cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spectral properties of certain operators on Hardy spaces of planar regions

If G is any region in the complex plane and HP (G), 1≦p≦∞, denotes the Hardy space of analytic functions on G, then the principal aim of this paper is to present the spectral properties of the multiplication operators Mϕ defined on HP(G) by Mϕf=ϕf, where ϕ is any bounded analytic function on G. In order to do this, the speccial case in which G is bounded and ϕ(z)=z is studied in detail. In addition an operator called the truncation operator that is not a multilication operator and acts on the Hardy spaces of regions of the form ℂ/K for a compact set K is studied.
Sequence-Specific DNA Binding by a Short Peptide Dimer

A recently described class of DNA binding proteins is characterized by the "bZIP" motif, which consists of a basic region that contacts DNA and an adjacent "leucine zipper" that mediates protein dimerization. A peptide model for the basic region of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4 has been developed in which the leucine zipper has been replaced by a disulfide bond. The 34-residue peptide dimer, but not the reduced monomer, binds DNA with nanomolar affinity at 4 degrees C. DNA binding is sequence-specific as judged by deoxyribonuclease I footprinting. Circular dichroism spectroscopy suggests that the peptide adopts a helical structure when bound to DNA. These results demonstrate directly that the GCN4 basic region is sufficient for sequence-specific DNA binding and suggest that a major function of the GCN4 leucine zipper is simply to mediate protein dimerization. Our approach provides a strategy for the design of short sequence-specific DNA binding peptides.
Trajectories of Motor Development

The motor development of in utero polydrug exposed and unexposed infants was longitudinally studied at 1, 4, 7 and 15 months using a combination of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), Movement Assessment of Infants (MAI) and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (PDMS). The Prone and Standing subscores of the AIMS were significantly different at 7 months. The Primitive Reflex subscore of the MAI was significantly different at 7 months. None of the other subscores at this age or at the other ages was significantly different. The groups did not differ significantly on the PDMS at 15 months. The effect size (ES) for both the AIMS and the MAI increased with age, changing from a small to a large ES between 1 and 7 months. The ES for the PDMS-Gross Motor was negligible and for the PDMS-Fine Motor small/medium at 15 months. Compromised motor performance is due to a complex interaction of multiple constraints affected by in utero polydrug exposure and poverty including muscle strength and tone, body mass, nerv...
Calling all ‘fiberhoods’: Google Fiber and the politics of visibility

This article examines the promise of transformation and initial outcomes of Google’s ‘Fiber for Communities’ project in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. Through a discourse analysis of industry and popular press, press releases, Google’s official blog and YouTube channel, and user-generated content from Kansas City residents from 2010 to 2012, the article highlights the ways in which Google promised to transform the image and significance of Kansas City, upgrade experiences of internet access and use, and experiment with new deployment models for large-scale fiber optic infrastructure in the US. However, the process of transformation rendered certain pre-existing digital divides and inequities more visible rather than erasing them.
A modeling study of the Satilla River estuary, Georgia. II: suspended sediment

A three-dimensional (3-D) suspended sediment model was coupled with a 3-D hydrodynamic numerical model and used to examine the spatial and temporal distribution of suspended sediments in the Satilla River estuary of Georgia. The hydrodynamic model was a modified ECOM-si model with inclusion of the flooding-drying cycle over intertidal salt marshes. The suspended sediment model consisted of a simple passive tracer equation with inclusion of sinking, resuspension, and sedimentation processes. The coupled model was driven by tidal forcing at the open boundary over the inner shelf of the South Atlantic Bight and real-time river discharge at the upstream end of the estuary, with a uniform initial distribution of total suspended sediment (TSS). The initial conditions for salinity were specified using observations taken along the estuary. The coupled model provided a reasonable simulation of both the spatial and temporal distributions of observed TSS concentration. Model-predicted TSS concentrations varied over a tidal cycle; they were highest at maximum flood and ebb tidal phases and lowest at slack tides. Model-guided process studies suggest that the spatial distribution of TSS concentration in the Satilla River estuary is controlled by a complex nonlinear physical process associated with the convergence and divergence of residual flow, a non-uniform along-estuary distribution of bottom stress, and the inertial effects of a curved shoreline.
Residential Concentrations of Rural Registered Sex Offenders

This research employs social disorganization theory to examine the residential locations of registered sex offenders in rural areas. Data was gathered on 728 non-incarcerated registered sex offenders (RSOs) in the Appalachia region of Eastern Kentucky (41 counties total). Census tract data was used to assess the degree of social disorganization of residential locations of RSOs and to compare census tracts with high concentrations of registered sex offenders to the counties in which RSOs reside, the nation as a whole, and census tracts with low concentrations of RSOs. Results show that although there are significant social disorganization indicators present, there are few relationships between RSO residence and increased levels of social disorganization.
Antigenic requirement for Gag in a vaccine that protects against high-dose mucosal challenge with simian immunodeficiency virus

Abstract We reported previously on a vaccine approach that conferred apparent sterilizing immunity to SIVsmE660. The vaccine regimen employed a prime–boost using vectors based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and an alphavirus replicon expressing either SIV Gag or SIV Env. In the current study, we tested the ability of vectors expressing only the SIVsmE660 Env protein to protect macaques against the same high-dose mucosal challenge. Animals developed neutralizing antibody levels comparable to or greater than seen in the previous vaccine study. When the vaccinated animals were challenged with the same high-dose of SIVsmE660, all became infected. While average peak viral loads in animals were slightly lower than those of previous controls, the viral set points were not significantly different. These data indicate that Gag, or the combination of Gag and Env are required for the generation of apparent sterilizing immunity to the SIVsmE660 challenge.
Thermal ZnO dissociation in a rapid aerosol reactor as part of a solar hydrogen production cycle

Abstract An experimental investigation of the thermal dissociation of ZnO particles in aerosol flow was conducted. A cooling lance and quench tube were used to sharpen residence time determination and limit product recombination. Experiments were performed at temperatures between 1873 and 2023 K and residence times between 1.11 and 1.78 s. Product particles were distributed between the walls of the quench tube, a gravity collection vessel, and a downstream HEPA filter. Chemical analysis showed material in gravity vessel was largely unreacted. Physical and chemical analysis of particles collected in the quench tube and filter indicated conversion to Zn with some recombination. Arrhenius pre-exponential factors were measured between 2.23 × 10 9 and 1.67 × 10 10 s - 1 . These parameters gave rates three orders of magnitude faster than stationary configurations. The net conversions after recombination had a maximum value of 18%, with a mean value of 8%. Product particle sizes ranged between 5 and 70 nm, a size whose surface area was expected to increase the rate of the Zn hydrolysis step of the cycle.
Ring imaging detector for cosmic-ray observations

The measurement of particle velocities in cosmic ray experiments has largely been made by counters which determine the total amount of Cherenkov light emitted by a radiator material. Here we discuss a far more accurate technique which measures the angle of emission of individual Cherenkov photons by imaging the emission cone onto a ring. This approach has the advantage of supplying a velocity estimate from each detected photon and a large reduction in the effects of background light. As an example, we shall discuss our ring imaging Cherenkov detector (RICH) for high altitude balloon cosmic ray experiments. This instrument combines a 3 m gas Cherenkov radiator with 1.5 m multiplied by 1.5 m of position sensitive photon detectors based on TMAE gas mixtures. The photon detector assembly detects individual photons with a quantum efficiency of 10 - 20% in the UV region of the spectrum. The use of VLSI electronics provides individual readout of 18,000 1 cm by 1 cm pixels. The future application of this technique in cosmic ray instruments also is discussed.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Percolation of Trace Amounts of Linear Polymers in Melts of Cyclic Polymers

Melts of CPs, intentionally contaminated with small fractions of LPs, are studied using the bond fluctuation model to probe the extreme sensitivity of the rheology to trace amounts of linear chains. Using primitive path analysis to compute the number of entanglements on the molecules, the threshold concentration at which LPs percolate through the system is calculated using a mean-field theory. It is found that the percolation threshold decreases with the molecular weight, and is approximately 25-30 times smaller than the overlap concentration of the linear chains for the longest polymers studied. These simulations help to understand and justify the approximations made in earlier theoretical investigations.
The December 2003 and March 2004 Elections in Russia: A Framing Comment

An American and European authority on economic and social transformation in Russia as well as other successor states of the USSR interprets the findings of two papers on Russia's December 2003 parliamentary and March 2004 presidential elections in this fourth 2004 issue of Eurasian Geography and Economics. In highlighting the ways in which the recent election results signal a break with previous post-Soviet electoral contests, he presents a number of alternative interpretations of Russia's current socio-economic and political scene, as well as possible future trajectories for the country. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: H10, O10, R10. 17 references.
Comparison of the 1H NMR analysis of solids by the CRAMPS and MAS-only techniques

1H NMR spectra are reported on eight representative solid samples, including pure powdered crystalline samples, synthetic organic polymers, a silica gel, HY zeolite, and a lignite. Spectra were obtained by the following three approaches: (1) single pulse on a static sample, (2) CRAMPS, and (3) single pulse with magic-angle spinning (MAS-only). The MAS-only results were obtained as a function of MAS speed. Although the MAS-only technique is capable of achieving a significant degree of line narrowing, even with modest MAS speeds, MAS-only spectra of the general quality of the apparently undistorted high-resolution 1H spectra obtained by the CRAMPS technique are not obtained at the highest MAS speeds examined (21 kHz for a polymethylmethacrylate sample), unless the 1H-1H dipolar interactions in the sample are rather weak, as with silica gel or a zeolite. Thus, caution should be exercised in interpreting 1H MAS-only spectra, especially if CRAMPS results are not available as a calibration.
New Susceptibility Breakpoints for First-Line Antituberculosis Drugs Based on Antimicrobial Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Science and Population Pharmacokinetic Variability

Arguably, one of the most common and consequential laboratory tests performed in the world is Mycobacterium tuberculosis susceptibility testing. M. tuberculosis resistance is defined by growth of > or =1% of a bacillary inoculum on the critical concentration of an antibiotic. The critical concentration was chosen based on inhibition of > or =95% of wild-type isolates. The critical concentration of isoniazid is either 0.2 or 1.0 mg/liter, that of rifampin is 1.0 mg/liter, that of pyrazinamide is 100 mg/liter, that of ethambutol is 5.0 mg/liter, and that of fluoroquinolones is 1.0 mg/liter. However, the relevance of these concentrations to microbiologic and clinical outcomes is unclear. Critical concentrations were identified using the ability to achieve the antibiotic area under the concentration-time curve/MIC ratio associated with > or =90% of maximal kill (EC(90)) of M. tuberculosis in > or =90% of patients. Population pharmacokinetic parameters and their variability encountered in tuberculosis patients were utilized in Monte Carlo simulations to determine the probability that particular daily doses of the drugs would achieve or exceed the EC(90) in the epithelial lining fluid of 10,000 tuberculosis patients. Failure to achieve EC(90) in > or =90% of patients at a particular MIC was defined as drug resistance. The critical concentrations of moxifloxacin and ethambutol remained unchanged, but a critical concentration of 50 mg/liter was identified for pyrazinamide, 0.0312 mg/liter and 0.125 mg/liter were defined for low- and high-level isoniazid resistance, respectively, and 0.0625 mg/liter was defined for rifampin. Thus, current critical concentrations of first-line antituberculosis drugs are overoptimistic and should be set lower. With the proposed breakpoints, the rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis could become 4-fold higher than currently assumed.
Investigation of the atomic-scale friction and energy dissipation in diamond using molecular dynamics

We have used molecular dynamics simulations to examine friction when two diamond (111) surfaces are placed in sliding contact. The essence of atomic-scale friction was shown to be the mechanical excitation (in the form of vibrational and rotational energy) of the interface lattice layers upon sliding. This excitation was propagated to the rest of the lattice, and eventually dissipated as heat. In general, this excitation increases with increasing applied load; therefore, the atomic-scale friction also increases with load. Flexible hydrocarbon species, chemically bound to the diamond surface, can lead to a significant reduction of mechanical excitation upon sliding at high loads, leading to lower friction. In addition to clarifying the effects of chemically-bound hydrocarbon groups on atomic-scale friction at diamond interfaces, these simulations might also yield insight into more complicated systems, e.g. Langmuir-Blodgett films, and aid in the design of low-friction coatings.
A Consistent Implicit Formulation for Nonlinear Finite Element Modeling With Contact and Friction: Part II—Numerical Verification and Results

Plane-strain sheet-forming processes are analyzed and discussed. Stretch and deep draw forming by cylindrical and flat-bottom punches are presented and compared to closed-form solutions and existing numerical results tested on a complex set of concave, irregular tools by simulating redrawing and reverse drawing with two sided draw-in and various drawbead forces
Exploring DNA-binding Proteins with In Vivo Chemical Cross-linking and Mass Spectrometry

DNA-binding proteins are very important constituents of proteomes of all species and play crucial roles in transcription, DNA replication, recombination, repair, and other activities associated with DNA. Although a number of DNA-binding proteins have been identified, many proteins involved in gene regulation and DNA repair are likely still unknown because of their dynamic and/or weak interactions with DNA. In this report, we described an approach for the comprehensive identification of DNA-binding proteins with in vivo formaldehyde cross-linking and LC−MS/MS. DNA-binding proteins could be purified via the isolation of DNA−protein complexes and released from the complexes by reversing the cross-linking. By using this method, we were able to identify more than one hundred DNA-binding proteins, such as proteins involved in transcription, gene regulation, DNA replication and repair, and a large number of proteins that are potentially associated with DNA and DNA-binding proteins. This method should be generall...
Extended dating couples decision-making strategies about eating: a comparison to married couples.

Abstract Eating is an important component to the courtship stage of relationships. Therefore, the purpose of the current experiment was to identify common decision-making strategies of individuals in extended dating relationships. By doing so, this study was a replication and extension of previous findings by Bonds-Raacke [Bonds-Raacke, J. M. (2006). Using cluster analysis to examine husband-wife decision-making. The Psychological Record, 56 (4), 521–550] on married couples decisions related to eating. Participants for the current study were presented with restaurant menus and asked to rate how likely they would be to eat at each restaurant. The task was completed first independently and then jointly. Results indicated that couples in extended dating relationships employed five common decision-making strategies when jointly selecting a restaurant. Finally, the results revealed that more common decision-making strategies were present among dating couples than married couples.
Probability method of finding reserve capacity–effect of interconnections

A further development in the author's method for finding the effects of interconnection on the service reliability of interconnected systems and for determining the optimum capacity of the interconnection is presented.
Characterization of the ATP-promoted aspects of Na+-Ca2+ exchange present in squid retinal nerve axolemma

Abstract Using an in vitro system which consists of an axolemma-rich vesicle fraction prepared from squid retinal nerve fibers, an Na+-Ca2+ exchange process has been characterized and appears identical with that reported in squid giant axon. This exchange is absolutely dependent on the establishement of an Na+ gradient, shows monovalent and divalent cation specificity and is highly sensitive to monensin, A23187 and valinomycin but not to ouabain, digitoxigenin, vanadate, pentylenetetrazole, tetrodotoxin or tetraethylammonium. Furthermore, it was found that the exchange process is enhanced by the addition of ATP. This ATP-promoted aspects of Na+-Ca2+ exchange shares many similar characteristics with Na+-Ca2+ ATP hydrolysis and may indicate a common mechanism for both activities via a protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation event.
AAV vectors avoid inflammatory signals necessary to render transduced hepatocyte targets for destructive T cells.

Studies in mice indicate that gene transfer to liver with vectors based on adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) is characterized by immunological tolerance to antigenic transgene products. Mechanisms to explain host nonresponsiveness have focused on aberrant T-cell responses. We propose a distinct mechanism for conferring tolerance to AAV-transduced hepatocytes that relates to diminished sensitivity of the target organ to T cell–mediated effects. T cells to β-galactosidase (β-gal) were adoptively transferred into RAG−/− mice expressing β-gal in hepatocytes due to prior administration of either Ad or AAV vectors. Adoptive transfer was associated with extinction of LacZ expression in Ad-LacZ-transduced RAG−/− mice and had no effect on liver LacZ expression in AAV-LacZ-transduced RAG−/− mice. Systemic administration of TLR ligands lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and CpG at the time of adoptive transfer did lead to extinction of LacZ expression. Systemic TLR ligands were associated with upregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and the cell adhesion molecules ICAM and VCAM as was seen with Ad-LacZ alone. These data indicate that AAV transduction lacks the inflammatory signals necessary to render hepatocyte targets for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Underlying liver pathology may confound vector performance and should be considered in the design of clinical trials.
A critical analysis of HRD evaluation models from a decision-making perspective

HRD evaluation models are recommended for use by organizations to improve decisions made about HRD interventions. However, the organizational decision-making literature has been virtually ignored by evaluation researchers. In this article, we review the organizational decisionmaking literature and critically review HRD evaluation research through the decision-making lens. The review shows that most HRD evaluation models fit within the rational-economic framework. However, decision-making research shows that the rational-economic models do not work in practice and offers rich alternative models. This research offers compelling explanations for the disturbing phenomenon that HRD evaluation models are not widely used in practice. Some radically new directions for HRD evaluation research are discussed.
Bacterial population dynamics in batch and continuous-flow microbial reactors

Calculations of the distribution of states in cell populations grown in well-mixed, isothermal batch and continuous flow reactors are presented. By restricting the analysis to a class of bacteria for which cell division control may be modeled using overlapping timers, analytical results are obtained for many cell population characteristics in terms of the growth rate history. This required growth rate trajectory is evaluated using a separate overall reactor model. The simulation results conform qualitatively to available experimental data and suggest new experiments for further testing of the single-cell model.
Delayed maturation of tyrosine metabolism in a full-term sibling of a child with phenylketonuria.

Summary The biochemical findings in blood and urine are presented in a child who failed to thrive in the first month of life and in whom the enzyme system which converts p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid to homogentisic acid did not mature until 2 months of age. Spontaneous correction of this abnormality of tyrosine metabolism was followed by dramatic changes in the patient's biochemical status.
Renal Glycosuria Due to Gentamicin in Rabbits

Gentamicin sulfate was given to rabbits for four weeks in two dosage regimens, either 4 or 8 mg/kg subcutaneously twice a day. Two of the seven animals in each group regained nearly normal renal function after a transient rise in the level of serum creatinine, but the remainder developed severe renal failure leading to the death of all but one of these rabbits. None of the animals showed significant hyperglycemia, but glycosuria appeared in all and was significantly correlated with the extent of renal damage. These findings demonstrate gentamicin-induced derangement of proximal tubular function and thus amplify the previously demonstrated histologic changes due to the drug. When the drug was administered twice daily, there was marked nephrotoxicity in rabbits given dosages of gentamicin only slightly higher than those employed clinically.
Changes in left ventricular repolarization and ion channel currents following a transient rate increase superimposed on bradycardia in anesthetized dogs.

Electrical Remodeling of the Heart due to Rate. Introduction: We previously demonstrated in dogs that a transient rate increase superimposed on bradycardia causes prolongation of ventricular refractoriness that persists for hours after resumption of bradycardia. In this study, we examined changes in membrane currents that are associated with this phenomenon. Methods and Results: The whole cell, patch clamp technique was used to record transmembrane voltages and currents, respectively, in single mid-myocardial left ventricular myocytes from dogs with 1 week of complete AV block; dogs either underwent 1 hour of left ventricular pacing at 120 beats/min or did not undergo pacing. Pacing significantly heightened mean phase 1 and peak plateau amplitudes by ∼6 and ∼3 mV, respectively (P < 0.02). and prolonged action potential duration at 90% repolarization from 235 ± 8 msec to 278 ± 8 msec (1 Hz; P = 0.02). Rapid pacing-induced changes in transmembrane ionic currents included (1) a more pronounced cumulative inactivation of the 4-aminopyridine-sensitive transient outward K+ current, I to over the range of physiologic frequencies, resulting from a ∼30% decrease in the population of quickly reactivating channels; (2) increases in peak density of L-type Ca2+ currents, Ica.I.' by 15% to 35% between +10 and +60 mV; and (3) increases in peak density of the Ca2+-activated chloride current, ICl.Ca' by 30% to 120% between +30 and +50 mV. Conclusion: Frequency-dependent reduction in Ito combined with enhanced ICa.I. causes an increase in net inward current that may he responsible for the observed changes in ventricular repolarization. This augmentation of net cation influx is partially antagonized by an increase in outward ICa.Cl.
Effectiveness of acetylene inhibition of N2O reduction for measuring denitrification in soils of varying wetness

Abstract The use of acetylene (C2H2) in the inhibition of N2O to N2 is widely used for measuring denitrification. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of acetylene inhibition of N2O reduction for short‐term and prolonged incubation studies in soils of varying water saturation, and to find out the possible reasons for lower N2O recovery in continuously sealed incubations. Two experiments carried out in the laboratory reconfirmed that acetylene was very effective in inhibiting the reduction of N2O in denitrification even for the prolonged incubation period (up to 96 h) under moist to saturated soil water contents. With 90 and 120% water‐filled pore space (WFPS), the accumulated N2O in containers kept sealed throughout the study period, was 28 to 41% less than total headspace N2O produced in containers that were opened, flushed and fresh C2H2 added every 24 h. Interpretation of our results suggest the lower N2O amount recovered from continuously sealed containers at high WFPS, as co...
Abstract 1587: Mechanistic role of cytochrome P4501B1 in DNA adduct formation by 3-methylcholanthrene in mice: Implications for lung cancer in humans

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Humans are frequently exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A and 1B1 enzymes are known to play important roles in the activation of PAHs such as 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) to DNA-binding metabolites, which in turn mediate carcinogenesis in target organs such as lung, breast, and skin. In this investigation, we tested the hypothesis that mice lacking the gene for Cyp1b1 will show attenuation of MC-DNA adduct formation, compared to WT mice. Eight week-old female wild type (WT) (C57BL/6J) mice or mice lacking the gene for Cyp1b1 were treated with MC (100 µmol/kg), once daily for 2 days, and animals sacrificed 1 day after the last treatment. DNA adducts from liver and lung genomic DNA were analyzed by the 32P-postabeling assay. Control animals received only the vehicle corn oil (CO). In WT mice, CO-treated group did not show any adducts, whereas MC-treated animals showed 11 adduct spots in the lung. In Cyp1b1-null mice, although there were no qualitative differences in the pulmonary adduct pattern, the levels of each adduct was markedly suppressed (25-90%), with total levels of adducts being about 15% of those formed in WT mice. In liver of WT as well as Cyp1b1-null mice, MC induced formation of 11 adducts, and the adduct pattern was similar to that of lung, but the total levels of adducts in WT mice were about a third of those seen in the lungs of the corresponding animals. In Cyp1b1-null mice, MC adducts were significantly decreased compared to WT mice, but the extent of attenuation in liver was lesser than that in lung. These results suggest that CYP1B1 plays a major role in formation of DNA adducts from MC. Because DNA adducts are pre-mutagenic lesions, our results are highly relevant to PAH-mediated pulmonary carcinogenesis. Our data suggest that CYP1B1 could be a molecular target for developing preventive and therapeutic strategies against lung cancer in humans. Citation Format: Bhagavatula Moorthy, Guodong Zhou, Lihua Wang, Sudha R. Kondraganti, Weiwu Jiang. Mechanistic role of cytochrome P4501B1 in DNA adduct formation by 3-methylcholanthrene in mice: Implications for lung cancer in humans. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1587. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1587
Red Hot Best Solution to a Draping Problem, 2002

The art of functional items for the home—specifically, the cotton coil hot pad—was the source of inspiration for this contemporary women's special occasion dress. The primary challenge in designing...
Purification and properties of fatty acid synthetase from a human breast cell line.

Abstract A human mammary epithelial cell line (SKBr3) has been identified in which fatty acid synthetase constitutes up to 28%, by weight of the cytosolic proteins. The enzyme has been purified to near homogeneity from this cell line and some of its properties studied. In common with fatty acid synthetases from other animal tissues, the enzyme is a 480 000 dalton dimer of similar molecular weight subunits, it synthesizes predominantly palmitic acid and is inactive in the absence of free coenzyme A. The kinetic properties and amino acid composition of the enzyme are also similar to those of fatty acid synthetases from various tissues of other animals. Appreciable structural resemblance between human and rodent fatty acid synthetases is indicated by studies on the immunological cross-reactivities of these enzymes.
Asymmetric farm–retail price transmission and market power: a new test

A finite mixture model is used to estimate farm–retail price transmission in the US fresh strawberry market. Results suggest two distinct pricing regimes associated with off- and peak-harvesting seasons. The market power parameter is significant in the peak-harvest regime, but not in the off-peak regime. Moreover, price changes are transmitted completely throughout the marketing channel in the off-peak regime when the market power parameter is zero, but not in the peak-harvest regime when the market power parameter is positive. This suggests that produce buyers are more apt to exercise market power when farm supplies are abundant than when they are scarce, and that the exercise of such power causes the farm–retail price linkage to become asymmetric.
Lamellar structure of isothermally crystallized poly-4-methyl pentenet-1

Abstract The structure and morphology of isothermally crystallized samples of poly-4-methyl pentene-1 from melt and solution was investigated. The number of interlamellar links, revealed by swelling, was independent of Tc. The lamellar thickness, 350 A for melt-crystallized and 100 A for solution-crystallized samples, was independent of crystallization temperature. In both types of samples a mosaic block structure is observed. Initially thinner lamellae increase rapidly in thickness during isothermal crystallization to the limiting thickness. Isothermal recrystallization of solution-crystallized single crystals increased the original 100 A thickness up to the thickness range observed with melt-crystallized samples. However, the 350 A thickness for melt-crystallized samples represented a limiting value that could not be increased by annealing or recrystallization.
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been advocated as a way to introduce increased concentrations of growth factors and other bioactive molecules to injured tissues in an attempt to optimize the local healing environment. PRP has been used extensively in dental and cosmetic surgery for almost 30 years, and the safety and efficacy of this autologous product in these areas have been well established. Recently, PRP has been increasingly used in the treatment of a variety of sports-related injuries in the hopes that the increased levels of autologous growth factors and secretory proteins provided by the concentrated platelets could enhance the biological processes associated with tissue repair and regeneration. However, all PRP preparations are not the same. Variations in the volume of whole blood taken, the platelet recovery efficacy, the final volume of plasma in which the platelets are suspended, the presence or absence of red and/or white blood cells, the addition of thrombin or calcium chloride to induce fibrin formation, and the addition of pH-altering compounds can all affect the character and potential efficacy of the final PRP product. This article reviews the basic principles involved in creating PRP and examines the potential basic science significance of the individual blood components contained in the various forms of PRP currently used in sports medicine.
Spectral characterization of a volume holographic imaging system

A volume holographic imaging system maps the spectral-spatial, four-dimensional data set to a two-dimensional image array, allowing simultaneous imaging of multiple projections of the spatial and spectral content from different depths within biological tissue samples. The volume holographic imaging system uses dispersion to increase the lateral field of view. This results in spectral performance characteristics that are unique to volume holographic imaging systems. We review the principle of operation of the volume holographic imaging system and aberrations due to the dispersive nature of a volume hologram. We report our experimental results of spectral performance present in a volume holographic imaging system.
Numerical Simulation of a Chemical Vapor Deposition/Infiltration Reactor

A chemical vapor deposition/infiltration reactor used to manufacture carbon aircraft brakes has been simulated numerically. This simulation accounts for a homogeneous gas reaction mechanism as well as a heterogeneous surface reaction mechanism. Non-Boussinesq equations are used to predict fluid flow, heat transfer, and species concentrations inside the reactor and porous brakes. A time-splitting algorithm is used to overcome stiffness associated with the reactions. A commercial code is used to solve for the convection/diffusion step while an implicit time-integration algorithm is used to solve for the reaction step. Results showing the flow, temperature and concentration fields, as well as the deposition rate of carbon, are presented.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Vasopressin impairs KATP and Kca channel function after brain injury

Abstract This study was designed to characterize the role of vasopressin in impaired pial artery dilation to activators of the ATP sensitive K (KATP) and calcium sensitive K (Kca) channel following fluid percussion brain injury (FPI) in newborn pigs equipped with a closed cranial window. Topical vasopressin was coadministered with the KATP and Kca channel agonists cromakalim and NS1619 in a concentration approximating that observed in CSF following FPI. Vasopressin so administered attenuated pial artery dilation to these K+ channel activators under conditions of equivalent baseline diameter during non injury conditions (13±1 and 23±1 vs. 4±1 and 10±2% for cromakalim 10−8, 10−6 M before and after vasopressin, respectively). Attenuated responses were fully restored when these agonists were coadministered with vasopressin and the vasopressin antagonist [l-(β-mercapto-β,β-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid) 2-(o-methyl)-Tyr-AVP] (MEAVP). Cromakalim and NS1619 induced pial artery dilation was attenuated following FPI and MEAVP preadministration partially prevented such impairment (13±1 and 23±1, sham control; 2±1 and 5±1, FPI; and 9±1 and 15±2%, FPI-MEAVP pretreated for responses to cromakalim 10−8, 10−6 M, respectively). These data show that vasopressin blunts KATP and Kca channel mediated cerebrovasodilation. These data suggest that vasopressin contributes to impaired KATP and Kca channel function after brain injury.
Gibbs vs. Shannon entropies

The Gibbs neg-entropy -ηG=∫ II ln II is compared to the Shannon negentropy ηs=∑p Inp. The coarse-grained density is II, whilep is a probability sequence. Both objects are defined over partitions of the energy shell within a set-theoretic framework. The dissimilarity of these functionals is exhibited throughηG vs.GηS curves. A positive information interpretation of ηG is given referring it to the maximum information contained in the solution to the Liouville equation. The physical relevance ofηG over ηS in classical physics is argued. In quantum mechanics, the fine-grained Shannon entropy remains relevant to the uncertainty principle, while the coarsegrained densities maintain their properties as in the classical case.
FDRx (Federated Drug Reference) project as change agent

Purpose – At the foundation of FDRx was the drug formulary for UW Medicine published by the Drug Information Center. The DIC pharmacist had contracted with USPDI to receive the full text of its drug information electronically and reformat it into a print, pocket‐sized guide for distribution to clinicians. The goal of the FDRx project was to add to this core and distribute an expanded drug reference as part of a clinical resource.Design/methodology/approach – Librarians at the University of Washington Health Sciences Libraries collaborated with clinicians to create an electronic federated drug knowledge resource, FDRx, to be used at the point of care.Findings – Skills and experiences gained in previous projects, e.g. negotiating the licensure of campus‐wide access to bibliographic databases, project leadership, developing interfaces, instruction in the use of information resources, and IAIMS planning, easily transferred to the development of the FDRx project. The most immediate outcome, FDRx itself, had a ...
Three-dimensional medical image compression using a wavelet transform with parallel computing

We have developed a 3D wavelet compression algorithm for medical images that achieves a good reconstruction quality at high compression ratios. The algorithm applies a 3D wavelet transformation to a volume image set, followed by a scalar quantization and entropy coding to the wavelet coefficients. We also implemented a parallel version of the 3D compression algorithm in a local area network environment. Multiple processors on different workstations on the network are utilized to speed up the compression or decompression process. The 3D wavelet transform has been applied to 3D MR volume images and the results are compared with the results obtained using a 2D wavelet compression. Compression ratios achieved with the 3D algorithm are 40 - 90% higher than that of using the 2D compression algorithm. The results of applying parallel computing to the 3D compression algorithm indicate that the efficiency of the parallel algorithm ranges from 80 - 90%.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Vertebral Osteomyelitis and Epidural Abscess after Laparoscopic Uterus-Preserving Cervicosacropexy

Abdominal sacrocolpopexy is a standard surgical technique to repair apical vaginal prolapse. When approached laparoscopically, a uterus-preserving technique was suggested as potentially favorable for avoiding mesh-related complications. A 52-year-old Caucasian woman came to the emergency department with right-sided low back pain and vaginal discharge more than 1 year after undergoing a laparoscopic, uterus-preserving, cervicosacropexy with Mersilene (Ethicon Inc., Somerville, NJ) mesh and permanent Gore-Tex (W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, AZ) suture. Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed diskitis and an epidural abscess at the L5 to S1 vertebral levels, and a fistulous tract was identified extending from the rectovaginal space to the affected vertebrae. The patient underwent a fine-needle aspiration of the epidural abscess and intravenous antibiotic therapy was started. However, because of a lack of symptom resolution she was taken to the operating department on hospital day 11 and underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy, left salpingectomy, right salpingo-oophorectomy, bilateral ureterolysis, and excision of an infected Mersilene mesh. Surgical findings were notable for 2 pinpoint areas in the upper vagina consistent with fistulae tracts communicating with the retroperitoneal space. The patient recovered well from her surgery, and was discharged to a rehabilitation facility. Vertebral osteomyelitis, with or without an epidural abscess, is a rare complication of sacrocolpopexy. The findings of this case suggest this complication likely occurred as a result of a permanent suture being placed entirely (or nearly entirely) through the vaginal mucosa resulting in fistulae formation, bacterial seeding of the Mersilene mesh, and subsequent osteomyelitis. This highlights the importance of mesh and suture selection, and determining the most appropriate sites for mesh attachment.
The conservation and restoration of wild bees

Bees pollinate most of the world's wild plant species and provide economically valuable pollination services to crops; yet knowledge of bee conservation biology lags far behind other taxa such as vertebrates and plants. There are few long-term data on bee populations, which makes their conservation status difficult to assess. The best-studied groups are the genus Bombus (the bumble bees), and bees in the EU generally; both of these are clearly declining. However, it is not known to what extent these groups represent the approximately 20,000 species of bees globally. As is the case for insects in general, bees are underrepresented in conservation planning and protection efforts. For example, only two bee species are on the global IUCN Red List, and no bee is listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, even though many bee species are known to be in steep decline or possibly extinct. At present, bee restoration occurs mainly in agricultural contexts, funded by government programs such as agri-environment schemes (EU) and the Farm Bill (USA). This is a promising approach given that many bee species can use human-disturbed habitats, and bees provide valuable pollination services to crops. However, agricultural restorations only benefit species that persist in agricultural landscapes, and they are more expensive than preserving natural habitat elsewhere. Furthermore, such restorations benefit bees in only about half of studied cases. More research is greatly needed in many areas of bee conservation, including basic population biology, bee restoration in nonagricultural contexts, and the identification of disturbance-sensitive bee species.
P2Y11 Receptors Activate Adenylyl Cyclase and Contribute to Nucleotide-promoted cAMP Formation in MDCK-D1Cells A MECHANISM FOR NUCLEOTIDE-MEDIATED AUTOCRINE-PARACRINE REGULATION

Extracellular nucleotides activate P2Y receptors, thereby increasing cAMP formation in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK-D1) cells, which express P2Y1, P2Y2, and P2Y11 receptors (Post, S. R., Rump, L. C., Zambon, A., Hughes, R. J., Buda, M. D., Jacobson, J. P., Kao, C. C., and Insel, P. A. (1998)J. Biol. Chem. 273, 23093–23097). The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (indo) eliminates UTP-promoted cAMP formation (i.e. via P2Y2 receptors) but only partially blocks ATP-promoted cAMP formation. The latter response is completely blocked by the nonselective P2Y receptor antagonist suramin. We have sought to identify the mechanism for this P2Y receptor-mediated, indo-resistant cAMP formation. The agonist rank order potencies for cAMP formation were: ADPβS ≥ MT-ADP > 2-MT-ATP > ADP, ATP, ATPγS > UTP, AMP, adenosine. We found a similar rank order in MDCK-D1 cells overexpressing cloned green fluorescent protein-tagged P2Y11 receptors, but the potency of the agonists was enhanced, consistent with a P2Y11 receptor-mediated effect. cAMP generation by the P2Y1 and P2Y11 receptor agonist ADPβS was not inhibited by several P2Y1-selective antagonists (PPADS, A2P5P, and MRS 2179). Forskolin synergistically enhanced cAMP generation in response to ADPβS or PGE2, implying that, like PGE2, ADPβS activates adenylyl cyclase via Gs, a conclusion supported by results showing ADPβS and MT-ADP promoted activation of adenylyl cyclase activity in MDCK-D1 membranes. We conclude that nucleotide-promoted, indo-resistant cAMP formation in MDCK-D1 cells occurs via Gs-linked P2Y11 receptors. These data describing adenylyl cyclase activity via endogenous P2Y11 receptors define a mechanism by which released nucleotides can increase cAMP in MDCK-D1 and other P2Y11-containing cells.
Automated analysis of nursing home observations

Pervasive activity monitoring in a skilled-nursing facility helps capture a continuous audio and video record. The CareMedia project analyzes this video information by automatically tracking people, helping to efficiently label individuals, and characterizing selected activities and actions.
Parallel visualization algorithms: performance and architectural implications

Recently, a new class of scalable, shared-address-space multiprocessors has emerged. Like message-passing machines, these multiprocessors have a distributed interconnection network and physically distributed main memory. However, they provide hardware support for efficient implicit communication through a shared address space, and they automatically exploit temporal locality by caching both local and remote data in a processor's hardware cache. In this article, we show that these architectural characteristics make it much easier to obtain very good speedups on the best known visualization algorithms. Simple and natural parallelizations work very well, the sequential implementations do not have to be fundamentally restructured, and the high degree of temporal locality obviates the need for explicit data distribution and communication management. We demonstrate our claims through parallel versions of three state-of-the-art algorithms: a recent hierarchical radiosity algorithm by Hanrahan et al. (1991), a parallelized ray-casting volume renderer by Levoy (1992), and an optimized ray-tracer by Spach and Pulleyblank (1992). We also discuss a new shear-warp volume rendering algorithm that provides the first demonstration of interactive frame rates for a 256/spl times/256/spl times/256 voxel data set on a general-purpose multiprocessor. >
Animals and the Concept of Dignity: Critical Reflections on a Circus Performance

This essay concerns the dignity of nonhuman animals. It is composed of three sections. The first recounts my experience of a Moscow Circus performance and records some of my thoughts, feelings, and observations of this circus' famous bears. As is obvious from that account, the performance and presentation of the bears seemed to me to be undignified in a nontrivial, that is, morally objectionable sense of the word. The second section of the essay tries to specify that sense, to identify the wrong(s) with these sorts of undignified performances, by developing a moral sense of dignity that might extend, generally, to nonhuman animals. I believe that the setting of this performance and my own frame of mind—the fact that it took place in Moscow and in the midst of my exposure to sites and stories of communist oppression—helped me to see the oppression of human and nonhuman animals as linked and the performance as a performance of power relations. The third section of the essay explores these power relations from an ecofeminist perspective through the circus' depiction of the 'momma bear.'
Regulation of glucose production by NEFA and gluconeogenic precursors during chronic glucagon infusion.

We previously reported that simulation of the chronic hyperglucagonemia seen during infection was unable to recreate the infection-induced increase in hepatic glucose production. However, chronic h...