cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Public information facilitates habitat selection of a territorial species: the eastern kingbird

The study of breeding habitat selection has focused mainly on physical characteristics of the environment such as nest sites and food abundance, both of which are required for successful reproduction. However, individuals may have limited time to make settlement decisions, and thus, their knowledge of resource availability may be incomplete. Furthermore, food abundance during settlement may not reflect levels later in the breeding season. An alternative perspective is that the most direct measure of habitat suitability is derived from social information such as the presence of conspecifics (conspecific attraction) or their reproductive performance (habitat copying). We tested resource and socially based hypotheses of habitat selection in a population of eastern kingbirds, Tyrannus tyrannus, at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Oregon, U.S.A. Kingbirds nested in areas with a greater proportion of suitable nest trees than what was generally available, but many areas with suitable numbers of trees went unused. Kingbirds also settled in areas of relatively high insect abundance, but only in years when overall abundance was low. We also found support for the socially based hypotheses. Relative to where they nested previously, kingbirds tended to settle in areas of higher conspecific density. But, we found stronger evidence in favour of habitat copying, suggesting that dispersing individuals settled in areas that produced more fledglings in the previous year. Kingbirds thus appeared to select breeding habitat based, in part, on resource availability, but dispersal decisions may be influenced by social information, primarily past reproductive success of conspecifics.
Predicting Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL): No support for “low pCO2” hypothesis † 1194

Background: Reports have correlated low pCO2 levels with PVL among very premature infants. We investigated the prevalence of low pCO2 and its association with PVL in a large multi-site data set.
Aretism: An Ancient Sports Philosophy for the Modern World

The stated thesis of Aretism: An Ancient Sports Philosophy for the Modern World is that a prominent paradigm of contemporary sport – which the authors refer to as the Martial/Commercial Model (MC M...
Reserpine does not prevent 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity in the rat

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'Ecstasy') is a known neurotoxin to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) nerve terminals. Recent studies have suggested that endogenous dopamine (DA) and/or 5-HT may mediate the MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. The central monoamine stores of rats were significantly decreased with reserpine (5 mg/kg) prior to toxic injections of MDMA. Rats given MDMA (30 mg/kg) displayed significant decreases in the density of 5-HT nerve terminals labeled by [3H]paroxetine both with (51 +/- 8%) and without (43 +/- 20%) reserpine pre-treatment. These data suggest that the degeneration of 5-HT nerve terminals following MDMA is independent of the presence of endogenous stores of DA or 5-HT.
Chaotic Activity with Low Frequency Vibration in Fibrillary Waves Predicts AF Recurrence after Cardioversion in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Background: We hypothesized that mathematical analysis of atrial fibrillary waves may predict recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardioversion. Methods: We included 51 patients with symptomatic persistent AF (40 males, 57±8 years). All patients were assessed by holter and echocardiography within 3 months before cardioversion. We extracted only atrial fibrillary waves from V1 lead in holter and measured three parameters including approximate entropy (Aprx), Lyapunov-exponent (Lya) and center-frequency (Cent) to quantify entropy, chaotic activity and frequency, respectively. Recurrence was defined as AF episodes documented by EKG/holter within 30 days after cardioversion. Results: The patients with recurrence (n=25) had higher Lya than those without recurrence (n=22) (0.258±0.157 vs 0.161±0.148, p=0.036), whereas Aprx was not related to recurrence (p>0.05). The patients with Lya≥0.05 had more recurrence than those with Lya<0.05 (64% vs 18%, p=0.008), and the patients with Cent<7.0 had more recurrence than those with high Cent≥7.0 (68% vs 35%, p=0.021). All patients were divided into three groups; group A, the patients with high-Lya and low-Cent, group B, those with high-Lya or low-Cent, group C, those with low-Lya and high-Cent. Group A showed more recurrence than group B, and group B did more recurrence than group C. By logistic regression, Lya and Cent scale were strong independent predictors of recurrence (OR=6.9, CI: 95% 2.0∼23.5, p=0.002). Conclusions: Chaotic activity with low frequency in fibrillary waves could predict AF recurrence within 1 month after cardioversion.
Multi-particle Schrödinger operators with point interactions in the plane

We study a system of N-bosons in the plane interacting with delta function potentials. After a coupling constant renormalization we show that the Hamiltonian defines a self-adjoint operator and obtain a lower bound for the energy. The same results hold if one includes a regular inter-particle potential.
Predation on the ctenophore,Mnemiopsis leidyi, by butterfish,Peprilus triacanthus, in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

Consumption rates ofMnemiopsis leidyi by butterfish,Peprilus triacanthus, ranged between 4 ml/gm dry wt/hr to 184 ml/gm dry wt/hr, depending on fish size and feeding history. These rates of comsumption supply adequate food to support the metabolism of the fish and probably account for the late summer-early fall decline in population levels ofMnemiopsis observed in Narragansett Bay.
Development of the Stanford Expectations of Treatment Scale (SETS): A tool for measuring patient outcome expectancy in clinical trials

BackgroundA patient’s response to treatment may be influenced by the expectations that the patient has before initiating treatment. In the context of clinical trials, the influence of participant e...
Semiparametric transformation models and the missing information principle

Semiparametric transformation models play an important role in predicting survival. The linear transformation model is one class of such models which includes the proportional hazards and proportional odds models. We consider estimation of the regression coefficients in the linear transformation model, when the data are right censored and the censoring may depend on the covariate. We propose a simple estimator based on the well-known missing information principle and derive its asymptotic properties for the general case in which the censoring can depend on the covariate, but assuming that the covariate takes values in a finite set. We show how this estimator leads to another estimator recently proposed in the literature. Results of a numerical study show the correctness of the proposed inference procedures.
Crystal Engineering of Nonlinear Optical Materials Based on Interpenetrated Diamondoid Coordination Networks

Zinc(II) and cadmium(II) coordination networks with p-pyridinecarboxylate bridging ligands, Zn(4-pyridylacrylate)2 (3), [Cd(4-pyridylacrylate)2]·H2O (4), Cd[4-(4-pyridyl)benzoate]2·H2O (5), and [Zn2(μ-OH)(4-pyridylbenzoate)3]·EtOH (6), have been synthesized under hydro(solvo)thermal conditions. Despite very different metal coordination environments, compounds 3, 4, and 6 all adopt 5-fold interpenetrated diamondoid structures, while compound 5 adopts a 7-fold interpenetrated diamondoid structure. The use of unsymmetrical p-pyridinecarboxylate bridging ligands in 3−5 has ensured their acentricity. Compounds 3−5 show significant powder second-harmonic-generation efficiencies. Compound 6, however, adopts a centrosymmetric structure because of the presence of symmetrical bis[4-(4-pyridyl)benzoate] double bridges. Compounds 4−6 also exhibit open channels that are occupied by removable included guest molecules. The present work illustrates the potential of rational synthesis of NLO-active acentric solids based o...
A Method to Estimate the Production Rate of a Stream Bottom Invertebrate

Abstract An approach toward the development of a method to estimate the production rate of primary consumers in a stream was as follows: For a given unit area of stream bottom, the production rate (B) is equal to the algebraic sum of the rate of change in population density (P) and the difference between the rates of removal (R) and accrual (A): Since removal and accrual both appear, for certain species, to be principally in the form of downstream drift, minimal production rates could be estimated with data on population density and total drift into and off of the unit areas of study. Population density data were obtained from periodic bottom samples, and drift nets were employed in a sampling procedure to estimate total drift rates at the various stream stations. Production rates of a mayfly, Baetis vagans McDunnough, were estimated for two 24-hour periods in two riffles and two pools. The mean production rate on the riffles was 0.28 gram per square meter per day. In the pools, B was negative, indicating...
Primary lymphoma of the central nervous system

Primary intracranial lymphoma usually remains localized to the central nervous system, and aggressive radiotherapy will prolong some patients' remission and perhaps cure them. Although the lesion is usually believed to arise from histiocytes or reticulum cells, at least some of the neoplasms are of B-lymphocyte origin. Provisional diagnosis occasionally may be possible by identifying lymphoma cells in the cerebrospinal fluid by using the cytocentrifuge. The use of computed tomography of the head may decrease the need of arteriography for tumor localization.
Safety Assessment of Foods Produced through Agricultural Biotechnology

Often the main criticism of foods derived from biotechnology is concerns about food safety. Whereas most present-day biotechnology-derived foods are approximately 99% similar to their non-biotechnology counterparts, the scientific community must ensure the safety of the novel aspects of these foods. The three phases of safety assessment are discussed and the concept of substantial equivalence is explained.
Applying today's technology for safer driving

The Alliance for Transportation Research in Albuquerque, New Mexico is adapting Sandia and Los Alamos Labs' defense technologies to alleviating the problems of DWI in the state of New Mexico and the nation.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Evaluation of electroless gold deposited on porous silica for ligand attachment for metal ion-exchange

A novel ion-exchange system was developed by tethering a small, monofunctional metal ligand, 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), through thiol linkages onto a glass substrate overlaid with gold, using electroless deposition of Au onto 100 mesh controlled pore glass (CPG) particles. Two different CPG glass pore sizes of 22.6 and 104.9 nm were used in an attempt to optimize Au deposition and ligand coverage. It was found that the Au was present on both of the substrates as a nonuniform deposit, possibly existing as small multilayer islands, throughout the CPG particles. The deposit also did not fill the intricate CPG pore network. Au-CPG is a reasonable substrate for the support of small metal binding ligands such as the monofunctional MPA. Typical metal binding capacities were in the range of 7–24 μmol metal/g column, with the smaller pore system binding approximately twice as much metal as the larger pore system due to increased surface area and fractional ligand coverage. The immobilized binding systems were also found to remain chemically and structurally stable in pH environments ranging from pH∼9 to <1 (viz. 1 M HNO3).
Two integrable extensions of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation

In this work, two new completely integrable extensions of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (eKP) equation are developed. Multiple soliton solutions and multiple singular soliton solutions are derived to demonstrate the compatibility of the extensions of the KP equation.
Forkhead transcription factors in immunology.

The forkhead (Fox) gene family comprises a diverse group of ‘winged-helix’ transcription factors that play important roles in development, metabolism, cancer and aging. Recently, several forkhead genes have been demonstrated to play critical roles in lymphocyte development and effector function, including Foxp3 in the development of regulatory T cells, Foxj1 and Foxo3a in the regulation of CD4+ T cell tolerance, and Foxn1 in thymic development. Roles for other forkhead genes have also been proposed, including Foxp1 in macrophage differentiation, Foxq1 in natural killer cell effector function and Foxd2 in T cell activation. Thus, forkhead genes promise insight into the mechanisms of immunoregulation in several immune cell lineages, and their dysregulation likely contributes to the pathogenesis of several immunological disorders, suggesting that their study will lead to the development of novel therapeutic agents.
Higgs Boson mass constraints from precision data and direct searches

Two of the nine measurements of ${\mathrm{sin}}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}{}_{\mathrm{eff}}^{\mathrm{lepton}},$ the effective weak interaction mixing angle, are found to be in significant conflict with the direct search limits for the standard model (SM) Higgs boson. Using a scale factor method, analogous to one used by the Particle Data Group, we assess the possible effect of these discrepancies on the SM fit of the Higgs boson mass. The scale factor fits increase the value of ${\mathrm{sin}}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}{}_{\mathrm{eff}}^{\mathrm{lepton}}$ by as much as two standard deviations. The central value of the Higgs boson mass increases as much as a factor of 2, to $\ensuremath{\simeq}200 \mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V},$ and the 95% confidence level upper limit increases to as much as 750 GeV. The scale factor is based not simply on the discrepant measurements, as was the case in a previous analysis, but on an aggregate goodness-of-fit confidence level for the nine measurements and the limit. The method is generally applicable to fits in which one or more of a collection of measurements are in conflict with a physical boundary or limit. In the present context, the results suggest caution in drawing conclusions about the Higgs boson mass from the existing data.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation in the Truncated or Censored Poisson Distribution

Abstract The results derived by Blight [1] for the exponential family of distributions are applied to the Poisson case. A table is given to simplify the estimates of the Poisson parameter for data that are censored or truncated on the left or the right.
Sample preparation and production of negative ions of calcium hydride for 41Ca AMS

Abstract We describe a new method of producing fairly intense beams (3 to 5 μA) of CaH − 3 ions. These currents have been generated from CaH 2 produced from commercially obtained CaO and from Ca extracted from bone. Calcium hydride is produced in a two-step reduction process. First CaO is converted to calcium metal by vacuum distillation from a heated mixture of CaO and Ta powder. Then the calcium metal is transferred to a second system and heated in the presence of hydrogen gas to form CaH 2 . With a minimum exposure to air, the CaH 2 is pressed into a copper cathode and introduced as quickly as possible into a high-intensity sputter source. The significance of this new procedure to the measurement of 41 Ca by AMS is also discussed.
“Changing the Blood”: Language, Literature, and Teaching

The past 30 years have seen develop, flower, and then disappear a rich assortment of theories and strategies dedicated to language teaching. The author offers a panoramic view of these pedagogical approaches and argues in favor of a method to join literature and language from the first weeks of study. Art changes the blood, and the art of a people is most thoroughly transmitted in its language. He analyzes a series of texts that demonstrate how Spanish literature holds out to us a new and different world, giving us new and uncommon options to understand ourselves and our circumstances.
Bringing legacy marketing to life

This paper aims to confront the long-held view that legacy fundraising is a depressing and death-related subject, which must be carried out apart from other fundraising activities. In the past, legacy fundraising has been focused on the mechanism and tax benefits, and the marketing focus has been on professional advisers. This paper challenges the past by discussing recent developments which show that legacy marketing is fulfilled more effectively by integrating it into all other fundraising structures and activities. In addition, successful legacy marketing is given a better opportunity to succeed if a rigorous strategic approach is taken and the resultant message is a positive one, which is spread by face-to-face meetings of peers—especially volunteers, trustees and even users of the not-for-profit service.
How nature foiled the 2006 hurricane forecasts

The 2006 hurricane season proved again that predicting Mother Nature is a very precarious undertaking. At the beginning of the season, all signs indicated that it would be more active than average: Sea surface temperature (SST) was above normal, vertical wind shear was low, and sea level pressure was reduced over the tropical Atlantic. Many forecasters believed that these features foreshadowed a continuation of the trend of nine preceding years of above-normal hurricane seasons. Given the recent warming tendency in the Atlantic and the prevailing favorable preseason conditions, there was no wonder that even by August 2006, forecasters were still calling for an above-normal frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes.
Mitochondrial Translocation of p53 Mediates Release of Cytochrome c and Hippocampal CA1 Neuronal Death after Transient Global Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Although p53 is a key modulator of cellular stress responses, the mechanism of p53-mediated apoptosis is ambiguous. p53 can mediate apoptosis in response to death stimuli by transcriptional activation of proapoptotic genes and transcriptional-independent mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that the p53 protein can directly induce permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane by forming a inhibitory complex with a protective Bcl-2 family protein, resulting in cytochrome c release. However, how the mitochondrial p53 pathway mediates neuronal apoptosis after cerebral ischemia remains unclear. We examined the interaction between the mitochondrial p53 pathway and vulnerable hippocampal CA1 neurons in rats using a transient global cerebral ischemia (tGCI) model. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining revealed mitochondrial p53 translocation after tGCI in the hippocampal CA1 neurons. Coimmunoprecipitation revealed that translocated p53 bound to Bcl-X(L) in the mitochondrial fraction. To examine the effect of a specific p53 inhibitor on the mitochondrial p53 pathway and apoptotic cell death after tGCI, we intravenously administered pifithrin-alpha (PFT). Mitochondrial p53 translocation and interaction between p53 and Bcl-X(L) were prevented by treatment with PFT. Moreover, cytochrome c release from mitochondria and subsequent apoptotic CA1 neuronal death were decreased with PFT treatment. These results suggest that the mitochondrial p53 pathway is one of the novel mechanisms mediating delayed death of vulnerable hippocampal CA1 neurons after tGCI.
Comparison of students' perceptions of educational environment in traditional vs. accelerated second degree BSN programs

Summary Background Students' perceptions of their academic learning environment have been found to be related to their approaches to learning and learning outcomes. Educational environment is just beginning to be researched in nursing education with the vast majority of studies focusing on the clinical educational environment. Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) programs for students who have obtained a bachelor degree are a popular nursing pedagogue. These programs are instituted on the belief that degreed students have the ability to be successful in a demanding program, are older, are adult learners and tend to be more motivated than their traditional counterparts. There is a paucity of research exploring the differences in student perceptions of the educational environment between the traditional and accelerated programs. Objective Explore students' perceptions of the educational environment in the traditional and ABSN programs within an institution and determine any differences. Design Comparative descriptive study. Setting Private school of Nursing in the Southwest. Participants Convenience sample of 24 ABSN and 38 traditional graduating senior students. Methods Invited students completed the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure through the online survey application Qualtrics™. An independent t-test was used to compare the scores. Results A total of 62 students completed the survey for an overall response rate of 57%. No statistical difference was found in students' perceptions of academic environment between the two groups on the total score. However, there was a statistically significant difference on the sub-domain pertaining to atmosphere and there were significant differences on 6 out of 50 individual items. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that, taken in its entirety, there was no significant difference in student perception of educational environment between the traditional and accelerated cohorts at this institution as measured by the DREEM tool. However, there was a significant difference between the two cohorts within the student perception of Atmosphere sub-domain and on seven individual items. The DREEM tool was found to be a reliable instrument to determine students' perceptions of educational environment.
Single-site N-N bond cleavage by Mo(IV): possible mechanisms of hydrazido(1-) to nitrido conversion.

Mo(NMe2)4 and the tridentate, dipyrrolyl ligand H2dpmames were found to form 5-coordinate Mo(NMe2)2(dpmames) (1), which exhibits spin-crossover behaviour in solution. The complex is a ground state singlet with a barrier of 1150 cm−1 for production of the triplet in d8-toluene. The complex reacts with 1,1-disubstituted hydrazines or O-benzylhydroxylamine to produce nitrido MoN(NMe2)(dpmames). The mechanism of the 1,1-dimethylhydrazine reaction with 1 was examined along with the mechanism of substitution of NMe2 with H2NNMe2 in a diamagnetic zirconium analogue. The proposed mechanism involves production of a hydrazido(1–) intermediate, Mo(NMe2)(NHNMe2)(dpmames), which undergoes an α,β-proton shift and N–N bond cleavage with metal oxidation to form the nitrido. The rate law for the reaction was found to be −d[1]/dt = kobs[1][hydrazine] by initial rate experiments and examination of the full reaction profile. This conversion from hydrazido(1–) to nitrido is somewhat analogous to the proposed mechanism for O–O bond cleavage in some peroxidases.
New Zealand nemertines from kelp holdfasts : Heteronemertinea II. Notospermus geniculatus (Delle Chiaje, 1828) n. comb.

Abstract The genus Notospennus Huschke 1830 is characterised and additions are made to the description of N. geniculatus (Delle Chiaje) n. comb. The systematics of Lineus tricuspidatus (Quoy & Gaimard) is discussed and the species is transferred to the genus, Notospermus.
Determination of individual 17-ketosteroids by gradient elution chromatography

Abstract A method is described for the individual determination of eight 17-ketosteroids commonly found in urine. Fractionation of the compounds is achieved by use of a water-impregnated silicic acid column and elution with a concentration gradient of methylene chloride in petroleum ether. The effects of changes in the stationary phase on fractionation are presented and discussed.
Do country characteristics matter for economic growth among the developed countries

Do long-run growth rates among the developed countries (DCs) depend on country characteristics, or is there on overall long-run growth pattern that dominates the effects of country differences? This paper empirically tests this question. The test involves regressing the pooled sample of their growth rates on dummy variables for the various countries. The test uses Maddison [1991] that provides data for annual estimates for real per capita product for 16 DCs from 1870–1989. Regressors were added for relative per capita product, the time trends of growth, and unusual time periods. The results suggest that country characteristics explain very little of the differences in growth rates. General factors, the tendency of lower per capita developed countries to grow faster, and the time patterns of growth among the DCs explain much more of the differences in growth rates.
Constructions as Resources for Interaction: Lists in English and Spanish Conversation:

The comparative study of synchronic occurrences of a particular construction in interactional corpora from different languages can provide a complete understanding of the development of the constru...
Sculptured platinum nanowire counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract Sculptured platinum nanowire thin films were formed by oblique angle electron beam evaporation with a 5° vapor incidence angle and incorporated as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). For the comparison of the performance, bare fluorine doped tin oxide, planar Pt electrodes and counter electrodes treated with chloroplatinic acid were prepared. The sculptured Pt nanowire electrodes showed five times lower charge transfer resistance (0.121 [Ω∗cm 2 ]) than that of Pt planar electrode (0.578 [Ω∗cm 2 ]) and when the Pt nanowire electrodes are treated with an H 2 PtCl 6 solution have more than ten times lower charge transfer resistance (0.04025 [Ω∗cm 2 ]). Moreover, Pt nanowire films used as a counter electrode lead to enhancement in current density and efficiency in comparison with Pt planar counter electrodes. The conversion efficiency with planar electrodes was 5.1 [%] while the efficiency of DSSC with platinum nanowire counter electrodes reached to 5.63 [%] under AM 1.5 illumination.
Primary inclusion of culturally diverse minority program participants in the evaluation process

Advocates of the participation of multiple stakeholders in evaluation seldom include minority participants in the process, yet ethnic and racial minorities have the most at stake in the evaluation of social services and educational programs.
Inelastic scattering of 60 MeV electrons from 39K

Abstract The inelastic scattering of electrons from 39K is studied at a bombarding energy of 60.2 MeV, with angular distributions measured for seven transitions below an excitation energy of 5.5 MeV. Comparison with DWBA predictions permits the extraction of the electromagnetic transition strengths B(EL). The results are compared with those of heavy-particle scattering studies. The results for shell-model and collective-model transition operators in the electron scattering DWBA analysis are examined.
FILM OBSERVATIONS AT AN OIL‐WATER INTERFACE

An experimental technique was utilized which allows the observation and photographic recording of film formation at an oil-water interface. Salt soluble protein of cow meat and beef hearts, sodium caseinate and gum acacia showed extensive interfacial film development. No films were observed from solutions of soy sodium proteinate or propylene glycol alginate.
Artillery Launched Television

An Artillery Launched TV Target Location System will provide real time observation of distant battlefield targets using a parachute deployed all solid state TV camera and RF Link. The camera uses a Fairchild developed Charge Coupled Device (CCD) imager. The system makes use of the major components of the M485-A2 illuminating round for the 155 mm gun, in which the illuminant is replaced with a ballistically matched package comprising the CCD TV camera, battery, RF transmitter, and antenna. The TV pictures are displayed in real time and simultaneously recorded on a video tape recorder. The use of a CCD TV camera makes it practical, for the first time, for this type of system to survive set-back acceleration when the shell is fired.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Lessons learned: tips from conducting an NSF faculty enhancement workshop

The authors have conducted for each of the past three Summers a workshop for faculty who have taught or are scheduled to teach an upper level undergraduate course in Artificial Intelligence. This paper describes problems the organizers have encountered and ways in which they have attempted to address them. The hope is that others designing and implementing similar workshops can benefit from these "lessons learned".
Effects of Denaturants on the Dynamics of Loop Formation in Polypeptides

Quenching of the triplet state of tryptophan by close contact with cysteine has been used to measure the reaction-limited and diffusion-limited rates of loop formation in disordered polypeptides having the sequence cys-(ala-gly-gln)j-trp (j=1-9). The decrease in the length-dependence of the reaction-limited rate for short chains in aqueous buffer, previously attributed to chain stiffness, is not observed at high concentrations of chemical denaturant (6 M GdmCl and 8 M urea), showing that denaturants increase chain flexibility. For long chains, both reaction-limited and diffusion-limited rates are significantly smaller in denaturant and exhibit a steeper length dependence. The results can be explained using end-to-end distributions from a wormlike chain model in which excluded volume interactions are incorporated by associating a 0.4-0.5 nm diameter hard sphere with the end of each virtual peptide bond. Fitting the data with this model shows that the denaturants reduce the persistence length from approximately 0.6 nm to approximately 0.4 nm, only slightly greater than the length of a peptide bond. The same model also describes the reported length dependence for the radii of gyration of chemically denatured proteins containing 50-400 residues. The end-to-end diffusion coefficients obtained from the diffusion-limited rates are smaller than the sum of the monomer diffusion coefficients and exhibit significant temperature dependence, suggesting that diffusion is slowed by internal friction arising from barriers to backbone conformational changes.
Consumer-Driven Health Plans: New Developments and the Long Road Ahead

The continued rise in U.S. healthcare spending, along with growth in the number of uninsured, has spurred the move toward consumer-driven health plans. We review new legislation covering such plans, analyze their penetration in the marketplace, and predict their growth. We also use current information about plans that are compatible with Health Savings Accounts to compare them to traditional Preferred Provider Organization plans. Next, we discuss some concerns about the impact of these plans on vulnerable populations, such as the poor and sick. Finally, we suggest how consumer-driven health plans may help to improve the functioning of the healthcare market, especially by producing more transparent information on cost and quality.
A novel approach to identify false positives due to body position changes during ST-segment monitoring

Abstract The most common false alarms with ST-segment monitoring are ST fluctuations caused by body position changes. This study designs and implements a device to indicate the patient's body position as supine, right or left-lying or upright on the electrocardiogram (ECG) during ST-segment monitoring. Method: By using a strategy developed to sense body position for sleep research, a biosensor was designed by Inovise Medical (Newberg, OR) to communicate with the Mortara ELI 100 12-lead ST monitor (Milwaukee, WI). The biosensor is small (hockey puck-sized) and lightweight and is placed on the upper sternum. The biosensor interfaces between the electrode and the V2 lead wire and sends a specific signal every 2.1 s identifying in real time the patient's position. Visual indication of each patient orientation is achieved with dedicated light emitting diodes on the face of biosensor. Its 2 internal lithium batteries supply enough power to operate the lights continuously for 20 days and the pulse indicators for 208 days. It uses a low power PIC microprocessor to read a 2-axis accelerometer. The processor calculates the gravitational vector and is triggered to encode the information for a 45[deg ] turn. For patient isolation and to reduce artifact, the microprocessor is optically insulated from the lead wire and to save power, the microprocessor reverts to the sleep mode between each pulse stream. Results: In the first phase of the study, validation of the body sensor was performed by monitoring 35 cardiac telemetry unit patients during a sequence of the above four body positions typically observed in hospitalized patients. The biosensor correctly identified each of the positions. In the second phase of the study, a subset was monitored overnight and the 12-lead ECGs obtained during the sequential body positioning were used as fingerprints to identify false ST segment alarms. Fourteen percent or 40% of the sample showed a positional fingerprint in one or more of the positions. However, of the 5 patients in the positional group who were monitored overnight, all 5 produced at least 1 false positive ST-segment alarm as confirmed by comparisons with their earlier positional fingerprints. Conclusions: Clinically significant ST changes associated with body positional changes were frequently observed with overnight monitoring period and were accurately detected by biosensor monitoring. Concomitant body position and ST-segment monitoring aids in ECG interpretation of ST alarms by identifying periods in which the patient is not in a supine state. Future studies are needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of ischemia monitoring with this approach.
Ontology-Based Geospatial Data Query and Integration

Geospatial data sharing is an increasingly important subject as large amount of data is produced by a variety of sources, stored in incompatible formats, and accessible through different GIS applications. Past efforts to enable sharing have produced standardized data format such as GML and data access protocols such as Web Feature Service (WFS). While these standards help enabling client applications to gain access to heterogeneous data stored in different formats from diverse sources, the usability of the access is limited due to the lack of data semantics encoded in the WFS feature types. Past research has used ontology languages to describe the semantics of geospatial data but ontology-based queries cannot be applied directly to legacy data stored in databases or shapefiles, or to feature data in WFS services. This paper presents a method to enable ontology query on spatial data available from WFS services and on data stored in databases. We do not create ontology instances explicitly and thus avoid the problems of data replication. Instead, user queries are rewritten to WFS getFeature requests and SQL queries to database. The method also has the benefits of being able to utilize existing tools of databases, WFS, and GML while enabling query based on ontology semantics.
An analysis of semantic modeling components for integrating disparate databases

An investigation was conducted into the logical connectivity of disparate databases for supporting a composite information access environment within which the strategic functions or activities of cross system inquiry and reporting are possible. The authors present an analysis of semantic modeling components for the purpose of integrating disparate databases for supporting composite access. A set of primitives and constructs of semantic data models are identified and analyzed. These can provide a basis for a reasonable comparison and integration of different semantic data models. The ability to access disparate databases for composite queries by a unified view of relevant data objects from different databases is practical. A potential approach to semantic integration for supporting composite information accesses is discussed. >
Differential effects of GDNF and BDNF on cultured ventral mesencephalic neurons.

Previous studies have shown that brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) can enhance the survival of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral mesencephalon (VM). Here we compared several non-survival functions of the two factors in VM neurons in culture. We found that both BDNF and GDNF elicited an increase in the depolarization-induced release of dopamine, but had no effect on GABA release, in the VM cultures. BDNF, but not GDNF, significantly enhanced the expression of the calcium binding protein calbindin and synaptic protein SNAP25. In contrast, treatment of the cultures with GDNF, but not BDNF, elicited a marked fasciculation of the processes of the VM neurons. Thus, although both act on VM neurons, BDNF and GDNF have distinct functions.
Process modeling by Bayesian latent variable regression

Large quantities of measured data are being routinely collected in various industries and used for extracting linear models for tasks such as process control, fault diagnosis, and process monitoring. Existing linear modeling methods, however, do not fully utilize all the information contained in the measurements. A new approach for linear process modeling makes maximum use of available process data and process knowledge. Bayesian latent-variable regression (BLVR) permits extraction and incorporation of knowledge about the statistical behavior of measurements in developing linear process models. Furthermore, BLVR can handle noise in inputs and outputs, collinear variables, and incorporate prior knowledge about regression parameters and measured variables. The model is usually more accurate than those of existing methods, including OLS, PCR, and PLS. BLVR considers a univariate output and assumes the underlying variables and noise to be Gaussian, but it can be used for multivariate outputs and other distributions. An empirical Bayes approach is developed to extract the prior information from historical data or maximum-likelihood solution of available data. Examples of steady-state, dynamic and inferential modeling demonstrate the superior accuracy of BLVR over existing methods even when the assumptions of Gaussian distributions are violated. The relationship between BLVR and existing methods and opportunities for future work based on this framework are also discussed.
Monocyte ADAM17 Promotes Diapedesis during Transendothelial Migration: Identification of Steps and Substrates Targeted by Metalloproteinases

Despite expanded definition of the leukocyte adhesion cascade and mechanisms underlying individual steps, very little is known about regulatory mechanisms controlling sequential shifts between steps. We tested the hypothesis that metalloproteinases provide a mechanism to rapidly transition monocytes between different steps. Our study identifies diapedesis as a step targeted by metalloproteinase activity. Time-lapse video microscopy shows that the presence of a metalloproteinase inhibitor results in a doubling of the time required for human monocytes to complete diapedesis on unactivated or inflamed human endothelium, under both static and physiological-flow conditions. Thus, diapedesis is promoted by metalloproteinase activity. In contrast, neither adhesion of monocytes nor their locomotion over the endothelium is altered by metalloproteinase inhibition. We further demonstrate that metalloproteinase inhibition significantly elevates monocyte cell surface levels of integrins CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1), specifically during transendothelial migration. Interestingly, such alterations are not detected for other endothelial- and monocyte-adhesion molecules that are presumed metalloproteinase substrates. Two major transmembrane metalloproteinases, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM)17 and ADAM10, are identified as enzymes that control constitutive cleavage of Mac-1. We further establish that knockdown of monocyte ADAM17, but not endothelial ADAM10 or ADAM17 or monocyte ADAM10, reproduces the diapedesis delay observed with metalloproteinase inhibition. Therefore, we conclude that monocyte ADAM17 facilitates the completion of transendothelial migration by accelerating the rate of diapedesis. We propose that the progression of diapedesis may be regulated by spatial and temporal cleavage of Mac-1, which is triggered upon interaction with endothelium.
Lightning Investigation on Transmission Lines--VIII

The field data for 1931 and 1932 are reviewed, with especial reference to lightning stroke currents. When direct strokes take place to towers or ground wires, flashover occurs if the product of current and tower footing resistance is higher than the fiashover strength of the insulators. Flashover seldom occurs if ground wires are present and the towers have low footing resistance. Three years' records on four systems indicate tower currents varying from 1,000 to 150,000 amperes. Tripouts correlate almost exclusively with high tower leg currents of negative polarity, that is, the tower top is negative with respect to the base. This indicates that the severe lightning strokes come from negatively charged clouds. A great amount of experimental data, relating to flashover between electrodes of dissimilar shapes, are shown to be in accord with these field observations.
Collaborative visual interfaces to digital libraries

This paper argues for the design of collaborative visual interfaces to digital libraries that support social navigation. As an illustrative example we present work in progress on the design of a three-dimensional document space for a scholarly community - namely faculty, staff, and students at the School of Library and Information Science, Indiana University.
Studies in allergenicity of extracts prepared from sporulating and nonsporulating Alternaria tenuis.

Abstract 1.1. Extracts of sporulating and nonsporulating Alternaria tenuis were prepared in two different laboratories by two different methods. One set was supplied through the courtesy of Drs. Homer E. Prince and Marie B. Morrow who had prepared them, by a special procedure, from an acetone precipitate derived from an aqueous extract of whole mold mat. The other set of extracts was prepared by direct extraction of whole mold mats in the laboratory of the Immunology Division of the Washington University School of Medicine. 2.2. The four alternaria extracts, after dilution to equal concentration of protein nitrogen, were studied for allergenic activity and cross-reactivity by the quantitative measurement of neutralization of the skin-sensitizing antibody of a pool of thirty-six human sera, each containing reagin to alternaria extract. 3.3. Each extract was titrated simultaneously against itself and against the other three extracts. The results which indicated significant neutralization of skin-sensitizing antibody were: 3.1.(a) Only the WU (Washington University) sporulating extract neutralized to all four extracts. 3.2.(b) The WU nonsporulating extract neutralized to itself and to PM (Prince-Morrow) sporulating extract, but not to the other two extracts. 3.3.(c) The PM sporulating extract neutralized only to itself. 3.4.(d) The PM nonsporulating extract neutralized to itself and to its sporulating counterpart, but to neither of the WU extracts. Thus, each of the four extracts neutralized to itself, but there was no consistent pattern of cross-neutralization.
Switching the Targeting Pathways of a Therapeutic Antibody by Nanodesign

Application of nonmaterial's in medicine is an emerging field with potentials to positively impact human health care [1]. Nanoconjugates of monoclonal antibodies including EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) antibody cetuximab (C225), herceptin, are potential candidates for various biomedical applications including targeted delivery, detection/diagnosis and imaging [2][3]. However, mechanisms by which C225 and its nanoconjugates transport to the cell and molecular machineries involved for intracellular delivery are not well understood. A better understanding of the regulatory components involved in endocytosis of these nanoconjugates will aide us for successful nanodesign to achieve specific intracellular targeting. Exploiting strong affinity of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to bind to –SH and –NH2 moieties present in the cysteine and lysine residues of C225, we design two Au-C225 conjugates having variable number of antibody to demonstrate that the mechanism of endocytosis of C225 in PANC-1 cells can be tailored by precise design of the nanoconjugates [4]. Using pharmacological inhibitors (Supplementary Figure 1), genetic approaches and Cdc42 null cells we demonstrate that both C225 and gold-conjugated C225 with complete surface coverage (Au-C225-C; ∼3 C225/particle) requires clustering in the GSL (Glycosphingolipid) domains at the plasma membrane followed by dynamin-2 (dyn-2) dependent caveolar endocytosis. However, partially covered nanoconjugate (Au-C225-P; ∼1 C225/particle) is internalized via dyn-2 independent Cdc42 dependent pinocytosis/phagocytosis that requires actin polymerization. Regulating the endocytosis of cetuximab between caveolar and pinocytic internalization by appropriate nanodesign may be useful to target specific intracellular pathways for better therapeutic intervention with reduced side effects.
Polymicrobial and Recurrent Bacteremia with Shigella in a Patient with AIDS

Shigella gastroenteritis is uncommon among HIV seropositive patients and may be complicated in some patients by bacteremia; S. flexneri being the most frequently detected serogroup. While recurrent Salmonella bacteremia is common among HIV-seropositive patients, recurrent Shigella bacteremia is not. We report here an HIV-seropositive patient with Shigella gastroenteritis, polymicrobial bacteremia due to S. flexneri and S. boydii, and recurrent gastroenteritis and bacteremia with S. boydii. Relapsing infection with the same strain of S. boydii was determined using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Thus, HIV-seropositive patients who develop Shigella infections may require prolonged treatment and/or suppressive therapy, similar to those infected with Salmonella. Patients who develop recurrent disease should be suspected as having polymicrobial bacteremia since the incidence of this may be underestimated among patients with AIDS, particularly those with concurrent gastroenteritis.
Does 'immortal DNA strand' exist in 'immortal' stem cells?

Stem cells function to generate differentiated cells, and, at the same time, are maintained as 'immortal' cells through self-renewal. Accumulated evidence indicates that adult stem cells may be the most common precursor for cancers in adult mammalian tissue 1, and this concept is gaining increasing support 2, 3. Meanwhile, this also raises the question of how stem cells, which have a much longer lifespan compared to other progenitor and mature cells, can avoid accumulating mutations from DNA replication errors, thereby reducing the risk of tumorigenesis. In 1975, J Cairns proposed an intriguing hypothesis from an evolutionary point of view to explain this phenomenon in organisms with long life spans. According to this 'immortal DNA strand' model, adult stem cells might be able to retain template (old) DNA strands in each asymmetric division to avoid accumulation of mutations during the process of DNA replication 4.