cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychiatric and Physical Morbidity Effects of Caregiving

Existing empirical literature on the prolonged or cumulative consequences of exposure to the stresses of caregiving is reviewed. Specific goals are to identify psychiatric and physical morbidity effects, report the magnitude of those effects, evaluate research and analytic methods used to assess morbidity, and make recommendations for future research. Overall, the literature indicates increases in self-report psychiatric symptomatology and increases in psychiatric illness among most caregivers when compared to population norms or appropriate control groups. However, there is little information on the population prevalence or incidence of clinically significant psychiatric conditions attributable to caregiving. Studies of physical health effects as assessed by self-report, health care utilization, and immune function are less conclusive but, nevertheless, suggest increased vulnerability to physical illness among caregivers. We conclude with a discussion of why morbidity effects are difficult to obtain in caregiver studies and with recommendations for future research.
The generalization and maintenance of behavior change: Comments, considerations, and the “no-cure” criticism

The present paper is both (a) a commentary on the three preceding papers and (b) a separate consideration of the concepts of maintenance and generalization of behavior change. Promising ideas are selected and examined, and consistencies across papers are identified. Discussion includes the notion of cure (change that is generalized and maintained) and the view that therapeutic interventions do not cure but rather provide skills for the management of psychological maladjustments. Rational therapist expectations and a reaction “range of response” model for therapeutic gain are also considered.
Markovian Decision Processes with Uncertain Transition Probabilities

This paper examines Markovian decision processes in which the transition probabilities corresponding to alternative decisions are not known with certainty. The processes are assumed to be finite-state, discrete-time, and stationary. The rewards axe time discounted. Both a game-theoretic and the Bayesian formulation are considered. In the game-theoretic formulation, variants of a policy-iteration algorithm are provided for both the max-min and the max-max cases. An implicit enumeration algorithm is discussed for the Bayesian formulation where upper and lower bounds on the total expected discounted return are provided by the max-max and max-min optimal policies. Finally, the paper discusses asymptotically Bayes-optimal policies.
Reduced calcium sensitivity of the sodium channel and the Na+/Ca2+ exchange system in the Kdr-type, DDT and pyrethroid resistant German cockroach, Blattella germanica.

Abstract 1. To understand the biochemical cause of nerve insensitivity to DDT and pyrethroids two cation regulating systems, the Na+/Ca2+ exchange and the Na+ channel in the membrane preparation from the central nervous system of susceptible and resistant strains of the German cockroach were examined. 2. Both systems from resistant insects have lower affinities to Ca2+ than those from their susceptible counterparts. 3. The resistant strains show a prominent cross-resistance to all agents affecting calcium regulation (particularly A23187) and Na+ channel operations in vivo, indicating that the basic cause of the reduced nerve insensitivity in resistant insects is related to the reduction in calcium sensitivity in these systems.
The Composition and Compensation of the Board of Directors as Predictors of Corporate Fraud

We test whether the composition and compensation of the board of directors are related to fraudulent corporate behavior. We use Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Releases from 2003 through 2010 to form a sample of 128 firms with violations and compare the characteristics of their boards to a matched sample of 128 control firms. SEC violations are less likely when the board has more women, independent members, and financial experts. Fraud is also less likely when director tenure is shorter and when the CEO is not the chair. Stock and especially stock option compensation are positively associated with SEC violations.
Chromatographic purification and characterization of whey protein-dextran glycation products.

Abstract A process for the food-grade preparative-scale production and chromatographic purification of whey protein isolate (WPI)–dextran glycates was developed in this work. The Maillard reaction was used to produce the glycates in aqueous solution. A 5 mL cation exchange column and salt step gradients were utilized to elute the glycated protein at low salt and unreacted protein at high salt. The process was scaled-up 160-fold to an 800 mL column. Glycated products were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, BCA protein assay and glycoprotein carbohydrate estimation kit, MALDI-TOF and static and dynamic light scattering. Glycated protein was relatively pure, containing only traces of beta-lactoglobulin, and it was heterogeneous due to oligo-glycation. It had a molecular mass of 26–35 kDa by static light scattering, and 22–67 kDa by MALDI-TOF. Mono-glycated protein would have been 23.8 kDa from beta-lactoglobulin (18.6 kDa) and dextran (5.2 kDa). This work demonstrated the utility of cation exchange chromatography for the large-scale purification of glycated proteins using food-grade chemicals and procedures.
To the Orphaned, Dispossessed, and Illegitimate Children: Human Rights Beyond Republican and Liberal Traditions

After the Helsinki Accords, the collapse of the Soviet Union and its empire, and the collapse of states in Africa and elsewhere, many in the West have come to envisage the enforcement of human rights as a practical matter. Human rights are thus incorporated in normative regimes under the rubrics of either the rule of law or the responsibility to protect to be held against the purveyors of violence. I do not discount the normative underpinnings of the related stands taken today by states and transnational and national civil society organizations. I wish to insist on the futility of envisaging human rights merely as legal standards and norms and on the need to revisit the question of the human on whom rights are bestowed. The present article is an exercise in historical and comparative analysis of what human rights meant to Haitian slaves in the eighteenth century when, as happened in France and the United States, notions of human rights emanated in a constitutional scheme intended to protect the newly freed slaves against violence from the prevailing post-Enlightenment political, economic, and ideological systems—all of which had been integral to the processes of enslavement. It is my contention that, like Haitian slaves, anti-colonialists and some postcolonial entities found liberal human rights schemes to be equally implicated in modern violence and therefore responded by proposing novel grounds for imagining human rights outside of the strictures of liberal constitutionalism.
Rheology of mica-reinforced polyethylene melts†

Seven samples of HDPE containing 0, 2, 5, 10, 25, 40 and 60 weight percent of mica were prepared on a roll mill at 200°C. The samples were tested at T = 150, 170, 190 and 210°C for a wide range of rate of deformation from 10−2 to 2 × 104 s−1. Both capillary and rotational rheometers were used. The samples were found to be thermally stable. The results indicate that η, G′, and G″ increase with mica content for the whole range of deformation rates. The relaxation time spectrum for the sample containing 60 weight percent of mica showed a particulate contribution. The zero shear viscosity was discussed in terms of suspension theories.
Electric-arc ore-reducing furnace for the production of alloys

This article describes a new ore-reducing furnace with a capacity of roughly 5000 tons of alloys per year. The furnace has been put into operation at a plant in Rustavi. With an electric power consumption of 4500 kWh/ton, the furnace has a daily productivity of approximately 18 tons of silicomanganese.
Discrimination of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Using Transfer Entropy Measures of Scalp EEG

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a neurological condition related to early stages of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study investigates the potential of measures of transfer entropy in scalp EEG for effectively discriminating between normal aging, MCI, and AD participants. Resting EEG records from 48 age-matched participants (mean age 75.7 years)—15 normal controls, 16 MCI, and 17 early AD—are examined. The mean temporal delays corresponding to peaks in inter-regional transfer entropy are computed and used as features to discriminate between the three groups of participants. Three-way classification schemes based on binary support vector machine models demonstrate overall discrimination accuracies of 91.7— 93.8%, depending on the protocol condition. These results demonstrate the potential for EEG transfer entropy measures as biomarkers in identifying early MCI and AD. Moreover, the analyses based on short data segments (two minutes) render the method practical for a primary care setting.
Fungicide dissipation and impact on metolachlor aerobic soil degradation and soil microbial dynamics

Pesticides are typically applied as mixtures and or sequentially to soil and plants during crop production. A common scenario is herbicide application at planting followed by sequential fungicide applications post-emergence. Fungicides depending on their spectrum of activity may alter and impact soil microbial communities. Thus there is a potential to impact soil processes responsible for herbicide degradation. This may change herbicide efficacy and environmental fate characteristics. Our study objective was to determine the effects of 4 peanut fungicides, chlorothalonil (2,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1,3-benzenedicarbonitrile), tebuconazole (alpha-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-alpha-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol), flutriafol (alpha-(2-fluorophenyl)-alpha-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol), and cyproconazole (alpha-(4-chlorophenyl)-alpha-(1-cyclopropylethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol) on the dissipation kinetics of the herbicide, metolachlor (2-chloro-N-(6-ethyl-o-tolyl)-N-[(1RS)-2-methoxy-1-methylethyl]acetamide), and on the soil microbial community. This was done through laboratory incubation of field treated soil. Chlorothalonil significantly reduced metolachlor soil dissipation as compared to the non-treated control or soil treated with the other fungicides. Metolachlor DT(50) was 99 days for chlorothalonil-treated soil and 56, 45, 53, and 46 days for control, tebuconazole, flutriafol, and cyproconazole-treated soils, respectively. Significant reductions in predominant metolachlor metabolites, metolachlor ethane sulfonic acid (MESA) and metolachlor oxanilic acid (MOA), produced by oxidation of glutathione-metolachlor conjugates were also observed in chlorothalonil-treated soil. This suggested that the fungicide impacted soil glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity. Fungicide DT(50) was 27-80 days but impacts on the soil microbial community as indicated by lipid biomarker analysis were minimal. Overall study results indicated that chlorothalonil has the potential to substantially increase soil persistence (2-fold) of metolachlor and alter fate and transport processes. GST mediated metabolism is common pesticide detoxification process in soil; thus there are implications for the fate of many active ingredients.
Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: Is Adjuvant Radiation Really Warranted?

Abstract Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States. The vast majority of these cases are discovered when the disease is still limited to the uterus. There is a consensus agreement that the initial treatment and management should be surgical staging; however, there remains much controversy as to the use and role of adjuvant radiation in the setting of early-stage endometrial cancer. In the literature to date, there has not been resounding evidence to support the use of adjuvant radiation therapy in this early disease state. This is somewhat troublesome because this is the most common disease state of the most common gynecologic malignancy; finding the optimal treatment would be of massive benefit to patients and physicians as well as to society as a whole. Herein, the relevant literature is reviewed to demonstrate that the use of adjuvant radiation therapy is not clearly supported in the setting of early-stage endometrial cancer.
Systems analysis of arterial pressure regulation and hypertension.

In this paper we have presented briefly three different aspects of arterial pressure regulation and of the hypertension problem: (1) the basic principles of arterial pressure control, progressing from simple, individual regulatory mechanisms to complex interactions between these mechanisms; (2) several systems analyses of arterial pressure regulation and of hypertension, also progressing from simple to complex; and (3) animal and human verification of both the logical principles and the systems analyses.
Lipoprotein Promotes Caveolin-1 and Ras Translocation to Caveolae Role of Cholesterol in Endothelial Signaling

To explore the role of LDL in caveolin-Ras regulation in human endothelial cells (ECs), we incubated confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with LDL. This resulted in a high steady-state caveolin-1 (Cav-1) expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. LDL exposure appeared not to regulate the abundance of Cav-1. Immunofluorescence staining showed that Cav-1 protein migrated from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane after LDL exposure. Cav-1 protein and cholesterol partitioned mainly into the caveola fractions, and LDL increased both Cav-1 and cholesterol in these fractions. Ras protein in caveola fractions was also increased by LDL. Increased Ras was detected in Cav-1 immunoprecipitated samples, and conversely, increased Cav-1 was found in Ras-immunoprecipitated samples. We also demonstrated LDL-increased Ras activity in HUVECs by measuring the GTP/GTP+GDP ratio of Ras with [(32)P]orthophosphate labeling in the cells. Finally, we determined the binding of [(3)H]-labeled free cholesterol and recombinant H-Ras to Cav-1 fusion proteins in vitro. Both cholesterol and Ras bound to full-length GST-Cav-1, scaffolding domain (61-101), and C-terminal (135-178) Cav-1 fusion peptides. Addition of cholesterol enhanced Ras binding to the full-length and scaffolding domain of Cav-1 but not to the C-terminal Cav-1. These findings strongly suggest a role for Cav-1 in cholesterol trafficking and cholesterol-mediated intracellular signaling, which may mediate EC activation by LDL.
Qualitative Research in Counseling Psychology Conceptual Foundations

Beginning with calls for methodological diversity in counseling psychology, this article addresses the history and current state of qualitative research in counseling psychology. It identifies the historical and disciplinary origins as well as basic assumptions and underpinnings of qualitative research in general, as well as within counseling psychology. It identifies the foundational elements of qualitative research, including its purposes and goals, paradigmatic bases, and underlying characteristics. Finally, it locates qualitative research in counseling psychology in the research genre and explores the promise that this form of research holds for counseling and psychotherapy research as well as counseling psychology's multicultural and social justice agenda.
Database Tools for Evaluating Thermophysical Property Data

Most thermophysical-property databases (TPD) provide low-level quality control checks. This manuscript focuses on additional, higher-level data evaluations made possible by the breadth of data stored in the database. For example, thermodynamic equations relate the critical point, vapor-pressure curve, enthalpy of vaporization, liquid density, and liquid and vapor heat capacities to each other. Thermodynamic consistency among these properties can be used to guide selection of the best data sets. Even more broadly, molecular structure-based trends in properties can be identified within the database, and the properties of structurally related compounds can be effectively used to discriminate among available datasets. Automated property predictions can be used in conjunction with the TPD to guide the selection of the most accurate data. These and other high-level consistency tools will be illustrated based on evaluation and quality control work associated with the DIPPR® 801 TPD project for pure chemicals.
Influence of projected Arctic sea ice loss on polar stratospheric ozone and circulation in spring

The impact of projected Arctic sea ice loss on the stratosphere is investigated using the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM), a state-of-the-art coupled chemistry climate model. Two 91-year simulations are conducted: one with a repeating seasonal cycle of Arctic sea ice for the late twentieth-century, taken from the fully coupled WACCM historical run; the other with Arctic sea ice for the late twenty-first century, obtained from the fully coupled WACCM RCP8.5 run. In response to Arctic sea ice loss, polar cap stratospheric ozone decreases by 13 DU (34 DU at the North Pole) in spring, confirming the results of Scinocca et al (2009 Geophys. Res. Lett. 36 L24701). The ozone loss is dynamically initiated in March by a suppression of upwardpropagating planetary waves, possibly related to the destructive interference between the forced wave number 1 and its climatology. The diminished upward wave propagation, in turn, weakens the Brewer–Dobson circulation at high latitudes, strengthens the polar vortex, and cools the polar stratosphere. The ozone reduction persists until the polar vortex breaks down in late spring. S Online supplementary data available from stacks.iop.org/erl/9/084016/mmedia
Cascading Reminiscence Bumps in Popular Music

Autobiographical memories are disproportionately recalled for events in late adolescence and early adulthood, a phenomenon called the reminiscence bump. Previous studies on music have found autobiographical memories and life-long preferences for music from this period. In the present study, we probed young adults' personal memories associated with top hits over 5-and-a-half decades, as well as the context of their memories and their recognition of, preference for, quality judgments of, and emotional reactions to that music. All these measures showed the typical increase for music released during the two decades of their lives. Unexpectedly, we found that the same measures peaked for the music of participants' parents' generation. This finding points to the impact of music in childhood and suggests that these results reflect the prevalence of music in the home environment. An earlier peak occurred for 1960s music, which may be explained by its quality or by its transmission through two generations. We refer to this pattern of musical cultural transmission over generations as cascading reminiscence bumps.
Do classroom exemplars promote the application of principles in teacher education? A comparison of videos, animations, and narratives

Students learned about teaching principles with a multimedia program that either did not include a classroom exemplar illustrating how to apply the learned principles to the teaching practice (control group) or included a classroom exemplar in video, animation, or text format. Across two experiments, video and animation groups reported more favorable attitudes towards learning and were better able to apply the learned principles than the control group. Text and control groups did not differ in their learning or attitudes towards learning, suggesting that format is an important factor in determining the effectiveness of classroom exemplars as pedagogical tools for teacher education. Results encourage the use of visual classroom exemplars to promote the application of theory into practice.
Diffusion distances, total capillary length and mitochondrial volume in pressure-overload myocardial hypertrophy.

Abstract We examined the relationships between blood pressure, coronary blood flow, cardiac output, myofiber growth, capillarity, mitochondrial content, and capillary and mitochondrial distributions in a pressure-overload model of myocardial hypertrophy. The Goldblatt one kidney-one clip (1K1C) procedure was performed on seven adult rabbits. After 1 month, mean blood pressure increased 50% and mean heart mass increased 30%. Coronary blood flow and cardiac output at rest were similar in control and 1K1C hearts; cardiac output fell 40% when 1K1C hearts were paced to 35% above basal heart rate. Capillary density in the left ventricular free wall (LV) decreased with increasing fiber size by as much as 30%. However, capillary-to-fiber ratio and total capillary length in the LV increased with heart size by up to 30% and 80%, respectively. This indicated that there was some proliferation of capillaries taking place, but not enough in comparison to fiber growth to prevent the lengthening of distances between capillaries. Mitochondrial volume density decreased by as much as 30% with increasing heart size, but total mitochondrial volume increased up to 80%. This indicated that there was some proliferation of mitochondria, but not enough to prevent dilution of mitochondria by the growing myofibrillar elements. Analysis of the distribution of mitochondria suggested that the new mitochondrial material was added to the center of myofibers, thereby further lengthening oxygen diffusion distances. There was a constant ratio of 10.4±0.3 km of capillaries per ml of mitochondria in 1K1C and control hearts, demonstrating that the structures for oxygen supply and consumption were remaining in fixed proportion to each other. There was no evidence that the decreased performance of paced 1K1C hearts was attributable to an oxygen diffusion limitation to mitochondria.
Ages and inferred causes of Late Pleistocene glaciations on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i

Glacial landforms on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i, show that the summit area of the volcano was covered intermittently by ice caps during the Late Pleistocene. Cosmogenic 36 Cl dating of terminal moraines and other glacial landforms indicates that the last two ice caps, called Older Makanaka and Younger Makanaka, retreated from their maximum positions approximately 23 ka and 13 ka, respectively. The margins and equilibrium line altitudes of these ice caps on the remote, tropical Pacific island were nearly identical, which would seem to imply the same mechanism for ice growth. But modelling of glacier mass balance, combined with palaeotemperature proxy data from the subtropical North Pacific, suggests that the causes of the two glacial expansions may have been different. Older Makanaka air atop Mauna Kea was likely wetter than today and cold, whereas Younger Makanaka times were slightly warmer but significantly wetter than the previous glaciation. The modelled increase in precipitation rates atop Mauna Kea during the Late Pleistocene is consistent with that near sea level inferred from pollen data, which suggests that the additional precipitation was due to more frequent and/or intense tropical storms associated with eastward-moving cold fronts. These conditions were similar to modern La Nina (weak ENSO) conditions, but persisted for millennia rather than years. Increased precipitation rates and the resulting steeper temperature lapse rates created glacial conditions atop Mauna Kea in the absence of sufficient cooling at sea level, suggesting that if similar correlations existed elsewhere in the tropics, the precipitation-dependent lapse rates could reconcile the apparent difference between glacial-time cooling of the tropics at low and high altitudes. Copyright # 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Visually-evoked cortical responses and pattern vision in the infant: A longitudinal study

Visually evoked cortical potentials were obtained from a human infant (from 21 to 155 days of age) in response to checkerboard-patterned light flashes (individual checks subtending from 20 to 133 min of arc). The largest amplitude cortical responses were evoked by relatively large checks during the first month of life and progressively smaller checks as the infant matured. The cortical response to the various check sizes was interpreted as reflecting the development of the visual system and a general improvement in visual actuity with age.
Synthesis, crystal chemistry, and oxygen permeation properties of LaSr3Fe3−xCoxO10 (0≤x≤1.5)

Abstract The crystal chemistry and oxygen permeation properties of the mixed oxide-ion and electronic conductor LaSr3Fe3−xCoxO10 with 0≤x≤1.5 have been investigated. LaSr3Fe3−xCoxO10 has a perovskite-related intergrowth structure belonging to the n=3 member of the Ruddlesden–Popper series and the tetragonal cell parameters and volume decrease with increasing Co content. The LaSr3Fe3−xCoxO10±δ samples have excess (δ≈0.1) oxygen at room temperature, but significant amount of oxygen vacancies (0.3≤δ≤0.7) at high temperatures (900°C). The LaSr3Fe3−xCoxO10 samples are semiconducting with the total conductivity increasing with increasing Co content. However, above a transition temperature T>Tt≈400°C, the conductivity decreases with increasing temperature due to the loss of oxygen. The oxygen permeation flux across the LaSr3Fe3−xCoxO10 membranes at high temperatures (800°C≤T≤950°C) increases with increasing Co content and the flux values are stable with time in the oxygen partial pressure range 10−4≤pO2≤0.21 atm.
Varying protein source and quantity do not significantly improve weight loss, fat loss, or satiety in reduced energy diets among midlife adults

We hypothesized that a whey protein diet would result in greater weight loss and improved body composition compared with standard weight loss diets. Weight change, body composition, and renin-angiotensin aldosterone system activity in midlife adults were compared between diet groups. Eighteen subjects enrolled in a 5-month study of 8-week controlled food intake followed by 12-weeks ad libitum intake. Subjects were randomized to 1 of 3 treatment groups: control diet (CD) (55% carbohydrate/15% protein/30% fat), mixed protein (40% carbohydrate/30% protein/30% fat), or whey protein (WP) (40% carbohydrate/15% mixed protein/15% whey protein/30% fat). Measurements included weight, metabolic measures, body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and resting energy expenditure. No statistically significant differences in total weight loss or total fat loss were observed between treatments; however, a trend toward greater total weight loss (P = .08) and total fat loss (P = .09) was observed in the WP group compared with the CD group. Fat loss in the leg and gynoid regions was greater (P < .05) in the WP group than the CD group. No renin-angiotensin aldosterone system-mediated response was observed, but a decrease in systolic blood pressure was significantly greater (P < .05) in the WP group compared with the CD group. In summary, increased whey protein intake did not result in statistically significant differences in weight loss or in total fat loss, but significant differences in regional fat loss and in decreased blood pressure were observed in the WP group.
Experience with K-REP: an object-centered knowledge representation language

An object-centered knowledge representation language is presented, with examples of its use in the FAME (financial marketing expertise) system. This representation, based on the tradition of frames and semantic nets, provides automatic reclassification, value caching, multiple knowledge bases, and an interface to relational databases. The influence that the representation has had on the development of the FAME system is discussed. >
Transnational Activists as Motors for Change

Activists beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics, Margaret E. Keck, Kathryn Sikkink (Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1998). 240 pp., paper (ISBN: 0-8014-8456-1), $15.95. Book reviewed: Activists beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics , Margaret E. Keck and Kathryn Sikkink
New approaches to Leishmania chemotherapy: pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1) as a target and modulator of antifolate sensitivity

summary Leishmania and other trypanosomatid protozoa require reduced pteridines (pterins and folates) for growth, suggesting that inhibition of these pathways could be targeted for eective chemotherapy. This goal has not yet been realized, indicating that pteridine metabolism may be unusual in this lower eukaryote. We have investigated this possibility using both wild type and laboratory-selected antifolate-resistant strains, and with defined genetic knockouts of several pteridine metabolic genes. In Leishmania, resistance to the antifolate methotrexate is mediated through several mechanisms singly or in combination, including alterations in transport leading to reduced drug influx, overproduction (R-region amplification) or point mutation of dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS), and amplification of a novel pteridine reductase (PTR 1, encoded by the H-region). All of the proteins involved are potential targets for antifolate chemotherapy. Notably, parasites in which the gene encoding dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) has been deleted (dhfr-ts’ knockouts) do not survive in animal models, validating this enzyme as a target for eective chemotherapy. However, the properties of pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1) suggest a reason why antifolate chemotherapy has so far not been successful in trypanosomatids. PTR1, by its ability to provide reduced pterins and folates, has the potential to act as a by-pass and}or modulator of DHFR inhibition under physiological conditions. Moreover, PTR1 is less sensitive to many antifolates targeted primarily against DHFR. These findings suggest that successful antifolate chemotherapy in Leishmania will have to target simultaneously both DHFR and PTR1.
Experimental Observation of Pentaatomic Tetracoordinate Planar Carbon-Containing Molecules

The first neutral pentaatomic tetracoordinate planar carbon molecules, CAl 3Si and CAl3Ge, as well as their anions, CAl3Si - and CAl3Ge - , were experimentally observed in the gas-phase and characterized by ab initio calculations and anion photoelectron spectroscopy. A four-center bond involving ligand -ligand interactions was found to be critical in stabilizing the planar structures of the 17-valence-electron CAl 3Si and CAl3Ge and 18-valence-electron CAl3Si - and CAl3Ge - . These species violate the conventional expectation of tetrahedral structure for tetracoordinate carbon atoms and thus extend our concept of the range of chemical bonds that carbon can form.
Multispectral satellite data in the context of land surface heat balance

Multispectral satellite data are demonstrated to be an important potential contributor to the understanding and completeness of heat balance analysis. Satellite observations are presented, including visible, near-IR, IR, and microwave bands, which estimate surface characteristics and surface fluctuations. The relationship of the interannual variations of the satellite data and the land surface changes is discussed. It is shown that spatially representative values of global fluxes and parameters from multispectral data can consistently enhance the results of heat balance analysis. Daily net radiation can be estimated with a 10 percent error, while the error for albedo would be higher. Computations for all heat fluxes except the latent heat flux are shown. Soil moisture and surface temperature estimates can be derived from microwave and IR observations, respectively. Spectral reflectances in the visible and near-IR bands are suggested as important heat-balance indices for future consideration.
Model-based monitoring and diagnosis of systems with software-extended behavior

Model-based diagnosis has largely operated on hard-ware systems. However, in most complex systems today, hardware is augmented with software functions that influence the system's behavior. In this paper, hard-ware models are extended to include the behavior of associated embedded software, resulting in more comprehensive diagnoses. Prior work introduced probabilistic, hierarchical, constraint-based automata (PHCA) to allow the uniform and compact encoding of both hard-ware and software behavior. This paper focuses on PHCA-based monitoring and diagnosis to ensure the robustness of complex systems. We introduce a novel approach that frames diagnosis over a finite time horizon as a soft constraint optimization problem (COP), allowing us to leverage an extensive body of efficient solution methods for COPs. The solutions to the COP correspond to the most likely evolutions of the complex system. We demonstrate our approach on a vision-based rover navigation system, and models of the SPHERES and Earth Observing One spacecraft.
Forward and reverse mutagenesis in C. elegans

Mutagenesis drives natural selection. In the lab, mutations allow gene function to be deciphered. C. elegans is highly amendable to functional genetics because of its short generation time, ease of use, and wealth of available gene-alteration techniques. Here we provide an overview of historical and contemporary methods for mutagenesis in C. elegans, and discuss principles and strategies for forward (genome-wide mutagenesis) and reverse (target-selected and gene-specific mutagenesis) genetic studies in this animal.
On optimal converter placement in wavelength-routed networks

Wavelength converters increase the traffic-carrying capacity of circuit-switched optical networks by relaxing the wavelength continuity constraints. We consider the problem of optimally placing a given number of wavelength converters on a path to minimize the call-blocking probability. Using a simple performance model, we first prove that uniform spacing of converters is optimal for the end-to-end performance when link loads are uniform and independent. We then show that significant gains are achievable with optimal placement compared to random placement. For nonuniform link loads, we provide a dynamic programming algorithm for the optimal placement and compare the performance with random and uniform placement. Optimal solutions for bus and ring topologies are also presented. Finally, we discuss the effect of the traffic model on the placement decision.
A parallel sorting network without comparators: A neural network approach

The design of a parallel sorting network that does not use any comparators is described. The network consists of a two-dimensional array of neural nodes, representing the sorted result through the position of the on-state neuron in each column. The Kth column of the array finds the Kth largest value (Kth winner) and displays it by turning on the Kth winner node. Thus, the sorted result can be read in order of the on-state nodes from the first to the last column. Since the role of the Kth column of the network is to find the Kth winner, each column of the proposed sorting network is referred to as the Kth WTA network. A simple design technique of the Kth WTA network, which can be readily implemented in hardware, is described. >
Murine fetal liver augments proliferation in an allogenic mixed lymphocyte culture: benzo(a)pyrene reduces augmentation

AbstractThe effect of cells from the liver of C3H fetuses syngeneic to splenic responder cells on an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) was studied. After fractionation on ficoll-hypaque, interface cells from corn oil (vehicle for BP) or normal fetal liver (FL) controls (CO), obtained from 17–19 days gestation, enhanced proliferation in the mixed lymphocyte culture (>2-fold), while cells from FLs transplacentally exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (BP) showed a decreased capacity for augmentation (>2-fold less than CO). Unfractionated CO-FL cells at 0.5×106 did not augment proliferation, but at 0.10×256 enhancement with control FL cells was significantly higher than with BP-FL cells. Pelleted cells from BP- and CO-FLs were severely suppressive at the higher dose, while at 0.25×106 proliferation was augmented with CO-FL cells, but not affected with BP-FL cells. At doses of 0.1×106 or less, no effect was observed for either control or BP-FL cells. These data indicate that: a) FL cells syngeneic to responder ...
Nontraditional Roles of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme

Many articles have described the biochemistry of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Simply put, renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) produce angiotensin II, which affects the brain (increased thirst), the gut (increased salt absorption), the adrenals (aldosterone production), the kidneys (salt and water retention), the heart (increased cardiac output), and vascular smooth muscle (vasoconstriction). Inhibitors of ACE and the angiotensin II type 1 receptor are now widely used to reduce blood pressure and to treat hypertension, heart failure, and renal disease.1 The effectiveness of these drugs and abundant data from animal models show that the RAS is the body's central mechanism for regulating blood pressure. Modern studies of the RAS have substantially broadened the known roles of this system by showing that angiotensin II influences cellular proliferation and the inflammatory response. Although this wider interpretation of the RAS encompasses more than control of blood pressure, it still focuses on the effects of angiotensin II in the context of vascular injury. This increased understanding of the RAS inevitably leads to the question of whether, even now, we fully understand all of the physiological roles of the RAS. Here, we argue that the answer is no, that nature uses the components of the RAS and, in particular, ACE for a wide variety of physiological tasks. ### ACE Is Necessary for Renal Development and Normal Male Fertility In understanding the function of the RAS, a powerful tool is the ability to genetically alter mouse genes. Knockout studies of angiotensinogen, renin, ACE, or the angiotensin II type 1 receptor have confirmed the important role of these proteins in regulating blood pressure, but they also underline the wider physiological role for the RAS.2 For example, adult mice lacking ACE show marked abnormalities of renal development characterized by hypertrophy of small arteries, interstitial fibrosis, atrophy of the inner medulla and renal papilla, and dilation of calyces. Renal …
Anatomical left ventricular lead location and clinical outcome: not a one size fit all strategy.

This editorial refers to ‘Left ventricular lead position for cardiac resynchronization: a comprehensive cinegraphic, echocardiographic, clinical, and survival analysis’ by Y.-X. Dong et al., on page 1139 Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has successfully altered the natural course of symptomatic heart failure in patients with co-existing conduction disease. 1 – 3 Cardiac resynchronization therapy exerts its physiological impact through instituting synchronized ventricular contraction, leading to favourable remodelling and improvement in ejection fraction. Despite the success of this therapeutic modality, a significant minority of patients may not respond adequately to this pacing therapy. Besides selecting the right patient and thoughtful programming of these devices, the location of the left ventricular (LV) lead is now understood to be a major determinant of response to CRT. Much of the effort over the past several years has been directed to establish the most optimal anatomical location for pacing the left ventricle. Interestingly, the methodology between most studies has been variable, the included population different and evidently the results have been conflicting. 4,5 Now, a decade after implementation of what we all recognize as novel and successful intervention, we are still debating and evaluating the best ‘anatomical site’ for pacing. In this issue of the journal, Dong et al., 6 have retrospectively analysed a cohort of 457 patients who received either a CRT-P or defibrillator over the course of a 7-year period at Mayo Clinic. The authors classified their LV lead location in the short axis along the antero-septum, anterior, antero-lateral, postero-lateral, posterior, and postero-septum and in the longitudinal axis into basal, midventricular, and apical segments. The apical segment was further sub-stratified into the anterior, lateral, posterior, and septal walls. 6 Clinical follow-up involved assessing the New York Functional Class (NYHA) class (un-blinded), echocardiographic evaluation of ventricular ejection fraction and remodelling, while survival status was obtained using the national death and location database. There was an improvement in the NYHA class and a non-significant trend to improved remodelling across all lead locations, with the magnitude of improvement better in the nonanterior location. Survival at 4 years was poorest at 48% with in the subgroup of patients with a lead in the anterior location, as compared with the antero-lateral (72%) and postero-lateral (62%) locations. Interestingly, there were no differences in outcomes when lead location was stratified along the longitudinal axis, i.e. the clinical outcome with the lead in the apical location was no different in comparison to basal/mid-ventricular location. 6
Photopigment basis for dichromatic color vision in cows, goats, and sheep

Electroretinogram (ERG) flicker photometry was used to measure the spectral properties of cones in three common ungulates-cattle (Bos taurus), goats (Capra hircus), and sheep (Ovis aries). Two cone mechanisms were identified in each species. The location of peak sensitivity of an S-cone mechanism varied from about 444 to 455 nm for the three species; analogous values for an M/L-cone were tightly clumped at about 552-555 nm. Each of these three species has the requisite photopigment basis for dichromatic color vision and they are, thus, similar to other ungulates examined earlier.
Dead or alive: Deoxyribonuclease I sensitive bacteria and implications for the sinus microbiome.

BackgroundRecently, there has been tremendous interest in the sinus microbiome and how it relates to disease. However, a lack of a standardized sample collection and DNA extraction methods makes co...
Novel Tissue Marker of Epileptic Foci in Resections

The neurosurgeon relies on the expertise of the neurologist, electoencephalographer and neuroradiologist to determine the extent of resection of brain tissue in the treatment of medically refractive childhood seizures.
Abstract 3807: Threshold Effects on Language Lateralization

Background: Vascular lesion patients may have atypical language networks (Vikingstad et al. 2000). When evaluating language function in vascular lesion patients, the threshold of significance at which functional activations are analyzed may lead to differences in the lateralization index (LI) calculated. We examine the effect of various thresholds on language LIs in vascular lesion patients and control subjects. We further aim to compare language LIs in these two groups and to analyze patient LIs for correlations with lesion activation distance (LAD). Methods: Structural and functional images were collected from 29 vascular lesion patients and 14 normal controls while they performed language tasks in the scanner such as word generation and text comprehension. Left Hemisphere, frontal lobe (Broca’s), and temporal lobe (Wernicke’s) masks as well as masks of their homologous counterparts were created based on the language network identified in a meta-analysis of language studies by Vigneau et al. 2006. LI was calculated for each subject for each task on which data was acquired using each of the six masks at four different thresholds of statistical significance. Patient LIs were further analyzed for correlations with LAD to Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. Results: Vascular lesion patients tend to display bilateral or left-lateralized language functions. At the group level, increasing threshold value tended to shift LIs toward left-lateralization. Relative to controls, patients with vascular lesions appear to lateralize language functions necessary for word generation to a lesser degree, which was trending toward significance. Pooled data from visual receptive language tasks shows association between computed LI values for the frontal lobe and Wernicke9s LAD, which was significant at lower thresholds. Conclusions: Variable thresholding may cause reclassification of some patients based on LI, and higher thresholds tend to shift LI towards left-lateralization. The association observed between frontal lobe LI values and LAD to Wernicke’s area suggest that for these patients LAD to Wernicke’s may be a significant factor in lateralization at lower thresholds. These factors may be important if using LI in presurgical planning. Differences in the degree of lateralization between vascular lesion patients and controls may be due to long-term brain reorganization.
Cell-Mediated Immunity to Varicella-Zoster Virus

Natural varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection and immunization with live attenuated varicella vaccine elicits T lymphocytes that recognize VZV glycoproteins, gpI-V, and the immediate early/tegument protein, the product of gene 62 (IE62). Proliferation or cytotoxicity assays, done under limiting dilution conditions to estimate responder cell frequencies, indicate no preferential recognition of VZV proteins by human T cells. Analysis of the primary cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response after vaccination demonstrates that both gpI and IE62 are targets of the early response. CD4(+)- and CD8(+)-mediated CTL recognition of these viral proteins can be detected with natural and vaccine-induced immunity. Responder cell frequencies for protein-specific T cell proliferation and CTL function are generally comparable in subjects with natural and vaccine-acquired immunity to VZV. Exogenous reexposure to VZV results in enhanced T cell proliferation and may be an important mechanism for maintaining virus-specific cellular immunity. Providing exogenous reexposure by giving varicella vaccine to individuals who have preexisting natural immunity markedly increases the responder cell frequencies of T cells that proliferate in response to VZV antigen and the numbers of circulating CTL that recognize VZV proteins.
Testing the Usefulness of a Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) Camera in Human-Robot Interactions

Mobile robots can be used in situations and environments that are dull, dirty, or dangerous, allowing the operator to interact with the environment from a safe and convenient distance. To improve the usefulness of these robots, pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras are often used. This paper presents a user-study comparing the usefulness of robots with stationary and PTZ cameras in a search task utilizing both a traditional interface and an augmented-virtuality 3D interface. The results from the experiments suggest that with the traditional interface the PTZ camera and stationary camera have similar performance whereas with the 3D interface the PTZ camera improves performance.