cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design and performance of an in-line surface-induced dissociation device in a four-sector mass spectrometer

A new in-line surface-induced dissociation device has been designed and characterized in a high performance four-sector tandem mass spectrometer. The design incorporates a target electrode parallel to the ion beam axis and an angled deflector plate (45° relative to the ion beam) to provide large collision angles. In addition, an extraction electrode (parallel to the target electrode) is employed to efficiently extract product ions from the target surface. Results obtained with this device indicate high internal energy deposition (up to 16. 3 eV) as measured with the thermometer ions W(CO) 6 +· and Si(C2H5)4/+·, as evidenced by extensive dissociation of the refractory pyrene molecular ion, and as indicated by the b 3/y 2 ratio in the product ion spectrum of leucine enkephalin. High resolution provided by the four-sector instrument for both precursor ions and product ions allows the observation of previously unobserved dissociation products in the surface-induced dissociation spectra of Si(C2H5)4/+· and novel ion-surface reaction products in spectra of W(CO)6/+· ions after collisions with hydrocarbon-covered surfaces. Both hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon abstraction products are observed. The dissociation efficiencies measured with the in-line device are approximately 1% when hydrocarbon-coated surfaces are used and increase fivefold with a fluorinated surface.
Application Of High-Speed Photography To Time-Resolved Wavefront Measurement

For long-pulse (150 microseconds), side-pumped lasers, such as dye or reactor-pumped lasers, a significant transverse index gradient can develop. In order to design an appropriate laser resonator for efficient power extraction, a detailed space- and time-resolved determination of the index perturbation is required. We have applied high-speed photography to the measurement of wavefront errors in a pulsed laser gain region using a fast framing camera. We utilized both a derivative of a Hartmann test technique and a shearing interferometer, with good agreement between the two. The measured wavefronts have a predominantly parabolic index shape except near the walls, with a roughly linear time dependence during the pumping pulse.© (1988) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
In rats chronically treated with clozapine, tyrosine depletion attenuates the clozapine-induced in vivo increase in prefrontal cortex dopamine and norepinephrine levels

We previously reported that depletion of brain tyrosine attenuated the acute clozapine (CLZ)-induced increase in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) dopamine (DA) levels. This effect was now examined after chronic CLZ treatment. Male rats received CLZ (10 mg kg−1 day−1) in drinking water for 21 days. On day 18, a cannula was stereotaxically implanted over the MPFC. A microdialysis probe was inserted on day 20. On day 21 after a stable baseline was reached, rats received an acute injection of vehicle (VEH) or a tyrosine- and phenylalanine-free mixture of neutral amino acid [NAA(−)] (total 1 g kg−1, i.p., two injections, 1 h apart) followed by CLZ (10 mg kg−1, i.p.) or VEH. Basal tyrosine or norepinephrine (NE) levels were not different between the groups, but basal DA was higher in the group treated chronically with CLZ (p<0.05). Acute CLZ (10 mg kg−1, i.p.) increased MPFC DA and NE levels to 370% and 510% of baseline, respectively, and similarly in rats chronically pretreated with CLZ or VEH. NAA(−) did not affect basal MPFC DA or NE levels but significantly attenuated acute CLZ-induced DA (220% of baseline) and NE (330% of baseline) levels (p<0.01) in rats pretreated chronically with CLZ or with VEH. These data demonstrate that even after chronic CLZ administration, the acute CLZ-induced increases in MPFC DA and NE levels depend on the availability of brain tyrosine. Judicious manipulation of brain tyrosine levels may provide a useful probe as well as a mechanism for enhancing psychotropic drug actions.
Tetrahedral Unstructured Navier-Stokes Method for Turbulent Flows

A method is presented for solving the Navier-Stokes equations for turbulent flow problems on three-dimensional unstructured grids. Spatial discretization is accomplished by a cell-centered, finite volume formulation using an accurate linear reconstruction scheme and upwind flux differencing. Time is advanced by an implicit backward Euler time-stepping scheme. Flow turbulence effects are modeled by the Spalart-Allmaras one-equation model, which is coupled with a wall function to reduce the number of cells in the sublayer region of the boundary layer. A systematic assessment of the method is presented to devise guidelines for more strategic application of the technology to complex problems. The assessment includes the accuracy in predictions of the skin-friction coefficient, law-of-the-wall behavior, and surface pressure for a flat-plate turbulent boundary layer and for the ONERA M6 wing under a high-Reynolds-number, transonic, separated flow condition
Ways of Knowing: The Creative Process and the Design of Technology

This paper draws upon the already extensive epistemology of science, both to provide a yardstick of comparison for the emergent epistemology of design, and to establish some starting points from which we might begin to construct the epistemology of design. In approaching the problem of how designers design, the paper employs Heidegger's distinction between ‘know-how’and ‘knowledge-that’, popularised by Ryle, and shows it to be central to the distinction between the implicit processes of design employed by craft technologies, and the explicit processes employed by modern scientific technology. Borrowing from recent work by post-structuralists, it explores the nature of the phases of analysis or ‘deconstruction’, synthesis or construction, and evaluation, by which scientifically informed design is supposed to proceed, paying particular attention to the relationship between deconstructive analysis and constructive synthesis, in order to re-construct the creative moment/movement by which designers ‘leap’ from problem to solution.
Synthesis and testing of nonhalogenated alkyne-containing flame-retarding polymer additives

In this paper, the synthesis and thermal properties of several alkyne-containing materials are discussed. The materials were synthesized using palladium/copper- or palladium/zinc-mediated cross-cou...
Vanadate stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of two proteins in Raji human lymphoblastoid cell membranes.

Abstract A membrane fraction from Raji human lymphoblastoid cells exhibited tyrosine-specific kinase activity. Vanadate increased tyrosine phosphorylation up to 5-fold; serine and threonine phosphorylation were unchanged. The stimulation was detectable within 15 s at 0°C and at concentrations of vanadate (0.3 and 1.0 μM) present in normal tissues and blood. The tyrosine phosphorylation of two substrates, M1 61 000 and 55 000, was dependent upon vanadate and incorporation into these substrates represented the majority of the vanadate-sensitive tyrosine phosphorylation.
Homoeroticism and the African-American Heterosexual Male: Quest for Meaning in the Black Church

AbstractThis essay offers a theory of masculinity and religiosity that may explain the prominent absence of African-American heterosexual men from the Black Church. In short, I propose that the phenomenon may be due to a conflict between a masculine Black-body construct and a same-sex symbolic relationship with an all-powerful male Divinity. Both "God" and "God in Christ" may be homoerotic constructs which many African-American heterosexual men are unable to negotiate sufficiently in order to find deep-felt meaning in Black churches and worship. Conversely, I submit that this same dynamic is sufficient to explain the disproportionate numbers of women and the conspicuous presence of gay men in many churches. This article will develop this thesis using ethnography to gather crucial information in order to interpret the phenomenon utilizing the insights of psychoanalysis, gender theory and philosophical discourse. This essay will, therefore, critique the problematic concept of masculinity, through a utilizin...
A pilot study of personality pathology in patients with anorexia nervosa: Modifiable factors related to outcome after hospitalization

Objective: To assess improvement in aspects of personality in patients hospitalized with anorexia nervosa (AN) and its relationship to improved depression, body mass index (BMI), and eating disorder outcome after treatment. Method: Twenty females hospitalized with AN completed intake and discharge assessments of BMI, depression and eating disorder severity, as well as personality pathology with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R). Clinical outcome for a subset of patients at 1-year post-hospitalization was determined. Results: The only factor that predicted better versus worse outcome at 1-year post-hospitalization was change in Low Self-Esteem (LSE) from the MMPI-2. Improved LSE from admission to discharge predicted remission at 1-year post-hospitalization, while worsening LSE predicted relapse. Regardless of outcome, NEO PI-R Neuroticism remained pathologically elevated in AN patients during hospitalization. Discussion: Pathological levels of neuroticism may represent a vulnerability factor for AN. In contrast, self-esteem appears to be a modifiable factor that predicts outcome following hospitalization, and may be an important target for treatment.
Career progression in a Fortune 500 company: examination of the "glass ceiling"

This study examines the relationships of gender and race with the career progress of 2508 employees in the technical division of a Fortune 500 company: 1354 employees with bachelor's degrees (Level One) and 1154 employees with master's degrees (Level Two) in engineering and computer science. Using company records to measure employee promotions and controlling for level of education, female and nonwhite employees received fewer promotions than males or whites. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses found that gender differences in promotions could be explained by work-related variables, primarily organizational tenure. However, race added significant predictive ability for Level One (not Level Two) employees' current job level after controlling for work experience, tenure, job performance, and gender. Unexpectedly, marital status predicted the current job level for Level Two employees, with single employees receiving fewer promotions than married employees. These findings are discussed in light of theory and research.
Utilizing Amerindian Hunters' Descriptions to Guide the Production of a Vegetation Map

Describing vegetation types is critical for managing natural resources and assessing ecosystem risk. Vegetation maps are historically produced by â€œWestern experts,â€ often ignoring local-level groups critical to resource management. Indigenous hunters, as resource managers, have strong connections to their landscapes and their descriptions of vegetation within their homelands can be useful in the map-making process. This project examined the usefulness of vegetation descriptions from Rupununi, Southern Guyana Indigenous hunters in the map-making process and how their descriptions were influenced by biophysical environmental attributes. A Landsat TM and ASTER DEM merged imagery of the Rupununi was classified using Indigenous hunters' vegetation descriptions to train the classification and assess accuracy. Based on the hunters' vegetation descriptions an eleven-class map was produced that covered the main vegetation types they described. Whereas â€œexpertâ€ maps rely on organized forest inventory data, Indigenous hunters' vegetation classifications were influenced by their interactions with the biophysical environment. The final map shows that Indigenous hunters may be important partners in the map-making process and play key roles in tropical forest management decision-making processes.
Genetic population structure of a species' complex of blue mussels (Mytilus spp.)

Blue mussels representing two nominal species (Mytilus trossulus Gould, 1850 and Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 were collected from 28 intertidal locations along the Pacific coast of the USA in 1990–1991 (total N=1255) and examined for variation at 15 allozyme loci. Twelve samples, mostly from a region of suspected hybridization, were analyzed for variation in seven shell characters. Principal-components analysis of allozyme data revealed three groups based on first principal-component scores, which were identified as M. trossulus, M. galloprovincialis, and hybrids. Canonical discriminant analysis of shell characters was less successful in separating mussels into discrete groups. Each location was characterized for four environmental variables: (1) temperature, (2) salinity, (3) tidal height and (4) degree of exposure to wave action, which were then used as independent variables in a series of multiple-regression analyses, with the proportions of the two species as dependent variables. Temperature and salinity had significant (P<0.05) effects on the macrogeographic distribution of the two species, whereas the effects of height in the tidal zone and degree of wave exposure were not statistically significant. Salinity was found to have a greater influence than temperature on the microgeographic distribution of the two species. M. trossulus was more abundant at locations with lower temperatures and greater salinity variation than M. galloprovincialis. The two species appear to be ecologically distinct, and their genetic integrity is at least partly the result of environmental heterogeneity.
The case for colorectal cancer screening

OLORECTAL CANCER (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death, for both men and women. ~ Paradoxically, CRC is a preventable cancer, and long-dwelling precancerous polyps can be detected during screening and excised. 2,3 Screening has also been demonstrated to detect cancers at earlier stages, 4-6 when survival rates are high s and direct medical costs are low. 7'8 To achieve the maximum possible reductions in CRC mortality and morbidity, compliance with screening needs to increase above current US participation rates, which are below 50%. 9,1~ Because health care resources are not infinite, costeffective screening strategies need to be identified and promoted. Screening tests for colorectal cancer vary in their sensitivities and specificities, risks of complications, costs, and patient acceptance. This article gives an overview of the available tests and makes the case for CRC screening.
Instrumentation and validity for direct-readout voice onset time measurement

Methods and instrumentation for direct readout of voice onset time (VOT) are presented along with sample measurements for three subjects. Mean VOT and intrasubject variability are compared with data obtained from wide-band spectrograms. The results suggest that the instrumentation described yields VOT values comparable to those obtained from wide-band spectrograms. Implications for diagnosis are discussed and research needs are identified.
Person centered planning in a transition program for Bronx youth with disabilities

Abstract The City University of New York conducted its Youth Transition Demonstration Project from 2003 to 2010. This federally-funded research and demonstration project was designed to help transition-age youth with disabilities receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) achieve maximum self-sufficiency. More than 400 youth living in the high-poverty county of Bronx, NY were enrolled in a treatment group and offered a series of interventions, including Person-Centered Planning (PCP). Quantitative and qualitative research methods show that this process was linked to improved educational and employment outcomes for youth. Sixty-five percent of youth enrolled in the project participated in at least one PCP session. Youth from lower-income families were less likely to participate in PCP, as were youth with mood disorders. Youth who did participate in PCP were more likely to hold at least one paid job. Youth focused on relationships, personal strengths and goals during these sessions, which proved an important part of their transition process. Recommendations for educators, service-providers and policy-makers are included for professionals seeking to implement collaborative transition services for youth and their families.
Adhesion improvement in diamond films by microlithographic patterning

The use of microlithographic surface patterning has been investigated as a means of modifying the nucleation and adhesion of diamond films on non-compatible substrates. Significant improvements in film adhesion were achieved using this technique, to the point that interfacial integrity was maintained even at stress levels which induced subsurface fracture in the supporting substrate.
Ionic Disruption of the Liquid-Liquid Interface

The interface formed between an aqueous salt solution and a hydrophobic liquid has been investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The salt solutions of NaCl, NaNO3, and Na2SO4 have been studied to determine their presence and distribution in the interfacial region and their effect on interfacial water molecules. Density and orientation profiles reveal the formation of ionic double layers with widths that vary with the respective anions’ surface affinities and effects on the geometry of interfacial water molecules. The NO3− anion shows enhanced surface concentration above that of the bulk aqueous phase, whereas the Cl− and SO42− anions exhibit similar characteristics as are found for corresponding air−water interfaces. Sum frequency spectra were calculated for the OH vibrational modes of water to show the effect of the various ions on the hydrogen-bonding network strength of interfacial water. These calculated spectra show good agreement with the conclusions and observations of our recent spectros...
Phenomenological Experience of Girls in a Single-Sex Day Treatment Group

ABSTRACT Popular family-based treatment approaches have generally failed to take into account the unique contextual issues adolescent females face in their development. Gender socialization, cultural stereotypes, and the meaning given to physical changes at puberty are a few of the sociological contexts that are uniquely different for developing adolescent girls as compared to boys. The purpose of the present research was to highlight voices of female adolescents as they shared their experience of being involved in a gender-specific treatment program designed to address the unique issues they faced as developing females. A qualitative methodology included eight interviews of adolescent girls who had participated in a particular gender-specific treatment program. Results suggest that social context is a large and influential part of the developmental context of these young women. Implications are discussed for parents, educators, and marriage and family therapists.
Why Nietzsche embraced eternal recurrence

Nietzsche's embrace of the idea of eternal recurrence has long puzzled readers, both because the idea is inherently implausible and because it seems inconsistent with other aspects of his philosophy. This paper offers a novel account of Nietzsche's motives for that embrace—namely that Nietzsche found in eternal recurrence the only possible way to reconcile three potent and apparently conflicting convictions: (1) there are no Hinterwelten (“worlds-beyond”), (2) the great love (take joy in) all things just as they are (amor fati), and (3) all joy wills eternity. The case for this account has two parts. I show first that Nietzsche was deeply committed to each of these principles at or before the time the idea of eternal recurrence “came to” him in 1881 and second that these principles, though in apparent conflict, can, as Nietzsche understood them, be reconciled by, and only by, the idea of eternal recurrence. It follows, I argue, that the idea of eternal recurrence was originally independent of Nietzsche's ...
Fluorination of perfluoroalkylsulfenyl chlorides, perfluorodialkyl disulfides and perfluorodialkyl sulfides with chlorine monofluoride

Abstract In reactions with perfluoroalkylsulfenyl chlorides (RfSCl; Rf = F3, C2F5, n-C3F7, n-C4F9) and perfluoroalkyl disulfides (RfSSRf′; Rf = Rf′ = CF3, Rf = CF3, Rf′ = C2F5) at 25°, chlorine monofluoride acts primarily as a chlorinating and fluorinating reagent to give the corresponding perfluoroalkylsulfur chloride tetrafluorides, RfSF4Cl, in good yields. However, small amounts of perfluoroalkylsulfur pentafluorides, RfSF5, are also obtained. A mixture of the cis and trans isomers of bis(trifluoromethyl)sulfur tetrafluoride and of trifluoromethyl pentafluoroethylsulfur tetrafluoride has been formed by the reaction of the corresponding bis(perfluoroalkyl) sulfides and chlorine monofluoride. The new perfluoroalkylsulfur chloride tetrafluorides are colorless, unpleasant smelling liquids. The infrared, mass and 19F NMR spectral data, as well as thermodynamic and elementary analysis data, are given for the new compounds.
Technology Adoption and Agricultural Price Policy

Market interventions such as price supports or fertilizer subsidies can lead to gains from speeding up adoption of new technologies, but the policies distort resource allocation. A framework is developed for optimizing policies in light of the adoption-allocation trade off. Based on adoption coefficients and production parameters from third world agriculture, levels and duration of policies are estimated. Sensitivity analyses are performed. Gains are small at best and may be zero or negative in view of farmer costs of adjustment and deadweight losses from taxes. profit, technology adoption. If new technologies are desirable, why not use price supports or input subsidies to encourage faster technology adoption? While frequently raised in policy deliberations, this question has received little serious analysis. Particularly neglected has been the conflict or trade off between (a) gains in output as producers switch from old to new technologies and (b) the losses from resource use distortions brought about by price policies. When output prices are raised, or prices of inputs such as fertilizer are lowered, the
The “new family” model: The evolution of group treatment for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Abstract The evolution of a group therapy protocol for adult survivors of incest and the theoretical model on which it is based are discussed in this article.
Localization of an open reading frame with homology to human aspartoacylase upstream from psbA in the prokaryote Prochlorococcus marinus CCMP 1375.

An open reading frame encoding a polypeptide with significant homology (about 28% identity and 16% similarity) to human aspartoacylase (ASPA) was identified in the genome of Prochlorococcus marinus CCMP 1375, an oxyphototrophic bacterium. Sequence alignments show that, in particular, the regions previously suggested to form the catalytic core of human ASPA are evolutionarily conserved and nearly identical to that found in the Prochlorococcus putative ASPA. A glutamate at position 273 is located central to the strongly conserved INEAAY motif and corresponds to a glutamate-285 in human ASPA. A point mutation at this site, resulting in a Glu285Ala missense mutation, was identified previously as the molecular basis for Canavan disease, a form of leukodystrophy. The data provide new insights about conserved and hence functionally important domains of ASPA. The detection of this gene in an unicellular prokaryote demonstrates that this enzymatic activity is more widespread than expected previously. Furthermore, ...
HUMAN SPINAL CORD IMPEDANCE: ITS APPLICATION IN NEUROSURGICAL STEREOTAXIC CORDOTOMY

INTRODUCTION Surgical access to the central nervous system has, for the most part, been obtained through operations that provide wide exposure and direct visualization of the target area. However, the application of radiologic and electrophysiologic techniques to neurosurgery permit reduction of the magnitude of the operative exposure without sacrifice of any of the surgical goals. Operations to relieve pain are based on our knowledge of “pain pathways,” which is admittedly imperfect. The relief of suffering remains one of the first responsibilities of the physician. While acute pain may act as a warning signal, chronic pain serves no such useful purpose and may lead to total incapacitation of the patient. This is true whether the pain is caused by malignancy or by an otherwise harmless condition. Surgical destruction by cordotomy of the pain pathway in the spinal cord (the lateral spinothalamic tract) has been used for more than 50 years to treat intractable pain states.ls2 The recent conversion of a cordotomy from an open visual procedure to a closed stereotaxic procedure has extended the benefits of cordotomy to many more patients,3 but to reduce the hazard of this technique it is necessary that the four steps of stereotaxic surgery be followed: 1) definition of the radiologic coordinates of the target; 2) the use of a precision apparatus to approach the target; 3) physiologic confirmation of the target; and 4) precise destruction of the target. To eliminate any one of these steps is to increase the hazard to the patient. THE TARGET Destruction of the lateral spinothalamic tract of the second cervical cord segment usually results in a contralateral loss of superficial pain, temperature, deep pain, and visceral pain below a level of C3 or C4. The hazards of cordotomy at this level are chiefly due to anatomic variation and the proximity of other important pathways as well as the variation in the position of the tracts with the size and position of the motor decussation (FIGURES 1 & 2). A descending respiratory pathway, the ventrolateral reticulospinal tract, is probably intermingled with and deep to the fibers of the anterior part of the lateral spinothalamic tract. Unilateral destruction of this pathway results in little functional respiratory loss unless contralateral respiratory function is poor. Bilateral lesions involving the anterior portion of the lateral spinothalamic tract have been extremely dangerous in that patients may lose their ability to breathe while sleeping. For bilateral pain relief, a stereotaxic cordotomy may be performed at C2 and 7-10 days later at a lower cervical level by the anterior technique of Lin and co-workers.6 A variation in the level of the motor decussation that usually extends from the obex to the C1 level and the presence of aberrant corticospinal tracts may pose additional hazards.
Replication of sonchus yellow net virus in infected protoplasts

Tobacco (Nicotiana edwardsonii and N. benthamiana) protoplasts infected with the plant rhabdovirus sonchus yellow net virus (SYNV) were found to be suitable for studies of replication. SYNV messenger RNAs could be detected within 2 hr postinoculation (PI), accumulated to a maximum within 24 hr, and subsequently declined to undetectable levels by 60 hr. Plus- and minus-sense genomic RNAs appeared later and were most abundant by 36 hr PI, but the levels decreased by 60 hr. The four major SYNV structural proteins could be detected by Western blot serological analyses by 24 hr PI and were present in highest concentrations between 43 and 60 hr PI. Among various glycosylation inhibitors, only tunicamycin treatment of protoplasts altered viral protein patterns and resulted in synthesis of a glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight (Mr) 10% smaller than that found in untreated protoplasts. Two specific cleavage products of the nucleocapsid protein estimated to be 21,000 and 37,000 Mr appeared in N. benthamiana-infected protoplasts by 60 hr PI, but in the presence of tunicamycin, the cleavage products were evident by 38 hr. This result suggests that specific cleavage of the N protein is correlated with stress of infected cells due to viral accumulation and/or tunicamycin treatment.
Integrating models to predict regional haze from wildland fire.

Abstract Visibility impairment from regional haze is a significant problem throughout the continental United States. A substantial portion of regional haze is produced by smoke from prescribed and wildland fires. Here we describe the integration of four simulation models, an array of GIS raster layers, and a set of algorithms for fire-danger calculations into a modeling framework for simulating regional-scale smoke dispersion. We focus on a representative fire season (2003) in the northwestern USA, on a 12 km domain, and track the simulated dispersion and concentration of PM 2.5 over the course of the season. Simulated visibility reductions over national parks and wilderness areas are within the ranges of measured values at selected monitoring sites, although the magnitudes of peak events are underestimated because these include inputs other than fire. By linking the spatial and temporal patterns of haze-producing emissions to climatic variability, particularly synoptic weather patterns, and the stochastic nature of fire occurrence across the region, we can provide a robust method for estimating the quantity and distribution of fire-caused regional haze under climate-warming scenarios.
Specific physiological regulation of luteinizing hormone secretory events throughout the human menstrual cycle: new insights into the pulsatile mode of gonadotropin release.

Abstract To investigate the physiological regulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretory events and the endogenous clearance of this hormone, we applied multiple-parameter deconvolution analysis to serum LH concentration-time series obtained from normal women during three phases of the menstrual cycle. The number of significant LH secretory bursts (/24 h) was maximal in the late follicular (LF) phase (27 +/- 1.6; mean +/- SEM), minimal in the mid-luteal (ML) phase (10 +/-1.0) and intermediate in the early follicular (EF) phase (18 +/- 1.4). Similarly, the half-duration of the secretory impulse (min) was different at each phase of the cycle with values of 6.5+/-1.0, 3.5+/-0.9 and 11 +/- 1.1 during the EF, LF and ML phases, respectively. In contrast, there were no cycle-dependent differences in the LH half-life or in the total daily secretion of LH. When maximal secretory impulse amplitudes were examined, a putative bimodal distribution was found in the ML but not the EF or LF phases. The amplitudes for the large ML impulses, the LF and EF impulses and the small ML impulses were 0.95 +/- 0.05, 070 +/- 0.03, 0.43 +/- 0.02 and 0.26 +/- 0.02, respectively. The mass (mlU/ml) of hormone secreted within bursts was minimal in the LF phase (2.1 +/- 0.1), maximal in the large ML impulses (10.2 +/- 0.5) and intermediate in the EF (2.8 +/- 0.1) and small ML (3.1 +/-0.3) secretory impulses. There was no evidence of tonic (i.e. inter-secretory burst) LH secretion during any phase of the menstrual cycle. The early morning hours of the EF phase were characterized by fewer secretory bursts of greater amplitude. During the ML phase, autocorrelation analysis of inter-secretory burst intervals revealed a negative association indicating that high frequency events both precede and follow secretory pauses. In addition, secretory burst amplitude and both the preceding and following inter-secretory burst interval was correlated to secretory burst amplitude. These new data on the nature of regulated LH secretion indicate that specific facets of spontaneous LH secretory events are controlled throughout the menstrual cycle. Such observations offer a basis for defining altered secretory dynamics in a variety of pathophysiologic situations.
Predicting drug efficacy based on the integrated breast cancer pathway model

This study is based on a simple hypothesis - “ideal” drugs for a patient can cure the patient's disease by modulating the gene expression profile of the patient to a similar level with those in healthy people, on the pathway level. To verify this hypothesis, we present a computational framework to evaluate drug effects on gene expression profiles in breast cancer. First, a breast cancer pathway model has been constructed by utilizing a computational connectivity maps (C-Maps) approach. This model includes important protein and drug information. In this pathway, specific drug-protein interactions (i.e. activation/inhibition) are annotated as edge attributes. Thus, we get a novel Pharmacology Effect Network, or PEN. We then develop a ranking algorithm called PET (i.e. Pharmacological Effect on Target) to combine gene expression information and our constructed PEN to evaluate specific drugs' efficacies. Finally, we applied PET and PEN to evaluate 23 breast cancer drugs. The ranking results clearly show the validity of our framework.
Use of NON-PARAMETRIC Item Response Theory to develop a shortened version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)

Nonparametric item response theory (IRT) was used to examine (a) the performance of the 30 Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) items and their options ((levels of severity), (b) the effectiveness of various subscales to discriminate among differences in symptom severity, and (c) the development of an abbreviated PANSS (Mini-PANSS) based on IRT and a method to link scores to the original PANSS. Baseline PANSS scores from 7,187 patients with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder who were enrolled between 1995 and 2005 in psychopharmacology trials were obtained. Option characteristic curves (OCCs) and Item Characteristic Curves (ICCs) were constructed to examine the probability of rating each of seven options within each of 30 PANSS items as a function of subscale severity, and summed-score linking was applied to items selected for the Mini-PANSS. The majority of items forming the Positive and Negative subscales (i.e. 19 items) performed very well and discriminate better along symptom severity compared to the General Psychopathology subscale. Six of the seven Positive Symptom items, six of the seven Negative Symptom items, and seven out of the 16 General Psychopathology items were retained for inclusion in the Mini-PANSS. Summed score linking and linear interpolation was able to produce a translation table for comparing total subscale scores of the Mini-PANSS to total subscale scores on the original PANSS. Results show scores on the subscales of the Mini-PANSS can be linked to scores on the original PANSS subscales, with very little bias. The study demonstrated the utility of non-parametric IRT in examining the item properties of the PANSS and to allow selection of items for an abbreviated PANSS scale. The comparisons between the 30-item PANSS and the Mini-PANSS revealed that the shorter version is comparable to the 30-item PANSS, but when applying IRT, the Mini-PANSS is also a good indicator of illness severity.
Synthesis and 13C NMR analysis of some xenobiotic conjugates

Abstract The synthesis of several aromatic and aliphatic n-alkyl glucuronides was accomplished by the stannic chloride catalyzed O -glycosylation method. The 13C NMR spectra of the synthetic glucuronides were compared to that of the glucuronides isolated from the gall-bladder bile of fish exposed to No. 2 fuel oil.
Visualizing near-surface concentration fluctuations using laser-induced fluorescence

A method for observing near-surface fluctuations in pH caused by a water–air flux of carbon dioxide under conditions of ambient atmospheric carbon dioxide levels is developed and tested. Peaks in fluorescence intensity measured as a function of pH and turbulence are shown to be consistent with predictions from a chemical kinetics model of CO2 exchange. The square root of the frequency of the pH fluctuations scale linearly with independently measured bulk air–water gas transfer velocities in agreement with surface divergence models for air–water gas transfer. These data indicate that the method proposed here is tracking changes in near-surface CO2 concentrations. This laser-induced fluorescence method can be used to study the air–water exchange of CO2 in wind-wave tunnels without the need for elevated CO2 concentrations in the gas phase.
Abstract B15: Development of a chimeric saporin peptide which targets human prostatecancer cells via monocyte delivery

Abstract Many attempts have been made to utilize plant and bacterial toxins to produce chimeric proteins that target and kill cancer cells; however, problems with specificity have slowed the progress of this potential therapy. We hypothesize that the specificity of these chimeric cytotoxic peptides can be improved by incorporating two layers of targeting. This will be accomplished by using the inherent tumor targeting properties of monocytes as well as engineering them to secrete a chimeric saporin peptide possessing a targeting element that is highly specific to human prostate cancer cells. Saporin is a small protein produced by soapwort that is a member of the ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) family. This family consists of some of the most potent toxins known to man, including ricin and abrin. RIPs act by gaining entry to the cell and then catalytically inactivating the ribosome. Ricin and abrin are very potent toxins because they contain two chains, a beta chain that gains entrance to the cell and an alpha chain that catalytically inactivates the ribosome. Saporin, unlike ricin or abrin, contains only the alpha chain; thus cell entry is prevented and making it, in theory, harmless unless it is attached to something that causes the cell to internalize it. In order to identify a highly specific and internalizable peptide that could be fused to a saporin molecule we screened a random 12-mer peptide bacteriophage library against the human prostate cancer cell line PC3. After several rounds of in-vitro and in-vivo biopanning we have isolated candidate peptides that appear specific and rapidly internalizable in PC3 cells. Using these peptides as targeting elements we propose to create a chimeric protein consisting of a signal peptide for secretion, a targeting peptide, and the cytotoxic saporin. This chimeric protein will be expressed in primary monocytes using a lentiviral system. Our preliminary data show that this fusion protein demonstrates profound cytotoxicity in PC3 cells within 72 hours. We have also developed an efficient orthotopic and metastatic human prostate cancer model in mice and have preliminary data showing monocyte recruitment to metastatic nodes. In conclusion, peptides that specifically target metastatic PC3 cells have been identified, in vivo, and have been linked to toxins that demonstrate potent cytotoxicity in vitro. Future studies will be to test the selective targeting of these toxic chimeric proteins, in vivo, utilizing primary and metastatic orthotopic tumor models of human prostate cancer in tumor efficacy studies. Citation Format: Jeff Eskew, Deryl Troyer, Stefan Bossmann, George Vielhauer. Development of a chimeric saporin peptide which targets human prostatecancer cells via monocyte delivery [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Prostate Cancer Research; 2012 Feb 6-9; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(4 Suppl):Abstract nr B15.
Anaphylaxis in proctology: a complication which may follow the injection of internal hemorrhoids.

A fatal allergic reaction is described which followed injection of a solution into the internal hemorrhoidal area. This report is believed to be the first of its kind. A plan is suggested for the prevention of a similar experience. Whether there is a higher incidence of this condition masquerading as coronary thrombosis is a matter worthy of consideration.
A method for measuring joint kinematics designed for accurate registration of kinematic data to models constructed from CT data

Abstract A method for measuring three-dimensional kinematics that incorporates the direct cross-registration of experimental kinematics with anatomic geometry from Computed Tomography (CT) data has been developed. Plexiglas registration blocks were attached to the bones of interest and the specimen was CT scanned. Computer models of the bone surface were developed from the CT image data. Determination of discrete kinematics was accomplished by digitizing three pre-selected contiguous surfaces of each registration block using a three-dimensional point digitization system. Cross-registration of bone surface models from the CT data was accomplished by identifying the registration block surfaces within the CT images. Kinematics measured during a biomechanical experiment were applied to the computer models of the bone surface. The overall accuracy of the method was shown to be at or below the accuracy of the digitization system used. For this experimental application, the accuracy was better than ±0.1 mm for position and 0.1° for orientation for linkage digitization and better than ±0.2 mm and ±0.2° for CT digitization. Surface models of the radius and ulna were constructed from CT data, as an example application. Kinematics of the bones were measured for simulated forearm rotation. Screw-displacement axis analysis showed 0.1 mm (proximal) translation of the radius (with respect to the ulna) from supination to neutral (85.2° rotation) and 1.4 mm (proximal) translation from neutral to pronation (65.3° rotation). The motion of the radius with respect to the ulna was displayed using the surface models. This methodology is a useful tool for the measurement and application of rigid-body kinematics to computer models.
Does coordinated stasis yield taxonomic and ecologic stability?: Middle Devonian Hamilton Group of central New York

Statistical tests of coordinated stasis within the Middle Devonian Hamilton Group demonstrate significant temporal changes in taxonomic composition and ecological structure of the macrofauna throughout a 5‐6 m.y. time span. The analysis, based upon a collection of .38,000 specimens obtained over a 20 yr period from the Hamilton Group of central New York, used highly controlled sampling techniques, applied within a single, well-defined lithofacies. Assemblages were tested for stability through time, as would be predicted by the model of coordinated stasis. Our results reveal that within at least one major Hamilton environment, taxonomic and ecological stability are not statistically significant and therefore do not support the hypothesis of coordinated stasis.
The Distribution Of Public Spending For Health Care In The United States, 2002

U.S. health care spending is projected to approach $2.4 trillion in 2008; a large share will be paid by government outlays and tax subsidies. Other countries routinely conduct incidence analyses of public health care spending, yet we know of no recent and comprehensive incidence studies for the United States. We examined data for 2002 from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey aligned to the National Health Expenditure Accounts and augmented with simulated tax subsidies. The public sector accounted for 56.1 percent of health spending within the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Our analysis highlights this sector’s role in financing the care of seniors and people in poor health.
An evolutionary framework for common diseases: the ancestral-susceptibility model

Unlike rare mendelian diseases, which are due to new mutations (i.e. derived alleles), several alleles that increase the risk to common diseases are ancestral. Moreover, population genetics studies suggest that some derived alleles that protect against common diseases became advantageous recently. These observations can be explained within an evolutionary framework in which ancestral alleles reflect ancient adaptations to the lifestyle of ancient human populations, whereas the derived alleles were deleterious. However, with the shift in environment and lifestyle, the ancestral alleles now increase the risk of common diseases in modern populations. In this article, we develop an explicit evolutionary model and use population genetics simulations to investigate the expected haplotype structure and type of disease-association signals of ancestral risk alleles.
Role of central preprogramming in dynamic visual acuity with vestibular loss.

Objective To determine the contribution of central preprogramming of eye movements to dynamic visual acuity (DVA) during head movement in patients with vestibular hypofunction. Study Design Prospective, clinical study. Setting Tertiary care, academic hospitals. Participants Twenty-six healthy subjects and 20 patients with unilateral (UVL) and 7 with bilateral vestibular loss (BVL) (age range, 20-86 years). Interventions Diagnostic interventions, including caloric and rotational chair testing. Main Outcome Measure Measurements of DVA during predictable (DVA-predictable) and unpredictable (DVA-unpredictable) head movements using a computerized test. Results There was a difference between DVA-predictable and DVA-unpredictable scores in all groups ( P P P P P Conclusions Unpredictable head movements cause a greater decrement in visual acuity than do predictable head movements. This suggests that central programming of eye movements and/or efference copy contributes to gaze stability during predictable head movements in healthy subjects and patients with vestibular hypofunction. Patients with BVL use central programming of eye movements to maintain gaze stability more than do healthy subjects or patients with UVL.
Population genetic structure of three freshwater mussel (Unionidae) species within a small stream system: significant variation at local spatial scales

Summary 1. Unionid mussels are highly threatened, but little is known about genetic structure in populations of these organisms. We used allozyme electrophoresis to examine partitioning of genetic variation in three locally abundant and widely distributed species of mussels from a catchment in Ohio. 2. Within-population variation was similar to that previously reported for freshwater mussels, but genotype frequencies exhibited heterozygote deficiencies in many instances. All three species exhibited significant among-population variation. Evidence of isolation-by-distance was found in Elliptio dilatata and Ptychobranchus fasciolaris, while Lampsilis siliquoidea showed no geographical pattern of among-population variation. 3. Our results suggest that the isolating effects of genetic drift were greater in L. siliquoidea than in the other species. Differentiation of populations occurred at a much smaller spatial scale than has previously been found in freshwater mussels. Differences among species may reflect differences in the dispersal abilities of fishes that serve as hosts for the glochidia larvae of mussels. 4. Based on our results, we hypothesise that species of mussels that are common to large rivers exhibit relatively large amounts of within-population genetic variation and little differentiation over large geographical distances. Conversely, species typical of small streams show lower within-population genetic variation and populations will be more isolated. If this hypothesis can be supported, it may prove useful in the design of conservation strategies that maintain the genetic structure of target species.