cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LACK OF INVOLVEMENT OF NITRIC OXIDE IN MEDIATING INCREASED MICROVASCULAR REACTIVITY IN DEOXYCORTICOSTERONE-ACETATE SALT HYPERTENSIVE RATS. • 312

Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that arteriolar dilation mediated by stimulation of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) release, are depressed during the established stage of hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. In this study, the microvascular reactivity and the effects of NO blockade were examined in two groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats: normotensive control (NT) and deoxycorticosterone-acetate salt (DOCA) hypertensive. Hypertension was induced in the experimental group by twice a week subcutaneous injections of 30mg/kg of the DOCA-salt after uni-nephrectomy. The NT (BP=130±8; n=6) and DOCA (BP=168±1; n=6) groups were maintained on a normal and high sodium and potassium diet, respectively. Third order arterioles responses in the cremasteric muscle were then observed via in vivo closed circuit television microscopy at four weeks after induction of hypertension. Exposure of the microvasculature to acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside did not reveal any significant differences in relaxation between arterioles of the NT and DOCA groups. In addition, NO blockade with Nw-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) produced significant reductions in resting arteriolar diameters in both groups that were similar (41±13% and 48±10%, respectively). However, an increase in contractile sensitivity to norepinephrine was observed in the DOCA rats. These data indicate that basal and stimulated release of NO is not attenuated in the late stages of DOCA-salt hypertension. Thus, attenuation of NO release does not to appear to be responsible for the elevated microvascular reactivity associated with DOCA-salt hypertension.
Count-based monitoring of Anger-camera spectra--local energy shifts due to rotation.

This study reports on a spectral monitoring method in which (1) a small source fixed to the camera is used, (2) a narrow, offset window is set on the side of the photopeak, and (3) variations in count rate are measured to assess energy shifts in the vicinity of the source. For one camera model, the count rate drops from 100% to 76% over a rotation of 180°, implying a local energy shift of 1.4 keV. Also looked for are local count‐rate variations with rotation for (1) wide‐symmetric, (2) 20%‐symmetric, and (3) 10%‐asymmetric windows. The last is in limited use to partially compensate for Compton scattering. The effects of background and time stability are assessed.
What's wrong with collision detection in multibody dynamics simulation?

Contemporary time-stepping methods used in the dynamic simulation of rigid bodies suffer from problems in accuracy, performance, and robustness. Significant allowances for tuning, coupled with careful implementation of a broad phase collision detection scheme is required to make dynamic simulation useful for practical applications. A recently developed formulation method is presented herein that is more robust, and not dependent on broad-phase collision detection or system tuning for its behavior. Several uncomplicated benchmark examples are presented to give an analysis and make a comparison of the new Polyhedral Exact Geometry time-stepping method with the well-known Stewart-Trinkle time-stepping method. The behavior and performance for the two methods are discussed. This includes specific cases where contemporary time-steppers fail, and how they are ameliorated by the new method presented here. The goal of this work is to complete the groundwork for further research into high performance simulation.
R- and J-band photometry of Comets 2P/Encke and 9P/Tempel 1

Abstract Near-simultaneous R- and J-band photometric measurements of the short-period Comets 2P/Encke and the Deep Impact mission target 9P/Tempel 1 were obtained. The resulting R – J colors are + 0.82 ± 0.08 mag and + 1.46 ± 0.13 mag for Encke and Tempel 1, respectively. Tempel 1's color is redder than the solar R – J color index of +0.76. The Tempel 1 observations directly detected the nucleus while the Encke observations likely suffered from coma contamination.
Abstract 769: Novel cancer immunotherapeutics utilizing targeting peptides

Cancer immunotherapeutics is an emerging treatment option that offers high tumor specificity and efficacy while reducing deleterious side effects. Immune therapies for cancer can be divided into two main types: active and passive. Active therapy strives to achieve a long term protective immunity against a tumor antigen while passive therapy supplies exogenous immunological reagents to provide specific anti-tumor effector functions. Both immunotherapies can be improved through the use of targeting peptides. Our lab utilizes a phage library panning method for isolation of cell-specific peptides that can be rapidly acquired without prior knowledge of cell surface receptors. Active Immunotherapy: Cancer vaccines can elicit an immune response against tumor associated antigens that will result in tumor reduction and protective immunity. Recent studies have utilized antigen-pulsed in vitro matured DCs during vaccination for a more effective anti-cancer immune response. Several clinical trials, however, show that this method does not provide a significant therapeutic immune response. A more robust anti-tumor immune response could potentially be achieved through in vivo targeting of tumor antigens to DCs. Through the phage library panning protocol, our lab has identified 2 phage clones, XS52.1 and XS52.3, which have been shown to specifically bind to the XS52 immature dendritic cells. The XS52.3 phage clone has been further shown to bind bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs) from both Balb/c and C57BL/J6 mice. While current data suggests these phage clones are capable of binding DCs in vitro, future studies will determine if these peptides can be used to target antigen to DCs in vivo for vaccination. Passive Immunotherapy: Monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor associated antigens have been successfully used in clinical settings, but problems remain with identifying and validating new antigen targets. Modification of the antibody scaffold for distinct applications can also be problematic. Using our phage display panning protocol, we have identified ligands of high affinity and specificity against a panel of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. Furthermore, these peptide targeting ligands can be chemically synthesized and easily modified for different uses. For example, synthetic peptide ligands have been used to direct antibody dependant cellular cytotoxicity through the use of biotinylated tetrameric peptides and anti-biotin antibodies. These results suggest that peptide targeting ligands can be used to direct antibody effector functions for passive immunotherapy against cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 769. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-769
Is there a link between ovarian cancer and tooth agenesis

An epidemiologic study from the year 2008 found a highly significant increase of congenital tooth agenesis in women with ovarian cancer suggesting that a common genetic etiology may predispose women to both conditions. The finding was reminiscent of a previously described family harboring an AXIN2 mutation which could be shown to segregate with both the tooth agenesis and the predisposition to colon cancer transmitted in this family. Since tooth agenesis as a marker for susceptibility to ovarian cancer would be of great relevance to both oncologists and women with inborn missing teeth, the relationship between the two disorders requires a thorough assessment. We examined DNA samples from the ovarian cancer patients who participated in the original study, to look for a possible genetic connection between their ovarian malignancies and tooth agenesis. MSX1, PAX9, AXIN2, EDA, WNT10A, BARX and BRCA1 genes were selected for sequence analysis as they may cause tooth agenesis, are expressed in the female reproductive system, and/or are involved in tumorigenesis in general or specifically in the ovary. Our study revealed evidence that one half of the dually affected patients had an independent causation of the two conditions, thus reducing the previously estimated ovarian cancer risk for women with congenital tooth agenesis quite significantly.
Modeling the Tonga slab: Can travel time data resolve a metastable olivine wedge?

We present the results of detailed modeling of the Tonga slab with the goals of determining whether high-resolution travel time data (1) can be fit by simple thermal and petrological slab models and (2) can resolve a metastable olivine wedge at depths greater than the equilibrium olivine-spinel phase boundary. We model arrival times recorded by a 1000 km line of 23 ocean bottom seismometers (OBS) and island broadband seismic stations extending from the Lau backarc basin, across the Tonga trench and onto the Pacific plate. The data consist of 388 local, P wave travel times from 17 deep and 3 intermediate earthquakes recorded during the 3-month OBS deployment in late 1994. We locate the events using both local and teleseismic arrival times, and apply a relocation operator to the theoretical travel times to simulate the biases introduced in the data by locating the events with a reference Earth model. The modeling consists of grid searches using a three-dimensional finite difference algorithm to compute local, first arriving travel times for equilibrium and metastable P wave velocity models constructed from thermal, mineralogical, and morphological constraints. The travel time anomalies are well fit by standard slab thermal models and P velocity temperature derivatives of −0.4 to −0.3 ms−1°C−1. Forward calculations indicate that the presence of a metastable olivine wedge has a subtle effect on the travel times due to the tendency of first arriving waves to avoid the low-velocity region. Wedge velocity models provide a slightly better fit to the data than equilibrium models, but F tests indicate the improvement is not significant at the 95% level. Our results suggest that providing direct seismological evidence of a wedge of metastable olivine in subduction zones will require either waveform modeling or the observation of later arriving phases created by the depressed phase boundary.
Varying health care provider objectives and cost-shifting: the case of retail pharmacy in the US.

In this paper we investigate the relationship between health care provider objectives, cost-shifting, and prices by exploring the relationship between state Medicaid pharmacy reimbursements and average prices paid by pharmacy retail customers for four distinct pharmaceutical products across the US in 1994. We develop a more general theory than past researchers to enable provider objectives to vary with Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement levels. We find that provider objectives and the direction of relationship between Medicaid pharmacy reimbursements and retail prices vary with Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement levels. At high Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement levels we find a consistent negative relationship across products. At low Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement levels, the direction of the relationship is product-specific. As a result, policy-makers should be aware that policies affecting reimbursements from government-sponsored health insurance will also affect retail customers that include the uninsured. Paradoxically, for certain products if a state cuts a generous Medicaid reimbursement level this could hurt uninsured patients, whereas cuts in a stingy Medicaid reimbursement rate may help uninsured patients. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regularization of the Teukolsky equation for rotating black holes

We show that the radial Teukolsky equation (in the frequency domain) with sources that extend to infinity has well-behaved solutions. To prove that, we follow Poisson approach to regularize the non-rotating hole, and extend it to the rotating case. To do so we use the Chandrasekhar transformation among the Teukolsky and Regge-Wheeler-like equations, and express the integrals over the source in terms of solutions to the homogeneous Regge-Wheeler-like equation, to finally regularize the resulting integral. We then discuss the applicability of these results.
Subsurface hydrology and degree of burial affect mass loss and invertebrate colonisation of leaves in a woodland stream

SUMMARY 1. In deciduous forest streams, fallen leaves form a large component of the total organic matter budget, and many leaves become buried within stream sediments. We examined the processing of buried leaves as compared with those at the surface, and the influence of subsurface hydrology on processing rates. 2. Leaf packs were secured on the streambed surface or buried 10 cm deep in upwelling and downwelling reaches of a second-order stream in Michigan, U.S.A. Mass loss and invertebrate colonisation were measured from October to February. 3. Leaves buried in upwelling reaches lost mass more slowly (exponential decay coefficient, k ¼ )0.0097) than did leaves from the other treatments (buried downwelling: )0.017; surface upwelling: )0.022; surface downwelling: )0.021). 4. Initially, more invertebrates colonised surface leaf packs than buried packs. During the remainder of the study, however, hydrology had a greater effect on invertebrate abundance than did burial, as more invertebrates were found in packs in downwelling reaches than in upwelling reaches. 5. Local subsurface hydrology and degree of burial, factors rarely considered in studies of detritus processing, can significantly influence mass loss and invertebrate colonisation of fallen leaves in streams. Furthermore, because of slower processing, subsurface zones may function as organic matter reservoirs that gradually ‘spiral’ carbon to downstream subsurface and surface habitats.
A "Representative" Supreme Court?: The Impact of Race, Religion, and Gender on Appointments

Foreword by David M. O'Brien Preface Introduction Religion: A "Catholic Seat"? Religion: A "Jewish Seat"? Race: A "Black Seat"? Gender: A "Woman's Seat"? Conclusion: Should the Supreme Court Be "Representative"? Appendix 1: Members of the United States Supreme Court, 1798--1991 Appendix 2: Catholic, Jewish, Black, and Female Justices of the United States Supreme Court Bibliography Index
The versatile worm: genetic and genomic resources for Caenorhabditis elegans research

Since its establishment as a model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans has been an invaluable tool for biological research. An immense spectrum of questions can be addressed using this small nematode, making it one of the most versatile and exciting model organisms. Although the many tools and resources developed by the C. elegans community greatly facilitate new discoveries, they can also overwhelm newcomers to the field. This Review aims to familiarize new worm researchers with the main resources, and help them to select the tools that are best suited for their needs. We also hope that it will be helpful in identifying new research opportunities and will promote the development of additional resources.
Neural activity before and after conscious perception in dichotic listening.

Abstract The neural basis of conscious perception can be studied using stimuli that elicit different percepts on different occasions (multistable perception). Multistable perception allows direct comparisons between brain activity and conscious perception that control for sensory input, and also serves as a model for attentional competition, with the winning perceptual outcome varying across trials. Dichotic listening tasks present multistable stimuli consisting of two different consonant-vowels (CVs, one/ear). For each trial one ear usually conveys the dominant percept. We used EEG to measure neural activity before and after dichotic stimulus presentation to compare activity among left vs. right ear percepts and a control task. Consonant-vowels were perceived more often to the right vs. left ear. Pre-stimulus EEG power in the beta band (16–20 Hz) increased for left compared to right ear percepts and control trials. Event-related potentials after stimulus onset showed smaller P50 amplitudes (∼50 ms latency) for left ear compared to right ear and control trials. Results indicate that neural activity for right ear percepts is comparable to control conditions, while activity for the atypical left ear percept differs before and after stimulus onset. Pre-stimulus EEG changes for left ear percepts may indicate a mechanism of spontaneous fluctuations in cortical networks that bias attentional competition during subsequent sensory processing. The P50 amplitude differences among perceived ears suggests that rapid sensory and/or arousal-related activities contribute to the content of conscious perception, possibly by biasing attentional competition away from the dominant right ear channel.
Tyrosine kinase regulation of a molluscan circadian clock.

Abstract On a formal level the clocks regulating circadian and cell division cycles are related in that both have been modeled as limit cycle oscillations ( Science , 211 (1981) 1002–1013; Brain Res. , 504 (1989) 211–215; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , 88 (1991) 7328–7332). Furthermore, in several organisms each clock system is able to modulate the other ( Science , 211 (1981) 1002–1013). However, in spite of the similarities at the formal level, and the connections at the physiological level, no common cellular elements have been identified linking the two processes. In the current series of experiments we show that one key element of cell cycle regulation, tyrosine phosphorylation/dephosphorylation is intimately associated with circadian rhythm generation in the eye of the marine snail, Bulla gouldiana . The importance of tyrosine kinase activity in the generation of circadian rhythms provides a possible point of similarity between the fundamental biochemical mechanisms underlying both circadian and cell cycle clocks.
SU‐FF‐J‐68: Evaluation of An IGRT System for Mobile Targets

Purpose: Evaluate accuracy/precision of Novalis (BrainLAB®) IGRT in treating mobile targets. Method and Materials: Novalis IGRT is an automated 6D patient positioning/verification system using infra‐red (IR) markers and stereoscopic X‐ray image guidance. We used two respiratory motion phantoms in end‐to‐end hidden‐target‐test mode. A 2mm diameter marker was placed on high sensitivity Gafchromic film. Phantoms were irradiated with treatment fields collimated by a 10mm cone. Difference between centers of irradiated field and marker location yielded system accuracy. Irradiations were performed with phantom in both static and dynamic modes. Static phantom treatments corrected for known target displacements and established IGRT system baseline. In dynamic mode, the following geometries were considered: (a) Gated setup‐Gated treatment. (b) Gated setup‐Ungated (free‐breathing) treatment. (c) Ungated setup‐Ungated treatment. The last case corresponds to treatments using larger ITV margins derived from end inhale/exhale scans. All X‐ray fusion was based on implanted internal fiducial markers. System accuracy was studied as a function of breathing cycle(1.5–12sec/cycle), amplitude(0–1cm), gate‐level(0–50%) and gate‐window(10–30%). Results: Novalis IGRT gave excellent results for repeat irradiation in the static mode (mean error = 0.22±0.11mm; max = 0.44mm). For mobile targets, best results were obtained for fully gated treatments (gated setup‐gated treatment): mean error = 0.14±0.45mm, max = 0.67mm. However, for gated setups and ungated treatments, system accuracy dropped somewhat with mean error = 0.61 ±1.08mm, max = 2.13mm. Fully ungated treatments had the worst outcome, mean error = 3.78±6.94mm, max = 12.20mm. Here the maximum error is caused by fusion of orthogonal X‐rays taken at opposite phases of breathing cycle (worst‐case scenario). No systematic dependence was noted on the breathing cycle, amplitude, or gate‐level and window. Conclusion: Novalis IGRT offers highly accurate and precise treatments for static and mobile targets. For mobile targets gated IGRT is strongly recommended.
Histologic transformation of the ovary of the lactating hamster.

During the latter half of pregnancy, the hamster ovary contains an average of 22 large vesicular follicles. At parturition (day 1 of lactation), all vesicular follicles undergo atresia and luteolysis destroys the corpora lutea of pregnancy. The ovary assumes a “brainlike”a ppearance and consists of extensive interstitial tissue with follicles developing only to the multilayered granulosa stage. Treatment of hypophysectomized hamsters with LH results in similar histologic modifications of the ovary. The ovary of lactation maintains this appearance until day 26, when antral follicles develop, followed by ovulation by day 30. The ovary of lactation is maintained by as few as 1-2 suckling young. Injection of 30 IU pregnant mare's serum on day 2 of lactation results in development of numerous follicles which ovulate spontaneously; however, the resultant corpora lutea are not functional and regress 4-5 days after their formation. Removal of all young on days 2 or 14 of lactation results in ovulation exactly 4 d...
Discretionary behavior with respect to allowances for loan losses and the behavior of security prices

Abstract The study examines the capital market pricing of discretionary and nondiscretionary components of a major accrual in the banking industry, the allowance for loan losses. The analysis employs a two-stage approach in which the allowance account is first decomposed into estimates of its nondiscretionary and discretionary components. The second stage evaluates the market's valuation of the estimates of the components. Evidence suggests that the capital market perceives the allowance to be comprised of two components, a nondiscretionary component which is negatively priced and a discretionary component whose incremental pricing coefficient is positive.
DIFFUSION-CONSTANT RENORMALIZATION IN THE WEAKLY DISORDERED T-J MODEL : RECOVERY OF A METAL-INSULATOR TRANSITION IN A GENERIC DISORDER MODEL

We examine the metallic phase of the $t\ensuremath{-}J$ model in the presence of weak site disorder using the $1/N$ expansion to treat the strong electron correlations. To next leading order in $1/N$ we calculate the quasiparticle interactions including diffusive effects. We then investigate the effect of these quasiparticle interactions on the diffusion constant perturbatively as a first step towards a full scaling theory. We find that in $2+\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ dimensions a bona-fide Anderson transition is recovered.
Childbearing in Sickle Cell Anemia: A Nursing Approach

The incidence, inheritance pattern, and effects on pregnancy of sickle cell anemia are described. The nurse's role in meeting the needs of the prospective mother is discussed.
Late effects of radiation on the lumbar spinal cord of guinea pigs: Re-treatment tolerance

Abstract Purpose : Using a guinea pig model of lumbar myelopathy, various factors affecting the tolerance of spinal cord to irradiation were assessed: (a) extent of initial injury (b) time interval between priming and test doses (c) animal age at the time of initial radiation treatment. Methods and Materials : A 3 cm section of lumbar spinal cord of guinea pigs was irradiated with fractionated doses of 4.5 Gy gamma rays given as 9 fractions per week. Guinea pigs were primed with 9 × 4.5 Gy in 7 days which is 60% of the ED50 for a continuous course of treatment. After 28 or 40 weeks, animals were retreated with 6–14 fractions of 4.5 Gy. Animals were observed for 2 years following the priming dose and both the incidence and latency of myelopathy recorded. Results : Young adult guinea pigs (8 wk old) showed both a decreased radiation tolerance and latency compared to old individuals (40 wk old). At 28 or 40 wk after 9 × 4.5 Gy, only about 8% of the initial injury was remembered in young adult guinea pigs. Conclusion : The amount of residual injury was dependent on the initial damage as a proportion of the tolerance dose. The spinal cord shows a greater capacity for long-term recovery than generally appreciated and re-treatment doses clinically prescribed may be lower than necessary.
Professional Psychology and the Doctrines of Sin and Grace: Christian Leaders’ Perspectives

What is a professional psychologist to do when a client brings up the concept of sin? To some, sin may seem like a stifling religious relic that has no place in contemporary psychology. But viewing sin from within the Christian faith, and in tandem with the doctrine of grace, can help psychologists
Quantitative phase estimation with a bright field microscope

We demonstrate quantitative phase imaging on a bright field transmission microscope with an amplitude mask in the field diaphragm and a post processing algorithm.
The lack of an effect of applied d.c. electric fields on peripheral nerve regeneration in the guinea pig.

This study was undertaken to provide evidence of enhanced regeneration of mammalian peripheral nerves in response to applied d.c. electric fields. Peroneal nerves of adult guinea-pigs were crushed or transected and anastomosed. Constant current d.c. stimulators (20 microA) were implanted in the flank with platinum/iridium electrodes routed to the ankles. Animals with crush lesions were tested for toe spreading ability from the 14th to the 23rd day following the lesion. Animals with transection lesions were allowed to recover for 40 days and isometric force measurements of toe abduction and foot flexion were made. Both myelinated and unmyelinated fiber densities were determined. There proved to be no difference between legs treated with an anode, a cathode, or a sham electrode as evaluated by: the time to return of the toe spreading reflex, the isometric force of either twitches or tonic contractions, the latency between stimulation and contraction, or the number or density of either myelinated or unmyelinated fibers. These negative results are at variance with other studies that have reported beneficial effects of d.c. electric fields on peripheral nerve regeneration. The stimulation and analysis techniques used in this study were well within the variety of protocols that have yielded reports of highly significant positive effects with smaller numbers of animals than used in this study. The conclusion is that either there is a subtle but highly specific and critical difference between the present protocol and others, or the other studies need to be reevaluated. In either case, it seems that the ability of applied d.c. fields to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration in vivo remains open to question.
Mechanically modelling blood flow through the carotid artery

Through use of a mechanical model of a carotid artery, a method of early detection of carotid artery stenoses is sought. Doppler imaging and ultrasound are used to evaluate properties of blood flow through carotid artery stenoses of various degrees of severity in order to identify risk factors.
Field Emitter Cathodes and Electric Propulsion Systems

Replacing hollow and filament cathodes with field emitter (FE) cathodes could significantly improve the scalability, power, and performance of some meso- and microscale Electric Propulsion (EP) systems. The propulsion system environments and requirements and the challenges in integrating these technologies are discussed to justify the recommended cathode configurations. Required cathode technologies include low work function coatings on Si or Mo Field Emitter Array (FEA) cathodes with arc protection and electrostatic ion filters.
Modified Gurtin's variational principles in the linear dynamic theory of viscoelasticity

Abstract Using the Vainberg's theory of potential operators, variational principles are developed for linear dynamic theory of viscoelasticity. The Euler equations of the functional developed herein are the governing field equations, including the boundary and initial conditions as opposed to equivalent set of Integro-differential equations of the Gurtin's method.
Agrobacterium rhizogenes GALLS Protein Substitutes for Agrobacterium tumefaciens Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein VirE2

Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Agrobacterium rhizogenes transfer plasmid-encoded genes and virulence (Vir) proteins into plant cells. The transferred DNA (T-DNA) is stably inherited and expressed in plant cells, causing crown gall or hairy root disease. DNA transfer from A. tumefaciens into plant cells resembles plasmid conjugation; single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is exported from the bacteria via a type IV secretion system comprised of VirB1 through VirB11 and VirD4. Bacteria also secrete certain Vir proteins into plant cells via this pore. One of these, VirE2, is an ssDNA-binding protein crucial for efficient T-DNA transfer and integration. VirE2 binds incoming ssT-DNA and helps target it into the nucleus. Some strains of A. rhizogenes lack VirE2, but they still transfer T-DNA efficiently. We isolated a novel gene from A. rhizogenes that restored pathogenicity to virE2 mutant A. tumefaciens. The GALLS gene was essential for pathogenicity of A. rhizogenes. Unlike VirE2, GALLS contains a nucleoside triphosphate binding motif similar to one in TraA, a strand transferase conjugation protein. Despite their lack of similarity, GALLS substituted for VirE2.
Gene-expression tools for the metabolic engineering of bacteria

Recent advances in metabolic engineering have led to new methods for the synthesis of novel molecules, improved production of existing compounds and improved degradation of recalcitrant environmental contaminants. Increasing the flux through an existing pathway and introducing a new pathway into a host organism demand coordinated expression of the genes that encode the enzymes, tight control over gene expression and consistent expression in all cells. Although several gene-expression tools have been developed for the overproduction of proteins, they may not be ideal for pathway redirection. Metabolic engineering requires certain characteristics of gene-expression tools, and some new tools meet these needs.
Macrophage reactive oxygen species activity of water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions of ambient coarse, PM2.5 and ultrafine particulate matter (PM) in Los Angeles

Abstract This study describes an investigation of the relative contributions of water-soluble and water-insoluble portions of ambient particulate matter (PM) to cellular redox activity. Size-fractionated ambient PM samples (coarse, PM2.5 and ultrafine PM) were collected in August–September of 2012 at an urban site in Los Angeles, using the Versatile Aerosol Concentration Enrichment System (VACES)/BioSampler tandem system. In this system, size-fractionated ambient PM was concentrated and collected directly into an aqueous suspension, thereby eliminating the need for solvent extraction required for PM collected on filter substrates. Separation of water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions of PM was achieved by 10 kilo-Delton ultra-filtration of the collected suspension slurries. Chemical analysis, including organic carbon, metals and trace elements, and inorganic ions, as well as measurement of macrophage reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity were performed on the slurries. Correlation between ROS activity and different chemical components of PM was evaluated to identify the main drivers of PM toxicity. Results from this study illustrate that both water-soluble and water-insoluble portions of PM play important roles in influencing potential cellular toxicity. While the water-soluble species contribute the large majority of the ROS activity per volume of sampled air, the highest intrinsic ROS activity (i.e. expressed per PM mass) is observed for the water-insoluble portions. Organic compounds in both water-soluble and water-insoluble portions of ambient PM, as well as transition metals, several with recognized redox activity (Mn, V, Cu and Zn), are highly correlated with ROS activity. These results may underscore the potential of these chemicals in driving the toxicity of ambient PM. Results from this study also suggest that collection of particles directly into a liquid suspension for toxicological analysis may be superior to conventional filtration by eliminating the need for extraction and by potentially reducing the losses of semi-volatile and redox active species such as organic compounds.
Understanding organizational safety using value-focused thinking

Decision analysis is recognized as the right way to make risk management decisions, using probabilistic techniques to assess the accident risk. It is also accepted that the decisions that individuals in the organization make affect the likelihood of an accident and thus managerial and organizational factors should be included in the risk modeling process. However, decision analytic techniques have not been used to understand the decisions that are made by these individuals. The initial domain for this research is marine transportation. We use the framework of value-focused thinking in order to understand safety decisions made within our research partner organization, a major domestic oil tanker operator. We describe the results of interviews held with managers and employees from this organization. Through these interviews, we sought to understand the values these experts apply in their roles within the organization and the objectives they seek to achieve to contribute to its overall safety performance. The end result is a framework that not only portrays the fundamental objectives of safe operations for various roles in the organization, but also interconnects these different decision contexts. We believe that this approach is fundamentally different from those used in previous work and that this is an interesting application of value-focused thinking.
Determination of Atmospheric Methyl Bromide by Cryotrapping-Gas Chromatography and Application to Soil Kinetic Studies Using a Dynamic Dilution System

Methyl bromide (CH3Br) is considered to be a major source of stratospheric Br, which contributes to the destruction of ozone. It is therefore necessary to understand the natural sinks of this compo...
Managing technology use and learning in nonprofit community organizations: methodological challenges and opportunities

We are investigating how to empower nonprofit community organizations to develop the information technology management practices required to carry out their civic goals. We highlight our methodology of working with nonprofit organizations through three case examples from the field. These examples illustrate that nonprofit organizations are able to and can indeed sustain their IT management practices through various methodological techniques. These techniques---such as scenario development, technology inventory assessment, and volunteer management practices---emphasize the importance of long-term critical planning and design skills. Based on our fieldwork, we enumerate lessons that may be valuable for community stakeholders, designers, researchers, and practitioners.
Informatics for Neurocritical Care: Challenges and Opportunities

Neurocritical care relies on the continuous, real-time measurement of numerous physiologic parameters. While our capability to obtain such measurements from patients has grown markedly with multimodal monitoring in many neurologic or neurosurgical intensive care units (ICUs), our ability to transform the raw data into actionable information is limited. One reason is that the proprietary nature of medical devices and software often prevents neuro-ICUs from capturing and centrally storing high-density data. Also, ICU alarm systems are often unreliable because the data that are captured are riddled with artifacts. Informatics is the process of acquiring, processing, and interpreting these complex arrays of data. The development of next-generation informatics tools allows for detection of complex physiologic events and brings about the possibility of decision support tools to improve neurocritical care. Although many different approaches to informatics are discussed and considered, here we focus on the Bayesian probabilistic paradigm. It quantifies the uncertainty inherent in neurocritical care instead of ignoring it, and formalizes the natural clinical thought process of updating prior beliefs using incoming patient data. We review this and other opportunities, as well as challenges, for the development and refinement of informatics tools in neurocritical care.
Space, time, and space-time in craniofacial growth

Abstract Craniofacial growth is expressed as a patterned series of changes in size, shape, and location of cranial structure in space-time. The study of this growth is aided by the reduction of cranial structure to a series of points whose paths may be mathematically modeled. The conventions of roentgenographic cephalometry are demonstrated to be capable only of demonstrating spatial changes occurring during finite intervals of time and incapable of demonstrating point kinematics in space-time. The differences between anatomic and material points are emphasized. The location of any point is described by four coordinate values, three spatial and one temporal; hence, cranial growth occurs in a four-dimensional space-time. Models of space-time are depicted in which various projections of the point paths in space-time to space only are illustrated. Analyses of molluscan bivalve and of rat parietal bone growth suggest that the representation of time as an angular coordinate in a polar coordinate projection provides a growth model that closely simulates the biologic and physical realities of growth. It is noted that the point paths in this model are closely described by logarithmic spirals, a mathematical description that has additional biologic connotations. Since the conventional methods of cranial growth analysis, explicit in roentgenographic cephalometry, do not directly represent a time dimension, an expansion of these methods seems warranted.
Intensive care course after stage 1 Norwood procedure: are there early predictors of failure?

Objective The purpose of this study was to review the early postoperative course of stage 1 Norwood with Blalock-Taussig shunt (BTS) or right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit (RVPA) and to identify early predictors of failure.
Work in Progress: Programming is a SNAP! Increasing Knowledge and Interest in Computer Science

This work develops a set of instructional materials that can be used to teach basic programming concepts to high school students. The materials are tested in a series of on-campus workshops in which undergraduate students lead groups of local high school students in programming a game using Snap!. An independent evaluator assesses the effectiveness of the approach.
Images, Appearances, and Phantasia in Aristotle

Abstract Aristotle’s account of phantasia in De Anima 3.3 is notoriously difficult to decipher. At one point he describes phantasia as a capacity for producing images, but then later in the same chapter it is clear phantasia is supposed to explain appearances, such as why the sun appears to be a foot wide. Many commentators argue that images cannot explain appearances, and so they claim that Aristotle is using phantasia in two different ways. In this paper I argue that images actually explain perceptual appearances for Aristotle, and so phantasia always refers to images. I take a new approach to interpreting DA 3.3, reading it alongside Plato’s Theaetetus and Sophist. In the Theaetetus, Socrates explains how memory gives rise to perceptual appearance. I claim that Aristotle adopts Socrates’ account of perceptual appearance, but what Socrates calls memory, Aristotle calls phantasia.
Morphology of semicrystalline block copolymers: polyethylene-b-atactic-polypropylene

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED) are used to study the morphology of a semicrystalline polyolefin diblock copolymer polyethylene- b -atactic-polypropylene (PE- b -aPP) and its blend with polyethylene homopolymer. By using RuCl 3 /NaClO as the staining agent, both the contrast between amorphous PP and amorphous PE regions and the contrast between amorphous PE regions and crystalline PE regions can be obtained. As a result, both the larger lamellar structures due to microphase separation and the smaller crystalline PE lamellae can be resolved on TEM micrographs. Electron diffraction coupled with TEM imaging is used to elucidate the orientation of PE crystallites with respect to the interfaces of the microphase separated block copolymer lamellar domains. Fast quenching from a microphase separated melt-state was found to result in confinement of PE crystallization within the microphase separated PE domains of the block copolymer morphology. The orientation of the PE crystallites thus formed was found to be random.
Determinants of the blood lead level of US women of reproductive age.

Objectives: Blood lead concentration of an infant is largely affected by maternal blood lead recycling. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic, lifestyle, and nutritional determinants for blood lead levels (BLLs) of women of reproductive age in the United States.Methods: Subjects (n = 4,394) were women (20–49 years old) included in the most recent complete National Health and Nutritional Survey (NHANES III). Certain sociodemographic, lifestyle and nutritional determinants for BLL were identified.Results: The BLL of reproductive age women was 1.78 μg/dL geometric mean, The BLL was inversely associated with poverty income ratio and education level, hematocrit, intake of thiamine, and serum levels of folate, and positively associated with ethnicity (Black, Hispanic), living in urban areas or the Northeast region, age, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, serum protoporphyrin, and intake of pyridoxine, iron, and folate. Subjects in the lowest decile for serum ascorbic acid had significantly higher B...
What is Substance Use About? Assumptions in New York's Drug Policies and the Perceptions of African Americans Who are Low-Income and Using Drugs

The current article uses intersectionality and standpoint theories to examine the social impact of solely relying on Eurocentric worldviews when developing drug policies that affect low-income African American communities. It is argued that low-income African Americans share a unique cultural and historical background that must be taken into account in the development and implementation of policies and interventions that effect this population. Analysis of longitudinal qualitative data will compare the assumptions informing New York's Rockefeller Drug Laws with the worldviews of drug using and low-income African Americans in New York City, New York, while examining the impact of these policies in participants' lived experiences.
Caring for lesbians in a homophobic society.

Lesbians and gays have suffered for centuries from stigmatization by homophobic, heterosexual people in Western society. It is critical for health care providers to have an understanding of alternative life‐styles and the unique health concerns of homosexual people in order to provide sensitive and knowledgeable health care. Lesbian health issues such as assessing the sexual orientation of lesbians, parenting issues, lesbian battering, and the older lesbian woman are discussed. My intent in writing this article is to increase the sensitivity, knowledge, and awareness of health care providers caring for lesbians in a homophobic society.
Reviews: In Vitro Models to Study the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis

Several in vitro models that attempt to replicate the intraperitoneal environment have been developed to study the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The chicken chorioallantotic membrane has been used, but it has not been well characterized and may introduce some species specific variables. In vitro models using human tissues include amniotic membrane, human peritoneal explants, and cell culture monolayers. These models have been used to qualitatively, quantitatively, and temporally assess attachment of endometrial cells to peritoneal mesothelial and subsequent transmesothelial invasion. These models have also been used to assess the role of cytokines in the development of the early endometriotic lesion. Two- and three dimensional invasion chamber models have been utilized to assess endometrial cell interactions with peritoneal mesothelial cells and the extracellular matrix. Invasion models are also useful to evaluate novel therapeutic approaches. This review will focus on the above models to assist reproductive scientists interested in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
pH-Induced Metabolic Transitions in Artemia Embryos Mediated by a Novel Hysteretic Trehalase

Gastrula-stage embryos of the brine shrimp Artemia undergo reversible transitions between metabolically active and dormant states that are promoted by changes in intracellular pH. A macromolecular mechanism for this suppression of energy metabolism that involves regulation of the enzyme trehalase is reported here. Isolated trehalase from these embryos existed in two active forms that interconverted when exposed to physiological transitions in pH. This hysteretic interconversion was reversible, required minutes for completion, and involved a change in enzyme polymerization. The two states differed twofold in molecular size and were distinguishable electrophoretically. Compared to the smaller species, the polymerized form was strongly inhibited by acidic pH, adenosine 5'-triphosphate, and the substrate trehalose. Thus, the shift in assembly equilibrium toward the aggregated enzyme caused by pH values less than or equal to 7.4 may mediate the arrest of trehalose-fueled metabolism and respiration during dormancy in this cryptobiotic organism.
Nature of the Sound Produced by Drosophila melanogaster during Courtship

The wing vibrations of courting male Drosophila melanogaster Meigen produced pulsations of sound, with each pulse apparently caused by 1 to 2 cycles of wing movement. The average repetition rate at 25 degrees C was 29.8 pulses per second. The rate was dependent on temperature, increasing at 1.4 pulses per additional degree Celsius.
Application of activity-based probes to the study of enzymes involved in cancer progression

Many tumor cells have elevated levels of hydrolytic and proteolytic enzymes, presumably to aid in key processes such as angiogenesis, cancer cell invasion, and metastasis. Functional roles of enzymes in cancer progression are difficult to study using traditional genomic and proteomic methods because the activities of these enzymes are often regulated by post-translational mechanisms. Thus, methods that allow for the direct monitoring of enzyme activity in a physiologically relevant environment are required to better understand the roles of specific players in the complex process of tumorigenesis. This review highlights advances in the field of activity-based proteomics, which uses small molecules known as activity-based probes (ABPs) that covalently bind to the catalytic site of target enzymes. We discuss the application of ABPs to cancer biology, especially to the discovery of tumor biomarkers, the screening of enzyme inhibitors, and the imaging of enzymes implicated in cancer.
Ephus: Multipurpose Data Acquisition Software for Neuroscience Experiments

Physiological measurements in neuroscience experiments often involve complex stimulus paradigms and multiple data channels. Ephus (http://www.ephus.org) is an open-source software package designed for general-purpose data acquisition and instrument control. Ephus operates as a collection of modular programs, including an ephys program for standard whole-cell recording with single or multiple electrodes in typical electrophysiological experiments, and a mapper program for synaptic circuit mapping experiments involving laser scanning photostimulation based on glutamate uncaging or channelrhodopsin-2 excitation. Custom user functions allow user-extensibility at multiple levels, including on-line analysis and closed-loop experiments, where experimental parameters can be changed based on recently acquired data, such as during in vivo behavioral experiments. Ephus is compatible with a variety of data acquisition and imaging hardware. This paper describes the main features and modules of Ephus and their use in representative experimental applications.