cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis—Rational diagnosis and treatment predicated on disordered prostaglandin metabolism

Abstract We suggest that polymyalgia rheumatica with giant cell arteritis (PR-GCA) is an arachidonic acid metabolites mediated disease which can be diagnosed more accurately and monitored more precisely for therapeutic benefits by the serial determinations of the major urinary prostaglandin F, serum urinary lysozymes, serum acid phosphatase, and serum angiotensin converting enzyme rather than by the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and, when necessary by temporal artery biopsy. The pathogenetic role proposed for prostaglandins (PG) and, even more precisely perhaps, the leukotrienes in this disease is consistent with the several published clinical observations that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment produces in some cases a therapeutic paradox of symptomatic relief with concurrent, if clinically silent, progression of the arteritis, even to blindness. Furthermore, the impressive response of PR-GCA to low maintenance dose steroid therapy, a clinical conundrum for decades, is rationally explained on the basis of depressed or obstructed PG metabolism early on in the metabolic cascade. These views warrent clinical evaluation, confirmation or correction in whole or in part, and may increase our understanding of PR-GCA.
Characterization of small ColE1-like plasmids conferring kanamycin resistance in Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovars Typhimurium and Newport.

Abstract Multi-antibiotic resistant (MR) Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Newport are an increasing concern in human and animal health. Many strains are known to carry antibiotic resistance determinants on multiple plasmids, yet detailed information has been scarce. Three plasmids conferring kanamycin (Kan) resistance were isolated and nucleotide sequences were determined. Two Kan R plasmids from Salmonella Newport strains, pSN11/00Kan and pSN02/01Kan, were found to be identical and were 5698 bp in size. Plasmid pG7601Kan from Salmonella Typhimurium phage type U302 strain G7601 was 3208 bp, and was the same as the previously reported pU302S from another U302 strain G8430. All three plasmids carried identical aph (3′)-I genes. The plasmids were ColE1-like, containing RNA I/RNA II and the rom gene. Plasmids pSN11/00Kan and pSN02/01Kan also carried mobilization genes mobC and mobABD , similar to those of the pColK-K235 and pColD-157 plasmids from the colicinogenic Escherichia coli strains. All three plasmids were stable without kanamycin selection for ∼100 generations.
Blood-group activity of human chorionic gonadotropin.

Abstract Human Chorionic Gonadotropin has been found to have blood-group A-like activity as shown by the hemagglutination inhibition technique. All of the activity is located in the α subunit of the hormone although it does not contain any N-acetylgalactosamine, a component necessary for the blood-group A activity. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone comprised of two noncovalently bonded subunits (hCG-α and hCG-β) with approximate molecular weights of 15,000 and 23,000, respectively and each containing about 30% carbohydrate. The monosaccharide and amino acid sequences in both subunits have been recently established (1–4). The carbohydrate moiety of hCG-α is made up of D-galactose, D-mannose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and sialic acid while that of hCG-β contains N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and L-fucose, in addition to the above monosaccharides. Furthermore, the carbohydrate part of the hCG-β molecule has some unusual structural features inasmuch as two types of carbohydrate-protein linkages, N-acetylglucosaminyl asparagine and N-acetylgalactosaminyl serine are present in the same molecule. In this respect the hormone resembles mucins on the one hand and the serum glycoproteins on the other. These structural considerations prompted an examination of the molecule for various blood-group activities. This communication presents the results of such an investigation and their possible physiological significance.
Heat-shock treatment lethal for mammalian cells deprived of glucose and glutamine: protection by α-keto acids

Nil and Nilpy hamster cells exposed to temperatures of 44 degrees C to induce the heat-shock proteins survive such exposure for 2 h or more when incubated in Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium with 10% undialyzed fetal calf serum. If D-glucose and L-glutamine are withdrawn from the medium during heat treatment, nearly all the cells are killed by as little as 20 min at 44 degrees C. Several alpha-keto acids, pyruvate, alpha-ketobutyrate, oxaloacetate, and alpha-ketoglutarate, protect cells from the lethal action of the heat treatment in the absence of D-glucose and L-glutamine. L-Glucose and D-glutamine are without effect. Efforts to reverse lethal effects have not been successful.
Proteinase Content of Cheddar Cheese during Making and Ripening

Summary 1. The proteinase content of a series of pairs of raw and pasteurized milk Cheddar cheeses has been determined at intervals during the making and ripening periods. 2. The active proteinase in ripening Cheddar cheese is largely of bacterial origin; only a small fraction of the total activity is contributed by the milk and the rennet. 3. Pasteurized milk Cheddar cheese is characterized by a lower content of cysteine-activated proteinase than raw milk Cheddar cheese.
Formation of DNA strand breaks in UV-irradiated human fibroblast preparations

Abstract The formation of DNA strand breaks was characterized in human fibroblasts prepared by several methods. In quiescent monolayer cultures of normal human fibroblasts (NHF), exposure to 254 nm radiation (UV) caused the rapid appearance of DNA strand breaks as monitored by alkaline elution analysis. Maximal levels of DNA breaks were seen 30 min after 10 J/m2; thereafter, strand breaks disappeared. Breakage soon after irradiation appeared to saturate at fluences above 10 J/m2. Xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts belonging to complementation group A (XPA) did not display this response which reflects operations of the nucleotidyl DNA excision repair pathway. When fibroblasts strains were released from culture dishes by enzymatic digestion with trypsin or by scraping with a rubber policeman, UV-dependent DNA breakage displayed altered dose and time responses. Few breaks were detected in detached preparations of NHF after 10 J/m2 indicating inactivation of nucleotidyl DNA excision repair. The fluence response in detached fibroblasts was linear up to an incident fluence of 100 J/m2. Moreover, after 25 or 50 J/m2, strand breaks accumulated as a linear function of time for up to 2 h after irradiation. This UV-dependent and time-dependent incision activity was also observed in XPA monolayers and released-cell preparations. In permeable fibroblast preparations, DNA breaks accumulated in unirradiated cells that had been released with trypsin or by scrapping. Permeabilization in situ using saponin to open the plasma membrane produced a cell preparation that accumulated fewer UV-independent breaks. In saponin-permeabilized NHF that were irradiated with 10 J/m2, UV-dependent strand incision activity occurred at about 30% of the rate of incision seen in intact monolayer NHF. These results reveal at least 3 DNA strand incision activities in human fibroblast preparations of which only one reflects operation of the nucleotidyl DNA excision repair pathway.
Filament Eruptions near Emerging Bipoles

It has been suggested in previous studies that quiescent prominences and filaments erupt preferentially in the vicinity of emerging magnetic flux. We describe three such filament eruptions observed during 1998 with the Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Telescope on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. Comparison with magnetograms and with potential field extrapolations suggests that the new bipole enables the eruption by diverting the flux overlying the filament sideways or to greater heights, allowing the filament to rise out of its channel. Because eruptions sometimes occur in the absence of any observable flux emergence, however, we conclude that new flux may act as a strong catalyst but is not a necessary condition for filament destabilization.
Influence of reaction conditions on the location of reactions in waxy maize starch granules reacted with a propylene oxide analog at low substitution levels

Abstract A constant amount of an anionic propylene oxide analog was reacted with waxy maize starch under conditions in which temperature, pH, and swelling-inhibiting salt type and concentration were varied. Reaction sites were located utilizing a reflectance confocal laser scanning microscopy (R-CLSM) method. Results confirm that uniformity of reaction within granules and molar substitution (MS) levels are a function of reaction conditions. In most cases, increasing pH from 10.7 to 11.7 increased the extent of reaction. Changes in temperature between 44 and 54 °C had little effect. Reactions carried out in the presence of NaCl produced more derivatization than did reactions carried out in the presence of Na 2 SO 4 under identical conditions. More reaction was observed in the presence of a lower concentration (0.395 m) of Na 2 SO 4 as compared to a higher concentration (0.527 m). Salt concentration effects were not discernible when reactions were done in the presence of NaCl (0.471 and 0.629 m).
Kinetic studies of Drosophila melanogaster methylthioadenosine nucleoside phosphorylase.

Abstract 1. 1. A partially purified methylthioadenosine nucleoside phosphorylase from D. melanogaster has been subjected to kinetic analyses which included initial velocity measurements, product inhibition studies and isotopic exchange. Although initial velocity measurements indicate a ping-pong mechanism, isotopic exchange studies did not substantiate a methylthioribosylated enzyme intermediate. 2. 2. The results of the product inhibition studies and substrate inhibition by phosphate on AdeaiMe-SAdo are consistent with an ordered bisubstrate, biproduct reaction with methylthioadenosine the first substrate to add to and adenine, the last product to leave, the enzyme. 3. 3. Michaelis constants determined for substrates of the enzyme were 5.5 × 10−6 M for methylthioadenosine and 13.5 × 10−3 M for inorganic orthophosphate.
A machine realization of the linear context-free languages*

A correspondence is established between N2, the class of sets of pairs of tapes defined by nondeterministic 2-tape finite automata, and L , the class of linear context-free languages. A second correspondence, which is one-one, between N2 and a subclass of L is found. This subclass of L is then characterized by expressions quite similar to regular expressions. It is indicated how to develop analogous characterizations for other subclasses of L . A large portion of this paper appears in the author's doctoral thesis which was presented to the Division of Engineering and Applied Physics, Harvard University. The thesis research was under the supervision of Professor Patrick C. Fischer.
Preparation of Nanostructured Film Arrays for Transmission Localized Surface Plasmon Sensing

This article presents a concise review of preparation methods for transparent nanostructured films, with an emphasis on their current applications in transmission-localized surface plasmon resonance (T-LSPR) sensing. One of the first methods used for the fabrication of transparent nanostructured metal films is a direct vacuum evaporation of thin gold films. Self-induced formations of small gold islands result in transparent nanostructured gold arrays. The most well-established method is a nanosphere lithography developed by Van Duyne. Nanotriangular island arrays with controlled size and optical properties can be fabricated by this protocol. A different nanolithography method known as focused ion beam milling is reported and used for the fabrication of nanohole arrays. Simple assembly of solution-phase synthesized nanoparticles has also been utilized for the preparation of nanoparticle arrays capable of T-LSPR sensing. Lastly, this article also describes a new preparation strategy, in which self-assembly/thermolysis of nanoparticle multilayers is employed to obtain transparent nanoisland architectures on glass substrates.
Atomic size and chemical effects on the local order of Zr 2 M ( M=Co , Ni, Cu, and Ag) binary liquids

First-principles molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the atomic size and chemical effects on the short-range order (SRO) in superheated and undercooled Zr-based metallic liquids, ${\text{Zr}}_{2}M$ ($M=\text{Co}$, Ni, Cu, and Ag). We demonstrate that the local atomic structures in liquids are quite sensitive to the atomic size ratio and the electronic interactions between component elements. The large negative heats of mixing for $\text{Zr-}M$ do not favor icosahedral SRO in these binary liquids, contrary to the common belief. Full icosahedral structure units are few in the superheated liquids, although the number of icosahedral clusters increases upon undercooling. Comparing ${\text{Zr}}_{2}\text{Co}$, ${\text{Zr}}_{2}\text{Ni}$, and ${\text{Zr}}_{2}\text{Cu}$, all of which have very similar atomic size ratios, we find that the degree of local icosahedral order increases with decreasing interaction strength between the $d$ electrons in Zr-Co, Zr-Ni, and Zr-Cu. A comparison of ${\text{Zr}}_{2}\text{Cu}$ and ${\text{Zr}}_{2}\text{Ag}$ alloys shows that the degree of icosahedral order increases much more in ${\text{Zr}}_{2}\text{Ag}$ than in ${\text{Zr}}_{2}\text{Cu}$ with decreasing temperature. The difference in atomic sizes of Cu and Ag may account for the subtle discrepancy in the evolution of short-range ordering in undercooled ${\text{Zr}}_{2}\text{Cu}$ and ${\text{Zr}}_{2}\text{Ag}$ liquids.
Statistical Examination of Atmospheric Aerosol Properties using MODIS Global Data Product

Aerosols are understood to have a complex relationship with the climate system [1]. Aerosol research is currently in a global quantitative phase due to a network of in situ, ground and space based sensors currently in use [2]. Data from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument provide a unique view on the temporal and spatial variability of aerosol properties [3]. Presently, the aerosol data can be analyzed on synoptic to global and daily to inter- annual time scales, and decadal time series are expected to be available by the end of the design life of both MODIS instruments. That long climatological data records require careful approach and good understanding of data content to ensure realistic estimates of the natural variability and radiative forcing. The present paper addresses various statistical issues in dealing with MODIS aerosol data, in an attempt to also give users an estimate of inaccuracies when using the GES DISC interactive online visualization and analysis infrastructure (Giovanni).
Chemical Evolution in Protostellar Envelopes: Cocoon Chemistry

We have modeled the chemistry that occurs in the envelopes surrounding newborn stars as they are gradually heated by the embedded protostar and the ice mantles of dust grains evaporate, resulting in a hot molecular core. We consider two dynamical scenarios: (1) a cloud undergoing the ‘‘ inside-out ’’ gravitational collapse calculated by Shu and (2) a quasi-stationary envelope. The radial distribution of dust temperature means that differences in surface binding energies result in distinct spatial zones with specific chemistries, as more volatile species (e.g., H2S) are evaporated before more tightly bound species (e.g., H2O). We use our results to identify chemical features that depend on the nature of the collapse and so determine observational tests that may be able to distinguish between different dynamical models of the star formation process. We show that the observed molecular abundances in massive hot cores can be explained only if these objects are supported against collapse. Subject headings: astrochemistry — ISM: abundances — ISM: clouds — molecular processes — stars: formation
Modelling inherent worker differences for workforce planning

Most of the literature in the area of workforce planning assumes that workers are identical. This paper considers fundamental decisions in workforce management assuming that workers are inherently different. General Cognitive Ability (GCA) is used as the measure for individual differences. A mixed integer programming model is developed to determine the amount of hiring, firing, and cross-training for each GCA level to minimize total costs, which include training costs, salary costs, firing costs and missed production costs over multiple time periods. Two sets of experiments were developed: (1) to show that the model can be applied to realistic manufacturing systems with large numbers of machine groups, and (2) to study the parameters that affect workforce decisions. Our results indicate that worker differences should be considered when planning and managing the workforce.
Integrating Natural Language Understanding with Document Structure Analysis

Document understanding, the interpretation of a document from its image form, is a technology area which benefits greatly from the integration of natural language processing with image processing. We have developed a prototype of an Intelligent Document Understanding System (IDUS) which employs several technologies: image processing, optical character recognition, document structure analysis and text understanding in a cooperative fashion. This paper discusses those areas of research during development of IDUS where we have found the most benefit from the integration of natural language processing and image processing: document structure analysis, optical character recognition (OCR) correction, and text analysis. We also discuss two applications which are supported by IDUS: text retrieval and automatic generation of hypertext links
Neurocognitive deficits in the (putative) prodrome and first episode of psychosis

Abstract Objective International research programs have contributed to the creation of operationally defined criteria to identify individuals at risk for schizophrenia. Although there has been substantial progress in the prospective study of the schizophrenia prodrome, the utility of current diagnostic criteria remains questionable because of the relatively low base rates of incident psychoses, the high false-positive rate and ethical concerns regarding the treatment of individuals at risk. The identification of brain based neurocognitive vulnerability markers for schizophrenia may contribute to the development of an at risk algorithm with greater predictive accuracy. Methods Forty subjects at risk (AR) for schizophrenia, 15 in their first episode (FE) of schizophrenia, and 36 healthy comparison (HC) subjects were administered a neurocognitive battery that assessed the domains of processing speed, working memory, verbal episodic memory, executive functioning and general intelligence. Results At baseline, AR subjects showed neurocognitive deficits across all domains compared to HC subjects that were less severe than those observed in the FE sample. In preliminary analyses, AR subjects who later converted to psychosis ( N = 5) had greater neurocognitive impairment at baseline evaluation compared to those individuals who remained “at risk” at follow-up. Conclusions Neurocognitive deficits may be important in the pathogenesis of early psychosis and could help to define individuals at greatest risk for schizophrenia. Continued research in larger cohorts is needed to test the validity of this neurocognitive profile and its utility as a vulnerability marker.
A global solution to a two-dimensional Riemann problem involving shocks as free boundaries

We present a global solution to a Riemann problem for the pressure gradient system of equations. The Riemann problem has initially two shock waves and two contact discontinuities. The angle between the two shock waves is set initially to be close to 180 degrees. The solution has a shock wave that is usually regarded as a free boundary in the self-similar variable plane. Our main contribution in methodology is handling the tangential oblique derivative boundary values.
Radioimmunoassay of human plasma Lp(a) lipoprotein

A quantitative immunodiffusion assay demonstrated Lp(a) lipoprotein in 91% (911 of 1000) of subjects. In order to quantitate Lp(a) in all plasma, a sensitive and specific double antibody radioimmunoassay was developed. The between-assay coefficient of variation was 8%. Lp(a) levels by radioimmunoassay were highly correlated with those obtained by the less sensitive radial immunodiffusion method (r = 0.98, n = 51). All but one of the 89 Lp(a) "negative" subjects by immunodiffusion had detectable levels of Lp(a) by radioimmunoassay. The one subject without detectable Lp(a) had abetalipoproteinemia (without detectable apolipoprotein B by radioimmunoassay). Furthermore, Lp(a) was detected in all three non-human primates examined: patas monkey, baboon, and pig-tail monkey. Quantitation of Lp(a) levels in 90 male myocardial infarction (MI) survivors and their spouses showed that the distribution of Lp(a) levels of MI survivors was significantly higher above the 50th percentile cut-point (P 50. Thus, high levels of Lp(a) may be associated with premature coronary disease. We conclude that Lp(a) is present in all individuals with apolipoprotein B and that apolipoprotein B appears necessary for the plasma transport of the Lp(a) lipoprotein. Consistent with this hypothesis, quantitative immunochemical precipitation of (125)I-Lp(a) indicated that essentially all individual molecules of six purified Lp(a) preparations contain both the Lp(a) antigen and apolipoprotein B.
Fashioning the vertebrate heart: earliest embryonic decisions

Our goal here is to set out the types of unitary decisions made by heart progenitor cells, from their appearance in the heart field until they form the simple heart tube. This provides a context to evaluate cell fate, lineage and, finally, morphogenetic decisions that configure global heart form and function. Some paradigms for cellular differentiation and for pattern generation may be borrowed from invertebrates, but neither Drosophila nor Caenorhabditis elegans suffice to unravel higher order decisions. Genetic analyses in mouse and zebrafish may provide one entrance to these pathways.
Vitamin B-6 Content of Plasma of Domestic Animals Determined by HPLC, Enzymatic and Radiometric Microbiological Methods

In the course of searching for a good animal model of human vita min B-6 metabolism, it was discovered that plasma from pigs fed natural diets con tained substances that interfered with the HPLC analysis of vitamin B-6. To deter mine the extent of such interference, plasma from several other species was examined. In addition to the HPLC method, the samples were analyzed by an apotyrosine decarboxylase method and a radiometrie microbiological assay. In cats and dogs good correlation was obtained between pyridoxal phosphate concentrations determined by the HPLC and by the enzymatic method (r = 0.973). Also there was good correlation between total vitamin B-6 concentrations determined by HPLC and by radiometrie microbiological assay (r = 0.998). Severe interference in the HPLC assay was en countered in plasma from pigs and herbivorous animals including goats, cattle, horses and sheep. The interference was eliminated in a pig fed a purified diet for 5 days. Average plasma pyridoxal phosphate concentrations range from 29 nMin pigs to 2443 nM in cats. This wide range indicates that there may be significant differences be tween species in dietary B-6 intake and/or metabolism of vitamin B-6. J. Nutr. 114: 2269-2273, 1984.
Diffraction imaging of spheres and melanoma cells with a microscope objective.

Diffraction images of spheres (left column) and melanoma cells (right column) acquired with an objective.
Binding of TNP-ATP and TNP-ADP to the non-catalytic sites of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase

Using site-directed-tryptophan fluorescence, parameters for equilibrium binding of (Mg)TNP-ATP and (Mg)TNP-ADP to non-catalytic sites of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase were determined. All three non-catalytic sites showed the same affinity for MgTNP-ATP (Kd = 0.2 microM) or MgTNP-ADP (Kd = 6.5 microM) whereas even at concentrations of 100 microM no binding of uncomplexed TNP-ATP or TNP-ADP was observed. The results demonstrate that the three non-catalytic sites bind TNP-nucleotides non-cooperatively, and emphasize the importance of Mg2+ for non-catalytic-site nucleotide binding. Parameters for binding of (Mg)TNP-ADP to the three catalytic sites were also determined, and showed marked cooperativity. This work completes the set of thermodynamic parameters for equilibrium binding of (Mg)TNP-ATP and (Mg)TNP-ADP to all six nucleotide sites of F1, providing essential information to fully exploit the potential of these nucleotide analogs in studies of F1-ATPase.
Guides through Cultural Work: A Methodological Framework for the Study of Cultural Intermediaries

Through their work, walking tour guides make the abstract histories and cultural flows of cities present and tangible for their followers – merging physical spaces, mental maps of information, and experiences through a kind of spatial storytelling. This social actor’s position in regard to consumption and production thus lends itself to conceptualization as a pivotal cultural worker. To better understand this condition, this article has two interrelated goals: first, to raise the importance of Bourdieu’s ‘cultural intermediary’ and the practice of spatial narratives as concerns for the study of culture, and, second, to refit Wendy Griswold’s (1987a) 1987 framework for a sociology of culture in order to better suit social actors located within a ‘circuit of culture’. Through the study of walking guides, this article places Bourdieu’s provocative concept in dialogue with a clear epistemological framework.
Justice- and fairness-related behaviors in nonhuman primates

A distinctive feature across human societies is our interest in justice and fairness. People will sometimes invest in extremely costly behavior to achieve fair outcomes for themselves and others. Why do people care so much about justice? One way to address this is comparatively, exploring behaviors related to justice and fairness in other species. In this paper, I review work exploring responses to inequity, prosocial behavior, and other relevant behaviors in nonhuman primates in an effort to understand both the potential evolutionary function of these behaviors and the social and ecological reasons for the individual differences in behavior. I also consider how these behaviors relate to human behavior, particularly in the case of experimental studies using games derived from experimental economics to compare nonhuman primates’ responses to those of humans in similar experimental conditions. These results emphasize the importance of a comparative approach to better understand the function and diversity of human behavior.
Evidence that school-age children can self-report on their health.

The value of obtaining children's reports about their health from questionnaires is a topic of considerable debate in clinical pediatrics and child health research. Evidence from the following areas can inform the debate: 1) studies of parent-child agreement or concordance about the child's health state, 2) basic research on the development of children's cognitive abilities, 3) cognitive interviewing studies of children's abilities to respond to questionnaires and of influences on their responses, 4) psychometric studies of child-report questionnaires, and 5) longitudinal research on the value of children's reports. This review makes a case for the utility of child rather than parent-proxy reports for many, though not all, applications. The review summarizes evidence in terms of the value and limitations of child questionnaire reports. Research demonstrates adequate understanding and reliability and validity of child reports of their health even at age 6, which increases after age 7 in general populations. The reliability of reports by children 8–11 years old is quite good on health questionnaires developed especially for this age group. Children's personal reports provide a viable means of monitoring internal experiences of health and distress during childhood and adolescence, which can enhance understanding about trajectories of health and development of illnesses.
Synthesis and biological activity of GnRH antagonists modified at position 3 with 3-(2-methoxy-5-pyridyl)-alanine.

: Degarelix is a potent very long-acting GnRH antagonist after subcutaneous administration. In this paper, we describe the synthesis of two analogs of degarelix incorporating racemic 3-(2-methoxy-5-pyridyl)-alanine (2-OMe-5Pal, 5) at position 3. The two diastereomers were separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and the absolute stereochemistry at position 3 in the peptides was determined by enzymatic digestion with proteinase K. These analogs were tested in vitro for their ability to antagonize the GnRH receptor and in vivo for duration of action in a castrated male rat assay. Analog 7 with D2-OMe-5Pal was potent in vitro (IC50 = 5.22 nm); however, analog 8 with L2-OMe-5Pal at position 3 in degarelix lost potency as an antagonist of the human GnRH receptor (IC50 = 36.95 nm). Both the analogs were found to be short-acting in vivo.
Gradual increase of oceanic CO2

SINCE 1850, human activities, mainly the burning of fossil fuels and the clearing of forests, have increased the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere by ∼50 p.p.m.1–5. Although it is generally believed that the oceanic CO2 has increased correspondingly6–11, only very limited data12–14 have shown the increase quantitatively. We present here a computational calculation of the variation of the preformed total CO2 (ΣCO20) for a water mass, the original amount of total CO2 (ΣCO2) at the time of its last contact with the atmosphere. The result for the Atlantic Ocean reveals that the older water masses have invariably smaller ΣCO20 as compared to the more recently formed waters.
Researching Electoral Politics

Roughly two decades after the first issue of the American Political Science Review, sampling theory emerged to encourage learning about the many from the few. Once social scientists had worked out the selection procedures to deal with large and far-flung human populations, the stage was set for the scientific study of citizen behavior in national elections, as initially demonstrated by George Gallup in predicting the 1936 presidential race. This development unleashed a growing torrent of literature, which by now is simply overwhelming. The many high points in this literature could scarcely be listed, much less abstracted, in the brief compass allowed this essay. So I must invoke some severe selection principles in order to proceed.
Performance analysis of unslotted frequency-hopped packet radio networks-finite populations considered

This paper is concerned with the performance analysis of unslotted frequency-hopped packet radio networks with finite number of users. Networks with general inter-transmission policies are considered. The technique of joint probability generating functions leads to the derivation of exact closed form expressions for packet error probabilities in the case of Reed Solomon error-correcting codes. Numerical results indicate that, depending on the number of users, an optimum value for the throughput is achievable by selecting appropriate packet inter-transmission time.
Building a B-rep from a segmented range image

A segmented range image contains a set of regions representing the projections of the surfaces imaged. Many methods have been proposed to perform the segmentation and surface fitting processes; that is not what this paper is about. Instead, we consider a problem very little analysis has been given to: finding boundary relationships among the regions/surfaces. Since a segmented range image gives us a set of surface patches, it is natural to search for the topology of the 3D surface patches (that is, how the surface patches are connected together). A solution to this problem gives a true 3D boundary representation of the scene. >
IF YOU COULD KNOW, WHAT USERS THINK: Urban Design and Preference of the Visual Attributes to Design Sustainable Urban Open Spaces

What are the visual attributes of successfully designed urban open spaces that play significant roles in the creation of sustainable livable cities? Public spaces are mostly designed for social interaction and communication. The aesthetic and morphological dimensions of public spaces are among the essential visual and physical characteristics that need to be understood for successful social use. This paper reports on a study that was exploratory and qualitative in nature and sets out to explore the different physical characteristics of designed urban open spaces as being aesthetically and socially important from the users’ point of view. By using photo simulation techniques, a set of 24 photographs of urban plazas, squares, and pedestrian malls were used as surrogates for the physical environment. The study identified some salient attributes of designed urban open spaces in order to create sustainable urban planning, with six sub-categories considered to be important. Based on detailed participant responses, a list of the attributes of preferred physical environment to design sustainable urban open space has been developed. The findings can be implemented to create sustainable urban planning as well as to design successful urban plazas, squares, and other public open spaces according to user preferences in the future.
Theory and Practice of Public Participation in Planning

Communications, sociology and social psychology, and political science provide the principal theoretical base for public participation programs. Planners more readily accept improved communications than the other disciplines as a starting point for public participation program development. Techniques used to involve the public include workshops, forums, familiarization tours, brochures, opinion surveys, pro and con sheets, participation scorecards, briefings, and modified public hearings. In general, the successes have been impressive and rather easy to obtain. Failures have not necessarily been permanent and do not necessarily cast doubt on the theoretical base. Primary contributions of communications theory are two-way communication, multistep flow, and multiple entry into the system. Contributions of sociology and social psychology are the notion that planning is a social process, the concept of perception, and the concepts of trust, legitimacy, and rapport. Political science contributes the categorization of political systems into democratic and elitist structures and orderliness and conformance with law and principle.
The Broker Who Would Not Bundle

Online reputation systems are a challenge to design. They often require large user-bases to frequently and honestly rate content and users. Although this is a daunting problem, reputation systems can help to alleviate the “cheap pseudonym” problem. One way to make it easier to create and sustain a reputation system is to share information about the identity of users between web sites. We report on some of the obstacles to such a user identity marketplace. In particular, we find that the brokers needed to would serve as intermediaries in the marketplace have incentives that do not align with the firms that want to trade identity information. More specifically, the individual firms would benefit if the brokers created bundles, but these bundles would reduce the broker’s profitability. Therefore, the brokers will not bundle the information goods.
Endogenous Fact Finding and Appellate Standards of Review in U.S. Courts

Many scholars claim that district courts are compliant with legal doctrine articulated by the appellate courts, citing decreased partisan voting under less deferential standards of review. However, in many of these analyses, reversals by an appellate court are taken to be a sincere expression of disapproval, whereas affirmances are taken to be a sincere expression of approval. Using a simple model of endogenous fact-finding by district courts, I show that affirmances by appellate courts are not necessarily a reflection of approval, but may instead be a mechanism to induce higher quality fact-finding by district courts. Standards of review are therefore endogenously adopted by appellate courts who simultaneously worry about district court subversion and district court apathy. I show that district court fact-finding effort increases as uncertainty increases, but is mitigated by conflict between the two courts. Appellate courts can alleviate the negative effects of conflict by adopting more deferential standards of review. The normative implications are stark. De novo standards may reduce the quality of fact-finding by reducing district courts' incentives to invest effort in cases under such standards.
Biomarkers Affected by Impact Severity during Osteochondral Injury.

Osteochondral injury elevates the risk for developing posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the relationship between impact severity during injury to cell viability and biomarkers possibly involved in PTOA. Osteochondral explants (6 mm, n = 72) were harvested from cadaveric femoral condyles ( N = 6). Using a test machine, each explant (except for No Impact ) was subjected to mechanical impact at a velocity of 100 mm/s to 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, or 1.25 mm maximum compression corresponding to Low , Low-Moderate , Moderate , Moderate-High , or High impact groups. Cartilage cell viability, collagen content, and proteoglycan content were assessed at either day 0 or after 12 days of culture. Culture media were assessed for prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ); nitric oxide; granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF); interferon gamma (IFNγ); interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -6, -7, -8, -10, -15, -18; interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10); keratinocyte-derived chemoattractant (KC); monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1); tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα); and matrix metalloproteinase-2, -3, -8, -9, -13. There was increased impact energy absorbed for the High group compared with the Moderate-High group, Moderate group, and Low-Moderate group ( p = 0.011, 0.048, 0.008, respectively). At day 0, there was decreased area cell viability for the High group compared with the Low-Moderate group ( p = 0.035). At day 1, PGE 2 was increased for the High group compared with the Moderate , Low-Moderate , Low , and No Impact groups ( p ≤ 0.01). Cumulative PGE 2 was increased for the Moderate-High and High groups compared with the Moderate , Low-Moderate , Low , and No Impact groups ( p ≤ 0.036). At day 1, MCP-1 was increased for the Moderate-High and High groups compared with the Low and No Impact groups ( p ≤ 0.032). Impact to osteochondral explants resulted in multiple levels of severity. PGE 2 was sensitive to impact severity which may justify its use as a clinically measurable biomarker after joint injury for monitoring early PTOA.
The free amino acid pool of cultivated human skin fibroblasts.

SummarySkin fibroblasts from normal individuals were grown in Ham's F-10 and Eagle's minimum essential medium and the intracellular concentration of amino acids measured using an automatic amino acid analyzer. Cultivated human skin fibroblasts exhibited a characteristic pattern of free amino acid content which differs from the amino acid pool previously described in Hela and L cells as well as many mammalian tissues and biological fluids. The free amino acid pool of fibroblasts grown in Eagle's MEM nutrient mixture was generally larger than that found in cells grown in Ham's F-10 medium. However, the contribution of most amino acids to the pool was comparable using both media. These data suggest that the measurement of the free amino acid content of cultivated human skin fibroblasts may prove useful for the study of inborn errors of amino acid metabolism in cell culture.
Section 4. Deep Time: Observational Evidence from the Sedimentary Rock Record

In the following section on deep time, we have borrowed liberally from a book manuscript that was in preparation by Fred, Andreas , and John Morse , who regrettably passed away before the effort could be brought to fruition. At this point, Fred and Andreas wish to acknowledge once more John’s
Mechanism of cell growth on calcium phosphate particles: role of cell-mediated dissolution of calcium phosphate matrix

Un modele in vitro a ete mis au point pour l'etude du role possible de la dissolution induite par les cellules de matrices de phosphate de calcium dans les proprietes de «bioreaction» d'un biomateriau, le phosphate de calcium. L'OsteoGraf/N-300, une hydroxyapatite poreuse (phosphate de calcium), a ete choisi comme materiaux temoin et des fibroblastes humains ont ete employes en culture cellulaire in vitro. Apres une semaine de culture, les grains d'hydroxyapatite poreuse (250 a 420 μm) sont couverts de cellules. Les cellules semblent detruire et absorber par endocytose des petits fragments (< 10 μm) des grains les plus gros. La microscopie electronique par transmission confirme qu'un nombre significatif de cellules se developpant sur les grains renferme des particules intracellulaires de phosphate de calcium
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Multimodality Imaging Approach with Clinical-Pathologic Correlation

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common medical problem, with almost 1 million cases diagnosed annually. Historically, PID has been a clinical diagnosis supplemented with the findings from ultrasonography (US) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. However, the diagnosis of PID can be challenging because the clinical manifestations may mimic those of other pelvic and abdominal processes. Given the nonspecific clinical manifestations, computed tomography (CT) is commonly the first imaging examination performed. General CT findings of early- and late-stage PID include thickening of the uterosacral ligaments, pelvic fat stranding with obscuration of fascial planes, reactive lymphadenopathy, and pelvic free fluid. Recognition of these findings, as well as those seen with cervicitis, endometritis, acute salpingitis, oophoritis, pyosalpinx, hydrosalpinx, tubo-ovarian abscess, and pyometra, is crucial in allowing prompt and accurate diagnosis. Late complications of PID include tubal damage resulting in infertility and ectopic pregnancy, peritonitis caused by uterine and/or tubo-ovarian abscess rupture, development of peritoneal adhesions resulting in bowel obstruction and/or hydroureteronephrosis, right upper abdominal inflammation (Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome), and septic thrombophlebitis. Recognition of these late manifestations at CT can also aid in proper patient management. At CT, careful assessment of common PID mimics, such as endometriosis, adnexal torsion, ruptured hemorrhagic ovarian cyst, adnexal neoplasms, appendicitis, and diverticulitis, is important to avoid misinterpretation, delay in management, and unnecessary surgery. Correlation with the findings from complementary imaging examinations, such as US and MR imaging, is useful for establishing a definitive diagnosis. (©)RSNA, 2016.
Leveraging the Implicit Structure within Social Media for Emergent Rumor Detection

The automatic and early detection of rumors is of paramount importance as the spread of information with questionable veracity can have devastating consequences. This became starkly apparent when, in early 2013, a compromised Associated Press account issued a tweet claiming that there had been an explosion at the White House. This tweet resulted in a significant drop for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Most existing work in rumor detection leverages conversation statistics and propagation patterns, however, such patterns tend to emerge slowly requiring a conversation to have a significant number of interactions in order to become eligible for classification. In this work, we propose a method for classifying conversations within their formative stages as well as improving accuracy within mature conversations through the discovery of implicit linkages between conversation fragments. In our experiments, we show that current state-of-the-art rumor classification methods can leverage implicit links to significantly improve the ability to properly classify emergent conversations when very little conversation data is available. Adopting this technique allows rumor detection methods to continue to provide a high degree of classification accuracy on emergent conversations with as few as a single tweet. This improvement virtually eliminates the delay of conversation growth inherent in current rumor classification methods while significantly increasing the number of conversations considered viable for classification.
Service Learning Through Disaster Relief

The Rock County 4-H Disaster Relief Committee raised $1,550 to aid tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and then turned its attention to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Thirty-one 4-H youth participated in a service learning trip to the South with the objectives of helping hurricane victims, learning about new cultures and achieving personal growth during three days of service projects in Louisiana and Mississippi. Their written reflections and other evaluative measures revealed they learned about southern culture, gained a greater appreciation for their lives, gained self confidence and developed a desire to help others more often. The trip was a valuable developmental experience for the youth, and information from the trip could be utilized to create similar experiences based on service learning. This article provides an overview of the trip and describes the evaluation methods used to measure learning and assess personal growth.
Salivary Gland Tumors : Current Concepts and Controversies

This current review focuses on current concepts and controversies for select key salivary gland epithelial neoplasms. Rather than the traditional organization of benign and malignant tumors, this review is structured around select key topics: biphasic tumors, mammary analogue secretory carcinoma, and the controversy surrounding polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma and cribriform adenocarcinoma of (minor) salivary gland origin.
Connecting Teacher Professional Development and Student Mathematics Achievement: A 4-Year Study of an Elementary Mathematics Specialist Program

The present study investigated the effects of Primarily Math, an inservice elementary mathematics specialist program. Primarily Math sought to augment the mathematical knowledge for teaching of kin...
Parametric study of controllable parameters in fracture-based wellbore strengthening

Abstract Fracture-based wellbore strengthening techniques have been widely used in the oil industry to reduce the cost of lost circulation, especially in depleted reservoirs. Accurate prediction of induced-fracture geometry is of critical importance for best particle size distribution (PSD) selection of wellbore strengthening materials (WSM). Conventional parametric analyses mainly focused on rock properties, well conditions and WSM plug location. Thus, the deficiency of ignoring time and fluid dynamics may result in erroneous operations. In this paper, a dynamic fracture model based on the dislocation method is employed to qualitatively characterize the influence of controllable parameters on fracture propagation and fracture reopening pressure (FROP). Fracture propagation length and profile are obtained for each parameter with different values. It is found that fluid injection rate, fluid viscosity, fluid injection time, wellbore inclination and wellbore radius have an inverse relationship with FROP. On the other hand, fracture plug width has a positive relationship with FROP. Finally, a procedure for determining optimal wellbore strengthening operations by manipulating the controllable parameters is developed based on the dynamic fracture model.