cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of hydration and temperature upon oxygen consumption and oxygen diffusion in the corneal stroma (a biological membrane)

Abstract A theoretical analysis and measurement by an oxygen polarographic technique of corneal stromal oxygen consumption of mammalian eyes has been described by Takahashi, Fatt, and Goldstick. Unlike the various Warburg techniques, this system more directly measures the tissue oxygen tension. This technique may be of some use to investigations of other biologic tissues which hydrate and have randomly distributed cells lying within a relatively homogeneous matrix. The analysis also suggests that this system is sensitive to the tissue membrane hydration. The unique characteristics of this tissue lend themselves to test the validity of the mathematical assumption to treat it as a membrane. This membrane is isotropic to oxygen and hydrates unidimensionally perpendicular to the oxygen sensing electrode surface. Using the physical properties of this membrane, hydration and temperature studies show that this system measures the oxygen consumption independent of hydration and that the absolute values are comparable to modified Warburg techniques in similar tissue. It is apparent, therefore, that the outer epithelial or endothelial layers of the mammalian cornea assume a more primary role in maintaining normal corneal hydration.
A pseudo-machine for packet monitoring and statistics

This paper concerns the design of a flexible and efficient packet monitoring program for analyzing traffic patterns and gathering statistics on a packet network. This monitor operates in real time, using an analyzer which is an interpretive pseudo-machine driving object-oriented data collection programs. The pseudo-program for the interpreter is “compiled” from configuration commands written in a monitoring control language.
Some general principles of dynamic instability of solid bodies

Ce travail represente une etude de l'equilibre des corps solides, avec un interet special accorde aux corps elastiques et a ceux de Voigt-Kelvin. Les efforts appliques peuvent avoir des composants non conservatifs et gyroscopiques, quoique la dependance explicite du temps soit exclue. Il est bien connu que, pour une categorie de problemes tellement large, l'etablissement des conditions de la stabilite par les methodes classiques de statique ou d'energie n'est pas toujours applicable. Le traitement du probleme essaie d'etre assez comprehensif. En utilisant la methode des vibrations modales on etablie des criteres generaux de stabilite sur la base d'une «energie equivalente». Ces criteres sont d'une telle generalite qu'ils contiennent, comme cas speciaux, les criteres publies auparavant. En plus, de nouveaux principes ont ete developpes et demontres a l'aide d'un exemple numerique.
Solvent dependence of electronic transition intensities

Most of the research on solvent effects on the electronic spectra of organic molecules has been concerned with frequency shifts. Solvent induced intensity changes, however, have not received much attention. At present there is no simple, general theory that relates: (a) the solvent induced changes in electronic transition intensities to (b) the macroscopic properties of the solvent. In this article we derive an equation that provides a quantitative interpretation for the changes in the absorption intensities. We show that solvent induced intensity changes are related to van der Waals constants for solvent and solute. Absorption data, some from previous investigations, are presented to show the usefulness and limitations of the theory.
Isolating Fixed Points

(2002). Isolating Fixed Points. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 109, No. 7, pp. 595-611.
Differential expression of CYP102 in Bacillus megaterium by 17-β-estradiol and 4-sec-butylphenol

Abstract Previously we have reported the induction of CYP102 in Bacillus megaterium by 17β-estradiol (E2) and 4-sec-butylphenol (4-sBP). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses demonstrated that E2 and 4-sBP both cause a dose-dependent disassociation of the Bm3R1 repressor protein from its binding site on the operator sequence of the CYP102 gene. Equimolar combinations of E2 and 4-sBP demonstrated additive induction of CYP102 compared to equivalent samples of E2 and 4-sBP added alone. Two gene constructs were used in this investigation. One construct designated BMC143 contained the entire regulatory region of CYP102. The other gene construct, designated BMA45, had the “Barbie box” sequence deleted. While the induction of CYP102 by 4-sBP was much higher in the BMC 143 construct, E2 induced CYP102 in both constructs to the same extent. This difference in induction of CYP102 by these two inducers indicates that they act at different sites, either on the Bm3R1 repressor protein or on positive regulatory sites, or that they act, in part, through different mechanisms.
Generalization of gait adaptation for fall prevention: from moveable platform to slippery floor.

A person's ability to transfer the acquired improvements in the control of center of mass (COM) state stability to slips induced in everyday conditions can have profound theoretical and practical i...
Sources of health information among rural women in Western Kentucky.

Objective To identify sources of general and mental health information for rural women to inform the development of public health nursing interventions that consider preferences for obtaining information. Design and Sample One thousand women (mean age = 57 years; 96.9% White) living in primarily nonmetropolitan areas of Western Kentucky participated via a random-digit-dial survey. Measures Data were collected on demographics, sources of health information, depression, and stigma. Results Most participants preferred anonymous versus interpersonal sources for both general (68.1%) and mental health (69.4%) information. All participants reported at least one source of general health information, but 20.8% indicated not seeking or not knowing where to seek mental health information. The Internet was the most preferred anonymous source. Few women cited health professionals as the primary information source for general (11.4%) or mental (9.9%) health. Public stigma was associated with preferring anonymous sources and not seeking information. Conclusions Public health nurses should understand the high utilization of anonymous sources, particularly for mental health information, and focus efforts on helping individuals to navigate resources to ensure they obtain accurate information about symptoms, effective treatments, and obtaining care. Reducing stigma should remain a central focus of prevention and education in rural areas.
PASHA: facilitating the replication and use of effective adolescent pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention programs.

Abstract Purpose It is important that interventions that have been shown effective in changing risky behavior be disseminated, so that they can be replicated (implemented in a new site) and so that their effectiveness in a new setting can be investigated. This article provides an update on an innovative resource for promoting the replication of effective teen pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention programs. The resource is called the Program Archive on Sexuality, Health & Adolescence (PASHA). Methods A Scientist Expert Panel rates candidate adolescent pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention programs based on the strength of the evidence of their effectiveness in changing risky sexual behavior among youth ages 10–19 (10–21 for STI/HIV prevention programs). Developers of selected programs are invited to make their program and evaluation materials publicly available through PASHA. PASHA publishes and disseminates replication kits for programs it successfully acquires. Results Fifty-six programs have been selected by PASHA's Scientist Expert Panel as "effective" in changing one or more risky behaviors associated with adolescent pregnancy or STI/HIV. Complete program and evaluation materials from 35 of these programs are now currently available through PASHA, five are pending, 12 are publicly available from other sources, and only four are not publicly available. PASHA programs are aimed at a diverse target population and cover diverse content on many abstinence and contraception/condom-related topics. Many pedagogical techniques are used to effect behavior change, noticeably role play and group discussion. Conclusions PASHA illustrates well the productive research-to-practice feedback loop that is the backbone of "translation research." The resource can be used by adolescent pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention practitioners to put what works to work to continue the lowering of the nation's adolescent pregnancy and STI/HIV rates.
On the fission of algebraic solitons

The fission of an algebraic internal soliton climbing onto a shelf in a two–fluid system of infinite depth is investigated. It is shown that, by using conservation laws of the Benjamin—Ono equation with variable coefficients, we can predict the number of solitons emerging from an incident solitary wave and their amplitudes. These predictions are also verified with numerical solutions.
Using the Focused Ion Beam to Perform Serial Sectioning of Micron-Sized Particles for Coordinated Nanoscale Analysis

Standard Focused Ion Beam (FIB) lift-out methods for production of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) thin sections destroy many cubic microns of material in order to produce a single 100-nm thick section. Microtome sectioning, in contrast, allows serial sectioning of adjacent multiple 100-nm sections, without loss of materials between sections, but lacks site specificity. In order to maximize the yield of analyzable material in thin section form from valuableone-of-a kind- micron-sized samples, we have developed serial sectioning techniques that combine FIB lift-out with microtomy. In this paper, we show an example of sectioning and subsequent TEM analysis of simulated cometary residues which resemble impact craters collected during the NASA Stardust Mission. These techniques may be generalized to any one-of-a-kind sample for which preserving analyzable volume is critical, such as forensic analysis of dust particles, failure analysis and electronic device sectioning.
The biological functions of C-reactive protein.

We have obtained data from various investigations that firmly establishes an important host defense function for human C-reactive protein (CRP). In transgenic mice, the beneficial effect of CRP depends largely on its ability to recruit complement, Fcγ receptors and the adaptive immune system; but this function is not limited to the blood-borne protein nor does it require a substantial rise in blood CRP levels. Moreover, in clinical studies, we have observed that differences in baseline levels of CRP among individuals correlate with a polymorphism in the CRP gene. The relevance of this finding is underlined by the observation that subtle elevation of blood CRP is associated with significantly increased risk of cardiac disease.
Separation of Enantiomers Using an (S)-Naphthylethylcarbamoylated γ-Cyclodextrin Stationary Phase

Abstract Silica bonded γ-cyclodextrin was derivatized to contain approximately 9 (S)-naphthylethyl carbamate substituents per γ-cyclodextrin. The derivatized γ-cyclodextrin-based stationary phase was used to resolve a number of enantiomeric pairs using high performance liquid chromatography under normal phase conditions. Several 3, 5-dinitrobenzoyl derivatized amino acids were successfully separated. In general, selectivities (α) achieved were greater than 1. 1. The chiral recognition mechanism appears to be similar to an analogous derivatized s-cyclodextrin based stationary phase. Possible explanations for the differences between the two are discussed.
672 SUCCESSFUL BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION (BMT) FOR APLASTIC ANEMIA WITH AN HLA-MLC NON-IDENTICAL PARENT DONOR

Successful BMT was performed in a 9 yr. old black female with severe idiopathic aplastic anemia from her HLA-MLC non-identical father. Initial Hgb.=3.8 gm.%, retic. count=0.1%, WBC=700 cmm., platelets=10,000 cmm.; bone marrow biopsy was markedly hypocellular with 85% non-hematopoietic elements. Tissue typing showed the patient to be HLA A-1 B-8, A-26 B-7; the father was HLA A-1 B-8, A-3 B-7. In mixed leukocyte culture (MLC), there was low but significant bidirectional (10%; 16%) stimulation. Cell mediated lympholysis demonstrated no significant killing. Pre-transplant preparation included Procarbazine 15 mg/kg/day × 3 days, anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) 15 mg/kg/day x 3 days, and 750 rads of total body irradiation by linear accelerator. Cells from the donor (6.9 × 108/kg) were infused intravenously. Graft versus host (GVH) prophylaxis following BMT consisted of IV Methotrexate weekly × 100 days and ATG and corticosteroids on days 7-21. By day 28 post BMT, cells of donor HLA type were present and marrow chromosomes were 100% XY. On days 29-31 mild GVH developed with fever, rash and slight liver enzyme elevations. Skin biopsy was consistent with GVH. Skin GVH resolved with Prednisone treatment. At 7 months post BMT peripheral counts are normal, however liver enzyme elevations persist. Marrow engraftment with minimal GVH in this patient should encourage further trials of BMT in patients without HLA-MLC identical siblings.
Direct observation of carbene and diazo formation from aryldiazirines by ultrafast infrared spectroscopy

Ultrafast laser flash photolysis (lambda(ex) = 270 nm) of phenyldiazirine produces transient infrared absorptions at 2040 and 1582 cm(-1). The first band is assigned to phenyldiazomethane, and the second is assigned to singlet phenylcarbene. This assignment is consistent with DFT calculations. Diazo band integration reveals that photoisomerization from diazirine to diazo occurs within a few picoseconds of the laser pulse. The majority of carbene produced is also formed instantaneously.
Hyperspectral band selection with similarity assessment

Hyperspectral band selection extracts several bands of importance in some sense by taking advantage of high spectral correlation. Driven by detection or classification accuracy, one would expect that using a subset of original bands the accuracy is unchanged or tolerably degraded while computational burden is significantly relaxed. When the desired object information is known, i.e., supervised band selection, this task can be achieved by finding the bands that contain the most information about these objects. When the desired object information is unknown, i.e., unsupervised band selection, the objective is to select the most distinctive and informative bands. It is expected that these bands can provide an overall satisfactory detection and classification performance. We propose an unsupervised band selection algorithm based on band similarity measurement, which can yield a better result in terms of information conservation and class separability than other widely used techniques. We also extend this algorithm to the case when the desired object information is known. The experimental result shows the effectiveness of this new algorithm.
Characteristics of Subsurface Ocean Response to ENSO Assessed from Simulations with the NCEP Climate Forecast System

AbstractThe subsurface ocean temperature response to El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is examined based on 31-yr (1981–2011) simulations with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Climate Forecast System (CFS) coupled model. The model sea surface temperature (SST) in the tropical Pacific is relaxed to observations to ensure realistic ENSO variability in the simulations.In the tropical Pacific, the subsurface temperature response to the ENSO SST is closely related to the variability of thermocline. The subsurface response is stronger and deeper in the tropical Indian Ocean than in the tropical Atlantic. The analysis at three selected locations reveals that the peak response of the subsurface temperature to ENSO lags the Nino-3.4 SST by 3, 6, and 6 months, respectively, in the southern tropical Indian Ocean, the northern tropical Atlantic, and the North Pacific, where SSTs are also known to be strongly influenced by ENSO. The ENSO-forced temperature anomalies gradually penetrate to the...
Hospital ownership and Psychiatric services: implications of ownership and reimbursement changes on lengths of stay and availability of services

Dramatic increases have occurred in the proportion of for-profit hospitals in the general hospital sector; even more pronounced increases have occurred within the psychiatric sector. Concomitant with this changing mix of ownerships, revised reimbursement plans are being proposed for psychiatry. Thus, providers of acute psychiatric inpatient care, although loosely aggregated, constitute a service system that is experiencing dynamic revision. This article examines the implications of these changes for health policy analysts and planners in the design of hospital payment mechanisms and in planning for resources to meet the needs of the public. The state of California is viewed as a system, and data from the state are examined to test traditional assumptions of economic behavior when less costly substitute services are available. The availability of services such as outpatient clinics, emergency psychiatric services, and partial hospitalization are found to vary according to hospital ownership. Differences in availability of these services influence the access to inpatient care experienced by various populations within the defined system. Although these services may permit earlier discharge from the hospital, the poor insurance coverage of ambulatory psychiatric care relative to inpatient hospitalization1–3 distorts this effect. The implications of these findings for public policy are discussed.
Cases of Study on the Social Effects of Online Gaming

There are several good and bad effects associated with online gaming. It always depends on the type of person and their backgrounds on how they act towards others. With online gaming becoming more popular, we are seeing the development of new diverse “social” behaviors. In this article, we present cases of study from identified online gamers that illustrate both positive and negative social effects.
PPARγ and chronic kidney disease

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) agonists, exemplified by the thiazolidinediones (TZDs), have been used extensively for their beneficial effects to improve insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic patients. PPARγ receptors are part of the steroid hormone nuclear receptor family and, when activated by agonist binding, can affect numerous target genes expressing PPAR response elements. Results from experimental studies and a limited number of studies in humans suggest that PPARγ agonists have manifold effects beyond those on dysmetabolic syndrome. These potentially beneficial actions are mediated via renal parenchymal and infiltrating cells and modulate fibrotic, inflammatory, immune, proliferative, reactive oxygen and mitochondrial injury pathways. Thus, the potential benefits of TZDs in chronic kidney disease impact numerous pathogenic pathways. This review will focus on evidence of the effects of TZDs in nondiabetic chronic kidney disease in experimental and human disease settings.
P-84 - Why do women with PTSD and SUD use substances? a study of expectancies

Introduction An emerging literature suggests a complex relationship between PTSD and self-reported reasons for using substances (also known as “expectancies,” or “the beliefs that individuals hold about the effects of substances on their behavior, moods, and emotions”). Objectives/aims We studied this topic in a sample of 52 women with current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD), using a cross-sectional design. Both PTSD and SUD tended to be chronic and severe, with the PTSD mostly arising from childhood repeated physical and/or sexual trauma. Methods Measures included the Alcohol Effects Questionnaire (Rosenhow et al., 1995), the Cocaine Expectancy Questionnaire (Jaffe & Kilby, 1994), as well as a new subscale of 12 items designed to address key PTSD symptoms (e.g., “I use substance(s) to relieve flashbacks of PTSD”). Results Results indicated two main findings. First, of the 12 subscales we evaluated, the most highly rated expectancy subscales were: paranoia, grandiosity/euphoria, sexual enhancement, global positive changes, power and aggression, and PTSD. Relatively lower were: desire for drugs, social expression, social and physical pleasure, cognitive and physical impairment, relaxation/tension reduction, and careless unconcern. Second, our PTSD subscale showed significant correlations with just three subscales: power and aggression (r=.43), global positive changes (r=.41), relaxation/tension reduction (r=.31). Conclusions Discussion includes the importance of recognizing the varied reasons for using among women with PTSD/SUD (of which PTSD symptoms are just part of the picture, and not necessarily the most important reason). We also address measurement and sampling issues, and limitations of our design.
BiliChek transcutaneous bilirubin meter overestimates serum bilirubin as measured by the Doumas reference method.

article i nfo Article history: Objectives: To determine the relationship between BiliChek TcB (Respironics, Marietta GA) and Doumas reference serum or plasma total bilirubin (TSB). Design and methods: Pooled samples with values assigned by the Doumas reference method were used to establish the relationship between a local laboratory and reference Doumas TSB. We then established the relationship between TcB and TSB in the 3 months before and after reassignment of calibrator setpoints undertaken to match the local laboratory to Doumas reference bilirubin values.
Online health information seeking by people with physical disabilities due to neurological conditions.

Abstract Objective This study investigates how neurologically disabled people's intention to continue seeking and actual use of online health information are related to various factors. Design A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data from people who have neurological disabilities. Measurements An online questionnaire was used to measure demographic, physical, cognitive, and behavioral factors based on subjects’ self-reported data. Results Regression analyses on 330 data show that a person's intention to continue online health information seeking (OHIS) increases as perceived usefulness (PU) and ease of use (PEOU) and disability level increase. The OHIS intention is also predicted by a negative interaction between PU and disability, a positive interaction between PEOU and disability, and a negative interaction between PU and PEOU. It is also find that a person's use of online health information is positively related to PU and negatively related to perceived risk and the interaction between PU and risk. Limitations The sample was not randomly selected and the cross-sectional survey cannot suggest causal relationships between variables. Conclusion Neurologically disabled people's online health information seeking and use can be predicted by their cognitive perceptions. A heightened disability level increases an individual's online health information seeking, but is not related to the use of such information. Moreover, seeking more online health information does not make an individual use more such information, suggesting that these two behaviors should be carefully differentiated.
P-1074 - Efficacy of venlafaxine compared with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) in severe major depressive disorder (MDD): a retrospective pooled analysis

Introduction/objective There are no data on the comparative efficacy of venlafaxine to other SSRI's in severe MDD. Methods In a post hoc analysis, data were pooled from 8 double-blind active controlled studies in outpatients with a diagnosis of MDD. Patients randomly assigned to venlafaxine (dose range 75-225 mg) or SSRI (fluoxetine (20–80 mg/day), fluvoxamine (100 mg/day), or paroxetine (20 mg/day)) were included in the analysis. Severe MDD was defined as baseline HAM-D 17 >24 and alternatively as baseline MADRS≥ 31. Treatment groups were compared by mean improvement in the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D 17 ) (and alternatively MADRS) scores from baseline to last observation carried forward (LOCF). Secondary outcomes included HAM-D 17 response (≥50% reduction in HAM-D 17 ) and remission (HAM-D 17 ≤7) rates, MADRS response (≥50% reduction in MADRS) and remission (MADRS≤10). Changes from baseline for the primary end point were evaluated using analysis of covariance with treatment, study, and baseline in the model. Results A total of 1503 patients were included in the analysis (venlafaxine n = 805; SSRI, n = 698); 649/1503 (43%) patients had severe depression (HAM-D 17 >24) at baseline. Venlafaxine improved HAM-D 17 scores vs. SSRI in patients with severe MDD (venlafaxine, −15.26 [0.73]; SSRI, −12.91 [0.81]; P = 0.003). Response and remission were significantly higher in venlafaxine compared with SSRI (Response: Venlafaxine = 63% vs SSRI= 53% (p = 0.004); Remission: 41% vs. 31% (p = 0.005)). The results of the analyses were similar when baseline severity was defined by MADRS scores. Conclusions In this retrospective pooled analysis, venlafaxine was superior to SSRI's in treating severe MDD.
Distinct cardiac malformations caused by absence of connexin 43 in the neural crest and in the non-crest neural tube

Connexin 43 (Cx43) is expressed in the embryonic heart, cardiac neural crest (CNC) and neural tube, and germline knockout (KO) of Cx43 results in aberrant cardiac outflow tract (OFT) formation and abnormal coronary deployment. Prior studies suggest a vital role for CNC expression of Cx43 in heart development. Surprisingly, we found that conditional knockout (CKO) of Cx43 in the dorsal neural tube and CNC mediated by Wnt1-Cre failed to recapitulate the Cx43-null OFT phenotype, although coronary vasculature was abnormal in this mutant line. A broader CKO mediated by P3pro (Pax3)-Cre, involving both ventral and dorsal aspects of the thoracic neural tube and CNC, resulted in infundibular bulging and coronary anomalies similar to those seen in germline Cx43-null hearts. P3pro-Cre-mediated loss of Cx43 in the neural tube was characterized by a late phase of cellular delamination from the dorsal and lateral neural tube, a markedly increased abundance of neuroepithelium-derived cells outside of the neural tube and an excess of such cells infiltrating the heart and infundibulum. Thus, expression of Cx43 in the CNC is crucial for normal coronary deployment, but Cx43 is not required in the CNC for normal OFT morphogenesis. Rather, this study suggests a novel function for Cx43 in which Cx43 acts through non-crest neuroepithelial cells to suppress cellular delamination from the neural tube and thereby preserve normal OFT development.
Flexural strength of ice grown from chemically impure melts

Abstract A series of experiments have been performed to measure the ultimate (flexural) strength of ice grown from impure melts containing one of a number of chemical dopants (chloride and sulfate salts, salts of the carboxylic acids, alcohols, amides and sugars). The results of these experiments indicate: (1) within a homologous series, the greatest strength reduction in the ice usually occurs for the lowest member of the series; (2) the overall reduction in strength of the ice to a limiting value is greater for the lower molecular weight dopants; and (3) of the chemical families tested, the most effective ice-strength reducing ones were the R-OH alcohols, the salts of the carboxylic acids and the amides. These results are discussed in terms of the structural features of the ice. An empirical relationship is presented for electrolytic dopants which predicts the optimum concentration of dopant necessary for reducing the strength of ice.
Noncoherent Demodulator for PPM-UWB Radios

Low-duty-cycle Ultra-wideband (UWB) radios have the potential to provide low-probability of detection (LPD) communications with low-power and low-complexity implementation. Pulse position modulation (PPM) is a prevalent scheme for UWB radios since it can further lower the transmitter complexity by avoiding pulse negation. However, the position shifts of impulse-like UWB waveforms, together with the severe frequency-selectivity of the propagation channels, aggravate the difficulty and complexity of timing synchronization and channel estimation. To circumvent both of these challenging tasks, we develop a differential encoder and its corresponding noncoherent demodulator for PPM-UWB signals. Relying on integrate-and-dump operations of "dirty" templates, our designs are operational when the timing offset and channel information both remain unknown.
Extinct Pterygoboa (Boidae, Erycinae) from the Latest Oligocene and Early Miocene of Florida

Members of the Erycinae are small to medium-sized, semi-fossorial snakes in the family Boidae (Squamata, Serpentes) known today from Africa, southwestern Asia, India, and western North America. Erycines were the predominate snakes in faunas of North America during the Paleogene. In North America, only the minute, extinct erycine Pterygoboa is known to have additional wing-like processes situated on the postzyg- apophyses of the vertebrae. Here we report on Pterygoboa from one latest Oligocene
Integrating and annotating the interactome using the MiMI plugin for cytoscape

Summary: The MiMI molecular interaction repository integrates data from multiple sources, resolves interactions to standard gene names and symbols, links to annotation data from GO, MeSH and PubMed and normalizes the descriptions of interaction type. Here, we describe a Cytoscape plugin that retrieves interaction and annotation data from MiMI and links out to multiple data sources and tools. Community annotation of the interactome is supported. Availability: MiMI plugin v3.0.1 can be installed from within Cytoscape 2.6 using the Cytoscape plugin manager in ‘Network and Attribute I/0’ category. The plugin is also preloaded when Cytoscape is launched using Java WebStart at http://mimi.ncibi.org by querying a gene and clicking ‘View in MiMI Plugin for Cytoscape’ link. Contact: dstates@umich.edu
Pharmacokinetic Analysis of the Blood-Brain Barrier Transport of 125I-Amyloid β Protein 40 in Wild-Type and Alzheimer's Disease Transgenic Mice (APP,PS1) and Its Implications for Amyloid Plaque Formation

Amyloid plaques are formed in the extracellular space of Alzheimer9s disease (AD) brain due to the accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) proteins such as Aβ40. The relationship between Aβ40 pharmacokinetics and its accumulation within and clearance from the brain in both wild-type (WT) and AD transgenic mice (APP,PS1) was studied to understand the mechanism of amyloid plaque formation and the potential use of Aβ40 as a probe to target and detect amyloid plaques. In both WT and APP,PS1 mice, the 125 I-Aβ40 tracer exhibited biexponential disposition in plasma with very short first and second phase half-lives. The 125 I-Aβ40 was significantly metabolized in the liver kidney > spleen. Coadministration of exogenous Aβ40 inhibited the plasma clearance and the uptake of 125 I-Aβ40 at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in WT animals but did not affect its elimination from the brain. The 125 I-Aβ40 was shown to be metabolized within and effluxed from the brain parenchyma. The rate of efflux from APP,PS1 brain slices was substantially lower compared with WT brain slices. Since the Aβ40 receptor at the BBB can be easily saturated, the blood-to-brain transport of Aβ40 is less likely to be a primary contributor to the amyloid plaque formation in APP,PS1 mice. The decreased elimination of Aβ40 from the brain is most likely responsible for the amyloid plaque formation in the brain of APP,PS1 mice. Furthermore, inadequate targeting of Aβ40 to amyloid plaques, despite its high BBB permeability, is due to the saturability of Aβ40 transporter at the BBB and its metabolism and efflux from the brain.
Micromechanical devices at JPL for space exploration

Space exploration in the coming century will emphasize cost effectiveness and highly focused mission objectives, which will result in frequent multiple missions that broaden the scope of space science and to validate new technologies on a timely basis. Micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) is one of the key enabling technologies to create cost-effective, ultra-miniaturized, robust, and functionally focused spacecraft for both robotic and human exploration programs. Examples of MEMS devices at various stages of development include microgyroscope, microseismometer, microhygrometer, quadrupole mass spectrometer, and micropropulsion engine. These devices, when proven successful, will serve as models for developing components and systems for new-millennium spacecraft.
Finding a bright spot

The photovoltaic (PV) industry has been a steady bright spot through economic ups and downs, and the future is looking brighter than ever. PV deployment has grown rapidly - from 0.3 MW in the 1980s to an expected 3,000 MW by 2010. Fueled by technical, economic, environmental, and social drivers, the contribution of PV to the U.S. electricity supply mix will likely be several times that amount by 2020. PV power systems and the utility industry have had a 25-year courtship with many different types of engagement. Utilities participated in the first ground-mounted power plants and rooftop installations on residences, schools, airports, hospitals, and other public buildings. These projects included U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-sponsored residential experiment stations in Maine, Florida, and New Mexico in the 1980s; early PV plants in California and throughout the Southwest; and grid connection, demonstrations, inverter and system testing, and related standards development. Electric service providers are well positioned to expand their engagement in deploying PV systems. Many have found themselves in a bright spot relative to solar business opportunities. However, most providers are still facing the decision of whether to modify traditional business models for active engagement or maintain a reactive stance relative to PV and grid integrations. In either case, R&D that will lead to a more flexible and interactive electric distribution system is needed. A near-term priority for individual utilities is to define the grid-interactive and grid-independent applications and markets that offer the greatest potential risks and rewards and to develop plans for addressing them. This is particularly important in areas with excellent solar resources, strong incentives,or both. And this may hold true across the country under current policy and market conditions.
Multiple Signals Regulate Phospholipase CBeta3 in Human Myometrial Cells

Phospholipase CB3 (PLCB3) serine(1105) (S(1105)), a substrate for multiple protein kinases, represents a potential point of convergence of several signaling pathways in the myometrium. To explore this hypothesis, the regulation of PLCB3-S(1105) phosphorylation (P-S(1105)) was studied in immortalized and primary human myometrial cells. 8-[4-chlorophenylthio] (CPT)-cAMP and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CALCA) transiently increased P-S(1105). Relaxin also stimulated P-S(1105); this effect was partially blocked by the protein kinase A (PRKA) inhibitor, Rp-8-CPT-cAMPS. Oxytocin, which stimulates Galphaq-mediated pathways, also rapidly increased P-S(1105), as did prostaglandin F2alpha and ATP. Oxytocin-stimulated phosphorylation was blocked by protein kinase C (PRKC) inhibitor Go6976 and by pretreatment overnight with a phorbol ester. Cypermethrin, a PP2B phosphatase inhibitor, but not okadaic acid, a PP1/PP2A inhibitor, prolonged the effect of CALCA on P-S(1105), whereas the reverse was the case for the oxytocin-stimulated increase in P-S(1105). PLCB3 was the predominant PLC isoform expressed in the myometrial cells and PLCB3 short hairpin RNA constructs significantly attenuated oxytocin-stimulated increases in intracellular calcium. oxytocin-induced phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover was inhibited by CPT-cAMP and okadaic acid, but was enhanced by pretreatment with Go6976. CPT-cAMP inhibited oxytocin-stimulated PI turnover in the presence of overexpressed PLCB3, but not overexpressed PLCB3-S(1105)A. These data demonstrate that both negative crosstalk from the cAMP/PRKA pathway and a negative feedback loop in the oxytocin/G protein/PLCB pathway involving PRKC operate in myometrial cells and suggest that different protein phosphatases predominate in mediating P-S(1105) dephosphorylation in these pathways. The integration of multiple signal components at the level of PLCB3 may be important to its function in the myometrium.
Proprietary hospitals in cost containment

Any effort to control the rise in health care costs must start with analyzing the causes, which are really quite simple. Most cost control efforts fail because they do not address the causes. The causes are large subsidies in several forms that send a false message that health care is free and should be used abundantly, and expansive reimbursement programs that reward inefficient providers with higher payments. This combination of demand stimulation and cost-plus reimbursement produced the world's most expensive health care delivery system and strident calls for reform. A long overdue change in public policy took effect October 1, 1983, when Medicare payments moved from cost-plus reimbursement to fixed, prospectively determined prices. Because it addressed one of the causes of medical inflation, this change has been effective in slowing the rise in Medicare expenditures. Sponsorship of a hospital is not a determinant of its cost-effectiveness. There are examples of efficient and inefficient hospitals in both the voluntary and the investor-owned or taxpaying hospitals. The determining factor is the will of management to keep costs under control.
Reconsidering Constructivism in Qualitative Research

This article examines constructivism, a paradigm in qualitative research that has been propagated by Egon Guba, Yvonna Lincoln, and Norman Denzin. A distinction is made between whether the basic presuppositions of constructivism are credible compared to those of a competing paradigm and whether constructivism's beliefs are internally consistent. The latter approach, i.e. whether constructivism is internally consistent, is the focus of this article. The issues singled out for discussion are concerned with the constructivist ontology and epistemology. This article shows that constructivism's paradigmatic beliefs are internally in tension.
THE HIGH COST OF MOTORING IN SINGAPORE

’ drive off-usually with a full tank of gasoline. In Singapore, when buying a new car, one has to decide well in advance when and where to drive, what size car to purchase, and whether it should carry a private or corporate license plate. Then one bids for the license to own a car, waits for the results of the auction, and, if successful, pays upwards of $60,000 for a sub-compact! And ten years later, one probably has to undergo the same gut-wrenching experience all over again. How did this come about? Singapore is an island city-state, 250 square miles in area, strategically located at the crossroads of commerce and tourism at the southern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula. With 2.7 million people, it has a very high population density of 11,000 persons per square mile. compared with only 70 per square mile in the LJnited States. Singapore enjoys the second highest standard of living in Asia (after Japan), with an export-oriented economy that is growing at a robust rate of 8.8 percent a year. From a transportation perspective. this economic success has not come without 3 price. Because the country is hot and humid, the demand for air-conditioned private transportation is high and very income-elastic: a 1 percent increase in household income results in a 2 percent increase in the number of privately owned cars. Because of the rapid rise in incomes, Singapore today has about 300,000 cars (roughly 95 percent of them privately owned) and GOO,OOO motor vehicles, resulting in a high linear density of about 320 motor vehicles per mile of road, compared with only 44 in the United States. The problem of traffic congestion in Singapore is especially acute in the central business district. By 1975, during the morning and evening rush hours, traffic crawled at an average speed of only 12 miles per hour, prompting authorities to discourage the entry of cars into the city center by instituting an area-wide system of tolls.
The chemical classification of iron meteorites—V groups IIIC and IIID and other irons with germanium concentrations between 1 and 25 ppm

Iron and stony iron meteorites chemical classification, noting Ni, Ga, Ge and Ir concentrations and metal phases
Partial characterization and staphylocidal activity of thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein.

Thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein (PMP) is considered to play an important role in preventing an important role in preventing streptococcal endocarditis. However, the structural features and functions of PMPs have not been well characterized, and their antibacterial spectra against other common endocarditis pathogens, such as the staphylococci, are not known. Thrombin stimulation of washed rabbit platelets (10(8)/ml) yielded a PMP-rich preparation with a specific activity of approximately 25 U/mg of protein as determined by Bacillus subtilis bioassay. Twenty-eight clinical and laboratory Staphylococcus aureus isolates, exposed to a standardized PMP preparation (100 U/ml for 2 h at 37 degrees C), exhibited a Poisson-distributed heterogeneity to the bactericidal action of PMP, with approximately one-third designated as PMP resistant. Gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G-50) identified the bioactive moiety within PMP preparations to be in the major protein elution peak; sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) presumptively identified PMP as a low-molecular-weight (MW) (8,500) protein present only in such bioactive protein peaks. Both the bioactivity of PMP preparations and the low-MW protein band were removable by specific anionic membranes (e.g., cellulose-acetate/nitrate), as well as by a variety of anionic resins, further corroborating the suspected cationic charge of PMP. In addition, both PMP bioactivity and the low-MW protein band were recoverable by 1.5 M NaCl elution of the anionic membrane filters post-PMP adsorptive removal. Adsorption of bioactive PMP preparations by highly PMP-susceptible B. subtilis (10(8) CFU/ml, 30 min) resulted in a near-complete loss of residual bioactivity; in contrast, adsorption of bioactive PMP preparations with less PMP-susceptible S. aureus strains failed to reduce bioactivity. Significant lysozyme contamination of PMP-rich preparations was ruled out by determination of differences between bioactive PMP preparations and exogenous lysozyme as regards (i) relative heat stabilities; (ii) differential bactericidal activity versus B. subtilis and Micrococcus luteus; and (iii) SDS-PAGE protein profiles. These data show that the bioactive PMP protein moiety is of low MW, is heat stable, is probably cationic (similar to leukocyte-derived defensins), and possesses potent bactericidal activity against a significant percentage of S. aureus isolates.
Preference Mapping for Automated Recommendation of Product Attributes for Designing Marketing Content

Identification of relevant product attributes is critical to the success of any marketing campaign. This task can be conceptualized as an attribute recommendation problem based on theproduct’s content or features, where the goal of a solution would be to automatically recommend relevant features to the marketer for highlighting in a campaign. In this research, we try to solve this problem by usingpreference mapping, a powerful technique for associating feature preferences with users. We perform preference mapping with sentiment scoresassociated with product attributes mined from user reviews on the Web. As a result of this process, we are able to visualize a set of compared products and the appropriateness of the attributes onthe same two-dimensional space, enabling us to easily recommend important features to a marketer. Finally, we show that expert recommendations or ratings for product features do not necessarily correlate with preference maps based on user sentiments.
Effects of automated speed enforcement in Montgomery County, Maryland, on vehicle speeds, public opinion, and crashes

ABSTRACTObjectives: In May 2007, Montgomery County, Maryland, implemented an automated speed enforcement program, with cameras allowed on residential streets with speed limits of 35 mph or lower and in school zones. In 2009, the state speed camera law increased the enforcement threshold from 11 to 12 mph over the speed limit and restricted school zone enforcement hours. In 2012, the county began using a corridor approach, in which cameras were periodically moved along the length of a roadway segment. The long-term effects of the speed camera program on travel speeds, public attitudes, and crashes were evaluated.Methods: Changes in travel speeds at camera sites from 6 months before the program began to 7½ years after were compared with changes in speeds at control sites in the nearby Virginia counties of Fairfax and Arlington. A telephone survey of Montgomery County drivers was conducted in Fall 2014 to examine attitudes and experiences related to automated speed enforcement. Using data on crashes during 2...
Response to light intensity and day-length of two contrasting flower varieties of Antirrhinum majus L.

SummaryThe effects of day-length and light intensity on the growth rate and leaf number of an early (Pink Ice) and a late (Orchid Rocket) flowering variety of Antirrhinum majus L. have been investigated. Growth rate, as determined by plant height or dry-weight increase, was greater for Pink Ice in all instances. When the two varieties were grown under similar conditions, the leaf numbers prior to flowering attained by Orchid Rocket were always greater than those of Pink Ice. With high light intensity the long-day (LD) responses of both varieties were characterized by leaf numbers which were on average 30 leaves less than the numbers found on plants grown in short days (SD) at high light intensity. Pink Ice exhibited this photoperiodic response to LD irrespective of whether the light intensity was high (26,000 lux) or low (6000 lux), whereas the leaf number of Orchid Rocket only declined in LD when the intensity was high. Plants of this variety grown in low light LD had leaf numbers similar to plants maint...
Assessment of the Compositional Influences on the Toughness of TiCr2-Base Laves Phase Alloys

Systematic studies of alloys based on TiCr2 have been performed in order to improve the toughness of Laves phase intermetallics. The extent to which alloy compositions and annealing treatments influence the toughness was quantified by Vickers indentation. The single-phase Laves behavior was first established by studying stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric TiCr2. Next, alloying effects were investigated with ternary Laves phases based on TiCr2. Different microstructures of two-phase alloys consisting of (Ti,Cr)-bcc+TiCr2 were also examined. Various toughening theories based on vacancies, site-substitutions, crystal structure (C14, C36, or C15) stabilization, and the presence of a second phase were evaluated. The most effective factors improving the toughness of TiCr2 were determined, and toughening mechanisms are suggested.
Rhabdomyoma of the stomach. Report of a case.

This is the report of a unique case of rhabdomyoma of the stomach, which was an incidental finding at autopsy in a 47-year-old female who died from complications of rectal carcinoma. The occurrence of this lesion in the stomach has not been previously reported. The histogenesis of tumor is not clear. Embryonic cell displacement is offered as a possible explanation.