cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral and EEG responses to alcohol in nonalcoholic men with a family history of alcoholism

1. Behavioral and EEG responses were examined in nonalcoholic males with (FH+) and without (FH-) a family history of alcoholism following the consumption of a placebo and real beer. 2. FH+ subjects were less confident of being able to resist another drink following consumption of the placebo and reported higher taste ratings and feeling more intoxicated immediately following ethanol consumption than FH- subjects. 3. Both groups showed increases in EEG alpha activity (9-12Hz) following alcohol consumption. 4. Alpha activity was positively associated with desire to drink in the FH+ group before and after consumption, but was positively associated with perceived intoxication in the FH- group only after consumption.
Measurement of63Ni in highly radioactive Hanford waste by liquid scintillation counting

Characterization of high-activity radioactive waste stored in underground tanks at Hanford requires determining63Ni (100 y). This low-energy β-emitter (Emax 67 keV) must be separated with a high degree of radiochemical purity large amounts of other fission and activation products. The method to be discussed involves multiple precipitation steps with several holdback carriers added, followed by precipitations with dimethylglyoxime, ion exchange, and electrodeposition. The59Ni activity is determined by low-energy photon spectrometry. The sample is then stripped from the counting disk with HNO3, converted to the chloride form, and the63Ni β-spectrum is measured with high efficiency by liquid scintillation counting.
Effects of higher-J states on nuclear-spin relaxation times for H 2 and D 2 in amorphous silicon

Fedders' calculations of the effects of molecular Jg1 states on the nuclear-spin-lattice relaxation of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ are applied to the interpretation of proton and deuteron relaxation in amorphous silicon. The temperature dependence of proton relaxation in three plasma-deposited a-Si:H samples indicates that the effectively dilute o-${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ molecules controlling the relaxation occupy at least two different kinds of sites. Depending on sample preparation conditions, there are predominant o-${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ sites with large static electric field gradients of different symmetries. Deuteron relaxation times in the a-Si:D,H sample cannot be fitted by the calculated temperature dependence of ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$-related relaxation. It is probable that motional narrowing reduces the effectiveness of the spin-diffusion contact between deuterons and ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ relaxation centers above 40 K.
Pleiotrophin signaling in pancreatic organogenesis and differentiation

Abstract Introduction: Blood vessels have been recently found to be necessary for initiation of embryonic organ formation and subsequent differentiation. As a heparin-binding extracellular cytokine important in angiogenesis, neural and renal morphogenesis, and carcinogenesis, we hypothesized that pleiotrophin (PTN) plays a role in blood vessel-induced pancreatic organogenesis and differentiation. Methods: Mouse embryonic day (E) 8.25, nascent blood vessel (dorsal aorta), foregut endoderm, or E11.5 pancreas were either harvested fresh or cultured for 6 days in different in vitro systems under antisense conditions, and then subjected to RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis for markers including PTN, PDX-1, neurogenin 3, CD31, insulin, glucagon and amylase. Results: Prior to pancreatic evagination, PTN appears to be secreted from nascent dorsal aorta in the vicinity of the foregut endoderm. The budding pancreatic anlagen display PTN precisely in the areas of vasculogenesis adjacent to differentiating epithelium. E8.25 endoderm alone did not express PTN nor insulin in a 6-Day matrigel culture. When dorsal aorta was included, both PTN and insulin were detected by immunostaining. The apparent aortic induction of insulin expression was inhibited by PTN antisense. RT-PCR analysis confirmed that pancreatic specification (PDX-1 and Neurogenin 3 positive) still occurred without aorta, but failed to differentiate further (insulin, glucagon or amylase negative), whereas addition of dorsal aorta induced endocrine differentiation (insulin and glucagon positive). Subsequently, at E11-E13 expression of PTN is restricted to the pancreatic epithelium, especially in its basement membranes. As differentiation progresses, PTN becomes localized only to the undifferentiated “cord” region. By E18, PTN staining mainly overlapped with CD31, and thus was localized only to blood vessels. In 3D culture of E11 pancreas with PTN antisense, amylase and glucagon stainings were nearly undetectable, and insulin staining was very low. Interestingly, the low-level insulin expression became localized to ductal epithelium, suggesting that PTN may be necessary for formation of extra-epithelial islets. Conclusion: Together, these data strongly suggest that PTN plays a role in blood vessel-mediated mesenchymal induction of normal pancreatic specification, organogenesis, and subsequent endocrine and exocrine differentiation.
An Independently Folding RNA G-Quadruplex Domain Directly Recruits the 40S Ribosomal Subunit

In this study, we report that a 17-nucleotide independently folding RNA G-quadruplex (GQ) domain within the 294-nucleotide human VEGF IRES A interacts with the 40S ribosomal subunit. Footprinting and structure mapping analyses indicate that the RNA GQ forms independently and interacts directly with the 40S ribosomal subunit in the absence of other protein factors. Moreover, a filter binding assay in conjunction with enzymatic footprinting clearly established that the GQ-forming domain singularly dictates the binding affinity and also the function of internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) A. The deletion of the GQ domain abrogates the binding of the 40S ribosomal subunit to the IRES, which impairs cap-independent translation initiation. The findings provide a unique and defined role for a noncanonical RNA structure in cap-independent translation initiation by cellular IRESs. The GQ structure when present in an IRES acts as an essential element in contrast to their generally accepted inhibitory role in transl...
Production of Escherichia coli as a source of nucleic acids

Present-day chemical and physical studies of the nucleic acid system of bacteria frequently call for quantities of cells which are beyond the capacity of traditional culture methods such as that of the shake flask. The case is therefore argued for an increased use of stirred deep cultures because a greater rate of output, at a higher cell concentration and with improved control of cultural conditions can be achieved. For the isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid and transfer ribonucleic acid, low growth-rate cells should be the most prolific source: whereas for ribosomes, ribosomal ribonucleic acid and messenger ribonucleic acid, high growth cells should give bigger yields. It is concluded that the information is somewhat obscure on what are the best growth conditions for the production of the related-enzymes. A batch method for producing low growth-rate cells of Escherichia coli, in lots of 1 kg dry wt., is then described, followed by a continuous method for producing high growth-rate cells, with an output of 3 kg of dry cells per day. Both cultures have been designed to give maximum yield of cells by promoting maximum assimilation of the carbon substrate. From the point of view of designing a culture, the section dealing with the continuous process discusses the rationale of medium formulation, the calculation of aeration requirements and briefly reviews earlier work on the kinetics of continuous culture.
Interconnection networks for large-scale parallel processing: theory and case studies (2nd ed.)

Parallel computer systems are being used to forecast the weather, make maps, simulate chemical reactions, control air traffic, guide missiles, provide robots with vision, and manage ballistic missile defense. A major problem in designing large-scale parallel systems is the construction of an interconnection network to provide interprocessor communications. This book presents the theoretical basis and a number of case studies that demonstrate how this work is done. This revision includes the most recent research in the field.
On-Line Optimization of Maintenance and Verification Schedules

For a complex system it is often difficult to determine a schedule for maintenance or verification that is neither needlessly frequent nor dangerously infrequent. A technique is discussed for using the system itself to derive the maintenance schedule that yields a given mean time between failures. The technique does not require calculation of the MTBF, but allows adaptive convergence to the desired result. Convergence is guaranteed for reasonable assumptions.
Thermodynamics of Solutions with Liquid Crystal Solvents. IV. GLC Determination of the Degree of Order in a Nematic Mesophase

Abstract Owing to thermal motion, molecular orientation is never entirely complete in a nematic mesophase. The commonly used methods of obtaining a measure of the extent of parallelism in this mesophase are ESR and NMR. Proposed here is a gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) approach for determining the degree of order, S. Our working model regards the nematic phase as composed of a fraction of completely aligned molecules and a fraction of completely isotropie molecules. Further, solute molecules dissolved in the nematic state are assumed to distribute themselves between these two arrangements. Based on the assumptions of this “two phase” model and on exact thermodynamic arguments, a set of simultaneous equations is derived for evaluating S from GLC-determined solute infinite dilution activity coefficients and partial molar excess enthalpies. From meassurements on two nematogenic substances, P-azoxyanisole and 4, 4′-dihexoxyazoxybenzene, S values are obtained which are independent of the nature of the solute ...
Scanning capacitance microscopy applied to two-dimensional dopant profiling of semiconductors

Abstract Scanning capacitance microscope (SCM) images of a semiconductor have contrast that is sensitive to variations in dopant density and spatial resolution on the order of the tip radius, approximately 10 nm. SCMs can be operated in a direct-capacitance, a constant-voltage-difference (open loop), or a constant-capacitance-difference (closed loop) mode. A fast and accurate formalism to convert SCM images to quantitative two-dimensional (2-D) dopant profiles, using either a 1-D model extended to 2-D (quasi-2-D model) or a full 2-D, finite element, numerical solution of Poisson's equation, has been developed. Measurements on silicon junctions are used to illustrate the effect of the SCM operating conditions on the quality of the image. For the first time with the SCM, dopant variations of GaAs pn-junctions have been imaged.
D-proline: Stereospecificity and sodium chloride dependence of lethal convulsant activity in the chick

Two- and five-day old chicks were injected intraventricularly with D-proline and structurally related compounds. D-proline produced convulsions and lethality, but was non-amnestic, whereas the naturally-occurring isomer, L-proline, was non-convulsant and non-toxic but amnestic. D-proline convulsions were accompanied by decreased high frequency in the EEG and increased slow wave activity. High amplitude spiking was not observed. The lethality of D-proline was saline-dependent. Control experiments ruled out possible toxic factors such as hypertonicity, pH pyrogens, injection volume, or needle misplacement. The results demonstrate that saline and distilled water are not equivalent injection vehicles. A sodium-free vehicle may lead to artifacts but is advantageous in experiments in which amino acid transport must be minimized.
Sex differences in the genetic risk for schizophrenia: History of the evidence for sex-specific and sex-dependent effects

Although there is a long history to examinations of sex differences in the familial (and specifically, genetic) transmission of schizophrenia, there have been few investigators who have systematically and rigorously studied this issue. This is true even in light of population and clinical studies identifying significant sex differences in incidence, expression, neuroanatomic and functional brain abnormalities, and course of schizophrenia. This review highlights the history of work in this arena from studies of family transmission patterns, linkage and twin studies to the current molecular genetic strategies of large genome-wide association studies. Taken as a whole, the evidence supports the presence of genetic risks of which some are sex-specific (i.e., presence in one sex and not the other) or sex-dependent (i.e., quantitative differences in risk between the sexes). Thus, a concerted effort to systematically investigate these questions is warranted and, as we argue here, necessary in order to fully understand the etiology of schizophrenia. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Phase Space Transform Adapted to the Wave Equation

Wave packets emerged in recent years as a very useful tool in the study of nonlinear wave equations. In this article we introduce a phase space transform adapted to the geometry of wave packets, and use it to characterize and study the associated classes of pseudodifferential and Fourier integral operators.
Fluoroquinolone- and ceftriaxone-based therapy of community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized patients: the risk of subsequent isolation of multidrug-resistant organisms.

A retrospective cohort study was performed on 175 adult patients treated for community-acquired pneumonia with moxifloxacin or ceftriaxone/azithromycin in a nonintensive care unit. Both cohorts were very similar with regard to a wide range of characteristics including age, severity of disease, comorbidities, length of stay, and mortality. Multidrug-resistant organisms were subsequently isolated from 6 (15%) moxifloxacin-treated patients and 5 (4%) ceftriaxone/azithromycin-treated patients within 90 days after beginning of therapy ( P = .026 on logistic regression analysis).
Use of Radiotelemetry for Obtaining Habitat Preference Data on Colorado Squawfish

Abstract Habitat preferences of Colorado squawfish Ptychocheilus lucius were obtained from 2,329 observations of 22 radiotelemetered fish and compared with habitat information obtained at the point of capture for 241 fish. Depth, velocity, and substrate preferences also were compared by these two methods. Radiotelemetry observations appear to avoid some of the bias from conventional collections, and can provide a better understanding of habitat requirements for stream fishes.
The long-term sexual response to coronary bypass surgery: Some preliminary findings

The sexual adjustment of ten individuals was measured before, and both four months, and four years, after coronary bypass surgery. Test variables were subject to an analysis of variance. Patients showed a significant improvement in their physical condition after surgery (both at four months and four years) as measured by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification (p.<.01). However, sexual adjustment didnot improve as measured by the Structured and Scaled Interview to Measure Maladjustment. Sexual counseling was suggested.
ABET accreditation with IT criteria

In recent years the SIGITE community has invested significant effort into developing IT accreditation standards. New draft general and program specific accreditation criteria were recently created. The Brigham Young University IT program is undergoing an accreditation visit in the near future as a pilot program. Although the IT criteria have not yet been approved by ABET they have been used by the Brigham Young University program in preparing for accreditation and will be considered by the accreditation evaluators in the accreditation visit. This paper will describe the experience of preparing for an ABET IT accreditation visit using the draft standards. Issues of continuous improvement, assessment and accreditation documentation will be discussed. Methods for collecting and presenting accreditation data will be presented. The selection of program objectives related to institution objectives is discussed, as is the link between course outcomes and program outcomes and objectives. The linkage between accreditation criteria and the model curriculum is also discussed. This work follows on from previous work that has been reported elsewhere. Thus there is some overlap with previous papers by one or more of the authors, as well as new work.
Effects of postnatal maturation on postrest potentiation in isolated rabbit atria

Ultrastructural changes in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) have been reported during postnatal development of the mammalian heart, but the functional significance of these observations has not been well characterized. Calcium release from SR in intact myocardial preparations was determined by the contractile characteristics of postrest contractions. Isometric tension and the maximum rate of tension development of the first contraction following intervals of electromechanical quiescence (rest) were related to steady-state tension and maximum rate of tension development during contraction at constant frequency (1.0 Hz) in isolated left atrial strips from newborn (1-7 days), immature (14-21 days), and adult (more than 6 months) rabbits. The first postrest contraction was increased as a function of the rest interval rate of tension development, defined as postrest potentiation, in all three age groups and reached a maximum value at rest intervals of more than 20 s. Tension developed by the first contraction following a 60-s rest interval was potentiated less in newborn and immature atria than in adult atria at an extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca]e) of 2.5 mM, an age-related difference most marked in the immature. Ryanodine (5.0 X 10(-9) M), a putative blocker of calcium release from cardiac SR, abolished postrest potentiation providing evidence that calcium release from SR is the predominant determinant of the postrest contraction. Postrest tension in atria from the immature rabbit heart was significantly increased both in absolute terms and relative to steady-state tension following stabilization under conditions which increase intracellular [Ca] [( Ca]i), i.e. increasing [Ca]e, increasing tonicity, or decreasing extracellular sodium concentration ([Na]e).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Effect of Distal Heme Pocket Mutations on the Water Accessible Areas in Myoglobin

Internal water molecules are important to protein structure and function. A non-coordinated water molecule in the distal pocket of a myoglobin has been shown to be the dominate factor in controlling the binding of CO to the heme active site. We previously developed a method to experimentally measure the entry of internal water into the distal pockets of Mb mutants after photodissociation of CO. In order to better understand what factors control the occupancy of this disordered water in the protein we compared the occupancy with the size of the mutated residue and hydrophobicity. We see little correlation between residue size and water occupancy and a good correlation between water occupancy and hydrophobicity. In order to better understand what factors contribute to internal water occupancy, we further examined how cavity volume and the dynamic behavior of the distal histidine influence water occupancy. Using a computational approach, we calculated the internal volumes of myoglobin cavities for various mutants. We further characterized these cavities by investigating the dynamic behavior of the H64 residue using molecular dynamics. The data show high flexibility of the H64 in the wild type protein suggesting a mechanism by which water is allowed access to the distal cavity. However, in the distal pocket mutants, the H64 can adopt a more stable conformation thereby reducing water access to the cavity. These findings suggest that the flexibility of the distal histidine plays a key role in influencing water access to the distal cavity and the binding affinity for gaseous ligands. In addition, the long range molecular dynamics was used to assess stability of the cavity bound water for the various mutants. The obtained data showed correlation between hydrophobicity and the water residence time in the cavity.
Einfluß des Schweißens auf das Verformungsverhalten von Bauteilen

Je nach Art der Beanspruchung hangt die Sicherheit der Bauteile teils mehr, teils weniger von der Fahigkeit der Werkstoffe ab, Spannungsspitzen durch plastische Verformungen abzubauen und etwa entstandene Anrisse abzufangen. Sowohl die herkommlichen Verfahren der Zahigkeitsprufung von Werkstoffen als auch Betrachtungen nach den Grundlagen der Bruchmechanik geben bei geschweisten Bauteilen zwar wertvolle Hinweise uber die Bruchgefahr, jedoch sind weitergehende Untersuchungen, insbesondere uber den Einflus sehr schmaler Zonen mit unterschiedlichem plastischem Verformungsvermogen, zur Beurteilung der Sicherheit geschweister Bauteile notwendig.
Late Classic Maya Pottery Production: Review and Synthesis

Studies of the organization of Maya pottery production have been pursued via numerous methods but without theoretical models. I review available data on production of Late Classic southern lowland Maya polychrome pottery in light of my calendrically based may model of geopolitical organization. I conclude that: (1) production arrangements vary by “kind” of pottery; (2) “craft specialization” and “workshops” are inappropriate concepts; (3) study of polychrome production necessitates multiple approaches, including analysis of decorative content; (4) better “bridging arguments” and “middle-range theory” are needed; (5) figural polychromes were “inalienable” wealth goods; and (6) they were painted in palaces of primary and secondary centers—may and k'atun seats in the model—in realm-specific signature styles.
Defining the pathways underlying the prolonged PR interval in atrioventricular conduction disease.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly observed arrhythmia, and it is estimated to affect more than 2 million adults annually in the United States alone [1]. The risk of stroke, heart failure, and sudden death are all increased in patients with AF. The frequency of AF increases with age and most often underlies other overt cardiomyopathies or cardiovascular diseases such as ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, or hypertension [2], [3]. However, for nearly 70 years AF has also been known to be an inherited, Mendelian disorder [4]. Indeed, work from the Framingham Heart Study reported a significant increase in the risk of AF in patients who had just one parent with AF [5]. The genetic mechanisms that lead to AF vary widely as do the degrees of penetrance [6], [7].
Hybrid cytokines as hematopoietic growth factors

A large body of in vitro and in vivo data suggests that combinations of cytokines provide the most effective mechanism for stimulating multilineage acceleration of hema-topoiesis. Creation of a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)/ interleukin 3 (DL-3) fusion protein has yielded a single therapeutic which has enhanced biological activity in comparison to the individual cytokines from which it is composed. In vivo studies with this fusion protein (PIXY321) suggest that it may provide a means to accelerate both neutrophil and platelet recovery in clinical settings in which hematopoiesis is suppressed. The biology of PIKY321 and the potential for other fusion proteins is discussed.
Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (Deuteromycota) affords protection from secondary fungus infection in the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae): inference from competitive fungal interactions in vitro

Abstract Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (Sacc.) Bainier is an internal fungal associate of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say) - vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. When cultured in vitro, S. brevicaulis reduces or prevents the initiation of conidia and diminishes growth of other common, but potentially antagonistic molds (Aspergillis niger van Tieghem, Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fresen.) de Vries, Penicillium glabrum (Wehmer) Westling) isolated from tick external surfaces. Based on evidence through secondary resource capture, S. brevicaulis appears to serve as a deterrent to other fungi that may have the potential to infect and exploit the tick internally. By developing a “combative” (C) strategy, S. brevicaulis illustrates a novel form of mycoprophylaxis, and may explain this fungus' sole occurrence inside the tick. Thus, harboring this fungus may be of considerable benefit to D. variabilis, especially when conditions promote growth of potentially harmful fungi in the tick's environment.
Endoscopic basilic vein transposition for hemodialysis access

Background Hemodialysis access by autogenous arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) is generally recommended due to lower mortality, morbidity, and cost vs graft and catheter use. Many dialysis patients lack the common superficial veins used for standard AVF options and require transposition of a deep vein for autogenous dialysis access through a long open incision (open/AVF-T). These operations may require prolonged time for healing, thus extending catheter-based dialysis. We report our experience with minimally invasive techniques for creating AVF-Ts using an endoscopic procedure (endo/AVF-T). Methods We reviewed our vascular access database of consecutive access operations to identify consecutive patients with endo/AVF-Ts. For comparison, we also reviewed the immediate preceding traditional open/AVF-T operations that we previously reported. We evaluated demographics, time to access use, and primary, assisted, and cumulative patency. Results We identified 100 consecutive endo/AVF-T operations attempted, and 98 were technically successful. The analysis excluded two conversions to successful open/AVF-T. The mean age of the 98 patients in the endo/AVF-T study group was 60 years (range, 22-94 years), 59 (60.2%) were women, 48 (49.0%) were diabetic, 20 (20.4%) were obese, and 52 (53.1%) had had previous access surgery. Mean time to initial use of the access for endo/AVF-Ts was 6 weeks for primary and 12 weeks for staged transpositions. Mean follow-up was 14 months (range, 1-30 months). The 12- and 24-month cumulative patencies were 95.5% and 88.6%. The 78 traditional open/AVF-T operations from our previous report were reviewed for comparison. The mean age was 62 years (range, 18-83 years), 57 (73.1%) were women, 44 (56.4%) were diabetic, 15 (19.2%) were obese, and 46 (59.0%) had previous access surgery. Mean time to initial use of the access for open/AVF-Ts was 8 weeks for primary and 16 weeks for staged operations. Mean follow-up was 18 months (range, 3-48 months). The 12- and 24-month cumulative patencies were 96.0 and 88.9%. No grafts were used in any patient during the study period. Conclusion Time to access use was less with endoscopic AVF-T ( P
Guaranteeing end-to-end deadlines in ATM networks

We address the issue of guaranteeing the end-to-end deadlines of hard real-time connections in an ATM network. In an ATM network, a set of hard real-time connections can be admitted only if the end-to-end delays of cells belonging to individual connections are not more than their deadlines. We systematically decompose an ATM network into constant delay and variable delay servers to facilitate the delay analysis. Effective traffic description is the key part of such a process. We propose a comprehensive traffic description function that provides adequate information about the worst case traffic behavior of connections anywhere in the network. We also study some simple approximations of this function that perform reasonably well in practice. We analyze and compare the performance of ATM networks with FCFS and WRR link scheduling policies under different loading conditions.
Removing 17β-estradiol from drinking water in a biologically active carbon (BAC) reactor modified from a granular activated carbon (GAC) reactor.

Estrogenic compounds in drinking water sources pose potential threats to human health. Treatment technologies are needed to effectively remove these compounds for the production of safe drinking water. In this study, GAC adsorption was first tested for its ability to remove a model estrogenic compound, 17β-estradiol (E2). Although GAC showed a relatively high adsorption capacity for E2 in isotherm experiments, it appeared to have a long mass transfer zone in a GAC column reactor, causing an early leakage of E2 in the effluent. With an influent E2 concentration of 20 μg/L, the GAC reactor was able to bring down effluent E2 to ∼200 ng/L. To further enhance E2 removal, the GAC reactor was converted to a biologically active carbon (BAC) reactor by promoting biofilm growth in the reactor. Under optimal operating conditions, the BAC reactor had an effluent E2 concentration of ∼50 ng/L. With the empty bed contact times tested, the reactor exhibited more robust E2 removal performance under the BAC operation than under the GAC operation. It is noted that estrone (E1), an E2 biodegradation intermediate, was frequently detected in reactor effluent during the BAC operation. Results from this study suggested that BAC could be an effective drinking water treatment process for E2 removal and in the meantime E1 accumulation needs to be addressed.
Impact Behavior of Hybrid-Fiber and Hybrid-Matrix Composites:

Fracture behavior of advanced interlaminar hybrid composites has been investigated. Single-matrix/double-fiber, double-matrix/single-fiber, and double-matrix/ double-fiber hybrids as well as their single-fiber/single-matrix control versions were stud ied. The addition of glass fiber-PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) laminas in graphite fiber-PPS composites was found to be effective in improving the impact resistance of the material. As the percentage of glass fibers increased, so did the maximum load tolerated and impact energies absorbed by the material. The intermixing of glass- and graphite-fiber plies also helped decrease the sudden catastrophic failure mode, which is usually associated with graphite-fiber composites. This was due to the extra strain energy dissipated by massive delamination and the subsequent crack blunting mechanism. Adding thermoplastic PPS fiber laminas in epoxy/graphite fiber plies was also found to enhance the impact energy ab sorption capability of the otherwise brittle thermoset com...
Communitarian journalism and the common good: Lessons from the Catholic Worker

The US newspaper the Catholic Worker (CW) is an instructive example for developing a key concept in communitarian journalism theory: the common good. The principal question to be examined in this a...
Pregnancy outcomes in chronic hypertension compared with the general obstetric population

WITH THE GENERAL OBSTETRIC POPULATION GERDA ZEEMAN, JAMES ALEXANDER, DONALD MCINTIRE, KENNETH LEVENO, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dallas, TX OBJECTIVE: To compare pregnancy outcomes of women with chronic hypertension to the general obstetric population at a single large hospital. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnancy outcomes for all women are entered routinely into a computerized database. During a period of 2.5 years, antepartum data on women with chronic hypertension who required antihypertensive therapy before 20 weeks’ gestation, were linked to outcome data. All had singleton pregnancies and delivered beyond 24 weeks’ gestation. Demographics, selected pregnancy outcomes, intrapartum complications, and infant outcomes are compared. Comparisons were made with chi-square and Student t test. RESULTS: A total of 117 women with chronic hypertension were compared with 39,255 women from the general hospital population. Women with chronic hypertension were significantly older, obese, parous, and more often African American. Outcome data are shown as n (%) unless otherwise indicated. CONCLUSION: Approximately 75% of women with chronic hypertension requiring antepartum antihypertensive medications had significant pregnancy complications.
The 90-kDa Heat Shock Protein Stabilizes the Polysomal Ribonuclease 1 mRNA Endonuclease to Degradation by the 26S Proteasome

The polysomal ribonuclease 1 (PMR1) mRNA endonuclease forms a selective complex with its translating substrate mRNAs where it is activated to initiate mRNA decay. Previous work showed tyrosine phosphorylation is required for PMR1 targeting to this polysome-bound complex, and it identified c-Src as the responsible kinase. c-Src phosphorylation occurs in a distinct complex, and the current study shows that 90-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp90) is also recovered with PMR1 and c-Src. Hsp90 binding to PMR1 is inhibited by geldanamycin, and geldanamycin stabilizes substrate mRNA to PMR1-mediated decay. PMR1 is inherently unstable and geldanamycin causes PMR1 to rapidly disappear in a process that is catalyzed by the 26S proteasome. We present a model where Hsp90 interacts transiently to stabilize PMR1 in a manner similar to its interaction with c-Src, thus facilitating the tyrosine phosphorylation and targeting of PMR1 to polysomes.
Does stress-related growth involve constructive changes in coping intentions?

The theorized link between stress-related growth (SRG) and enhanced coping intentions was examined in 91 young adults. Participants reported their most stressful event in the past year, how they coped with it, their perceived SRG from this event, and how they would intend to cope should this same event happen again. In general, SRG was unrelated to intended changes in coping. Participants then read three vignettes describing stressful events. For each, they imagined that it was currently occurring and reported their coping plans. Whereas SRG was positively related to some adaptive coping plans, it was also related to several maladaptive strategies, inconsistent with coping enhancement. Overall, findings suggest that SRG might represent retrospective positive reappraisals vs. growth, as has been shown for the related construct of posttraumatic growth (PTG). Implications for the validity of SRG and directions for future research are discussed.
Role of procalcitonin in guiding antibiotic therapy.

Purpose The role of procalcitonin in guiding antibiotic therapy is reviewed. Summary Procalcitonin is a prohormone for calcitonin, which is secreted by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland. The biological activity of procalcitonin is significantly different from calcitonin and is believed to be part of the complex inflammatory cascade of the immune system. Procalcitonin has been shown to be elevated in bacterial infections but not in viral infections or other inflammatory conditions. The first published study that suggested that procalcitonin levels increased in the presence of bacterial infection was conducted in France in the early 1990s. Numerous studies have been conducted using procalcitonin-guided therapy to reduce antibiotic use. These studies were performed in one of three clinical settings: outpatient primary care (two multicenter, noninferiority studies of patients with upper- and lower-respiratory-tract infections), emergency room and inpatient (five studies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exacerbation, bronchitis, or community-acquired pneumonia), and the intensive care unit (ICU) (two studies in medical ICU patients and two in postoperative ICU patients with infection or sepsis). Based on the findings of these studies, a cutoff value of 0.25 μg/L in non-ICU patients or of 0.5 μg/L in ICU patients seems appropriate for making a decision about the initiation and discontinuation of antibiotic therapy. In patients with a significantly elevated baseline procalcitonin level, a subsequent drop of >80% appears to be reasonable for discontinuing antibiotics. Conclusion Published evidence supports the use of procalcitonin as a biomarker of bacterial infection that can be used to reduce antibiotic exposure.
Survey Constructive nonlinear control: a historical perspective

In the early days of nonlinear control theory most of the stability, optimality and uncertainty concepts were descriptive rather than constructive. This survey describes their 'activation' into design tools and constructive procedures. Structural properties of nonlinear systems, such as relative degree and zero dynamics, are connected to passivity, while dissipativity, as a finite L"2-gain property, also appears in the disturbance attenuation problem, a nonlinear counterpart of robust linear control. Passivation-based designs exploit the connections between passivity and inverse optimality, and between Lyapunov functions and optimal value functions. Recursive design procedures, such as backstepping and forwarding, achieve certain optimal properties for important classes of nonlinear systems. The survey concludes with four representative applications. The selection of the topics and their interpretations are greatly influenced by the experience and personal views of the senior author.
Parallelizable algorithms for the selection of grouped variables

Well-appreciated in statistics for its ability to select relevant grouped features (factors) in linear regression models, the group-Lasso estimator has been fruitfully applied to diverse signal processing problems including RF spectrum cartography and robust layered sensing. These applications motivate the distributed group-Lasso algorithm developed in this paper, that can be run by a network of wireless sensors, or, by multiple processors to balance the load of a single computational unit. After reformulating the group-Lasso cost into a separable form, it is iteratively minimized using the method of multipliers to obtain parallel per agent and per factor estimate updates given by vector soft-thresholding operations. Through affordable inter-agent communication of sparse messages, the local estimates provably consent to the global group-Lasso solution. Specializing to a single agent network, or, to univariate factors, efficient (distributed) Lasso solvers are rediscovered as a byproduct.
A constrained-gradient method to control divergence errors in numerical MHD

In numerical magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), a major challenge is maintaining ∇⋅B=0. Constrained transport (CT) schemes achieve this but have been restricted to specific methods. For more general (meshless, moving-mesh, ALE) methods, ‘divergence-cleaning’ schemes reduce the ∇⋅B errors; however they can still be significant and can lead to systematic errors which converge away slowly. We propose a new constrained gradient (CG) scheme which augments these with a projection step, and can be applied to any numerical scheme with a reconstruction. This iteratively approximates the least-squares minimizing, globally divergence-free reconstruction of the fluid. Unlike ‘locally divergence free’ methods, this actually minimizes the numerically unstable ∇⋅B terms, without affecting the convergence order of the method. We implement this in the mesh-free code gizmo and compare various test problems. Compared to cleaning schemes, our CG method reduces the maximum ∇⋅B errors by ∼1–3 orders of magnitude (∼2–5 dex below typical errors if no ∇⋅B cleaning is used). By preventing large ∇⋅B at discontinuities, this eliminates systematic errors at jumps. Our CG results are comparable to CT methods; for practical purposes, the ∇⋅B errors are eliminated. The cost is modest, ∼30 per cent of the hydro algorithm, and the CG correction can be implemented in a range of numerical MHD methods. While for many problems, we find Dedner-type cleaning schemes are sufficient for good results, we identify a range of problems where using only Powell or ‘8-wave’ cleaning can produce order-of-magnitude errors.
A Question-answering Agent Using Speech Driven Non-linear Machinima

The preschool ”literacy gap” is one of the most difficult challenges for education in the US. Children in the lowest SES (Socio-Economic Status) quartile have less than half the working vocabulary of those in the top quartile at age 3. On the other hand, preschool children are incessantly inquisitive, and will readily engage in question answering and asking activities if given the opportunity. We argue here that question asking/answering technologies can play a major role in early literacy. We discuss the system implementation of a virtual agent called Spot, that plays a 20-questions game with preschoolers. We describe how a platform for speech-driven non-linear machinima was used to develop this agent. We also present a preliminary computational evaluation of the performance of the system in view of the data collected through a wizard-of-study.
Sgt1p and Skp1p modulate the assembly and turnover of CBF3 complexes required for proper kinetochore function

Kinetochores are composed of a large number of protein complexes that must be properly assembled on DNA to attach chromosomes to the mitotic spindle and to coordinate their segregation with the advance of the cell cycle. CBF3 is an inner kinetochore complex in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that nucleates the recruitment of all other kinetochore proteins to centromeric DNA. Skp1p and Sgt1p act through the core CBF3 subunit, Ctf13p, and are required for CBF3 to associate with centromeric DNA. To investigate the contribution of Skp1p and Sgt1p to CBF3 function, we have used a combination of in vitro binding assays and a unique protocol for synchronizing the assembly of kinetochores in cells. We have found that the interaction between Skp1p and Sgt1p is critical for the assembly of CBF3 complexes. CBF3 assembly is not restricted during the cell cycle and occurs in discrete steps; Skp1p and Sgt1p contribute to a final, rate-limiting step in assembly, the binding of the core CBF3 subunit Ctf13p to Ndc10p. The assembly of CBF3 is opposed by its turnover and disruption of this balance compromises kinetochore function without affecting kinetochore formation on centromeric DNA.
An Aggregation/Erodibility Index for Soils in a Semiarid Watershed, Southeastern Arizona

Variations in soil profi le thickness, surface soil properties, erosion rates, runoff, and sediment properties within similar soils and watersheds are controlled by slope factors such as steepness, length, and position through their infl uence on soil water regimes, and thus soil erodibility. This study was conducted to determine the effects of slope on the variation of soil erodibility at watershed scales using an aggregation index (AI) approach and soil attributes that infl uence erodibility and suspended sediment properties. Each major soil type in six subwatersheds (SWs) was sampled along transects positioned to represent the normal slope factors within a given mapping unit. At each sampling point, latitude‐longitude, slope steepness, position, and aspect were recorded. Soil samples collected from the surface 5.0 cm were characterized for particle-size distribution, water dispersible clay (WDC), total and organic C, pH, and quantitative color. Suspended sediment samples collected from each SW were characterized for similar parameters. Clay contents of the soils and suspended sediments averaged 141.3 and 179.3 g kg −1 , respectively. An AI, was used as an indicator of soil erodibility. Enrichment ratios (ER) for clay contents in the sediment ranged from 1.03 to 1.67. The correlation coeffi cient (r) for AI versus ER was −0.946 (p ≤ 0.01) indicating a strong relationship between watershed soil erodibility and suspended sediment properties. The data show that AI was greatest on the steeper slope classes, toeslope and backslope positions, and on the more northern aspects. These results suggest that AI can be used to determine the erodibility over a range of soil and slope conditions. Abbreviations: AI, aggregation index; ER, enrichment ratio; MLRA, Major Land Resource Area; SWs, subwatersheds; WDC, water dispersible clay; WGEW, Walnut Gulch Experiment Watershed .
Environmental Influences on Ethical Decision Making: Climate and Environmental Predictors of Research Integrity

It is commonly held that early career experiences influence ethical behavior. One way early career experiences might operate is to influence the decisions people make when presented with problems that raise ethical concerns. To test this proposition, 102 first-year doctoral students were asked to complete a series of measures examining ethical decision making along with a series of measures examining environmental experiences and climate perceptions. Factoring of the environmental measure yielded five dimensions: professional leadership, poor coping, lack of rewards, limited competitive pressure, and poor career direction. Factoring of the climate inventory yielded four dimensions: equity, interpersonal conflict, occupational engagement, and work commitment. When these dimensions were used to predict performance on the ethical decision-making task, it was found that the environmental dimensions were better predictors than the climate dimensions. The implications of these findings for research on ethical c...
Integrating distance education technologies in a graduate course

'ith advancements in networks, computers, and telecommunications technologies, educators have a wide variety of tools to choose from to support teaching. Coupling these technological changes with changes in pedagogy, from teacherdirected to learner-directed classrooms, provides a dynamic and complex environment for teachers and learners alike. Instruction within the constructivist paradigm typically involves active learning, peer tutoring, collaborative learning, and situating cognitive experiences in authentic activities. Constructivism recognizes learning as the process of constructing meaning about, or making sense of, our experiences. Teaching a graduate course that incorporates the application of multiple technologies within a constructivist paradigm is a challenge, but certainly doable. In the summer of 1995, a course tiffed "Training and Dissemination Using Distance Learning" was taught over a three-week period in the College of Education at Texas A&M University (TAMU). This course incorporated some of the resources available through the Internet together with distance learning technologies. The following is a discussion of the process that I, the instructor, used in developing and conducting this course: advance planning, technological issues, pedagogical issues, difficulties and limitations, and suggestions for other educators interested in using multiple technologies in their classrooms.
The Marc Dax (1770–1837)/Paul Broca (1824–1880) controversy over priority in science: Left hemisphere specificity for seat of articulate language and for lesions that cause aphemia

One of the most fascinating and frustrating issues in the priority of discovery in science is over just who, for the first time, went on record in the public forum, either orally at a conference or through a published communication, proclaiming that the faculty of articulate human speech was located in the left, not the right, cortical hemisphere. The disputed paper was purportedly written in 1836 by Marc Dax, who died subsequently in 1837. He was a physician in southern France in the city of Montpellier—far from the medical center of Paris. Little note was made of the presumed paper until the early and mid‐1860s, when the issue of language localization in the human brain took on increased activity, as the clinico‐pathological method of explanation continued to flourish in the “Art of Physick.” Marc Dax's son, Gustave, happened to be studying medicine in Paris in the 1860s, and, as most of the neuroscientific and anthropological researchers, came to know of Broca's published work, which in 1861, agreed wi...
Topological dynamics of an ordinary differential equation

Abstract : This is a technical paper that relaxes the conditions under which the mapping Pi(t,(X sub 0),f) = (phi(t,(X sub 0),f),(f sub t)) is a dynamical system, where phi(t,(x sub 0),f) is the solution of dx/dt = f(x,t),x(0) = (x sub 0), and (f sub t) is defined by (f sub t)(x,s) = f(x,t+s). The fact that Pi is a dynamical system has many consequences, including the validity of the LaSalle invariance principle in stability for the nonautonomous system dx/dt = f(x,t). So by casing the conditions the author automatically improves many results.