred at C-3 (if available) or at the indole N atom. In the 6-hydroxyindole series, preferential substitution at C-7 was observed for substrates bearing an indole NH group. Mannich condensation of a 6-hydroxyindole derivative containing an N-Me group (7-hydroxy-9-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole), however, occurred at C-5. The structures of the piperdine and dimethylaniine adducts in each series were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy. The preferential condensation in the benzene ring of the hydroxyindole nucleus is ascribed to intermolecular H—bonded orientation of substrates prior to bond formation. The selective substitution at one of the two positions ortho to the aromatic OH group is discussed in terms of steric and electronic factors.
Stress and Failure Prediction for the Drying, Tempering, and Cooling of Extruded Durum Semolina

This work presents a method to predict the stress and breakage that is caused by the drying of hygros-copic materials. Stresses were predicted for a viscoclasic cylinder with the properties of extr...
TiO2-loaded zeolites and mesoporous materials in the sonophotocatalytic decomposition of aqueous organic pollutants: the role of the support

Abstract The present work investigates Hombikat titania, TiO2-loaded USY and β-zeolites, and TiO2-loaded MCM-41 molecular sieve as catalysts for the UV-assisted aqueous sonophotochemical destruction of salicylic acid. We found that the hydrophilicity of the support and catalyst is an important property with determining role for photocatalytic performance. More specifically, the hydrophilicity of β-zeolite does not change even after loading of titania, but it was significantly increased in the case of USY, and significantly decreased in the case MCM-41 after titania loading. However, titania loaded MCM-41 exhibited the highest specific activity per gram of titania. It was also found that the presence of ultrasonic field enhances the rate of photodegradation for the catalysts employed. The enhancement due to ultrasound observed for the supported titania was found to be more significant than that for neat titania for photodestruction of salicylic acid. Our results indicate that for both zeolites and MCM-41 there is a threshold of specific energy that should be provided in the reaction medium. This threshold is about 0.1 kW/l and operation under this volume will ensure structural stability of these molecular sieves. We employed two types of single-stage oxidation reactions to investigate the enhancement of radical generation by using composite catalysts. The effect of supports on the hydroxyl radicals produced by the titania (tested by HCOOH) was found to be minimal. The cumulative generation of OH and H2O2 species (as tested by Fricke dosimeter solution) was indeed affected by the presence of a support. Fricke dosimetry experiments showed that the titania loaded β-zeolite generated a larger amount of hydroxyl ( OH) and peroxide radicals (HO2 ) than other zeolites generated. Surprisingly, the same catalyst was inactive for the destruction of salicylic acid. The mass transfer diffusion limitations were found even for the larger pores of MCM-41.
Growth-related changes in the receptive field properties of retinal ganglion cells in goldfish

Abstract Intraocular recordings were made from retinal ganglion cells of small ( 140 mm) intact, submerged goldfish while stimuli were presented on a tangent screen. Very few cells recorded in either small or large fish responded selectively to direction of stimulus movement, suggesting that this property is first processed more centrally. Color and spatial opponent cells were encountered with the same frequency, respectively, in small and large animals, but orientation units were encountered much more frequently in large fish. If not caused by electrode sampling bias, this supports the idea that the density of amacrine cell synapses is positively correlated with receptive field complexity.
Evidence that distinct neural pathways mediate parasympathetic contractions and relaxations of guinea‐pig trachealis.

1. The guinea-pig trachea was isolated with its extrinsic innervation intact and pinned to the bottom of a water-jacketed dissecting dish filled with warmed, oxygenated Krebs solution. The trachea was not separated from the oesophagus. Isometric tension was measured in a segment of the rostral portion of the trachea. 2. Stimulation of the vagus nerves caudal to the nodose ganglia elicited contractions of the trachealis that were blocked by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. Following addition of atropine and contraction of the trachealis with prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), vagus nerve stimulation elicited non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic relaxations. Both responses elicited by stimulation of the vagi were abolished by cutting the recurrent laryngeal nerves and were considered parasympathetic in nature as they were sensitive to the autonomic ganglion blockers trimetaphan and hexamethonium. 3. Experiments were designed in which ganglionic blockers were added to the buffer bathing the entire preparation or, alternatively, added only to the buffer perfusing the tracheal lumen. When given equal access to the trachea and oesophagus, hexamethonium was 56-fold more potent an inhibitor of vagally mediated relaxations of the trachealis than vagally mediated contractions. Selective administration of hexamethonium to the buffer perfusing the tracheal lumen did not decrease the potency of the ganglionic blocker versus vagally mediated contractions. By contrast, even at a concentration of 1 mM, intratracheally administered hexamethonium failed to inhibit vagally mediated relaxations by 50%. Comparable results were obtained using trimetaphan. 4. Consistent with previous observations, removing the portion of the oesophagus contiguous with the region of the trachea at which isometric tension was measured abolished parasympathetic relaxations of the trachealis. Oesophagus removal was without effect on parasympathetic nerve-induced contractions. Removing the dorsal half of the oesophagus or the mucosa and submucosa of the oesophagus did not affect the parasympathetic relaxant innervation. 5. The compound action potential of guinea-pig recurrent laryngeal nerves evoked by vagus nerve stimulation consisted of three distinct peaks representing populations of axons with fast, intermediate and slow conduction velocities. The voltage-response characteristics of vagally mediated contractions were identical to those of the compound action potential peak representing fibres with intermediate (10 m/s) conduction velocities. By contrast, the voltage-response characteristics of the vagally mediated relaxations were best correlated with the compound action potential peak representing fibres with slow (0.4-3 m/s) conduction velocities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Electropolymerized films formed from the amphiphilic decyl esters of D- and L-tyrosine compared to L-tyrosine using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance.

Using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM), we compared thin films formed on Pt by electropolymerization of l-tyrosine to that of the amphiphilic monomers, decyl esters of d- and ...
Spatial imagery is more associated with unfamiliar than familiar haptic shape perception: Activation and connectivity analyses

We have proposed that haptic activation of the visually shape-selective lateral occipital complex (LOC) reflects a model of multisensory object representation in which the role of visual imagery is modulated by object familiarity (Lacey et al., 2009). Supporting this, a visual object imagery task produced more correlations of activation magnitude and more similar patterns of effective connectivity with haptic perception of familiar (fHS) than unfamiliar (uHS) shapes (Deshpande et al., 2010; Lacey et al., 2010). Here, we hypothesize that visual spatial imagery (spIMG) would evoke activation and effective connectivity patterns more related to uHS than fHS. Participants ( n = 12 ) performed spIMG, uHS and fHS tasks in two fMRI sessions. Conjunction analyses showed numerous parietal cortical foci common to both uHS and spIMG. Conjunction foci for fHS and spIMG involved multiple subcortical regions but also included some parietal foci. Activation magnitudes were correlated between spIMG and both fHs and uHS, with parietal foci featuring in each. The 2D correlation between the spIMG and uHS effective connectivity networks was significant and positive, including paths between the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and bilateral LOC, as predicted by our model, and between IPS and primary somatosensory cortex. By contrast, the spIMG and fHS networks were non-significantly correlated. Thus, although the activation analyses suggested involvement of spatial imagery in haptic shape perception regardless of object familiarity, the effective connectivity analyses were consistent with our proposed model, supporting a stronger relation between spatial imagery and haptic perception of unfamiliar compared to familiar shapes.
Transformation induced toughening in a Ni–Ti 52 shape memory alloy

Abstract In this work the mechanical behavior of a Ti-rich Ni–Ti shape memory alloy was investigated. In particular, it was found that this alloy contains a relatively high volume fraction of brittle precipitates (4 vol.%). Nevertheless, the alloy exhibits unusually elevated plasticity and work hardening properties. These properties cannot be simply described in terms of dislocation slip mechanisms alone. The experimental outcome indicates that high stress build-ups due to plastic incompatibilities can be relieved through reversion of martensite into the austenitic B2 phase. It was found that regions of highly localized stress concentrations such as crack tips developed a fine-grained structure upon crack advance. The “trail” of fine martensite grains found on the fractured surfaces can be satisfactorily explained by the stress-induced reversed transformation.
Modeling the Production of and Competition for Hydrogen in a Dechlorinating Culture

A comprehensive biokinetic model employing Michaelis−Menten-type kinetics, H2 thresholds, and thermodynamic limitations on donor fermentation was used to describe both fermentation of electron donors and competition for the evolved H2 between hydrogenotrophic tetrachloroethene dechlorinators and methanogens. Model simulations compared favorably to experimental data where delivery of H2 to a tetrachloroethene dechlorinator was accomplished using the donors butyric acid, ethanol, lactic acid, and propionic acid. Fermentations of the different donors were characterized by different dynamic patterns of H2 generation that were captured successfully by the model. Experimental data and model simulations show that the ability to use H2 at appreciable rates at low levels provides a competitive advantage to dechlorinators over methanogens. Slowly fermented substrates producing lower H2 levels—kinetically accessible to dechlorinators, but too low for significant use by methanogenic competitors—were more effective an...
Damaged DNA and Miscounted Chromosomes: Human T Cell Leukemia Virus Type I Tax Oncoprotein and Genetic Lesions in Transformed Cells

Genetic instability is a recurring theme in human cancers. Although the molecular mechanisms mediating this effect commonly observed in transformed cells are not completely understood, it has been proposed to involve either the loss of DNA repair capabilities or the loss of chromosomal stability. The transforming retrovirus human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) encodes a viral oncoprotein Tax, which is believed to cause the genomic instability characteristic of HTLV-I-infected cells. This review focuses on the ability of HTLV-I Tax to disrupt the cellular processes of DNA repair and chromosomal segregation. The consequences of these effects as well as the evolutionary advantage this may provide to HTLV-I are discussed.
The Normal Development of the Testes in the White Plymouth Rock

Abstract THE normal growth and development of the various component parts of the testes and the rate of maturation of spermatozoa of fowls has received relatively little study. A few reports concerning the growth of the testes in relation to body weight have been made. Latimer (1924) plotted the growth in weight of the testes against gross body weight of a group of White Leghorns. He noted a period of slow growth in testes up to 400 gm. body weight (or about 50 days), an increase in growth from 400 to 800 gm. (50–80), and a terminal plateau of about 20 gm. following sexual maturity at about 1800 to 2000 gm. body weight. Buckner, Insko, and Martin (1933) reported that a group of White Leghorn cockerels, 14 weeks of age with an average body weight of 1152 gm. had testes weighing 2.8 gm. Hoskins and Koch (1939) stated that 5 . . .
Characterization of the human and rat phospholemman (PLM) cDNAS and localization of the human PLM gene to chromosome 19q13.1

Abstract Previous reports have demonstrated that the phospholemman (PLM), a 72-residue plasma-membrane protein enriched in skeletal muscle and heart, is a major substrate phosphorylated in response to insulin and adrenergic stimulation. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of human and rat PLM cDNA from the heart. Both PLM proteins share significant nucleotide and amino acid sequence and structural similarities with the previously published canine PLM and, to a lesser degree, with Na+/K+– ATPase γ subunit, Mat-8 protein, and CHIF protein. Despite the functional diversity, all these proteins are quite small and possess a single transmembrane domain. Human PLM appears to be a unique gene localized on chromosome 19q13.1. The PLM mRNA is widely distributed in human tissues, with the highest expression in skeletal muscle and heart, suggesting a functional role in muscle contraction. Like canine PLM, both human and rat PLM induce a hyperpolarization-activated chloride current when expressed inXenopusoocytes. The high degree of sequence and functional conservation among the mammalian PLM proteins indicates that this gene is conserved throughout evolution.
Therapy?therapist confounds in psychotherapy research

Psychotherapy experiments with placebo controls are modeled after precedents in chemotherapy research. In chemotherapy research, treatments and therapists are independent factors. Since it is possible to keep chemotherapists blind, causality can be attributed to treatment independently of the contaminating influence of therapist states and traits. In contrast, in psychotherapy research, the treatment delivered is identical to and inseparable from the treatment-delivery process. Since psychotherapists cannot be kept unaware of the treatment delivered, therapist states are inherently confounded with the treatments delivered. This confounding questions the utility of placebo groups in psychotherapy and calls for a redefinition of psychotherapy artifacts.
"Primary peritoneal" high-grade serous carcinoma is very likely metastatic from serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma: Assessing the new paradigm of ovarian and pelvic serous carcinogenesis and its implications for screening for ovarian cancer

Abstract Objective Primary peritoneal high-grade serous carcinoma is thought to arise from the peritoneum, but recent data suggest that the fallopian tube may be an occult source of many of these tumors. This study was performed to evaluate this hypothesis in an unselected series of cases. Methods Fallopian tubes from 51 consecutive cases meeting the GOG criteria for primary peritoneal high-grade serous carcinoma, FIGO stages II–IV, were analyzed. Results Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) was identified in 19 patients (37%). When the fimbriae were examined, STIC was identified in 46%, and when all tubal tissue was examined, 56%. STIC was confined to the fimbriae in 53%, involved fimbriae and nonfimbrial mucosa in 20%, and was confined to nonfimbrial mucosa in 20%. Patients with STIC were significantly older than those without STIC (75years vs. 67years, respectively; p =0.007). Patients with STIC were significantly more likely to have FIGO stage IV disease as compared to those without STIC (42% vs. 12.5%, respectively; p =0.037). Conclusions At least half the cases of primary peritoneal high-grade serous carcinoma are associated with intraepithelial carcinoma of the fallopian tube, usually involving the fimbriae. These findings support the view that, like "primary ovarian carcinoma," what has been traditionally classified as "primary peritoneal carcinoma" is probably derived from occult high-grade serous carcinoma in the fallopian tube. These findings have important implications for ultrasound screening trials for ovarian cancer which are based on the assumption that an enlarged ovary is a very early manifestation of disease.
Static and fatigue behavior of adhesive joints in SMC‐SMC composites

This paper discusses the static and fatigue behavior of adhesively bonded single lap joints in SMC-SMC composites. Effects of lap length and adhesive thickness on the static and fatigue strength of SMC-SMC adhesive joints are studied. Effects of SMC surface preparation and test speed on the joint performance are evaluated. Finally, the effect of water exposure on the joint durability is also investigated. Results show that the static behavior of adhesive joints in SMC-SMC composites is significantly influenced by the lap length and adhesive thickness. With an increase in lap length from 12.7 mm to 38.1 mm, the joint failure load increases by 37%. The joint failure load also increases with the adhesive thickness, but it reaches a maximum at an adhesive thickness of 0.33 mm and then decreases. However, lap length and adhesive thickness have negligible effect on the ratio of fatigue strength to static strength. The fatigue strength at lo6 cycles is approximately 50% to 54% of the static strength for various adhesive thicknesses and lap lengths investigated in this study. Adhesive failure, fiber tear or combination of these two failure modes are observed during both static and fatigue tests.
Overfeeding and Restriction Effects on Food and Glucose Preference in Weight Selected Lines of Chickens

Adult males from lines of chickens selected for high (HW) and low (LW) body weights were subjected to either ad libitum, forced, or restricted feeding for 21 consecutive days. Males from the HW line could be force fed to a greater extent than could those from the LW line. A preference for glucose solution versus water was tested in the groups fed diets ad libitum and restricted and in birds compensating from force feeding. Regardless of line, ad libitum-fed birds preferred the glucose solution to water and the restricted-fed birds preferred water to glucose. The HW birds compensating from forced feeding preferred glucose to water, whereas birds treated similarly from the LW line preferred water to glucose. After the assays were completed for preference for glucose solution versus water, each bird was provided continuous access to both a high protein and a high energy diet. Under ad libitum feeding, the HW males consumed more of the high-protein diet than of the high energy diet, while those from the LW line voluntarily consumed more of the high energy than of the high protein diet. The preference of the LW birds for the high energy diet was enhanced by both restricted and forced feeding. The preference of the HW males for the high protein diet was changed by both force and restricted feeding; more of the high energy diet than of the high protein diet was consumed by these birds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Preliminary Study of Thermal Integration of Electrical Power and Life Support Systems for Manned Space Vehicles

Abstract Life support systems for current manned missions consume material at a higher rate, typically 21 lb/man-day, than can be tolerated for long-term missions of the future; thus development of closed life support systems is underway. It appears desirable to utilize heat from thermal to electrical power systems in life support endothermic processes rather than electrical heating in order to reduce the total electrical power requirements. Consideration of waste water and urine treatment, and recovery of O 2 from CO 2 processes shows it is feasible to provide approximately 50% of the life support power requirement with heat from solar, isotope, and reactor dynamic power systems. For early capability manned orbiting systems, the life support power requirements are typically 50% of the total power requirement, so that thermal integration reduces the electrical power load approximately 25%. This is a significant reduction in such critical items as collector and radiator area and isotope inventory. For later, larger stations and manned interplanetary vehicles the life support power requirements will be a small fraction of the total electrical power requirement and there will be less incentive for thermal integration.
Some biochemical evidence in support of the classification of venomous snakes

Abstract Proteolytic enzyme activities of 22 poisonous snake venoms were investigated by using the synthetic substrates, p -toluene-sulfonyl-L-arginine methyl ester and N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester. Eleven crotalid, three viperid and eight elapid venoms were used. Venoms of Crotalidae and Viperidae showed proteolytic enzyme activity but none of the Elapidae venoms investigated showed this enzyme activity.
Glucocorticoid hormones inhibit DNA synthesis in glial cells cultured in chemically defined medium.

Primary cultures of glial cells from 2-day-old rat cerebellum were used to examine the growth control properties of steroid hormones. Immunocytochemical staining with anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (anti-GFAP) demonstrated that the cultures were highly enriched for astrocytes (90%). In an effort to avoid the potential influence of serum-borne steroids, cultures were switched from serum-supplemented to serum-free, chemically defined medium prior to experimentation. Assays for DNA synthesis used [3H]thymidine incorporation with either liquid scintillation counting of TCA-insoluble material or light microscopic autoradiography. Glial cells grown in serum-free, chemically defined medium (F12 basal medium supplemented with putrescine, selenium, insulin, transferrin, and BSA) replicated their DNA to a limited extent even in the absence of serum mitogens. When the glial cells were shifted to defined medium supplemented with various steroid hormones (corticosterone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, 17β-estradiol, progesterone, or testosterone) at a concentration of 10−7 M, it was found that the glucocorticoids, corticosterone and dexamethasone inhibited synthesis of DNA by 49.6 and 56.9%, respectively. Hydrocortisone, another glucocorticoid, caused only a small reduction in DNA synthesis that was not statistically significant (p<0.05). Moreover, the gonadal steroids, 17β-estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, failed to show any reduction on DNA synthesis. The growth-controlling activity of the glucocorticoids was dose-dependent with concentrations of 10−7- 10−6 M showing maximal effect on DNA synthesis. These results suggest that physiological concentrations of glucocorticoid hormones may exert negative control over DNA synthesis of glial cells in the developing or injured central nervous system.
Web-based animation of data structures using JAWAA

JAWAA is a simple command language for creating animations of data structures and displaying them with a Web browser. Commands are stored in a script file that is retrieved and run by the JAWAA applet when the applet's Web page is accessed through the Web. JAWAA commands allow for creation and movement of primitive objects (circles, lines, text, rectangles) and data structure objects (arrays, stacks, queues, lists, trees and graphs). A JAWAA script can be generated as the output of a program written in any language.
Preproinsulin, a new precursor in insulin biosynthesis

xelerences It has recently been established in several laboratories [l-4] that a precursor larger than proinsulin is involved in the biosynthesis of insulin. This new precursor form has been less readily detected because it evidently turns over so rapidly in the beta cell of the pancreas that it is virtually invisible to the whole-cell labeling techniques that have been used to identify and study the synthesis and conversion of proinsulin into insulin [5]. Preproinsulin and structurally similar precursors of many other secreted proteins appear to provide the solution to a long-standing problem in the biosynthesis of secretory proteins, namely, the mechanism by which the sequestration of peptide chains destined for secretion occurs within cells. Thus, although it has been known for a long time that secretory proteins are synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum by membranebound ribosomes, it has not been at all clear how the rough endoplasmic reticulum is formed, or how the messenger RNA (mRNA) for secretory proteins is made available exclusively to the membranebound ribosomes. originally been extracted were incubated in vitro, they synthesized only normal light chains. However, after lysis of the microsomal membranes by detergent treatment, the free polyribosomes synthesized only the larger precursor form. Milstein and coworkers suggested that the microsomes contained a protease which rapidly processed the precursors to normal light chains under normal conditions [7]. 1
Establishment of Stably EBV-Transformed Cell Lines from Residual Clinical Blood Samples for Use in Performance Evaluation and Quality Assurance in Molecular Genetic Testing

Positive control materials for clinical molecular genetic testing applications are currently in critically short supply or non-existent for many genetically based diseases of public health importance. Here we demonstrate that anonymous, residual, clinical blood samples are potential sources of viable lymphocytes for establishing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed blood lymphocyte cell lines. We attempted to transform 34 residual blood samples, and analyzed transformation success with respect to sample age, anticoagulant, storage temperature, volume, hemolysis, and patient age and sex. In univariate analysis, sample age was significantly associated with transformation success (P = 0.002). The success rate was 67% (6 of 9) for samples 1 to 7 days old, 38% (3 of 8) for samples 8 to 14 days old and 0% for samples 15 to 21 (0 of 11) days old. When we controlled for sample age in multivariate logistic regression, anticoagulant and storage temperature approached significance (P = 0.070 and 0.087, respectively; samples in acid citrate dextrose (ACD) and refrigerated samples were more likely to transform). Based on these findings, we suggest that samples collected in either ACD or ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, and up to 14 days old (refrigerated) or 7 days old (stored ambient), are reasonable candidates for EBV transformation. The transformation rate for samples that met these criteria was 63% (10 of 16). Implementation of this process could help alleviate the shortage of positive control materials for clinical molecular genetic testing.
Analysis of the low molecular weight serum peptidome using ultrafiltration and a hybrid ion trap-Fourier transform mass spectrometer

Advances in proteomics are continuing to expand the ability to analyze the serum proteome. In recent years, it has been realized that in addition to the circulating proteins, human serum also contains a large number of peptides. Many of these peptides are believed to be fragments of larger proteins that have been at least partially degraded by various enzymes such as metalloproteases. Identifying these peptides from a small amount of serum/plasma is difficult due to the complexity of the sample, the low levels of these peptides, and the difficulties in getting a protein identification from a single peptide. In this study, we modified previously published protocols for using centrifugal ultrafiltration, and unlike past studies did not digest the filtrate with trypsin with the intent of identifying endogenous peptides with this method. The filtrate fraction was concentrated and analyzed by a reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography system connected to a nanospray ionization hybrid ion trap-Fourier transform mass spectrometer (LTQ-FTMS). The mass accuracy of this instrument allows confidence for identifying the protein precursors by a single peptide. The utility of this approach was demonstrated by the identification of over 300 unique peptides with 2 ppm or better mass accuracy per serum sample. With confident identifications, the origin and function of native serum peptides can be more seriously explored. Interestingly, over 34 peptide ladders were observed from over 17 serum proteins. This indicates that a cascade of proteolytic processes affects the serum peptidome. To examine whether this result was an artifact of serum, matched plasma and serum samples were analyzed with similar peptide ladders found in each.
Race, class and spatial dimensions of mortgage lending practices and residential foreclosures

The American dream of homeownership for low‐income minority households has been sustained by reliance on a complex web of public programs and private institutions during the past several decades. This paper explores the racial, class and spatial dimensions of mortgage lending practices and residential foreclosures for underserved neighborhoods in Cuyahoga County, Ohio using multiple regression analysis with a spatial‐lag model. This paper shows different spatial dimensions of subprime and government‐backed loans. It reveals that subprime loans are the most influential factor explaining neighborhood foreclosure rates. This paper also demonstrates that neighborhoods with low‐income and minority households have a higher likelihood of experiencing higher rates of foreclosure. We recommend introducing targeted government programs in areas avoided by traditional lenders. These programs could reduce the foreclosure rate for homeowners that have the ability to sustain their homeownership.
Polarization-independent rapidly tunable optical add-drop multiplexer utilizing non-polarizing beam splitters in Ti:LiNbO3

Abstract A polarization-independent four-port wavelength-tunable optical add drop multiplexer (OADM) that utilizes non-polarizing relaxed beam splitters has been analyzed and demonstrated in Ti:LiNbO 3 at the 1530 nm wavelength regime. The design utilizes an asymmetric interferometer configuration with strain induced index grating for polarization coupling along its arms that are shifted in position relative to each other. Experimental results of the filter response agree with theoretical predictions. Electrooptic tuning over a range of 15.7 nm at a rate of 0.08 nm/V has been measured. A temporal response
Quoting manufacturing due dates subject to a service level constraint

We develop a method for quoting manufacturing due dates to achieve a target service level (percent of orders filled on-time). We posit a very general function for determining leadtimes as a function of work in process and use a control chart method for adjusting the parameters in this function over time. We make almost no assumptions about the nature of the underlying production system (i.e., we do not require any particular distribution of process times, nor do we require that the system be in steady state). Using simulation we show that our method is very accurate for a simple case where an exact analytic solution is possible and that it outperforms other due date quoting methods from the literature in more complex situations.
On "fundamental solutions for a fluid-saturated porous solid" by M. P. Cleary

Abstract This note corrects expressions given by Cleary [1] for fluid mass source and dipole solutions in linear fluid infiltrated porous elastic solids. The corrected expressions reveal that the stress and displacement fields due to a suddenly applied point force comprise a time independent portion that is the classical elasticity solution based on the undrained (short-time) moduli, and a time dependent portion that is the solution for a continuous fluid mass dipole. As a corollary, the time dependent functions entering the point force solution can be obtained from a single function that enters the solution for displacements due to a fluid mass source.
Obesity reduction within a generation: the dual roles of prevention and treatment.

In 2010, the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity provided benchmark goals for reducing childhood obesity. We evaluated the balance of prevention and treatment required for achieving Task Force goals in benchmark years 2015, 2020, and 2030. We created a simulation of US birth cohorts (2–19 years) born 2008–2030. For each year, we assumed “old” birth cohorts (part of previous benchmark obesity estimates) would benefit from obesity treatment strategies, and “new” birth cohorts would benefit from obesity prevention strategies. We assessed obesity prevalence that must be achieved through prevention strategies, under varying assumptions of treatment effectiveness. When we assumed a 1% absolute reduction in prevalence through treatment, we found that prevention strategies would need to achieve an obesity prevalence of 12% by 2015, 8% by 2020, and 0.3% by 2030. Because of higher obesity prevalence among minority children, prevention strategies would need to achieve a negative prevalence by 2030, which is implausible. Under more generous assumptions of treatment effectiveness, estimates became positive but remained low. Task Force goals are more difficult to achieve with each benchmark year. Policies must focus on obesity treatment interventions, particularly targeted to racial/ethnic minority children, to make progress in stemming the epidemic.
Defects of mitochondrial proteins and pediatric heart disease

Abstract Mitochondria produce the extraordinary amounts of energy required for myocardial function, mostly via β-oxidation of fatty acids and oxidative phosphorylation. This review summarizes recent progress and current knowledge of mutations in the maternally-derived mitochondrial DNA and in nuclear genes encoding the enzymes of the β-oxidation pathway which cause pediatric cardiac disease. Inheritance is maternal or autosomal recessive. Cardiomyopathy, dilated, hypertrophic, or restrictive, and sudden, unexplained death are common phenotypes of these genetic defects. Ventricular arrhythmias and conduction defects may also occur secondary to mitochondrial functional defects. Genetic abnormalities in mitochondrial proteins should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all pediatric cardiomyopathy.
Blocking Causal Drainage and Other Maintenance Chores with Mental Causation

In this paper I will revisit an argument that I have called "the supervenience argument"; it is sometimes called "the exclusion argument" in the literature.2 I want to reconsider several aspects of this argument in light of some of the criticisms and comments it has elicited, clarifying some points and offering a slightly reformulated?and improved?version of the argument. My primary aim, however, is to discuss and respond to Ned Block's edifying and challeng ing critique of the argument in his "Do Causal Powers Drain Away?'3?in particular, his claim that the argument has the consequence that if there is no bottom microphysical level, causal powers will "drain away", leaving us with no causation anywhere. The supervenience argument was designed to show that on a certain popular and influential view of mentality and its relationship to the physical, mental properties turn out to be epiphenomenal, that is, without causal powers of their own. The view of mentality that is the target of this argument is defined by the following three propositions:
Pito Rift: How a large-offset rift propagates

The Pito Rift area is the site of actively deforming oceanic lithosphere that has been primarily under extension for at least the past million years, based on kinematic reconstructions. The major morphologic features, Pito Deep and Pito Seamount, are aligned toward the Euler pole for relative motion between the Easter and Nazca plates. SeaMARC II side-scan and bathymetry data indicate that there are two general modes of faulting currently active in the Pito Rift area. One is associated with incipient rifting of old (∼3 Ma) Nazca lithosphere by large NW-SE normal faults, and the other is associated with a broad area of right-lateral transform shear between the Nazca and Easter plates. This transform shear is distributed over a broad region because of the northward growth of the East Rift and parallel tectonic rifting within the Pito Rift area. The majority of the Pito Rift area is composed of preexisting blocks of Nazca plate that are back-tilted away from Pito Deep and strike perpendicular to present and previous relative plate motions. This observation suggests that block-faulting and back-tilting are the primary mechanisms responsible for the distributed lithospheric extension, in agreement with gravity and magnetic analyses (Martinez et al., this issue). The only recent volcanic flows observed in side-scan data are from the Pito Seamount area and to the outside of the outer pseudofault of the East Rift. The significance of the young flows near the outer pseudofault is not understood. We interpret the flows extending northwest from the Pito Seamount as representing a newly formed seafloor spreading axis within the Pito Rift area. Gravity and magnetic analyses (Martinez et al., this issue) together with SeaMARC II bathymetry and side-scan data support this interpretation. Based on the tectonic evolution of the Easter microplate, we propose an evolutionary model for the formation of the Pito Rift area, where new ‘tectonic’ grabens form immediately west of the previous graben and with slightly more counterclockwise orientation. The duration and history of tectonic activity for each graben are not well constrained.
CLAUDIUS GALEN: FROM A 20TH CENTURY GENITOURINARY PERSPECTIVE

AbstractPurpose: We review the life and contributions of Claudius Galen from a 20th century perspective and examine his genitourinary observations.Materials and Methods: All obtainable English translations of Galen's works were explored in addition to relevant commentaries.Results: Galen's remarkable observations and novel concepts expanded medical knowledge in general and contributed to fundamental genitourinary principles in particular. Galen was one of the first to describe correctly the function of kidneys and explain micturition. Among his many neologisms he coined the term ureter, and he was probably the first to recognize the value of a competent ureterovesical valve. Galen advocated catheterization for urinary obstruction. He was a teacher, practitioner and philosopher, and wrote voluminously.Conclusions: Galen's influence on medical theory, terminology and practice remained unquestioned in Europe and the Middle East throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Malate transport into heart mitochondria

Abstract The oxidation of l -Malate to carbon dioxide was employed as a measure of malate transport into mitochondria. Conditions of incubation were optimized with regard to osmolarity, pH, phosphate concentration, and substrate concentrations. Under these conditions the rate of malate oxidation to carbon dioxide was 17.1 ± 2.1 μmol/min/g mitochondrial protein at 30°C. Previous workers have found that maximum oxidation of glucose by the isolated perfused rat heart is from 2.4 to 3.0 μmol/min/g dry weight of tissue which would require the transport of 22 to 28 μmol of malate/min/g mitochondrial protein. Since the perfused heart experiments were carried out at 37°C, it is apparent that malate transport into mitochondria can account for most, if not all, of the reducing equivalents generated during glycolysis.
Profiling of Ubiquitin-like Modifications Reveals Features of Mitotic Control

Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like (Ubl) protein modifications affect protein stability, activity, and localization, but we still lack broad understanding of the functions of Ubl modifications. We have profiled the protein targets of ubiquitin and six additional Ubls in mitosis using a functional assay that utilizes active mammalian cell extracts and protein microarrays and identified 1,500 potential substrates; 80-200 protein targets were exclusive to each Ubl. The network structure is nonrandom, with most targets mapping to a single Ubl. There are distinct molecular functions for each Ubl, suggesting divergent biological roles. Analysis of differential profiles between mitosis and G1 highlighted a previously underappreciated role for the Ubl, FAT10, in mitotic regulation. In addition to its role as a resource for Ubl modifications, our study provides a systematic approach to analyze changes in posttranslational modifications at various cellular states.
Scattering-phase theorem: anomalous diffraction by forward-peaked scattering media

The scattering-phase theorem states that the values of scattering and reduced scattering coefficients of the bulk random media are proportional to the variance of the phase and the variance of the phase gradient, respectively, of the phase map of light passing through one thin slice of the medium. We report a new derivation of the scattering phase theorem and provide the correct form of the relation between the variance of phase gradient and the reduced scattering coefficient. We show the scattering-phase theorem is the consequence of anomalous diffraction by a thin slice of forward-peaked scattering media. A new set of scattering-phase relations with relaxed requirement on the thickness of the slice are provided. The condition for the scattering-phase theorem to be valid is discussed and illustrated with simulated data. The scattering-phase theorem is then applied to determine the scattering coefficient μs, the reduced scattering coefficient μ′s, and the anisotropy factor g for polystyrene sphere and Intralipid-20% suspensions with excellent accuracy from quantitative phase imaging of respective thin slices. The spatially-resolved μs, μ′s and g maps obtained via such a scattering-phase relationship may find general applications in the characterization of the optical property of homogeneous and heterogeneous random media.
Quantitative comparison of xenotransplantation of a human soft tissue sarcoma into the subcutaneous tissue of normal, postincision, and postincision plus indomethacin‐treated nude mice

The purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that (1) surgical wounding can enhance the xenotransplantability of a human soft tissue sarcoma (HSTS26T) into subcutaneous (s.c.) tissue of nude mice, and (2) Indomethacin may reduce the xenotransplantability of this human tumor in the surgical wounding animal model by suppressing angiogenesis. The experimental method was to employ the quantitative transplantation assays (TD50, the number of tumor cells that, on average, would be expected to induce a tumor in 50% of the recipients). After an incisional wound (1.0-1.2 cm long) was made on the right leg of each experimental mouse, tumor cells were inoculated into the surgical wound, or into the contralateral leg at 24 and 72 hr postincision, and in another group tumor cells were inoculated into the wound at 72 hr postincision, plus daily s.c. injection of indomethacin, 2 mg/kg body weight for 8 consecutive days in a separate experiment. Nonincisional mice received the same inoculation as the control groups. The TD50s of surgically wounded groups were 3.5-10.7 times lower than that of the control groups. Significantly lower TD50 values were found in groups of cells inoculated into the surgical wound at 72 hr postincision (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and into the contralateral leg at 24 hr postincision (P=0.05). No significant difference was found between the TD50 values in mice that received cells inoculated at 72 hr postincision plus indomethacin treatment, and those with no wound controls. Our conclusion is that the surgical wound can enhance the xenotransplantability of HSTS26T in nude mice. Indomethacin can decrease this enhancing effect level similar to that in no-wound controls and may prevent tumor recurrence in a surgical wound. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Towards more efficient navigation for robots and humans

Effective robot navigation in the presence of humans is hard. Not only do human obstacles move, they react to the movements of the robot according to instinct and social rules. In order to efficiently navigate around each other, both the robot and the human must move in a way that takes the other into account. Failure to do so can lead to a lowering of the perceived quality of the interaction and, more importantly, it can also delay one or both parties, causing them to be less efficient in whatever task they are trying to achieve. In this paper, we present a system capable of creating more efficient corridor navigation behaviors by manipulating existing navigation algorithms and introducing social cues from the robot to the human. We give the results of a user study, demonstrating the effectiveness of our system, and discuss how it can be applied more generally to a wide variety of situations.