cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Primary immunodeficiency diseases in adulthood.

Occasionally, patients present with clinical episodes of infectious disease that seem to fall beyond the scope of normal immunocompetence. Examples include infections that are unusually persistent, recurrent or resistant to treatment, or those involving unexpected dissemination of disease or atypical pathogens. Recent cellular and molecular advances in immunology help to inform the investigation and management of these cases and provide opportunities for family surveillance and disease prevention. More than 100 separate primary (inherited) immunodeficiency disease (PID) states have now been defined, each with a range of syndromic manifestations. Many of these are rare diseases of childhood, but some, either in atypical or attenuated forms, emerge for the first time in adulthood. We outline a diagnostic approach to five groups of PID presenting in adulthood and describe the recently launched web-based PID Register of Australia and New Zealand − a new mechanism for improving knowledge and service delivery to Australasian patients and their clinical carers. (Intern Med J 2004; 34: 348−354)
3-D dosimetry with optical CT scanning of polymer gels and radiochromic plastic dosimeter

Abstract Both polymer gels and PRESAGE radiochromic plastic dosimeter, in conjunction with optical CT scanning system, have been employed to measure 3-D dose distributions in radiotherapy. The 3-D dose maps obtained from these systems can provide a useful tool for dose verification on complex treatments such as IMRT, radiosurgery, and RapidArc. These complex treatments present high dose gradient regions in the boundaries between the target and the surrounding critical organs. Dose accuracy in these areas can be critical, and may affect the treatment. There is a pressing need for a dosimeter that allows for accurate determination of 3-D dose distribution with high spatial resolution. In this review paper, clinical applications of polymer gels and PRESAGE dosimeter with optical CT scanning are presented. Dosimetric performance is evaluated in terms of their sensitivity calibration, irradiation, optimization of scanning procedures, precision, and accuracy. The results demonstrate that an accurate 3-D dose distribution with high resolution can be implemented.
Gibber: Abstractions for Creative Multimedia Programming

We describe design decisions informing the development of Gibber, an audiovisual programming environment for the browser. Our design comprises a consistent notation across modalities in addition to high-level abstractions affording intuitive declarations of multimodal mappings, unified timing constructs, and rapid, iterative reinvocations of constructors while preserving the state of audio and visual graphs. We discuss the features of our environment and the abstractions that enable them. We close by describing use cases, including live audiovisual performances and computer science education.
SU‐GG‐T‐133: Increasing the Delivery Efficiency of IMRT DAO‐Based Plans through Segment Reordering

Purpose: To develop and test an algorithm intended to optimize with regard to time the ordering of segments for DAO‐based step‐and‐shoot IMRT plans. Methods and Materials: After DAO‐based step‐and‐shoot IMRT plans are developed in our commercial treatment planning system (TPS), they are exported as rtp files that are processed by an in‐house software. For each gantry position, all segments are imported and the maximum distance traveled by a leaf pair is determined for each segment. The program then semi‐exhaustively explores the solution space to reorder the segments such that the sum of the maximum distance traveled by leaves is minimized. We assume that this will lead to delivery time reductions. Once all segments are ordered, the program writes a new rtp file. A second, in‐house developed software program checks this new file to ensure that every segment in the newly re‐ordered rtp file corresponds exactly to one in the original file. The delivery time for plans corresponding to both rtp files was measured and compared to assess the gain achieved through plan re‐ordering. Results: In all 12 cases investigated here, we observed reductions in treatment time (i.e. efficiency gains), ranging from 6 s to 1 minute; with an average time reduction of 0.55 minutes per treatment. A fairly strong correlation (R2=0.744) was seen between the decrease in delivery time and the total number of segments in the plan, suggesting that the ‘longest’ treatment plans have the most opportunity for reduction in treatment delivery time. Conclusion: We successfully developed and tested an in‐house computer program for re‐ordering segments of a DAO‐based IMRT step and shoot treatment plan. The re‐ordering was measured on clinical plans to provide average reductions of delivery time of 0.55 minutes per treatment. Such improved efficiency is beneficial for both intrafractional motion management and increase of patient throughput.
A novel single strand endonuclease specific for ØX174 DNA

Abstract A highly specific endonuclease activity, presumably involving one or both of the products of the OX174 gene A, has been isolated from OX174-infected E. coli by DNA-cellulose chromatography. The enzyme is not present in uninfected cells and binds extremely tightly to DNA-cellulose. It extensively degrades OX174 viral DNA but does not degrade the circular or linear forms of single stranded viral DNA of either M13, an unrelated filamentous phage, or G4, a OX-type phage.
Estimates of the periods of periodic points for nonexpansive operators

Suppose thatE is a finite-dimensional Banach space with a polyhedral norm ‖·‖, i.e., a norm such that the unit ball inE is a polyhedron. ℝn with the sup norm or ℝn with thel1-norm are important examples. IfD is a bounded set inE andT:D→D is a map such that ‖T(y)−T(z)‖≤ ‖y−z‖ for ally andz inE, thenT is called nonexpansive with respect to ‖·‖, and it is known that for eachx ∈D there is an integerp=p(x) such that limj→∞Tjp(x) exists. Furthermore, there exists an integerN, depending only on the dimension ofE and the polyhedral norm onE, such thatp(x)≤N: see [1,12,18,19] and the references to the literature there. In [15], Scheutzow has raised a question about the optimal choice ofN whenE=ℝn,D=Kn, the set of nonnegative vectors in ℝn, and the norm is thel1-norm. We provide here a reasonably sharp answer to Scheutzow’s question, and in fact we provide a systematic way to generate examples and use this approach to prove that our estimates are optimal forn≤24. See Theorem 2.1, Table 2.1 and the examples in Section 3. As we show in Corollary 2.3, these results also provide information about the caseD=ℝn, i.e.,T:ℝn→ℝn isl1-nonexpansive. In addition, it is conjectured in [12] thatN=2n whenE=ℝn and the norm is the sup norm, and such a result is optimal, if true. Our theorems here show that a sharper result is true for an important subclass of nonexpansive mapsT:(ℝn,‖ · ‖∞)→(ℝn,‖ · ‖∞).
Cat allergen peptide immunotherapy reduces CD4(+) T cell responses to cat allergen but does not alter suppression by CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.

Background: We have previously described both modification of allergen immunotherapy using peptide fragments, and reduced regulation of allergen stimulated T cells by CD4+ CD25+ T cells from allergic donors when compared with nonallergic controls. It has been suggested that allergen immunotherapy induces regulatory T cell activity: we hypothesized that allergen peptide immunotherapy might increase suppressive activity of CD4+ CD25+ T cells. Objective: To examine cat allergen-stimulated CD4 T cell responses and their suppression by CD4+ CD25+ T cells before and after cat allergen peptide immunotherapy in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Methods: Peripheral blood was obtained and stored before and after peptide immunotherapy or placebo treatment. CD4+ and CD4+ CD25+ were then isolated by immunomagnetic beads and cultured with allergen in vitro. Results: Comparing cells from blood taken before with that after peptide immunotherapy there was a significant reduction in both proliferation and IL-13 production by allergen-stimulated CD4+ T cells, whereas no change was seen after placebo. CD4+ CD25+ T cells suppressed both proliferation and IL-13 production by CD4+ CD25− T cells before and after therapy but peptide therapy was not associated with any change in suppressive activity of these cells. Conclusion: Allergen peptide immunotherapy alters T cell response to allergen through mechanisms other than changes in CD4+ CD25+ T cell suppression.
Blind deconvolution (equalization): some new results

Abstract An interesting equation developed by Giannakis and Mendel (1989), and referred to by others (e.g., Friedlander and Porat (1989)) as the ‘GM equation’, links higher-order statistics to second-order statistics. In this paper, we show how this equation leads to a new universal relationship between a system and its inverse, and can be employed to obtain a new closed-form formula for a Shalvi-Weinstein-like super-exponential blind deconvolution algorithm.
Quantification of eDNA shedding rates from invasive bighead carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix.

Abstract Wildlife managers can more easily mitigate the effects of invasive species if action takes place before a population becomes established. Such early detection requires sensitive survey tools that can detect low numbers of individuals. Due to their high sensitivity, environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys hold promise as an early detection method for aquatic invasive species. Quantification of eDNA amounts may also provide data on species abundance and timing of an organism’s presence, allowing managers to successfully combat the spread of ecologically damaging species. To better understand the link between eDNA and an organism’s presence, it is crucial to know how eDNA is shed into the environment. Our study used quantitative PCR (qPCR) and controlled laboratory experiments to measure the amount of eDNA that two species of invasive bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) shed into the water. We first measured how much eDNA a single fish sheds and the variability of these measurements. Then, in a series of manipulative lab experiments, we studied how temperature, biomass (grams of fish), and diet affect the shedding rate of eDNA by these fish. We found that eDNA amounts exhibit a positive relationship with fish biomass, and that feeding could increase the amount of eDNA shed by ten-fold, whereas water temperature did not have an effect. Our results demonstrate that quantification of eDNA may be useful for predicting carp density, as well as densities of other rare or invasive species.
Plasma and muscle carnitine in experimental uremia

Abstract The effect of uremia and dietary protein intake on carnitine levels in skeletal muscle and plasma of rats was evaluated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 160–180 g were made chronically uremic by partial ligation of left renal artery and contralateral nephrectomy. Rats were fed diets containing 8% or 18% casein ad libitum for 8 weeks and sham-operated pair-fed animals were used as controls. At the end of the experiment, all animals were fasted overnight and decapitated. Skeletal muscle and plasma were assayed for free, total acid-soluble and long-chain acylcarnitines. The concentration of total carnitines in skeletal muscle were similar in uremic and control rats fed either 8% or 18% casein diet. However, the muscle long chain acylcarnitines were higher in rats fed the 18% casein diet than those fed the 8% casein diet. Diets (8% or 18% casein) had no effect on the plasma carnitine level, although uremic rats had lower levels than the controls. This study has shown that kidney dysfunction may affect the plasma carnitines level but not the total skeletal muscle carnitines concentration.
Magnetoelectric effects in multiferroic fibrous composite with imperfect interface

This paper investigates the magnetoelectroelastic responses of multiferroic fibrous composites with imperfectly bonded interface under longitudinal shear. The proposed imperfect interface model is a natural generalization of the shear lag (or the spring layer) model. By virtue of the complex variable method, we first consider the case where an isolated circular multiferroic fiber is imperfectly bonded to an infinite multiferroic matrix. Very concise expressions for the complex field potentials characterizing the magnetoelectroelastic fields inside and outside the circular fiber are obtained when the matrix is subjected to the remote uniform magnetoelectroelastic loading. The Mori-Tanaka mean-field method is then employed to derive the effective moduli of the multiferroic fibrous composite made of randomly distributed fibers reinforced to the matrix. Particularly we demonstrate that the interfacial imperfection in elasticity, electricity, and magnetism will always cause a significant reduction in the magnetoelectric coefficient of the $\mathrm{Ba}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Co}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ fibrous composite.
New roles for astrocytes: regulation of synaptic transmission.

Abstract Although glia often envelop synapses, they have traditionally been viewed as passive participants in synaptic function. Recent evidence has demonstrated, however, that there is a dynamic two-way communication between glia and neurons at the synapse. Neurotransmitters released from presynaptic neurons evoke Ca2+ concentration increases in adjacent glia. Activated glia, in turn, release transmitters, including glutamate and ATP. These gliotransmitters feed back onto the presynaptic terminal either to enhance or to depress further release of neurotransmitter. Transmitters released from glia can also directly stimulate postsynaptic neurons, producing either excitatory or inhibitory responses. Based on these new findings, glia should be considered an active partner at the synapse, dynamically regulating synaptic transmission.
Composition and nutritive value of cheese produced from milk treated with hydrogen peroxide and catalase.

Summary This study provides information on the nutritional value and wholesomeness of cheese made from milk treated with hydrogen peroxide at 5, 10, and 25 times the anticipated normal practical levels. The milks and their wheys obtained in preparing the cheese samples also were tested. The samples were analyzed for proximate composition and for the vitamins, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B 6 , pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B 12 , vitamin A, and beta-carotene. The amino acids, methionine, cystine, tryptophane, and lysine, also were determined. Biological protein evaluation was done for milk, whey, and cheese by feeding these products to rats to provide 9% protein (dry-weight basis) as the sole source of protein in an otherwise complete ration. Additional rat-feeding tests were done on cheese which furnished 14% protein in the diet. The results indicated no marked changes in the composition or nutritive value of milk treated with 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, or of the whey or cheese obtained from that milk.
Finite amplitude vibrations of cantilevers of rectangular cross sections in viscous fluids

Abstract In this paper, we study finite amplitude vibrations of a cantilever beam of rectangular cross section immersed in a viscous fluid under harmonic base excitation. Fluid–structure interactions are modeled through a complex hydrodynamic function that describes added mass and damping effects in response to moderately large oscillation amplitudes. The hydrodynamic function is identified from the analysis of the two-dimensional flow physics generated by a rigid rectangle undergoing harmonic oscillations in a quiescent fluid. Computational fluid dynamics is used to investigate the effects of three salient non-dimensional parameters on the flow physics and inform the formulation of a tractable expression for the hydrodynamic function. Theoretical results are validated against experimental findings on underwater vibration of compliant beams of varying cross sections.
Wave-Guide Modes in Retinal Receptors

Retinal receptor wave-guide modal patterns have been photographed. The inner and outer segments of the rod and cone receptors of albino rats, rhesus macaque monkeys, and human beings have been studied. The wave-guide modal pattern is believed to be the normal form of energy transfer in these parts of the retinal receptors in these species.
Opening Skinner’s Box: an Introduction

Behavior analysts have redefined the subject matter of psychology, redesigned the experiments used to study that subject matter, renamed almost every part of the world pertaining to that subject matter, and created specialized organizations and journals. It is not surprising, then, that only a happy few ever hear what behavior analysts say. One problem is that we need to publish outside of the box, so to speak. Preaching to the choir ensures that the products of our scientific behavior affect only a few people, limits the variety of reinforcers we are likely to encounter, and limits the likelihood that the products of our scientific behavior will reinforce the behavior of others. Publishing in a wider variety of outlets can lead to greater visibility for behavior-analytic research and practice, increase the impact of our published work, and build clout for scholars in colleges and universities.
Analysis of cholesterol oxides in egg yolk and turkey meat

Abstract A study was conducted to develop a solvent system that will clean egg yolk samples and concentrate cholesterol oxides effectively before analysis. Cholesterol oxide standards or lipid samples (0.2 g) loaded onto a silicic column were washed with a portion of Solvent I (hexane/diethyl ether, 9:1, vol/vol) and then with Solvent II. Four different Solvent II preparations (Solvent IIa, hexane:ethyl acetate = 4:1; Solvent IIb, hexane:ethyl acetate = 1:1; Solvent IIc, hexane:ethyl acetate:diethyl ether = 2:1:1; Solvent IId, hexane:ethyl acetate:diethyl ether = 4:1:2, vol/vol/vol) were prepared and the purification efficiencies of Solvent II solutions for neutral lipids, cholesterol, and phospholipids in the column were compared. Yield study using cholesterol oxide standards showed that one or more of the cholesterol oxide standards were eluted by the Solvent IIb and Solvent IIc, but Solvent IIa and Solvent IId did not elute any of the cholesterol oxides during washing. Egg samples prepared with Solvent IIa showed greater amount of cholesterol oxides than those prepared with Solvent IId, probably due to incomplete purifying of phospholipids and interference. However, the amounts of cholesterol oxides in cooked meat prepared with the two purification solvents were not different. Because egg yolk contains very large amounts of phospholipids and cholesterol compared with other foods, at least twice as much Solvent IIa as Solvent IId was required to properly clean egg yolk samples. It was concluded that purification solvents should be selected by sample types, and Solvent IId (hexane:ethyl acetate:diethyl ether = 4:1: 2) was superior to Solvent IIa (hexane:ethyl acetate = 4: 1) for egg yolk samples.
Network for Computational Nanotechnology - a strategic plan for global knowledge transfer in research and education

The Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN) manages the science gateway nanoHUB.org, recognized as the world's largest nanotechnology user facility, with over 2800 research and teaching resources in use by over 180,000 users annually. Resources consist of 220 simulation tools and nearly 2600 other content items ranging from podcasts of lectures to first time user guides for simulation tools to complete sets of university course materials. Simulation tools developed for research have been found to be used in the classroom and simple classroom tools are being used by researchers. With a global community spread across 172 countries, nanoHUB.org facilitates fast knowledge transfer across countries, disciplines, and communities. NCN follows a carefully planned strategy to lower barriers to this knowledge transfer and the growth and success of the site validates this strategy.
Aircraft measurements of gravity waves in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere during the START08 field experiment

Abstract. This study analyzes in situ airborne measurements from the 2008 Stratosphere–Troposphere Analyses of Regional Transport (START08) experiment to characterize gravity waves in the extratropical upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (ExUTLS). The focus is on the second research flight (RF02), which took place on 21–22 April 2008. This was the first airborne mission dedicated to probing gravity waves associated with strong upper-tropospheric jet–front systems. Based on spectral and wavelet analyses of the in situ observations, along with a diagnosis of the polarization relationships, clear signals of mesoscale variations with wavelengths ~ 50–500 km are found in almost every segment of the 8 h flight, which took place mostly in the lower stratosphere. The aircraft sampled a wide range of background conditions including the region near the jet core, the jet exit and over the Rocky Mountains with clear evidence of vertically propagating gravity waves of along-track wavelength between 100 and 120 km. The power spectra of the horizontal velocity components and potential temperature for the scale approximately between ~ 8 and ~ 256 km display an approximate −5/3 power law in agreement with past studies on aircraft measurements, while the fluctuations roll over to a −3 power law for the scale approximately between ~ 0.5 and ~ 8 km (except when this part of the spectrum is activated, as recorded clearly by one of the flight segments). However, at least part of the high-frequency signals with sampled periods of ~ 20–~ 60 s and wavelengths of ~ 5–~ 15 km might be due to intrinsic observational errors in the aircraft measurements, even though the possibilities that these fluctuations may be due to other physical phenomena (e.g., nonlinear dynamics, shear instability and/or turbulence) cannot be completely ruled out.
Measures of semantic similarity and relatedness in the biomedical domain

Measures of semantic similarity between concepts are widely used in Natural Language Processing. In this article, we show how six existing domain-independent measures can be adapted to the biomedical domain. These measures were originally based on WordNet, an English lexical database of concepts and relations. In this research, we adapt these measures to the SNOMED-CT^(R) ontology of medical concepts. The measures include two path-based measures, and three measures that augment path-based measures with information content statistics from corpora. We also derive a context vector measure based on medical corpora that can be used as a measure of semantic relatedness. These six measures are evaluated against a newly created test bed of 30 medical concept pairs scored by three physicians and nine medical coders. We find that the medical coders and physicians differ in their ratings, and that the context vector measure correlates most closely with the physicians, while the path-based measures and one of the information content measures correlates most closely with the medical coders. We conclude that there is a role both for more flexible measures of relatedness based on information derived from corpora, as well as for measures that rely on existing ontological structures.
Rhinophyma and coexisting occult skin cancers.

Background. Although coexistent tumors have been reported in patients with rhinophyma, few reports have described the coexistence of rhinophyma and an occult infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Objective. Preoperatively and during rhinophymaplasty, recognition of subtle changes can suggest an underlying malignancy. Methods. A large infiltrating SCC was noted during electrosurgical rhinophymaplasty. Mohs micrographic surgery was performed to clear the tumor. Results. The patient was tumor-free with no evidence of recurrence at 1-year follow-up. Conclusion. In the evaluation of changing rhinophyma or subtle changes in tissue noted during rhinophymaplasty, physicians must consider the possibility of an underlying malignancy.
Broadband supercontinuum generation by bridging two separate supercontinua pumped at two different IR wavelengths

We demonstrate a broad supercontinuum source by bridging two separate supercontinua that are pumped at two different IR wavelengths. Two separate supercontinua are overlapped to form a broadband supercontinuum source without spectrum discontinuity between two different pumping sources. The bridging effect of two separate supercontinua is successfully demonstrated by applying two pumping sources at 1460 nm and 1769 nm into a regular single mode fiber. Also, more than 1000 nm expansion possibility due to the bridging effect can be achieved by pumping at 1350 nm and 1963 nm.
Effect of estradiol benzoate on the degradation of insoluble collagen of rat skin.

Young female rats were injected with 14C-proline which was incorporated into collagen and converted, in part, to 14C-hydroxyproline (hypro).4 After 2—5 weeks (to allow the bulk of the radioactivity in collagen to be converted to insoluble collagen), we divided the animals into 2 groups. One group was given 50 μg of estradiol benzoate 3 times weekly, while the other served as control. Skin samples obtained by serial biopsy were analyzed for collagen content and 14C-hypro. Estrogen treatment resulted in prolongation of the half-life of collagen 14C-hypro to values averaging greater than twice control values. Collagen concentration was unaffected by estrogen treatment. These results indicate that estrogen treatment retards the degradation of skin collagen. (Endocrinology 93: 311, 1973)
Service Learning: Field Experience for Advanced Early Childhood Degree Candidates

With the development of advanced degrees in early childhood education and the accompanying professional standards (National Association for Education of Young Children [NAEYC], 2002; National Board for Professional Teacher Standards [NBPTS], 2001, advanced early childhood programs are called to reach beyond the university classroom walls into the community in collaborative experiences. This paper reviews the changing context of teacher education, along with the history of service learning to support using service learning as advanced field experiences in teacher education. Experiences that incorporated service learning into two early childhood curriculum courses using a three-phase model (planning, implementation, and reflection) along with student reflections on the process are described. Implications for preparing advanced teachers in the field of early childhood education are also discussed.
Modified Lee models and the field-theoretical definition of elementary particle

Exactly solvable models of field theories are introduced and discussed. In some of these models the physical states involve an infinite number of bare particles. Some solutions are also founds which depend in a nonanalytic way on the coupling constant: these solutions may appear as new elementary particles. The field-theoretical definition of elementary particle is then discussed.
A fast and low cost testing technique for core-based system-on-chip

This paper proposes a new methodology for resting a core-based system-on-chip (SOC), targeting the simultaneous reduction of test area overhead and test application time. Testing of embedded cores is achieved using the transparency properties of surrounding cores. At the core level, testability and transparency can be achieved by reusing existing logic inside the core, and providing different versions of the core having different area overheads and transparency latencies. At the chip level, the technique analyzes the topology of the SOC to select the core versions that best meet the user's desired test area overhead and test application time objectives. Application of the method to example SOCs demonstrates the ability to design highly testable SOCs with minimized test area overhead, minimized test application time, or a desired trade-off between the two. Significant reduction in area overhead and test application time compared to an existing SOC testing technique is also demonstrated.
Discrepancies in serum albumin measurements vary by dialysis modality.

Background. Serum albumin level is an important prognostic marker in patients with chronic renal failure. However there are discrepancies in the methods of estimation of serum albumin. The objective of this study is to evaluate the magnitude of the discrepancy in the serum albumin levels as measured by Bromcresol Green (BCG) and Bromcresol Purple (BCP) dye methods in patients on hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) and to ascertain the clinical determinants of the discrepancy (ΔSA = BCG-BCP; g/dL) in each of the modalities. Method. We measured serum and plasma albumin levels by BCG and BCP methods in 19 adult HD patients and 18 adult PD patients treated in the dialysis units of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Similar measurements were performed in 10 normal adult subjects. In all groups, paired blood samples were taken to estimate the albumin in both serum and plasma. Nephelometry (NM) was subsequently performed on the serum of 13 of the HD patients, 14 of the PD patients, and...
Identification and Characterization of Single Strand DNA-Binding Protein That Represses Growth Hormone Receptor Gene Expression.

The GH receptor is essential for the actions of GH on growth and metabolism. Electromobility shift assay established that a 42-bp enhancer element in the promoter of the L1 transcript of the murine GH receptor bound nuclear proteins specific for the coding strand or the DNA duplex. Using methylation interference footprinting and electromobility shift assay with mutant oligonucleotides, the DNA-binding sites for the single-strand DNA-binding protein (SSBP) and the double-strand DNA-binding protein (DSBP) were mapped and shown to be contiguous with partial overlap. Shift-Western analysis indicated that the SSBP was a component of the DSBP complex. A functional interaction between SSBP and DSBP was suggested by the effect of the exclusion of SSBP on equilibrium binding and dissociation rate (“off rate”) of the DSBP-DNA complex. Experiments using the anionic detergent deoxycholate provided evidence for a direct protein-protein interaction between SSBP and DSBP. Using lectin-affinity chromatography, discordanc...
Tissue iron deficiency without anemia impairs adaptation in endurance capacity after aerobic training in previously untrained women

Background: We previously showed that iron supplementation significantly improves iron status and maximal work capacity in previously untrained, marginally iron-deficient women with a baseline serum transferrin receptor concentration 8.0 mg/L. However, the effect of transferrin receptor status on adaptation in endurance capacity after aerobic training in these subjects has not been fully explored. Objective: Our objective was to examine the effect of baseline serum transferrin receptor status on adaptations in endurance capacity. Design: Forty-one untrained, iron-depleted, nonanemic women were randomly assigned to receive either 100 mg FeSO4 or a placebo for 6 wk in a double-blind trial. All subjects trained on cycle ergometers 5 d/wk for the last 4 wk of the study. Endurance capacity was assessed at baseline and after treatment by using a 15-km time trial conducted on a cycle ergometer. Results: Significant treatment effects were observed for time to complete the 15-km time trial, work rate, and percentage of maximal oxygen uptake in subjects with a baseline serum transferrin receptor concentration 8.0 mg/L. No significant treatment effects were observed in subjects with a normal baseline transferrin receptor concentration. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that, in the presence of overt tissue iron deficiency, iron deficiency without anemia impairs adaptation in endurance capacity after aerobic training in previously untrained women. This impairment can be corrected with iron supplementation. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:437– 43.
Polarizing properties of embedded symmetric trilayer stacks under conditions of frustrated total internal reflection

An all-transparent symmetric trilayer structure, which consists of a high-index center layer coated on both sides by a low-index film and embedded in a high-index prism, can function as an efficient polarizer or polarizing beam splitter under conditions of frustrated total internal reflection over a wide range of incidence angles. For a given set of refractive indices, all possible solutions for the thicknesses of the layers that suppress the reflection of either the p or s polarization at a specified angle, as well as the reflectance of the system for the orthogonal polarization, are determined. A 633 nm design that uses a MgF2-ZnS-MgF2 trilayer embedded in a ZnS prism achieves an extinction ratio (ER)>40 dB from 50° to 80° in reflection and an ER>20 dB from 58° to 80° in transmission. IR polarizers that use CaF2-Ge-CaF2 trilayers embedded in a ZnS prism are also considered.
A hybrid method for 2-D/3-D registration between 3-D volumes and 2-D angiography for trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)

Minimally invasive trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure can be greatly facilitated using smart visualization and guidance technology involving the 3-D model of the aorta. In this paper, a hybrid method is proposed for contrast-based registration between the 3-D model and angiography of the aorta during TAVI procedures. By integrating the information of aorta segmentation and aortic landmark detection into intensity-based registration, the proposed method combines the merits of intensity-based registration and feature/landmark-based registration. In addition, the challenging task of explicit feature/landmark extraction on 2-D images is avoided. Experiments on 9 real clinical data achieved an average registration error of 2.14±0.49 pixels, demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed method.
Alkylpyrazines and other volatiles in cocoa liquors at pH 5 to 8, by Selected Ion Flow Tube-Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS).

: Cocoa beans were alkalized before or after roasting and made into cocoa liquor before analyzing by SIFT-MS. In both alkalized-before-roasting and alkalized-after-roasting samples, there were significantly higher concentrations of alkylpyrazines for the samples with pH above 7 than pH below 7. At pH 8, the concentrations of 2,3-, 2,5-, and 2,6-dimethylpyrazine (DMP), 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine (TrMP), 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), and 2,3-diethyl-5-methylpyrazine (EMP) in the samples alkalized-before-roasting were higher than those in the samples alkalized-after-roasting. Volatiles increased under conditions that promoted the Maillard reaction. The partition coefficient was not significantly affected by pH from 5.2 to 8. The ratios of TrMP/DMP and DMP/TMP increased while the ratio of TMP/TrMP decreased as the pH increased. The concentrations of Strecker aldehydes and other volatiles followed a similar pattern as that of the alkylpyrazines. High pH favors the production of alkylpyrazines and Strecker aldehydes. Practical Applications: Cocoa beans alkalized-before-roasting had higher levels of many important chocolate aroma volatiles than those alkalized-after-roasting. Thus, alkalizing before roasting should produce a stronger cocoa aroma. The higher the pH, the higher the concentrations of these important volatiles. There was little change in volatile concentration at acid pH. Above pH 7, volatile levels increased rapidly with increasing pH. To maintain the recommended ratio of tetramethylpyrazine to trimethylpyrazine, a longer roasting time or higher temperature is needed for cocoa liquor with a pH below 6.5, while a shorter roasting time or lower temperature is needed for cocoa liquor with a pH above 7.
Differential equation model for accommodation magnetization

We use the differential equation method of computing the accommodation magnetization in a modified Preisach model. We present the properties of this model for a Gaussian medium, and show that the resulting model has neither the congruency property nor the deletion property.
Customer Relationship Management in Tourism: Management Needs and Research Applications

This invited paper for the TIA Management Research papers provides an overview of customer relationship management (CRM) and relates this topic to the strategic marketing of and research about travel and tourism products. CRM is widely used in the tourism industry, with loyalty programs keeping customers returning and travel websites yielding a large volume of e-transactions. The question is raised whether researchers, particularly academic and government, are participating enough in industry CRM-based market research to transform consumer behavior research into more holistic consumer profiles and dynamic models of travel demand and supply. The paper ends with suggested research topics that highlight meaningful pathways and methods for further CRM implementation.
Secular trends in the incidence of primary hyperparathyroidism over five decades (1965–2010)

Introduction of automated serum calcium measurements in the 1970s resulted in a sharp rise in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) incidence. However, recent investigations suggest a significant rise in PHPT incidence for unclear reasons. Our objective was to update our population-based secular trends in PHPT incidence, to determine if there has been a significant rise in PHPT incidence as suggested by others, and, if possible, to identify changes in clinical practice that might be responsible. Rochester, Minnesota, residents who met the criteria for PHPT from 2002 through 2010 were identified through the medical records-linkage system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project and added to the historical cohort beginning in 1965. Incidence rates were adjusted to the 2010 US white population. Altogether, 1142 Rochester residents have been diagnosed with PHPT since 1965, including 341 in 2002-2010. Over time, two periods of increased PHPT incidence occurred, one beginning in 1974 (121.7 per 100,000 person-years) and a second peak (86.2 per 100,000 person-years) starting in 1998. The median age of PHPT subjects has increased significantly from 55 years in 1985-1997 to 60 years of age in 1998-2010 and more patients (36%) had a parathyroidectomy in 1998-2010. Although serum calcium measurement has declined since 1996, there was a progressive increase in parathyroid hormone testing between 1994 and 2008. There was also a rise in orders for bone mineral density measurements in women since 1998, which peaked in 2003-2004. A second sharp rise in PHPT incidence occurred in our community in 1998, simultaneously with the introduction of national osteoporosis screening guidelines, Medicare coverage for bone density measurement, and new medications for the treatment of osteoporosis. Case ascertainment bias from targeted PHPT screening in patients being evaluated for osteoporosis is the most likely explanation.
Harnessing weak interactions for enantioselective catalysis

Elucidating catalytic reaction mechanisms is often a challenge, and these difficulties are compounded in the case of enantioselective catalysts. The ability of a catalyst to preferentially form one enantiomer over the other often hinges on the balance of many attractive and repulsive nonbonded interactions that occur in competing transition states. On page 737 of this issue, Milo et al. ( 1 ) combine physical organic and computational quantum chemistry with modern data analysis techniques to identify these interactions. Their predictive mathematical models elucidate the underlying reaction mechanism and the role of nonbonded interactions in these enantioselective reactions, facilitating the rational design of more effective catalysts.
Effect of Magnesium on Cruciform Extrusion in Supercoiled DNA

Recently, it was reported that Mg2+greatly facilitates cruciform extrusion in the short palindromes of supercoiled DNA, thereby allowing the formation of cruciform structures in vivo. Because of the potential biological importance of this phenomenon, we undertook a broader study of the effect of Mg2+on a cruciform extrusion in supercoiled DNA. The method of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to detect the cruciform extrusion both in the absence and in the presence of these ions. Our results show that Mg2+shifts the cruciform extrusion in the d(CCC(AT)16GGG) palindrome to a higher, rather than to a lower level of supercoiling. In order to study possible sequence-specific properties of the short palindromes for which the unusual cruciform extrusion in the presence Mg2+was reported, we constructed a plasmid with a longer palindromic region. This region bears the same sequences in the hairpin loops and four-arm junction as the short palindrome, except that the short stems of the hairpins are extended. The extension allowed us to overcome the limitation of our experimental approach which cannot be used for very short palindromes. Our results show that Mg2+also shifts the cruciform extrusion in this palindrome to a higher level of supercoiling. These data suggest that cruciform extrusion in the short palindromes at low supercoiling is highly improbable. We performed a thermodynamic analysis of the effect of Mg2+on cruciform extrusion. The treatment accounted for the effect of Mg2+on both free energy of supercoiling and the free energy of cruciform structure per se. Our analysis showed that although the level of supercoiling required for the cruciform extrusion is not reduced by Mg2+, the ions reduce the free energy of the cruciform structure.
Subcutaneous tissue fibroblast cytoskeletal remodeling induced by acupuncture: Evidence for a mechanotransduction-based mechanism

Acupuncture needle rotation has been previously shown to cause specific mechanical stimulation of subcutaneous connective tissue. This study uses acupuncture to investigate the role of mechanotransduction-based mechanisms in mechanically-induced cytoskeletal remodeling. The effect of acupuncture needle rotation was quantified by morphometric analysis of mouse tissue explants imaged with confocal microscopy. Needle rotation induced extensive fibroblast spreading and lamellipodia formation within 30 min, measurable as an increased in cell body cross sectional area. The effect of rotation peaked with two needle revolutions and decreased with further increases in rotation. Significant effects of rotation were present throughout the tissue, indicating the presence of a response extending laterally over several centimeters. The effect of rotation with two needle revolutions was prevented by pharmacological inhibitors of actomyosin contractility (blebbistatin), Rho kinase (Y-27632 and H-1152), and Rac signaling. The active cytoskeletal response of fibroblasts demonstrated in this study constitutes an important step in understanding cellular mechanotransduction responses to externally applied mechanical stimuli in whole tissue, and supports a previously proposed model for the mechanism of acupuncture involving connective tissue mechanotransduction.
An Automated Digital Sound Recording System: The Amphibulator

Automated digital recording systems are important for studying and monitoring wildlife. Here we describe a new recording system, easily programmable and highly flexible, designed to control the Marantz Professional Solid State Recorder PMD 660. The system is currently being used to monitor the effects of global warming on populations of several species of amphibians in Spain and Portugal, to describe the acoustic landscape and bird populations in western Kentucky, and to study behavioral calls of midwife toads in central and northern Spain.
Effects of shear thinning on migration of neutrally buoyant particles in pressure driven flow of Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids

Abstract The pattern of cross stream migration of neutrally buoyant particles in a pressure driven flow depends strongly on the properties of the suspending fluid. These migration effects have been studied by direct numerical simulation in planar flow. Shear thinning has a large effect when the inertia or elasticity is large, but only a small effect when they are small. At moderate Reynolds numbers, shear thinning causes particles to migrate away from the centerline, creating a particle-free zone in the core of the channel, which increases with the amount of shear thinning. In a viscoelastic fluid with shear thinning, particles migrate either toward the centerline or toward the walls, creating an annular particle-free zone at intermediate radii. The simulations also give rise to precise determination of slip velocity distributions in the various cases studied.
A moral developmental perspective on children’s eyewitness identification: Does intent matter?

In Study 1, eyewitness identification of the perpetrator of a “crime” (fire), framed as either intended or unintended, was studied in 138 children, ages 7 to 18. Analysis using Signal Detection reveals an interaction of age and condition on decisional bias. Like in past studies, the framing of the act had no effect on the 7- to 9-year-olds, but did have an effect on decisional bias for the other age groups. Decisional bias was more lax (indicting more false alarms) in the intended condition for 10- to 12- and 14- to 15-year-olds but was more stringent (fewer false alarms) for the 16- to 18-year-olds. This pattern of age and condition differs from the pattern of explicit judgments (how bad the act was, how much punishment it deserved, and how bad it is to commit a false alarm or a miss). Study 2 was conducted to confirm the unexpected findings for the 10- to 12-year-olds. Forty-two children, ages 10–12, viewed the same film, which was framed as unintended but resulting either in (a) major or (b) minor damage (fire). Approximately half randomly assigned to condition (a) and half to (b). Parallel results were obtained with an earlier study, with lower bias scores (more false alarms) in the major than minor damage conditions. Thus, from both studies, we may conclude that decisional bias is more lenient (resulting in more false alarms) for 10- to 12-year-olds when either intent or damage is bad.
The State Sets the Rate: The Relationship Among State-Specific College Binge Drinking, State Binge Drinking Rates, and Selected State Alcohol Control Policies

Objectives. We assessed the relationship between college binge drinking, binge drinking in the general population, and selected alcohol control policies.Methods. We analyzed binge drinking rates from 2 national surveys, the Har-vard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Binge drinking data were linked to a summary measure of 7 salient alcohol control policies and a rating of resources devoted to law enforcement.Results. State-level college and adult binge drinking rates were strongly correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.43; P<.01). Attending college in states with the lowest binge drinking rates (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.41, 0.97) and presence of more stringent alcohol control policies (adjusted OR=0.57; 95% CI=0.33, 0.97) were independent predictors of student binge drinking, after adjusting for state law enforcement and individual-, college-, and state-le...