cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dietary chromium and nickel enhance UV-carcinogenesis in skin of hairless mice

The skin cancer enhancing effect of chromium (in male mice) and nickel in UVR-irradiated female Skh1 mice was investigated. The dietary vitamin E and selenomethionine were tested for prevention of chromium-enhanced skin carcinogenesis. The mice were exposed to UVR (1.0 kJ/m(2) 3 x weekly) for 26 weeks either alone, or combined with 2.5 or 5.0 ppm potassium chromate, or with 20, 100 or 500 ppm nickel chloride in drinking water. Vitamin E or selenomethionine was added to the lab chow for 29 weeks beginning 3 weeks before the start of UVR exposure. Both chromium and nickel significantly increased the UVR-induced skin cancer yield in mice. In male Skh1 mice, UVR alone induced 1.9+/-0.4 cancers/mouse, and 2.5 or 5.0 ppm potassium chromate added to drinking water increased the yields to 5.9+/-0.8 and 8.6+/-0.9 cancers/mouse, respectively. In female Skh1 mice, UVR alone induced 1.7+/-0.4 cancers/mouse, and the addition of 20, 100 or 500 ppm nickel chloride increased the yields to 2.8+/-0.9, 5.6+/-0.7 and 4.2+/-1.0 cancers/mouse, respectively. Neither vitamin E nor selenomethionine reduced the cancer yield enhancement by chromium. These results confirm that chromium and nickel, while not good skin carcinogens per se, are enhancers of UVR-induced skin cancers in Skh1 mice. Data also suggest that the enhancement of UVR-induced skin cancers by chromate may not be oxidatively mediated since the antioxidant vitamin E as well as selenomethionine, found to prevent arsenite-enhanced skin carcinogenesis, failed to suppress enhancement by chromate.
Can computed tomography scan findings predict "impending'' aneurysm rupture?

Several findings on computed tomography (CT) scans of intact aneurysms have been taken to suggest “imminent” or “impending” aneurysm rupture. Often these are identified incidentally in asymptomatic...
MICROCOSTATUS GEN. NOV., A NEW AEROPHILIC DIATOM GENUS BASED ON NAVICULA KRASSKEI HUSTEDT

Navicula krasskei Hustedt has been considered to belong to the group of diatoms including Fallacia festiva (Krasske) Mann & Stickle and F. monoculata (Hustedt) Mann & Stickle. Examination of N. krasskei in the SEM revealed that this taxon does not, in fact, share features with either Fallacia or Navicula sensu stricto. Navicula krasskei differs in possessing a distinct longitudinal line visible in the light microscope. Further, in N. krasskei, the striae do not cross this line as they do in Fallacia. Also differing from Fallacia, Navicula krasskei lacks a conopeum. Finally, a series of external costae are present in the area between the heavily silicified margin of the valve and the heavily silicified axial area. Because of these unique features, we propose the formation of a new genus in the Naviculaceae for N. krasskei, Microcostatus gen. nov.
Growth of the harbour porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena ) in eastern Newfoundland, Canada

Although the stock relationships among harbour porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena ) in the Northwest Atlantic are unknown, it has been postulated that there are 4 local populations: Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, and west Greenland. Data on the Newfoundland population are extremely limited. To determine growth rates and examine if these animals can be differentiated from other sub-populations on the basis of growth characteristics, 94 porpoises caught incidentally in fishing gear along the southeast coast of Newfoundland during the summers of 1990 and 1991 were examined. Most porpoises (56%) were ≤ 4 years of age. Maximum age was 9 for females and 12 for males. Growth rates were similar for both sexes until one year of age, after which females grew longer and weighed more than males of similar ages. Using the Gompertz growth model, asymptotic values for body length were 156.3 cm for females and 142.9 cm for males. Asymptotic weights were 61.6 kg and 49.1 kg for females and males respectively. With the exception of West Greenland porpoise that were shorter and females from Norway that were lighter, Newfoundland porpoises could not be differentiated from animals collected in other areas based on growth data. However, differences in dental deposition patterns were noted suggesting that Newfoundland porpoise may belong to a separate population.
Growth Mechanism of Long and Horizontally Aligned Carbon Nanotubes by Chemical Vapor Deposition

The selective production of long, horizontally aligned carbon nanotubes (>1 mm) or short, randomly oriented carbon nanotubes (<50 μm) was achieved in a chemical vapor deposition process by influencing the catalyst pretreatment and reaction conditions. A detailed investigation was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism yielding the two different morphologies. It was found that the duration of the catalytic growth of a nanotube plays a vital role; that is, the actual growth period of long nanotubes is significantly higher (up to 15 min or more) compared to short nanotubes (10 s or less). Alignment with the gas flow occurs only when a nanotube reaches a critical length, which suggests that short growth durations limit not only the length of CNTs but also their alignment with the gas flow. Furthermore, it is concluded that differences in the nanoparticle's catalytic lifetime is the most probable factor determining the extension of growth duration and lengths to obtain long, horizontally aligned CNTs. This work...
A new multi-state fading model for mobile satellite channels based upon AFD and LCR data†

Using measured data on average fade duration (AFD) and level crossing rate (LCR), we obtain new analytical expressions for the probability density function (pdf) of received signal envelope in a mobile satellite channel, via a new method. The measured data for an urban environment comes from Kanatas et al. Proceedings of the 1997 International Mobile Satellite Conference, Pasadena, CA, 16–18 June, 1997; 169–175, but the new method is general in nature and can be applied to other environments. The method is less direct than curve-fitting to a histogram of the ‘raw’ measured fading amplitude data, but is comparable in complexity and yields good results. Our new model is a composite one, similar to other composite models given in the literature, e.g. the Loo and Lutz models, but in contrast to these, the new model affords a completely closed-form expression for the pdf. As with these other composite models, the new model is amenable to the development of computer simulations of mobile satellite channel amplitude time series realizations, and can be combined with state transition models to provide a complete multi-state fading model. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rod-like carbon nanostructures produced by the direct pyrolysis of α-cyclodextrin

Abstract Carbon nanostructures were produced by the direct pyrolysis of a cyclic glucose oligosaccharide (α-cyclodextrin) without the use of a metal catalyst. The nanorods evolve from surfaces of structureless carbon when the precursor is carbonized at 1000 °C. The conversion of initially-obtained featureless carbon to the nanostructures can be controlled by the pyrolysis time. The nanorods are of diameters 14–40 nm and consist of multiple disordered curved graphite layers with relatively short persistence lengths.
Multi-objective optimization of the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system performance

A data-driven approach to optimize the total energy consumption of the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system in a typical office facility is presented. A multi-layer perceptron ensemble is selected to build the total energy model integrating three indoor air quality models, the facility temperature model, the facility relative humidity model, and the facility CO2 concentration model. To balance the energy consumption and the indoor air quality, a quad-objective optimization problem is constructed. The problem is solved with a modified particle swarm optimization algorithm producing control settings of supply air temperature and static pressure of the air handling unit. By assigning different weights to the objectives to the model, the generated control settings optimize HVAC system with the trade-off between the energy consumption and the facility thermal comfort. Significant energy savings can be obtained even with air quality constraint.
Linguistic cues in the acquisition of number words

Previous research has shown that children go through a stage in which they know that the number words each refer to a distinct numerosity, yet do not know which numerosity each number word picks out (Wynn, 1992). How do children attain this level of knowledge? We explore the possibility that particular properties of how number words are used within sentences inform children of the semantic class to which they belong. An analysis of transcripts of the spontaneous speech of three one- and two-year-old children and their parents (from the CHILDES database; MacWhinney & Snow, 1990) suggests that the relevant cues are available as input in parents’ speech to children, and that children generally honour these properties of number words in their own speech. Implications of this proposal for word learning more generally are discussed.
Cremated human skeletal remains from three Roman Glass urns from Italy in the National Museum of Denmark

Although a small number of Roman glass urns used as cinerary containers are known, no study has ever been conducted of the human bones that they contain. This pilot study presents information regarding age and gender of the individuals found in three of these urns at the Danish National Museum as well as basic data regarding the urns themselves. This information, when compared with data that may be secured from the collections of the British Museum and elsewhere, may provide evidence for cultural, temporal or regional variations in the use of glass containers as urns for the bones of the dead.
The One-Point Statistics of Viscous Burgers Turbulence Initialized with Gaussian Data

We study the statistics of the viscous Burgers turbulence (BT) model initialized at time t=0 by a large class of Gaussian data. Using a first-principles analysis of the Hopf–Cole formula for the Burgers equation and the theory of large deviations for Gaussian processes, we characterize the tails of the probability distribution functions (PDFs) for the velocity u(x,t) and the velocity derivatives \(\). The PDF tails have a non-universal structure of the form \(\), where Re is the Reynolds number and p, q, and r depend on the order of differentiation and the infrared behavior of the initial energy spectrum.
Differential microRNA (miRNA) expression could explain microbial tolerance in a novel chronic peritonitis model.

We observed persistent peritoneal bacteria despite a transient early innate immune response to intraperitoneal (IP) Klebsiella pneumoniae. Pretreatment with LPS prior to peritonitis induced a toler...
Substrate utilization during submaximal exercise in obese and normal-weight women

In this study we compared substrate use at submaximal intensities of a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) with that derived from equivalent intensities during continuous submaximal steady-state exercise in obese and normal-weight women. Sedentary obese (n = 20, body fat > 30%) and normal-weight (n = 15, body fat < or =30%) women performed three treadmill tests with concurrent metabolic measurements. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was determined using the Bruce protocol, followed by two, randomly assigned, continuous 15-min, steady-state exercise bouts, on different days; one bout at 50% and one bout at 75% VO2max. Analysis of variance revealed no significant differences between groups for blood lactate or respiratory exchange ratio (R) values at any point during exercise. Therefore, obese and normal-weight group data were combined for subsequent analyses. The R at 50% VO2max from the GXT [0.83 (0.01)] was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than at 8 min [0.90 (0.01)] and 15 min [0.89 (0.01)] of steady-state exercise, whereas at 75% VO2max, the GXT R [0.96 (0.01)] was similar to that seen at 8 min [0.96 (0.01)] and at 15 min of steady-state exercise [0.93 (0.01)]. Blood lactate values at 50% VO2max were similar between the GXT [1.66 (0.10) mM] and steady-state exercise [1.65 (0.09) mM], but at 75% VO2max the GXT blood lactate values [2.58 (0.21) mM] were lower than after 15 min of steady-state exercise [4.65 (0.46) mM]. Total exercise fat oxidation was greater at 50% compared to 75% VO2max. There was no difference in substrate use between sedentary obese and normal-weight women either at rest or during steady-state exercise at the same relative intensity. Total fat oxidation was greater during low- (50% VO2max) compared to high-intensity (75% VO2max) exercise. Data from a GXT cannot be used to predict R or substrate utilization values for the purpose of exercise prescription.
Closed-loop response analysis of an inverted pendulum

This paper presents a locally stable nonlinear sliding mode control law for a rotary inverted pendulum with starting configurations above the horizontal line. An approximate nonlinear solution of the systems closed-loop loop dynamics during the sliding phase of the response is presented. The controller is tested experimentally and the approximate analytical solution is verified through comparison with the numerical solution. The nonlinear solution provides guidelines to select parameters that result in better controller performance.
Content-based classification and retrieval of audio

An on-line audio classification and segmentation system is presented in this research, where audio recordings are classified and segmented into speech, music, several types of environmental sounds and silence based on audio content analysis. This is the first step of our continuing work towards a general content-based audio classification and retrieval system. The extracted audio features include temporal curves of the energy function,the average zero- crossing rate, the fundamental frequency of audio signals, as well as statistical and morphological features of these curves. The classification result is achieved through a threshold-based heuristic procedure. The audio database that we have built, details of feature extraction, classification and segmentation procedures, and experimental results are described. It is shown that, with the proposed new system, audio recordings can be automatically segmented and classified into basic types in real time with an accuracy of over 90 percent. Outlines of further classification of audio into finer types and a query-by-example audio retrieval system on top of the coarse classification are also introduced.
Patterns of Administrative Decentralization in France An Analysis of University Reform

In the aftermath of the 1968 demonstrations, the French university system underwent a reform designed, among other objectives, to increase the decision-making responsi bilities of the local universities. This paper analyzes the extent, nature, and processes of change in the distribution of authority between the national administration and the local academic institutions. A classification ofdecision-makingpowers by their instru mentality, political sensitiveness, institutional distinctiveness, and perception as indi vidual "rights" uncovers several consistencies which help explain why decentralization proceeded as far as and where it did.
Mapping the Structural Dynamics Within the Shaker Potassium Channel using Tethered Spectroscopic Probes as Chemical Calipers

Fluorescence based techniques have the distinct advantage of being able to optically probe dynamic structural changes on a biologically relevant timescale. Here we describe the development and application of a novel approach to estimate molecular distances between two sites in a protein. Distance information was inferred by measuring accessibility of a fluorescent tag on one site to a variable length collisional quencher covalently affixed to a second site. The functionalized variable length quenchers therefore act as “tape measures” which can be utilized to obtain point-to-point distance information in the protein structure. Our approach was calibrated using model polyproline peptide substrates of variying lengths. We next tested the biological utility of our approach in a protein of known structure, the Shaker potassium channel. Extracellular sites [S1-S2 (T276); S3-S4 (M356); S5-S6 (E422)] within mobile components of the channel were fluorescently labeled. The distance of the fluorophore at these positions relative to the central pore was estimated by using a series of compounds containing a nitroxide radical separated from a tetraethylammonium moiety (TEA) by variable length PEG spacers. Armed with this potassium channel-specific tape measure, cut-open voltage-clamp fluorimetry was utilized to obtain molecular distance estimates of the closed and open channel. We observed that fluorescence-quenching of labeled residues was tightly correlated with the length of the PEG spacer and the respective distance between the TEA binding site and fluorophore attachment site. The distances estimated from our measurements provide constraints for generating structural models of the closed channel and may prove useful in mapping sub-nanometer distance changes in the protein structure.
Displacement of Thiophene by Methanethiol Observed in Situ by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Quartz Crystal Oscillator Gravimetric Analysis on Au(111)

Quartz crystal microbalance and scanning tunneling microscopy experiments have been used to demonstrate that self-assembled monolayers of thiophene on gold can be quantitatively replaced by absorption of methanethiol from the gas phase. Adsorption of thiophene on the gold surface results in the relaxation of the clean gold surface reconstruction and the formation of vacancy islands or pits in the gold. Subsequent annealing of the monolayer can result in the complete removal of the vacancy islands. Methanethiol displacement of thiophene monolayers that have been previously annealed to remove vacancy island pits does not generate additional pits in the gold surface. Thus, ordered methanethiol monolayers which are free from vacancy island pits in the underlying gold surface can be formed by displacement of annealed thiophene monolayers. These results provide strong additional evidence that the formation of vacancy islands in the gold during the formation of alkanethiol SAMs is directly associated with relaxation of the clean surface reconstruction, rather than conventional chemical etching of the surface by alkanethiol.
Toxicity of the specific antimuscarinic agent methoctramine and other non-specific anticholinergic drugs in human neuroblastoma cell lines in vitro

Abstract The highly selective cardiac-M 2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonist methoctramine shows a number of concentration-dependent biochemical responses. At micromolar concentrations it interacts allosterically with the mAChR and has ‘agonist-like’ effects on the phosphoinositide and cyclic AMP second messenger systems. Direct stimulation or inhibition of second messenger systems has been reported to modulate cellular homoeostasis and differentiation. This study showed that methoctramine was toxic, in micromolar concentrations, to the human neuroblastoma cell lines SK-N-SH, LAN-5 and SH-EP1, the last being a clone that does not contain muscarinic receptors. The selective M2 mAChR antagonists 11-{2-[(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl}-5,11-dihydro-6 H -pyrido(2,3–6)(1–4)benzodiazepine-6-on (AF-DX 116) and gallamine, as well as the selective M1 and M3 antagonists pirenzepine and 4-diphenylacetoxy- n -methylpiperidine (4-DAMP), had no toxic effects. Lithium provided significant protection against methoctramine toxicity, whereas carbamylcholine, pertussis toxin and forskolin had no influence on its toxicity. At micromolar concentrations, the clinically used, non-selective mAChR antagonists ethopropazine, benztropine, trihexyphenidyl and orphenadrine displayed toxicity similar to that of methoctramine. Methoctramine, ethopropazine, benztropine and trihexyphenidyl enhanced significantly [ 3 H]thymidine uptake at subtoxic concentrations. These results demonstrate that (a) the toxicity of methoctramine is by way of non-muscarinic mechanism, (b) some anticholinergic drugs commonly used in clinical medicine have toxic properties similar to those of methoctramine and (c) at subtoxic micromolar concentrations anti-muscarinic drugs have some trophic properties.
Artifact densities and assemblage formation: Evidence from Tabun Cave

Abstract Archaeological assemblages are fundamentally records of discard behavior. Lewis Binford’s pioneering ethnoarchaeological research focused attention on the differing pathways that lead to artifacts being abandoned in different locations on the landscape. Recurring relationships between artifact density and assemblage content at Middle and Upper Paleolithic sites reflect simple behavioral dynamics pertaining to artifact production and discard. In the very long archaeological sequence from A. Jelinek’s excavations at Tabun Cave, Mousterian assemblages show the expected pattern, but earlier Acheulean, Amudian and Yabrudian assemblages do not. In combination with evidence that different classes of artifacts were discarded at different rates, these results suggest that land use and raw material provisioning in the later Middle Pleistocene were organized differently than they were among later populations of Neanderthals and modern humans.
Gamma-ray burst reprocessing in an accretion disk

The observational consequences of the reprocessing of gamma-ray burst (GRB) photons by an accretion disk surrounding a neutron star are explored. Reprocessing of gamma rays by cold disks driven by dynamical viscosity of nonrelativistic, degenerate electrons results in an optical/UV fluence relative to the gamma-ray fluence at earth of greater than 0.001, for GRB energies of (1-10) x 10 to the 37th ergs, and distances of 15-250 pc. The spectrum peaks in the optical/UV with a soft X-ray cutoff due to the inner edge of the disk, which lies very near the surface of the neutron star for magnetic fields less than 1 TG. The optical/UV peak is partially due to reprocessing in the outer part of the cold disk, which remains optically thick to gamma rays. At these distances, a positive identification of a quiescent counterpart is expected at an IR (K) sensitivity less than 2 microJy. On the other hand, compact binary systems with standard alpha disks and accretion rates resulting from Roche-lobe overflow must be located at least several hundred pc away in order to have escaped detection down to the current IR sensitivity. The optical/UV fluence resulting from reprocessing in these systems is deficient by at least an order of magnitude compared to the observed values.
Biomechanical effects of whole body vibration on spinal ligaments: A potential mechanism of tissue damage

There is little known about how vibration loading affects the biomechanical and physiological response of tissues of the spine, especially the ligaments. This study investigated the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) on the thoracic facet capsular ligaments using a rat model of vibration. Ligaments were tested in tension after a WBV exposure. There was no difference detected in the failure properties compared to control specimens. However, tensile stiffness was significantly increased over the control group. Increases in stiffness may develop in response to WBV in order to provide increased spinal stability, but may also be a mechanism for subsequent tissue damage.
Discrimination Against Older Women in Health Care

Growing awareness of apparent gaps in health care received by women and men raises concern over possible discrimination. This literature review examines this issue for elderly women, whose health care is obtained in a system that also may be permeated with age discrimination. Physicians tend to spend more time with women and older patients, suggesting that discrimination may not be an issue in the physician-patient relationship or may work in favor of older women. However, this may simply reflect elderly women's poorer health. Gender and age disparities in medical treatments received provide a more compelling argument that the health care system is a source of discrimination against older women, who are less likely than others to receive available treatments for cardiac, renal, and other conditions. The history of medical treatment of menopause suggests that stereotypes of older women have been advantageous for segments of the health care system. Finally, in addition to discrimination that has its source within the health care system itself, societal-wide inequities, particularly economic, are extremely detrimental to older women's health care. As we respond to the health care crisis, we must be alert to the potential to rectify those structures and tendencies that can lead to discrimination against women and the aged. Health care reform presents a unique opportunity to ensure health care equity.
The cochlear nuclei in Colubrid and boid snakes: A qualitative and quantitative study

The cochlear nuclear complex was investigated in snakes of the advanced family Colubridae and the primitive family Boidae. This study was undertaken in an attempt to correlate the elaboration of the cochlear nuclei with behavior and phylogeny and to elucidate the relative effects of these factors on the evolution of the cochlear nuclear complex. Fifty-five brains, of 14 colubrid species and three boid species, were examined to collect data on neuron diameter, neuron population, nuclear volume, and neuronal density of the cochlear nuclear complex and of its component nuclei (nucleus angularis and nucleus magnocellularis). Intraspecific and interspecific comparisons of the data were performed by nested analysis of variance. The species were grouped by cluster analysis and ranked on the basis of the morphometric parameters. Interspecific comparisons indicate that the elaboration of the cochlear nuclei is related, first, to prey preference and, second, to habitat preference. The most elaborate cochlear nuclei occur in species with a preference for vertebrate prey. Burrowing species that prey on vertebrates exhibit the highest degree of elaboration of the cochlear nuclei. In some burrowing species, the nucleus magnocellularis is differentiated into medial and lateral subdivisions. The primitive boid snakes show greater elaboration of the cochlear nuclei than do most of the advanced colubrid snakes. The elaboration of the cochlear nuclear complex in snakes seems to reflect the influence of both behavior and phylogeny. Further investigation of primitive snakes of varied behaviors is needed to establish more clearly the influence of phylogeny on the evolution of the cochlear nuclear complex.
Toward increased quality consciousness for alcoholism literature

The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol Information (NCALI) is an information resource developed by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. It provides numerous information services to professionals in a wide spectrum of alcohol-related disciplines and to the general public. These services are designed to aid in the identification and dissemination of literature in the alcoholism field. One such service is provision of a quality evaluation rating for the documents announced by the Clearinghouse. The Quality Evaluation of Literature System (QELS) is designed to select and discriminate among literature in the field on the basis of quality criteria developed by alcoholism field professionals and to announce the resulting comparative ratings to literature users. In this way, QELS aids literature users in determining those documents of highest potential value to them. QELS is by no means a censorship system. The Clearinghouse makes available a wide spectrum of alcoholrelated information, including items which do not qualify for the QELS program as well as both high and low rated information items. The mechanics of the system include initial document ratings by highly regarded professionals who are peers of the authors, the conversion of these “raw” ratings into standardized scores for comparability, the announcement of these scores through the many information services of the Clearinghouse, and the encouragement of user feedback ratings which are factored into the document scores on a regular review and update cycle. Evaluation of the techniques employed in the QELS program and of its overall effectiveness is being carried out on a continuing basis. The program holds promise for providing a valuable service to users in any disciplineor issue-oriented information field.
Maintenance of sexual behavior in castrate male SW mice using the anti-androgen, cyproterone acetate.

Abstract The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that cyproterone acetate (C) might selectively block the actions of dihydrotestosterone (D) and via this action, function as an anti-androgen in male sexual behavior. Sexually experienced male SW mice, a strain previously shown to respond to D following castration, were divided randomly into six groups. Beginning on the day after castration, animals received SC injections for 21 days of either testosterone (T), (D), (C), (T+C), (D+C) or vehicle (V). C was found to significantly reduce seminal vesicle and body weights in all androgen treated groups. There was no evidence to support the contention that C selectively blocks the action of D. To the contrary, in sex tests C maintained palpations, thrust mounts, mounts with intromissions and mounts with ejaculations. Indeed, only animals receiving C alone or in combination with T or D exhibited ejaculations throughout the testing. These results suggest that in the SW mouse, C can work like an androgen in the maintenance of male sexual behavior.
Development and Prospective Validation of a Clinical Index to Predict Survival in Ambulatory Patients Referred for Cardiac Transplant Evaluation

Background Risk stratification of patients with end-stage congestive heart failure is a critical component of the transplant candidate selection process. Accurate identification of individuals most likely to survive without a transplant would facilitate more efficient use of scarce donor organs. Methods and Results Multivariable proportional hazards survival models were developed with the use of data on 80 clinical characteristics from 268 ambulatory patients with advanced heart failure (derivation sample). Invasive and noninvasive models (with and without catheterization-derived data) were constructed. A prognostic score was determined for each patient from each model. Stratum-specific likelihood ratios were used to develop three prognostic-score risk groups. The models were prospectively validated on 199 similar patients (validation sample) by calculation of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for 1-year event-free survival, the censored c-index for event-free survival, and compar...
Sequence conservation between mouse and human synphilin-1.

Synphilin-1 has been shown to interact with α-synuclein, which in turn is associated with Parkinson's disease. However, the function of synphilin-1 is unknown. We have cloned mouse synphilin in an attempt to describe conserved and therefore likely functional domains. The deduced amino acid sequence of the protein shows extensive homology with its human counterpart, with greatest similarities in those regions that contain ankyrin-like motifs and the coiled-coil domain. Expression of mouse synphilin-1 across tissues is similar to its human counterpart and not limited to brain. The results show that the synphilin-1 sequence and expression patterns are conserved across species.
Soret cell diffusion in two anion-two cation salt solutions

Abstract Soret coefficients are reported for salts of Cu, Ni, and Co, with cations of SO 4 and NO 3 . Single salt coefficients and two salt coefficients for the cations are reported for 0.5 molal solutions in a 16 degC temperature difference. A cell utilizing diffusion through a cellophane membrane was used.
Delayed recognition memory in infants and adults as revealed by event-related potentials

The present study sought to compare adult and infant ERP responses in analogous tests of visual recognition memory. Adults were tested under two test conditions, in which they were given either explicit instructions to respond to a previously-seen stimulus, or no instructions. Testing in both conditions took place after either a 1- or 5-min delay between familiarization and test. Eight-month-old infants were tested under the same 'passive' (no instruction) conditions as adults. ERP morphology differed across age groups. Adults evinced a P300 that was larger under 'active' as compared to 'passive' test conditions, and a late positive slow wave response that was greater to novel than familiar stimuli. There was no evidence in infants of a P300, although infants did demonstrate a late positive slow wave that was greater to familiar than to novel stimuli. Parallels between the infant and adult findings are discussed and in particular, whether the infant slow wave response is the precursor to the adult P300.
The Role of Urbanity, Status, and Identity on Migrant Remittance Management and Rural Development Potentials in Thailand

The Thai government has utilized various development initiatives to expand infrastructure, improve local services, and reduce poverty in the country's northern, northeastern, and southern regions. However, relative to the central region, which is dominated by Bangkok and its extended metropolitan zone, these regions have lagged in economic growth and infrastructural improvements. As a result, rural-urban migration notably from the north and northeast has continued into Bangkok. Migration scholars have proposed that in such high migration contexts, remittances may further local development in origin communities, overtime reducing structural and socioeconomic inequalities at regional and local levels. This study draws from ethnographic data collected in Thailand since 2009 to examine how respondents' subjectivities and socioeconomic backgrounds affect the management of remunerations and the degree and volume to which remittances flow to origin communities. Previous work has examined education, gender, or so...
Evaluation of Papillary Muscle Function Using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Mitral Valve Prolapse

Abnormal traction and excursion of the papillary muscle (PM) can be observed in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and can adversely affect the electrophysiologic stability of the underlying myocardium. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) techniques can directly measure the excursion and velocity of PM tips during ventricular systole. In addition, high-resolution late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR imaging allows for visualization of the underlying potentially arrhythmogenic PM fibrosis substrate. We prospectively studied 16 patients with MVP and 9 healthy adult subjects using phase-contrast CMR and cine CMR to assess the PM velocity and excursion. LGE CMR was performed in 13 patients with MVP (81%). The peak PM systolic velocity and maximum PM excursion were significantly increased in those with MVP (12 ± 5 vs 5 ± 2 cm/s and 15 ± 5 vs 2 ± 3 mm, both p
Transseptal and retrograde left ventricular catheterization in patients with the stent-mounted porcine xenograft valve prosthesis in the aortic position.

Cardiac catheterization techniques for measuring the systolic pressure gradient across the stent-mounted porcine xenograft in the aortic position and accomplishing left ventriculography are described. The transseptal technique is a rapid and predictable means of entering the left ventricle but requires a highly skilled operator. Retrograde left ventricular catheterization via the femoral artery is a technique familiar to all invasive cardiologists. Usually, a pigtail catheter is used. In patients with the stent-mounted porcine xenograft in the aortic position, we have found the A2 Multipurpose catheter to be the fastest and most predictable means of entering the left ventricle from the groin. Potential complications of retrograde left ventricular catheterization in patients with aortic valve prostheses are discussed.
Characterization of the Transcriptional Activators SalA and SyrF, Which Are Required for Syringomycin and Syringopeptin Production by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae

Production of the phytotoxins syringomycin and syringopeptin by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae is controlled by the regulatory genes salA and syrF. Analysis with 70-mer oligonucleotide microarrays established that the syr-syp genes responsible for synthesis and secretion of syringomycin and syringopeptin belong to the SyrF regulon. Vector pMEKm12 was successfully used to express both SalA and SyrF proteins fused to a maltose-binding protein (MBP) in Escherichia coli and P. syringae pv. syringae. Both the MBP-SalA and MBP-SyrF fusion proteins were purified by maltose affinity chromatography. Gel shift analysis revealed that the purified MBP-SyrF, but not the MBP-SalA fusion protein, bound to a 262-bp fragment of the syrB1 promoter region containing the syr-syp box. Purified MBP-SalA caused a shift of a 324-bp band containing the putative syrF promoter. Gel filtration analysis and cross-linking experiments indicated that both SalA and SyrF form homodimers in vitro. Overexpression of the N-terminal regions of SalA and SyrF resulted in decreased syringomycin production by strain B301D and reduced levels of -glucuronidase activities of the sypA::uidA and syrB1::uidA reporters by 59% to 74%. The effect of SalA on the expression of the syr-syp genes is mediated by SyrF, which activates the syr-syp genes by directly binding to the promoter regions. Both SalA and SyrF resemble other LuxR family proteins in dimerization and interaction with promoter regions of target genes.
THE DARK ADAPTATION OF RETINAL FIELDS OF DIFFERENT SIZE AND LOCATION.

The decrease in threshold shown by the eye during dark adaptation proceeds in two steps. The first is rapid, short in duration, and small in extent. The second is slow, prolonged, and large. The first is probably due to cone function; the second to rod function. In centrally located fields the two parts of adaptation change differently with area. With small, foveal fields the first part dominates and only traces of the second part appear. As the area increases the first part changes a little, while the second part covers an increasing range of intensities and appears sooner in time. Measurements with an annulus field covering only the circumference of a 20° circle show most of the characteristics of a 20° whole field centrally located. Similarly a 2° field located at different distances from the center shows dark adaptation characteristics essentially like those of large centrally located fields whose edges correspond to the position of the central field. Evidently the behavior in dark adaptation of centrally located fields of different size is determined in the main not by area as area, but by the fact that the retina gradually changes in sensitivity from center to periphery, and therefore the larger the field the farther it reaches into peripheral regions of permanently greater sensibility.
UNC-83 Is a KASH Protein Required for Nuclear Migration and Is Recruited to the Outer Nuclear Membrane by a Physical Interaction with the SUN Protein UNC-84

UNC-84 is required to localize UNC-83 to the nuclear envelope where it functions during nuclear migration. A KASH domain in UNC-83 was identified. KASH domains are conserved in the nuclear envelope proteins Syne/nesprins, Klarsicht, MSP-300, and ANC-1. Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-83 was shown to localize to the outer nuclear membrane and UNC-84 to the inner nuclear membrane in transfected mammalian cells, suggesting the KASH and SUN protein targeting mechanisms are conserved. Deletion of the KASH domain of UNC-83 blocked nuclear migration and localization to the C. elegans nuclear envelope. Some point mutations in the UNC-83 KASH domain disrupted nuclear migration, even if they localized normally. At least two separable portions of the C-terminal half of UNC-84 were found to interact with the UNC-83 KASH domain in a membrane-bound, split-ubiquitin yeast two-hybrid system. However, the SUN domain was essential for UNC-84 function and UNC-83 localization in vivo. These data support the model that KASH and SUN proteins bridge the nuclear envelope, connecting the nuclear lamina to cytoskeletal components. This mechanism seems conserved across eukaryotes and is the first proposed mechanism to target proteins specifically to the outer nuclear membrane.
The Invisible Loss: the Impact of Perinatal Death on Siblings

The impact of perinatal death on surviving siblings has been virtually unexplored. After reviewing the effects of perinatal loss on the bereaved parents, its impact on remaining children is discussed. Perinatal sibling death is considered an event with impact determined by the interaction of the child's emotional and cognitive responses with the reactions, distortions, and communications of the parents. Four distinct constellations integrating intrapsychic and family responses to perinatal death are elaborated. Ways in which parents can help their children deal with perinatal loss are discussed. A flexible approach to treatment is recommended in which individual child therapy, parental therapy and/or family therapy may all be used, depending upon the etiology and locus of the difficulty.
The Detection of Modification in Animal Fibers: III. Tensile Recovery in Water

The tensile recovery of animal fibers in water has been measured in a manner similar to that previously described [1] for animal fibers at 65% R.H. The tensile recovery measured in water was much l...
Sepiolite, a potential excipient for drugs subject to oxidative degradation

Sepiolite, a member of the fibrous mineral group of clays. is relatively free of surface ferric iron and does not accelerate significantly the oxidative degradation of hydrocortisone. The compatibility of sepiolite with drugs that can undergo oxidative degradation is in sharp contrast to the catalytic effect of attapulgite, another fibrous mineral, which contains a significant amount of surface ferric iron and which therefore accelerates oxidative degradation. Sepiolite adsorbs hydrocortisone by a weak adsorption mechanism, which was shown by IR spectroscopy to be chiefly due to hydrogen bonding. However, accelerated oxidative degradation of the adsorbed hydrocortisone does not occur. Maximum adsorption occurs at pH 7-8.5. Desorption occurs readily by washing with water. Sepiolite has similar rheological properties to attapulgite. The results of this study suggest that sepiolite may be useful as a pharmaceutical excipient for drugs that undergo oxidative degradation.
Impact of Planting Date and Varietal Maturity on Tarnished Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Cotton

A field experiment was conducted in Stoneville, MS, during 2010 and 2011 to investigate the impact of varietal maturity, planting date, and insecticide application on tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), populations and damage in cotton. Four planting dates were selected to encompass the cotton-planting period in Mississippi. An early and late maturing variety were planted at each planting date, and each variety and planting date combination was either sprayed or unsprayed for tarnished plant bugs. Plots were sampled weekly from first square until physiological maturity. Plots were harvested at the end of the season. Early planting dates had lower densities of tarnished plant bug and required fewer insecticide applications than the later planting dates. Mid-April to early May planting dates sustained less yield loss from tarnished plant bug than mid-May to late-May planting dates. Tarnished plant bug had less impact on yield of the early maturing variety than on the late maturing variety. The sprayed plots yielded more than unsprayed plots. These data demonstrate that later plantings of cotton in the Mississippi Delta are likely to experience yield losses from tarnished plant bug and need to be sprayed more compared with early cotton plantings. As a result, growers should manage their crop for earliness through planting date and varietal selection.
PATTERNS OF NEWSPAPER READERSHIP AMONG TEENAGERS

The long-term decline in U.S. newspaper circulation has prompted numerous efforts to research, reorganize, and restructure the newspaper in order to meet the changing needs of the various audiences. One audience of particular interest is that of the adolescent, for it is the young person who is just developing newspaper usage patterns that may remain with him a good part of his adult life. This study is the first of a two-part investigation of adolescent newspaper readership and its evolution as young people grow into adulthood. Using data from over 1300 eleventh and twelfth graders in Dallas, Texas high schools, the author identifies four different types of newspaper readers and attempts to classify them on the basis of a comprehensive set of individual, environmental, and stimulus object factors. The findings emphasize the importance of environment variables in explaining differences in adolescent newspaper readership.
A variable temperature superconducting levitation system

A superconducting levitation system was constructed to study the static and dynamic forces exerted by magnetic fields on superconductors. The system produces a 5-T uniform magnetic field and less than 1 T/cm uniform gradient in the static mode. The gradient may also be pulsed with a switching time of less than 0.1 s. In measuring dynamic properties, the displacements of the freely suspended samples were monitored inductively in order to obtain the magnitude of the magnetic force. Control and data acquisition were accomplished by means of an IEEE-488 interface and 9- mu m analog-to-digital converter (ADC), using a 80386-based personal computer. >
On the temperature dependence of the superelastic strength and the prediction of the theoretical uniaxial transformation strain in Nitinol

Abstract This paper describes an alternative method for applying the Clausius-Clapeyron equation in a study of the effect of temperature on the superelastic stress in the shape memory alloy Nitinol—a candidate material for many medical devices. including, in particular, endovascular stents. This new analysis will provide some clarification on the controversy regarding estimation of the thermodynamic equilibrium temperature. The theoretical uniaxial transformation strain has been calculated by means of the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. The calculated value of strain, 5.0%, corresponded closely to the experimentally measured value of 4.7%.
Optimal target detection for hyperspectral images with uniform backgrounds

This paper considers the problem of detecting a subpixel target in a hyperspectral image with a uniform background. A uniform background region is defined as an area of a hyperspectral image composed of a single material except for possibly a target material. It is shown that in the uniform background case the likelihood ratio test (LRT), which is the optimal signal detection algorithm, can be evaluated. It is shown that the LRT derived in this paper is a special case of the constrained signal detector (CSD). Though no other detector outperforms the LRT, it is possible for other algorithms to equal its performance. It is shown in what special cases the orthogonal subspace projection (OSP) detector and the matched filter detector (MFD) perform the same as the CSD.
Group Leader Perceptions of Personality Characteristics of Adult Children of Alcoholics

ABSTRACT A survey of university counseling centers regarding treatment for Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACAs) was conducted. One-half of the counseling centers surveyed reported that they conducted ACA groups on their campuses on a regular basis. Additionally, group leaders reported overwhelming support for Woititz's (1983) personality characteristics as appropriately descriptive of college-aged ACAs. These results are discussed in light of growing empirical evidence that Woititz's characteristics are not particularly descriptive of any group of persons.