cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Diffusion of Innovations in Early Modern Europe

In recent years the study of the ‘Diffusion of Innovations’ has become a very fashionable subject. Everett M. Rogers stressed the fact that his book on the ‘Diffusion of Innovations’ was based on 506 diffusion studies published in the last decades. Of course quantity is not necessarily synonymous with quality and brilliant ideas are not a function of the number of titles printed. The first of the major conclusions reached by Rogers after perusing the 506 diffusion studies is that ‘innovativeness of individuals is related to a modern rather than a traditional orientation’. One may doubt whether such an extraordinary conclusion was worth the input of energy and goodwill that allegedly went into its production, but there is no doubt that innovations and their diffusion are a topic of major relevance in the study of social development. Innovations are to history what mutations are to biology. Actually, innovations show a remarkable tendency to cluster in time and space, and this incidentally suggests that attention should not be devoted exclusively to the eccentric individual genius of the innovators, but should also be extended to the anonymous forces of the environment.
Staged Deployment of Communications Satellite Constellations in Low Earth Orbit

The “traditional” way of designing constellations of communications satellites in low Earth orbit is to optimize the design for a specified global capacity. This approach is based on a forecast of the expected number of users and their activity level, both of which are highly uncertain. This can lead to economic failure if the actual demand is significantly smaller than the one predicted. This paper presents an alternative flexible approach. The idea is to deploy the constellation progressively, starting with a smaller, more affordable capacity that can be increased in stages as necessary by launching additional satellites and reconfiguring the existing constellation in orbit. It is shown how to find the best reconfigurable constellations within a given design space. The approach, in effect, provides system designers and managers with real options that enable them to match the system evolution path to the actual unfolding demand scenario. A case study demonstrates significant economic benefits of the proposed approach, when applied to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations of communications satellites. In the process, life cycle cost and capacity are traded against each other for a given fixed per-channel performance requirement. The benefits of the staged approach demonstrably increase, with greater levels of demand uncertainty. A generalized framework is proposed for large capacity systems facing high demand uncertainty.
Global climate change and agriculture: an economic perspective

Climate change and related global concerns dominate the current environmental agenda, as evidenced by the recent wave of articles, symposia, workshops, and other scientific and lay forums dealing with this issue. While most atmospheric scientists agree that a climate change "signal" has yet to be detected, concern over potential climate change arising from increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CHF), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other "greenhouse" gases is motivating substantial funding increases for such research. Climate change is thus likely to be a major research and policy issue well into the next decade.
Correlation of Helical Propensity in Amylin Sequences with Known Aggregation Propensity

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is a 37 amino acid peptide and a variety of mutants with different aggregation propensities have been characterized experimentally. Amyloid fiber formation of human IAPP (hIAPP) is toxic to beta-cells of pancreas and associated with type II diabetes. However, rat IAPP (rIAPP), which differs from hIAPP by six residues, is known not to form amyloid fibrils. Moreover, a naturally-occurring point mutation of hIAPP (S20G) is known to form amyloid more quickly and be linked with early onset of type II diabetes. On the other hand, another point mutation of hIAPP (I26P) was reported to resist and potentially inhibit aggregation of the wild-type hIAPP. A critical question regarding disparate aggregation propensity of various amylin sequences is if such differences originate from secondary structure populated in the monomeric state. It has been suggested based on experimental data that transiently sampled helical structures may play an important role in early stages of aggregation. But such expectations have not been directly verified as obtaining residue-specific experimental data on largely disordered proteins is quite challenging. Here, we have studied various IAPP monomers in solution by replica exchange molecular dynamics simulation and an optimized fully atomistic protein force field, Amber03w. We find that alpha-helix propensity in region spanning residues 7 to 16 correlates very well with the known aggregation propensity of these amylin sequences. The peptides with higher alpha-helix stability in this region aggregate more rapidly. Interestingly, all the sequences show very little beta-sheet propensity, which is the dominant secondary structure populated in fibril-like aggregates. Further, we find that the secondary structure adopted in solution by hIAPP is strikingly similar to the NMR structures in presence of micelles. We will discuss the implications of the above observations for the aggregation mechanism.
The “principle of sympathy” in Campbell's philosophy of rhetoric

This essay argues that George Campbell's application of the psychological phenomenon of “sympathy” to rhetoric was unique among eighteenth‐century rhetoricians and that its significance has been largely overlooked by contemporary scholars. Campbell relates the principle of sympathy clearly to the process whereby a speaker attempts to engage the elief and action of an audience. The principle of sympathy can also be understood as providing a basis for moral judgment or assent in rhetoric.
Behavioral Risk Factors in Emergency Department Patients: A Multisite Survey

Background: Many people rely on EDs for routine health care. Often, however, screening and counseling for health risks are not provided. Objec- tive: To determine prevalence rates of chronic disease and injury risk factors and access to routine health care in a random sample of ED patients in 3 cities. Methods: A prospective survey was conducted at 3 hospital EDs in Akron, OH, Boston, MA, and Denver, CO. A modified version of the national Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey was administered by trained researchers to a convenience sample of non- critically ill patients during randomly selected shifts. Results: Of 1,143 eligible patients, 923 (81%) agreed to participate. Their mean age was 39 (range = 17- 96) years. Most were female (58%), white (60%), and unmarried (68%). Thirty-eight percent had no access to primary care. Injury-prone behaviors were preva- lent: 53% of the respondents did not wear seat belts regularly; 15% had no working smoke detector; 3% kept loaded, unlocked handguns in their homes; 11% had attempted suicide; 23% had a positive CAGE screen for alcoholism; 3% had operated a motor vehicle in the preceding month while alcohol-intoxicated; and 11% had ridden in an automobile with an intoxicated driver. Cancer and chronic disease risks were also common: 48% smoked; 16% had not received a blood pressure check in the preceding year; and 4% reported unsafe sexual practices. Among women aged >50 years, 42% had not received a Pap test in the prior 2 years and 14% had never had mammography. Many prevalence rates and access to care varied among the 3 sites. However, for most risk factors, prevalence rates did not differ in patients with and without access to primary health care. Conclusions: ED patients have high rates of injury and chronic disease risks, and many have no other source of routine health care. Research is needed to determine whether ED-based programs, designed to reduce injury and chronic dis- ease risks, are feasible and cost-effective. Key words: risk factor surveillance; injury prevention; emergency medicine; screening. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 1998; 5~781-787
Rapid processing of endodontic “working” roentgenograms

A substantial amount of time is lost in the routine processing of roentgenograms in a busy endodontic practice. This time loss can be sharply reduced, however, by using enriched developer and fixer or by increasing the temperature of the processing solutions. The generally recommended temperature of the solutions for the processing of dental roentgenograms has been 68O F. It is claimed that this temperature produces optimum roentgenographic results. Unfortunately, about 6 minutes of darkroom time is required to achieve this result, even when only a single film is processed. The busy endodontist can ill afford this recurrent loss of time. In order to evaluate the effect of heated solutions upon processing time and film quality, the following project was undertaken. Every effort was made to keep all conditions constant with the exception of developing temperature and t.ime, which were varied.
Failure of angiography to diagnose thermal perforation complicating laser angioplasty in a rabbit

Abstract Perforation of the vascular wall underlying the site of intended recanalization constitutes the principal risk of laser angioplasty. 1–3 In clinical trials of percutaneous laser angioplasty, absence of contrast extravasation on angiographic examination after laser treatment is usually interpreted to indicate that laser angioplasty was uncomplicated by vessel wall perforation. 1–3 We describe failure of angiography to diagnose necropsy-proved thermal perforation complicating laser recanalization of experimentally induced atherosclerotic narrowing in a rabbit.
OXIDATION OF SO2 IN AQUEOUS DROPLETS: MASS- TRANSPORT LIMITATION IN LABORATORY STUDIES AND THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE*

Abstract Despite numerous laboratory investigations, the aqueous phase oxidation of SO2 remains ill-understood. A major reason for this is the failure to treat properly the combined problem of mass transport and chemical reaction. This problem has not been adequately addressed either by experiments with bulk solutions or by experiments with aqueous droplets that have been undertaken in order to circumvent the mass-transport problem associated with bulk solutions. The conclusions of these laboratory investigations conflict with each other and report reaction rates which are considerably different from those that would pertain to the same reactions in the ambient atmosphere. In this paper we apply the theoretical analysis that has been developed to describe mass transport and reaction of SO2 in aqueous droplets (Schwartz and Freiberg, 1981) to an analysis of the data of two laboratory studies of this reaction system. It is shown that mass-transport limitation (both gas-phase and aqueous-phase) in the experiment of Barrie and Georgii (1976) may have reduced the measured rates by 20% to as much as an order of magnitude from the intrinsic rate. In the experiment of van den Heuvel and Mason (1963) gas-phase mass-transport limitation is shown to have prevented the steady-state reagent concentration from having been achieved in the contact times employed. Consequently, the rate constants derived from these data by Scott and Hobbs (1967) are too low. Application of the analysis of Schwartz and Freiberg (1981) to an examination of SO2 oxidation in clouds and fogs indicates that the mass-transport limitation of the oxidation rate is not significant except under conditions of very high oxidation rates, e.g. at high ozone or H2O2 concentration.
Mating behaviour of male orangutans in the Kutai Game Reserve, Indonesia

Abstract The mating behaviour of male orangutans was investigated during a 16-month field study at the Kutai Game Reserve, Indonesia. Males competed for access to mates during interactions involving females. The highest-ranking male in the study population consistently displaced lower-ranking adult and subadult males when females were present. Adult males regularly supplanted subadults during similar interactions. Both adult and subadult males forcibly copulated with females. Subadult males, however, achieved more matings than adult males by copulating frequently during prolonged associations with females. Adult males mated with a few females within a defined area, or searched for mating opportunities with more females over larger regions. In this and other studies, individual male reproductive success could not be determined, and therefore remains a critical area for future research.
Associations between genome-wide Native American ancestry, known risk alleles and B-cell ALL risk in Hispanic children

Associations between genome-wide Native American ancestry, known risk alleles and B-cell ALL risk in Hispanic children
Cortisone induced modiffications in the development of the chick embryo.

Single doses of cortisone acetate, applied to the allantoic vesicle or chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo, on the 3rd to 8th day of incubation produce a variety of disturbances in the embryo depending on the dosage and the time of injection. Cortisone is relatively more toxic to the early embryo, and in those that survive, weight inhibition, defects in the facial bones and tibia, and exteriorized viscera occur. In embryos treated at a later stage, weight inhibition is more severe, but the defects in the facial bones are no longer present, feather inhibition is marked, and there are major disturbances in osseous development. The susceptibility of various organs in the chick embryo to cortisone is specific, and varies with their stage of development. IT HAS been found that various adrenocortical hormones, when injected into the yolk sac, inhibited the growth of the chick embryo (1–8). When cortisone acetate was injected, in large doses, into the yolk sac at 4 days of incubation, it caused, in addi...
ACTION OF PROSTAGLANDIN E1 ON TISSUES WHICH RESPOND TO BRADYKININ.

(PGE1) Prostaglandin E1 (9-keto 11s 15 Dihydroxy-prost-13-enoic acid PGE1) was the 1st of several PGs to be isolated by Bergstrom et al. It is a member of a chemically new group of vasodilator substances. Other naturally occurring vasodilators such as bradykinin acetylcholine and histamine have effects on several types of tissue in addition to smooth muscle. For example bradykinin increases capillary permeability produces pain on application to a blister base and releases adrenaline from the adrenal medulla. The actions of PGE1 on these and other biological preparations have been investigated using bradykinin as a standard for comparison. The results are summarized in tabular form. The vasodilator activity of PGE1 was confirmed on the flow of blood in the hind limb of a cat. Like bradykinin it increased capillary permeability as shown by intradormal injection into guinea pigs pretreated with Pontamine sky blue. A dose of 1 mcg (in 0.1 ml) produced a maximal effect. The intensity of bluing with PGE1 was less for a given area of lesion than with bradykinin and the very intense bluing produced by bradykinin was never observed with PGE1. Estimates of relative activity were therefore difficult to make but PGE1 was at least 10-100 times less active than bradykinin. PGE1 unlike bradykinin did not cause pain on application to human blister bases in concentration from 0.1-100 mcg/ml. PGE1 also differed from bradykinin that it did not reduce air entry into the lungs of the guinea pig as measured by the Konzett and Rossler method. Like bradykinin however it caused contraction of the isolated rat uterus and the isolated guinea pig ileum; it further contracted the isolated rat duodenum which is relaxed by bradykinin. (Authors modified)
The New WordStar … Is It for You?

Remaining faithful to WordStar over the years is a lot like keeping an old car; you love the thing because of its essential qualities, but it would be nice to have just a little surprise once in a while. So, if someone secretly paints your car for you, tunes the engine, adds a large number of little improvements, then you have cause to really rejoice.
Reverberation characteristics of 4 kHz and 20 kHz tone bursts in a water filled tank and their effect on experimental design

Although reverberation characteristics of air filled rooms have been exhaustively studied and defined, those of water filled tanks have not; water reverberation work has been concentrated on the open ocean. We have obtained reverberation data on a typical tank and applied it to the design of experiments for both human and animal subjects. Computer-programmed pulses were used with standard instrumentation to provide the data. Photographs of pulse returns and decay and their time of audibility by the dolphin are presented.
Designing Hub Networks with Connected and Isolated Hubs

Modern supply chains depend on efficient, reliable and extensive freight transportation systems. Many of these systems utilize hub-and-spoke networks to provide transport between many origins and many destinations. These networks include hub facilities that provide a connecting, sorting and consolidation function which concentrates flows on the inter-hub links, called hub arcs, to exploit the economies of scale in transportation. This paper addresses the design of time definite hub and spoke networks using both connected hubs, that are adjacent to the hub arcs, and isolated hubs, that are not adjacent to any hub arcs. It also highlights the role of isolated hubs in expanding networks. Computational results are provided for time definite trucking in North America and the results demonstrate the role and the value of isolated hubs.
Remote sensing and surface POC concentration in the South Atlantic

Abstract Several SeaWiFS products have been compared with shipboard data to assess the possibility of using remote sensing to estimate particulate organic carbon (POC) concentration in surface waters. Transmissometer data were collected during six South Atlantic Ventilation Experiment (SAVE) hydrographic expeditions conducted between November 1987 and March 1989 from R/V Knorr , and Melville . A total of 361 beam attenuation profiles were made with a SeaTech transmissometer interfaced with a CTD/rosette. In order to calculate the POC concentration from transmissometer profiles, a regression between beam attenuation and POC for open Atlantic Ocean waters derived from our research in the North Atlantic (North Atlantic Bloom Experiment, NABE) and enhanced by data from the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series Station (BATS) was applied. The profiles were processed and examined as vertical sections of the surface 250 m. The data were collected in two successive years, during the same season, which allowed us to compile a combined data set over the austral summer for examination. Beam attenuation/POC concentrations were integrated down to one attenuation depth with the intent of making comparisons with satellite optical data. No satellite optical data were available for 1987–1989, so the only option was to compare our integrated data with SeaWiFS-derived variables from later years averaged over the same season as SAVE data. Analysis of four SeaWiFS products acquired from 1997 to 2002 demonstrated very low variations from year to year for seasonally averaged data, suggesting that making comparisons of the beam attenuation/POC fields with averaged satellite optical products from later years is a valid (though not optimal) approach for this area. The highest correlation between beam attenuation/POC concentration and remotely derived products was found with normalized water-leaving radiance at 555 nm. Other SeaWiFS-derived variables—chlorophyll concentration, diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm and integral chlorophyll (integrated over one attenuation depth)—were also compared but showed a slightly less satisfactory correlation.
Vacuum reactor for continuous treatment of filaments

Abstract A simple system is described for the continuous treatment in vacuo of wire, thread, yarn and other filaments.
Two new genetic assays for noninfectious fragments of ∅X174 DNA

Abstract A genetic salvage assay for noninfectious ∅X174 DNA fragments of the viral strandedness is described. This assay is complementary to the assay previously described for the negative strand of ∅X174 RF fragments. Also, a novel DNA fragment assay was developed which depends on the formation of an infective complex made up of a DNA fragment and linear ∅X174 viral DNA.
Microdiffraction with synchrotron radiation

Abstract Storage ring sources are orders of magnitude brighter than the characteristic line of a rotating anode X-ray tube. This improved brightness allows X-ray diffraction with micron spatial resolution. We report on preliminary microdiffraction experiments using synchrotron radiation. In these experiments, synchrotron radiation beams were passed through specially prepared heavy metal pinholes to achieve probes as small as 10 μm. Both white beam and monochromatic beam techniques are discussed and the relative merits are compared.
Influence of D‐amphetamine, Benactyzine, and Chlorpromazine on Performance on an Auditory Vigilance Task

Detections, false responses, and response latencies were measured for subjects monitoring auditory signals (more‐intense noise pulses in a periodic‐noise pulse train) over a 1‐h period following administration of a stimulating drug (D‐amphetamine), an antiadrenergic tranquilizer (chlorpromazine), an anticholinergic tranquilizer (benactyzine), and a placebo. It was tentatively concluded that changes in performance over time following administration of the placebo could be explained in terms of shifts in subjects' criteria for responding and that, following administration of the tranquilizer, shifts both in effective sensitivity and response criteria were occurring. Following injection of D‐amphetamine, performance remained relatively constant throughout the monitoring period.
A study of precordial leads in subjects with congenital dextrocardia and situs inversus viscerum

Abstract The chest leads of seven persons with congenital dextrocardia and situs inversus viscerum were studied. None of the seven showed any clinical evidence of heart disease. One subject, however, because she had systolic hypertension, was believed to be potentially abnormal, and was considered separately from the other six. The standard leads of this one subject were normal, but she had inverted T waves in CF 1–4 and diphasic T waves in CF 5 and CF 6 . The data indicate that the chest leads of a person with congenital dextrocardia and situs inversus are approximately identical with those of an individual whose heart is on the left side, provided the technique of making the leads is altered to conform to the dextro-position of the heart.
Neural circuits underlying circadian behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

Circadian clocks include control systems for organizing daily behavior. Such a system consists of a time-keeping mechanism (the clock or pacemaker), input pathways for entraining the clock, and output pathways for producing overt rhythms in behavior and physiology. In Drosophila melanogaster, as in mammals, neural circuits play vital roles in all three functional subdivisions of the circadian system. Regarding the pacemaker, multiple clock neurons, each with cell-autonomous pacemaker capability, are coupled to each other in a network. The outputs of different sets of clock neurons in this network combine to produce the normal bimodal pattern of locomotor activity observed in Drosophila. Regarding input, multiple sensory modalities (including light, temperature, and pheromones) use their own circuitry to entrain the clock. Regarding output, distinct circuits are likely involved for controlling the timing of eclosion and for generating the locomotor activity rhythms. This review summarizes work on all of these circadian circuits, and discusses the broader utility of studying the fly's circadian system.
Partitioning of gramicidin A′ between coexisting fluid and gel phopholipid phases

Abstract The partitioning behavior of gramicidin A′ was investigated in four binary phospholipid mixtures with coexisting fluid and gel phases. The ratio of the equilibrium peptide concentration in the fluid phase to that in the gel phase (i.e., the partition coefficient, Kp) was determined by analysis of the quenching of gramicidin A′ tryptophanyl fluorescence by a spin-labeled phosphatidylcholine. The partition coefficient was used as a measure of the relative solubility of gramicidin A′ in the four types of gel phases analyzed. The composition of the gel phase was entirely Ca(dioleoylphosphatidylserine)2 (Ca(di18:1-PS)2), or was rich in either distearoylphosphatidylcholine (di18:0-PC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (di16:0-PC), or dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (di14 : 0-PC) Except in the last case, the gel phase was depleted of gramicidin A′: Kp ∼ 30 when the gel phase was Ca(di18:1-PS)2 or di18:0-PC-rich, Kp ∼ 10 when the gel phase was di16:0-PC-rich, and Kp ∼ 1 when the gel phase was di14:0-PC-rich. The hydrophobic mismatch between the length of gramicidin A′ and the length of the phospholipid acyl chains in the bulk gel phase is greatest with di18:1-PS and di18:0-PC, intermediate with di16:0-PC, and least with di14:0-PC. The Kp measurements presented here are consistent with increasing solubility of gramicidin A′ in the gel phase with decreasing hydrophobic mismatch.
Biomarkers of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Squamous Cell Carcinoma

An understanding of the process by which tumor cells destroy the basement membrane of the surface epithelium, invade, and metastasize is essential to the development of novel treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In recent years, there has been increased interest in the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in invasion. EMT is a process that describes the development of motile, mesenchymal-like cells from non-motile parent epithelial cells. There are 3 known types of EMT that mediate development, wound healing, and carcinogenesis. This review summarizes studies of known EMT biomarkers in the context of HNSCC progression. The biomarkers discussed come from a wide range of proteins, including cell-surface proteins (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Integrins), cytoskeletal proteins (α-Smooth Muscle Actin, Vimentin, and β-catenin), extracellular matrix proteins (Collagens, Fibronectin, and Laminin), and transcription factors (SNAIL1, SNAIL2, TWIST, and LEF-1). Overall, the findings of these studies suggest that EMT mediates HNSCC progression. The mechanistic role of the EMT markers that have been associated with HNSCC should be more clearly defined if new anti-HNSCC therapies to block EMT progression are to be developed.
Surface tension driven heat, mass, and momentum transport in a two-dimensional float-zone

Abstract A model is presented for a float zone established in a thin vertical sheet. In a coordinate system translating with the heater, equations describing the steady, two-dimensional transport of momentum, heat and solute in the melt, and diffusion of heat in the feed material and the product crystal are discussed. Heat transfer between the system (melt, feed and product) and the surrounding environment (including the heating source) is assumed to take place via radiation. Given the translation velocity, the heater and the ambient temperature profiles, and material properties, asymptotic solutions for the temperature, concentration, and melt flow profiles and the melting, solidifying and melt/gas interfacial shapes are developed in the limit of small aspect ratio (zone half-width/length) and weak surface tension driven flows. We find that convective heat transport leads to melt back of the solidification front near the edges. Further, lateral solute segregation is due to both convective effects and curved solidification fronts. Increasing the flow or increasing the velocity of solidification leads to increased lateral solute segregation in melts that are not well mixed. Finally, flat solidification fronts may not yield flat concentration profiles.
Distribution of valvular incompetence in patients with venous stasis ulceration

Valvular incompetence associated with venous ulceration can occur in the superficial, deep, or perforating systems. Duplex imaging was used to evaluate 95 extremities (78 patients) with current venous ulceration to determine the location of incompetence in each extremity. In addition, in 91 of the 95 extremities the area of the venous ulcer was evaluated for the presence of perforating veins or any other superficial veins or both conditions. Sixty-three (66.3%) of the 95 extremities had multisystem incompetence (superficial and perforating plus superficial and deep plus perforating and deep plus superficial and perforating and deep), whereas single system incompetence (superficial plus perforating plus deep) was seen in only 26 (27.3%). Isolated deep incompetence was identified in only two extremities (2.1%). Furthermore, 45% (41/91) of the ulcers had no duplex evidence of any venous abnormality in the ulcer bed. These data show that the site of valvular incompetence occurred in multiple locations, that isolated valvular incompetence of the deep venous system was uncommon, and that perforating veins were not always in the ulcer bed itself. Because standard venous surgery has traditionally been directed toward only one system, this may provide one explanation for ulcer recurrence. Therefore complete venous evaluation with duplex imaging allowing for surgical intervention directed specifically to the sites of involvement in each system is recommended.
Cytokine Stimulation of Energy Expenditure through p38 MAP Kinase Activation of PPARγ Coactivator-1

Cachexia is a chronic state of negative energy balance and muscle wasting that is a severe complication of cancer and chronic infection. While cytokines such as IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and TNFalpha can mediate cachectic states, how these molecules affect energy expenditure is unknown. We show here that many cytokines activate the transcriptional PPAR gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1) through phosphorylation by p38 kinase, resulting in stabilization and activation of PGC-1 protein. Cytokine or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of PGC-1 in cultured muscle cells or muscle in vivo causes increased respiration and expression of genes linked to mitochondrial uncoupling and energy expenditure. These data illustrate a direct thermogenic action of cytokines and p38 MAP kinase through the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1.
Area Radiation Monitor System with Logarithmic Indication and Audio-Visual Warning

For five years a neutron detection system (utilizing BF3 detectors with moderators and vacuum tube amplifiers and count-rate circuits) has been in useful service at the Los Alamos large Van de Graaff accelerator. During this time difficulties with the need for increasing counting rate capability as well as component failures have led to a desire for improvement. In addition, the detectors were sensitive to thermal neutrons to an extent which made it difficult to get a legitimate measure of biological danger with various neutron spectra. An improved system was developed to give a more believable measure of biological danger (referred to "first collision tissue damage" described in NBS Handbook 633). The system was to be made more reliable through the minimization of vacuum tubes and relays. The problem of indicating varying levels of neutron flux without changing ranges was solved by a logarithmic count rate meter with a range from 1-5000 mrem/hour. The indicating system was to be expanded to give rapid visual information at the control room and other locations as well as audio alarms in the experimental area. By transistorizing all the electronic circuits and using only low voltages, both reliability and safety is improved. A gamma system, with a range from .01 to 10 r/hour, utilizing ionization chambers and an electrometer tube, is an integral part of the radiation system. It energizes the same alarm system as the neutron detectors. The system block diagram is shown in Fig. 1.
Regulation of intracellular pH in proximal tubules of avian loopless reptilian-type nephrons

In proximal tubules isolated from chicken superficial loopless reptilian-type nephrons, intracellular pH (pHi), measured with pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2′,7′-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluore...
Treatment of Gaucher disease with an enzyme inhibitor

The hypothesis is offered predicting that Caucher patients could be treated with a drug that slows the synthesis of glucosylceramide, the lipid that accumulates in this disorder. The present therapeutic approach involves augmenting the defective enzyme, glucosylceramide β-glucosidase, with exogenous β-glucosidase isolated from human tissue. This spectacularly expensive mode of treatment should be replaceable with a suitable enzyme inhibitor that simply slows formation of the lipid and matches the rate of synthesis with the rate of the defective, slowly working β-glucosidase. Several drugs that possess this ability are available, the best known of which is 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP), a designer inhibitor that resembles the synthase's substrate and product. PDMP has been found to be effective in mice, rats, fish, and a wide variety of cultured cells. Its use, at suitable dosages, seems to be harmless, although long-term tests have not been made. The lack of suitable animal models of Gaucher disease has made it difficult to test the hypothesis adequately, but PDMP does rapidly lower the levels of glucosylceramide in normal animal tissues and the animals evidently do well with the lowered levels of glucosylceramide and its more complex glycolipid metabolites.
Fast T2-weighted MR imaging: impact of variation in pulse sequence parameters on image quality and artifacts.

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate in a phantom model the practical impact of alteration of key imaging parameters on image quality and artifacts for the most commonly used fast T(2)-weighted MR sequences. These include fast spin-echo (FSE), single shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE), and spin-echo echo-planar imaging (EPI) pulse sequences. We developed a composite phantom with different T1 and T2 values, which was evaluated while stationary as well as during periodic motion. Experiments involved controlled variations in key parameters including effective TE, TR, echo spacing (ESP), receive bandwidth (BW), echo train length (ETL), and shot number (SN). Quantitative analysis consisted of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), image nonuniformity, full-width-at-half-maximum (i.e., blurring or geometric distortion) and ghosting ratio. Among the fast T(2)-weighted sequences, EPI was most sensitive to alterations in imaging parameters. Among imaging parameters that we tested, effective TE, ETL, and shot number most prominently affected image quality and artifacts. Short T(2) objects were more sensitive to alterations in imaging parameters in terms of image quality and artifacts. Optimal clinical application of these fast T(2)-weighted imaging pulse sequences requires careful attention to selection of imaging parameters.
Emergency department-based brief intervention to reduce risky driving and hazardous/harmful drinking in young adults: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Risky driving and hazardous drinking are associated with significant human and economic costs. Brief interventions for more than one risky behavior have the potential to reduce health-compromising behaviors in populations with multiple risk-taking behaviors such as young adults. Emergency department (ED) visits provide a window of opportunity for interventions meant to reduce both risky driving and hazardous drinking. METHODS: We determined the efficacy of a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocol addressing risky driving and hazardous drinking. We used a randomized controlled trial design with follow-ups through 12 months. ED patients aged 18 to 44 who screened positive for both behaviors (n = 476) were randomized to brief intervention (BIG), contact control (CCG), or no-contact control (NCG) groups. The BIG (n = 150) received a 20-minute assessment and two 20-minute interventions. The CCG (n = 162) received a 20-minute assessment at baseline and no intervention. The NCG (n = 164) were asked for contact information at baseline and had no assessment or intervention. Outcomes at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were self-reported driving behaviors and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: Outcomes were significantly lower in BIG compared with CCG through 6 or 9 months, but not at 12 months: Safety belt use at 3 months (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08 to 0.65); 6 months (AOR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.42); and 9 months (AOR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.56); binge drinking at 3 months (adjusted rate ratio [ARR] 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.97) and 6 months (ARR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.97); and ≥5 standard drinks/d at 3 months (AOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.91) and 6 months (AOR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.98). No substantial differences were observed between BIG and NCG at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that SBIRT reduced risky driving and hazardous drinking in young adults, but its effects did not persist after 9 months. Future research should explore methods for extending the intervention effect. Language: en
Photon statistics: Nonlinear spectroscopy of single quantum systems

A unified description of multitime correlation functions, nonlinear response functions, and quantum measurements is developed using a common generating function which allows a direct comparison of their information content. A general formal expression for photon counting statistics from single quantum objects is derived in terms of Liouville-space correlation functions of the material system by making a single assumption that a spontaneous emission is described by a master equation.
Defining the genetic blueprint of kidney development

Thousands of genes show differential expression patterns during kidney development, suggesting that the genetic program driving this process is complex. While great progress has been made in defining the outline of the genetic basis of nephrogenesis, it is clear that much remains to be learned. A global atlas of the gene expression profiles of the multiple elements of the developing kidney would allow the identification of novel growth factor–receptor interactions, identify additional molecular markers of distinct components, facilitate the generation of compartment specific GFP-CRE transgenic mouse tools, lend insights into the genetic regulatory circuits governing nephron formation, and fully characterize the waves of gene expression that impel nephrogenesis. Both microarrays and next generation deep sequencing of cDNA libraries can be used to define comprehensive, sensitive, and quantitative gene expression profiles. In addition, laser capture microdissection and transgenic GFP mice can be used to isolate specific compartments and pure cell types from the developing kidney. Advancing technologies are even allowing robust gene expression profiling of single cells. The final goal is the production of an exquisitely detailed atlas of the gene expression program that drives kidney development.
An Information-Theoretic Framework for Analyzing Leak of Privacy in Distributed Hash Tables

An important security issue in DHT-based structured overlay networks is to provide anonymity to the storage nodes. Compromised routing tables in those DHTs leak information about other nodes in the system and therefore compromise privacy. In this paper, we use information theory to build a model to quantify the information leak from compromised routing tables for a given DHT with certain routing geometry and route table size. Based on this model, we have analyzed and compared how existing DHTs perform in face of anonymity attacks. We found that ring-based routing geometry (Chord) performs the best among the studied DHTs with the same routing complexity when no routing optimizations are used. The analysis of the interaction between routing geometries and recipient anonymity will help improve the design of future DHTs which can achieve a balance between routing efficiency and robustness against information leak.
Effects of Transport Stress, Sex, and Weaning Weight on Postweaning Performance in Pigs

To examine the effects of transport, sex, and weaning weight on postweaning performance, pigs were weighed and blood was collected immediately before weaning (d 0; with or without a 3-h transport) and on d 1 and 7 postweaning. Corticosteroid-binding globulin concentrations decreased by d 1 and remained suppressed through d 7 regardless of transport. Cortisol concentrations in males increased from d 0 to 1 and then decreased to preweaning levels by d 7; females had higher preweaning cortisol levels that did not change on d 1 but that decreased by d 7 to lower levels than in males. The free cortisol index was elevated on d 1 in all groups but returned to preweaning levels by d 7. Low weaning weight was associated with lower corticosteroid-binding globulin concentrations and higher free cortisol index on d 1. White blood cell counts increased from d 0 to 1, and then decreased by d 7. The percentage and number of neutrophils as well as the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio followed a similar pattern. Females had higher numbers of neutrophils than males on d 1. Low weaning weight was associated with greater numbers and percentages of neutrophils before weaning, but not after; weaning appeared to uncouple the relationship between BW and circulating immune cell populations. The stress caused by weaning was greater than that associated with transport and was, in part, related to weaning weight. Understanding how factors influence postweaning performance will yield new strategies to reduce their effects and increase uniform and efficient growth.
Energy-delay tradeoffs in smartphone applications

Many applications are enabled by the ability to capture videos on a smartphone and to have these videos uploaded to an Internet-connected server. This capability requires the transfer of large volumes of data from the phone to the infrastructure. Smartphones have multiple wireless interfaces -- 3G/EDGE and WiFi -- for data transfer, but there is considerable variability in the availability and achievable data transfer rate for these networks. Moreover, the energy costs for transmitting a given amount of data on these wireless interfaces can differ by an order of magnitude. On the other hand, many of these applications are often naturally delay-tolerant, so that it is possible to delay data transfers until a lower-energy WiFi connection becomes available. In this paper, we present a principled approach for designing an optimal online algorithm for this energy-delay tradeoff using the Lyapunov optimization framework. Our algorithm, called SALSA, can automatically adapt to channel conditions and requires only local information to decide whether and when to defer a transmission. We evaluate SALSA using real-world traces as well as experiments using a prototype implementation on a modern smartphone. Our results show that SALSA can be tuned to achieve a broad spectrum of energy-delay tradeoffs, is closer to an empirically-determined optimal than any of the alternatives we compare it to, and, can save 10-40% of battery capacity for some workloads.
Bringing the field into focus: user-centered design of a patient expertise locator

Managing personal aspects of health is challenging for many patients, particularly those facing a serious condition such as cancer. Finding experienced patients, who can share their knowledge from managing a similar health situation, is of tremendous value. Users of health-related social software form a large base of such knowledge, yet these tools often lack features needed to locate peers with expertise. Informed directly by our field work with breast cancer patients, we designed a patient expertise locator for users of online health communities. Using feedback from two focus groups with breast cancer survivors, we took our design through two iterations. Focus groups concluded that expertise locating features proved useful for extending social software. They guided design enhancements by suggesting granular user control through (1) multiple mechanisms to identify expertise, (2) detailed user profiles to select expertise, and (3) varied collaboration levels. Our user-centered approach links field work to design through close collaboration with patients. By illustrating trade-offs made when sharing sensitive health information, our findings inform the incorporation of expertise locating features into social software for patients.
Deficit to stimulus-centered, letter shape representations in a case of “unilateral neglect”

A brain-damaged subject is described whose pattern of performance in various reading tasks can be explained by proposing damage at a level of the word recognition process in which a representation with stimulus-centered, rather than retinal- or word-centered, coordinates is processed. Analysis of her reading performance as a function of topographical arrangement of letters, position of errors in the letter string, and the effects of letter spacing and of adding a prefix or suffix provide evidence not only for the existence of this level of representation (the letter-shape map in a model proposed by Caramazza and Hillis [3]), but also for specific assumptions about its functioning and structure.
Memoryless Relay Strategies for Two-Way Relay Channels: Performance Analysis and Optimization

We consider relaying strategies for two-way relay channels, where two terminals transmits simultaneously to each other with the help of relays. A memoryless system is considered, where the signal transmitted by a relay depends only on its last received signal. For binary antipodal signaling, we analyze and optimize the performance of existing amplify and forward (AF) and absolute (abs) decode and forward (ADF) for two- way AWGN relay channels. A new abs-based AF (AAF) scheme is proposed, which has better performance than AF. In low SNR, AAF performs even better than ADF. Furthermore, a novel estimate and forward (EF) strategy is proposed which performs better than ADF. More importantly, we optimize the relay strategy within the class of abs-based strategies via functional analysis, which minimizes the average probability of error over all possible relay functions. The optimized function is shown to be a Lambert's W function parameterized on the noise power and the transmission energy. The optimized function behaves like AAF in low SNR and like ADF in high SNR, resp., where EF behaves like the optimized function over the whole SNR range.
SmartBuild-a truly plug-n-play modular microfluidic system.

In this Technical Note, for the first time, a truly “plug-n-play” modular microfluidic system (SmartBuild Plug-n-Play Modular Microfluidic System) is presented for designing and building integrated modular microfluidic systems for biological and chemical applications. The modular microfluidic system can be built by connecting multiple microfluidic components together to form a larger integrated system. The SmartBuild System comprises of a motherboard with interconnect channels/grooves, fitting components, microchannel inserts with different configurations and microchips/modules with different functionalities. Also, heaters, micropumps and valving systems can be designed and used in the system. Examples of an integrated mixing system and reaction systems are presented here to demonstrate the versatility of the SmartBuild System.