cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypertension in minorities: Blacks

Hypertension is known to occur much more frequently in blacks than in the general population, roughly 33% to 50% more frequently. In addition, severe hypertension occurs 3 to 7 times more commonly in blacks than whites and is associated with an excessive amount of target organ damage. Thus, damage to the heart, kidneys, and cerebral structures may occur as much as three to five times more frequently in blacks than the general population and is associated with a much greater mortality. Because of differences in clinical presentation, delays in entering the medical care system, and some pathophysiologic features specific for the black population, treatment becomes somewhat more challenging and should be tailored for this population. Because of economic factors often found in minority populations, inexpensive effective drugs such as diuretics and beta-blockers, which are preferred drugs according to the JNC-V, often should be given first consideration in this population. However, calcium channel blockers seem to be quite effective in this group, equal to in the white population, although they are somewhat more expensive. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, if given in proper dosage and especially with low dose diuretics, are also quite effective in this population. Tissue specific angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors may be more effective, but further studies are needed. Studies have shown that effective treatment of the black population, in spite of the differences and the more challenging situation, can result in improved survival and reduction in morbidity and mortality from the various complications.
A cell–ECM screening method to predict breast cancer metastasis

Breast cancer preferentially spreads to the bone, brain, liver, and lung. The clinical patterns of this tissue-specific spread (tropism) cannot be explained by blood flow alone, yet our understanding of what mediates tropism to these physically and chemically diverse tissues is limited. While the microenvironment has been recognized as a critical factor in governing metastatic colonization, the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in mediating tropism has not been thoroughly explored. We created a simple biomaterial platform with systematic control over the ECM protein density and composition to determine if integrin binding governs how metastatic cells differentiate between secondary tissue sites. Instead of examining individual behaviors, we compiled large patterns of phenotypes associated with adhesion to and migration on these controlled ECMs. In combining this novel analysis with a simple biomaterial platform, we created an in vitro fingerprint that is predictive of in vivo metastasis. This rapid biomaterial screen also provided information on how β1, α2, and α6 integrins might mediate metastasis in patients, providing insights beyond a purely genetic analysis. We propose that this approach of screening many cell–ECM interactions, across many different heterogeneous cell lines, is predictive of in vivo behavior, and is much simpler, faster, and more economical than complex 3D environments or mouse models. We also propose that when specifically applied toward the question of tissue tropism in breast cancer, it can be used to provide insight into certain integrin subunits as therapeutic targets.
Triply excited bound state of He − and the isoelectronic sequence

The energy level of the /sup 4/S/sup o/ state of He/sup -/ is found to be lower than that of the (2p2p) /sup 3/P state of He by about 0.328 eV. It is metastable against autoionization and decays through radiation to the triply excited autoionization state of /sup 4/P/sup e/ and its associated continuum. For Li and three-electron positive ions, the /sup 4/S/sup o/ state also decays to the doubly excited /sup 4/P/sup e/ bound state. The energy levels of these states are calculated and transition wavelengths are also predicted.
Real-time vision-based detection of wire gapping on a rotating transformer core

High-quality transformer winding requires precise measurement and control of the gapping between adjacent wires. We take a vision-based approach to the measurement subtask of determining the gaps between copper wires wound onto an oval transformer. The oval core shape, which can have an eccentricity as high as 2-to-1, leads to significant variations in surface normal and viewing distance. We use special lighting, a secondary mandrel shape sensor, and the specular reflection off the wires to give us an accurate model of the experimental geometry. We further exploit the vertical symmetry of the viewed region to condense our 2D image to a simple 1D signal containing reflectance peaks. after utilizing pattern recognition and some additional safety features to separate the wire peaks from background noise, we perform a least squares curve fit of the peaks to determine the subpixel maxima. the final algorithm is computationally fast and yields the desired wire gap in an absolute metric.
Myc protein expression correlates with MYC amplification in small-cell lung carcinoma.

Aims Myc family members are important contributors to oncogenesis in a variety of tumours. Identification of therapeutic targets is needed in small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), an aggressive disease with limited treatment options. Sequencing studies have identified MYC amplification in 2–7% of SCLCs. This study aims to determine the rate of MYC gene amplification and its correlation with Myc protein overexpression in SCLC. Methods and results One hundred and three cases of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded SCLC were examined. Myc protein expression was scored according to the extent of immunohistochemical staining. MYC copy number (CN) was evaluated with dual-colour chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH) for the MYC locus and a chromosome 8 (Chr8) centromeric control. Amplification was defined as a MYC/Chr8 ratio of ≥2. Thirty-eight per cent of SCLCs had some degree of Myc protein expression, and 9% of cases were MYC-amplified. MYC CN was significantly correlated with the extent of Myc protein expression (Spearman's ρ = 0.57, P < 0.01). There was no significant association between Myc expression or CN and clinicopathological features. Conclusions MYC amplification by CISH was identified in 9% of SCLCs, and correlated with protein expression. As novel Myc-targeted therapies are developed, CISH and IHC should be considered as biomarkers of Myc pathway dysregulation in SCLC.
What Are We Measuring? An Evaluation of the CES-D Across Race/Ethnicity and Immigrant Generation

The sociological study of the mental health of racial-ethnic minorities depends on the measurement quality of the instruments used to evaluate mental health. A commonly used instrument in research on mental health disparities, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), has not been thoroughly validated for use in the multiethnic and foreign-born populations currently living in the U.S. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this analysis provides the first multiethnic evaluation and psychometric analysis of the CES-D by acculturation level among youth ages 12–20. Correcting for the measurement problems contained in the CES-D improves the ability to detect differences in depression across ethnocultural groups, and to identify relationships between depression and other outcomes.
Validation and implementation of a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry assay to quantitate aminoflavone (NSC 686288) in human plasma.

A reverse-phase liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for determination of aminoflavone (AF) in human plasma. Sample preparation involved a liquid-liquid extraction by the addition of 0.25 mL of plasma with 1.0 mL ethyl acetate containing 50 ng/mL of the internal standard zileuton. The analytes were separated on a Waters X-Terra™ MS C18 column using a mobile phase consisting of methanol/water containing 0.45% formic acid (70:30, v/v) and isocratic flow at 0.2 mL/min for 6 minutes. The analytes were monitored by tandem-mass spectrometry with electrospray positive ionization. Linear calibration curves were generated over the AF concentration range of 5–2000 ng/mL in human plasma. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 5 ng/mL for AF in human plasma. The accuracy and within- and between-day precisions were within the generally accepted criteria for bioanalytical method (<15%). This method was successfully applied to characterize AF plasma concentration-time profile in the cancer patients in a phase I trial.
Memory for emotionally provocative words in alexithymia: A role for stimulus relevance

Alexithymia is associated with emotion processing deficits, particularly for negative emotional information. However, also common are a high prevalence of somatic symptoms and the perception of somatic sensations as distressing. Although little research has yet been conducted on memory in alexithymia, we hypothesized a paradoxical effect of alexithymia on memory. Specifically, recall of negative emotional words was expected to be reduced in alexithymia, while memory for illness words was expected to be enhanced in alexithymia. Eighty-five high or low alexithymia participants viewed and rated arousing illness-related ("pain"), emotionally positive ("thrill"), negative ("hatred"), and neutral words ("horse"). Recall was assessed 45 min later. High alexithymia participants recalled significantly fewer negative emotion words but also more illness-related words than low alexithymia participants. The results suggest that personal relevance can shape cognitive processing of stimuli, even to enhance retention of a subclass of stimuli whose retention is generally impaired in alexithymia.
Desertification in the Sudan: causes, effects and policy options

Desertification is the spread of desert-like conditions in arid and semi-arid conditions. It is a result of pressure from both climatic and human factors. Desertification in the Sudan has been acce...
Evaluation of the Unopette® system for manual, ultramicro determinations of urea in blood

Abstract A manual, ultramicro technique for the determination of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) using the Unopette® system has been evaluated. The method is sensitive, and BUN determinations are in good agreement with data from a SMA 6 60 and a single-channel AutoAnalyzer. The relative standard deviation is less than 3.5% over a wide concentration range. The reaction is linear for BUN concentrations less than 50 mg/dl, has a useful calibration curve up to 150 mg/dl, and uses only 10 μl of sample. No deproteinization of the sample is necessary and as many as ten determinations can be performed in less than 20 min.
Calculation of the Cohesive Energies and Bulk Properties of the Alkali Metals

The cohesive energy and zero-pressure density of the alkali metals have been calculated using the self-consistent augmented-plane-wave method and the statistical ($X\ensuremath{\alpha}$) exchange-correlation approximation. For the value of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ which makes a single determinant of atomic spin orbitals satisfy the virial theorem, the lighter alkali metals are computed to have cohesive energies and zero-pressure densities which are too large (errors of 22 and 16% for Li) with respect to experiment. To test the sensitivity of these results to the choice of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, the same calculations have been performed with $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ set equal to $\frac{2}{3}$. This choice of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ produced more uniformly good results for all the alkali metals with the largest errors occurring for cesium (errors of 7 and 9%, respectively). It is suggested that these results may be a consequence of the large change in the valence electronic charge density that occurs when the lighter alkali-metal atoms come together to form the solid. It is not suggested, however, that $\ensuremath{\alpha}=\frac{2}{3}$ be used in all energy-band calculations.
Increases in phosphatase and β‐glucosidase activities in wheat seedlings in response to phosphorus‐deficient growth

Abstract The ability of plants to utilize P efficiently is important for crops growing in P‐deficient soils or on soils with a high P‐fixing capacity. The purpose of this work was to investigate early physiological changes which occur when wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings were grown under P‐deficient conditions. Wheat plants were grown in a greenhouse and watered with nutrient solution containing or lacking P. During the interval 12 to 18 days after planting, the dry weight of wheat seedlings was similar regardless of P treatment, although the P‐deficient plants had a greater proportion of the total plant weight in the roots. Sixteen days after planting, the roots and leaves of P‐deficient plants had only 20 to 30% the P content of P‐sufficient plants. After 16 days, plants grown under P stress had 41% more p‐nitrophenol phosphatase activity and 70% more β‐glucosidase activity in shoot homogenates than was found in P‐sufficient plants. Changes in both enzyme activities may be involved in the mobiliz...
Postseismic viscoelastic deformation and stress: 2. Stress theory and computation; dependence of displacement, strain, and stress on fault parameters

A viscoelastic model for deformation and stress associated with earthquakes is reported. The model consists of a rectangular dislocation (strike slip fault) in a viscoelastic layer (lithosphere) lying over a viscoelastic half space (asthenosphere). The time dependent surface stresses are analyzed. The model predicts that near the fault a significant fraction of the stress that was reduced during the earthquake is recovered by viscoelastic softening of the lithosphere. By contrast, the strain shows very little change near the fault. The model also predicts that the stress changes associated with asthenospheric flow extend over a broader region than those associated with lithospheric relaxation even though the peak value is less. The dependence of the displacements, stresses on fault parameters studied. Peak values of strain and stress drop increase with increasing fault height and decrease with fault depth. Under many circumstances postseismic strains and stresses show an increase with decreasing depth to the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary. Values of the strain and stress at distant points from the fault increase with fault area but are relatively insensitive to fault depth.
Evidence for an androgen-dependent urinary arginine esterase in the rat: separation from other urinary arginine esterases including kallikrein.

DEAE-Sephadex chromatography of male rat urine resolved three peaks of arginine esterase activity using the synthetic substrate α-N-p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester-HC1 (Tos-Arg-O-Me). Esterase activity in peak 1 (esterase A1 fraction) was present in sexually mature males, but it was not found in mature females, castrated mature males, or sexually immature males. Urinary esterase A1 activity could be restored in castrated mature males by the administration of testosterone, and it is, therefore, androgen dependent. Esterase A1 activity was undetectable and could not be induced in females by daily doses of testosterone (up to 20 mg/day). The second urinary esterase peak (esterase A2 fraction) and the third peak (urinary kallikrein) were found in both male and female rats. Molecular sieve chromatography of esterase fractions A1, A2, and kallikrein, as determined by Sephacryl S-200 chromatography, gave single peaks of activity. Molecular weights were estimated to be 28,500, 42,000, and 41,500, respectively. Ki...
Mammalian Septins Regulate Microtubule Stability through Interaction with the Microtubule-binding Protein MAP4

Mammalian septins constitute a family of at least 12 GTP-binding proteins that can form hetero-oligomers and that are sometimes found in association with actin or microtubule filaments. However, their functions are not understood. Using RNA interference, we found that suppression of septin expression in HeLa cells caused a pronounced increase in microtubule stability. Mass spectroscopic analysis of proteins coprecipitating with Sept6 identified the microtubule-associated protein MAP4 as a septin binding partner. A small, proline-rich region in the C-terminal half of MAP4 bound directly to a Sept 2:6:7 heterotrimer, and to the Sept2 monomer. The trimer blocked the ability of this MAP4 fragment to bind and bundle microtubules in vitro. In intact cells, MAP4 was required for the stabilization of microtubules induced by septin depletion. Moreover, septin depletion increased the number of cells with abnormal nuclei, and this effect was blocked by gene silencing of MAP4. These data identify a novel molecular function for septins in mammalian cells: the modulation of microtubule dynamics through interaction with MAP4.
Longitudinal Predictors of Self-Rated Health and Mortality in Older Adults

INTRODUCTION Few studies have compared the effects of demographic, cognitive, and behavioral factors of health and mortality longitudinally. We examined predictors of self-rated health and mortality at 3 points, each 2 years apart, over 4 years. METHODS We used data from the 2006 wave of the Health and Retirement Study and health and mortality indicators from 2006, 2008, and 2010. We analyzed data from 17,930 adults (aged 50-104 y) to examine predictors of self-rated health and data from a subgroup of 1,171 adults who died from 2006 through 2010 to examine predictors of mortality. RESULTS Time 1 depression was the strongest predictor of self-rated health at all points, independent of age and education. Education, mild activities, body mass index, delayed word recall, and smoking were all associated with self-rated health at each point and predicted mortality. Delayed word recall mediated the relationships of mild activity with health and mortality. Bidirectional mediation was found for the effects of mild activity and depression on health. CONCLUSION Medical professionals should consider screening for depression and memory difficulties in addition to conducting medical assessments. These assessments could lead to more effective biopsychosocial interventions to help older adults manage risks for mortality.
The Power of Qualitative Research

As pediatricians we pride ourselves on having great patient relationships by getting on our patient’s level. We are the physicians who perform magic tricks, look for animals and cartoon characters in our patients’ ears, and crouch down on the floor to meet our patients where they are. Not only do we meet patients where they are, but we often celebrate it, decorating our offices with patients’ crayon drawings and other artwork. As a new developmental pediatrics fellow, I wanted to understand the perspective of parents who didn’t always bring their children in for their appointments or who failed to schedule them at all. I thought that the only way to help people get “better” care was to ask them what they thought the problems were with the care they were currently receiving. I was surprised as I was trying to start this project that the same people who would be perfectly willing to sit on the floor to look for Big Bird … Address correspondence to Elizabeth A. Diekroger, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, WO Walker Building, 10524 Euclid Ave, Suite 3150, Cleveland, OH 44106. E-mail: elizabeth.diekroger{at}uhhospitals.org
Advancing evaluation of STEM efforts through attention to diversity and culture

This chapter examines implications from the application of a transformative lens and the concepts of cultural competency to increase our understanding of how evaluation can contribute to the goal of improving STEM outcomes for underrepresented groups.
Identification of a metastable particle produced by electron-stimulated desorption: CO on W(100).

Metastable particles released as a result of the electron bombardment of CO on W(100) have been studied with use of a time-of-flight method. The metastable particle is observed to have a flight-time distribution that is skewed with different path lengths. This skewing can be explained in terms of the decay of the metastable fragment. Model fits to our data require a decay lifetime of 1.4 ms which clearly identifies the metastable species as the a $^{3}\ensuremath{\Pi}$ state of CO. With this identification the previously published energy/amu distribution for the undefined metastable particle released in electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) from CO on W(100) is presented as the energy distribution for the ESD of ${\mathrm{CO}}^{\mathrm{*}}$ (a $^{3})$ from W(100) at 150 K.
Abstract 1993: Interaction between histone demethylase and deacetylase may mediate activity of HDAC inhibitors in human breast cancer cells

Histone acetylation and methylation are two important epigenetic entities that interact with each other in chromatin remodeling and gene transcription regulation. It has been shown that abnormal activities of histone lysine deacetylases (HDACs) and histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) are associated with aberrant gene expression in cancer development. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between HDACs and KDMs are still elusive. In this study, we showed that exposure of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells to inhibitors against the zinc cofactor dependent class I or II HDACs, but not NAD + dependent class III HDAC, led to significant increases of global di or mono-methylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4me2/me1) which are specific substrates of histone lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and key positive chromatin marks promoting transcriptional activation. HDAC inhibitors did not affect in vitro demethylation activity of recombinant LSD1 and did not alter the nuclear presence of the LSD-CoREST-HDAC1/2 complex, indicating the inhibition of LSD1 activity in breast cancer cells by specific HDAC inhibitors likely occurs through disrupting the functional interaction between LSD1 and HDACs rather than direct competition with enzymatic substrate at the active site of LSD1 or suppression of LSD1 protein levels. Inhibition of LSD1 activity by its inhibitor, pargyline, or RNAi in MDA-MB-231 cells caused an increase in acetylation of H3K9 (AcH3K9), suggesting that LSD1 is an important regulator of HDAC activity in breast cancer. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) demonstrated that LSD1/HDAC repressive complex is recruited to the promoter of one candidate target gene, estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), in ER negative breast cancer cells and the reactivation of silenced ERα by HDAC inhibitor is associated with increased H3K4me2, acetylH3K9 and acetylH4K16 at ERα promoter. In addition, combined treatment with HDAC inhibitors and the LSD1 inhibitor, pargyline, resulted in enhanced levels of H3K4me2 and AcH3K9, and synergistic growth inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cells. These data suggest a crosstalk between the histone demethylase, LSD1, and histone deacetylases as a novel regulatory mechanism in mediating activity of HDAC inhibitors and may help in designing combinations that could have significant clinical translation in breast cancer therapy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1993. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1993
Color Monitor Display

Due to an increasing interest in color display peripherals by the computer industry, a feasibility study of color display monitors began. This study was to sight specification limits imposed by inherent restrictions of several types of color CRTs.
Characterization of potential S-nitrosylation sites in the myocardium.

S-nitrosylation (SNO) is a reversible protein modification that has the ability to alter the activity of target proteins. However, only a small number of SNO proteins have been found in the myocard...
An investigation of relationships between teachers' ratings of behavior and children's personality traits

This study examined the relationships between teachers' ratings of children's behavior on the Behavior Problem Checklist and children's self-reported personality source traits on age-appropriate Personality Questionnaires. The sample consisted of 254 children from first through eighth grades and 13 teachers in a rural Maine elementary school. Analysis of the data revealed that teachers' ratings and children's self-reports in grades four through six agreed more frequently about problematic behavior than did children's self-reports and teachers self-ratings in grades one through three and seven and eight. In general, the study (1) supported the validity of teacher judgments made with the Behavior Problem Checklist, (2) demonstrated the critical need for more than one perspective when identifying and defining maladaptive behavior potentially indicative of emotional disturbance, and (3) suggested the need to increase the accuracy of teachers' perceptions and evaluations of children's behavior.
An aphid circadian rhythm: Factors affecting the release of sex pheromone by oviparae of the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum

Abstract Adult oviparae of Schizaphis graminum emit a sex pheromone from scent plaques on the metathoracic tibiae, as do oviparae of other aphid species. By allowing males to walk along a wire walkway, a turning response and an increased rate of antennation were observed when the aphids were within 1–2 cm of a pheromone source. Adult males responded but 4th instar larval males did not. The onset of the release of the pheromone by the oviparae is triggered by the initiation of the light phase in a LD-cycle, and is governed by a circadian rhythm with a free-running period of 25.6 hr under continuous illumination of 15 lx. Daily pheromone release peaks 4–7 hr after lights-on and reaches a maximum on days 6–8 of adulthood.
Gain and dynamics in ZnSe-based quantum wells

Abstract Gain spectroscopy and population dynamics are investigated in ZnCdSe/ZnSSe/ZnMgSSe separate confinement heterostructure (SCH) diode lasers. Both steady state and time-resolved methods are applied to characterize the dense electron-hole pair gas in the ZnCdSe active quantum well (QW) region from 77 K to room temperature. Effects due to the carrier interaction with optical phonons and electron-hole Coulomb effects are discussed. A direct measurement of the carrier lifetime at pair densities under typical laser conditions has also been obtained.
Transgenic mice expressing constitutive levels of IL-2 in islet β cells develop diabetes

IL-2 plays an important role in the clonal expansion of T cells during an immune response and it has been implicated in autoimmune disease. To examine the role of IL-2 in the regulation of peripheral tolerance we produced transgenic mice in which the expression of murine IL-2 was directed by the rat insulin II promoter. The IL-2 transgene was expressed specifically in the pancreas. Islets from transgenic mice synthesized biologically active IL-2. Expression of IL-2 in the pancreas resulted in a massive inflammatory response directed at the beta cells of the pancreas. The infiltrate consisted primarily of B cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The infiltrate resulted in destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells and diabetes, but there was no evidence for antigen specificity. The results suggest that local IL-2 production elicits the recruitment and activation of cells capable of destroying beta cells by non-antigen-specific mechanisms.
Measuring and Making Sense of Labor Exploitation in Contemporary Society: A Comparative Analysis:

This article reexamines the problem of labor exploitation in advanced capitalist economies, especially the United States. The article specifies the concept of labor exploitation by using both the Marxian and marginalist notions and measures. The implicit neoclassical presumption of no or little labor exploitation in a capitalist economy is rejected by the results. The alternative heterodox argument of persistent and increasing labor exploitation has been confirmed for contemporary capitalism, particularly for the United States, in recent years.
Synthetic Studies Toward Providencin: Efficient Construction of a Furanyl-Cyclobutanone Fragment

Described is the construction of a furanyl-cylcobutanone fragment suited for incorporation into a synthesis of the naturally occurring anti-cancer agent Providencin.
Characteristic time ignition model extended to an annular gas turbine combustor

The extension of the ignition model to an annular combustor was successful and a single ignition limit curve for three engines was developed. The correlation also includes 4 geometries and 2 plug locations for the AGT-1500, 30 fuels covering a wide range of volatilities from gasoline to No. 6 fuel oil and viscosities of 0.3-75 x 10/sup -6/ m/sup 2//s, inlet air temperatures of 240-330 K, and pressures of 30-140 kPa. One significant difference that developed in examining the F101 data is that the primary zone equivalence ratio was the proper equivalence ration for the F101 as opposed to the assumption of a constant equivalence ratio at the spark gap for the AGT-1500 and T-63. This may indicate better mixing of the fuel spray with the primary zone air in the F101 due to the injection of the fuel into the primary and secondary swirler air. The critical features of applying the ignition model to gas turbine combustors are the drop size estimates via empirical equations and the equivalence ratio evaluations based on the fuel spray and spark plug locations.
Clutch wear prediction via a deterministic-stochastic modeling approach

Abstract The front surface temperature of a clutch pressure plate is studied for clutch wear prediction. A combined deterministic plus stochastic modeling approach is proposed to fit the front surface temperature data. The underlying clutch engagement process is explained by a deterministic function, whereas the inherent dynamics are explained by the stochastic model. The results of the combined modeling approach indicate that the front surface temperature can be modeled accurately to within ± 4°F.
Depression and executive dysfunction contribute to a metamemory deficit among individuals with methamphetamine use disorders.

Abstract Objective: Chronic methamphetamine (MA) use is associated with moderate deficits in learning and memory, but the extend to which MA users are aware of such memory deficits (i.e., metamemory) is not known. Methods: In the current study, 195 participants with lifetime MA use diagnoses (MA +) and 195 non-MA-using comparison subjects (MA -) underwent comprehensive neuropsychiatry research assessments, including performance-based and self-report measures of episodic memory. Results: MA use disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD), and their interaction were uniquely associated with metamemory functioning, such that MDD increased the likelihood of a metamemory deficit among MA + participants. Within the MA group, individuals who over-estimated their memory abilities demonstrated greater executive dysfunction and lower cognitive reserve. Conclusions: Chronic MA use is associated with reduced awareness of objective deficits in memory acquisition and recall, which is particularly exacerbated by the presence of major depression. Efforts to enhance metamemory accuracy and deployment of compensatory mnemonic strategies may benefit substance abuse treatment outcomes.
Digital image analysis of optic nerve head pallor as a diagnostic test for early glaucoma

We developed a computer-based technique to quantify optic nerve head pallor from videographically acquired digitized optic nerve images and tested the ability of pallor measurements to discriminate between normal eyes and eyes with early glaucoma. Corresponding pixel values from images obtained under 540 nm (green) and 640 nm (red) light with a videographic fundus camera were used to quantify optic nerve head pallor. A pallor density histogram was calculated for each eye, and contained values between 0 (red) to 1 (white). A measure of the distribution width of the histogram provided pallor measurements standardized to the measurements of the large veins of the disc. A database of one eye each of 44 normal controls and 70 patients with early open angle glaucoma was used to test the measurements for diagnotistic sensitivity and specificity. These standardized pallor measurements did not perform better than absolute pallor measurements to discriminate between normal and glaucomatous eyes. The sensitivity and specificity of standardized pallor measurements (49% and 57%, respectively, for this database) were not as good as those for stereoscopic measurements of disc rim area in the same database (70% and 73%). Pallor measurements of this type do not appear to be sensitive or specific indicators of early glaucoma.
Modular drive system for a planetary exploration mobility platform

This paper discusses the design of a modular drive system for a planetary rover, and presents the testing and thermal monitoring results to validate the design. A rover, Oryx 2.0, is designed and developed to serve as a research platform that can transport payloads over rough terrain. One of the key design features is the modular drive system. The mechanical design, communications and control interfaces are discussed. Moreover, EPOS2 motion controllers by Maxon Motor are explored as motor controllers for the drive system as they provide an easy-to-use high level motor control functionality. The paper will outline step-by-step instructions for setting up the EPOS2 libraries and drivers in Linux/Robot Operating System (ROS) environment. The details of testing procedures and results for the motor modules are also provided.
Temporal changes in amino acid catabolism during arousal from hibernation in the golden-mantled ground squirrel

Abstract 1. 1. Time and temperature relationships in hepatic amino acid catabolism were studied in golden-mantled ground squirrels arousing from hibernation. 2. 2. A marked translational increase in amino acid catabolism occurred in the middle and latter stages of arousal. 3. 3. The data suggest amino acids are important sources of four carbon dicarboxylic acid intermediates for continued oxidation of fatty acids, maintenance of blood glucose and replenishment of tissue glycogen stores during the latter stages of arousal.
Milestones on the road to independence for the blind

Ken will talk about his experiences as an end user of technology. Even moderate technological progress in the field of pattern recognition and artificial intelligence can be, often surprisingly, of great help to the blind. An example is the providing of portable bar code scanners so that a blind person knows what he is buying and what color it is. In this age of microprocessors controlling everything, how can a blind person find out what his VCR is doing? Is there some technique that will allow a blind musician to convert print music into midi files to drive a synthesizer? Can computer vision help the blind cross a road including predictions of where oncoming traffic will be located? Can computer vision technology provide spoken description of scenes so a blind person can figure out where doors and entrances are located, and what the signage on the building says? He asks 'can computer vision help me flip a pancake?' His challenge to those in the computer vision field is 'where can we go from here?'© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Childbearing beyond maternal age 50 and fetal outcomes in the United States.

Abstract Objective To estimate whether achieving pregnancy beyond maternal age of 50 years compromises fetal well-being and survival. Methods This was a retrospective study on all deliveries in the United States from 1997 to 1999. Four maternal age groups of 20–29 (young), 30–39 (mature), 40–49 (very mature), and 50 or more years (older) were constructed to assess risk gradients for fetal morbidity and mortality. Results A total of 539 deliveries among older mothers (aged 50 and above) were documented (four per 100,000). Among singleton gestations, the risks for low birth weight, preterm, and very preterm were tripled among older mothers, whereas the occurrence of very low birth weight, small size for gestational age, and fetal mortality were approximately doubled compared with those for young mothers. Older mothers also had greater risks for fetal morbidity and mortality than their immediate younger counterparts (40–49 year olds) except for very low birth weight. Among multiple gestations, the differences in risk between older and young mothers were lower than those noted among singletons. Still, compared with young mothers, older mothers had significantly higher risks of low birth weight, very low birth weight, very preterm, and small size for gestational age. Older mothers also had higher risk estimates for multiples than 40–49-year-old gravidas in terms of all fetal morbidity and mortality indices. Conclusion Pregnancy beyond age 50 was associated with increased risks for the fetus. Our findings suggest that this age group is a distinct obstetric high-risk entity that requires special counseling before and after conception.
Clinical outcomes in traumatic brain injury patients on preinjury clopidogrel: A prospective analysis

BACKGROUNDPatients receiving antiplatelet medications are considered to be at an increased risk for traumatic intracranial hemorrhage after blunt head trauma. However, most studies have categorized all antiplatelet drugs into one category. The aim of our study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and t
Contraceptive sterilization use among married men in the United States: results from the male sample of the National Survey of Family Growth

Abstract Background Surgical sterilization has many advantages. Previous information on prevalence and correlates was based on surveys of women. Study Design We estimated the prevalence of vasectomy and tubal ligation of partners for male participants in the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, a nationally representative survey of US residents aged 15–44 years. We identified factors associated with sterilizations using bivariate and multivariate techniques. Results The findings revealed that 13.3% of married men reported having had a vasectomy and 13.8% reported tubal sterilization in their partners. Vasectomy increased with older age and greater number of biological children, non-Hispanic white ethnicity, having ever gone to a family planning clinic. Tubal sterilization use was more likely among men who had not attended college, those of older age and those with live births. Discussion One in eight married men reported having vasectomies. Men who rely on vasectomies have a somewhat different profile than those whose partners have had tubal sterilizations.
Methamphetamine abuse presenting as dysuria following urethral insertion of tablets

Foreign bodies are inserted into the male urogenital tract for a variety of motives, and patients may present with symptoms of dysuria, urinary retention, hematuria, discharge, or priapism. Concomitant psychopathology is seen frequently, necessitating a thorough psychiatric assessment with attention to other acts of self-mutilation, suicide attempts, psychosis, or substance abuse. We report the case of an abuser of methamphetamine who inserted a sustained-release form of medication into his urethra, with resulting mechanical and pharmacological trauma.
Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix and vagina. A clinicopathologic study of 21 cases with and without a history of maternal ingestion of estrogens.

Twenty-one cases of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix uteri and vagina have been reviewed. Fifteen cases occurred in females under 25 years of age and four in women over 45 years. In seven cases, a positive history of maternal ingestion of diethylstilbestrol (DES) was obtained. One mother gave a history of medication with conjugated estrogens and ethisterone. Of the 13 patients with a negative history, three were born during the time period when DES was commonly used to prevent abortion. Fifteen carcinomas were cervical in origin; seven of these also involved the vagina. In six cases the carcinoma was entirely vaginal. Vaginal involvement of the carcinoma was more common in the estrogen-related group. Two non-estrogen-related cases had coexisting congenital malformations with double uterus and vagina and unilateral renal agenesis. The histopathologic appearance was similar in both groups. In most cases, a mixture of papillary, microcystic, tubular, and solid features was seen. Vaginal adenosis was found in nine cases, six of which were estrogenrelated. Surgical therapy was employed in most cases and was generally superior to radiation therapy. Five patients had lymphatic involvement. All died from carcinoma. The survival rate among sixteen patients followed for 2 years or more was 62.5%. The probable mullerian origin of clear cell adenocarcinoma is discussed. It is suggested that DES, by virtue of being an estrogen, interferes with the normal process of differentiation and degeneration of mullerian epithelium in the fetal vagina. The persistence of mullerian cells altered at the subcellular level could form the basis for development of carcinoma in later life. However, a similar sequence of events must also be accepted to occur “spontaneously” since clear cell adenocarcinoma can develop in women without a history of maternal estrogens.
Quality of information trade-offs in the detection of transient phenomena

In this paper, we present a set of attributes that are being proposed to characterize quality of information (QoI) for sensor-enabled applications in a domain-agnostic manner. We then focus on two important of these attributes, timeliness and data reliability, which capture the quality of detection processes with respect to how fast and how accurately a detection is made. With special emphasis on transient phenomena, i.e., phenomena of limited duration, using traditional Bayesian-based hypothesis testing techniques, we investigate the detection of these phenomena and we analytically derive relationships that capture the QoI of a phenomenon detector as a function of the duration of the observed phenomena and the rate with which observations of the phenomena are collected.
A feasibility study of using conventional jaws to deliver IMRT plans in the treatment of prostate cancer

The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using conventional jaws to deliver inverse planned intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans for patients with prostate cancer. For ten patients, each had one three-dimensional conformal plan (3D plan) and seven inverse IMRT plans using direct aperture optimization. For IMRT plans using conventional jaws (JO plans), the number of apertures per beam angle was set from two to seven while three apertures per beam angle were set for the multi-leaf collimator (MLC) plans. To evaluate each planning method, we compared average dose volume histograms (DVH), the conformal index (COIN), total number of segments and total number of monitor units. Among the JO plans with the number of apertures per beam angle varying from two to seven, no difference was observed in the average DVHs, and the plan conformal index became saturated after four apertures per beam angle. Subsequently, JO plans with four apertures per beam angle (JO-4A) were compared with 3D and MLC plans. Based on the average DVHs, no difference was found among 3D, JO-4A and MLC plans with regard to the planning target volume and rectum, but the DVHs for the bladder and penile bulb were significantly better with inverse IMRT plans than those with 3D plans. When compared with the plan conformity, the average COIN values for 3D, JO-4A and MLC plans were 0.61 ± 0.07, 0.73 ± 0.05 and 0.83 ± 0.05, respectively. In conclusion, inverse IMRT plans using conventional jaws are clinically feasible, achieving better plan quality than 3D-CRT plans.
Global Education Access Utilizing Partnerships and Networked Global Learning Communities

Networked global learning communities build partnership programs between higher education institutions and high schools which allow students, teachers and professors to attend and work in college preparation programs located in countries outside of their native lands. These educational programs help to promote development of transnational policies and procedure reforms to provide access to universities in other countries, as well as provide exposure to global learning strategies, structures, and emerging technologies among teachers and educational leadership. Transnational High School-University Bridge programs also allow the student to adjust to a new culture and work to improve their second language skills, while potentially earning college credit in a dual credit, high school environment.
The effects of stimulus structure and familiarity on same-different comparison

It was hypothesized that performance in the same-different comparison task is based on two modes of processing: (1) structural processes that organize the detailed parts of a stimulus into a well-formed whole, and (2)analytic processes that decompose the stimulus into features. This hypothesis was supported, but with the unexpected finding of individual differences in the mode of processing underlying “same” responses. Those Ss in the “same” condition whose reaction times were faster for symmetrical than for asymmetrical patterns supported the hypothesis for structural processes. The remaining Ss in the “same” condition, as well as all the Ss in the “different” condition, were unaffected by symmetry. These Ss supported the hypothesis for analytic processes. Although familiarity effects were obtained for both structural and analytic Ss, the rotation of the familiar patterns into an unfamiliar orientation virtually eliminated familiarity effects for the structural Ss, but left them intact for analytic Ss.
Applications of Dalcroze Eurhythmics to Dance Training: Grasping Mixed Meter

(2001). Applications of Dalcroze Eurhythmics to Dance Training: Grasping Mixed Meter. Journal of Dance Education: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 106-114.
Detection of reverse transcriptase in human breast tumours with poly(Cm)-oligo(dG).

PARTICLES having the density of type-C RNA tumour viruses, possessing reverse transcriptase (RNA-directed DNA polymerase) activity, and containing high molecular weight RNA that shares a portion of its base sequences with the RNA of murine RNA tumour viruses, have been reported to be present in several types of human malignant tissues, but not in their normal counterparts (review, see ref. 1). The endogenous RNA→DNA synthetic capabilities of these particles were used in a simultaneous detection test2,3 to determine these parameters. Because of their similarity and relatedness to animal oncornaviruses, these particles are considered to be possible aetiological agents of human cancer2.
Direct observation of dissociated dislocations in garnet.

Dislocation core structures in garnet [grossularite (Ca(2.9)Fe(II)(0.1))(Al(1.9)Fe(III)(0.1)Si(3.0)O(12)] have been examined with near atomic resolution transmission electron microscopy. Dissociated dislocations have been observed as parallel a/4 partial dislocations that are separated by stacking faults. The partial dislocations have narrow cores ( approximately 3 burgers vectors), and the stacking fault zone between the narrow partial dislocations is apparently a low-energy configuration that results from the occupancy of previously unfilled dodecahedral and tetrahedral sites. Previous studies of garnet dislocations suggested that dissociation involves departures from garnet stoichiometry (that is, trace amounts of impurities), but evidence of detectable amounts of impurities has not been found even in the highest resolution images. These results have implications for mantle mineral rheology and transformations as well as for ceramics of material science interest.