cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation and Capacity Competition in Health Care: Evidence from U.S. Dialysis Markets

Abstract This paper studies entry and capacity decisions by dialysis providers in the United States. We estimate a structural model where providers make continuous strategic choices of capacity based on their private information about own costs and knowledge of the distribution of competitors’ private information. We evaluate the impact on the market structure and providers’ profits under counterfactual regulatory policies that increase the costs or reduce the payment per unit of capacity. We find that these policies reduce the market capacity as measured by the number of dialysis stations. However, the downward-sloping reaction curve shields some providers from negative profit shocks in certain markets. The paper also has a methodological contribution in that it proposes new estimators for Bayesian games with continuous actions.
Usability of quality measures for online health information: Can commonly used technical quality criteria be reliably assessed?

Summary Purpose: Many criteria have been developed to rate the quality of online health information. To effectively evaluate quality, consumers must use quality criteria that can be reliably assessed. However, few instruments have been validated for inter-rater agreement. Therefore, we assessed the degree to which two raters could reliably assess 22 popularly cited quality criteria on a sample of 42 complementary and alternative medicine Web sites. Methods: We determined the degree of inter-rater agreement by calculating the percentage agreement, Cohen's kappa, and prevalence- and bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK). Results: Our un-calibrated analysis showed poor inter-rater agreement on eight of the 22 quality criteria. Therefore, we created operational definitions for each of the criteria, decreased the number of assessment choices and defined where to look for the information. As a result 18 of the 22 quality criteria were reliably assessed (inter-rater agreement≥0.6). Conclusions: We conclude that even with precise definitions, some commonly used quality criteria cannot be reliably assessed. However, inter-rater agreement can be improved with precise operational definitions.
Reproductive tract gene transfer

Abstract Objective Gene therapy is a rapidly evolving novel treatment for human disease. This review discusses the latest development in gene transfer technology and its potential use in the female reproductive tract. Methods A comprehensive search using the MEDLINE database was performed to review current, innovative trends in gene transfer technology. In addition, articles on reproductive tract gene transfer were reviewed. Conclusion(s) Recent developments, such as the Human Genome Project, have generated great interest in the genetic basis of human health and disease. Gene therapy is a rapidly evolving field that uses gene transfer to treat disease. Ongoing research in the field focuses on improving vector technology to enable efficient in vivo gene transfer. Although multiple techniques for gene transfer have been described, no single technique can be used in all instances. The human female reproductive tract is easily accessible and can be readily transfected. In vivo gene transfer has resulted in successful alteration of implantation rates and has demonstrated potential for use in treatment of ovarian cancer.
Fundamental Limits of Universal Lossless One-to-One Compression of Parametric Sources

In this paper, the problem of universal lossless one-to-one compression (without prefix constraint) is studied. A converse bound is obtained on the average minimax (and maximin) redundancy that shows the redundancy is at least (d 2)=2logn+O(1) for the universal compression of a sequence of length n from a d-dimensional parametric source. Further, the type-size coding strategy is shown to be minimax optimal up to o(logn) for the class of memoryless sources, achieving the converse leading to characterization of the fundamental performance limit of universal compression for memoryless sources. Finally, through a numerical example, our results imply that the reduction on the codeword length due to relaxing the prefix constraint is negligible when compared to the cost of universality.
Effects of monensin on ATP levels and cell functions in rat liver and lung in vitro.

Effects of the proton-alkali cation-exchanging ionophore, monensin, on aspects of cellular metabolism and ionic exchanges have been studied in rat tissues in vitro. Incubation of liver slices at 38°C with 0.1 μm monensin induced timedependent vesiculation, initially in the Golgi region, reduction of ATP content and of protein synthesis. At 1 νm, monensin also reduced net, active movements of K+, Na+, Cl− and water in liver slices and inhibited state 3 respiration in isolated mitochondria. The respiratory inhibitor, amytal, similarly reduced ATP content and protein synthesis at concentrations lower than those inhibiting ion transport in slices. Low concentrations of monensin (0.1–1.0 μm) had similar effects on ATP and ion transport in slices of adult lung. By contrast, late-fetal liver and lung were much less sensitive to monensin; in these tissues, glycolysis sustained substantial levels of ATP. Monensin also induced vesiculation of the Golgi apparatus in fetal lung cells. It is concluded that by lowering ATP levels, monensin can markedly alter various metabolic activities in those cells which depend primarily on oxidative phosphorylation for their metabolic energy.
Effects of alcohol on brain responses to social signals of threat in humans

Alcohol is a known exogenous modulator of negative affect (anxiety, tension) in both animals and humans. It has been proposed that the anxiolytic effects of alcohol are mediated via the amygdala, an area critical to fear perception and responding. However, little is known about the acute effects of alcohol on amygdala reactivity to threatening information in humans. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging and a validated task to probe amygdala responses to social signals of threat in 12 healthy, social drinkers after a double-blind crossover administration of alcohol or placebo. We found that alcohol significantly reduced amygdala reactivity to threat signals. The current findings fit well with the notion that alcohol may attenuate threat-based responding and provide a potential brain-based mechanism for the link between alcohol and anxiety and/or social threat perception.
A novel method for assessing position-sensitive detector performance

A marked-point process model of a position-sensitive detector is developed which includes the effects of detector efficiency, spatial response, energy response, and source statistics. The average mutual information between the incident distribution of gamma -rays and the detector response is derived and used as a performance index of detector optimization. A brief example is presented which uses this figure-of-merit for optimization of light-guide dimensions for the SPRINT IT modular scintillation camera. >
pp42/44MAP Kinase Is a Component of the Neurogenic Pathway Utilized by Nerve Growth Factor in PC12 Cells

: Nerve growth factor-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (pp42/44MAP) kinase was characterized by sequential column chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, phenyl-Sepharose CL4B, and S-200. The kinase displayed an apparent molecular mass of 42 kDa and reacted with an antiphosphotyrosine antibody. Peptide mapping of myelin basic protein revealed the presence of one phosphopeptide that was phosphorylated on Thr-97. pp42/44MAP kinase activity was dependent on Mg2+ and inhibited by K252a both in vitro and in vivo. Nerve growth factor-stimulated kinase activation was diminished by down-regulation of protein kinase C with 200 nM 12-phorbol 13-myristate acetate or with staurosporine (1 nM), a protein kinase C inhibitor. Genistein, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, blocked nerve growth factor-mediated neurite extension as well as diminished activation of pp42/44MAP kinase. Our data demonstrate that activation of this kinase system by nerve growth factor displays a requirement for both protein kinase C as well as protein tyrosine kinase. In addition, other agents that are capable of promoting neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells, such as fibroblast growth factor or dibutryl cyclic AMP, do so independently of activating this kinase system.
Fermentation of Cucumbers in Anaerobic Tanks

A procedure was developed and tested for fermentation of cucumbers at low concentrations of NaCl in experimental, anaerobic tanks. The procedure included washing of the cucumbers, use of a buffered cover brine composed of 0.045M calcium acetate, sodium chloride to equilibrate at 2.7% or 4.6%, Lactobacillus plantarum culture, and N2 purging to remove dissolved CO2. The fermentations were predominantly homofermentative, lactic acid accounting for 95% of the cucumber sugars fermented. Firmness retention of the fermented cucumbers during storage for 1 year was improved by heating packaged products to 69°C before storage, but firmness retention was acceptable in un-heated products.
The game of set®: an ideal example for introducing polymorphism and design patterns

This paper presents an object--oriented design for a solitaire version of the game of Set® The design is responsibility driven and illustrates polymorphism and several fundamental design patterns, including Flyweight, Strategy and Factory. It introduces each of these to solve particular problems within the design. The direct application of these concepts and the interest our students show in the game make Set an ideal example for classroom discussions and assignments.
A General Simulation Method for Multiple Bodies in Proximate Flight

Methods of unsteady aerodynamic simulation for an arbitrary number of independent bodies flying in close proximity are considered. A novel method to efficiently detect collision contact points is described. A method to compute body trajectories in response to aerodynamic loads, applied loads, and inter-body collisions is also given. The physical correctness of the methods are verified by comparison to a set of analytic solutions. The methods, combined with a Navier-Stokes solver, are used to demonstrate the possibility of predicting the unsteady aerodynamics and flight trajectories of moving bodies that involve rigid-body collisions.
Bone Marrow Toxicity Associated with 5-Fluorocytosine Therapy

Bone marrow toxicity occurred in 4 of 15 patients treated with 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) for serious fungal infections. The development of marrow toxicity appeared to be related to serum 5-FC levels of 125 mug/ml or greater. In three patients, accumulation of toxic levels of 5-FC was related to diminished renal function. One patient with acute renal failure and prolonged high levels of 5-FC developed marrow aplasia and died of bacterial sepsis. Three patients experienced leukopenia, which was readily reversed when the dosage of 5-FC was decreased and the serum concentration was lowered. With careful monitoring of serum 5-FC concentration and renal function, the dose-related toxic effects of 5-FC on the marrow can be avoided.
Superconductivity above 90 K in the compound YBa 2 Cu 3 O x : Structural, transport, and magnetic properties

We report the structural, transport, and magnetic properties of the principal phase responsible for superconductivity in the recently discovered Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds with transition temperatures greater than 90 K.
Surface segregation of bromine in bromide doped NaCl: Implications for the seasonal variations in Arctic ozone

Episodes of ozone depletion attributed to chemistry of gas phase bromine compounds in marine regions of the Arctic boundary layer have been reported at polar sunrise. Models for the source of brominated compounds in the marine Arctic troposphere have focussed on surface chemistry of sea salt ice and aerosols even though the molar ratio of Cl− to Br− in sea salt is expected to be ∼660 to 1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies described here show, for the first time, substantial segregation of Br− to the surface of NaCl samples with low level Br− dopant. Water vapor exposure plays an important role as it provides enhanced ionic mobility in such systems allowing the surface segregation as the system approaches thermodynamic equilibrium. Our XPS results are confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of the salt sample surface after water vapor exposure, which shows NaBr crystallites that form at the surface. Our experiments provide the first experimental evidence for surface segregation in mixed alkali halide solids. The segregation phenomenon displayed here is likely to play an important role in a wide range of atmospheric phenomena that involve surface reactions of sea salt particles and aerosols.
Does flexibility hinder financial regulation? The case of CRA enforcement in the USA

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine whether lending qualifying for credit under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is associated with how broadly banks define the assessment areas (AAs) within which they operate. Both are identified as components of performance for purposes of compliance with the CRA.Design/methodology/approach – Regression analysis using a sample of 212 banks, observed in 2006.Findings – Qualifying lending and AA lending are found to be unrelated. This is inconsistent with an ability of banks to gerrymander their AAs in order to tradeoff one regulatory standard against another.Practical implications – Subjectivity inherent in AA delineation does not necessarily mitigate the achievement of regulatory objectives on qualifying lending. This is relevant to the ongoing debate concerning the role of flexibility in financial regulation.Originality/value – This is believed to be the first empirical study on bank‐specific factors associated with AA lending under the CRA.
Contact topology and hydrodynamics: I. Beltrami fields and the Seifert conjecture

We draw connections between the field of contact topology (the study of totally non-integrable plane distributions) and the study of Beltrami fields in hydrodynamics on Riemannian manifolds in dimension three. We demonstrate an equivalence between Reeb fields (vector fields which preserve a transverse nowhere-integrable plane field) up to scaling and rotational Beltrami fields (non-zero fields parallel to their non-zero curl). This immediately yields existence proofs for smooth, steady, fixed-point free solutions to the Euler equations on all 3-manifolds and all subdomains of 3 with torus boundaries. This correspondence yields a hydrodynamical reformulation of the Weinstein conjecture from symplectic topology, whose recent solution by Hofer (in several cases) implies the existence of closed orbits for all rotational Beltrami flows on S 3 . This is the key step for a positive solution to a `hydrodynamical' Seifert conjecture: all steady flows of a perfect incompressible fluid on S 3 possess closed flowlines. In the case of spatially periodic Euler flows on 3 , we give general conditions for closed flowlines derived from the algebraic topology of the vector field.
Elbow impedance during goal-directed movements

The mechanical properties and reflex actions of muscles crossing the elbow joint were examined during a 60-deg voluntary elbow extension movement. Brief unexpected torque pulses of identical magnitude and time-course (20-Nm extension switching to 20-Nm flexion within 30 ms) were introduced at various points of a movement in randomly selected trials. Single pulses were injected in different trials, some before movement onset and some either during early, mid, late or ending stages of the movement. Changes in movement trajectory induced by a torque pulse were determined over the first 50 ms by a nearest-neighbor prediction algorithm, and then a modified K-B-I (stiffness-damping-inertia) model was fit to the responses. The stiffness and damping coefficients estimated during voluntary movements were compared to values recorded during trials in which subjects were instructed to strongly co-contract while maintaining a static posture. This latter protocol was designed to help determine the maximum impedance a subject could generate. We determined that co-contraction increased joint stiffness greatly, well beyond that recorded under control conditions. In contrast, the stiffness magnitudes were quite small during routine voluntary movements, or when the subjects relaxed their limb. Furthermore, the damping coefficients were always significant and increased measurably at the end of movement. Reflex activity, as measured by EMG responses in biceps and triceps brachii, showed highly variable responses at latencies of 160 ms or greater. These reflexes tended to activate both elbow flexors and extensors simultaneously. These findings suggest that very low intrinsic muscle stiffness values recorded during point-to-point motion render an equilibrium point or impedance control approach implausible as a means to regulate movement trajectories. In particular, muscle that is shortening against inertial loads seems to exhibit much smaller stiffness than similarly active isometric muscle, although some degree of damping is always present and does not simply co-vary with stiffness. Although the limb muscles can be co-contracted statically or during movement with an observable increase in stiffness and even task performance, this control strategy is rarely utilized, presumably due to the greater energetic cost.
Membranous glomerulonephritis: long-term serial observations on clinical course and morphology.

Membranous glomerulonephritis: Long-term serial observations on clinical course and morphology. The natural history of diffuse membranous glomerulonephritis in 32 patients followed for five years or more, or until death, remission or the development of uremia is presented. The disease was diagnosed by light or electron microscopy employing rigid criteria, principally the appearance of subepithelial or intramembranous deposits in the peripheral capillary loops of all unhyalinized glomeruli. Ten patients developed uremia an average of 2.7 years after the clinical onset. Uremia appeared in four other patients but more slowly, i.e., 6, 8, 9, and 19 years after the onset. Two patients have died without uremia. Nine patients exhibited slow progression of the disease with persistent heavy proteinuria and moderately depressed function and have lived for as long as 23 years after proteinuria was first detected. Seven patients have entered remission, five with the complete disappearance of proteinuria. Subepithelial deposits were dense and electron opaque early in the course of the disease and in patients who followed a rapid clinical course to uremia. By light microscopy, the basement membrane appeared to thicken with time in those in whom the disease progressed, including those in whom progression was slow. Deposits were more likely to be intramembranous and lucent in older lesions and appeared to disappear in patients who entered remission. Glomerulonephrite membraneuse: Evolution clinique et morphologie au cours d'une etude repetitive a long terme. L'histoire naturelle de la glomerulonephrite membraneuse diffuse chez 32 malades suivis pendant 5 ans ou plus, ou jusqu'au deces, a la remission ou a l'installation de l'uremie est presentee. Le diagnostic a ete etabli par la microscopie optique ou electronique en fonction de criteres rigides, principalement l'existence de depots sous epitheliaux ou intramembraneux dans les anses capillaires peripheriques de tous les glomerules non hyalinises. Dix malades ont developpe une insuffisance renale en 2,7 ans, en moyenne, apres le debut clinique. Deux malades sont morts sans insuffisance renale. Neuf malades ont eu une evolution lente de la maladie, avec une proteinurie importante et une diminution moderee de la fonction renale, et ont vecu jusqu'a 23 ans apres la premiere constatation de la proteinurie. Sept malades sont entres en remission, cinq d'entre eux avec disparition de la proteinurie. Les depots sous epitheliaux etaient denses et opaques aux electrons tot dans l'evolution de la maladie et chez les malades dont l'evolution vers l'insuffisance renale etait rapide. En microscopie optique, les membranes basales paraissaient s'epaissir avec le temps chez les malades dont l'affection progressait, meme chez ceux dont la progression etait lente. Les depots etaient plus frequemment intramembraneux et clairs dans les lesions anciennes et disparaissaient chez les malades en remission.
The Spirastrellolides: Construction of the Southern C(1)−C(25) Fragment Exploiting Anion Relay Chemistry

Effective construction of the southern C(1)−C(25) fragment of spirastrellolide A has been achieved. Central to this venture was the use of four dithiane unions, including the highly effective deployment of the anion relay chemistry (ARC) tactic recently introduced by our laboratory.
Highly accurate non-reflecting boundary conditions for finite element simulations of transient acoustics problems

The focus of this work is on developing a family of highly accurate boundary operators for solving wave-type equations in unbounded domains. In particular, we consider wave propagation problems characterized by the classical wave equation, and we are interested in radiating boundary conditions which can be easily fit into the framework of a typical finite element code.
Tomorrow's Teachers for Whom and for What? Missing Propositions in the Holmes Group Report.

The Holmes Group report, Tomorrow's Teachers, focuses on means of teacher preparation, but ignores the underlying issue of the ends of education. Further, the report makes "profession" and deri vat...
Ultrasonography to visualize the upper urinary tract in children with meningomyelocele.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the frequency of difficulties when using ultrasonography (US, commonly used to visualize the upper urinary tract) to evaluate renal length and dilatation in children and adolescents with meningomyelocele (MMC), who have excessive obesity or a distorted spine. PATIENTS AND METHODS The records of all children with MMC investigated during 1996–2002 were assessed retrospectively and the last investigation used for analysis. In addition to the US results, the body mass index (BMI) and angulation of the spine were recorded. RESULTS Of the 160 children investigated, US was not evaluable in 46 (29%), i.e. in 35 (22%) for renal length, in one (1%) for dilatation and in 10 (6%) for both. In 99 patients with a straight spine and mild to moderate angulation, renal length was not measurable in 14 (14%), while dilatation was not evaluable in two (2%). In 61 patients with a severely angled spine, the corresponding values were 31 (51%) and nine (15%), respectively. In eight patients with a BMI of ≥ 27 kg/m2 and a straight spine, four of the investigations were not completely evaluable, while six were not in the eight patients with both a BMI of ≥ 27 kg/m2 and severe angulation. CONCLUSION Both severe spinal angulation and a BMI of ≥ 27 kg/m2 significantly reduced the possibility of evaluating the urinary tract by US. However, in an unselected group of children with MMC, dilatation could be evaluated in >90% and renal length in ≈ 70%.
Surgical techniques for treating a renal neoplasm invading the inferior vena cava.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Historically inferior vena caval thrombus associated with renal cell carcinoma was a deterrent to surgery. During the last 3 decades there has been steady improvement in surgical techniques and perioperative care, which has dramatically improved the ability to resect safely these tumors. We acknowledge these improvements in chronological order.Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review of the different techniques used for resecting renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena caval involvement was performed using MEDLINE. Data focused on surgical techniques, including various incisions, exposures, adjuncts to surgery and outcomes.Results: Tumor thrombus associated with renal cell carcinoma is no longer considered to have a detrimental impact on survival. Patients who are acceptable surgical candidates have survival rates as high as 68%. Although there is a great deal of emphasis on the importance of an aggressive surgical approach, a uniform operative strategy based on the level ...
Pyruvate Formation and Sugar Metabolism in an Amino Acid-Producing Bacterium, Brevibacterium flavum

A Brevibacterium flavum mutant lacking pyruvate kinase, No. 70, grew on glucose, fructose and sucrose as well as the original wild strain did, but was unable to grow on ribose or gluconate unless pyruvate was added. Mutants that required pyruvate for growth on ribose were derived directly from the wild strain. Many of them were completely or partially defective in pyruvate kinase activity. These pyruvate kinase mutants were also unable to grow on gluconate. A phosphoenolpy- ruvate (PEP): sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) was found in B. flavum, which catalyzed the formation of pyruvate and sugar phosphate from PEP and sugar. The system required Mg2 +, acted on glucose, fructose, mannose, glucosamine and 2-deoxyglucose, and existed in the cells grown on any of the carbon sources tested. Cells grown on fructose, mannitol and sucrose, however, exhibited higher PTS activities on fructose than those grown on others. Glucose PTS activity was about 20-fold stronger than that of glucokinase. Other sugar metab...
A central action of octopamine on ventilation frequency in Corydalus cornutus

Application of octopamine (10−4 or 10−5 M) to ventrally dissected hellgrammites increased the frequency of the ventilatory rhythm 16.6 ± 2.0%. Similar results were observed when a chain of abdominal ganglia was isolated from other parts of the central nervous system and the periphery; thus, the effect was a central one. A ventilatory increase of similar magnitude was not elicited from chains of ganglia that lacked the dominant oscillator for the ventilatory rhythm; thus, exogenous octopamine acts at the expected site of physiological control of the rhythm. Dopamine (10−4 or 10−5 M) decreased ventilatory frequency 16.7 ± 4.0%. Thus, as in other animals (Livingstone et al., '80), a pair of amines has opposite effects on an invertebrate behavior.
Immunodeficiency Diseases in Marine Mollusks: Measurements of Some Variables

Abstract Immunity in bivalves comprises cell-mediated and humoral mechanisms. Because bivalves (and gastropods) possess open circulatory systems, studies were conducted to ascertain whether copper and cadmium ions that enter eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica would compromise certain aspects of the animals' cell-mediated and humoral immunity. In vivo exposure to a 1-mg/L concentration of Cu2+ was more lethal to eastern oyster hemocytes than exposures to 1-mg/L concentrations of Cu2+ plus EDTA, Cd2+, or Cd2+ plus EDTA. However, in vivo exposures to 1-mg/L concentrations of both metals alone and in the chelated forms had no effect on the chemotactic attraction between hemocytes and sonicated Escherichia coli. Also, measurements of enzyme activities in eastern oysters challenged in vivo with 1-mg/L concentrations of Cu2+, Cu2+ plus EDTA, Cd2+, or Cd2+ plus EDTA revealed that Cd2+ inhibited the release of lysozyme into serum, Cu2+ inhibited the release of acid phosphatase into serum, and Cu2+ stimulated th...
A commentary on “team cognition and expert teams: Emerging insights into performance for exceptional teams”

Abstract This article offers a critical evaluation of the team cognition and performance literature and, in particular, the concepts, ideas, and research discussed by the authors contributing to this special issue. We begin by examining how some of the terms introduced have been defined previously and assess the appropriateness of and theoretical rationale for their use. Next, the concept of “sharedness” is considered. We specifically focus on the role of planning or plan sharing in becoming an “expert team.” Following this, we discuss the relationship between those concepts introduced and performance. We pay particular attention to the underlying mechanisms responsible for superior performance, at both the individual and team level, with a special consideration given to understanding if and why this relationship is important. Finally, we consider the added value of adopting this approach and how the research on teams might be used in improving the approaches, methods, and paradigms currently adopted in s...
A numerical reconstruction of the effects of late stimulation on a cardiac ventricular action potential

Numerical simulations of a propagating cardiac action potential utilizing Beeler-Reuter and Drouhard-Roberge physiological routines for the membrane current have been performed. These action potentials show increases in action potential duration when subjected to strong late stimuli of either positive or negative polarity. The mechanism is the same as that reported in an earlier paper which utilized a different physiological approach: repolarizing stimuli can reset the fast sodium gates locally so that they can be retriggered by diffusive return of charge from surrounding tissue. This results in a large depolarizing transient that lengthens action potential duration.
9alpha-Fluoro-16alpha-methyl-3,11-dioxoandrosta-1,4-diene-17beta-carboxylic acid: catemeric hydrogen bonding and acetic acid solvation in a steroidal keto acid related to dexamethasone.

The title keto acid crystallizes as a solvate, C(21)H(25)FO(4).C(2)H(4)O(2), with two molecules each of steroid and acetic acid per asymmetric unit. The former are approximately parallel, with opposite end-to-end orientation, and form translational carboxyl-to-ketone hydrogen-bonding catemers [O...O = 2.679 (6) and 2.650 (5) A, and O-H...O = 165 and 162 degrees] that involve the 3-ketone group and follow the a axis. The acetic acid molecules are paired by hydrogen bonding, and neither they nor the F atom nor the 11-ketone group play any overt role in the hydrogen-bonding scheme of the steroid. Intermolecular C-H...O=C close contacts involving three different neighboring molecules exist to the 11-ketone group, the steroidal carboxyl group and one of the acetic acid molecules.
Interruption of a Trypanosoma cruzi gene encoding a protein containing 14-amino acid repeats by targeted insertion of the neomycin phosphotransferase gene.

Abstract In Trypanosoma cruzi , the cause of Chagas' disease in Latin America, a large proportion of the antigenic proteins described to date have repetitive domains. In earlier work we identified a partial length cDNA, designated TCR27, encoding approx. 26 copies of a 14-amino acid repeat and a unique 61-amino acid C-terminal region. The goal of the current project was to replace the repetitive region of a TCR27 gene with the neomycin phosphotransferase gene ( NEO r ). A pBluescript-based vector was constructed in which the 0.9-kb NEO r coding region replaced the 2.9-kb internal repetitive segment of a TCR27 gene and was in frame with its nonrepetitive 5′ coding sequence (pTCR27-2::NEO). Epimastigotes were electroporated in the presence of linearized pTCR27-2::NEO and transfected clones were selected on solid medium containing G418. Southern and Northern analyses of DNAs and RNAs from four G418-resistant clones showed that in all cases the repetitive region in the smaller of the two TCR27 genes (TCR27-2) had been replaced by NEO r . The absence of the native TCR27-2 protein in the transfected clones was confirmed by Western blot. In axenic cultures growth rates of epimastigotes bearing an interrupted TCR27-2 gene were not different from those of wild-type parasites. In addition, there was no relative impairment of the four transfected clones' ability to proliferate in cultured mammalian cells. The fact that the clones having the interrupted TCR27-2 gene were not impaired biologically suggests that the length of the repetitive region of the TCR27 protein is not a critical factor for survival.
Exponential clustering for long-range integer-spin systems

By using Kirkwood-Salsburg equations for classical spin systems with unbounded integer values we prove exponential decay (resp. power law decay) for exponential (resp. power law) decaying potentials. We use these results to prove the mass gap in the two-dimensional Higgs-Villain model in the weak coupling region.
An Investigation of the Sources of Bronze Age Pottery from Göltepe and Kestel, Turkey by Neutron Activation

As part of a broader research scheme intended to examine the relationship between the ceramic and metal industries of Bronze Age Anatolia, a program of compositional analysis by neutron activation was performed on ceramic material dated to the third millennium BC from Goltepe and Kestel, Turkey, the earliest known tin mining and processing sites in the Near East. Fifty-one archaeological samples representing five classes of pottery (crucibles, burnished ware, micaceous ware, fine-slipped ware, and metallic ware) and three local clay samples were analyzed in order to clarify problems related to the sources of the archaeological ceramics. Evidence provided by these experiments indicates that the four classes of domestic pottery and the crucibles derive from at least two distinct sources. One of these sources, the alluvial clay outcrops in the vicinity of Goltepe, was exploited for the manufacture of two types of domestic pottery (burnished ware and micaceous ware), as well as the “industrial” crucible refractories. Metallic ware appears to represent a distinct source group; however, the specific location of the source remains unclear. The geochemical relationship between fine-slipped ware and the other ceramics remains unclear.
The graph association problem: Mathematical models and a lagrangian heuristic

Graph association is the problem of merging many graphs that collectively describe a set of possibly repetitive entities and relationships into a single graph that contains unique entities and relationships. As a form of data association, graph association can be used to identify when two sensors are observing the same object so information from both sensors can be combined and analyzed in a meaningful and consistent way. Graph association between two graphs is related to the problem of graph matching, and between multiple graphs it is related to the common labeling of a graph set (also known as multiple graph matching) problem. This article contribution is to formulate graph association as a binary linear program and introduce a heuristic for solving multiple graph association using a Lagrangian relaxation approach to address issues with between-graph transitivity requirements. The algorithms are tested on a representative dataset. The developed model formulation was found to accurately solve the graph association problem. Furthermore, the Lagrangian heuristic was found to solve the developed model within 3% of optimal on many problem instances, and found better solutions to large problems than is possible by directly using CPLEX. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2013
Development of an 8-plex Luminex assay to detect swine cytokines for vaccine development: assessment of immunity after porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccination.

A Luminex (Luminex Corp., Austin, TX) multiplex swine cytokine assay was developed to measure 8 cytokines simultaneously in pig serum for use in assessment of vaccine candidates. The fluorescent microsphere immunoassay (FMIA) was tested on archived sera in a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccine/challenge study. This FMIA simultaneously detects innate (IL-1β, IL-8, IFN-α, TNF-α, IL-12), regulatory (IL-10), Th1 (IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines. These proteins were measured to evaluate serum cytokine levels associated with vaccination strategies that provided for different levels of protective immunity against PRRSV. Pigs were vaccinated with a modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine and subsequently challenged with a non-identical PRRSV isolate (93% identity in the glycoprotein (GP5) gene). Protection (as defined by no serum viremia) was observed in the MLV vaccinated pigs after PRRSV challenge but not those vaccinated with killed virus vaccine with adjuvant (KV/ADJ) (99% identity in the GP5 gene to the challenge strain) or non-vaccinates. Significantly elevated levels of IL-12 were observed in the KV/ADJ group compared to MLV vaccinated and control groups. However, this significant increase in serum IL-12 did not correlate with protection against PRRSV viremia. Additional studies using this assay to measure the local cytokine tissue responses may help in defining a protective cytokine response and would be useful for the targeted design of efficacious vaccines, not only for PRRSV, but also for other swine pathogens.
Family Factors Associated With High Academic Competence Among Former Head Start Children

From a database generated by the multi-site National Head Start/Public School Early Childhood Transition Demonstration Project, a subsample of the 154 children with the highest academic achievement...
SAR reduction of implanted planar inverted F antennas with non-uniform width radiator

In this paper, the radiation mechanism of an implanted planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) is studied to improve radiation performances of PIFA in a human body by changing the width of the planar radiators. The PIFA is designed to operate at the medical implant communications service (MICS) frequency band (402-405 MHz). The numerical computational procedures (Annex E of Std. C95.3-2002) recommended by IEEE are applied to calculate spatial-average specific absorption rate (SAR) for the implanted antennas located in a biological tissue model. An experimental setup is used to measure the impedance matching characteristics of the implanted antenna.
Hippocampal sympathetic ingrowth occurs following 192-IgG-Saporin administration.

Abstract Electrolytic lesions of the medial septal region leads to an unusual neuronal reorganization in which peripheral sympathetic fibers, originating from the superior cervical ganglia, grow into the cholinergically denervated areas of the hippocampus. Since these lesions disrupt cells and fibers of passage which are non-cholinergic, there has been a debate whether Hippocampal Sympathetic Ingrowth is due only to cholinergic denervation of the hippocampus. Using the intraseptal administration of 192-IgG–Saporin, a specific cholinergic neurotoxin, we have found that hippocampal sympathetic ingrowth occurs in the cholinergically denervated hippocampus at 4, 8 and 12 weeks post Saporin injection. These results clearly suggest that hippocampal sympathetic ingrowth is due to the specific loss of the cholinergic projection from the medial septum.
Crater-fault interactions: A metric for dating fault zones on planetary surfaces

Abstract Constructing a tectonic history of a planetary surface requires determining precise fault ages, a task not always possible with current analytical methods. Here we introduce a new method to constrain the ages of faults, improving upon earlier methods that used cross-cutting relationships with crater-dated host surfaces, and apply it to faulted terrains by counting all craters and categorizing them into “faulted,” “unfaulted” and “unclear” types to date deformation directly. Additionally, we construct a simple probabilistic model to account for regions of low fault density. This new technique is applied to the tectonically complex Thaumasia plateau, Mars, to assess the timing of regional faulting and demonstrate its usefulness and ease of application.
Multimodal 3D panoramic imaging using a precise rotating platform

Both panoramic and multimodal imaging are becoming more and more desirable in applications such as wide area surveillance, robotics, mapping and entertainment. In this paper, we build a precise rotating platform to generate co-registered multimodal and multiview 3D panoramic images. The platform consists of a pair of color and thermal cameras that are mounted with their optical axes pointing away from the rotation center. As a result of the precisely controlled rotation of the platform, multiview panoramic mosaics of color and thermal images can be obtained using circular perspective projection. Furthermore, the mosaics of two modalities can be precisely aligned via the analysis of their geometric relationship. In order to estimate the parameters of the cameras needed for multimodal alignment, a calibration method that is very simple to implement is proposed based on the relationship of the distance and angle of a feature point coming in and out of the field-of-view of a camera. Experimental results for multiview and multimodal alignment of stereo panoramas are given.
Coarctation of the aorta complicated by acute bacterial endocarditis with embolism of a coronary artery and syphilitic aortitis.

Abstract The purpose of this communication is to report two unusual lesions associated with coarctation of the aorta: embolism of a coronary artery with infarction of the myocardium and syphilitic aortitis. Rheumatic valvulitis and acute bacterial endocarditis, also present in this case, are less rare lesions with coarctation of the aorta.
State and Local Government Officials' Perspectives on Intergovernmental Relationships in Surface Transportation Policy: 1987 and 2001

This article reports results of nationwide surveys of state and local government officials conducted in 2000/2001 concerning their perspectives on intergovernmental relationships in surface transportation. It then compares the survey results with the results from a 1987 survey on the same topic that was conducted by the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. Although there was some variation among the categories of state and local government officials surveyed, overall, both state and local government officials report that they are relatively satisfied with intergovernmental relationships in surface transportation and that those relationships have generally improved since 1987. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
A Chinese cokemaking process-flow model for energy and environmental analyses

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of a process-flow model that will improve our understanding of the industrial energy use, efficiency, and pollution in the cokemaking sector in the People's Republic of China (China). We use a modified version of the input–output process model (IOPM), developed by Lin and Polenske. By modifying the design of the IOPM model for use in the cokemaking sector, we have made three key contributions. First, the end result of our design is a generic energy process-flow model that can be easily adapted for use in conducting energy and environmental analyses of cokemaking in China and other countries as well as examining other industrial processes in other sectors. Second, as we constructed our design framework, we have identified the key differences in energy use and pollution generation among three generic cokemaking technologies in China. Third, we have determined the crucial issues, such as changes in iron and steel making technologies, plant location, and world coal and coke trade, that may affect the cokemaking sector in China in the next decade. Our research is a micro-level examination of the production processes and input–output structure of three alternative types of cokemaking technologies (modified indigenous, small machinery, and nonrecovery) in use in Shanxi Province, China, in the year 2000.
A rapid sensitive assay for phosphatidate phosphohydrolase

For a purified preparation of the soluble form of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (EC 3.1.3.4) from guinea pig cerebral cortex, I-O-alkyl-racglycerol 3-phosphate was found to be accepted as a substrate. This substrate analog was tritium-labeled in order to serve in a rapid sensitive assay for the enzyme, in which labeled I-alkyl glycerol is released. Heat denaturation and enzyme activity dependence on pH indicated that I-O-alkyl-rat-glycerol 3phosphate phosphohydrolase and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activities in the preparation are attributable to the same enzyme. I-O-Alkyd-rat-glycerol 3phosphate was hydrolyzed with a
The battle for ‘Trayvon Martin’: Mapping a media controversy online and off-line

One of the biggest news stories of 2012, the killing of Trayvon Martin, nearly disappeared from public view, initially receiving only cursory local news coverage. But the story gained attention and controversy over Martin’s death dominated headlines, airwaves, and Twitter for months, thanks to a savvy publicist working on behalf of the victim’s parents and a series of campaigns offline and online. Using the theories of networked gatekeeping and networked framing, we map out the vast media ecosystem using quantitative data about the content generated around the Trayvon Martin story in both offline and online media, as well as measures of engagement with the story, to trace the interrelations among mainstream media, nonprofessional and social media, and their audiences. We consider the attention and link economies among the collected media sources in order to understand who was influential when, finding that broadcast media is still important as an amplifier and gatekeeper, but that it is susceptible to media activists working through participatory or nonprofessional media to co-create the news and influence the framing of major controversies. Our findings have implications for social change organizations that seek to harness advocacy campaigns to news stories, and for scholars studying media ecology and the networked public sphere.
Female Gang Affiliation: Knowledge and Perceptions of At-Risk Girls

This study attempts to inquire into at-risk female teenagers with regard to their knowledge and perceptions of gang involvement by their peers. Seven youth service–providing organizations in a major southern city participated in a youth survey project. The data collected from the project on at-risk middle school girls (n=216) are analyzed here. Preliminary findings indicate that sexual or physical abuse are not important factors for a female to join a gang. Sex partners and auxiliary members are still the major roles for female gang members to play in a gang. Remedial strategies, including parental education, extracurricular activities (after-school programs), quality of schooling, and job opportunities are the policy implications identified by this study.
Validation of four reference genes for quantitative mRNA expression studies in a rat model of inflammatory injury

Background: Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is a technique frequently used to measure changes in mRNA expression. To ensure validity of experimental findings, it is important to normalize the qPCR data to reference genes that are stable and unaffected by the experimental treatment to correct for variability among samples. Unlike in some models of neuropathic pain, reference genes for models of inflammatory injury have not been validated. This study examined four candidate reference genes in an effort to identify and validate optimal genes for normalization of transcriptional changes occurring in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) following intraplantar injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA). Results: The expression of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase 1 (Hprt1), beta-actin (Actb), mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (Mapk6), and beta-2-microglobulin (B2m) was quantified in the dorsal horn and RVM of rats four days or two weeks after intraplantar injection of CFA or saline. The range of expression levels among these four genes differed by as much as 16-fold within the dorsal horn and the RVM. All four of these reference genes were stably expressed in both tissues and did not differ between saline and CFA-treated animals. Analyses using the statistical algorithms in geNorm and NormFinder programs determined that Mapk6 was the most stable gene and recommended the combination of Mapk6 and Actb, or Mapk6 and Hprt1, in such experimental conditions. Conclusions: This study validated the four genes Hprt1, Actb, Mapk6 or B2m and showed that any one or combination of two of them are good reference genes for normalization of mRNA expression in qPCR experiments in the spinal cord and RVM in the CFA model of inflammatory injury.