cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The type 1 equilibrative nucleoside transporter regulates ethanol intoxication and preference.

Adenosine is an important mediator of ethanol intoxication. In vitro, ethanol stimulates adenosine signaling by inhibiting the type 1 equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT1), whereas chronic ethanol exposure downregulates ENT1. It is not known, however, whether ENT1 is important for ethanol intoxication or consumption in vivo. Here we report that ENT1-null mice show reduced hypnotic and ataxic responses to ethanol and greater consumption of alcohol as compared with their wild-type littermates. These features are associated with a decrease in adenosine tone, as measured indirectly as a reduction in A1 receptor–mediated inhibition of glutamate excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in the nucleus accumbens, leading to increased phosphorylation of CRE-binding protein (CREB) in the striatum. Treatment with an A1 receptor agonist decreases EPSC amplitude and reduces ethanol consumption in ENT1-null mice. Our results indicate that ENT1 has a physiological role in ethanol-mediated behaviors and suggest that decreased A1 adenosine receptor function promotes alcohol consumption.
Comments on "On the robust control of robot manipulators by M.W. Spong

In the above-title paper (ibid., vol.37, no.11, pp.1782-1786, Nov. 1992) a simple robust control is given for guaranteeing uniform ultimate boundedness of tracking errors for n-link robot manipulators. It is pointed out here that an equally simple control law, which is also continuous in nature, can guarantee global exponential stability of tracking errors under the same set of conditions. >
FACTORS AFFECTING THE ADHESIVENESS OF HUMAN LEUCOCYTES AND PLATELETS IN VITRO

Some factors affecting the retention of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), lymphocytes, and platelets on a siliconized glass bead column were explored. PMN were more effectively retained when the flow rates were slow and the columns long. They were found largely on the upper portions of the columns except with rapid flow rates when they spread down the columns. PMN retention on the columns was greatest in the range 30°–43°C. Both magnesium and calcium ions were required for full adhesiveness; calcium ions alone were unable to restore adhesiveness to PMN from blood which had been treated with a chelating resin to remove divalent cations. The adhesiveness of the PMN was independent of cyanide and dinitrophenol, but was almost completely eliminated by iodoacetamide. Under all the conditions mentioned above in which adhesiveness was lost there was a concurrent loss of the usual ability of the PMN to migrate, but at least in the presence of EDTA, a capacity to change shape by pseudopod formation remained. Lymphocytes were retained on the columns to a much lesser extent than the PMN under all conditions and, within limits, this retention was not related to either flow rate or column length. Maximum lymphocyte retention occurred in the range 30°–43°C. No dependence of lymphocyte adhesiveness was shown for divalent cations, cyanide, dinitrophenol, or iodoacetamide, but such dependence is not excluded by the data obtained. Platelets were largely retained by the glass bead columns under most conditions and this was unrelated to temperature in the range 0°–50°C. Their adhesiveness was found to require either magnesium or calcium ions and to be blocked by iodoacetamide.
Knowledge, Power, and Ethics in Qualitative Social Research

Philadelphia, then and still one of the worst governed of America’s badly governed cities, was having one of its periodic spasms of reform. A thorough study of causes was called for. Not but what the underlining cause was evident to most white Philadelphians: the corrupt semi-criminal vote of the Negro Seventh Ward…. Would it not be well, to elucidate the known causes by a scientific investigation?… With my bride of three months, I settled in one room over a cafeteria run by a College Settlement, in the worst part of the Seventh Ward. We lived there a year, in the midst of an atmosphere of dirt, drunkenness, poverty and crime. Murder sat on our doorstep, police were our government, and philanthropy dropped in with periodic advice. (DuBois, 1968/1975: 194–5 also in Logan, ed. 1944: 42) What had been borne into me during my book studies was my utter ignorance of the manual-working class, that is, of four-fifths of my countrymen…. How was I to get an opportunity of watching, day by day, in their homes and in their workshops, a sufficient number of normal manual-working families to enable me to visualize the class as a whole; to understand what was meant by chronic poverty and insecurity of livelihood. (Webb, 1926: 146–7)
Uncertainty propagation in a supply chain or supply network

Abstract A supply chain is characterized by uncertain demands (demand-side uncertainty) and uncertainties associated with the performances of the production facilities (supply-side uncertainty). In this paper, a method is proposed to plan production in a supply chain with a multi-echelon supply process with unreliable production facilities working in markets with uncertain demand. In such a system it is necessary to consider the global and cumulative effects on the performance of the entire supply chain. We introduce the salient features of uncertainty propagation in supply chains and demonstrate their impact quantitatively using a test problem from the automotive industry.
Frequency Analysis of Variable Networks

This paper describes an approach to the analysis of linear variable networks which is essentially an extension of the frequency analysis techniques commonly used in connection with fixed networks. It is shown that a function H(jω; t), termed the system function of a variable network, possesses most of the fundamental properties of the system function of a fixed network. Thus, once H(jω; t) has been determined, the response to any given input can be obtained by treating H(jω; t) as if it were the system function of a fixed network. It is further shown that H(jω; t) satisfies a linear differential equation in t, which has complex coefficients and is for the same order as the differential equation relating the input and the output of the network. Two methods of solution of this equation covering most cases of practical interest are given. In addition to H(jω; t), a network function introduced is the bi-frequency system function Γ(jω; ju) which is shown to relate the Fourier transforms of the input and the output through a superposition integral in the frequency domain. On the basis of the results obtained in this paper it appears that the frequency domain approach using H(jω; t) possesses significant advantages over the conventional approach using the impulsive response of the network.
The MARK II Vertex Detectors: Status and Prospects

The art of detecting heavy quark and lepton decay vertices among the collision products of e + e − interactions has developed rapidly in the past ten years. To date, there have been three generations of detectors employed or under construction for measuring and identifying heavy quark and lepton decays. Figure 1 plots the history of the field since thebeginning of the PEP/PETRA era in terms of the impact parameter resolution of the detectors. The large central tracking chambers common to the PEP/PETRA detectors were optimized for momentum resolution and reliable jet reconstruction rather than impact parameter resolution. Even so, the 500 μ resolution typical of these devices was adequate for the first tau1 and B 2 lifetime measurements. In both cases, the resolution was much larger than the average impact parameter of the decay products (~ 100 μ), so the success of the measurements depended on isolating the decays of interest on the basis of event topology, kinematics, and lepton identification. This was relatively easy in the e + e − environment. Because of the poor resolution, the first measurements were just at the limit of statistical significance. Imperfect knowledge of the resolution function added considerable uncertainty to the systematics of the measurements.
Assessing e-government implementations

Since the mid-1990s, governments around the world have been taking extraordinary efforts to make services and information available over the web. E-government implementations have been helping to improve service delivery and offer greater transparency and accountability in governance systems. Few studies such as the e-Europe benchmarking project, the UN study of benchmarking government, the Brown University Study and the Accenture study of e-government benchmarking have ranked countries for e-government implementation. Many of these benchmarking studies are media hype usually branding "Country X lags behind in e-government" or "Country Y takes lead in international e-government race". These studies do not account for many important measures of e-government implementations that are significant in the full scope of an e-government framework. This paper provides a critique of these benchmarking studies and presents an e-government framework that could provide guidelines for comprehensive measures to assess e-participation and e-democracy in e-government implementation.
A truncated human insulin receptor missing the COOH-terminal 365 amino acid residues does not undergo insulin-mediated receptor migration or aggregation

A previous study of tyrosine kinase-defective insulin receptors demonstrated that receptor autophosphorylation or tyrosine kinase activity was required for concentrating insulin receptors in coated pits, but not for their migration or aggregation on the cell surface. Furthermore, receptor migration and aggregation on the cell surface were not sufficient to cause internalization of the occupied receptors in coated pits. In the present study, biochemical and ultrastructural techniques were used to compare insulin receptor mobility and internalization in Rat 1 fibroblasts expressing wild-type human insulin receptors (HIRc) with those in cells expressing receptors truncated at residues 978 (HIR delta 978) or 1301 of the carboxyl-terminus (HIR delta CT). There were no significant differences in the mobility or internalization of insulin receptors on HIR delta CT cells compared to those of insulin receptors on HIRc cells. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that truncated insulin receptors on HIR delta 978 cells ...
Troubleshooting multihop wireless networks

Effective network troubleshooting is critical for maintaining efficient and reliable network operation. Troubleshooting is especially challenging in multihop wireless networks because the behavior of such networks depends on complicated interactions between many unpredictable factors such as RF noise, signal propagation, node interference, and traffic flows. In this paper we propose a new direction for research on fault diagnosis in wireless networks. Specifically, we present a diagnostic system that employs trace-driven simulations to detect faults and perform root cause analysis. We apply this approach to diagnose performance problems caused by packet dropping, link congestion, external noise, and MAC misbehavior. In a 25 node multihop wireless network, we are able to diagnose over 10 simultaneous faults of multiple types with more than 80% coverage. Our framework is general enough for a wide variety of wireless and wired networks.
Oxidative and biosynthetic utilization by human spermatozoa of a metabolite of the female reproductive tract.

In vitro investigations of the metabolism of mammalian spermatozoa have amply demonstrated their ability to utilize a variety of glycolysable and oxidizable substrates1. No information is, however, available on the metabolism of spermatozoa within the female reproductive tract. If, as is probable, the epithelial cells use up not only the glucose supplied by the circulatory system, but also oxidizable intermediates such as pyruvate and lactate, the spermatozoa in contact with those cells would have to oxidize their endogenous reserves of lipid material, provided that the oxygen tension in the various regions of tho tract is adequate to support the aerobic metabolism of the spermatozoa. In the absence of external substrates the conditions in the female genital tract would not be favourable for the survival of spermatozoa for prolonged periods of time. Whereas this may not affect fertility in animal species in which mating occurs at the time of oestrus, with rapid ascent of an adequate number of spermatozoa, a limited survival capacity due to the lack of substrates may affect the prospects of fertilization in man.
Multi-Scenario Simulation Analysis in prioritizing management options for an impacted watershed system

Abstract Waco Lake (Texas, U.S.A.) is a municipal water supply fed by largely agricultural watersheds and is characterized by poor water quality because of elevated nutrient concentrations. Watershed modeling is used to prioritize management options to reduce nutrient loading into the reservoir. A natural (pre-agricultural) system scenario of the dominant watershed resulted in 80% reduction of total phosphorus and 74% reduction of total nitrogen. Agricultural management, followed by dairy treatment fields (DTF), and then waste water treatment plants (WWTP) inflows are the largest contributors of nutrients into Waco Lake. Removing small flood control reservoirs (U.S. Soil Conservation Service PL-566 design) resulted in an 82% increase in total phosphorus and a 92% increase in total nitrogen, while the removal of other anthropogenic features resulted in decreased nutrient loading. PL-566 reservoirs store nutrients in the watershed, and are probably useful in pollution mitigation.
Market response to FDA announcements

Abstract This study investigates announcement effects at four points in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review process and explores conditions that may impact final approval. We show that investors adjust expectations through the approval process, and most uncertainty is resolved by final approval. While smaller firms reap benefit from the approval, the market penalizes first movers. We do not find additional gain for pioneering research, implying that these firms may be able to reduce R&D spending.
Race, Sex, and Marital Status: Their Effect on Mortality

This study investigates the hypothesized tendency of black families to have a matrifocal structure relative to white families. We compare the mortality rates of blacks and whites across sex and marital categories for types of mortality which are affected by psychological stress. The results suggest that there are no sharp differences in the marital roles of blacks and whites; however, the differences that do occur are in the direction predicted by the traditional race literature, namely, that marriage is better for white men than for black men, and that it is better for black women than for white women.
Chained cross-training of workers for robust performance

Training workers to perform multiple tasks can improve workforce agility for dealing with variations in workload. However, cross-training can be costly, time consuming to implement, is limited by worker learning capacity, and can lead to ambiguity about work responsibilities. Therefore, it is important to implement cross-training in the most efficient way and especially, due to the training time required, in a way that is robust to system changes. We use queueing and simulation analysis to investigate cross-training in the context of maintenance in a manufacturing plant. The tasks are independent and can be represented as a set of parallel queues that are served by dedicated and cross-trained workers. We propose a cross-training strategy called chaining, in which a few workers are strategically cross-trained, and show that it yields most of the benefits of cross-training all workers, with much less effort. Most importantly, we demonstrate that cross-training workers to form a “complete chain” is extremely...
Community development trust(s) in Botswana : institutional arrangements and social policy for savanna sustainability

The Chobe Enclave Conservation Trust (CECT) has numerous characteristics consistent with critical factors associated with successful development trusts. These basic characteristics include concern ...
In Theory: Classes, Nations, Literatures

After the Second World War, nationalism emerged as the principle expression of resistance to Western imperialism in a variety of regions from the Indian subcontinent to Africa, to parts of Latin America and the Pacific Rim. With the Bandung Conference and the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement, many of Europe's former colonies banded together to form a common bloc, aligned with neither the advanced capitalist "First World" nor with the socialist "Second World." In this historical context, the category of "Third World literature" emerged, a category that has itself spawned a whole industry of scholarly and critical studies, particularly in the metropolitan West, but increasingly in the homelands of the Third World itself. Setting himself against the growing tendency to homogenize "Third World" literature and cultures, Aijaz Ahmad has produced a spirited critique of the major theoretical statements on "colonial discourse" and "post-colonialism," dismantling many of the commonplaces and conceits that dominate contemporary cultural criticism. With lengthy considerations of, among others, Fredric Jameson, Edward Said, and the Subaltern Studies group, "In Theory" also contains brilliant analyses of the concept of Indian literature, of the genealogy of the term "Third World," and of the conditions under which so-called "colonial discourse theory" emerged in metropolitan intellectual circles. Erudite and lucid, Ahmad's remapping of the terrain of cultural theory is certain to provoke passionate response.
Hydrolytic Cationic Ester Microparticles for Highly Efficient DNA Vaccine Delivery

DNA vaccination holds great potential to be a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional vaccination strategies, but the current lack of nontoxic and effective delivery systems is the greatest impediment to its clinical implementation. In this work, a convenient one-step method is used to prepare a degradable "microgel" delivery platform, featuring hydrolytic esters. Prior to hydrolysis, these micrometer-sized gel particles can effectively condense DNA due to their positive surface charge. Upon entering antigen-presenting cells (APCs), the microgels can be hydrolyzed to nontoxic zwitterionic polymers, consequently releasing the DNA and inducing phagosomal escape. Surface charge, DNA loading, cytotoxicity, and gene transfection efficiency of the hydrolysable microparticles with different tertiary to quaternary amine ratios are systematically studied. Nonhydrolysable counterparts and commercially developed PLGA-CTAB particles are used as the control. The passive targeting effect is further evaluated by blocking the phagocytosis pathway of the cells. The hydrolytic microgels prepared in this study possess great potential to become a platform for DNA vaccine delivery.
Human absorption of carbon monoxide from high concentrations in air.

Six healthy males were exposed to carbon monoxide concentrations ranging from 1000 ppm to 35,600 ppm for periods of controlled duration and the rate of rise of carboxyhemoglobin concentrations in blood was determined. The rate of increase was found to be accurately predicted by the relationship, log (δ% COHb/liter) equals 1.036 log (ppm CO inhaled) minus 4.4793. This relationship may be used to determine the carbon monoxide absorbed in brief exposures to high concentrations.
Binary black-hole mergers in magnetized disks: simulations in full general relativity.

We present results from the first fully general relativistic, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of an equal-mass black-hole binary (BHBH) in a magnetized, circumbinary accretion disk. We simulate both the pre- and postdecoupling phases of a BHBH-disk system and both ``cooling'' and ``no-cooling'' gas flows. Prior to decoupling, the competition between the binary tidal torques and the effective viscous torques due to MHD turbulence depletes the disk interior to the binary orbit. However, it also induces a two-stream accretion flow and mildly relativistic polar outflows from the BHs. Following decoupling, but before gas fills the low-density ``hollow'' surrounding the remnant, the accretion rate is reduced, while there is a prompt electromagnetic luminosity enhancement following merger due to shock heating and accretion onto the spinning BH remnant. This investigation, though preliminary, previews more detailed general relativistic, MHD simulations we plan to perform in anticipation of future, simultaneous detections of gravitational and electromagnetic radiation from a merging BHBH-disk system.
Magic bases, metric ansätze and generalized graph theories in the Virasoro master equation

The authors define a class of magic Lie group bases in which the Virasoro master equation admits a class of simple metric ansaetze (g{sub metric}), whose structure is visible in the high-level expansion. When a magic basis is real on compact g, the corresponding g{sub metric} is a large system of unitary, generically irrational conformal field theories. Examples in this class include the graph-theory ansatz SO(n){sub diag} in the Cartesian basis of So(n) and the ansatz SU(n){sub metric} in the Pauli-like basis of SU(n). A new phenomenon is observed in the high-level comparison of SU(n){sub metric}: Due to the trigonometric structure constants of the Pauli-like basis, irrational central charge is clearly visible at finite order of the expansion. They also define the sine-area graphs of SU(n), which label the conformal field theories of SU(n){sub metric} and note that, in a similar fashion, each magic basis of g defines a generalize graph theory on g which labels the conformal field theories of g{sub metric}.
Intracellular calcium mobilization in rat platelets is adversely affected by copper deficiency

Abstract The influence of copper deficiency on the mobilization of Ca 2+ from intracellular stores following ionomycin treatment or thrombin activation of rat platelets was examined using the fluorescent indicator, fura-2, to measure changes in cytosolic Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ). Platelets, obtained from copper-deficient and control rats and loaded with fura-2, were suspended in medium containing 1 mM EGTA and no added Ca 2+ . The size of the internal Ca 2+ pools in the suspended platelets was estimated from the rise in [Ca 2+ ] i following maximal discharge of stored Ca 2+ by treatment with 1 μM ionomycin. Peak [Ca 2+ ] i following ionomycin treatment was lower in platelets from copper-deficient rats compared to control rats ( 148 ± 27 nM vs. 188 ± 17 nM ), suggesting that the size of the Ca 2+ storage pools was decreased by copper deficiency. Furthermore, once internal Ca 2+ stores were discharged by ionomycin, [Ca 2+ ] i remained elevated in platelets from copper deficient rats, but decreased in control rats. These data indicate that copper deficiency may inhibit the efflux of Ca 2+ from platelets after its release from internal stores by ionomycin treatment. In platelets from copper-deficient and control rats, stimulation with 0.1 U / ml thrombin led to rapid rise followed by a slow decay in [Ca 2+ ] i . However, peak [Ca 2+ ] i was lower in platelets from copper-deficient rats than in control rats ( 94 ± 19 nM vs. 131 ± 16 nM ). These findings imply that by reducing the amount of Ca 2+ available for release from intracellular stores, copper deficiency also reduces [Ca 2+ ] i following thrombin activation in the absence of external Ca 2+ .
Hypothyroidism impairs late LTP in CA1 region but not in dentate gyrus of the intact rat hippocampus: MAPK involvement

Thyroid hormone activates extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1 and ERK2), which are important in late long-term potentiation (L-LTP). The aim of this study was to determine the possible mechanism underlying the impairment of L-LTP as a result of hypothyroidism. We investigated the effect of hypothyroidism on L-LTP of the two associative pathways in the hippocampus: the Schaffer collateral synapses and the perforant path synapses. We also examined the effect of hypothyroidism on ERK1 and ERK2 levels in both the CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the hippocampus. Electrophysiological recordings from hippocampi of anesthetized rats show that hypothyroidism impairs L-LTP in CA1 region, but not in the DG. Western blot analysis of the CA1 region shows that hypothyroidism decreases phosphorylated ERK1 and ERK2 levels without affecting their total levels. In the DG of the hypothyroid rat, however, there was no significant change in the levels of phosphorylated or total ERKs. The correlation between the effect of hypothyroidism on L-LTP and enzyme levels suggests that hypothyroidism-induced impairment of L-LTP in CA1 may be due to decreased levels of phosphorylated ERK1 and ERK2.
Glatiramer Acetate Mediated Expression of α4β1integrin (VLA-4) on T and B Regulatory Cells in EAE Mice (P02.109)

Objective: To evaluate the effect of glatiramer acetate (GA) on the induction of α4β1 (VLA-4) on regulatory T/B cells in EAE mice. Background α4β1 expressing B cells and CD4+ T cells are important in the effector phase of EAE. Regulatory cells (CD4+CD25+ or CD19+CD5+) impact disease progression in EAE and perhaps human MS. Both B and Treg cells protect against disease by the secretion of specific anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-10 as well as important trafficking molecules. Design/Methods: An immunosuppression assay was performed using GA sensitized lymphocytes at varying ratios in the presence of mAb to a4. Cellular isolates were obtained from GA treated EAE mice and phenotyped for T/B regulatory cell expression by FACS and mRNA secretory expression for various chemokines (CXCR4, 5, MIP1 alpha) cytokines and neurotrophic factors including BDNF. Results: Higher expression of both T and B regulatory phenotypes were observed in GA treated mice. Lymphocyte suppression (50% at 1:1 ratio) by regulatory cells was unaffected by exposure to anti-α4. Increased IL-10 and decreased IFNγ was measured in T and B cells from GA treated mice. No significant difference in α4β1 expression was observed on regulatory T or B cell obtained from GA immunized mice compared to control mice. An increase in MZ B cells (B220+CD21hiCD23lo) was observed in GA treated mice. Further studies are underway that will focus on the identification of these cells within the CNS. Conclusions: GA may influence the conditioning of the Treg/Breg response that appears independent of α4β1 expression. The increased number of T/B regulatory cells represents an important mechanism in the suppression of EAE pathogenesis. GA conditioned B cells have a significant down regulatory effect on chemokines CXCR4, CXCR5 and TLR9 expression in spleen and within the CNS that may be responsible for mediating anti-inflammatory effects in EAE induced mice. Supported by: Teva Neuroscience and NIAID-AI061938, and CA1027A1/3 - National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Disclosure: Dr. Begum-Haque has received research support from Teva Neuroscience. Dr. Christy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Telesford has nothing to disclose. Dr. Haque has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kasper has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, Serono, Inc., Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Genentech, Inc., Mederex as a consultant and participant on a scientifc advisory board. Dr. Kasper has received research support from Teva Neuroscience, Serono, Inc. and Bayer Pharmaceutical Corporation.
Reward Systems in Art, Science, and Religion

Using type of and control over rewards, Crane develops and illustrates the utility of a scheme for understanding variations among innovations in art, science, and religion.
Air insufflation: a useful adjunct to the single contrast barium enema for the evaluation of the rectum.

We examined whether insufflation of a small volume of air after a single-contrast barium enema would improve evaluation of the rectum. Eighty patients presenting for barium enema by single-contrast technique underwent examination of the colon including spot films with fluoroscopy and palpation during introduction of the barium and filled overhead views, using standard apparatus and technique. The examination was completed by draining barium from the rectum only, following which air in the barium enema bag was squeezed back into the rectum and three views of the rectum obtained (lateral, left posterior oblique, and frontal). Two reviewers then chose the best image of the rectum from each study with relevance to luminal distention and visibility of surface detail of the rectum. Following air insufflation, improved surface detail visualization was recognized by both reviewers in 69 (86%) patients and by one reviewer in 10 (12%) patients, a statistically significant observation (P<0.0001). There was a trend towards improved rectal distention, recognized by both reviewers in 37 (46%) patients and by one reviewer in 18 cases (22%). In 25 (31%) patients neither reviewer recognized any improvement in rectal distention. Rectal abnormalities were identified in nine cases; there were two large carcinomas, two radiation strictures, two rectal fistulae, two small rectal polyps (5 and 7 mm), and one case of prolapsing rectal mucosa. All rectal abnormalities were visible on the air insufflation views. In the two cases of suspected rectal polyp and one of the cases of rectal fistula, the findings were not visible on the initial barium filled views. A normal rectum was observed in 71 cases. Follow-up of these 71 patients found no later evidence of any rectal abnormalities. Improved filling of the proximal colon following air insufflation was observed in 12 (15%) patients, an additional and unexpected benefit of this maneuver. Air insufflation is a simple addition to the SCBE study that improves visualization of the rectum.
STABILITIES OF COMPLEX FORMATION BETWEEN TRIETHYLENETETRAAMINE-N 2, N 3-DIACETIC ACID AND SOME TRANSITION METAL IONS

Abstract The protonation and stability constants of Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes of a new sexidentate ligand, triethylenetetraamine-N 2,N 3-diacetic acid tetrahydrochloride (H2ttda·4HCl), have been determined using pH titration techniques at μ = 0.10. The complexes of ttda2- with Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) are more stable than those of edta and the Ni(II) and Zn(II) ttda complexes are more stable than those of penten.
Evaluations of care by adults following a denial of an advertisement-related prescription drug request: The role of expectations, symptom severity, and physician communication style

As patients continue to take a more active role in their health care, an understanding of patient requests of health care providers, including what happens when requests are not fulfilled, is becoming more important. Although its merits have been debated, direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs generates patient requests. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of physician communication style, respondents' expectations of receiving a requested prescription, and perceived symptom severity on respondents' evaluations of care following a physician denial of a prescription drug request stimulated by direct-to-consumer advertising. A 2 x 2 x 2, between-subjects experimental design was used. The respondents were made up of employees of the University of Mississippi. Physician communication style, respondents' expectations, and respondents' perceived symptom severity were manipulated using vignettes. Respondents' post-visit evaluations of care were assessed by measuring trust in the physician, visit-based satisfaction with the physician, and commitment toward the physician. Factorial analysis of variance procedures for a three-way design were used to test the hypotheses and assess the research questions. Manipulation checks suggested that the independent variables were appropriately manipulated. No significant first-order or second-order interactions were noted in any of the analyses. Post-visit evaluations of care were significantly associated with physician communication style (a partnership response led to better evaluations of care). There were no significant effects of either prior expectation of request fulfillment or perceived symptom severity. However, non-significant trends in mean scores suggested a potential role of these variables in the evaluation process following request denial. The manner in which a physician communicates with an individual is an important determinant of the evaluation of care following the denial of a request. The results suggest that health care providers attempting to minimize the effect of request denials on patient evaluations should make an effort to involve the patient in the decision-making process.
Detecting small asteroids with the Space Surveillance Telescope

Abstract The ability of the Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) to find small (2–15 m diameter) NEAs suitable for the NASA asteroid retrieval mission is investigated. Orbits from a simulated population of targetable small asteroids were propagated and observations with the SST were simulated. Different search patterns and telescope time allocation cases were considered, as well as losses due to FOV gaps and weather. It is concluded that a full-time, dedicated survey at the SST is likely necessary to find a useful population of these NEAs within the mission launch timeframe, especially if an object must be observed on >1 night at SST to qualify as a detection. The simulations were also performed for an identical telescope in the southern hemisphere, which is found to produce results very similar to the SST in New Mexico due to significant (∼80%) overlap in the population of objects detected at each site. In addition to considering the SST’s ability to detect small NEAs, a parallel study was performed focusing on >100 m diameter objects. This work shows that even with limited telescope time (3 nights per month) a substantial number of these larger objects would be detected.
The relation between lower extremity strength and shoulder overuse symptoms: a model based on polio survivors.

Abstract Klein MG, Whyte J, Keenan MA, Esquenazi A, Polansky M. The relation between lower extremity strength and shoulder overuse symptoms: a model based on polio survivors. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:789-95. Objective: To determine the relation between lower extremity weakness and shoulder overuse symptoms among polio survivors. We predicted that individuals with moderate weakness in their leg extensor muscles would use their arms to help compensate for this weakness and would be at high risk for developing symptoms of shoulder overuse. Design: A cohort study of polio survivors recruited from the Einstein-Moss Postpolio Management Program (Philadelphia), the community, and the surrounding region. Setting: A research laboratory at Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA. Participants: One hundred ninety-four polio survivors. Demographic and medical history data, symptom data, and strength data were obtained for each. Main Outcome Measures: Presence or absence of shoulder symptoms and ratings of pain by visual analogue scale were recorded. Strength was measured using a hand-held dynamometer and manual muscle testing. Results: Shoulder symptoms could be grouped into two distinct clusters based on the type of testing used for assessment. Symptoms elicited by palpation were present in 26% of the subjects and were strongly related to knee extensor strength and weight. These symptoms were more common among women than men (42% and 10%, respectively). Symptoms elicited by resistance tests were present in 33% of the subjects and were seen with equal frequency in both sexes. These symptoms were also related to lower extremity strength, but the specific relationship was not as clear as for the palpation-related symptoms. Conclusions: Lower extremity weakness predisposes individuals to shoulder overuse symptoms. Sex and body weight are contributing factors. These results may be generalized to other populations with lower extremity weakness, including the elderly. © 2000 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Single Molecule Charging by Atomic Force Microscopy

AFM/KPM charging and charge mapping of polyamine charge carriers in a PMMA matrix is reported. Selective charging of the designed charge carrier is demonstrated at concentrations down to a single molecule. This works constitutes electrochemical charging and detection of single redox-active organic molecules in low dielectric matrices by probe microscopy.
Stress-Strain and Failure Analyses of Composite Pipe Under Torsion

Composite piping systems have been widely used in the petrochemical industry because of their light weight and high corrosion resistance. However, due to the unavailability of torsional testing equipment, very little analytical/experimental research has been conducted for composite pipe under torsion. In this paper, an analytical and experimental study was conducted to investigate the elastic and failure behavior of composite laminated pipes under torsional loading. The analytical model was developed based on the mechanics of composite materials and the classical thin shell theory. The maximum strain failure criterion was applied in the model analysis. Five composite pipe samples were tested on a specially designed pipe torsional tester. A finite element analysis using COSMOS/M software was also performed to compare with the analytical and experimental results. Relationship between applied torque and shear strain, and between torque and torsional angle was obtained by all three methods. Composite pipes with [90/0]{sub n}, [+60/{minus}60]{sub n}, and [+45/{minus}45]{sub n} fiber angles were analyzed in the model and finite element analyses to better understand the effect of fiber orientation on stress, strain and deformation of the pipes. The effect of deviation in fiber angles was also investigated analytically and numerically. It was shown that both analyticalmore » and finite element analysis were in good accord with the experimental results in prediction of elastic shear strain/stress and shear deformation, but failure analysis based on the maximum strain failure criterion deviated significantly with the test results.« less
Spectral Monte Carlo models for nongray radiation analyses in inhomogeneous participating media

A spectral line-by-line (LBL) method is developed for photon Monte Carlo simulations of radiation in participating media. The performance of the proposed method is compared with that of the stochastic full-spectrum k-distribution (FSK) method in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous media, and in both traditional continuum media and media represented by stochastic particle fields, which are frequently encountered in combustion simulations. By using random-number relations, the LBL method does its own spectral reordering, in effect similar to the FSK reordering. Both LBL and FSK methods result in the same level of statistical errors for similar numbers of photon bundles. It is shown that the FSK approach is superior to the LBL approach in both memory and CPU efficiency in all test cases. However, the CPU efficiency is not prominent when spectral calculations are not the dominant source of overall CPU-time cost. Due to a lack of correlation of absorption coefficients in inhomogeneous media, the FSK approach may produce substantial errors, which are avoided by the LBL method. The LBL database can be constructed once and for all, while the FSK database has to be reconstructed every time the reference state changes. Thus, the LBL method is more suitable for quickly-evolving media.
War on Drugs Policing and Police Brutality.

Background: War on Drugs policing has failed to reduce domestic street-level drug activity: the cost of drugs remains low and drugs remain widely available. Objectives: In light of growing attention to police brutality in the United States, this paper explores interconnections between specific War on Drugs policing strategies and police-related violence against Black adolescents and adults in the United States. Methods: This paper reviews literature about (1) historical connections between race/ethnicity and policing in the United States; (2) the ways that the War on Drugs eroded specific legal protections originally designed to curtail police powers; and (3) the implications of these erosions for police brutality targeting Black communities. Results: Policing and racism have been mutually constitutive in the United States. Erosions to the 4th Amendment to the Constitution and to the Posse Comitatus Act set the foundations for two War on Drugs policing strategies: stop and frisk and Special Weapons and Ta...
Fluvial response a decade after wildfire in the northern Yellowstone ecosystem: a spatially explicit analysis

Forest fire is a vital ecological process capable of inducing complex fluvial response, but the integration of these effects across entire watersheds remains poorly understood. We collected downstream cross-sectional and geomorphic data, acquired geographic information on land cover and forest fire, and performed spatially explicit statistical analyses to examine fire-related impacts in catchments burned to varying degrees. Generalized least squares (GLS) regression models suggested that channels with a greater percentage of burned drainage area were associated with markedly higher cross-sectional stream power, relatively smaller width/depth ratios, and lower bank failure rates 12 to 13 years after the fires. These results implied that streams became more powerful in the aftermath of forest fire and that net incision had been the primary response in second- to fourth-order channels since the 1988 Yellowstone fires. The extensive geographic coverage of our data, spanning multiple basins with measurements spaced every 100 m, allowed us to hypothesize a process–response model based on these results. We suggest that a wave of fire-related sediment propagates through burned catchments. High runoff events or even moderate flows provide sufficient energy to evacuate the finer-grained material delivered from burned hillslopes to the channel network over a period of 5–10 years. The combination of elevated post-fire discharges and decreased sediment supply then induces an episode of incision. Site-specific channel changes are highly variable because streams can accommodate post-fire increases in energy and sediment supply through multiple modes of adjustment. Characterizing the spatial distribution of stream power would provide a valuable management tool because this variable is strongly associated with percent-burned drainage area and integrates several elements of complex fluvial response. Future research focused on the channel substrate and its evolution through time is needed, but our results indicate a fundamental linkage between fire and fluvial processes. D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A spatial diversity system to measure optical fading in an underwater communications channel

A two transmitter two receiver spatial diversity system was built for measuring and characterizing fading in underwater optical communication channels. The system allows the collection of laboratory generated interruptions of the optical beam from turbulence, particles, and bubbles. The data collected is characterized using fading metrics developed for atmospheric measurements. Spatial diversity is shown to decrease the amount of fading observed at the receiver to improve system performance.
Head-to-head comparison of the diagnostic accuracies of BD Veritor™ System RSV and Quidel® Sofia® RSV FIA systems for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) diagnosis

Abstract Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of severe lower respiratory tract disease among infants and young children. BD Veritor™ System RSV (BD) and Quidel ® Sofia ® RSV FIA (QD) are the new generation lateral flow digital immunoassay (DIA) tests with an instrumented read for the qualitative detection of RSV viral antigens. Objective To compare the diagnostic accuracies of BD and QD for RSV detection using fresh nasopharyngeal aspirates and nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected in universal transport media during 2013–2014 respiratory season. Study design The two DIA tests were performed simultaneously on randomly selected specimens on a weekly basis during the RSV season until 200 fresh remnant specimens were enrolled. Real-time RT-PCR assay results were used to compare and evaluate the performance of both RSV DIA assays. Results Among 200 specimens tested, RSV real-time RT-PCR assay detected RSV in 104 samples, while QD detected 84 samples and BD detected 74 samples as positive. The overall sensitivity for detection of RSV in comparison to PCR was 71.15% (61.3–79.4) for BD and 80.77% (71.6–87.6) for QD system ( P =0.36). The specificity was 100% (95.2–100) for both systems. The work flow analysis revealed that the overall specimen processing time was significantly lower for BD as compared with the QD assay. Conclusions In comparison with the real-time PCR, the QD system showed a higher sensitivity than that of the BD system, but the difference did not reach statistical significance ( P =0.36). Both BD and QD systems were found comparable in terms of specificity.
Parvovirus infection-induced cell death and cell cycle arrest

The cytopathic effects induced during parvovirus infection have been widely documented. Parvovirus infection-induced cell death is often directly associated with disease outcomes (e.g., anemia resulting from loss of erythroid progenitors during parvovirus B19 infection). Apoptosis is the major form of cell death induced by parvovirus infection. However, nonapoptotic cell death, namely necrosis, has also been reported during infection of the minute virus of mice, parvovirus H-1 and bovine parvovirus. Recent studies have revealed multiple mechanisms underlying the cell death during parvovirus infection. These mechanisms vary in different parvoviruses, although the large nonstructural protein (NS)1 and the small NS proteins (e.g., the 11 kDa of parvovirus B19), as well as replication of the viral genome, are responsible for causing infection-induced cell death. Cell cycle arrest is also common, and contributes to the cytopathic effects induced during parvovirus infection. While viral NS proteins have been indicated to induce cell cycle arrest, increasing evidence suggests that a cellular DNA damage response triggered by an invading single-stranded parvoviral genome is the major inducer of cell cycle arrest in parvovirus-infected cells. Apparently, in response to infection, cell death and cell cycle arrest of parvovirus-infected cells are beneficial to the viral cell lifecycle (e.g., viral DNA replication and virus egress). In this article, we will discuss recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying parvovirus infection-induced cell death and cell cycle arrest.
Unrelated donor transplantation: peripheral blood or bone marrow--does it matter?

Over the past decade, the use of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) has increased and now accounts for 70%–75% of grafts used for unrelated donor transplantation in adults with hematologic malignancy. It is important to recognize the shift in clinical practice from transplantation of bone marrow (BM) to PBPC occurred largely without adequate clinical data to support the change. It is presumed the change in clinical practice is attributed to results of randomized clinical trials in the setting of HLA-matched sibling transplantations. The results of these trials showed better engraftment but increased risk of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) with PBPC and possibly better survival for advanced leukemia. However, the results of HLA-matched sibling transplants may differ from that after unrelated donor transplants. There is greater genetic diversity between unrelated adult donors and their recipients and therefore greater risks of GVHD even if the donor and recipient are fully HLA-matched. This review explores the relative merits of transplantation of PBPC relative to BM for myeloablative and reduced-intensity conditioning unrelated donor transplantation for hematologic cancers in adults.