cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Brain Function

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) influence brain function by modifying large, neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport at the blood-brain barrier. Transport is shared by several LNAAs, notably the BCAAs and the aromatic amino acids (ArAAs), and is competitive. Consequently, when plasma BCAA concentrations rise, which can occur in response to food ingestion or BCAA administration, or with the onset of certain metabolic diseases (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes), brain BCAA concentrations rise, and ArAA concentrations decline. Such effects occur acutely and chronically. Such reductions in brain ArAA concentrations have functional consequences: biochemically, they reduce the synthesis and the release of neurotransmitters derived from ArAAs, notably serotonin (from tryptophan) and catecholamines (from tyrosine and phenylalanine). The functional effects of such neurochemical changes include altered hormonal function, blood pressure, and affective state. Although the BCAAs thus have biochemical and functional effects in the brain, few attempts have been made to characterize time-course or dose-response relations for such effects. And, no studies have attempted to identify levels of BCAA intake that might produce adverse effects on the brain. The only "model" of very high BCAA exposure is a very rare genetic disorder, maple syrup urine disease, a feature of which is substantial brain dysfunction but that probably cannot serve as a useful model for excessive BCAA intake by normal individuals. Given the known biochemical and functional effects of the BCAAs, it should be a straightforward exercise to design studies to assess dose-response relations for biochemical and functional effects and, in this context, to explore for adverse effect thresholds.
Political Technique, the Conflict of Umori, and Foucault’s Reading of Machiavelli in Sécurité, Territoire, Population

This article examines Foucault’s interpretation of Machiavelli in his 1978 lecture series, Securite, territoire, population . I argue that Foucault’s interpretation in these lectures deliberately misrepresents Machiavelli. This misrepresentation allows him to develop later traditions in political thought in a way that precludes any importance Machiavelli might have had for the concerns of these later authors. Further, thorough analysis of Foucault’s reading of Machiavelli uncovers a common thread between the two authors. For Machiavelli, the political is a space articulated by an immediacy of princes to peoples and generated from the fold formed by the difference between the qualities of the political humors. For Machiavelli, this difference of the humors—unstable and porous as it is—between those who desire to dominate and those who desire not to be dominated is immanent to the political. Read from this perspective Foucault’s critique of the tradition in anti-Machiavellian literature develops a reading of Machiavelli that, even if it misrepresents him, breaks Machiavelli free from the place his thought generally occupies in the history of raison d’Etat . The paper then closes developing the notion that Foucault’s interpretation of Machiavelli points in the direction of a clear theme shared by the two — the theme of historically generated political technique(s).
Profiling under UNIX by patching

Profiling under UNIX is done by inserting counters into programs either before or during the compilation or assembly phases. A fourth type of profiling involves monitoring the execution of a program, and gathering relevant statistics during the run. This method and an implementation of this method are examined, and its advantages and disadvantages are discussed.
Chronic stress augments the long-term and acute effects of methamphetamine.

Abstract There is growing evidence that exposure to stress alters the acute effects of abused drugs on the CNS. However, it is not known whether stress augments the longer-term neurotoxic effects of psychostimulant drugs, such as methamphetamine. Methamphetamine at high doses decreases forebrain dopamine concentrations. The current study tested the hypothesis that 10 days of unpredictable stress augmented striatal dopamine depletions 7 days following four injections of either 7.5 or 10 mg/kg methamphetamine (1 injection every 2 h). Furthermore, to assess the effects of chronic stress on immediate responses to methamphetamine, extracellular striatal dopamine and methamphetamine concentrations, and rectal temperature were monitored during the methamphetamine injection regimen. Seven days following either a 7.5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg methamphetamine injection regimen, male rats exposed to unpredictable stress showed greater depletions in striatal dopamine tissue content compared with non-stressed controls injected with methamphetamine. Stressed rats had increased hyperthermic responses and dopamine efflux in the striatum during the methamphetamine injections when compared with non-stressed control rats. Moreover, stressed rats had an increased mortality rate (33%) compared with non-stressed controls (16.7%) following four injections of 10 mg/kg methamphetamine. The enhanced acute and longer-term effects of methamphetamine in stressed rats was not due to a greater concentrations of methamphetamine in the striatum, as extracellular levels of methamphetamine during the injection regimen did not differ between the two groups. In summary, exposure to 10 days of chronic unpredictable stress augments longer-term depletions of dopamine in the striatum, as well as acute methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia and extracellular dopamine levels. These findings suggest that chronic stress increases the responsiveness of the brain to the acute pharmacological effects of methamphetamine and enhances the vulnerability of the brain to the neurotoxic effects of psychostimulants.
Renal artery stenosis and unilateral focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis

Focal and segmental sclerosed lesions in the glomeruli are found in several pathological entities and more often are found in the corticomedullary junction where renal blood flow and filtration pressure is maximal. Experimental data suggest that hyperfiltration injury results in focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). In keeping with this concept, malignant hypertension is a known cause of nephrotic-range proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome patholobically represented by FSGS. We report a case of unilateral renal artery stenosis associated with nephrotic syndrome and FSGS in the contralateral kidney only. The kidney with the stenosed renal artery showed normal glomeruli with juxtaglomerular hyperplasia, suggesting that protection from hyperfiltration injury was provided by the presence of high-grade stenosis. Serum creatinine concentration, blood pressure, and proteinuria normalized after aorto-renal bypass surgery. This case shows the importance of hemodynamic factors on the pathogenesis of secondary FSGS and the progression of renal disease.
Blood Pressure Regulation during Exercise

This brief review examines five problems concerning arterial blood pressure regulation during exercise. These are:1. A history and summary of evidence that baroreflexes are, or are not, active duri...
Control of VSC-based STATCOM using conventional and direct-current vector control strategies

Abstract A STATCOM is a device that can compensate reactive power and provide voltage support to an ac system. Due to the advance of power electronic technology, VSC-based IGBT or IGCT converters have been increasingly used in modern STATCOM systems. A traditional VSC-based STATCOM consists of a voltage source converter, connected to an energy storage device on one side and to the ac power system on the other, and a control system based on the conventional standard d–q vector control technology. This paper studies and compares the conventional and a direct-current vector control schemes for a VSC-based STATCOM. A limitation of the conventional control mechanism is analyzed. An optimal control strategy is developed based on a direct-current vector control design. Close-loop control evaluation demonstrates that a D-STATCOM system works well using the proposed control mechanism both within and beyond the converter linear modulation limit while the conventional standard control technique could result in over voltage and system oscillations when the converter operates beyond its linear modulation limit.
30-year trends in patient characteristics, treatment practices, and long-term outcomes of adults aged 35 to 54 years hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction.

Much of our knowledge about the characteristics, clinical management, and postdischarge outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is derived from clinical studies in middle-aged and older subjects with little contemporary information available about the descriptive epidemiology of AMI in relatively young men and women. The objectives of our population-based study were to describe >3-decade-long trends in the clinical features, treatment practices, and long-term outcomes of young adults aged 35 to 54 years discharged from the hospital after AMI. The study population consisted of 2,142 residents of the Worcester (Massachusetts) metropolitan area who were hospitalized with AMI at all central Massachusetts medical centers during 16 annual periods from 1975 to 2007. Our primarily male study population had an average age of 47 years. Patients hospitalized during the most recent decade (1997 to 2007) under study were more likely to have a history of hypertension and heart failure than those hospitalized during earlier study years. Patients were less likely to have developed heart failure or stroke during their hospitalization in the most recent compared with the initial decade under study (heart failure 13.7% and stroke 0.7% vs 20.9% and 2.0%, respectively). One- and 2-year postdischarge death rates also decreased significantly between 1975 to 1986 (6.2% and 9.0%, respectively) and 1988 to 1995 (2.6% and 4.9%). These trends were concomitant with the increasing use of effective cardiac therapies and coronary interventions during hospitalization. The present results provide insights into the changing characteristics, management, and improving long-term outcomes of relatively young patients hospitalized with AMI.
Pristionchus pacificus: an appropriate fondness for beetles

The nematode Pristionchus pacificus associates with one particular beetle and eats its rotting corpse. The report of the genome sequence of P. pacificus, the fifth nematode to be sequenced and a useful secondary nematode genetic model system, highlights genes that may have influenced the route to parasitism.
AGENDA‐SETTING BY STATE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUSES: POLICY PRIORITIES AND FACTORS OF SUCCESS

As their representation in legislative chambers has increased, black state legislators have organized into caucuses to maximize their policy influence. These caucuses act as policy entrepreneurs in initiating and advancing minority policy goals. The North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus is il- lustrative of an emerging force in half the states in moving minority policy issues from the systemic to the formal legislative agenda. Using the 1987 North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus as the research setting, supple- mented with selective data on other state caucuses, this article offers insights into the types of policy initiatives state legislative black caucuses advance. Also, situational and political factors that may foster successful agenda-setting are explored.
P PROTEIN IN THE PHLOEM OF CUCURBITA II. The P Protein of Mature Sieve Elements

During maturation of sieve elements in Cucurbita maxima Duchesne, the P-protein bodies (slime bodies) usually disperse in the tonoplast-free cell. In some sieve elements the P-protein bodies fail to disperse. The occurrence of dispersal or nondispersal of P-protein bodies can be related to the position of the sieve elements in the stem or petiole. In the sieve elements within the vascular bundle the bodies normally disperse; in the extrafascicular sieve elements the bodies often fail to disperse. Extrafascicular sieve elements showing partial dispersal also occur. The appearance of the sieve plate in fixed material is related to the degree of dispersal or nondispersal of the P-protein bodies. In sieve elements in which complete dispersal occurs the sieve plate usually has a substantial deposit of callose, and the sieve-plate pores are filled with P protein. In sieve elements containing nondispersing P-protein bodies the sieve plate bears little or no callose, and its pores usually are essentially "open." The dispersed P-protein components may aggregate into loosely organized "strands," which sometimes extend vertically through the cell and continue through the sieve-plate pores; but they may be oriented otherwise in the cell, even transversely.
The development of a nano-IMU using buoyancy-driven convection coupled with chemistry

A new generation of inertial measurement technology is being developed, enabling a 10-micron particle that is "aware" of its geospatial location and responds to this information. The proposed approach combines an inertially-sensitive nano-structure or nano-fluid/structure system with a micro- or nano- sized chemical reactor that functions as an analog computer. Like conventional MEMS IMUs, this device would use a structural or fluid-structures system that deforms in response to inertial forces. However, the device would replace the electronics computational equipment of a conventional MEMS IMU with a chemical reactor that both integrates the sensed accelerations to derive velocity and position and records these measurements. Originally, a cantilever-controlled valve used to control a first order chemical reaction was proposed. The feasibility of this concept was evaluated with the result of a device with significant size reductions with a comparable gain but lower bandwidth comparable to current accelerometers. New concepts with additional refinements have been investigated. Buoyancy-driven convection coupled with a chemical recording technique is explored as a possible alternative. Using a micro-track containing regions of different temperatures or concentrations of specific chemical units, a range of accelerations can be recorded and the position determined. The result is a device that offers improvement over the original concept.
Beyond Lattice Models of Activated Transport in Zeolites: High-Temperature Molecular Dynamics of Self-Diffusion and Cooperative Diffusion of Benzene in NaX

We employ high-temperature molecular dynamics to investigate self-transport and cooperative transport of benzene in NaX (Si:Al = 1.2). We have refined the benzene-NaX force field for use with our previously developed framework force field for aluminosilicates, which explicitly distinguishes between Si and Al atoms in the frame, and also between oxygen atoms in Si-O-Si and Si-O-Al environments. Energy minimizations and molecular dynamics simulations performed to test the new force field give excellent agreement with experimental data on benzene heats of adsorption, benzene-Na distances, and Na distributions for benzene in NaY (Si:Al = 2.4) and NaX (Si:Al = 1.2). Molecular dynamics simulations are performed over a range of temperatures (600-1500 K) and loadings (infinite dilution to four benzenes per supercage) to evaluate simultaneously the self-diffusivities and cooperative (alternatively Maxwell-Stefan) diffusivities. The simulated diffusivities agree well with pulsed field-gradient NMR and quasi-elastic neutron scattering data. Despite this agreement, we show in the following companion paper that membrane fluxes calculated with our diffusivities overestimate experiments by 1 order of magnitude when support resistance is accounted for in the transport model, and by about 2 orders of magnitude when support resistance is neglected. This discrepancy may arise from the polycrystalline nature of present-day NaX membranes.
Polynomial-basis model reduction

A preceding companion paper [1] provides an abstract setting for the process of mathematically reducing a complicated mathematical model of a physical system to a more manageable model while preserving, in the reduced model, the appropriate fundamental laws of the original model. The polynomial-basis method of model reduction is developed in this paper using the formalism of the preceding paper as the framework for its construction. The method utilizes projection operators whose range is the span of ordinary polynomials, which serve as basis functions. As a demonstration, the method is applied to the problem of steady heat conduction in an isotropic, heterogeneous material. The method does not make explicit use of either Floquet theory or the assumption of a periodic material microstructure. Upon specialization to periodic media, however, (along with the usually accompanying assumptions) the results reduce to that known for the multiple scales perturbation method, at least to lowest (bulk property) order. In this sense, the method generalizes the multiple scales method of homogenization, since periodicity and Floquet theory are part of the underlying assumptions and implementation of multiple scales. As a special case, an explicit polynomial-basis-method solution for the alternating-layer laminate case is also obtained.
UNSTABLE CARDIAC SINGULARITIES MAY LEAD TO ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

A total of 53 atrial electrograms were recorded from 12 human patients diagnosed with different degrees of atrial arrhythmias and fibrillation, but not atrial flutter. The atrial waves were highly complex, noisy, nonuniform, nonlinear, and nonstationary in time and well suited for recurrence quantification analysis (RQA), spectral analysis (FFT) and atrial rate (AR) measurements. Differing degrees of atrial arrhythmias were quantified by measuring singularities in the electrograms. Singularities were defined as the maximum periods of relative isopotential squared (msec2) and presented as unfilled squares along the central line of identity (LOI) on recurrence plots. These nonsolid (unfilled) squares indicate that most singularities were unstable with noisy baselines. All measured variables were plotted against their corresponding unstable singularities. The best correlations were found for variables Vmax and Laminar over the full range of log10(singularity). That is, the higher the degree of fibrillation the smaller the size of the singularity and the shorter Vmax and Laminar. The shorter singularities are associated with faster spiral waves. However, since Vmax and Laminar are direct derivatives of Singularity, this variable remains the sole best quantifier of choice to identify aberrant pacemaker regions.
Purification and functional characterization of the C-terminal half of the lactose permease of Escherichia coli.

The lactose permease has been expressed in contiguous, non-overlapping polypeptide fragments containing the N-terminal (N6) and C-terminal (C6) transmembrane domains of the protein [Bibi, E., & Kaback, H. R. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 4325; Zen, K., et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 8198]. When expressed individually, N6 and C6 are unstable and do not catalyze active transport. However, when expressed simultaneously, the polypeptides stabilize each other and form a complex that catalyzes active lactose transport. Moreover, a deletion construct containing the first transmembrane domain and the six C-terminal transmembrane domains mediates downhill lactose translocation [Bibi et al. (1991) proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 7271]. Here we report that C6 can be expressed independently in a relatively stable form that binds monoclonal antibodies 4B1 and 4B11, which interact with conformationally dependent epitopes on the periplasmic and cytoplasmic surfaces of the membrane, respectively. In addition, C6 retains the ability to catalyze lactose translocation down a concentration gradient in a specific manner. Finally, as observed with full-length Val331Cys permease, beta-D-galactopyranosyl 10thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside quenches the fluorescence of 2-(4'-maleimidylanilino)naphthalene- 6-sulfonic acid (MIANS)- labeled C6 with a single-Cys residue in place of Val331, exhibiting as apparent Kd of 0.2 mM. Unlike full-length Val331Cys permease, however, ligand does not induce a chance in the position of the emission maximum of MIANS-labeled C6(Val331Cys) permease not in the reactivity of C6 (Val331Cys) permease with MINAS. the results indicate that C6 retains a conformation similar to that on the native permease and that most of the structure required of high-affinity binding and substrate translocation is located in the C-terminal half of the molecule.
Sedation: a sedation assessment and flow sheet documentation tool

Abstract The process of sedation is an integral part of pediatric practice, especially in the radiology department. Even with advances in technology, sedation is often required for optimal diagnostic quality studies. Safe sedation is a process that is both art and science. The art is the ability to use sound nursing judgment, and the science is the development of a quantifiable method to apply the art. Measurement of the effectiveness of this combination of art and science requires a sound documentation tool. Documentation of sedation is not restricted to nursing alone. It is multidisciplinary, involving information from the patient, the family, the physician directing the sedation, and hospital departments such as health information and quality management. To develop this type of documentation tool, duPont Hospital for Children formed an interdisciplinary committee in 2001. The Sedation Task Force expanded an existing form to meet the safety and quality requirements of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization's (JCAHO) standards on sedation. The resulting Sedation Assessment and Flow Sheet requires documentation of the health history, the physician's evaluation of the patient immediately before sedation, a sedation medication order, and the nurse's charting through the entire process until discharge. In addition, the form is printed with a carbon copy, which is submitted to the quality management department for analysis and quarterly reporting. This documentation tool received favorable comments during a recent JCAHO survey. It has provided a wealth of information for ongoing process improvement and a detailed history of sedation at this hospital.
Comparison of chalcocite dissolution in the sulfate, perchlorate, nitrate, chloride, ammonia, and cyanide systems

Abstract The dissolution of chalcocite in aqueous solution is dramatically influenced by the presence or absence of ligands that form stable cuprous complexes. Three types of behavior have been observed. In systems that do not contain a ligand that forms strong cuprous complexes, the dissolution occurs in two steps, but the rate of the first step is very slow and is the same for each system. In systems that contain a ligand that forms strong cuprous complexes, the dissolution also occurs in two steps, but the rate of the first step is 60 to 90 times greater than in non-complexing systems and depends on the ligand. In the cyanide system, dissolution occurs in the absence of oxidation at a rate that is 6 to 9 times that in the ammonia or chloride systems and more than 570 times that in non-complexing systems.
An Atom is Known by the Company it Keeps: A Constructionist Learning Environment for Materials Science Using Agent-Based Modeling

This article reports on “MaterialSim”, an undergraduate-level computational materials science set of constructionist activities which we have developed and tested in classrooms. We investigate: (a) the cognition of students engaging in scientific inquiry through interacting with simulations; (b) the effects of students programming simulations as opposed to only interacting with ready-made simulations; (c) the characteristics, advantages, and trajectories of scientific content knowledge that is articulated in epistemic forms and representational infrastructures unique to computational materials science, and (d) the principles which govern the design of computational agent-based learning environments in general and for materials science in particular. Data sources for the evaluation of these studies include classroom observations, interviews with students, videotaped sessions of model-building, questionnaires, and analysis of artifacts. Results suggest that by becoming ‘model builders,’ students develop deeper understanding of core concepts in materials science, and learn how to better identify unifying principles and behaviors within the content matter.
Bipolar electrocoagulation versus Nd-YAG laser photocoagulation for upper gastrointestinal bleeding lesions.

Nd-YAG laser photocoagulation and bipolar electrocoagulation may be useful for controlling upper gastrointestinal bleeding or preventing rebleeding from ulcers with visible vessels. To determine if one of these methods is superior to the other, data from a small randomized trial and from a nonrandomized experience were evaluated. Altogether, 33 patients underwent 37 coagulation sessions; 19 of the patients were randomized (8 laser and 11 bipolar). In the randomized group, 47.4% had no rebleeding after therapy (laser=37.5% and bipolar=54.5%, P>0.1). In the nonrandomized group 56.8% had no further bleeding. Eleven (33%) of the patients required surgery. No patients died of bleeding or complications related to the study. From these data and those in the literature, it is concluded that the Nd-YAG laser and the bipolar coagulator are equally effective for the treatment of solitary upper gastrointestinal bleeding lesions. Since the bipolar unit is cheaper and more easily transported than the laser unit, it may be the method of choice for cauterizing upper gastrointestinal sources until a more effective method is developed.
PET and PET–CT imaging in the diagnosis and characterization of atheroma

Abstract Activation of macrophages in coronary atheroma is associated with an increase in cellular metabolism. The energy required for this activation is primarily exogenous glucose. This inflammation can be imaged with the positron-emitting tracer, 18F-2-fluorodeoxyglucose. In addition to metabolism, apoptosis is also a recognized component of atheroma. The distribution of macrophage glucose utilization and apoptosis are related, but may differ in intensity in specific lesions. Histologically, lesions with apoptosis were AHA Stages IV–V, suggesting that imaging apoptosis may be the most specific approach to identify lesions at high risk of rupture. In addition to the association of apoptosis with cell death, the process is also associated with micro-calcifications in the organelles of dying tissue. The low concentration of calcium in these organelles is not detectable with conventional radiographic techniques until the micro-calcifications become confluent. Confluent lesions can be readily identified as coronary calcifications on computed tomography (CT). Cardiac CT imaging now plays a major role in screening patients at risk of coronary events. Combining PET–CT with FDG offers the opportunity to measure two parameters related to coronary atherosclerosis: (1) vascular inflammation, based on the focal localization of FDG in the coronary artery; and (2) the distribution of calcification in the vessel, based on the information recorded on the CT scan. Together, these two measurements may identify lesions and characterize their likelihood of producing an acute event.
A COMPARISON OF THE McMASTER AND CIRCUMPLEX FAMILY ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS

This study compared clinical rating scales and self-report scales from the McMaster and Circumplex models of family functioning. Forty-one families were given self-report measures, while clinicians assessed the families using clinical rating scales. There are three main findings: (a) The McMaster instruments have superior sensitivity (i.e., ability to correctly identify clinical families based on instrument scores); (b) there is greater correspondence between clinical rating scales and family member self-report inventories on the McMaster instruments; (c) there is lack of support for the curvilinear model of pathology suggested by the Circumplex model, as evidenced by unequal and linear distribution of scores on the Circumplex dimensions.
Isomerization dynamics in liquids by molecular dynamics

Abstract Two molecular dynamics studies are made of isomerization dynamics of n-butane dissolved in liquid CCl4 and in a rigid matrix Rate constants for the gauche ⇌ trans isomerization, determined from the long-time behavior of reactive flux, differ considerably from transition state theory Reactive fluxes (and rates) for the liquid and rigid matrix agree, eliminating viscous c ontinuum models.
Vein graft replacement of the distal vertebral artery

Vein graft reconstruction of the cervical portion of the vertebral artery has been commonly used for the treatment of atherosclerotic arterial disease. In this article, we describe two instances of vein graft replacement of the distal portion of the vertebral artery. In the first case, the vein graft was placed from C2 transverse foramen to the intradural portion of the vertebral artery to replace an artery abnormally encased and involved by meningioma. The grafting was done in this case to preserve the cerebrovascular reserve in a young patient. In the second, case, a vein graft was placed from the extradural C1 portion to the intradural artery beyond the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. This was done to replace a segment of the artery involved by a giant aneurysm, which could not be clipped without occluding the parent artery. In this case, the vein graft replacement was necessitated by changes of somatosensory evoked potentials after the aneurysm was clipped, demonstrating the need to preserve the patency of the artery. Vein graft replacement of the proximal intradural vertebral artery is feasible by the combination of standard cerebro-vascular techniques and the exposures afforded by skull base surgery.
Genetic testing: an economic and contractarian analysis

Medical researchers are rapidly identifying the genetic causes of many diseases. Genes that increase the risk of contracting Alzheimer's, colon and breast cancer, Huntington's, cystic fibrosis and numerous other diseases have been identified. Genetic tests can reveal an individual's probable health status many years in advance of sickness. Many fear that this will lead to 'genetic discrimination' in the employment and health insurance markets. Solutions such as consent laws are impractical and create adverse selection problems. A new form of insurance, genetic insurance, can eliminate these problems and allow everyone to be insured.
MAGUKs, Synaptic Development, and Synaptic Plasticity:

MAGUKs are proteins that act as key scaffolds in surface complexes containing receptors, adhesion proteins, and various signaling molecules. These complexes evolved prior to the appearance of multicellular animals and play key roles in cell-cell intercommunication. A major example of this is the neuronal synapse, which contains several presynaptic and postsynaptic MAGUKs including PSD-95, SAP102, SAP97, PSD-93, CASK, and MAGIs. Here, they play roles in both synaptic development and in later synaptic plasticity events. During development, MAGUKs help to organize the postsynaptic density via associations with other scaffolding proteins, such as Shank, and the actin cytoskeleton. They affect the clustering of glutamate receptors and other receptors, and these associations change with development. MAGUKs are involved in long-term potentiation and depression (e.g., via their phosphorylation by kinases and phosphorylation of other proteins associated with MAGUKs). Importantly, synapse development and function are dependent on the kind of MAGUK present. For example, SAP102 shows high mobility and is present in early synaptic development. Later, much of SAP102 is replaced by PSD-95, a more stable synaptic MAGUK; this is associated with changes in glutamate receptor types that are characteristic of synaptic maturation.
A Logical Basis In The Layered Computer Vision Systems Model

In this paper a four layer computer vision system model is described. The model uses a finite memory scratch pad. In this model planar objects are defined as predicates. Predicates are relations on a k-tuple. The k-tuple consists of primitive points and relationship between primitive points. The relationship between points can be of the direct type or the indirect type. Entities are goals which are satisfied by a set of clauses. The grammar used to construct these clauses is examined.
Quality issues in clinical research and the implications on health policy (QICRHP)

Abstract Scientific (research) misconduct relating to fraudulent behaviors, plagiarism, and violations in research protocol is extant in the literature. These behaviors result in inadvertent infringement on subjects' rights, safety, and confidentiality, and can negatively impact the implementation of health policies. Funding agencies, legislators, regulators, clinicians, and scientists continue to subject researchers' work to scrutiny and in-depth analyses to evaluate its quality because of increased reports of scientific misconduct. Therefore, clinical researchers are motivated to restore and maintain credibility throughout clinical trials to regain public trust because of adverse publicity. Quality in clinical research addresses the study's integrity and merit, which has important practice and policy implications. Study integrity and merit encompass both the scientific and ethical components of clinical research studies. Researchers suggest using structured evaluation processes, educating, and mentoring aspiring scientists on scientific integrity to prevent scientific misconduct. In addressing these issues, this article explicates and provides a synthesized critique of quality issues in clinical research, analyzes its implications on health policy and clinical practice, and proposes a systematic framework to evaluate clinical research studies. J Prof Nurs 17:233-242, 2001. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Frequency shifts of spectral lines generated by scattering from space-time fluctuations.

The scattering of a class of partially coherent electromagnetic fields by a model medium whose dielectric susceptibility fluctuates in space and in time is considered within the accuracy of the first-order Born approximation. It is shown that if the incident field is a linearly polarized, polychromatic plane wave whose spectrum is a line of Gaussian profile, the spectrum of the scattered light is, in some cases, approximately Gaussian and is shifted towards the shorter or the longer wavelengths, depending upon the angle of scattering.
Can we believe recent data on birth expectations in the United States

A share of the recent decline in birth expectations of young American wives may be due to the historically unique stimulus of intense public attention to population growth and family size. Data on whites from numerous national surveys provide at least four types of evidence favoring this thesis: a sudden massing of responses in the two-child category (the ZPG formula); a tolerance for the large family; an aversion to childlessness and the one-child family; and an inconsistency between respondents’ evaluations of the family cycle and childspacing, on the one hand, and their personal acceptance of the two-child norm, on the other. The lack of congruence in American reproductive attitudes at present suggests that some conservatism might be wise in accepting current birth expectations as valid indicators of the long-run intentions of youthful cohorts.
North American Free Trade Agreement Truck Highway Corridors: U.S.-Mexican Truck Rivers of Trade:

The dramatic growth in trade between the United States and Mexico from $12.39 billion to $56.8 billion of U.S. exports and $17.56 billion to $73 billion of U.S. imports between 1977 and 1996 and the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have focused attention on the impact that the truck-transported portion of this trade has on U.S. highways. State and federal highway administrators are concerned with the planning implications this additional unexpected traffic may have on the transportation infrastructure. Public advocacy groups want additional highway funds to promote one NAFTA highway corridor over others in an effort to stimulate additional economic development. Most of these groups advocate a north-south route through the United States between Canada and Mexico that follows the alignment of an existing federal highway number. Research conducted by the U.S. government under the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act has failed to define NAFTA highway corridor...
Effectiveness of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor use during primary coronary angioplasty: results of propensity analysis using the New York State Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Reporting System.

Patients undergoing primary angioplasty in clinical practice experience a higher risk for adverse events than those enrolled in clinical trials. Whether glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitor use during primary angioplasty is both safe and effective in real life is unknown. Therefore, we examined the pattern of GP IIb/IIIa use and its effectiveness in a large population-based cohort of 7,321 patients who underwent primary angioplasty in New York State. Propensity analysis was used to account for the nonrandomized use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors. Overall, 78.5% of patients who underwent primary angioplasty received GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors. In-hospital mortality was significantly lower with GP IIb/IIIa use (3% vs 6.2%, p
High-resolution frequency standard at 1030 nm for Yb:YAG solid-state lasers

A diode-pumped solid-state Yb:YAG laser has been stabilized to a high-finesse cavity with an all-external servo loop. Ultrasensitive cavity-enhanced frequency modulation spectroscopy has recovered a sub-Doppler acetylene overtone transition with a high signal-to-noise ratio, leading to an absorption sensitivity of 7×10-11 at a 1-s averaging time. This high-resolution molecular resonance serves as a long-term stable reference for the laser. The system can be developed into a highly compact and stable optical frequency standard in the 1.03-µm wavelength range.
Anomalous Body and Leg Segmentation in Lepidoptera

While endeavoring to work out the complete life history of Polites manataaqua Harris (Hesperiidae) it was observed that the progeny of one female included an unusually large number of anomalous individuals. These exhibited segmental defects, spiral segmentation, and irregularities of thoracic leg structure. It seems advisable to report these observations in detail because of the paucity of facts regarding phenomena such as spiral segmentation in insects other than Drosophila .
Spatially and spectrally resolved cathodoluminescence of hot-filament chemical-vapor-deposited diamond particles

Spectrally resolved cathodoluminescence (CL) images and spatially resolved CL spectra were obtained from two specimens grown by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition. Each specimen consisted of a large number of unconnected diamond particles with cubo-octahedral and pseudo-fivefold twinned growth habits. The growth temperature was nominally 600 °C for one specimen and 750 °C for the other. In the 1.5–3.5 eV range, the spectra are composed of four defect and impurity related bands: there are three bands with zero-phonon lines at 1.68 eV, 2.156 eV, and 2.325 eV, and one broad band centered at 2.85 eV. A weak peak at 5.27 eV, due to exciton recombination, was also observed. Spectrally resolved images of the two most intense CL bands, at 2.156 eV and 2.85 eV, were obtained for several particles. In the low-temperature specimen, bright regions in images of the 2.156 eV band are correlated with {111} facets; bright regions in images of the 2.85 eV band are correlated in some cases with the central regions of {100} facets and in other cases with {111} facets. In the intermediate-temperature specimen, bright regions in the images of both bands are correlated with {100} facets. A model of competing recombination at different types of CL centers and nonradiative centers is proposed to facilitate the interpretation of the experimental results. For the low-temperature specimen, the model suggests that the 2.156 eV CL centers are located primarily in {111} growth sectors and the 2.85 eV CL centers are distributed relatively uniformly; images of the two dominant CL bands are predicted to have a complementary relationship in particles where there are few competing nonradiative centers. For the intermediate-temperature specimens, the model suggests that nonradiative recombination is dominant, and that the CL image contrast arises primarily from a nonuniform distribution of nonradiative centers.
Response to ``The computer and the heat engine''

Costa de Beauregard has criticized the notion of reversible computation, invented by Charles Bennett and expounded by this author. Costa de Beauregard states that my work includes fantastic claims. This is a rebuttal.
HLA and autism.

The authors, along with other investigators, postulate that viruses may be one of the causes of the syndrome of autism. Many diseases, especially those where a viral infection and autoimmunity is suspected, are being studied to determine whether an association with histocompatibility antigens (human leukocyte antigens—HLA) exists. The authors studied HLA in autism to see if a relationship exists. Twenty autistic children and their parents were HLA typed. The control group consisted of 575 potential donors for renal transplantation, 134 healthy subjects, and 48 persons of different families who married into one large family that had been HLA typed. The control subjects were from the same geographical area as the experimental subjects. Subjects were typed by a modification of the microlymphocytotoxicity tests of Terasaki and McCleland (1964). HLA-A2 was increased when compared to geographical controls,χ 2=5.020,p<.05, and when compared to controls from the literature,χ 2=3.88,p<.05. However, whenχ 2 is corrected for the number of antigen specificities, significance is lost. No antigen was significantly increased in the mothers. HLA-A10 was significantly increased in the fathers,χ 2=5.947,p<.02; however, significance did not remain after correction for the number of antigen specificities. These negative findings do not disprove an association because the numbers are so small. This small sample needs to be enlarged and replicated locally as well as in other geographical areas.
Effects of high-level energy pumping on radiative thermal loading of phosphate laser glass

Lasers have been employed as an ignition source for explosive detonation and combustion initiation. The radiative heat absorption in the energy pumping process is expected to alter laser optical conditions and thus affects their performances. The objective of the current research is to establish various thermal and performance characteristics of a solid-state laser designed for explosive detonation under high-level energy pumping, which include maximum temperature change, temperature rise rate, lasing delay, pulse period, etc. Some characteristics of high-level pumping are also compared with those of low-level pumping. A modified Michelson interferometer is employed together with a high-speed framing camera for gross-field detection and photo-detectors for pulse observation, respectively. The interferometric technique appears to be useful for evaluating the thermal behaviors and surface irregularities of laser rods.
GEL ELECTRODE IMAGING OF FATIGUE CRACKS IN MAGNESIUM ALLOYS

The gel electrode technique has been modified for the detection of fatigue cracks in magnesium alloys. Prior to fatigue loading, the surface is coated with a thin (70nm) insulating anodic film of magnesium fluoride. This film is ruptured wherever a fatigue crack subsequently forms in the magnesium alloy so that current from the gel electrode flows preferentially to the crack. This current forms an image of the crack on the gel electrode probe with a resolution of 0.05 mm. The image is repeatable, permitting the early stages of growth of small cracks to be monitored.
What are the $D_{sJ}$ and X(3872) particles?

We report measurements of B decay modes involving the newly discovered DsJ and X(3872) particles. Possible spin-parity and quark content assignments of these new states are discussed. The results are based on a large data sample recorded by the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider.
The adoption of wraparound services among substance abuse treatment organizations serving criminal offenders: The role of a women-specific program

Women's substance abuse treatment outcomes are improved when women-specific needs are addressed through wraparound services, such as the provision of child care, employment assistance, or mental health counseling. Despite a higher prevalence of pre-incarceration drug use, women in prison report receiving fewer services than their male counterparts, suggesting they likely have greater service needs upon release. It is unknown whether community-based treatment organizations with a women-specific program offer more wraparound services than programs without a focus on women. This study uses data from the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS) research cooperative's National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices Survey (NCJTPS), a nationally representative sample of community-based treatment programs serving predominantly criminal offenders (n=217). First, bivariate analyses identified differences between organizations with and without a women-specific program on the number of wraparound services adopted as well as organizational-level characteristics (i.e., organizational structure, personnel characteristics, culture, sources of information, and systems integration) related to their adoption. Second, Poisson regression was used to identify the organizational characteristics associated with the number of adopted wraparound services, with having a women-specific program being the primary covariate of interest. Results indicate larger organizations that utilized a greater number of treatment approaches and believed that treatment could reduce crime were more likely to offer a greater assortment of wraparound services. In an effort to improve behavioral treatment outcomes, it is imperative to examine organizational-level contextual factors that shape the availability of wraparound services for female offenders in community-based substance abuse treatment settings.