cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Common divisors of values of polynomials

Abstract By checking the factorization in the number field k of the positive rational primes less than the degree of k , it is possible to decide whether or not some integer θ of k has a minimal polynomial F ( X ) all of whose values F ( x ) at rational integer x possess a nontrivial common divisor.
Patterned Hydrogel Substrates for Cell Culture with Electrohydrodynamic Jet Printing

Cells respond to and are directed by physiochemical cues in their microenvironment, including geometry and substrate stiffness. The development of substrates for cell culture with precisely controlled physiochemical characteristics has the potential to advance the understanding of cell biology considerably. In this communication, E-jet printing is introduced as a method for creating high-resolution protein patterns on substrates with controlled elasticity. It is the first application of E-jet printing on a soft surface. Protein spots as small as 5 µm in diameter on polyacrylamide are demonstrated. The patterned hydrogels are shown to support cell attachment and spreading. Polyacrylamide substrates patterned by E-jet printing may be applied to further the study of cellular mechanobiology.
Recent advances in time-lapse, laboratory rock physics for the characterization and monitoring of fluid-rock interactions

ABSTRACTMonitoring thermo-chemo-mechanical processes geophysically — e.g., fluid disposal or storage, thermal and chemical stimulation of reservoirs, or natural fluids simply entering a new system — raises numerous concerns because of the likelihood of fluid-rock chemical interactions and our limited ability to decipher the geophysical signature of coupled processes. One of the missing links is understanding the evolution of seismic properties together with reactive transport because rock properties evolve as a result of chemical reactions and vice versa. Capturing this coupling experimentally is one of the missing elements in the existing literature. This paper describes recent advances in rock-physics experiments to understand the effects of dissolution-induced compaction on acoustic velocity, porosity, and permeability. This paper has a dual aim: understanding the mechanisms underlying permanent modifications to the rock microstructure and providing a richer set of experimental information to inform th...
Synchronization in a pool of mutually coupled oscillators with random frequencies

An exact solution to a model of mutually interacting sinusoidal oscillators is found. Limits on the variation of the native frequencies are determined in order for synchronization to occur. These limits are computed for different distributions of native frequencies.
Critical pedagogy in uncertain times: hope and possibilities

by Sheila L. Macrine, New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2009, 226 pp., US$85 (hardcover), ISBN 978-0-230-61320-1 Before there can be an education for democracy, there must be a democracy for education....
Training conditions that best reproduce the joint powers of unsupported walking

A B S T R A C T Objective: To identify the clinically relevant combinations of body weight support and speed that best reproduce the joint powers of unsupported walking. Methods: Timing and magnitude of lower extremity joint powers were calculated for 8 neurologically intact volunteers (4M/4F) walking with 0%, 30% and 50% body weight support at three speeds (slow, comfortable, and fast). Lower extremity joint power absorption was analyzed during weight acceptance and forward propulsion. In addition, power generation was analyzed during forward propulsion. Timings and magnitudes of joint powers per condition were evaluated to identify the training combinations of body weight support and speed that best preserved the powers of unsupported walking at slow, comfortable and fast speeds. Results: For all speeds examined, increasing body weight support to 30% without changing speed provided the best match. In general, changes in speed disrupted the joint power magnitudes and timings more than application of body weight support. Increasing body weight support when faster training speeds were used proved a viable method for reproducing the joint powers of slow, unsupported walking. Conclusions: These data provide a reference for understanding the effect of potential training conditions on power absorption and generation within the lower extremity joints during walking. It is possible to reproduce the joint powers of unsupported walking with certain combinations of body weight support and speed. We recommend applying adequate levels of BWS when training speeds are faster than the overground speed goal, as occurs during treadmill-based locomotor rehabilitation of individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury.
Effect of Energy and Protein Density of Prepartum Diets on Fat and Protein Metabolism of Dairy Cattle in the Periparturient Period

To determine if increased nutrient density in prepartum diets improves nutrient balance of peripartum cows, we blocked 40 Holstein cows and 40 heifers by expected date of parturition and assigned them randomly within blocks to one of four treatment diets varying in density of net energy for lactation (NEL) and crude protein (CP). Diets were 1.30 Mcal of NEL/kg and 12.2% CP, 1.49 Mcal of NEL/kg and 14.2% CP, 1.61 Mcal of NEL/kg and 15.9% CP, and 1.48 Mcal of NEL/kg and 16.2% CP. These diets were fed ad libitum from 25 d prepartum until parturition, and all cows were fed the same diet after calving. Increased nutrient-density of prepartum diets did not decrease feed intake. Compared to animals fed the lowest density, those fed the highest density consumed more NEL (20 vs. 14 Mcal/d) and gained more body condition, backfat, and body weight. They also had less nonesterified fatty acids in plasma (176 vs. 233 microM) and more insulin-like growth factor-I in plasma (472 vs. 390 ng/ml) during the last 2 wk prepartum and less triglyceride in liver at parturition (0.9 vs. 1.5%, wet tissue basis). Quadratic effects of energy density were not observed, and the addition of protein in the medium energy diet had no effect. Prepartum diets did not alter any variables during lactation. In conclusion, increasing the energy and protein density up to 1.6 Mcal of NEL/kg and 16% CP in diets during the last month before parturition improves nutrient balance of cattle prepartum and decreases hepatic lipid content at parturition.
Intervention to Improve Purchasing Decision-Maker Perceptions of Ventilated Tools

AbstractA theory-based intervention strategy to improve purchasing decision-maker perceptions of ventilated tools was developed, implemented, and tested. The intervention was designed to target key constructs of the prevention through design adoption readiness model (PtD ARM), a previously published conceptual model. A Web-based intervention was developed that included information about the health effects of construction dust, a testimonial by a firm owner, and a video demonstrating side-by-side use of both ventilated and nonventilated tools, which provided visual evidence of dust generation and productivity performance. In a pretest/posttest with a control group and an experimental design, purchasing decision makers (n=49) were contacted by telephone. A validated survey instrument was used to collect perception data and open-ended responses regarding barrier information. Gain score t-test analysis found significant improvements in perceived ease of use, health knowledge, and perceived risk in the interve...
Novel bone endocrine networks integrating mineral and energy metabolism.

The skeleton is an endocrine organ that regulates energy metabolism through the release of the osteoblast-derived hormone, osteocalcin (Ocn), and phosphate and vitamin D homeostasis through the secretion by osteoblasts and osteocytes of the novel hormone, FGF23 Ocn activates a widely expressed G-protein coupled receptor, GPRC6A, to regulate insulin secretion by pancreatic β−cells, testosterone secretion by testicular Leydig cells, fatty acid metabolism in the liver, and insulin sensitivity of muscle and fat, as well as other functions. FGF23 targets a limited number of tissues, including kidney, parathyroid gland, choroid plexus, and pituitary gland that co-express FGF receptors and α-Klotho complexes. Ectodomain shedding and secretion of a soluble form of Klotho also is purported to act as an anti-ageing hormone. Further elucidation of these novel endocrine networks is likely to lead to new appreciation of the cooperation between various organ systems to regulate phosphate, vitamin D, and energy metabolism.
Field Measurements of Surface and Near-Surface Turbulence in the Presence of Breaking Waves

AbstractWave breaking removes energy from the surface wave field and injects it into the upper ocean, where it is dissipated by viscosity. This paper presents an investigation of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation beneath breaking waves. Wind, wave, and turbulence data were collected in the North Pacific Ocean aboard R/P FLIP, during the ONR-sponsored High Resolution Air-Sea Interaction (HiRes) and Radiance in a Dynamic Ocean (RaDyO) experiments. A new method for measuring TKE dissipation at the sea surface was combined with subsurface measurements to allow estimation of TKE dissipation over the entire wave-affected surface layer. Near the surface, dissipation decayed with depth as z−1, and below approximately one significant wave height, it decayed more quickly, approaching z−2. High levels of TKE dissipation very near the sea surface were consistent with the large fraction of wave energy dissipation attributed to non-air-entraining microbreakers. Comparison of measured profiles with large-eddy s...
TOPOLOGICAL LOWER BOUND ON THE ENERGY OF A TWISTED ROD

Abstract If one end of an elastic rod is rotated by an angle of 2π relative to the other, the “body frame” along the rod traces out a noncontractible loop in SO(3). This is not the case for a rotation by 4π. A lower bound is derived for the energy of a thin elastic rod whose body frame traces out a noncontractible loop in SO(3).
Lentigo Maligna/Lentigo Maligna Melanoma: Current State of Diagnosis and Treatment

BACKGROUNDLentigo maligna (LM) is a subtype of melanoma in situ that typically develops on sun-damaged skin. Presentation may be quite subtle and delayed diagnosis is common. Clinical margins are often ill defined. Histologic evaluation can be difficult due to the widespread atypical melanocytes tha
Theory of clustering of cell surface receptors by ligands of arbitrary valence: dependence of dose response patterns on a coarse cluster characteristic

Abstract The interaction of ligands with cell surface receptors often induces the formation of receptor clusters on the plasma membrane. This paper develops methods for calculating the kinetics of clustering of divalent receptors by ligands of arbitrary valence. Intramolecular bonding (i.e., both sites on the same receptor bound to a single ligand) is explicitly included in the formalism. The equations are necessary for, among other things, a quantitative analysis of the response of basophils and mast cells to multivalent haptens and antigens. The implications of the equations are briefly pursued. Among the results are: (1) The presence of intramolecular reaction has two opposing effects on the concentration of cross-links, increasing them at low ligand concentrations and suppressing them at high ligand concentrations. The result suggests that those bivalent haptens which do not induce a response may, nevertheless, be active when they are in the form of higher valence analogues. (2) The relation K= 1 2c ∗ between the ligand concentration at which histamine release peaks (c∗), and the ligand site-receptor site affinity (K), which holds for symmetric bivalent haptens, has no simple exact analogue for multivalent ligand. A good approximate relation that holds when K″2>Kc∗ is KK ″ = 1 ƒc ∗ , where K″2 is the intramolecul equilibrium constant at very low ligand concentrations, and f(⩾2) is the valence of the ligand. (3) The dose dependence of a response that is proportional to concentration of cross-links is qualitatively different from one that is proportional to the concentration of aggregates. In particular, the concentration of aggregates may be a bimodal function of ligand concentration. The deviations from simple unimodal dose-response patterns that are sometimes observed in histamine release experiments may, therefore, in part reflect the cell's inability to discriminate between cluster sizes beyond a certain small size. (4) The dose dependence of the number of aggregates per cell shows a switch from unimodal to bimodal as valence is increased. (5) The bimodal pattern is markedly asymmetric, with a high concentration peak that is considerably larger than the low concentration peak. (6) For conditions under which such bimodality is obtained, the addition of monomer will decrease the number of aggregates at very low concentrations, but increase the number over the limb that descends from the low concentration mode. For low affinity ligands (K=104 M–1), the low concentration mode will be the only one observed. Hence a response that is a function of the number of aggregates will sometimes be observed to increase at supraoptimal concentrations when monomer is added. (7) The number of aggregates induced by bivalent ligands can, for certain limited but relevant concentration and parameter ranges, exceed the number induced by higher valence analogues. The predictions are discussed in terms of available experimental data.
CERES aqua instrument simulator for command and upload validation

Three CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System) Instruments are currently in orbit, one instrument is on the TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) spacecraft launched in November, 1997 and two instruments are on the Terra spacecraft launched in December, 1999. The Aqua/CERES is scheduled to loft two additional CERES instruments in December, 2000. Three CERES Instrument Simulation Systems have been built which mimic the microprocessor-controlled operational characteristics of each instrument to a high degree. The original CERES engineering development models developed by NASA and TRW Space and Electronics Group were modified to provide the gimballed azimuth and elevation real-time simulation in synchronization with the embedded control processors. The simulators are used to perform testing and functional validation of custom commands and command sequences prior to the actual uploading to the individual orbiting instruments. The architecture of the benchtop simulation hardware matches that of the individual instruments and each operates in conjunction with the associated unmodified TRW developed flight software to assure a virtual reproduction of the performance of each instrument. Performance results of command sequences for calibration maneuvers and other simulation scenarios are presented.
Environmental influences on maize-Aspergillus flavus interactions and aflatoxin production

Since the early 1960’s, the fungal pathogen Aspergillus flavus (Link ex Fr.) has been the focus of intensive research due to the production of carcinogenic and highly toxic secondary metabolites collectively known as aflatoxins following pre-harvest colonization of crops. Given this recurrent problem and the occurrence of a severe aflatoxin outbreak in maize (Zea mays L.), particularly in the Southeast U.S. in the 1977 growing season, a significant research effort has been put forth to determine the nature of the interaction occurring between aflatoxin production, A. flavus, environment and its various hosts before harvest. Many studies have investigated this interaction at the genetic, transcript, and protein levels, and in terms of fungal biology at either pre- or post-harvest time points. Later experiments have indicated that the interaction and overall resistance phenotype of the host is a quantitative trait with a relatively low heritability. In addition, a high degree of environmental interaction has been noted, particularly with sources of abiotic stress for either the host or the fungus such as drought or heat stresses. Here, we review the history of research into this complex interaction and propose future directions for elucidating the relationship between resistance and susceptibility to A. flavus colonization, abiotic stress, and its relationship to oxidative stress in which aflatoxin production may function as a form of antioxidant protection to the producing fungus.
Stat5 activation plays a critical role in Th2 differentiation

Upon TCR engagement, naive CD4 T cells differentiate toward the Th1 or Th2 phenotype. IL-4, acting through Stat6, plays a major role in Th2 differentiation; IL-2 has also been reported to be essential. Here, we report that retroviral (RV)-mediated expression of a constitutively active Stat5A mutant (STAT5A1*6) can fully restore IL-4 production when naive CD4 T cells are primed in the absence of IL-2. Furthermore, STAT5A1*6 expression causes Th2 differentiation in the absence of IL-4 or in Stat6- or IL-4Ralpha-deficient cells. Infection with STAT5A1*6-NGFR-RV does not enhance GATA-3 expression. STAT5A1*6-NGFR-RV and GATA-3-GFP-RV each render the Il4 gene accessible, but the sites of restriction enzyme accessibility are different. Stat5A binds to HSII and HSIII sites of the Il4 gene. Coinfection with STAT5A1*6-NGFR-RV and GATA-3-GFP-RV results in optimal Th2 priming.
Activation of KNCQ1/KCNE1 Channel by Classic PKC is Impaired in Long QT Syndrome Type 1

Stimulation of the cardiac K+ channel IKs (KCNQ1/KCNE1) is crucial in mediating the QT shortening at high adrenergic stimulation states, with mutations in the KCNQ1 subunit being linked to a high risk of cardiac events triggered by adrenergic stimulation. In addition to β-adrenergic receptors (AR), α1-AR is also activated upon adrenergic stimulation in the heart. IKs is strongly regulated by β-AR stimulation, but little is known about the role of α1-AR-mediated regulation. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying α1-AR-mediated regulation of human IKs channel and mutant channels found in Long QT syndrome type 1 (LQT1). We overexpressed wild-type and mutant KCNQ1/KCNE1 subunits together with the α1A-AR in HEK293T cells. α1-AR activation strongly facilitated voltage dependence of IKs activation independently of β-AR stimulation (V1/2 shift ≅ - 20 mV). This effect was blocked by pretreatment of cell-permeable classic PKC (cPKC) inhibitory peptide and selective cPKC activation by cell-permeable cPKC activator peptide mimicked this effect. A mutation in a putative PKC phosphorylation site in the auxiliary subunit KCNE1 (S102A) specifically abolished the voltage shift by α1-AR stimulation or cPKC activation, suggesting cPKC phosphorylation of KCNE1(S102) increases IKs current through facilitation in voltage dependence of activation. LQT1 associated mutations at the voltage activation domain (S1-S5) of KCNQ1 subunit, also impaired cPKC regulation of the IKs channel independently of β-AR regulation, suggesting that the interactions between the KCNE1 and the voltage-gating domain of KCNQ1 is crucial for cPKC regulation. In conclusion, our study indicates that the voltage activation of IKs by cPKC isoform is important in the IKs channel regulation under adrenergic stimulation and that impairment of this regulation may be linked to LQT1 clinical phenotype.
Vibrational Transition Current Density in (S)-Methyl Lactate: Visualizing the Origin of the Methine-Stretching Vibrational Circular Dichroism Intensity

Vibrational transition current density (TCD) plots for the methine stretch of (S)-methyl-d3 lactate-Cd3 in four conformations are presented. A vibrational TCD map is a vector-field plot over a grid of points of the integrand of the electronic contribution to the velocity-form electric dipole transition moment. TCD plots allow visualization of the flow of electron density produced by nuclear motion, which can be used to identify angular and circular charge flow leading to the electronic magnetic dipole transition moment contribution to vibrational circular dichroism (VCD). For the methine stretch in (S)-methyl-d3 lactate-Cd3, nuclear motion is largely confined to the two atoms of the methine bond, but the electron current density is distributed throughout the molecule. The methine-stretching VCD intensity calculated for the (S)-methyl-d3 lactate-Cd3 conformers is interpreted in terms of the relative contributions from the nuclear electric- and magnetic-dipole transition moments, and from linear electron ch...
Commentary on “The Essence of Business Marketing Theory, Research and Tactics: Contributions by the Journal of Business-to-Business Marketing,” by Lichtenthal, Mummalaneni, and Wilson

ABSTRACT Licthenthal, Mummalaneni, and Wilson's (LMW) insights and review of the JBBM literature fulfills its objectives in describing the rich value and positioning of the journal and in increasing readers' knowledge of the scholarly contributions that its first thirteen years of publication provide. Such retrospection is timely and valuable for achieving useful sense-making about JBBM's role in providing new knowledge about business-to-business behavior. LMW's literature review and discussion of retrospections by other editors of marketing-related journals serves well in defining the JBBM's uniqueness, value, and relatedness to these other scholarly publications. The appendix in LMW provides a rich introduction of reasonable depth to the very substantial article contributions available in the JBBM. The rich details in the appendix in covering research issues, theory, method, findings, and contributions for each article published in the journal offer business marketing scholars, trainers (instructors), a...
Ulceration associated with an islet of columnar epithelium in the mid-esophagus: New evidence for an acquired etiology of Barrett's syndrome

Abstract A six-year-old boy with onset of symptoms at age two who showed ulceration and stenosis in the mid-esophagus associated with adjacent columnar epithelium. The relationship of this case to the histogenesis of Barrett's syndrome is discussed.
A moving finite element model of the high density Z-pinch

This paper presents the results of computations of the behavior of the fiber-initiated high density Z-pinch (HDZP). It purpose is twofold. One is to study the behavior of the physical system itself as an interesting controlled fusion experiment. The main result of this study is a demonstration of the relaxation of the full inertial behavior of the pinch to simplified self-similar behavior in which the forces on the system are in near balance. The moving free boundary and violent initial behavior of this configuration require carful treatment. This leads to the other purpose of the work, to use this realistic physical system as a test-bed for a general-purpose 1-dimensional code based on moving finite elements. A key step in accomplishing this goal has been the recognition that numerical stability of the discretized equations has required the use of nonconservative quantities as the fundamental dependent variables to be discretized. The main result of this work is a code which is capable of treating a very general class of nonlinear, time-dependent fluid equations. {copyright} 1989 Academic Press, Inc.
Space charge and field waves in an electron beam

W. C. Hahn has shown that the basic characteristics of a new type of vacuum tube using a velocity modulated electron beam may be explained by means of waves propagating along the beam. For an "ideal" tube in which the beam was assumed to be of uniform density throughout its length he described the small amplitude, slow "space charge" waves which have axial symmetry. In the following paper a study is made first of the more general slow space charge waves which do not necessarily possess symmetry about the axis. Two cases are considered. First, a very high magnetic focusing field is assumed, so that the motion of electrons in any but the axial direction may be neglected. Then the magnetic focusing field is assumed to be completely absent, and waves having components of velocity of electrons in all directions are treated. Also in the following, attention is given to the fast "field waves" which may exist in the idealized tube under certain conditions. The waves have been termed "space charge" waves and "field waves" because, for the former type, the phase velocities are close to beam velocity and the wave energy is mainly in the electrons. In the case of the field waves, the phase velocities are large compared to beam velocity and the energy is mainly in the electromagnetic field.
Bacterial contamination as a cause of spurious cyanide tests

Abstract Cyanogenic bacteria were common contaminants in cyanide tests of fungi. This observation demonstrated the need to ensure that the origin of hydrogen cyanide in a test is from the sample and is not microbial. This can be accomplished by recording cyanide test results after short incubation periods or by adding antibiotic solutions.
The MPATH-Dx reporting schema for melanocytic proliferations and melanoma.

Background The histologic diagnosis of melanoma and nevi can be subject to discordance and errors, potentially leading to inappropriate treatment and harm. Diagnostic terminology is not standardized, creating confusion for providers and patients and challenges for investigators. Objective We sought to describe the development of a pathology reporting form for more precise research on melanoma and a diagnostic-treatment mapping tool for improved patient care and consistency in treatment. Methods Three dermatopathologists independently reviewed melanocytic lesions randomly selected from a dermatopathology database. Melanocytic Pathology Assessment Tool and Hierarchy for Diagnosis (MPATH-Dx) reporting schema evolved from iterative case review and form revision. Results Differences in diagnostic thresholds, interpretation, and nomenclature contributed to development of the MPATH-Dx histology reporting form, which groups lesions by similarities in histogenesis and degrees of atypia. Because preliminary results indicate greater agreement regarding suggested treatments than for specific diagnoses, the diverse terminologies of the MPATH-Dx histology reporting form were stratified by commonalities of treatments in the MPATH-Dx diagnostic-treatment mapping scheme. Limitations Without transformative advances in diagnostic paradigms, the interpretation of melanocytic lesions frequently remains subjective. Conclusions The MPATH-Dx diagnostic-treatment mapping scheme could diminish confusion for those receiving reports by categorizing diverse nomenclature into a hierarchy stratified by suggested management interventions.
MS-GF+ makes progress towards a universal database search tool for proteomics.

The development of software tools to analyse large mass spectrometry data sets lags behind the increase in diversity of the data. Here the authors develop MS-GF+, a database search tool that outperforms other popular tools in identifying peptides from a variety of data sets.
Parenteral Lipid Emulsions in Guinea Pigs Differentially Influence Plasma and Tissue Levels of Fatty Acids, Squalene, Cholesterol, and Phytosterols

Lipid emulsions are made by mixing vegetable and/or fish oils with egg yolk and contain different types and amounts of fatty acids and sterols. This study assessed the effects of oral diet, soybean oil (SO)-, fish oil (FO)-, a mixture of olive and soybean oil (OOSO)-, and a mixture of fish, olive, coconut, and soybean oil (FOCS)-based emulsions on plasma triacylglycerols and plasma and tissue fatty acid and sterol content following acute and chronic intravenous administration in the guinea pig. Upon acute administration, peak triacylglycerols were highest with SO and lowest with OOSO. Upon chronic administration, the plasma triglyceride levels did not increase in any group over that of the controls. Fatty acid levels varied greatly between organs of animals on the control diets and organs of animals following acute or chronic lipid administration. Squalene levels increased in plasma following acute administration of OOSO, but plasma squalene levels were similar to control in all emulsion groups following chronic administration. Total plasma phytosterol levels were increased in the SO, OOSO, and FOCS groups following both acute and chronic infusions, whereas phytosterols were not increased following FO infusion. Total phytosterol levels were higher in liver, lung, kidney and adipose tissue following SO and OOSO. Levels were not increased in tissues after FO and FOCS infusion. These results indicate that fatty acid and sterol contents vary greatly among organs and that no one tissue reflects the fatty acid or sterol composition of other tissues, suggesting that different organs regulate these compounds differently.
Effects of Flow Augmentations in the Snake River Basin on Farms Profitability1

Abstract: For over 10 years, several species of salmon have been identified as either threatened or endangered in the Snake River Basin of Idaho. The United States Bureau of Reclamation, in cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, has proposed a variety of plans to increase stream flows in the Snake River Basin to facilitate movement by juvenile salmon smolts to the ocean. This research examines two of the flow augmentation plans proposed by the Bureau of Reclamation as well as two alternative plans, one founded purely on existing priority-based water rights and another geared toward minimizing the effects of flow augmentations on farms profitability. Results from a basin-wide model of agricultural production in the Snake River Basin, the Snake River Agricultural Model, present evidence that (1) older water rights are used towards production of less valuable crops, (2) flow augmentation scenarios have unequal effects on farms profitability across agricultural regions within the basin, and (3) irrigation water is valued from US$4 to US$59 an acre-foot.
Mitochondrial O2 use and ATP synthesis: kinetic effects of Ca++ and HPO4(-2) modulated by glucocorticoids.

We have studied the effect of increased Ca ++ on rat liver mitochondrial O 2 consumption and modulation of the effects of the Ca ++ by varying levels of HPO 4 −2 . Moreover, we have studied the acute in vitro effects of glucocorticoids on this system. Our data indicate that: 1) 200 μM Ca ++ produces uncoupled respiration by mitochondria and blocks ATP synthesis; 2) HPO 4 −2 increases the velocity and duration of uncoupled O 2 consumption induced by Ca ++ . The HPO 4 −2 effect fits Michaelis-Menton kinetics, indicating a specific site for the action of HPO 4 −2 with a Km (1/2 saturation constant) of 5 mM; 3) dexamethasone acts acutely (without prefeeding) as an allosteric inhibitor of the HPO 4 −2 effect. The Ki for dexamethasone is 0.5 μg/ml; 4) the glucocorticoids partially protect mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis from Ca ++ /HPO 4 −2 system; and 5) uptake kinetics done with tritium-labeled dexamethasone into fresh intact human leukocytes demonstrate equilibration into the cell within 60 sec with a very large V max of transport at the plasma membrane. Critically ill patients with reduced tissue perfusion have lowered ionized calcium blood levels. This reflects movement of this ion into the cytosol as the plasma membrane Ca ++ pump begins to fail. Clinical implications of our study are that: 1) administration of therapeutic Ca ++ in hypoperfused patients with low serum Ca ++ levels may be contraindicated because this will only increase the Ca ++ load on the mitochondria and further depress ATP synthesis; 2) glucocorticoids administered to these patients offer partial protection of the mitochondria from uncoupling and improve ATP synthesis; and 3) effective doses of glucocorticoids are probably near optimum at four to five times the K i .
Job Stress and Dissatisfaction Among Employee Pharmacists: The Role of Coworker Social Support and Powerlessness

ABSTRACTThis study assessed the relationships among stress, powerlessness, coworker social support, and job dissatisfaction among employee pharmacists. Data were collected via mail questionnaires from 549 employee pharmacists randomly selected from across the nation. Results of multiple regression analysis indicated that stress was the only independent variable with a significant main effect on job dissatisfaction. Two significant interaction terms, however, indicated that both coworker social support and perceived powerlessness moderated the relationship between stress and job dissatisfaction. These findings further our understanding of how social and psychological resources affect the relationship between stress and job dissatisfaction among employee pharmacists.
Personhood, Agency, and Mortuary Ritual: A Case Study from the Ancient Maya

Abstract The archaeological identification of individuals has been an important component of both processual attempts to characterize social organization by the treatment of individuals in mortuary ritual and more recent agency theory applications to studies of political economy and social change. Both approaches have been critiqued for failing to adequately define the individual, instead applying the Western concept of the individual to other societies. These shortcomings are shown to be part of a larger problem in social theory: the continuing polarization between individualism and holism. They point to the need for renewed interest in the anthropological analysis of the “person”—a socially shaped construct—in order to better understand social relationships and recognize the collective aspects of agency. A case study from the Classic Maya civilization illustrates how emphasis on the individual, as represented in mortuary events, artistic depictions, and texts, has resulted in interpretive difficulties that can be avoided by viewing these data from the perspective of the social collectivity from which personhood was derived. Maya corporate kin-based groups, known as “houses,” were a major source of the social identities expressed in political action and represented in mortuary ritual and monumental imagery.
HIV: Tied down by its own receptor.

An engineered protein that binds to the envelope of HIV viruses protects monkeys against infection with a simian–human virus that causes AIDS. This gene-therapy approach might provide an alternative to elusive HIV vaccines. See Letter p.87 This study describes a novel class of highly potent HIV-1 entry inhibitors that can be delivered with a gene-therapy vector to provide an effective alternative to conventional vaccines for HIV-1. To enter cells, HIV-1 first binds its cellular receptor CD4, then the co-receptor CCR5 or CXCR4 The new entry inhibitor consists of the immunoadhesin CD4-Ig fused to a sulfopeptide mimicking CCR5. This fusion, called eCD4-Ig, avidly binds the Env protein of HIV-1 and irreversibly inactivates it. Michael Farzan and colleagues show that this inhibitor has exceptional potency and breadth and can neutralize 100% of a diverse panel of neutralization-resistant HIV-1. When delivered to macaques using an adeno-associated virus, it can protect them from multiple challenges with virus.
Antibody-Catalyzed Enantioselective Robinson Annulation

The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biologyand the Department of Molecular BiologyThe Scripps Research Institute10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037Laboratory for Bioorganic ChemistryThe Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research1275 York AVenue, New York, New York 10021ReceiVed March 25, 1997We report an antibody that is remarkable in that it catalyzesboth steps of an important synthetic transformation, the Rob-inson annulation. The Robinson annulation which accomplishes,in net terms, the conversion of a f c occupies a key role inorganic synthesis.
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN PATIFNTS WITH CHILDHOOD HEMIPLEGIA

In 1937, Dyke, Davidoff and Masson described nine patients with infantile hemiplegia who showed cerebral hemiatrophy, enlargement of the ventricle on the affected side, displacement of these structures toward the affected side, ipsilateral thickening of the skull and ipsilateral dilatation of the sinuses. The present study documents CT findings in patients with infantile hemiplegia; the CT correlate of the “DDM skull”.
Frida Kahlo: Visual Articulations of Suffering and Loss

Abstract Humanities courses in medical college settings encourage students to consider perspectives often unexamined in professional texts and discussions. Fictional lives found in literature, film, and/or art invite care providers to think about their own-and their patients'-unspoken feelings, fears, and doubts within the context of personal lives and sensibilities. Medical students, in particular, engaged in the “everydayness” of professional training-deadlines, memorizations, isolation from family and friends, competition-have become adept at escaping or ignoring the angst that is part of suffering and loss. This article illustrates the value of interdisciplinary approaches to patient care by exploring visual articulations of suffering by Frida Kahlo, an artist who speaks eloquently about effects of traumatic injury using nonscientific tools.
SU‐FF‐T‐169: The Use of Diode in In‐Vivo Dosimetry Quality Assurance in IMRT

Purpose: In IMRTtreatments, the ultimate QA procedure is to carry out in‐vivo dosimetry measurement to ensure the accuracies of both patient setup and beam delivery. This study was designed to explore the use of in‐vivo diode dosimetry measurement for QA of IMRTtreatments. Method and Materials:IMRT plans were generated based on a set of CT scans of a head & neck anthropomorphic phantom. Corresponding IMRT QA verification plans were also generated. Diode calibration readings (Rc) were obtained for each beam during the routine dose verification QA process. During verification, a diode was placed along the beam central axis on the surface of a flat QA phantom at the SSD specified in the QA plan. Radiation was delivered dynamically using the same dynamic MLC files that were to be used for the patient treatment. For in‐vivo measurements, the anthropomorphic phantom was setup according to the treatment plan. For each beam, a diode was placed along the central axis at the beam surface entry point. Radiation was then delivered according to the plan and the diode reading (Ri) was recorded. If both the setup and the beam delivery were correct, Ri should be in agreement with quantity Rc*fSSD within certain uncertainty (fSSD is SSD correction factor); otherwise, it would be an indication of incorrect patient setup or incorrect beam delivery. Results: It was found that the calibration diode readings followed the SSD inverse square law within an uncertainty of 0.4%. f ssD = ( SSS c SSD i ) 2 . The derived in‐vivo diode readings (Rc*fSSD) were in agreement with those measured ones within 3.6% for three beams at different gantry angles, with an average difference of 1.8%. Conclusion: With a proper calibration method, diode verification can be used relatively accurately for in‐vivo measurements to check on the accuracies of patient setup and beam delivery for IMRTtreatments.
Simultaneous assessment of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity using a hyperglycemia clamp.

A hyperglycemic clamp is an established method to assess insulin secretion and is generally used only for this purpose. To determine whether it could also be used to assess insulin sensitivity, we compared insulin sensitivity indices (ISI) obtained during euglycemic and hyperglycemic clamp experiments in 22 nonobese volunteers (body mass index, 23.9 +/- 0.6 kg/m2) and in 20 obese individuals (body mass index, 30.8 +/- 1.3 kg/m2) matched for age and gender. The ISI values (micromoles per kg.min/pmol) of the obese group assessed during hyperglycemic (0.088 +/- 0.011) and euglycemic (0.050 +/- 0.005) clamp experiments were both significantly lower than the ISI of the nonobese group assessed in hyperglycemic and euglycemic clamp experiments (0.179 +/- 0.024 and 0.096 +/- 0.009, respectively; both P less than 0.01). Although the ISI values obtained with hyperglycemic clamps were consistently greater than those obtained with euglycemic clamp (0.137 +/- 0.016 vs. 0.075 +/- 0.007; P less than 0.001), they were highly correlated (r = 0.84; P less than 0.0001). Moreover, when these indices were converted to clearance rates, thereby correcting for the mass action effects of glucose on glucose disposal, the values obtained with the hyperglycemic clamp (0.0137 +/- 0.0016 mL/kg.min/pmol) were statistically identical to those obtained with the euglycemic clamp (0.0142 +/- 0.0013 mL/kg.min/pmol), as indicated by a regression equation having an intercept of 0 and a slope (1.03) not different from 1. We, therefore, conclude that the hyperglycemic clamp and the euglycemic clamp yield comparable estimates of insulin sensitivity and that, under appropriate conditions, the hyperglycemic clamp technique may be used to assess both insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in the same individual in a single experiment.
Child and adolescent predictors for eating disorders in a community population of young adult women.

Objective This study investigated early predictors for developing eating disorders by young adulthood in a community sample of women participating in a 22-year longitudinal study. Method Twenty-one women were identified at age 27 with lifetime full or partial eating disorders. These women were compared with 47 women with no history of eating disorders on predictive factors from three broad domains. Results The women with eating disorders had more serious health problems before age 5 and mother-reported anxiety-depression at age 9. At 15, mothers described them as having more behavior problems. Before age 15, families of the eating disorder group had more histories of depression, eating problems and changes in family financial circumstances. Discussion This study identifies early predictors distinguishing girls who develop eating disorders. Findings point to the need for continued research in the area of early health to comprehensively examine the biologic, behavioral, and environmental risks for eating disorders. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 33: 1–9, 2003.
Optical neural network system for pose determination of spinning satellites

An optical neural network architecture and algorithm based on a Hopfield optimization network are presented for multitarget tracking. This tracker utilizes a neuron for every possible target track, and a quadratic energy function of neural activities which is minimized using gradient descent neural evolution. The neural net tracker is demonstrated as part of a system for determining position and orientation (pose) of spinning satellites with respect to a robotic spacecraft. The input to the system is time sequence video from a single camera. Novelty detection and filtering are utilized to locate and segment novel regions from the input images. The neural net multitarget tracker determines the correspondences (or tracks) of the novel regions as a function of time, and hence the paths of object (satellite) parts. The path traced out by a given part or region is approximately elliptical in image space, and the position, shape and orientation of the ellipse are functions of the satellite geometry and its pose. Having a geometric model of the satellite, and the elliptical path of a part in image space, the three-dimensional pose of the satellite is determined. Digital simulation results using this algorithm are presented for various satellite poses and lighting conditions.
The Quality of Decisions about Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Early Stage Breast Cancer.

Background: Decisions about adjuvant chemotherapy are highly challenging for many women with early stage breast cancer. We sought to assess the quality of breast cancer patients9 decisions about chemotherapy by measuring their knowledge and the degree to which their treatment decisions reflect their goals and preferences.Methods: We mailed a survey to early stage (I, II) breast cancer survivors who were treated at one of four sites, as part of a larger study to validate decision quality instruments. A subset of women completed the chemotherapy module, which included questions about the patient-provider interaction, about facts, about treatment goals, and about the patient9s preferred treatment. Characteristics associated with knowledge were identified with linear regression. Characteristics associated with chemotherapy were identified with logistic regression.The percentage of patients who received their preferred treatment was calculated.Results: 358 patients completed the survey (response rate 59%). 64% of patients had Stage I disease, and 57% had chemotherapy. Average age was 56.9 years, 82.6% were white, and 63.7% had a college degree.Decision making: 70% of patients reported that their provider mentioned chemotherapy as an option. 43% reported that their provider asked for their preference about chemotherapy. 23% said the doctor mainly made the decision, 29% said they mainly made the decision, and 46% said both made the decision.Most women (92%) felt their level of involvement was about right.Knowledge: The mean knowledge score was 39.6% (SD 20.3). 29.9% knew that less than half of women with early stage breast cancer eventually die from breast cancer without chemotherapy or hormone therapy.21.8% knew that more than half are free from recurrence in 10 years without chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Chemotherapy treatment and the doctor having discussed chemotherapy were significantly associated (p Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 2083.
Clustering in free recall based upon input contiguity

A list of 16 words was exposed for one study trial in a modified free-recall experiment. Critical words in the list were paired randomly and presented three times each. For one group (E) the two members of common pairs always appeared in successive positions during the study trial.. For the other group (C) members of the predetermined random pairs were never presented successively. Clustering scores in recall based on the predetermined random pairings were significantly higher in Group E than in Group C. It was concluded that adjacency relations during the study trial provided a sufficient basis for clustering during recall.
Infrastructure management of hybrid cloud for enterprise users

Cloud Computing has become more and more prevalent over the past few years, and we have seen the emergence of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) which is the most acceptable Cloud Computing service model. However, coupled with the opportunities and benefits brought by IaaS, the adoption of IaaS also faces management complexity in the hybrid cloud environment which enterprise users are mostly building up. A cloud management system, Monsoon proposed in this paper provides enterprise users an interface and portal to manage the cloud infrastructures from multiple public and private cloud service providers. To meet the requirements of the enterprise users, Monsoon has key components such as user management, access control, reporting and analytic tools, corporate account/role management, and policy implementation engine. Corporate Account module supports enterprise users' subscription and management of multi-level accounts in a hybrid cloud which may consist of multiple public cloud service providers and private cloud. Policy Implementation Engine module in Monsoon will allow users to define the geography-based requirements, security level, government regulations and corporate policies and enforce these policies to all the subscription and deployment of user's cloud infrastructure.
A sex difference in the extinction of avoidance behavior in rats

Significantly more females than males met criterion for the acquisition of a shuttle-avoidance response. Among Ss meeting criterion, females displayed increased resistance to extinction of the avoidance response. The relationship between sex differences in avoidance behavior and adrenocortical functioning was discussed.