cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A distributed parameter model for the piezoelectric stack harvester subjected to general periodic and random excitations

Abstract Vibration-based energy harvesting using piezoelectric stacks has received increasing attention in recent years for its higher mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion capability in the d33 mode. However, most research on this type of harvesters is based on either the simplified one-degree-of-freedom model or transfer matrix model. This paper presents a distributed-parameter model for the multilayer piezoelectric stack transducer based on the axial vibration theory of a continuous bar. The presented analytical model is free from the assumption that the generated current is identically distributed over all the piezoelectric layers, which has been widely used by the existing models in literature. A first-order numerical model is also introduced to validate the performance of the analytical model on the prediction of voltage, current and power outputs of the harvester under different types of external excitations. Both the analytical and numerical models are firstly validated by experiments and then are used to predict the electrical responses of the stack harvester under general periodic and random excitations with different intensities. Experiment and simulation results demonstrate that the proposed distributed-parameter model has a good accuracy and reliable performance in the prediction of the electrical responses.
The Multiple Roles of Ran in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces Pombe

Fission yeast has proven to be an excellent system in which to study the roles of the Ran GTPase and the mechanism by which it is regulated in vivo. The fission yeast Ran GTPase (Spilp), Ran GEF (Pimlp), RanGAP (Rnalp) and RanBPl (Sbplp) are structurally and functionally conserved evolutionarily. As has been found in other systems, the fission yeast Ran GTPase shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The localization of Ran GEF in the nucleus and RanGAP in the cytoplasm insures that the concentration of Ran·GTP is high in the nucleus and low in the cytoplasm.
Antiestrogen Resistance in Human Breast Cancer

Breast cancer will be diagnosed in over 185,000 women in 1996 and will claim more than 44,000 lives (Parker et al, 1996). Antiestrogen (AE) therapy will widely be assigned to a large number of these individuals who are estrogen receptor-positive. Unfortunately, many of these women will eventually become resistant to AE therapy with little prospect for additional effective therapy. It is clear that approaches are needed that reintroduce tumor inhibition in AE-resistant breast cancer cells. Since AE resistance is frequently associated with disease that is refractory to chemotherapy, genes that moderate the action of chemotherapeutic agents also may be affected by the onset of AE resistance. This chapter presents a current overview of AE resistance and describes some of our laboratory’s efforts to restore growth inhibition in AE-resistant breast cancer cells.
Modeling Categorical Factors with Two or More Levels

This class continues our study of categorical factors. We begin with a review example that covers the topics from Class 6. Our second example uses a model in which the categorical factor has more than two levels.
The Smooth Mappings Which Preserve the Hardy Space H2(Bn)

Holomorphic self-maps ϕ of the open unit ball in ℂn which extend to be C3 on the closed unit ball are considered. For such ϕ we characterize those with the property that composition by ϕ preserves the Hardy space H2.
A Case of Post-EBV Cerebellitis Treated with IVIG (P2.322)

Objective: We describe a case of post-Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) cerebellitis treated with IVIG. Background: Cerebellitis is a rare complication of EBV infection that can lead to significant disability. Design/Methods: This is a case report describing EBV cerebellitis and treatment of the condition. Results: This 18 year old man presented with acute onset dysarthria and appendicular ataxia with associated gait difficulty, worsening over one week. There was no preceding febrile illness. Fatigue and lymphadenopathy were not evident. MRI of the brain revealed no evidence of acute infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, mass lesion, or other abnormality. CSF analysis was unremarkable with WBC Conclusions: Post-EBV cerebellitis may occur in the absence of preceding symptoms typical of infectious mononucleosis and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient with an acute onset cerebellitis. Treatment with IVIG may have a role in shortening duration of illness and allow an earlier return to ambulatory status. Disclosure: Dr. Sener has nothing to disclose. Dr. Eidelman has nothing to disclose.
Societal risk assessment of transportation networks under uncertainties due to climate change and population growth

Abstract Climate change and population growth can affect the supply and the demand sides of transportation networks, respectively. Rational assessment of societal risk of transportation networks should consider these effects, both of which are uncertain in nature. In this paper, a novel method is proposed to assess societal risk of transportation networks subjected to uncertainties due to climate change and future population growth. The method is posited on a robust traffic assignment model using the expected residual minimization approach. A novel algorithm, combining smoothing method, quasi-Newton technique, and Latin hypercube sampling, is developed for the efficient implementation of the proposed method. The proposed method can produce a deterministic traffic flow pattern that deviates as little as possible from the traffic flow patterns associated with all future scenarios. The obtained traffic flow pattern can then be used to estimate societal risk of transportation networks. A number of examples, including a real-world highway bridge network in Camden County, New Jersey, are provided in this paper to demonstrate the efficiency, effectiveness, and application of the proposed method. It is found from the examples that (a) the proposed method is more efficient and robust than existing algorithms for robust traffic assignment under uncertainties, and (b) climate change and population growth can significantly alter the traffic pattern in a transportation network and thus increase the societal risk posed upon traffic users.
Regulation of Cytokine Signaling

Cytokines are important modulators of the immune response that underlies the inflammatory process in atopic forms of asthma. Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 are important cytokines for the regulation of these asthmatic immune responses. However, the cellular mechanisms that regulate IL-4 and IL-13 signaling remain unknown. Recently, a new family of proteins, termed suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS), has been identified. We have previously shown that SOCS-1 is a potent inhibitor of JAK-STAT signaling activated by IL-4. SOCS-1 expression is regulated both at the RNA and protein stability level. To identify proteins that bind and potentially regulate SOCS-1, we used the yeast two-hybrid system. We have identified the serine-threonine kinase Pim-2 as a binding partner for SOCS-1. Our preliminary studies demonstrate that SOCS-1 can interact with all three Pim kinases in mammalian cells. Co-expression of SOCS-1 with Pim kinases leads to the expression of novel SOCS-1 isoforms to require serine-threonine kinase activity. Pim kinases can directly phosphorylate SOCS-1. In addition, co-expression of SOCS-1 with Pim2 increases the levels of SOCS-1 protein. Finally, expression of Pim-2 increases the inhibition of IL-4 signaling by SOCS-1. These data lead to a model by which the expression of Pim kinases alters SOCS-1 function through a phosphorylation event that stabilizes the SOCS-1 protein. This chapter proposes experiments to test this model and determine the role Pim kinases play in regulating IL-4 signaling in vivo. In addition, we propose to study the role of Pim kinases in a murine model of asthma.
Pain management. An organizational perspective.

Despite advances in the assessment and treatment of pain, acutely and critically ill patients continue to experience moderate to severe pain during hospitalization. Understanding the organization as the context of clinical pain management may offer novel insight and strategies to improve practice and patient outcomes. Employing evidence-based and collaborative practice in conjunction with defined structures and processes, can support pain management resulting in improved health outcomes.
Emerging SNS use: the importance of social network sites for older American emerging adults

This study asks how older emerging adults (23–28 years old) describe, understand, and interpret their own social network site (SNS) use, as well as whether this SNS use promotes social ties and lif...
One Part Water, Two Parts Starch: Performing oobleck as political resistance

Oobleck is two things: a non-Newtonian fluid, a mixture of cornstarch and water showing properties of both a liquid and a solid; and an invention by Dr. Seuss, an odd green weather occurrence who’s fluid, adhesive, and elastic attributes manage to threaten the entire state apparatus of the “Kingdom of Didd.” Re-viewing the children’s book Bartholomew and the Oobleck , and in light of its starch-and-water namesake, I argue that we can learn an insurrective strategy of political resistance from its performativity.
SILA: An Incremental Learning Approach for Pedestrian Trajectory Prediction

The prediction of pedestrian motion is challenging, especially in crowded roads and intersections. Most of the current approaches apply offline methods to learn motion behaviors, but as a result, they are not able to learn continuously and typically do not generalize well to new environments. This paper presents Similarity-based Incremental Learning Algorithm (SILA) for pedestrian motion prediction with the ability of improving the learned model over the time as data is obtained incrementally. To keep the model size efficient, the motion primitives learned from the new data are compared with the previously known ones, and similar motion primitives are fused while novel motion primitives are added to the model. Results show that the SILA model growth rate is about 1/3 that of an incremental approach that does not fuse motion primitives. SILA is evaluated on different datasets and scenarios including intersections and busy streets. The results show that, even though SILA learns incrementally, it performs comparably to (and sometimes outperforms) state-of-the-art algorithms in pedestrian prediction. Additionally, SILA learning time only depends on the size of the data added incrementally, which makes SILA more efficient in terms of time and space compared to batch learning.
Televised confessions in the People’s Republic of China: A multimodal analysis of lexical grammar, gaze, and identity

Abstract This study examines the use of lexical grammar and gaze in three televised confession news segments discussing national identity shown on PRC state-backed media in 2016. It aims to apply discourse analysis methodologies previously used to study PRC mass media (Fang 1994, Fang 2001, Feng 2013, Feng 2016, Renwick and Cao 1999) to subject matter previously researched mainly in other disciplines (Leung 2017, Fiskesjo 2017, Sorace 2019, Dahlin 2018). Following multimodal analysis of lexical grammar and gaze patterns, social identity theory is applied to understand narrative messaging similarities across the three segments. By applying the methodologies of discourse analysis, multimodal analysis, and social identity theory to a heretofore neglected topic, the study aims to better understand this phenomenon and to determine what methodological adjustments might be necessary in its investigation.
Partial Respiratory Motion Compensation for Abdominal Extracorporeal Boiling Histotripsy Treatments With a Robotic Arm

Extracorporeal boiling histotripsy (BH), a noninvasive method for mechanical tissue disintegration, is getting closer to clinical applications. However, the motion of the targeted organs, mostly resulting from the respiratory motion, reduces the efficiency of the treatment. Here, a practical and affordable unidirectional respiratory motion compensation method for BH is proposed and evaluated in ex vivo tissues. The BH transducer is fixed on a robotic arm following the motion of the skin, which is tracked using an inline ultrasound imaging probe. In order to compensate for system lags and obtain a more accurate compensation, an autoregressive motion prediction model is implemented. BH pulse gating is also implemented to ensure targeting accuracy. The system is then evaluated with ex vivo BH treatments of tissue samples undergoing motion simulating breathing with the movement of amplitudes between 5 and 10 mm, the frequency between 16 and 18 breaths/min, and a maximum speed of 14.2 mm/s. Results show a reduction of at least 89% of the value of the targeting error during treatment while only increasing the treatment time by no more than 1%. The lesions obtained by treating with the motion compensation were close in size and affected area to the no-motion case, whereas lesions obtained without the compensation were often incomplete and had larger affected areas. This approach to motion compensation could benefit extracorporeal BH and other histotripsy methods in clinical translation.
Efficacy of late postnatal dexamethasone on weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation in extreme premature infants

To evaluate the short-term respiratory effects of PND in a cohort of ventilator-dependent premature infants. Clinical data from 106 infants 23–28 weeks gestation who received PND for weaning from MV during 2011–2017 were evaluated. PND was started at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg/d tapered over 5–7 d. Treatment success was defined as extubated and free from MV on d14 after start of treatment. Treatment was successful in 83 (78%) infants. Demographics and age of treatment did not differ between groups. In the failure group, a higher proportion were on HFOV and FiO2 ≥ 0.50 before treatment, compared to the successful group. In most infants, PND resulted in successful weaning from MV. Reduced need for oxygen in infants not extubated may be beneficial, but it is unknown if this offsets the risks. The long-term effects PND in ventilator dependent infants need to be evaluated.
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for the management of type 2 diabetes.

Sodium−glucose cotransporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitors reduce glucose reabsorption in the kidney, increase glucosuria, and improve glycemia. Besides glycemic efficacy, the class also lowers risk of cardi...
Internet Photonic Sensing: Using the Internet Optical Transport Signals for Vibration and Deformation Sensing

In this paper, we introduce Internet Photonic Sensing (IPS), a new framework for deformation and vibration measurement and monitoring based on signals that are available from standard fiber optic communication hardware deployed in the Internet. IPS is based on the hypothesis that atmospheric, seismic, anthropogenic and other natural activity cause deformations and vibrations in the earth that trigger detectable changes in standard optical signals that transmit data through Internet fiber. We assume a simple system component model for optical communication hardware and identify two candidate signals that may reflect deformation and vibrations and that can be measured through standard interfaces: Optical Signal Strength (OSS) and Bit Error Rate (BER). We investigate the efficacy of IPS through a series of controlled, laboratory experiments that consider how the candidate signals respond when fiber is subjected to a range of mechanical deformations. We believe that advancement of IPS offers the potential to transform the practice of scientific, commercial and public safety-related vibration monitoring applications by providing a highly-sensitive platform that is available at a global scale.
Using mass spectrometry to overcome the longstanding inaccuracy of a commercially-available clinical testosterone immunoassay.

Abstract Accurate measurement of testosterone is important for the diagnosis of gonadal disorders in men, women, and children. Testosterone measurement has limited accuracy at low concentrations by most commercially available immunoassays. We aimed to develop an LC-MS/MS assay to address the inaccuracy of the in-house immunoassay observed over the past decade and to replace it with the new assay. Testosterone in serum/plasma was extracted with commercial supported liquid extraction plates. Method validation was performed following the CLSI C62-A guideline. A total of 126 samples were used for method comparison between the Beckman UniCel DxI immunoassay and LC-MS/MS. Results by immunoassay were 20% lower compared with LC-MS/MS and had minimal correlation (R2 = 0.403) with LC-MS/MS below 100 ng/dL. When comparing specimens from the Accuracy-Based Survey from the College of American Pathologists, the newly developed assay agreed well with the CDC reference measurement procedure. In summary, immunoassay measurement of testosterone can be significantly inaccurate, especially at low concentrations. The newly developed LC-MS/MS assay provides accurate results across the entire measurable range.
Associations Among Military Sexual Trauma, Opioid Use Disorder, and Gender.

Introduction Opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription increase the risks for overdose and death. In Veterans, military sexual trauma is associated with increased risk for assorted health conditions. This study evaluates the association of military sexual trauma with opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription and potential moderation by gender. Methods In a national sample of Veterans Health Administration outpatients receiving care from October 1, 2009 to August 1, 2017, logistic regression models were fit to evaluate the associations between military sexual trauma and opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription, adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates. A second set of models included a gender X military sexual trauma interaction. Analyses were conducted in 2020–2021. Results Patients with history of military sexual trauma (n=327,193) had 50% higher odds of opioid use disorder diagnosis (AOR=1.50, 95% CI=1.45, 1.54, p Conclusions Military sexual trauma was a significant risk factor for opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription, with the former association particularly strong in men. Clinical care for Veterans with military sexual trauma should consider elevated risk of opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription.
Triphosphoinositide phosphomonoesterase in rat kidney cortex. II. Purification and characterization.

Abstract Triphosphoinositide phosphomonoesterase was purified 50-fold from homogenates of the rat kidney cortex by procedures involving treatment of microsomal fractions with 0.5% sodium desoxycholate, sonication in the presence of 0.5% sodium desoxy cholate, and ammonium sulfate fractionation. Evidence was presented for the enzymatic hydrolysis of triphosphoinositide according to the reaction: Triphosphoinositide → Diphosphoinositide + Inorganic phosphate ↓ Monophosphoinositide + Inorganic phosphate Results of mixed-substrate experiments, the effect of divalent metalions, inhibitor studies, and the Arrhenius plot strongly support the view that triphosphoinositide phosphomonoesterase is a separate and distinct enzyme from alkaline phosphatase.
Spectral and asymptotic analysis of acoustic wave propagation

Classical theories of acoustic wave propagation provide a wealth of examples of boundary value problems for evolution partial differential equations. These problems may be described categorically as initial-boundary value problems for certain systems of linear hyperbolic partial differential equations with variable coefficients. However, the known existence, uniqueness and regularity theorems for these problems are only a first step toward understanding the structure of the solutions. To obtain a deeper insight it is essential to discover how the nature of the solutions changes with the geometry of the boundary and with the coefficients. An examination of recent scientific literature on acoustics reveals a great variety of physically distinct phenomena. Examples include phenomena associated with acoustic wave propagation in stratified fluids, anisotropic solids such as crystals and man-made composites, open and closed waveguides, periodic media and many others. A theory which treats all of these phenomena on the same footing can provide only the most superficial information about the structure of acoustic waves.
Is Mercury a volatile‐rich planet?

] Data returned from the gamma-ray spectrometeronboard the Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geo-chemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft havebeen interpreted to say that Mercury is a volatile-rich planet(elevated K/Th and K/U), which is important given itsheliocentricdistance.TheMESSENGERX-rayspectrometerprovided chemical information from the surface of Mercurywhich we used to calculate an average surface compositionfortheregionsanalyzed. ThehighSabundanceandlowFeOabundance of the surface indicates that the oxygen fugacityof the Mercurian interior is very reducing ( 6.3 to 2.6 logf
Numerical Methods for Stochastic Computations: A Spectral Method Approach

The first graduate-level textbook to focus on fundamental aspects of numerical methods for stochastic computations, this book describes the class of numerical methods based on generalized polynomial chaos (gPC). These fast, efficient, and accurate methods are an extension of the classical spectral methods of high-dimensional random spaces. Designed to simulate complex systems subject to random inputs, these methods are widely used in many areas of computer science and engineering. The book introduces polynomial approximation theory and probability theory; describes the basic theory of gPC methods through numerical examples and rigorous development; details the procedure for converting stochastic equations into deterministic ones; using both the Galerkin and collocation approaches; and discusses the distinct differences and challenges arising from high-dimensional problems. The last section is devoted to the application of gPC methods to critical areas such as inverse problems and data assimilation. Ideal for use by graduate students and researchers both in the classroom and for self-study, Numerical Methods for Stochastic Computations provides the required tools for in-depth research related to stochastic computations.The first graduate-level textbook to focus on the fundamentals of numerical methods for stochastic computations Ideal introduction for graduate courses or self-study Fast, efficient, and accurate numerical methods Polynomial approximation theory and probability theory included Basic gPC methods illustrated through examples
Changes in Attitudes toward Computers and Use of Computers by University Faculty.

AbstractThis article examines two components related to faculty adoption of computers on university campuses: the change in use patterns and the change in attitudes and opinions. Faculty members’ attitudes and use patterns are evaluated using data compiled from the first year of a longitudinal study. The results of our study show that use and attitudes are multidimensional constructs. In addition, changes happen at different rates for different categories of use. Also, the changes in attitudes are more significant for specific components of use. These findings suggest that faculty members, with their increased computer use and altering attitudes, need adequate computer training and infrastructural support to sustain use.
Dimensions of Parenting Associated with Child Prekindergarten Emotion Regulation and Attention Control in Low-income Families

Delays in emotion regulation and attention control are common among children growing up in poverty, and they contribute to significant socio-economic gaps in school readiness and later school attainment. In this study, the emotion regulation and attention control skills of 210 prekindergarten Head Start participants were assessed (M age = 4.80 years old). Home interviews and videotaped parent-child interactions were used to evaluate three aspects of parenting (e.g., warm-sensitive, directive-critical, and parenting stress). Structural equation models documented significant, unique associations linking directive-critical parenting and parenting stress with poor child emotion regulation skills. Directive-critical parenting was also uniquely associated with low levels of child attention control. Warm-sensitive parenting was not uniquely related to either emotion regulation or attention control at this age. The findings suggest that, by prekindergarten, parent stress management and reduced directiveness emerge as the primary correlates of child emotion regulation and attention control, whereas warm-sensitive parenting plays a diminished role.
How to be a better Bayesian

Abstract Consider an experiment yielding an observable random quantity X whose distribution is indexed by a real parameter o. Suppose that a statistician is prepared to execute a Bayes procedure in estimating o and has quantified available prior information about o in his chosen prior distribution G. Suppose that before this estimation process is completed, the statistician becomes aware of the outcome Y of a “similar” experiment. In this article we investigate the questions of whether, and when, this additional information can be exploited so as to provide a better estimate of o in the “current” experiment. We show that in the traditional empirical Bayes framework and in situations involving exponential families, conjugate priors, and squared error loss, the answer is “essentially always.” An explicit Bayes empirical Bayes (BEB) estimator of o is given that is superior to the original Bayes estimator, showing that the statistician has, in these problems, the opportunity to be a “better Bayesian” by combi...
Neutrophils give us a shock

I turned to Wikipedia when I was searching for a way to explain the basics of anaphylaxis and came across the following statement: “True anaphylaxis is caused by degranulation of mast cells or basophils mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE).” This is the classic teaching, present in all the immunology textbooks, but the paper in this issue of the JCI by Jonsson et al. (1) informs us that this view is, at best, incomplete. Instead, we learn that anaphylaxis can be mediated by neutrophils recognizing IgG/antigen complexes. In addition to turning around our understanding of anaphylaxis, this paper adds to the growing list of neutrophil functions besides just bacterial killing and protease production (2). Lately we have learned that neutrophils are major sources of cytokines and chemokines (3, 4). They play a direct role in influencing the recruitment and activation of monocytes/macrophages, T cells, and NK cells during inflammation (5–7). Neutrophils have been implicated as the primary initiators of immune complex–mediated diseases (8, 9). And now the shocking news (pun intended!) that they are major players in initiating anaphylaxis.
Molecular evolution of maize catalases and their relationship to other eukaryotic and prokaryotic catalases.

We have compared the nucleotide and protein sequences of the three maize catalase genes with other plant catalases to reconstruct the evolutionary relationship among these catalases. These sequences were also compared with other eukaryotic and prokaryotic catalases. Phylogenies based on distances and parsimony analysis show that all plant catalases derive from a common ancestral catalase gene and can be divided into three distinct groups. The first, and major, group includes maizeCatl, barleyCat1, riceCatB and most of the dicot catalases. The second group is an apparent dicot-specific catalase group encompassing the tobaccoCat2 and tomatoCat. The third is a monocot-specific catalase class including the maize Cat3, barley Cat2, and riceCatA. The maize Cat2 gene is loosely related to the first group. The distinctive features of monocot-specific catalases are their extreme high codon bias at the third position and low degree of sequence similarity to other plant catalases. Similarities in the intron positions for several plant catalase genes support the conclusion of derivation from a common ancestral gene. The similar intron position between bean catalases and human catalase implies that the animal and plant catalases might have derived from a common progenitor gene sequence.
Unpredictable dynamics and collective brain

Abstract Revision of the mathematical formalism of Newtonian dynamics suggests that its determinism and reversibility result from additional mathematical restrictions which are not consistent with the physical nature of motions. The removal of these restrictions, and a new model for Newtonian dynamics, as well as its applications to modelling neural intelligence are discussed.
RESPONSES OF LYMPHOCYTES WITH "ATYPICAL NUCLEI" IN THE NODES PROXIMAL TO PARENTERAL INJECTIONS.

Variable numbers of small lymphocytes with “atypical nuclei” have been shown to occur regularly in lymph nodes from normal animals. The present studies were carried out in explanation of these cells. Mice were injected subcutaneonsly or intraperitoneally with physiologic saline or isotonic glucose, and with solutions of various organic substances in glucose. The draining nodes were fixed at various intervals thereafter, and unstained sections were examined by light and polarized microscopy. These lymphocytes increased after all of the injections. The increments were moderate and of short duration after injections of saline and glucose alone, and the nuclei were morphologically similar to those found in the controls with the techniques employed. The increments were greater and more protracted after injections of most of the organic substances, and the morphology of the nuclei in polarized light differed from that of the normal. The effect on the morphology was influenced, in part, by the degree of solubility of the organic substance and the duration of exposure of the cells to it. The conclusion is drawn that lymphocytes with “atypical nuclei” represent response to lymph drainage, in general, while modifications of their characteristic nuclear morphology are indicative of specific biologic responses.
Engineering Cell Shape and Function

An elastomeric stamp, containing defined features on the micrometer scale, was used to imprint gold surfaces with specific patterns of self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols and, thereby, to create islands of defined shape and size that support extracellular matrix protein adsorption and cell attachment. Through this technique, it was possible to place cells in predetermined locations and arrays, separated by defined distances, and to dictate their shape. Limiting the degree of cell extension provided control over cell growth and protein secretion. This method is experimentally simple and highly adaptable. It should be useful for applications in biotechnology that require analysis of individual cells cultured at high density or repeated access to cells placed in specified locations.
Cytosolic androgen receptor in skeletal muscle from normal and dystrophic mice.

Abstract The cytosolic androgen receptor was studied in skeletal muscle of normal mice and of mice with hereditary muscular dystrophy (129/ReJ-dy). Mouse muscle contains a cytosolic androgen receptor with high affinity ( K d 0.6 nM) and low capacity ( B max 3 fmol/mg protein). Dystrophic muscle contains a receptor with similar binding properties. The receptors from muscle of dystrophic and normal mice bind to DNA-cellulose affinity columns and are eluted with similar patterns. The reported failure of androgens to alleviate the clinical signs of murine muscular dystrophy is probably not due to decreased androgen responsiveness of the affected muscles.
New onset diabetes and atypical antipsychotics

As a class, the atypical antipsychotics are the first line treatment choice for the psychopharmacologic management of psychotic disorders. Emerging evidence currently suggests that at least two of the atypical antipsychotics, clozapine and olanzapine, and possibly quetiapine may be associated with the risk of new onset diabetes or serum glucose dyscontrol. Computerized Medline and Current Contents searches from years 1966 through June 2000 were undertaken to retrieve all pertinent studies and case reports of typical and atypical antipsychotics and glucose-insulin problems. Historically, both schizophrenia and the older antipsychotics medications have been reported to be associated with a similar risk for causing disruptions in serum glucose control. Additionally, diabetes has well recognized associations with a number of medical disorders such as cardiovascular disease; it is therefore worthy of attention. Hypothesized mechanisms for antipsychotic induced diabetes ranges from the antagonism of several neurotransmitter receptors to insulin resistance. A total of thirty-five cases of induced or exacerbated diabetes are presently available in the published literature; the vast majority of cases implicate clozapine (n=20) and olanzapine (n=15). In multiple cases, diabetic ketoacidosis has been the presenting symptom; daily atypical antipsychotic doses have been within acceptable ranges and were not considered to be excessive.
Thrombospondin-1 is a universal inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase activation

Background Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is the signal transduction enzyme most responsible for mediating the effects of nitric oxide by producing cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) from guanosine triphosphate (GTP). NOcGMP signaling is vital to proper cardiovascular function. Deficiencies in the production of either NO or cGMP contribute to cardiovascular disorders. Therapies designed to increase in vivo NO levels (such as organic nitrates) have well documented clinical limitations due to drug tolerance. Recently, a variety of NO-independent small molecule activators of sGC have been reported that activate nearly or as well as NO and have promising clinical activities. Previous results from our lab have shown that the secreted matrix protein thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) binds to CD47 and potently inhibits NO stimulation of sGC.
Functional characterization of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells in lung development, injury, and tumorigenesis.

Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) are proposed to be the first specialized cell type to appear in the lung, but their ontogeny remains obscure. Although studies of PNECs have suggested their involvement in a number of lung functions, neither their in vivo significance nor the molecular mechanisms underlying them have been elucidated. Importantly, PNECs have long been speculated to constitute the cells of origin of human small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and recent mouse models support this hypothesis. However, a genetic system that permits tracing the early events of PNEC transformation has not been available. To address these key issues, we developed a genetic tool in mice by introducing a fusion protein of Cre recombinase and estrogen receptor (CreER) into the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) locus that encodes a major peptide in PNECs. The CGRPCreER mouse line has enabled us to manipulate gene activity in PNECs. Lineage tracing using this tool revealed the plasticity of PNECs. PNECs can be colabeled with alveolar cells during lung development, and following lung injury, PNECs can contribute to Clara cells and ciliated cells. Contrary to the current model, we observed that elimination of PNECs has no apparent consequence on Clara cell recovery. We also created mouse models of SCLC in which CGRPCreER was used to ablate multiple tumor suppressors in PNECs that were simultaneously labeled for following their fate. Our findings suggest that SCLC can originate from differentiated PNECs. Together, these studies provide unique insight into PNEC lineage and function and establish the foundation of investigating how PNECs contribute to lung homeostasis, injury/repair, and tumorigenesis.
Technology Sleuth Extraordinaire: Or, a Flashback to an Exploration of the Nancy Drew Case Files in a Small Town Library

This article reflects on trends in distance education (DE), as they relate to the needs of faculty and students who are teaching and learning through DE modalities. Reviews of changes in student use patterns, faculty expectations of library services, and recommendations for librarians and information specialists are provided.
Evolution of Hydrogen-Bond Networks in Protonated Water Clusters H+(H2O)n (n = 1 to 120) Studied by Cryogenic Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry

Cryogenic (80 K) ion mobility-mass spectrometry (cryo-IM-MS) is employed to study structural transitions of protonated water clusters in both the small, H(+)(H2O)n (n = 1 to 30), and large, (n = 31 to ∼120), size regions. In agreement with previous studies, we find compelling evidence of regions of uniform cluster decay in the small size region, accompanied by sharp transition points whereby the loss of a single water monomer induces a different H-bonding motif. The investigation of the isomeric distribution of each species at 80 K reveals experimental evidence supporting the notion that H(+)(H2O)n (n = 6) is the smallest system to possess both Eigen- (H3O(+)) and Zundel- (H5O2(+)) centered structures. Cryo-IM-MS is particularly well-suited for studying clusters in the large size region, for which previous spectroscopic experimental studies are scarce.
The control of mRNA production, translation and turnover in suspended and reattached anchorage-dependent fibroblasts

Abstract Strictly anchorage-dependent 3T6 fibroblasts require contact with a solid surface for growth and for normal macromolecular metabolism. Denial of surface contact or anchorage by suspension in methocel leads to dramatic changes in messenger RNA metabolism and protein synthesis. These are reversed when cells contact a surface, even when spreading is prevented by agents such as concanavalin A. The responses to suspension appear to be well ordered regulatory events. While the synthesis of hnRNA remains constant, the production of mRNA is reduced 5 fold within a few hours under suspension conditions, suggesting a possible post-transcriptional control mechanism. Normally turning over messenger RNA is stabilized; the breakdown rate is reduced to match the lowered rate of message production so that the total amount of mRNA in the suspended fibroblasts remains constant. Protein synthesis declines slowly but extensively, and amounts to only 15% of control cells after 72 hr of suspension. The rate of protein synthesis is clearly not regulated by the amount of mRNA present, but rather by its availability. This is shown by the 6–7 fold increase of protein synthesis which occurs within 4 hr after the reattachment of suspended cells to a solid substrate. Messenger RNA production remains low during this period and cannot account for the resumption of protein synthesis. Rather, the recovery utilizes preexisting mRNA that has been translationally inactive, and this mRNA, once returned to translation, is engaged on full-sized polyribosomes, indicating the absence of a lesion in polypeptide initiation. At least one major protein, of about 43,000 dalton molecular weight, shows greatly enhanced synthesis during recovery. This polypeptide comigrates with actin in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and is extensively associated with the cytoskeleton. Its enhanced synthesis following cell reattachment may represent a modulation of a morphology-related gene.
Conformational sampling of hydrocarbon and lipid chains in an orienting potential

A Distribution Biased Monte Carlo (DBMC) sampling procedure is developed for the efficient generation of chain conformations in the oriented environment of lipid membranes and other liquid crystalline systems. Conformations of the sn-1 chain of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) were generated by independently sampling torsion angles from continuous distributions in an orienting potential based on a Marcelja mean field; depending on the chain position, the convergence in the deuterium order parameters (SCD) was 100 to 3000 times more efficient with DBMC than with Brownian dynamics. Optimization using joint distribution and torsional potentials of mean force yielded a further threefold increase in sampling efficiency. Overall chain tilt was included using Euler angle rotations and a separate field strength for the anchor. A segmental DBMC procedure was used to generate a set of complete DPPC conformations with well-converged conformationally averaged SCD consistent with experimental values. These conformations show considerable flexibility, not only in the hydrocarbon tails, but additionally in both the glycerol and head-group portions of the lipid. An appendix compares DBMC with a number of other Monte Carlo and stochastic dynamics algorithms using the example of a bistable oscillator, and illustrates the tuning of parameters for optimal convergence. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.1
Impressions of Mothers and Fathers on the Periphery of Child Care.

This study was designed to assess impressions of employed mothers and fathers who do not provide the primary child care in their familial context. Participants read a story about an employed mother or father who demonstrated very little direct involvement in the care of his or her child. As hypothesized, impressions of a mother who did not play a central role in care giving were more affected by whether or not she had a clear situational reason for not providing care (i.e., she was out of town) than impressions of a father. These findings imply continuing differences in child care expectations for mothers and fathers.
The Factor Structure and Predictive Validity of Burbach'S University Alienation Scale

The purpose of the study was to assess the dimensionality, discriminant, and predictive validities of a 15-item version of Burbach's University Alienation Scale. A total of 228 graduate students completed a questionnaire containing measures of alienation, commitment, locus of control, perceived likelihood of leaving, and withdrawal cognitions. Based on the partial identification numbers that they furnished voluntarily, follow-up data were obtained on the status of 121 respondents 12 months later. The findings confirmed the three-factor structure of the Burbach Alienation Scale but indicated that two of its items should be deleted. Based on confirmatory factor analytic results and correlations with locus of control, alienation and affective commitment appear to be distinct constructs. Although alienation failed to correlate with graduate student attrition after 12 months (p > .05), commitment, perceived likelihood of leaving, and withdrawal cognitions did (r = -.36, .52, and .24, respectively, p < .005, on...
Measuring nicotine dependence among smokeless tobacco users

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the concurrent validity of the FTQ-ST and the DIS-IV diagnosis of nicotine dependence among 68 adult ST users enrolled in a randomized, controlled clinical trial of bupropion SR. FTQ-ST scores were not found to differ between those with and without a current DIS-IV diagnosis of nicotine dependence (7.4 ± 2.1 vs. 6.8 ± 2.8, P = 0.325). For all possible FTQ-ST cutoff scores, the observed agreement between the FTQ-ST and the DIS-IV was not found to be different from that expected due to chance. FTQ-ST total scores were positively correlated with serum cotinine (Spearman's r = 0.40, P r = 0.51 and r = 0.41 for average dips/chews per day; average tins/pouches per week, respectively, P P = 0.019). Participants meeting DIS-IV criteria had lower cotinine concentrations than those without this diagnosis (411 ± 263 ng/ml vs. 493 ± 246 ng/ml; P = 0.042). Poor concordance was observed between the FTQ-ST and the DIS-IV in the assessment of nicotine dependence in ST users.
Representing quadratically constrained quadratic programs as generalized copositive programs

We show that any (nonconvex) quadratically constrained quadratic program (QCQP) can be represented as a generalized copositive program. In fact, we provide two representations: one based on the concept of completely positive (CP) matrices over second-order cones, and one based on CP matrices over the positive semidefinite cone.
Choosing the Correct Currency Anchor for a Small Economy: The Case of Nepal

This paper uses the Sjaastad model to estimate the optimal currency area for the Nepalese rupee and concludes that, currently, Nepal may be reasonably well off with its peg to the Indian rupee. As its economy opens and its trade base and trading partners expand, it may want to reevaluate whether moving toward an exchange rate basket including the U.S. dollar may be a better policy choice. The regression results indicate that, currently, the prices of imported goods in Nepal are solely influenced by India, suggesting that with the peg to the Indian rupee, Nepal can isolate the import side of its economy completely from external shocks. On the export side, the regression results indicate that Nepalese export prices seem, to a large extent, to be influenced by U.S. prices. However, the export price index had to be constructed, and the construction methodology is likely to entail an overestimation of the impact of the U.S. dollar.
Usage of Percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Devices in Clinical Practice and High-risk Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Patients who require coronary revascularization and present with poor left ventricular function and complex coronary anatomy are at high risk for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Some of these patients are poor surgical candidates because of previous cardiac surgery or significant comorbidities. The recent approval and availability of percutaneous left ventricular assist devices has created an opportunity for the highest risk patients. This article reviews currently available mechanical circulatory support systems and portable extracorporeal oxygenation, describing hemodynamic and physiologic rationales, indications, strategies, and available evidence for their use in high risk PCI.
On internal solitary waves. II

The asymptotic evolution of straight-crested internal solitary waves, from prescribed initial conditions, in that parametric domain in which quadratic nonlinearity, cubic nonlinearity, and dispersion are weak and of comparable significance is calculated through inverse-scattering theory. An initially rectangular displacement, which presumably serves as an example of any initial displacement of compact support, yields N solitary waves, where N ? 1. The fastest of these waves may resemble a bore (which, by definition, implies a net change in surface level between upstream and downstream limits) but is evanescent in both the upstream and downstream limits. An initial change of surface level of the right strength with a rise facing in the direction of propagation is found to yield (asymptotically) a true bore, but the asymptotic solution for an opposite facing rise does not comprise such a component. This last difficulty suggests a problem of uniqueness for initial displacements that are not of compact support. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1981.tb01762.x
The Wavelike Plastic Deformation of Single Crystal Copper

The purpose of this work is to explore nonuniform plastic flow at small length- and time-scales. Pure single crystal copper tensile specimens were pulled along the [6 5 6] crystal axis at three nominal strain-rates: 0.01%/s, 0.04%/s, and 0.10%/s. Simultaneously, the surface deformation was monitored with in situ digital image correlation over a length-scale of ∼100 μm and a time-scale of 0.07―0.2 s. Sequential digital image correlation strain-rate fields show compelling evidence of a wavelike plastic deformation that is proportional to the nominal strain-rate and decelerates with increasing strain hardening. While a mechanism responsible for the waves is not identified, a methodology correlating observations of multiple researchers is forwarded.