cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amide Alcoholysis in Mononuclear Zinc and Cadmium Complexes Ligated by Thioether Sulfur and Nitrogen Donors

A series of divalent zinc and cadmium complexes ([(beppa)Zn](ClO4)2 (1), [(bmppa)Zn](ClO4)2 (2), and [(bmppa)Cd(ClO4)](ClO4)·MeOH (3)) of amide-appended N2S2 ligands (beppa = N-bis-2-(ethylthio)ethyl-N-(6-pivaloylamido-2-pyridylmethyl)amine; bmppa = N-bis-2-(methylthio)ethyl-N-(6-pivaloylamido-2-pyridylmethyl)amine) have been synthesized and characterized. Treatment of these complexes with 1 equiv of Me4NOH·5H2O in MeOH results in quantitative amide alcoholysis.
Raman spectrum and structure of trichlorosulphonium iodide (Cl3SI)

Abstract A new molecule, Cl 3 SI, is identified, by means of its Raman spectrum, as one of the components of mixed crystals of the general formula Cl 8 S 2 I 2 . The other component is the ionic complex SCl 3 + ICl 2 − . A force constant calculation for Cl 3 SI, using a general valence force field potential, confirms the interpretation of the spectrum. The observed fundamentals of Cl 3 SI are assigned to C 3 v symmetry as follows: species A 1 : v 1 = 482, v 2 = 293, v 3 = 242; species E : v 4 = 493, v 5 = 255, v 6 = 140 cm −1 .
An evaluation of Beck’s cognitive theory of depression in adults with intellectual disability

Background The theories supporting cognitive treatment for depression among individuals with intellectual disability (ID) have not been formally tested with this population. The current study evaluated Beck’s cognitive theory of depression to determine its appropriateness for adults with ID. Methods Forty-eight adults with primarily mild or moderate ID participated in semi-structured interviews, twice approximately 16 weeks apart, as did an additional 12 adults diagnosed with depression. Participants reported on depressed mood, the cognitive triad, as measured by views of the self, the world and the future, hopelessness and self-esteem. Results The Cognitive Triad Inventory for Children (CTI-C) displayed adequate psychometric properties in this sample. In addition, it was correlated with depressed mood, and individuals diagnosed with depression had significantly higher scores on the CTI-C than those with no psychiatric diagnoses. Contrary to hypotheses, a negative cognitive triad did not predict depressed mood 4 months later, but the inverse relationship where depressed mood predicted a later negative cognitive triad approached statistical significance. Conclusions The findings indicate that the cognitive triad can be measured among individuals with mild or moderate ID and is related to depression and depressed mood. However, the role of the cognitive triad in the development of depression is still unknown. The findings provide some support for Beck’s cognitive theory of depression among individuals with ID and provide suggestions for further testing the theory. Implications for the treatment of depression among individuals with ID are discussed.
Impact of body mass index levels on lipid abnormalities in Chinese Asians, American Blacks and American Whites: the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Studies.

Background Several researchers have reported that Chinese adults may have a greater chronic disease burden than Whites, especially at lower body mass index (BMI) levels.
On the relationship between sentence structure and the latency in generating the sentence

Earlier data suggest that the probability of a transitional error (TEP) on response attempts during acquisition of sentences as responses in a PA task is correlated with the linguistic structure of the sentence. On the basis of the earlier data a model of sentence generation is outlined which uses a system of hypothetical decoding operations. The present study was designed to determine if the pattern of TEPs is sensitive enough to detect small differences between similar structures, and if there were latency differences between a stimulus and the initial word of sentence responses which are related to the number of hypothetical decoding steps necessary to start generating the response. The results suggest that the TEP pattern is sensitive to small structural differences and that latency does increase as number of decoding operations increases.
Acrylic reactor runaway and explosion accident analysis

Abstract On May 18, 2001 a destructive fire and explosion accident occurred in an acrylic resin manufacturing plant located in the northern part of Taiwan. More than 100 people were injured and totally 46 plants including 16 high-tech companies nearby were severely damaged. The resulting blast wave destroyed and shattered many large and small windows of residences within half-a-kilometer. The immediate cause turned out to be a vapor cloud explosion and the blast mass was estimated to be equivalent to 1000 kg of TNT. However, the original cause was found to be a runaway reaction of a 6-ton reactor that contained methyl acrylate, methyl alcohol, acrylonitrile, isopropyl alcohol, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. The investigation and experimental runaway results revealed that during the runaway, the temperature had risen rapidly from 60°C to about 170–210°C and the maximum temperature rising rate could reach 192 K min −1 . Since the final temperature of the process was much higher than the boiling points of all the reactants, vapors generated inside the reactor were released to the atmosphere. Certain hazards analysis and calorimetric tests to ensure that similar runaway accident should not occur again were performed as part of this study.
A Characterization of (3+1)-Free Posets

Posets containing no subposet isomorphic to the disjoint sums of chains 3+1 and/or 2+2 are known to have many special properties. However, while posets free of 2+2 and posets free of both 2+2 and 3+1 may be characterized as interval orders, no such characterization is known for posets free of only 3+1. We give here a characterization of (3+1)-free posets in terms of their antiadjacency matrices. Using results about totally positive matrices, we show that this characterization leads to a simple proof that the chain polynomial of a (3+1)-free poset has only real zeros.
Schiff bases of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate with Tris and glycine

Abstract Schiff bases of Tris and of glycine with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate have been studied spectrophotometrically. Formation constants and pKa values have been measured and graphs have been prepared showing the amount of free pyridoxal phosphate present as a function of pH and of the concentration of amino compound. The electronic and 1H-NMR spectra of the Tris Schiff base at high pH are consistent with its existence as a carbinolamine.
Sex and Death in the Male Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum: The Life-History Effects of a Wing Dimorphism

Insect dispersal dimorphisms, in which both flight-capable and flightless individuals occur in the same species, are thought to reflect a balance between the benefits and costs of dispersal. Fitness costs and benefits associated with wing dimorphism were investigated in the male pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). In one-on-one mating competitions in small arenas between winged and wingless males, the winged aphids obtained most of the matings with virgin females. In contrast, during competition experiments in larger cages with multiple individuals of each morph, the winged males no longer had a clear mating advantage over wingless males. In the absence of competition, wingless males had marginally higher lifetime reproductive success than winged males, probably because mating winged males tended to die faster than wingless males. In the absence of females, winged males survived longer than wingless males and this difference disappeared under starvation conditions. Mating males of both morphs died significantly faster than males without access to females. There does not appear to be a direct tradeoff of dispersal ability with life history characteristics in pea aphid males, suggesting that the advantages of producing winged males may result from outbreeding.
Ternary Complex Formation on the Adenovirus Packaging Sequence by the IVa2 and L4 22-Kilodalton Proteins

Assembly of infectious adenovirus particles requires seven functionally redundant elements at the left end of the genome, termed A repeats, that direct packaging of the DNA. Previous studies revealed that the viral IVa2 protein alone interacts with specific sequences in the A repeats but that additional IVa2-containing complexes observed during infection require the viral L4 22-kDa protein. In this report, we purified a recombinant form of the 22-kDa protein to characterize its DNA binding properties. In electrophoretic mobility shift assay analyses, the 22-kDa protein alone did not interact with the A repeats but it did form complexes on them in the presence of the IVa2 protein. These complexes were identical to those seen in extracts from infected cells and had the same DNA sequence dependence. Furthermore, we provide data that the 22-kDa protein enhances binding of the IVa2 protein to the A repeats and that multiple binding sites in the packaging sequence augment this activity. These data support a cooperative role of the IVa2 and 22-kDa proteins in packaging and assembly.
Branchial arches of suspension–feeding Oreochromis esculentus: sieve or sticky filter?

Only 4% of 600 particles slid on or adhered to buccopharyngeal surfaces of Oreochromis esculentus. Only a minute quantity of mucus was visible during feeding (0.6% of 68 224 video frames; 30 frames s -1 ), and very few particles were retained in this mucus. Filtration by mucus entrapment on the branchial arches is rejected as a mechanism of particle retention in this species. Since particles contacted the branchial arches infrequently, and the inter-raker spaces are too large to retain particles less than approximately 50 μm, sieving by gill rakers as a particle retention mechanism is rejected also. Unlike the suspension-feeding congener O. niloticus, O. esculentus does not use branchial arches to retain food particles by sieving or by mucus entrapment.
Modeling a swimming fish with an initial boundary value problem: Unsteady maneuvers of an elastic plate with internal force generation

In order to model unsteady maneuvers in swimming fish, we develop an initial-boundary value problem for a fourth-order hyperbolic partial differential equation in which the fish's body is treated as an inhomogeneous elastic plate. The model is derived from the three-dimensional equations of elastic dynamics, and is essentially a simple variant of the classical Kirchhoff model for a dynamic plate. The model incorporates body forces generating moment to simulate muscle force generation in fish. The initial-boundary value problem is reduced to a beam model in one spatial dimension and formulated computationally using finite differences. Interaction with the surrounding water is represented by nonlinear viscous damping. Two example applications using simple but physically reasonable physiological parameters are presented and interpreted. One models the acceleration from rest to steady swimming, the other a rapid turn from rest.
Aerodynamic Coefficient Predictions for a Projectile Configuration at Transonic Speeds

Abstract : This report describes a computational study applied to a M549 projectile configuration. The objective was to apply previously developed Navier-Stokes computational techniques to the M549 shape, compare the results with available experimental data and evaluate the current computational capability. All computations and comparisons are for the transonic flight regime. The projectile flow fields, including the recirculatory base flow regions, were computed using thin-layer Navier-Stokes codes. Increased grid resolution and reduced computational time were achieved by using a vectorized code on a Cray 1S with one million words. Additional results were obtained using the same code on a two million word Cray. Aerodynamic coefficients have been determined from the computed flow fields and are compared to experimental data. The results for the static coefficients show good agreement with the data while the dynamic coefficients such as Magnus moment and roll damping need to be improved. Keywords: Projectile aerodynamics; Aerodynamic coefficients; Navier- Stokes Solution; Computational Aerodynamics; Static aerodynamic coefficients; Dynamic aerodynamic coefficients.
Moderation of a Parent‐Based Intervention on Transitions in Drinking: Examining the Role of Normative Perceptions and Attitudes Among High‐ and Low‐Risk First‐Year College Students

BACKGROUND: Parent-based interventions (PBIs) are an effective strategy to reduce problematic drinking among first-year college students. The current study examined the extent to which student-based characteristics, derived from the Theory of Planned Behavior, moderated 3 PBI conditions: (i) prior to college matriculation (PCM); (ii) PCM with a booster during the fall semester; and (iii) after college matriculation. The moderator variables included injunctive and descriptive peer norms about alcohol use and attitudes toward alcohol use. METHODS: Using data from a randomized control trial delivered to 1,900 incoming college students, we examined differential treatment effects within 4 types of baseline student drinkers: (i) nondrinkers; (ii) weekend light drinkers (WLD); (iii) weekend heavy episodic drinkers; and (iv) heavy drinkers. The outcome variable was based on the transitions in drinking that occurred between the summer prior to college enrollment and the end of the first fall semester and distinguished between students who transitioned to 1 of the 2 risky drinking classes. RESULTS: The results indicated that injunctive norms (but not descriptive norms or attitudes) moderated the differential effects of the PBI with strongest effects for students whose parents received the booster. Differential effects also depended on baseline drinking class and were most pronounced among WLDs who were deemed "high-risk" in terms of injunctive peer norms. CONCLUSIONS: Parental influence can remain strong for young adults who are transitioning to college environments, even among students with relatively high peer influence to drink alcohol. Thus, the PBI represents an effective tool to prevent escalation of alcohol use during the first year of college, when risk is highest and patterns of alcohol use are established. Language: en
Using Time Instead of Timeout for Fault-Tolerant Distributed Systems.

Description d'une methode generale pour implementer un systeme reparti ayant n'importe quel degre desire de tolerance de panne. La synchronisation par horloge fiable et une solution au probleme «Bizantine Generals» sont assumes
Terpestacin core structure. control of stereochemistry.

The α-hydroxycyclopentenone core structure of terpestacin has been prepared in a model system through an allene ether Nazarov cyclization of an alkylidene-γ-butyrolactone followed by regio- and stereoselective alkylation reactions. The stereochemistry at C15 (terpestacin numbering) has been used to control stereochemistry at C1 and at C23. The use of E-alkylidene-γ-butyrolactones extends the scope of the cationic cyclopentannelation reaction.
The Classic: Congenital Club Foot: The Results of Treatment

This Classic article is a reprint of the original work by Ignacio V. Ponseti and Eugene N. Smoley, Congenital Club Foot: The Results of Treatment. An accompanying biographical sketch on Ignacio V. Ponseti, MD, is available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-009-0719-8 and a second Classic article is available at 10.1007/s11999-009-0721-1. This article is ©1963 by the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc., and is reprinted with permission from Ponseti IV, Smoley EN. Congenital Club Foot: The Results of Treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1963;45:261–344.
Increased Serum TNF-Alpha and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 are Associated With Grip Strength Declines and Tissue Degeneration in a Rat Model of Overuse

We have shown that continued performance of repetitive tasks induces grip strength declines despite resolution of systemic inflammation. We hypothesize this is due to underlying tissue degeneration. Here, we assessed long term performance (18 weeks) of a high-repetition, low-force (HRLF) task in a rat model of reaching and grasping. We observed reduced grip strength immediately after training, and persistent grip strength declines in reach limbs of HRLF rats. Several inflammatory cytokines increased in serum of 6- and 12-week HRLF rats, e.g. tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF- alpha was also increased in reach limb muscles and tendons at similar time points. A serum analyte of collagen degradation (matrix metalloproteinase-2, MMP2) was increased in serum of 18-week HRLF rats. MMP2 and several other MMPs, as well as two fibrogenic proteins (CTGF and TGFB1), were increased in 18-week HRLF tendons, which also showed histological signs of pathology. Thus, motor declines were associated earlier with ...
Estimating flood peaks from small South African catchments

Abstract A rapid method of estimating flood peaks in most of South Africa is described. The rainfall extremes needed by the method are presented. Development of the method from theoretical and empirical concepts is outlined. Comparison of eighty-three flood events observed in the United States of America with estimates from the new method facilitate an appraisal.
Chromosomal loop anchorage sites appear to be evolutionarily conserved.

Abstract We have previously identified a class of DNA sequence elements, termed matrix association regions (MARs), which specifically bind to nuclear matrices in vitro and are believed to be at the bases of chromosomal loops in vivo [1]. Here we demonstrate that nuclear matrices prepared from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae will specifically bind an MAR sequence derived from the mouse kappa light chain immunoglobulin gene. This suggests that both MAR sequences and their binding sites have been strongly evolutionarily conserved.
Transactions on automatic control and the operation of the IDC

A panel discussion chaired by Stephen Kahne, Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control. Members of the panel are Professor Y. Bar-Shalom, Technical Committee Chairman and Associate Editor Stochastie Systems, Mr. L. Fink, Technical Committee Chairman and Associate Editor for Energy Systems, Professor M. Sain, Technical Committee Chairman and Associate Editor for Linear Systems, Dr. A. Spang, Technical committee Chairman and Associate Editor for Applications, Systems Evaluation and Components. The Information Dissemination Committee is the organization within the IEEE Control Systems Society charged with responsibility for technical activities of the society. One of the major functions of this committee is to serve as the Editorial Board for the IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control. A rather unusal mode of operation has been adopted by this group since its inception more than ten years ago. This operation has been described in several Editorials which have appeared in the Transactions but there have been few opportunities for open discussion with the professional community at large about the operation. [1, 2] In this panel some of the members of the Information Dissemination Committee will discuss the operation of the IDC and focus some attention on four of the 13 technical committees presently in operation. Some statistical information about acceptance and rejection rates of papers will be given. There will be an opportunity for discussion from the audience about the virtues and deficiencies of the IDC operation.
Preface: Optimization under uncertainty—costs, risks and revenues Cyrus Derman memorial volume II

Optimization under uncertainty refers to scientific methods that are used in many different ways in a wide range of fields including statistics, economics, finance, insurance, psychology, sociology, engineering, operations, management science and information sciences. Cyrus Derman participated and played an important role in the formation of this area with his contributions, his writings and his students; as of March 2016, he has 271 descendants listed at the Mathematics Genealogy Project. Initially we planned to have a single volume. However, we received so many excellent contributions that it became necessary to have two volumes. This second volume is being published later than we had planned because we continued to receive excellent contributions and we had to extend the publication date. Wewould like to express our gratitude to the authors that contributed to this volume. Some of them had the good fortune to know and learn from Cy Derman. This volume would not have been possible without the anonymous contributions of the reviewers. Acknowledgments are due to Andrzej Ruszczynski and Endre Boros for their initial and continual support of the idea to do these volumes. Arthur F. Veinott Jr., Uriel Rothblum and Eugene Feinberg were also sources of support. Katie D’Agosta, the journal’s managing editor, worked tirelessly to assist us in all aspects of the work.
The Effects of the Gulf of California SSTs on Warm-Season Rainfall in the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico: A Regional Model Study

Abstract The impacts of the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the northern Gulf of California (GC) on warm-season rainfall in the Arizona–New Mexico (AZNM) and the northwestern Mexico (NWM) regions associated with the North American monsoon (NAM) are examined from two sets of seasonal simulations in which different SSTs were prescribed in the GC. The simulations reproduced important features in the low-level mesoscale circulations and upper air fields around the time of monsoon rainfall onset in AZNM such as sea-breeze-like diurnal variations in the low-level winds between the GC and the land, development of south-southeasterly winds over the GC and the western slope of the Sierra Madre Occidental after the onset of rainfall, and the strengthening of the 500-hPa high over AZNM around the onset of monsoon rainfall in AZNM. The simulated temporal variations in the upper air fields and daily rainfall, as well as the mesoscale circulation around the GC, suggest that the GC SSTs affect the water cycle around ...
Diffusion‐controlled sorption of dye by cylindrical fibers: Matching empirical and theoretical models

Under quite specific, limiting assumptions, sorption of molecular probes by cylindrical fibers can be described by use of the conventional diffusion equation solutions of Hill, Newman, Wilson, Crank, Carman–Haul, or Urbanik. In addition, sorption also may be described by use of relatively simple empirical equations. Statistical analysis reveals which one of three empirical, exponential equations best fits theoretical data generated by use of formal solutions to the diffusion equation, and the selected equation is then applied to real data. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preventing enterocyte apoptosis after massive small bowel resection does not enhance adaptation of the intestinal mucosa

Abstract Background After massive small bowel resection (SBR), increased rates of enterocyte apoptosis are observed in the remnant bowel via a mechanism requiring bax gene expression. This study tested the hypothesis that adaptive mucosal growth could be enhanced by the novel strategy of preventing postresection enterocyte apoptosis. Methods Male bax -null and corresponding wild-type (WT) mice underwent a 50% proximal SBR or sham operation (bowel transaction with reanastomosis alone). Mice were killed after a full adaptation interval of 1 month. Adaptation was measured in the remnant ileum as alterations in villus height, crypt depth, and wet weight. Rates of enterocyte proliferation were derived by immunostaining of crypt enterocytes for Ki-67 and apoptosis by the presence of apoptosis bodies. Results The expected increase in enterocyte apoptosis after SBR occurred in the WT mice but was unchanged in the bax -null mice. Despite the prevention of postresection apoptosis in the bax -null mice, all parameters of adaptation and proliferation increased equally after SBR in both groups of mice. Conclusions Bax deficiency prevents the increase in enterocyte apoptosis that occurs after massive SBR throughout the entire adaptation period. Attenuation of postresection enterocyte apoptosis does not augment mucosal adaptation to massive intestinal loss.
Thermal- and fission-neutron damage in vanadium

After irradiation at 4.9 deg K, the isochronal recovery curves of thermal and fission neutron damage in vanadium show a remarkable similarity up to 300 deg K. In addition to a continuous background-type: recovery, prominent recovery rate peaks are observed at 46, 72, and 285 deg K. (auth)
The role of vortex shedding in the scour of pools

Flume experiments were conducted in a 6-m flume to determine the role of turbulence in the scour of pools. Paired results from constricted-flow experiments with and without a wake zone formed behind obstructions to flow show that pools are deeper and shorter when vertical free-shear layers are present. Although non-streamlined obstructions initially present more resistance to flow, channel-bed scour develops a pool morphology that lowers mechanical energy losses to levels below those in pools with streamlined obstructions. Scour primarily enlarges the cross-sectional area in the constricted section. Feedback between pool geometry and localized turbulence production play a secondary role in total scour but still exert a major influence on final energy slopes. The experiment shows that pools with wake zones evolve to reduce longitudinal energy expenditure with an associated reduction in total turbulence production associated with the obstruction.
CO2‐caused change in plant species composition rivals the shift in vegetation between mid‐grass and tallgrass prairies

Atmospheric CO2 enrichment usually changes the relative contributions of plant species to biomass production of grasslands, but the types of species favored and mechanisms by which change is mediated differ among ecosystems. We measured changes in the contributions of C3 perennial forbs and C4 grasses to aboveground biomass production of tallgrass prairie assemblages grown along a field CO2 gradient (250–500 lmol mol 1 ) in central Texas USA. Vegetation was grown on three soil types and irrigated each season with water equivalent to the growing season mean of precipitation for the area. We predicted that CO2 enrichment would increase the forb contribution to community production, and favor tall-grasses over mid-grasses by increasing soil water content and reducing the frequency with which soil water fell below a limitation threshold. CO2 enrichment favored forbs over grasses on only one of three soil types, a Mollisol. The grass fraction of production increased dramatically across the CO2 gradient on all soils. Contribution of the tall-grass Sorghastrum nutans to production increased at elevated CO2 on the two most coarse-textured of the soils studied, a clay Mollisol and sandy Alfisol. The CO2-caused increase in Sorghastrum was accompanied by an offsetting decline in production of the mid-grass Bouteloua curtipendula. Increased CO2 favored the tall-grass over mid-grass by increasing soil water content and apparently intensifying competition for light or other resources (Mollisol) or reducing the frequency with which soil water dipped below threshold levels (Alfisol). An increase in CO2 of 250 lmol mol 1 above the pre-industrial level thus led to a shift in the relative production of established species that is similar in magnitude to differences observed between mid-grass and tallgrass prairies along a precipitation gradient in the central USA. By reducing water limitation to plants, atmospheric CO2 enrichment may alter the composition and even structure of grassland vegetation.
Ahnentafel Indexing into Morton-Ordered Arrays, or Matrix Locality for Free

Definitions for the uniform representation of d-dimensional matrices serially in Morton-order (or Z-order) support both their use with cartesian indices, and their divide-and-conquer manipulation as quaternary trees. In the latter case, d-dimensional arrays are accessed as 2d-ary trees. This data structure is important because, at once, it relaxes serious problems of locality and latency, and the tree helps schedule multiprocessing. It enables algorithms that avoid cache misses and page faults at all levels in hierarchical memory, independently of a specific runtime environment. This paper gathers the properties of Morton order and its mappings to other indexings, and outlines for compiler support of it. Statistics elsewhere show that the new ordering and block algorithms achieve high flop rates and, indirectly, parallelism without any low-level tuning.
Area-level socioeconomic deprivation, nitrogen dioxide exposure, and term birth weight in New York City.

Abstract Numerous studies have linked air pollution with adverse birth outcomes, but relatively few have examined differential associations across the socioeconomic gradient. To evaluate interaction effects of gestational nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and area-level socioeconomic deprivation on fetal growth, we used: (1) highly spatially-resolved air pollution data from the New York City Community Air Survey (NYCCAS); and (2) spatially-stratified principle component analysis of census variables previously associated with birth outcomes to define area-level deprivation. New York City (NYC) hospital birth records for years 2008–2010 were restricted to full-term, singleton births to non-smoking mothers (n=243,853). We used generalized additive mixed models to examine the potentially non-linear interaction of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and deprivation categories on birth weight (and estimated linear associations, for comparison), adjusting for individual-level socio-demographic characteristics and sensitivity testing adjustment for co-pollutant exposures. Estimated NO2 exposures were highest, and most varying, among mothers residing in the most-affluent census tracts, and lowest among mothers residing in mid-range deprivation tracts. In non-linear models, we found an inverse association between NO2 and birth weight in the least-deprived and most-deprived areas (p-values
Distinct synaptic mechanisms create parallel S-ON and S-OFF color opponent pathways in the primate retina

Anatomical and physiological approaches are beginning to reveal the synaptic origins of parallel ON- and OFF-pathway retinal circuits for the transmission of short (S-) wavelength sensitive cone signals in the primate retina. Anatomical data suggest that synaptic output from S-cones is largely segregated; central elements of synaptic triads arise almost exclusively from the “blue-cone” bipolar cell, a presumed ON bipolar, whereas triad-associated contacts derive primarily from the “flat” midget bipolar cell, a hyperpolarizing, OFF bipolar. Similarly, horizontal cell connectivity is also segregated, with only the H2 cell-type receiving numerous contacts from S-cones. Negative feedback from long (L-) and middle (M-) wavelength sensitive cones via the H2 horizontal cells elicits an antagonistic surround in S-cones demonstrating that S versus L + M or “blue-yellow” opponency is first established in the S-cone. However, the S-cone output utilizes distinct synaptic mechanisms to create color opponency at the ganglion cell level. The blue-cone bipolar cell is presynaptic to the small bistratified, “blue-ON” ganglion cell. S versus L + M cone opponency arises postsynaptically by converging S-ON and LM-OFF excitatory bipolar inputs to the ganglion cell’s bistratified dendritic tree. The common L + M cone surrounds of the parallel S-ON and LM-OFF cone bipolar inputs appear to cancel resulting in “blue-yellow” antagonism without center-surround spatial opponency. By contrast, in midget ganglion cells, opponency arises by the differential weighting of cone inputs to the receptive field center versus surround. In the macula, the “private-line” connection from a midget ganglion cell to a single cone predicts that S versus L + M opponency is transmitted from the S-cone to the S-OFF midget bipolar and ganglion cell. Beyond the macula, OFF-midget ganglion cell dendritic trees enlarge and collect additional input from multiple L and M cones. Thus S-OFF opponency via the midget pathway would be expected to become more complex in the near retinal periphery as L and/or M and S cone inputs sum to the receptive field center. An important goal for further investigation will be to explore the hypothesis that distinct bistratified S-ON versus midget S-OFF retinal circuits are the substrates for human psychophysical detection mechanisms attributed to S-ON versus S-OFF perceptual channels.
Albumin endocytosis in endothelial cells induces TGF-β receptor II signaling

Vascular endothelial cells undergo albumin endocytosis using a set of albumin binding proteins. This process is important for maintaining cellular homeostasis. We showed by several criteria that th...
Mining FDA drug labels using an unsupervised learning technique--topic modeling.

Background The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug labels contain a broad array of information, ranging from adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to drug efficacy, risk-benefit consideration, and more. However, the labeling language used to describe these information is free text often containing ambiguous semantic descriptions, which poses a great challenge in retrieving useful information from the labeling text in a consistent and accurate fashion for comparative analysis across drugs. Consequently, this task has largely relied on the manual reading of the full text by experts, which is time consuming and labor intensive.
A combined packet classifier and scheduler towards Net-Centric Multimedia Processor design

We introduce a Net-centric Multimedia Processor (NMP) with built-in Digital Rights Management (DRM) facilities to facilitate internet protocol packet processing and video processing without use of the main CPU. Packet classification and scheduling are the two most computational intensive operations. In this paper we propose an algorithm and architecture which can perform simultaneous classification and scheduling towards high-performance and power-efficient realization of the NMP. The architecture is prototyped in VHDL and simulated for power, frequency, logic usage and throughput for 4 different logic families in the Xilinx environment.
A precision power amplifier for power/energy calibration applications

A precision power amplifier for use in power/energy calibration applications is described. The amplifier was primarily designed to boost the output amplitude of a digital generator to provide the nominal 120- or 240-rms voltage component of a “phantom” calibration power source. The amplifier has a fixed gain of 40 and can provide a maximum output voltage swing of 970 V peak-to-peak or 340-V rms at 100-mA rms. The bandwidth is from dc to 150 kHz and at 60 Hz the observed no-load short-term amplitude and phase instabilities are ±5 ppm and ±5 μrad, respectively. The amplifier design uses high-voltage N-channel MOSFET's in the output driver stage together with a unique circuit topology of opto-isolators between the low-level input stage and the high-level output stage.
Calcium signaling in single rat Leydig cells.

The steroidogenic activity of the Leydig cell is regulated by glycoprotein and peptide hormones with the potential to activate both adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C. Although the control of androgen production by LH is clearly mediated by cAMP, the extent to which Ca(2+)-mobilizing stimuli control Leydig cell function is less well defined. The basal level of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in adult rat Leydig cells was 70-160 nM and was unaffected by high K+ or the dihydropyridine calcium channel agonist, Bay K 8644. These findings are consistent with the absence of voltage-sensitive calcium channels in the Leydig cell. In addition, no increase in [Ca2+]i was observed in cells treated with LH, CRF, and serotonin. However, both GnRH and endothelin-1 (ET-1) induced rapid and transient elevations of [Ca2+]i that were not associated with a sustained plateau phase and were unaffected by removal of Ca2+ from the incubation medium. The amplitude of the [Ca2+]i response was not altered by increasing concentr...
Sonographic findings of trisomy 18 in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine the sonographic findings in fetuses with trisomy 18 in the second trimester of pregnancy. Methods. A retrospective review of the cytogenetic laboratory databases at 6 tertiary referral centers identified all cases of trisomy 18. The prenatal sonographic studies in fetuses at 15 to 21 weeks’ gestation, done before invasive testing for the karyotype, were reviewed for anatomic and biometric findings. We defined abnormal fetal biometric findings as a biometric measurement (biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, or femur length) below the fifth percentile in the second trimester. Results. Of 98 fetuses with trisomy 18, 95 (97%) were detected sonographically; an anomaly was found in 92 (94%). A biometric measurement below the fifth percentile was noted in 50 (51%). Cardiac (63%) and central nervous system (34%) anomalies were most frequently detected. Although choroid plexus cysts were commonly seen, no fetuses with trisomy 18 and isolated choroid plexus cysts were found. Conclusions. Targeted sonography identified abnormal fetal anatomy or abnormal biometric findings in 97% of fetuses with trisomy 18 in the second trimester. A biometric measurement below the fifth percentile was noted in half of the cases in the
Solid State pH and pNa Glass Electrodes

Simple solid state pH and pNa glass electrodes have been prepared and studied. The conventionally used internal solution is replaced by a conducting wire or graphite fiber string which is firmly connected to the inner surface of the glass bulb or flate glass membrane. Both the conducting glue and internal solution have a contact junction potential at the glass surface and the conducting wire or internal solution serves as a conducting medium. The solid state pH and pNa electrodes studied showed a slope of 58 mV/pH and 55 mV/pNa, respectively and were stable in a period of more than one-month. The sensitivity of pNa electrodes is better than the commercial one (linear to 1 x 10-5 M Na+). The slopes of pNa electrodes were affected by pH. They behaved best in a buffer of pH 8. The pNa electrode mechanism is attributed to the charge adsorption of both Na+and OH- ions on the zwitterionic glass surface. The measured potential is the result of the net charge.
Extreme Goal Setting and Vulnerability to Mania Among Undiagnosed Young Adults

During euthymia people with bipolar disorder and their unaffected family members accomplish more than the general population. People with bipolar disorder, or those who are at risk for it, also set higher goals in laboratory tasks than other people. The work reported here examines whether persons vulnerable to mania set elevated goals in their lives. In two studies, a measure of lifetime vulnerability to mania was related to traits bearing on incentive sensitivity, and also to endorsement of high ambitions for fame, wealth, and political influence (assessed by a new measure). Relations were weaker to ambitions for other kinds of extreme goals. The effects were independent of current symptoms of mania and depression and lifetime depression. There was also evidence that incentive sensitivity and elevated aspirations made independent contributions to variance in the measure of manic risk. Discussion focuses on the implications of high goal setting for understanding goal dysregulation and mania.
Infrastructure Nation: State Space, Hegemony, and Hydraulic Regionalism in Pakistan

Large-scale infrastructures are often understood by state planners as fulfilling a national integrative function. This paper challenges the idea of infrastructures as national integrators by engaging theories of state/nation formation and infrastructure in a postcolonial context. Specifically, I put Lefebvre's characterization of the production of state space as a homogenization-differentiation dialectic in conversation with Gramsci's understanding of hegemony, bureaucracy, and nationalism to analyze the controversy surrounding the giant Tarbela Dam in Pakistan in the 1960s. I use the Tarbela controversy as a case study to elaborate a theory of postcolonial nation-formation through state-led infrastructural projects. I argue that in a postcolonial context the failure to articulate a hegemonic nationalist ideology to accompany the production of large-scale infrastructure results in a fragmentation of state space in some ways, even as state space is homogenized and integrated in other ways. The paper also offers a “hydraulic lens” on the politics of regionalism in Pakistan.
CONTRAST MATCHED STUDIES OF A SHEARED BINARY COLLOIDAL SUSPENSION

A method is proposed to measure by neutron scattering the partial scattered intensities from a suspension mixture in an H2O/D2O solvent that will match out one of the components. Total and partial neutron-scattered intensities from an aqueous colloidal suspension mixture (volume fraction ϕ = 0·15) of 91 nm polystyrene latex and 54 nm silica particles in water are reported. Results are given for the mixture at rest and under shear. We comment on the standard assumption that structure factors of components in a mixture should scale with the particle radii.
Compression of HDTV signals for low bit-rate transmission using motion compensated subband transform coding and a self-organization neural network

The quality of visual communications has greatly improved with HDTV. Due to the advantages of digital communications, and the trend towards it, it is desirable to develop a cost effective digital codec for HDTV signals. One of the criteria in the transmission of digital signals via satellites is the transmission bandwidth which dictates the transmission costs. Apart from development of good compression schemes, due consideration should also be given to the ease of hardware implementation, which is crucial in deciding factors like processing delay and the level of encoder/decoder complexity. With the above mentioned factors in mind a cost-effective HDTV codec is proposed. Few US organizations have addressed the problem of HDTV distribution via communication satellites. The majority of efforts in the development of an HDTV codec have been aimed at the 100 to 140 Mbits/sec data rate. To facilitate cost effective satellite transmission, the DS3 rate of 45 Mbits/sec, is desirable. The purpose of the present research is to compress the HDTV signals to around 20 Mbits/sec so that 2 HDTV channels can be transmitted through the DS3 rate channel. To achieve this degree of compression a new scheme is proposed. First subband coding is used to decompose the image into different frequency bands. Next motion compensation is applied to the low band, and the resulting interframe difference is discrete cosine transform (DCT) coded. The high bands are also DCT coded. The DCT coefficients of the difference signal of the low band and the DCT coefficients of the high band are then vector quantized. >
Parthenogenetic development of bovine oocytes matured in vitro for 24 hr and activated by ethanol and cycloheximide.

This research was undertaken to improve development of parthenogenetic embryos following various combined treatments of ethanol and cycloheximide. In Experiment 1 in vitro matured oocytes (IVM, 24 hr) were treated with 7% ethanol for 5 min followed by incubation in 10 μg/ml cycloheximide in Medium 199 for 0 (control), 5, 10, and 20 hr. Development to 2–8 cells following culture for 3 days was similar among treated groups (32–41%; P > 0.05), which was higher than that of controls (6%; P 0.05) but lower (P < 0.05) for the 1 μg/ml group (24%) and the controls (2–13%). When 5 μg/ml cycloheximide was used (Experiment 4), pre-exposure to ethanol (1, 2.5, and 5 min) resulted in more oocytes cleaved (38–41%) than in the cycloheximide alone group (0%) or the control (0%, P < 0.05). Experiment 5 tested blastocyst development of the activated oocytes with or without cytochalasin B treatment. Oocytes developed to blastocyts were 0%, 14%, 3%, and 3% (P < 0.05), respectively, for control, treatment with ethanol and cycloheximide in the presence, or absence of cytochalasin B, or electrical pulse plus cycloheximide. In conclusion, the combined ethanol and cycloheximide treatment supported high rates of parthenogenetic development using 24 hr IVM bovine oocytes. Blastocyst rate was significantly higher when cytochalasin B was added to the combined activation regimen. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A method for color naming and description of color composition in images

Color is one of the main visual cues and has been frequently used in image processing, analysis and retrieval. The extraction of high-level color descriptors is an increasingly important problem, as these descriptions often provide link to image content. When combined with image segmentation color naming can be used to select objects by color, describe the appearance of the image and even generate semantic annotations. For example, regions labeled as light blue and strong green may represent sky and grass, vivid colors are typically found in man-made objects, and modifiers such as brownish, grayish and dark convey the impression of the atmosphere in the scene. This paper presents a computational model for color categorization, naming and extraction of color composition. In this work we start from the National Bureau of Standards recommendation for color names, and through subjective experiments develop our color vocabulary and syntax. Next, to attach the color name to an arbitrary input color, we design a perceptually based color naming metric. Finally, we extend the method and develop a scheme for extracting the color composition of a complex image. The algorithm follows the relevant neurophysiological findings and studies on human color categorization. In testing the method the known color regions in different color spaces were identified accurately, the color names assigned to randomly selected colors agreed with human judgments, and the color composition extracted from natural images was consistent with human observations.
Detecting metadata bugs on the fly

Programmers are spending a large and increasing amount of their time writing and modifying metadata, such as Java annotations and XML deployment descriptors. And yet, automatic bug finding tools cannot find metadata-related bugs introduced during program refactoring and enhancement. To address this shortcoming, we have created metadata invariants, a new programming abstraction that expresses naming and typing relationships between metadata and the main source code of a program. A paper that appears in the main technical program of ICSE 2012 describes the idea, concept, and prototype of metadata invariants [4]. The goal of this demo is to supplement that paper with a demonstration of our Eclipse plugin, Metadata Bug Finder (MBF). MBF takes as input a script written in our domain-specific language that describes a set of metadata coding conventions the programmer wishes to enforce. Then after each file save operation, MBF checks the edited codebase for the presence of any violations of the given metadata programming conventions. These violations are immediately reported to the programmer as potential metadata-related bugs. By making the programmer aware of these potential bugs, MBF prevents them from seeping into production, thereby improving the overall correctness of the edited codebase.