cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytochrome P450 ω-hydroxylase inhibition reduces infarct size during reperfusion via the sarcolemmal KATP channel

Abstract Inhibition of 20-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (20-HETE), by pretreatment with pharmacological inhibitors of cytochrome P450 (CYP) ω-hydroxylase, has been shown to reduce infarct size in canines when administered prior to ischemia. However, it is unknown whether these agents reduce infarct size when administered just prior to reperfusion and if the sarcolemmal and/or mitochondrial KATP channels (sKATP and mKATP) contribute to cardioprotection. Therefore, we determined whether specific CYP inhibitors for epoxygenases and ω-hydroxylases are cardioprotective when given either prior to ischemia or prior to reperfusion and furthermore, if selective inhibition of the sKATP by HMR-1098 or mKATP by 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5-HD) could abrogate this effect. Male Sprague–Dawley rats underwent 30 minutes of ischemia followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Groups received either miconazole (MIC, non-selective CYP inhibitor, 3 mg/kg), 17-octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA, CYP ω-hydroxylase inhibitor, 0,3 or 3 mg/kg), N-methylsulfonyl-12, 12-dibromododec-11-enamide (DDMS, CYP ω-hydroxylase inhibitor, 0,4 or 4 mg/kg), N-methanesulfonyl-6-(2-propargyloxyphenyl)hexanamide (MS-PPOH, CYP epoxygenase inhibitor, 3 mg/kg), or vehicle either 10 minutes prior to ischemia or 5 minutes prior to reperfusion. Rats also received either HMR-1098 (6 mg/kg) or 5-HD (10 mg/kg) 10 minutes prior to reperfusion, with subsets of rats also receiving either MIC or 17-ODYA 5 minutes prior to reperfusion. DDMS and 17-ODYA dose dependently reduced infarct size. Rats treated with MIC, 17-ODYA and DDMS, but not MS-PPOH, produced comparable reductions in infarct size when administered prior to ischemia or reperfusion compared to vehicle. HMR-1098, but not 5-HD, also blocked the infarct size reduction afforded by MIC and 17-ODYA. These data suggest a novel cardioprotective pathway involving CYP ω-hydroxylase inhibition and subsequent activation of the sKATP channel during reperfusion.
Selection of peach cells for insensitivity to culture filtrates of Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni and regeneration of resistant plants.

Individual callus cultures were initiated from 400 immature embryos of bacterial leaf spot-susceptible ‘Sunhigh’ peach. Each was subjected to several selection cycles of a toxic culture filtrate produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni, the causal agent of leaf spot of peach. Progressively higher concentrations of the filtrate were used in each cycle. Two calli survived, and two plants were regenerated from each of the surviving calli. Each of the four clones was propagated in vitro and tested for whole plant resistance to X. c. pv. pruni. Results from bioassays on greenhouse-grown plants indicated that two out of the four selected clones were significantly more resistant to X. c. pv. pruni than the parental cv ‘Sunhigh’. In addition, one clone was significantly more resistant than the moderately resistant cv ‘Redhaven’.
Derivation and Properties of Recombinant Fab Antibodies to the Phenylurea Herbicide Diuron

The Fab domain sequences from messenger RNA of a mouse hybridoma cell line secreting a monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific for the phenylurea herbicide diuron were amplified and inserted into the M13 phagemid vector pComb8. Phage displaying diuron-specific Fab fragments were selected by binding to magnetic beads coated with diuron hapten conjugates, and eluted with diuron. Soluble rFab in E. coli lysates bound diuron with half-maximal inhibition (I50) of 1.6−12 ppb (ng/mL) in indirect and direct competition enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). The optimal competing hapten was different for indirect EIAs with proteolytic or recombinant Fabs and the intact MAb. Selectivity of rFabs for phenylureas was similar to that of the original MAb and its proteolytic Fab fragment and was not significantly affected by exchange of heavy and light chains among rFab clones, indicating that a single antibody species had been cloned. Keywords: Immunoassay; recombinant antibodies; monoclonal antibodies; diuron; herbicide; phenylurea; ...
Optimized prediction of contact force application during side-lying lumbar manipulation.

Abstract Objectives The purposes of this study included the following: (1) to predict L3 contact force during side-lying lumbar manipulation by combining direct and indirect measurements into a single mathematical framework and (2) to assess the accuracy and confidence of predicting L3 contact force using common least squares (CLS) and weighted least squares (WLS) methods. Methods Five participants with no history of lumbar pain underwent 10 high-velocity, low-amplitude lumbar spinal manipulations at L3 in a side-lying position. Data from 5 low-force criterion standard trials where the L3 contact force was directly measured were used to generate participant-specific force prediction algorithms. These algorithms were used to predict L3 contact force in 5 experimental trials performed at therapeutic levels. The accuracy and effectiveness of CLS and WLS methods were compared. Results Differences between the CLS-predicted forces and the criterion standard–measured forces were 621.0 ± 193.5 N. Differences between the WLS-predicted forces and the criterion standard–measured forces were − 3.6 ± 9.1 N. The 95% limits of agreement ranged from 234.0 to 1008.0 N for the CLS and − 21.9 to 14.7 N for the WLS. During both the criterion standard and experimental trials, the CLS overestimated contact forces with larger variance than the WLS. Conclusion This novel method to predict spinal contact force combines direct and indirect measurements into a single framework and preserves clinically relevant practitioner-participant contacts. As advanced instrumentation becomes available, this framework will enable advancements in training and high-quality research on mechanisms of spinal manipulative therapy.
Recognition and quantification of binary and ternary mixtures of isomeric peptides by the kinetic method: metal ion and ligand effects on the dissociation of metal-bound complexes.

The kinetic method is applied to differentiate and quantify mixtures of isomeric tripeptides based on the competitive dissociations of divalent metal ion-bound clusters in an ion trap mass spectrometer. This methodology is extended further to determine compositions of ternary mixtures of the isomers Gly-Gly-Ala (GGA), Ala-Gly-Gly (AGG), and Gly-Ala-Gly (GAG). This procedure also allows to perform chiral quantification of a ternary mixture of optical isomers. The divalent metal ion CaII is particularly appropriate for isomeric distinction and quantification of the isobaric tripeptides Gly-Gly-Leu/Gly-Gly-Ile (GGL/GGI). Among the first-row transition metal ions, CuII yields remarkably effective isomeric differentiation for both the isobaric tripeptides, GGI/GGL using GAG as the reference ligand, and the positional isomers GAG/GGA using GGI as the reference ligand. This is probably due to agostic bonding: α-agostic bonding occurs between CuII and GAG and β-agostic bonding between CuII and GGI, each produces large but different steric effects on the stability of the CuII-bound dimeric clusters. These data form the basis for possible future quantitative analyses of mixtures of larger peptides such as are generated, for example, in combinatorial synthesis of peptides and peptide mimics.
Long-term surveillance performance improvement using exploitation memory

We describe an experiment to quantify the exploitation performance benefits of acquired site-specific algorithm performance knowledge, applied to the problem of motion detection. Automated object detection algorithms typically suffer from high false alarm rates that can be distracting to an operator, in some cases rendering the algorithm useless. The experiment is designed to reduce the false alarm rate of a surveillance algorithm in scenarios that involve repeated observation of the same location using an algorithm as a cuer to an operator who accepts or rejects algorithm reports. The experiment involves using a wrapper that records the operator decisions, and modulates algorithm reports using acquired knowledge of high-false-alarm areas and high-true-detection areas. The wrapper also uses an a priori operator segmentation of the scene that marks some regions for which no algorithm reports will be passed on to the operator. The experiment demonstrates a 35% reduction in the time required for an analyst to find vehicles in a search scenario, without any negative impact on accuracy.
Investigation of Carbon Sequestration via Induced Calcite Formation in Natural Gas Well Brine

The permanent storage of carbon in mineral form using natural brines found in geologic formations is at the forefront of carbon sequestration research. A complex chemistry describes the ultimate fixation of carbon in stable minerals, such as calcite. However, the parameters that govern carbonate formation are not well understood. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to induce and characterize calcite formation by reacting natural gas brine with CO2. Brine pH has a significant effect on this conversion and can thus be adjusted to induce calcite precipitation using a laboratory scale reactor operated at temperatures of 75 and 150 °C and pressures of 600 and 1500 psi. Initial pH conditions of at least 9.0 are optimal for carbonate precipitation in reactions of 18 h. Although the reaction duration is not long enough to successfully correlate brine compositional changes with precipitation and pH evolution, X-ray diffraction analysis clearly confirms the presence of calcite. Scanning electron microscopy/en...
The Early Age of Social Computing

The social computing applications of today are a constant of everyday life, connecting people on a local to global scale. With a large variety of computer and display choices now available and a number of communication companies to provide their interconnect services, users can download thousands of application packages to meet their individual needs. This ease of entering the social computing market has been the result of an evolutionary process over the past 50 years.
The Effects of Expressive and Experiential Suppression on Memory Accuracy and Memory Distortion in Women with and Without PTSD

Specific emotion regulation strategies impinge on cognitive resources, impairing memory accuracy; however, their effects on memory distortion have been largely unexamined. Further, little is known ...
An integrated SiGe transmitter circuit for 24 GHz radar sensors

The design of an integrated transmitter circuit is described, which operates in the 24 GHz band. The circuit is comprised of a VCO, which delivers 18 mW power at 50 ohm, a frequency divider chain and an additional RF output to drive the LO-input of a receiver chip in a 24 GHz FM-CW radar system. SiGe-HBTs with typical F/sub t/=48 GHz/F/sub max/=80 GHz and V/sub CEO/ >3.2 V of a production SiGe-BiCMOS process are used as active devices. All resonators and matching circuits are implemented on chip by using the 4-layer dielectric/metal (AlCu) stack of the process.
Electroantennogram and Oviposition Bioassay Responses of Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) to Chemicals in Odors from Bermuda Grass Infusions

Odors were collected from the headspace above fermented infusions of Bermuda grass, which commonly are used as attractants in traps for gravid mosquitoes. Coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD) was used to identify 9 compounds (phenol, p-cresol, 4-ethylphenol, indole, 3-methylindole, nonanal, 2-undecanone, 2-tridecanone, naphthalene) from odor extracts that elicited significant antennal responses from antennae of gravid female Culex quinquefasciatus Say and Culex tarsalis Coquillett mosquitoes. Several of these compounds at appropriate concentrations were weakly attractive to gravid female mosquitoes in laboratory bioassays and/or stimulated more oviposition than water controls. In addition, dimethyltrisulfide, a significant component of odor extract which did not elicit strong responses from female mosquito antennae in GC-EAD assays, also appeared to stimulate oviposition at 1 concentration. A reconstituted blend of the 10 compounds resulted in much stronger and more consistent responses than individual compounds. The blend was attractive to gravid Cx. quinquefasciatus and enhanced oviposition over a range of concentrations spanning 3 orders of magnitude. One concentration of the blend also attracted gravid Cx. tarsalis and enhanced oviposition. However, at the highest concentration tested, the blend was repellent to both species. Overall, these studies demonstrated that gravid mosquitoes are attracted to oviposition sites by blends of compounds rather than by individual chemicals, and that the concentration of compounds in the odor is a critical factor in determining whether responses are positive (attractive, stimulatory) or negative (repellent, deterrent).
System of Systems Issues for the 2008 U. S. National Healthcare Information Network Remote Patient Monitoring Requirements

This paper describes a number of new system of systems engineering (SoSE) issues that must be addressed in order to design and deploy a safe, secure, and private informatics infrastructure for remote patient monitoring systems that are interoperable with the emerging U.S. National Healthcare Information Network (NHIN). Motivations for NHIN's ambitious remote patient monitoring goals - such as reducing the cost of care and improving medical care quality for chronically ill patients - are introduced, and the technological requirements and challenges that arise are described. This paper demonstrates the use of SoSE modeling, simulation, verification and validation techniques similar to the emerging draft of INCOSE's SoSE Engineering Guide to improve the success of such projects. The tools used include event driven modeling and software simulation tools to assist in the design and evaluation of predictive software models that simulate key safety and performance aspects of proposed remote patient monitoring systems.
“TAKING A BITE OUT OF CRIME” The Impact of a Public Information Campaign

Recent studies of public information campaigns indicate they may have greater efficacy than the research of previous decades suggested. The persuasive impact of a national crime prevention campaign is investigated in the context of past and contemporary models of media effects, utilizing data from a national sample survey and a three-city panel survey. The findings suggest that the campaign had marked influences on individuals' cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors regarding crime prevention. Media campaign effects are contingent upon specific factors operative in given communication situations, involving given kinds of audiences.
Fungal Sepsis: Optimizing Antifungal Therapy in the Critical Care Setting

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) and fungal sepsis in the intensive care unit are increasing and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. In this setting, IFI are predominantly caused by Candida species. Outcomes continue to be suboptimal; however, there are a few key clinician modifiable factors. PK-PD studies with the approved antifungal agents have provided guidance on the dosing strategy that predicts improved outcome. In addition, time to therapy is a critical element. Therefore early recognition through improved risk factor analysis and diagnostics will be key developments. Source control for infected devices and endophthalmitis must be considered.
Geographic Variation in the Decline of Stroke Mortality in the United States

Background and Purpose This study examines the geographic variation in the decline of stroke mortality rates in the United States. Methods National Center for Health Statistics and Bureau of the Census data were used to assess regional and state level temporal trends of stroke mortality in the United States for 1970 to 1989. Results Underlying- and multiple-cause stroke mortality rates have declined fairly steadily in all regions of the United States and for all race/sex groups, although the rates of decline were greater during 1970 to 1978 than during 1979 to 1989. The declines in underlying-cause rates could not be attributed to a shift toward reporting stroke as a contributing rather than underlying cause of death, since both underlying- and multiple-cause rates declined similarly. There was significant regional variation in the rate of decline, particularly during 1979 to 1989. The South initially had the highest rates, but it experienced the most rapid decline, so that by 1989 the South no longer had the highest rates. States with the most rapid rates of decline were significantly clustered in the South and particularly the Southeast. Most of the decline in overall stroke mortality was due to declines in ischemic stroke mortality. Conclusions During 1970 to 1989 there was significant geographic variation in the rate of decline of stroke mortality rates, with the most rapid rates of decline concentrated in the high-rate areas of the South and particularly the Southeast. As a result, there has been a decrease in interregional and interstate variation in stroke mortality rates, which is apparently not due to an artifact of changing reporting patterns.
Mahalanobis-Taguchi System as a Multi-Sensor Based Decision Making Prognostics Tool for Centrifugal Pump Failures

A novel Mahalanobis Taguchi System (MTS) based fault detection, isolation, and prognostics scheme is presented. The proposed scheme fuses data from multiple sensors into a single system level performance metric using Mahalanobis Distance (MD), and generates fault clusters based on MD values. MD thresholds derived from the clustering analysis are used for fault detection and isolation. When a fault is detected, the prognostics scheme, which monitors the progression of the MD values over time, is initiated. Then, using a linear approximation, time to failure is estimated. The performance of the scheme has been validated via experiments performed on a mono-block centrifugal water pump testbed. The pump has been instrumented with vibration, pressure, temperature, and flow sensors; and experiments involving healthy and various types of faulty operating conditions have been performed. The experiments show that the proposed approach renders satisfactory results for centrifugal water pump fault detection, isolation, and prognostics. Overall, the proposed solution provides a reliable multivariate analysis and real-time decision making tool that 1) fuses data from multiple sensors into a single system level performance metric; 2) extends MTS by providing a single tool for fault detection, isolation, and prognosis, eliminating the need to develop each separately; and 3) offers a systematic way to determine the key parameters, thus reducing analysis overhead. In addition, the MTS-based scheme is process independent, and can easily be implemented on wireless motes1, and deployed for real-time monitoring, diagnostics, and prognostics in a wide variety of industrial environments.
A shallow water model conserving energy and potential enstrophy in the presence of boundaries

We extend a previously developed method for constructing shallow water models that conserve energy and potential enstrophy to the case of flow bounded by rigid walls. This allows the method to be applied to ocean models. Our procedure splits the dynamics into a set of prognostic equations for variables (vorticity, divergence, and depth) chosen for their relation to the Casimir invariants of mass, circulation and potential enstrophy, and a set of diagnostic equations for variables that are the functional derivatives of the Hamiltonian with respect to the chosen prognostic variables. The form of the energy determines the form of the diagnostic equations. Our emphasis on conservation laws produces a novel form of the boundary conditions, but numerical test cases demonstrate the accuracy of our model and its extreme robustness, even in the case of vanishing viscosity.
Steady Motion of Ideal Fluid and Elastic Body

All the preceding variational formulations, including those in Eulerian coordinates, dealt with the case when the flow region, V(t), contains the same particles. If this region does not move in the observer’s frame and its boundaries are penetrable to the media (i.e. some particles leave the region while other particles enter it), then the variational principles considered are not true. However, one may expect that the same functionals, perhaps, modified by additional terms describing the energy flux through penetrable parts of the boundary, have the stationary value on the true motion. Such expectation is supported by the variational principles for open flows of Sect. 9.11. In this chapter we show that this is indeed the case for steady open flows of the ideal fluids and elastic bodies.
High Peak Power Pulse Amplification in Large-Core Yb-Doped Fiber Amplifiers

High peak power fiber lasers are important for a variety of applications ranging from material processing and remote sensing to laser-plasma produced extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) generation. These applications require high peak powers in the megawatt range, 5-MW peak power with subnanosecond pulses, the highest peak power achieved so far from a fiber laser. Use of a variety of core sizes between 65 and 200 mum has been explored and it has been shown that for core sizes as large as 80 mum, a good output beam quality of M2 ~ 1.3 can be maintained. This corresponds to the largest ever demonstrated mode area (2750 mum2) of a conventional LMA fiber with nearly diffraction-limited output. We also demonstrate average-power scaling of megawatt peak power pulses of up to ~90 W.
Models for analysis of packet voice communications systems

In a packet voice communication system, packets are fed to a common queue by a number of independent voice sources and are removed from this queue on a first-come-first-serve basis for transmission over a communication link of finite capacity. Each voice source alternates between active periods, during which packets are generated at regular intervals, and inactive periods, during which no packets are generated. In this paper, we discuss three models, a semi-Markov process model, a continuous-time Markov chain model, and a uniform arrival and service model, to assess the queueing behavior of such systems. Numerical results obtained from each of the three models are compared to each other, to results obtained from a discrete event simulation program, and to results obtained from an M/D/1 analysis. Parameters of the model are the average duration of active and inactive periods, the packet generation rate, the communication link capacity, and the total number of voice sources. Conclusions are drawn regarding which models appear to be most appropriate in the parameter ranges investigated.
Does Strict Phosphorus Control Precipitate Renal Osteomalacia

Hyperphosphatemia leads to the development of osteitis fibrosa in patients with chronic renal failure. In contrast, crippling osteomalacia may appear in uremic patients who are hypophosphatemic or aluminum intoxicated or who undergo total or subtotal parathyroidectomy. Thus, strict phosphorus control by use of aluminum-containing gels may ameliorate renal osteitis fibrosa, but may potentiate the development of osteomalacia. To evaluate this possibility, we compared the bone histologies of 10 chronic renal hemodialysis patients who consistently maintained predialysis phosphorus levels between 4–5 mg/dl (Strict-P) to those of 46 randomly selected dialysis patients (Random-P). We found that the Strict-P group had lower circulating immunoreactive PTH (P <0.02) and alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.05) levels and, as expected, less evidence of hyperparathyroid bone disease. On the other hand, the Strict-P patients had osteomalacia, as evidenced by moderate osteoid accumulation and reduced capacity of bone to assume ...
Chloroplast Division in Higher Plants Requires Members of Two Functionally Divergent Gene Families with Homology to Bacterial ftsZ

The division of plastids is critical for viability in photosynthetic eukaryotes, but the mechanisms associated with this process are still poorly understood. We previously identified a nuclear gene from Arabidopsis encoding a chloroplast-localized homolog of the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ, an essential cytoskeletal component of the prokaryotic cell division apparatus. Here, we report the identification of a second nuclear-encoded FtsZ-type protein from Arabidopsis that does not contain a chloroplast targeting sequence or other obvious sorting signals and is not imported into isolated chloroplasts, which strongly suggests that it is localized in the cytosol. We further demonstrate using antisense technology that inhibiting expression of either Arabidopsis FtsZ gene (AtFtsZ1-1 or AtFtsZ2-1) in transgenic plants reduces the number of chloroplasts in mature leaf cells from 100 to one, indicating that both genes are essential for division of higher plant chloroplasts but that each plays a distinct role in the process. Analysis of currently available plant FtsZ sequences further suggests that two functionally divergent FtsZ gene families encoding differentially localized products participate in chloroplast division. Our results provide evidence that both chloroplastic and cytosolic forms of FtsZ are involved in chloroplast division in higher plants and imply that important differences exist between chloroplasts and prokaryotes with regard to the roles played by FtsZ proteins in the division process.
Habitat use by crayfish in stream pools: influence of predators, depth and body size

SUMMARY 1. Crayfish in headwater streams are subjected to predation from two sources: (a) fish; and (b) terrestrial predators including wading birds and mammals. Field observations of the mortality of tethered crayfish of two size classes were used to examined how predation risks imposed by the two types of predators varied with water depth and crayfish size. We also examined the depth distribution of large and small crayfish in stream pools with and without predatory fish. 2. Predatory fish, mostly green sunfish, Lepomis cyctuellus, and creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, rapidly consumed tethered small crayfish (body length = 25‐30 mm) in deep areas (0.4‐0.7 m), but not in shallow areas (0.05‐0.15 m) of stream pools. Tethered large crayfish (body length = 50‐75 mm) suffered little mortality from fish at either depth. Terrestrial predators such as racoons, Procyou lotor, and herons, Butorides and Ardea, caused little crayfish mortality in deep areas, but rapidly consumed both small and large crayfish exposed in shallow areas. 3. A comparison of habitat use by crayfish in pools with and without fish suggests that small, but not large, crayfish shift their distributions to shallow water in the presence of fish. In pools without fish, the distribution of small crayfish was independent of depth, whereas large crayfish occupied deep water.
Peer victimization in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome: a link to depressive symptomatology, anxiety symptomatology and suicidal ideation.

The present exploratory study examined the level of peer victimization, depressive symptomatology, anxiety symptomatology, and level of suicidal ideation among adolescents and young adults diagnose...
Culture and alcohol use: historical and sociocultural themes from 75 years of alcohol research.

Objective:For the period of almost 75 years, we examined the literature for studies regarding the influences of culture on alcohol use and misuse.Method:This review is a chronology of research articles published from 1940 to 2013. From a structured literature search with select criteria, 38 articles were identified and 34 reviewed.Results:This analysis revealed a progression across this period of research from studies that began as descriptive ethnographic evaluations of one or more indigenous societies or cultural groups, evolving to studies using complex multivariate models to test cross-cultural effects in two or more cultural groups. Major findings across this period include the assertions that (a) a function of alcohol use may be to reduce anxiety, (b) certain cultural groups possess features of alcohol use that are not associated with negative consequences, (c) the disruptive effects of acculturative change and the stressors of new demands are associated with an increase in alcohol consumption, (d) ...
Lipid Kinase Mutations in Heritable Glomerular Microangiopathy

Human genetic studies during the past decade have unmasked the molecular pathogenesis of several Mendelian disorders affecting glomerular integrity.[1][1] Among these disorders are heritable causes of nephrotic syndrome having either autosomal dominant or recessive inheritance, many of which are
The Myth of Masculinity in the Films of Merzak Allouache

Abstract The Algerian filmmaker Merzak Allouache has made a series of films that describe the formations of masculinity in Algeria of the post-Independence period. The present paper focuses on three feature films made between the dates of 1976 and 2002, tracing the director's initial framing of mythical discourses of masculinity to an increasingly oppositional and alternative gender construction of the last film. The paper locates a nexus of discourses (colonial, national, Islamist) that inform the construction of masculinity in Algeria. It argues that a critical look at representations of masculinity is central to an analysis of North African identity due to the patriarchal nature of its traditional society, a society which has been in a state of transformation since the colonial and postcolonial periods. The construction of the colonial subject in discourse, and the exercise of colonial power through discourse, demands an articulation of forms of difference—racial and sexual. Such an articulation become...
Constitutive mRNA expression of various glutathione S-transferase isoforms in different tissues of mice

Glutathione S-transferase (Gst) enzymes are instrumental in protecting cellular macromolecules against electrophiles and products of oxidative stress. Of interest primarily to pharmacologists and toxicologists is the ability of these enzymes to metabolize cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, insecticides, herbicides, and carcinogens. Thus, constitutive expression of Gsts might determine a tissue's ability to handle certain forms of chemical stress. In the present study, the constitutive mRNA expression of 19 different Gst enzymes was investigated in 14 different tissues in mice. The information obtained from the present study could be distilled into a few generalized principles: in all tissues examined, multiple isoforms of Gst were constitutively expressed; several isoforms, such as Gstk1, Gstm1, Gstm4, Gstm6, and Gstt1, were expressed in most of the tissues studied; at least five Gst isoforms were highly expressed in the gonads, about three in heart, and at least one in brain (Gstm5). Gender differences in the expression of various Gst isoforms were pronounced. With a few exceptions, most of the Gst isoforms expressed in kidney showed higher expression in females than males; the same trend was observed for heart and gonads. At least eight Gst isoforms showed very high expression in stomach. This was a unique finding in the current study because drug-metabolizing enzymes that are highly expressed in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract tend to have the highest expression in small intestine with low or no expression in the stomach. In summary, most Gst isoforms are most highly expressed in the GI tract and liver, which strongly suggests an important role of many Gst isoforms in detoxification of ingested xenobiotics.
Fire ants actively control spacing and orientation within self-assemblages

To overcome obstacles and survive harsh environments, fire ants link their bodies together to form self-assemblages such as rafts, bridges and bivouacs. Such structures are examples of self-assembling and self-healing materials, as ants can quickly create and break links with one another in response to changes in their environment. Because ants are opaque, the arrangement of the ants within these three-dimensional networks was previously unknown. In this experimental study, we applied micro-scale computed tomography, or micro-CT, to visualize the connectivity, arrangement and orientation of ants within an assemblage. We identified active and geometric mechanisms that ants use to obtain favorable packing properties with respect to well-studied packing of inert objects such as cylinders. Ants use their legs to push against their neighbors, doubling their spacing relative to random packing of cylinders. These legs also permit active control of their orientation, an ability ants use to arrange themselves perpendicularly rather than in parallel. Lastly, we found an important role of ant polymorphism in promoting self-aggregation: a large distribution of ant sizes permits small ants to fit between the legs of larger ants, a phenomenon that increases the number of average connections per ant. These combined mechanisms lead to low packing fraction and high connectivity, which increase raft buoyancy and strength during flash floods.
UMass at TREC 2008 Blog Distillation Task

This paper presents the work done for the TREC 2008 blog distillation task. We introduce two new methods based on blog site search using resource selection which was the framework we used for the TREC 2007 blog distillation task. One is a new factor that penalizes the topical diversity of a blog. The other is a query expansion technique. We compare the methods to strong baselines.
CORD-a WDM optical network: control mechanism using subcarrier multiplexing and novel synchronization solutions

Stanford University is implementing and investigating CORD, a 2.488 Gb/s//spl lambda/ WDM ATM packet-switched network experiment. CORD performs optical contention resolution at the receiver using optical switches and delay lines. CORD uses the multichannel subcarrier multiplexing (MSCM) technique to transmit the control channel and the payload data on the same wavelength and an ultra-fast clock recovery technique to synchronize the received control packets in every slot. We have experimentally shown that CORD incurs an MSCM penalty of 2.2 dB. In addition, we have demonstrated that the clock recovery scheme performs clock acquisition within 4 preamble bits with a penalty of 1 dB.
The Applicability of Citizen's Arrest Powers to the Hospitality Industry

Common law principles and state statutes traditionally have permitted a private citizen to arrest a wrongdoer. Modern statutes, however, have expanded the citizen's arrest power to enable business operators to deal with wrongdoing on their premises. The purpose of this research is to analyze the law of citizen's arrest to determine its applicability to hospitality establishments. Statutes and cases are reviewed to discover the parameters of the citizen's arrest power and to make recommendations for management.
Relationships of diet to the duration of survival, body weight and composition of hypophysectomized rats.

Surgical removal of the pituitary gland has been known for many years to be compatible with life but investigators using such pituitary-less mammals have learned with dismay that this is a qualified truth. Animals lacking this gland areat best frail creatures with no ability to adapt themselves either to physiological stresses nor to environmental vicissitudes. Their survival is possible only under controlled laboratoryconditions. In this laboratory, large numbers of hypophysectomized rats have been used for a variety ofexperimental procedures in which no particular attention has been paid to their diet other than to offer them laboratory chow ad libitum. Under these circumstances, it has been repeatedly observed that a variable mortality had to be reckoned with in both treated and control groups in experiments lasting much beyond 10 days after operation. For example, in one untreated group of 13 hypophysectomized young male rats, 10 survived until the 8th post-operative day,
Predicting Reaction to a Message of Ministry: An Audience Analysis

This study investigated whether audience characteristics identified as important in the conversion and religious recruitment literature could predict reaction to a Christianity-themed recruitment message. More specific goals involved (a) comparing the impact of potential recruits' dispositional attributes and personal motivations versus their situational availability on the persuasive effect of religious recruitment messages; and (b) rank ordering the audience characteristics examined based on their predictive power. Results indicated that dispositional and motivational considerations were more reliable predictors of receivers' responses to the recruitment message than were situational factors. Specifically, five of the six dispositional and motivational variables (i.e., loneliness, perceived childhood attachment history, meaning and purpose, other-orientation, and problem-solving perspective) were-at least under certain conditions-related to participants' interest in the church. The two variables representing situational availability, free time and membership status, however, were either unrelated to interest in the church or related to participants' reactions, but in the opposite direction of what was expected.
Gold Nanorods as Contrast Agents for Biological Imaging: Optical Properties, Surface Conjugation and Photothermal Effects

Gold nanorods (NRs) have plasmon-resonant absorption and scattering in the near-infrared (NIR) region, making them attractive probes for in vitro and in vivo imaging. In the cellular environment, NRs can provide scattering contrast for darkfield microscopy, or emit a strong two-photon luminescence due to plasmon-enhanced two-photon absorption. NRs have also been employed in biomedical imaging modalities such as optical coherence tomography or photoacoustic tomography. Careful control over surface chemistry enhances the capacity of NRs as biological imaging agents by enabling cell-specific targeting, and by increasing their dispersion stability and circulation lifetimes. NRs can also efficiently convert optical energy into heat, and inflict localized damage to tumor cells. Laser-induced heating of NRs can disrupt cell membrane integrity and homeostasis, resulting in Ca(2+) influx and the depolymerization of the intracellular actin network. The combination of plasmon-resonant optical properties, intense local photothermal effects and robust surface chemistry render gold NRs as promising theragnostic agents.
Proposed DSM-5 mixed features are associated with greater likelihood of remission in out-patients with major depressive disorder

Background Draft DSM-5 criteria for a mixed major depressive episode have been proposed, but their predictive validity has not yet been established. We hypothesized that such symptoms would be associated with poorer antidepressant treatment outcomes. Method We examined outcomes among individuals with major depressive disorder participating in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study, an effectiveness study conducted at primary and specialty care centers in the USA. Mixed features were derived from the six self-report items of the mania subscale of the Psychiatric Diagnosis Screening Questionnaire. Primary analyses examined the association between the presence of at least two of these in the 6 months before study entry, and remission across up to four sequential treatment trials, as well as adverse outcomes. Results Of the 2397 subjects with a major depressive episode of at least 6 months' duration, 449 (18.7%) reported at least two mixed symptoms. The presence of such symptoms was associated with a greater likelihood of remission across up to four sequential treatments, which persisted after adjustment for potential confounding clinical and demographic variables (adjusted hazard ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.28). Two individual items, expansive mood and cheerfulness, were strongly associated with a greater likelihood of remission. Conclusions Proposed DSM-5 mixed state features were associated with a greater rather than a lesser likelihood of remission. While unexpected, this result suggests the potential utility of further investigation of depressive mixed states in major depression.
Presidential Campaigns and the Fundamentals Reconsidered

The contrast between the predictability of presidential elections and the variability of early polls has come to be viewed as evidence that campaigns provide crucial information to voters. We argue that unmotivated survey respondents offering minimally acceptable answers (i.e., satisficing) offers an additional explanation for the classic conundrum of why the polls vary when the election outcome is predictable. The analysis relies on data from the National Annenberg Election Survey, a natural experiment that results from California’s election laws, and the 2000 ANES survey mode experiment. The results support the claim that respondents’ motivation to engage the survey question, not the information provided by the campaign, is the most important determinant of whether vote intentions reflect the “correctly” weighted fundamentals. We conclude by discussing the implications of this finding for both survey-based and experimental studies of campaign effects.
A novel MPC approach to optimize force feedback for human-robot shared control

One of the challenging problems in human-robot shared control is the algorithms for force rendering due to uncertain human behavior. Common adaptive and optimal control techniques may not be readily applied to a number of popular haptic devices, since the required state space models are not available. In addition, the invoked control algorithms should meet the requirements of a human-in-the-loop control problem and be fast enough for such haptic applications. Thus, this paper proposes a novel combination of model predictive control (MPC) and neural networks to overcome the aforementioned problems. First, the robot is modeled by a multilayer perceptron (MLP) network. The model has been trained with a set of data created with reasonably considered all possible robot variations in a virtual environment (VE). Afterwards, an MPC is developed with the aid of artificial neural networks and genetic algorithm (GA) to find the optimized force required for a typical task model. Such optimal force calculation with the MPC approach has been carried out for a variety of reference points of a task. Then another MLP network is trained to find the optimal required forces for a reasonably fast and smooth performance. The results show the effectiveness of this approach compared to classical impedance controllers in increasing user performance.
The Music of James Bond

From the late 1960s through the early 2000s, the most iconic and successful film series was the James Bond movies. Not only did they appear on a regular basis, but they were known for their cinemat...
Abstract B14: Factors associated with adolescent HPV vaccine uptake in safety‐net clinics

Background: Cervical cancer disproportionately affects minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) populations and could be nearly eliminated if prevention and screening were universally available and used. Uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine could reduce disparites. Clinic, provider, and patient factors determining vaccine use in the US are not well understood. Most studies of correlates have relied on patient self‐report. Aim: Use behavioral model of health services utilization to examine patient, provider, and clinic characteristics associated with HPV vaccine use among females ages 11–18 receiving care in safety‐net clinics. Methods: Retrospective medical record review of a random sample of 353 female patients ages 11–18 who had an index visit between March 2007 and February 2008 at one of two safety net clinics which provide primary care to underserved populations. Dependent variables abstracted included: physician recommendation; HPV vaccine acceptance; number of doses delivered (0–3); and timeliness (e.g., on‐schedule delivery of doses). Independent variables included patient sociodemographics, health care access, vaccine and sexual behavior, and clinic documentation. Chi‐square tests (p Results: The sample was diverse (N = 353; 38.5%African American, 53.5% Hispanic, 52.7% age Conclusions: Even in a safety‐net clinic population where female adolescents have access to care, HPV vaccine delivery is suboptimal. Delivery breaks down at two points: physician recommendation and dose completion. Our data show that most patients do not receive a physician recommendation. Of those who get a recommendation, most patients initiate the series, but do not complete all three doses. Chart reminders that improve provider recommendation and patient‐directed reminders to address delivery of second and third doses are urgently needed. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B14.
Leading by Modeling: From Leader Prosocial Motivation to Team Effectiveness

Although the importance of team motivation has been increasingly emphasized, little attention has been paid to an important form of motivation in teams—prosocial motivation. Integrating social lear...
Tuberculosis in Guinea-Pigs After Treatment with Tubercle Bacilli Made Non-Acidfast with Oleic Acid

In experiments previously reported by the author ' it was determined that dehydrated bacilli suspended in oleic acid or in olive oil lose their acidfastness when placed in the incubator. ' Killed bacilli did not undergo the change. Loss of acidfastness took place most rapidly at 37 C. with an abrupt cessation at lower temperatures, when the metabolic activities of the bacilli were greatly reduced. At temperatures above 37 C. which approached the thermal deathpoint of the cultures the bacilli were affected but little. Under the conditions of these experiments, living cultures were regarded as necessary for the removal of acidfastness. Since the publication of these experiments, it has been found that the discharge of acidfastness can be accomplished without dehydration and suspension of the dehydrated bacilli in the oily medium. The purpose of this paper is to describe a procedure for rendering cultures in aqueous-alcohol suspensions nonacidfast by means of oleic acid, and to describe the tuberculosis of guinea-pigs treated with the liquid containing all substances removed from the bacilli during the removal of the acidfastness as well as the suspended nonacidfast bacilli. Treatment with the non-acidfast bacilli alone appears not to be effective in increasing the resistance of guinea-pigs to tuberculosis when subsequently inoculated with living bacilli.
Fisheries annual fixed cost data collection and estimation methodology: An application in the Northeast, U.S.

Abstract Information on the cost of fishing is integral in measuring fisheries performance and correctly evaluating the economic impacts of fisheries regulations and management rules. However, limited availability of cost data often renders such analyses either incomplete or implausible. This study discusses a survey effort that was undertaken in the Northeast US to collect fisheries annual fixed cost data directly from commercial fishermen. Stratified random samples of fishing vessel owners were surveyed in 2012 and 2013. An overview of the survey procedures, sample selection and administration is given here. The data cleaning process, non-response bias and data summaries are also presented. A modeling framework is discussed for estimating fisheries cost data. Robust cost models in combination with regular data collection efforts will allow for more complete economic and financial analyses relevant to fisheries management and conservation.