cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consumer trying: Scale development and validation

Not all attempts of consumers to acquire and consume goods are successful. Sometimes some consumers are able to achieve their consumption goals in their first attempt; some other times individuals are able to achieve their goals after repeated attempts, and yet other times their goals are never achieved and might be abandoned. This research focuses on exploring the nature of consumer trying to achieve consumption goals and develop and validate a scale for measuring consumer trying.
Embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM) may be sporadic or occur in association with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also know as Osler-Webber-Rendu syndrome. Several centers nationwide have extensive experience dealing with the latter cohort of patients. These centers have multidisciplinary teams devoted to both diagnosis and treatment of this disease. However, it is not uncommon for patients to present to other hospitals with sporadic PAVMs or to present with initial signs and symptoms of HHT, such as exercise intolerance, stroke, or pulmonary hemorrhage. Embolization has become the preferred method of treatment for symptomatic PAVMs and asymptomatic lesions > 3 mm in diameter. Incidentally, the 3-mm threshold is a relatively arbitrary criterion based on empirical observation. It was chosen when embolization of smaller lesions was technically impractical with the equipment available at the time. Currently, with the armamentarium of available microcatheters and embolic agents, some interventional radiologists will treat any and all lesions identified on pulmonary angiography. A comprehensive overview of treatment is beyond the scope of this brief article. Instead, I review three embolization techniques useful in the treatment of these lesions and applicable to a wider range of lesions with similar anatomy.
Magnetic relaxation in nickel above the Curie temperature

Magnetic relaxation in nickel above the Curie temperature (354\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C) has been studied up to a temperature of 450\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The spin-relaxation rate $\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{r}}$, which is equal to the magnetic resonance half-width $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\omega}=\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\Delta}H$, is determined from the field dependence of the microwave Kerr rotation. We fit the relaxation to an expression: $\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{r}}=3(\frac{C}{T})(\frac{H}{M})\ensuremath{\omega}_{d}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}$, where $C$ is the Curie constant, $T$ the absolute temperature, $\frac{M}{H}$ the transverse static susceptibility, ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{d}$ the pseudodipolar coupling frequency, and ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}$ the spin correlation time. At high temperatures, ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}$ is constant and is set equal to $\frac{1}{{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{e}}$, the reciprocal exchange frequency, by a suitable choice of ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{d}$. As the temperature is dropped below 420\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}$ begins to increase as ${(T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c})}^{\frac{\ensuremath{-}2}{3}}$. This increase in ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}$ is compatible with critical-neutron-scattering studies of nickel and with measurements of the static susceptibility. Below 385\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{c}$ remains constant at a value 1.8 times the high-temperature value. It is believed that the development of spin-wave excitations in this temperature range prevents a further increase in the spin correlation time. A shift in the spectroscopic splitting factor from $g=2.22$ below ${T}_{c}$ to $g=2.29$ above ${T}_{c}$ is observed. Well above ${T}_{c}$, a small amount of Kerr rotation, which is associated with the Hall effect, is observed. The magnitude of this rotation is consistent with the results of dc studies.
Characterization of products formed in the reaction of ozone with α-pinene: case for organic peroxides

The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their subsequent induced pulmonary and systemic oxidative stress has been implicated as an important molecular mechanism of PM-mediated toxicity. However, recent work has shown that there is significant ROS associated with ambient PM. In order to understand the formation mechanisms as well as understand the potential health effects of particle-bound oxidative species, the α-pinene–O3oxidation chemical system was studied to elucidate the structures of reaction products using liquid chromatography-multiple stage mass spectrometry (LC-MSn). The classes of compounds identified based on their multiple stage-MS fragmentation patterns, mechanistic considerations of α-pinene–O3oxidation, and general fragmentation rules, of the products from this reaction system were highly oxygenated species, predominantly containing hydroperoxide and peroxide functional groups. The oxidant species observed were clearly stable for the 1–3 h that elapsed during aerosol collection and analysis, and probably for much longer, thus rendering it possible for these species to bind onto particles forming fine particulate organic peroxides that concentrate on the particles and could deliver concentrated doses of ROS in vivo to tissue.
Association of the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ gene with type 2 diabetes mellitus varies by physical activity among non-Hispanic whites from Colorado

Abstract The objective of the study was to test for an association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the Pro12Ala polymorphism in the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ gene ( PPAR-γ ) in families from Colorado. We were also interested in whether there was any modification by diet or physical activity. We studied 216 Hispanic pedigrees (1850 nuclear families) and 236 non-Hispanic white (NHW) pedigrees (1240 families) from the San Luis Valley and Denver, CO. We genotyped the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPAR-γ gene. Historical physical activity (average metabolic equivalent task units per week) as well as average dietary intake over the past year was assessed by self-report. Using the family-based association test, we found that in NHWs the Pro12 allele was associated with T2DM only among those with low physical activity ( P = .006), or with high polyunsaturated fat intake ( P = .034). A significant interaction between low physical activity and the Pro12 allele in association with T2DM was also detected using generalized estimating equations models ( P = .022). Furthermore, after stratifying by physical activity similar to the family-based association test, we found the Pro12 allele was significantly associated with T2DM in those with low physical activity (odds ratio, 2.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-4.94). There may be a gene-environment interaction between the Pro12 allele of the PPAR-γ gene and physical activity that results in increased risk of T2DM in NHWs.
Computational methods for global analysis of homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits: A case study

In earlier paper we have developed a numerical method for the computation of branches of heteroclinic orbits for a system of autonomous ordinary differential equations in ℝ n . The idea of the method is to reduce a boundary value problem on the real line to a boundary value problem on a finite interval by using linear approximation of the unstable and stable manifolds. In this paper we extend our algorithm to incorporate higher-order approximations of the unstable and stable manifolds. This approximation is especially useful if we want to compute center manifolds accurately. A procedure for switching between the periodic approximation of homoclinic orbits and the higher-order approximation of homoclinic orbits provides additional flexibility to the method. The algorithm is applied to a model problem: the DC Josephson Junction. Computations are done using the software package AUTO.
Observations of a successive stellar occultation by Charon and graze by Pluto in 2011: Multiwavelength SpeX and MORIS data from the IRTF

Abstract Pluto’s lower atmosphere has been observed to evolve since the first definitive occultation detection in 1988. Possibilities for explaining the lower atmospheric structure include a steep thermal gradient and/or extinction, the latter of which can be characterized as a dependence between occultation flux and wavelength. On 2011 June 23, a 14.43 UCAC magnitude star ( R = 13.64) was occulted by Pluto as observed from multiple sites. Observations made at NASA’s 3-m Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea, Hawai’i, showed a full occultation of the star by Charon followed by an atmospheric graze by Pluto. Data were taken simultaneously in visible-wavelength images and low-resolution, near-infrared spectra. This dataset is unique in that (i) the double occultation allows astrometric measurements for Pluto and Charon as well as accurate calibration of the Pluto light curve, and (ii) the wavelength-resolved data serve as a test for atmospheric extinction. The graze reached a minimum normalized flux level of roughly 0.35, serving primarily as a probe of Pluto’s upper atmosphere (which is typically defined to be above half-light level in occultation light curves). However, the light curve is well fit by atmospheric models with a power-law thermal gradient, a clear upper atmosphere, and haze in the lower atmosphere. We find a negative dependence between flux and wavelength in the deepest part of Pluto’s atmosphere probed by the graze and in a spike during emersion. A simple extinction model for spherical, μm-sized tholins matches the observed spectral trends. While the atmospheric fits cannot rule out a clear atmosphere having a steep thermal gradient at the bottom, the flux-wavelength dependence and the feasibility of our particle-scattering fits suggest that Pluto’s lower atmosphere contained haze in 2011. These results provide an important link in monitoring Pluto’s dynamic atmosphere.
Signal control in thin-film magnetoresistive bubble detectors

Abstract We present experimental data for the signal amplitude of magnetoresistive bubble detectors employing thin film sensors, as a function of misalignment between the sensor and the overlaying stretcher chevrons. By modifying the shape of the stretcher chevrons covering the sensor and thus the effective drive field at the sensor, the one and zero signals can be controlled.
Numerous group I introns with variable distributions in the ribosomal DNA of a lichen fungus

Abstract The length of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) differs significantly among individuals from natural populations of the ascomycetous lichen complex Cladonia chlorophaea . The sequence of the 3′ region of the SSU rDNA from two individuals, chosen to represent the shortest and longest sequences, revealed multiple insertions within a region that otherwise aligned with a 520-nucleotide sequence of the SSU rDNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The high degree of variability in SSU rDNA size can be accounted for by different numbers of insertions; one individual had two group I introns and the second had five introns, two of which were clearly related to introns at identical positions in the other individual. Yet, introns in different positions, whether within an individual or between individuals, were not similar in sequence. The distribution of introns at three of the positions is consistent with either intron loss or acquisition, and clearly indicates the dynamic variability in this region of the nuclear genome. All seven insertions, which ranged in size from 210 to 228 nucleotides, had the conserved sequence and secondary structural elements of group I introns. The variation in distribution and sequence of group I introns within a short highly conserved region of rDNA presents a unique opportunity for examining the molecular evolution and mobility of group I introns within a systematics framework.
Hemolysis under high hydrostatic pressure.

SummaryHydrostatic pressures up to 41 atm had no significant immediate effect on the percentage of hemolysis of washed red cells when they were diluted with an equal volume of water. After prolonged exposures to pressures up to 540 atm there was a significant increase in hemolysis due to pressure which was 2-3 times greater at 6° than at 25°.
New evidence for a role for thioredoxin h in germination and seedling development

Thioredoxin of the h-type — earlier linked to the reduction of wheat (Triticum durum Desf. cv. Monroe) endosperm proteins — was converted from an oxidized to a partially reduced state during germination and seedling development. While the abundance of thioredoxin progressively decreased during this period, the availability of reducing equivalents, defined as the product of the relative abundance of thioredoxin and the percent reduction, increased. The amount of the enzyme catalyzing the reduction of thioredoxin h (NADP-thioredoxin reductase) remained constant. The activities of enzymes generating the NADPH needed for the reduction of thioredoxin (glucose 6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases) increased. The level of thioredoxin h in the endosperm appeared to be controlled by the embryo via hormones. Gibberellic acid enhanced the disappearance of thioredoxin, whereas abscisic acid showed the opposite effect. Moreover, uniconazole, an inhibitor of gibberellic acid synthesis, slowed seedling growth and inhibited the disappearance of thioredoxin in a manner reversible by gibberellic acid. The results are consistent with a role for thioredoxin h in initiating the mobilization of nitrogen and carbon needed for germination and seedling development.
Ant eating behavior of mountain gorillas

Eleven cases of feeding on driver ants (Dorylus sp.) by mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) are described. Ant eating provides the gorillas with more animal protein and other nutrients per unit feeding time than do other forms of insectivory that contribute to their diet, but it is so rare that it is unlikely to be of real nutritional significance. Gorillas obtain ants with their hands and do not use tools. Immature individuals (except infants) ate more ants than did adult females, and silverbacks were not seen to eat ants. These differences are more likely to reflect differences in individual taste and interest in novelty than differences in nutritional strategy. Not all gorillas in the Virungas population eat ants. Intra-population variability may be ecologically contingent, but ant eating appears to be a socially acquired and transmitted taste.
VOIDING AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION AFTER CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENTS

Purpose: We provide an up-to-date review of the urological manifestations of cerebrovascular accidents and their management, including sexual manifestations.Materials and Methods: We performed a comprehensive MEDLINE search for peer reviewed articles using key words and incorporated these data with our experience with the treatment of patients in an acute stroke unit, rehabilitation unit and ambulatory care center.Results: The knowledge of urological dysfunction after stroke is based largely on the evaluation of symptomatic patients. The predominant symptoms are urinary frequency, urgency and urge incontinence. Time after stroke has a significant influence on urological findings. Detrusor hyperreflexia is the most common urodynamic finding. Whereas the site and size of the stroke clearly have an influence on urological findings, to our knowledge the effect of the involved hemisphere is unclear. Urinary incontinence as an initial presentation in acute stroke is associated with a high mortality rate. Sexual...
The Molecular Biology of Lung Cancer

GAZDAR, A.F. The Molecular Biology of Lung Cancer. Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1992, 168 (2), 239-245-Lung cancer arises atter a series of morphological changes, which take several years to progress from normal epithelium to invasive cancer. The morphological changes progress from hyperplasia, to metaplasia, to dysplasia, to carcinoma in situ, to invasive cancer and finally to metastatic cancer. Multiple molecular changes have been documanted in lung cancers, both small cell (SCLC) and non-small cell (NSCLC) types. The number of changes has been estimated to be in double digits. These changes include activation of dominant oncogenes myc family, (K-ras and neu genes), as well as loss of recessive growth regulatory genes or anti-oncogenes (p53, and RB as well as unidentified gene or genes on chromosome 3). However, cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies indicate that multiple other specific sites of actual or potential DNA loss may be present in lung cancers. Other changes may include development of drug resistance, and production of growth factors and their receptors. It is tempting to associate specific molecular changes with specific morphological changes, as has been attempted in the colon. However, because of the difficulties in serially sampling the respiratory tract, such studies have not been performed to date. Documentation of molecular changes in premalignant lesions and prospective studies of their prognostic effects will be necessary for the design of rational chemoprevention trials.-anti-oncogenes; K-ras; lung cancer; myc family; neu
Symbolic representation of metabolic and endocrine systems

Abstract A preliminary attempt is made to represent symbolically certain temporal and spatial relationships that may be assumed to apply, without biologically unrealistic assumptions, to metabolic, hormonal, and perhaps other physiological nets. One aim is to elucidate the role of structure in the response of a net to stimuli. Another is to allow for biological variability. The representation is based on an experimental method often used with physiological systems, which consists in inferring the structure of a net (i.e., the paths among nodes or elements ) from the pattern of propagation of an impulse such as that produced by injecting a hormone. With rather general assumptions, simple relations can be found between the sign and sequence of propagation of impulses and the paths in a model net that has elements analogous to biochemical compounds and reactions. A time coordinate, represented experimentally by the sequence in which an impulse reaches various elements, is introduced in the model by defining for each path a path-time , the time it takes an impulse to traverse the path. An algorithm is developed for finding paths consistent with any given set of impulse experiments. These paths are combined into hypothetical nets for which ranges of values for path- times are found by means of a set of linear inequalities. “Biological variability” enters through the lack of numerical precision in these path-times and in the magnitude of impulses.
The Formation, Evolution, Reclamation, and the Absorbed Bases of Alkali Soils

1. The formation of alkali soils is primarily a question of soluble salt accumulation. Those processes which bring about the accumulation of soluble salts in soils also tend to cause the accumulation of CaCO3. Under certain conditions simple calcium silicates may also be precipitated in alkali soils. Hilgard's researches were concerned chiefly with the soluble salts. On the other hand, more recent investigators have emphasised the base-exchange aspects of the subject. Sodium salts tend to react with the clay and humus constituents of the soil, converting them into Na-absorption compounds. These components produce extremely adverse conditions in the soil.2. Under certain conditions alkali soils tend to pass through four evolutionary stages, namely, salinisation, alkalinisation, desalinisation, and degradation. As to whether or not an alkali soil will pass beyond the salinisation stage, depends on the composition of the soluble salts that accumulate in it. Where sodium salts predominate, more or less alkalinisation of the exchange complex has taken place. However, this is not true where soluble calcium is relatively abundant.3. Desalinisation (by leaching, whether natural or artificial) of alkalinised soil is usually accompanied by the formation of Na2CO3 and by pronounced deflocculation. If CaCO3 be present, the formation of Na2CO3 is accompanied by the replacement of absorbed sodium by calcium. Under these conditions the degradation stage will not be attained. If CaCO3 be absent, base-unsaturated constituents arise under leaching conditions, and more or less of the inorganic-exchange complex becomes decomposed into simple oxides.
Effect of impurities on the electronic structure of grain boundaries and intergranular cohesion in iron and tungsten

Abstract The semi-empirical and first-principles calculations of the energetics and the electronic structures of impurities on a ∑3 (111) grain boundary (GB) in Fe and W have revealed important features of the impurity effects. In both Fe and W, impurities such as N, O, P, S and Si, weaken the intergranular cohesion resulting in ‘loosening’ of the GB. The presence of B and C on the contrary, enhances the interatomic interaction across the GB. Boron plays a dual role in both Fe and W; not only does its presence at GBs enhance the intergranular cohesion, but it also accomplishes ‘site competition cleansing’ by displacing the other impurity atoms off the GB. Micro alloying with 10–50 ppm B may be an effective way of improving the ductility of both Fe-base alloys and W. Another important result is understanding the decohesion effect of H in Fe. Contrary to general belief, H does not contribute its electron to the Fe d-bands at all. Instead, the electron stays very strongly localized close to its proton. There is also virtually no hybridization with the Fe electrons and virtually no effect on Fe atoms magnetization. As a result the interatomic bonding along the Fe-atom chains via H atoms is very inefficient, thus resulting in significant weakening of the intergranular cohesion. These results are important for understanding the fundamental physics of intergranular embrittlement.
Persistence of exogenous, inserted ganglioside GM1 on the cell surface of cultured cells.

Abstract Ganglioside GM 1 , which can insert spontaneously into the membrane of intact cells, has been measured after insertion into transformed fibroblasts by cholera toxin (choleragen) binding, for which ganglioside GM 1 is the natural receptor. Choleragen binding is not altered in starved, quiescent cells over a four-day period. Dividing cells show decreased binding in proportion to cell division. Thus, neither dividing nor quiescent cells appear to metabolize or otherwise degrade this membrane component.
Defect generation and morphology of (001) Si surfaces during low-energy Ar-ion bombardment.

Low-energy Ar{sup +}-ion bombardment of atomically rough (001) Si surfaces has been investigated using atomistic simulations. The simulations suggest that ions with energy less than 20 eV selectively displace surface atoms without causing bulk damage and further that the displacement yield is surface site specific in this energy range. Interpreted in the context of recent experimental kinetic data for Si-surface self-diffusion, the simulations imply that above room temperature the most important effect of ion bombardment on surface self-diffusion and surface morphology is an increase in the formation rate of single adatoms rather than enhancement of the migration component of surface self-diffusion.
Quantum collapse and revival in the motion of a single trapped ion

Within certain limits, the dynamics of a single trapped ion oscillating about the node of a standing-wave light field is described by the Jaynes-Cummings model, which is routinely used for cavity-QED experiments. We propose a technique to measure quantum collapse and revival in the population inversion of a single trapped ion, and show that this method is uniquely suited for the measurement of final temperatures of the trapped ion as well as for the analysis of nonclassical states of the ion motion, such as Fock and squeezed states. The results are discussed with particular consideration given to the effects of a finite laser bandwidth.
Contractile response of fescue-naive bovine lateral saphenous veins to increasing concentrations of tall fescue alkaloids.

Various alkaloids found in endophyte-infected tall fescue have been shown to elicit different effects in the grazing animal. As part of an ongoing characterization of vascular response generated by different alkaloids, the objective of this study was to examine the vasoconstrictive potentials of ergonovine (a simple lysergic acid derivative) and alpha-ergocryptine, ergocristine, and ergocornine (all ergopeptine alkaloids) using bovine lateral saphenous veins (cranial branch) biopsied from fescue-naive cattle. Segments (2 to 3 cm) of vein were surgically biopsied from healthy crossbred yearling cattle (n = 18; 274 +/- 8 kg of BW). Veins were trimmed of excess fat and connective tissue, sliced into 2 to 3 mm sections, and suspended in a myograph chamber containing 5 mL of oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit buffer (95% O(2)/5% CO(2); pH = 7.4; 37 degrees C). Tissue was allowed to equilibrate at 1 g of tension for 90 min before initiation of treatment additions. Increasing doses of each alkaloid (1 x 10(-10) to 1 x 10(-4) M) were administered every 15 min after buffer replacement. Data were normalized as a percentage of contractile response induced by a reference dose of norepinephrine (1 x 10(-4) M). Exposure of vein segments to increasing concentrations of ergocryptine, ergocristine, and ergonovine did not result in a contractile response until 1 x 10(-7) M, and ergocornine was even less potent (P < 0.05). Ergonovine had a greater maximal contractile intensity than ergocristine and ergocryptine (P < 0.05), with the 1 x 10(-4) M responses of ergonovine, ergocristine, ergocryptine, and ergocornine reaching maximums of 68.5 +/- 4.1, 45.5 +/- 4.5, 42.9 +/- 4.1%, and 57.2 +/- 9.9% of the norepinephrine maximum, respectively. The contractile response to increasing concentrations of ergonovine vs. ergocryptine, ergocristine, and ergocornine were opposite from previous evaluations of ergoline (e.g., lysergic acid) and ergopeptine (e.g., ergovaline) alkaloids using this bioassay, where the ergopeptine generated the greater contractile intensity. These data indicate that ergopeptines structurally different only at a single position of the peptide moiety do not exhibit differing contractile responses when considering contractile intensity. This difference may alter the potency when considering ergocornine was less potent than ergocryptine or ergocristine. These alkaloids may need to be considered when evaluating causative agents vasoconstriction associated with tall fescue-induced toxicosis.
Female gametophyte development

Great attention has been drawn toward research on female gametophyte (FG) development, and many mutants have been identified with abnormal formation. Although studies are being conducted on the function and expression of individual regulatory genes, only a few projects have focused on gene regulatory networks. Here, we briefly reviewed the molecular mechanisms and factors that affect FG development and discuss our ongoing investigations with gymnosperms. The progress that has already been reported in this field serves as a strong foundation for future examinations of those gene networks that control steps in plant reproduction.
Creating an Environment of Wellness within Food Offerings; Memorial Sloan Kettering's Experience with the Healthy Hospital Food Initiative

Background: Memphis Healthy U, an interdisciplinary initiative to encourage the campus at a large urban university to “Move more, Eat healthier, and Be tobacco free,” was instituted at the request of the University President. Baseline data (n1⁄4223) indicated 47.3% of students are overweight or obese, with 42% of systolic and 30% of diastolic blood pressure measurements pre-hypertensive or hypertensive.
Resonant tunneling through two symmetric centers.

A one-dimensional model of resonant tunneling through two symmetric localized centers is considered. The goal is to get an idea of the mechanism of c-axis transport in layered cuprates of the 214 family, where the doping is not by increasing of the oxygen content but by substitution of La by atoms of other valences. It is shown that two cases are possible. If the distance between the resonant sites is less than one half of the barrier thickness, the dependence on energy of the tunneling probability (transparency coefficient) contains two close maxima divided by a deep minimum. The transparency in the maxima is of the order of unity. In the opposite case the maxima merge into one, and the transparency is exponentially small, although much larger than the probability of direct tunneling. The structure of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{x}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ corresponds to the first case.
Förster resonance energy transfer, absorption and emission spectra in multichromophoric systems. I. Full cumulant expansions and system-bath entanglement

We study the Forster resonant energy transfer rate, absorption and emission spectra in multichromophoric systems. The multichromophoric Forster theory (MCFT) is determined from an overlap integral of generalized matrices related to the donor’s emission and acceptor’s absorption spectra, which are obtained via a full 2nd-order cumulant expansion technique developed in this work. We calculate the spectra and MCFT rate for both localized and delocalized systems, and calibrate the analytical 2nd-order cumulant expansion with the exact stochastic path integral method. We present three essential findings: (i) The role of the initial entanglement between the donor and its bath is found to be crucial in both the emission spectrum and the MCFT rate. (ii) The absorption spectra obtained by the cumulant expansion method are nearly identical to the exact spectra for both localized and delocalized systems, even when the system-bath coupling is far from the perturbative regime. (iii) For the emission spectra, the cumulant expansion can give reliable results for localized systems, but fail to provide reliable spectra of the high-lying excited states of a delocalized system, when the system-bath coupling is large and the thermal energy is small. This paper also provides a simple golden-rule derivation of the MCFT, reviews existing methods, and motivates further developments in the subsequent papers.
Using distances between α-carbons to predict protein structure

Knowledge of a protein's structure is important in understanding its function. The usual experimental structure determination methods can be costly and time-consuming. We present an idea for a fast and inexpensive protein structure prediction method that combines modeling with less expensive experimental data. Our method involves three steps: (1) building a decoy set, (2) measuring inter-residue distances in a target protein, and (3) comparing the measured distances with those calculated in each decoy. We postulate that structures with a small number of similar inter-residue distances will also have similar three-dimensional structure. We further hypothesize that the minimum number of distances needed to determine structure is much less than the total number of inter-residue distances in the protein. To develop our protocol, we apply our method to target proteins whose structures have been solved experimentally but have not been included in the set. We simulate experimental data by calculating α-carbon distances from the experimentally determined structures of our target proteins. We have created a large, generalized decoy set using most of the structures in the Protein Data Bank. It can be used to study any protein composed of 100 residues or less. Using this decoy set, we searched for four proteins; our predicted structures ranged in RMSD from 3.6 to 7.7 A. We have also analyzed the RMSD distributions of the decoys using the search proteins as references and found the distributions to be similar for each protein. Of the nearly 5,000 CαCα distances in a 100 residue protein, knowledge of only twenty-five distances will usually result in predicting a reliable model. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008
Site-Selective Glycosylation of Hemoglobin on Cys β93

In this work, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a novel glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb) with high oxygen affinity as a potential Hb-based oxygen carrier. Site-selective glycosylation of bovine Hb was achieved by conjugating a lactose derivative to Cys 93 on the β subunit of Hb. LC-MS analysis indicates that the reaction was quantitative, with no unmodified Hb present in the reaction product. The glycosylation site was identified by chymotrypsin digestion of the glycosylated bovine Hb followed with LC-MS/MS and from the X-ray crystal structure of the glycosylated Hb. The chemical conjugation of the lactose derivative at Cys β93 yields an oxygen carrier with a high oxygen affinity (P50 of 4.94 mmHg) and low cooperativity coefficient (n) of 1.20. Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AFFFF) coupled with multiangle static light scattering (MASLS) was used to measure the absolute molecular weight of the glycosylated Hb. AFFFF-MASLS analysis indicates that glycosylation of Hb significantly alte...
High Performance Submicrometer CMOS with Metal Induced Lateral Crystallization of Amorphous Silicon

In this work, we report high performance, 0.1 μm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors fabricated in a single grain of recrystallized silicon, at low temperatures. Metal induced crystallization (MIC) of amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film and dopant activation was achieved simultaneously using nickel with a peak processing temperature of 500°C. The n-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (n-MOS) and p-channel-MOS (p-MOS) devices with width/length of 0.3/0.1 μm show on-currents of 150 and 100 μA/μm, respectively, at a V DD of 2 V, without any optimization. These transistors are some of the best devices fabricated using MIC with 500°C limitation of processing temperature. They show excellent on-currents, subthreshold slope, and on/off current ratio with a simple device structure. They constitute a promising step toward matching the performance of bulk-Si CMOS.
Quantitative wave-particle duality in multibeam interferometers

We propose quantitative measures of wave properties and particle properties for multibeam interferometers. We show that these quantities are connected by a few fundamental inequalities which express wave-particle duality. Our analysis includes which-way detection schemes and quantum erasure. The inequalities derived here are a generalization of similar limits which were studied previously in the special case of two-beam interferometers. In addition, we propose alternative measures that express the available information more efficiently, and we show that these measures fulfill similar inequalities.
Bioanalytical development and validation of liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric methods for the quantification of total and free cefazolin in human plasma and cord blood.

Abstract Objectives Cefazolin is a commonly prescribed β-lactam antibiotic for prophylaxis against skin infections following surgery, including caesarean sections. Assessment of maternal and neonatal exposure is important for correlating drug concentrations to clinical outcomes. Thus, bioanalytical methods for the quantification of both total and free cefazolin in maternal plasma and cord blood can assist in the comprehensive evaluation of cefazolin exposure. Design and methods Specimen preparation for the measurement of total cefazolin was performed via protein precipitation with acetonitrile containing the internal standard cloxacillin. Ultrafiltration was used to isolate free cefazolin. Processed samples were analyzed on a Prelude SPLC system coupled to a TSQ triple quadrupole Vantage mass spectrometer. Methods were validated following FDA bioanalytical guidelines. Results The analytical measuring ranges of these methods were 0.48–480 µg/mL and 0.048–48 µg/mL for total and free drug, respectively. Calibration curves were generated using 1/ x 2 weighted linear regression analysis. Total cefazolin demonstrated inter- and intra-assay precision of ≤20% at the LLOQ and ≤11.2% at other levels. Free cefazolin demonstrated inter- and intra-assay precision of ≤18.5% at the LLOQ and ≤12.6% at other levels, respectively. Accuracy (%DEV), carryover, matrix effects, recovery and stability studies were also acceptable based on FDA recommendations. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that samples prepared in cord blood can be accurately quantified from an adult plasma calibration curve, with recoveries ≤9.1% DIF and ≤11.9% DIF for total and free cefazolin, respectively. Conclusions The described LC–MS/MS methods allow for the measurement of total and free cefazolin in both plasma and cord blood.
Regulation of periodic protein synthesis in the cell cycle: Control of initiation and termination of flagellar gene expression

Abstract Conditional mutations and drugs that specifically block DNA synthesis and cell division in Caulobacter crescentus have been used to analyze the role of the cell cycle in differentiation. The results suggest that the DNA synthetic pathway, and not an intact cell division pathway, acts to time the periodic synthesis of flagellin A, flagellin B and the hook protein. The expression of these flagellar genes is apparently controlled at the level of transcription, with initiation of the synthetic periods dependent on a specific stage of chromosome replication. The required stage of replication, or DNA execution point, occurs near mid-S phase at approximately 0.65 of the swarmer cell cycle. Examination of a C. crescentus polyhook mutant PCM103 indicates, however, that the DNA synthetic pathway is only one level of regulation over flagellum formation. In the mutant, hook protein synthesis is coupled to DNA synthesis and is initiated at the expected time in the cell cycle, but hook protein synthesis is not repressed at the normal time, hook assembly fails to terminate and only a low level of flagellin is detected. Thus the defect in this strain, which grows and divides normally, appears to affect a sequence of developmental events at a point after the induction of the hook protein. These findings are consistent with a hierarchy of controls that regulates the periodic synthesis of flagellar proteins and their assembly in the flagellum. Initiation of hook protein and flagellin synthesis requires a specific stage of chromosome replication, while later stages of flagellum formation, including the termination of hook protein synthesis, also require a second level of regulation that is defective in strain PCM 103.
12/15-Lipoxygenase Is Required for the Early Onset of High Fat Diet-Induced Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in Mice

Background Recent understanding that insulin resistance is an inflammatory condition necessitates searching for genes that regulate inflammation in insulin sensitive tissues. 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15LO) regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and is implicated in the early development of diet-induced atherosclerosis. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that 12/15LO is involved in the onset of high fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance. Methodology/principal findings Cells over-expressing 12/15LO secreted two potent chemokines, MCP-1 and osteopontin, implicated in the development of insulin resistance. We assessed adipose tissue inflammation and whole body insulin resistance in wild type (WT) and 12/15LO knockout (KO) mice after 2-4 weeks on HFD. In adipose tissue from WT mice, HFD resulted in recruitment of CD11b(+), F4/80(+) macrophages and elevated protein levels of the inflammatory markers IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFNgamma, Cxcl1 and TNFalpha. Remarkably, adipose tissue from HFD-fed 12/15LO KO mice was not infiltrated by macrophages and did not display any increase in the inflammatory markers compared to adipose tissue from normal chow-fed mice. WT mice developed severe whole body (hepatic and skeletal muscle) insulin resistance after HFD, as measured by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. In contrast, 12/15LO KO mice exhibited no HFD-induced change in insulin-stimulated glucose disposal rate or hepatic glucose output during clamp studies. Insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation in muscle tissue from HFD-fed mice was significantly greater in 12/15LO KO mice than in WT mice. Conclusions These results demonstrate that 12/15LO mediates early stages of adipose tissue inflammation and whole body insulin resistance induced by high fat feeding.
Evaluation of Certain Hypotensive Agents VII: Tetramethylpiperidine and Benzothiadiazinate Derivatives

The hypotensive activity of four tetramethylpiperidine and four benzothiadiazinate derivatives was investigated in anesthetized rats and dogs. The active tetramethylpiperidine derivatives exerted their effects by ganglionic blockade. EX 4922, 1-hydrazinophthalazine 3,4-dihydro-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-1, 1,3-trioxo-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazinate, was hypotensive in rats, cats, and dogs, the rat being the most sensitive species. The data obtained suggest that the response is due to α adrenergic blockade and a direct depressant action on vascular smooth muscle. EX 4526, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 3,4-dihydro-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-1,1,3-trioxo-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazinate, was also hypotensive in rats, cats, and dogs. Pre- and postganglionic conduction along sympathetic nerves was depressed, but the pressor effects to exogenous epinephrine were potentiated. A direct relaxation of vascular smooth muscle was also observed.
44. Rapid induction of apoptosis at ultra low temperatures enhances the efficacy of prostate cancer cryoablation

Introduction Cryosurgery, the use of low temperatures to destroy unwanted tissue, has emerged as a viable option in the treatment of cancerous lesions. Critical to the continual improvement of treatment efficacy is deciphering the biochemical responses of cells to low temperature exposure. To that end, the identification of delayed onset cell death has allowed for the manipulation of cellular responses through the regulation of apoptotic pathways. We have hypothesized that in addition to delayed apoptotic events that have been shown to occur following exposure to mild sub-freezing temperatures (10 to −25 °C), cells exposed to ultra-low temperatures ( Methods and results Human prostate cancer cells (PC3) were exposed to temperatures of −60, −30, and −15 °C to simulate a cryoablative procedure. Using a combination of flow cytometry, fluorescent microscopy, and western blot analyses, samples were assessed at various times post-thaw to identify the presence, levels, and pathways involved in cell death. The results indicate that at ultralow temperatures (below −30 °C) a significant population of cells undergoes programmed cell death within as little as 30 min of thawing, attaining a maximum of ∼40% at 90 min, and by 6 h post-thaw only necrosis was observed. At elevated sub-freezing temperatures (above −30 °C), however, the activation and progression of apoptosis occurs in a more delayed manner and is not noted until 6–24 h post-thaw. The levels of apoptosis are also significantly lower with ∼10% of cells undergoing apoptosis at 6 h post-thaw following exposure −15 °C and ∼25% at 6 h post-thaw for cells frozen to −30 °C. Additionally, it was found that early onset apoptosis progressed through a membrane mediated caspase dependent mechanism. Conclusions These data demonstrate the impact of apoptotic continuum whereby the more severe the cryogenic stress activates the extrinsic, membrane regulated apoptotic pathway while less severe freezing activates the intrinsic, mitochondrial mediated path. The rapid induction and progression of apoptosis at ultralow temperatures provides an explanation as to why such results have not previously been identified following freezing both in cryosurgical or cryopreservation settings. Ultimately, it is our aim to decipher the events and signaling pathways that are specifically involved in triggering rapid-onset apoptosis. Once known, cryosurgical procedures might be modified such that rapid-onset and delayed programmed cell death pathways can be selectively induced, in an effort to improve the overall efficacy of cryoablation.
Effect of Freezing Temperature on Bone Darkening in Cooked Broilers

Abstract To help clarify the role of freezer temperature on acceptability of fryers, I tray-wrapped fresh breast and drumsticks in polyethylene and froze them at 8° F. (−13.3° C.) in a household freezer, −20° F. (−28.9° C.) in a blast freezer overnight, or at −197° F. (−127° C.) in a liquid-nitrogen freezer for 10 minutes. Once frozen, the pieces were stored in a household freezer at 8° F. for 8 weeks before testing. After deep-fat frying, the meat was removed and bones examined for degree of darkening. Fresh, unfrozen pieces were used as controls. Bone darkening was severe in meat frozen at 8° F. or −20° F. but nearly absent in meat frozen at −197° F.
Introduction to the assessing care of vulnerable elders-3 quality indicator measurement set.

Objectives: To update and increase the comprehensiveness of the Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders (ACOVE) set of process-of-care quality indicators (QIs) for the medical care provided to vulnerable elders and to keep up with the constantly changing medical literature, the QIs were revised and expanded. Design: The ACOVE Clinical Committee expanded the number of measured conditions to 26 in the revised (ACOVE-3) set. For each condition, a content expert created potential QIs and, based on systematic reviews, developed a peer-reviewed monograph detailing each QI and its supporting evidence. Using these literature reviews, multidisciplinary panels of clinical experts participated in two rounds of anonymous ratings and a face-to-face group discussion to evaluate whether the QIs were valid measures of quality of care using a process that is an explicit combination of scientific evidence and professional consensus. The Clinical Committee evaluated the coherence of the complete set of QIs that the expert panels rated as valid. Results: ACOVE-3 contains 392 QIs covering 14 different types of care processes (e.g., taking a medical history, performing a physical examination) and all four domains of care: screening and prevention (31% of QIs), diagnosis (20%), treatment (35%), and follow-up and continuity (14%). All QIs also apply to community-dwelling patients aged 75 and older. Conclusion: ACOVE-3 contains a set of QIs to comprehensively measure the care provided to vulnerable older persons at the level of the health system, health plan, or medical group. These QIs can be applied to identify areas of care in need of improvement and can form the basis of interventions to improve care.
Abdominal Anaphylaxis Presenting as Trauma: A Recipe for Delayed Diagnosis

Abstract Background: Successful shock management requires prompt identification, classification, and treatment; however, the triage of patients with non-hemorrhagic shock to the trauma room can lead to delayed diagnosis with increased morbidity and mortality. Objective: Our goal is to emphasize the importance of shock identification and classification to facilitate the delivery of the appropriate and timely therapy, no matter how the patient is triaged. Case Report: We describe a patient triaged as a trauma patient with suspected hemorrhagic shock yet who was found to have anaphylaxis as the etiology of his condition. Abdominal anaphylaxis, a less recognized presentation of anaphylaxis, is reviewed and discussed. Conclusions: We hope to increase awareness of a less common presentation of anaphylaxis and discuss its management.
Large Amplitude Vibrations of Strings

The study of nonlinear, free, undamped transverse vibrations of a stretched string may be traced back to an equation of motion developed by Kirchhoff more than a century ago. Subsequent studies have typically assumed small slopes and done little to incorporate longitudinal coupling effects. In the present work a new set of coupled equations is derived. These highly nonlinear equations are solved by means of a newly developed Galerkin procedure which determines variations of the transverse and longitudinal displaenements in both space and time. Time variation is determined by incremental use of polynomials