cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A theoretical comparison between pulse-area and pulse-height errors produced by collection-time variations

Abstract Although pulse-height analysis is widely used in nuclear spectroscopy, the energy resolution using this technique is degraded by several factors, one of the more important being the charge collection-time variation. Resolution errors resulting from this variation can be reduced significantly by the more recently introduced area-to-amplitude conversion technique. To investigate the advantages of this technique, a mathematical treatment of the area-to-amplitude (AAC) technique using delay-line clipping was developed. The resolution error as a function of integrating time was then derived. From the resulting equations, an error chart was developed to facilitate the evaluation of practical systems. A general class of input driving functions was also analyzed and discussed. A comparison between the area-to-amplitude conversion technique and the peak-amplitude detection technique indicated that, under most conditions, the AAC technique produces a significantly smaller resolution error.
Beta 2-microglobulin-independent MHC class Ib molecule expressed by human intestinal epithelium

A major histocompatibility complex class Ib protein, CD1d, is expressed by human intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and is a ligand for CD8+ T cells. CD1d was found to be expressed on the surface of human IECs as a 37-kilodalton protein that was beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) independent with no N-linked carbohydrate. Transfection into a beta 2M- cell line confirmed that CD1d could be expressed at the cell surface in the absence of beta 2M. These data indicate that IECs use a specialized pathway for CD1d synthesis and that a beta 2M-independent class Ib protein may be the normal ligand for some intestinal T cells.
The Malone antegrade continence enema: single institutional review.

Purpose: We report the long-term outcome of the Malone antegrade continence enema procedure in the treatment of chronic constipation and fecal incontinence in children with neuropathic bowel.Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 256 Malone antegrade continence enema procedures. Patient age at surgery, bowel segment used, location of stoma, number and type of revisions required, and fecal continence were documented and a database was created.Results: A total of 236 patients with at least 6 months of followup are included in this report. There were 172 in situ appendicocecostomies, 23 split appendix channels, 9 appendicocecostomies with cecal extension, 22 Yang-Monti ileocecostomies and 10 colon flap channels performed. A total of 112 males (47%) and 124 females (53%) were included in the study. Median patient age at surgery was 9 years (range 2 to 36) and median followup for the entire cohort was 50 months (6 to 115). A total of 56 surgical revisions were performed in 39 patie...
An investigation of the relationship between gas-phase and aerosol-borne hydroperoxides in urban air

Abstract Simultaneous measurements of hydroperoxides in both the gas- and the aerosol-phase have been made for the first time. In addition, hydroperoxide levels in the ‘coarse’ (>PM2) and ‘fine’ (PM2) aerosol modes have been characterized. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was found to be the major hydroperoxide present, with trace amounts of methyl hydroperoxide ( CH 3 OOH, MHP ) occasionally being observed. Between May and August 2001, ambient gas- and aerosol-phase hydroperoxide levels were in the range 0.5– 3.5 ppbv , and 0– 13 ng m −3 , respectively. On average, about 40% of aerosol-phase H2O2 was associated with fine particles. The observed aerosol mass loadings correspond to aqueous concentrations of 10−4– 10 −3 M , above the levels necessary to induce lung epithelial cell damage in laboratory studies. The measured H2O2 mass loadings were found to be several times larger than could be explained by the solubility of gaseous H2O2 in liquid water. Potential reasons for this discrepancy are briefly discussed.
The sodium retaining effects of cyclosporine

The effect of chronic cyclosporine administration on volume regulation was studied in mongrel dogs. Dogs received either cyclosporine (20 mg/kg/day p.o.; N = 7) or vehicle (N = 6) while being maintained on a constant sodium diet. Dogs had measurement of baseline vasoactive hormones. Daily sodium excretion was determined. Following eight days of drug administration, dogs were anesthetized, pre-volume expansion data was collected, and dogs underwent a one hour, 10% body weight 0.9% saline volume expansion. Daily sodium balance was +8.6 +/- 2.2 mEq in the cyclosporine group versus 0.4 +/- 1.8 mEq (P less than 0.05) in the control group after 8 days. Prior to acute volume expansion, aldosterone was 22.5 +/- 7.1 ng% in the cyclosporine group versus 4.7 +/- 0.7 ng% in controls (P less than 0.05). ANF was suppressed in the animals receiving cyclosporine. In response to volume expansion, the cyclosporine group demonstrated an attenuation of maximum urine flow by 56%, fractional excretion of sodium by 52%, and electrolyte free water clearance by 75% when compared to controls (P less than 0.05). We demonstrate that chronic cyclosporine administration activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, suppresses circulating ANF, and results in chronic sodium retention. Additionally, cyclosporine attenuates the natriuretic and diuretic response to acute volume expansion.
A new detailed term accounting opacity code for mid-Z elements: TOPAZ

A new opacity code, TOPAZ, that explicitly includes the detailed configuration term structure for mid-Z elements is under development and preliminary results are presented. The main purpose is to extend the current capabilities of opacity codes such as OPAL, which are limited to elements of astrophysical interest, towards heavier elements. Results from the new code are compared to several past experiments.
Immunologic relationship of purified human skin collagenase to other human and animal collagenases

Abstract Antibodies prepared to a number of animal and human collagenases have been used to investigate the relationships between these enzymes. The human skin collagenase used as an immunogen was one of two chromatographically separable peaks of collagenolytic activity obtained from culture media of normal human skin. On the basis of their electrophoretic mobility on polyacrylamide gel, they have been designated as fast-moving or slow-moving human skin collagenase. The fast moving enzyme was further purified and used to produce an anti-human skin collagenase antibody. Anti-fast-moving human skin collagenase antibody gives a reaction of complete identity on immunodiffusion with slow-moving skin collagenase as well as with preparations of human gingival and rheumatoid synovial collagenases. In addition, anti-fast-moving human skin collagenase antibody produces complete inhibition of these other human collagenases, suggesting that these enzymes are closely related proteins. Antibodies to tadpole and rat uterine collagenases are immunologically not identical when compared with one another or to the human skin enzyme. Crustacean hepatopancreas and bacterial collagenases also fail to react with anti-fast-moving human skin collagenase antibody, further indicating species specificity among collagenases.
On the phenomenon of brake-fading

Das Problem des Bremsschwindens wird fur einen linear mit der Temperatur abnehmenden Reibungskoeffizienten untersucht. Die verwendete Methode lasst sich auch auf kompliziertere Zusammenhange zwischen der Temperatur und dem Reibungskoeffizienten anwenden.
A bio-inspired kinematic controller for obstacle avoidance during reaching tasks with real robots

This paper describes a redundant robot arm that is capable of learning to reach for targets in space in a self-organized fashion while avoiding obstacles. Self-generated movement commands that activate correlated visual, spatial and motor information are used to learn forward and inverse kinematic control models while moving in obstacle-free space using the Direction-to-Rotation Transform (DIRECT). Unlike prior DIRECT models, the learning process in this work was realized using an online Fuzzy ARTMAP learning algorithm. The DIRECT-based kinematic controller is fault tolerant and can handle a wide range of perturbations such as joint locking and the use of tools despite not having experienced them during learning. The DIRECT model was extended based on a novel reactive obstacle avoidance direction (DIRECT-ROAD) model to enable redundant robots to avoid obstacles in environments with simple obstacle configurations. However, certain configurations of obstacles in the environment prevented the robot from reaching the target with purely reactive obstacle avoidance. To address this complexity, a self-organized process of mental rehearsals of movements was modeled, inspired by human and animal experiments on reaching, to generate plans for movement execution using DIRECT-ROAD in complex environments. These mental rehearsals or plans are self-generated by using the Fuzzy ARTMAP algorithm to retrieve multiple solutions for reaching each target while accounting for all the obstacles in its environment. The key aspects of the proposed novel controller were illustrated first using simple examples. Experiments were then performed on real robot platforms to demonstrate successful obstacle avoidance during reaching tasks in real-world environments.
Linear programming and undiscounted stochastic games in which one player controls transitions

This paper considers non-cooperative two-person zero-sum undiscounted stochastic games with finite state and action spaces. It is assumed that one player governs the transition rules. We give a linear programming algorithm and show, that an optimal solution to this program corresponds to the value of the game and to optimal stationary strategies for both players. Moreover, this linear programming formulation results in an existence proof of the value and of optimal stationary strategies for both players. In dieser Arbeit behandeln wir nichtkooperative nichtdiskontierte stochastische Zweipersonen-Nullsummenspiele mit endlichen Zustands- und Entscheidungsraumen. Dabei setzen wir voraus, daβ ein Spieler das Ubergangsverhalten steuert. Wir entwickeln ein lineares Programm und zeigen, daβ eine Optimallosung dieses Programms den Spielwert und optimale stationare Strategien fur beide Spieler ergibt. Daruberhinaus liefert dieses lineare Programm einen Existenzbeweis fur den Spielwert und fur optimale stationare Strategien fur beide Spieler.
National survey of ovarian carcinoma. VI. Critical assessment of current International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system.

Background. The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons recently completed a national survey of patients with ovarian cancer. From the large database, the prognostic value of current International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system for ovarian carcinoma was re-examined. Methods. Data was collected from 25 consecutive ovarian carcinomas diagnosed in 1983 and 1988 at 904 hospitals with cancer programs. Among a total of 12,316 cases, 5156 patients had long-term survival data. Results. The overall 5-year survivals were 88.9 ± 0.9%; 57.1 ± 2.4%; 23.8 ± 1.3%; and 11.6 ± 0.9% for Stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Pairwise survival comparisons using Lee–Desu statistic confirmed the prognostic value of current staging system (P 0.33). Further analyses revealed no significant differences between IB–IC and IIB–IIC patients in several prognostic parameters such as age, histologic grade, cell type, and amount of residual disease. Conclusions. These data support the current FIGO staging system. However, Substages IB–IC and IIB–IIC should be combined to respective single substages.
Highlights Of Infrared Astronomy

This talk consists of two parts: 1.) a brief account of some of the most important astronomical results obtained through infrared observations, and 2.) a look at future developments in this rapidly changing field, with emphasis on new instrumentation. A recent review of experimental techniques has been made by Low and Rieke.(1)
Sentence Completion as an Attitudinal Measure

The subjects were university extension students, ranging predomin antly from persons without prior college experience to persons with credits equivalent to the third academic year. They were enrolled in the author's weekly, evening, three-credit introductory psychology course. Median age was 19 although ages ranged from 18-53. T w e nty males and 16 females participated and most subjects were empioyedfull time. Incomplete Sentences Form A is reproduced in Figure 1. Included are items used by Rotter (3) and by Lindgren (2), and additional stems originated by the author. This form was administered during the fourth class session. Form B, which consists of the same items in rear ranged order, was given during the twelfth session. In the interval be tween administrations, the students experienced eight sessions, three brief quizzes and a midterm examination. Simultaneous with administration of thepre-test, a list of the students' names and corresponding code numbers, randomly assigned by the in structor, was circulated through the class. The students were request ed to write their code numbers on the sentences blank and to retain this number for any necessary future use. At the instructor's request, an anonymous student retained the code list. Although the instructor had suggested that the list be mailed to him after the final course grades had been received (in order to minimize fear of placing one's grade in jeopardy), the student who had retained the list handed it personally to the instructor at the close of the final class session. The latter,unknown to the studentSjhad retained a carbon copy of the code list merely as in surance against loss of the original. Two weeks after administration of the post-test, each student was asked to furnish the following:
Lesions in the liver and kidney of Dirofilaria immitis-infected dogs following treatment with ivermectin.

Six dogs with spontaneous heartworm disease were injected with a single dose of ivermectin. After 48 h of treatment, microfilariae counts were reduced by 92%–98% of pretreatment counts. In pretreatment biopsies examined by light and electron microscopy, microfilariae were unaltered in the sinusoids of the liver and also in the glomerular capillaries and interstitial blood vessels of the kidney. However, there was irregular thickening and dense deposits in the basement membranes of glomerular capillaries, along with a modest increase in mesangial cells and matrix.
Mineralogy of the silt fraction in surficial sediments from the United States mid-Atlantic shelf, slope and rise

Abstract An analysis of the abundances and distributions of silt-sized heavy minerals from the U.S. mid-Atlantic outer continental shelf, slope, and rise shows that heavy minerals constitute a substantially greater weight percent of the silt fraction than that of the sand fraction regardless of environment and sediment texture. Concentrations of silt-sized heavy minerals progressively decrease from the shelf where they average 6.94%, to the slope and rise where they average 4.45% and 3.45%, respectively. A mixed amphibole-garnet+staurolite-epidote-pyroxene association dominates the silt-sized heavy mineral assemblage on the slope and rise; an ilmenite-amphibole-epidote association predominates on the shelf. Downslope trends in detrital nonmicaceous silt-sized heavy mineral abundances are related to hydraulic sorting rather than to chemical weathering. Elevated concentrations of the authigenic pyrite, siderite, dolomite+ankerite, and, possibly, phosphorite in the surficial slope sediment suggests that formation of silt-sized heavy minerals by diagenetic processes is relatively more important there than on the continental shelf or rise.
Pride and the experience of meaning in daily life

To investigate meaning as experienced in daily life, where it has been linked to positive events and emotions, experience-sampling data were used to examine the positive emotion of pride. Recent empirical work emphasizes self-focused, self-enhancing action (i.e. achieving) as a source of pride, but theory suggests that other-focused action (i.e. caring) is also significant. Because work and family are common sources of meaning that offer opportunities to feel pride about both achieving and caring in daily life, working parents (247 mothers and 271 fathers) were studied. Achievement experience and prosocial experience both were associated with pride. However, pride’s comparatively neglected relationship to prosocial experience was even stronger than its relationship to achievement experience, in family life and work life, for women and men. Two recognized sources of meaning – both other-oriented – were associated with experiences of intense pride: being with one’s children and working with clients.
A scalable system for consistently caching dynamic Web data

This paper presents a new approach for consistently caching dynamic Web data in order to improve performance. Our algorithm, which we call data update propagation (DUP), maintains data dependence information between cached objects and the underlying data which affect their values in a graph. When the system becomes aware of a change to underlying data, graph traversal algorithms are applied to determine which cached objects are affected by the change. Cached objects which are found to be highly obsolete are then either invalidated or updated. The DUP was a critical component at the official Web site for the 1998 Olympic Winter Games. By using DUP, we were able to achieve cache hit rates close to 100% compared with 80% for an earlier version of our system which did not employ DUP. As a result of the high cache hit rates, the Olympic Games Web site was able to serve data quickly even during peak request periods.
Compliance with treatment regimens in chronic asymptomatic diseases

At least one third of hospital admissions for heart failure result from noncompliance with therapeutic regimens, both dietary and pharmacologic. In chronic diseases, noncompliance with both lifestyle modification and medication regimens is a major health problem. Patients frequently stop taking their medications because they consider them ineffective or because they experience unpleasant side effects. In asymptomatic conditions, patients may believe they do not need the medication and may not even fill their prescription. If they do obtain the medications, they may forget to take them regularly. Educational efforts and behavioral techniques can improve patient compliance in chronic, asymptomatic conditions, but one of the most effective strategies remains improved patient-physician communication.
Effects of syntactic complexity, semantic reversibility, and explicitness on discourse comprehension in persons with aphasia and in healthy controls.

Purpose Prior studies of discourse comprehension have concluded that the deficits of persons with aphasia (PWA) in syntactically based comprehension of sentences in isolation are not predictive of deficits in comprehension of sentences in discourse (Brookshire & Nicholas, 1984; Caplan & Evans, 1990). However, these studies used semantically constrained sentences in discourse, which do not require syntactic analysis to be understood. A discourse task was developed to assess the effect of syntactic complexity, among other factors, on discourse comprehension in PWA. Method Thirty-eight PWA and 30 neurologically healthy control participants were presented with passages that contained 2–3 semantically reversible sentences that were either syntactically simple or syntactically complex. The passages were presented auditorily, and comprehension was assessed with the auditory and written presentation of 4 multiple-choice questions immediately following each passage. Results Passages with syntactically simple sente...
Predicting Endothelial Cell Phenotypes in Angiogenesis

Controlling endogenous angiogenesis, or the formation of new capillaries, is a potential therapeutic strategy for numerous diseases including cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease (1–4). These efforts have been met with mixed success in the clinic, partly due to an inadequate understanding, and thus control, of the mechanisms that influence the endothelial cells that form capillaries (1, 3). In order to control angiogenesis in an effort to improve treatment responses, quantitative information about endothelial cell behavior must be used to build accurate models of vascular network formation.In this paper, we introduce a method to identify and classify endothelial cell responses to angiogenic stimuli through sophisticated image analysis. The presented automated image processing tools and classification framework allow for rapid quantitative investigations of cellular images. Results of our analysis demonstrate that endothelial cells can be grouped into distinct morphological phenotypes as a function of their responses to combinations of angiogenic growth factor stimuli. Information on phenotypic behavior and responses will be applied towards predicting and guiding cell behavior for therapeutic design.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Parallel algorithms for optimal control of weakly coupled and singularly perturbed jump linear systems

Abstract Parallel algorithms for solving coupled Riccati equations associated with weakly coupled and singularly perturbed linear jump parameter systems with Markovian jump regime are obtained. These algorithms yield arbitrary orders of accuracy. The algorithms operate on reduced-order algebraic equations; hence they are numerically very efficient.
Is Interactive Compressed Video Effective as a Training Strategy for Food Service Personnel in a Rural Limited-Resource Population?

Abstract The rate for stroke and other chronic diseases is highest in the rural South where the traditional diet is high in fat and sodium and rich in cultural heritage. Educational techniques used in middle-America to change dietary behaviors are often not effective in rural Southern minority populations. This project tested a new approach to nutrition education by targeting changes in food preparation of traditional dishes by foodservice personnel from hospitals, schools, child care facilities, and nursing homes as change agents at work, at home, and in their communities. The project also tested an interactive compressed video system as a means of training personnel at multiple rural sites. Focus groups provided insight into perceived needs for nutrition education. Participants were not interested in the Food Pyramid, "fancy" dishes, or garnishes, but in how to cut fat and sodium without loss of flavor, how to use spices and herbs, and activities to try on their own. Three 2-hour mixed model workshops consisting of live interactive teleconference, on-site chef food preparation demonstrations, taste tests, and interactive discussions for 20 subjects from various facilities at two remote sites. Participants' attitudes toward keeping flavor while lowering fat and sodium was positively impacted. With 80% (n=18) participants returning for all three workshops, this strategy was well accepted. All but one participant reported trying the techniques/recipes in a mail follow-up survey and liked having another site with which to interact. Door prizes and certificates of attendance were used as incentives. Remote site equipment was not optimal for seeing the chefs hand movements. Connections between sites was lost briefly during two workshops, but participants still rated the sessions high on technical and information post-tests (Item means ranged from 3.8 to 5 out of 5). The workshop series is being repeated this year with six sites with videotapes for technique demonstrations, local simultaneous activities, live interactive discussions and taste testing to be evaluated as a practical model for a statewide program to reach larger numbers who cannot or will not travel to urban based training programs.
Coupling between feeding- and light-entrainable circadian pacemakers in the rat.

Abstract Activity of the rat can be entrained to LD cycles (light-entrainable rhythm=LER) and to periodic food access (feeding-entrainable rhythm=FER) and these responses appear to be mediated by separate circadian pacemaking systems. The purpose of this study was to explore interactions between these systems. In Experiment I, after entrainment of activity to a LD cycle and to restricted feeding, the LD cycle was phase delayed by 4 hr and rats were food deprived for 3 days. Delaying transients were observed in both the LER and FER although food was no longer a Zeitgeber . In Experiment II, food was scheduled at 3 different phases of the LD cycle. Food access was then phase delayed by 8 hr and rats were placed in DD. When the new food access fell into the subjective day, the phase of the LER was not affected but transients in the FER persisted for up to 18 days, 3 to 5 times longer than reported for rats with suprachiasmatic nucleus lesions. When the new food access fell into the early subjective night, the “free-running” LER was phase advanced by over 3 hr but no delaying transients in the FER were observed. When the new food access fell into the late subjective night, the LER was not phase advanced but its period remained close to 24 hr and no delaying transients in the FER were observed. In Experiment III, food was presented at two phases of the LD cycle and restricted feeding was continued in DD without phase shifts. Although the LER did not remain synchronized to food access, changes in period or phase compared to ad lib fed rats were observed. These effects appear to be mediated by internal coupling between the two circadian pacemaking systems. Although the coupling is reciprocal, the coupling strength appears to be asymmetrical.
Double channel field effect transistors (DCT) and demonstration of static single transistor bit cell

A double channel structure was implemented in standard field effect transistors (FET) by implants. The resulting transfer slopes of these modified FETs show a clear on and off-state as well as a local extreme in between, if the body is forced. Exploring the new functionality of these novel devices a static single transistor bit cell is built for demonstration, pin compatible to standard bit cells.
The Hafnium-Platinum Phase Diagram

Phase relationships were determined in the Hf-Pt system at temperatures up to 1690 °C using both metallographic and neutron Rietveld refinement techniques. An unusual displacive transformation is observed below 200 °C in the rhombohedral compound Hf3Pt4, similar to that recently discovered in the compound Zr3Pt4. Crystallographic data are presented for the compounds HfPt4, HfPt3, Hf2Pt3, Hf3Pt4, HfPt, and Hf2Pt. A complete phase diagram is presented for the Hf-Pt binary system.
Induced change and stability in psychological and social systems

This research showed important new cyclical causal connections derived from prior knoweldge and extending it. The cyclical causal connections appeared between a paricular kind of training, negotiation skills (psychological), influence (social), self-esteem (psychological), and risk taking (social), and back to negotiaion skills (psychological) in a particular community action group, andperhaps in most community action groups in similar conditions. The theory explicates a theory of community empowerment, a cyclical series of pyschological and social forces that move in revolution and respond to shock with both change and restabilization. The findings provide an explication of the paradox of social change and stability in a community: Both the change (developmental or decremental) and the stability (sustaining or stifling) lie in the relationships between social and psychological variables, the very relationships that both propel and limit change in the levels of the variables, once the change is initiated.
Gastrointestinal Disorders Caused by Medication and Electrolyte Solution Osmolality during Enteral Nutrition

Enteral feeding tubes represent convenient avenues for medication administration and electrolyte replacement. The frequent association of medication therapy with gastrointestinal disorders during enteral nutrition prompted this evaluation of medication and electrolyte solution osmolality. It is concluded that the hypertonicity of electrolyte replacement solutions and various medications may cause gastrointestinal intolerance in patients. Electrolyte supplementation by parenteral means or by appropriate dilution and mixture with an enteral formula is preferable to bolus administration of undiluted solutions via the feeding tube. Routine admixture of medications such as antibiotic suspensions to enteral formulas cannot be recommended at this time pending specific study of drug compatibility and availability from enteral tube feeding systems.
Exploring energy technology substitution for reducing atmospheric carbon emissions

This paper presents a simple method for incorporating the time required for new technology to penetrate the market and subsequently substitute for an old one when evaluating the ability of new energy technology to impact global climate change. The methodology is applied to the two largest sources of energy-related carbon dioxide: electricity generation and motor vehicles. Carbon-free road transportation is hypothesized to substitute for petroleum-fueled vehicles and carbon-free electric power generation for fossil-fueled electricity based on empirical analogs for substitution dynamics parameters, beginning in the year 2000. The examples imply that near-term significant reductions to 1990 carbon emissions levels via technology substitution are unlikely. The time scale relevant for realizing reductions in carbon emissions is several times the expected lifetime of the products that new technology is intended to replace.
β-Arrestin-1 links mitogenic sonic hedgehog signaling to the cell cycle exit machinery in neural precursors

Development of the cerebellum, a brain region regulating posture and coordination, occurs post-natally and is marked by rapid proliferation of granule neuron precursors (CGNPs), stimulated by mitogenic Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. β-Arrestin (βArr) proteins play important roles downstream of Smoothened, the Shh signal transducer. However, whether Shh regulates βArrs and what role it plays in Shh-driven CGNP proliferation remains to be determined. Here, we report that Shh induces βArr1 accumulation and localization to the nucleus, where it participates in enhancing expression of the cyclin dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor p27, whose accumulation eventually drives CGNP cell cycle exit. βArr1 knockdown enhances CGNP proliferation and reduces p27 expression. Thus, Shh-mediated βArr1 induction represents a novel negative feedback loop within the Shh mitogenic pathway, such that ongoing Shh signaling, while required for CGNPs to proliferate, also sets up a cell-intrinsic clock programming their ultimate exit from the cell cycle.
Introduction to resources in molecular genetics.

Perhaps no other discipline has experienced as dramatic an information explosion in recent years as has the field of molecular genetics. While the flood of scholarly publications stemming from this research has been extensively indexed in MEDLINE, a number of new databases have been developed that provide direct access to the primary sequence data as well as to curated, reference information. A select group of these databases, including NCBI's GenBank, LocusLink, RefSeq, OMIM, and Genes and Disease, is examined. Following a brief description of each database, a proposed instructional program for their integration into an undergraduate genetics course at the University of Vermont is described.
The concomitant prescribing of ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone and potentially interacting drugs.

Abstract Background Ethinyl estradiol 0.03 mg/drospirenone 3 mg (EE/DRSP) contains a progestin drospirenone with antimineralocorticoid properties that may cause potassium retention leading to hyperkalemia. We estimated the percentage of EE/DRSP users prescribed concomitant potassium-sparing drugs [nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (with diuretics), angiotensin II agonists (with diuretics), and potassium chloride] between January 1, 2002, and March 31, 2005. Study Design We analyzed a population-based data set of 62,527 EE/DRSP users (Dimension Rx™, Caremark). We compared the fill date and end date for each prescription (Rx) for an interacting drug to the start and end date for each EE/DRSP episode (linked Rxs). If a day of an interacting Rx overlapped with an EE/DRSP episode, concomitant prescribing was recorded. Results A total of 17.6% of the women concomitantly used EE/DRSP and an interacting drug. Twenty-nine percent of concomitant use occurred within a month of EE/DRSP initiation. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and diuretics were most frequently used concomitantly with EE/DRSP. Forty percent of the women with concomitant use were 35 yearsof age or older at EE/DRSP initiation compared with 29% without concomitant use (p Conclusions Concomitant prescribing of EE/DRSP and potassium-sparing drugs occurred frequently in our study population. As EE/DRSP becomes more widely used, physicians prescribing it should monitor patients for potassium-sparing drug use.
Acoustic Correlates of Prosodic Abnormality in Acquired Apraxia of Speech

Abstract Purpose: Prosodic abnormality is one of the primary characteristics used for the perceptual differentiation between acquired apraxia of speech (AOS) and phonemic paraphasias in the context...
The Best of Times and the Worst of Times: Structural Adjustment Programs and Uneven Development in Africa: The Case Of Ghana

Since 1983, Ghana has been undergoing World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) sponsored Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs). The implementation of the SAPs, it is claimed, has arrested Ghana's economy from complete collapse, resulted in consistent growth in GDP averaging 6% over the past decade, reduced inflation levels, created budget surplus, and increased export earnings. Compared to the 1970s, these are the best of times indeed. But while these SAPs-derived improvements in the national economy have been recorded at the macro level, the benefits at the micro level are a matter of considerable debate. This study revisits the issue of socioeconomic and spatial disparities that have characterized Ghana since colonial times, emphasizing the period from 1983 when Ghana's SAPs began. It examines current patterns of socioeconomic disparities with emphasis on the distribution of, and access to, health, education, basic services, and the like. The study focuses on urban-rural as well as interregional...
An Applied Research Agenda for Homosexually Active Men of Color

This paper outlines a research agenda for designing and implementing services to gay men of color. The paper reviews the anthropological, historical, and international literature on homosexuality for its implications for contemporary service delivery. The paper proposes that a problem-solving model that recognizes the central importance of empathy and rapport may be used to organize research. The paper concludes with a discussion of methodological issues.
Morphogenesis of the architecture of hip and thigh

The original innominate bone consisted of ischiopubis only. From this developed a dorsally-directed ilium, upon which the dorsal limb muscles, originally arising from fascia, settled, and which thrust dorsalward between roots of the limb plexus, thus dividing the nerves into prozonal (dorsal and ventral) and metazonal (dorsal and ventral) groups. The primitive muscles of the tetrapod hip and thigh comprised a dorsal mass, soon divisible into sheets, innervated by both prozonal and metazonal dorsal nerves, and a similar ventral mass comparably innervated. The original two elements thus became four basic elements, and probably in early mammals or mammal-like reptiles all dually innervated muscles split into singly innervated units. With this four-group basis as the chief criterion, but considering other factors as well, it is possible to homologize the muscles of urodeles (ventral components only), lacertilians, mammals, and birds in entirely satisfactory manner, except for doubt in several instances in which specialization has secondarily obscured the precise relationships. In different mammals there is shown a tendency toward a final fusion of certain unrelated muscle units (biceps plus gluteus longus, human type of biceps, adductor magnus, and tensor fasciae femoris with gluteus maximus).
Pituitary gonadotropin release by graded electrical stimulation of the preoptic area in the male bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

Acute (5 min) graded electrical stimulation (biphasic pulses: amplitude, 50, 200, and 500 microA; frequency, 10 Hz; duration, 0.5 msec) of the medial preoptic area (including the medial and lateral septal nuclei and amygdala, pars medialis) induced significant elevations in circulating gonadotropins (more luteinizing hormone, LH, than follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH) in male bullfrogs, Rana catesbeiana. Pituitary response to all currents was rapid and of brief duration; levels of plasma gonadotropins (LH and FSH) peaked at 5 min (the end of stimulation) and decreased rapidly thereafter (LH by at least 50% after 30 min). A stimulus-response relationship was apparent; the magnitude of LH maxima was directly dependent on current intensity between 50 and 500 microA. In general, pituitary responses characteristic of acute electrical stimulation were similar to those induced by injection of mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This is the first direct physiological demonstration of GnRH-like activity in the brain of the bullfrog.
Using Covalently Attached Thiocyanate as a Site-Specific Infrared Probe to Characterize a Disorder-To-Order Transition of the Intrinsically Disordered C-terminal Domain of the Measles Virus (NTAIL)

Four single-site cysteine mutants (S407C, S491C, L496C and V517C) of the intrinsically disordered C-terminal domain of measles virus nucleoprotein (NTAIL) were modified by covalently attaching a cyano group to the free cysteine residue. The CN stretching mode of the resulting aliphatic thiocyanate is sensitive to local protein structural changes and solvent exposure. Therefore, the thiocyanate probes can detect conformational changes in selected regions of NTAIL when NTAIL undergoes a disorder-to-order transition as it binds to the C-terminal domain X (XD) of the viral phosphoprotein. Different regions of NTAIL contribute to the binding with XD to different degrees. In regions where NTAIL does not interact with XD, the environment around the probe remains disordered and no change in the line shape is observed, as is the case with the S407C mutant. In other regions, the thiocyanate probe can detect hydrophobic contacts, the formation of helical structure, and burial within a helix-helix interface between NTAIL and XD.
Simplified Process for Soybean Glycinin and β-Conglycinin Fractionation

A simplification of the pilot-plant scale modified Nagano method yielding two protein fractions, glycinin and beta-conglycinin, by pH adjustment and ultrafiltration membrane separation was developed and compared with our pilot-plant-scale modified Nagano procedure and with a soy protein isolate pilot-plant procedure as our reference process. Two protein fractions, glycinin and beta-conglycinin, were produced from our simplified process and compared to the three protein fractions, glycinin, beta-conglycinin, and an intermediate protein mixture, produced with the modified Nagano method. The pilot-plant yields of glycinin, beta-conglycinin, and intermediate mixture fractions from the modified Nagano method were 9.4, 10.3, and 4.8% [dry basis (db)], respectively. The yield of glycinin fraction of the simplified method was 9.7% (db), and it had a protein content and purity similar to those obtained with the modified Nagano method. The yield of the beta-conglycinin fraction was 19.6% (db), which was twice that of the modified Nagano process. The protein content of beta-conglycinin was 91.6% (db), and the purity was 62.6% of the protein content, which was 9% lower in purity than the modified Nagano method. Process optimization of the simplified method suggested the best operating conditions for the membrane filtration system were 20-25 psi inlet pressure and 200-250 L/min ultrafiltration recirculation speeds.
Simulating the Diffusion of Information: An Agent-Based Modeling Approach

Diffusion occurs in various contexts and generally involves a network of entities and interactions between entities. Through these interactions, some property, e.g., information, ideas, etc., is spread through the network. This paper presents a general model of diffusion in dynamic networks. The authors simulate the diffusion of evacuation warnings in multiple network structures under various model settings and observe the proportion of evacuated nodes. The network dynamics occur as the result of the diffusion where nodes may leave the network after receiving the warning. The authors use the model to explore how the network structure, seeding strategy, network trust, and trust distribution affect the diffusion process. The effectiveness of the diffusion is a function of the network structure and seeding strategy used in delivering the initial broadcast. The simulation results reveal interesting observations on the effects of network trust and distribution of trust in the network.
Multi-tissue stable isotope analysis and acoustic telemetry reveal seasonal variability in the trophic interactions of juvenile bull sharks in a coastal estuary

Understanding how natural and anthropogenic drivers affect extant food webs is critical to predicting the impacts of climate change and habitat alterations on ecosystem dynamics. In the Florida Everglades, seasonal reductions in freshwater flow and precipitation lead to annual migrations of aquatic taxa from marsh habitats to deep-water refugia in estuaries. The timing and intensity of freshwater reductions, however, will be modified by ongoing ecosystem restoration and predicted climate change. Understanding the importance of seasonally pulsed resources to predators is critical to predicting the impacts of management and climate change on their populations. As with many large predators, however, it is difficult to determine to what extent predators like bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) in the coastal Everglades make use of prey pulses currently. We used passive acoustic telemetry to determine whether shark movements responded to the pulse of marsh prey. To investigate the possibility that sharks fed on marsh prey, we modelled the predicted dynamics of stable isotope values in bull shark blood and plasma under different assumptions of temporal variability in shark diets and physiological dynamics of tissue turnover and isotopic discrimination. Bull sharks increased their use of upstream channels during the late dry season, and although our previous work shows long-term specialization in the diets of sharks, stable isotope values suggested that some individuals adjusted their diets to take advantage of prey entering the system from the marsh, and as such this may be an important resource for the nursery. Restoration efforts are predicted to increase hydroperiods and marsh water levels, likely shifting the timing, duration and intensity of prey pulses, which could have negative consequences for the bull shark population and/or induce shifts in behaviour. Understanding the factors influencing the propensity to specialize or adopt more flexible trophic interactions will be an important step in fully understanding the ecological role of predators and how ecological roles may vary with environmental and anthropogenic changes.
Using Observed Data To Improve Estimated Methane Collection from Select U.S. Landfills

The anaerobic decomposition of solid waste in a landfill produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and if recovered, a valuable energy commodity. Methane generation from U.S. landfills is usually estimated using the U.S. EPA's Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM). Default values for the two key parameters within LandGEM, the first-order decay rate (k) and the methane production potential (L0) are based on data collected in the 1990s. In this study, observed methane collection data from 11 U.S. landfills and estimates of gas collection efficiencies developed from site-specific gas well installation data were included in a reformulated LandGEM equation. Formal search techniques were employed to optimize k for each landfill to find the minimum sum of squared errors (SSE) between the LandGEM prediction and the observed collection data. Across nearly all landfills, the optimal k was found to be higher than the default AP-42 of 0.04 yr −1 and the weighted average decay for the 11 landfills was 0.09 − 0.12 yr −1 . The results suggest that the default k value assumed in LandGEM is likely too low, which implies that more methane is produced in the early years following waste burial when gas collection efficiencies tend to be lower.
Metacognition in Humans and Animals

It has long been assumed that metacognition—thinking about one's own thoughts—is a uniquely human ability. Yet a decade of research suggests that, like humans, other animals can differentiate between what they know and what they do not know. They opt out of difficult trials; they avoid tests they are unlikely to answer correctly; and they make riskier “bets” when their memories are accurate than they do when their memories are inaccurate. These feats are simultaneously impressive and, by human standards, somewhat limited; new evidence suggests, however, that animals can generalize metacognitive judgments to new contexts and seek more information when they are unsure. Metacognition is intriguing, in part, because of parallels with self-reflection and conscious awareness. Consciousness appears to be consistent with, but not required by, the abilities animals have demonstrated thus far.
Inhibition of T Cell Receptor Signal Transduction by Tyrosine Kinase–interacting Protein of Herpesvirus saimiri

T cells play a central role in orchestrating immunity against pathogens, particularly viruses. Thus, impairing T cell activation is an important strategy employed by viruses to escape host immune control. The tyrosine kinase–interacting protein (Tip) of the T lymphotropic Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) is constitutively present in lipid rafts and interacts with cellular Lck tyrosine kinase and p80 endosomal protein. Here we demonstrate that, due to the sequestration of Lck by HVS Tip, T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation fails to activate ZAP70 tyrosine kinase and to initiate downstream signaling events. TCR ζ chains in Tip-expressing T cells were initially phosphorylated to recruit ZAP70 molecule upon TCR stimulation, but the recruited ZAP70 kinase was not subsequently phosphorylated, resulting in TCR complexes that were stably associated with inactive ZAP70 kinase. Consequently, Tip expression not only markedly inhibited TCR-mediated intracellular signal transduction but also blocked TCR engagement with major histocompatibility complexes on the antigen-presenting cells and immunological synapse formation. These results demonstrate that a lymphotropic herpesvirus has evolved a novel mechanism to deregulate T cell activation to disarm host immune surveillance. This process contributes to the establishment and maintenance of viral latency.