cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inducible Transport of Citrate in a Gram-positive Bacterium, Bacillus subtilis

Abstract An inducible system for the active transport of citrate in Bacillus subtilis has been studied. Gratuitous conditions are used under which the addition of citrate to the medium results in an increased uptake of citrate into the bacteria without influencing the growth rate. Wild type cells of B. subtilis metabolize citrate quickly after it is taken up into the cells, thereby rendering transport kinetics difficult to interpret in quantitative terms. To avoid this difficulty, we investigated citrate transport in B. subtilis 60871 which carries a genetic block in aconitase activity. This strain can accumulate citrate inside the cells more than 100-fold over the citrate level in the external medium. Under these conditions citrate catabolism is insignificantly low. Citrate is transported in B. subtilis 60871 with a Vmax of 145 ± 25 µmoles per min per g, dry weight, of cells and an apparent Km of 2.3 ± 0.4 mm at 37°. These bacteria exhibit an apparent constitutivity for citrate uptake when compared with induced wild type cells. This phenomenon is probably due to endogenous induction caused by citrate accumulation as consequence of the aconitase block. Citrate uptake in B. subtilis is also regulated by catabolite repression. The steady state uptake rate of citrate into cells of the aconitase mutant previously loaded with citrate is about the same as the initial uptake rate into induced wild type cells. The outflow rate of citrate from cells of strain 60871 previously loaded with citrate to steady state was found to be only 22% of the initial uptake rate. High concentrations of citrate in the medium slightly stimulate the outflow rate. The citrate uptake system in B. subtilis is inhibited by sodium cyanide, dinitrophenol, iodoacetamide, and N-ethylmaleimide.
Teaching Methods and Technologies: Aggregated Faculty Analysis, Conclusions and Recommendations Phase IV

This paper culminates three years of research on the use of various teaching technologies and methods by the faculty of Adelphi University School of Business in Garden City, New York. Previously, papers on this research were published on the development of the research instrument, the administration and data analysis for full time faculty (Part II), and most recently the analysis of data from adjunct faculty (Part III). This paper (Part IV) includes a number of new faculty additions to the data set and analyzes and interprets the aggregated data. Our overall findings suggest a wide variety of soft and hard technologies where the aggregate group expressed a statistically significant higher perceived “value of use” than a “level of use”. Newer classroom types were also valued more highly than used. The research controlled for “department”, “status”, and “teaching experience”. Factors tended to be non-significant with some interesting exceptions. We note our conclusions, make policy recommendations, and suggest opportunities for expanded research.
Reliability assessment of pile-founded navigation structures

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has designed pile-founded navigation structures to provide a consistently high level of safety and serviceability by using allowable values for pile stresses, pile load capacity, and deflections in structure design. Older in-service pile-founded navigation structures can be assessed using the same limit states used in the design of new pile-founded structures. This paper examines the reliability assessment of timber pile-founded navigation structures without the loss of support. The techniques developed to perform the reliability assessment employ a capacity/demand relationship for limit states of axial capacity, lateral deflections axial deflections, and combined bending. Monte Carlo simulations and first order second moment techniques were used to calibrate the limit states to instrumented pile load test data from field tests. A river dam monolith subjected to impact loading is discussed herein.
Evaluating Pilose, a Cultigen of Gossypium hirsutum, as a Source of Resistance to Cotton Fleahopper (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Cotton fleahopper (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a piercing-sucking insect that has emerged as a major pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in Texas. Cotton fleahoppers feed on floral buds, commonly referred to as squares, causing damage and abscission, and subsequent yield loss. Previous studies indicate that plant resistance to cotton fleahopper is present in upland cotton, but the mechanism of resistance remains undetermined. In this study, Pilose, a cultigen of G. hirsutum, was examined as a source of resistance to cotton fleahopper, focusing on mechanism of resistance and heritability of the resistance trait. Results indicated that the resistance trait in Pilose is heritable and that pubescence is causative of resistance or that the resistance trait may be tightly linked to genes controlling pubescence. Behavioral assays indicated nonpreference as a mode of resistance in plants with dense pubescence.
The Relationship Between Motor Symptom Lateralization And Non-Motor Symptoms (NMS) In Parkinson’s Disease Patients (P4.058)

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to compare the non motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients with respect to their side of dominant motor symptoms BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease (PD) the second most common Neurodegenerative diseases affecting between the age group of 50 and 70 years old. The Parkinson’s disease patients present with a wide range of motor and non-motor symptoms. There has not been much reporting on the motor symptom lateralization and its relationship with the non motor symptoms in patients with PD. DESIGN/METHODS: We collected data regarding the non motor symptoms in patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, who attended the Movement Disorder Clinic in Cleveland Clinic at Weston, over the last 12 months. The dominant side affected with motor symptoms were documented for these patients. The standard self administered Non-Motor symptom questionnaire was filled out for each patient RESULTS: There were 100 patients in the study group with 59 males, 41 females, mean ± Standard Deviation (SD) of age was 68.05 ± 9.75. There were 38 patients (38%) with left dominant motor symptoms and 39 patients (39%) with right side dominant motor symptoms. The mean ± SD of Non-Motor (NMS) in the study population with Parkinson’s disease was 9.71 ± 5.41. The mean ± SD of Non-Motor symptoms in the left and right dominant Parkinson’s disease is 8.71±5.14 and 9.79±4.86 respectively. A median NMS of 8 and 8.5 is observed in left and right dominant Parkinson’s disease respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the left or right dominant motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients have any significant difference in their NMS score. Disclosure: Dr. Khan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boddepalli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Reyes has nothing to disclose.
Modeling and control of resistance tolerance for embedded resistors in LTCC

For embedded resistors in LTCC, the challenge is the high resistance tolerance, normally 20/spl sim/30%. This paper is aimed at modeling and reduction of the tolerance to meet the requirements for high frequency applications; less than 10% resistance tolerance. A mathematical equation for resistance tolerance was derived and experimentally validated. The predicted resistance tolerance agrees with the measured value. With the aid of this equation, resistance tolerance can be related to the tolerance of the print geometry, which is measurable and adjustable prior to firing. It is predicted that for the 10% resistance tolerance goal, print thickness tolerance must be no more than 8%. A comprehensive analysis and step-by-step strategy for tolerance reduction is presented in this work. Some experimental studies have been performed to determine the major factors affecting tolerance. Non-process related factors include resistor size (width and aspect ratio), number of resistor layers in the substrate, location of the resistors on a layer, and printer set-up. As for processing, if the printing is performed in a period of 7 to 17 minutes after paste is applied on the screen, consistent print geometry can be obtained. In addition, a 3-level and 5 factors design of experiments (DOE) shows that the printing parameters, except the low level of squeegee travel, have no significant effect on tolerance of print thickness and width. These results indicate that tolerance control must begin with the design, and include an optimized printer set-up for uniform print thickness across a large printed area. In addition, an appropriate printing process must be used to obtain high resolution rectangular resistors. Through these efforts, 6% to 10% thickness tolerance have been achieved for various print runs and process combinations. Further experiments are underway to evaluate tolerances from high volume production.
THERMOVISCOELASTICITY OF AGING CONCRETE

Assuming constant water content, linear stress range, and temperatures between 2°C and 80–100°C, creep of aging concrete at normal and elevated varying (or constant) temperatures, a phenomenon of importance for nuclear reactor vessels, is formulated by a rate-type creep law with hidden stresses based on Maxwell chain model of time-variable properties. Dependence of the creep rate upon temperature is expressed with the help of activation energies which, in general, may be different for the individual Maxwell units in the chain. Introducing the equivalent hydration period, acceleration of aging due to temperature rise is formulated by means of the activation energy of hydration. It is demonstrated that all of the pertinent more extensive data available in the literature can be fitted satisfactorily by the method described. However, no set of data for one concrete available at present is complete enough to assure unique solution to the problem of identification of material parameters from data.
Snapshot Voltammetry Using a Triangular Bipolar Microelectrode

In this paper, we report a new electroanalytical technique we call snapshot voltammetry. This method combines the properties of bipolar electrodes with electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) to provide a means for recording optical voltammograms in a single micrograph. In essence, the information in a snapshot voltammogram is contained in the spatial domain rather than in the time domain, which is the case for conventional voltammetry. The use of a triangle-shaped bipolar electrode stabilizes the interfacial potential difference along its length. Basic electrochemical parameters extracted from snapshot voltammograms are in good agreement with those obtained by conventional voltammetry. Although not explicitly demonstrated in this paper, this method offers the possibility of using arrays of bipolar electrodes to obtain numerous snapshot voltammograms simultaneously.
Optimizing read mapping to reference genomes to determine composition and species prevalence in microbial communities

The Human Microbiome Project (HMP) aims to characterize the microbial communities of 18 body sites from healthy individuals. To accomplish this, the HMP generated two types of shotgun data: reference shotgun sequences isolated from different anatomical sites on the human body and shotgun metagenomic sequences from the microbial communities of each site. The alignment strategy for characterizing these metagenomic communities using available reference sequence is important to the success of HMP data analysis. Six next-generation aligners were used to align a community of known composition against a database comprising reference organisms known to be present in that community. All aligners report nearly complete genome coverage (>97%) for strains with over 6X depth of coverage, however they differ in speed, memory requirement and ease of use issues such as database size limitations and supported mapping strategies. The selected aligner was tested across a range of parameters to maximize sensitivity while maintaining a low false positive rate. We found that constraining alignment length had more impact on sensitivity than does constraining similarity in all cases tested. However, when reference species were replaced with phylogenetic neighbors, similarity begins to play a larger role in detection. We also show that choosing the top hit randomly when multiple, equally strong mappings are available increases overall sensitivity at the expense of taxonomic resolution. The results of this study identified a strategy that was used to map over 3 tera-bases of microbial sequence against a database of more than 5,000 reference genomes in just over a month.
Relationship between Aging and Susceptibility to Protein Oxidative Damage

The objective of this study was to determine if the susceptibility of tissues to experimental oxidative damage is altered during the aging process. Adult houseflies were X-irradiated at different dosages, when they had reached 0.25 and 0.70 of their average life expectancy. Protein carbonyl content and activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were used as indices of oxidative damage. Fly homogenates as well as the live flies were more susceptible to oxidative damage at the older than at the younger age.
A cross-cultural study of disordered eating attitudes among Filipino and Caucasian Americans.

The present study examines the symptom levels of eating disorders among Filipino and Caucasian college students residing in Hawaii. The study also examines what variables are associated with disordered eating. A self-report questionnaire that included measures of anger discomfort, self-dissatisfaction, body dissatisfaction, and symptoms of eating disorders was administered to Filipino and Caucasian college students. As predicted, females reported higher eating disorder symptom scores than males. However, Filipino males reported higher levels of disordered eating, dieting, and body dissatisfaction than Caucasian males. No association was found between disordered eating and anger discomfort among Filipinos. The results support previous findings of females reporting higher disordered eating attitudes than males, however, Filipino males reported higher disordered attitudes than Caucasian males. Anger discomfort was not associated with disordered eating among Filipinos, supporting past studies that suggest ang...
Hypersomnia in Older Patients

Although the definition of hypersomnia in older patients is similar to that of younger populations, namely, the presence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), its manifestations, etiology, consequences, and treatment differ from those of youngerpatientsinseveralsubtleandnotsosubtle ways. Several factors underlie these differences, including the impact of comorbid medical conditions and polypharmacy; age-related changes in the sleep-wake homeostatic system; lifestyle changes due to retirement; and altered expectations of acceptable health. When discussing hypersomnia in older adults, these factors form an additional layer of considerations that can help guide an appropriate evaluation and treatment plan, which minimizes the risk of unnecessary testing or treatment so as to avoid iatrogenic complications while maximizing quality of life. Thisarticleemphasizesareasinwhichtheevaluationandmanagementofhypersomniainolderadults differfromthoseforyoungeradults.Ageneralreview of hypersomnia is provided. In addition, several neurologic, medical, and psychiatric comorbidities relatedtohypersomniainolderadultsarediscussed. While there exist research and clinical definitions of hypersomnia that distinguish hypersomnia from fatigue or weakness, it is important to emphasize that older adult patients, especially those with cognitive impairment, may not necessarily be able to make this distinction. Thus an older adult patient or their caregiver may present with complaints of fatigue that may in fact represent hypersomnia, or vice versa. This distinction becomes even more important because there are no simple, inexpensive measures to objectively distinguish hypersomnia and fatigue that can readily be implemented in a clinical setting. For this reason, when evaluating hypersomnia complaints in older adults, it is also worthwhile to also consider differential diagnoses more commonly associated with fatigue. As such, while this review mainly addresses hypersomnia, it also includes at times discussion of disorders that are primarily associated with fatigue.
Phonon production in weakly photoexcited semiconductors: Quasidiffusion in Ge, GaAs, and Si

Nonequilibrium phonon propagation is observed in Ge, Si, and GaAs at $T=2.2\mathrm{K}$ when these materials are weakly photoexcited with a pulsed ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$ laser (typically a defocused 10 ns, nanojoule pulse). The overall shapes of the experimental heat pulses agree well with computer simulations incorporating anisotropic phonon propagation (phonon focusing effects), isotope scattering, and anharmonic decay. Quantitative comparisons between the experimental and theoretical decay rates lead us to conclude that (1) although surface reflections near the excitation point play a key role in determining the character of the detected phonon energy, reflections from the sample sidewalls appear to have a smaller effect at times of interest in the experiment; (2) the agreement between the experimental data and our theoretical models of quasidiffusion is better for silicon than for germanium or gallium arsenide. These moderate discrepancies (factors of about 2 in decay rates) are attributed to uncertainties in the elastic-scattering rate and/or anharmonic decay rate. Overall, the basic model of quasidiffusive phonon propagation is quite successful in predicting the principle features of nonequilibrium phonon propagation following direct photoexcitation of a semiconductor.
Computer Simulation for Determining Step and Touch Potentials Resulting from Faults or Open Neutrals in Urd Cable

A computer simulation is described which enables the determination of voltages on the surface and within the earth caused by: (1) a phase-to- neutral fault, (2) a fault with simultaneous open neutrals on either side, and (3) an open neutral. The buried cable and associated ground rods are modeled as a set of interconnected cylindrical segments situated in a three-dimensional, two-layered earth model. Simultaneous solution of the interconnected segment circuit and electromagnetostatic equations yields the desired solution. Output from the computer simulation is shown to match closely the data from field tests of faulted cables and other results from the literature. Work supported by EPRI contract RP797-1.
Strategy for the isolation, derivatization, chromatographic separation, and detection of carnitine and acylcarnitines.

A strategy for detection of carnitine and acylcarnitines is introduced. This versatile system has four components: (1) isolation by protein precipitation/desalting and cation-exchange solid-phase extraction, (2) derivatization of carnitine and acylcarnitines with pentafluorophenacyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, (3) sequential ion-exchange/reversed-phase chromatography using a single non-end-capped C8 column, and (4) detection of carnitine and acylcarnitine pentafluorophenacyl esters using an ion trap mass spectrometer. Recovery of carnitine and acylcarnitines from the isolation procedure is 77−85%. Derivatization is rapid and complete with no evidence of acylcarnitine hydrolysis. Sequential ion-exchange/reversed-phase HPLC results in separation of reagent byproducts from derivatized carnitine and acylcarnitines, followed by reversed-phase separation of carnitine and acylcarnitine pentafluorophenacyl esters. Detection by MS/MS is highly selective, with carnitine pentafluorophenacyl ester yielding a strong p...
Differences in relationship investments between gay and heterosexual men

Previous Investment Model research found that investments are a weaker predictor of relationship commitment for gay men compared with heterosexual men. The present study examined whether this effect is characteristic of investments in general or whether it is specific to certain types of investments. Results indicated that tangible investments significantly predicted commitment among heterosexual men, but not among gay men. In contrast, intangible investments predicted commitment regardless of sexual orientation. Furthermore, adding measures of tangible and intangible investments to the traditional Investment Model variables significantly increased explained variance in commitment for both gay and heterosexual men. These findings highlight the importance of reevaluating how relationship investments are conceptualized and suggests that not all investments are equally consequential across different romantic involvements.
THE 110 K SUPERCONDUCTING TRANSITION IN Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O SYSTEM

Large resistive transitions with strong diamagnetic signals have been achieved in the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O system. The fractional drop in resistivity at 110K is found not to correlate with the strength of the diamagnetic signal. For samples with nominal composition BiCaSrCu2Oy containing two superconducting phases, greater than 50% of the susceptive transition can be associated with the 110K phase.
Retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: the Cleveland clinic experience.

Purpose: Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is usually performed by the transperitoneal approach. At our institution the retroperitoneoscopic approach is preferred. We confirm the technical feasibility of retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy, even for large specimens, and compare its results with open surgery in a contemporary cohort.Materials and Methods: A total of 47 patients underwent 53 retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomies. Data from the most recent 34 laparoscopic cases were retrospectively compared with 34 contemporary cases treated with open radical nephrectomy.Results: For the 53 retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomies mean tumor size was 4.6 cm. (range 2 to 12), surgical time was 2.9 hours (range 1.2 to 4.5) and blood loss was 128 cc. Mean specimen weight was 484 gm. (range 52 to 1,328), and concomitant adrenalectomy was performed in 72% of patients. Mean analgesic requirement was 31 mg. morphine sulfate equivalent. Average hospital stay was 1.6 days, with 68% of patients discharged f...
Direct injection HPLC method for the determination of phenylbutazone and oxyphenylbutazone in serum using a semipermeable surface column.

A direct injection HPLC method has been developed for the determination of phenylbutazone and its active metabolite oxyphenylbutazone in serum using a semipermeable surface (SPS) column. The method is easy to perform and requires 20 microliters of a filtered serum sample. The chromatographic time is less than 13 min using a mobile phase of 15:85 v/v acetonitrile-0.05M phosphate buffer pH 7.5. The method was linear in the range 0.5-20 micrograms ml-1 (r > 0.99, n = 6) with R.S.D. less than 6%. Interday and intraday variability were found to be less than 8.3%. The limit of quantitation and detection were 0.5 and 0.25 microgram ml-1 (s/n > 3), respectively, for both drug and metabolite.
Architects in Skirts: The Public Image of Women Architects in Wilhelmine Germany

This essay explores the public image of women architects in Wilhelmine Germany, examining the tension between cultural conceptions of femininity and the social construction of the architect as a ma...
Working Wives and Food away from Home: The Box-Cox Double Hurdle Model

Household expenditures on food away from home are analyzed with the use of the BLS' 1989 Consumer Expenditure Survey. Parameterization and distributional assumptions of Cragg's double‐hurdle model are generalized for this purpose, and the resulting model outperforms the more traditional ones. Results suggest households with working wives and those with higher income are more likely to consume food away from home and also to consume more than others. Wife's age and household size increase the conditional level of consumption. Education has conflicting effects on probability and conditional level of consumption.
Warp experience: we can map computations onto a parallel computer efficiently

Warp is a programmable, systolic array computer developed by Carnegie Mellon and produced by GE. A 10-cell Warp machine can perform 100 million floating-point operations per second (10 MFLOPS). A variety of applications have been mapped onto Warp. The experience has been that the mapping is not a real problem; in fact, usually near-optimal mapping is relatively easy to obtain, and the actual implementation of the mapping on the machine can often be automated. This paper explains why this is the case by examining some computational models which are frequently used on Warp. Carnegie Mellon and Intel are jointly developing a VLSI version of Warp, called iWarp. It is expected that many applications can be efficiently mapped onto low-cost iWarp arrays to achieve an effective computation bandwidth of about one GigaFLOPS.
Asymmetric Force Response Reveals Mechanical Role in Spindle Protein Localization

The mitotic spindle is the self-organized, microtubule based structure which mechanically segregates chromosomes during cell division. The spindle ‘parts-list' includes microtubules, motor proteins, and non-motor microtubule-associated proteins (or MAPs), and the biochemical properties of many of these components have been well studied. By comparison, our understanding of the force-dependent behavior of many key interactions remains limited. In particular, we do not understand the role that cross-linking MAPs play in providing mechanical stability within the highly dynamic spindle, or how force regulates the function and localization of these proteins. To address this shortcoming, we examine the force-dependent response of NuMA, the major cross-linking MAP of minus-end focused parallel microtubules at the spindle pole. Combining data taken with single molecule TIRF-based imaging and optical trapping methods, we show that NuMA/microtubule interactions generate resistive, friction-like forces which approach ∼1pN when dragged at velocities in the micron/sec range. Unexpectedly, the mechanical response is asymmetric, with NuMA sliding more easily towards the minus ends of microtubules than the plus ends. For comparison, we show that PRC1, a dimeric protein which cross-links antiparallel microtubules at the spindle midzone in anaphase, does not possess such an asymmetric behavior under force. We further perform computer simulations on parallel microtubules cross-linked by ‘dimerized' NuMA (effectively a minimal structural unit of the spindle pole), and show that in the presence of small oscillatory perturbations, NuMA will migrate to the minus ends. These combined results suggests a mechanism for autonomous localization to the spindle poles, and may reveal a possible mechanical principle underlying spindle self-organization.
On the transformation characteristics of LA141A (Mg-LiAl) alloy

Abstract The use of Magnesium-Lithium LA141A-T7 alloy for nonstructural or secondary structural aerospace applications was abandoned mainly because of the loss in strength above room temperature. At temperatures of 90 – 150°C the ultimate strength decreased by about 50% from the room temperature strength. Two processing methods were used in this study in an effort to retain the strength at the intermediate temperatures. The first method consisted of a series of cold rolling and annealing treatments. The cold rolling was employed in the longitudinal, transverse and 45° directions. The second method was similar to the first but included a solution treatment at 315°C. Both methods resulted in a retention of strength at the elevated temperatures by stabilizing the structure and inhibiting recrystallization.
Synchronous radiocarbon and climate shifts during the last deglaciation.

Radiocarbon data from the Cariaco Basin provide calibration of the carbon-14 time scale across the period of deglaciation (15,000 to 10,000 years ago) with resolution available previously only from Holocene tree rings. Reconstructed changes in atmospheric carbon-14 are larger than previously thought, with the largest change occurring simultaneously with the sudden climatic cooling of the Younger Dryas event. Carbon-14 and published beryllium-10 data together suggest that concurrent climate and carbon-14 changes were predominantly the result of abrupt shifts in deep ocean ventilation.
The Argentinean Patagonia and the Martian landscape

Abstract Throughout the Cenozoic Era, the geological history of the Argentinean Patagonia was dominated by basaltic volcanism and glacial and periglacial environments. Several geological and geomorphological processes that concurred to the sculpting of the landscape of this area could have been similar to those responsible of the shaping of the Martian surface. In this work a survey of some high-resolution satellite images of the Argentinean Patagonia is performed in order to identify possible geomorphological analogs of the Martian surface. Several morphologies that resemble Martian features are presented and discussed. They consist of proglacial and periglacial features, relatively small circular depressions, gullies, fan-deltas, eolian streaks, and diluvial dunes. Results suggest that the Argentinean Patagonia appears to consist of an interesting terrestrial analog for the Martian landscape. Furthermore, the study area shows to be interesting in order to test robotic instruments and human missions equipment, to train astronauts of future human expeditions to Mars, and to perform astrobiological experiments.
In situ evidence of enhanced transformation kinetics in a medium carbon steel due to a high magnetic field

Abstract A medium carbon steel was cooled from 850 °C at various rates with and without a 30-T magnetic field. Due to the magnetic field, the onset of thermal recalescence associated with the release of latent heat showed 70–90 °C increase, indicating acceleration in austenite decomposition. The relative shift was cooling rate dependent. Microstructural examination revealed increased ferrite content and corroborated temperature measurements.
Morbidity impact of rheumatoid arthritis on society

Classic and definite rheumatoid arthritis affects from 0.5 to 1 percent of the United States' population between the ages of 20 and 80. In the age group of 55 to 75 years, this figure increases to 4.5 percent. In addition to the pain and suffering produced by this disease, family structure is dramatically affected--the divorce rate for patients with rheumatoid arthritis is 70 percent above that for the general population. Rheumatoid arthritis also results in serious economic loss to society. In 1983, the direct cost (out-of-pocket expense for medical care) was $777 million, and the indirect cost (loss of productivity) was $215 million, with a total of approximately $1 billion. The average person with stage III rheumatoid arthritis suffers a 60 percent decline in earnings during the first six years after onset of the disease. Recent studies have indicated that the ability to remain employed depends at least as much on job-related factors as on the extent of disease or success of medical treatment. Job autonomy or the ability to control one's working conditions is the most important factor. Other important variables are education, seniority, and work that is not excessively physically demanding. Good transportation between home and job is also an essential requirement for remaining employed. There are few data available on the cost/benefit ratio of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. An 18-month study showed a trend toward greater improvement in patients given optimal care by a team of experts in a medical center as compared with average treatment provided in the community. A study in Scotland on cost of hospitalization of 366 patients (about one half underwent surgery) showed cost benefits of xi 14,000 to xi 131,000 over a five- to 10-year period for those who returned to work. Patients who did not return to work incurred medical costs of xi 100,000. There is little question that more effective medical treatment and better rehabilitation strategies for people with rheumatoid arthritis would provide significant benefits for patients, their families, and society.
The Impacts of Vehicle-to-Grid Technology on Mitigating High-Energy Demand Day Emissions in New York City

In this report, a theoretical implementation of vehicle-to-grid power in the New York Metropolitan Area was evaluated with the goal of reducing peaking unit NOx emissions to comply with upcoming emissions limits on high energy demand days. In addition, the net cost of implementing this program was estimated using cost and revenue models based on available electricity rates and approximate battery cost. Finally, the improvement of air quality in some of the most populated areas of the NYMA was evaluated using the AERMOD air quality model from the EPA. By selectively offsetting the peaking units with the highest emissions rates, the average daily reduction was .25 tons at 1% penetration, 1.2 tons at 5% penetration, and 2.13 tons at 10% penetration. The implementation cost ranged from $315,000 to $9.5 million with different electricity rate structures and different penetration scenarios. Reduction of ambient particulate matter concentration was highly variable: the average reduction of all five population centers was negligible at 1% penetration, .83% at 5% penetration, and 1.42% at 10% penetration.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Role of LSM34/SpSM50 proteins in endoskeletal spicule formation in sea urchin embryos

Abstract. Sea urchin embryos form an endoskeletal spicule composed of calcium carbonate and occluded matrix proteins. The accumulation of the LSM34 spicule matrix protein in embryos of Lytechinus pictus (and its ortholog, SpSM50, in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) has been inhibited using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides. The inhibition, using relatively high levels of antisense reagent, can result in the complete absence of spicules, and the complete loss of immunoreactive LSM34/SpSM50, as judged by immunostaining and Western blotting. Primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs) do form and express PMC-specific cell surface antigens despite this inhibition. However, these anti-LSM34/SpSM50-treated embryos do not accumulate SM30 protein, another major matrix protein. Hence, both the initiation of spicule formation and subsequent morphogenesis require LSM34 accumulation in L. pictus, and the accumulation of its ortholog, SpSM50, in S. purpuratus.
Erythropoietin-mediated neuroprotection in a pediatric mouse model of chronic hypoxia

Chronic hypoxia (CH), a disease state that accounts for significant morbidity and mortality in pediatrics, occurs in many children during critical periods of hippocampal development and cortical myelination. Hippocampal neurogenesis occurs throughout postnatal life and is important for normal development, thus impairment results in long-term cognitive deficits. Erythropoietin (EPO), a drug commonly known for its role in erythrogenesis, has recently been evaluated in neuroprotection in neonatal injury models and preterm brain injury. However, the effects of EPO therapy on hippocampal neurogenesis and myelination in pediatric CH are unknown. We show that CH decreases hippocampal neurogenesis in a pediatric mouse model. This decrease in early and late progenitors, and actively dividing cells is rescued with EPO treatment. Furthermore, we show that CH during this critical time decreases oligodendrocyte progenitor (OPC) populations in the cortex, leading to defective myelination. However, EPO therapy is only able to rescue the OPC but not the loss of mature myelin. Overall, our findings demonstrate that CH in developing mice has significant effects on hippocampal neurogenesis and OPCs, which can be rescued with EPO treatment. Future studies should confirm the role of this FDA-approved therapy in neuroprotection in at-risk pediatric populations.
Clonal selection in the germinal centre by regulated proliferation and hypermutation

During immune responses, B lymphocytes clonally expand and undergo secondary diversification of their immunoglobulin genes in germinal centres (GCs). High-affinity B cells are expanded through iterative interzonal cycles of division and hypermutation in the GC dark zone followed by migration to the GC light zone, where they are selected on the basis of affinity to return to the dark zone. Here we combine a transgenic strategy to measure cell division and a photoactivatable fluorescent reporter to examine whether the extent of clonal expansion and hypermutation are regulated during interzonal GC cycles. We find that both cell division and hypermutation are directly proportional to the amount of antigen captured and presented by GC B cells to follicular helper T cells in the light zone. Our data explain how GC B cells with the highest affinity for antigen are selectively expanded and diversified.
Computer Perception of NMR Symmetry

Abstract Computational techniques are outlined for the machine perception of NMR symmetry. The NMR symmetry is defined in terms of the permutations of the nuclei which preserve the NMR coupling network, also called the NMR graph. The automorphism group of the NMR graph is obtained using code developed in FORTRAN. The computer code is applied to several NMR coupling networks of rigid and nonrigid molecules.
The Transconjunctival Transorbital Approach: A Keyhole Approach to the Midline Anterior Skull Base

Objective To report an initial experience with a medial transorbital approach to the midline skull base performed via a transconjunctival incision. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed their clinical experience with this approach in the management of benign cranial base pathology. Preoperative imaging, intraoperative records, hospitalization charts, and postoperative records were reviewed for relevant data. Results During the period 2009–2011, six patients underwent a transconjunctival craniotomy performed by a neurosurgeon and otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon working together. The indications for surgery were esthesioneuroblastoma in one patient, juvenile angiofibroma in one patient, Paget disease in one patient, and recalcitrant cerebrospinal fluid leaks in three patients. Three patients had prior cranial base surgery (either open craniotomy or an endonasal approach) done at another institution. The mean length of stay was 3.8 days; mean follow-up was 6 months. Surgery was considered successful in all cases (negative margins or no leak recurrence); diplopia was noted in one patient postoperatively. Conclusions The transconjunctival medial orbital craniectomy provides a minimally invasive keyhole approach to lesions located anteriorly along the anterior cranial fossa that are in the midline with lateral extension over the orbital roof. Based on our initial experience with this technique, the working space afforded limits complex surgical dissection; this approach is primarily well suited for less extensive pathology.
Confirmation of centromeric fusion in 7p/1q translocation associated with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Abstract Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using chromosome 1- and chromosome 7-specific centromeric α-satellite probes was performed on the bone marrow (BM) cells of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who had been treated for lymphoma and whose BM karyotype was initially considered to be 46,XY,−7,+der(1)t(1;7)(p11;p11). FISH results suggested the presence of both chromosome 1 and chromosome 7 centromeres in the rearranged chromosome. Thus, the correct karyotype should be written as 46,XY,−7,+der(1;7)(q10;p10).
Time optimal spatial offset control in nuclear power reactors

Abstract The problem of minimal time control of xenon spatial oscillations in nuclear power reactors is investigated and the effect of constraints on the control variable (rod position), spatial offset magnitude and rate of change, which is closely related to the rate of change of the local power density, is studied. The concept of spatial offset phase plane is extended to include direct reference to the measured spatial offset. The optimal constrained and unconstrained trajectories and switching curves are analyzed in the phase plane. Work done on the Carnegie-Mellon University digital reactor simulator confirmed the success of the derived theoretical results. Operational strategies that embody both the strength of the theory and the simplicity needed for practical application are recommended.
Thermal conductivity of CoSb3 nano-composites grown via a novel solvothermal nano-plating technique

We have utilized a solvothermal nano-plating technique to grow nano-structured CoSb3 directly onto the surface of micron-sized CoSb3 particles that were subsequently hot pressed and densified into a homogeneous skutterudite nano-composite. We herein present results for three samples: a bulk sample to serve as a reference, and two samples with solvothermally grown nano-structures of 5 wt% and 20 wt%, respectively. All three samples used the same bulk starting materials. The thermal conductivity was measured via two independent techniques (steady state and laser flash) and both show a systematic reduction in the thermal conductivity with an increasing amount of nano-structures. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Academic Detailing to Teach Aging and Geriatrics

Geriatric education is a required component of internal medicine training. Work hour rules and hectic schedules have challenged residency training programs to develop and utilize innovative teaching methods. In this study, the authors examined the use of academic detailing as a teaching intervention in their residents’ clinic and on the general medicine inpatient wards to improve clinical knowledge and skills in geriatric care. The authors found that this teaching method enables efficient, directed education without disrupting patient care. We were able to show improvements in medical knowledge as well as self-efficacy across multiple geriatric topics.
The Yale Neuropsychoeducational Assessment Scales

The Yale Neuropsychoeducational Assessment Scales (YNPEAS) represent a newly developed tool designed to test the hypothesis that homogeneous subgroups of children with the more subtle neuropsychiatric disorders may be discerned and classified through shared historical, behavioral, familial, anatomic, neuromaturational, and biochemical characteristics. Consisting of a series of parent, physician, and school-related integrated assessment scales, the YNPEAS provide for the creation of a broad, multidimensional data base for each child. A major innovation of the YNPEAS is the provision of a mechanism for the orderly processing of the mass of clinical information into operational statements compatible with DSM-III constructs. This article presents the development of each of the component parts of the YNPEAS while also providing the historical perspective necessary to better comprehend the role of each of the scales. This instrument should be useful to both researcher and clinician as a tool with which to follow the natural history of a phenomenon; relate clinical dimensions across different diagnostic subgroups; and elucidate the genetic, social, and physiological interrelationships in the emergence or continuation of a disorder.
NEONATAL RISKS OF A GROUP OF SGA INFANTS

A preceeding study demonstrated an important difference between Lubchenco's intrauterine growth curve, and a curve designed by us from normal chilean newborns. A significant increase in the number of SGA infants resulted from the use of our curve. The purpose of this study is to determine, if this additional group of SGA infants, has higher neonatal risks than the AGA infants. Both curves were applied to 9537 consecutive live births older than 35 weeks of gestation occurred in our Hospital between Jan.1/78 and Dec.31/82. Data obtained from the comparison of the two curves were as follows: Mortality, hospitalization and low Apgar score (<4) of the additional 842 (9%) SGA infants were determined and compared to those of AGA infants. Results (%, x2 test) in table below: From these results we conclude, that the additional group of SGA infants identified with our curve, has a significant higher risk of mortality and morbidity, stressing the clinical importance of using this curve to diagnose SGA newborns in Chile.
Subdivision Based Interpolation with Shape Control

AbstractAn interpolation technique with the capability of local shape control for meshes of arbitrary topology is presented. The interpolation is a progressive process which iteratively updates the given mesh, through a two-phase Doo-Sabin subdivision scheme, until a control mesh whose limit surface interpolates the given mesh is reached. For each iteration of the progression, the two-phase scheme works by first applying a modified Doo-Sabin subdivision to the input mesh and then applying the regular Doo-Sabin subdivision to the resulting mesh. The modified Doo-Sabin subdivision carries a parameter for each face of the input mesh. These parameters provide required freedom to adjust the interpolating subdivision surface at the user’s command. Local shape control is possible. It is proved that the progressive interpolation process converges for any parameters between 0 and 1. Therefore, this is a well-defined process. The progressive interpolation process satisfies both the local and global properties. Henc...
Wollheim's Paradox: Survey and Solution

VER A DECADE HAS PASSED since Richard Wollheim (1962) presented "a paradox in the theory of democracy." In that paper, Wollheim himself tried to sketch a solution to the paradox, and there subsequently have appeared at least four other such attempts. While the literature that has grown up around this problem has certainly not been totally unproductive, a good deal of further clarification is needed. It is something of an embarrassment to modern political philosophy that no approach has yet been published which both makes plain what is truly paradoxical about Wollheim's paradox and solves the paradox in a correct and complete manner. In this paper, I set myself the immodest task of doing just that. Moreover, this solution will also provide a way out of the controversy between actand rule-utilitarians. In the first part, 1 will present Wollheim's paradox and comment on his solution. In the second part, I will summarize and criticize the solutions of the other writers on this subject. And in the third part, I will give my own solutions to the paradox of democracy.
Adult Bone Marrow Stem/Progenitor Cells (MSCs) Are Preconditioned by Microenvironmental "Niches" in Culture: A Two-Stage Hypothesis for Regulation of MSC Fate

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are clonal, plastic adherent cells from bone marrow that can differentiate into various tissue lineages, including osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, myoblasts, hepatocytes, and possibly even neural cells. Because MSCs are multipotent and their numbers are easily expanded in culture, there has been much interest in their clinical potential for tissue repair and gene therapy. Consequently, numerous studies have been carried out demonstrating the migration and multiorgan engraftment potential of MSCs in animal models and in human clinical trials. Understanding the mechanisms behind MSC cell fate determination is not easy, because the molecular processes that drive engraftment and differentiation are complex. Even in an in vitro system, the molecular cues necessary to induce differentiation are not easily identified or reproduced. In this Perspective, we emphasize the importance of microenvironmental factors in culture and suggest that MSC differentiation in vitro is regulated by a two-stage mechanism involving preconditioning by factors in the culture microenvironment followed by response to soluble differentiating factors.