cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biodegradation of Hopane Prevents Use As Conservative Biomarker During Bioremediation of PAHs in Petroleum Contaminated Soils

The pentacyclic triterpane C30 17α (H), 21β (H)-hopane, a biomarker commonly used in hydrocarbon bioremediation laboratory experiments and field studies, was found to be completely removed without the formation of the demethylated intermediate nor-hopane in a crude oil-contaminated soil undergoing slurry biotreatment, while PAHs such as benzo(e)pyrene were recalcitrant. The partial or complete biodegradation of hopane has also been previously reported in a few bioremediation studies and has been explored by petroleum geochemists in an effort to characterize crude oil deposits. It is currently not clear what conditions induce hopane biodegradation or biotransformation, although the use of microbial enrichment cultures appears to speed up the process. Considering that hopane is not necessarily conserved during a bioremediation study, the uncritical normalization of hydrocarbon concentrations using this biomarker can lead to incorrect estimates of biodegradation rates and extents. If hopane is found to be un...
A re-examination of relevance: toward a dynamic, situational definition

Abstract Although relevance judgments are fundamental to the design and evaluation of all information retrieval systems, information scientists have not reached a consensus in defining the central concept of relevance. In this paper we ask two questions: What is the meaning of relevance? and What role does relevance play in information behavior? We attempt to address these questions by reviewing literature over the last 30 years that presents various views of relevance as topical, user-oriented, multidimensional, cognitive, and dynamic. We then discuss traditional assumptions on which most research in the field has been based and begin building a case for an approach to the problem of definition based on alternative assumptions. The dynamic, situational approach we suggest views the user — regardless of system — as the central and active determinant of the dimensions of relevance. We believe that relevance is a multidimensional concept; that it is dependent on both internal (cognitive) and external (situational) factors; that it is based on a dynamic human judgment process; and that it is a complex but systematic and measurable phenomenon.
Parental behaviour and recognition of young in Cichlasoma biocellatum

Abstract 1. 1. Six pairs of Cichlasoma biocellatum raised their own first spawn for 18–29 days and next in sequence reared foster schools of Aequidens portalegrensis for equivalent periods of time. 2. 2. Two mixed schools developed when the pair's own embryos were overlooked during exchanges. Parents did not eliminate either kind of young from the mixture. Interspecific, predatory competition between the young was detected within three weeks. 3. 3. The parental cycles of the two species were closely similar. Eggs hatched in 52 hours and the young schooled 96 hours later (total preswimming time: 148 hours at about 82 °F). 4. 4. This correspondence of development and concomitant similarity of the brooding cycles of the two species may account for the success of exchanges. 5. 5. Therefore the reputed ability of cichlid parents to distinguish their own young from those of other species may depend on disparity between the host pair's parental cycle and the stage of development of the foreign young.
Development of an instrument to measure cardiac illness dependency

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Dependency is frequently mentioned in the literature as a response of patients with cardiac disease. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a measure of dependency occurring in response to a cardiac illness. Illness dependency is defined as the need for emotional protection and social support after a significant change in health. DESIGN: Instrument development study. SAMPLE: Convenience sample of 311 patients with cardiac disease. RESULTS: The final version of the instrument has 25 items, each of which is measured on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Content validity was demonstrated using a panel of experts. Internal consistency of the total scale was 0.90; subscale alpha coefficients ranged from 0.64 to 0.81. Exploratory factor analysis supported a four factor solution: Attention, Reassurance, Concern, and Assistance, which accounted for 57.4% of the variance in scores. Discriminant validity was demonstrated by a low correlation with neuroticism. Social desirability of responses was minimal. CONCLUSION: Internal consistency reliability, content validity, and discriminant validity of the illness Dependency Scale have initial support. This instrument is ready for use in research in which the investigator wishes to measure dependency associated with cardiac illness.
Equilibrium Studies of a Fluorescent Paclitaxel Derivative Binding to Microtubules

A fluorescent derivative of paclitaxel, 3‘-N-m-aminobenzamido-3‘-N-debenzamidopaclitaxel (N-AB-PT), has been prepared in order to probe paclitaxel−microtubule interactions. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to quantitatively assess the association of N-AB-PT with microtubules. N-AB-PT was found equipotent with paclitaxel in promoting microtubule polymerization. Paclitaxel and N-AB-PT underwent rapid exchange with each other on microtubules assembled from GTP-, GDP-, and GMPCPP-tubulin. The equilibrium binding parameters for N-AB-PT to microtubules assembled from GTP-tubulin were derived through fluorescence titration. N-AB-PT bound to two types of sites on microtubules (Kd1 = 61 ± 7.0 nM and Kd2 = 3.3 ± 0.54 μM). The stoichiometry of each site was less than one ligand per tubulin dimer in the microtubule (n1 = 0.81 ± 0.03 and n2 = 0.44 ± 0.02). The binding experiments were repeated after exchanging the GTP for GDP or for GMPCPP. It was found that N-AB-PT bound to a single site on microtubules assembled f...
CO2 Condensation in Baroclinic Eddies on Early Mars

Abstract The efficacy of a cloud-radiative feedback on early Mars is reexamined in the context of the theory of baroclinic waves in midlatitudes. The feedback has been proposed to explain fluvial features on the surface of Mars. The radiative–convective models used to calculate the magnitude of the feedback require knowledge of the cloud depth, thickness, and areal coverage. Using a quasigeostrophic model and primitive equation simulations, it seems that less than 50% areal cloud cover is likely for early Mars, at least in midlatitudes. In accordance with previous studies for Earth, when condensational heating is included, the updraft region is narrower than in dry eddies. This results in reduced cloud cover and the feedback being weaker than previously thought. The simulations also show that condensation in eddies may have been important on a thick but cold early Mars but that its effects are much weaker for warmer climates.
The validation of a novel index assessing canine impactions.

Aim: The aims of this study are to determine the level of agreement of orthodontists in the management of impacted maxillary canines and test this agreement against a novel three-dimensional (3D) classification system (KPG index). Materials and Methods: A total of 55 clinicians evaluated 18 impacted maxillary canines of variable complexity. For each case, they used a panoramic and maxillary standard occlusal radiographs derived from cone beam computed tomography. Clinicians were asked to rate each canine in one of four categories: Easy, moderate, difficult and extremely difficult. The obtained scores were tabulated and compared with a novel index rating the difficulty of canine impactions. Statistical package for the social science 17.0 was used to analyze the datasets and the kappa score was used to determine levels of agreement. Results: The kappa score was 0.437. The levels of agreement in the novel index and the clinician scoring were as follows; easy (62.73%), moderate (60.59%), difficult (61.80%) and extremely difficult (72.72%). Conclusions: The following conclusions can be drawn from this study: (1) Clinicians are variable in rating the complexity of canine impactions using traditional radiographic techniques. (2) The novel index shows a good level of agreement with the clinician's perception of difficulty in orthodontic cases especially at the extremes of the spectrum. (3) This index based on the 3D coordinates of the spatial arrangement of the canine may be incorporated into clinical practice.
Galloping Conductors and a Method for Studying Them

This paper presents results of a study of the large amplitude oscillations of aerial conductors called galloping. The work was undertaken in an attempt to evaluate the possibility of mitigating the damage caused by these disturbances. A full scale experimental line is described which is so constructed that, without ice formation, it will gallop typically and vigorously under ordinary wind conditions, thus allowing study of various means of mitigation. Data on the behavior of this line are presented. It is hoped that this paper will stimulate further study on this important problem and thus hasten the development of a practical soltution.
On finding and using identifiable parameter combinations in nonlinear dynamic systems biology models and COMBOS: a novel web implementation.

Parameter identifiability problems can plague biomodelers when they reach the quantification stage of development, even for relatively simple models. Structural identifiability (SI) is the primary question, usually understood as knowing which of P unknown biomodel parameters p1,…, pi,…, pP are-and which are not-quantifiable in principle from particular input-output (I-O) biodata. It is not widely appreciated that the same database also can provide quantitative information about the structurally unidentifiable (not quantifiable) subset, in the form of explicit algebraic relationships among unidentifiable pi. Importantly, this is a first step toward finding what else is needed to quantify particular unidentifiable parameters of interest from new I–O experiments. We further develop, implement and exemplify novel algorithms that address and solve the SI problem for a practical class of ordinary differential equation (ODE) systems biology models, as a user-friendly and universally-accessible web application (app)–COMBOS. Users provide the structural ODE and output measurement models in one of two standard forms to a remote server via their web browser. COMBOS provides a list of uniquely and non-uniquely SI model parameters, and–importantly-the combinations of parameters not individually SI. If non-uniquely SI, it also provides the maximum number of different solutions, with important practical implications. The behind-the-scenes symbolic differential algebra algorithms are based on computing Grobner bases of model attributes established after some algebraic transformations, using the computer-algebra system Maxima. COMBOS was developed for facile instructional and research use as well as modeling. We use it in the classroom to illustrate SI analysis; and have simplified complex models of tumor suppressor p53 and hormone regulation, based on explicit computation of parameter combinations. It’s illustrated and validated here for models of moderate complexity, with and without initial conditions. Built-in examples include unidentifiable 2 to 4-compartment and HIV dynamics models.
Meeting needs assessment challenges: Applying the performance pyramid in the U.S. Army

This article describes an application of the Performance Pyramid, a needs assessment framework that supports a holistic view of an organization allowing assessors to identify how organizational culture may affect performance. We illustrate use of the Performance Pyramid for a needs assessment with human systems integration practitioners in the U.S. Army. We describe how the Performance Pyramid guided our methods, data collection, and results interpretation and discuss advantages and disadvantages of the methodology.
Bacterial production in the Lower Mississippi River: importance of suspended sediment and phytoplankton biomass

The roles and metabolic activity of heterotrophic bacteria, along with factors controlling their activity, are poorly known for large, turbid rivers. The aim of this study was to evaluate temporal patterns in heterotrophic bacterial production (BP) in the main channel of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) in relation to several seasonally dynamic environmental factors. We hypothesized that whole-water BP would vary with levels of temperature, as well as phytoplankton biomass and suspended sediment concentration. Further, we hypothesized that bacteria attached to suspended sediment would comprise an important component of whole-water BP, their importance varying with sediment concentration. Measurements were made at three locations on the LMR for up to 29 months. Bacterial production in whole-water ranged over an order of magnitude between summer and winter, with little variation among sites. Peaks in whole-water BP were associated with periods of high suspended sediment concentrations in spring, and elevated phytoplankton biomass in summer. Attached BP was correlated with all the measures of sediment concentration, especially particulate phosphorus, and accounted for a large majority of water-column BP. After temperature, the only positive correlate of free-living cells was with phytoplankton biomass. Rates of BP in the LMR during summer were much higher than measurements made previously in the Mississippi River plume, similar to the Hudson River, but lower than in three large tributaries of the LMR. Determination of bacterial population dynamics is an essential step in analysis of the food web structure and biogeochemical processes of large rivers. This is the first study of heterotrophic bacterial production in the main channel of the LMR.
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention expansion to hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery in Michigan: A geographic information systems analysis

Background In 2005, Michigan expanded primary percutaneous coronary intervention (P-PCI) capability to 12 hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery. We determined the potential impact of this expansion on geographic access to P-PCI for patients. Methods Geographic information systems using the US Census Survey and hospital data from the state of Michigan were used to construct maps with 20-mile hospital service areas around P-PCI hospitals with and without on-site cardiac surgery. Geographic access was calculated as the percentage of the population living within the hospital service areas of these 2 types of hospitals. Results Of 9 938 444 persons in Michigan, 7 694 834 (77.4%) lived within 20 miles of a P-PCI hospital. Thirty centers with on-site cardiac surgery provided access for 7 219 995 persons (72.6%). The 12 P-PCI hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery increased access by 474 839 persons (4.8%). Of these, 3 geographically isolated facilities, which were at least 20 miles away from another P-PCI hospital, accounted for the greatest improvement in geographic access (n = 425 700 [4.3%]), whereas the remaining 9 hospitals increased access by only 49 139 persons (0.5%). Conclusions Expansion of P-PCI to hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery in Michigan improved geographic access to a modest extent.
History, Crisis, and Social Panic: Minority Resistance to Privatization of an Urban School System.

While privatization is not new on the American scene, privatized management of a complete urban public school system is. This article takes an in-depth look at the first such instance in Chelsea, Massachusetts. The city's history and that of its schools are examined to determine the context for privatization and its implications for citizen participation. It is seen that this context contains the ingredients of intergroup responses to loss of dominance and urban decline. From this standpoint, the coming of Boston University and the resistance offered by Chelsea's Latinos to the takeover of the schools is examined. Finally, the implications of this case for minority politics and educational reform are analyzed.
Linguistic concepts: An introduction to Tagmemics

Linguistic concepts: An Introduction to Tagmemics by Kenneth L. Pike Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1982. Pp. xvi, 146
Nonreentrant Mechanisms Underlying Spontaneous Ventricular Arrhythmias in a Model of Nonischemic Heart Failure in Rabbits

Background The goal of this study was to define the mechanisms of spontaneously occurring ventricular arrhythmias in the setting of nonischemic heart failure. Methods and Results Three-dimensional cardiac mapping from 232 intramural sites was performed in four rabbits with heart failure induced by combined aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis and in four control rabbits. During the development of heart failure, serial echocardiographic examination demonstrated a progressive increase in left ventricular (LV) chamber dimensions and a decrease in LV systolic function over 19±2 months. Serial Holter monitoring demonstrated spontaneously occurring premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) (up to 13 000 per day) and couplets in all four rabbits with heart failure, and runs of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) up to 26 beats long in three. Mapping of spontaneous rhythm was performed for up to 60 minutes. None of the control rabbits demonstrated spontaneous arrhythmias during mapping. Three rabbits with ...
Ventilator-associated pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Objective Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been associated with higher case fatality rates than VAP caused by other bacterial etiologies. The causes of this excess mortality are unclear. Design Retrospective review of 38 consecutive ventilated patients with Pseudomonas pneumonia, documented by highly reliable methods. Charts of five additional patients were unavailable for review. Setting Medical ICUs of a university-affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a university-affiliated municipal hospital. Measurements Prospectively collected hospital admission acute physiologic and chronic health examination (APACHE) II scores and cause of ICU admission. Retrospectively calculated organ failure and APACHE scores, VAP score. Clinical and microbiologic variables. Antibiotic treatment and outcome. Direct cause of death by standard definitions. Results Overall mortality was 69% (26/38), significantly higher than the APACHE II predicted mortality of 42.6% (p=0.037). At least 38% (10/26) of deaths were directly attributable to Pseudomonas VAP. Multivariate analysis of factors associated with death found infectious cause for ICU admission (odds ratio [OR]=8.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 85.94) and number of organ dysfunctions on the day of diagnosis (OR=1.73, 95% CI, 1.02 to 2.92) were significant. Septic shock from Pseudomonas VAP, septic shock from subsequent infection, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome were the most common immediate causes of death. Mortality increased linearly with increasing APACHE III score on the day of diagnosis. Of initial antibiotic regimens, 67% (26/36) were considered failures. Persistent pneumonia occurred in 35% of patients while recurrent pneumonia was unusual (1/38). Conclusions Development of Pseudomonas pneumonia results in a mortality rate in excess of that due to the presenting illness. The attributable mortality determined by several means appears to approach 40%. The excess mortality appears to be related to the host defense response to the pneumonia rather than any characteristic of the pneumonia. Even standard antibiotic regimens fail frequently and do not prevent the excess mortality. Since at least 38% of deaths can be directly attributable to the Pseudomonas pneumonia, improvement in therapy is needed.
Understanding China's telecommunications policymaking and reforms: a tale of transition toward liberalization

By drawing on institutional theory and bargaining theory, this paper analyzes China's telecommunications policymaking mechanism, an important but less-explored issue. Key factors of shaping China's telecommunications policy are examined and the implementation of China's telecommunications policy in network development, competition, foreign direct investment, and regulatory restructuring is investigated. Finally, the impacts of China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) on its telecommunications reform and transition are discussed.
Indirect schemes for adaptive linearizing control of a continuous stirred tank reactor

In this paper, the authors consider the application of two different indirect schemes for parameter adaptive linearizing control of a continuous stirred rank reactor. The first scheme is based on an identifier structure that assumes that the complete state of the reactor system is measured. For the second scheme, they construct a finite dimensional adaptive nonlinear observer for the reactor system. It is demonstrated that the adaptive nonlinear observer can be combined with a linearizing controller to provide effective feedback control of the reactor system. >
Unorthodox fractionation in the treatment of head and neck tumors

Abstract A group of 95 patients with advanced squamous carcinomas of the head and neck area received split-course radiotherapy with palliative intent. The fractionation scheme comprised three separate courses, 2–3 weeks apart. During the first course, the patients received 800 rad on the first day and 400 rad on the second and third days. The second and third courses consisted of 2000 rad given in five treatments. Fields were smaller than those used in patients who are treated radically. The spinal cord and larynx were shielded whenever possible. Although meaningful palliation was observed in the majority of patients, the observed local control rate was low. Acute radiation related morbidity was mild to moderate in most cases. Late sequelae appear acceptable in a few long term survivors whose small number, however, precludes meaningul conclusions. Split-course irradiation using a large “priming” dose appears to be an effective means of palliation which can be achieved with a greatly reduced number of fractions and with acceptable treatment related morbidity. However, the advantage of this type of fractionation in achieving local tumor control could not be substantiated.
Studies on GABA and protein synthesis

Abstract The effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on protein synthesisin vitro by slices and homogenates of guinea pig brain was studied. GABA was shown to significantly increase the incorporation of l -[1-14C]leucine, alanine, and phenylalanine into protein by slices and homogenates of cortex and forebrain. The stimulatory effect of GABA upon protein synthesis was greater in slices than homogenates, and could not be demonstrated in cerebellar slices or homogenates. GABA stimulation of protein synthesis was demonstrable only when additional non-radioactive amino acids were present in the incubation medium. Tissue which had been exposed to GABA during incubation showed a greater percentage of heavy polysomes, as judge by ultra-violet absorption, than did tissue from control flasks. GABA did not change the incorporation of phenylalanine into polyphenylalanine in response to polyuridylic acid. l -Noradrenaline was shown to stimulate the incorporation of l -[1-14C]leucine into protein, and this increase could be blocked by dichloroisoproterenol.
On the impact of small cell discovery mechanisms on device power consumption over LTE networks

Small Cells are under extensive investigation as a potential solution to meet the increasing capacity demand due to ever growing data traffic over cellular networks. The architecture of small cells is still under discussion, various architectures have been proposed based on potential use cases. One of the most important use cases is to deploy small cells on a different frequency than that of the macro cell to offload traffic. Small cell discovery in this type of inter-frequency scenario is an open research problem. Aggressive scanning mechanisms may result in faster discovery of small cells and higher user throughput as well as higher macro cell capacity due to potentially increased offloading opportunity. However, frequent scanning may also result in higher power consumption for the device. Therefore, a tradeoff between offloading opportunity and device power consumption seems inevitable in practice. In this paper, we analyze the trade-off between the offloading capacity and device power consumption due to inter-frequency scanning mechanism for small cell discovery. Our findings show that although increasing the frequency of inter-frequency scanning does result in increased power consumption due to scanning, it actually lowers the total power consumed by the device since it leads to offloading to small cells, where the device consumes less overall power due to better coverage.
Rice at the forefront of plant genome informatics.

As rice genomics data continue to accumulate at a rapid rate, databases are becoming more valuable to warehouse and access large and rigorous data sets. This article gives an overview of available resources on rice bioinformatics and their role in elucidating and propagating biological and genomic information in rice. Of particular focus here is the informatics infrastructure developed at the Rice Genome Research Program (RGP) following an extensive rice genome analysis. The database named INE (Integrated Rice Genome Explorer) integrates the genetic and physical mapping information with the genome sequence being generated in collaboration with the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP). Database links are initially evaluated using an interoperable query tool to explore and compare data across the rice and maize genome databases and potential application to multiple crop database querying. A proposed logistics for interlinking these resources is presented to integrate, manipulate and analyze information on the rice genome. One of the biggest challenges of rice bioinformatics lies in the emerging role of rice as a model system among grass crop species. In view of the importance of comparative genetics in the formulation of new knowledge on plant genomes and genes, comparative bioinformatics remains an essential strategy to gain new insights on the needs and expectations on rice genomics.
Rejection of disturbance with nonlinear dynamics

Linear feedback control based on internal model principle achieves asymptotic tracking for linear system with known linear exogenous signal dynamics. This paper investigates the case of rejecting exogenous chaotic signals with known nonlinear dynamics for linear systems in the discrete time domain. Feedback controllers based on the internal model principle and predictive internal model control respectively are proposed and investigated in this paper. Both control algorithms are based on inversion of the linear system. It is shown that asymptotic tracking performance is achieved when perfect plant inversion is possible and it cannot be achieved with either algorithm when inversion errors from unmodeled dynamics or plant nonminimum phase zeros exist. The closed loop stability and performance rely on the relative size of the linear system inversion errors to the exogenous signal's local growth rate.
Identification of an endosomal antigen specific to absorptive cells of suckling rat ileum.

A membrane fraction enriched in apical endosomal tubules was isolated from absorptive cells of suckling rat ileum and used as an immunogen to generate anti-endosome monoclonal antibodies. By immunofluorescence, one of these antibodies bound exclusively to the region of the apical endocytic complex in ileal absorptive cells, but not to other cell types. Immunoblot analysis showed the antigen as a diffuse 55-61-kD band which was highly enriched in the endosome fraction over whole-cell homogenate. The antigen appears to be an intramembrane glycoprotein: it partitioned primarily in the detergent phase after TX-114 extraction, and shifted to 44 kD after chemical deglycosylation. EM immunocytochemistry showed that the antibody bound to the luminal side of endosomal tubule membranes, a portion of endosomal vesicle membranes, and in endocytic pits of apical plasma membranes. However, it did not bind to multivesicular bodies, the giant lysosome, or other organelles. Immunocytochemistry after uptake with adsorbed or soluble tracer proteins showed that the antigen labeled portions of both prelysosomal pathways previously described in these cells (Gonnella, P.A., and M. R. Neutra, 1984, J. Cell Biol., 99:909-917). The function of this glycoprotein is not known, but inasmuch as it has been detected only in absorptive cells of suckling rat ileum, it may serve a function specific to these cells. Nevertheless, this endosomal antigen, designated glycoprotein (gp) 55-61, will serve as a useful marker for exploring membrane dynamics in early stages of the endocytic pathway.
A model for secure multimedia document database system in a distributed environment

The Internet provides a universal platform for large-scale distribution of information and supports inter-organizational services, system integration, and collaboration. Use of multimedia documents for dissemination and sharing of massive amounts of information is becoming a common practice for Internet-based applications and enterprises. With the rapid proliferation of multimedia data management technologies over the Internet, there is growing concern about security and privacy of information. Composing multimedia documents in a distributed heterogeneous environment involves integrating media objects from multiple security domains that may employ different access control policies for media objects. In this paper, we present a security model for distributed document management system that allows creation, storage, indexing, and presentation of secure multimedia documents. The model is based on a time augmented Petri-net and provides a flexible, multilevel access control mechanism that allows clearance-based access to different levels of information in a document. In addition, the model provides detailed multimedia synchronization requirements including deterministic and non-deterministic temporal relations and incomplete timing information among media objects.
Impact of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation on the Disposition of the Aminocephalosporin Cefadroxil

The purpose of this study was to determine if the disposition of cefadroxil, an α-amino-containing β-lactam antibiotic, changes during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute inflammation. Six hours after LPS or saline treatment, mice received 1 nmol/g cefadroxil intravenously along with inulin for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) determination. Serial blood samples, along with tissue and urine samples, were collected at predetermined time points. In order to determine inflammation-induced changes in GFR, renal tubular secretion, and reabsorption, it was necessary to coadminister 70 mg/kg probenecid. Changes in the expression of the mRNA of transporters involved in cefadroxil disposition in the kidneys and choroid plexus were also investigated 6 h after LPS treatment. The results demonstrated marked increases in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and tissue cefadroxil concentrations with LPS treatment. Tissue-to-blood concentration ratios were decreased by 4.6-fold in the choroid plexus and by 2.5-fold in the kidneys during LPS-induced inflammation. Renal, but not choroid plexus, mRNA expression of peptide transporter 2, organic-anion transporter 1 (OAT1), OAT3, and multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 was mildly reduced in LPS-treated mice. The renal clearance of cefadroxil was substantially decreased by LPS treatment (3-fold). GFR was also reduced by 3-fold in LPS-treated mice, but no significant differences in the fractional reabsorption of cefadroxil and renal secretion once normalized by GFR were observed. These findings demonstrated that LPS-induced inflammation has a dramatic effect on the renal excretion of cefadroxil. It appears that changes in transporter expression played a minor role during LPS treatment but that renal dysfunction, associated with GFR reduction, was responsible for the substantial increase in plasma cefadroxil concentration-time profiles.
Partnership with God: a partial solution to the problem of petitionary prayer

Why would God make us ask for some good He might supply, and why would it be right for God to withhold that good unless and until we asked for it? We explain why present defences of petitionary prayer are insufficient, but argue that a world in which God makes us ask for some goods and then supplies them in response to our petitions adds value to the world that would not be available in worlds in which God simply supplied such goods without our asking for them. This added value, we argue, is what we call ‘partnership with God’.
Survivin: a novel target for indomethacin-induced gastric injury.

Background & Aims: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause gastrointestinal erosions and ulcers. Apoptosis is one of the mechanisms. The role of survivin, an antiapoptosis protein, in NSAID-induced gastric injury is unknown. We examined the role of survivin in NSAID-induced gastric mucosal and gastric cell injury. Methods: We examined: (1) the effects of indomethacin (nonselective NSAID), celecoxib and NS-398 (cyclooxygenase [COX]-2-selective NSAIDs), SC-560 (a COX-1-selective NSAID), and SC-560 plus celecoxib on survivin expression and extent of injury in rat gastric mucosa; (2) the effects of indomethacin, NS-398, SC-560, and SC-560 plus NS-398 on survivin expression and injury in gastric epithelial (RGM-1) cells; and (3) the effects of survivin suppression with small interfering RNA (siRNA) on RGM-1 cell integrity at baseline and following indomethacin injury. Results: Indomethacin treatment dose-dependently reduced survivin protein levels and caused severe injury of gastric mucosa and RGM-1 cells. Suppression of survivin expression with siRNA in RGM-1 cells caused cell damage and increased susceptibility to injury by indomethacin. Celecoxib treatment caused exfoliation of the mucosal surface epithelium, but neither caused deep erosions or altered survivin expression. Neither NS-398 nor SC-560 treatment altered survivin levels or produced injury in vivo or in vitro. COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitor combination caused injury in vivo and in vitro but did not decrease survivin expression. Conclusions: (1) Indomethacin, but not selective COX-1 or COX-2 inhibitors alone or in combination, reduces survivin expression in gastric mucosal cells and (2) significant reduction of survivin precedes greater severity of gastric injury.
Does Policy Debate Reduce Information Effects in Public Opinion? Analyzing the Evolution of Public Opinion on Health Care

Because most citizens fall short of the normative ideal of being politically knowledgeable, it is important to assess the nature of information effects in public opinion. This paper identifies policy debate as a means by which information effects may be reduced. To test this notion, we analyze public opinion on health care before, during, and after the heated policy debate of the 1990s. The results show that information effects in public opinion were exacerbated during the time of greatest public discourse, which provides little to reassure those who are concerned about citizens' low and uneven levels of political information. Policy debate does not appear to compensate for political ignorance and enable the uninformed to behave “as if” they were better informed.
Monte Carlo Study of Quantized SU(2) Gauge Theory

Using Monte Carlo techniques, we evaluate path integrals for pure SU(2) gauge fields. Wilson's regularization procedure on a lattice of up to ${10}^{4}$ sites controls ultraviolet divergences. Our renormalization prescription, based on confinement, is to hold fixed the string tension, the coefficient of the asymptotic linear potential between sources in the fundamental representation of the gauge group. Upon reducing the cutoff, we observe a logarithmic decrease of the bare coupling constant in a manner consistent with the perturbative renormalization-group prediction. This supports the coexistence of confinement and asymptotic freedom for quantized non-Abelian gauge fields.
Ammonia intoxication: a hazard during rehabilitation of protein-deprived rats.

The ammonia tolerance of weanling rats raised for 3 to 6 weeks on a protein-deficient diet was compared with that of a group of age-matched control animals raised from weaning on an optimal protein diet. The groups were challenged with a nitrogen load of either ammonium chloride or amino acids. The results of the loading studies indicate that severe protein deprivation increases vulnerability to am monia poisoning. These observations suggest that ammonia-induced coma may pose a significant hazard during the initial intravenous rehabilitation of malnourished subjects, if replenishment is undertaken too vigorously. J. Nutr. 105: 1384-1390, 1975.
The Listeria monocytogenes Hibernation-Promoting Factor Is Required for the Formation of 100S Ribosomes, Optimal Fitness, and Pathogenesis

During exposure to certain stresses, bacteria dimerize pairs of 70S ribosomes into translationally silent 100S particles in a process called ribosome hibernation. Although the biological roles of ribosome hibernation are not completely understood, this process appears to represent a conserved and adaptive response that contributes to optimal survival during stress and post-exponential-phase growth. Hibernating ribosomes are formed by the activity of one or more highly conserved proteins; gammaproteobacteria produce two relevant proteins, ribosome modulation factor (RMF) and hibernation promoting factor (HPF), while most Gram-positive bacteria produce a single, longer HPF protein. Here, we report the formation of 100S ribosomes by an HPF homolog in Listeria monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes 100S ribosomes were observed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation of bacterial extracts during mid-logarithmic phase, peaked at the transition to stationary phase, and persisted at lower levels during post-exponential-phase growth. 100S ribosomes were undetectable in bacteria carrying an hpf::Himar1 transposon insertion, indicating that HPF is required for ribosome hibernation in L. monocytogenes. Additionally, epitope-tagged HPF cosedimented with 100S ribosomes, supporting its previously described direct role in 100S formation. We examined hpf mRNA by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and identified several conditions that upregulated its expression, including carbon starvation, heat shock, and exposure to high concentrations of salt or ethanol. Survival of HPF-deficient bacteria was impaired under certain conditions both in vitro and during animal infection, providing evidence for the biological relevance of 100S ribosome formation.
Model-based image processing and analysis for fracture classification

We describe an approach toward improved classification of fractures in the vicinity of ankle joints using image-specific image enhancement and 3D modeling. The enhancement approach is based on the development of a set of linear features from X-ray images. The 3D models of fractures are used to determine the X-ray image representation from a fractured surface. These models are then used in reverse to find surface parameters that are most consistent with the 2D fracture representations.
Incidence of Stroke and Myocardial Infarction in Women of Reproductive Age

Background and Purpose Information on the incidence of vascular disease in women of reproductive age has been limited. These diseases are rare in this age group, and a large population base is required for reliable estimation of incidence. Methods For a case-control study of vascular disease and low-dose oral contraceptive use, we used emergency department logs and hospital admission and discharge records to ascertain fatal and nonfatal cases of first-ever stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) in women 15 to 44 years of age who were members of a large California HMO. Incidence rates of stroke and MI were calculated on the basis of these data. Results The incidence of MI not associated with pregnancy was 5.0 per 100 000 women-years. The incidence of stroke not associated with pregnancy was 10.7 per 100 000 women-years. MI was very rare until age 35 years. At every age, about half of hemorrhagic strokes were due to subarachnoid hemorrhage. Conclusions The incidence rates of stroke and MI are low in women of...
Lie and Jordan Triple Systems

The present paper is devoted to a study of subspaces of an associative algebra that are closed relative to the ternary operation [[a, b], c] where \( \left[ {a,b} \right] = ab - ba \) Such systems—called Lie triple systems—arise in a natural way in the study of Jordan algebras and of Jordan triple systems. The latter are defined to be subspaces of an associative algebra that are closed relative to {{a, b}, c} where \( \left\{ {a,b} \right\} = ab + ba \). In the first part of this paper we consider some general properties of such systems. The second half of our paper is concerned with the study of certain particular Lie and Jordan triple systems that have arisen in quantum mechanics. These systems have a basis g 1 g 2,…, g n and multiplication tables, respectively $$ \begin{gathered} \left[ {\left[ {g_i ,g_j } \right],g_k } \right] = \delta _{ki} g_j - \delta _{kj} g_i \hfill \\ g_i g_j g_k + g_k g_j g_i = - \delta _{ij} g_k - \delta _{kj} g_i \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The latter relations have been introduced by Duffin 1 and by Kemmer 2 in the study of meson fields and there is an extensive literature on the representation theory of such systems. In this paper we consider an extension of this theory.
Scenarios with MIT integrated global systems model: significant global warming regardless of different approaches

A wide variety of scenarios for future development have played significant roles in climate policy discussions. This paper presents projections of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations, sea level rise due to thermal expansion and glacial melt, oceanic acidity, and global mean temperature increases computed with the MIT Integrated Global Systems Model (IGSM) using scenarios for twenty-first century emissions developed by three different groups: intergovernmental (represented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), government (represented by the U.S. government Climate Change Science Program) and industry (represented by Royal Dutch Shell plc). In all these scenarios the climate system undergoes substantial changes. By 2100, the CO2 concentration ranges from 470 to 1020 ppm compared to a 2000 level of 365 ppm, the CO2-equivalent concentration of all greenhouse gases ranges from 550 to 1780 ppm in comparison to a 2000 level of 415 ppm, oceanic acidity changes from a current pH of around 8 to a range from 7.63 to 7.91, in comparison to a pH change from a preindustrial level by 0.1 unit. The global mean temperature increases by 1.8 to 7.0°C relative to 2000. Such increases will require considerable adaptation of many human systems and will leave some aspects of the earth’s environment irreversibly changed. Thus, the remarkable aspect of these different approaches to scenario development is not the differences in detail and philosophy but rather the similar picture they paint of a world at risk from climate change even if there is substantial effort to reduce emissions.
Mathematical Theory of Self-Dual Cosmic Strings:. Existence and Obstructions

This is a survey article concerning some recent mathematical results for the static selfdual cosmic-string solutions in the Abelian Higgs model and in the Weinberg-Salam standard model unifying electromagnetic and weak interactions, both coupled with gravity through the Einstein equations. For the Abelian Higgs strings there is a nearly complete picture. If the Riemann surface M on which the strings reside is compact, it can be shown that M must be S2 up to topological equivalence and there are only countably many values of the Higgs vacuum states for strings to exist. When M is noncompact and conformally a plane there are exact obstructions to the finiteness of energies and geodesic completeness of solutions. For the Weinberg-Salam strings, much is to be achieved. It can be shown in this case that self-dual strings generated from W and Higgs condensation lead to an explicit formula for a positive cosmological constant and the gravitational metric is always noncomplete. This feature leads to the propertie...
Sex-specific responses to vocal convergence and divergence of contact calls in orange-fronted conures (Aratinga canicularis)

We investigated the signal function of vocal imitation of contact calls in orange-fronted conures (OFCs; Aratinga canicularis) in Costa Rica. OFCs live in dynamic social systems with frequent flock fusions and fissions. Exchanges of contact calls precede these flock changes. During call exchanges, the similarity between the contact calls of different individuals may either increase (converge) or decrease (diverge). We conducted a playback experiment on wild-caught captive birds in which we simulated convergent, divergent and no-change interaction series with male and female contact calls. OFCs responded differently to convergent and divergent series of contact calls, but only when we considered the sex of the test birds. Males called most in response to convergent series, whereas females demonstrated high calling rates in response to both convergent and divergent interactions. Both sexes responded most to contact calls from the opposite sex, but overall females produced more calls and had shorter latencies to calling than males. These results demonstrate that OFCs can discriminate between male and female contact calls and that subtle changes in contact call structure during interactions have signal function. The stronger overall response to convergent series suggests that convergence of contact calls is an affiliative signal.
Ultra-wideband, zero visual signature RF vest antenna for man-portable radios

This paper presents the recent research of the COMbat Wear INtegration (COMWIN) RF vest antenna initially presented at MILCOM2000. This version of the ultra-wideband VHF/UHF (30 MHz to 500 MHz) vest antenna, designated as MK-III, is integrated into the existing dismounted marine/soldier kevlar flak vest and has no visual signature. This antenna is one of the three COMWIN antennas developed at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) for joint tactical radio system applications. The improved MK-III RF vest was designed using Ansoft's high frequency structure simulator (HFSS) software. This design accounts for the operator wearing the flak jacket, the MOLLE pack system and the radio (radio dimensions based on SlNCGARS man-portable radio). Several prototypes have been built at NPS and exhibit encouraging agreement with computer simulations.
Hidden Markov models with duration-dependent state transition probabilities

A new method is proposed for incorporation of duration knowledge in the form of duration-dependent state transition probabilities in a left-right hidden Markov model. Duration-dependent transition probabilities are derived from integration of histograms of the state durations. The model re-estimation process becomes one of obtaining a new segmentation from which a new set of state and observation probabilities are derived.