cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) influence the development of chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis?

Recent studies have demonstrated a role for spinal p38 MAP kinase (MAPK) in the development of chronic inflammation and peripheral arthritis and a role for GABA in the inhibition of p38 MAPK mediated effects. Integrating these data suggests that GABA may play a role in downregulating mechanisms that lead to the production of proinflammatory agents such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and matrix metalloproteinase 3 – agents implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Genetic studies have also associated RA with members of the p38 MAPK pathway. We propose a hypothesis for an inefficient GABA signaling system that results in unchecked proinflammatory cytokine production via the p38 MAPK pathway. This model also supports the need for increasing research in the integration of immunology and neuroscience.
Aminoglycoside-induced histone deacetylation and hair cell death in the mouse cochlea

Post-translational modification of histones is an important form of chromatin regulation impacting transcriptional activation. Histone acetyltransferases, for example, acetylate lysine residues on histone tails thereby enhancing gene transcription, while histone deacetylases (HDACs) remove those acetyl groups and repress gene transcription. Deficient histone acetylation is associated with pathologies, and histone deacetylase inhibitors have been studied in the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Here we explore histone acetylation in cochlear sensory cells following a challenge with gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic known to cause loss of auditory hair cells and hearing. The addition of the drug to organotypic cultures of the mouse organ of Corti decreased the acetylation of histone core proteins (H2A Ack5, H2B Ack12, H3 Ack9, and H4 Ack8) followed by a loss of sensory cells. Protein levels of HDAC1, HDAC3 and HDAC4 were increased while the histone acetyltransferases such as CREB-binding protein and p300 remained unchanged. We next hypothesized that protecting histone acetylation should prevent cell death and tested the effects of HDAC-inhibitors on the actions of gentamicin. Co-treatment with trichostatin A maintained near-normal levels of acetylation of histone core proteins in cochlear hair cells and attenuated gentamicin-induced cell death. The addition of sodium butyrate also rescued hair cells from damage by gentamicin. The results are consistent with an involvement of deficient histone acetylation in aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death and point to the potential value of HDAC-inhibitors in protection from the side effects of these drugs.
Mammographic features of triple receptor-negative primary breast cancers in young premenopausal women

Background The mammographic features of triple receptor-negative [TRN] breast cancers, a distinct cancer subtype with a poor prognosis have not been reported to our knowledge. The aim of this study was to compare the mammographic breast density, visibility, and tumor features of different breast cancer immunophenotypes. Patients and methods We identified all premenopausal women aged 45 years or less who had been diagnosed with primary breast cancer between January 1999 and November 2005 at a single institution and who had undergone mammography at initial diagnosis. Patient characteristics including clinical, histologic, and mammographic features of breast cancers were tabulated by immunophenotype and compared with the chi-square test or the Kruskal–Wallis test. The P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results We identified 198 premenopausal women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Thirty-eight (19%) women had TRN cancer, 67 (34%) had HER2+ cancer, and 93 (47%) had ER+ cancer. Mammographic density and cancer visibility were similar between all immunophenotypes of cancers. TRN cancers were more frequently associated with a mass (33/33 [100%]) than were HER2+ (35/64 [55%]) and ER+ cancers (42/87 [48%]) (P < 0.0001), and were less frequently associated with calcifications (5/33 [15%]) than were HER2+ (43/64 [67%]) and ER+ (53/87 [61%]) cancers (P < 0.0001). Associated ductal carcinoma in situ was reported in 18% (7/38), 57% (38/67), and 48% (52/93) of TRN, HER2+, and ER+ patients, respectively (P = 0.0003). Conclusion The mammographic features of TRN breast cancer suggest more rapid carcinogenesis leading directly to invasive cancer, that may require adjunct imaging tools for early diagnosis.
Intraorganellar localization of CoASH-independent phytanic acid oxidation in human liver peroxisomes

In human tissues phytanic acid is α-oxidized to pristanic acid in peroxisomes. Studies of the intraorganellar site of α-oxidation of [1-14C]phytanic acid to pristanic acid in peroxisomes isolated from human liver demonstrate that phytanoyl-CoA ligase is present in the peroxisomal membrane and that the enzyme system for α-oxidation of phytanic acid to pristanic acid is in the peroxisomal matrix. In contrast to the β-oxidation system for fatty acids, the substrate for α-oxidation is free phytanic acid. The studies described in this manuscript report a novel fatty acid oxidation system where the substrate for the enzyme system is free fatty acid; however, phytanoyl-CoA ligase regulates the α-oxidation of phytanic acid at the organellar (peroxisomal) level.
Effect of detergents on the conformation of proteins. I. An abnormal increase of the optical rotatory dispersion constant.

Abstract The effect of sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (OT), sodium dihexylsulfosuccinate (HX), sodium caprate, and sodium caproate on the optical rotatory dispersion of γ-globulins, soybean trypsin inhibitor, pepsin, and the caseins was investigated. It was found that the dispersion constants ( λ c ) of the γ-globulins, trypsin inhibitor, pepsin, and α-casein were enhanced by the detergents, especially after heating the solutions to 50–60 °C. The effect depended on the length of the hydrophobic chain of the detergent. It was concluded that the surface-active agent partially unfolds the macromolecules of the proteins in that the hydrophobic tail of the agent penetrates into the hydrophobic interior of the protein. Also, it follows from the rotatory dispersion data that the unfolded polypeptide segments tend to assume the α-helical conformation.
Multiplexed Analysis of Serum Cytokines as Biomarkers in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Patients

Objective: Our objective was to characterize cytokine profiles in the systemic circulation of patients with active squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) compared with long-term tobacco smokers as controls. Furthermore, we hypothesized that persistent immune dysregulation in patients cured of their disease may be reflected in altered cytokine profiles in the systemic circulation. Study Design: Retrospective, case-control study. Methods: Using three well-defined clinical cohorts of SCCHN patients and smoker controls, we analyzed 100 μL of serum for a panel of 10 cytokines to determine whether serum cytokine profiles could distinguish clinically defined groups of SCCHN patients. Statistical analysis of multiplexed cytokine profiles was applied to classify three clinically defined groups: active SCCHN patients, treated SCCHN patients with no evidence of disease for over 3 years, and matched disease-free controls. Discrimination of outcome status was accomplished using classification trees, and 10-fold cross-validation was implemented to assess classification accuracy using independent data. Results: We show that multiplexed cytokine and chemokine profiling may be performed to reflect the immune status of SCCHN patients. Selected cytokine profiles indicate that immunologic responses to carcinogenesis may not normalize even in the absence of tumor for over 3 years. Conclusion: Multiplexed serum cytokine profiles may be applicable to early detection, for screening those at high risk for SCCHN, and as clinically predictive biomarkers of disease status in successfully treated patients.
Predictors of Prescriptions for Management of Fatigue Among Veterans With Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Hatzakis M Jr, Turner AP, Williams RM, Bowen JD, Rodriquez AA, Haselkorn JK. Predictors of prescriptions for management of fatigue among veterans with multiple sclerosis. Objective To determine predictors of fatigue-modifying medication use. Design Cross-sectional cohort. Setting Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. Participants Veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the VHA in the northwestern United States from 1995 to 2000. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures A self-administered survey distributed by mail sought information from veterans with MS about demographics, symptoms, barriers to care, and disease characteristics. The variables were compared with prescriptions for fatigue-modifying medications during the study period. Results Of 1032 patients, 451 (44%) completed the survey, and 306 (68%) reported moderate or high fatigue levels. Only 40% of the 306 were prescribed fatigue-modifying medications. Those using specialized fatigue services or who received care at tertiary centers were more likely to receive fatigue treatments. Patient-perceived barriers to accessing care and other patient characteristics were not associated with prescription rates. Conclusions Fatigue is undertreated among veterans with MS. However, there is considerable variability in the provision of fatigue care. Interventions to improve the quality and uniformity of fatigue care are warranted.
Model Calculations of Solar Spectral Irradiance in the 3.7-μm Band for Earth Remote Sensing Applications

Since the launch of the first Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument aboard TIROS-N, measurements in the 3.7 micron atmospheric window have been exploited for use in cloud detection and screening, cloud thermodynamic phase and surface snow/ice discrimination, and quantitative cloud particle size retrievals. The utility of the band has led to the incorporation of similar channels on a number of existing satellite imagers and future operational imagers. Daytime observations in the band include both reflected solar and thermal emission energy. Since 3.7 micron channels are calibrated to a radiance scale (via onboard blackbodies), knowledge of the top-of-atmosphere solar irradiance in the spectral region is required to infer reflectance. Despite the ubiquity of 3.7 micron channels, absolute solar spectral irradiance data comes from either a single measurement campaign (Thekaekara et al. 1969) or synthetic spectra. In this study, we compare historical 3.7 micron band spectral irradiance data sets with the recent semi-empirical solar model of the quiet-Sun by Fontenla et al. (2006). The model has expected uncertainties of about 2 % in the 3.7 pm spectral region. We find that channel-averaged spectral irradiances using the observations reported by Thekaekara et al. are 3.2-4.1% greater than those derived from the Fontenla et al. model for MODIS and AVHRR instrument bandpasses; the Kurucz spectrum (1995) as included in the MODTRAN4 distribution, gives channel-averaged irradiances 1.2-1.5 % smaller than the Fontenla model. For the MODIS instrument, these solar irradiance uncertainties result in cloud microphysical retrievals uncertainties comparable with other fundamental reflectance error sources.
A SUPERSPACE OF (1, 1/2)+(1/2, 1) FERMIONIC COORDINATES

A superspace is constructed in which the elements of the superspace consist of the four Minkowski space-time coordinates and a set of vector-spinor coordinates that belong to the irreducible (1, 1/2)+(1/2, 1) representation of the Lorentz group. It is shown that a translation in the vector-spinor coordinates leads to a vector-spinor coordinate dependent translation in the space-time coordinate xμ. The super covariant derivatives are also constructed.
Patch clamp electrophysiology and capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry metabolomics for single cell characterization.

The visual selection of specific cells within an ex vivo brain slice, combined with whole-cell patch clamp recording and capillary electrophoresis (CE)–mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics, yields high chemical information on the selected cells. By providing access to a cell’s intracellular environment, the whole-cell patch clamp technique allows one to record the cell’s physiological activity. A patch clamp pipet is used to withdraw ∼3 pL of cytoplasm for metabolomic analysis using CE–MS. Sampling the cytoplasm, rather than an intact isolated neuron, ensures that the sample arises from the cell of interest and that structures such as presynaptic terminals from surrounding, nontargeted neurons are not sampled. We sampled the rat thalamus, a well-defined system containing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic and glutamatergic neurons. The approach was validated by recording and sampling from glutamatergic thalamocortical neurons, which receive major synaptic input from GABAergic thalamic reticular nuc...
Implications of the target residue mass and charge distributions in the interaction of 8.0 GeV20Ne with181Ta

Target residue mass and charge distributions have been measured radioanalytically for the reaction of 8.0 GeV20Ne ions with Ta. These distributions are very similar to those distributions observed in the reaction of Ta with protons of equivalent total energy rather than equivalent velocity. Detailed comparisons of the production cross sections for near target residues with abrasion-ablation model calculations show these products to have an excitation energy of ∼75 MeV.
Multifunctional role of dextran sulfate sodium for in vivo modeling of intestinal diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic, relapsing disorders that affect the gastrointestinal tract of millions of people and continue to increase in incidence each year. While several factors have been associated with development of IBDs, the exact etiology is unknown. Research using animal models of IBDs is beginning to provide insights into how the different factors contribute to disease development. Oral administration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to mice induces a reproducible experimental colitis that models several intestinal lesions associated with IBDs. The murine DSS colitis model can also be adapted to quantify intestinal repair following injury. Understanding the mechanistic basis behind intestinal repair is critical to development of new therapeutics for IBDs because of their chronic relapsing nature. The murine DSS colitis model was adapted to provide a system enabling the quantification of severe intestinal injury with impaired wound healing or mild intestinal injury with rapid restoration of mucosal integrity, by altering DSS concentrations and including a recovery phase. We showed that through a novel format for presentation of the clinical disease data, the temporal progression of intestinal lesions can be quantified on an individual mouse basis. Additionally, parameters for quantification of DSS-induced alterations in epithelial cell populations are included to provide insights into mechanisms underlying the development of these lesions. For example, the use of the two different model systems showed that toll-like receptor 9, a nucleic acid-sensing pattern recognition receptor, is important for protection only following mild intestinal damage and suggests that this model is superior for identifying proteins necessary for intestinal repair. We showed that using a murine DSS-induced experimental colitis model system, and presenting data in a longitudinal manner on a per mouse basis, enhanced the usefulness of this model, and provided novel insights into the role of an innate immune receptor in intestinal repair. By elucidating the mechanistic basis of intestinal injury and repair, we can begin to understand the etiology of IBDs, enabling development of novel therapeutics or prophylactics.
Double-strand breaks from a radical commonly produced by DNA-damaging agents.

Double-strand breaks are widely accepted to be the most toxic form of DNA damage. Molecules that produce double-strand breaks via a single chemical event are typically very cytotoxic and far less common than those that form single-strand breaks. It was recently reported that a commonly formed C4′-radical produces double-strand breaks under aerobic conditions. Experiments described herein indicate that a peroxyl radical initiates strand damage on the complementary strand via C4′-hydrogen atom abstraction. Inferential evidence suggests that a C3′-peroxyl radical induces complementary strand damage more efficiently than does a C4′-peroxyl radical. Complementary strand hydrogen atom abstraction by the peroxyl radical is efficiently quenched by thiols. This mechanism could contribute to the higher than expected yield of double-strand breaks produced by ionizing radiation.
Public categories, private identities: exploring regional differences in the biracial experience

Abstract Empirical research on multiraciality and the development of richer models of racial identity have increased in the last decade. Increased attention to such phenomena has lead to the “check all that apply” modification to the 2000 Census—an official recognition of an historical reality not before reflected on the United States’ Census. However, “identity” and “identification” are different phenomena. Using Place-level data from Census 2000 as well as data from the Survey of Biracial Experience ( Rockquemore and Brunsma, 2001 ), this paper will reveal the geographic distribution of black–white biracial individuals via the Census and compare it to the geographic distribution of biracials’ racial self-understandings from survey methods. The findings illuminate the multifaceted relationship between public categorization and private racial identification. Finally, the implications for utilizing the new Census data for studying black–white and other mixed populations are considered.
Food intake and blood fuels after oil consumption: differential effects in normal and diabetic rats.

Abstract The mechanisms by which fat feeding suppresses the hyperphagia of diabetic rats were examined. Rats that were allowed to consume a small amount (1.5 ml) of corn oil decreased subsequent food intake within 6 hr after ingesting. Diabetic rats decreased food intake much more than normal rats. Similar results were obtained when oil was given intragastrically. Analysis of blood samples revealed that diabetic rats showed greater increases in plasma ketones and triglycerides and smaller increases in plasma glycerol than normal rats following consumption of 1.5 ml corn oil. This difference between diabetic and normal rats appeared when rats were allowed to eat after oil ingestion as well as when they were fasted. Brief periods of food deprivation (2.5–4.5 hr) substantially increased plasma ketones and glycerol and decreased plasma triglycerides in both diabetic and normal rats. The results indicate that diabetic rats decrease food intake more than normal rats after fat feeding because they oxidize more of the ingested fat.
Utility of Ramfjord index teeth to assess periodontal disease progression in longitudinal studies

The feasibility of using the Ramfjord index teeth to estimate whole-mouth periodontal disease activity was investigated. Whole-mouth examinations were carried out semi-annually over a 36-month period in 98 maintenance patients previously treated for adult periodontitis. Recurrent periodontitis was defined as either a 3-mm or greater probing depth increase from baseline, or a 2-mm or greater probing depth increase together with 2-mm or greater of relative attachment loss measured from a reference stent. Whole-mouth disease activity was compared to Ramfjord index teeth data, with and without adjustment. Adjustment was made by multiplying disease activity rates on Ramfjord index teeth by the ratio formed from the sum of all teeth present over the sum of all Ramfjord index teeth in the study population. Without adjustment, Ramfjord index teeth markedly underestimated subjects with recurrent disease activity when compared to whole-mouth findings. However, with adjustment, the hypothesis that upper and lower limits on whole-mouth incidence of recurrent periodontitis could be estimated from Ramfjord index teeth disease-activity rates were not rejected (P > 0.20, z-test) at any 6-month interval. At 5 of 6 examinations, the % of disease active subjects as determined from whole-mouth evaluations was below the upper limit for disease incidence calculated, with 95% confidence, from point estimates derived from adjusted Ramfjord index teeth data. Partial-mouth examinations with appropriate adjustment of Ramfjord index teeth data may be useful for assessing periodontal disease progression in longitudinal population studies of human periodontitis.
Structure and learning of valuation functions

We discuss structural results and learning algorithms for submodular and fractionally subadditive valuation functions. While learning these valuation functions over general distributions turns out to be hard, we present compact approximate representations and efficient learning algorithms for such functions over the uniform distribution.
Total ionization cross sections of Cl and Cl2 by electron impact

Cross sections of Cl and Cl2 for ionization by electron impact are calculated using the Binary-Encounter-Bethe (BEB) theoretical model. The BEB model requires only the binding energies and kinetic energies of atomic or molecular orbitals (MO). For the lowest binding energies, experimental vertical ionization potentials (IPs) are used to make the theoretical ionization threshold coincide with the experimental threshold. Experimental cross sections, and cross sections calculated using alternative theoretical models, where available, are compared with the BEB results. The BEB cross sections agree well with the experimental data for Cl and Cl2. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Incorporating prosocial behavior to promote physical activity in older adults: Rationale and design of the Program for Active Aging and Community Engagement (PACE)☆ , ☆☆

Despite the benefits of regular physical activity among older adults, physical activity rates are low in this population. The Program for Active Aging and Community Engagement (PACE) is an ongoing randomized controlled trial designed to compare the effects of two interventions on physical activity at 12 months among older adults. A total of 300 men and women aged 55 years or older will be randomized into either a healthy aging (HA) control intervention (n = 150), which is largely based upon educational sessions, or a prosocial behavior physical activity (PBPA) intervention (n = 150), which incorporates structured physical activity sessions, cognitive-behavioral counseling, and opportunities to earn food for donation to a regional food bank based on weekly physical activity and volunteering. The PBPA intervention is delivered at a local YMCA, and a regional grocery store chain donates the food to the food bank. Data will be collected at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome is physical activity as assessed by the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) Questionnaire at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include physical function and health-related quality of life. If successful, the PACE study will demonstrate that prosocial behavior and volunteerism may be efficaciously incorporated into interventions and will provide evidence for a novel motivating factor for physical activity.
Performance of triangular spine fins under frosting conditions

Abstract The formation of frost in heat exchanger coils has an adverse effect on the overall performance of the system. This paper examines the effects of frost formation on the performance of a triangular spine fin with a varying cross-section. Non-dimensional plots are presented which could form the basis of a useful design tool, if applied to other fin geometries.
The population genetic structure of North American Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and the utility of genetic assignment methods for reconstruction of postmortem corpse relocation

Abstract Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a common urban blowfly, with a worldwide distribution. It is among the most important forensic insects, and a major veterinary pest. A previous amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) survey of Phormia regina , another blowfly, found that the North American population structure results from the fact that flies trapped together at a bait are predominantly comprised of related individuals. We report here a similar population genetic pattern for L. sericata in North America based on AFLP genotypes with 249 loci. A STRUCTURE analysis found no population structure on a geographic scale, and analysis of molecular variance found a moderate amount of variation attributed to samples (adults collected at the same bait at the same time, Φ SC = 20%, P = 0.001). A Mantel test found a negligible correlation between geographic and genetic distances ( R 2 = 0.0063, P = 0.02). The mean relative relatedness coefficient for every sample was positive (mean R = 0.2486 ± 0.18). Gravid females in a sample, those likely to oviposit on the same corpse, showed a pattern of relatively high relatedness similar to the total survey. Therefore, this pattern of local relatedness is likely to occur with larvae in a corpse, and if so it might support a genetic test for inferring the postmortem relocation of a corpse. This is because a larva may fall from the body at the original scene as it is moved. Connecting such a “stray” larva to the larval population in a corpse would provide powerful evidence that the corpse had been at both locations. Assignment tests resulted in a 96% success rate of assigning L. sericata individuals to their samples of origin.
Connecting National Safety Nets: The Dialectics of the Basel II Contracting Process

Basel II consists of supervisory guidelines negotiated by representatives of central banks and national regulatory commissions that were members of the Basel committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). The BCBS is itself a regulatory response to globalization, which is connecting national safety nets in market-driven ways. A country’s financial safety net is a social contract established by short-lived agents for principals in long-lived economic sectors. Restraints placed on the authority of the BCBS members to contract for their principals by domestic politics explains: why Basel II authorizes individual countries to implement the agreement in markedly different ways; why US implementation of Basel II ran into so much doubt, controversy, and delay; and how the implementation debate set small and large banks and the Federal Reserve and other federal regulators against one another.
Water mass pathways between the subtropical and tropical ocean in a climatological simulation of the North Atlantic ocean circulation

Abstract A primitive equation, hydrostatic, terrain-following coordinate ocean general circulation model (OGCM) is used to investigate the mean water mass pathways from the subtropics to the tropics in the Atlantic Ocean. The OGCM is used in a fully realistic configuration of the Atlantic, from 30°S to 65°N, with realistic bathymetry. Surface forcings are provided by the COADS climatology. A non-eddy-resolving numerical simulation is analyzed with 3/4° horizontal resolution and 20 terrain-following vertical levels. The primary objective of this study is to assess the theoretical framework extending the ventilated thermocline theory to the equator in the context of the numerical calculation, and to establish whether the predictions of a steady-state theory can be verified in a time-dependent simulation, in which rectified seasonal effects on the time mean yearly circulation may be important. The Bernoulli function is evaluated on isopycnal surfaces outcropping in the subtropics in both hemispheres and floats are injected at different northern and southern latitudes. In both hemispheres, the interior flow velocities are parallel to the Bernoulli streamlines that are significantly modified by inertia only very near the equator and on the Equatorial UnderCurrent (EUC). In the Northern Atlantic, pathways from the subtropics to the tropics exist for the isopycnal surfaces outcropping at 20–22°N. The injected floats reach the EUC following a zigzag pattern determined by the tropical current system. It is impossible to distinguish between the western boundary and the interior exchange windows as they are merged together forming a broad exchange pathway east of the northwestward flowing North Brazil Current (NBC). This exchange window disappears for the floats injected north of ∼30°N, and corresponding outcropping isopycnals σ θ >25.5 kg/m 3 , where only the recirculating window of the subtropical gyre remains. In the Southern Atlantic, all the floats injected between 6° and 15°S migrate to the western boundary where they are entrained in the NBC. There is no interior exchange window. At the equator, some are directly entrained into the EUC, some overshoot and retroflect at ∼8°N, then join the EUC. As the numerical simulation is carried out under surface forcings that include the seasonal cycle, we can assess the impact of the seasonal cycle on the steady-state analysis. The most important effect is due to the Atlantic Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which in summer is strong, and produces an “island” of Ekman upwelling between 10° and 20°N, which is reflected in the yearly mean properties. The ICTZ-induced upwelling and interior stratification support a corresponding “island” of high potential vorticity that penetrates in depth to all the isopycnals outcropping between 20° and 25°N. This high potential vorticity island creates a barrier that constrains the floats injected at and north of 20°N to flow around it to reach the Equator and the EUC.
Neurophysiology of swallowing in the aged

The neurophysiology of normal swallowing and its alterations related to age are reviewed. Clinical implications in health and disease are discussed.
A facile Pd(II)-mediated synthesis of bicyclo[3.3.1]nonadienones

Abstract Birch alkylation products derived from 2-methoxybenzoic acids and unsaturated halides undergo facile cyclization in the presence of Pd(OCOCF 3 ) 2 to yield derivatives of the bicyclo[3.3.1]nonadien-9-one system.
Theory of alpha recoil effects on radon release and isotopic disequilibrium

Abstract Using the present understanding of the mechanisms of release from rocks and soils of recoiling products of alpha emission, physical predictions can be made of the fraction of these nuclei that are directly freed and the fraction that can subsequently be freed by the action of water. The fractions depend on the size and nature of the grains in which the recoiling nuclei originate, the size and shape of the pore spaces, the nature of the surrounding grains, the decay lifetime of the recoiling nuclei, and the time sequence of the presence of water. For simplified assumptions quantitative predictions are made of Rn emanation rates and of isotopic disequilibrium.
MEDIA AND MOMENTUM Strategic Contributing in a Big-City Mayoral Election

To be a competitive candidate for mayor in the nation’s largest cities requires one to raise substantial sums of money. In this research, the authors explore the dynamics of campaign contributions using data from the 2001 mayoral election in Los Angeles. Their primary theoretical interest is in whether contributions reflect shifts in candidates’momentum, which they measure via a content analysis of campaign press coverage. Findings indicate that contributions are a function of momentum, but the effects are not the same for all candidates. In a concluding section, the authors explain why this might be the case.
Systematic small sample bias in two regime SETAR model estimation

Abstract This note investigates the small sample properties of threshold parameter estimation in the two regime self-exciting threshold autoregressive model. Systematic small sample biases are identified which occur when the distribution of observations between regimes is uneven.
A practical experience in workspace separation for developing multiple storefronts on customized commerce engines

In this paper, we describe our experience in separating workspaces, using the IBM VisualAge for Java development tool, for multiple web storefronts development for several major IBM public and private commerce sites. There was a need to create multiple workspaces since different storefronts may be developed at the same time. In addition, we wanted to keep the completed software packages for compatibility checking. Instead of tuning the current program setting to a desired mixed-version environment for each project, we generate a dedicated workspace by applying dependency analysis. New icons are created to conveniently invoke the development tool under different software packages and workspaces. We also present a systematic approach to facilitate the generation of a plan with instruction steps to produce new workspaces for their dedicated and required resources.
Marsh rabbit mortalities tie pythons to the precipitous decline of mammals in the Everglades

To address the ongoing debate over the impact of invasive species on native terrestrial wildlife, we conducted a large-scale experiment to test the hypothesis that invasive Burmese pythons (Python ...
Computer Use in the Agricultural Economics Classroom: Discussion

Litzenberg's paper summarizes the discussions of the past three decades about using computers in the classroom. The paper also contains timely comments about the effects of microcomputers in the classroom. The benefits which can be gained by using computers in the classroom are generally recognized by the teaching profession. The results of a recent survey of the faculty in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech indicate that 72% of the faculty believe that the use of interactive computers would benefit their classes, but only 40% require their students to use a computer in at least one course per year. Why, then, is our profession still in the discussion stage about computers? Professionally, we claim to recognize the benefits which can be gained by using computers in our courses, but we have been slow to capitalize on these benefits.
P2EST: parallelization philosophies for evaluating spatio-temporal queries

This work considers the impact of different contexts when attempting to exploit parallelization approaches for processing continuous spatio-temporal queries. More specifically, we are interested in various trade-off aspects that may arise due to differences of the computing environments like, for example, multicore vs. cloud. Algorithmic solutions for parallel processing of spatio-temporal queries cater to splitting the load among units - be it based on the data or the query (or both) - relying to a bigger or lesser degree on a certain set of features of a given environment. We postulate that incorporating the service-features should be coupled with the algorithms/heuristics for processing particular queries, in addition to the volume of the data. We present the current version of the implementation of our P2EST system and analyze the execution of different heuristics for parallel processing of spatio-temporal range queries.
Self-consistency tests of large-scale dynamics parameterizations for single-column modeling

Large-scale dynamics parameterizations are tested numerically in cloud-resolving simulations, including a new version of the weak-pressure-gradient approximation (WPG) introduced by Edman and Romps (2014), the weak-temperature-gradient approximation (WTG), and a prior implementation of WPG. We perform a series of self-consistency tests with each large-scale dynamics parameterization, in which we compare the result of a cloud-resolving simulation coupled to WTG or WPG with an otherwise identical simulation with prescribed large-scale convergence. In self-consistency tests based on radiative-convective equilibrium (RCE; i.e., no large-scale convergence), we find that simulations either weakly coupled or strongly coupled to either WPG or WTG are self-consistent, but WPG-coupled simulations exhibit a nonmonotonic behavior as the strength of the coupling to WPG is varied. We also perform self-consistency tests based on observed forcings from two observational campaigns: the Tropical Warm Pool International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE) and the ARM Southern Great Plains (SGP) Summer 1995 IOP. In these tests, we show that the new version of WPG improves upon prior versions of WPG by eliminating a potentially troublesome gravity-wave resonance.
Minimum Fluidization Velocity and Gas Holdup in Fluidized Beds With Side Port Air Injection

Fluidized beds can be used to gasify biomass in the production of producer gas, a flammable gas that can replace natural gas in process heating. Knowing how the fluidized bed hydrodynamics vary as reactor dimensions are scaled up is vital for improving reactor efficiency. This study utilizes 10.2 cm and 15.2 cm diameter fluidized beds with added side port air injection to investigate column diameter effects on fluidized bed hydrodynamics. Both inert (glass beads) and biomass (ground walnut shell and ground corncob) bed materials are used and the hydrodynamic differences with side port air injection are recorded. Minimum fluidization velocity is determined through pressure drop measurements. Time-averaged local and global gas holdup are recorded using X-ray computed tomography imaging. Results show that by varying the side port air flow rate as a percentage of the minimum fluidization flow rate, partial and complete fluidization is observed in both fluidized beds. Local gas holdup trends are also similar in both fluidized beds. These results will be used in future studies to validate computational fluid dynamics models of fluidized beds.© 2008 ASME
Vibration-rotational and rotational intensities for CO isotopes

Abstract Dipole moment matrix elements have been computed for the five most abundant isotopes of CO. The wave functions utilized were obtained from a direct solution of the Schrodinger equation with an accurate RKR potential. The dipole moment function, in the form of a Pade approximant, was chosen to reproduce the experimental measurements near equilibrium, to have the proper united and separated atom limits, and to have the correct long-range asymptotic functional dependence on internuclear separation. Because of the large number of transitions involved, and to facilitate applications, the squares of the dipole moment matrix elements were fitted by a least-squares procedure to polynomials in v and J. Predictions for the 5-0 and 6-0 rotationless matrix elements and Herman-Wallis coefficients are given, and their dependence on the isotopic reduced mass is discussed. For the pure rotational band, v = v ′ = 0, explicit Einstein A values and transition frequencies were calculated for the three most abundant isotopes for J up to 55. The corresponding dipole moment matrix elements were also fitted to simple polynomials in m and the dependence of the coefficients on the reduced mass given. The present results incorporate the most accurate and extensive intensity measurements and theoretical dipole moment function data for any heteronuclear diatomic molecule. In view of this, because of the importance of the CO laser, the accuracy of the spectral frequencies, and the ubiquity of the CO molecule, it is reasonable to expect that some of these lines, in particular, in the fundamental band of 12 C 16 O, can serve as laboratory standards for intensity measurements.
Putting Skeptics in their Place: The Nature of Skeptical Arguments and their Role in Philosophical Inquiry

Preface 1. The nature of skeptical arguments and their role in philosophical inquiry 2. Skepticism about the world: part I - reconstructions 3. Skepticism about the world: part II - dismissive responses 4. Skepticism about the world: part III - dualism, realism and representationalism 5. The argument from an infinite regress of reasons 6. Hume's skepticism about unobserved matters of fact 7. Agent reliabilism 8. Agent reliabilism and the relevant sense of 'relevant possibility' 9. Moral and religious epistemology Bibliography Index.
Management of an Infected Mucocele Occurring in a Bypassed Excluded Esophageal Segment

An infected mucocele of an excluded retained esophageal segment is an infrequently reported complication of esophageal bypass surgery. The subtle symptoms of this entity and its management are discussed.
FLIP: a flexible interconnection protocol for heterogeneous internetworking

This paper describes the Flexible Interconnection Protocol, or FLIP, whose main goal is to allow interconnection of heterogeneous devices with varying power, processing, and communication capabilities, ranging from simple sensors to more powerful computing devices such as laptops and desktops. The vision is that FLIP will be used to interconnect such devices forming clouds in the farthest branches/leaves of the Internet, while still providing connectivity with the existing IP-based Internet infrastructure. Through its flexible, customizable headers FLIP integrates just the functions required by a given application and that can be handled by the underlying device. Simple devices like sensors will benefit from incurring close to optimal overhead saving not only bandwidth, but, more importantly, energy. More sophisticated devices in the cloud can be responsible for implementing more complex functions like reliable/ordered data delivery, communication with other device clouds and with the IP infrastructure.FLIP is designed to provide a basic substrate on which to build network-and transport-level functionality. In heterogeneous environments, FLIP allows devices with varying capabilities to coexist and interoperate under the same network infrastructure. We present the basic design of FLIP and describe its implementation under Linux. We also report on FLIP's performance when providing IPv4 and IPv6 as well as transport-layer functionality a la TCP and UDP. We show FLIP's energy efficiency in different sensor network scenarios. For example, we use FLIP to implement the directed diffusion communication paradigm and obtain an improvement of 50% in energy savings over an existing directed diffusion implementation. Finally, we showcase FLIP's flexibility by demonstrating its ability to incorporate new protocol functions seamlessly. In particular, we add data aggregation functionality onto FLIP and show that it significantly increases the system's energy efficiency.
The Potential of Computerized Representations of Anatomy in the Training of Health Care Providers.

The purpose of anatomy education is to develop the skills for anatomical reasoning, which is a requirement for performing a number of clinical tasks. Anatomical reasoning integrates an understanding of the three-dimensional (3-D) geometry of the body and its parts (the spatial domain of anatomical information) with an understanding of functional, developmental, pathological, and other relationships among anatomic entities (the symbolic domain of anatomical information). Traditional methods in anatomy have substantial shortcomings for representing and integrating these two information domains. Computer-based methods of knowledge representation have a great potential for overcoming the shortcomings and for promoting anatomical reasoning. To realize this potential, there is a need for (1) establishing 3-D electronic atlases of the human body; (2) generating models of symbolic anatomical information, and (3) developing computer programs (user interfaces) that integrate these knowledge sources and serve the needs of trainees and practitioners in different fields of the health sciences. The Digital Anatomist Program at the University of Washington has begun to build such a client-server framework for anatomical information, and its application for biomedical education is being evaluated.
Protein ubiquitination: CHIPping away the symmetry.

CHIP is a ubiquitin ligase implicated in the degradation of misfolded proteins. In the November 23 issue of Molecular Cell, Zhang et al. (2005) identified CHIP as a protein that interacts with the ubiquitin E2 complex Ubc13-Uev1A, which catalyzes the synthesis of Lys-63-linked polyubiquitin chains. Although the ubiquitin ligase activity of CHIP requires its dimerization through the U box domain, the crystal structure of the CHIP-E2 complex reveals that the protomers in the CHIP homodimer adopt distinct conformations such that only one U box of CHIP interacts with Ubc13.
Accuracy of Doppler echocardiographic estimates of pulmonary artery pressures in a canine model of pulmonary hypertension

Abstract Objectives To compare noninvasive estimates of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) obtained via echocardiography (ECHO) to invasive measurements of PAP obtained during right heart catheterization (RHC) across a range of PAP. To examine the accuracy of estimating right atrial pressure via ECHO (RAP ECHO ) compared to RAP measured by RHC (RAP RHC ), and determine if adding RAP ECHO improves the accuracy of noninvasive PAP estimations. Animals 14 healthy female beagle dogs. Methods Comparison of ECHO and RHC measures of PAP, both at normal PAP and increased PAP generated by microbead embolization. Results Noninvasive estimates of PAP were moderately but significantly correlated ( r of 0.68–0.78; p ECHO improved correlation and bias in all cases. RAP RHC was significantly correlated with RAP ECHO ( r = 0.38; p = 0.04) as estimated by the ellipse area method. Median RAP RHC was significantly different between 3 subjective assessments of right atrial size ( p = 0.037). Conclusions Spectral Doppler assessments of tricuspid and pulmonic regurgitation are imperfect methods for predicting PAP as measured by catheterization despite an overall moderate correlation between invasive and noninvasive values. Noninvasive measurements may be better utilized as part of a comprehensive assessment of PAP in canine patients. RAP RHC appears best estimated based on subjective assessment of RA size. Including estimated RAP ECHO in estimates of PAP improves the correlation and relatedness between noninvasive and invasive measures of PAP, but notable variability in accuracy of estimations persists.
Low energy muonic hydrogen reactions with heavy atoms

Abstract Average s-wave cross-sections appropriate for liquid hydrogen temperatures are calculated with the aid of an in-coming wave boundary condition for the muon transfer process μ - p + Z → (μ - Z ) ∗ + p on heavy atoms. The surface-correlated nature of the heavy atom X-rays is emphasized.
An Azido-Biotin Reagent for Use in the Isolation of Protein Adducts of Lipid-derived Electrophiles by Streptavidin Catch and Photorelease

HNE (4-hydroxynonenal), a byproduct of lipid peroxidation, reacts with nucleophilic centers on proteins. A terminal alkynyl analog of HNE (alkynyl HNE, aHNE) serves as a surrogate for HNE itself, both compounds reacting with protein amine and thiol functional groups by similar chemistry. Proteins modified with aHNE undergo reaction with a click reagent that bears azido and biotin groups separated by a photocleavable linker. Peptides and proteins modified in this way are affinity purified on streptavidin beads. Photolysis of the beads with a low intensity UV light releases bound biotinylated proteins or peptides, i.e. proteins or peptides modified by aHNE. Two strategies, (a) protein catch and photorelease and (b) peptide catch and photorelease, are employed to enrich adducted proteins or peptide mixtures highly enriched in adducts. Proteomics analysis of the streptavidin-purified peptides by LC-MS/MS permits identification of the adduction site. Identification of 30 separate peptides from human serum albumin by peptide catch and photorelease reveals 18 different aHNE adduction sites on the protein. Protein catch and photorelease shows that both HSA and ApoA1 in human plasma undergo significant modification by aHNE.