cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SYSTEMATICALLY CROSS-LINKED HUMAN HEMOGLOBIN : FUNCTIONAL EFFECTS OF 10 A SPANS BETWEEN BETA SUBUNITS AT LYSINE-82

The structure and properties of hemoglobin are altered by the introduction of cross-links of defined structure between specific residues. The bis methyl phosphates and bis 3,5-dibromosalicylates of 4-carboxy-trans-cinnamic acid as well as the bis methyl phosphate of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid produce a 10 A cross-link between the e-amino groups of each β-lys-82 of human hemoglobin. The oxygen affinity of the modified proteins fits the correlation interpolated from those for shorter and longer cross-links. The oxygen binding curve shows a high degree of cooperativity. These results support the idea that the length of the semirigid cross-link in a structurally homogeneous series constrains the relaxation of the protein upon oxygen binding by a mechanism that is specifically reflected in the oxygen affinity, while interactions between hemes that affect cooperativity are not diminished.
Confirmed abuse cases in public residential facilities for persons with mental retardation: a multi-state study.

Abstract Data regarding cases of confirmed abuse or neglect in large state-operated facilities in 6 states were collected and analyzed. Neglect and physical abuse were the most common abuse types. ...
Identification of acid mucopolysaccharides by glass-paper chromatography.

Abstract An ascending chromatographic method was used to identify acidic mucopolysaccharides. On silica-gel-treated glass papers, a displacement type of chromatography with ethanol-salt solutions separated seven mucopolysaccharides. The compounds were located by charring with sulfuric acid or different staining technics. The method is convenient, reproducible, and rapid and can be used to identify small quantities of mucopolysaccharides in mixtures. Certain difficulties as and identification procedure were observed, however, and are discussed. Observations on glass-fiber papers are useful in studying different reactions of mucopolysaccharides with various salts and stains.
Teacher modeling of active citizenship via service‐learning in teacher education

A cacophony of voices is continuing to place mandates on education and yet the voices of teachers are seldom heard. Teacher education can attempt to address this issue by facilitation of advocacy experiences via service‐learning. The experiential and transformative nature of service‐learning is illustrated through three case studies in which graduate students, namely in early childhood education, address educational issues such as class size reduction, Universal Pre‐K and the No child left behind Act, through self‐determined advocacy efforts in early childhood education courses. The seven elements of service‐learning include integrated learning, student voice, high quality service, civic responsibility, collaboration, reflection and evaluation. These elements serve as a framework for structuring the data collected from students' written reflections. Selective highlighting is utilized to generate the emergent themes from the data. In these case studies, the students who engaged in advocacy efforts through ...
Plasma amino nitrogen and creatine values of growing chick and laying hen.

SummaryRepresentative values for amino nitrogen and creatine are given for chicken blood. Creatine values previously reported in the literature appear to be too high because of non-creatine chromogens.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm pathway: outcome analysis.

The current and future health care environment demands that health care providers place increased emphasis on the achievement of acceptable patient outcomes within an effective timeline and with more efficient use of resources. Clinical pathways provide a tool that defines the processes and activities that must occur to meet these goals. The purpose of this study is to describe a process for analysis of clinical and fiscal outcomes of a clinical pathway initiated at an academic medical center for elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Patients were monitored throughout their preoperative and postoperative course to identify and trend variances, assess opportunities for improved resource use, and determine patient/family satisfaction. Data were collected by use of multiple electronic databases available within the university information systems network and analyzed to determine impact on patient changes, treatment course, and length of stay. Outliers were profiled as a means to identify prognostic indicators or establish a high preoperative risk. Results of a sample of 42 patients revealed a reduction in gross charges by 33% per case in comparison to the baseline data obtained before pathway implementation. This study will describe the rationale and process for instituting changes in resource use, such as diagnostic testing and blood use. Clinical outcomes and related nursing implications will also be discussed, including preoperative management, a streamlined same-day admission process, and factors associated with prolonged stay in the intensive care unit. Finally, strategies designed to enlist the support and participation of nurses, physicians, and other health team members will be discussed.
Structural Modal Identification using Data Sets with Missing Observations

System identification algorithms currently require a full data set, i.e., no missing observations, to estimate the natural vibration properties of a structural system. These algorithms are often based on parameters estimated from a state-space model. There are circumstances in which a Missing Data Problem can arise during data collection; therefore, it is important to adjust these algorithms to facilitate Structural Modal Identification. Despite having missing observations, state-space parameters can be estimated for a time series; subsequently, structural modal properties can be identified. This paper will use the EM algorithm to identify structural modal properties from a data set with missing observations. The end of the paper will focus on the search for a missingness threshold which can be used to assess the probability of extracting useful structural modal properties from a given data set with missing observations. This assessment will be based on the accuracy of modal estimates for data sets with varying magnitudes and patterns of missingness. It is clear that missingness can only reduce the accuracy of modal estimates; however, it is important to establish the associated scale and behavior of the reduction. An example is presented to illustrate the main concepts of this approach.
Temperature compensated cuts with zero power flow in TI3VS4 and TI3TaSe4

Crystallographic orientations have been identified in TI3VS4 and TI3TaSe4 which are temperature compensated and have zero power flow. The orientations appear in the (110) axis cylinder cut and possess rather low s.a.w. velocities and reasonably high coupling.
Increasing the site density of non-precious metal catalysts in fuel cell electrodes

Abstract Development of new non-precious metal based catalysts for fuel cells is crucial for the viability of the technology. This class of catalysts has relatively low turnover frequencies for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) when compared to platinum. One way to compensate for it is to increase the catalyst site density. In this work, a model system for a high site density catalytic layer for polymer electrolyte fuel cells was synthesized and characterized. Dipyrromethane was electropolymerized on glassy carbon and glass/ITO electrodes to form a ligand matrix of up to 200 nm in thickness, to which, cobalt was introduced during the electropolymerization process. Thin polymeric sheets were observed after the electrochemical synthesis and the cobalt density in the matrix was found to be 9.84 × 10 21 cobalt atoms cm −3 . ORR activity was demonstrated with oxygen reduction occurring at E 1/2 = 0.45 V and has an onset potential of 0.62 V vs. RHE.
Synthesis of a Heptanuclear Rhenium−Iridium Carbido Carbonyl Cluster and of (Triphenylphosphine)gold(I) Derivatives

The octanuclear cluster [Re5Ir(μ6-C)(CO)17(μ3-Re(CO)3)2]2- loses a [Re(CO)3]+ capping unit in refluxing acetonitrile to give the heptanuclear cluster [Re5Ir(μ6-C)(CO)17(μ3-Re(CO)3)]3-. The latter compound can be capped with [AuPPh3]+ groups to form the monogold and digold derivatives [Re6IrC(CO)20(AuPPh3)]2- and [Re6IrC(CO)20(AuPPh3)2]-. These three new anionic clusters have been isolated as PPN+ and/or PPh4+ salts and are formulated on the basis of microanalytical and FAB mass spectrometric data. The solid-state structure of [PPh4][Re6Ir(μ6-C)(CO)20(μ3-AuPPh3)2]·CH2Cl2 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: triclinic, space group P1, a = 13.1182(1) A, b = 15.1806(1) A, c = 23.4061(3) A, α = 74.251(1)°, β = 82.058(1)°, γ = 70.306(1)°, Z = 2. Further information on the structures of the compounds in solution has been derived from 13C and 31P NMR studies.
Palearctic Distribution and Host Plants of Ceutorhynchus trimaculatus and Trichosirocalus horridus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Ceutorhynchus trimaculatus (F.) and Trichosirocalus (= Ceuthorhynchidius auctt. nec du Val) horridus (Panzer) are distributed in central and southern Europe and the Caucasus area of the USSR. C. trimaculatus is also present in North Africa. Host plants of adult C. trimaculatus are Carduus and Cirsium spp., and host plants of adult T. horridus are Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum spp. At Rome, Italy, larvae of both weevils feed on Carduus macrocephalus Desfontaines, C. pycnocephalus L., and Galactites tomentosa Moench., as determined by periodic dissections of several species of Compsitae plants. Since larvae were not found on artichoke, Cynara scolymus L., or reported from this crop in the literature, these weevils are potential biological control agents of Carduus spp. in the United States.
Profit and Penalty Aware Scheduling for Real-Time Online Services

As computer and Internet technology continue to advance, real-time online services are emerging. Different from traditional real-time applications for which the scheduling objective is to meet task deadlines, the optimization goal for online service systems is to maximize profit obtained through providing timely services. For this class of applications, there are two distinctive characteristics. First, tasks are associated with a pair of time dependent functions representing accrued profit when completed before their deadlines and accrued penalty otherwise, respectively. Second, the service requests or tasks arrive aperiodically with execution time varying in a wide range. This paper presents a novel scheduling method and related analysis for such applications. Two scheduling algorithms, i.e., the nonpreemptive and preemptive Profit and Penalty aware (PP-aware) scheduling algorithms, are proposed with an objective to maximize system's total accrued profit. Our simulation results clearly demonstrate the advantages of the proposed algorithms, with respect to the system total accrued profit, over other commonly used scheduling algorithms, such as Earliest Deadline First (EDF) and Utility Accrual (UA) algorithms.
Prefrontal stimulus-produced hypotension in rat

In 41 rats, bipolar electrical stimulation was administered to various regions of the frontal cortex, including the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC), infralimbic cortex, and convexity cortex. Resulting alterations of blood pressure and heart rate were noted. It was observed that hypotension resulted from stimulation administered to either LPFC, infralimbic cortex or ventral portion of MPFC (i.e. prelimbic cortex). Furthermore, stimulation of the LPFC typically produced bradycardia, whereas stimulation of the MPFC or infralimbic cortex had little or no effect on heart rate. Pharmacological and surgical blocks of the vagus nerves failed to attenuate the stimulus produced hypotension (SPH), as elicited from the prefrontal or infralimbic cortices, thus demonstrating that SPH in rats is not mediated by the vagus nerves. However, intraperitoneal injections of norepinephrine, which mimicked a state of increased sympathetic tone, were observed to completely block SPH. Accordingly, it is suggested that SPH may occur as the result of sympathetic inhibition. Furthermore, intravenous injections of naloxone were also observed to also completely block SPH, thus demonstrating that SPH may be mediated via opioid pathways.
An evaluation of leading-edge flap performance on delta and double-delta wings at supersonic speeds

An investigation of the aerodynamic performance of leading-edge flaps on three clipped delta and three clipped double-delta wing planforms with aspect ratios of 1.75, 2.11, and 2.50 was conducted in the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at Mach numbers of 1.60, 1.90, and 2.16. A primary set of fullspan leading-edge flaps with similar root and tip chords were investigated on each wing, and several alternate flap planforms were investigated on the aspect-ratio-1.75 wings. All leading-edge flap geometries were effective in reducing the drag at lifting conditions over the range of wing aspect ratios and Mach numbers tested. Application of a primary flap resulted in better flap performance with the double-delta planform than with the delta planform. The primary flap geometry generally yielded better performance than the alternate flap geometries tested. Trim drag due to flap-induced pitching moments was found to reduce the leading-edge flap performance more for the delta planform than for the double-delta planform. Flow-visualization techniques showed that leading-edge flap deflection reduces crossflow shock-induced separation effects. Finally, it was found that modified linear theory consistently predicts only the effects of leading-edge flap deflection as related to pitching moment and lift trends.
Patchwise adsorption of fibrinogen on glass surfaces and its implication in platelet adhesion

Abstract The spatial organization and intermolecular interactions of proteins adsorbed on the glass surface were investigated with a cross-linking approach. Fibrinogen and albumin were adsorbed on glass beads from single protein solutions or from a mixture of the two proteins at varying bulk concentrations. Protein molecules in molecular aggregates (patches) on the surface were cross-linked with bifunctional reagents and eluted from the surface by sonication in the presence of SDS. The eluted protein multimers were identified by gel electrophoresis. It was found that fibrinogen molecules always formed multimeric aggregates even at surface concentrations much lower than a monolayer coverage. On the other hand, albumin did not form multimers when the surface concentration was lower than that of the monolayer. The results indicate that patchwise adsorption is the unique feature of fibrinogen adsorption. The implication of patchwise fibrinogen adsorption in platelet adhesion is discussed.
Mapping massive SIMD parallelism onto vector architectures for simulation

A software behavioural simulator for a new massively parallel single-instruction/multiple data (SIMD) architecture has been developed that can accurately simulate the entire 16, 384 bit-serial processor array. The key to this high performance modelling is the exploitation of an inherent mapping that exists between massively parallel SIMD architectures and the vector architectures used in many high performance scientific super-computers. The new SIMD architecture, called BLITZEN, is based on the Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) built for NASA by Goodyear in the late 1970s. By simulating the full-scale machine with very high performance, the simulator allows development of algorithms and high-level software to proceed before realization of the hardware. This paper describes the SIMD - vector architecture mapping, the highly vectorized simulator in which it is used, and how the result was a simulator that achieved a level of performance three orders of magnitude faster than the conventional uniprocessor approach.
Relationship of air pollution to attack rate of asthma in children.

An inverse relationship between daily levels of smoke shade in ambient air and number of visits of children to an emergency clinic for acute episodes of asthma was noted over a period of six months—October 1, 1970 to March 31, 1971. The patient visits were not affected by variation in sulphur dioxide levels, although there was a significant correlation between the latter and the levels of smoke shade.
A hybrid, de novo based, genome-wide database search approach applied to the sea urchin neuropeptidome.

Peptidomics is the identification and study of the in vivo biologically active peptide profile. A combination of high performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics tools such as database search engines are commonly used to perform the analysis. We report a methodology based on a database system holding the completed translated genome, whereby de novo sequencing and genome-wide database searching are combined. The methodology was applied to the sea urchin neuropeptidome resulting in a 30 percent increase in identification rate.
Interactions of S alleles in sporophytically controlled self incompatibility of Brassica.

The expressed activity in pollen and stigma was determined for both S alleles of sixteen S-aliele heterozygous genotypes and for one of the two S alleles of two additional heterozygotes. Activities were measured using pollen tube penetration and seed set data from reciprocal crosses between each S-allele heterozygote and its two corresponding S-allele homozygotes. In pollen the S-allele activities ranged from zero to 100% inhibition of pollen tube penetration and seed set, and in the stigma they ranged from 8 to 100% inhibition. Of the sixty-eight S-allele activities measured, thirty-three (48%) were 90 to 100% inhibition, nine (13%) were 80 to 89% inhibition and one to five were within each ten-unit range below 80% inhibition. In an S-allele heterozygote, each subset of two S alleles had an activity for each allele in both pollen and stigma which was highly repeatable among duplicate pollinations within and among successive years. Each subset of two S alleles had a specific S-allele interaction in the pollen, and the same or another specific interaction in the stigma. In pairings with six other S alleles, allele S 2 had four calculated levels of activity in pollen that ranged from 88 to 94%, and five levels in the stigmas between 15 and 94%. When paired in a heterozygote, alleles S 3 and S 5 had activities ranging between 42 and 59%, representing mutual weakening of S-allele activity. Also, heterozygote S 15 S 3 had pollen activities, respectively, of 25 and 6%, i.e. mutual weakening in the pollen. These results indicate that in heterozygous combination with a series of other S alleles, each S-allele may have activity in pollen and also in stigma that potentially is between zero and 100% inhibition. They further indicate that the defined sexual-organ X S-allele-interaction Types I, II, III and IV are extremes; all intermediate variations including complete weakening of both alleles are possible. Recessiveness is weakening of the activity of but one of the two S alleles. The pollen tube penetrations into the style and seed set were highly correlated.
Difference in the respiratory variation between pulmonary venous and mitral inflow doppler velocities in patients with constrictive pericarditis with and without atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to evaluate the difference in the respiratory change from expiration to inspiration (%E) between pulsed Doppler mitral inflow (MV) and pulmonary venous flow (PV) velocities in patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP) and to describe the influence of atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND The difference in %E between MV and PV velocities as well as the influence of AF on %E has not been well described. METHODS Pulsed-wave Doppler transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed with respiratory monitoring in 31 patients with CP and sinus rhythm (SR) and in 10 patients with CP and AF. The MV early (E) and late diastolic (A) velocities and their velocity time integral (VTI) as well as PV systolic (S) and diastolic (D) velocities and their VTI were measured. RESULTS Regardless of the cardiac rhythm: 1) The MV-E velocity and E-VTI as well as PV-D velocity and D-VTI significantly decreased from expiration to inspiration; 2) the %E in PV-D velocity (27% in SR and 35% in AF) and D-VTI (38% in SR and 45% in AF) was significantly greater than that in MV-E velocity (18% in SR and 15% in AF) and E-VTI (21% in SR and 19% in AF), respectively; 3) the PV S/D and S/D-VTI significantly increased from expiration to inspiration. CONCLUSIONS A significant respiratory variation was observed in both MV and PV velocities in CP, not only in patients with SR but also in those with AF. Moreover, the %E was greater in the PV velocities than it was in the MV velocities. Evaluation of the %E in the PV velocities using TEE can be a sensitive diagnostic strategy for evaluation of patients with CP, even in patients with AF.
New amide local anesthetics for obstetric use

Summary The introduction of stereo-specific levorotary isomers of amide local anesthetics, ropivacaine and levobupivacaine, for clinical use is important. This is because these drugs have a wider margin of safety, but similar blocking properties to the currently available formulation of racemic bupivacaine, although at a higher cost. However, it is noteworthy that modifications in clinical practice, such as the use of appropriate test doses and fractionation of the induction dose, have made epidural use in obstetrics a very safe procedure even before the introduction of these new drugs 50 Thus, because of their greater cost, it is difficult to predict what role, if any, these amides will assume in obstetric practice without a cost-benefit analysis. From the standpoint of systemic toxicity, the anticipated benefit of these drugs during routine epidural analgesia for labor is questionable because of the widespread use of very dilute concentrations of local anesthetic by continuous infusion. Their use, in theory, may be more beneficial to women having a cesarean section where relatively higher volumes and concentrations of local anesthetics are required for satisfactory sensory and motor block. Nonetheless, in no circumstance should a greater margin of safety be relied on a substitute for proper technique.
Isolation of a Common Receptor for Coxsackie B Viruses and Adenoviruses 2 and 5

A complementary DNA clone has been isolated that encodes a coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR). When transfected with CAR complementary DNA, nonpermissive hamster cells became susceptible to coxsackie B virus attachment and infection. Furthermore, consistent with previous studies demonstrating that adenovirus infection depends on attachment of a viral fiber to the target cell, CAR-transfected hamster cells bound adenovirus in a fiber-dependent fashion and showed a 100-fold increase in susceptibility to virus-mediated gene transfer. Identification of CAR as a receptor for these two unrelated and structurally distinct viral pathogens is important for understanding viral pathogenesis and has implications for therapeutic gene delivery with adenovirus vectors.
Programming languages: fundamental concepts for expanding and disciplining the mind

In this white paper, we propose a list of essential concepts of programming languages, and discuss the techniques we have used to teach these concepts.
Beyond the Millennium Development Goals: Public health challenges in water and sanitation

Over 1 billion people lack access to improved water sources and 2.6 billion lack access to appropriate sanitation, greatly contributing to the global burden of disease. The international community has committed to reducing by half the proportion of the world's population lacking access to water and sanitation as a part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, the disease burden due to poor access, is borne primarily by the poorest countries and the poorest people within them. Simply reducing the proportion of people without adequate access will not automatically result in proportional reductions in the related disease burden. The public health challenge inherent in meeting the MDG targets is ensuring that improvements result in access to water and sanitation for the critical at-risk populations. Innovative approaches are required to ensure the availability of low-cost, simple, and locally acceptable water and sanitation interventions and integrating these approaches into existing social institutions, such as schools, markets, and health facilities.
Combating obesity trends in teenagers through persuasive mobile technology

Throughout the last decade, there has been an alarming increase in obesity prevalence among adults and teens throughout the world. Obesity has been found to increase the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers. Due to the many health risks associated with obesity, an increase in prevalence has also pressured health care systems and the finances of the individual. Our research proposes to decrease obesity prevalence in adults by motivating teens to become or continue being physically active so that they can continue these healthy lifestyles as adults. Our goal is to encourage long term adoption of physically active behaviors by introducing a motivating application running on a mobile device. We use the Technology Acceptance Model, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Theory of Meaning Behavior, and the Big 5 Personality Theory to guide our design.
Adrenal lipid and plasma corticosterone depletion after 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene administration to the albino rat.

Fluorometrische Messungen zeigten eine Abnahme von Plasmacorticosterone (CCS). Die Bedeutung dieser Resultate fur theoretische Aspekte der Karzinogenese wird diskutiert.
Characterization of the oxygenase activity in a mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardi exhibiting altered ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase.

A previously described Mendelian mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardi, ac i72, exhibiting altered ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase activity and unable to grow on minimal medium is examined for changes in ribulosebisphosphate oxygenase activity. The ribulosebisphosphate oxygenase activity of the enzyme purified from both wild type and ac i72 is compared over a pH range from 7.0 to 9.5. Both enzymes exhibit maximum activity at pH 9.0. However, the ac i72 enzyme is twice as active as the wild type enzyme at a physiological pH of 7.0. The studies in vivo of the products of CO2 fixation of ac i72 and wild type cells in the presence of high and low O2 concentration shows that due to a lower level of carboxylation, the ac i72 cells fix CO2 at half the rate of wild type cells. In ac i72, 24% of the photosynthetically fixed 14C is channelled into the water-soluble fraction as opposed to 6% in wild type. Thin-layer chromatography of the watersoluble fraction showed extensive accumulation of components of the glycolate pathway in ac i72 as compared to wild type. This indicates that the oxygenase activity of the enzyme prevails in ac i72 in vivo. Since a high concentration of glycolate is toxic to cells of C. reinhardi, the high oxygenase activity of ac i72 provides an explanation for the inability of ac i72 to grow phototrophically even though its rate of CO2 fixation is half that of wild type. This toxicity to glycolate is overcome by growth under amber illumination or low O2 concentration.
Spin density waves in periodically strained graphene nanoribbons

Zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) are antiferromagnetic in the ground state with zero net magnetization due to the compensation of contributions from opposite edges. Uniform deformations (both shear and axial) do not produce magnetization due to symmetry restrictions. However, we report the results of first-principles calculations that predict the induction of spin density waves (SDWs) in ZGNRs under non-uniform periodic strain. Using the density functional theory (DFT) method, we show that a sinusoidal magnetization variation along the axis of the ribbon occurs under a sinusoidal transversal shear strain. SDWs appear due to the presence of a strain gradient that induced asymmetry of magnetization on opposite edges of ZGNRs which do not compensate each other. The amplitude of SDWs is estimated at ∼0.066μB when deformations transverse to the ZGNR axis have a sinusoidal profile with a period of 88.6 A and an amplitude of 1 A. Our study suggests that the periodic lattice deformations strongly affect the magnetic structure of ZGNRs in the case of acoustic phonons or mechanical waves.
FLIP inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis during hyperoxia by suppressing Bax.

Abstract High oxygen tension (hyperoxia) causes pulmonary cell death, involving apoptosis, necrosis, or mixed death phenotypes, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In mouse lung endothelial cells (MLEC) hyperoxia activates both extrinsic (Fas-dependent) and intrinsic (mitochondria-dependent) apoptotic pathways. We examined the hypothesis that FLIP, an inhibitor of caspase-8, can protect endothelial cells against the lethal effects of hyperoxia. Hyperoxia caused the time-dependent downregulation of FLIP in MLEC. Overexpression of FLIP attenuated intracellular reactive oxygen species generation during hyperoxia exposure, by downregulating extracellular-regulated kinase-1/2 activation and p47phox expression. FLIP prevented hyperoxia-induced trafficking of the death-inducing signal complex from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane. Furthermore, FLIP blocked the activations of caspase-8/Bid, caspases −3/−9, and inhibited the mitochondrial translocation and activation of Bax, resulting in protection against hyperoxia-induced cell death. Under normoxic conditions, FLIP expression increased the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase leading to increased phosphorylation of Bax during hyperoxic stress. Furthermore, FLIP expression markedly inhibited protein kinase C activation and expression of distinct protein kinase C isoforms (α, η, and ζ), and stabilized an interaction of PKC with Bax. In conclusion, FLIP exerted novel inhibitory effects on extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways, which significantly protected endothelial cells from the lethal effects of hyperoxia.
Public action and awareness to reduce alcohol-related problems: a plan of action.

Inconsistency and confusion about the use of alcohol are the rule in the major institutions of American society. Efforts to change the drinking behavior of individuals have failed because institutional messages are at odds with public health messages. Thus changing the institutional environment around alcohol must be a priority for prevention efforts. Messages inconsistent with prevention goals emanate from federal, state and local governments; media and educational institutions; professional sports; medical institutions; corporations; charitable foundations; the retail beverage industry; the insurance industry; judicial and legal institutions; churches; and institutions in minority populations. Changing the practices of these institutions requires well-coordinated grassroots efforts. A successful plan of action must include translation and dissemination of research through action-oriented informational resources: seminars, conferences and workshops introducing people to the institutional perspective on alcohol-related problems; designation and training of leaders; creation of issue-oriented coalitions which provide the basis for broadening cooperation; creation of alcohol-specific positions in major national advocacy organizations; development of a national alcohol response network, facilitating constant contact and coordinated planning among alcohol policy activists; and creation of technical assistance centers, which can provide training and resources to potential activists and nascent coalitions.
Metalworking Fluid Mist—Strategies to Reduce Exposure: A Comparison of New and Old Transmission Case Transfer Lines

Three studies were performed to assess the effectiveness of various techniques to control metalworking fluid (MWF) mist. The studies consisted of a detailed main study that determined the effect of degree of enclosure on personal exposures and area concentrations of MWF mist on two machining transfer lines. One ancillary study was conducted to determine the effect of shutting off MWF delivery during down time; the second ancillary study investigated the effectiveness of improved retrofitted enclosure. In the main study, the two operations were identical except for degree of enclosure. Personal and area sampling results for the new line were about half those found in the old line. Measurements at the new operation exhibited significantly less variability. Personal exposures and area concentrations were significantly less at the new operation than at the older, less enclosed operation, demonstrating that the total enclosure in the new operation provides better and more consistent control of the mist. The fi...
Has solar variability caused climate change that affected human culture

Abstract If solar variability affects human culture it most likely does so by changing the climate in which the culture operates. Variations in the solar radiative input to the Earth’s atmosphere have often been suggested as a cause of such climate change on time scales from decades to tens of millennia. In the last 20 years there has been enormous progress in our knowledge of the many fields of research that impinge on this problem; the history of the solar output, the effect of solar variability on the Earth’s mean climate and its regional patterns, the history of the Earth’s climate and the history of mankind and human culture. This new knowledge encourages revisiting the question asked in the title of this talk. Several important historical events have been reliably related to climate change including the Little Ice Age in northern Europe and the collapse of the Classical Mayan civilization in the 9th century AD. In the first section of this paper we discus these historical events and review the evidence that they were caused by changes in the solar output. Perhaps the most important event in the history of mankind was the development of agricultural societies. This began to occur almost 12,000 years ago when the climate changed from the Pleistocene to the modern climate of the Holocene. In the second section of the paper we will discuss the suggestion ( Feynman and Ruzmaikin, 2007 ) that climate variability was the reason agriculture developed when it did and not before.
Deriving long term snow cover extent dataset from AVHRR and MODIS data: Central Asia case study

Abstract We computed the daily AVHRR snow cover from all available AVHRR level1b raw data over central Asia (CA) with an aggregated rating based snow identification scheme. The daily AVHRR snow cover was further processed into an 8-day maximum-snow-extent data, and then went through a set of spatial and temporal filters to fill cloud or gap pixels. A correction method based on known long term snow probability in small sub-regions has been developed for computing corrected 8-day AVHRR snow cover, which is comparable to 8-day MODIS snow data. Validation of the daily AVHRR snow product against ground snow survey suggested a high accuracy of the snow identification scheme. Comparison of the daily AVHRR snow cover with the daily MODIS snow cover in Amu Dar'ya River basin within CA showed high accuracy of daily AVHRR snow, with a general accuracy of 99.60% and Kappa Coefficient of 0.92 in the basin. Comparison of the corrected 8-day AVHRR snow cover with 8-day MODIS cloud/gap free snow cover in the same basin also showed high comparability between both data, with a general accuracy of 95.61% and Kappa Coefficient of 0.84. Seasonal snow cover analysis in Amu Dar'ya River basin revealed the spatial and temporal patterns of snow distribution and negative trends in snow cover duration in 1986 to 2008 due to earlier snow melting dates. The newly developed long-term snow dataset from AVHRR and MODIS data over CA, with its high accuracy and internal comparability, is suitable for seasonal snow cover studies in mountainous regions over CA.
Discovering missing links in networks using vertex similarity measures

Vertex similarity measure is a useful tool to discover the hidden relationships of vertices in a complex network. We introduce relation strength similarity (RSS), a vertex similarity measure that could better capture potential relationships of real world network structure. RSS is unique in that is is an asymmetric measure which could be used for a more general purpose social network analysis; allows users to explicitly specify the relation strength between neighboring vertices for initialization; and offers a discovery range parameter could be adjusted by users for extended network degree search. To show the potential of vertex similarity measures and the superiority of RSS over other measures, we conduct experiments on two real networks, a biological network and a coauthorship network. Experimental results show that RSS is better in discovering the hidden relationships of the networks.
Logical Networks for Feature Extraction

The extraction of features for the purpose of reconstituting a pattern set may be particularly useful in those cases where a large number of patterns can be decomposed into a relatively small set of sub-patterns. By the representation of pattern and feature sets as matrices, the concept of feature determination has been extended to multilevel features and the hierarchical organization of logical networks employing these features. An algorithm is presented to sequentially generate features by an adaptive process of altering weights in a network of thresholdlike logical elements. Experimental results indicate the potential of the algorithm in organizing a recognition network to correspond to the information structure of the pattern set.
Balance abilities in individuals with moderate and severe traumatic brain injury

Balance characteristics, latency, amplitude, and symmetry were measured in 23 moderate and 23 severe traumatic brain-injured (TBI) patients. Patients received two graded forward and two graded backward linear perturbations. Although within normal limits, latency was high. Patients were able to appropriately grade force in relation to the size of the perturbation. Standing posture prior to and during perturbation was recorded by the amount of force generation through each lower extremity. Some individuals used an asymmetrical balance response following perturbations, whereas others shifted to a more symmetrical weight-bearing balance response. TBI patients may be prone to instability due to a combination of long latency of onset of the balance response coupled with asymmetrical stance patterns during recovery from an unexpected linear perturbation.
Integrated Flux from a Michelson or Corner-Cube Interferometer

Flux in the circular fringe pattern of a Michelson or corner-cube interferometer is integrated over a centered, circular or rectangular field stop, as is done experimentally by a photoelectric cell in fringe counting. The results are discussed in terms of fringe amplitude, modulation depth, and phase shift.
Dynamics Simulation and Controller Interfacing for Legged Robots

Dynamics simulation can play a critical role in the engineering of robotic control code, and there exist a variety of strategies both for building physical models and for interacting with these models. This paper presents an approach to dynamics simulation and controller interfacing for legged robots, and contrasts it to existing approaches.We describe dynamics algorithms and contact-resolution strategies for multibody articulated mobile robots based on the decoupled tree-structure approach, and present a novel scripting language that provides a unified framework for control-code interfacing, userinterface design, and data analysis. Special emphasis is placed on facilitating the rapid integration of control algorithms written in a standard object-oriented language (C++), the production of modular, distributed, reusable controllers, and the use of parameterized signal-transmission properties such as delay, sampling rate, and noise.
The Effect of CY1503, a Sialyl LewisxAnalog Blocker of the Selectin Adhesion Molecules, on Infarct Size and “No-Reflow” in the Rabbit Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction/Reperfusion

Abstract CY1503, an analogue of sialyl-Lewis x , is an inhibitor of the selectin adhesion molecules. CY1503 has been found to limit myocardial infarct size in canine and feline models. However, the effect of CY1503 on the “no-reflow” phenomenon is still unknown. Anesthetised rabbits were subjected to 30 min of coronary artery occlusion and 4 h of reperfusion. Protocol 1: after 27 min of ischemia, rabbits were randomised to an iv bolus of either CY1503 (30 mg/kg) ( n =9) or saline ( n =9). Protocol 2: rabbits were randomly given two iv boluses of CY1503 (30 mg/kg) ( n =6) or saline ( n =6), administered after 10 and 25 min of ischemia. Protocol 3: after 27 min of ischemia rabbits were randomly given an iv bolus of CY1503 (30 mg/kg) ( n =6) and infusion of 20 mg/kg over 4 h or saline bolus+infusion ( n =6). Regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) was assessed after 30 min and 4 h of reperfusion. The risk zone (RZ) was assessed by blue dye and the necrotic zone (NZ) by tetrazolium staining. RMBF: protocol 1: RMBF in the RZ was 2.19±0.33 v 2.34±0.34 ml/g/min in CY1503 and controls at 30 min ( P =0.75), and 0.43±0.07 v 0.41±0.08 at 4 h of reperfusion ( P =0.85). The corresponding results for protocol 2 were 1.77±0.29 v 1.53±0.34 at 30 min ( P =0.61) and 0.53±0.16 v 0.91±0.55 at 4 h ( P =0.53). RMBF in RZ in protocol 3 were 1.52±0.25 v 1.32±0.20 at 30 min ( P =0.56) and 0.30±0.05 v 0.29±0.09 ( P =0.90) after 4 h of reperfusion. The RZ was similar in both groups in all protocols. The NZ/RZ ratio was comparable in the CY1503 and control group in all three protocols (0.32±0.04 v 0.37±0.06, 0.37±0.08 v 0.33±0.07, and 0.51±0.05 v 0.38±0.05 in protocols 1, 2, and 3, respectively). CY1503 did not limit infarct size or prevent the “no-reflow” phenomenon in the rabbit.
Use of two freezing extenders to cool stallion spermatozoa to 5 °C with and without seminal plasma

Motion characteristics of cooled stallion spermatozoa in 2 freezing extenders were studied. Ejaculates from 8 stallions were split into treatments and cooled in thermoelectric cooling units at each of 2 rates. Cooling started at 37 degrees C for Experiments 1 and 3 and at 23 degrees C for Experiments 2 and 4, at a rate of -0.7 degrees C/min to 20 degrees C and from 20 to 5 degrees C, at either -0.05 degrees C/min (Rate I) or -0.5 degrees C/min (Rate II). Percentages of motile (MOT) and progressively motile spermatozoa (PMOT) were determined at 6, 24 and 48 h. Treatments in Experiment 1 were modified skim milk extender (SM); SM + 4% egg yolk (EY); SM + 4% glycerol (GL); and SM + 4% egg yolk + 4% glycerol (EY + GL). At 24 and 48 h, MOT and PMOT were lowest (P < 0.05) for spermatozoa extended in SM + EY; spermatozoa in SM + GL had the highest MOT and PMOT. Thus, glycerol partially protected spermatozoa against the effects of cooling after long-term storage. Treatments in Experiment 2 were SM, semen centrifuged and pellet resuspended in SM (SMc), SM + EY, and semen centrifuged and pellet resuspended in SM + EY (EYc). Spermatozoa in SM + EYc had the highest (P < 0.05) PMOT at 24 h and MOT and PMOT at 48 hours. Spermatozoa in SM + EY (not centrifuged) had the lowest MOT and PMOT at 24 and 48 h, respectively. There was a detrimental interaction between egg yolk and seminal plasma. Extenders in Experiment 3 were Colorado extender (CO3), CO3 + 4% egg yolk (EY), CO3 + 4% glycerol (GL), and CO3 + 4% egg yolk + 4% glycerol (EY + GL). Spermatozoa in CO3 + EY had the lowest (P < 0.05) PMOT at 24 and 48 h. CO3 did not protect spermatozoa cooled in the presence of seminal plasma. Therefore, in Experiment 4 we tested CO3 with seminal plasma present (control) and semen centrifuged and pellet resuspended in CO3 (CO3c), CO3 + EY (EYc), CO3 + GL (GLc) and CO3 + EY + GL (EY + GLc). Spermatozoa in CO3 had the lowest (P < 0.05) MOT and PMOT at all time periods, which suggested a detrimental interaction of this extender with seminal plasma.
Post-transcriptional regulation of urokinase mRNA. Identification of a novel urokinase mRNA-binding protein in human lung epithelial cells in vitro.

We sought to determine if urokinase expression is regulated at the post-transcriptional level in cultured lung epithelial cells. We also sought to determine if differences in urokinase expression by cultured human lung carcinoma and non-malignant lung epithelial subtypes were attributable to post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. Urokinase was expressed by phenotypically diverse lung carcinoma cell lines as well as non-malignant small airway epithelial cells and bronchial epithelial cells. Using gel mobility shift and UV cross-linking assays, we identified a 30-kDa urokinase mRNA-binding protein that selectively bound to a 66-nucleotide protein-binding fragment of urokinase mRNA. The urokinase mRNA-binding protein is found in the cytosolic but not nuclear extracts of non-malignant lung epithelial cells; whereas, it is found in the nuclear but not cytosolic extracts of selected malignant carcinoma-derived cells that express relatively large amounts of urokinase. Chimeric β-globin/urokinase cDNA containing the urokinase mRNA-binding protein binding sequence destabilized otherwise stable β-globin mRNA. Our results demonstrate that urokinase gene expression in lung epithelial and lung carcinoma-derived cells is regulated at the post-transcriptional level. The mechanism involves an interaction between a 66-nucleotide sequence of the urokinase mRNA 3′-untranslated region with a newly recognized urokinase mRNA-binding protein to regulate urokinase mRNA stability.
History and Health Policy in the United States: The Making of a Health Care Industry, 1948-2008

Summary. The UK’s National Health Service is approaching its sixtieth anniversary, an oppportune time perhaps to consider the case of the United States, where there is no national health service. Federal law requires hospitals to treat those who enter their emergency rooms, but not for free; military veterans are offered care in health facilities supported by federal tax dollars and the national Medicare programme provides government-sponsored health insurance for specified services to those over 65 years of age and to individuals certified as disabled. However, Medicare does not provide health services, which are predominantly purchased in the private sector. This article considers the history of American health care over the past 60 years, reflecting the diverse ways in which health care is embedded in the economy, politics, power structures and culture of the United States and discussing what it is like to have a health care industry without having a national health service or universal health insurance. The article concludes that, since the Second World War, the United States has been successful in achieving highly specialized, valued, life-improving health care for most—not for all—members of the population, but at a huge and rising cost. Notable achievements have been produced by the public–private mix of the American health enterprise. However, broad questions of social class, illness, insurance and the burden of payment for health care remain in a society with widening divisions of the population by socio-economic class, education, health literacy and computer skills.