cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Carbon Nanotube Structure on Protein Adsorption

Outstanding transport characteristics and high surface-to-volume ratios are several advantages that carbon nanotubes possess that make them attractive candidates for protein immobilization matrices in biosensor applications. A further advantage of using carbon nanotubes is that their structure (e.g., diameter, length, density) can potentially be controlled during synthesis. In the present study, the effects of carbon nanotube structure on enzyme immobilization onto carbon nanotube arrays are investigated. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) serves as both a blocking agent for prevention of nonspecific adsorption and as a support for anchoring bioreceptors. BSA, a globular protein having a 4 to 6 nm characteristic dimension, is stably adsorbed through mechanisms that involve hydrophobic interactions between surfaces presented by the carbon nanotubes and the spacing between the nanotubes with the protein. Protein adsorption is confirmed by fluorescence microscopy of surfaces that have been exposed to fluourescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled BSA. The adsorption of biotinylated BSA can be used, through a sandwich immobilization scheme, to provide an anchor for streptavidin, which in turn has at least one other adsorption site that is specific for other biotinylated proteins such as glucose oxidase that would form a biorecognition or catalytic element in a functional biosensor. Correlation between carbon nanotube structure and protein adsorption at the nano-bio interface could eventually lead to growth conditions that yield carbon nanotubes for biosensor applications with optimal protein adsorption characteristics.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Functional and anatomical localization of mu opioid receptors in the striatum, amygdala, and extended amygdala of the nonhuman primate.

The subregional distribution of mu opioid receptors and corresponding G-protein activation were examined in the striatum, amygdala, and extended amygdala of cynomolgus monkeys. The topography of mu binding sites was defined using autoradiography with [(3)H]DAMGO, a selective mu ligand. In adjacent sections, the distribution of receptor-activated G proteins was identified with DAMGO-stimulated guanylyl 5'(gamma-[(35)S]thio)triphosphate ([(35)S]GTPgammaS) binding. Within the striatum, the distribution of [(3)H]DAMGO binding sites was characterized by a distinct dorsal-ventral gradient with a higher concentration of binding sites at more rostral levels of the striatum. [(3)H]DAMGO binding was further distinguished by the presence of patch-like aggregations within the caudate, as well as smaller areas of very dense receptor binding sites, previously identified in human striatum as neurochemically unique domains of the accumbens and putamen (NUDAPs). The amygdala contained the highest concentration of [(3)H]DAMGO binding sites measured in this study, with the densest levels of binding noted within the basal, accessory basal, paralaminar, and medial nuclei. In the striatum and amygdala, the distribution of DAMGO-stimulated G-protein activation largely corresponded with the distribution of mu binding sites. The central and medial nuclei of the amygdala, however, were notable exceptions. Whereas the concentration of [(3)H]DAMGO binding sites in the central nucleus of the amygdala was very low, the concentration of DAMGO-stimulated G-protein activation in this nucleus, as measured with [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding, was relatively high compared to other portions of the amygdala containing much higher concentrations of [(3)H]DAMGO binding sites. The converse was true in the medial nucleus, where high concentrations of binding sites were associated with lower levels of DAMGO-stimulated G-protein activation. Finally, [(3)H]DAMGO and [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding within the amygdala, particularly the medial nucleus, formed a continuum with the substantia innominata and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, supporting the concept of the extended amygdala in primates.
The Clifford algebra of differential forms

This paper reviews Clifford algebras in mathematics and in theoretical physics. In particular, the little-known differential form realization is constructed in detail for the four-dimensional Minkowski space. This setting is then used to describe spinors as differential forms, and to solve the Klein-Gordon and Kahler-Dirac equations. The approach of this paper, in obtaining the solutions directly in terms of differential forms, is much more elegant and concise than the traditional explicit matrix methods. A theorem given here differentiates between the two real forms of the Dirac algebra by showing that spin can be accommodated in only one of them.
The effects of euglycemic hyperinsulinemia and amino acid infusion on regional and whole body glucose disposal in man.

We investigated the effects of amino acid infusion on regional and whole body glucose metabolism in 16 normal volunteers, age 32 to 70 years. Ten subjects underwent 140-minute euglycemic insulin infusions at the rate of 1 mU/kg · min with concomitant 10% amino acid infusion. Six volunteers who underwent identical euglycemic insulin infusions without amino acid infusion served as controls. Whole body glucose disposal was estimated by the rate of exogenous glucose infusion required to maintain euglycemia, and peripheral glucose balance was evaluated by the forearm balance technique. In four subjects from each group, a primed, continuous infusion of [3-3H]glucose was used to quantify endogenous glucose production (EGP). Comparable states of hyperinsulinemia were achieved with insulin concentrations (μU/mL) of 101 ± 7 observed in the group with amino acid infusion and 95 ± 14 in the control group. Whole body glucose utilization was significantly lower (P < .001) in the subjects receiving amino acid infusion (5.0 ± 0.4 mg/kg · min) compared with the control group (8.7 ± 0.8 mg/kg · min). Forearm glucose disposal was markedly reduced (P < .05) in the group receiving amino acid infusion (1,385 ± 330 nmol100 g · min) compared with controls (2,980 ± 460 nmol100 g · min). Under comparable conditions of euglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, virtually complete suppression of EGP was observed in both groups. We conclude that infusion of amino acids with insulin under euglycemic conditions reduces whole body glucose utilization primarily by reducing peripheral glucose disposal.
An in vitro study of neutrophils obtained from the normal gingival sulcus.

Neutrophils (PMN) are considered to be key components in the protection of the periodontium against pathogenic bacteria. We therefore compared five of the major characteristics of peripheral blood PMN (PB-PMN) (adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, oxidaiive metabolism, and lysosomal granules) to those of normal crevicular neutrophils (CR-PMN) isolated from the same individuals. The data indicate that the presence of Fc and C3b receptors, and the production of superoxide are similar in CR-PMN and PB-PMN. In addition, healthy gingival sulci harbor a high percentage of stimulated PMN as determined by the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay. The percentage of CR-PMN which phagocytized opsonized red blood cells (RBC) was lower than that of PB-PMN. The in vitro migration of CR-PMN was reduced as compared to that of PB-PMN. Crevicular neutrophils also have a diminished ability to adhere to glass surfaces which may be related to a direct non-cytotoxic effect of gingival fluid component(s) on CR-PMN. In addition, morphologic evidence indicates that specific granules are more depleted than azurophil granules in CR-PMN. Interpretation of studies of neutrophil functions in periodontal diseases must consider the observed differences between normal peripheral blood and crevicular neutrophils.
Optimization of an Unnatural Base Pair toward Natural-Like Replication

Predominantly hydrophobic unnatural nucleotides that selectively pair within duplex DNA as well as during polymerase-mediated replication have recently received much attention as the cornerstone of efforts to expand the genetic alphabet. We recently reported the results of a screen and subsequent lead hit optimization that led to identification of the unnatural base pair formed between the nucleotides dMMO2 and d5SICS. This unnatural base pair is replicated by the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I with better efficiency and fidelity than other candidates reported in the literature. However, its replication remains significantly less efficient than a natural base pair, and further optimization is necessary for its practical use. To better understand and optimize the slowest step of replication of the unnatural base pair, the insertion of dMMO2 opposite d5SICS, we synthesized two dMMO2 derivatives, d5FM and dNaM, which differ from the parent nucleobase in terms of shape, hydrophobicity, a...
Cyclooxygenase 2-mediated suppression of macrophage interleukin-12 production after thermal injury

Macrophage (Mφ) prostaglandin (PG)E2 production has been implicated in immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to sepsis after thermal injury. Deficient interleukin (IL)-12 production has al...
Writing the body: An experiment in material rhetoric

Rita Copeland, a medievalist, reminds us that "rhetoric is a discourse of the real world, of temporality, circumstance, shifting interests and fragmented experience; in other words, a discourse of the body itself" (Framing Medieval Bodies 155). It is this "discourse of the body" that concerns me here, translating "temporality, circumstance, shifting interests" into the following: time, space, weight. These three are the terms I will pursue, focusing on the work of Milan Kundera and the late Andre Dubus as examples. They bring the bodies of their characters into existence using space, weight, and time; that is, they "write" the body-inscribe it, mold it, shape it, give it material presence-just as dancers do. I want to suggest a rhetorical theory "of the body" in terms of space, weight, and time and then to demonstrate how that theory might fruitfully inform our interpretation of texts-not only literary texts like those of Kundera or Dubus but also non-literary texts, such as journals, diaries, letters.1 The terms I am using come from Rudolf Laban, who developed a complex system of movement analysis, a part of which is called Effort/Shape. He worked first with ballet in Central Europe and later studied motion among British factory workers during World War II ("efficiency studies"). Many moder dancers have adopted his insights about movement and talk about space, weight, and time as characteristics of choreography and of their own bodies. They judge a good dance by its use of space, weight, and time (these aren't the only criteria, of course); they train their bodies first to understand its idiosyncratic preferences for using space, weight, and time and second to understand their bodies in relation to these three.
Adhesive properties of soy proteins modified by sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate

A study was conducted on adhesive and water-resistance properties of soy protein isolates modified by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (0.5, 1, and 3%) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) (0.5, 1, and 3%) and applied on walnut, cherry, and pine plywoods. Soy proteins modified by 0.5 and 1% SDS showed greater shear strengths than did unmodified protein. One percent SDS modification had the highest shear strength within each wood type tested. Soy proteins modified with 0.5 and 1% SDBS also showed greater shear strengths than did the unmodified protein. The 1% SDBS-modified soy protein had the highest shear strength in all wood samples tested. Compared to the unmodified protein, the modified proteins also exhibited higher shear strengths after incubation with two cycles of alternating relative humidity and zero delamination rate and higher remaining shear strengths after three cycles of water soaking and drying. These results indicate that soy proteins modified with SDS and SDBS have enhanced water resistance as well as adhesive strength. Possible mechanisms for the effects of SDS and SDBS also are discussed.
Transplantation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Utero

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation in children and adults with congenital lymphohematopoietic disorders is limited by donor availability, graft failure, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and delayed immunological reconstitution. These problems may be circumvented by transplanting the patient before birth. Prenatal cellular therapy for the treatment of congenital diseases has tremendous theoretical appeal. Potential advantages of prenatal transplantation include: A) fetal immunologic immaturity and the potential for induction of donor-specific tolerance; B) available space in the developing bone marrow for engraftment of donor cells; C) the sterile, protective, fetal environment which provides isolation from environmental pathogens, and D) prevention of clinical manifestations of the disease. Normal hematopoietic and immunologic development during ontogeny creates a "window of opportunity" during which events favor the engraftment of transplanted allogeneic (and xenogeneic) HSC and their proliferation. This is a period in which the fetus is immunologically naive and thus incapable of rejecting the foreign HSC, and the expanding bone marrow spaces allow homing and engraftment of HSC without the need for myeloablation. Experiments in sheep have established the optimal age of the recipient, route of donor cell administration, sources of HSC, and other parameters necessary for the successful engraftment and long-term expression of donor HSC. In preclinical studies, transplantation of CD34-enriched or highly purified populations of human adult bone marrow cells in utero resulted in the long-term engraftment and expression of donor HSC without graft failure and GVHD. The strategies developed in allogeneic and xenogeneic fetal sheep models were used to successfully treat human fetuses with X-linked recessive severe combined immunodeficiency.
The reactions of phosphorus- and arsenic-containing multidentate ligands with some iridium complexes. Part VI. The formation of trigonal bipyramidal complexes [Ir(Ph3P)(L′L3)]X

Abstract Complexes [IrHX2(Ph3P)3], [IrX(Ph3P)3] (X = Cl and Br), [IrHCl(C6H4PPh2)(Ph3P)2], and [IrCl (Ph3P)(C8H12)] (C8H12 = 1,5-cyclo-octadiene) were reacted with ligands (o-Ph2LC6H4)3L′ (L′ = P and As; L = P and As), L′L3. The isolation of complexes of the types [IrHX(L′L3)][BPh4], octahedral, [IrX (L′L3)], trigonal bipyramidal, and unusual [Ir(Ph3P) (L′L3)][BPh4], also trigonal bipyramidal, is reported. The proton and phosphorus-31 n.m.r. spectra and the electronic spectra of some of the complexes are recorded.
Ce valence behavior in Ce(Rh1−yPty)2, CeyLa1−yRh2 and CeyY1−yRh2

Abstract Specific heat data for the concentrated Ce(Rh 1−y Pt y ) 2 system supports earlier resistivity and susceptibility measurements which were interpreted in terms of a mixed valence regime for y y La 1-y Rh 2 and Ce y Y 1-y Rh 2 are presented. The data suggests that the substitution of either La or Y decreases the valence of Ce. Normally one expects Y substitution to increase not decrease Ce's valence.
Higher education and policing: where are we now?

There has been a long‐standing debate over whether a college education for police officers is desirable or even necessary. Today, with the ever‐expanding complexity of the police role and the transition toward community policing, this question is more significant than ever. A zenith of interest and debate over the requirement of higher education for officers was reached in the 1970s, but it soon died out. However, a quickly changing social landscape, changing job role, rapid technological advancement, domestic terrorism and increased scrutiny have combined to renew the debate over higher education. This article attempts to synthesize past literature and bring the discussion up to date. Finally, the authors will advocate a position that would require a bachelor's degree for police officers over time, using a graduated timetable and supported by federal funding.
Area-Based Socioeconomic Position and Adult Glioma: A Hierarchical Analysis of Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Data

Background Glioma rates vary by demographic factors and geo-political boundaries and this variation suggests higher glioma rates in groups of higher socioeconomic position. The primary goal of this analysis is to investigate the relationship between glioma and county socioeconomic position using U.S. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data.
An equilibrium characterization of the term structure

Abstract The paper derives a general form of the term structure of interest rates. The following assumptions are made: (A.1) The instantaneous (spot) interest rate follows a diffusion process; (A.2) the price of a discount bond depends only on the spot rate over its term; and (A.3) the market is efficient. Under these assumptions, it is shown by means of an arbitrage argument that the expected rate of return on any bond in excess of the spot rate is proportional to its standard deviation. This property is then used to derive a partial differential equation for bond prices. The solution to that equation is given in the form of a stochastic integral representation. An interpretation of the bond pricing formula is provided. The model is illustrated on a specific case.
Joint Reading between Black Head Start Children and Their Mothers

This study examined the behaviors of black Head Start children and their mothers around a series of experimental joint reading contexts in their homes. There were 2 specific objectives: (1) to examine the effects of text genre (narrative and expository) and text format (familiar and traditional) on mothers' teaching strategies while interacting with their children around reading tasks, and (2) to examine the effectiveness of mothers' teaching strategies in eliciting children's participation in the joint reading tasks. 13 mother-child dyads were videotaped in their homes while interacting around a series of texts in each genre and format. Results indicated that genre, not format, affected mothers' teaching strategies. Further, mothers adjusted their level of teaching to children's level of task competence. Results are discussed in terms of Vygotsky's notion of the zone of proximal development.
Substrate Specificity and Characterization of Partially Purified Rat Liver 13-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic Acid (13-HODE) Dehydrogenase

Oxidation products of linoleic acid, such as 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE), exhibit biological activity in a number of systems. One major metabolic fate of 13-HODE is oxidation to the 2,4-dienone, 13-oxooctadecadienoic acid by an NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenase (13-HODE dehydrogenase). The present work describes the partial purification and characterization of 13-HODE dehydrogenase from rat liver cytosol. The enzyme was purified using a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, as well as hydroxylapatite, gel permeation, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Analysis of the most purified preparation by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates two subunits of approximately 55 kDa, suggesting the possibility of a heterodimeric enzyme. However, due to aggregation in the purified preparation, an accurate molecular mass for the native enzyme has not yet been obtained. Using 13-HODE as a substrate, the purified enzyme has a Km of 6.3 microM and a Vmax of 5.7 nmol/min/mg. More importantly, the enzyme has a narrow substrate specificity with 13-HODE being the preferred substrate. From a series of 17 potential substrates, only 9-HODE (53% the activity of 13-HODE) and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (64% the activity of 13-HODE) showed significant activity as substrates. A number of other unsaturated hydroxy fatty acids, including several eicosanoids, are not substrates. The narrow substrate specificity displayed by the enzyme suggests that it could play a key role in modulating the effects of oxidized derivatives of linoleic acid.
Congestion based resource sharing in multi-service networks

The internet traffic is increasingly composed of streams of packets with very diverse quality of service (QoS) requirements: from those containing standard, best-effort traffic, such as e-mail or http sessions, to internet telephony and high-quality video streaming demanding dedicated allocation of network capacity. However, while methods based on externality pricing exist to offer socially optimal prices to the groups of users demanding different grades of the best-effort service class, less attention has been devoted to the implementation of such pricing models to the improvement of network resources allocation in a multiservice setting (i.e., a network offering various grades of both guaranteed and best-effort level of service). This paper addresses the problem through an end-to-end approach that combines a congestion-based pricing model for resource sharing with a QoS network model, based on admission roles. We describe a measurement-based approach for QoS path pricing that results in improved resource allocation policies between QoS and best-effort traffic. We also present the results of a large-scale simulation study that shows how this pricing scheme increases both end user value and system throughput with low computational overhead.
Visualizing and modeling scattered multivariate data

Visualizing two types of scattered data-volumetric data sampled in a three-dimensional volume and surface-on-surface data sampled on a three-dimensional surface-is addressed. Since measurements are often sampled at discrete scattered locations, mathematical models that are defined over the entire domain and that interpolate or approximate the given scattered data are used. The modeling function can be evaluated over a grid, so that a conventional, off-the-shelf visualization tool that applies to data on a uniform grid can be used. Volumes, gradient, centroids, and other quantities can be computed from the model. Even though the two kinds of data and their problems look similar in their mathematical descriptions, they are solved by different methods, and the various solutions are visualized with methods that are quite different. >
The antimicrobial treatment of subacute endometritis: a proof of concept study.

Abstract Objective Our purpose was to evaluate the antimicrobial therapy effect on clinical and laboratory findings among women at risk for endometritis. Study design A prospective antimicrobial treatment trial of 153 women was performed to characterize subacute endometritis and to determine the treatment effect on endometritis resolution. Results After antimicrobial treatment, significant reductions occurred in abnormal bleeding (60% vs 29%), mucopurulent cervicitis (20% vs 6%), uterine tenderness (20% vs 6%), and histologic endometritis (38% vs 4%), all P Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae . In women without prior PID, endometritis was present in 23% with and 12% without current C trachomatis or N gonorrhoeae ( P =.002 for trend). Conclusions In women without a clinical diagnosis of PID, antimicrobial therapy decreased abnormal clinical findings and histologic endometritis. Prior PID is additive with current cervical infection as a risk for endometritis.
The future of energy – Photovoltaics

Abstract This special issue includes critical opinion articles that describe the current status, prospects, and challenges facing some of the primary solar cell technologies being manufactured or developed today. This article presents an introduction to the issue with an overview of topics that cross many or all approaches to producing the devices. Some of the topics considered are the basic structure of a solar module and potential for performance, the reasons for recent explosive growth of the technology (over 40% per year in recent years), the scale that the industry can reach, the cost of components of the device, a comparison of the current technologies and their performances, a discussion of the resource limitations for the various technologies, a brief comparison of manufacturing methods, recycling of the devices, and finally a note about other key roadblocks to full implementation of solar cells as the world’s primary energy source.
Rectal Cancer: Can We Throw Away the Scalpel?

Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, UNC/Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, CB#7213, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599–7213 Department of Radiation Oncology, UNC/Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, CB #7512, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7512
A multigrid expectation maximization reconstruction algorithm for positron emission tomography

The problem of reconstruction in positron emission tomography (PET) is basically estimating the number of photon pairs emitted from the source. Using the concept of the maximum-likelihood (ML) algorithm, the problem of reconstruction is reduced to determining an estimate of the emitter density that maximizes the probability of observing the actual detector count data over all possible emitter density distributions. A solution using this type of expectation maximization (EM) algorithm with a fixed grid size is severely handicapped by the slow convergence rate, the large computation time, and the nonuniform correction efficiency of each iteration, which makes the algorithm very sensitive to the image pattern. An efficient knowledge-based multigrid reconstruction algorithm based on the ML approach is presented to overcome these problems. >
Perceptions community residents have about partner institutions and clinical research.

Introduction Engaging community residents to obtain their feedback in conducting clinical research, and including them as leaders in implementing applicable health advances is crucial for success and sustaining large center awards. Methods Forty-four adult men and women participated in one of four focus groups. Two groups each (one African American and one Caucasian) were conducted in Baton Rouge and in New Orleans. Results In an effort to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs Louisiana residents have about the Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science (LA CaTS) Center concept, four main themes emerged from focus group participants concerning the state's research institutions, and what it means to have these institutions operating under one umbrella to improve the quality of health of its people: (1) academic/research institutions of the State are uniformly widely recognized and held in high regard; (2) increasing awareness of clinical research is a necessity; (3) establishing the LA CaTS Center is an excellent idea; and (4) effective communication including delivery style is crucial to partnerships and especially to the community. Conclusion Focus group discussions can provide insight into community residents’ perceptions, beliefs, motivations, and patterns of behavior for strategically planning for large center awards.
Nine-Year Psychiatric Trajectories and Substance Use Outcomes: An Application of the Group-Based Modeling Approach

This study identifies longitudinal psychiatric trajectories of 934 adult individuals entering chemical dependency treatment in a private, managed care health plan and examines the relationship of these trajectories with substance use (SU) outcomes. The authors apply a group-based modeling approach to identify trajectory groups based on repeated measures of psychiatric severity for 9 years and identify four distinct groups. Results of multivariate logistic generalized estimating equation models find an association between psychiatric trajectories and long-term SU. Older cohorts and life course measures of marital status and employment status as individuals changed over time are related to drug and some alcohol outcomes.
Interferometric nulling limits with tip-tilt-piston deformable mirrors and a pinhole spatial filter array

We explore the use of hexagonal segment tip-tilt-piston deformable mirrors alone and paired with pinhole spatial filter arrays for high-order wavefront correction of nulling interferometers used for visible light study of exoplanetary systems at 107 to 1010 contrast within regions extending ∼0.1 to 6 arc s from a parent star. A similar system has been proposed using a single-mode fiber array as an alternative to using multiple deformable mirrors to correct both phase aberrations and balance electric field amplitude, the benefit being drastically reduced component and control complexity. Performance is compared using measured deformable mirror data for hexagonal arrays consisting of a number of rings NR=2 to 18, emphasizing the trade between throughput and the additional contrast gained from suppressing wavefront errors introduced by the deformable mirror at spatial frequencies Λ≥NR that are otherwise present in the image at corresponding field locations. Taking into account effects of loss of throughput and vignetting, the nulled signal-to-noise ratio is shown to improve for filtered systems in the outer portion of the field of view. Modeled performance shows no significant change in signal-to-noise in the inner field of view.
Image Properties of Embedded Lenses

We give analytic expressions for image properties of objects seen around point mass lenses embedded in a flat $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\mathrm{CDM}$ universe. An embedded lens in an otherwise homogeneous universe offers a more realistic representation of the lense's gravity field and its associated deflection properties than does the conventional linear superposition theory. Embedding reduces the range of the gravitational force acting on passing light beams thus altering all quantities such as deflection angles, amplifications, shears and Einstein ring sizes. Embedding also exhibits the explicit effect of the cosmological constant on these same lensing quantities. In this paper, we present these new results and demonstrate how they can be used. The effects of embedding on image properties, although small, i.e., usually less than a fraction of a percent, have a more pronounced effect on image distortions in weak lensing where the effects can be larger than 10%. Embedding also introduces a negative surface mass density for both weak and strong lensing, a quantity altogether absent in conventional Schwarzschild lensing. In strong lensing, we find only one additional quantity, the potential part of the time delay, which differs from conventional lensing by as much as 4%, in agreement with our previous numerical estimates.
Identification of Posttranslational Modifications in Neuropeptides

Protein sequence data is now being deduced from cDNA sequences at rates which exceed the capacity of protein chemists to analyze post-translational processing events. Proteins may undergo a large number of post-translational modifications including glycosylation, phosphorylation, proteolytic processing, and disulfide bond formation, among many others (1). At present it is not possible to predict, with accuracy, which post-translational modifications of a particular protein sequence might occur. Principal factors determining post-translational events include primary structure, but higher orders of structure also appear to be important (2). Tissue-specific expression of the processing enzymes is also important (3–5). If the ultimate structure of a gene product is to be determined, it is necessary to purify the proteins or peptides in question and to determine their structures directly.
Extended Functional Unification ProGrammars

190 words Article: 4700 words New York, NY 10027 elhadad@cs.columbia.edu Area of Submission: C1. natural language.
From Commemoration to Conviction: Prosecuting Edgar Ray Killen for the “Mississippi Burning” Murders

Despite the growing number of civil rights era cold cases brought to trial over the past 20 years, surprisingly little social scientific research has examined how these cases emerged. This article ...
Use of partial venovenous cardiopulmonary bypass in percutaneous hepatic perfusion for patients with diffuse, isolated liver metastases: a case series.

Objectives Diffuse isolated liver metastases are the dominant mode of tumor progression in a number of cancers and present a major treatment challenge for oncologists. An experimental treatment, percutaneous hepatic perfusion (PHP), utilizes partial venovenous cardiopulmonary bypass to allow administration of high-dose chemotherapy directly and solely to the liver with filtration of chemotherapeutic agents from the blood prior to its return to the systemic circulation, thereby minimizing toxic systemic effects. The following case series describes the management of 5 patients with metastatic melanoma undergoing serial PHPs. Design A single-center experience from a national multi-center random-assignment trial comparing PHP to best alternative care (BAC) in patients with diffuse melanoma liver metastases. Setting A tertiary care hospital. Participants Five patients with metastatic melanoma to the liver. Intervention Five patients underwent a total of fifteen PHPs using a venovenous bypass circuit with hemofiltration, receiving hepatic intra-arterial melphalan, 3 mg/kg of ideal body weight, for 30 minutes with a total of 60 minutes of hemofiltration. Measurements and Main Results Five patients tolerated the procedure well with transient hemodynamic and metabolic changes. Conclusions In patients with diffuse isolated liver metastases, PHP is a safe and well-tolerated procedure that can be performed more than once and is associated with marked anti-tumor activity in some patients.
Gammarus-Microbial Interactions: A Review

Gammarus spp. are typically classified as shredders under the functional feeding group classification. In the wild and in the laboratory, Gammarus spp. will often shred leaves, breaking them down into finer organic matter fractions. However, leaf litter is a poor quality food source (i.e., high C : N and C : P ratios) and very little leaf material is assimilated by shredders. In freshwater habitats leaf litter is colonized rapidly (within ∼1-2 weeks) by aquatic fungi and bacteria, making the leaves more palatable and nutritious to consumers. Several studies have shown that Gammarus spp. show preference for conditioned leaves over nonconditioned leaves and certain fungal species to others. Furthermore, Gammarus spp. show increased survival and growth rates when fed conditioned leaves compared to non-conditioned leaves. Thus, Gammarus spp. appear to rely on the microbial biofilm associated with leaf detritus as a source of carbon and/or essential nutrients. Also, Gammarus spp. can have both positive and negative effects on the microbial communities on which they fed, making them an important component of the microbial loop in aquatic ecosystems.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Based Models of CMT1A and HNPP (P1.066)

OBJECTIVE: Developing patient based and genetically engineered models of CMT1A and HNPP using induced pluripotent stem cells. BACKGROUND: Duplication of 1.4Mb region containing the PMP22 gene on chromosome 17p12 is responsible for the most common form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, CMT1A. The presumed mechanism is increased PMP22 protein expression, leading to dysmyelination and recurrent demyelination, followed ultimately by degeneration of the longest axons in the body. DESIGN/METHODS: We established integration-free iPSC lines from four healthy control subjects and four CMT1A patients. Both normal and CMT1A patient lines underwent genetic engineering using TALENs to modify PMP22 gene dosage (0, 1, 2 or 3 copies). iPSCs were differentiated into neural crest stem cells, and subsequently to Schwann cell precursors, and gene expression profiles and ability to interact with axons was investigated. RESULTS: All iPSC lines differentiated into the three embryonic germ layers determined using embryoid body formation assays, were pluripotent based on gene expression profiling using Pluritest. CMT1A iPSCs maintained the duplication as assessed by multiplexed ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA). TALENs were used to genetically engineer iPSCs and block the expression of either 1 copy (making the cells equivalent to haploinsufficient HNPP cells) or both copies (making them PMP22 null cells). CMT1A patient lines were also targeted using TALENs to “genetically correct” the cells, by blocking the expression of one of the three copies of PMP22. iPSC lines from both patients and controls differentiated effectively into neural crest stem cells, and Schwann cell precursors. RNA-seq and co-culture studies with axons to determine alterations in the ability to form functional myelin by these cells are ongoing. CONCLUSIONS: CMT1A patient-iPSCs provide an opportunity to study the pathogenesis of CMT1A, the most common subtype of inherited neuropathy. The ability to genetically manipulate the PMP22 locus allows the opportunity to both model the disease in culture, as well as a method to potentially provide “genetically corrected” autologous cells for cell replacement therapy. Supported by: CIRM, BWF Disclosure: Dr. Baloh has received license fee payments from Genentech, Inc. Dr. Epifantseva has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kim has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bell has nothing to disclose. Dr. Carmona has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grant has nothing to disclose. Dr. Simpkinson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Harms has received personal compensation for activities with Genzyme Corp. as a speaker. Dr. Sareen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Muhammad has nothing to disclose.
Automated reading and mining of pre-hospital care reports

The lack of use of high technology in the healthcare delivery system is especially apparent in the emergency medical information systems (EMIS) area. For example, in New York State, all patients who enter the emergency medical service (EMS) are tracked through their pre-hospital care to the emergency room using a pre-hospital care report (PCR). Our goal is to automate the collection of data from the PCR and enable efficient maintenance and dissemination of information. The task involves the automatic extraction and transliteration of the handwritten text in the response boxes provided on the form. The objective is to produce, for each form image, an ASCII transcription of the handwritten contents of the response boxes. These responses could be then used to populate a database. The database itself would then emerge as a valuable resource for enabling data mining and knowledge discovery for the entire medical community.
Cell type specific regulation of COUP-TF II promoter activity

COUP-TF family orphan receptors regulate activity of ligand-activated nuclear hormone receptors or function independently in the regulation of gene expression. COUP-TF II has a complex expression pattern suggesting that different mechanisms are involved in the regulation of its expression. We isolated the 5′ regulatory region of the mouse COUP-TF II gene and demonstrated that the basal promoter is localized in a -200 by region 5′ from the transcription start site. All-trans retinoic acid and dibutyryl cyclic AMP have cell type specific effects on COUP-TF II promoter activity. The effect of cyclic AMP is mediated by the cyclic AMP response element that is localized 74 nucleotides upstream from the major transcriptional start. In vitro promoter analyses also demonstrated that the effect of all-trans RA is not directly mediated by the binding of RARs or RXRs to the promoter sequence.
Managing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Primary Care: A Systematic Analysis of Roles and Challenges

OBJECTIVE. This study was designed to investigate the perceptions of primary care providers about their roles and the challenges of managing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and to evaluate differences between providers who serve families primarily from urban versus suburban settings. METHODS. The ADHD Questionnaire was developed to assess primary care provider views about the extent to which clinical activities that are involved in the management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are appropriate and feasible in primary care. Participants were asked to rate each of 24 items of the questionnaire twice: first to indicate the appropriateness of the activity given sufficient time and resources and second to indicate feasibility in their actual practice. Informants used a 4-point scale to rate each item for appropriateness and feasibility. RESULTS. An exploratory factor analysis of primary care provider ratings of the appropriateness of clinical activities for managing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder identified 4 factors of clinical practice: factor 1, assessing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; factor 2, providing mental health care; factor 3, recommending and monitoring approved medications; and factor 4, recommending nonapproved medications. On a 4-point scale (1 = not appropriate to 4 = very appropriate), mean ratings for items on factor 1, factor 2, and factor 3 were high, indicating that the corresponding domains of practice were viewed as highly appropriate. Feasibility challenges were identified on all factors, but particularly factors 1 and 2. A significant interaction effect, indicating differences between appropriateness and feasibility as a function of setting (urban versus suburban), was identified on factor 1. The challenges of assessing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were greater for urban than for suburban primary care providers. CONCLUSIONS. Primary care providers believe that it is highly appropriate for them to have a role in the management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Feasibility issues were particularly salient related to assessing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and providing mental health care. The findings highlight the need not only for additional training of primary care providers but also for practice-based resources to assist with school communication and collaboration with mental health agencies, especially in urban practices.
A reference ontology for biomedical informatics: the foundational model of anatomy

The Foundational Model of Anatomy (FMA), initially developed as an enhancement of the anatomical content of UMLS, is a domain ontology of the concepts and relationships that pertain to the structural organization of the human body. It encompasses the material objects from the molecular to the macroscopic levels that constitute the body and associates with them nonmaterial entities (spaces, surfaces, lines, and points) required for describing structural relationships. The disciplined modeling approach employed for the development of the FMA relies on a set of declared principles, high level schemes, Aristotelian definitions and a frame-based authoring environment. We propose the FMA as a reference ontology in biomedical informatics for correlating different views of anatomy, aligning existing and emerging ontologies in bioinformatics ontologies and providing a structure-based template for representing biological functions.
Re-Engineering the Mississippi River as a Sediment Delivery System

Abstract An environmentally sound concept of maximizing the benefits of the Mississippi River sediment load is proposed by allowing the river to naturally change its course to the Atchafalaya while maintaining navigation and flood control in the present channel of the Mississippi. A sediment lean, minimum necessary flow is determined for the lower Mississippi River to insure navigation and freshwater needs. Some of the political and economic ramifications are anticipated and discussed. The need for a new engineering study is addressed. Finding an effective way to utilize the sediment load of the Mississippi River is essential if the coastal wetland ecology of southern Louisiana is to survive and flourish. Allowing the river to naturally change its course is ultimately the only viable option. The short comings of other means of using the river sediment load are discussed.
A generic algorithm for constructing hierarchical representations of geometric objects

For a number of years, robotics researchers have exploited hierarchical representations of geometrical objects and scenes in motion-planning, collision-avoidance, and simulation. However, few general techniques exist for automatically constructing them. We present a generic, bottom-up algorithm that uses a heuristic clustering technique to produce balanced, coherent hierarchies. Its worst-case running time is O(N/sup 2/logN), but for non-pathological cases it is O(NlogN), where N is the number of input primitives. We have completed a preliminary C++ implementation for input collections of 3D convex polygons and 3D convex polyhedra and conducted simple experiments with scenes of up to 12,000 polygons, which take only a few minutes to process. We present examples using spheres and convex hulls as hierarchy primitives.
Responding to the Collective and Individual “Best Interests of Students” Revisiting the Tension Between Administrative Practice and Ethical Imperatives in Special Education Leadership

Purpose: Given the increasing role of the principal in the administrative and supervision of special education programs and services, this research examines how elementary principals interpret their experience of leadership decision making as a moral activity in relation to the Ethic of the Profession and Model for Students’ Best Interests. Method: A phenomenological-like research method was used to capture administrators’ perspectives involving moral practice and ethical decision making as it relates to students with disabilities. The primary data collection strategy was participant interviews by means of purposeful sampling. Findings: Findings challenge the Ethic of the Profession’s injunction, “the best interests of the student,” as a central guiding moral principle in decision making. Evidence exists that the expression does hold some insight as a maxim to guide behavior, especially when principals decide for one student against all or most students within special education contexts. Theoretical Impli...
Mintzberg’s “pentagon” and organization positioning

Looks at Mintzberg’s pentagon model of ideal structures as a tool for describing organization structural designs. Surveys 91 US CEOs to test the validity of the model, in an attempt to provide greater insight into the model and its applicability to real life situations. Details research methodology. Fails to find a link between an organization with an ideal structure and performance, reporting that simple structured firms seemed to be the best performers, while hybrids and firms failing to score “high” on any ideal structure were also solid performers. Notes limitations of the study but suggests further research could expand knowledge of the structuring of organizations.
The benefit of predicated execution for software pipelining

An empirical study of the importance of an architectural support, referred to as predicted execution, for the effectiveness of software pipelining is presented. In particular, the analysis is designed to help future microprocessor designers to determine whether predicated execution support is worthwhile given their own estimation of the increased hardware cost. To perform an in-depth analysis, the authors focus on Rau's modulo scheduling algorithm for software pipelining. Three versions of the modulo scheduling algorithm, one with and two without predicated execution support, were implemented in a prototype compiler. Experiments based on important loops from numeric applications showed that predicated execution support substantially improved the effectiveness of the modulo scheduling algorithm. >