cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serum stimulation of potassium fluxes, ouabain binding, and sodium fluxes in quiescent chicken embryo fibroblasts.

Growth-contingent alterations in potassium and sodium fluxes, ouabain binding, and potassium ion content were examined following serum stimulation of quiescent, density-inhibited chicken embryo fibroblasts. Serum stimulation resulted in very rapid 1.5- to 1.8-fold increases in ouabain-sensitive potassium influx and lesser 1.4- to 1.5-fold increases in potassium efflux and sodium influx. Potassium influx stimulation was maximal after addition of 5–20% calf serum and was unaffected by cycloheximide inhibition of protein synthesis. Reflecting the slightly greater stimulation of potassium influx versus potassium efflux, potassium ion levels were 10–15% higher in serum-stimulated compared to unstimulated cells. Specific ouabain binding levels in stimulated and unstimulated control cells were initially similar, however, by four hours after stimulation a 40–50% increase in specific ouabain binding was observed. Incubation with ouabain was found also to inhibit later serum-stimulated hexose uptake and thymidine incorporation; this blockage may be a consequence of subnormal potassium levels rather than ouabain inhibition of the serum-stimulated potassium influx.
Usefulness of wide pulse pressure as a predictor of poor outcome after renal artery angioplasty and stenting.

Renal artery stenosis is a common cause of secondary hypertension and ischemic nephropathy. Percutaneous angioplasty and stent placement has allowed select patients with renal artery stenosis to use fewer antihypertensive agents and improve or stabilize renal function. The associations of baseline systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressures (PPs) with outcomes of blood pressure (BP) and renal function were examined in 243 patients who underwent renal angioplasty and stent placement. The average PP before the procedure in patients with improvements or stabilizations in renal function was 53 ± 20 mm Hg, compared to 107 ± 18 mm Hg (p
Quantitatively tracing bacterial transport in saturated soil systems

Three isolates of Escherichia coli were labeled by their resistance to sodium azide and, separately, to novobiocin, nalidixic acid, and tetracycline. The strains exhibited a high degree of persistence in the soil environment and were recoverable on strain specific media at levels within the 95% confidence interval of the numbers covered on nonselective media. The E. coli strains were subsequently used to evaluate the events which would occur when a septic tank drainfield became submerged in a perched water table and effluentborne bacteria escaped into the groundwater. Field experiments were conducted by introducing the strains into horizontal lines installed into the A, B, and C horizons of a soil profile and transport was evaluated by collecting groundwater samples from 5 rows of piezometers (sampling six separate depth zones/row) located downslope from the injection lines. The major portion of subsurface transport of the bacterial populations occurred in specific zones in the soil profile and at an apparent maximum velocity of 17.0 cm min−1. The maximum bacterial density in the groundwater, observed at each sampling distance downslope, was used to produce a mathematical relationship which described the overall decrease in numbers of organisms with increased distance through the soil. The potential health hazards which could occur by the subsurface transport of fecal organisms in relation to these experiments are discussed.
Random processes with long‐range dependence and high variability

Description d'une famille de modeles stochastiques qui pourraient servir en meteorologie (precipitations, nuages, champs turbulents de vent, etc.). La famille est caracterisee par le long terme ou le court terme de la dependance (correlations), par la probabilite associee a la queue de la distribution (probabilite decrivant la vraisemblance pour que la variable aleatoire consideree prenne des valeurs elevees), et par le degre de non-linearite. Examen detaille de 2 processus: le mouvement stable fractionnaire (avec le cas particulier du mouvement brownien fractionnaire), et le mouvement stable fractionnaire spectral. Ils presentent des proprietes de normalisation par les echelles, une dependance a long terme et une variabilite elevee
Smoothing of the edge-enhanced impulse response from binary phase-only filters using random binary patterns

We report a technique for reducing the edge-enhanced impulse response from binary phase-only filters (BPOFs). In this technique, the object used to make the filter is multiplied by a random binary pattern. Then the BPOF is constructed. Experimental details are presented.
Receptacle and ovary assimilate concentrations and subsequent boll retention in cotton

Assimilate supply or flux to developing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) bolls (fruits) may help determine whether those bolls are retained or abscised. Most bolls that abscise tend to do so within a few days post anthesis (DPA), and little is known about the relationship between assimilate levels in young fruiting forms and their relationship to boll retention. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the relationships of young receptacle and ovary assimilate levels to boll retention among genotypes and sympodial branch positions. Eight genotypes of cotton (four cultivars and four leaf-type isolines) were grown in the field in 1989 and 1990 using conventional cultural practices
The Mitral Valve by Three-Dimensional Echocardiography

A comprehensive evaluation of patients with mitral valve disease must include an echocardiographic examination of the mitral valve apparatus and resultant hemodynamic changes due to mitral pathology. Three-dimensional echocardiography has impacted on the diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse but has mostly existed in a research realm. After decades of development, three-dimensional echocardiography is now easily performed and readily incorporated in the assessment of mitral valve disease in daily clinical practice. Unique anatomic views of the mitral valve, accurate quantitative assessment of the mitral valve orifice area, and delineation of segmental prolapse are several advantages of three-dimensional echocardiography. Moreover, there is a wealth of data that can be derived from a three-dimensional volume, enabling more detailed analysis of mitral valve apparatus and valve annular dynamics. This review highlights current applications of three-dimensional echocardiography in the routine evaluation of mitral valve disease.
Treatment for depigmentation following burn injuries

Partial-thickness burn injuries frequently heal with pigmentary changes. Occasionally, permanent depigmentation is observed, especially in areas such as the hands, fingers and wrists. This article reports our surgical technique and our success in using it to treat depigmentation after burn injuries. This technique consists of superficial dermabrasion of the depigmented region, followed by transplantation of melanocytes via epithelial sheet grafts. With this technique, 30 separate surgical procedures have been performed on 21 patients. The follow-up period for these patients has ranged from 2 weeks to 94 months with an average of 17 months. The skin-graft take has been good to excellent in all patients. The colour match has been good or excellent in all but one patient. No complications have been observed. This procedure has consistently and reliably improved the disfigurement from depigmentation in all of the patients we have treated.
Evaluation of a Fixed, Weight-Based Dose of 3-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Without Adjunctive Plasma Following Warfarin-Associated Intracranial Hemorrhage

Introduction Data regarding use of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) for international normalization ratio (INR) reversal in warfarin-associated intracranial hemorrhage (wICH) is variable with regards to dosages, adjunctive agents, and product choice. In 2012, we implemented a fixed, weight-based [30 IU/kg] dosing protocol of 3-factor PCC (3PCC) utilizing a rapid infusion rate and no requirement for fresh frozen plasma (FFP) following factor product administration. We aimed to evaluate the impact of this protocol on immediate and delayed INR reversal in patients admitted with wICH in the absence of FFP co-administration.
Effect of chronic ethanol consumption and moderate or high fat diet upon tissue distribution of vitamin A in rats fed either vitamin A or β-carotene

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of ethanol feeding with moderate or high fat diets upon hepatic and nonhepatic tissue contents of vitamin A. In the first experiment male rats were fed control or 30% ethanol liquid diets containing retinul acetate and either moderate fat (17% of total calories) or high fat (35% of total calories) for four weeks. Three days prior to killing the rats on the high fat diets received an intragastric dose of [ 3 H] retinyl acetate. The second experiment was similar to the first except that diets contained β-carotene and all rats received a dose of [ 3 H] β-carotene. In both experiments the amount of vitamin A stored in the liver was lower in ethanol-fed rats, and the amount of liver vitamin A was lower in ethanol-fed rats on the high fat diet compared to those on low fat diet. The vitamin A levels in lungs and adrenals were higher in ethanol-fed rats, whereas the vitamin A levels of kidneys of ethanol-fed groups were either no different or lower than in controls. The results of the recovery of radioactivity in these tissues were similar. This study has demonstrated that chronic ethanol consumption causes increased vitamin A content of nonhepatic tissues, primarily the lung and adrenals, but not of kidneys. Also, the effects of ethanol consumption are more pronounced in combination with a high fat diet.
Characterization of electrical properties of semi-insulating GaAs using acousto-electric voltage spectroscopy between 83 and 300 K with surface wave power as an additional parameter

Abstract Transverse acousto-electric voltage (TAV) measurements as a function of incident photon energy, surface acoustic wave (SAW) power and d.c. bias voltage of temperature range between 83 and 300 K are used to study the surface of semi-insulating, Cr-doped GaAs samples. A bound excitonic level around 1.506 eV is detected and it is observed that (i) raising the temperature, (ii) applying a d.c. bias voltage, (iii) increasing the SAW power, (iv) decreasing the spectral resolution of the incident photon beam and (v) illuminating by a bias light with energies between 1.55 and 0.89 eV all result in the quenching of the excitonic structure. Also the presence of a large band of interface traps, that considerably influences the field effect measurements, are detected and their radial distribution is studied by monitoring the TAV amplitude as a function of the spacial position of the incident beam.
Gain and index saturation in circular-grating distributed-feedback semiconductor lasers

Abstract We report numerical results for the above-threshold spectral prop-erties of circular-grating distributed-feedback semiconductor lasers.Our model includes a radially-varying gain and index saturation, as well as a uniformly-distributed grating loss, in the solution of the coupled-mode equations. Our results show a multi-mode spectrum forlarge coupling strengths, a consequence of mode competition inducedby the spatially-varying gain distribution associated with the gratinglosses. We also find that a single-mode spectrum is possible over a limited power range. 1 Introduction A great deal of progress has been made in recent years in developing the threshold properties of circular-grating distributed-feedback (CGDFB) semi-conductor lasers [1]-[2]. These properties include the threshold gains and as- sociated detunings from the Bragg frequency, the effects of grating phase onmulti-mode operation, and the use of intensity distributions to determineover- or undercoupled conditions. To date, however, the above-thresholdproperties of circular- grating lasers have not been reported, except as ex-
Cytokine mediators of Th17 function

Th17 cells were identified as an independent lineage of CD4+ T cells that secrete a distinctive set of immunoregulatory cytokines, including IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, and IL-21. These cytokines collectively play roles in inflammation and autoimmunity and in response to extracellular pathogens. The expression of the lineage-specific transcription factor RORγt leads to Th17 lineage commitment; however, it has become increasingly clear that the population of cells designated as Th17 cells is not homogeneous. Although these cells collectively produce characteristic Th17 cytokines, not all are produced by each individual cell in the population. The cytokines produced by individual cells are presumably affected in part by the specific local cytokine milieu. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the specific functional characteristics and regulation of Th17 cytokines and clarify how they mediate the actions of Th17 cells.
Lower bound on the ground-state energies of atoms and molecules by variational quantum Monte Carlo methods.

It is pointed out that the rms fluctuation of the local energy encountered in variational Monte Carlo calculations, together with the expected energy, can be used to produce a nontrivial lower bound on the ground-state energies of atoms and molecules. This lower bound has the desirable properties of general accessibility (via Monte Carlo calculations) and linear sensitivity to deviations of the trial wave function from the exact wave function. These qualities of accessibility and sensitivity are demonstrated with numerical data obtained from recent Monte Carlo calculations on the helium atom and the hydride ion.
Bis-(diisopropoxyphosphinyl)-methane complexes with rare-earth nitrates and chlorides

Abstract Solid adducts of rare-earth nitrates or chlorides and bis-(diisopropoxyphosphinyl)-methane were prepared and characterized by chemical and spectroscopic methods. A structural change observed for the nitrate adducts in traversing the lanthanide series is considered to be a shift from monomeric to dimeric form, caused by increasing steric repulsion between the bulky isopropyl groups as the metal ion becomes smaller. It is postulated that the ratio of unidentate to bidentate bonding of the nitrate groups also varies.
Electronic surveillance and pharmacist intervention for vulnerable older inpatients on high-risk medication regimens.

Objectives: To develop and evaluate an electronic tool to assist clinical pharmacists with reviewing potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in hospitalized elderly adults. Design: Pilot intervention. Setting: Academic tertiary care hospital. Participants: Hospitalized adults aged 65 and older admitted to the general medicine, orthopedics, and urology services during a 3-week period in 2011 who were administered at least one medication from a list of 240 PIMs. Intervention: A computerized PIMS dashboard flagged individuals with at least one administered PIM or a high calculated anticholinergic score. The dashboard also displayed 48-hour cumulative narcotic and benzodiazepine administration. Participants were ranked to reflect the estimated risk of an adverse event using logical combinations of data (e.g., use of multiple sedatives in a nonmonitored location). In a pilot implementation, a clinical pharmacist reviewed the flagged records and delivered an immediate point-of-care intervention for the treating physician. Measurements: Clinician response to pharmacist intervention. Results: The PIMS dashboard flagged 179 of 797 individuals (22%) admitted over a 3-week period and 485 participant-medication pairs for review by the clinical pharmacist. Seventy-one participant records with 139 participant–medication pairs required additional manual review of the electronic medical record. Twenty-two participants receiving 40 inappropriate medication orders were judged to warrant an intervention, which was delivered by personal communication over the telephone or text message. Clinicians enacted 31 of 40 (78%) pharmacist recommendations. Conclusion: An electronic PIM dashboard provided an efficient mechanism for clinical pharmacists to rapidly screen the medication regimens of hospitalized elderly adults and deliver a timely point-of-care intervention when indicated.
Degradation of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide by tissue homogenates

Abstract Extracts of liver, kidney and brain contain an enzyme that is highly specific for degradation of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). The Michaelis constants (Km's) appear to be nearly identical in all three tissues, averaging about 10−5 mol/liter. The Vmax for kidney and liver are about the same but that for cerebral cortex is about two-fold lower. Since the relative Vmax in the three organs differ for insulin and VIP, it is concluded that it is unlikely that the same enzyme is responsible for the degradation of both peptides.
Counter Rotating Slotted Ring: A New Architecture for Ring MANs

In this paper, we describe and analyze a new architecture for ring Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs): Counter Rotating Slotted Ring (CRSR). CRSR consists of two unidirectional rings shared among the network stations. Both the rings have erasure nodes appropriately placed between each or several stations. The transmission time is slotted. Each slot has some control bits and one of the control bit indicates if the slot is busy or not. An empty slot can be marked as busy and used for transmitting data. Once a busy slot reaches its destination, the data is read and the slot is marked as ''read''. The erasure nodes identify the ''read'' slots and erase the data from these slots so that the slots can be reused. This process reduces the traffic intensity, which in turn results in less bandwidth requirements for transporting the same amount of information. The performance of CRSR is evaluated by using mathematical and simulation techniques. Several interesting results are presented in this paper in comparison with DQDB.
Impact of X-ray Scatter When Using CT-based Attenuation Correction in PET: A Monte Carlo Investigation

Current dual-modality PET/CT systems offer significant advantages over stand-alone PET including decreased overall scanning time and increased accuracy in lesion localization and detectability. However, the contamination of 3-D cone-beam CT data with scattered radiation during CT-based attenuation correction (CTAC) is known to generate artifacts in the attenuation map and thus the resulting PET images. The aim of this work is to quantitatively measure the impact of X-ray scatter in CT images on the accuracy of CTAC on future designs of volumetric PET/CT systems. Our recently developed MCNP4C-based Monte Carlo X-ray CT simulator capable of modeling both fan- and cone-beam CT scanners and the Eidolon dedicated 3D PET Monte Carlo simulator were used to generate realigned PET/CT data sets. The impact of X-ray scatter was investigated through simulation of a uniform cylindrical water phantom for both a commercial multi-slice and prototype flat panel detector-based cone-beam CT scanners. The analysis of attenuation correction factors (ACFs) for the simulated cylindrical water phantom showed that the contamination of CT data with scattered radiation in the absence of scatter removal underestimates the true ACFs, namely by 7.3% and 28.2% in the centre for both geometries, respectively. It was concluded that without appropriate X-ray scatter compensation, the visual artifacts and quantitative errors in flat panel detector-based geometry are substantial and propagate cupping artifacts to PET images during CTAC.
Urbanization, sedimentation, and the homogenization of fish assemblages in the Etowah River Basin, USA

We tested the hypothesis that urbanization alters stream sediment regimes and homogenizes fish assemblages in 30 sub-basins of the Etowah River. Sediment variables included average particle size (mean phi) of the stream bed, percent fines (<2 mm) in riffles, and baseflow turbidity (NTU). Homogenization was quantified as ratios of endemic to cosmopolitan species richness (Er:Cr) and abundance (Ea:Ca). High NTU and fine stream beds were associated with homogenized assemblages (i.e., lower E:C ratios). Mean phi and NTU were significantly correlated with E:C ratios (r = −0.74 to −0.76) and, when combined using multiple regression, accounted for 73% of the variance in ratios. Stream slope strongly covaried with mean phi (r = −0.92) and percent fines in riffles (r = −0.79), but multiple regression models showed that urbanized sites had finer beds and riffles than predicted by slope alone. Urban land cover was the primary predictor of NTU (r 2 = 0.42) and, combined with slope in multiple regression, explained 51% of the variance in NTU. Our results indicate that stream slope is a background variable predicting particle size and E:C ratios in these streams. Urbanization disrupts these relationships by transforming clear streams with coarse beds into turbid streams with finer beds. These conditions favor cosmopolitan species, ultimately homogenizing fish assemblages. Bed texture was linked to urbanization; however, NTU was the best indicator of urban impacts because it was statistically independent from slope.
Comparison of the peano-gosper fractile array and the regular hexagonal array

A new class of modular broadband low-sidelobe arrays, based on the theory of fractile (fractal tile) geometry, has been recently introduced. In this paper, the radiation properties of the Peano–Gosper fractile array are compared to those of the conventional square and hexagonal arrays. It is demonstrated that the Peano–Gosper array has the same desirable grating-lobe conditions as the hexagonal array, while achieving a much lower overall sidelobe level. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 43: 524–526, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20523
Recognition of tissue residing antigen by T cells in vasculitic lesions of giant cell arteritis.

The objective of this study was to explore the nature of the antigen-specific T cell response in giant cell arteritis by analyzing clonally expanded T cells in temporal artery specimens. In temporal artery tissue from eight patients, 10% of the T cell receptor β chain repertoire was systematically screened for clonal T cells by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with selected BV, BJ, and BC specific primers and by direct sequencing of the amplified product. In five additional patients tissue-derived T cell clones were characterized. All expanded clonotypes were analyzed for their presence at different sites of the inflamed artery. T cell lines were tested for their proliferation to autologous monocytes pulsed with temporal artery extracts from patients with giant cell arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and unrelated diseases. Clonally expanded T cells were identified in 30% of the BV-J combinations of the sampled repertoire. A subset of these clones were encountered at different sites of the inflammation, but not in the peripheral blood. The T cell receptor β chain sequences were diverse. The patients had between none and five such clonotypes in the sampled repertoire, suggesting that only few T cell specificities in each patient are involved in antigen recognition. One of these T cell clonotypes was shown to proliferate in response to an antigen selectively expressed in temporal artery specimens from giant cell arteritis and from polymyalgia rheumatica patients. Clonotypes with identical T cell receptor β chain sequences can be found at distinct sites of the inflammation in giant cell arteritis, suggesting recognition of the same antigen at different locations. At least for some of these T cell clones the antigen is shared between different giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica patients but not expressed in temporal arteries of patients with unrelated diseases. While different HLA-DR4+ patients utilize distinct T cell specificities, the actual number of responding T cells in individual patients is small and may be disease limiting.
Assessing Corporate Security Departments' Internal Relationships and Linkages with Other Business Functions

Abstract During the past decade there has been extensive research that has addressed corporate security departments' external relationships with law enforcement. However, little is known about the internal relationships of corporate security with the other business functions in the organization. Security directors and managers from the Fortune 500 and Fortune Service 500 companies were surveyed to assess the corporate security departments' relationship to other business functions and departments within the organization. The major categories of respondents included chemical/pharmaceutical, financial, manufacturing, service, and utilities companies. Respondents were asked about the corporate security departments' relationship to other business functions as well as which executives and departments are closely associated or allied with corporate security. Findings suggest that corporate security is closely aligned with other business functions and works well with other departments. However, the extent to whic...
Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons to store renewable electrical energy and upgrade biogas

Abstract An approach for synthesis of a hydrocarbon fuel from CO 2 has been evaluated. The use of electrochemical reduction of CO 2 at a copper electrode to a hydrocarbon mixture looks like a promising technology, especially when applied to upgrading biogases. The resulting gas mixture, containing methane and hydrogen with small amounts of ethylene and carbon monoxide, has a similar energy density and composition to Hythane. Therefore, it is hoped that the gas mixture could be directly used in existing gasoline engines with minimal modifications. Estimating from existing literature data, the energy storage efficiency is poor (around 38% based on the fuel product HHV). However, the process equipment requirements are not complex, and the fuel product is also relatively readily used within standard engines. Finally, the paper discusses some of the key areas for research to verify and improve this technology.
Mammography as a screening tool for coronary artery disease.

Background The leading cause of death in women over 40 y old is coronary artery disease (CAD) followed by cancer. This large retrospective study investigates the relationship between mammographic benign arterial calcifications (BAC) and a history of CAD to determine if mammography is a suitable screening tool for CAD. Methods To determine the incidence of BAC in our general screening population, we prospectively studied 1000 consecutive women undergoing screening mammography. We retrospectively identified a population of women with known CAD who had undergone screening mammography as our study group. These groups were compared according to age and the significance of BAC in each group was statistically evaluated using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test and Cochran-Armitage test for trend. Results We prospectively evaluated the mammograms of 819 women with no history of diabetes or CAD. Eighty-six women had mammographic BAC for a baseline BAC incidence of 10.5%. We identified 395 women with CAD and 193 (49%) of these women had BAC. Vascular calcifications significantly increased with age ( P P Conclusions This preliminary study indicates that across age groups, the odds of having CAC are approximately 6.2 times greater if BAC are present compared with women without BAC indicating that mammography may be a useful screening tool for CAD.
PREPARATION, STRUCTURE, AND PROPERTIES OF AN ANIONIC TETRAMERIC COPPER COMPLEX CONTAINING A PLANAR, EIGHT-MEMBERED RING CORE

The three-solvent reaction of (Bu4N)2[Zn(dmt)2] (dmt = C3S52- = 3-thioxo-1,2-dithiole-4,5-dithiolato) (CH2Cl2), (Et4N)2tto (tto = C2S42- = tetrathiooxalate) (H2O), and CuCl2·2H2O (CH3OH) yields the anionic tetrameric copper complex (Bu4N)2[Cu(dmt)]4. The dianion contains a planar, eight-membered ring core of four Cu atoms and four S atoms. The dmt ligand coordinates for the first time in this particular fashion.
Ecology of gorillas and its relation to female transfer in mountain gorillas

Understanding the principles that underly primate social evolution depends on integrated analysis of data on behavioral ecology, demography, life history tactics, and social organization. In this paper, data on the behavioral ecology of gorillas are reviewed and comparisons made among the three subspecies. Gorillas are selective feeders; and, their patterns of food choice are consistent with models of feeding by large generalist herbivores. They rely heavily on terrestrial herbaceous vegetation, which provides an abundant supply of densely distributed food. Availability of this food varies little in space and time; and, gorilla foraging activity can maintain its productivity. The level of frugivory and the extent of seasonal variation in diet and habitat use vary among and within populations. Low variability in food distribution patterns makes cooperative defense of foraging areas not worthwhile; but, it also means that ecological costs associated with gregariousness are low. However, demographic and life history data on mountain gorillas show that these costs may be sufficient to reduce female reproductive success as group size increases. Advantages to being with high quality males apparently can outweigh these costs. The implications of these data for the evolution of the mountain gorilla social system, and the possible roles of male protection, predation, and female/female competition in this regard, are discussed.
Knowledge, Faith Development, and Religious Education that Includes All

This article explores the notion of inclusive religious education as it impacts people with and without disabilities. The changes that need to occur to make religious education inclusive go far beyond the idea of inclusion to the basic premise of what faith development entails. A case is made that religious education in most of its current forms is too knowledge-based, leading to an errant premise about how faith is developed and to misguided structures for the Christian church. The presence of persons with intellectual disabilities reminds us to re-examine this knowledge orientation, resulting in recommendations for faith development programs that will benefit all.
Lateral Asymmetry in Perceptual Judgments of Reading Disabled, Hyperactive and Control Children

Three groups of 11 year old boys, classified as reading-disabled/hyperactive, hyperactive, and normal controls, made same-different judgments to pairs of verbal or visuospatial stimuli presented simultaneously to the right or left side of a fixation point. Two experimental paradigms were used, one emphasizing comparison judgments from memory, the other, new comparison judgments. Reading-disabled boys made more errors of judgment than did controls. All subjects exhibited faster reaction times for different judgments of pairs appearing in the left visual field. Reaction times were longer and errors more numerous for judgments made when two stimuli were presented simultaneously, one to each visual field. Differences in performance for the two halves of the visual field are attributed to memory storage effects for overlearned stimuli. The deficiency in interhemispheric comparisons is attributed to immaturity of the cerebral commissures. The reading-disabled group appears to encompass two subgroups with differ...
Methylthioadenosine Reprograms Macrophage Activation through Adenosine Receptor Stimulation

Regulation of inflammation is necessary to balance sufficient pathogen clearance with excessive tissue damage. Central to regulating inflammation is the switch from a pro-inflammatory pathway to an anti-inflammatory pathway. Macrophages are well-positioned to initiate this switch, and as such are the target of multiple therapeutics. One such potential therapeutic is methylthioadenosine (MTA), which inhibits TNFα production following LPS stimulation. We found that MTA could block TNFα production by multiple TLR ligands. Further, it prevented surface expression of CD69 and CD86 and reduced NF-KB signaling. We then determined that the mechanism of this action by MTA is signaling through adenosine A2 receptors. A2 receptors and TLR receptors synergized to promote an anti-inflammatory phenotype, as MTA enhanced LPS tolerance. In contrast, IL-1β production and processing was not affected by MTA exposure. Taken together, these data demonstrate that MTA reprograms TLR activation pathways via adenosine receptors to promote resolution of inflammation.
County-Level Determinants of Mental Health, 2002–2008

Poor mental health is a concern in the US and world-wide. In this study we examine the effects of socioeconomic and environmental variables on the number of days of poor mental health reported across US counties. The results suggest that educational attainment, employment opportunities including self-employment, and social capital have important benefits in terms of community mental health. Other socio-demographic variables also tend to have predicted effects, as does the amount of sunshine in January, which is our control for Seasonal Affective Disorder. The general conclusion of the study is that living in a non-metro county and adjacent to a metro core, is associated with greater happiness. Mental health days also increase considerably due to natural disasters and they are affected by regional climate variability. For policymakers concerned about reducing the average number of poor mental health days across the nation, our results suggest that reducing poverty is a more powerful strategy than reducing income inequality.
An inverse solution method for nonlinear problems using image data

The central role of modern experimental analysis is to help complete, through measurement and testing, the construction of a fully specified analytical model such as a finite-element model. In this paper, we demonstrate our approach on a rubber model undergoing large deflections. The inverse problem has two stages. The first is the parameter identification that determines properties such as material constants. The second involves the force identification for determining unknown loads. We formulate both inverse problems using the sensitivity response method (SRM). The advantage of the SRM is that it utilizes commercial FE programs and therefore there is essentially no restriction on the range of problems to which it can be applied. Experimental results using image data of the deformed model will be presented.
SLA impact modeling for service engagement

During the customer engagement phase it is critical for the service providers to estimate the impact of service level constraints on service personnel needs. However, it is often difficult due to the implication from customer workload. In this paper we propose an SLA impact evaluation methodology that uses queueing models to quantitatively evaluate the impact of SLAs to the engagement cost model.
Multi-strategy supplier selection for commodity sourcing

With the globalization and the emergence of the extended enterprise of interdependent organizations, there has been a steady increase in outsourcing of parts and services. When the supply base of a manufacturer is dispersed globally, the purchaser must decide what item and quantity to order from each supplier, when to order and where to ship. The scenario considered in this paper assumes that suppliers have limited manufacturing capacity, and that demand over a finite planning horizon at each plant of the manufacturing network is known. A cost-effective procurement strategy for the multiperiod horizon needs to be determined. This work develops an analytical model for strategic supplier selection wherein the capacity constraints of each potential supplier, inbound logistics cost variations between truckload and less-than-truckload, and inventory costs are considered. We present a three-stage analytical approach for the solution: in stage one, we solve a carrier selection problem followed by an associated inventory cost estimation in stage two. Total landed cost based supplier selection model is developed in the final stage.
Self, Identity, and Subjective Experiences of Schizophrenia: In Search of the Subject

Schizophrenia is an / am illness— one that may overtake and redefine the identity of the person. This essay explores concepts of personhood and subjectivity from social science that are useful in understanding the experiencing subject in schizophrenia. Relationships between the self and sickness have not been investigated adequately with reference to their influence on prognosis. Chronicity is conceived of as a loss of self and of positive social roles and identity. Methods for the study of self and identity in relation to schizophrenia include analysis of illness-ident ity representations made by persons with schizophrenia.
Two conserved domains in regulatory B subunits mediate binding to the A subunit of protein phosphatase 2A.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is an abundant heterotrimeric serine/threonine phosphatase containing highly conserved structural (A) and catalytic (C) subunits. Its diverse functions in the cell are determined by its association with a highly variable regulatory and targeting B subunit. At least three distinct gene families encoding B subunits are known: B/B55/CDC55, B′/B56/RTS1 and B″/PR72/130. No homology has been identified among the B families, and little is known about how these B subunits interact with the PP2A A and C subunits. In vitro expression of a series of B56α fragments identified two distinct domains that bound independently to the A subunit. Sequence alignment of these A subunit binding domains (ASBD) identified conserved residues in B/B55 and PR72 family members. The alignment successfully predicted domains in B55 and PR72 subunits that similarly bound to the PP2A A subunit. These results suggest that these B subunits share a common core structure and mode of interaction with the PP2A holoenzyme.
Tankyrase Is a Golgi-associated Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Substrate That Interacts with IRAP in GLUT4 Vesicles

The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase tankyrase was originally described as a telomeric protein whose catalytic activity was proposed to regulate telomere function. Subsequent studies revealed that most tankyrase is actually extranuclear, but a discordant pattern of cytoplasmic targeting was reported. Here we used fractionation and immunofluorescence to show in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts that tankyrase is a peripheral membrane protein associated with the Golgi. We further colocalized tankyrase with GLUT4 storage vesicles in the juxtanuclear region of adipocytes. Consistent with this colocalization, we found that tankyrase binds specifically to a resident protein of GLUT4 vesicles, IRAP (insulin-responsive amino peptidase). The binding of tankyrase to IRAP involves the ankyrin repeats of tankyrase and a defined sequence ((96)RQSPDG(101)) in the IRAP cytosolic domain (IRAP(1-109)). Tankyrase is a novel signaling target of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK); it is stoichiometrically phosphorylated upon insulin stimulation. Phosphorylation enhances the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity of tankyrase but apparently does not mediate the acute effect of insulin on GLUT4 targeting. Taken together, tankyrase is a novel target of MAPK signaling in the Golgi, where it is tethered to GLUT4 vesicles by binding to IRAP. We speculate that tankyrase may be involved in the long term effect of the MAPK cascade on the metabolism of GLUT4 vesicles.
Molecular Pathways: A Novel Approach to Targeting Hypoxia and Improving Radiotherapy Efficacy via Reduction in Oxygen Demand

Tumor hypoxia presents a unique therapeutic challenge in the treatment of solid malignancies. Its presence has been established to be a poor prognostic factor in multiple cancer types, and past hypoxia-directed approaches have yielded generally disappointing results. Previous approaches have centered on either increasing oxygen delivery or administering agents that preferentially radiosensitize or kill hypoxic cells. However, a novel and potentially more effective method may be to increase therapeutic benefit by decreasing tumor oxygen consumption via agents such as metformin or nelfinavir in a patient population that is enriched for tumor hypoxia. This promising approach is currently being investigated in clinical trials and the subject of this article. Clin Cancer Res; 21(9); 1995–2000. ©2015 AACR .
PROMOTING CRITICAL THINKING IN ONLINE DISCUSSION THREADS: LESSONS LEARNED TEACHING ECONOMICS

This study investigates factors that promote substantive posts and higher order critical thinking in online discussions. The authors compared weekly discussion threads from two online Principles of Macroeconomics courses. One class was considered a low-structure class while the other class was considered a more structured class. Students’ posts were coded following the Gilbert and Dabbagh (2005) coding system. The codes were mapped to Bloom’s Taxonomy. A comparison of means indicate that there was an increase in mean substantive posts from 72 percent in 2008 to 89 percent in 2011. There was an increase in the percentage of posts in higher levels of critical thinking from 11 percent in 2008 to 60 percent in 2011. Analysis of student and instructor posting patterns revealed that structured instructor posts and having a “By Wednesday” requirement promote meaningful online discussions and increased substantive student posts in the higher order critical thinking category. This approach links substantive and quality students’ posts to students’ understanding of the core learning outcomes for the course using Bloom’s taxonomy.
Treatment of anemia of nephrotic syndrome with recombinant erythropoietin

Nephrotic syndrome has been recently shown to cause erythropoietin (EPO) deficiency in humans and experimental models. However, efficacy and safety of recombinant EPO (rEPO) in the treatment of the associated anemia has not been previously investigated. We report a patient with nephrotic syndrome and only moderately impaired renal function. This patient showed severe disabling EPO-deficiency anemia that was treated with subcutaneous rEPO. This treatment led to a marked amelioration of the anemia and a dramatic improvement in the patient's sense of well-being and quality of life. The patient's glomerular filtration rate remained stable and the pre-existing hypertension remained under control with appropriate therapy throughout the 30-week course of rEPO therapy. Thus, rEPO therapy appears to be effective in the treatment of EPO-deficiency anemia caused by the nephrotic syndrome. Controlled studies are required to further substantiate the efficacy and safety of rEPO in the nephrotic syndrome.
Extracorporeal photopheresis and adjuvant aerosolized granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor for Sézary syndrome.

Encouraged by preliminary phase 1 studies of aerosolized granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF, sargramostim) in the treatment of patients with melanoma and other malignancies, we treated a 72-year-old patient with Sezary syndrome, using alternate-week cycles of aerosolized GM-CSF in combination with monthly cycles of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). Sezary syndrome, one of the more aggressive forms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, is a devastating and highly symptomatic form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which malignant clones of mature helper CD4 T cells, containing large, convoluted nuclei known as Sezary cells, circulate in the blood and infiltrate skin. Extracorporeal photopheresis, an immunomodulatory therapy, has become a primary treatment for patients with Sezary syndrome. This pheresis-based therapy combines psoralen and ultraviolet A radiation as systemic photochemotherapy to induce immune responses. However, the activity and efficacy of ECP vary considerably. To our knowledge this is the first patient with Sezary syndrome treated with adjuvant aerosolized GM-CSF combined with ECP. It produced clinical improvement and decreased the number of circulating Sezary cells in a previously ECP-refractory patient.
The Future of Astronomy and Physical Cosmology

Astronomy and cosmology have a substantial observational and theoretical basis, but our standard model still depends on some working assumptions. I comment on the nature of the issues behind these assumptions, the guidance we might find from past resolutions of such issues, and the models we might consider for the future of research in this subject.
Adaptive flow control in time warp

It is well known that Time Warp may suffer from poor performance due to excessive rollbacks caused by overly optimistic execution. Here we present a simple flow control mechanism using only local information and GVT that limits the number of uncommitted messages generated by a processor, thus throttling overly optimistic TW execution. The flow control scheme is analogous to traditional networking flow control mechanisms. A ``window'' of messages defines the maximum number of uncommitted messages allowed to be scheduled by a process. Committing messages is analogous to acknowledgments in networking flow control. The initial size of the window is calculated using a simple analytical model that estimates the instantaneous number of messages that a process will eventually commit. This window is expanded so that the process may progress up to the next commit point (generally the next fossil collection), and to accommodate optimistic execution. The expansions to the window are based on monitoring TW performance statistics so the window size automatically adapts to changing program behaviors.The flow control technique presented here is simple and fully automatic. No global knowledge or synchronization (other than GVT) is required. We also develop an implementation of the flow control scheme for shared memory multiprocessors that uses dynamically sized pools of free message buffers. Experimental data indicates that the adaptive flow control scheme maintains high performance for "balanced workloads'', and achieves as much as a factor of 7 speedup over unthrottled TW for certain irregular workloads.
Theoretical foundations of planning and navigation for autonomous robots

In this article, theoretical foundations of planning and navigation systems and processes are outlined in a form applicable for autonomous robotics. the core of the theory is based upon methods developed in the team theory of decentralized stochastic control. A class of autonomous control systems is defined, and a problem of information representation is addressed for this class. A phenomenon of nesting is determined to be a key element for arranging design and control procedures for systems of intelligent control. A concept of hierarchical nested knowledge-based controller is employed in this article which enables optimum control using nested dynamic programming. an application of this concept is unfolded for a system of knowledge-based control of an autonomous mobile robot.
Criteria for the classification of osteoarthritis of the knee and hip.

The Osteoarthritis (OA) Criteria Subcommittee of the American Rheumatism Association set out to develop (a) a classification of OA that includes recognised subsets; and (b) subsets of OA identified...
Growth Promoting Effect of Condensed Fermented Corn Extractives (Corn Fermentation Condensed Solubles) in Chickens

Abstract CAMP et al. (1957) noted that the inclusion in a practical diet of liquid corn steepwater (3%), of corn steepwater dried on corn germ meal or of corn steepwater dried on corn gluten feed caused a growth response in chicks. Later in 1959, Russo and Heiman made more detailed studies on the growth stimulating effect of corn fermentation condensed solubles (CFCS) in different breeds of chicks fed several basal rations. The results obtained showed that the addition of corn fermentation condensed solubles (5%) in place of corn meal or a combination of corn meal and soybean meal in the rations resulted in a significant increase in growth rate, but feed efficiency was not improved. The present research was a study of the magnitude and consistency of the growth promoting effect of corn fermentation condensed solubles on growing chickens. EXPERIMENTAL Day-old New Hampshire×Single Comb White Leghorn chicks, hatched at the University. . .