cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ca 2+ signalling behaviours of intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal in the murine colon.

Key points Colonic intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC-IM) exhibit spontaneous Ca2+ transients manifesting as stochastic events from multiple firing sites with propagating Ca2+ waves occasionally observed. Firing of Ca2+ transients in ICC-IM is not coordinated with adjacent ICC-IM in a field of view or even with events from other firing sites within a single cell. Ca2+ transients, through activation of Ano1 channels and generation of inward current, cause net depolarization of colonic muscles. Ca2+ transients in ICC-IM rely on Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum via IP3 receptors, spatial amplification from RyRs and ongoing refilling of ER via the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic-reticulum-Ca2+ -ATPase. ICC-IM are sustained by voltage-independent Ca2+ influx via store-operated Ca2+ entry. Some of the properties of Ca2+ in ICC-IM in the colon are similar to the behaviour of ICC located in the deep muscular plexus region of the small intestine, suggesting there are functional similarities between these classes of ICC. Abstract A component of the SIP syncytium that regulates smooth muscle excitability in the colon is the intramuscular class of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC-IM). All classes of ICC (including ICC-IM) express Ca2+ -activated Cl- channels, encoded by Ano1, and rely upon this conductance for physiological functions. Thus, Ca2+ handling in ICC is fundamental to colonic motility. We examined Ca2+ handling mechanisms in ICC-IM of murine proximal colon expressing GCaMP6f in ICC. Several Ca2+ firing sites were detected in each cell. While individual sites displayed rhythmic Ca2+ events, the overall pattern of Ca2+ transients was stochastic. No correlation was found between discrete Ca2+ firing sites in the same cell or in adjacent cells. Ca2+ transients in some cells initiated Ca2+ waves that spread along the cell at ∼100 µm s-1 . Ca2+ transients were caused by release from intracellular stores, but depended strongly on store-operated Ca2+ entry mechanisms. ICC Ca2+ transient firing regulated the resting membrane potential of colonic tissues as a specific Ano1 antagonist hyperpolarized colonic muscles by ∼10 mV. Ca2+ transient firing was independent of membrane potential and not affected by blockade of L- or T-type Ca2+ channels. Mechanisms regulating Ca2+ transients in the proximal colon displayed both similarities to and differences from the intramuscular type of ICC in the small intestine. Similarities and differences in Ca2+ release patterns might determine how ICC respond to neurotransmission in these two regions of the gastrointestinal tract.
A convenient route to heteronaphthacenes

Heteronaphthacenes 1 were prepared in two steps from 1,3-dihydrobenzo[c]thiophene 2,2-dioxide (4) and dienophiles 2 via convenient high-temperature Diels-Alder reactions.
Building youth health champions in an Indian subpopulation for non-communicable disease prevention:

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of death in India, creating the need to research strategies for preventing and recognising these diseases.Objectives:The purpose of this study w...
Optimum Design of a Multiple-Purpose Reservoirs

A method for the optimum design of a reservoir to provide regulated water for several purposes is described that separately allocates the water to the different purposes and then allows for the use of some of the water for more than one purpose. Dynamic programming is used to effect the optimum allocation in terms of a number of different values of regulated flow. Flood control storage is considered separately in terms of marginal cost and marginal benefit. The limitations of the approach arise from the limitations of the concept of "regulated flow." Extensions to overcome the limitations are indicated.
Pain Analgesic Developments in the Genomic Era

Relief from chronic pain symptoms has been sought throughout history. Subdivided into nociceptive, inflammatory, nociplastic, and neuropathic conditions, pain requires diverse and targeted therapies for symptom management. Achieving precise and personalized targeting of pain is made possible with an understanding of the evolution and structure of pain pathways and the challenges with current therapies. Here, we present an objective discussion of various analgesic therapies over time, and note the issues and effectiveness of each approach. We begin by exploring analgesic foundations, including opioids, salicin, and cocaine. We then present chemically modified, safer alternatives such as aspirin, paracetamol, and capsaicin, among others. We follow by presenting more modern approaches, which include genetic-based therapies such as targeted inhibitors, repurposed antidepressants, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. With this modern focus on pain genes such as certain voltage-gated ion channels and nerve growth factor, which selectively modulate sensory neurons, we can expect a new era of analgesia that will lead to more personalized medical care with limited side effects. In the following discussion of pain therapies, we highlight the evolution of analgesia from empirical foundations to more rational and effective pain therapies with an emphasis on the benefits of genomic targeting.
Solute displacement in the aqueous phase of water–NaCl–organic ternary mixtures relevant to solvent-driven water treatment

Twelve water miscible organic solvents (MOS): acetone, tetrahydrofuran, isopropanol, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,4-dioxane, dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, trifluoroethanol, isopropylamine, dimethylformamide, and dimethyl ether (DME) were used to produce ternary mixtures of water–NaCl–MOS relevant to MOS-driven fractional precipitation. The aqueous-phase composition of the ternary mixture at liquid–liquid equilibrium and liquid–solid endpoint was established through quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance and mass balance. The results highlight the importance of considering the hydrated concentrations of salts and suggest that at high salt concentrations and low MOS concentration, the salt concentration is governed by competition between the salt ions and MOS molecules. Under these conditions a LS phase boundary is established, over which one mole of salt is replaced by one mole of MOS (solute displacement). At higher MOS concentrations, MOS with higher water affinity deviate from the one-to-one solute exchange but maintain a LS boundary with a homogenous liquid phase, while MOS with lower water affinity form a liquid–liquid phase boundary. DME is found to function effectively as an MOS for fractional precipitation, precipitating 97.7% of the CaSO4 from a saturated solution, a challenging scalant. DME-driven water softening recycles the DME within the system improving the atom-efficiency over existing seawater desalination pretreatments by avoiding chemical consumption.
The efficacy of a compounded micronutrient supplement on the incidence, duration, and severity of the common cold: A pilot randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

PURPOSE Viral upper respiratory infections are associated with significant health and economic impact. This study sought to determine the efficacy of routine immune system micronutrient supplementation on the incidence, duration and severity of common cold symptoms. METHODS This pilot study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of N = 259 with asymptomatic participants aged 18 to 65 in two cold seasons of 2016 and 2017. The treatment group received an immune system targeted micronutrient caplet, while the placebo group received a micronized cellulose caplet externally identical to the treatment caplet. Weekly surveys were sent electronically to participants to document common cold incidence, duration and severity. Primary statistical results were obtained using mixed-effects logistic regressions to account for longitudinal measurements for participants. RESULTS The odds of acquiring an upper respiratory infection, adjusted for potential confounders, was estimated to be 0.74 times lower in the treatment group (p = 0.14). The odds of reporting specific symptoms were statistically lower in the treatment arm compared to the placebo arm for runny nose (OR = 0.53, p = 0.01) and cough (OR = 0.51, p = 0.04). Shorter durations of runny nose and cough were also observed in the treatment arm compared to placebo (both p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in severity of symptoms in either group. The observed proportion of reported cold symptoms in the treatment group was lower compared to the placebo group between late January and February in two consecutive cold seasons. Given the physical, workplace and economic impact of upper respiratory infections, this low cost and low risk intervention should be further studied with more robust investigation and meticulous experimental design.
Identifying trees in riparian areas that can provide coarse woody debris to streams.

The natural fall of trees into mountain streams provides coarse woody debris that can improve fish habitat and influence stream morphology. Geometric and empirical equations, based on tree size and distance from the stream, were used to determine the conditional probability of a tree's adding coarse woody debris to a stream. Additional equations were developed to relate this probability to basal area factor. For conditions in the Pacific Northwest, Douglas-fir was selected to illustrate how the equations can be used for varying tree sizes and probabilities (...)
Changes in gene expression during induction of the carbon dioxide concentrating mechanism in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

15 INTRODUCTION 16 MATERIALS AND METHODS 20 Strains and Culture Conditions 20 In vivo Labeling Experiments 20 Protein Gels and Autoradiography 21 RNA Analysis 21 RESULTS i D DISCUSSION 23 Decreased Synthesis of Rubisco Subunits 23 Measurement of Pool Sizes for Rubisco Subunit mRNAs 25
Weakly- and Semi-Supervised Probabilistic Segmentation and Quantification of Ultrasound Needle-Reverberation Artifacts to Allow Better AI Understanding of Tissue Beneath Needles.

Ultrasound image quality has continually been improving. However, when needles or other metallic objects are operating inside the tissue, the resulting reverberation artifacts can severely corrupt the surrounding image quality. Such effects are challenging for existing computer vision algorithms for medical image analysis. Needle reverberation artifacts can be hard to identify at times and affect various pixel values to different degrees. The boundaries of such artifacts are ambiguous, leading to disagreement among human experts labeling the artifacts. We propose a weakly- and semi-supervised, probabilistic needle-and-reverberation-artifact segmentation algorithm to separate the desired tissue-based pixel values from the superimposed artifacts. Our method models the intensity decay of artifact intensities and is designed to minimize the human labeling error. We demonstrate the applicability of the approach and compare it against other segmentation algorithms. Our method is capable of differentiating between the reverberations from artifact-free patches as well as of modeling the intensity fall-off in the artifacts. Our method matches state-of-the-art artifact segmentation performance and sets a new standard in estimating the per-pixel contributions of artifact vs underlying anatomy, especially in the immediately adjacent regions between reverberation lines. Our algorithm is also able to improve the performance downstream image analysis algorithms.
Factors associated with home opioid use after thoracic surgery

Abstract Objective Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) with a pre-emptive pain management program has been shown to decrease opioid prescriptions after thoracic surgery. We sought to determine which patient or procedural factors were associated with the need for prescription opioid medications after thoracic surgical procedures. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of a postoperative pain survey at the time of follow-up in combination with procedural and patient characteristic data. We then performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression to determine factors associated with prescription opioids use. Results Two hundred twenty-eight patients completed questionnaires at a median of 37 days after surgery. Most patients received minimally invasive surgery (n = 213, 93%) with the 2 most common types of operations being foregut (n = 92, 40%) and pulmonary resection (n = 80, 35%). Thirty-nine percent of patients (n = 89) were taking chronic pain medications preoperatively, with 15% on chronic opioids medication (n = 33). After surgery, 166 patients (72%) did not take opioids at home. Multivariate analysis showed any chronic opioid medications before surgery (odds ratio, 28.8; 95% confidence interval, 9.13-90.8, P Conclusions ERAS with pre-emptive pain management was associated with patients avoiding opioid prescriptions during recovery. The patient factor of preoperative opioid pain medication(s) and younger age is a significant factor for the patient needing opioids at home after surgery instead of procedural factors. Patient characteristics should be considered when tailoring the patient's pain management after thoracic surgical procedures.
Gender and the impact of COVID-19 on demand for and access to health care: analysis of data from Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa

Abstract Background Global health emergencies can impact men and women differently due to gender norms that affect exposures and care-seeking. Likewise, economic and social upheaval can affect men and women unequally. These effects may be unfolding with the current COVID-19 pandemic given women's economic vulnerability and disproportionate caregiving burden. Global data have shown a decline in access to health care that was more pronounced among women. Here, we aim to investigate gender differences in the impact of COVID-19 by looking at intersectionality of gender with educational and socioeconomic factors in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Methods Data were collected by Opinion Research Business International using representative sampling with census data as the sampling frame. Around 1000 participants from each country were interviewed by telephone. Participants reported their retrospective experiences with health care in the period between December, 2019, and February, 2020, before the pandemic, and in the time period between March and July, 2020, during the pandemic. We used conditional logistic regression, with the respondent as their own control, to estimate the change in access to health care after the pandemic's onset among men and women, stratified by educational level (none, primary or secondary education, and post-secondary education). We also examined the change in demand for preventive care and care for non-communicable conditions, stratified by the respondent's self-reported experience of financial difficulty due to the pandemic. Findings Among those who reported a need to seek health care during both time periods in South Africa, a decline in the ability to see a health-care provider since March 2020 was greater for women than for men, a gap that was more evident in the group that did not have post-secondary education (OR=0·08, p=0·04 for women; no change for men) than for those with post-secondary education (0·2, p=0·24 for women; 0·5, p =0·69 for men). South African women who were financially affected were more likely than men to seek preventive care initially (6% vs 2%, respectively), and had a significant decline in seeking preventive care since March 2020 (0·23, p=0·04). The reduction in men was not statistically significant (0·67, p=0·57). No such effects were noted in Nigeria or Kenya. Interpretation In South Africa, the detrimental effect of COVID-19 on health-care access seemed more pronounced for women who did not have post-secondary education than for men in the same group, and also compared with men and women with post-secondary education. Women may be deprioritising preventive and routine care after financial difficulties caused by COVID-19 and its control measures. Funding Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
A crystal-chemical approach to lubrication by solid oxides

This paper introduces a new approach to the selection, classification, and mechanistic understanding of lubricious oxides that are used to combat friction and wear at elevated temperatures. Specifically, it describes a crystal-chemical model that enables one to predict the shear rheology or lubricity of an oxide or oxide mixture at elevated temperatures. This model can be used to formulate new alloy compositions or composite oxide structures that can provide low friction at high temperatures. In the case of composite oxides, the model allows one to estimate the solubility limits, chemical reactivity, compound forming tendencies, as well as the lowering of the melting point of one oxide when a second oxide is present. From a tribological standpoint, a prior knowledge of these details is important because they are strongly related to the extent of adhesive interactions, shear rheology, and hence to lubricity of oxides. In light of certain crystal-chemical considerations, general guidelines are provided for the selection of those oxides that can provide low friction at high temperatures. The major goal of this paper is to establish model relationships between relevant crystal-chemical and tribological properties of oxides that can be used as lubricants at high temperatures. Such a model may help eliminate guesswork in high-temperature lubrication and provide a new means to address the difficult lubrication problems experienced at high temperatures.
Manuscript title: Geospatial analysis of Cancer risk and residential proximity to coal mines in Illinois.

Abstract Background Studies have indicated a population-level association between coal mining and cancer incidence and mortality, but few studies specifically examined residential proximity to this exposure using spatial analysis. We utilized a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) approach to perform spatial and statistical analyses to test two coal mining exposure variables and their associations with cancer incidence and mortality in Illinois--the fourth highest coal producing state in the United States. Methods Data included age-adjusted county-level cancer incidence and mortality for five cancers: all malignant, lung, colorectal, breast (female) and prostate. Coal mining exposure was defined by two variables: coal production group and distance-weighted exposure. Spatial analyses were performed to identify spatial clustering. Correlation and stepwise regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship between cancer incidence and mortality and coal mining exposures. Covariates considered in regression analyses included socioeconomic deprivation, former/current smoking prevalence, race, and rurality. Results Global spatial autocorrelation indicated significant spatial clustering of incidence, mortality and aggregated coal production. Distance-weighted exposure was significantly correlated with coal production group, age-adjusted all cancer incidence and age-adjusted all cancer mortality. Regression analyses indicated an association between recent coal production and colorectal cancer incidence (p=0.009) and mortality (p=0.035) and prostate cancer mortality (p=0.047). Distance weighted exposure was associated with lung cancer incidence (p=0.004) and mortality (p Conclusion Coal production, incidence and mortality are spatially clustered in Illinois. Exposures to coal mining were associated with elevated risk of multiple cancers, most notably lung and colorectal. The environmental impact of the mining industry is substantial, and exposure of individuals residing near coal mines to known carcinogens is plausible. Future studies are needed to further elucidate the population exposure dynamics of coal mining, and should be explored using individual-level exposures and cancer outcomes.
The Budgetary Impact of Privatization

This paper reviews the widely held notion that privatization, particularly of enterprises that are incurring losses, improves budgetary prospects. It is argued that unless significant efficiency gains are realized and captured by the budget, privatization may in fact worsen budgetary prospects over the medium term. To ensure durable improvements in the budgetary position, policymakers should ensure that privatization is accompanied by deregulation and increased reliance on market forces.
Comparison of non-linear MESFET models over 1-12 GHz frequency range and -25 /spl deg/to 105 /spl deg/C temperature range

This paper is on extension of work done previously on the comparison of non-linear MESFET models (Catelino et al., 2003) (E. Sijercic et al., 2002). Models that are compared include curtice quadratic, curtice cubic, statz, materka, advanced materka, angelov, alpha dispersion and TOM3. The DC, C-V and IMD3 characteristics of each model are compared at different temperatures. The comparison is based on: a) the relative error between the measured and simulated DC I-V and C-V data, and b) average error of fundamental gain and IMD3 over 1-12 GHz frequency range and -20 to -18 dBm range of input power. Based on a simple ranking system, angelov model provides the best overall performance.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis: Animal Model for Viral-induced Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

The objective of this study was to characterize the hemostatic defect in dogs with infectious canine hepatitis (ICH), a naturally occurring viral disease of dogs. Five littermate dogs were inoculated with 10(3) TCID50 of ICH virus intravenously. Two littermates were controls. The clinicopathologic manifestations of ICH were fever, depression, anorexia, hematemesis, melena, widespread mucocutaneous petechiae, prolonged bleeding from venipunctures, faceial edema, leukopenia, and proteinuria. The hemostatic defect of ICH was characterized by thrombocytopenia, abnormal platelet function, prolonged one-stage prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, normal thrombin times, depressed factor VIII activity, and increased fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products. These findings suggested that the central pathologic mechanism of the abnormal hemostasis in ICH was disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). ICH is an example of DIC induced by viral infection. This disease is a suitable model for investigation of the detection, pathogenesis, and therapy of DIC.
Should Republican Liberty as Non-Domination Be Outsourced?

Politics, along with economic and cultural ideals and institutions, seems no longer bound by the traditional borders of the nation-state. 1 Individuals, citizens, nation-states, multinational corporations, and other parties have been forced to respond to what James Bohman has called “new global ‘circumstances of politics.’” 2 As a result, many individuals have become increasingly exposed to forms of interference and potential instances of domination arising from sources of foreign origin, but which they have no capability to counter. In response to this challenge, many republican writers have turned to cosmopolitan thinking to begin to chart a way forward. On the one hand, since contemporary republicanism is primarily concerned with minimizing and combating domination, republican cosmopolitan thinking seems to be a positive way forward. On the other hand, these moves appear to cut against conventional wisdom that holds that since republicanism is primarily rooted in the past and tied to the existence of classical notions of sovereignty, construction of a cosmopolitan version of it may prove diffi cult. This seeming inconsistency raises two related questions. First, is it really possible to detach republican ideals and institutions from the nation-state and outsource them to transnational institutions? If it is possible, then the second question focuses on whether or not moving to a more globally oriented republican political theory is an attractive and positive step forward. The goal of this chapter is to address these two questions.
Enzymic properties of purified myrosinase from lepidium sativum seedlings

The substrate specificity of homogeneous cress myrosinase was probed by testing its activity towards a wide range of synthetic and naturally occurring S-and O-glycosides. In addition, we describe effects of metal ions, chelators and other reagents on myrosinase activity
The pH of the human uterine cavity in situ.

Abstract A method is presented for the study of the pH of the human uterine fluids and/or mucosa in situ. The hydrogen-ion concentration of the uterine cavity varies during the normal menstrual cycle. A decrease in the alkalinity of the uterine fluids and/or mucosa is associated with a corresponding secretory endometrium. The occurrence of ovulation appears to be accompanied by a period of relative acidity of the uterine fluids and/or mucosa.
Locked Plate Fixation of Proximal Humerus Fractures Using Cannulated Subchondral Support Pegs

BackgroundIn severely osteoporotic proximal humerus fractures, the biomechanics of fixed-angle fracture fixation with locked smooth pegs may be improved by using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) augm...
Micromachined hot-filament ionization pressure sensor and magnetometer

Two new micromachined sensors, an ionization pressure sensor (ion gauge) and magnetic-field sensor, were fabricated and tested. Both sensors employ electrons thermionically emitted from a hot tungsten filament for sensing and are built using the same fabrication process.
Neuroimaging biomarkers for Parkinson disease: Facts and fantasy

In this grand rounds, we focus on development, validation, and application of neuroimaging biomarkers for Parkinson disease (PD). We cover whether such biomarkers can be used to identify presymptomatic individuals (probably yes), provide a measure of PD severity (in a limited fashion, but frequently done poorly), investigate pathophysiology of parkinsonian disorders (yes, if done carefully), play a role in differential diagnosis of parkinsonism (not well), and investigate pathology underlying cognitive impairment (yes, in conjunction with postmortem data). Along the way, we clarify several issues about definitions of biomarkers and surrogate endpoints. The goal of this lecture is to provide a basis for interpreting current literature and newly proposed clinical tools in PD. In the end, one should be able to critically distinguish fact from fantasy.
An open-ended software design project for honors freshmen-basketball statistics

It is important that engineering courses offer a learning environment that avoids the use of contrived watered down exercises, so that learning is thorough and retention is assured. To that end, a problem based on material already familiar to the students was sought for Freshman Engineering Honors programming classes. One answer is a project in basketball statistics, including data entry, data management, and report generation, that found most students enthusiastic from the day of its assignment. The first part of the project requires students to do the most fundamental activity of all: gain an understanding of the problem they are solving. To accomplish this, they collect basketball statistics, using paper and pencil (forms are provided) for a high school game from videotape. This allows the use of stop action, slow motion, and other electronic aids in their data collection activities. While the first part of the project must be completed by every individual, the remainder is performed by four member project teams, utilized throughout the course to prepare students for the group oriented work place. In Part II, the students design the user interface and data storage, then generate the code, written in the C language, for all parts of the data entry and report generation activities. The result of all this student effort is an improved knowledge of the C language, a great improvement in problem solving skills, and a marked increase in the students' confidence in their ability to incorporate the use of the computer and of programming languages and skills into their everyday work.
Membrane potential modulates the activation of GABA-gated channels.

1. The activity of single gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated Cl- channels (GABA = 0.5-2.0 microM) was recorded in inside-out patches of membrane from cultured chick cerebral neurons. 2. The distr...
An analysis of a relatively rare case of continental blocking

Planetary- and synoptic-scale analyses of a relatively rare continental blocking event that occurred over North America during the spring of 1980 are undertaken to determine whether or not this event was different from its counterparts which occur over oceanic regions. the planetary-scale analysis demonstrates that during the spring season a ridge was located further inland over the North American continent and amplified with respect to climatology. the position of this ridge may have been linked to a broad region of colder-than-normal sea surface temperatures found over the north central Pacific during the spring season and much of the previous winter. Simple ‘Sutcliffe-type’ and thermodynamic analyses of the accompanying lower-tropospheric warm anomaly associated with the ridging show that lower-tropospheric temperature advection and subsidence associated with anticyclonic-vorticity advection by the time-mean thermal wind produced much of the anomalous warmth. A simple synoptic-scale analysis was performed using both the Zwack-Okossi (ZO) equation and potential vorticity (PV) thinking approaches. These complementary analyses demonstrated that synoptic-scale cyclones were instrumental in the formation and maintenance (and/or intensification) of this blocking event. the PV analysis demonstrated that low-PV air was swept polewards and then was advected over the blocking region sustaining the broad region of low potential vorticity associated with the block over North America. the ZO analysis showed that the advection of anticyclonic vorticity was the most important mechanism forcing geopotential-height rises at 500 hPa over the block centre. the region of low PV and ZO height rises could be associated with the anticyclonic-shear side of an upstream jet maximum typically found in association with developing and/or intensifying blocking events. Thus, negative PV advection correlated significantly with calculated ZO height rises. Finally, it is suggested that a favourable phase relationship between the upstream cyclones and the large-scale ridge is necessary for block development or intensification.
The transcript encoding the circumsporozoite antigen of Plasmodium berghei utilizes heterogeneous polyadenylation sites.

Abstract We have employed polymerase chain reaction-based techniques to examine the transcript encoding the circumsporozoite (CS) antigen, the immunodominant coat protein of the infectious stage of the murine parasite Plasmodium berghei . Earlier studies suggested that the 3′ terminus of the CS message might be determined by transcription termination rather than by cleavage and polyadenylation, as in most eukaryotes. Here we report that a subset of CS messages are polyadenylated. Moreover, the poly(A) tails are added at multiple sites clustered within a short region 300 bp downstream from the stop codon. Whether 3′ end heterogeneity is peculiar to the CS message or a common feature of plasmodial transcripts remains to be determined.
Designers workbench: toward real-time immersive modeling

This paper introduces the DesignersWorkbench, a semi-immersive virtual environment for two-handed modeling, sculpting and analysis tasks. The paper outlines the fundamental tools, design metaphors and hardware components required for an intuitive real-time modeling system. As companies focus on streamlining productivity to cope with global competition, the migration to computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and computer-aided engineering (CAE) systems has established a new backbone of modern industrial product development. However, traditionally a product design frequently originates from a clay model that, after digitization, forms the basis for the numerical description of CAD primitives. The DesignersWorkbench aims at closing this technology or ''digital gap'' experienced by design and CAD engineers by transforming the classical design paradigm into its filly integrated digital and virtual analog allowing collaborative development in a semi-immersive virtual environment. This project emphasizes two key components from the classical product design cycle: freeform modeling and analysis. In the freeform modeling stage, content creation in the form of two-handed sculpting of arbitrary objects using polygonal, volumetric or mathematically defined primitives is emphasized, whereas the analysis component provides the tools required for pre- and post-processing steps for finite element analysis tasks applied to the created models.
An Improved Model for Food Thickness from non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics in the Mouth

An improved model for food thickness has been developed which accounts for the transient viscoelastic behavior of food materials. This model, previously tested for spreadability, satisfactorily predicts subjective thickness as well. Subjective scores obtained through the use of ratio scales correlated well with calculated shear stress on the surface of the tongue. The best slope of thickness vs shear stress on the tongue was 0.74 with a correlation coefficient of 0.93. The final result provides a design equation for the thickness of foods from a Theological standpoint.
Evaluation of Water Injection Effect on NO(x) Formation for a Staged Gas Turbine Combustor

NO(x) emission control by water injection on a staged turbine combustor (STC) was modeled using the KIVA-2 code with modification. Water is injected into the rich-burn combustion zone of the combustor by a single nozzle. Parametric study for different water injection patterns was performed. Results show NO(x) emission will decrease after water being injected. Water nozzle location also has significant effect for NO formation and fuel ignition. The chemical kinetic model is also sensitive to the excess water. Through this study, a better understanding of the physics and chemical kinetics is obtained, this will enhance the STC design process.
A Comparison of Drug Involvement between Runaways and School Youths

Problems related to homeless/runaway youths have received increased attention in recent years. Homeless/runaway youths manifest many problems in addition to being absent from home and without super...
Magnetic properties of high-temperature superconductors: Hints and tests for unconventional superconductivity

Abstract It is shown that d-wave superconductivity can lead to frustration in a multiply-connected superconducting system involving Josephson junctions. This frustration is responsible for various unusual magnetic properties in some high-temperature superconductors. Various test experiments for d-wave superconductivity are discussed, especially the direct observation of spontaneous currents due to frustration. Recent experiments finding fractional vortices in YBCO are interpreted as evidence for time-reversal breaking superconductivity.
Critical Race Theory: A Transformational Model for Teaching Diversity.

Rapidly changing demographics in the United States, the 2008 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, and recent developments in the literature that question the effectiveness of multiculturalism and cultural competence suggest social work education, research, and practice are in need of a new approach to diversity. In conceptualizing diversity, social workers need to address a broad social context that includes institutional/structural arrangements, recognize the intersection of multiple identities, and integrate an explicit social justice orientation. This article presents critical race theory as a paradigmatic framework that focuses on both institutions and the pain they create for marginalized people. The critique is multidimensional, addressing root causes and personal distress while pursuing transformational change.
Photometric Solution for the Eclipsing Binary System Ao-Camelopardalis

UBV light curves of AO Cam were analyzed with Wilson and Devinney's model. The system was found to be a contact configuration with a degree of overcontact of 1.4%. The mass ratio of the system is about 1.30, and the inclination is 75.09. The primary eclipse appears to be an occultation. Thus AO Cam has the characteristics of a W-type W UMa system. Its location in a period-spectral type diagram suggests that the system may be a zero-age contact system.
Pain control using high‐intensity pulsed magnetic stimulation

High-intensity pulsed magnetic stimulation (HIPMS) non-invasively depolarizes neurones, which can be deeply embedded in local tissues. Trans- or subcutaneous electrical stimulation can produce analgesia. To test the hypothesis that similar analgesia could be obtained using HIPMS, analgesia was determined in ten blinded subjects following HIPMS. Analgesia was consistently produced in all subjects with long-lasting pain relief occurring in half of the cases.
Social scientific paradigms of masculinity and their implications for research and practice in men's mental health

Clinical researchers and practitioners are increasingly aware of the need for quality theory, research, and intervention in men's mental health. Successful work in this area requires an understanding of the multitude of ways that gender, and more specifically masculinities, can be conceptualized beyond a sole focus on sex differences between men and women. Drawing from a range of social sciences in addition to psychology, the authors consider several theoretical, research, and clinical directions that can follow from social learning, psychodynamic, social constructionist, and feminist paradigms. It is concluded that thinking deeply and critically within different paradigms of masculinity is critical for progress in both research and practice.
The Effects of Methoxychlor on Early Sea Urchin Development

Methoxychlor (MXC) is a widely used pesticide which has been found in water sources near agricultural sites. Embryos of aquatic organisms are likely to encounter MXC due to land runoff. The sea urchin embryo (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) was used as a model system to document the effects of MXC on early development up to the pluteus stage. Fertilized eggs and embryos were exposed to several concentrations (0.1, 1.0, 10, and 100 ppm) of the pesticide in both chronic and acute exposure regimens. With chronic exposure, percentages of embryos completing normal first cleavage decreased with increased concentrations of MXC, and subsequent cleavages became even more irregular in that blastomeres divided asymmetrically and asynchronously. Ten parts per million MXC allowed development through the hatched blastula stage, whereas embryos in 100 ppm MXC did not hatch. In acute exposure trials, fertilized eggs were pulsed (i.e., exposed for brief durations) to MXC for 30, 60, or 90 min. The MXC was then washed out. Recovery of normal development was proportional to the amount and duration of MXC exposure. Development was delayed in embryos exposed to 100 ppm MXC for 30 or 60 min. The embryos exposed to 100 ppm MXC for 90 min were abnormal as early as the four-cell stage, and by 72 hr more than 90% had abnormal gut development, indicating disruption of gastrulation. These data show that MXC exposure resulted in retardation of cleavage and abnormal gastrulation, basic morphogenetic processes.
Modulating colloidal adsorption on a two-dimensional protein crystal.

The geometric and physicochemical properties of the protein streptavidin make it a useful building block in the construction and manipulation of nanoscale structures and devices. However, one requirement in exploiting streptavidin for “bottom-up” assembly is the capability to modulate protein−nanoparticle interactions. This work examines the effects of pH and the biotin−streptavidin interaction on the adsorption of colloidal gold onto a two-dimensional streptavidin crystal. Particle deposition was carried out below (pH 6), at (pH 7), and above (pH 8) the protein’s isoelectric point with both biotinylated and nonbiotinylated nanoparticles. Particle surface coverage depends on deposition time and pH, and increases by 1.4−10 times when biotin is incorporated onto the particle surface. This coverage is highest for both particle types at pH 6 and decreases monotonically with increasing pH. Calculations of interparticle potentials based on Derjaguin−Landau−Verwey−Overbeek (DLVO) theory demonstrate that this tre...
Visualizing Hyroynamic Transgene Delivery and Expression in Live Mammalian Kidneys

While gene transfer has been difficult to accomplish in the kidney, reports have indicated that tissue cavitation may facilitate such genetic modifications. Accordingly, we investigated this theory, and designed and characterized a method that utilizes renal vein-guided, retrograde pressurized injections to illicit prompt transgene expression in mammalian kidneys. In devising this approach we hypothesized that the hydrodynamic forces generated from pressured injections were sufficient to facilitate the widespread delivery of exogenous matter throughout the kidney. As a consequence, this infusion process would assist the passage of transgenes across epithelial and endothelial tissue layers, and ultimately support their cellular uptake. We tested this hypothesis by introducing naked plasmid DNA and baculovirus vectors, which express fluorescent proteins, into 60 rodent kidneys. Gene expression was then examined in live animals using intravital multiphoton fluorescence microscopy, and in vitro with confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy. We recorded transgene expression in various glomerular, tubular and vascular segments throughout a period of 3 weeks. Moreover, we were able to generate transient, yet stable targeted and non-specific genetic modifications. Overall, these results outline a potentially attractive approach for renal gene transfer in live animals.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Hidden allergic factors in the etiology of asthma.

Increasing evidence from case control surveys, population studies and allergen avoidance studies suggests inhalant allergy plays an important role in the etiology of asthma. Recent studies in hospital emergency rooms have compared the prevalence of serum IgE antibodies to common allergens (mite, cat, cockroach, rye grass and ragweed pollen) in patients admitted with acute asthma attacks and in unselected age-matched control subjects. These studies, carried out in central Virginia and northern California, showed a highly increased prevalence of IgE antibodies to inhaled allergens among asthmatic patients, and suggest that the development of allergen specific IgE antibody responses is a major risk factor for emergency room admission with asthma. Presentation at the emergency room appeared to be related to patients' exposure to specific allergens: in central Virginia, in the fall, dust mite was the predominant allergy, whereas in northern California, in May-June, most asthmatic patients (>90 percent) were allergic to rye grass. New immunoassay technology, based on the use of monoclonl antibodies, has been developed to measure the quantities of "indoor" allergens (mite, cat, cockroach) in asthmatic patients' houses. It is now possible to propose tentative levels of mite allergens which should be considered both as a risk for IgE antibody sensitization (2µg allergen/g dust) and as a risk for acute asthma attacks (10(µg allergen/g dust). Future management of asthma will require analysis of indoor allergens and the development of efficient allergen avoidance procedures. Further research is necessary to investigate the relationship between airborne allergen levels, particle size and the precipitation of asthma attacks and also to investigate immunologic mechanisms which may cause bronchial hyperreactivity.
Inappropriate use of the law of corresponding areas to calculate the time course of absorption for multicompartmental systems

From the law of corresponding areas, Dost has derived a simple method for calculating the percentage absorbed of a drug during an entire period of treatment. The method utilizes a graphical procedure to determine the fraction of a dose absorbed at each time point, when data are available following oral and intravenous administration of the drug. The method has been suggested for use with drugs whose kinetics are described by single and multicompartment systems. The method is valid for single-compartment body systems and can be shown to be the graphical equivalent of the well-known Wagner-Nelson method. However, it can be proved mathematically that the graphical method will not yield correct answers for multicompartment body systems. Here, for identical plasma concentrations following oral and intravenous administration of the same dose, the amount of drug in the peripheral compartment(s) will always be greater following intravenous administration than after oral administration (during the absorption phase). Therefore, areas under the curve calculated from shifted intravenous curves will always overestimate the amount absorbed. Analog and digital computer simulations illustrate the mathematical treatments.
Some Comments on Pareto Thinking, Test Validity, and Adverse Impact: When ‘and’ is optimal and ‘or’ is a trade‐off

De Corte, Lievens, and Sackett add to the literature on selection test validity and adverse impact (AI). Their Pareto-based weighting scheme essentially asks organizations if they are willing to give up some validity to hopefully achieve some reduction in AI. We considered their approach and conclusions in relation to the regression weighting method we used, and we offer five points that reflect our observations as well as our shared goals. We hope our comments, like their work in this field, will invigorate the pursuit of new ways of examining, and one day resolving, the persistent concern regarding the AI associated with valid selection tests.
A method for pontic stabilization in fixed partial denture construction.

Abstract A technique for constructing pontics is described. Plastic sprue pins are used as stabilizers during waxing and relating procedures. It is a time-saving procedure and has less chance for error than other techniques.
Noncentral Interpolation of Band-Limited Signals

A sampling expansion is found for finite power band-limited signals when there are N samples to the right and N + L + I samples to the left of the interpolated point, where N and L are free to be any nonnegative integers. It is shown that the truncation error approaches zero as L approaches infinity for any nonnegative N. This corresponds to using the past samples to force the truncation error to zero while having only a finite reconstruction delay. An expansion is also found for endpoint extrapolation. These new expansions are created by using a convergence factor specially suited for each case.
Immunochemical heterogeneity of calcitonin in man: Effect on radioimmunoassay

Determinations of blood levels of human calcitonin by radioimmunoassay have varied considerably in different laboratories. Much of the controversy over calcitonin levels can be attributed to the multiplicity of immunoreactive forms of the hormone (iCT), the differing region specificities of the antisera utilized for measurement by radioimmunoassay, protein effects, different rates of degradation of the various iCT fractions and the specific methodology of the radioimmunoassay.