cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Issues affecting differential absorption laser imaging of gas leaks

Summary form only given. Backscatter absorption gas imaging (BAGI) wing cw lasers has successfully generated real-time video images of gas plumes for industrial applications such as hazardous leak detection and container integrity testing. The flexibility of the BAGI technique can be increased by using pulsed lasers. High power pulsed lasers can extend the imaging range, and through efficient parametric processes, can achieve wavelength tunability. We are building an imaging system based on a wavelength-agile source that operates in the 3-5 /spl mu/m range for the purpose of exploring pulsed imaging. In particular, we will explore the possibility of using this pulsed imager to make quantitative measurements of the concentration of gas plumes by comparing the illuminated scene at two closely spaced wavelengths.
Bootstrap techniques for proportional hazards models with censored observations

We propose a bootstrap technique for generating pseudo-samples from survival data containing censored observations. This simulation selects a survival time with replacement from the data and then assigns a covariate according to the model of proportional hazards. We also develop a constrained bootstrap technique in which every pseudo-sample has the same distribution of covariate values as does the original, observed data. We use these simulation techniques to estimate the bias and variance of regression coefficients and to approximate the significance levels of goodness-of-fit statistics for testing the assumption of the proportional hazards model.
Hyperproliferation and p53 Status of Lens Epithelial Cells Derived from αB-crystallin Knockout Mice

αB-Crystallin, a major protein of lens fiber cells, is a stress-induced chaperone expressed at low levels in the lens epithelium and numerous other tissues, and its expression is enhanced in certain pathological conditions. However, the function of αB in these tissues is not known. Lenses of αB-/- mice develop degeneration of specific skeletal muscles but do not develop cataracts. Recent work in our laboratory indicates that primary cultures of αB-/- lens epithelial cells demonstrate genomic instability and undergo hyperproliferation at a frequency 4 orders of magnitude greater than that predicted by spontaneous immortalization of rodent cells. We now demonstrate that the hyperproliferative αB-/- lens epithelial cells undergo phenotypic changes that include the appearance of the p53 protein as shown by immunoblot analysis. Sequence analysis showed a lack of mutations in the p53 coding region of hyperproliferative αB-/- cells. However, the reentry of hyperproliferative αB-/- cells into S phase and mitosis after DNA damage by γ-irradiation were consistent with impaired p53 checkpoint function in these cells. The results demonstrate that expression of functionally impaired p53 is one of the factors that promote immortalization of lens epithelial cells derived from αB-/- mice. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using probes prepared from centromere-specific mouse P1 clones of chromosomes 1 and 9 demonstrated that the hyperproliferative αB-/- cells were 30% diploid and 70% tetraploid, whereas wild type cells were 83% diploid. Further evidence of genomic instability was obtained when the hyperproliferative αB-/- cells were labeled with anti-β-tubulin antibodies. Examination of the hyperproliferative αB-/- mitotic profiles revealed the presence of cells that failed to round up for mitosis, or arrested in cytokinesis, and binucleated cells in which nuclear division had occurred without cell division. These results suggest that the stress protein and molecular chaperone αB-crystallin protects cells from acquiring impaired p53 protein and genomic instability.
Phosphorylation of the Myosin-binding Subunit of Myosin Phosphatase by Raf-1 and Inhibition of Phosphatase Activity

Raf-1 serine/threonine protein kinase plays an important role in cell survival, proliferation, and migration; however, the specific targets of Raf-1 in diverse cellular processes are not clearly defined. Myosin phosphatase activity is critical to the regulation of cytoskeletal reorganization, cytokinesis, and cell motility. Here, we describe the association of Raf-1 with myosin phosphatase and phosphorylation of the regulatory myosin-binding subunit (MBS) of myosin phosphatase by Raf-1. Treatment of cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate has been shown to stimulate Raf-1 protein kinase. To determine the effect of enzymatic activation of Raf-1 on MBS phosphorylation, COS-1 cells were transiently transfected with FLAG-tagged full-length Raf-1. A significantly higher phosphorylation of purified glutathioneS-transferase-tagged truncated MBS protein (amino acids 654–880) occurred in the presence of FLAG-Raf-1 immunoprecipitated from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-treated cells compared with untreated cells (∼3.0-fold). Using a sequential kinase-phosphatase assay and phosphorylated myosin light chain as substrate in the phosphatase reaction, we showed that Raf-1-associated protein phosphatase-specific activity was inhibited (relative phosphatase activity without and with adenosine 5′-O-(3-thiotriphosphate): 100 and ∼30%, respectively). Previously, ionizing radiation has been shown to activate Raf-1 (Kasid, U., Suy, S., Dent, P., Ray, S., Whiteside, T. L., and Sturgill, T. W. (1996) Nature 382, 813–816). Exposure of cells to ionizing radiation resulted in the increased association of Raf-1 with MBS (3–6-fold versus unirradiated control) and inhibition of Raf-1-associated protein phosphatase-specific activity (relative phosphatase activity without and with ionizing radiation: 100 and ∼54%, respectively). Our studies identify MBS as a new substrate of Raf-1 and implicate a role for Raf-1 in the regulation of pathways involving myosin phosphatase activity.
Effect of Propionic Acid on Fatty Acid Oxidation and Ureagenesis

Extract: Propionic acid significantly inhibited 14CO2 production from [1-14C]palmitate at a concentration of 10 μM in control fibroblasts and 100 μM in methylmalonic fibroblasts. This inhibition was similar to that produced by 4-pentenoic acid. Methylmalonic acid also inhibited 14CO2 production from [1-14C]palmitate, but only at a concentration of 1 mM in control cells and 5 mM in methylmalonic cells. Propionic acid (5 mM) also inhibited ureagenesis in rat liver slices when ammonia was the substrate but not with aspartate and citrulline as substrates. Propionic acid had no direct effect on either carbamyl phosphate synthetase or ornithine transcarbamylase. These findings may explain the fatty degeneration of the liver and the hyperammonemia in propionic and methylmalonic acidemia. Speculation: It has been shown that 4-pentenoic acid will produce may of the features of Reye's syndrome in rats. The fact that propionic acid inhibits some of the same reactions as 4-pentenoic acid raises the possibility that other short chain fatty acids less unusual than 4-pentenoic acid could produce the features of Reye's syndrome.
A mathematical model for estimation of infarct size from serum creatine phosphokinase

A mathematical model for kinetics of creatine phosphokinase (CK) after myocardial infarct is presented. The transport of CK from the infarct to the distribution space is modeled by a gamma variate. CK is released from the distribution space by a first-order process. The model permits simultaneous estimation of the disappearance rate parameter KD, the integrated appearance function, and the baseline from a set of observations of serum CK concentration.
Seasonal brood-Rearing Activity of the cyprian Honeybee

The seasonal brood-rearing activity of a colony of Cyprian honeybees proved on investigation to be strikingly similar to that typical of colonies of Italian honeybees in the same apiary. Furthermore, this colony exhibited no tendency to tolerate laying worker-bees while it had a laying queenbee, nor did it build more queencells than did Italian colonies in the same apiary at the same time. Its queenbee gave no evidence that her race was any more prolific than the Italian race of honeybee.
Injury hospitalizations before and after the 1994 Northridge, California earthquake

This study compared hospital-admitted injuries during the 14 days after the Northridge, California, earthquake of January 17, 1994, with hospital-admitted injuries during the preceding 16 days at the same facilities. Seventy-eight hospitals providing emergency care in Los Angeles County were screened; 16 were identified as having admitted at least one person for an earthquake-related injury. Retrospective chart reviews of hospitalized injuries for all of January 1994 were conducted at those facilities. The Northridge earthquake resulted in 138 injuries severe enough to require hospitalization. On the day of the earthquake, such injuries were 74% more frequent than usual overall. Some hospitals experienced as many as five times the number of injury admissions seen in the days preceding the event. The increase in caseload was short-lived, however; injury admissions tended to return to normal levels within two days after the quake. Previous reported estimates of the overall number of severe injuries caused by the Northridge earthquake appear to be exaggerated.
Production of Interleukin-1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor by Human Peripheral Monocytes Activated by Periodontal Bacteria and Extracted Lipopolysaccharides

Whole Gram-negative bacteria associated with juvenile and adult periodontitis, and their respective extracted lipopolysaccharides (LPS), were tested for the ability to activate quiescent human peripheral blood monocytes. All pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria and all LPS tested were able to induce the production of significant amounts of IL-1 and TNF, monokines known to induce osteoclastic bone resorption. Haemophilus segnis, which has not been associated with any form of periodontal disease, did not activate monocytes. Purified LPS from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 was able to elicit IL-1 and TNF release at a threshold concentration of 1-10 ng/mL. To examine the mechanism whereby whole bacteria activated monocytes, we added polymixin B in culture with glutaraldehyde-fixed bacteria to bind LPS. This resulted in the abrogation of IL-1 and TNF production. To compare the effects of Gram-positive oral bacteria on monocytes, we also tested Staphylococcus epidermidis and the Gram-positive amphipathic ...
The new modern era of yeast genomics: community sequencing and the resulting annotation of multiple Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains at the Saccharomyces Genome Database

The first completed eukaryotic genome sequence was that of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the Saccharomyces Genome Database (SGD; http://www.yeastgenome.org/) is the original model organism database. SGD remains the authoritative community resource for the S. cerevisiae reference genome sequence and its annotation, and continues to provide comprehensive biological information correlated with S. cerevisiae genes and their products. A diverse set of yeast strains have been sequenced to explore commercial and laboratory applications, and a brief history of those strains is provided. The publication of these new genomes has motivated the creation of new tools, and SGD will annotate and provide comparative analyses of these sequences, correlating changes with variations in strain phenotypes and protein function. We are entering a new era at SGD, as we incorporate these new sequences and make them accessible to the scientific community, all in an effort to continue in our mission of educating researchers and facilitating discovery.
Toward a Self-Aware Codelet Execution Model

Future extreme-scale supercomputers will feature arrays of general-purpose and specialized many-core processors, totaling thousands of cores on a single chip. In general, many-core chips will most likely resemble a "hierarchical and distributed system on chip." It is expected that such systems will be hard to exploit not only for performance, but will also need to deal with reliability issues, as well as power and energy issues. The Codelet Model is a fine-grain dataflow-inspired and eventdriven program execution model which was designed to run parallel programs on a combination of such many-core chips into a supercomputer Meanwhile, some on-going work is attempting to take into account user goals as well as resource usage and make the system "self-aware:" By using introspective means, this kind of research tries to have the system software modify the state of the overall system at run-time to satisfy the user goals. It is very likely that future extreme-scale systems will be in constant demand of different kinds of resources, may they be processing elements (general purpose or otherwise), bandwidth, power budget, etc. This paper takes the position that a potential solution to solve the resource management issue at this scale is a hierarchical and distributed self-aware system leveraging the fine-grain eventdriven codelet threading model.
Distortion Invariant Pattern Recognition By Nonlinear Optical Correlation

We describe a training image correlation based pattern recognition system using a nonlinear processor to perform distortion invariant pattern recognition. The training image set is stored at the input plane of the optical processor side by side the input scene. The nonlinear processor operates by producing the joint power spectrum of the training image set and the input scene. A thresholding nonlinearity is applied to the joint power spectrum of the input scene and the reference images. For binary nonlinear optical processors, both the input signals and the joint power spectrum are binarized to only two values. Thus, a binary spatial light modulator can be used to implement the processor. The performance of the training image based nonlinear processor is compared to that of the conventional linear optical processors. For binary nonlinear optical processors, a single binary spatial light modulator can be used to read in sequentially the binarized input signals and the binarized joint power spectrum which results in a reduction in cost and complexity of the system.
Adjustment Costs and Immiserizing Growth in LDCs

Using a general equilibrium model of a small developing economy, the authors demonstrate that the introduction of asymmetric adjustment costs makes the rate of urban employment respond to an exogenous shock in the aggregate capital endowment, raising the possibility of several counter-intuitive immiserizing growth scenarios.
PREVALENCE OF MULTIPLY CONTROLLED PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

We examined articles in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis in which results of functional analyses indicated that problem behavior was maintained by multiple sources of reinforcement. Data for 88 (16.9%) of 521 subjects reported in 168 studies met the criteria for multiple control. Data for 11 subjects (2.1%) involved a single response topography, whereas data for 77 subjects involved multiple, collapsed response topographies (14.8% of the total [521 cases] or 87.5% of the multiple control cases), suggesting that when multiple control is observed, it often may be a by-product of response aggregation during assessment.
Explaining the Long-Term Maintenance of a Military Regime: Panama before the U.S. Invasion

Before the U.S. invasion of December 1989, Panama experienced one of the longest periods of military rule in the modern-day history of Latin America. While numerous authoritarian military regimes emerged in the region during the 1960s and established for themselves a relatively high degree of autonomy from both domestic and international actors, only those in Panama, Paraguay, and Chile survived until the late 1980s. And of these three surviving military regimes, only Panama's was ended through the application of external military force. For the past several years, there has been considerable discussion of the factors that seem best to account for General Manuel Antonio Noriega's personal ability to resist U.S. pressure from 1987 until 1989 and to largely insulate himself from the political and economic constraints of Panamanian domestic politics. However, much less attention has been devoted to discussion of the factors that explain the long-term maintenance of the military authoritarian regime in existence for fifteen years prior to his assumption of power. This analysis suggests that the long-term maintenance of Panama's military authoritarian regime was due in large part to its ability to acquire substantial amounts of foreign capital. During the 1970s, such capital was preferentially obtained from the international banking community. During the 1980s, it was obtained through illicit activities of various kinds, including participation in the growing international drug trade.
Physical and Functional Interaction of Membrane Proteins Modulated by Electrostatic Interactions with Membrane Surface Charge

We control the physical interaction and thus functional regulation between integral membrane protein phospholamban (PLB) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA) through adjusting the membrane surface charge. We used EPR to measure the backbone dynamics of TOAC spin-labeled PLB, time-resolved (TR) FRET to measure the interprobe distance between the donor IAEDANS in SERCA and the acceptor Dabcyl in PLB, and NADH-linked ATPase assay to measure PLB's inhibitory function. The cytoplasmic domain of PLB has a net charge of +3 under physiological conditions. When free or bound to SERCA in lipid vesicles, PLB is in equilibrium between an ordered T state and a dynamically disordered R state, as measured by EPR. TR-FRET resolved two interprobe distances between SERCA and PLB. Compared to zwitterionic lipids (DOPC), anionic lipids (DOPS or DOPG) increased the population of the T state, which has the longer interprobe distance between SERCA and PLB, and the inhibition of SERCA's ATPase function. Cationic lipids (DOEPC or DOTAP) decreased the T state population and SERCA inhibition. We conclude that electrostatics can tune the structural and functional dynamics of PLB. The ordered T state is oriented closer to the membrane surface, resulting in a longer SERCA-PLB interprobe distance, and is more inhibitory. The disordered R state is oriented away from the membrane surface, resulting in a shorter SERCA-PLB interprobe distance, and is less inhibitory. Modulating the membrane surface charges provides a new way of investigating the correlation between internal structural dynamics and function of membrane proteins.
Evaluation of using a short region of the recA gene for rapid and sensitive speciation of dominant bifidobacteria in the human large intestine

The feasibility of intragenerically characterizing bifidobacteria by a comparison of a short region within the recA gene was tested. An ∼300 bp fragment of the recA gene was PCR-amplified from six species from the genus Bifidobacterium using primers directed to two universally conserved regions of the recA gene. A phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced recA products compared favorably to classification based on the 16S rRNA sequences of the species tested. To apply this rapid methodology to unknown human intestinal bifidobacteria, 46 isolates were randomly chosen from the feces of four subjects and initially characterized by RFLP analysis of a PCR-amplified region of their 16S RNA genes. From a representative of the dominant RFLP family in each of the subjects, the recA segment was PCR-amplified, sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. All four isolates were found to be related to one another and to B. longum and B. infantis. These results illustrate that the recA gene may be useful for intrageneric phylogenetic analysis as well as for the identification of unknown fecal bifidobacteria.
THE FUTURE OF U.S. SEAFOOD SUPPLY

The United States today imports most of the seafood it consumes. Half of these imports are from aquaculture. Domestic wild capture production is limited and U.S. aquaculture production has declined in recent years. Policy, socioeconomic, and regulatory obstacles stand in the way of expanded U.S. aquaculture production. In this article, we examine the implications of two future paths for seafood supply: an increasing reliance on imports, and a shift toward increased domestic aquaculture production. We examine global trends, likely future developments in U.S. seafood demand and supply, and implications of the path of U.S. aquaculture development for U.S. seafood supply and prices, employment, ecological footprint, and seafood supply security and safety. We conclude with recommendations for a path forward that serves the interests of the nation and the global community in the search for economically sound and sustainable ways to feed a growing population.
Exclusion of atrial thrombus by transesophageal echocardiography does not preclude embolism after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. A multicenter study.

BACKGROUNDTransesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been used recently to detect atrial thrombi before cardioversion of atrial arrhythmias. It has been assumed that embolic events after cardioversion result from embolism of preexisting atrial thrombi that are accurately detected by TEE. This study examined the clinical and echocardiographic findings in patients with embolism after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation despite exclusion of atrial thrombi by TEE.METHODS AND RESULTSClinical and echocardiographic data in 17 patients with embolic events after TEE-guided electrical (n = 16) or pharmacological (n = 1) cardioversion were analyzed. All 17 patients had nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, including four patients with lone atrial fibrillation. TEE before cardioversion showed left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in five patients and did not show atrial thrombus in any patient. Cardioversion resulted in return to sinus rhythm without immediate complication in all patients. Thirteen patients had cerebral ...
F-spin symmetry in nuclei

A brief introduction is given to the concept of F-spin and mixed-symmetry in the framework of the interacting boson model (IBM-2) for heavy nuclei. Special attention is paid to mixed-symmetry multiphonon structures. The recent discovery of mixed-symmetry multiphonon structures in the nucleus 94Mo is presented. Experimental approaches and results are discussed. The most recent identification of similar structures in the N=52 isotone 96Ru is addressed.
Assessing the effect of fast charging on the battery health of Plug-In Hybrid electric vehicles

Significant infrastructure demand will be experienced for the widespread use of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) for Vehicle to Grid (V2G) transactions. Charging stations are expected to be used in a wide array of commercial enterprises that will aid PHEV users to charge their vehicles. LEVEL 3 charging or Fast Charging is an alternative to the standard LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2 charging topology. It has the ability to fully charge a PHEV from near zero State of Charge (SOC) levels in under an hour. This paper uses a Li-ion Battery Model to simulate the effect of the rapid increase in SOC on the overall health of the battery. Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) is used to develop strategies that help in reducing both the battery degradation and cost to the user.
Experimental Design for Two-Color Microarrays Applied in a Pre-Existing Split-Plot Experiment

Microarray applications for the study of gene expression are becoming accessible for researchers in more and more systems. Applications from field or laboratory experiments are often complicated by the need to superimpose sample pairing for two-color arrays on experimental designs that may already be complex. For example, split-plot designs are commonly used in biological systems where experiments involve two types of treatments that are not readily applied at the same scale. We demonstrate how effects that are confounded with arrays can still be estimated when there is sufficient replication. To illustrate, we evaluate three methods of sample pairing superimposed on a split-plot design with two treatments, deriving the variance associated with parameter estimates for each. Design A has levels of the whole plot treatment paired on the same microarray within a level of the subplot treatment. Design B has crossed levels paired on the same microarray. Design C has levels of the treatment applied to subplots paired on the same microarray within a whole plot. Designs A and B have lower variance than design C for comparing the levels of the whole plot treatment. Designs B and C have lower variance for comparing the levels of the subplot treatment and design C has lower variance for comparing the levels of the subplot treatment within each level of the whole plot treatment. We provide SAS code for the analyses of variance discussed.
Epiphorellic acids 1 and 2, two diaryl ethers from the lichen Cornicularia epiphorella☆

Abstract From the lichen Cornicularia epiphorella two new diaryl ethers, epiphorellic acids 1 and 2, were isolated besides the known compound atranorin. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic evidence and chemical transformations. The structure of epiphorellic acid 1 was also confirmed by correlation with a known compound.
Excess photon noise in semiconductor cascade lasers

Semiconductor cascade lasers have larger photon noise than conventional single stage semiconductor lasers as a result of positive correlations in photon emission in different gain stages which are connected electrically in series. The photon noise of cascade lasers can be related to the photon noise of single stage lasers with scaled external circuit impedances. This scaling relation for the photon noise holds for bipolar as well as unipolar cascade lasers.
Some thoughts on the impact of large data sets on regional science

The rapid advances in computer technology give regional scientists the opportunity to employ data sets that are much larger than those currently in use. Increasingly, metadata are being created in order to give researchers a better understanding of the qualities of data sets. Nonetheless, a number of problems associated with large data sets, outlined in this paper, stand in the way of proper scientific use of the data. Regional scientists should not only take advantage of the new data but they should be prepared to handle the problems associated with them.
Drug-herb interactions: Unexpected suppression of free Danshen concentrations by salicylate

The general population of the U.S. uses over-the-counter herbal medicines. Danshen is a Chinese herbal product used for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In a previous study we showed that Danshen has significant digoxin-like immunoreactivity, and we used this parameter to monitor total and free Danshen activities in sera (10). In this report we demonstrated strong protein binding of Danshen (50–70%), and we also identified albumin as the major serum protein that binds Danshen. Because salicylate, which is also strongly bound to albumin, is a widely used over-the-counter medicine in the U.S., we studied Danshen–salicylate interaction in vitro. We observed no significant change in free Danshen concentrations as measured by free-digoxin-like activity when salicylate concentrations were subtherapeutic (≤100 μg/mL). With therapeutic concentrations of salicylate (≥150 μg/mL), the free Danshen concentrations significantly decreased from the control. On the other hand, Danshen can displace salicylate from protein binding, thereby increasing the free salicylate concentration. We conclude that salicylate in therapeutic concentration can significantly decrease free Danshen concentrations, and Danshen can displace salicylate. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 16:290–294, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Sulfhydryl reagents and lecithin binding to butanol-extracted membranes.

Abstract There is evidence suggesting that sulfhydryl groups play some role in protein structure. There is some evidence suggesting that protein sulfhydryl groups may be related in some way to lipid binding to certain proteins. The present studies were designed to show whether sulfhydryl reagent treatment of phospholipid-depleted lyophilized erythrocyte membranes would affect the subsequent binding of [ 14 C]-lecithin to these membranes. The results indicate that inorganic and organic mercurials and iodoacetamide significantly depress the magnitude of labeled lecithin binding. Studies also show that this inhibition is proportionately greater for larger amounts of phospholipid bound than smaller.
Time-Reversible Difference Procedures

Abstract The computer simulation of microdynamical processes often demands that the principle of reversibility be observed strictly. Five examples are presented to show how such reversibility can be achieved in fast integrations, in spite of the presence of first-order time derivatives. The examples are: the Lorentz equation, relativistic orbits, orbits in central coordinates, gyrocenter motion, and continuity equations.
Increased accumulation of superficial zone protein (SZP) in articular cartilage in response to bone morphogenetic protein-7 and growth factors

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), such as BMP-7, growth factors, and cytokines, in the accumulation of superficial zone protein (SZP) in bovine articular cartilage. Calf superficial articular cartilage discs and chondrocytes were obtained for explant and monolayer culture systems, respectively. Dose- and time-dependent actions of BMP-7 on SZP accumulation were investigated in both explant and monolayer culture systems. In addition, actions of various morphogens and growth factors [BMP-2, BMP-4, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta1)], and cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha)] alone, and in combination with BMP-7, on SZP accumulation were investigated in monolayer culture systems. SZP accumulation was quantified in both the cartilage and the medium using SDS-PAGE and subsequent immunoblotting. In both explant and monolayer cultures, BMP-7 increased SZP accumulation in a dose- and time-dependent fashion (p < 0.05). Furthermore, SZP accumulation was significantly increased in monolayer cultures by FGF-2, IGF-1, PDGF, and TGF-beta1 (p < 0.05). Both IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha significantly reduced SZP accumulation (p < 0.05). The inhibition of SZP accumulation by TNF-alpha was partially alleviated by concurrent treatment with BMP-7. The results of this investigation provide novel insights into the role of morphogens, especially BMP-7, growth factors, and cytokines in the accumulation of SZP in articular cartilage. This information has clinical implications because stimulation of SZP may ameliorate the pathology of joint function in arthritis. Furthermore, tissue engineering approaches to articular cartilage may depend on the optimal synthesis and assembly of SZP in the superficial zone to ensure functional tissue architecture.
Not Just Another Pretty Interface: Expert Information Searching and Retrieval

ABSTRACT Hospital librarians' practice includes the art and science of preparation for the search, use of complex tools for information retrieval, the search process, and the value-added delivery of results that completes information retrieval. They do focused searching for specific published information for themselves (for instance for evidence-based librarianship or collection development) or as intermediary searchers for their clients. Library schools' full semester courses in this subject usually are electives, so this article is an introduction for some and a review for others.
Functional status before and after diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes

Aims We examined functional health status prior to the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, and measured the effect on functional health status of receiving the diagnosis. Methods After the ADA reduced its fasting plasma glucose level for diagnosing diabetes from > 7.8 to > 7.0 mmol/l, we identified 1014 members of a large HMO who met the new criteria, and an age- and gender-matched comparison group who did not. We mailed questionnaires to these subjects in 1998, and again in 1999 to 623 who met the new criteria, after some had been notified of their diabetes, while others had not. We used the SF-12® Health Survey to measure physical and mental subjective health status. Results Mean age of respondents meeting new diagnostic criteria (n = 498) was 67.3 + 10.4 years, 43.6% were women. Comparison group respondents (n = 589) were 66.7 + 10.6 years, 45.2% women. The groups were not statistically different on either characteristic. Prior to the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, physical functioning was already lower in subjects who met the new criteria than in the comparison group (39.5 vs. 42.1, P < 0.001), mental functioning was similar (51.4 vs. 51.9, P = 0.406). Among those who newly met diagnostic criteria for diabetes, there was no difference in the change in health status (mental or physical) in those who reported receiving a diagnosis (n = 105) compared with those who did not (n = 168). Conclusions Physical health status is already reduced prior to diabetes diagnosis, perhaps because of obesity or other aspects of the insulin resistance syndrome. Receiving a diabetes diagnosis after adjusting the diagnostic criteria does not adversely affect either mental or physical health status.
The n-point and six-partite point of a convex polygon

The n-point of a planar convex polygon is defined through a geometric optimization problem associated with a ''balance'' functional and wedge set. The balance functional provides a measure of the imbalance of the polygon induced through the wedge set and the n-point is defined as the point which minimizes the balance functional. The classical six-partite point is the point where three lines pass through and subdivide the polygon into six equal area subsets. The n-point and six-partite point are solved through enumerative search strategies and examples are used throughout to illustrate the solution techniques.
Learning to Drive: Developing a Workable Awareness Plan for Monitoring New Technology

Technology is constantly driving forward, and information professionals need to be informed about developments in order to work more effectively, provide new services, understand what users need and want, and to develop professionally. Learning how to monitor these developments in technology is a skill, just like learning to drive. This article provides information about developing a workable awareness plan and provides some suggested sites to monitor and tools to use.
Radiation‐induced emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate in a pilot plant reactor I. Recycle flow reactor

A number of successful radiation polymerization of vinyl acetate in emulsion have been carried out in a modular stainless steel flow pilot plant. In a recycle mode, the system was utilized for extremely accurate kinetic measurements and experimental verification of model restrictions such as plug flow, lack of post irradiation effects and differential reactor behavior. Experimental conditions were explored to minimize contaminant, primarily oxygen, inhibition, and the tendency for this formulation, essentially an adhesive, to build up on the reactor walls. Industrial scaleup of such a prototype system appears attractive.
Severity-of-illness markers as predictors of nosocomial infection in adult intensive care unit patients.

Abstract Background: Patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) are at high risk for acquiring nosocomial infections. We examined the association between markers of severity of illness at ICU admission and the development of ICU-attributable nosocomial infections. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 851 patients admitted to the medical or surgical ICU in an urban teaching hospital from January 1997 to January 1998. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of nosocomial infection, including the Acute Physiology, Age, Chronic Health Evaluation III severity-of-illness scoring system. Results: Patients receiving mechanical ventilation on day 1 of ICU admission (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.29-3.06) and patients transferred to the ICU from another unit within the same hospital (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.24-3.34) were twice as likely to acquire an ICU-attributable nosocomial infection compared with patients admitted from other sources. The day-1 Acute Physiology, Age, Chronic Health Evaluation III score was not a significant predictor of nosocomial infection. Conclusion: The need for mechanical ventilation on ICU day 1 and transfer to the ICU from another unit are independent predictors of ICU-attributable nosocomial infections. Up to 50% of ICU patients who develop nosocomial infections could be easily identified at ICU admission, allowing for targeted use of preventive strategies to reduce the risk of nosocomial infections. (Am J Infect Control 2002;30:139-44.)
Interaction of Fibrin(ogen) with the Endothelial Cell Receptor VE-Cadherin: Localization of the Fibrin-Binding Site within the Third Extracellular VE-Cadherin Domain

Interaction of fibrin with endothelial cells through their receptor VE-cadherin has been implicated in modulation of angiogenesis and inflammation. Previous studies identified the VE-cadherin-binding site in the fibrin βN-domains formed by the NH2-terminal regions of fibrin β chains and revealed that the recombinant dimeric (β15−66)2 fragment mimicking these domains preserves the VE-cadherin-binding properties of fibrin. To test if the other fibrin(ogen) regions/domains are involved in this interaction and localize the complementary fibrin-binding site in VE-cadherin, we prepared several recombinant fragments containing individual extracellular domains of VE-cadherin or combinations thereof, as well as several fragments corresponding to various fibrin(ogen) regions, and tested the interactions between them by ELISA and surface plasmon resonance. The experiments revealed that the βN-domains are the only fibrin(ogen) regions involved in the interaction with VE-cadherin. They also localized the fibrin-bindin...
Momentum flow in black-hole binaries. II. Numerical simulations of equal-mass, head-on mergers with antiparallel spins

Research on extracting science from binary-black-hole (BBH) simulations has often adopted a “scattering matrix” perspective: given the binary’s initial parameters, what are the final hole’s parameters and the emitted gravitational waveform? In contrast, we are using BBH simulations to explore the nonlinear dynamics of curved spacetime. Focusing on the head-on plunge, merger, and ringdown of a BBH with transverse, antiparallel spins, we explore numerically the momentum flow between the holes and the surrounding spacetime. We use the Landau-Lifshitz field-theory-in-flat-spacetime formulation of general relativity to define and compute the density of field energy and field momentum outside horizons and the energy and momentum contained within horizons, and we define the effective velocity of each apparent and event horizon as the ratio of its enclosed momentum to its enclosed mass-energy. We find surprisingly good agreement between the horizons’ effective and coordinate velocities. During the plunge, the holes experience a frame-dragging-induced acceleration orthogonal to the plane of their spins and their infall (“downward”), and they reach downward speeds of order 1000 km/s. When the common apparent horizon forms (and when the event horizons merge and their merged neck expands), the horizon swallows upward field momentum that resided between the holes, causing the merged hole to accelerate in the opposite (“upward”) direction. As the merged hole and the field energy and momentum settle down, a pulsational burst of gravitational waves is emitted, and the merged hole has a final effective velocity of about 20 km/s upward, which agrees with the recoil velocity obtained by measuring the linear momentum carried to infinity by the emitted gravitational radiation. To investigate the gauge dependence of our results, we compare generalized harmonic and Baumgarte-Shapiro-Shibata-Nakamura-moving-puncture evolutions of physically similar initial data; although the generalized harmonic and Baumgarte-Shapiro-Shibata-Nakamura-moving-puncture simulations use different gauge conditions, we find remarkably good agreement for our results in these two cases. We also compare our simulations with the post-Newtonian trajectories and near-field energy-momentum.
Asymmetric information, voluntary ratings and the Rating Agency of Malaysia☆

Abstract In Malaysia, corporate debt securities are fairly ‘new’ and in 1990, the Rating Agency of Malaysia (RAM) was established to rate them. Initially, issuers were allowed to seek ratings voluntarily. This policy was the topic of an editorial in the November 1–15, 1991 issue of the publication Malaysian Business. The editorial recommended that debt securities in Malaysia should be mandatorily rated by RAM, thus providing investors with information about the likelihood of default by issuers. This paper presents an opposite view to the editorial and develops a model to justify a voluntary rating policy.
Wound risk assessment in ventral hernia repair: generation and internal validation of a risk stratification system using the ACS-NSQIP

There is a need for validated risk models to better stratify surgical site occurrences (SSO) following open ventral hernia repair (OVHR). The addition of more generalizable and validated risk models will serve to improve perioperative care in OVHR patients. We reviewed the 2005–2011 ACS-NSQIP databases identifying encounters for OVHR. The dependent outcome measure of interest was SSO, defined as superficial surgical site infection, deep infection, organ space infection, or wound dehiscence. Multivariate logistic regression of independently associated factors was performed and internally validated using a bootstrap technique. A composite risk score, the Hernia Wound Risk Assessment Tool (HW-RAT) was created using weighted beta coefficients. The HW-RAT was compared to existing models from the literature. A total of 60,187 patients who met inclusion criteria were identified in the 2005–2011 ACS-NSQIP databases. The incidence of SSO in the study was 6.2 % (N = 3,732). SSO risk factors were broken down based on rounded risk scores into the following groups: mild, intermediate, moderate, and severe risk. Severe risk factors related to operative time and degree of wound contamination. Moderate risk factors included class III obesity, component separation, dependent functional status, and inpatient hernia surgery. Patient stratification was performed based on total risk score into HW-RAT risk groups 1 through 5 which demonstrated significant discrimination between and across each group (P < 0.01, C-statistic = 0.71) with an incidence of SSO that ranged from 3.3 to 26.5 %. We present an internally validated risk model of SSO in OVHR (HW-RAT), which complements and builds upon current risk models. Prognostic/risk category, level II
Contributions of Private Landowners to the Conservation of the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)

Private landowners play a pivotal role in determining whether or not rare species persist in regions where privately owned land is extensive. The range of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is confined to the Southeastern U.S., a region predominantly under private ownership, and thus the status of this species is largely dependent upon land management decisions made by private landowners. We sent an anonymous mail survey to 2,584 individuals to examine factors affecting gopher tortoise occurrence on private lands in Mississippi (adjusted response rate of 23%). Few respondents (19%) reported currently having tortoises on their property, although many had them in the past (30%). Tortoises were persisting primarily on larger properties with longleaf pine that were not managed chiefly for timber production. In general, respondents were largely unaware of habitat requirements of tortoises or effects of various land management practices on them, and few reported using management techniques that benefit tortoises, such as prescribed burning. Most respondents (57%) knew of wildlife incentive programs, but were hesitant to enroll because they did not want to commit to managing their property in a particular manner (34%). We suggest actions that could improve the likelihood of tortoise persistence in this region, as well as changes that could be made to incentive programs to increase landowner participation. These suggestions should be relevant to the conservation of other rare species on private lands in other regions.
Molecular characterization, tissue-specific expression and RNAi knockdown of the first vitellogenin receptor from a tick

This is the first full-length message for a vitellogenin receptor (VgR) sequenced from ticks. VgRs, members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) superfamily, mediate the uptake of the yolk protein, vitellogenin (Vg), from the hemolymph. The VgR message from the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (GenBank accession No. DQ103506.4) comprised 5673 bp which coded for a 1798 aa deduced protein with a predicted 196.6 kDa molecular mass. After removing the 20 aa signal peptide, the 1778 aa deduced mature protein had a predicted 196.6 kDa molecular mass. BLAST comparisons showed the highest similarity to the VgR of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. VgR message was expressed in mated female ovary but absent in female midgut and salivary glands or whole body mRNA from blood fed males, indicating that it is both sex and tissue specific. VgR transcript was absent in virgin (previtellogenic) females but present in ovaries of mated females following drop off. RNAi showed that unfed adult ticks injected with a VgR-dsRNA probe failed to lay eggs, develop brown eggs or fully express VgR transcript (Northern blots). In contrast, controls oviposited numerous normal brown eggs and showed strong expression of VgR transcripts. These results show that the expression of the VgR message is essential for Vg uptake and egg development in the American dog tick.
RNA-seq profiles of immune related genes in the staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis infected with white band disease.

Coral diseases are among the most serious threats to coral reefs worldwide, yet most coral diseases remain poorly understood. How the coral host responds to pathogen infection is an area where very little is known. Here we used next-generation RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to produce a transcriptome-wide profile of the immune response of the Staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis to White Band Disease (WBD) by comparing infected versus healthy (asymptomatic) coral tissues. The transcriptome of A. cervicornis was assembled de novo from A-tail selected Illumina mRNA-seq data from whole coral tissues, and parsed bioinformatically into coral and non-coral transcripts using existing Acropora genomes in order to identify putative coral transcripts. Differentially expressed transcripts were identified in the coral and non-coral datasets to identify genes that were up- and down-regulated due to disease infection. RNA-seq analyses indicate that infected corals exhibited significant changes in gene expression across 4% (1,805 out of 47,748 transcripts) of the coral transcriptome. The primary response to infection included transcripts involved in macrophage-mediated pathogen recognition and ROS production, two hallmarks of phagocytosis, as well as key mediators of apoptosis and calcium homeostasis. The strong up-regulation of the enzyme allene oxide synthase-lipoxygenase suggests a key role of the allene oxide pathway in coral immunity. Interestingly, none of the three primary innate immune pathways - Toll-like receptors (TLR), Complement, and prophenoloxydase pathways, were strongly associated with the response of A. cervicornis to infection. Five-hundred and fifty differentially expressed non-coral transcripts were classified as metazoan (n = 84), algal or plant (n = 52), fungi (n = 24) and protozoans (n = 13). None of the 52 putative Symbiodinium or algal transcript had any clear immune functions indicating that the immune response is driven by the coral host, and not its algal symbionts.