cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diffusion, permeation, or enzyme limitation: a probe for the kinetics of enzyme induction.

The utilization of an exogenous substrate by enzyme inside a bacterial cell can be limited by diffusion up to the cell, penetration of the cell, diffusion within the cell, and/or attack by internal enzyme. For small molecular weight substrates such as galactosides, and for bacteria such as Escherichia coli the diffusion steps are not rate limiting even with the permeases fully induced and the external concentration of substrate low. In permeaseless organisms with more than about 20 enzyme molecules per cell, permeation of O-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactoside through the membrane is limiting. Thus, a single initiation of transcription of a lactose message suffices to yield enough enzyme molecules to switch an uninduced cell from enzyme limitation to permeability limitation. Subsequent initiations change the cellular activity very little. This transition can be followed by assaying enzyme activity of both intact and lysed cell suspensions. In this way the induction response amongst cells in growing populations at high inducer concentrations has been found to be uniform. It was found that nearly all of the cells from balanced growing culture are immediately inducible even with doubling times as short as 7.6 hrs. At 24 hrs about 1/3 of the cells are inert at any time, but all cells synthesize enzyme within a 3-hour period. At low inducer concentration or in the present of catabolite repressor the rate of initiation is greatly decreased; this leads to a non uniform distribution of enzyme within the cells, which is readily detected by the experimental technique. In addition to developing the kinetics for enzyme contained in cells, the distribution of the enzyme among uninduced bacteria is presented.
Diagnosing alport syndrome in children

AbstractThe diagnosis of Alport syndrome, a type IV collagen hereditary disorder, should be considered in any child with unexplained, persistent microscopic hematuria of glomemlar origin. Characteristic ultrastructurcahl ange in the glomerular basement membrane has been the primary pathologic criterion for diagnosis. New insights about the genes responsible for collagen type IV and its complex protein structure have led to alternative diagnostic avenues. Familiarity with the pediatric kidney is necessary to accurately interpret these exciting new data. (The J Histotechnol 27:267, 2004)
A hierarchical approach to electric utility planning

The analytic hierarchy process (AHP), designed to examine the mutual dependence of various factors that lead to a decision, is applied to deal with the uncertainty in electric utility planning. This is a procedure useful for quantifying various divergencies of opinions, practices and events that lead to the planning uncertainty. A brief summary of AHP is presented in this paper, which includes the basic formulation and intuitive justification for AHP. AHP is compared with the Delphi technique which has also been used for planning with ill-defined parameters. Finally, an example problem showing the application of AHP in electric utility planning under uncertainty is presented.
Solid-state NMR studies of the secondary structure of a mutant prion protein fragment of 55 residues that induces neurodegeneration.

The secondary structure of a 55-residue fragment of the mouse prion protein, MoPrP(89–143), was studied in randomly aggregated (dried from water) and fibrillar (precipitated from water/acetonitrile) forms by 13C solid-state NMR. Recent studies have shown that the fibrillar form of the P101L mutant of MoPrP(89–143) is capable of inducing prion disease in transgenic mice, whereas unaggregated or randomly aggregated samples do not provoke disease. Through analysis of 13C chemical shifts, we have determined that both wild-type and mutant sequence MoPrP(89–143) form a mixture of β-sheet and α-helical conformations in the randomly aggregated state although the β-sheet content in MoPrP(89–143, P101L) is significantly higher than in the wild-type peptide. In a fibrillar state, MoPrP(89–143, P101L) is completely converted into β-sheet, suggesting that the formation of a specific β-sheet structure may be required for the peptide to induce disease. Studies of an analogous peptide from Syrian hamster PrP verify that sequence alterations in residues 101–117 affect the conformation of aggregated forms of the peptides.
Purification and nuclear localization of a type I topoisomerase from Crithidia fasciculata.

Abstract A type I topoisomerase has been purified to near homogeneity from the trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata . The topoisomerase consists of a single 79 kDa polypeptide. The enzyme does not require divalent cations but is stimulated 10–20 fold by the presence of MgCl 2 . ATP does not affect enzyme activity, while Berenil, N -ethylmaleimide and ethidium bromide are inhibitory. Immunoblots show that the 79 kDa polypeptide is the most prevalent form of the enzyme in extracts of freshly lysed cells and is immunogenically conserved among a variety of trypanosomes. The topoisomerase was localized to the cell nucleus by double antibody immunofluorescence.
Gastrular arrest and the control of autolytic activity in the egg of Rana pipiens: the comparative effects of oxygen, supramaximal temperature, and dinitrophenol.

Abstract 1. 1. Eggs of R. pipiens exposed to 4–7 atmospheres (abs.) of pure oxygen for from 12 to 24 hours while in pregastrular stages are unable to develop beyond the yolk plug stage. Eggs arrested in this way undergo no visible autolytic changes but remain intact for several weeks provided relatively aseptic conditions exist. Developing eggs treated with sulfhydryl compounds such as reduced glutathione, BAL, and β-mercaptoethylamine causes eggs in gastrular arrest rapidly to undergo autolysis. 2. 2. Employing a casein-urea substrate, the catheptic activity of eggs and embryos of R. pipiens was determined at various stages from four cells to tailbud. The most significant increase in enzyme activity occurred immediately following gastrulation and continuing through the tailbud stage when intensive yolk utilization by the embryo is beginning. 3. 3. The catheptic activity of oxygen-arrested gastrulae was found to be constant and low as long as 100 hours after initiation of the gastrular block. No recovery of enzyme activity could be demonstrated, and these eggs showed no autolytic changes for many days after their return to normal air. The ability of oxygen to inhibit autolysis appears to be a reflection of the sulfhydryl dependency of the cathepsins and is suggestive of a direct effect on endogenous cellular SH by molecular oxygen. 4. 4. Eggs blocked at gastrulation by exposure to supramaximal temperatures or to dinitrophenol underwent rapid autolysis as their catheptic activity markedly increased. 5. 5. No direct relationship between the inhibition of cathepsin by oxygen and the oxygen-induced gastrular arrest could be demonstrated. 6. 6. The probable relationship between proteolytic activity and oxidative metabolism are considered in relation to the comparative effects obtained with gastrular arrests produced by exposure to oxygen, supramaximal temperature, and dinitrophenol. The possibility of oxygen acting on specific subcellular particles and thereby controlling autolysis is presented.
Incidence of cervical precancers among HIV-seropositive women

Objective The objective of the study was to estimate the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on the incidence of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Study Design HIV-seropositive and comparison seronegative women enrolled in a prospective US cohort study were followed up with semiannual Papanicolaou testing, with colposcopy for any abnormality. Histology results were retrieved to identify CIN3+ (CIN3, adenocarcinoma in situ, and cancer) and CIN2+ (CIN2 and CIN3+). Annual detection rates were calculated and risks compared using a Cox analysis. Median follow-up (interquartile range) was 11.0 (5.4–17.2) years for HIV-seronegative and 9.9 (2.5–16.0) for HIV-seropositive women. Results CIN3+ was diagnosed in 139 HIV-seropositive (5%) and 19 HIV-seronegative women (2%) ( P P P P P P Conclusion Although HIV-seropositive women have more CIN3+ than HIV-seronegative women, CIN3+ is uncommon and becomes even less frequent after the initiation of regular cervical screening.
Reactions of 6-hydrazino-, 6-hydroxylaminopurines and related derivatives

7H-Tetrazolo[5,1-i]purine was prepared by nitrosation of 6-hydrazinopurine and by reaction of 6-chloropurine with sodium azide; it was converted to adenine upon catalytic hydrogenation. 6-Hydroxylaminopurine was oxidized to 6-nitrosopurine with manganese dioxide, while alkaline treatment of the former gave 6,6′-azoxypurine. Nitrosation of 6-hydroxylaminopurine afforded 6-(N-nitroso)hydroxylaminopurine. Reaction of 6-chloropurine with 6-hydrazinopurine led to 6,6′-bisadenine; the corresponding ribosyl derivatives gave 6,6′-bisadenosine. Upon air oxidation, 6,6′-bisadenine was converted into 6,6′-azopurine. The related 6-thiosemicarbazino- and 6-(N-methyl)ureidopurine derivatives are also described. 6-N-(Nitroso)hydroxylaminopurine showed an inhibitory activity against several mouse tumors and leukemias.
Anticholinergics: Their Effects on Fear-Motivated Behavior, Urinary 11-Hydroxycorticosteroids, Urinary Volume, and Heart Rate in the Dog:

Two anticholinergics (scopolamine hydrobromide and scopolamine methylbromide—.5, .7 mg) were administered to dogs while they were subjected to a Sidman nondiscriminated avoidance schedule which con...
Regular Transient Loading Response in a Vapor-Phase Flow-Direction-Switching Biofilter

The principal objective of this study was determination of the response of a laboratory-scale vapor-phase flow-direction-switching biofilter to loading changes associated with normal operations such as lunch breaks, overnight shutdowns, and single-shift operation of commercial and industrial facilities. Three regular transient loading cases were considered: (a) variable flow-reversal interval lenghts, (b) variable feed-on/off interval lengths, and (c) variable inlet concentration during a repeating feed-on/off cycle. Toluene was used as the model contaminant compound. The most significant findings of the study were: (1) Relative to unidirectional mode of operation, periodic flow reversal produced a more uniform distribution of reaction capacity along the length of the packed bed; (2) a 12 h flow reversal interval was sufficiently short to maintain the toluene-degrading microbial community in a near-fully active state throughout the unit whereas a 2 day flow reversal interval resulted in diminished removal rates in the first half of the bed and (3) Increasing off-period length resulted in greater penetration of contaminant into the bed and more uniform removal rates along the length of the bed. Information developed in this study should provide a more complete basis for establishing operating protocols and monitoring regulations for vapor-phase biofiltration systems.
Free banking and credit creation: Implications for business cycle theory

For the element of Time, which is the center of the chief difficulty of almost every economic problem, is itself absolutely continuous: Nature knows no partition of time into long periods and short; but the two shade into one another by imperceptible gradations, and what is the short period for one problem is a long period for another. (Marshall 1936) W hile the element of time may be the chief difficulty of almost every economic problem, the difficulties are most apparent and most persistently resist generally accepted solutions in the area of monetary theory and macroeconomics. Money, which simultaneously functions as a medium of exchange and a store of value, may be viewed as the quintessential present good or as a future good, the most liquid store of value. This dual nature of money has been the center of macroeconomic controversy since the time of the classical economists. The Austrian business cycle theory is a blend of monetary and capital theory and highlights coordination problems connected to “time and money.” In the framework developed by Ludwig von Mises, banks create money by creating credit. This created credit finances investment in excess of savings, distorts the structure of production, and sets the stage for the boom–bust cycle. But what is created credit and when and how do banks create credit? Different answers to this question yield different implications for business cycle theory, research, and monetary policy, as well as different monetary reform proposals. Section two examines the classical roots of the time, money,
Inhibition of Corn and Sunflower Photosynthesis by Lead

Detached corn and sunflower leaves supplied with PbCl2 via the transpiration stream exhibited reduced rates of photosynthesis. The difference between species in the amount of Pb taken up was in direct proportion to their respective transpiration rates. For both species the reduction in photosynthesis and the amount of Pb taken up increased with increasing treatment concentrations. A corresponding reduction occurred in the rate of transpiration suggesting that stomatal resistance may be increased by Pb contamination. The pathways of CO2 and water vapor exchange are discussed in relation to the effects of Pb on photosynthesis and transpiration.
Genetic Analysis of the Heparan Modification Network in Caenorhabditis elegans

Heparan sulfates (HS) are highly modified sugar polymers in multicellular organisms that function in cell adhesion and cellular responses to protein signaling. Functionally distinct, cell type-dependent HS modification patterns arise as the result of a conserved network of enzymes that catalyze deacetylations, sulfations, and epimerizations in specific positions of the sugar residues. To understand the genetic interactions of the enzymes during the HS modification process, we have measured the composition of HS purified from mutant strains of Caenorhabditis elegans. From these measurements we have developed a genetic network model of HS modification. We find the interactions to be highly recursive positive feed-forward and negative feedback loops. Our genetic analyses show that the HS C-5 epimerase hse-5, the HS 2-O-sulfotransferase hst-2, or the HS 6-O-sulfotransferase hst-6 inhibit N-sulfation. In contrast, hse-5 stimulates both 2-O- and 6-O-sulfation and, hst-2 and hst-6 inhibit 6-O- and 2-O-sulfation, respectively. The effects of hst-2 and hst-6 on N-sulfation, 6-O-sulfation, and 2-O-sulfation appear largely dependent on hse-5 function. This core of regulatory interactions is further modulated by 6-O-endosulfatase activity (sul-1). 47% of all 6-O-sulfates get removed from HS and this editing process is dependent on hst-2, thereby providing additional negative feedback between 2-O- and 6-O-sulfation. These findings suggest that the modification patterns are highly sensitive to the relative composition of the HS modification enzymes. Our comprehensive genetic analysis forms the basis of understanding the HS modification network in metazoans.
On the photochemical reduction of nitrate by algae

At high light intensity suspensions of Chlorella pyrenoidosa, supplied with non-limiting concentrations of CO2, produce oxygen at a greater rate when nitrate is simultaneously present. In that case the photosynthetic quotient, CO2/O2, is considerably lower than in the absence of nitrate, even though the rate of CO2 assimilation is not reduced. From these results it is concluded that the photochemical nitrate reduction, discovered by Warburg and Negelein in 1920, cannot be explained on the basis of a dark reaction which yields CO2 by the oxidation of cell material with the concomitant reduction of nitrate. It can best be interpreted as a process in which nitrate acts directly as an alternate and additional hydrogen acceptor in photosynthesis.
PDF modeling of turbulent nonpremixed CO/H2/N2 jet flames with reduced mechanisms

A three-step reduced reaction mechanism for nonpremixed CO/H2/N2-air combustion is developed and applied to predicting turbulent jet flames. For Tsuji type laminar, non-premixed, opposed-flow flames, the reduced mechanism predicts reasonably good results compared to those from a parent mechanism. Application of the proposed reduced mechanism for predicting turbulent nonpremixed jet flames is carried out with a hybrid pdf-moment closure method. The performance of the pdf-moment closure method is evaluated by comparision of predictions with the experimental data by Masri and Dibble (1988). At high jet velocities, the model predicts bimodal joint statistics among the scalars demonstrating the capability of predicting local flame extinction. However, the experimental data indicates no occurrence of local flame extinction. Besides possible experimental uncertainty, the effects of pilot flame and differential diffusion are plausible reasons for the discrepancy.
Infection in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Cystic fibrosis is the most common lethal genetic disease of Caucasians. The disease affects the exocrine gland secretions throughout the body, and as a result, major pathologic changes develop in the pancreas and in the bronchi. Obstruction of the respiratory airways results in chronic infection, and in time, this leads to progressive deterioration of lung function. In the initial stages of the disease, usually during infancy, Infection with Staphylococcus aureus plays an important role. Hemophilus influenzae infections are also common. As the disease progresses, infection with Pseudomonas aeru-ginose develops. Exacerbation of bronchopulmonary infection is often initiated by respiratory viral or mycoplasmal infection, with superimposed S. aureus and P. seruginosa Infections contributing to the severity of the infection. Frequent courses of antibiotic therapy are usually required, and some patients may have to receive antibiotics continuously. Oral cephalosporins, ampicillin, and the combination of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole are commonly used for relatively mild infections. In the treatment of exacerbation of infection, intravenous penicillinase-resistant penicillins and anti-Pseudomonas antibiotics are the drugs of choice. For Pseudomonas infections, ticarcillin, carbenicillin, the ureidopenicillins, and the aminoglycosides are indicated. The combination of an anti-Pseudomonas penicillin and an aminoglycoside are most commonly used. Of the third-generation cephalosporins, ceftazidime appears to be the most efficacious. The quinolones (such as ciprofloxacin) are also active against P. aeruginosa, and preliminary studies of these drugs in patients with cystic fibrosis appear to indicate that they are as efficacious as the already available antibiotics. In many centers, Pseudomonas cepacia has emerged as a serious problem in patients with cystic fibrosis. This organism tends to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics. In some centers, infection with P. cepacia has been associated with a severe, frequently fatal, pneumonia.
Flux balance models for the oxygen and carbon isotope compositions of land snail shells

A simple flux balance model with a diffusive, evaporative boundary layer indicates that the time constant (characteristic time) for approach to oxygen isotope steady state in the body fluid of land snails is ∼19 min or less. These comparatively short times support an assumption that the snail’s aragonitic shell is commonly precipitated from a body fluid that is at, or near, isotopic steady state. The model indicates that the steady-state δ18O value of snail shell carbonate depends upon the temperature, relative humidity, δ18O of the input liquid water, and δ18O of ambient water vapor. Model shell δ18O values were calculated for the warm, wet months corresponding to times of snail activity at some European sites. Linear regression of these predicted values against published, measured values yielded the expression: δ18Ocalc = 0.93(±0.13) δ18Omeas −0.9(±0.2), with r2 = 0.65. As indicated by the value of r2, there is scatter in the relationship, but the slope and intercept are close to one and zero, respectively, which lends credence to the model. Therefore, temporal or spatial changes recorded in the δ18O values of land snail shells appear to be selectively seasonal—commonly the warm, wet months—and include the effects of relative humidity. For carbon, the time constant for approach to isotopic steady state in the bicarbonate dissolved in the body fluid of land snails is predicted to be ∼16 min or less. New and published δ13C measurements of aragonite shell and associated organic matter exhibit an overall correlation, but with considerable scatter. As noted by previous workers, 13C-rich dietary “limestone” may account for some of the scatter. Additional scatter, according to the model presented herein, could arise from changes in the proportion of total oxidized carbon that is expelled by the snail as bicarbonate dissolved in body fluid (i.e., effects of relative changes in metabolic rates). These results affirm the need for caution in the interpretation of δ13C values of land snail aragonite shells solely in terms of dietary proportions of C3 and C4 plants.
Role of the eastern chipmunk as a host for immature Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) in northwestern Illinois

Infestation of the eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus L., by immature Ixodes dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman and Corwin was studied in Castle Rock State Park in northwestern Illinois during June-October 1991. Mean larval density peaked in August, while nymphal density declined steadily through the study period. Prevalence of tick infestation was high throughout the trapping period. Tick distribution on chipmunks was aggregated in most of the sampling periods. Levels of I. dammini infestation recorded on chipmunks in this survey are higher than previous results recorded in the northeastern and midwestern United States. Chipmunks had significantly higher levels of nymphal I. dammini infestation than white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque). A major role of the eastern chipmunk as a host for immature I. dammini in upland forest habitat in northwestern Illinois can be established. In bottomland and ecotone habitats where chipmunks were scarce, P. leucopus contributed most to the feeding of larval ticks.
Towards a taxonomy of errors in HTML and CSS

As part of a larger research agenda to explore web development as a context for learning computational literacy skills, we investigate errors people make while writing code in HTML and CSS. We report on a lab-based study in which 20 participants were video recorded as they completed coding tasks. We have applied the skills-rules-knowledge framework to segment this data by the cognitive causes of errors they made, and present a taxonomy of these errors. Our findings demonstrate how the skills-rules-framework can be used to analyze coding errors, provide insight about the origins of these errors, and suggest ways that the design of web development tools can be improved to support learning and practice with HTML and CSS.
Dynamic deformation of quartz and feldspar: clues to causes of some natural crises

Abstract Indications of natural catastrophes and crises are preserved in some geologic strutures and in the stratigraphic record, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the Earth's evolution. The crises may result either from exogenic or endogenic energy sources. Distinguishing between these sources is a complex, multidisciplinary problem in the Earth sciences. Shock deformation by impact has been well-studied both in shock recovery experiments and in known impactites, but only recently has the possibility of generation of shock waves by high-temperature internal explosions been seriously considered. An optically based reconaissance survey of microstructures in quartz and feldspar in some explosive silicic volcanics suggests that they may have been induced by dynamic deformation at high temperature; in some respects the character of the microstructures differs greatly from those induced by room temperature shock, whereas in others the differences are subtle. Results from recent shock recovery experiments on quartzite preheated to 440 ° and shocked to 28 GPa support this contention. For two classic Cretaceous/Tertiary sections at Gubbio, Italy, it is shown that shock mosaicism and shock lamellae occur over a 4 m interval, bisected by the boundary, in a pattern approximately correlatable with an independently established iridium enrichment. These data are incompatible with any single event and are most plausibly interpreted as reflecting a period (∼ 0.5 my) of intense, probably episodic, volcanism with a culmination at the K/T transition. Multiple dynamic events may also account for macroscopic and microscopic structures developed during the evolution of the Vredefort structure, South Africa.
Geophysical evaluation of solute plume spatial moments using an adaptive POD algorithm for electrical resistivity imaging

Summary We investigate the potential for characterizing spatial moments of subsurface solute plumes from surface-based electrical resistivity images produced within a Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) inversion framework. The existing POD algorithm is improved here to allow for adaptive conditioning of the POD training images on resistivity measurements. The efficacy of the suggested technique is evaluated with two hypothetical transport scenarios: synthetic #1 is based on the case where the target plume and POD training images follow the same (unimodal) plume morphology, whereas a second source location in synthetic #2 makes the target plume bimodal and inconsistent with the POD training images. The resistivity imaging results indicate that the adaptive algorithm efficiently and robustly updates the POD training images to obtain good quality resistivity images of the target plumes, both in the presence of data noise and when conceptual model inaccuracies exist in the training simulations. Spatial moments of the solute plumes recovered from the resistivity images are also favorable, with relative mass recovery errors in the range of 0.6–4.4%, center of mass errors in the range of 0.6–9.6%, and spatial variance errors in the range of 3.4–45% for cases where the voltage data had 0–10% noise. These results are consistent with or improved upon those reported in the literature. Comparison of the resistivity-based moment estimates to those obtained from direct concentration sampling suggests that for cases with good quality resistivity data (i.e.,
Control of Maximum Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca Load in Intact Ferret Ventricular Myocytes : Effects of Thapsigargin and Isoproterenol

In steady state, the Ca content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of cardiac myocytes is determined by a balance among influx and efflux pathways. The SR Ca content may be limited mainly by the ATP-supplied chemical potential that is inherent in the gradient between SR and cytosol. That is, forward Ca pumping from cytosol to SR may be opposed by energetically conservative reverse pumping dependent on intra-SR free [Ca]. On the other hand, SR Ca loading may be limited by dissipative pathways (pump slippage and/or pump-independent leak). To assess how SR Ca content is limited, we loaded voltage-clamped ferret ventricular myocytes cumulatively with known amounts of Ca via L-type Ca channels (ICa), using Na-free solutions to prevent Na/Ca exchange. We then measured the maximal resulting caffeine-released SR Ca content under control conditions, as well as when SR Ca pumping was accelerated by isoproterenol (1 μM) or slowed by thapsigargin (0.2–0.4 μM). Under control conditions, SR Ca content reached a limit of 137 μmol·liter cytosol−1 (nonmitochondrial volume) when measured by integrating caffeine-induced Na/Ca exchange currents (∫INaCaXdt) and of 119 μmol·liter cytosol−1 when measured using fluorescence signals dependent on changes in cytosolic free Ca ([Ca]i). When Ca-ATPase pumping rate was slowed 39% by thapsigargin, the maximal SR Ca content decreased by 5 (∫INaCaXdt method) or 23% (fluorescence method); when pumping rate was increased 74% by isoproterenol, SR Ca content increased by 10% (fluorescence method) or 20% (∫INaCaXdt method). The relative stability of the SR Ca load suggests that dissipative losses have only a minor influence in setting the SR Ca content. Indeed, it appears that the SR Ca pump in intact cells can generate a [Ca] gradient approaching the thermodynamic limit.
Contribution of the Recent AUSM Schemes to the Overflow Code: Implementation and Validation

We shall present results of a recent collaborative effort between the authors attempting to implement the numerical flux scheme, AUSM+ and its new developments, into a widely used NASA code, OVERFLOW. This paper is intended to give a thorough and systematic documentation about the solutions of default test cases using the AUSNI+ scheme. Hence we will address various aspects of numerical solutions, such as accuracy, convergence rate, and effects of turbulence models, over a variety of geometries, speed regimes. We will briefly describe the numerical schemes employed in the calculations, including the capability of solving for low-speed flows and multiphase flows by employing the concept of numerical speed of sound. As a bonus, this low Mach number formulations also enhances convergence to steady solutions for flows even at transonic speed. Calculations for complex 3D turbulent flows were performed with several turbulence models and the results display excellent agreements with measured data.
Reconfiguration planning for heterogeneous self-reconfiguring robots

Current research in self-reconfiguring robots focuses predominantly on systems of identical modules. However, allowing modules of varying types, with different sensors, for example, is of practical interest. In this paper, we propose the development of an algorithmic basis for heterogeneous self-reconfiguring systems. We demonstrate algorithmic feasibility by presenting O(n/sup 2/) time centralized and O(n/sup 3/) time decentralized solutions to the reconfiguration problem for n non-identical modules. As our centralized time bound is equal to the best published homogeneous solution, we argue that space, as opposed to time, is the critical resource in the reconfiguration problem. Our results encourage the development both of applications that use heterogeneous self-reconfiguration, and also heterogeneous hardware systems.
Estimation of parameters for modeling of saturation effects for a transformer model for a real-time digital simulator

An approach is presented for estimation of parameter values for a transformer saturation model from data acquired from transformer inrush tests, along with data from steady state operation. The approach is used to estimate parameter values for a saturation-enabled transformer model for a commercial real-time digital simulator. The proposed method is used to set up a simple transformer experiment and determine the model parameters that govern the important saturation characteristics. The method is tested using data from simulated transformer experiments.
Stimulation of Skin and Wound Fibroblast Migration by Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Normal Donors and Chronic Wound Patients

Chronic wounds continue to be a major cause of morbidity for patients and an economic burden on the health care system. Novel therapeutic approaches to improved wound healing will need, however, to address cellular changes induced by a number of systemic comorbidities seen in chronic wound patients, such as diabetes, chronic renal failure, and arterial or venous insufficiency. These effects likely include impaired inflammatory cell migration, reduced growth factor production, and poor tissue remodeling. The multifunctional properties of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), including their ability to differentiate into various cell types and capacity to secrete factors important in accelerating healing of cutaneous wounds, have made MSCs a promising agent for tissue repair and regeneration. In this study we have used an in vitro scratch assay procedure incorporating labeled MSCs and fibroblasts derived from normal donors and chronic wound patients in order to characterize the induction of mobilization when these cells are mixed. A modified Boyden chamber assay was also used to examine the effect of soluble factors on fibroblast migration. These studies suggest that MSCs play a role in skin wound closure by affecting dermal fibroblast migration in a dose-dependent manner. Deficiencies were noted, however, in chronic wound patient fibroblasts and MSCs as compared with those derived from normal donors. These findings provide a foundation to develop therapies targeted specifically to the use of bone marrow-derived MSCs in wound healing and may provide insight into why some wounds do not heal.
Energy Supply System Performance for Hurricane Katrina

In 2005, wind-induced structural damage from Hurricane Katrina resulted in extensive energy supply disruptions across the Gulf of Mexico. In this paper, we examine the resilience of these systems with a particular emphasis on the electric power delivery systems. We investigate the correlations of the power outage data with weather parameters such as wind speed, rainfall, and storm surge. We examine the resilience and recovery of the electric delivery system spatially and temporally and compare the results with other natural disasters. We conclude that the behavior of the delivery systems under hurricane loadings is affected by rainfall and storm surge as well as wind speed. Widespread failures may occur at wind speeds less than predicted peak values.
Implications for cardiology nurse practitioner billing: A comparison of hospital versus office practice

Purpose: To discuss the implications for cardiology nurse practitioner (NP) billing and compare and contrast inpatient Medicare billing practices versus outpatient Medicare billing practices. Data sources: Selected articles, text books, and government websites. Conclusions: In today's complex and expensive healthcare system, there has been a steady decline in the reimbursement rate for professional services to hospitals and physicians. NPs can have a significant impact on reducing this decline by billing for services provided. Implications for practice: The cardiology NP can enhance institutional reimbursement quality and patient safety. The different billing methods such as independent billing, shared billing, and incident to billing by the cardiology NP can be complex.
During B-Z transition there is no large scale breakage of Watson-Crick base pairs. A direct demonstration using 500 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Abstract Monitoring of the Watson-Crick GNH1 proton in poly(dG-dC)-poly(dG-dC) at 500 MHz in 90% H20:10% D2o at 30° C as a function of NaCl concentration (1.5 to 3.6 M), demonstrates that the bases retain Watson-Crick pairing throughout the transition. This observation unequivocally demonstrates that during the B-Z transition there is no large scale and detectable base pair opening and that macroscopically the phenomenon can be described as a direct helix to helix transition. We present frame by frame, an energetically sound stereodynamical trajectory for this transfiguration from right-handed B-DNA to left-handed Z-DNA.
Healthcare inequality, cross-cultural training, and bioethics: principles and applications.

To promote so-called cultural competence in work of direct-care providers and other health professionals among diverse peoples, cross-cultural training (CCT) is now widely advised. However, in ethically assessing aims and content of CCT, and surrounding issues and concerns, what should guide us? And if we can elaborate satisfactory moral touchstones, what do they imply for healthcare professionals, overarching structures, and bioethicists? Building on prior work, this paper tries to help answer these questions.Work in this paper is indebted to discussions with Annette Dula, Insoo Hyun, Muhjah Shakir, Melanie Tervalon, and colleagues at Tuskegee University and the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Healthcare. Erika Blacksher, Leonard Ortmann, and Madison Powers provided useful comments about earlier drafts. This work was supported by CDC Cooperative Agreement Number P76/CCP424229-2.
Metabolic and endocrine function in whirler mice.

SummaryBody weight, metabolic rate and endocrine organ weight differences were determined between sister female whirler mice and their phenotypically normal heterozygotes. The whirlers, a recessive waltzing mouse mutation, show syndromes of rapid, circling, locomotor activity, headshaking and deafness. O2 consumption rates were obtained at 12 weeks of age. Two weeks afterward, both types were autopsied for endocrine and associated organ weight studies. The findings indicated markedly or significantly lower body weights in the homozygous whirler mice and significantly higher O2 consumption rates. The adrenal, thymic, ovarian and uterine findings presented evidence of increased adrenocortical activity and decreased gonadal function in the whirler mice. Similarities between the behavioral and endocrine characteristics of the excitable whirler mice to human psychoses are noted.
Work in progress - Enhancement of student Learning via dynamically worked-out problems

This paper describes our goal of creating a set of narrated dynamically worked-out problems for the Electric Circuits students using a Tablet PC. The examples are intended to improve problem-solving skills by enhancing understanding of the key concepts and the way that they should be utilized in solving circuits' problems. Improvement in understanding will be measured through carefully aligned course assignments and examination questions. We expect that students will demonstrate higher levels of competency in the course outcomes, such as being able to analyze basic circuits using appropriate laws and concepts, and an improved ability to select the appropriate solution technique.
Dynamics Preserving Size Reduction Mappings for Probabilistic Boolean Networks

A probabilistic Boolean network (PBN) is a discrete network composed of a family of Boolean networks such that at each time instant the transition of the PBN is governed by one of its constituent networks. A random variable determines when the governing Boolean network switches and, when a switch occurs, a new constituent network is chosen according to a selection distribution to govern the PBN transitions until another switch is called for. As nonlinear models of genetic regulatory networks, PBNs incorporate the indeterminacy owing to latent variables external to the model that have biological interaction with genes in the model. Besides being used to model biologically phenomena, such as cellular state dynamics and the switch-like behavior of certain genes, PBNs have served as the main model for the application of intervention methods, including optimal control strategies, to favorably effect system dynamics. An obstacle in applying PBNs to large-scale networks is the computational complexity of the model. It is sometimes necessary to construct computationally tractable subnetworks while still carrying sufficient structure for the application at hand. Hence, there is a need for size reducing mappings. This paper proposes a reduction strategy that preserves the dynamical structure of the network, a crucial requirement for the development of intervention strategies based on control theory. In particular, we focus on the following two issues when deleting a gene from the network: 1) maintaining the same number of constituent Boolean networks, and 2) preserving, in an optimal sense, the attractor structure, the relative sizes of the basins of attraction, and the level structures of the state transition diagrams of the constituent Boolean networks. Preservation of the attractor structure is critical because the attractors of a PBN determine its steady-state behavior
The Pivotal Regulatory Landscape of RNA Modifications

Posttranscriptionally modified nucleosides in RNA play integral roles in the cellular control of biological information that is encoded in DNA. The modifications of RNA span all three phylogenetic domains (Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya) and are pervasive across RNA types, including messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and (less frequently) small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and microRNA (miRNA). Nucleotide modifications are also one of the most evolutionarily conserved properties of RNAs, and the sites of modification are under strong selective pressure. However, many of these modifications, as well as their prevalence and impact, have only recently been discovered. Here, we examine both labile and permanent modifications, from simple methylation to complex transcript alteration (RNA editing and intron retention); detail the models for their processing; and highlight remaining questions in the field of the epitranscriptome.
Peaceful Transition and Retrospective Justice: Some Reservations

Although retribution for past human rights violations has its place in post-conflict processes of transition and reconciliation, there are many present and foreseeable circumstances in which the case for immunity, amnesty, or sheer forbearance is significantly stronger than Juan E. Mendez' approach to this question can admit.Disagreement about justice is an ineradicable part of political life and a leading cause of violent conflict. Reconciliation cannot always presuppose or await a shared moral understanding; frequently enough, it requires an agreement to disagree, even about fundamental principles – at least with respect to their retrospective application. Where the parties to violent conflict have seen fit to set aside issues of retrospective justice in the service of peace and reconciliation, outsiders, who do not bear the costs of conflict and instability, should second-guess that decision only with the greatest reluctance. They should not look to international human rights standards and mechanisms for a universal solution.
Antiphospholipid syndrome as a cause for recurrent myocardial infarction.

AbstractIntroduction: This case describes a patient who suffered three myocardial infarctions over a two-week period. Testing confirmed thrombophilia as the etiology.Case: A 55-year old male initially presented to the emergency department with a complaint of chest pain. Testing showed an elevated troponin at 2.2 ng/ml and ST elevations on electrocardiogram. The patient was transferred to the cardiac catheterization laboratory and a drug-eluting stent was placed. One day after the initial stent placement, in-stent thrombosis of the drug-eluting stent was discovered. Angioplasty and aspiration thrombectomy were performed, and the patient was released from the hospital three days later. 72 h after his discharge, the patient returned to the emergency department due to recurrent chest pain and diaphoresis. Shortly after arrival he became unresponsive and telemetry showed ventricular tachycardia which resolved with cardioversion. Reocclusion of the right coronary artery was again noted in the catheterization la...
Antidepressant side effects in the medically ill: the value of psychiatric consultation

In this study we evaluated the side effects of antidepressant use in medically ill patients. The authors evaluated fifty-one general hospital inpatients who were later prescribed antidepressant medications by their primary care physicians. These patients' medical records were reviewed one year later for evidence of serious complications. The overall complication rate was 43 percent. When the psychiatrist recommended antidepressant therapy, there was a 30 percent incidence of major complications. When the psychiatrist did not recommend antidepressants, but the patient was treated anyway, the incidence of treatment-limiting side effects was 67 percent. These results suggest that psychiatrists can predict which medically ill patients are at risk for complications. Since most antidepressants are prescribed by non-psychiatrists, an important role for consultants is to identify those patients at high risk for significant complications.
Differential binding of mutant (R116C) and wildtype alphaA crystallin to actin.

Purpose: Quantitate the interaction of mutant (R116C) and wildtype human alphaA crystallins with actin. Methods: AlphaA crystallins, expressed in a recombinant system, were purified, followed by passage through an actin affinity column. Results: Binding of mutant alphaA crystallin was significantly less than binding of wildtype alphaA crystallin. Conclusions: The R116C mutation of alphaA crystallin found in human cataracts binds less to the cytoskeletal component actin. Since both alphaA crystallin and actin are necessary for proper development of the lens, decreased binding of the mutant protein to actin may perturb normal differentiation processes of lens cells which are necessary for transparency.
View-independent shape representation and matching

A planar shape representation method is described which uses a binary tree to represent a shape. The nodes of the tree are triangles obtained from the shape through iteratively merging the neighboring boundary segments of the shape. Every two neighboring boundary segments define a triangle, and the selection of the neighboring boundary segments to merge is based on the relative sizes of such triangles along the shape boundary. Since these relative sizes are view-independent, the partitioning of a shape is also view-independent. This leads to the result that the tree representation is view-independent. In shape matching, the projection transformation is estimated to exist between the two shapes from the top-level nodes of the two tree representations. One tree (shape) is adjusted according to the found estimations to remove shape difference caused by projection. The two trees are compared node by node to find the shape dissimilarity between the two shapes. Since one shape is adjusted according to the estimated projection difference, the shape matching method is view-independent. >
Convergence and Rate of Convergence of a Manifold-Based Dimension Reduction Algorithm

We study the convergence and the rate of convergence of a local manifold learning algorithm: LTSA [13]. The main technical tool is the perturbation analysis on the linear invariant subspace that corresponds to the solution of LTSA. We derive a worst-case upper bound of errors for LTSA which naturally leads to a convergence result. We then derive the rate of convergence for LTSA in a special case.
Predicting web actions from HTML content

Most proposed Web prefetching techniques make predictions based on the historical references to requested objects. In contrast, this paper examines the accuracy of predicting a user's next action based on analysis of the content of the pages requested recently by the user. Predictions are made using the similarity of a model of the user's interest to the text in and around the hypertext anchors of recently requested Web pages. This approa22ch can make predictions of actions that have never been taken by the user and potentially make predictions that reflect current user interests. We evaluate this technique using data from a full-content log of Web activity and find that textual similarity-based predictions outperform simpler approaches.
Information access for visually impaired persons: do we still keep a "document" in "documentation"?

At the same time that global economies and multimedia technologies provide impetus for increasingly visual communication, the information needs of persons with limited vision may require communication to shift from graphics back to text, or on to audio or tactile forms. To understand documentation issues related to this shift, one must understand the varied forms of visual impairment, available assistive technologies, and the resultant design considerations. Efforts to prepare more effective materials for visually impaired users may yield "universal design" benefits by identifying and reducing sources of confusion for all users.