cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Laplacian on a Riemannian Manifold: Elements of Differential Geometry

In the first chapter we discussed heat flow on a compact manifold and the topological significance of the long time behavior of the heat flow. In contrast, the short time behavior of the heat flow might appear trivial, as we know the heat operator goes to the identity operator as t ↓ 0. However, we shall see in Chapter 3 that the way in which the heat kernel approaches the delta function (the kernel of the identity operator) is determined by the local Riemannian geometry of the manifold. This chapter covers those parts of Riemannian geometry used to construct the heat kernel and its short time asymptotics in Chapter 3. We also prove Garding's inequality from Chapter 1, and develop some of the supersymmetric techniques used to prove the Chern-Gauss-Bonnet theorem in Chapter 4. The key concepts discussed are the various types of curvature in Riemannian geometry (§2.1), the Levi-Civita connection associated to a Riemannian metric (§2.2.1), the Weitzenbock formula and Garding's inequality (§2.2.2), geodesies and Riemannian normal coordinates (§2.3). There is a technical section on the Laplacian in normal coordinates (§2.4). Other references for this material include [4], [27], [64, Vols. I, II]. Curvature There is no better place to begin a discussion of curvature than with Gauss' solution to the question: when is a piece of a surface in R 3 (such as the earth's surface) flat? By flat, we mean that there should exist a distortion free – i.e. isometric – map from the piece of the surface to a region in the standard plane.
Testing the Clinical Implications of Planned Missing Data Designs

Assessment is a core element of evidence-based practice, but thorough formal assessment can place a significant burden on clients. We evaluated the clinical viability of using planned missing data designs to reduce client burden. Data come from an archival dataset with 1342 participants. Although significant differences were found in scores with planned missing data versus real scores, the effect sizes for the differences were generally small. Scores with missing data had sensitivity and specificity scores generally above .90 when predicting real scores over clinical cutoffs and improvement in real scores. These findings offer useful information to agencies and researchers looking for ways to collect more data without losing its immediate clinical utility.
Effect of a steroidal (prednisolone) and nonsteroidal (indomethacin) antiinflammatory agent on ovulation and follicular accumulation of prostaglandin F2 alpha in sheep.

Abstract The antiinflammatory steroid, prednisolone, was administered to sheep during the preovulatory period. The drug did not produce a blockade of follicular rupture. However, prednisolone negated a rise in production of prostaglandin (PG) F2α characteristics of preovulatory follicles. Indomethacin, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent, was 100% effective in preventing ovulation. Levels of PGF2α within follicular tissue were very low following treatment with indomethacin. These findings indicate that ovulation can occur in the absence of a preovulatory elevation in follicular accumulation of PGF2α. Potency of antiinflammatory drugs as inhibitors of ovulation appears to hinge upon their ability to cause a marked suppression in follicular synthesis of prostaglandins.
Reduced responses of macrophages on nanometer surface features of altered alumina crystalline phases

Abstract Extensive prolonged interactions of inflammatory cells (such as macrophages) at the host–implant interface may lead to implant failure. While previous studies have shown increased in vitro and in vivo bone cell adhesion, proliferation and mineralization on nanophase compared to currently implanted ceramics, few studies have been conducted to elucidate inflammatory cell responses on such nanophase ceramics. Controlling surface feature size and corresponding surface roughness on implants may clearly alter immune cell responses, which would be an extremely important consideration for the use of nanostructured materials as improved biomaterials. In this study, reduced macrophage density was observed on alumina (Al2O3) compacts with greater nanometer surface roughness accompanied by changes in crystallinity for up to 24 h in culture. Since alumina is a commonly used ceramic in orthopedic applications, this in vitro study continues to support the use of nanophase ceramics as improved orthopedic implants by demonstrating reduced macrophage responses.
Robust Semiparametric Microarray Normalization and Significance Analysis

Microarray technology allows the monitoring of expression levels of thousands of genes simultaneously. A semiparametric location and scale model is proposed to model gene expression levels for normalization and significance analysis purposes. Robust estimation based on weighted least absolute deviation regression and significance analysis based on the weighted bootstrap are investigated. The proposed approach naturally combines normalization and significance analysis, and incorporates the variations due to normalization into the significance analysis properly. A small simulation study is used to compare finite sample performance of the proposed approach with alternatives. We also demonstrate the proposed method with a real dataset.
Gaining Perspective on the Water−Energy Nexus at the Community Scale

Water and energy resources are interrelated but their influence on each other is rarely considered. To quantify the water and energy portfolios associated with a community’s water−energy nexus (WEN) and the influence of geographic location on resources, we present the WEN tool. The WEN tool quantifies a community’s transport (consumed for or lost before delivery) and nexus (energy for water and water for energy) resources so communities can assess their resource flows. In addition, to provide insight into the full range of impacts of water and energy resource acquisition and to frame the influence of geography on resources, we coin the term “urban resource islands”. The concept of urban resource islands provides a framework for considering the implication of geography on a community’s water and energy resource acquisition and use. The WEN tool and the concept of resource islands can promote communities to think about their hidden resources and integrate such concepts into their sustainability trade-off an...
On subsequential spaces

Abstract Simple generators for the coreflective category of subsequential spaces, one of them countable, are constructed. Every such must have subsequential order ω 1 . Subsequentialness is a local property and a countable property, both in a strong sense. A T2-subsequential space may be pseudocompact without being sequential, in contrast to T2-subsequential compact (countably compact, sequentially compact) spaces all being sequential. A compact subsequential space need not be sequential.
Menstrual Blood as a Potential Source of Endometrial Derived CD3+ T Cells

Studies of T cell-mediated immunity in the human female genital tract have been problematic due to difficulties associated with the collection of mucosal samples. Consequently, most studies rely on biopsies from the lower female genital tract or remnant tissue from hysterectomies. Availability of samples from healthy women is limited, as most studies are carried out in women with underlying pathologies. Menstruation is the cyclical sloughing off of endometrial tissue, and thus it should be a source of endometrial cells without the need for a biopsy. We isolated and phenotyped T cells from menstrual and peripheral blood and from endometrial biopsy-derived tissue from healthy women to determine the types of T cells present in this compartment. Our data demonstrated that T cells isolated from menstrual blood are a heterogeneous population of cells with markers reminiscent of blood and mucosal cells as well as unique phenotypes not represented in either compartment. T cells isolated from menstrual blood expressed increased levels of HLA-DR, αEβ7 and CXCR4 and reduced levels of CD62L relative to peripheral blood. Menstrual blood CD4+ T cells were enriched for cells expressing both CCR7 and CD45RA, markers identifying naive T cells and were functional as determined by antigen-specific intracellular cytokine production assays. These data may open new avenues of investigation for cell mediated immune studies involving the female reproductive tract without the need for biopsies.
Community-based postpartum depression screening within the first month after delivery

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common childbirth complication. Approximately 500,000 women in the United States each year experience PPD, and about half of these women are not evaluated or treated appropriately. Although available screening measures can detect PPD symptoms, screening is not yet standard practice. This article presents outcomes from PPD screening of a community-based sample of 1,071 women at 2-4 weeks after delivery. Overall PPD symptom prevalence was 19.7%. Detection of PPD could be increased significantly by adapting research- based screening approaches to clinical care. (author abstract)
Induction of apoptosis and apoptotic mediators in balb/C splenic lymphocytes by dietary n−3 and n−6 fatty acids

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of diatery n−6 and n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on anti-CD3 and anti-Fas antibody-induced apoptosis and its mediators in mouse spleen cells. Nutritionally adequate semipurified diets containing either 5% w/w corn oil (n−6 PUFA) or fish oil (n−3 PUFA) were fed to weanling female Balb/C mice, and 24 wk later mice were sacrificed. In n−3 PUFA-fed mice, serum and splenocyte lipid peroxides were increased by 20 and 28.3% respectively, compared to n−6 PUFA-fed mice. Further, serum vitamin F levels were decreased by 50% in the n−3 PUFA-fed group, whereas higher anti0Fas- and anti-CD3-induced apoptosis (65 and 66%) and necrosis (17 and 25%), compared to the n−6 PUFA-fed group, were found when measured with Annexin V and propidium iodide staining, respectively. In addition, decreased Bcl-2 and increased Fas-ligand (Fas-L) also were observed in the n−3 PUFA-fed group compared to the n−6 PUFA-fed group. No difference in the ratio of splenocyte subsets nor their Fas expression was observed between the n−3 PUFA-fed and n−6 PUFA-fed groups, whereas decreased proliferation of splenocytes was found in n−3 PUFA-fed mice compared to n−6 PUFA-fed mice. In conclusion, our results indicate that dietary n−3 PUFA induces higher apoptosis by increasing the generation of lipid peroxides and elevating Fas-L expression along with decreasing Bcl-2 expression. A reduced proliferative response of immune cells also was observed in n−3 PUFA-fed mice.
The thermal cracking of canola and soybean methyl esters: Improvement of cold flow properties

Abstract A study was performed to evaluate the use of thermal cracking to overcome cold flow and stability limitations of current biodiesel. Experiments were conducted in a batch cracking reactor system using soy methyl ester and canola methyl ester feedstocks. The amount of high-MW C 16 –C 24 FAMEs was reduced from nearly 100% in the original feedstock by an order of magnitude. Yields of desirable cracking product ranged from 70 to 85% while cloud and pour points decreased around 20 °C and 15 °C, respectively. The stability of the fuel was improved by converting all of the unsaturated esters into lower-MW saturated esters. This method may lead to an attractive process to produce an improved biodiesel that is more conductive to cold temperature utilization and more stable during storage.
A biologically based indicator of soil quality

Soil quality indices are attempts to classify soil conditions and to compare these conditions to their historical use. From this information it may be possible to determine which uses of soils are better for the long-range goals of agriculture and society. With many factors involved in the profitable production of safe foodstuffs without significant degradation of the environment and soils, an indicator that represents a broad biological perspective of quality is appropriate. Among a group of biological indicators, the ratio of crop N uptake to mineralized N as determined by microbial respiration plus net mineralized N found over a growing season is an useful indicator of soil quality. An evaluation of the 12-year-old Farming Systems Trial at the Rodale Institute Research Center indicated that soils in plots that had been conventionally managed were of lower quality than soil treated with manure or planted with legume-cash grain crops.
Cancer, Cancer Cachexia, and Diet: Lessons From Clinical Research

Cachexia is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Successful nutritional repletion might enhance treatment results, quality of life, and survival. In the past, attempts at nonvolitional feeding (enteral and parenteral techniques) have not been as successful as initially hoped. The cachectic cancer patient's loss of lean body mass has been very difficult to restore, although fat can be repleted. Laboratory and epidemiologic investigations have suggested that dietary calories and dietary fat may play a promotional role in cancer. Overfed animals and obese humans both have an increased tendency for development of malignancy. Breast cancer has been investigated extensively for its relationship to diet. Certain fatty acids appear to stimulate breast cancer, as do obesity-related changes in circulating hormones. Obesity in breast cancer and weight gain on adjuvant therapy may therefore be adverse prognostic signs. Clinical trials of decreasing dietary fat as an adjuvant to breast cancer therapy are in progress. The current challenge in nutritional management of the cancer patient is to incorporate laboratory, epidemiologic, and clinical data into a successful repletion strategy. It seems unlikely that traditional methods of supplying excess calories will succeed, so that other, more specific nutritional manipulations should be evaluated in clinical trials.
Microsecond‐long flash photography of laser‐induced ablation of biliary and urinary calculi

High-speed flash photographs of laser-induced fragmentation of biliary and renal calculi under water were obtained using one-microsecond-long dye-laser pulses for both illumination and ablation. The photographs show the presence of a bubble with irregularities on the surface that suggest the early presence of debris or microbubbles. Fragmentation occurs before the bubble collapses, suggesting that fragmentation is due to laser-induced acoustic transients rather than to collapse of a laser-induced cavitation bubble.
Existence and insufficiency of the crack closure for fatigue crack growth analysis

Abstract In this paper, the multi-resolution in situ experiment, optical microscopy experiment and SEM experiment are used to investigate the existence of crack closure and its sufficiency for crack growth prediction. In situ optical microscopy testing and the digital image correlation analysis are used to measure the plastic zone size in front of the crack tip. In situ scanning electron microscopy testing is used to measure the crack tip opening displacement and crack growth kinetics. Crack closure behavior under constant loading with a single overload is studied under SEM. The experimental methodology is applied to two different metallic materials (aluminum alloys and steels). Detailed imaging analysis and experimental results are presented and compared. It is found that the crack closure phenomena exist for aluminum alloys, but not for steels in the current investigation. If the crack closure happens, it will significantly alter the crack tip plasticity behavior. Under constant amplitude loading, the crack closure concept is able to uniquely correlate the crack growth kinetics. However, under single overload loading, the crack closure is not able to uniquely correlate with the crack growth kinetics and statistical crack growth experiment also shows the inefficiency of crack closure. Finally, a discussion about the necessarily and the insufficiency of crack closure for crack growth prediction is given.
The Multiculturalism of Fear

Abstract The liberalism of fear urged by Judith Shklar emphasizes the dangers of political violence, cruelty, and humiliation. Those dangers clearly mark ethnic and cultural conflicts, so the liberalism of fear is an especially appropriate political ethic for an age marked by such conflicts. A multiculturalism of fear keeps its attention on those central political dangers while also noting that some kinds of cruelty and humiliation might not be appreciated without reference to the larger ethnic and cultural context, and that treating ethnicity and culture as completely outside of politics is not the best way to prevent cruelty.
Structure of the coat protein in Pf1 bacteriophage determined by solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Abstract The atomic resolution structure of Pf1 coat protein determined by solid-state NMR spectroscopy of magnetically aligned filamentous bacteriophage particles in solution is compared to the structures previously determined by X-ray fiber and neutron diffraction, the structure of its membrane-bound form, and the structure of fd coat protein. These structural comparisons provide insights into several biological properties, differences between class I and class II filamentous bacteriophages, and the assembly process. The six N-terminal amino acid residues adopt an unusual “double hook” conformation on the outside of the bacteriophage particle. The solid-state NMR results indicate that at 30 °C, some of the coat protein subunits assume a single, fully structured conformation, and some have a few mobile residues that provide a break between two helical segments, in agreement with structural models from X-ray fiber and neutron diffraction, respectively. The atomic resolution structure determined by solid-state NMR for residues 7–14 and 18–46, which excludes the N-terminal double hook and the break between the helical segments, but encompasses more than 80% of the backbone including the distinct kink at residue 29, agrees with that determined by X-ray fiber diffraction with an RMSD value of 2.0 A. The symmetry and distance constraints determined by X-ray fiber and neutron diffraction enable the construction of an accurate model of the bacteriophage particle from the coordinates of the coat protein monomers.
Molecular approach to informal computing

Cells and organisms are natural molecular computers. The problem domains effectively addressed by these systems are complementary to, and in fundamental respects far exceed, the domains addressable by current computing devices. The vast majority of information processing problems do not have sufficiently compact formal specifications to fall within the reach of programmable machines. Our working hypothesis is that the unique properties of molecular materials are the key to extending information processing technology beyond the narrow limits of formal computing.
A new assay for albumin and hemoglobin adducts of 1,2- and 1,4-benzoquinones.

A new method has been developed to detect mono-S-substituted cysteinyl adducts of 1,2- and 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) in hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin (Alb). After reacting the protein with trifluoroacetic anhydride and methanesulfonic acid, the resulting isomers of O,O',S-tris-trifluoroacetyl-hydroquinone and -catechol are extracted and detected by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry in the negative-ion chemical ionization mode. The limit of detection of the assay is about 20 pmol adduct/g protein. This assay was employed to quantitate mono-S-substituted background adducts in human and rat Hb and Alb and benzene-specific adducts in Hb and Alb from F344 rats following a single oral dosage of 50-400 mg [13C6]benzene/kg body wt. In Alb, a dose-related increase in both [13C6]1,2- and [13C6]1,4-BQ adducts was observed with [[13C6]]1,4-BQ-Alb] >> [[13C6]1,2-BQ-Alb]. The formation of [13C6]1,2-BQ-Alb was linear with increasing dosage of benzene with a slope of 2.3 (pmol adduct/g protein)/(mg/kg body wt.) (S.E. = 0.18, R2 = 0.91). However, at dosages above about 100 mg [13C6]benzene/kg body wt., the levels of 1,4-BQ-Alb were greater than proportional to the dosage. Mono-S-substituted adducts of [13C6]1,2-BQ and [13C6]1,4-BQ were not detected in Hb. The background ([12C6]) adducts of 1,2- and 1,4-BQ in 20 F344 rats were estimated (in nmol adduct/g of protein) to be 3.9 (S.E. = 0.23) and 4.9 (S.E. = 0.30) in Hb and 2.7 (S.E. = 0.24) and 11.4 (S.E. = 0.60) in Alb. At the highest dosage of 400 mg [13C6]benzene/kg body wt., background levels of 1,2-BQ-Alb were about 4-fold higher than those of the benzene-specific adducts whereas the benzene-specific levels of 1,4-BQ-Alb were about 7-fold higher than those of the background adducts. Background levels of 1,2- and 1,4-BQ adducts in 10 portions of commercial human proteins were found to be (in nmol adduct/g of protein) 1.6 (S.E. = 0.05) and 0.85 (S.E. = 0.04) in Hb and 1.6 (S.E. = 0.06) and 8.9 (S.E. = 0.36) in Alb.
Gödel's theorem and information

Godel's theorem may be demonstrated using arguments having an informationtheoretic flavor. In such an approach it is possible to argue that if a theorem contains more information than a given set of axioms, then it is impossible for the theorem to be derived from the axioms. In contrast with the traditional proof based on the paradox of the liar, this new viewpoint suggests that the incompleteness phenomenon discovered by Godel is natural and widespread rather than pathological and unusual.
On complete Tchebycheff-systems

Abstract It is shown under what condition a Tchebycheff-space on a real set containing at most one end point, has a Tchebycheff subspace of codimension 1. It is also shown when a complete Tchebycheff-system on a real set M, is also a complete Tchebycheff-system on M .
A case study comparison of alternative meta-modelling methods related to nanoenabled surgical instrument design

We present an approach for modelling a deterministic simulation process using design of experiments. Five design of experiments models – Central Composite Design (CCD), Face-Centered Central Composite Design (FC-CCD), Box-Behnken Design (BBD), 3κ Factorial Design and Latin Hypercube Design (LHD) – are evaluated to identify the regions of predictability for modelling the performance of a 1.0 mm multifunctional forceps-scissors surgical instrument for minimally invasive surgery. The objective is to develop metamodels to accurately and efficiently evaluate surgical tool performance, and to determine the feasibility of employing design of experiments in similar problems. The instrument chosen for this framework was selected because of its potentially broad application in surgical procedures. Through this case study we found that the bending stress metamodels had an accuracy of ±5%. On the other hand, the models approximating blocked forces are less accurate, indicating that there is much more curvature in the relationship between these blocked force responses and design variables.
Inadvertent electrical isolation of the left atrial appendage during catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background Left atrial appendage (LAA) isolation is rare and may be associated with impaired transport function and thromboembolism. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanisms of inadvertent isolation of the LAA during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Methods This study consisted of 11 patients (ejection fraction 0.43 ± 0.18, left atrial diameter 51 ± 8 mm) with persistent AF who had LAA conduction block during a procedure for AF (n = 8) or atrial tachycardia (AT) (n = 3). Results LAA conduction block occurred during ablation at the Bachmann bundle region in 6 patients, mitral isthmus in 3, LAA base in 2, and coronary sinus in 1. The mean distance from the ablation site to the LAA base was 5.0 ± 1.9 cm. LAA isolation was transient in all 6 patients in whom LAA conduction was monitored and was permanent in the 4 patients in whom conduction was not monitored during energy delivery. The remaining patient was noted to have LAA isolation during a redo procedure before any ablation. Nine of (82%) the 11 patients have remained arrhythmia-free without antiarrhythmic drugs at mean follow-up of 6 ± 7 months, and all have continued taking warfarin. Conclusion Electrical isolation of the LAA may occur during ablation of persistent AF and AT even when the ablation site is remote from the LAA. This likely is due to disruption of the Bachmann bundle and its leftward extension, which courses along the anterior left atrium and bifurcates to surround the LAA. Monitoring of LAA conduction during ablation of persistent AF or AT is important in avoiding permanent LAA isolation.
Impact Of Oxysterols On Endothelial Elastic Properties, Contractility And Morphogenesis

Our previous studies, have shown that exposing bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) to oxLDL resulted in an increase in cell stiffness, force generation, and endothelial network formation. The mechanisms responsible for these effects, however, were completely not clear. Since all three effects could be simulated by cholesterol depletion, we suggested that oxLDL may be mediated changes in the membrane cholesterol. However, the total amount of the cholesterol remains the same after exposing oxLDL to BAECs. To resolve this discrepancy, we tested whether oxLDL-induced effects can be reversed by supplying a surplus of cholesterol. To achieve this goal, we used the MBCD complexed with cholesterol, a known cholesterol donor. In all the experiments, cells were exposed first to oxLDL for one hour and then subsequently to MBCD-cholesterol for an additional 1 hour. Our observations show that after treating with MBCD -cholesterol, cell elastic modulus, force generation and network formation were back to the normal level as compared to control cells. It suggests that cholesterol plays an important role in oxLDL induced cell mechanics. Furthermore, we show that the impact of oxLDL on endothelial biomechanics and morphogenesis can be simulated by specific oxysterols, known components of oxLDL. Here, we show that specific oxysterols have distinct effects on endothelial biomechanical properties. Specifically, we tested four different oxysterol species that are present in oxLDL: 7B- hydroxycholesterol , 7-ketocholesterol , 25-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol to study their mechanic properties. The results show that 7k and 27HC are potent factors to increase cell elastic modulus. However, only 27HC raises the force generation and network formation. In contrast, exposing the cells to Bacterial SMase C to hydrolyze of sphingomyelin didn't affect neither endothelial biomechanics not morphogenesis indicating that OxLDL-induced stimulation of SMAse cannot be responsible for these effects.
Determining the Fraction of Intrinsic C iv Absorption in Quasi-stellar Object Absorption-Line Systems

We present the results of an exhaustive study of QSO absorption line systems (QSOALSs) with respect to intrinsic QSO properties using an updated catalog of data in the literature. We have searched the literature for 6 and 20 cm radio flux densities and have studied 20 cm contour plots from the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty centimeters (FIRST) VLA Survey in order to compare the absorption properties with radio luminosity, radio spectral index, and radio morphology. Although the data in our catalog are decidedly heterogeneous, great care has been taken to account for potential biases during the course of our research. Analysis of relatively unbiased subcatalogs allows us to investigate the properties of QSOALSs with better statistics than with any single homogeneous catalog. This work focuses particularly on the nature of C iv QSOALSs and their distribution in velocity space in light of intrinsic QSO properties. We find that the distribution of narrow, C iv absorption systems with relative velocities exceeding 5000 km s{sup {minus}1} is dependent not only on the optical luminosity of the QSOs but also on the radio luminosity, the radio spectral index, and the radio morphology of the QSOs. These observations are apparentlymore » inconsistent with the hypothesis that these systems are predominantly due to intervening galaxies, and it would seem that the contamination of the intervening systems (from 5000 to 75,000 km s{sup {minus}1}) by those that are intrinsic to the environment of the QSO is significantly larger than expected. We stress the need for truly homogeneous and unbiased surveys of QSOALSs to confirm these results from our inhomogeneous data set. {copyright} {ital {copyright} 1999.} {ital The American Astronomical Society}« less
Ibotenic acid lesions in the pedunculopontine region result in recovery of visual orienting in the hemianopic cat.

Abstract Cats rendered hemianopic by a unilateral visual cortical ablation can recover the visual orienting response in the hemianopic visual field following disruption of the caudal non-tectotectal containing half of the commissure of the superior colliculus. Ibotenic acid lesions of a small ‘critical zone’ in the contralateral substantia nigra result in a similar recovery effect. A conceptual framework developed by Wallace et al. (1990) [J. Comp. Neurol. 296, 222–252] proposed that elimination of contralateral substantia nigra ‘critical zone’ inhibition on the superior colliculus ipsilateral to a visual cortical lesion is responsible for the recovery. This model is insufficient, however, to explain the observation that hemi-decorticate cats with contralateral substantia nigra ‘critical zone’ lesions which include but extend beyond the ‘critical zone’ do not demonstrate the recovery. In these cats, subsequent transection of the commissure of the superior colliculus does lead to the recovery. We hypothesize that another projection through the caudal commissure of the superior colliculus, from the pedunculopontine nucleus, is involved in the recovery effect. Visual orienting behavior was recorded before and after ibotenic acid lesions made in the pedunculopontine nucleus region contralateral to a visual cortical ablation in 16 cats. Four cats with lesions in a small rostral region of the contralateral pedunculopontine nucleus recovered the visual orienting response in the previously hemianopic visual field. Contralateral tectal projections from the pedunculopontine nucleus are thought to be cholinergic and terminate as distinct patches in the intermediate gray layers of the superior colliculus. Since this region of the pedunculopontine nucleus also receives GABA-ergic afferents from the substantia nigra, we propose that a subcortical neural circuit including the substantia nigra, pedunculopontine nucleus, and superior colliculus is involved in the recovery of visual orienting.
Gender Nonconformity and Psychological Distress in Lesbians and Gay Men

Some lesbians and gay men tend to be more gender nonconforming, on average and for certain traits, than their heterosexual counterparts. Gender nonconformity in childhood has also been linked to adult homosexuality. Studies of both lesbians and gay men also find elevated rates of psychological distress. We hypothesized that these facts may be related. Individuals who violate social norms for gender-appropriate behavior may suffer from stigmatization by both heterosexual and homosexual people, leading to higher levels of psychological distress. We examined whether several measures of gender nonconformity were related to psychological distress in a community-based sample of gay men and lesbians. These included self-reports of childhood and adulthood gender nonconformity, as well as observer ratings of current behavior. Several measures of gender nonconformity were related to each other for both lesbians and gay men. In addition, gender nonconformity was related to psychological distress, but only for gay men. Finally, both lesbian and gay male participants reported more positive attitudes towards gender conformity than nonconformity, although the pattern was somewhat different for each group. We discuss the implications of these results for future studies of gender nonconformity and for the promotion of psychological health in lesbians and gay men.
The duality between ways of thinking and ways of understanding: Implications for learning trajectories in mathematics education

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to argue that attention to students’ ways of thinking should complement a focus on students’ understanding of specific mathematical content, and that attention to these issues can be leveraged to model the development of mathematical knowledge over time using learning trajectories. To illustrate the importance of ways of thinking, we draw on Harel's (2008a, 2008b) description of mathematical knowledge as comprised of ways of thinking and ways of understanding to characterize students’ thinking about mathematics in two case studies. We use these case studies to illustrate the explanatory and descriptive power that attention to the duality of ways of understanding and ways of thinking provides, and we propose suggestions for constructing learning trajectories in mathematics education research.
Some Differential Games of Tactical Interest

This paper applies the recent theory of differential games to the supporting-weapon-system game of H. K. Weiss, which was originally solved by heuristic means. The solution procedure is applicable to any terminal-control attrition differential game that has a pure-strategy solution. Conditions that guarantee the existence of saddle points in such games are discussed. This development motivates a new solution concept and encounters solution behavior not previously noted for differential games. Finally, the paper discusses the structure of optimal allocation policies.
A CMOS-based Large-Area-High-Resolution Imaging System for High-Energy X-Ray Applications

CCDs have been the primary sensor in imaging systems for x-ray diffraction and imaging applications in recent years. CCDs have met the fundamental requirements of low noise, high-sensitivity, high dynamic range and spatial resolution necessary for these scientific applications. State-of-the-art CMOS image sensor (CIS) technology has experienced dramatic improvements recently and their performance is rivaling or surpassing that of most CCDs. The advancement of CIS technology is at an ever-accelerating pace and is driven by the multi-billion dollar consumer market. There are several advantages of CIS over traditional CCDs and other solid-state imaging devices; they include low power, high-speed operation, system-on-chip integration and lower manufacturing costs. The combination of superior imaging performance and system advantages makes CIS a good candidate for high-sensitivity imaging system development. This paper will describe a 1344 x 1212 CIS imaging system with a 19.5μm pitch optimized for x-ray scattering studies at high-energies. Fundamental metrics of linearity, dynamic range, spatial resolution, conversion gain, sensitivity are estimated. The Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE) is also estimated. Representative x-ray diffraction images are presented. Diffraction images are compared against a CCD-based imaging system.
A case of successful laparoscopic resection of adrenal gland endometriosis.

Objective To present a case of successful laparoscopic resection of adrenal endometriosis. Design Case report. Setting University Hospital. Patient(s) Forty-eight-year-old woman with left-sided abdominal and flank pain. Intervention(s) Laparoscopic radical adrenalectomy. Main Outcome Measure(s) Diagnosis and surgical approach to adrenal endometriosis. Result(s) There have been two case reports of adrenal endometriosis. Based on a search of Medline and Google for "adrenal endometriosis," this is the first known successful laparoscopic resection of adrenal endometriosis. Conclusion(s) We report the first case of successful laparoscopic adrenalectomy for the treatment of endometriosis.
Ligand Effects in C−H and C−C Bond Activation by Gas-Phase Transition Metal−Ligand Complexes

Guided ion beam mass spectrometry has been used to examine the kinetic energy dependence of reactions of FeL+ (L = CO and H2O) with methane and ethane. Carbon−hydrogen and carbon−carbon bond activa...
Laterality in stride pattern preferences in racehorses

During performance, racehorses gallop in an asymmetrical stride with either the left hindhoof striking the ground first (right lead stride pattern) or the right hindhoof striking the ground first (left lead stride pattern). In this study we examined racehorses for a stride pattern preference. Here, we showed that racehorses do have a preference for one stride pattern over the other. Across thoroughbreds, Arabians, and American Quarter horses 90% preferred their right lead stride pattern with 10% preferring the left. In a repeated studies test, a single racehorse consistently preferred one stride pattern over the other. We further showed that stride pattern preference is reflected in stride pattern usage during a 6-furlong morning workout. Horses will run in their preferred stride pattern unless forced to switch while turning, injured, or fatigued (at the end of the race). Finally, we showed that in a small sample, there were minor variations between the right and left lead stride patterns. Because running is intimately linked to respiration in performing racehorses, stride pattern preference might contribute to performance in racehorses.
Predicting behavior from the Piers-Harris Children's self-concept scale

Abstract To demonstrate a relationship between the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (PHCSCS) and observable behavior, the PHCSCS scale scores of 52 high school students were related to three target behaviors thought to be reflective of a positive self-concept: verbal participation in a small group discussion, nonverbally-expressed self-confidence, and participation in extra-curricular activities. The nonverbal self-confidence measure was positively associated with the PHCSCS, as was a composite measure of the three target behaviors. Private Self-Consciousness did not moderate any of the scale-behavior relationships.
Laser-rf double-resonance spectroscopy in the samarium i spectrum: Hyperfine structures and isotope shifts

High-resolution laser-rf double-resonance spectroscopy has been performed in the $4{f}^{6}6{s}^{2}^{7}F_{6}$ (4020.66 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$), $4{f}^{6}5d6s^{9}H_{2}$ (11044.90 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$), $4{f}^{6}5d6s^{9}H_{3}$ (11406.50 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$), and $4{f}^{6}5d6s^{7}H_{3}$ (13542.80 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) metastable levels of Samarium i. Hyperfine parameters have been deduced with an absolute accuracy of \ensuremath{\sim} 2 kHz. By means of laser-induced fluorescence, hyperfine constants have been determined in excited levels up to \ensuremath{\sim} 30560 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, and isotope shifts measured for 11 lines.
Value of exercise electrocardiography to predict additional jeopardized myocardial regions remote from site of previous myocardial infarction.

Summary: In order to evaluate the efficacy of exercise electrocardiography (ECG) to identify jeopardized myocardial regions remote from the site of previous infarction, exercise ECG, left ventriculography, and coronary arteriography were performed in 90 patients with previous transmural myocardial infarction (MI). Of the 90 patients, angiographic studies revealed jeopardized myocardial regions in 47 patients. Exercise ECG correctly identified 32 of these 47 patients for a sensitivity value of 68%. There were 43 patients without any additional jeopardized myocardial regions. Exercise ECG correctly identifed only 24 of these 43 patients for a specificity value of 56 % . The sensitivity and specificity values were similar in patients with prior anterior and inferior wall MI. It is concluded that relatively low sensitivity and specificity values preclude the ability of exercise ECG to accurately identify patients with jeopardized myocardial regions distant from the site of previous MI. Moreover, when such patients were correctly detected, exercise ECG was rather poor in localizing these additional jeopardized myocardial areas.
Human ACF1 Alters the Remodeling Strategy of SNF2h

The human ACF chromatin-remodeling complex (hACF) contains the ATPase motor protein SNF2h and the non-catalytic hACF1 subunit. Here, we have compared the ability of SNF2h and a reconstituted hACF complex containing both SNF2h and hACF1 to remodel a series of nucleosomes containing different lengths of DNA overhang. Both SNF2h and hACF functioned in a manner consistent with sliding a canonical nucleosome. However, the non-catalytic subunit, hACF1, altered the remodeling properties of SNF2h by changing the nature of the requirement for a DNA overhang in the nucleosomal substrate and altering the DNA accessibility profile of the remodeled products. Surprisingly, addition of hACF1 to SNF2h increased the amount of DNA overhang needed to observe measurable amounts of DNA accessibility, but decreased the amount of overhang needed for a measurable binding interaction. We propose that these hACF1 functions might contribute to making the hACF complex more efficient at nucleosome spacing compared with SNF2h. In contrast, the SWI/SNF complex and its ATPase subunit BRG1 generated DNA accessibility profiles that were similar to each other, but different significantly from those of hACF and SNF2h. Thus, we observed divergent remodeling behaviors in these two remodeling families and found that the manner in which hACF1 alters the remodeling behavior of the ATPase is not shared by SWI/SNF subunits.
Parental numeric language input to Mandarin Chinese and English speaking preschool children

The present study examined the number-specific parental language input to Mandarin- and English-speaking preschool-aged children. Mandarin and English transcripts from the CHILDES database were examined for amount of numeric speech, specific types of numeric speech and syntactic frames in which numeric speech appeared. The results showed that Mandarin-speaking parents talked about number more frequently than English-speaking parents. Further, the ways in which parents talked about number terms in the two languages was more supportive of a cardinal interpretation in Mandarin than in English. We discuss these results in terms of their implications for numerical understanding and later mathematical performance.
Mechanism of metallothionein gene regulation by heme-hemopexin. Roles of protein kinase C, reactive oxygen species, and cis-acting elements

Heme-hemopexin or cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP)-hemopexin (a model ligand for hemopexin receptor occupancy) is shown to increase transcription of the metallothionein-1 (MT-1) gene by activation of a signaling pathway. Promoter deletion analysis followed by transient transfection assays show that 110 base pairs (−153 to −43) of 5′-flanking region of the murine MT-1 promoter are sufficient for increasing transcription in response to heme-hemopexin or to CoPP-hemopexin in mouse hepatoma cells. The protein kinase C inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H7), prevented the increase in MT-1 transcription by heme-hemopexin, CoPP-hemopexin, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, but the protein kinase A inhibitor, HA1004, was without effect. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione, as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase, inhibited both the increase in endogenous MT-1 mRNA and the activation of reporter gene activity by heme-hemopexin, CoPP-hemopexin, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. In sum, these data suggest that reactive oxygen intermediates are generated by heme-hemopexin via events associated with receptor binding, including protein kinase C activation. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 expression, in contrast to MT-1, is significantly less sensitive to NAC. Deletion and mutation analyses of the MT-1 proximal promoter revealed that the sequence 5′-GTGACTATGC-3′ (from −98 to −89 base pairs) is, in part, responsible for the hemopexin-mediated regulation of MT-1 which is inhibited by H7. Regulation via this element is also induced by H2O2 showing that it is an antioxidant response element. Heme itself acts via more distal elements on the MT-1 promoter. In contrast to NAC and glutathione, diethyl dithiocarbamate and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, which inactivate reactive oxygen intermediates and chelate Zn(II), synergistically augment the induction of MT-1 mRNA levels and reporter gene activity in response to heme-hemopexin via the antioxidant response element by both metal-responsive element-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
Molecular mapping of obesity genes

Advances in molecular genetics have made it possible to clone mutant genes from mammals. This capability should facilitate efforts to determine the genetic factors that control food intake and body composition. In order to identify these genetic factors, we have been making use of mouse mutations that cause obesity. The basic premise of this approach is to take advantage of the mouse as a genetic system for the analysis of genetically complex disorders and to then apply that information to the study of human disease. This paper reviews: (1) current concepts concerning the control of body weight in man and other mammals; (2) the biologic characteristics of the mouse obesity mutations; (3) our progress in the use of positional cloning techniques to clone the mouse obese (ob) and diabetes (db) genes; (4) an approach to polygenic obesity in mice; and (5) the possible relevance of the mouse obesity mutations to human obesity.
Binding of nucleoside triphosphates, inorganic phosphate, and other polyanionic ligands to the N-terminal region of rat brain hexokinase: relationship to regulation of hexokinase activity by antagonistic interactions between glucose 6-phosphate and inorganic phosphate.

Abstract Mg2+-chelates of several nucleoside triphosphates were shown to increase the inactivation of rat brain hexokinase (ATP: d -hexose-6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1) by 0.6 m guanidine hydrochloride, with ATP-Mg2+ having the greatest effect; unchelated forms did not significantly affect inactivation. Since catalytic activity has been associated with the C-terminal half of the molecule, these results were interpreted as indicating a destabilization of this C-terminal region by binding of these chelates to the substrate nucleotide sites, with the particular effectiveness of ATP-Mg2+ reflecting the specificity for this species as a phosphoryl donor. These compounds were also shown to bind to the N-terminal half of the enzyme, as judged by their ability to protect against denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride and subsequent digestion with trypsin. Both free and Mg2+-chelated forms afforded protection, with the unchelated nucleotides being most effective; a preference for ATP was seen only with the chelated forms. Thus, it was concluded that the N-terminal half of hexokinase contains a relatively nonspecific nucleotide binding site, distinct from the substrate nucleotide site previously shown to reside in the C-terminal half. On the basis of this same ability to protect the N-terminal half against denaturation and proteolysis, several other polyanionic ligands were shown to bind to this region of the molecule. These included inorganic phosphate, its analogs, sulfate and arsenate, and its homologs, pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate. All of these anionic ligands were also shown to antagonize inhibition by the glucose 6-phosphate (Glc-6-P) analog, 1,5-anhydroglucitol 6-phosphate. The allosteric site for binding of Glc-6-P has previously been shown to reside in the N-terminal half of the molecule, and it is suggested that the antagonism of inhibition by Glc-6-P (or its analog) by these anionic ligands results from interaction with an anion binding site for which the 6-phosphate group of inhibitory hexose 6-phosphates must compete. A model depicting possible relationships between ligand binding sites on brain hexokinase, and how their interactions might lead to observed regulatory properties, is developed based on these and previous studies of ligand binding as well as evidence that mammalian hexokinases (Mr 100,000) have evolved by duplication and fusion of a gene coding for an ancestral hexokinase with Mr 50,000 and which, like the mammalian enzyme, was sensitive to inhibition by Glc-6-P.