cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Field-dependent homological behavior of finite dimensional algebras

It is shown that the little finitistic dimension of a finite dimensional algebra, i.e., the supremum of the finite projective dimensions attained on finitely generated modules, is not necessarily attained on a cyclic module. In general, arbitrarily high numbers of generators are required. Moreover, it is demonstrated that this phenomenon may depend on the base fieldk. In fact, for each integerd>-3, there exists a quiver Γ with a set ρ of paths such that the little finitistic dimension of the finite dimensional algebrakΓ/ is attained on a cyclic module precisely when |k|≥d. By contrast, the global dimension of finite dimensional monomial relation algebras does not depend on the base field.
USING COGNITIVE CAPACITY IN READING TEXT

Summary.-Use of cognitive capacity in reading was measured with a secondary task. In this technique, reaction times to clicks which occur rarely and unpredictably during a primary task are used to measure the capacity demands of the primary task. As the' primary task uses more capacity, less spare capacity is available and secondary task performance declines--reaction time to the clicks slows down. Results for 24 undergraduates showed that reaction times to clicks were slower while subjects were reading than in an otherwise equivalent condition in which they were not reading. This indicates that the reading task uses capacity even though it is very highly practiced. Humans have a cognitive processing system of limited capacity (Broadbent, 1958). A straightforward 'method of measuring the amount of cognitive capacity which is used in a cognitive task has been available for some time. It has been used to measure the demands for cognitive capacity of a wide variety of cognitive tasks, including encoding, multiple input, rehearsal, transformation and responding (reviewed by Kerr, 1973; cf. Kahneman, 1973). The method has recently been applied to the cognitive activities involved in the important educational activity of reading (Britton, Piha, Davis, & Wehausen, 1978; Britton, Westbrook, & Holdredge, in press). The method is called the secondary task technique. Use of the secondary task has the purpose of measuring the cognitive capacity used during a primary task, in this case reading. The secondary task of responding to occasional clicks in the present work occurs rarely and unpredictably during the primary task of reading. Performance on the secondary task-reaction time to the clicks-is a measure of the spare capacity left over from processing the primary task. As the primary task uses more capacity, performance on the secondary task decreases; reaction time to the clicks gets slower. In the experiment reported here subjects sat at a table with the text in a booklet in front of them and a finger on a telegraph key. In the Experimental Condition, they were instructed that their main objective was to read the text so they could answer the questions on the test. When they heard a click, they were to release the key as
Cost Modeling of Flexible Assembly Systems

Flexible assembly systems have emerged as a key manufacturing strategy in many industries, such as automotive, electronic components and computers, to respond to stronger market competition and greater product proliferation. As more companies install flexible assembly systems, design and planning decisions for such flexible systems have to be considered together with other factors besides market demand and competitive forces. This paper presents a cost analysis tool that estimates the cost of flexible assembly lines. Specifically, it provides the capability to study the production of a given set of products while evaluating the impact of different flexibility strategies on total assembly cost. A mathematical description of the model is given, followed by a case study demonstrating its application to strategic decisions during the early planning stages of assembly system design.Copyright © 2009 by ASME and General Motors
Heart Failure in Hispanics

Although large-scale heart failure (HF) studies in Hispanic Americans are lacking, some compelling data indicate that they are a particularly vulnerable population and underscore the need for further research. Hispanics comprise the largest and fastest-growing ethnic group in the U.S., in whom the impact of this burgeoning public health problem may be magnified. Current data show that Hispanics with HF are more likely to be younger and underinsured than non-Hispanic whites. They have higher rates of readmissions but have lower in-hospital and short-term mortality rates. Epidemiologic studies demonstrate that Hispanics have excessive rates of diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Although hypertension and ischemic heart disease are established risk factors in this ethnic group, it may be considered that insulin resistance plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of HF in Hispanics, accounting for their inordinate cardiometabolic risk burden and the growing evidence of novel metabolic risk factors for HF. Hispanics encounter multiple barriers to health care influenced by socioeconomic, linguistic, and cultural factors that, in turn, have an adverse impact on disease prognosis. Recognition of predominant risk factors and health care disparities in this population is crucial to tailoring appropriate management strategies. This review summarizes epidemiologic and clinical data on Hispanics with HF, details risk factors and health care impediments, and presents an agenda for future investigation.
Inhibition of ADP-induced platelet responses by covalent modification of aggregin, a putative ADP receptor, by 8-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)ADP.

ADP is an important platelet agonist which initiates platelet shape change, aggregation, exposure of fibrinogen receptors, and calcium mobilization. Because of the limitations of previously used affinity analogs and photolabeling studies as well as controversies surrounding the identity of an ADP receptor on platelets, we have used an affinity label capable of alkylating a putative exofacial receptor on platelets. We now report that 8-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)adenosine-5′-diphosphate (8-BDB-TADP), which is an analog of the natural ligand ADP, blocked ADP-induced platelet shape change, aggregation, exposure of fibrinogen-binding sites, secretion, and calcium mobilization. Following modification by 8-BDB-TADP, the rates of aggregation of platelets induced by thrombin, a calcium ionophore (A23187) or a stimulator of protein kinase C (phorbol myristate acetate) were minimally affected. However, the 8-BDB-TADP-modified platelets exhibited decreased rates of aggregation in response to ADP, as well as collagen and a thromboxane mimetic (U46619), both of which partially require ADP. Autoradiograms of the gels obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of solubilized platelets modified by either [β-32P]8-BDB-TADP, or 8-BDB-TADP and NaB[3H]4 showed the presence of a single radiolabeled protein band at 100 kDa. The intensity of this band was reduced when platelets were preincubated with ADP, ATP, and 8-bromo-ADP prior to labeling by the radioactive 8-BDB-TADP. The results show that 8-BDB-TADP selectively and covalently labeled aggregin (100 kDa), a putative ADP receptor, resulting in a loss of ADP-induced platelet responses.
Use of microarray biomarkers to identify longevity therapeutics

A number of lines of evidence, including nonhuman primate and human studies, suggest that regulatory pathways similar to those invoked by caloric restriction (CR) may be involved in determining human longevity. Thus, pharmaceuticals capable of mimicking the molecular mechanisms of life- and health-span extension by CR (CR mimetics) may have application to human health. CR acts rapidly, even in late adulthood, to begin to extend life- and health-span in mice. We have linked these effects with rapid changes in the levels of specific gene transcripts in the liver and the heart. Our results are consistent with the rapid effects of caloric intake on the lifespan and/or biochemistry and physiology of Drosophila, rodents, rhesus macaques and humans. To test the hypothesis that existing pharmaceuticals can mimic the physiologic effects of CR, we evaluated the effectiveness of glucoregulatory drugs and putative cancer chemo-preventatives in reproducing the hepatic gene-expression profiles produced by long-term CR (LTCR). We found that 8 weeks of metformin treatment was superior to 8 weeks of CR at reproducing the specific changes in transcript levels produced by LTCR. Consistent with these results, metformin reduces cancer incidence in diabetic humans and ameliorates the onset and severity of metabolic syndrome. Metformin extends the mean and maximum lifespans of female transgenic HER-2/neu mice by 8% and 13.1% in comparison with control mice. Phenformin, a close chemical relative of metformin, extends lifespan and reduces tumor incidence in C3H mice. These results indicate that gene-expression biomarkers can be used to identify promising candidate CR mimetics.
Investigation of Turbulent Boundary-Layer Separation Using Laser Velocimetry

Boundary-layer measurements realized by laser velocimetry are presented for a Much 2.9, two-dimensional, shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction containing an extensive region of separated flow. Mean velocity and turbulent intensity profiles were obtained from upstream of the interaction zone to downstream of the mean reattachment point. The superiority of the laser velocimeter technique over pressure sensors in turbulent separated flows is demonstrated by a comparison of the laser velocimeter data with results obtained from local pilot and static pressure measurements for the same flow conditions. The locations of the mean separation and reattachment points as deduced from the mean velocity measurements are compared to oil-now visualization results. Representative velocity probability density functions obtained in the separated now region are also presented. Critical to the success of this investigation were: the use of Bragg cell frequency shifting and artificial seeding of the now with submicron light-scattering particles.
THE BENCHMARK CLUSTER REDDENING PROJECT. IV. A STATISTICAL TEST FOR NONUNIFORM REDDENING IN THE PLEIADES

Using a protocol developed in previous papers in this series, the character of the Pleiades reddening is investigated. The protocol includes (1) analyses that yield results at the few-millimag level of precision and accuracy, (2) derivation of rigorous foundations for reddening values, (3) use of reddening techniques with limited metallicity sensitivity, (4) explicit zero-point control of input data, and (5) use of statistical analysis. It is found that in the eastern part of the Pleiades (as defined in a paper by Breger), E(B – V) = 34 ± 11 mmag, with the quoted standard error depicting the amount of nonuniform reddening. In the western part of the Pleiades outside the "Southwest Nebula" (where E(B – V)>0.2 mag), the mean value of E(B – V) = 57 ± 5.8 mmag, and the intrinsic rms scatter in E(B – V) is 32 mmag. These results show that a widely adopted model in which E(B – V) = 0.04 mag everywhere in the Pleiades outside the Southwest Nebula is not correct for any extended region in the Pleiades. They also show that the photometric properties of brown dwarfs in the western part of the Pleiades are not yet well established. In a collateral analysis, published high-dispersion values of [Fe/H] are used to derive mean metallicities for the Pleiades and Praesepe. The resulting values of [Fe/H] are –0.039 ± 0.014 dex and +0.057 ± 0.022 dex, respectively. When these results are combined with a mean high-dispersion metallicity for the Hyades, it is found that they are strongly inconsistent with a published explanation for the Pleiades distance modulus problem that is based specifically on photometric metallicities.
Depletion of a nucleolar protein activates xenobiotic detoxification genes in Caenorhabditis elegans via Nrf /SKN-1 and p53/CEP-1

Abstract The nucleolus has recently emerged as a major coordinator of cellular stress responses by regulating the tumor suppressor p53. However, it is not known if the nucleolus regulates the cap ‘n’ collar (CnC) transcription factors SKN-1 and Nrf2, which activate conserved antioxidant and detoxification responses in C. elegans and mammals, respectively. A screen for negative regulators of detoxification genes in C. elegans identified the conserved WD40 repeat containing protein WDR-46. This protein is highly conserved with yeast UTP7, which functions in 18S rRNA processing and assembly of the 40S small ribosomal subunit. WDR-46 is expressed in the nucleoli of multiple tissues in C. elegans and is required for rRNA processing. Mutation or silencing of WDR-46 activates the single C. elegans CnC homologue SKN-1 and increases expression of its target genes. Depletion of wdr-46 reduces lifespan and stress resistance and SKN-1 partially compensates. Lastly, the C. elegans p53 homologue CEP-1 is partially required for activation of gst-4 when wdr-46 or other ribosome processing genes are silenced but not when translation initiation genes are silenced suggesting that disruptions to nucleolar function can activate SKN-1 by a mechanism that involves p53/cep-1 and is independent of protein translation.
Effect of thrombocytopenia on outcomes following treatment with either enoxaparin or unfractionated heparin in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes.

Thrombocytopenia is associated with an increased risk for adverse cardiac events and bleeding in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) treated with unfractionated heparin (UFH). Enoxaparin has been shown to improve outcomes in ACS; however, its effect on the development of thrombocytopenia in this population is not well documented. This study was conducted to examine the incidence and clinical importance of thrombocytopenia in patients presenting with non-ST-elevation ACS randomized to treatment with enoxaparin or UFH. Thrombocytopenia was defined as a platelet count 50% decrease from baseline. Thrombocytopenia developed in a total of 93 of 3,910 patients during the follow-up period of 14 days; the incidence was similar between study arms. The development of thrombocytopenia was associated with more frequent death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and urgent revascularization during the study period (odds ratio 2.96, p = 0.001). This association was independent of assignment to treatment with enoxaparin or UFH (p for interaction = 0.47). Major bleeding was also more common in patients with thrombocytopenia regardless of treatment. In conclusion, thrombocytopenia is a significant correlate of adverse events in patients presenting with non-ST-elevation ACS treated with either enoxaparin or UFH.
Intelligence: What makes someone smart?

Everybody accepts that intelligence varies. But how do nature and nurture interact to create that variation?
Fourier transform method to determine human corneal endothelial morphology

The statistical evaluation of the size, shape, density and regularity of the cells in the human corneal endothelium is an important diagnostic technique. A method based on the Fourier transform of the cell boundaries was developed which can yield these statistical properties. The development of a hybrid optical/digital technique to obtain these statistical perimeters is our goal. The input images were tracings of human endothelial cell patterns. The optical Fourier transform of each image was obtained, and the radial projection and the angular correlation function were plotted versus distance and angle respectively. The average size of the cells was obtained from the first peak of the radial projection. The width of this peak is related to the coefficient of variation of the average cell size. The separation of the peaks in the normalized angular correlation plot is related to cell shape. This method is suitable for rapid analysis of large numbers of endothelial cell images. This technique may have potential for diagnostic ophthalmology.
THE CONSISTENCY OF AMEBA CYTOPLASM AND ITS BEARING ON THE MECHANISM OF AMEBOID MOVEMENT II. The Effects of Centrifugal Acceleration Observed in the Centrifuge Microscope

Three species of common, free-living amebae, Amoeba proteus, Amoeba dubia, and Chaos chaos were directly observed and photographed while exposed to a range of centrifugal accelerations in two types of centrifuge microscopes. Cytoplasmic inclusions in all three species are displaced discontinuously (at a variable velocity) in apparently all parts of the cell, suggesting non-Newtonian behavior and/or heterogeneous consistency. The ectoplasm of all species shows the highest yield point of any region in the cell; the posterior ectoplasm is less rigid than that in the anterior part of the cell. The axial part of the endoplasm shows evidence of structure (a sharp viscosity transition if not a true yield point) by its: (a) resistance to the displacement of particles carried in that region of the cell, (b) hindrance to the passage through the cell of inclusions displaced from other regions, and its (c) support without visible back-slip of inclusion being resuspended in the axial endoplasm in a centripetal direction at accelerations as high as 170 g. At this acceleration, each crystal "weighs" the equivalent reduced weight of seven times its volume in gold at 1 g. The only regions of the normal, moving cell which show clear evidence of low apparent viscosity are the "shear zone" (see Fig. 8) and the "recruitment zone." Possible reasons for low apparent viscosity in these regions are discussed. A new scheme of ameba "structure" is presented on the basis of the combined results of velocity profile analysis and the present centrifugation study.
The reporting of statistical techniques in otolaryngology journals.

• The domain of this study is the reporting of statistical analyses in the otolaryngology literature during 1983 and 1984. Fewer than ten basic statistical procedures accounted for more than 90% of the statistical techniques reported. Implications for authors, journals, and educators are discussed. We offer suggestions for imparting statistical skills that may be helpful in curriculum design, residency training, and continuing medical education planning. ( Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1987;113:45-50)
Structure and Function of Transcription-Repair Coupling Factor I. STRUCTURAL DOMAINS AND BINDING PROPERTIES

The 130-kDa mfd gene product is required for coupling transcription to repair in Escherichia coli. Mfd displaces E. coli RNA polymerase (Pol) stalled at a lesion, binds to the damage recognition protein UvrA, and increases the template strand repair rate during transcription. Here, the interactions of Mfd (transcription-repair coupling factor, TRCF) with DNA, RNA Pol, and UvrA were investigated. TRCF bound nonspecifically to double stranded DNA; binding to DNA produced alternating DNase I-protected and -hypersensitive regions, suggesting possible wrapping of the DNA around the enzyme. Weaker binding to single stranded DNA and no binding to single stranded RNA were observed. DNA binding required ATP, and hydrolysis of ATP promoted dissociation. Removal of a stalled RNA Pol also requires ATP hydrolysis. Apparently, TRCF recognizes a stalled elongation complex by directly interacting with RNA Pol, since binding to a synthetic transcription bubble was no stronger than binding to double stranded DNA, and binding to free RNA Pol holoenzyme and to initiation and elongation complexes in the absence of adenosine 5′-O-(thiotriphosphate) were observed. Structure-function analysis showed that residues 379-571 are involved in binding to a stalled RNAP. The helicase motifs region, residues 571-931, binds to ATP and duplex polynucleotide (DNA:DNA or DNA:RNA). Dissociation of the ternary complex upon hydrolysis of ATP also requires the carboxyl terminus of TRCF. Finally, residues 1-378 bind to UvrA and deliver the damage recognition component of the excision nuclease to the lesion.
Modeling a Ca2+ Channel/BKCa Channel Complex at the Single-Complex Level

BKCa-channel activity often affects the firing properties of neurons, the shapes of neuronal action potentials (APs), and in some cases the extent of neurotransmitter release. It has become clear that BKCa channels often form complexes with voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (CaV channels) such that when a CaV channel is activated, the ensuing influx of Ca2+ activates its closely associated BKCa channel. Thus, in modeling the electrical properties of neurons, it would be useful to have quantitative models of CaV/BKCa complexes. Furthermore, in a population of CaV/BKCa complexes, all BKCa channels are not exposed to the same Ca2+ concentration at the same time. Thus, stochastic rather than deterministic models are required. To date, however, no such models have been described. Here, however, I present a stochastic model of a CaV2.1/BKCa(α-only) complex, as might be found in a central nerve terminal. The CaV2.1/BKCa model is based on kinetic modeling of its two component channels at physiological temperature. Surprisingly, The CaV2.1/BKCa model predicts that although the CaV channel will open nearly every time during a typical cortical AP, its associated BKCa channel is expected to open in only 30% of trials, and this percentage is very sensitive to the duration of the AP, the distance between the two channels in the complex, and the presence of fast internal Ca2+ buffers. Also, the model predicts that the kinetics of the BKCa currents of a population of CaV2.1/BKCa complexes will not be limited by the kinetics of the CaV2.1 channel, and during a train of APs, the current response of the complex is expected to faithfully follow even very rapid trains. Aside from providing insight into how these complexes are likely to behave in vivo, the models presented here could also be of use more generally as components of higher-level models of neural function.
Soft truncation thresholding for gene set analysis of RNA-seq data: Application to a vaccine study

Gene set analysis (GSA) has been used for analysis of microarray data to aid the interpretation and to increase statistical power. With the advent of next-generation sequencing, the use of GSA is even more relevant, as studies are often conducted on a small number of samples. We propose the use of soft truncation thresholding and the Gamma Method (GM) to determine significant gene set (GS), where a generalized linear model is used to assess per-gene significance. The approach was compared to other methods using an extensive simulation study and RNA-seq data from smallpox vaccine study. The GM was found to outperform other proposed methods. Application of the GM to the smallpox vaccine study found the GSs to be moderately associated with response, including focal adhesion (p = 0.04) and extracellular matrix receptor interaction (p = 0.05). The application of GSA to RNA-seq data will provide new insights into the genomic basis of complex traits.
Neighborhood Experiences and Community Integration: Perspectives from Mental Health Consumers and Providers

Abstract This exploratory study examines the social interactional aspect of community integration among persons with psychiatric disabilities. Six focus groups were conducted with 18 mental health consumers in three publicly sponsored community residential programs and 11 staff members providing services to these consumers. Mental health consumers reported both positive and negative experiences in their interactions with community residents. Despite perceived differences between persons with psychiatric disabilities and their neighbors, consumers considered reciprocity and mutual accommodation to be critical for building social relationships in their communities. Mental health providers suggested that social integration can be facilitated by developing independent living and social skills, by overcoming self-stigma and institutional and homeless mindsets, and by having a supportive community of consumers.
Work‐Energy Relations in Mechanics

Summary From the bulk or non‐particle laws of motion, work‐energy relations of mechanics are derived in a manner which does not require the introduction of the concept of internal force. The rotational motion work‐energy equation is then specialized to the case of a rigid body. Next internal forces are introduced and a conservation of mechanical energy expression is developed.
Multiple Choice Knapsack Problem: Example of planning choice in transportation

Transportation programming, a process of selecting projects for funding given budget and other constraints, is becoming more complex as a result of new federal laws, local planning regulations, and increased public involvement. This article describes the use of an integer programming tool, Multiple Choice Knapsack Problem (MCKP), to provide optimal solutions to transportation programming problems in cases where alternative versions of projects are under consideration. In this paper, optimization methods for use in the transportation programming process are compared and then the process of building and solving the optimization problems is discussed. The concepts about the use of MCKP are presented and a real-world transportation programming example at various budget levels is provided. This article illustrates how the use of MCKP addresses the modern complexities and provides timely solutions in transportation programming practice. While the article uses transportation programming as a case study, MCKP can be useful in other fields where a similar decision among a subset of the alternatives is required.
Magnetic Surface States in Zinc

The magnetic fields at which magnetic-surface-state transitions occur were measured as a function of sample orientation in the three principal planes of zinc. These low-field microwave-frequency transitions dominate the surface impedance from 0 to 100 Oe. Three distinct series are presented and these are assigned to regions on the Fermi surface. The anisotropy of these series is compared with predictions of orthogonalized-plane-wave band models. The Fermi velocities on the third-band lens are extracted and presented.
Amacrine cells, bipolar cells and ganglion cells of the cat retina: a Golgi study

Abstract Neuronal types contributing to the inner plexiform layer of the cat retina are described based primarily on light microscopy of Golgi-impregnated retinal whole-mounts. Cells have been characterized on morphological criteria that include dendritic branching patterns, dendritic tree sizes, cell body sizes and stratification of processes in the inner plexiform layer. Nine different types of bipolar cell, 22 different types of amacrine cell and 23 different types of ganglion cell can be distinguished using one or more of these morphological criteria. The significance of the different morphological types of cells is discussed, particularly in relationship to the functional bisublamination of the cat inner plexiform layer.
Measuring Traction Forces of Motile Dendritic Cells on Micropost Arrays

Dendritic cells (DCs) migrate from sites of inflammation to secondary lymphoid organs where they initiate the adaptive immune response. Although motility is essential to DC function, the mechanisms by which they migrate are not fully understood. We incorporated micropost array detectors into a microfluidic gradient generator to develop what we consider to be a novel method for probing low magnitude traction forces during directional migration. We found migration of primary murine DCs is driven by short-lived traction stresses at the leading edge or filopodia. The traction forces generated by DCs are smaller in magnitude than found in neutrophils, and of similar magnitude during chemotaxis and chemokinesis, at 18 ± 1.4 and 16 ± 1.3 nN/cell, respectively. The characteristic duration of local DC traction forces was 3 min. The maximum principal stress in the cell occurred in the plane perpendicular to the axis of motion, forward of the centroid. We illustrate that the spatiotemporal pattern of traction stresses can be used to predict the direction of future DC motion. Overall, DCs show a mode of migration distinct from both mesenchymal cells and neutrophils, characterized by rapid turnover of traction forces in leading filopodia.
The Dislocation Bias

Bias factors for dislocations quantify the preferential diffusion of self-interstitials relative to the diffusion of vacancies to dislocations. These parameters are essential for rate theory computer codes that model nucleation and growth of voids, helium bubbles, dislocation loops, and the evolution of microstructures in materials subject to high dose irradiations. Compact formulae for these factors are derived and the accuracy of several approximations is explored.
Soft error rate determination for nanoscale sequential logic

We analyze the neutron induced soft error rate (SER) by modeling induced error pulse using two parameters, occurrence frequency and probability density function for the pulse width. We extend the analysis to sequential logic and latches and calculate the failures in time (FIT) rate. The analysis is developed for the available background neutron flux data, which is experimentally determined. This, along with the device characteristics, gives the induced pulse parameters. A gate-level algorithm propagates the pulse parameters through logic gates. This algorithm correctly models the logic masking of error pulses. We introduce the concept of latching window that accurately models the temporal masking by sequential elements and present an algorithm for SER analysis of sequential logic.
Decreased levels of BDNF protein in Alzheimer temporal cortex are independent of BDNF polymorphisms

Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are reduced in specific brain regions in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and BDNF gene polymorphisms have been suggested to influence AD risk, hippocampal function, and memory. We investigated whether the polymorphisms at the BDNF 196 and 270 loci were associated with AD in a clinical and neuropathological cohort of 116 AD cases and 77 control subjects. To determine how BDNF protein levels relate to BDNF polymorphisms and AD pathology, we also measured BDNF in temporal association cortex, frontal association cortex, and cerebellum in 57 of the AD and 21 control cases. BDNF protein levels in temporal neocortex of the AD brains were reduced by 33% compared to control brains, whereas levels were unchanged in frontal and cerebellar cortex. The BDNF genotypes were not significantly associated with a diagnosis of AD, although the BDNF 270 C allele was slightly overrepresented among carriers of the APOEe4 allele. Moreover, BDNF protein levels did not differ between the various BDNF genotypes and alleles. Neuropathologically, the loss of BDNF in AD showed a weak correlation with accumulation of neuritic amyloid plaques and loss of the neuronal/synaptic marker synaptophysin. The results suggest that the investigated BDNF polymorphisms are neither robust genetic risk factors nor determinants of BDNF protein levels in AD.
More motivational aspects of an imagery mnemonic

Mnemonics research has focused on cognitive aspects of mnemonics. This study explored some motivational aspects of mnemonics–factors that can affect how much people might want to use mnemonics. It was hypothesized that using a mnemonic can make learning easier and more fun. College students used the rhyming peg mnemonic to learn 12 sayings (e. g. ‘Curiosity killed the cat’). The students rated the task as being easier (lower difficulty and effort) than did control students who learned the sayings without the mnemonic. There was also a tendency for the mnemonic students to rate the task as being more fun (higher interest and enjoyability), although behavioural measures of interest did not support the ratings. The mnemonic students also recalled more sayings than did the control students. The results suggest that, in addition to the cognitive effectiveness of mnemonics in increasing recal, mnemonics might also have the potential to make learning easier and possibly more fun.
High-pressure binderless compaction of waste paper to form useful fuel

Abstract High-pressure binderless compaction of five types of waste paper typically found in municipal solid waste (MSW) stream, including corrugated board, newsprint, office paper, commercial printing, and non-corrugated box board, were studied. A piston-and-mold (punch-and-die) process was used and compaction was performed under room temperature and at pressures ranging from 34 to 138 MPa. The waste papers were compacted into 49-mm-diameter logs both separately and in mixture under various moisture contents and pressures. The properties of the logs including compressive strength, abrasion resistance, impact resistance, and combustion characteristics were tested. It was found that the waste paper mixture with moisture content ranging from 5% to 20% can be easily compacted into logs of good quality under pressures above 70 MPa. When the pressure is above 100 MPa and the moisture content of the waste paper is lower than 10%, logs with dry densities greater than 1 g/cm3 can be produced. The optimum moisture content for making abrasion-resistant and impact-resistant logs with high compressive strength is in the neighborhood of 15%. Compaction pressure of around 70 MPa was found to be cost-effective for the production of good quality logs from waste paper. The logs made from the waste paper have a heating value equivalent to that of lignite fuels, and can be co-fired with coal in power plants.
Dynamic incremental CT: effect of volume and concentration of contrast material and patient weight on hepatic enhancement.

PURPOSE: To develop an individualized approach to the intravenous administration of contrast material for hepatic computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred patients were randomized into eight protocols. Each group received different volumes and concentrations of contrast material. For each protocol, maximum hepatic enhancement (MHE) was calculated, with an adjustment for iodine dose and patient weight. The contrast enhancement index (CEI) and optimum scanning interval were calculated for hepatic enhancement thresholds of 10-60 HU. RESULTS: The MHE calculated as a function of patient weight was 96 HU +/- 19 per gram of iodine per kilogram of body weight. CEIs obtained with a contrast material concentration of 240 mg of iodine per milliliter were inferior to those obtained with a concentration of 320 or 350 mg I/mL. At low enhancement thresholds, the volume of contrast material had a more important effect than the concentration on CEI and optimum scanning interval; at high thresholds, con...
Cigarette characteristic and emission variations across high-, middle- and low-income countries

Objectives The public health burden of tobacco use is shifting to the developing world, and the tobacco industry may apply some of its successful marketing tactics, such as allaying health concerns with product modifications. This study used standard smoking machine tests to examine the extent to which the industry is introducing engineering features that reduce tar and nicotine to cigarettes sold in middle- and low-income countries.
MECHANISM OF OXYGEN DETOXIFICATION IN NEONATAL RAT LUNG TISSUE

— Pulmonary macrophages obtained from neonatal rats contain approximately four times the activity of cyanide resistant superoxide dismutase and catalase compared with the cells from adult animals. The activity is highest immediately after birth and diminishes with age until the minimum level is reached at approximately 3 weeks of age. Superimposed upon this change in basal activity is the capability of neonatal cells to synthesize additional cyanide resistant superoxide dismutase and catalase when either the animals or isolated pulmonary macrophages are exposed to 95–100% oxygen. The inductive effect begins at 2–3 days after birth, peaks at 10 days, and disappears at approximately 15 days after birth. In contrast to adult rats, neonatal rats are extremely resistant to the toxic effects of oxygen. If, however, the oxygen mediated increase in both enzymes is prevented or the maximum effective pulmonary macrophage number is diminished in test animals, these animals become vulnerable to toxic effects of oxygen exposure, observed by gross and histologic examination of lung tissue, in a manner similar to adult animals. These data indicate that both cyanide-resistant superoxide dismutase and catalase may be part of the endogenous defense mechanisms which provide neonatal rats with an exceptional resistance to oxygen toxicity.
Effects of earn-a-buck and special antlerless-only seasons on Wisconsin's deer harvests.

Effective management of wildlife populations often requires motivating hunters to harvest sufficient numbers of animals of prescribed sex and age classes to meet management goals. For cervids, it is convenient to design harvest regulations relative to presence (male) or absence (young and female) of antlers because harvest of females has a larger effect on population growth. We used regression techniques to evaluate effects of 2 supplemental hunting programs based on additional days of hunting opportunity and an additional incentive used to complement additional days on harvest of antlered and antlerless deer in Wisconsin, USA. Earn-a-buck regulations, an incentive-based program that requires hunters to register an antlerless deer before being authorized to harvest an antlered deer, were associated with an average increase of 2.04 deer/km2 in antlerless harvest and a 0.60 deer/km2 decrease in harvest of antlered deer. Providing more opportunity for hunting of antlerless deer in the form of 4- and 8-day supplemental firearm seasons was associated with 1.10 deer/km2 and 1.32 deer/km2 increases, respectively, in antlerless harvest with trivial (0.02 deer/km2 and 0.09 deer/km2) decreases in harvests of antlered deer. Our analysis suggests that extra days of hunting opportunity coupled with the earn-a-buck incentive was 56–88% more effective at increasing antlerless harvest relative to additional days of hunting without the incentive. Use of the earn-a-buck incentive resulted in decreased harvest of antlered deer and was disliked by many hunters. Quantifying these relationships is important for helping managers predict the costs and benefits of various hunting programs.
Language ideologies and Cherokee revitalization: Impracticality, legitimacy, and hope

Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma has enacted a revitalization plan to promote Cherokee language in a variety of settings, and many tribal citizens have begun to confront how language factors into their identities as Cherokees. In particular, Tsalagi Dideloquasdi, the Cherokee immersion school, has become an important sociolinguistic site for the articulation of deeply seated beliefs and attitudes about issues such as the practicality of the language in contemporary times and who has a legitimate right to learn and speak the language. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate these attitudes and beliefs as well as the ideologies that inform them. Assuming a critical ethnographic stance, I examine the hegemonic discourses and structures that have led to the loss of Cherokee over generations as well as to three ideologies — impracticality, legitimacy, and hope — that influence the current efforts of the immersion school stakeholders.
The Illustration-Based Assessment of Liability and EXposure to Substance use and Antisocial behavior© for Children

Background/Objectives: Ontogenetic prevention of substance abuse requires that an individual's "profile" of substance abuse predictors is assessed to guide intervention decision-making ( [1] ). For child intervention, self-report data provide information that cannot be obtained from other sources such as parents or teachers. However, efficient child report instruments of substance abuse risk factors are lacking. The Assessment of Liability and EXposure to Substance use and Antisocial behavior((c)) (ALEXSA((c))) is an illustration-based, computerized child report assessment for early manifestations and predictors of substance abuse and antisocial behavior. Methods: Construct validity and test-retest reliabilities of ALEXSA subscales were estimated in 272 nine to twelve-year old students from regular and remedial education classrooms. Results: Anecdotal and quantitative data demonstrated that children enjoy the ALEXSA format. All factors and 34 of 39 subscales had good or better reliabilities. Nine factors were extracted: Disinhibition (example subscales are Irritability, Impulsivity), Sensation Seeking (e.g., Gambling, Social Disinhibition), Self Management (e.g., Planning and Concentration, Problem Solving), Family Discord (e.g., Family Behavior Problems, Family Conflict), Parent Fortification (e.g., Parental Monitoring, Parent Attachment), Social Contagion (e.g., Friends' Conduct Disorder Criteria, Peer Pressure Susceptibility), Social Support (e.g., Social Support: Adults, Number of Friends), Neighborhood Risks (e.g., Gang Exposure, Neighborhood Atmosphere), and School Protection (e.g., Academic Competency, School Commitment). Scientific Significance: The ALEXSA could provide efficient child reports for research, needs assessment, and outcomes to support etiology and prevention of substance abuse and antisocial behavior. Language: en
The selective inhibition of nitric oxide production in the avian macrophage cell line HD11

The production of reactive nitrogen, nitric oxide (NO), has previously been demonstrated to be a major mechanism by which the innate immune system defends against microbial invasion. The induction of many antimicrobial mechanisms is regulated by numerous components during the transduction of the signal from the cell surface to the cell nucleus where response genes are upregulated. Toll-like cell surface receptor activation often leads to sequential modulation of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK), mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK), degradation of I kappa B (IkappaB) regulatory molecules which, in turn, release the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) family proteins for translocation into the nucleus and subsequent gene transcription. The purpose of this study was to investigate components of the upstream signal transduction pathway induced by bacterial and viral-like stimulation of NO for antimicrobial defense by the transformed chicken macrophage cell line, HD11. We quantified the production of nitrite by chicken macrophages after exposure to selective pharmacological inhibitors of specific signal transduction components prior to stimulation by polyinosinic polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), formalin-fixed Enterococcus gallinarum (EG) or formalin-fixed Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP). We found that NO production induced by dsRNA or bacteria was reduced in a dose dependent manner by specific inhibitors of PTK, p38 MAPK, IkappaB, and NF-kappaB. Inhibition efficacy varied dependent on stimulation by bacterial or viral-like ligands. In general, NO production induced by bacterial stimulation was most effectively reduced by inhibition of p38 MAPK and least effectively reduced by inhibition of IkappaB. NF-kappaB and IkappaB inhibition affected NO production induced by dsRNA more than that induced by bacterial stimulation.
Envisioning other Minds: The Artistic Drawing and Psychometric Rating of Images and Percepts

During half of this two-hour study, 28 individually tested subjects completed the MMPI. At the outset of the second hour, each subject photographed a frightening view, then described his or her percept of the view as a student artist made a colored chalk drawing of the perceptual experience described. Independent raters later compared the subject's color photograph of the view itself and the colored drawing of the subject's perceptual experience, and rated the extent to which the view itself had been 1) embellished, 2) diminished, and 3) transformed in the subject's perceptual experience of the view. During the conclusion of the second hour, each subject mentally envisioned a frightening image, then described the image as the student artist made a colored chalk drawing of the imaginal experience described. The independent raters, on three more scales, rated the extent to which the drawn image expressed 1) paranoid fear, 2) phobic fear, and 3) chronic fear. Subjects whose perceptual experiences of frighten...
Nanocytological Field Carcinogenesis Detection to Mitigate Overdiagnosis of Prostate Cancer: A Proof of Concept Study

Purpose To determine whether nano-architectural interrogation of prostate field carcinogenesis can be used to predict prognosis in patients with early stage (Gleason 6) prostate cancer (PCa), which is mostly indolent but frequently unnecessarily treated.
44 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ILLNESS AND LEARNING IN ADOLESCENTS

Although recent studies have focused on the psychosocial effects of illness in adolescence, little attention has been given to the impact of such illness upon learning. This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between the chronicity, severity, and discomfort of illness and the capacity to acquire new knowledge. 24 hospitalized adolescents (ages 12-19) participated in a group educational experience on the subject of VD. Their knowledge of content was measured before and after the learning experience by the administration of multiple choice tests. Each teenager was then evaluated as to reading ability (WRAT), severity of illness (Seriousness of Illness Rating Scale), chronicity of disease (physician assessment), and perception of pain (McGill Pain Questionnaire). Pre and post testing revealed that changes in knowledge had a significant negative correlation with the patients' perceptions of the oppressiveness of their pain (P<.05). Adolescents who described their pain in highly evaluative ways (“troublesome”, “distressing”) learned less in the standard situation than those who did not. There were no significant correlations between achievement and age, sex, reading grade, or chronicity or severity of illness. This study would suggest that the ability of the ill teenager to learn is more controlled by his subjective evaluation of the pain than by objective ability or severity or chronicity of illness.
Manufacturing 3: discrete event simulation in automotive final process system

The Final Process System is an important part of the entire quality assurance system in the automobile manufacturing process. Operators and machines perform a series of crucial testing procedures before shipping a vehicle. Many complex factors impact the system throughput. The important ones are first time success rate, repair and service routing logic, process layout, operator staffing, capacity of testing equipment and random equipment breakdown. Discrete Event Simulation is a tool of choice in analyzing these issues in order to develop an effective and efficient process to ensure the system throughput. Using a case study from the automotive industries, this paper discusses the methodology of modeling and studying the Final Process System. The concepts and methods presented here are also applicable to other discrete manufacturing processes.
Asia's Complex Strategic Environment: Nuclear Multipolarity and Other Dangers

An earlier version of this article was presented at the Asia Policy Assembly in Washington, D.C., on June 17–18, 2010.
A contact searching algorithm including bounding volume trees applied to finite sliding mortar formulations

This paper presents a new contact searching algorithm for large deformation mortar-based contact formulations. In this algorithm, a bounding volume hierarchy, defined in the context of a binary tree, is built for each contact surface based on the geometry of the surface. A global contact searching procedure based on these bounding volume trees is first performed to find all candidate contact element pairs, and then a local searching procedure is done to find all the mortar segments having contributions to the mortar integrals that define the contact formulation. The searching algorithm is shown to be very efficient and readily applicable to a variety of large sliding contact problems.