cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolism and protein transport of a possible pupal cuticle tanning agent in Manduca sexta.

Abstract Injections of [14C] glucose and [3H] dopamine have shown the existence of a phenolic conjugate in pharate and tanning pupae. The function and structure of this conjugate is unknown; however, tracer studies have shown it to be ionically associated with a small peptide. Reinjection of this double-labelled peptide results in the transfer of the phenol, but not the label from the glucose to a large protein complex where it is tightly bound. Subsequent tracing of the phenolic-labelled protein complex demonstrated that it crossed the epidermis and became incorporated into the cuticle.
Selected bibliography on atomic collisions: data collections, bibliographies, review articles, books, and papers of particular tutorial value

Abstract This bibliography deals mainly with binary and ternary collisions involving electrons, photons, and heavy particles (i.e., atoms, molecules, and ions). The energy range covered for each kind of collision is such that the interactions might be described as electronic, atomic, or chemical—higher-energy collisions involving nuclear forces are not treated. Also covered are particle and photon impact on surfaces, the passage of particles and radiation through bulk matter, and transport phenomena in gases. Practically all of the references cited are data compilations, other bibliographies, review articles, or books. The main objective is to provide easy access to atomic collision data, although some references are included principally for their tutorial value.
Experience with an evolving overlay network testbed

The MIT RON testbed consists of 36 Internet-connected nodes at 31 different sities. It has been in operation for two years. This paper presents an overview of the testbed, summarizes some of the research for which it has proved useful, and presents the lessons we learned during its development. The testbed has been useful both for our own research and for that of external researchers becuase of its heterogeneous, diverse network connections; its homogenous hardware and software platform; its incremental, bottom-up development; and its easy configuration and management tools.
Stroke findings in the women's health initiative

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trials of estrogen with or without progestin versus placebo in 27,341 postmenopausal women are the largest randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials to look at the effect of hormone therapy on the outcomes of stroke, dementia, and cognition. Data from a parallel prospective observational study of 93,676 women examine biomarkers and risk factors associated with stroke. We summarize the results of 29 published articles in the WHI with stroke or cognition as outcomes of interest. Estrogen alone or in combination with progestin resulted in approximately 50% excess risk of ischemic stroke and in a 76% excess risk of dementia in women 65 years or older. Other risk factors for stroke identified in the WHI were panic attacks, depression, use of antidepressants (particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for hemorrhagic but not ischemic stroke), high triglycerides, low walking speed, long sleep duration, certain inflammatory factors, and systolic blood pressure variability. Hormone therapy has adverse effects on the brain as manifested by higher risks of stroke and dementia. Additional risk factors for stroke identified in WHI should be followed up to determine if reversing them would result in lower stroke rates.
Efficient synthesis of azide-bearing cofactor mimics.

8-Azido-5‘-aziridino-5‘-deoxyadenosine (6), a novel cofactor mimic, was synthesized in nine steps from commercially available 2‘,3‘-isopropylideneadenosine in ∼4% overall yield. Crucial to this success was a very unorthodox phthalimide cleavage procedure, C8 azidation prior to aziridination and late stage alkylation of the 5‘ amino group with iodoethanol necessitated by the high degree of lability endowed by the aryl azide moiety. Aziridine 6 is envisioned as a useful biochemical tool by which to probe DNA and protein methylation patterns.
Optimal project planning under the threat of a disruptive event

This article considers the problem of planning a complex project when there is the possibility of a Disruptive Event (DE) occurring sometime during the project. If such a disruption occurs, work on all activities will stop for some (random) time, but overhead and indirect costs will continue to accrue as well as possible penalty costs. Given information about the likelihood of such an event, how should a risk-neutral manager who wants to minimize the expected total cost of the project react (where total cost includes direct labor costs, indirect/overhead costs, and penalty costs)? Should a manager take preventive action at the start of the project (i.e., build additional slack into the project beyond that of a normal cost-minimizing schedule), act at any time during the project after gaining more information about the likelihood of a disruption, or wait until the DE occurs? The problem is formulated as a stochastic dynamic programming problem and this model is used to demonstrate several important implica...
The chitinase-like protein YKL-40 is secreted by airway epithelial cells at base line and in response to compressive mechanical stress

The chitinase-like protein YKL-40, encoded by the CHI3L1 gene, is a biomarker and functional effector of chronic inflammatory and allergic diseases. In the lung it is associated with asthma severity and reduced lung function. The cellular sources of YKL-40 in human airways and the mechanisms regulating YKL-40 expression are poorly understood. We previously showed that mechanical stress similar to that experienced during bronchoconstriction triggers epithelial cell signaling through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), fibrotic mediator release, and goblet cell hyperplasia consistent with airway remodeling in asthma. We now show that well differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial cells express CHI3L1 and secrete YKL-40 under base-line culture conditions. Mechanical stress (30-cm H2O transcellular compressive stress) applied for 3 h induces CHI3L1 expression by ∼4-fold compared with time matched controls, resulting in increased secretion of YKL-40 by 3.6-fold 24 h after onset of the 3-h stimulus. Inhibition of EGFR or MEK1/2 (ERK kinase) significantly but incompletely attenuates mechanical stress-induced up-regulation of CHI3L1 expression in normal human bronchial epithelial cells. Direct activation of EGFR utilizing EGF-family ligands induces CHI3L1 expression. Our results reveal that human airway epithelial cells are a source of YKL-40 and demonstrate that mechanical stress potently induces CHI3L1 expression leading to increased secretion of YKL-40 protein in an EGFR and MEK1/2-dependent pathway. In the asthmatic airway mechanical stress may contribute to enhanced YKL-40 levels.
Stream macroinvertebrate response models for bioassessment metrics: addressing the issue of spatial scale.

We developed independent predictive disturbance models for a full regional data set and four individual ecoregions (Full Region vs. Individual Ecoregion models) to evaluate effects of spatial scale on the assessment of human landscape modification, on predicted response of stream biota, and the effect of other possible confounding factors, such as watershed size and elevation, on model performance. We selected macroinvertebrate sampling sites for model development (n = 591) and validation (n = 467) that met strict screening criteria from four proximal ecoregions in the northeastern U.S.: North Central Appalachians, Ridge and Valley, Northeastern Highlands, and Northern Piedmont. Models were developed using boosted regression tree (BRT) techniques for four macroinvertebrate metrics; results were compared among ecoregions and metrics. Comparing within a region but across the four macroinvertebrate metrics, the average richness of tolerant taxa (RichTOL) had the highest R2 for BRT models. Across the four metrics, final BRT models had between four and seven explanatory variables and always included a variable related to urbanization (e.g., population density, percent urban, or percent manmade channels), and either a measure of hydrologic runoff (e.g., minimum April, average December, or maximum monthly runoff) and(or) a natural landscape factor (e.g., riparian slope, precipitation, and elevation), or a measure of riparian disturbance. Contrary to our expectations, Full Region models explained nearly as much variance in the macroinvertebrate data as Individual Ecoregion models, and taking into account watershed size or elevation did not appear to improve model performance. As a result, it may be advantageous for bioassessment programs to develop large regional models as a preliminary assessment of overall disturbance conditions as long as the range in natural landscape variability is not excessive.
Models of genetic control by repression with time delays and spatial effects

Two models for cellular control by repression are developed in this paper. The models use standard theory from compartmental analysis and biochemical kinetics. The models include time delays to account for the processes of transcription and translation and diffusion to account for spatial effects in the cell. This consideration leads to a coupled system of reactiondiffusion equations with time delays. An analysis of the steady-state problem is given. Some results on the existence and uniqueness of a global solution and stability of the steady-state problem are summarized, and numerical simulations showing stability and periodicity are presented. A Hopf bifurcation result and a theorem on asymptotic stability are given for the limiting case of the models without diffusion.
Domany-Kinzel Model of Directed Percolation: Formulation as a Random-Walk Problem and Some Exact Results

It is shown that the directed percolation on certain two-dimensional lattices, in which the occupation probability is unity along one spatial direction, is related to a random-walk problem, and is therefore exactly solvable. As an example, the case of the triangular lattice is solved. It is also shown that the square-lattice solution obtained previously by Domany and Kinzel can be derived using Minkowski's "taxicab geometry."
Estimating and testing rational expectations models when the trend specification is uncertain

Abstract This paper explores various strategies for estimating and testing rational expectations models when the trend specification is uncertain. One approach seeks to make estimators and tests robust to trend misspecification by reducing the influence of low frequency dynamics. However, contrary to intuition, the effects of trend specification errors are not confined to low frequencies, but are spread across the entire frequency domain. Thus, operations that damp low frequency components do not remove trend specification errors and are not sufficient for constructing robust estimators and tests. Another approach seeks representations of approximating models that do not condition on a specification of the trend, and it uses GMM to estimate parameters and test over-identifying restrictions. Because these methods do not condition on assumptions about trends, they are robust to errors in that part of the approximating model.
Modulation of cardiac Na+ channels expressed in a mammalian cell line and in ventricular myocytes by protein kinase C.

Abstract Cardiac rH1 Na+ channel alpha subunits were expressed in cells of the Chinese hamster lung 1610 cell line by transfection, and a stable cell line expressing cardiac Na+ channels (SNa-rH1) was isolated. Mean Na+ currents of 2.2 +/- 1.0 nA were recorded, which corresponds to a cell surface density of approximately 1-2 channels active at the peak of the Na+ current per micron2. The expressed cardiac Na+ current was tetrodotoxin resistant (Kd = 1.8 microM) and had voltage-dependent properties similar to those of the Na+ current in neonatal ventricular myocytes. Activation of protein kinase C by 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) (10 microM) decreased this current approximately 33% at a holding potential of -114 mV and 56% at -94 mV. This reduction in peak current was caused in part by an 8- to 14-mV shift of steady-state inactivation in the hyperpolarized direction. Na+ channel activation was unchanged. Effects of OAG in SNa-rH1 cells and in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were similar, except that the time course of inactivation was slowed either transiently or persistently when protein kinase C was activated in myocytes bathed in low-Ca2+ (1 microM) or Ca(2+)-free solution but was unaffected in SNa-rH1 cells. The effects of OAG on cardiac Na+ current were blocked in cells that had been previously microinjected with a peptide inhibitor of protein kinase C but not with a peptide inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, indicating that protein kinase C is responsible for the effect of OAG. Single-channel recordings from SNa-rH1 cells showed that the probability of channel opening was reduced by OAG, but the conductance was unaffected. OAG did not induce the late Na+ channel openings observed with PKC modulation of neuronal and skeletal muscle Na+ channels. Thus, the substantial reduction in Na+ current at normal diastolic depolarizations with 10 microM OAG is due to failure of channel opening in response to depolarization. Such Na+ current reductions may have profound effects on cardiac cell excitability.
An assessment of sponge mariculture potential in the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia

In the present study, carried out in the Spermonde Archipelago, south Sulawesi, Indonesia, an assessment is presented of the farming potential of six sponge species (out of nine candidates considered) possessing pharmacologically promising compounds, i.e. Aaptos suberitoides , Amphimedon paraviridis , Callyspongia ( Euplacella ) biru , Hyrtios reticulatus , Ircinia ramosa and Pseudoceratina cf. verrucosa . A total of 350 cuttings was threaded on a polyethylene rope and attached to horizontal mooring structures at three experimental sites. Growth and survival were monitored for a period of six months and for some explants for an additional period of ten months. All cuttings were photographed at regular time intervals and growth was measured as increase in length and dry weight. With the exception of P . cf. verrucosa , survival rates were high (80–96%) during the mariculture period. Size increases were too little to be measured in A. suberitoides and P . cf. verrucosa cuttings. Significant growth was only observed for C. biru . The high growth potential and high survival rate of this sponge species suggest that it is a promising candidate for further mariculture development.
Synthesis of complex architectures of comb block copolymers

The synthesis of comb block copolymers by ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), ring opening polymerization (ROP), and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is described. Block copolymers were synthesized by the ROMP of oxanorbornene and norbornene monomers followed by hydrogenation of the olefins along the backbone. One block of these diblock copolymers possessed initiators either for the ROP of (3S)-cis-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione or the ATRP of butyl acrylate. The synthesis and characterization of comb polymers with arms composed of poly(lactic acid) and poly(butyl acrylate) are described. These polymers had well-defined peaks in the size exclusion chromatography spectra which indicated that no homopolymers were synthesized. A comb block copolymer with polymeric arms of poly(styrene-b-vinylpyridine) is described. Vinylpyridine was polymerized from a comb polymer with poly(styrene) arms by ATRP at high dilution of the comb polymer.
Pathogenic hantaviruses direct the adherence of quiescent platelets to infected endothelial cells.

Hantavirus infections are noted for their ability to infect endothelial cells, cause acute thrombocytopenia, and trigger 2 vascular-permeability-based diseases. However, hantavirus infections are not lytic, and the mechanisms by which hantaviruses cause capillary permeability and thrombocytopenia are only partially understood. The role of β3 integrins in hemostasis and the inactivation of β3 integrin receptors by pathogenic hantaviruses suggest the involvement of hantaviruses in altered platelet and endothelial cell functions that regulate permeability. Here, we determined that pathogenic hantaviruses bind to quiescent platelets via a β3 integrin-dependent mechanism. This suggests that platelets may contribute to hantavirus dissemination within infected patients and provides a means by which hantavirus binding to β3 integrin receptors prevents platelet activation. The ability of hantaviruses to bind platelets further suggested that cell-associated hantaviruses might recruit platelets to the endothelial cell surface. Our findings indicate that Andes virus (ANDV)- or Hantaan virus (HTNV)-infected endothelial cells specifically direct the adherence of calcein-labeled platelets. In contrast, cells comparably infected with nonpathogenic Tula virus (TULV) failed to recruit platelets to the endothelial cell surface. Platelet adherence was dependent on endothelial cell β3 integrins and neutralized by the addition of the anti-β3 Fab fragment, c7E3, or specific ANDV- or HTNV-neutralizing antibodies. These findings indicate that pathogenic hantaviruses displayed on the surface of infected endothelial cells bind platelets and that a platelet layer covers the surface of infected endothelial cells. This fundamentally changes the appearance of endothelial cells and has the potential to alter cellular immune responses, platelet activation, and endothelial cell functions that affect vascular permeability. Hantavirus-directed platelet quiescence and recruitment to vast endothelial cell beds further suggests mechanisms by which hantaviruses may cause thrombocytopenia and induce hypoxia. These findings are fundamental to our understanding of pathogenic-hantavirus regulation of endothelial cell responses that contribute to vascular permeability.
Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wave Surveys of Orion A Emission Lines in the Ranges 200.7--202.3, 203.7--205.3, and 330--360 GHz

A continuous spectral line survey of the Orion A position from 330.5 to 360.1 GHz was carried out. This survey covers nearly the entire 870 micron atmospheric window accessible from ground-based observations. Approximately 160 distinct spectral features composed of about 180 lines were detected, 29 of which could not be readily identified. In addition, Orion A from 200.7 to 202.3 GHz and from 203.7 to 205.3 GHz and 42 distinct new spectral lines were detected, including four that are unidentified at present. These data sets are the first thorough survey results in these spectral regions. The new interstellar lines in the survey bands are tabulated and displayed graphically. Moreover, the data are being made available to the Astronomical Data Center at the Goddard Space Flight Center for distribution by request to the astronomical community.
Social Support for Exercise by Experts in Older Women Post–Hip Fracture

Using the data of the Baltimore Hip Study 5 (a home-based exercise intervention), this study examined how social support for exercise by experts (SSE-E) affected the self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and exercise behavior among older women following a hip fracture. The total sample included 164 females aged 65 years (M = 81.0; SD = 6.9) who had surgical repair of a non-pathologic hip fracture. Model testing showed a direct relationship between SSE-E and outcome expectations for exercise. There was, however, no direct or indirect relationship between SSE-E and self-efficacy or exercise behavior. The positive effect of SSE-E on the outcome expectations for exercise in older women recovering from a hip fracture provides an opportunity for health care providers in improving physical activity in this population.
Challenges of assessing fire and burn severity using field measures, remote sensing and modelling

Comprehensive assessment of ecological change after fires have burned forests and rangelands is important if we are to understand, predict and measure fire effects. We highlight the challenges in effective assessment of fire and burn severity in the field and using both remote sensing and simulation models. We draw on diverse recent research for guidance on assessing fire effects on vegetation and soil using field methods, remote sensing and models. We suggest that instead of collapsing many diverse, complex and interacting fire effects into a single severity index, the effects of fire should be directly measured and then integrated into severity index keys specifically designed for objective severity assessment. Using soil burn severity measures as examples, we highlight best practices for selecting imagery, designing an index, determining timing and deciding what to measure, emphasising continuous variables measureable in the field and from remote sensing. We also urge the development of a severity field assessment database and research to further our understanding of causal mechanisms linking fire and burn severity to conditions before and during fires to support improved models linking fire behaviour and severity and for forecasting effects of future fires.
P3HT CHAIN MORPHOLOGY IN COMPOSITE P3HT/PCBM NANOPARTICLES STUDIED BY SINGLE PARTICLE FLUORESCENCE EXCITATION POLARIZATION SPECTROSCOPY

The use of conjugated polymers such as poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in the active layers of plastic electronic devices could provide a more practical and accessible form of energy production and storage. The efficiency of these devices is intimately connected to the morphology of the polymer chains in the active layer materials, as polymer folding affects mesoscale material morphology. The latter in turn influences electronic structure and thus performance of the active layer. It is, however, highly challenging to determine molecular structure and folding properties in a bulk material. Here, it is shown that through the use of nanoparticles as a model system for the bulk material insight in molecular morphology can be gained through single particle fluorescence excitation spectroscopy. The study of P3HT chain morphologies was accomplished through the investigation of neat (0 wt% PCBM) P3HT nanoparticles and 25, 50 and 75 wt% PCBM blended P3HT nanoparticles. A striking discontinuous trend in P3HT chain mo...
A numerical study of annular dump diffuser flows

Abstract A series of flow calculations were conducted for a model annular dump diffuser. Because the presence of the multichanneled flow configuration in this model diffuser required careful numerical treatment, various numerics issues were studied. Among those issues, the influences of the numerical schemes and their interaction with the grid distribution are investigated. Proper grid distribution was crucial for obtaining an appropriate numerical solution. Grid distributions for this flow configuration were found to significantly affect the computing time as well as the characteristics of the calculated solutions. In addition, the downstream boundary conditions needed to yield the unique solution are discussed. Different flow characteristics caused by the change of downstream boundary conditions were observed. The importance of the flow profile at the dump diffuser inlet is also identified via the theory data comparison.
Study of Organic Scintillators for Neutron Imaging

Summary form only given. The possibility of obtaining gated images of a burning inertial confinement fusion (ICF) target with low background signals have renewed interest in neutron imaging as an ICF diagnostic. Using neutron time of flight (nTOF) techniques combined with a coded aperture, the burning core (hot spot) of the target can be imaged recording the 14 MeV neutrons, while the down-scattered, 10 to 6 MeV neutrons, yield an image of the surrounding cold fuel. The diagnostic's effectiveness in recording a useful image depends on the choice of scintillator. The optimal scintillator should have a prompt response that is fast enough to follow the width of the 14.1 MeV neutron peak, a fast and thorough decay to reduce the induced background or "afterglow" in the down-scattered images, and high sensitivity throughout the energy range of interest. The available data usually is restricted to the prompt response time, and includes only a portion of the scintillation decay. Six commercially available organic scintillators (plastic and liquid) have been studied as candidates for use in a neutron imaging diagnostic prototype under development at LLNL. The scintillator light emission decay spectra have been recorded for 14.1 and 2.5 MeV neutrons both in 100 and 1000 ns windows. Additional spectra were recorded using band pass filters in a search for fast components of the emitted light. The absolute photon gain (photons/interaction) of the samples has been computed at both energies. Results will be presented for several commercially available candidate scintillators.
Freeze-drying for electron microscopy.

Abstract A simplified method for preparing frozen-dried specimens for electron microscopy is described. The use of tobacco mosaic virus networks as criteria for judging the degree of structural preservation, and various factors concerning freezing and sublimation are discussed. Electron micrographs of frozen-dried bacteria and viruses are shown.
Drilling-induced isothermal remanent magnetization

The recovery of core samples is important in petroleum exploration, mineral exploration, and scientific drilling projects; and often complete orientation of the samples (azimuth and plunge) is desirable. Recovered cores are usually not azimuthally oriented because of the costs associated with deployment and operation of downhole orientation tools. Inexpensive paleomagnetic orientation methods have been used with considerable success in the borehole environment (Van der Voo and Watts, 1978; Kodama, 1984; Bleakly et al., 1985a, b; Evans and Mailol, 1986; Layer et al., 1988; McWilliams and Pinto, 1988). In some cases, the technique has been hampered by secondary magnetizations associated with the drillstring and/or coring tool, magnetizations which have partially or completely overprinted the primary and secondary magnetizations used for orientation.
Effects of a herbicide, 2-ethyl hexyl ester of 2,4-D on magnesium: Calcium ratios and blood urea nitrogen levels in sheep and cattle.

The herbicide, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2-ethyl hexyl ester (Weed RhapR), produced a decrease in plasma calcium and increase in plasma magnesium, giving a significant ratio change in the plasma of the 2 sheep and yearling heifer that died. Each of these had increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, and the pathological examinations at necropsy showed kidney damage and swollen, blood-engorged thyroids. The formulation of the dose in sheep either as emulsifiable concentrate (EC) or as technical material, showed no effect difference.
A revisit to the guest star of a.d. 185.

The guest star of A.D. 185 is possibly the earliest recorded supernova, and the radio source RCW 86 is believed to be its remnant. However, a restudy of ancient Chinese literature suggests that RCW 86 is unrelated to the guest star, which probably had a visible duration of only 7 months and appeared between β and δ Centauri, instead of the previously proposed 20-mtonth duration and a location between α and ,β Centauri.
Tribute to Carleton Moore

This issue of Meteoritics presents a new format and a new editor. It represents change and growth of the diverse interests of The Meteoritical Society, but it is based on the traditions of the Society and the solid foundation which has been established by Carleton B. Moore. His footprint (or regmaglypt) first appeared on the color-coded covers of Meteoritics in 1969-the year of Allende and Apollo. For almost two decades, the editor was Carleton Moore and the focus of the Society was seated at the Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University. The tradition which grew out of the fabulous Nininger collection and the careful but good-humored attention to the science and to the journal by Carleton have helped us grow to where we are today. We have remained a small society with excellent meetings full of scientific excitement and a good journal which does not weigh a kilogram. Meteoritics is the only journal that does not threaten me with overfilling my bookshelves.
Integrating evidence-based medicine into the perioperative care of cardiac surgery patients.

a r t m p d w c v p THE BEST PRACTICE PATTERNS in modern medical care aim to integrate the evidence from the medical literature with the clinician’s personal and institutional expertise (including cumulative clinical experience, education, and skills) and the individual patient’s preferences and values. The integration of evidence-based medicine (EBM) into perioperative care is an important component of modern anesthesiology, surgery, pharmacy, and nursing practice, particularly in the arena of cardiac surgery (CS). Because the evidence in this area continually is evolving, the landscape of EBM for the perioperative care of CS patients is ever-changing, with optimized, patient-centered care as the impetus for progress. Additionally, various external funding and oversight organizations as well as accreditation agencies, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission, have begun to affect physician and hospital reimbursement and accreditation by tracking hospital and physician performance on certain “core measures” and their reported incidence of so-called “never-events” (conditions or complications that should occur with a very low incidence) when providing ideal or perfect clinical care. In this review, the authors describe the application of the most current literature to 4 important perioperative problems including glycemic control, hospital-associated infections, coagulopathies, and postoperative delirium and cognitive decline. Each of these topics relates to the perioperative care of patients undergoing CS, and each of these topics already is or eventually may be integrated into a public reporting scorecard and individual practitioners and hospitals may, therefore, have a vested interest in improving the care of patients with regard to each of these issues. Although a complete review of the literature for each of these problems is far beyond the scope of this review, the authors attempt to draw a few conclusions from the best available information in each section, recognizing that there may be significant limitations to the integration of these recommendations within some health care systems.
Adipsin: a circulating serine protease homolog secreted by adipose tissue and sciatic nerve

Adipsin is a serine protease homolog whose primary structure was predicted from the nucleotide sequence of a differentiation-dependent adipocyte messenger RNA. Immunoblots probed with antisera to synthetic peptides identify two forms of adipsin that are synthesized and secreted by 3T3 adipocytes. These proteins of 44 and 37 kilodaltons are converted to 25.5 kilodaltons by enzymatic deglycosylation. Although adipsin is principally synthesized in adipose tissue, it is also produced by sciatic nerve and is found in the bloodstream. Because of the apparent restriction of adipsin synthesis to tissues highly active in lipid metabolism, its presence in serum, and its modulation in altered metabolic states, this molecule may play a previously unrecognized role in systemic lipid metabolism or energy balance.
Evolving paradigms for repair of tissues by adult stem/progenitor cells (MSCs)

In this review, we focus on the adult stem/progenitor cells that were initially isolated from bone marrow and first referred to as colony forming units-fibroblastic, then as marrow stromal cells and subsequently as either mesenchymal stem cells or multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The current interest in MSCs and similar cells from other tissues is reflected in over 10,000 citations in PubMed at the time of this writing with 5 to 10 new publications per day. It is also reflected in over 100 registered clinical trials with MSCs or related cells (http//www.clinicaltrials.gov). As a guide to the vast literature, this review will attempt to summarize many of the publications in terms of three paradigms that have directed much of the work: an initial paradigm that the primary role of the cells was to form niches for haematopoietic stem cells (paradigm I); a second paradigm that the cells repaired tissues by engraftment and differentiation to replace injured cells (paradigm II); and the more recent paradigm that MSCs engage in cross-talk with injured tissues and thereby generate microenvironments or 'quasi-niches' that enhance the repair tissues (paradigm III).
Temporal persistence of frustration effects in monkeys and rats

Rhesus, stumptail, and squirrel monkeys and rats were tested in various retractable-lever analogues of the double runway commonly used to study the Amsel frustration effect in rats. Variation of the midtrial interval (MTI), analogous to midbox confinement time in the runway, showed response speed in the second half of a trial to be an increasing function of the MTI following first-half reward and to persist at a supernormal level on frustration trials, suggesting the operation of two types of frustration effect which persist beyond 40 sec.
Contamination of ballistic fractures: an in vitro model

This study allowed the development of an in vitro model of a high-energy ballistic fracture. Direct fractures are more heavily contaminated than indirect fractures, and the spread of contamination is more extensive than examination of the wounds, particularly the entry wounds, would suggest. The major spread of contamination is along tissue planes, and we would recommend that these are thoroughly lavaged in the management of the fracture. The fracture site is heavily contaminated, with endosteal spread in direct fractures. However, there appears to be relatively little bony contamination beyond the fracture site.
Persistent patent urachus with allantoic cyst: a case report

Patent urachus results when there is a persistence of an allantois remnant which normally undergoes atresia during embryological development. It can lead to an abdominal wall defect similar in appearance on ultrasound to an omphalocele. A 34-year-old primigravida presented at 19 weeks' gestation for evaluation of a cystic mass arising at the umbilical cord insertion. The initial impression of the referring physician was an omphalocele. The mass arose from the abdominal wall and the umbilical cord inserted into the membranous covering of the mass, which appeared to be fluid-filled and separate from but contiguous with the urinary bladder. Serial sonography followed the progression of the abdominal wall mass. At term, the patient underwent primary Cesarean section with delivery of a 4494-g male infant. The infant underwent repair and closure of the patent urachus and plastic reconstruction of the abdominal wall. When the urachus remains patent, it can lead to a urinary fistula which mimics the ultrasound appearance of an omphalocele. However, patent urachus is associated with a much lower rate of abnormalities than omphalocele, yielding a better fetal prognosis.
Fractional programming with convex quadratic forms and functions

This article is concerned with two global optimization problems (P1) and (P2). Each of these problems is a fractional programming problem involving the maximization of a ratio of a convex function to a convex function, where at least one of the convex functions is a quadratic form. First, the article presents and validates a number of theoretical properties of these problems. Included among these properties is the result that, under a mild assumption, any globally optimal solution for problem (P1) must belong to the boundary of its feasible region. Also among these properties is a result that shows that problem (P2) can be reformulated as a convex maximization problem. Second, the article presents for the first time an algorithm for globally solving problem (P2). The algorithm is a branch and bound algorithm in which the main computational effort involves solving a sequence of convex programming problems. Convergence properties of the algorithm are presented, and computational issues that arise in implementing the algorithm are discussed. Preliminary indications are that the algorithm can be expected to provide a practical approach for solving problem (P2), provided that the number of variables is not too large.
Upconverting phosphor reporters in immunochromatographic assays.

Immunochromatographic assays have become popular diagnostic tools in a variety of settings because they are sensitive, fast, and easy to use. Here, we describe the use of a novel reporter, upconverting phosphors (UCP), in this assay format. UCP are submicron-sized, inorganic crystals that are excited with infrared light and that emit photons in the visible range depending on the ion composition of the crystal. Using human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as a model analyte to describe the properties of phosphors in immunochromatographic assays, a detection limit of 10 pg hCG in a 100-microl sample has been achieved on a regular basis, with occasional detection of 1 pg hCG. This represents at least a 10-fold improvement over conventional reporter systems such as colloidal gold or colored latex beads. Quantitation of analytes is possible over at least 3 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, an example is given of how UCP can be used for analyte multiplexing using a two-plexed wick for the detection of mouse IgG and ovalbumin. Thus, UCP lateral flow assays can be used for applications that are currently limited by assay sensitivity, and they can increase the probability of a diagnosis by verifying the presence of several analytes in the same sample.
Protein kinase C activity in renal microvillus membranes.

Abstract Protein kinase C activity was found in rabbit renal microvillus membrane vesicles. C-kinase activity was assayed by examining H 1 histone phosphorylation using microvillus membrane vesicles dispersed with Triton X. Calcium-activated protein kinase activity was only demonstrable in the presence of phosphatidylserine (PS). With PS (15 μg/ml) the Ka for activation by calcium was 1.04 μM. This was reduced to 0.38 μM by addition of diolein (3.75 μg/ml). These activations were dose-dependent and their combined synergistic activation could be reproduced by the combination of PS (15 μg/ml) and the phorbol ester, TPA (1.17 ng/ml). During microvillus membrane purification, protein kinase C activity enriched 5-fold relative to its activity in the homogenates. The activity was not due to trapped cytosol or adventitious association with microvillus membranes during homogenization. During further purification on sucrose gradients, the C-kinase activity coenriched with brush border and not with basolateral enzyme markers. We conclude that protein kinase C is a normal component of the renal microvillus membrane.
Photoresist strip effects on dopant distribution, activation and junction recess

▪ Plasma Oxidation causes substrate loss in oxidizing plasma strip • Si (and SiGe) oxidation (in oxygen) follows parabolic rate law — Limited by fast diffuser (O∗, O∗, etc) • Source of “birds-beak” under high-k dielectric ▪ Hydrogen enhances oxidation • Vacancy generation + post ash oxidation process ▪ Plasma strip affects dopant distribution and activation • Direct impact to Transient Enhanced Diffusion (TED) — Vacancy generation, & interstitial annihilation — N-surface interstitial trap — H-significant bulk vacancy generation — O-surface capping, altering out-diffusion and dopant segregation • Impacts % activation — Inhibits or enhances arsenic and boron clustering ▪ Reduction of fast diffusers from the plasma strip process can reduce substrate loss and limit hydrogen adverse effects on dopants
A 110-kD nuclear shuttling protein, nucleolin, binds to the neurite-promoting IKVAV site of laminin-1

The basement membrane protein laminin and the IKVAV-containing sequence from the laminin αl chain have been found to promote the differentiation of primary neurons and a variety of neural cell lines. We previously reported that a 110-kd IKVAV-binding protein (LBP110) isolated from brain appears to be a member of the β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) family by immunologic and functional studies, which showed that LBP110/APP is also important in neurite outgrowth (Kibbey et al.: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:10150-10153, 1993). In the preparation of this binding protein, a contaminating IKVAV-binding protein of identical molecular weight, nucleolin, was also identified. Here we have studied the relationship between these binding proteins. We find that nucleolin binds specifically to the IKVAV sequence independently of LBP110/APP. We have also demonstrated significant levels of nucleolin in mature brain and in differentiating neural cells, suggesting that nucleolin functions not only in cell proliferation and in ribosome biogenesis as was previously reported, but also in the differentiation and maintenance of neural tissue. Our identification of cytoplasmic and cell-surface nucleolin, an IKVAV-binding protein, suggests that this protein may function in signalling by extracellular matrix. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.1
Facilitating an Active Transmit-only RFID System Through Receiver-based Processing

Many asset tracking applications demand long-lived, low-cost, and continuous monitoring of a large number of items, which has posed a significant challenge to today's RFID design. In order to satisfy these requirements, we propose to adopt transmit-only tags without a receiver, which can offer both low power and low cost. In spite of their great potential, such a platform faces many challenges since it cannot sense the channel, causing the collisions among tag transmissions to be high. It is thus crucial to employ effective multi-user detection schemes at the tag reader to extract valid information from collided signals. Traditional detection schemes, such as successive cancellation, cannot be directly applied to the targeted system. Firstly, due to the simplicity of receiver-less transmit-only tags, there is no mechanism for feedback to the tags that is traditionally needed for accurate multi-user detection. More importantly, these schemes impose serious processing and memory requirements on the underlying system, which makes real-time tracking impossible. In this study, we address these challenges by performing a statistical estimation of the signal amplitude, and by dividing the received signal sequence (from all the tags) and assigning each block to one reader. We also adopt an online learning mechanism so that readers can anticipate the tags that belong to them. We show that the proposed detection algorithm can achieve low detection error under realistic system conditions.
State estimation of continuous time radial basis function networks

The problem of state estimation for continuous time dynamic RBF (radial basis function) networks using minimax approach is addressed. The uncertainty class is characterized in terms of an approximation error vector. Minimizing the objective function over this uncertainty class is used to obtain state estimates. The paper presents the derivation and properties of such a minimax state estimator for RBF networks. This is then extended to the problem of minimax adaptive state estimation. This approach is useful in the cases where the pretrained RBF network is to be used in state estimation, since the latest information is used in improving estimates of the RBF weights. A special class of estimators for the appended state estimation problem is also considered where a constant gain estimator matrix can be obtained. This section gives sufficient conditions for the existence of such an observer and follows directly from the structure of the RBF networks.
Family Case Conceptualization and Medical Conditions

Developing accurate case conceptualizations is increasingly expected of counselors today, particularly when working with couples and families dealing with a medical condition. Described here are th...
Longitudinal analysis of incomplete adolescent data

An approach is illustrated for the analysis of longitudinal variables collected during adolescence. Since the method requires complete data, three techniques are compared for application when some individuals have missing values. These methods are implemented in a study of systolic blood pressures and dietary fat intakes collected longitudinally in adolescent girls. The value of adolescent systolic and fat variables in predicting systolic pressure in adult women is investigated.
Design and Implementation of Functional Nanoelectronic Interfaces With Biomolecules, Cells, and Tissue Using Nanowire Device Arrays

Nanowire FETs (NWFETs) are promising building blocks for nanoscale bioelectronic interfaces with cells and tissue since they are known to exhibit exquisite sensitivity in the context of chemical and biological detection, and have the potential to form strongly coupled interfaces with cell membranes. We present a general scheme that can be used to assemble NWs with rationally designed composition and geometry on either planar inorganic or biocompatible flexible plastic surfaces. We demonstrate that these devices can be used to measure signals from neurons, cardiomyocytes, and heart tissue. Reported signals are in millivolts range, which are equal to or substantially greater than those recorded with either planar FETs or multielectrode arrays, and demonstrate one unique advantage of NW-based devices. Basic studies showing the effect of device sensitivity and cell/substrate junction quality on signal magnitude are presented. Finally, our demonstrated ability to design high-density arrays of NWFETs enables us to map signal at the subcellular level, a functionality not enabled by conventional microfabricated devices. These advances could have broad applications in high-throughput drug assays, fundamental biophysical studies of cellular function, and development of powerful prosthetics.