cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences in association of leisure time activities and cognition in a racially/ethnically diverse cohort of older adults: Findings from the KHANDLE study

Author(s): Peterson, Rachel L; Gilsanz, Paola; George, Kristen M; Ackley, Sarah; Glymour, M Maria; Mungas, Dan M; Whitmer, Rachel A | Abstract: IntroductionLeisure time activity is associated with better cognitive function but has not been well studied in racially/ethnically diverse cohorts, who may have different access to activities.MethodsFrequency of participation in 10 leisure time activities (eg, reading, attending cultural events) and cognition (executive function, semantic memory, and verbal episodic memory) were assessed at Wave 1 in the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) study, a prospective cohort initiated in 2017. Linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographics and depression estimated cross-sectional associations between leisure time activity variety and frequency and cognitive domains overall and by race/ethnicity. Logistic regression models estimated odds of cognitive impairment among those in the lowest quartiles of activity variety and frequency. All models controlled for age, sex, education, income, retirement status, and depression.ResultsHigher leisure time activity variety was significantly associated with better cognition for all, except for verbal episodic memory among Asians (βn=n0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.004, 0.11) and semantic memory among Latinos (βn=n0.04, 95% CI: -0.01, 0.08). Low activity variety was associated with nearly three-fold increased odds of cognitive impairment (adjusted odds ratio [OR]n=n2.87, 95% CI: 1.77, 4.64). Activity frequency was associated with higher executive function only among whites (βn=n0.10, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.18). Patterns by race/ethnicity were not explained by education.DiscussionEngaging in a wider variety of leisure time activities may be more important than frequently participating in fewer activities for cognitive aging in racially/ethnically diverse cohorts.
Thoracoabdominal resection of giant malignant esophageal solitary fibrous tumor.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm. It usually originates from the parietal pleura. SFT originating from the esophagus is exceedingly rare and even more so as a malignancy. We report a 57-year-old patient with a malignant 18 cm SFT of the esophagus that was treated with esophagectomy through a left thoracoabdominal incision. We discuss his surgical and oncologic management.
Aggregation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) homopolymer by Cu2+ and Zn2+: Significance for ratiometric metal ion indicators

Abstract Aqueous transition metal dications Cu2+ and Zn2+ bind to the amide groups of the responsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm). Ratiometric detection by the response of PNIPAm is based on the effect of metal ion binding to ligands that are copolymerized into PNIPAm. Metal ions bound to copolymerized ligands cause a polarity change that shifts the ratio of coil and globule polymer phases, whereby the coil:globule state is monitored by the FRET process of a pair of fluorophores distributed throughout the polymer. This work shows that aqueous Cu2+ or Zn2+ ([M2+] = 2.5 × 10−2 M to 2.5 × 10−4 M) cause aggregation of the PNIPAm homopolymer (Mn = 8400 and 10,300) in the globule phase above 32 °C, as determined by second-order and dynamic light-scattering. Conditional formation constants (pH 6.3) for Cu2+ binding PNIPAm were measured as log Kc = 2.64 ± 0.07 and 4.02 ± 0.05 for PNIPAm concentrations of 1 mg/mL and 0.05 mg/mL, respectively. The interaction of Cu2+ and Zn2+ with PNIPAm is therefore in competition with the copolymerized ligands and when detecting millimolar to high micromolar concentrations, this interaction poses a potential interference to metal ion detection. Several aggregation processes are implicated based on Cu2+ or Zn2+ from 8 × 10−5 to 2.5 × 10−2 M. These processes are fully reversible by reducing the sample temperature.
FIRST RECORD OF BELONOCHILUS NUMENIUS (SAY, 1832) (HEMIPTERA: HETEROPTERA: LYGAEIDAE) FROM MONTENEGRO

The paper presents data on the first registration of the bug Belonochilus numenius (Say, 1832) in Montenegro. It was found in the coastal town of Igalo, in an urban area where plane trees grow as ornamental plants, on the fruits of which this species feeds and lives.
Emergence pattern of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) influenced by tillage timings and residual herbicides

The evolution of multiple herbicide-resistant weeds, including Palmer amaranth, has necessitated the implementation of an integrated weed management (IWM) program. Understanding weed emergence patterns is critical for developing effective IWM strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tillage timings and residual herbicides on cumulative emergence and emergence pattern of Palmer amaranth. Field experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2016 in a field naturally infested with photosystem (PS) II and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor-resistant Palmer amaranth near Shickley, Nebraska, in a bare ground study, with no crop planted in the plots, although residues from the preceding corn crop were present on the soil surface. Treatments consisted of shallow tillage timings (early, mid, and late), three premix corn or soybean residual herbicides, and a nontreated control. The Weibull function was fitted to cumulative Palmer amaranth emergence with day of year (DOY) and thermal time (TT) as independent variables. Year by treatment interaction was significant for time to 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% Palmer amaranth emergence and cumulative emergence. The majority of Palmer amaranth seedlings emerged early, following early tillage with 90% cumulative emergence occurring on DOY 172 compared with DOY 210 to 212 for mid- and late-tillage, and DOY 194 for the nontreated control in 2015. In 2016, 90% of cumulative emergence following early-, mid-, and late-tillage (DOYs 201 to 211) were similar, and that of the nontreated control (DOY 188) was similar to that of early tillage. Nontreated control and PRE herbicide treatments had similar DOY values for 90% emergence in both years. The number of emerged Palmer amaranth seedlings over the season was higher with shallow tillage than no tillage or with the use of PRE herbicides. Nomenclature: Atrazine; bicyclopyrone; chlorimuron; flumioxazin; fluthiacet; mesotrione; pyroxasulfone; S-metolachlor; Palmer amaranth; Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson
Rapid strain release on the Bear River fault zone, Utah–Wyoming—The impact of preexisting structure on the rupture behavior of a new normal fault

Abstract Earthquake clustering (grouping in space and time) is a widely observed mode of strain release in the upper crust, although this behavior on individual faults is a departure from classic elastic rebound theory. In this study, we consider factors responsible for a cluster of earthquakes on the Bear River fault zone (BRF), a recently activated, 44-km-long normal fault on the eastern margin of Basin and Range extension in the Rocky Mountains. The entire surface-rupturing history of the BRF, as gleaned from paleoseismic and geomorphic observations, began only 4500 years ago and consists of at least three large events. Rupture of the BRF is spatially complex and is clearly conditioned by preexisting structure. In particular, where the south end of the fault intersects older thrust faults and upturned strata along the south-dipping flank of the Precambrian basement-cored Uinta arch, the main trace ends abruptly in a set of orthogonal splays that accommodate down-dropping of a large hanging-wall graben against the arch. We hypothesize that the geomechanically strong Uinta arch crustal block impeded the development of the BRF and, over time, enabled a significant accumulation of elastic strain energy, eventually giving rise to a pulse of strain release in the mid- to late Holocene. We surmise that variations in fault strength, both in space and time, is a cause of earthquake clustering on the BRF and on other faults that are structurally and tectonically immature. The first two earthquakes on the BRF occurred during the same period of time as a regional cluster of earthquakes in the Middle Rocky Mountains, suggesting that isolated faults in this slowly extending region interact through widespread changes in stress conditions.
Микрохирургическое образование в США: прошлое, настоящее, будущее

Microsurgery is a demanding surgical skillset which requires attention to detail and repeated practice to succeed. Microsurgery courses around the globe allow students to learn through performing a variety of technical exercises. Microsurgery education dates back to the late 1960s with notable instructors, Harry J. Buncke and Robert Acland. Currently, many microsurgery courses are available that share commonalities, and some important structural differences have been demonstrated to differentially affect student progression and competence. Multiple available training programs as well as the advancement of supermicrosurgery training is listed and described. The microsurgery training course at Columbia University’s New York Presbyterian Irving Medical Center led by Drs. Ronsenwasser, Strauch and Akelina provides students with expert instruction through a punctilious training curriculum. By imparting these techniques to the students, trainees’s progression markedly improves relative to alternative microsurgery courses that do not incorporate expert instruction. The Covid-19 pandemic, has resulted in the development of a virtual microsurgery training program at the lab which focuses on building the foundation of basic skills for trainees unable to travel or receive adequate education.
The Point of No Return: Adaptation Strategies in Disaster Donation Supply Chains

AbstractIn the aftermath of disasters, material convergence (the influx of material donations) can cause extreme negative impacts and has been described as a second disaster. Donations that are non...
A linear-programming reformulation of chemical stoichiometry and catalysis

Abstract: "We have reformulated the concept of stoichiometry of a reaction mechanism in chemistry in terms of an optimization problem in linear programming. This reformulation has two advantages. First, the concept has been formalized so that it can be carried out easily by computer program without human intervention. Second, the new formulation relates stoichiometry explicitly to reaction yield, so that the calculated stoichiometry corresponds to the ideal yield of a specified target product. This relation is not made by a previous published characterization of mechanism stoichiometry. The new formulation has been deployed to formalize also the concept of a species playing a catalytic role in a mechanism.This formalization serves within our automated pathway-elucidation project to check pathway hypotheses for compatibility with evidence of catalysis."
Editorial: Race and ethnicity in fandom

This section of the special issue examines the cultural products of fandom and the intersections of race/ethnicity, class, and gender/sexuality.
Hardware implementation of Model Predictive Control for relative motion maneuvering

In this paper, a Model Predictive Controller (MPC) is experimentally implemented on a robotic test-bed. The test-bed is designed to emulate spacecraft relative motion maneuvers and reflects realistic computational hardware limitations (i.e., limited on-board computational power and memory), which present serious obstacles to implementation of advanced guidance and control algorithms. Both simulation results and experimental results are presented and compared, demonstrating that autonomous constrained maneuvering using MPC is feasible for on-board implementation.
The Genetics of Soft Wheat Quality: Improving Breeding Efficiency

Soft wheat quality in breeding programs can be selected either directly through baking tests or indirectly through rheological tests or biochemical markers. We have evaluated the efficiency of selection using rheological tests: solvent retention capacity test (SRC), whole grain SDS-sedimentation test, mixographs, and alveograph. Based on testing in the USA with inbred lines derived from different crosses of spring wheats, we have concluded that the SRC test (AACC test 64-11) can improve selection efficiency in breeding programs because: 1) heritabilities are often above 70%, 2) the SRC tests directly relate to industrial baking parameters, and 3) SRC values change in predictably based on the segregation of genes with known effects on end-use quality
Studies in robust control: analysis of sampled-data systems and aircraft pitch control

This research consists of two parts: (1) robust steady-state tracking of sampled-data systems and (2) robust aircraft pitch control. In Part I, robust steady-state tracking of linear shift-invariant and periodic discretetime systems in the presence of structured norm-bounded discrete-time uncertainty is discussed first. Using the results for discrete-time systems, robust steady-state track­ ing of sampled-data systems, which are considered as continuous-time systems, in the presence of structured norm-bounded continuous-time uncertainty is addressed. E.xact conditions are derived for robust steady-state tracking of known inputs for sampled-data systems by using the lifting technique. Sampled-data systems are approximated by fast sampling of the input and output. The resulting systems are in discrete time. Based on the analysis of the resulting approximate discrete-time •'ystems, an approximate con­ verging computation algorithm is given. The same results also apply to general periodic linear time-varying continuous-time systems. In Part II. robust aircraft pitch control is presented. The discussion focuses on the longitudinal attitude control problem when aircraft weight and center of gravity are unavailable as control inputs. Due to the variation of weight and center of gravity in aircraft models, multiplicative uncertainty models for different flight conditions (three different altitudes/airspeeds) are derived for robust synthesis. Longitudinal attitude robust controllers are designed to provide consistent performance under varying weight and varying center of gravity locations.
The Global Implications of Bullying and Other Forms of Maltreatment, in the Context of Migratory Trends and Psychiatric Resources

This article identifies countries with the highest prevalence of bullying and other forms of maltreatment and examines the significance of these epidemiologic findings in the context of migration and availability of mental health resources. The relevance of higher prevalence of bullying and other forms of maltreatment in certain parts of the world has significant public health bearing not only on the nations affected by them but worldwide, because migrants carry with them the effects of victimization. The significant risk of abuse and violence affecting immigrants may be compounded by the effects of polyvictimization.
Where did our infectious diseases come from? The evolution of infectious disease

Infectious diseases have been evolving from the earliest days of life on earth. Major factors influencing their developments include the splitting of continents (continental drift), the radiation of early primates into present-day forms, migrations of man around the world, the ending of the Ice Age, the invention of agriculture, the domestication of animals, the increase in populations, and the urbanization of societies. The impact of such basic changes on infectious diseases is reviewed.
Uncertainty distribution of variation of received signal strength due to seasonal effect on coniferous trees

The existence of trees in the path of a communication link has an impact on quality of received signal. Trees can be classified broadly into deciduous and coniferous (evergreen). Seasonal effect on signal strength due to obstruction of deciduous trees is well discussed in literature, where offset values are usually added to path loss to account for seasons' effect for in-leaf and out-of-leaf propagation conditions. Seasonal variation causes different type of changes on coniferous trees, which is reflected in their electrical properties due to different amount of water contents. These changes make their interaction with electromagnetic waves such as scattering, diffraction, transmission, have different behavior in different seasons. The effect due to obstruction of coniferous trees has received very little attention in literature. In this work, we investigate impact of seasonal variation of coniferous trees on received signal strength and how to model it.
Characteristics of patients at risk for perioperative myocardial infarction after infrainguinal bypass surgery: An exploratory study

Patients requiring infrainguinal bypass surgery often have diffuse atherosclerotic disease, and perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) is a potentially lethal complication that is not uncommon in these patients. To establish additional clinical characteristics that might be useful in identifying patients who require more extensive cardiac evaluation, we conducted an exploratory case-control study comparing 22 patients who had a perioperative MI following elective infrainguinal bypass surgery with 191 control subjects whose bypasses were uneventful. In addition to previously recognized risk factors (e.g., history of angina or prior MI), we examined the association of perioperative MI with (1) results of common preoperative laboratory tests and ECG, (2) preoperative use of certain medications, and (3) intraoperative factors that might be anticipated prior to surgery (e.g., duration of surgery or type of anesthesia). Perioperative MI was associated not only with a history of angina, prior MI, or coronary artery disease but also with the need for certain cardiac medications, higher white blood cell (WBC) counts, ST-segment depression, left bundle branch block, and lengthy surgical procedures. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified the following factors as being independently associated with perioperative MI: preoperative antiarrhythmic agents (odds ratio [OR]=26.4,p 0.006), nitrates (OR=8.4,p=0.006), calcium channel blockers (OR=5.5,p=0.04), and aspirin (OR=6.8,p <0.01) and ST-segment depression (OR=11.8,p=0.01), WBC count (OR=1.27/1000,p=0.005), and duration of surgery (OR=2.2/hr,p=0.0001). In patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass surgery, perioperative MI is associated not only with a history of previous cardiac events and ECG evidence of ischemia but also with regular use of certain cardiac medications, higher WBC counts, and longer surgical procedures. Incorporation of these variables into current methods of risk assessment might improve their predictive value sufficiently to provide an objective, inexpensive means of distinguishing patients who warrant extensive preoperative cardiac evaluation from those who do not.
The Escherichia coli GcvB sRNA Uses Genetic Redundancy to Control cycA Expression

The Escherichia coli sRNA GcvB regulates several genes involved in transport of amino acids and peptides (sstT, oppA, dppA, and cycA). Two regions of GcvB from nt +124 to +161 and from nt +73 to +82 are complementary with essentially the same region of the cycA mRNA. Transcriptional fusions of cycA to lacZ showed the region of cycA mRNA that can pair with either region of GcvB is necessary for regulation by GcvB. However, mutations in either region of gcvB predicted to disrupt pairing between cycA mRNA and GcvB did not alter expression of a cycA-lacZ translational fusion. A genetic analysis identified nts in GcvB necessary for regulation of the cycA-lacZ fusion. The results show that either region of GcvB complementary to cycA mRNA can basepair with and independently repress cycA-lacZ and both regions need to be changed to cause a significant loss of repression.
Photoconductivity of Self-Assembled Nanotapes Made from meso-Tri(4-sulfonatophenyl)monophenylporphine

meso-Tri(4-sulfonatophenyl)monophenylporphine (TPPS3) has one fewer sulfonate group than meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (TPPS4), which has been shown to form well-defined, photoelectronicall...
The puzzle of the rare gases and of oxygen in materials within the solar system

An alternative explanation for the oxygen isotope anomaly observed in high-temperature inclusions of carbonaceous chondrites is proposed. Just as the main features of the variation of the isotopic compositions of the rare gases in carbonaceous chondrites can be explained in terms of the alterations due to the processes of a) mass-fractionation and b) cosmic-ray irradiation, the pattern observed by CLAYTON et al. (1973) in their plot of δ17O v. δ18O for high temperature minerals of Allende, Murchison, Murray, etc., is explained as due to a combination of the processes a) and b), which occurred during the early history of the solar system. An ‘early’ irradiation of the solar system materials must have taken place, while the rare gases were beginning to escape from the meteorite parent bodies.
The Transition of Experienced Pilots to a Frequency-Separated Aircraft Attitude Display: A Flight Experiment

Twenty-four experienced pilots were given one flight in a Link GAT-2 simulator and one flight in a Beechcraft C-45H using either the moving horizon, moving airplane, or frequency-separated attitude display. The flight tasks performed by the subjects included recovery from unknown attitudes, disturbed attitude tracking, and completion of an area navigation course. Data collected in the C-45H aircraft demonstrated superior performance of both the frequency-separated and moving horizon displays when compared to the moving airplane display during unknown attitude recoveries. The frequency-separated display was superior to all others during disturbed-attitude tracking. It was concluded that the flight performance of experienced pilots during their initial transition to a frequency-separated flight attitude presentation is at least comparable and possibly superior to their flight performance with the conventional moving horizon presentation. Language: en
Laser-induced photofragment emission spectrum of vapor phase triethylgallium using 193 nm excitation

Abstract The laser-induced photofragment emission (LIPE) spectrum of vapor phase triethylgallium has been obtained using 193 nm excimer laser excitation. Emission lines of C 2 , CH and atomic Ga have been identified. An unidentified emission band consisting of regularly spaced peaks near the 450–550 nm region is also observed.
Editorial: Manuscripts Often Have to be Revised

This PDF file contains the editorial “Editorial: Manuscripts Often Have to be Revised” for OE Vol. 30 Issue 11
A network thermodynamic model of kidney perfusion with a cryoprotective agent.

A network thermodynamic model has been devised to describe the coupled movement of water and a permeable additive within a kidney during perfusion under the combined action of diffusive, hydrodynamic, and mechanical processes. The model has been validated by simulating perfusions with Me 2 SO, glycerol, and sucrose and comparing predicted weight and vascular resistance with experimental results obtained by Pegg (1993). The flows of CPA, water, colloid, and cellular impermeants are governed by a combination of the individual osmotic potential and pressure differences between compartments of the kidney, the viscoelastic behavior of the tissue, and the momentum transferred between the flows. The model developed in this study presents an analytical tool for understanding the dynamics of the perfused kidne system and for modifying perfusion protocols to minimize the changes in cell volume, internal pressure build-up, and increases in vascular resistance that currently present barriers to the successful perfusion of organs.
Dimension variation prediction for composites with finite element analysis and regression modeling

This paper presents a new method for efficient prediction of dimension variations of polymer matrix fiber reinforced composites. A dimension variation model was developed based on thermal stress prediction with finite element analysis (FEA). This model was validated against experimental data, analytical solutions and the data from literature. Using the FEA-based dimension variation model, deformations of typical composite structures were studied and regression-based dimension variation models were developed. By introducing the material modification coefficient, this comprehensive model can account for various fiber/resin types and stacking sequences. The regression-based dimension variation model can significantly reduce computation time by eliminating the complicated, time-consuming finite element meshing, material parameter defining and evaluation solving process, which provides a quick design guide for composite products with reduced dimension variations. The structural tree method (STM) was developed to compute the assembly dimension variation from the deformations of individual components, as well as the deformation of general shape composite components. The STM enables rapid dimension variation analysis/synthesis for complex composite assemblies with the regression-based dimension variation models. The exploring work presented in this research provides a foundation to develop practical and proactive dimension control techniques for composite products.
Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Two-Phase Flow and Heat Transfer in a Rectangular Channel

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is a kinetic approach, which assumes that a fluid consists of mesoscopic fluid particles with repeating collision and streaming patterns and is used to solve for the hydrodynamic phenomena of various systems In this work, we employ the LBM to investigate two-phase flow and heat transfer problems in a rectangular channel. First, the validity of the LBM is shown through some benchmark tests. Next, we use a single component multi-phase lattice Boltzmann model proposed by Shan and Chen to simulate two-phase flow in the channel. The two-phase interface is reproduced by interaction between different kinds of particles. The temperature field is simulated using the passive scalar approach, i.e. modeling the density field of an extra component, which evolves according to the advection-diffusion equation. Fluid-solid interaction, gravity, and the pressure gradient are also incorporated into the model. The dynamic behavior of the bubble under different conditions is investigated.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Orthostatic Hypotension and Cognitive Function: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Background: To examine the association between orthostatic hypotension (OH) and cognitive function in middle-aged adults. Methods: Participants were 12,702 men an
Synthesis of 2-phosphonopyrrolidine and its substitution for proline in an inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme

Abstract The title compound was synthesized via its diethyl ester from 1-pyrroline trimer and diethyl phosphite. The 3-mercaptopropanoyl derivative inhibited angiotensin converting enzyme with I 50 = 1.7 μM.
Reserpine and conditioned suppression in the fish Tilapia h. macrocephala

African mouthbreeding fish were trained to strike a bar on a VR2 schedule of reinforcement. Over a 10-day period, operant rate of responding was measured on 5 days, randomly interspersed with 5 days on which light (CS) was followed by shock (US) on 10 trials per day in the same environment. The CS was later introduced during operant responding; this resulted in suppression of operant responding. Subsequent infection of reserpine attenuated suppression of operant responding, but saline injection did not. These results probably were a direct function of reserpine administration on rate of recovery of responding following CS onset rather than an indirect function of baseline response rate or “;sedation effects.”
Efficient user-space information flow control

The model of Decentralized Information Flow Control (DIFC) is effective at improving application security and can support rich confidentiality and integrity policies. We describe the design and implementation of duPro, an efficient user-space information flow control framework. duPro adopts Software-based Fault Isolation (SFI) to isolate protection domains within the same process. It controls the end-to-end information flow at the granularity of SFI domains. Being a user-space framework, duPro does not require any OS changes. Since SFI is more lightweight than hardware-based isolation (e.g., OS processes), the inter-domain communication and scheduling in duPro are more efficient than process-level DIFC systems. Finally, duPro supports a novel checkpointing-restoration mechanism for efficiently reusing protection domains. Experiments demonstrate applications can be ported to duPro with negligible overhead, enhanced security, and with tight control over information flow.
Multiple stumbles: a risk factor for falls in community-dwelling elderly. A prospective study

To better understand risk factors for falls among community-dwelling elderly, we analyzed data from a sample of elderly Medicare beneficiaries interviewed in 1987 and a year later. Demographic, social, medical, and functional information were obtained by telephone interviews with 736 subjects (68% women) whose average age was 76.5 (range, 65-99). At baseline, 63 subjects reported a fall and 67 reported two or more stumbles without a fall in the past month. At the second interview follow-up information on falls in the past year was obtained on 586 subjects. One hundred twenty-seven (22%) subjects reported one or more falls. Baseline risk factors that were independent predictors of a fall at the second interview included two or more stumbles (adjusted odds ratio AOR. 2.3, 95% confidence interval CI., 1.2-4.5), one or more falls (AOR 5.9, 95% CI 2.9-12.2), having spent 4 or more days in bed in the past month (AOR 7.7, 95% CI 1.9-31.0), and self-reported declining health status (AOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.5). Falls and stumbles are prevalent among community-dwelling elderly. After controlling for covariates, we found subjects who reported two or more stumbles in the past month are at increased risk for a fall in the following year. Language: en
Multi-linear measure theory and multiple stochastic integration

Stochastic integration in a Lebesgue Stieltjes sense is developed in a general context of multi-linear measure theory based on the Fundamental Grothendieck Inequality and Factorization Theorem.
Topography and refractometry of biological nanostructures using Spatial Light Interference Microscopy (SLIM)

We demonstrate Spatial Light Interference Microscopy’s (SLIM’s) ability to perform topography at a single atomic layer in graphene, refractometry of neurites of a live hippocampal neuron in culture and dynamic imaging of glial membranes.
The Relevance of the TGF-β Paradox to EMT-MET Programs

The role of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) during tumorigenesis is complex and paradoxical, reflecting its ability to function as a tumor suppressor in normal and early-stage cancers, and as a tumor promoter in their late-stage counterparts. The switch in TGF-β function is known as the "TGF-β Paradox," whose manifestations are intimately linked to the initiation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) programs in developing and progressing carcinomas. Indeed, as carcinoma cells emerge from EMT programs stimulated by TGF-β, they readily display a variety of acquired phenotypes that provide a selective advantage to growing carcinomas, including (i) enhanced cell migration and invasion; (ii) heightened resistance to cytotoxic agents, targeted chemotherapeutic, and radiation treatments; and (iv) boosted expansion of cancer-initiating and stem-like cell populations that underlie tumor metastasis and disease recurrence. At present, the molecular, cellular, and microenvironmental mechanisms that enable post-EMT and metastatic carcinoma cells to hijack the oncogenic activities of TGF-β remain incompletely understood. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms that counter EMT programs and limit the aggressiveness of late-stage carcinomas, events that transpire via mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) reactions, also need to be further elucidated. Here we review recent advances that provide new insights into how TGF-β promotes EMT programs in late-stage carcinoma cells, as well as how these events are balanced by MET programs during the development and metastatic progression of human carcinomas.
Effects of preoptic microinjections of α-MSH on fever and normal temperature control in rabbits

Abstract α-MSH within the septal region of the brain has been implicated in fever control; this peptide and ACTH (1–24), which contains the α-MSH amino acid sequence, reduce fever when given intracerebroventricularly (ICV) or peripherally. These peptides also cause hypothermia when given in doses larger than those required to reduce fever. Both peptides occur naturally within the preoptic PO region of the brain, the CNS locus of primary temperature control. α-MSH (350 ng) injected bilaterally into the PO region via chronic cannulas reduced fever caused in six rabbits by IV injection of IL-1 (interleukin 1, endogenous or leukocyte pyrogen) but had no effect in afebrile animals. A larger dose (1.5 μg) not only reduced fever but caused hypothermia in 12 rabbits. In separate experiments PO injections of ACTH (1–24) (1 μg) reduced normal temperature. In the same six rabbits α-MSH (1 μg) caused slightly smaller hypothermia. α-MSH (1.5 μg) also had no effect in 8 afebrile rabbits when injected into the septum. The primary conclusion is that α-MSH receptors within the PO region can contribute to both the antipyretic and hypothermic actions that are observed after ICV and peripheral administration of the peptide.
Dynamic conception of vocational guidance

Abstract The author maintains that V.G. must be the result of a clinical examination carried out deeply, and that, therefore, an orientation diagnosis can be made only by taking into consideration the deeper inclinations of the subject, rather than his aptitudes, interests or character traits; satisfactory adjustment to work being, in fact, the consequence of an harmonious concord between the individual's professional activity and the deep inclinations of the personality while a situation of maladjustment is the consequence of a chronic frustration of a fundamental emotional need. In the frame of reference of this conception, the author refers to a recently elaborated test of Professional Inclinations: the results of an experimental research, carried out on clinical bases, justify the belief that this test, used together with other personality tests, ensures a clinical diagnosis for V.G.
Central Nervous System Relapse Surveillance by Serial Beta2-Microglobulin Measurements in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) is synthesized particularly in lymphocytes. Its value for early detection of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children was tested by serial determinations. Before 9 overt CNS relapses, the mean increase of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) beta 2m concentration was 588 micrograms/l/month (range: -50 to +2020), which was significantly higher than the steady levels during maintenance treatment. Although the absolute value of CSF beta 2m was increased to 1 430 micrograms/l in the group with overt CNS relapse, individual variations in CSF beta 2m before a relapse were so great that no difference was seen between samples from CSF with or without lymphoblasts. The ratio between beta 2m in the CSF and in serum did not increase in serial samples prior to overt relapse, but the ratio was higher in patients with CNS relapse compared with a control group on maintenance therapy. In 9 children without CNS leukemia, the beta 2m concentration in CSF and serum decreased to a nadir 4 weeks after the start of induction treatment. The subsequent increase of CSF beta 2m was similar to the increase before a CNS relapse. Mean values of CSF beta 2m changes differed between groups of children with and without CNS leukemia early in the induction phase and during the maintenance treatment, but the wide range in individual values made serial beta 2m determinations unsuitable for detecting a CNS relapse.
Tryptophan methylester modulation of poult responses to Bordetella avium

Abstract On the day of hatching, four groups of poults [Control, L-tryptophan methylester (LTME), Bordetella avium-infected, and B. avium-infected plus LTME] were established and placed into heated metal brooding batteries. Bordetella avium infection caused a significant depression in body temperature within 24 h after intranasal challenge with the W strain, and the hypothermia persisted through 21 d of age. L-Tryptophan methylester, a water-soluble form of tryptophan, was given by oral gavage daily in saline at a concentration of 50 mg per poult beginning 4 d after hatch. Within 2 d after initiation of LTME treatments, colonic temperature of B. avium-infected poults was elevated to the level of Controls and remained at that level throughout the experimental period. The BW of B. avium-infected poults were reduced significantly. The LTME treatment caused a significant BW increase in the B. avium-infected poults, but the increase was not to the level of Controls. The anti-sheep red blood cell antibody titers in B. avium-infected poults were not affected significantly. However, LTME treatment induced a significant increase in anti-sheep red blood cell antibody titers in both the infected and Control poults. Based upon data reported herein, it was concluded that feed intake depression associated with development of bordetellosis caused the poults to react more specifically to a mild tryptophan deficiency than to other nutrient deficiencies. The tryptophan deficiency caused a growth depression that was only partially alleviated by daily supplementation of LTME. The physiological responses to daily supplementation of LTME to B. avium-infected poults suggested that growth depression and poor performance was not limited to dietary deficiency of tryptophan.
Evidence of an affinity threshold for IgE‐allergen binding in the percutaneous skin test reaction

Background Atopy is an aberrant immune response involving allergen-specific IgE production, though serum IgE concentration is not an entirely reliable diagnostic tool, particularly for epidemiological and genetic studies. There is no clear correlation between IgE and other indicators of atopy such as skin prick tests (SPT)s, and physiological associations are difficult to justify in cases with detectable IgE but negative SPT results. Objective IgE reflects the number of molecules available to produce an atopic response, but the degree of the response is determined by the binding strength (affinity) between receptor-bound IgE and the allergen. We sought to determine if there was an association between binding affinity and SPT results in people with histories of atopy. Methods Standard SPTs (whole allergen extracts) were administered to people with histories of sensitivities to ragweed and house dust mite. The concentrations and affinities of serum allergen-specific IgEs were determined using the purified allergens Amb a 1 and Der p 1. Results There was a positive correlation between weal area and allergen-specific IgE among SPT-positive donors. However, for those individuals with detectable amounts of allergen-specific IgE, there was considerable overlap of IgE values between SPT-positive and -negative groups. Among sensitized donors, IgE-allergen interactions were characterized by two or three specific reactions of very high affinity (K(A) range 10(8) -10(11) M). Negative SPT reactions were associated with lowered IgE binding affinities to major allergens. This delimited two groups with atopic disorders: specific IgE(+)/ SPT(+) and specific IgE(+)/SPT(-). Conclusion The product of antibody affinity and concentration, which we define as antibody capacity (CAP = K(A) x IgE), is more informative with regard to describing allergen sensitivity than antibody concentration alone. Antibody binding capacity provides physiological evidence of atopy in some subjects who do not test positively by common methods and suggests an affinity threshold to produce a positive SPT reaction.
What Causes Slower Flame Propagation in the Lean-Combustion Engine?

Previous engine data suggest that slower flame propagation in lean-burn engines could be due to slower flame expansion velocity at lean conditions than at stoichiometric combustion. This paper reports on two classes of model, a quasi-dimensional engine-simulation program and a multidimensional engine-flow and combustion code, used to study this effect in detail and to assess the capabilities of the models to resolve combustion details. The computed flame-speed data from each program differed somewhat in magnitude, but the predicted trends at various equivalence ratios were quite similar. The trends include: (1) The peak in-cylinder burned-gas temperature decreases by about 300 K as the equivalence ratio is decreased from 0.98 to 0.70. (2) Both the laminar flame speed and the flame-propagation speed, the latter computed from the time derivative of flame radius, decrease with decreasing equivalence ratio.
Classical relaxation in a double well

Abstract The canonical ensemble position and velocity autocorrelation functions (X and V ACF's) and the power spectra are obtained for a classical particle at T ≈ Γ, Γ ≡barrier height in a symmetric double-well (DW) potential. We report the presence of well defined temperature dependent characteristics frequencies in the VACF and the XACF, both above and below the harmonic frequency in this strongly anharmonic regime. A striking feature of the DW relaxation is that the V (X)ACF's are weakly temperature dependent at T ≈ Γ.
An improved esophageal lead for the electrocardiograph

Abstract There are certain disadvantages to the present methods of esophageal electrocardiography. Many of these disadvantages can be overcome by the use of a small, weighted electrode which is attached to the end of a wire string and which can be swallowed by the patient. The electrode is described, and the procedure is discussed.
Phylogenetic and DNA methylation analysis reveal novel regions of variable methylation in the mouse IAP class of transposons.

Select retrotransposons in the long terminal repeat (LTR) class exhibit interindividual variation in DNA methylation that is altered by developmental environmental exposures. Yet, neither the full extent of variability at these “metastable epialleles,” nor the phylogenetic relationship underlying variable elements is well understood. The murine metastable epialleles, Avy and CabpIAP, result from independent insertions of an intracisternal A particle (IAP) mobile element, and exhibit remarkably similar sequence identity (98.5%). Utilizing the C57BL/6 genome we identified 10802 IAP LTRs overall and a subset of 1388 in a family that includes Avy and CabpIAP. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two duplication and divergence events subdividing this family into three clades. To characterize interindividual variation across clades, liver DNA from 17 isogenic mice was subjected to combined bisulfite and restriction analysis (CoBRA) for 21 separate LTR transposons (7 per clade). The lowest and highest mean methylation values were 59% and 88% respectively, while methylation levels at individual LTRs varied widely, ranging from 9% to 34%. The clade with the most conserved elements had significantly higher mean methylation across LTRs than either of the two diverged clades (p = 0.040 and p = 0.017). Within each mouse, average methylation across all LTRs was not significantly different (71%-74%, p > 0.99). Combined phylogenetic and DNA methylation analysis allows for the identification of novel regions of variable methylation. This approach increases the number of known metastable epialleles in the mouse, which can serve as biomarkers for environmental modifications to the epigenome.
Enhancement of in vitro binding and some of the pharmacological properties of diazepam by a novel anthelmintic agent, avermectin B1a

A novel macrocyclic lactone disaccharide anthelmintic agent, Avermectin B1a (AVM) has been found to cause a concentration-dependent increase in the in vitro binding of 3H-diazepam to rat and mouse brain membranes. The increase in binding is manifested as both an increase in the affinity and number of bindings sites for 3H-diazepam. Preliminary in vivo studies demonstrate that AVM can also enhance some of the pharmacological actions of diazepam.
Physiochemical pretreatment of landfill leachates using coagulation

Abstract Physiochemical pretreatment of landfill leachate using coagulation was examined and found to be an effective means of reducing turbidity, suspended solids, metals and dispersed oil. Lime was found to be the most effective pretreatment coagulant for treating the landfill leachate examined in this study. A 6.0 g/1 dosage resulted in 98% reduction in turbidity. Reductions in dispersed oil were substantial and were accompanied by small removals of dissolved organic matter. Additionally, many heavy metal species were successfully removed. Polyelectrolyte coagulant aids were found to be useful in increasing the rate of turbidity reduction. Re‐carbonation is suggested, to lower the pH to a range desirable for successive treatment processes.
Conditional optimization in the four-state protocol of quantum cryptography

Following a review of the probe optimization of Slutsky, Sun, Rao, and Fainman [Phys. Rev. A 57, 2383 (1998)] for the standard four-state protocol of quantum key distribution, I generalize the optimization to variable angle between the signal bases. I calculate the corresponding maximum Renyi information gain by the probe, and determine the optimum probe parameters. A larger set of optimum probe parameters is found for the standard protocol than was known previously.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
New Method for Inverting the Closed Orbit Distortion Problem

A certain class of magnet misalignments in storage rings and other accelerators produces closed orbit distortions (CODs). Quite often the CODs are measured at a fewer number of locations (N) than the number of misalignment parameters (M). There is a linear relation between COD measurements, u(j), j= l, ..., N and the misalignment parameters e(k), k= l, ..., M. Hence the c(k)' s are underdetermined. If M < 2N, one can obtain an overdetermined set of equations by measuring the COD at two quadrupole settings. There are several ways of inverting the COD measurements to get the misalignment parameters that are fairly insensitive to errors in the measured CODs. A computer program called CODINV has been written to test some of these schemes. Two schemes give fairly good results when applied to the lattice of the Los Alamos Proton Storage Ring (PSR). The first scheme requires measurements at two nearby tunes and the use of singularvalue decomposition methods. The second scheme requires measurements of the CODs in the FODO and DOFO cell arrangements but is easier mathematically.
Picturing Prints in Early Modern New Spain

In an anonymous circa 1754 portrait (Figure 1), fray Francisco de Santa Ana stands in a flowered crown and the brown and white habit of the Carmelite first order. The image commemorates the occasion of his final vows as a mendicant friar, and he is a rare if not unique example of a monk within the genre of the so-called crowned nuns. With eyes cast down, fray Francisco appears next to a table bearing an hourglass, skull, and book, symbols of his devotion and of his meditation on his own mortality. Painted as if tacked to the wall beside him is a print of the Virgin Mary, representing the Carmelite order's fervent Marian devotion. While she seems to gaze down at her follower, fray Francisco humbly looks away.