cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization of procedures for the recovery of heterotrophic bacteria from marine sediments

A study was undertaken of the various factors affecting the recovery of heterotrophic bacteria from marine sediments. The dilution medium and culture medium were found to be of great importance in the recovery of heterotrophic colony forming units (CFU). Statistical analysis of the total viable counts obtained under the test conditions showed that artificial seawater (ASW) without further supplementation was equal to or superior to ASW plus 0.1% peptone or ASW plus 0.1% peptone and 0.1% glycerol. The addition of a surfactive agent, on the other hand, resulted in 95% inhibition of the recoverable CFU. The elapsed time (up to 12 hr) between recovery of a sedimentary core and completion of plating procedures was found to have little effect provided the sedimentary sample was removed from the core, placed in ASW, and stored in a refrigerator until actual plating occurred. It was further noted that lower organic nutrient concentrations, approximately one-tenth of those generally in use, resulted in significantly higher total viable counts. Finally, replicate contiguous sampling at three depths in a core resulted in no significant changes in the number of CFU from the surface samples, indicating a greater surface homogeneity than that previously suspected. The same pattern was not true, however, for samples obtained a lower positions in the core, thus indicating pockets of microbial concentration.
Metabolic tolerance to arginine: implications for the safe use of arginine salt-aztreonam combination in the neonatal period.

Two similar cohorts of low birth weight infants whose size was appropriate for gestational age randomly received either aztreonam-arginine plus ampicillin (n=15) or gentamicin plus ampicillin (n=15) for empiric treatment of neonatal sepsis. The regimens were infused together with glucose at >5 mg/kg per minute, and immediate (4 hours) and cumulative (3 days) effects were assessed. Serum arginine and insulin values rose immediately after administration of aztreonam (containing 0.15 mmol of arginine per kilogram), but there were no changes in the gentamicin-treated cohort; no differences occurred in either cohort in serum concentrations of glucose, ammonia, potassium, creatinine, and bilirubin. After 3 days of antibiotic therapy (n=13), the baseline serum arginine concentration was almost twice as high in the aztreonam group and showed a similar further rise and fall during the 4 hours after infusion; arginine urinary fractional excretion (normalized to creatinine clearance) decreased in the gentamicin group. The indirect bilirubin concentration rose more ( p μ mol/L)) than in the gentamicin-treated infants (5.5 to 8.1 mg/dl (94 to 138 μ mol/L)). Thus a modest differential bilirubin response and modestly elevated baseline serum arginine level occurred after the 3-day low-arginine doses of this study; serum ammonia and glucose concentrations were not affected. Aztreonam-arginine in neonates was well tolerated metabolically, and we believe that it can be used safely in conjunction with attention to glucose and bilirubin metabolism.
Improved platinization conditions produce a 60-fold increase in sensitivity of amperometric biosensors using glucose oxidase immobilized in poly-o-phenylenediamine

Abstract Platinization has been used to increase electrode surface area and therefore electrode sensitivity. However there are few studies on platinization conditions and their effects on the reaction diffusion of enzyme biosensors. We report the fabrication of sensitive (192 ± 48 μA cm−2 mM−1) amperometric glucose sensors. The repeatability (precision) was at worst 2.32% ± 1.22% of the measured value, the limit of detection was 0.94 mM and the detection was linear up to at least 25 mM. Sensor-to-sensor variability was 24%. The half-life of the sensors at 21 °C was 12 days. Shelf life at 4 °C was at least one month without a decrease in sensitivity. Under continuous operation, sensors performed at least 120 determinations without a large decrease in sensitivity; however; fluctuations in current response indicate that frequent calibration is required. Sensors were used for the determination of glucose in apple juice and white wine. High sensitivity was achieved by improving the conditions of platinization and entrapment of glucose oxidase in poly-o-phenylenediamine. Potentiostatic platinization at −100 or −50 mV vs. Ag∣AgCl resulted in mechanically stable deposits unlike those formed at the commonly used −250 mV. Large concentrations of glucose oxidase did not inhibit the electropolymerization of o-phenylenediamine. H2O2 diffusion experiments using polished and platinized, bare and polymer-covered rotating disk electrodes suggest that H2O2 diffuses from the bulk of the solution through the polymer film to be oxidized at the platinized surface and the diffusion is apparently one-dimensional with platinization compensating for the coverage of catalytic sites by the polymer. Conversely, when, on a platinized electrode, glucose oxidase is immobilized in a thin poly-o-phenylenediamine film, substrate diffuses rapidly through the porous matrix and H2O2 is produced throughout the enzyme/polymer film. Under these conditions, diffusion is apparently multidirectional and platinization results in an effectively large increase in surface area that results in a high amperometric response. A mathematical model of the reaction–diffusion matrix of polished electrodes supports this interpretation of the increased response.
The effects of the organophosphorous insecticides Dursban and Lorsban on the ciliated epithelium of the frog palate in vitro.

The ciliotoxic potential of the organophosphorous insecticides Dursban™ and Lorsban™, their active ingredient, chlorpyrifos, and their carrier ingredients (Blanks) were assessed. Since chlorpyrifos inhibits acetylcholinesterase, the acetylcholine-innervated ciliated epithelial cultures of frog palate were used as the model. All compounds caused a decrease in frequency of ciliary beat over time. EC50 values followed the same order as the time to inhibition. The orders were Lorsban > Dursban > chlorpyrifos, and Lorsban > Dursban ∼ Lorsban Blank > Dursban Blank. Stimulation of ciliary beating occurred immediately after exposure to all compounds, followed by inhibition. Dursban, Lorsban, and both Blanks elicited stimulatory effects in the presence of atropine. Atropine only blocked the initial stimulatory response with chlorpyrifos. In addition to chlorpyrifos, some component(s) of the inert ingredients were initially stimulatory but ultimately inhibitory to ciliary beating in the frog palate model. All compounds caused mitochondrial damage, including swelling, disruption of cristae, and loss of matrix.
Meson properties in a light-cone quark model.

A potential with three parameters is used in a light-cone equation for a quark-antiquark pair. Spin dependence is not included. The nonrelativistic limit is the potential of the quark model of Eichten {ital et} {ital al}. Numerical methods are used to solve the eigenvalue problem. The parameters and quark masses are varied to obtain a reasonable fit to masses of low-lying hidden-flavor mesons. Additional masses are calculated for higher states and for flavored mesons. Also, properties of the pion are calculated from a wave function obtained with the numerical method. Spectroscopic assignments are problematic because the light-front formulation breaks rotational invariance. A need for an improved treatment of angular momentum eigenstates is indicated.
Automated Platform for Fractionation of Human Plasma Glycoproteome in Clinical Proteomics

This publication describes the development of an automated platform for the study of the plasma glycoproteome. The method consists of targeted depletion in-line with glycoprotein fractionation. A key element of this platform is the enabling of high throughput sample processing in a manner that minimizes analytical bias in a clinical sample set. The system, named High Performance Multi-Lectin Affinity Chromatography (HP-MLAC), is composed of a serial configuration of depletion columns containing anti-albumin antibody and protein A with in-line multilectin affinity chromatography (M-LAC) which consists of three mixtures of lectins concanavalin A (ConA), jacalin (JAC), and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). We have demonstrated that this platform gives high recoveries for the fractionation of the plasma proteome (≥ 95%) and excellent stability (over 200 runs). In addition, glycoproteomes isolated using the HP-MLAC platform were shown to be highly reproducible and glycan specific as demonstrated by rechromatography...
Aspects of the validation of magnetic remanence in meteorites

— Meteorite magnetic records constitute physical evidence of processes acting during early solar system evolution. Consequently, the validation of these records is important in meteorite research. The first step in the validation process should be the REM value. The REM value is the ratio of natural remanence (NRM) to saturation remanent magnetization imparted by a 1 T magnetic field (SIRM). The REM values range over 3 to 4 orders of magnitude for stony meteorites and for chondrules from Allende (C3V-S1), Bjurbole (L4-S1), and Chainpur (LL3-S1) meteorites. The REM values computed from published NRM and SIRM data identify many orders of magnitude range in the REM values including REM values >100 × 10−3. These data suggest a dependence for the NRM intensity on the curatorial location from which the sample was obtained. Any earth rock acquiring thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) in the geomagnetic field has a restricted range in REM mostly between 5 and 50 × 10−3, the exception being the mineral hematite in the multidomain size range. The only terrestrial samples with REM much greater than 100 × 10−3 are those struck by lightning. The REM value provides a physical basis for recognition between valid records and those that “might be contaminated.” The isothermal remanence acquisition (RA) curve is presented as a contamination curve that allows an indication of the level of magnetic field contamination required to give the computed “REM” (RM/SIRM) value. In the case of the Bjurbole and Chainpur chondrules, with REM values >100 × 10−3, the RA curve indicates that unrealistically large contamination magnetic fields would be required to give REM values greater than 100 × 10−3. This would suggest contamination other than by a hand magnet that is normally available to an experimenter. This would require an explanation that would involve large magnetic fields during chondrule formation, or some extraordinary remanence acquisition mechanism that remains to be described. Magnetic contamination experiments, using ∼80 and ∼40 mT magnets, demonstrate that the “REM” values and extent of modification of the magnetic vector record are mineralogy dependent, and this is mostly related to the amount and characteristics of the mineral tetrataenite. The complexity of the meteorite records suggest validation of the record as a first step. The REM value is the first physical statement that can be made in this validation.
Demand and Roughness Estimation in Water Distribution Systems

To provide more accurate estimates and account for associated uncertainties, a parameter estimation methodology for water distribution systems (WDSs) that combines demand and parameter estimation processes is proposed. A two-step sequential method for dual estimation of demand and roughness coefficient is presented based on a weighted least-squares scheme using field measurements of pipe flow rates and nodal pressure heads under multiple demand conditions. The uncertainties in the estimated variables and resulting nodal pressure predictions are quantified in terms of confidence limits using the first-order second moment method. The algorithm is applied to two network systems including a midsized real WDS. The two-step sequential model provides accurate and precise estimates while joint estimation provides poor estimates.
A 3D adaptive mesh moving scheme

This paper presents an adaptive mesh moving technique for three-dimensional (3D) fluid flow problems that involve moving fluid boundaries and fluid-solid interfaces. Such mesh moving techniques are an essential ingredient of fluid-structure interaction methods that typically employ arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) frameworks. In the ALE frame, the velocity field representing motion of the underlying continuum is integrated in the fluid flow equations. In the discretized setting, the velocity field of the underlying continuum gives rise to the mesh displacement field that needs to be solved for in addition to the flow equations and the structural equations. Emphasis in the present work is on the motion and deformation of 3D grids that are composed of linear tetrahedral and hexahedral elements in structured and unstructured configurations. The proposed method can easily be extended to higher-order elements in 3D. A variety of moving mesh problems from different fields of engineering are presented that show the range of applicability of the proposed method and the class of problems that can be addressed with it.
Microbial growth on 2-bromobutane

A member of the genus Arthrobacter was isolated which grew at the expense of 2-bromobutane as sole source of carbon and energy. Evidence is presented which suggests that the initial conversion of 2-bromobutane to 2-butanol is a spontaneous chemical hydrolysis and not mediated by the organism. Further evidence from oxygen consumption experiments indicates that 2-bromobutane is oxidized through 2-butanol, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate to acetate and ethanol. Results of experiments with cells grown on pathway intermediates reveal that the enzymes necessary for the oxidation of 2-butanol, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, ethanol and acetaldehyde are not coordinately, but individually induced by their respective substrates.
A study of radio frequency interference in the space-to-Earth exploration allocation at L-band

We report on ongoing studies of the anthropogenic radio frequency interference (RFI) in the L-band allocation for space-to-Earth exploration.1,2 The studies are being conducted for the radar instrument on the proposed Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) mission. A review of the allocated emitters is presented, followed by analysis based on space-borne and airborne data collected from the PALSAR sensor and the UAVSAR sensor. We use these data to model the pulsed RFI environment for SMAP and to demonstrate that the baseline plans for RFI mitigation are technically sound.
Simulation of Paint Transfer in an Air Spray Process

A methodology for simulating drop transport and deposition in air-spray, paint-application processes is presented. Simulation of the complex physical phenomena involved is made possible through a number of key assumptions based on measurements of typical air paint sprays. The significant advance is the inclusion of the direct effects of turbulent air velocity fluctuations on the trajectories of paint drops via a stochastic separated flow approach. The model accurately predicts the mean air velocity field, paint transfer efficiency, and drop transfer efficiency. Owing to increased inertia, the mechanisms controlling drop transport shift with increasing drop size.
Calpain Upregulation in Spinal Cords of Mice with 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's Disease

: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a heroin analogue, is a neurotoxin that undergoes in vivo oxidation by monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) which preferentially exerts its toxic effects on the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra in brain. Spinal interneuronal pathways are also likely to be affected in the course of MPP+ neurotoxicity. The primary effect of MPP+ is mediated by irreversible inhibition of mitochondrial complex I, releasing free radicals. MPP+ may also activate N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, increasing the cytosolic concentration of free Ca2+. Intracellular free radicals indirectly and free Ca2+ directly can activate Ca2+-dependent proteases such as calpain. We investigated involvement of calpain in spinal cord degeneration due to neurotoxin by subjecting male C57BL/6N mice (17 months old) to MPTP administration (12.5 mg/kg for 0.5 h; 25 mg/kg for 0.25 h; and 50 mg/kg for 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 24 h). RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed using the thoracic segment of spinal cords from control and MPTP-administered mice. The administration of MPTP caused calpain upregulation at the mRNA and protein levels to various extents, compared to control mice. Calpain activity was measured by 68 kDa neurofilament protein (NFP) degradation, which was increased in MPTP-induced PD mice. These results suggest that calpain may play a role in spinal cord degeneration in mice with MPTP-induced PD.
A simple π+ detector for energies of 10–70 MeV

Abstract A simple π + detector telescope based on NE102A plastic scintillator has been developed for use in the energy range 10–70 MeV. The detector has a relatively high efficiency ≳ 75%), a useful degree of particle identification, and a resolution capability (≲ 1 MeV fwhm) sufficient for a number of nuclear physics applications using high quality pion beams, such as those which will be available at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility. 6860
Synthesis of adenosine triphosphate by way of potassium-sensitive phosphoenzyme of sodium, potassium adenosine triphosphatase.

The sodium and potassium ion pump is an intrinsic enzyme of plasma membranes. In these experiments it was driven backward in a transient two-step operation involving, first, phosphorylation of the enzyme from inorganic phosphate, and second, transfer of the phosphate group from the enzyme to ADP upon addition of a high concentration of Na+. There was no evidence of a significant concentration gradient across the membranes. Na+ presumably reached the solutions on both faces of the membrane simultaneously and provided the energy for synthesis simply as a consequence of ligand binding. An interaction free energy between the free energy of the binding of Na+ presumably reached the solutions on both faces of the membrane simultaneously and provided the energy for synthesis simply as a consequence of ligand binding. An interaction free energy between the free energy of the binding of Na+ and the free energy of hydrolysis of the phosphate group on the enzyme was estimated. The experiments also suggested a feature of the transport mechanism. This is control by phosphorylation of access pathways from the solutions in contact with the faces of the membrane to an active center for cation binding. In the dephosphoenzyme access would be to the intracellular solution and in the phosphoenzyme access would be to the extracellular solution.
A two-element antenna for null suppression in multipath environments

The design of a two-element antenna for portable transceivers is considered. The antenna consists of a dipole terminated with a parallel loop-capacitor combination. The antenna has a single feed at a point on the loop opposite the junction and does not require external combining circuitry. The capacitor creates a phase shift between the dipole and loop currents, thereby greatly reducing the probability of deep nulls in the received signal when the antenna is deployed in free-space or in the vicinity of a fixed reflector, where standing wave patterns occur. Theoretical and simulation studies based on multiple incident/reflected plane wave fields typical of multipath environments are used to quantify the reduction in null probability. Simulation results are presented for three antenna types: a dipole antenna, a loop-dipole antenna without a capacitor, and the loop-dipole antenna with capacitor. The results are verified by field measurements on an automated outdoor test range, where the incidence angle and distance from the reflector are varied. With a single incident plane wave, the loop-dipole-capacitor (LDC) design reduces the probability of deep nulls in the received signal by up to two orders of magnitude at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) when compared with the standard dipole antenna and the loop-dipole antenna without the capacitor. The performance advantage of the new design decreases as the number of incident waves increases; however, it performs at least as well as the dipole antenna in all cases studied.
The mode-of-action by network identification (MNI) algorithm: a network biology approach for molecular target identification

This protocol details the use of the mode-of-action by network identification (MNI) algorithm to identify the gene targets of a drug treatment based on gene-expression data. Investigators might also use the MNI algorithm to identify the gene mediators of a disease or the physiological state of cells and tissues. The MNI algorithm uses a training data set of hundreds of expression profiles to construct a statistical model of gene-regulatory networks in a cell or tissue. The model describes combinatorial influences of genes on one another. The algorithm then uses the model to filter the expression profile of a particular experimental treatment and thereby distinguish the molecular targets or mediators of the treatment response from hundreds of additional genes that also exhibit expression changes. It takes approximately 1 h per run, although run time is significantly affected by the size of the genome and data set.
Interaction between trophic action and electrical activity in spinal cord cultures.

Abstract The effect of conditioned medium (CM) on tetrodotoxin (TTX)-mediated neuronal cell death was investigated in dissociated spinal cord-dorsal root ganglion (SC-DRG) cultures. Nutrient medium was collected from donor SC-DRG cultures at 3–4-day intervals throughout development. The presence of survival-promoting neurotrophic material (NTM) in the conditioned medium was tested on TTX-treated cultures which were within the critical period of vulnerability to electrical blockade (days 7–21 in culture). Cultures were assayed by neuronal cell counts, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity or fixation of [125I]tetanus toxin, a neuronal surface marker. Evidence of NTM was found in CM collected prior to day 8 and after day 21 in culture. Increasing the percentage of CM in fresh nutrient medium resulted in a dose-dependent increase in [125I]tetanus toxin fixation and ChAT activity in TTX-treated cultures. In addition, CM plus TTX treatment produced a 25% increase in neuronal cell counts as compared to controls. TTX treatment alone resulted in 20–25% decrease in neuronal number from that of control cultures. Cultures treated with CM alone had neuronal counts that were similar to controls. When electrical activity was blocked with TTX, NTM was not detectable in CM collected from donor cells during days 1–5. CM obtained from control cultures during the same interval had NTM activity. The existence of the critical period for electrical blockade-associated neuron death is associated with a decrease in the availability of NTM. Furthermore, the release of NTM from donor cells and the survival response of target neurons to NTM are apparently dependent on ongoing electrical activity.
PREHOSPITAL PAIN MANAGEMENT IN CHILDREN SUFFERING TRAUMATIC INJURY

Prehospital pain management has become an important emergency medical services (EMS) patient care issue. Objectives. To describe the frequency of EMS andemergency department (ED) analgesic administration to injured children; to describe factors associated with the administration of analgesia by EMS; andto assess whether children with lower-extremity fractures receive analgesia as frequently as do adults with similar injuries. Methods. This was a retrospective study of children (age < 21 years) who were transported by EMS between January 2000 andJune 2002 andhad a final hospital diagnosis of extremity fractures or burns. Secondarily, children with lower-extremity fractures were compared with a cohort of EMS-transported adults with similar injuries andtransported during the same study period. Receipt of andtime of parenteral analgesia were recorded. Results. Seventy-three children met the inclusion criteria. The mean (range) age of this sample was 12.4 (0.9–21) years, with only four patients aged < 5 years....
Genetic analysis of chicken egg yolk cholesterol.

Abstract Five yolk traits of White Leghorn eggs were analyzed for heritabilities and genetic correlations in five random bred generations and for response in two generations of selection for low mg. cholesterol/g. dry yolk. The yolk of each egg was weighed and freeze dried after which mg. cholesterol/g. dry yolk was determined. There were 40 sires mated to 600 dams in each generation for three years and 24 sires mated to 360 dams in each of the last two years. Two eggs per hen were used in the first year and the repeatabilities of wet yolk weight, dry yolk weight, yolk moisture weight, mg. cholesterol/g. dry yolk and cholesterol in total yolk were 66.1%, 66.8%, 59.5%, 80.4% and 77.0%, respectively. In the remaining generations one egg per hen was used. Pooled means of five random mated generations and heritabilities from sire variance components, dam components and regressions of daughter on dam, within sires, were: wet yolk weight, 14.52 ± 0.03 g., 0.26 ± 0.07, 0.44 ± 0.14, 0.22 ± 0.06; dry yolk weight, 7.48 ± 0.02 g., 0.24 ± 0.07, 0.48 ± 0.14, 0.21 ± 0.06; yolk moisture weight, 7.04 ± 0.02 g., 0.25 ± 0.07, 0.52 ± 0.14, 0.23 ± 0.06; mg. cholesterol/g. dry yolk, 30.36 ± 0.05 mg., 0.15 ± 0.05, negative, 0.19 ± 0.06; cholesterol in total yolk, 225.73 ± 0.66 mg., 0.27 ± 0.07, 0.10 ± 0.14, 0.28 ± 0.05. The correlations between wet yolk wt., dry yolk wt. and yolk moisture wt. were high (mostly above 0.90), while the genetic correlations between mg. cholesterol/g. dry yolk and the yolk weights were 0.28 to 0.35. There was a high 0.71 to 0.74 genetic correlation between mg. cholesterol/g. dry yolk and cholesterol in total yolk. The realized heritabilities from two replications of two generations of selection ranged from 0.04 to 0.13.
Constructing a dem from grid-based data by computing intermediate contours

We present a technique for creating a digital elevation model (DEM) from grid-based contour data. The method computes new, intermediate contours in between existing isolines. These are found by finding the shortest line segment that connects points on two neighboring contours with differing elevations. The midpoint of the line segment becomes a point on the intermediate contour. The contours are completed by connecting individual points. The new contours are then used as data for successive iterations, until an initial surface is formed. Peaks are computed by Hermite splines that follow the slope trend. Gaussian smoothing is applied to the entire surface or only to newly computed elevations, yielding an approximated or interpolated surface, respectively. The DEMs are tested with quantitative methods, and are shown to compare favorably to well established algorithms.
3-D granular Monte Carlo simulation of silicon n-MOSFETs

Abstract A 3-D ensemble Monte Carlo (EMC) simulation with granular doping is implemented and simulations on a 50 nm channel length n-MOSFET are compared with results from 2- and 3-D simulations with continuous doping profiles. Granular simulations treat ionized acceptors in the channel discretely and the electron-ion interaction is calculated with a particle–particle–particle–mesh (P 3 M) algorithm. Steady-state results for the electric field and electron velocities along the oxide interface are compared under strong inversion. Preliminary results indicate that 3-D Coulomb and granular effects in the channel have limited impact on transport in MOSFETs in the strong inversion case, but that the P 3 M–EMC method shows promise for evaluating short-range effects including carrier–ion and carrier–carrier effects in subthreshold conditions where the impact of granularity should be larger.
A robust process capability index

The existing process capability indices (PCI's) assume that the distribution of the process being investigated is normal. For non-normal distributions, PCI's become unreliable in that PCI's may indicate the process is capable when in fact it is not. In this paper, we propose a new index which can be applied to any distribution. The proposed indexCf:, is directly related to the probability of non-conformance of the process. For a given random sample, the estimation of Cf boils down to estimating non-parametrically the tail probabilities of an unknown distribution. The approach discussed in this paper is based on the works by Pickands (1975) and Smith (1987). We also discuss the construction of bootstrap confidence intervals of Cf: based on the so-called accelerated bias correction method (BC a:). Several simulations are carried out to demonstrate the flexibility and applicability of Cf:. Two real life data sets are analyzed using the proposed index.
Concurrent engineering of an object-oriented particle-in-cell simulations environment for physicists

This paper reports on an ongoing research effort that is being jointly conducted by faculty and students at the CS Department at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia, and by faculty and students at the EECS Department at UC Berkeley, California. The research is aimed at developing an Object-Oriented modeling environment for Particle In Cell plasma simulations.
Consumer Perspectives on Quality Attributes in Evaluating Health Websites

Healthcare consumers are increasingly turning to the Internet for health information. Health website sponsors and developers are challenged to ensure high quality to satisfy the spectrum of site visitors. Yet, research does not seem to provide needed guidance from the perspective of the healthcare consumer. In response, this study provides a taxonomy of website quality attributes and explores differences in ratings of the importance of 15 quality attributes of health websites from healthcare consumers. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were deployed to collect the data.
Upgrading a Duoplasmatron ion source to produce high brightness beam for nuclear microprobe applications with a tandem accelerator

Abstract Development of stable high brightness ion sources with accelerators will enhance the capabilities for micro-analysis as well as the micro-fabrication. Recently we have upgraded a Duoplasmatron ion source associated with a 1.7 MV tandem (NEC, Pelletron) accelerator to produce high brightness proton beam for nuclear microprobe application at the Louisiana Accelerator Center. This has substantially increased the ion source life time as well as the accelerator beam brightness. The beam brightness was found to be highly heterogeneous, with paraxial rays about an order of magnitude brighter than surrounding rays.
Inhibition of the enzymes of glutathione metabolism by mercuric chloride in the rat kidney: Reversal by selenium

Abstract The treatment of rats with 10 μmoles/kg (s.c.) of mercuric chloride (Hg 2+ ) caused time-dependent decreases in the activities of the enzymes of the glutathione (GSH) metabolism pathway in the kidney. Twenty-four hours after administration of Hg 2+ , the activities of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione disulfide (GSSG)-reductase in the kidney were decreased by 50–60%, and the activities of the GSH catabolic enzymes, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and GSH-peroxidase, were decreased by 25–35%. In the liver, only the activity of GSSG-reductase was decreased at this time. The observed decreases in the enzyme activities were not accompanied by a depression in the cellular protein concentration. The same pattern of enzyme response was noted when rats were given 30 μmoles/kg Hg 2+ ; however, the decreases in the specific activity of the enzymes were accompanied by great losses in the cellular protein concentrations in both the liver and the kidney (35–42%). This dose of Hg 2+ also caused significant decreases in the concentration of GSH in both organs. In vitro , Hg 2+ only inhibited the activity of GSSG-reductase. When rats were given sodium selenite (Na 2 SeO 3 ; 5, 10 or 20 μmoles/kg, s.c.) 30 min after Hg 2+ treatment (10 μmoles/kg), the Hg 2+ -related depressions in the activities of the enzymes of GSH metabolism in the liver and the kidney were blocked. Also, in rats treated with 30 μmoles/kg Hg 2+ , the administration of 10 μmoles/kg selenium significantly decreased the magnitude of depression in the concentration of GSH in the kidney.
Evaluating and predicting answer quality in community QA

Question answering (QA) helps one go beyond traditional keywords-based querying and retrieve information in more precise form than given by a document or a list of documents. Several community-based QA (CQA) services have emerged allowing information seekers pose their information need as questions and receive answers from their fellow users. A question may receive multiple answers from multiple users and the asker or the community can choose the best answer. While the asker can thus indicate if he was satisfied with the information he received, there is no clear way of evaluating the quality of that information. We present a study to evaluate and predict the quality of an answer in a CQA setting. We chose Yahoo! Answers as such CQA service and selected a small set of questions, each with at least five answers. We asked Amazon Mechanical Turk workers to rate the quality of each answer for a given question based on 13 different criteria. Each answer was rated by five different workers. We then matched their assessments with the actual asker's rating of a given answer. We show that the quality criteria we used faithfully match with asker's perception of a quality answer. We furthered our investigation by extracting various features from questions, answers, and the users who posted them, and training a number of classifiers to select the best answer using those features. We demonstrate a high predictability of our trained models along with the relative merits of each of the features for such prediction. These models support our argument that in case of CQA, contextual information such as a user's profile, can be critical in evaluating and predicting content quality.
"Fatal adsorption" of brushlike macromolecules: high sensitivity of C-C bond cleavage rates to substrate surface energy.

Adsorption-induced degradation of brushlike macromolecules was monitored through molecular imaging by atomic force microscopy. The rate constant for C−C bond cleavage was shown to be extremely sensitive to the substrate surface energy. A few percent increase in the surface energy from 69.2 to 71.2 mN/m led to an order of magnitude increase of the scission rate. The absolute values of the rupture forces ranging from 2.57 to 2.47 nN are in agreement with previously calculated and measured values for stretching surface-tethered molecules.
Hydrolysis of 3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide by an aryl acylamidase from Taraxacum officinale

Abstract An aryl acylamidase (aryl-acylamine amidohydrolase, E.C. 3.5. 1.a) which hydrolyses the herbicide propanil (3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide), was isolated from dandelion roots and partially purified and characterized. Specificity tests on the enzyme revealed that it could hydrolyse various chlorine ring-substituted propionanilides and 3,4-dichloroanilide alkyl compounds. The partially purified enzyme was inhibited by several sulfhydryl reagents and metal ions. The pH optimum was broad, between 7·4 and 7·8. The apparent activation energy, determined from an Arrhenius plot, was 9·0 kcal/mol (37 700 J/mol) for the hydrolysis of 3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide. The apparent K m was 1·7 × 10 −4 M with propanil as substrate.
Expanding Downward: Innovation, Diffusion, and State Policy Adoptions of Universal Preschool.

Framed within the theoretical framework of policy innovation and diffusion, this study explores both interstate (diffusion) and intrastate predictors of adoption of state universal preschool policies. Event history analysis methodology is applied to a state level dataset drawn from the Census, the NCES Common Core, the Book of the States, and other sources. Significant predictors of policy adoption include greater Democratic control of the state legislature and the prolonged presence of a targeted preschool program. Regional proximity is not found to be a significant predictor of policy adoption. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Toggling between gamma-frequency activity and suppression of cell assemblies

Gamma (30-80 Hz) rhythms in hippocampus and neocortex resulting from the interaction of excitatory and inhibitory cells (E- and I-cells), called Pyramidal-Interneuronal Network Gamma (PING), require that the I-cells respond to the E-cells, but don't fire on their own. In idealized models, there is a sharp boundary between a parameter regime where the I-cells have weak-enough drive for PING, and one where they have so much drive that they fire without being prompted by the E-cells. In the latter regime, they often de-synchronize and suppress the E-cells; the boundary was therefore called the "suppression boundary" by Borgers and Kopell (2005). The model I-cells used in the earlier work by Borgers and Kopell have a "type 1" phase response, i.e., excitatory input always advances them. However, fast-spiking inhibitory basket cells often have a "type 2" phase response: Excitatory input arriving soon after they fire delays them. We study the effect of the phase response type on the suppression transition, under the additional assumption that the I-cells are kept synchronous by gap junctions. When many E-cells participate on a given cycle, the resulting excitation advances the I-cells on the next cycle if their phase response is of type 1, and this can result in suppression of more E-cells on the next cycle. Therefore strong E-cell spike volleys tend to be followed by weaker ones, and vice versa. This often results in erratic fluctuations in the strengths of the E-cell spike volleys. When the phase response of the I-cells is of type 2, the opposite happens: Strong E-cell spike volleys delay the inhibition on the next cycle, therefore tend to be followed by yet stronger ones. The strengths of the E-cell spike volleys don't oscillate, and there is a nearly abrupt transition from PING to ING (a rhythm involving I-cells only).
Healthful Environments for Hospitalized Infants

Purpose:Medical and technological advances dominate the design of infant incubators because of their essential role in the survival of critically ill neonates. Yet other important design considerat...
Expression of Hox-7.1 in myoblasts inhibits terminal differentiation and induces cell transformation

THE terminal differentiation of myogenic cells initiates in the proximal portion of the limb bud whereas the distal region remains undifferentiated and proliferate1–3 The apical ectodermal ridge maintains the progress zone in an undifferentiated state4 and induces proliferation of limb mesenchymal cells5. Hox-7.1, a homeobox-containing gene, is expressed throughout the limb bud when limb outgrowth begins, whereas transcripts are later restricted to distal limb mesenchyme6,7 which is the proposed site of positional specification2. Transplantation of proximal limb bud tissue into the distal portion of the limb results in a re-expression of Hox-7.1 in the transplanted mesenchyme8. Similar grafts result in a positional reassignment to distal structures9 as well as dedifferentiation of the grafted proximal tissue10. Because of the association of Hox-7.1 expression with proliferative and undifferentiated cells, we tested whether Hox-7.1 regulates differentiation by transfection of Hox-7.1 complementary DNA into determined myogenic cells which represent one mesenchymal lineage in the limb. Here we report that forced expression of Hox-7.1 blocks terminal differentiation and results in a corresponding decrease in steady-state levels of MyoDl. Consistent with the association of Hox-7.1 with proliferation, Hox-7.1 -expressing cells also acquire a transformed phenotype. Forced expression of Hox-8.1, a related Hox-gene, does not affect terminal differentiation indicating that the effects of Hox-7.1 are specific.
Activation of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor protects cultured mouse spinal neurons against excitotoxicity

Significant advances are being made towards understanding the genetic basis for spinal neurodegenerative diseases, however, effective pharmacotherapy remains elusive. One of the primary theories underlying neuron vulnerability is susceptibility to excitotoxicity. We present for the first time evidence that the activation of the CB(1) cannabinoid receptor effectively modulates kainate toxicity in primary neuronal cultures prepared from mouse spinal cord. Addition of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol to the culture medium attenuated the toxicity produced by kainate. The CB(1) receptors were localized to spinal neurons and astrocytes. The neuroprotective effect was blocked with the CB(1) receptor antagonist, SR141716A, indicating a receptor-mediated effect.
Evaluation of colonoscopic allergen provocation as a diagnostic tool in dogs with proven food hypersensitivity reactions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the colonoscopic allergen provocation (COLAP) test as a new tool for the diagnosis of IgE-mediated food allergy. METHODS: Oral food challenges as well as COLAP testing were performed in a colony of nine research dogs with proven immediate-type food allergic reactions. In addition, COLAP was performed in five healthy dogs. RESULTS: When compared with the oral challenge test, COLAP accurately determined 18 of 23 (73 per cent) positive oral challenge reactions (73 per cent) in dogs with food allergies and was negative in the healthy dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The accuracy of this new test may be higher than that for gastric sensitivity testing. Therefore, COLAP holds promise as a new test to confirm the diagnosis of suspect IgE-mediated food allergy in dogs.
On the arithmetic of arithmetical congruence monoids

Let N represent the positive integers and N0 the non-negative integers. If b 2 N and is a multiplicatively closed subset of Zb = Z/bZ, then the set H = {x 2 N | x + bZ 2 } ( {1} is a multiplicative submonoid of N known as a congruence monoid. An arithmetical congruence monoid (or ACM) is a congruence monoid where = {a} consists of a single element. If H is an ACM, then we represent it with the notation M(a,b) = (a + bN0) ( {1}, where a,b 2 N and a 2 � a (modb). A classical 1954 result of James and Niven implies that the only ACM which admits unique factorization of elements into products of irreducibles is M(1,2) = M(3,2). In this paper, we examine further factorization properties of ACMs. We find necessary and sufficient conditions for an ACM M(a,b) to be half-factorial (i.e., lengths of irreducible factorizations of an element remain constant) and further determine conditions for M(a,b) to have finite elasticity. When the elasticity of M(a,b) is finite, we produce a formula to compute it. Among our remaining results, we show that the elasticity of an ACM M(a,b) may not be accepted and show that if an ACM M(a,b) has infinite elasticity, then it is not fully elastic.
HIV and cerebral aneurysms

Patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or suffering from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are now surviving for longer periods of time secondary to improvements in medical management. As the classical causes of morbidity and mortality in this patient population have come under better control, new complications are becoming more prevalent. In our clinical practice, there appears to have been a rise in the number of patients with HIV infection and AIDS who have experienced aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In this paper, we review the available literature regarding cerebral aneurysms in patients infected with HIV and/or suffering from AIDS.
Energy and emissions impacts of a freeway-based dynamic eco-driving system

Surface transportation consumes a vast quantity of fuel and accounts for about a third of the US carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In addition to the use of more fuel-efficient vehicles and carbon-neutral alternative fuels, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions can be lowered through a variety of strategies that reduce congestion, smooth traffic flow, and reduce excessive vehicle speeds. Eco-driving is one such strategy. It typically consists of changing a person's driving behavior by providing general static advice to the driver (e.g. do not accelerate too quickly, reduce speeds, etc.). In this study, we investigate the concept of dynamic eco-driving, where advice is given in real-time to drivers changing traffic conditions in the vehicle's vicinity. This dynamic strategy takes advantage of real-time traffic sensing and telematics, allowing for a traffic management system to monitor traffic speed, density, and flow, and then communicates advice in real-time back to the vehicles. By providing dynamic advice to drivers, approximately 10-20% in fuel savings and lower CO2 emissions are possible without a significant increase in travel time. Based on simulations, it was found that in general, higher percentage reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emission occur during severe compared to less congested scenarios. Real-world experiments have also been carried out, showing similar reductions but to a slightly smaller degree.
Manipulations of the duration and relative onsets of two-tone forward maskers.

The effects of absolute and relative masker duration were investigated using one‐ and two‐tone forward maskers. In the absolute‐duration conditions, the duration (D) of a one‐component on‐frequency (M1; Dm1‐alone) or off‐frequency (M2; Dm2‐alone) masker or the common duration of a two‐component masker (Dm1=Dm2) was varied. Masked threshold increased as duration increased in all three conditions. In the relative‐duration conditions, the duration of one masker component was fixed at a relatively long value and the duration of the other component was varied (Dm1≳Dm2 or Dm2≳Dm1). In the Dm1≳Dm2 condition, masked threshold decreased as the duration of Dm2 was increased. In the Dm2≳Dm1 conditions, masked threshold increased and then decreased slightly as the duration of Dm1 was increased. Masked threshold was frequently lower in the M1+M2 than in the M1‐alone conditions, indicating psychophysical suppression. Further, masked threshold in the Dm2≳Dm1 condition was always higher than in the corresponding absolute...
Fluid dynamics, Chern-Simons theory and the quantum Hall effect

In this paper we show that classical fluid dynamics in a plane is a gauge theory useful for studying aspects of the quantum Hall system. When the fluid is charged and placed in a magnetic field, Chern-Simons fields appear naturally and the fractional statistics of vortex excitations can be understood qualitatively. Applying the fluid picture to a gas of anyons shows that it superconducts.
Roles of helicases in translation initiation: A mechanistic view

The goal of this review is to summarize our current knowledge about the helicases involved in translation initiation and their roles in both general and mRNA-specific translation. The main topics covered are the mechanisms of helicase action, with emphasis on the roles of accessory domains and proteins; the functions performed by helicases in translation initiation; and the interplay between direct and indirect effects of helicases that also function in steps preceding translation initiation. Special attention is given to the dynamics of eIF4A binding and dissociation from eIF4F during mRNA unwinding. It is proposed that DHX29, as well as other helicases and translation initiation factors could also cycle on and off the translation initiation complexes, similar to eIF4A. The evidence in favor of this hypothesis and its possible implications for the mechanisms of translation initiation is discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The biology of RNA helicases - Modulation for life.
Facing the consequences of facial transplantation: individual choices, social effects.

The Louisville transplantation team may be commended for initiating a public dialogue on the prospects for facial transplantation and for considering the likely risks and benefits for the individua...