cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of mass spectral intensities by regression analysis of calculated structural characteristics

Abstract Intensities of low-resolution, electron-impact mass spectral peaks were modelled with equations found by multiple linear regression analysis of experimental spectra and molecular descriptors derived from connection tables. Spectra of 246 hydrocarbons, including acyclic alkanes and alkenes, and cyclic alkanes and alkenes, were used. A randomly selected sample of twenty compounds was reserved for later evaluation of predictive capability. Molecular structure descriptors including molecular connectivity indices, substructure counts and molecular connectivity environments, numbers of double bonds, numbers of rings plus double bonds (unsaturations), path counts, and molecular weights were used as potential independent variables in a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis program to simulate logarithmically transformed peak intensities. Simulated spectra were compared to observed spectra by using correlation coefficient and Euclidean distance criteria. Simulated spectra were treated as unknowns in a file-searching experiment. The simulated spectra produced by the model equations were very similar to the actual observed spectra for both the training set of compounds and the set of unknown compounds.
A Whole Ecosystem Approach to Studying Climate Change in Interior Alaska

[1] Yukon River Basin Principal Investigators Workshop; Portland, Oregon, 18–20 January 2011; High latitudes are known to be particularly susceptible to climate warming, leading to an emphasis of field and modeling research on arctic regions. Subarctic and boreal regions such as the Yukon River Basin (YRB) of interior Alaska and western Canada are less well studied, although they encompass large areas that are vulnerable to changes in forest composition, permafrost distribution, and hydrology. There is an urgent need to understand the resiliency and vulnerability of these complex ecosystems as well as their feedbacks to the global climate system. Consequently, U.S. Geological Survey scientists, with other federal agency, university, and private industry partners, is focusing subarctic interdisciplinary studies on the Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River watershed (http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/ak/en/prog/nlcs/beavercrk_nwsr.html) and Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (http://yukonflats.fws.gov/ ) in the YRB, south and west of Fort Yukon, Alaska. These areas are national treasures of wetlands, lakes, and uplands that support large populations of wildlife and waterfowl and are home to vibrant native Alaskan communities that depend on the area for a subsistence lifestyle.
An historical land conservation analysis in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA: 1850–2010

The last century has seen large changes in land-use and land-cover. We reconstructed the history of conservation land acquisition (where, when, how much and what) from 1850 to 2010 in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S.A. We hypothesized that the process of land acquisition would be characterized by a fill-in effect – as acquisitions are pursued over time, they complement prior acquisitions by adding more area and new or underrepresented land-cover types. We also hypothesized that strategic land acquisition over time would result in representation of all land-cover types, and that these types would subsequently show little transition, except in heavily disturbed locations, such as previously logged redwood forests. Acquisition of conservation lands was continuous and currently represents 31.7% of the Bay Area. Special Districts (local government units delivering a specific service – parks) acquired more area, and cities acquired numerous small properties. There was a fill-in effect with fewer and larger parcels acquired before 1940 while later acquisitions were more numerous but smaller. At least 20% of every land-cover type is currently conserved, showing the historic complementarity of strategic acquisitions. Land-cover change was less than 40% in early acquisitions, between 70 and 80% on degraded lands in mid-century, and 45% in recent acquisitions. The history of conservation land acquisition has led to a representative conservation network in the San Francisco Bay Area. We believe that reconstructing conservation history can unveil past trends, permit assessment of success, and identify challenges to represent biodiversity within a conservation network.
Prescription Drug Abuse: A Comparison of Prescriber and Pharmacist Perspectives

This study compared perceptions of prescribers and pharmacists (N = 89) regarding multiple aspects of prescription drug abuse. Questionnaires were developed to assess perceptions regarding the prevalence of prescription drug abuse, self-perceived communication competence, and additional communication and prescription drug abuse domains. Pharmacists perceived a larger percentage of patients (41%) to be abusing opioid pain relievers as compared with their prescriber colleagues (17%). Both prescribers and pharmacists indicated improvements in prescriber-pharmacist communication would serve to deter prescription drug abuse. Self-efficacy beliefs for detecting and discussing prescription drug abuse with patients were low for both cohorts. Implications and limitations are noted. Year of data collection: 2012 SETTING: Rural Appalachia Data Collection Instruments: Prescriber- and pharmacist-specific survey instruments Data Analysis Techniques: Independent samples t-test; Mann-Whitney U test.
Secondary emission of electrons from molybdenum

Abstract The ratio of the number of secondary electrons to primary electrons of various energies incident on a molybdenum plate (previously subjected to severe heat treatment) was measured. The results obtained resemble those reported by Petry more closely than they do the more recent work of Hyatt and Smith. Possibilities for explaining discrepancies are suggested.
Oil Spill Source Identification by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) with flame ionization detection has been applied to oil spill source identification. An oil spill case from the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety Laboratories (MSL) was analyzed by GC × GC. A slightly weathered, marine diesel fuel spill sample was qualitatively and quantitatively compared to two potential source samples. The high resolving power of GC × GC separated several hundred components from the petroleum matrix. Compounds of similar chemical structure were grouped together in an ordered two-dimensional chromatogram. In these ordered groups, numerous small peaks representing minor components were separated and detected. This was especially helpful in determining compounds and compound classes to be used in the analysis. Several classes of compounds were found to be useful for comparing the samples, including alkanes, cycloalkanes, alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes, and anthracene/phenanthrenes. The GC × GC analysis resulted in a match between ...
Determination of isotopic differences in mesic x-rays in calcium☆

Measurements of the isotopic shift in the energies of the 2p- 1s transitions in targets of Ca/sup 44/ and Ca/sup 60/ were made to obtain information about the distribution of charges in the nucleus. It was found that this transition in the mu -mesic atom of Ca/sup 44/ is 4.8 plus or minus 2.0 kev more energetic than the corresponding transition in the mu -mesic atom of Ca/ sup 40/. (R.E.U.)
Promoter-proximal tethering elements regulate enhancer-promoter specificity in the Drosophila Antennapedia complex.

Insulator DNAs and promoter competition regulate enhancer–promoter interactions within complex genetic loci. Here we provide evidence for a third mechanism: promoter-proximal tethering elements. The Scr-ftz region of the Antennapedia gene complex includes two known enhancers, AE1 and T1. AE1 selectively interacts with the ftz promoter to maintain pair-rule stripes of ftz expression during gastrulation and germ-band elongation. The T1 enhancer, located 3′ of the ftz gene and ≈25 kb 5′ of the Scr promoter, selectively activates Scr expression in the prothorax and posterior head segments. A variety of P element minigenes were examined in transgenic embryos to determine the basis for specific AE1-ftz and T1-Scr interactions. A 450-bp DNA fragment located ≈100 bp 5′ of the Scr transcription start site is essential for T1-Scr interactions and can mediate long-range activation of a ftz/lacZ reporter gene when placed 5′ of the ftz promoter. We suggest that the Scr450 fragment contains tethering elements that selectively recruit T1 to the Scr promoter. Tethering elements might regulate enhancer–promoter interactions at other complex genetic loci.
Targeted imaging of hypoxia-induced integrin activation in myocardium early after infarction.

The αvβ3-integrin is expressed in angiogenic vessels in response to hypoxia and represents a potential novel target for imaging myocardial angiogenesis. This study evaluated the feasibility of noni...
Improving survival for patients with advanced heart failure : a study of 737 consecutive patients

Objectives. This study sought to determine whether survival and risk of sudden death have improved for patients with advanced heart failure referred for consideration for heart transplantation as advances in medical therapy were systematically implemented over an 8-year period. Background. Recent survival trials in patients with mild to moderate heart failure and patients after a myocardial infarction have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are beneficial, type I antiarrhythmic drugs can be detrimental, and amiodarone may be beneficial in some groups. The impact of advances in therapy may be enhanced or blunted when applied to severe heart failure. Methods. One-year mortality and sudden death were determined in relation to time, baseline variables and therapeutics for 737 consecutive patients referred for heart transplantation and discharged home on medical therapy from 1986 to 1988, 1989 to 1990 and 1991 to 1993. Medical care was directed by a single team of physicians with policies established by consensus. From 1986 to 1990, the hydralazine/isosorbide dinitrate combination or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were the initial vasodilators, and class I antiarrhythmic drugs were allowed. After 1990, captopril was the initial vasodilator, given to 86% of patients compared with 46% of patients before 1989. After mid-1989, class I agents were routinely withdrawn, and amiodarone was used for frequent ventricular ectopic beats or atrial fibrillation (53% of patients after 1990 vs. 10% before 1989). Results. The total 1-year mortality rate decreased from 33% before 1989 to 16% after 1990 (p = 0.0001), and sudden death decreased from 20% to 8% (p = 0.0006). Adjusted for clinical and hemodynamic variables in multivariate proportional hazards models, total mortality and sudden death were lower after 1990. Conclusions. The large reduction in mortality, particularly in sudden death, from advanced heart failure since 1990 may reflect an enhanced impact of therapeutic advances shown in large randomized trials when they are incorporated into a comprehensive approach in this population. This improved survival supports the growing practice of maintaining potential heart transplant candidates on optimal medical therapy until clinical decompensation mandates transplantation.
Multiple-bump roadholding test: Description and metric interpretation

Road vehicle roadholding comprehends directional response to road inputs. This response is primarily a function of the roadway's frequency content and amplitude and the vehicle's inertial, suspension and tyre characteristics. There is also evidence that suspension kinematic and compliance steer properties can have a significant contribution (Rill, G. Steady state cornering on uneven roadways. SAE paper 860575, 1986). The multiple-bump roadholding test measures vehicle response to a periodic bump of varying frequency while cornering. By driving a vehicle at different speeds over a set of periodic bumps placed on circles of different diameters, it is possible to observe the response to different fundamental bump excitation frequencies at a particular lateral acceleration. This paper describes the test procedure, measured vehicle responses and the metrics calculated. Language: en
Inference and uncertainty in radiology.

This paper seeks to enhance understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of our discipline and the resulting practical implications. Radiology reports exist in order to convey new knowledge about a patient’s condition based on empiric observations from anatomic or functional images of the body. The route to explanation and prediction from empiric evidence is mostly through inference based on inductive (and sometimes abductive) arguments. The conclusions of inductive arguments are, by definition, contingent and provisional. Therefore, it is necessary to deal in some way with the uncertainty of inferential conclusions (i.e. interpretations) made in radiology reports. Two paradigms for managing uncertainty in natural sciences exist in dialectic tension with each other. These are the frequentist and Bayesian theories of probability. Tension between them is mirrored during routine interactions among radiologists and cllinicians. I will describe these core issues and argue that they are quite relevant to routine image interpretation and reporting.
Characterization of a Zr Mζ (hν = 151.6 eV) source for soft X-ray photoemission spectroscopy

Abstract The Mζ emission of a Zr anode ( hν = 151.6 eV) is characterized for use in soft X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The Fermi edge spectrum of Al is recorded as a function of the resolution of the electron energy analyzer. Least-squares fits are performed using a Fermi-Dirac function convoluted with a gaussian-broadened lorentzian representing the combined effects of the Zr Mζ natural linewidth (0.77 eV), inhomogeneous broadening of the Mζ spectrum and finite analyzer resolution. The empirical system resolution function thus determined is deconvoluted from core-level or valence-band data for Au, Al and GaN, resulting in enhanced resolution. Least-squares fits of the resolution-enhanced core levels with gaussian-broadened lorentzian (GaN Ga3d) or Doniach-Sunjic (Al2p) functions are performed and lineshape parameters obtained.
Suppression of cocaine self-administration by extinction and punishment.

Abstract After training on a multiple FR-1 FR-1 cocaine reinforcement schedule, responses were extinguished in one component of the schedule. Extinction responses declined to near-zero levels within 4 sessions for 3 of 4 monkeys. Response rate during the non-extinction component increased for a time in 2 of 3 animals exposed to prolonged extinction sessions. Three monkeys were then retrained to the multiple FR-1 FR-1 reinforcement schedule, after which each response in one component was followed by a brief electric shock as well as a cocaine infusion. Shocked responses decreased as shock intensity increased. Non-shocked response rates increased in a few sessions but this effect was transitory. Doubling the unit dose reduced baseline rate but failed to alter the relative suppressant effect of shock. Attenuation to intense shock occured when the response-shock interval was increased to 18 sec.
Low-energy nucleon-nucleon scattering in a relativised quark model.

Low-energy nucleon-nucleon phase shifts are calculated in resonating group formalism using a Dirac basis for quarks with gluon, pion, and sigma exchange quark-quark interactions. Nucleon polarization as well as quark interchange are included for the short-distance behavior. Reasonable agreement with experiment is obtained.
A retrospective assessment comparing pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic with physician management using international normalized ratio stability.

To assess the rates of therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) levels between pharmacist-managed clinics compared to traditional physician-management and to determine the variation in rates of therapeutic INR levels between pharmacist-managed clinic data compared to physician-management. Retrospective, randomized, chart review. Referral only, outpatient, pharmacist based anticoagulation clinic under a community based tertiary care health system. Sixty-four patients with at least 1 year’s worth of visits to the pharmacist managed clinic were reviewed for INR stability. The average percentage of visits within the defined therapeutic range, was 71.1% for the physician-managed group versus 81.1% for the pharmacist-managed group (P < 0.0001). The estimated variance in average therapeutic INR rates was double for the physician-managed group (365.7) versus the pharmacist-managed group (185.2) (P = 0.004). The pharmacist-managed anti-coagulation clinic had higher rates of INRs determined to be therapeutic and also exhibited significantly less variability in therapeutic INR rates relative to the physician-managed service.
Smartlipo MPX™ sculpting of the body and face

Liposculpting of the body and face with the Smartlipo MPX™ has given excellent, predictable and long-lasting results. Since June 2009, a total of 72 patients have undergone liposuction with the Smartlipo MPX. Of these, the Smartlipo MPX has been used on the abdomen in 17 cases, on the thighs in 15, on the neck and jowls in 25, on the cheeks in six and has also been used on the arms, buttocks, and breasts. Results have been favorable and long-lasting with up to 17 months' follow-up. Laser sculpting of the face has significantly decreased the jowling seen with aging.
Sleep quality and nocturnal pain in patients with shoulder disorders

Background: Nocturnal shoulder pain resulting in poor sleep quality is a common finding in patients with shoulder disease. The purpose of this paper was to describe and to compare the sleep quality, pain, and function in adult subjects who have been diagnosed with rotator cuff disorders, osteoarthritis, or adhesive capsulitis (AC). Methods: Patients completed a clinical assessment and comprehensive questionnaire regarding their current medical health history, shoulder symptoms, and impact of their symptoms on activities of daily living and quality of sleep. Results: The study analyzed 343 patients with an average age of 57.4 years. The mean Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score for AC was 34%, which was significantly lower than the score for the subacromial impingement syndrome group of 53% (P ¼.007). The mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scale score for AC was 38, which was also significantly lower than the score for the subacromial impingement syndrome group of 51 (P ¼ .007). There were no significant differences in pain, with mean scores ranging from 4.90 to 5.82 for diagnostic subgroups on a visual analog scale (P ¼ .28). Sleep quality was significantly poorer in the AC group (P ¼ .008), with a mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score of 12.07. Specific subcomponents of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index that had a significant impact on sleep interruption included sleep quality, sleep duration, and habitual sleep efficiency in the AC group (P < .05). Conclusion: This study shows that whereas many patients with shoulder disease may have sleep-related issues, patients with adhesive capsulitis are particularly vulnerable to reduced sleep quality. Level of evidence: Level III, Cross-Sectional Design, Epidemiology Study. 2015 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees.
Aerodynamics of slender finned bodies at large angles of attack

In certain missions finned missiles perform slewing maneuvers. Here, large angles of attack are attained. Experimental data needed to understand the aerodynamics of such vehicles are presented. The purpose of this investigation was to study the interaction of the body flow field with that produced by the fins and the resulting effects on the aerodynamic forces and moments. The experiments were conducted at a nominal Mach number of 2.7 and angles of attack from 0 to 50 deg, with two different models. The tests were performed in a range of Reynolds number from 1.5 x 10 to the 6th to 4 x 10 to the 7th per foot (to cover both the laminar and fully turbulent regimes.) Several fin roll angles were investigated. Static pressures on both body and fin surfaces are reported.
On optimal sharing rules in discrete-and continuous-time principal-agent problems with exponential utility

Abstract We relate the existing first-order approaches for discrete- and continuous-time problems by considering continuous-time principal-agent problems as limiting cases of multi-period discrete-time formulations. Our multi-period discrete-time formulation gives an intuitive explanation of why the validity of the first-order approach to continuous-time formulation in Schattier and Sung (1993) can be more easily established. We also show that although continuous-time formulations are far easier to deal with, their solutions may not be, in general, as simple as the one in the Brownian model. Under slightly modified assumptions solutions typically depend on the entire history of the process, rather than only on the terminal state alone.
Mediated collaborative positioning: The case of prisoner blogs

Abstract Imprisonment changes the rules of interactive engagement. The balance of duties and rights is tipped as incarcerated persons bear a diminished amount of control over their interaction with others, especially those on the outside. Based on the blogs of five prisoners, we ask how the internet is used to change the rules of engagement with the outside world, especially in terms of redefining the moral space of rights and duties within which persons position themselves and others. A third party, who we call “positioning mediators”, succors the prisoners to re-negotiate their positioning in this mediated interaction. We examine the mediators' meta-positioning and the prisoners' re-negotiation of self-positioning in the cyberspace and cybertime within the interactive discourse of prisoners' blogging. Our conclusion shows how this blogging ultimately allows for the resumption of authors' agency and subjectivity.
Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida Biofilms: Unique Efficacy of Amphotericin B Lipid Formulations and Echinocandins

Biofilms, likely the predominant mode of device-related microbial infection, exhibit resistance to antimicrobial agents. Evidence suggests that Candida biofilms have dramatically reduced susceptibility to antifungal drugs. We examined antifungal susceptibilities of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis biofilms grown on a bioprosthetic model. In addition to conventional agents, we determined if new antifungal agents (triazoles, amphotericin B lipid formulations, and echinocandins) have activities against Candida biofilms. We also explored effects of preincubation of C. albicans cells with subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of drugs to see if they could modify subsequent biofilm formation. Finally, we used confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) to image planktonic- and biofilm-exposed blastospores to examine drug effects on cell structure. Candida biofilms were formed on silicone elastomer and quantified by tetrazolium and dry weight (DW) assays. Susceptibility testing of fluconazole, nystatin, chlorhexidine, terbenafine, amphotericin B (AMB), and the triazoles voriconazole (VRC) and ravuconazole revealed resistance in all Candida isolates examined when grown as biofilms, compared to planktonic forms. In contrast, lipid formulations of AMB (liposomal AMB and AMB lipid complex [ABLC]) and echinocandins (caspofungin [Casp] and micafungin) showed activity against Candida biofilms. Preincubation of C. albicans cells with sub-MIC levels of antifungals decreased the ability of cells to subsequently form biofilm (measured by DW; P < 0.0005). CSLM analysis of planktonic and biofilm-associated blastospores showed treatment with VRC, Casp, and ABLC resulted in morphological alterations, which differed with each agent. In conclusion, our data show that Candida biofilms show unique susceptibilities to echinocandins and AMB lipid formulations.
ARE MANGROVES NURSERY HABITAT FOR TRANSIENT FISHES AND DECAPODS

The term nursery implies a special place for juvenile nekton (fishes and decapod crustaceans) where density, survival, and growth of juveniles and movement to adult habitat are enhanced over those in adjoining juvenile habitat types. We reviewed recent literature concerning these four topics and conducted meta-analyses for density and survival data. Most studies of mangroves as nurseries have addressed only occurrence or density of fishes or decapods, have not used quantitative sampling methods, and have not compared alternate habitats. Comparison of nekton densities among alternate habitats suggests that, at times, lower densities may be typical of mangroves when compared to segrass, coral reef, marsh, and non-vegetated habitats. There is little direct consumption of mangrove detritus by nekton. C, N, and S isotope studies reveal little retention of mangrove production by higher consumers. Densities of prey for transient fishes and decapods may be greater within mangroves than elsewhere, but there has been no verification that food availability affects growth or survival. Experimental evidence indicates that mangrove roots and debris provide refuge for small nekton from predators, thus enhancing overall survival. There is no evidence that more individuals move to adult habitats from mangroves than from alternate inshore habitats. There is an obvious need to devise appropriate experiments to test the nursery functions of mangroves. Such data may then be one more reason to add support for mangrove conservation and preservation.
A model for soot formation in a laminar diffusion flame

A simple model has been developed for the prediction of soot volume fractions in a laminar diffusion flame. Measurements and computations of a counterflow flame have been used to evaluate the correlation between soot surface growth rates and the mixture fraction or fuel atom mass fraction. An average particle number density was used to permit the determination of the aerosol surface area. Equations for the momentum, mixture fraction, and soot volume fraction were solved numerically for an axisymmetric laminar diffusion flame. Good agreement was obtained with the measurements for two different experimental conditions.
Immunoregulatory lymphokines of T hybridomas from AIDS patients: constitutive and inducible suppressor factors.

Supernatants derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures of certain patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or its prodromes have the capacity to block T cell-dependent immune reactivity in vitro. T cells derived from a patient positive for antibody to the lymphadenopathy associated virus ( LAV ), and elaborating high titers of these soluble suppressor factors, were fused to a mutagenized clone of the human T lymphoblastoid cell line KE37 . Molecules capable of profoundly depressing T cell-dependent polyclonal antibody production and DNA synthetic responses, either directly or after incubation with normal adherent cells, were isolated from stable hybrid clones.
SPINAL AND FEMORAL DXA FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF SPINAL OSTEOPOROSIS

The objective was to determine the diagnostic sensitivity of spinal and femoral dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and to study whether a combination of both sites may enhance discriminatory capability in regard to the presence of vertebral fractures. Spinal and femoral DXA were obtained in 324 postmenopausal women, of whom 90 had at least one vertebral fracture. Age-adjusted logistic regression analyses, ROC analyses, and sensitivity-specificity statistics were used to assess the discriminatory ability of spinal and femoral bone density (BMD) alone and in combination. The age-adjusted odds ratios per standard deviation decrease in BMD (OR) for spinal and femoral measurements were comparable (Ward's triangle: OR = 1.62; femoral neck: OR = 1.51; total hip: OR = 1.47; spine: OR = 1.34). Combining spinal and femoral bone density measurements did not improve diagnostic sensitivity of DXA considerably as compared to using BMD of a single site and adjusting the ``fracture threshold.'' The conclusion drawn is that spinal and femoral BMD measurements using DXA have a comparable diagnostic sensitivity for vertebral fracture discrimination. Different individuals at risk for osteoporosis may be identified using both methods. The clinical usefulness of a combination of two bone density measurements needs further study in a prospective setting.
Gender and green governance: the political economy of women's presence within and beyond community forestry

Bina Agarwal's book Gender and green governance is a conceptually profound, empirically meticulous and stylistically elegant analysis of women's struggle in community forestry in South Asia. A cent...
Role of endothelium in the abnormal response of mesenteric vessels in rats with portal hypertension and liver cirrhosis.

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Previous studies have shown that nitric oxide synthesis inhibition corrects the hyporesponsiveness to vasoconstrictors present in the mesenteric vascular bed of portal- hypertensive rats. The origin of this elevated NO production, whether endothelial or muscular, is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of vascular endothelium in the hyporesponsiveness to methoxamine (MTX) in the mesenteric vascular bed of portal vein-ligated (PVL) and cirrhotic rats. METHODS: Endothelial denudation was achieved using a combined treatment of cholic acid and distilled water. RESULTS: Compared with the respective control groups, PVL rats showed a reduced vascular response to MTX. Similar results were obtained in cirrhotic animals. The presence of ascites was associated with a more severe reduction in the response to MTX. Removal of the endothelium completely corrected the vascular hyporesponsiveness of PVL, cirrhotic nonascitic, and ascitic animals. In these experiments, acetylcholine-mediated vasodilation was practically absent whereas that of sodium nitroprusside was potentiated, which indicates a successful elimination of the endothelium and the preservation of smooth muscle function. Immunostaining for NO synthase isoforms revealed the presence of endothelial NO synthase protein in healthy and PVL rats exclusively in the endothelium. CONCLUSIONS: The mesenteric vascular hyporesponsiveness to MTX present in these models of liver diseases and portal hypertension is solely due to endothelium-dependent factors. (Gastroenterology 1996 Dec;111(6):1627-32)
A limitation theorem for the differentiable prototypification of shape

Abstract In previous papers it was shown that subjects decompose the global linear prototypification of shape into separate stretch, shear, and rotation components, i.e., the Iwasawa decomposition of the full transformation. The purpose of the present paper is to extend these decompositional results to prototypification that varies differentiably across a region—a process that occurs in complex shape. As a first step we require that local symmetry axes become local eigenspaces in any assigned local transformations. This condition, called the Interaction Law, is substantially validated by previous experimental work. Clearly, the use of the Interaction Law requires, as input to the prototypification process, a local symmetry analysis. The analysis chosen is the Smoothed Local Symmetry (SLS) of Brady. Four alternative local frames are considered in order to characterize the SLS by a moving frame, but we find that only one of the alternatives satisfies the Interaction Law; i.e., the frame is a basis of eigenvectors that are local symmetry vectors. With this basis, the SLS is characterized as a trajectory through the General Linear Group. Prototypification can then take place by applying the Iwasawa decomposition at each point of the group trajectory, and factorizing the Iwasawa subgroups. The culmination of this analysis is the proof of a limitation theorem , which states that the factorization of one subgroup necessarily involves the factorization of one of the other subgroups. Thus one level of prototypification is impossible. Furthermore we find that two levels of prototypification can lead only to a global or flexed symmetry. Thus the theorem shows that the shapes that can result from the local use of the Iwasawa decomposition are much more restricted than the shapes that can result from the global use of the decomposition. Nevertheless, in the local case the resulting shapes are highly salient as prototypes, which strongly validates our method. The method is further validated by showing that if a moving frame were chosen in which the Interaction Law did not hold, the resulting shapes would not be psychological prototypes.
The use of polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography and elastography to assess connective tissue

We demonstrate the ability of polarization spectroscopy and elastography, in conjunction with optical coherence tomography, to determine the properties of collagen organization in musculoskeletal tissue. Optical coherence tomography images correlated with histologic analysis of collagen.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Pediatric Oncology

Children with cancer and their families use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to reduce symptoms, cope with life-threatening illness, and improve overall well-being. Despite numerous published surveys on the use of CAM in pediatric oncology, few studies have tested CAM therapies for safety and efficacy. A growing body of literature in adult oncology provides evidence for the role of CAM to help manage symptoms and reduce distress. Translating this research to children requires studies with new models that address family roles and include measurement of outcomes relevant to children’s developmental stages and unique responses. One of the limitations in pediatrics is the small samples available to single institutions. Conducting clinical trials through the cooperative group mechanism is one way of obtaining sufficient sample sizes to determine effectiveness and safety of CAM therapies. This article summarizes research to date and describes a beginning approach to measuring outcomes of supportive ...
UbiData: requirements and architecture for ubiquitous data access

Mobile users today demand ubiquitous access to their data from any mobile device and under variable connection quality. We refer to this requirement as any-time, any-where data access whose realization requires much more support for asynchronous and disconnected operation than is currently available from existing research prototypes or commercial products. Furthermore, the proliferation of mobile devices and applications, forges the additional requirement of device- and application-transparent data access. Support for such any-device, any-application computing paradigm requires the ability to store and manage data in a generic representation and to transform it for usage in different applications, which may also be running on different platforms. In this article, we give an overview of the UbiData architecture and prototype system and show how it addresses these challenging requirements. We also summarize our ongoing and future efforts.
Bioinformatics — principles and potential of a new multidisciplinary tool

The materials of bioinformatics are biological data, and its methods are derived from a wide variety of computational techniques. Recent years have seen an explosive growth in biological data, and the development of novel computational methods. These methods have become essential to research progress in structural biology, genomics, structure-based drug design and molecular evolution. The development and maintenance of a robust infrastructure of biological data is of equal importance if biotechnology is to take maximum advantage of research advances in a wide variety of fields. While bioinformatics has already made important contributions, it faces significant challenges as it matures.
Mixed Message Resolution and Children's Responses to Interadult Conflict

In everyday life marital conflict resolutions may contain consistent or mixed messages (e.g., an angry apology). How do children weight content and emotion information in responding? 5-7- and 9-12-year-olds viewed videotaped interadult conflicts in which the content and emotion of endings were either consistent or discrepant. Both the younger and older children responded to content and emotion cues in their perceptions of adults' anger and conflict resolution, with positive emotion and nonconflictual endings each improving appraisals. These findings have implications for children's emotional security in reaction to marital conflict. Younger children focused on (a) the content of endings when estimating their own emotional distress and (b) adults' emotionality when suggesting interventions. Older children reacted emotionally to both content and emotion cues. They proposed task-oriented help for partially resolved conflicts and suggested mediation when conflicts were unresolved.
Meta-Analysis of Quantification Methods Shows that Archaea and Bacteria Have Similar Abundances in the Subseafloor

ABSTRACT There is no universally accepted method to quantify bacteria and archaea in seawater and marine sediments, and different methods have produced conflicting results with the same samples. To identify best practices, we compiled data from 65 studies, plus our own measurements, in which bacteria and archaea were quantified with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), catalyzed reporter deposition FISH (CARD-FISH), polyribonucleotide FISH, or quantitative PCR (qPCR). To estimate efficiency, we defined “yield” to be the sum of bacteria and archaea counted by these techniques divided by the total number of cells. In seawater, the yield was high (median, 71%) and was similar for FISH, CARD-FISH, and polyribonucleotide FISH. In sediments, only measurements by CARD-FISH in which archaeal cells were permeabilized with proteinase K showed high yields (median, 84%). Therefore, the majority of cells in both environments appear to be alive, since they contain intact ribosomes. In sediments, the sum of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene qPCR counts was not closely related to cell counts, even after accounting for variations in copy numbers per genome. However, qPCR measurements were precise relative to other qPCR measurements made on the same samples. qPCR is therefore a reliable relative quantification method. Inconsistent results for the relative abundance of bacteria versus archaea in deep subsurface sediments were resolved by the removal of CARD-FISH measurements in which lysozyme was used to permeabilize archaeal cells and qPCR measurements which used ARCH516 as an archaeal primer or TaqMan probe. Data from best-practice methods showed that archaea and bacteria decreased as the depth in seawater and marine sediments increased, although archaea decreased more slowly.
Quantitative imaging of the collective cell movements shaping an embryo

The recent development of imaging and image processing techniques, such as 4D microscopy and 3D cell tracking, enables analysis through quantification of the movement of large cell populations in vivo. These imaging approaches provide an opportunity to study embryonic morphogenesis during development from the level of cellular processes to the scale of entire organism. Image analysis reveals cell collective behaviors that shape an embryo and offers some surprising insights into the cell-cell interactions involved in concerted movements. We illustrate the power of this approach by studying the early development of Drosophila embryos.
Grain growth behavior of a nanostructured 5083 Al–Mg alloy

A nanostructured 5083 Al–Mg alloy powder was subjected to various thermal heat treatments in an attempt to understand the fundamental mechanisms of recovery, recrystallization and grain growth as they apply to nanostructured materials. A low-temperature stress relaxation process associated with reordering of the grain boundaries was found to occur at 158 °C. A bimodal restructuring of the grains occurred at 307 °C for the unconstrained grains and 381 °C for the constrained grains. An approximate activation energy of 5.6 kJ/mol was found for the metastable nanostructured grains, while an approximate activation energy of 142 kJ/mol was found above the restructuring temperature.
MINCED FISH FLESH FROM NONTRADITIONAL GULF OF MEXICO FINFISH SPECIES: YIELD AND COMPOSITION

Yield of production, composition, and quality of minced (deboned) flesh from nontraditional finfish species from the Gulf of Mexico were investigated. The fish, which were processed both as fresh and prefrozen, included: sheepshead, sandtrout, black drum, croaker, and mullet together with fresh-water tilapia. The yield of deboned flesh varied from a high of 31.3% for fresh croaker to a low of 20.0% for prefrozen round mullet. The proximate composition of deboned flesh from different species showed that the moisture content varied from 75.22% (black drum) to 81.96% (mullet); protein from 14.19% (mullet) to 18.69% (sandtrout); and fat from 1.33% (mullet) to 5.83% (croaker). No substantial difference was observed between fresh and prefrozen fish regarding proximate composition. The fatty acid profile of the five marine species showed that croaker contained the highest degree of saturated fatty acids while sheepshead was the highest with respect to unsaturated acids. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) analysis showed the deboned flesh to be of good quality with regard to oxidation. However, in every case there was a marked increase in TBA number during 4 wk of frozen storage of the round fish. Total volatile nitrogen (TVN) analysis showed that nontraditional species available on a wholesale basis were of variable quality ranging from good to poor.
VLSI design at the undergraduate level

An attempt has been made to introduce VLSI design education into the traditional undergraduate electrical engineering curriculum at the State University of New York, New Paltz, through an innovative one-semester digital VLSI design course sequence. The emphasis in VLSI education is on full custom design, thereby exposing undergraduate students to the lower levels of design. The course is compatible with the requirements of the MOSIS silicon foundry for chip fabrication. >
Resourcefulness Training for Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren: Establishing Fidelity

Over one million American grandmothers raise grandchildren, and many experience stress that adversely affects their mental health. Teaching resourcefulness skills can minimize this stress. However, before testing effectiveness of resourcefulness training (RT), its fidelity must be established. This pilot intervention trial examined the fidelity of two methods of RT: expressive writing (journaling) and verbal disclosure (voice recording) using a quasi-experimental design with random assignment of 80 grandmothers to RT-expressive writing, RT-verbal disclosure, or expressive writing or verbal disclosure alone. Quantitative data (Resourcefulness Scale) and qualitative data (journals, recordings) were collected. Grandmothers with RT showed greater resourcefulness over time than those without RT, with similar effects for RT-expressive writing and RT-verbal disclosure. Evidence for the use of RT skills was found in journals and recordings. The findings provide support for RT intervention fidelity and support moving forward to test RT effectiveness in reducing grandmothers' stress and promoting their mental health.
The use of whole genome sequencing to solve an epidemiological puzzle.

With full genome sequencing of bacterial genomes becoming more affordable, the number of publications, which deploy this elegant and modern technique is rapidly increasing. Full genome sequences of hundreds of bacterial strains have been determined and described. However, on reading some of the literature, sometimes one wonders if the use of this method with enormous resolving power is really ‘balanced’ or justified by the specific questions that are being addressed. Or – to put it differently – what exactly were the specific questions for which sequencing was supposed to provide the answer is sometimes unclear. The paper by Harrison et al. in this issue, poses such specific questions by applying whole genome sequencing (WGS) to resolve an epidemiological puzzle that involves zoonotic transmission of a methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clone in two farms located in Denmark (Harrison et al, 2013). In both farms the outbreak of …
Adaptive Seasonal Time Series Models for Forecasting Short-Term Traffic Flow

Conventionally, most traffic forecasting models have been applied in a static framework in which new observations are not used to update model parameters automatically. The need to perform periodic parameter reestimation at each forecast location is a major disadvantage of such models. From a practical standpoint, the usefulness of any model depends not only on its accuracy but also on its ease of implementation and maintenance. This paper presents an adaptive parameter estimation methodology for univariate traffic condition forecasting through use of three well-known filtering techniques: the Kalman filter, recursive least squares, and least mean squares. Results show that forecasts obtained from recursive adaptive filtering methods are comparable with those from maximum likelihood estimated models. The adaptive methods deliver this performance at a significantly lower computational cost. As recursive, self-tuning predictors, the adaptive filters offer plug-and-play capability ideal for implementation in...
Telomeric protein TRF2 protects Holliday junctions with telomeric arms from displacement by the Werner syndrome helicase

WRN protein loss causes Werner syndrome (WS), which is characterized by premature aging as well as genomic and telomeric instability. WRN prevents telomere loss, but the telomeric protein complex must regulate WRN activities to prevent aberrant telomere processing. Telomere-binding TRF2 protein inhibits telomere t-loop deletion by blocking Holliday junction (HJ) resolvase cleavage activity, but whether TRF2 also modulates HJ displacement at t-loops is unknown. In this study, we used multiplex fluorophore imaging to track the fate of individual strands of HJ substrates. We report the novel finding that TRF2 inhibits WRN helicase strand displacement of HJs with telomeric repeats in duplex arms, but unwinding of HJs with a telomeric center or lacking telomeric sequence is unaffected. These data, together with results using TRF2 fragments and TRF2 HJ binding assays, indicate that both the TRF2 B- and Myb domains are required to inhibit WRN HJ activity. We propose a novel model whereby simultaneous binding of the TRF2 B-domain to the HJ core and the Myb domain to telomeric arms promote and stabilize HJs in a stacked arm conformation that is unfavorable for unwinding. Our biochemical study provides a mechanistic basis for the cellular findings that TRF2 regulates WRN activity at telomeres.