cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
European starlings use their acute vision to check on feline predators but not on conspecifics

Head movements allow birds with laterally placed eyes to move their centers of acute vision around and align them with objects of interest. Consequently, head movements have been used as indicator of fixation behavior (where gaze is maintained). However, studies on head movement behavior have not elucidated the degree to which birds use high-acuity or low-acuity vision. We studied how European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) used high-acuity vision in the early stages of visual exploration of a stuffed cat (common terrestrial predator), a taxidermy Cooper's hawk (common aerial predator), and a stuffed study skin of a conspecific. We found that starlings tended to use their high acuity vision when looking at predators, particularly, the cat was above chance levels. However, when they viewed a conspecific, they used high acuity vision as expected by chance. We did not observe a preference for the left or right center of acute vision. Our findings suggest that starlings exposed to a predator (particularly cats) may employ selective attention by using high-acuity vision to obtain quickly detailed information useful for a potential escape, but exposed to a social context may use divided attention by allocating similar levels high- and low-quality vision to monitor both conspecifics and the rest of the environment.
Cooperative Distributed Energy Scheduling in Microgrids

This chapter introduces a multi-time scale model predictive control (MPC) approach which is stochastically applied in the cooperative distributed energy scheduling problem of the microgrids (MG). The cooperative distributed approach is preferred, since a centralized one is not applicable in a competitive power market environment because it requires all the data of all the MGs, which is impractical. In this chapter, in order to deal with the variability and uncertainties associated with output power of the renewable energy resources (RES) and load demand, stochastic MPC is applied in distributed energy scheduling problem of MGs. Additionally, considering multi-time scale approach in the stochastic MPC is capable of simultaneously having vast vision for the optimization time horizon and precise resolution for the problem variables. Herein, each MG with a different set of sources is able to transact power with the electricity market and the neighboring MGs. The numerical study demonstrates that cooperation of the MGs in the distributed energy scheduling problem is beneficial, and also the multi-time scale MPC is advantageous compared to the single-time scale MPC in both non-cooperative and cooperative distributed energy scheduling problems.
Scaling of square-prism shear layers

Scaling characteristics, essential to the mechanisms of transition in square-prism shear layers, were explored experimentally. In particular, the evolution of the dominant instability modes as a function of Reynolds number were reported in the range on the appropriate length scale of the shear layer. This length scale was observed to be the momentum thickness evaluated at a transition point, defined where the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability saturates.
General Considerations in Clinical Research Design

1. The study population refers to all people who enter a study. 2. Common exclusion criteria in clinical studies include: a. Exclusion of people who have prevalent disease to focus on incident outcomes. b. Exclusion of people who have major disease risk factors to focus on the exposure of interest. c. Exclusion of people whose disease development may be missed in the study. 3. The choice of study population influences the generalizability of study findings. 4. The exposure is a factor that may explain or predict the presence of an outcome. 5. The outcome is a factor that is being explained or predicted in the study. 6. Observational studies observe the exposure; interventional studies assign the exposure. 7. Several factors favor causal inference in epidemiology research: a. Randomized evidence b. Strong associations c. Temporal relationship d. Exposure-varying response e. Biological plausibility
Test Wiseness and Analogy Test Performance.

Subjects received self-instruction on how to approach analogy questions. Instruction was directed toward knowledge of the general format of analogy questions in standardized tests and the 15 types ...
Metropolitan Growth and Migration: Estimation of the Model

During the 1950–1960 period, greater rates of income growth significantly discouraged out-migration to both nonmetropolitan areas and to other metropolitan areas. During the 1960–1970 period, such rates of growth discouraged outmigration to nonmetropolitan areas only. For each period, greater rates of income growth encouraged in-migration from non-metropolitan areas. Of the 16 income variables, including both rates of growth and levels, that appear in the migration equations presented in this chapter, 7 income variables have unanticipated signs and 6 have the anticipated sign and are significant. Though several earlier studies concerning the determinants of migration suggest that high income or wage levels are attractive to migrants, the evidence presented in this chapter lends little support to these earlier findings. Only 1 of the 8 income-level variables is both of the expected sign and is significant. The simultaneous nature of the relationship between the rate of migration and the rate of employment growth is evident in each employment equation, with the exception of that for manufacturing during the 1950s. Higher rates of outmigration tended to significantly discourage employment growth, whereas higher rates of in-migration encouraged such growth. During the 1960s, greater rates of natural CLF increase had consequences qualitatively similar to those of immigration.
Combinatorics and Applied Mathematics

I have come to speak on the subject of combinatorics, or more generally, discrete mathematics; and applied mathematics.
Partial characterization of the human retinal endothelial cell tight and adherens junction complexes

PURPOSE In diabetic retinopathy and macular edema, the blood-retinal barrier fails to function properly, and there is transvascular leakage of proteins and solutes. The tight junction protein occludin and the adherens junction protein cadherin-5 have been shown to be critical to maintaining the endothelial barrier and regulating paracellular transport of large vessel endothelia. However, the expression and distribution of these junction proteins in the retinal endothelium is not well characterized. METHODS Human and bovine retinal endothelial cells were isolated as described previously. Western blot analysis and flow cytometry techniques were used to assay for the presence of occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), cadherin-5, and beta-catenin. The subcellular localization of the proteins was visualized by immunohistochemistry performed on cultured human retinal endothelial cells and cryosections of bovine retina. RESULTS Western blot analysis and flow cytometry techniques found occludin, ZO-1, cadherin-5, and beta-catenin in cultured human retinal endothelial cells. Immunofluorescence staining of cultured retinal endothelial cells and cryosections of bovine retina showed junctional localization of occludin, ZO-1, cadherin-5, and beta-catenin. CONCLUSIONS This report demonstrates the expression of occludin and cadherin-5 in retinal endothelial cells and their localization to sites of cell-cell contact. Expression of their respective regulatory proteins, ZO-1 and beta-catenin, at sites of cell-cell contact suggests that occludin and cadherin-5 play a role in maintaining the retinal endothelial barrier.
A Thirty-Year Journey to the Creation of the First Enantiomerically Enriched Molecular Sieve

In 1987, our research on how to synthesize a chiral zeolite began. Finally, in 2017, my co-workers and I succeeded in preparing and characterizing the first enantiomerically enriched molecular sieve. Here, I recount how we initiated our work on synthesizing a chiral molecular sieve, the lessons learned from the many failures we had over the years, and what were some of the key advances that ultimately led to the successful synthesis and proof that we had in fact prepared an enantiomerically enriched molecular sieve. I have no doubts that numerous other chiral molecular sieves will now be elucidated and that clever applications of these materials will ultimately be realized.
Excess active P13K rescues huntingtin-mediated neuronal cell death but has no effect on axonal transport defects

High levels of oxidative stress is detected in neurons affected by many neurodegenerative diseases, including huntington's disease. Many of these diseases also show neuronal cell death and axonal transport defects. While nuclear inclusions/accumulations likely cause cell death, we previously showed that cytoplasmic axonal accumulations can also contribute to neuronal death. However, the cellular mechanisms responsible for activating cell death is unclear. One possibility is that perturbations in normal axonal transport alter the function of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT)-pathway, a signal transduction pathway that promotes survival/growth in response to extracellular signals. To test this proposal in vivo, we expressed active PI3K in the context of pathogenic huntingtin (HTT-138Q) in Drosophila larval nerves, which show axonal transport defects and neuronal cell death. We found that excess expression of active P13K significantly suppressed HTT-138Q-mediated neuronal cell death, but had no effect on HTT-138Q-mediated axonal transport defects. Expression of active PI3K also rescued Paraquat-mediated cell death. Further, increased levels of pSer9 (inactive) glycogen synthase kinase 3β was seen in HTT-138Q-mediated larval brains, and in dynein loss of function mutants, indicating the modulation of the pro-survival pathway. Intriguingly, proteins in the PI3K/AKT-pathway showed functional interactions with motor proteins. Taken together our observations suggest that proper axonal transport is likely essential for the normal function of the pro-survival PI3K/AKT-signaling pathway and for neuronal survival in vivo. These results have important implications for targeting therapeutics to early insults during neurodegeneration and death.
REGENT: A Heterogeneous ReRAM/GPU-based Architecture Enabled by NoC for Training CNNs

The growing popularity of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) has led to the search for efficient computational platforms to enable these algorithms. Resistive random-access memory (ReRAM)-based architectures offer a promising alternative to commonly used GPU-based platforms for CNN training. However, backpropagation in CNNs is susceptible to the limited precision of ReRAMs. As a result, training CNNs on ReRAMs affects the final accuracy of learned model. In this work, we propose REGENT, a heterogeneous architecture that combines ReRAM arrays with GPU cores, and exploits the benefits provided by 3D integration along with a high-throughput yet energy efficient Network-on-Chip (NoC) for training CNNs. We also propose a bin-packing based framework that maps CNN layers and then optimize the placement of computing elements to meet the targeted design objectives. Experimental evaluations indicate that REGENT improves full-system EDP by 55.7% on average compared to conventional GPU-only platforms for training CNNs.
Toward discovering a national identity for millennials: Examining their personal value orientations for regional, institutional, and demographic similarities or variations

Millennials are a powerful workforce group and are quickly becoming established business leaders, consumers, and investors. Yet, millennials are often described as a uniformly homogeneous generation, despite mounting evidence of variances across their private and workplace behaviors, attitudes and preferences, and personal values. This article examines the personal value orientations of millennials in the Unites States, reporting consistencies, variations, and contrasts based on a large sample drawn from seven diverse universities. Results of this article suggest more similarities across a national population of millennials than differences, suggesting a national identity among American millennials. Practical implications of our findings and future research are discussed.
Cytological Evaluation During Intraoperative Consultation

This chapter illustrates the utility of cytological approach for intraoperative pathology consultation, exampled by intraoperative evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes, lymphoproliferative disorders, and indeterminate thyroid nodules. The diagnostic tips and pitfalls for cytological evaluation of these lesions are discussed. The chapter also provides information about slide preparation and stains used for intraoperative cytological evaluation.
Stress Reduction in the Prevention of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation and Health Education in Hypertensive African Americans.

Background: African Americans have dis­proportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for CVD and may contribute to this disparity. Psycho­logical stress contributes to LVH in African Americans and other populations. Objective: This study evaluated the effects of stress reduction with the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique on prevent­ing LVH in African American adults with hypertension. Setting: Martin Luther King Hospital - Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA. Method: In this trial, 85 African American adults (average 52.8 years) were randomly assigned to either TM program or health education (HE) control group and completed posttesting. Participants were tested at base­line and after six months for left ventricular mass index (LVMI) by M-mode echocardiog­raphy, blood pressure, psychosocial stress and behavioral factors. Change in outcomes was analyzed between groups by ANCOVA and within groups by paired t-test. Results: The TM group had significantly lower LVMI compared with the HE group (-7.55gm/m2, 95% CI -14.78 to -.34 gm/m2, P=.040). Both interventions showed sig­nificant within group reductions in BP, (SBP/ DBP changes for TM: -5/ -3 mm Hg, and for HE: -7/-6 mm Hg, P=.028 to <.001) although between group changes were not significant. In addition, both groups showed significant reductions in anger (P=.002 to .001). There were no other changes in lifestyle factors. Conclusions: These findings indicate that stress reduction with TM was effective in preventing LVMI progression and thus may prevent LVH and associated CVD in high-risk African American patients. Ethn Dis. 2019;29(4):577-586; doi:10.18865/ ed.29.4.577
Neuro-Oncologic Emergencies

Neuro-oncologic emergencies can result from the underlying neoplasm and its treatment. Management of mass effect, epidural spinal cord compression, tumor-related epilepsy, and pituitary apoplexy are the most common neoplastic emergency scenarios and they are described in this chapter. Following tissue diagnosis and resection, cancer treatment frequently includes radiation in addition to systemic therapy. Consequently, we also review the most common neurologic emergencies related to both radiation and systemic cancer therapy.
Strategies in the Management of Adolescent Obesity

We review the current options to manage adolescent obesity which include nutrition, physical activity, behavior modification, sleep management, pharmacotherapy, and surgery. Since lifestyle interventions alone are often not effective in adolescents, a multi-disciplinary treatment approach is necessary in management. Medications (often used off-label) and metabolic/bariatric surgery are effective treatment strategies to treat adolescents with severe obesity. The use of pharmacotherapy and surgery is limited due to lack of pediatric obesity tertiary care centers. With more centers, the treatment of adolescent obesity will improve and aid to decrease the prevalence of adult obesity.
Extending Steinberg's adolescent model of risk taking to the explanation of crime and delinquency: Are impulsivity and sensation seeking enough?

Abstract Recent work has generalized Steinberg's (2008) dual systems model of adolescent risk taking behavior to the explanation of crime (Burt, Sweeten, & Simons, 2014; Vazsonyi & Ksinan, 2017). However, risky behaviors and crime are not synonymous and the traits associated with criminal behavior may extend beyond impulsivity and sensation seeking. The current work used a large sample of University students to further explore the generalization of the dual systems model of adolescent risk taking behavior to the explanation of crime. Analyses included measures of traits central to the dual systems model and also measures of traits implicated in the explanation of crime but not necessarily risky behaviors. Results showed that impulsivity and sensation seeking were associated with crime but so were callousness, egocentricity, and Machiavellianism, indicating that the traits associated with criminal behavior extend beyond those included in the dual systems model.
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FOR NUCLEAR CORE DESIGN

Advanced manufacturing has the potential to revitalize US manufacturing, with valuable applications in several industries, including aerospace, automotive, and construction. Some of these applications have clear-cut objectives (e.g., maintain component performance while reducing mass). Applications of advanced manufacturing of nuclear components have aimed at recapturing lost manufacturing capabilities or addressing maintenance of legacy reactor components. Through the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Transformational Challenge Reactor design and analysis thrust, applications of advanced manufacturing, in particular, additive manufacturing, to core design has yielded reactor designs that are free from conventional manufacturing constraints. For applications in core design, the multiphysics nature of the key core metrics (e.g., peak temperature, peak power) in addition to transient safety performance requirements provides a more complex set of objectives that requires more advanced modeling and simulation tools. Additive manufacturing provides high dimensional control and design flexibility to produce complex coolant channel shapes for improved heat transfer properties and low peak material temperatures. Additional mechanisms for improved heat transfer characteristics and temperature-controlled feedback mechanisms have also been explored and incorporated into designs. While some of these enhancements are not directly beneficial for the current operating pressurized water reactor fleet, benefits may be realized in specific reactor applications that have a more constrained design space (e.g., mass, size, material type) or design metrics (e.g., fuel utilization).
Progressive loss of implant fixation in a preclinical rat model of cemented knee arthroplasty.

Aseptic loosening of total knee arthroplasty continues to be a challenging clinical problem. The progression of the loosening process, from the initial well-fixed component, is not fully understood. In this study, loss of fixation of cemented hemiarthroplasty was explored using 9-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats with 0, 2, 6, 12, 26 week end points. Morphological and cellular changes of cement-bone fixation were determined for regions directly below the tibial tray (epiphysis) and distal to the tray (metaphysis). Loss of fixation, with a progressive increase in cement-bone gap volume was found in the epiphysis (0.162 mm3 /week), but did not progress appreciably in the metaphysis (0.007 mm3 /week). In the epiphysis, there was an early and sustained elevation of osteoclasts adjacent to the cement border and development of a fibrous tissue layer between the cement and bone. There was early formation of bone around the cement in the metaphysis, resulting in a condensed bone layer without osteoclastic bone resorption or development of a fibrous tissue layer. Implant positioning was also an important factor in the cement-bone gap formation, with greater gap formation for implants that were placed medially on the tibial articular surface. Loss of fixation in the rat model mimicked patterns found in human arthroplasty where cement-bone gaps initiate under the tibial tray, at the periphery of the implant. This preclinical model could be used to study early biological response to cemented fixation and associated contributions of mechanical instability, component alignment, and periprosthetic inflammation.
Unsteady convective heat transfer from a flat plate with heat flux that varies in space and time

Abstract Convective heat transfer due to laminar fluid flow past a flat plate is a standard problem in heat transfer. While constant heat flux or temperature along the plate is often assumed for solving such problems, there may be several practical scenarios where the heat flux along the plate varies as a function of both space and time. Developing an analytical solution for the resulting plate temperature distribution is important for understanding and optimizing the thermal performance of such systems. While some work exists on analyzing problems with time-dependent or space-dependent heat flux, there is a lack of work on the general problem where the heat flux is a function of both space and time. This paper presents a solution for this problem by solving the integral form of the energy equation, along with the use of fourth-order Karman-Pohlhausen polynomials for velocity and temperature distributions in the momentum and thermal boundary layers. A non-linear, first order, hyperbolic partial differential equation for the plate temperature is derived in response to the time- and space-varying plate heat flux. This equation is shown to agree well with results from past work for several special cases. Numerical solutions for the generalized equation are presented. Based on this approach, the plate temperature distribution is predicted for several heat flux profiles that may be of interest in practical applications. Results from this work improve our understanding of unsteady convective heat transfer, and contribute towards modeling and optimization of practical engineering systems where such phenomena occur.
Synthesis of poly(caprolactone)-block-poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl methacrylate] amphiphilic grafted nanoparticles (AGNs) as improved oil dispersants

Linear-bottlebrush, amphiphilic copolymers were grafted from the surface of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles to form “nanoparticle micelles” that, regardless of the concentration, possess the capability to encapsulate and stabilize non-polar structures in aqueous media. These nanoparticles afford high water dispersibility and enhanced oil encapsulation from their inherent architectural design. Utilizing well-established techniques, such as surface-initiated ring-opening polymerization (SI-ROP) and surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP), to effectively fine-tune the ratio of hydrophobic (poly(caprolactone), PCL) to hydrophilic (poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl methacrylate mono-methyl ether], POEGMA) copolymer composition, enhances oil encapsulation while maintaining aqueous solubility. Preliminary oil encapsulation was quantified with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) using two different types of crude oil. These nanoparticles offer an alternative dispersant system to replace commercially used Corexit™ 9500 by effectively breaking up disastrous oil slicks and minimizing the long-term effects of dispersant additives in the environment.
SARS-COV-2, infection, transmission, transcription, translation, proteins, and treatment: A review

In this review, we describe the key molecular entities involved in the process of infection by SARS-CoV-2, while also detailing how those key entities influence the spread of the disease. We further introduce the molecular mechanisms of preventive and treatment strategies including drugs, antibodies, and vaccines.
Climate Change Meets Urban Environment

The effects of global warming permeate to local scales in numerous ways, and at times the adverse effects of global change are amplified by urban anthropogenic activities. These local climate influences, however, have not received due attention as current climate discourse mainly focuses on global scales. In this paper, a brief overview is presented on how urban areas bear the brunt of global climate change, in particular, how such climatic signals as sea level rise, desertification, adjustment of hydrological cycle and enhanced cloud cover can have significant repercussions on local climate, thus raising human health and national security concerns. The reduction of diurnal temperature range (DTR) with global warming and its further amplification with urbanization are used as examples to illustrate local impacts of climate change. The possible amplification of urban heat island may even lead to local meteorological regime shifts, which have an important bearing on sustainability of cities. Meteorological variables are related to air pollution, and the relationship between particulate matter and meteorological variables in Phoenix area is used to illustrate possible relationships between human health and climate change.
The University Compost Facility after Three Years

Introduction The University Compost Facility, 52274 260 St., Ames, Iowa has completed three full years of operation. The facility is managed by the ISU Research Farms and has a separate revolving account that receives fees and sales, and pays expenses. The facility is designed to be self-supporting, i.e. not receive allocations for its operations. The facility consists of seven, 80 × 140 ft hoop barns and a new 55 × 120 ft hoop barn, all with paved floors. The facility also has a Mettler-Toledo electronic scale with a 10 ft × 70 ft platform to weigh all materials. Key machinery is 1) compost turner, a used pull-type Aeromaster PT-170, 14 ft wide made by Midwest Biosystems, Tampico, IL; 2) a converted dump truck trailer used to construct windrows and haul material; 3) telehandler, Caterpillar TH407 with cab and 2.75 cubic yard bucket; and 4) tractor, John Deere 7520 (125 hp) with IVT (Infinite Variable Transmission) and front-wheel assist used to pull the turner and dump trailer.
The Role of Social Capital in Open Source Software Communities.

Drawing on the theory of social capital, we propose a cross-level model proposing that community-level social capital plays an important role in Open Source Software projects. Social capital, as resources lying within interpersonal relationships, is created and maintained as a by-product of social exchanges between developers working in the same OSS community. Social capital provides benefits both to the overall OSS community and to the individual developers. A high level of social capital in an OSS community can help facilitate the process of software development and make individuals’ experiences of working on OSS projects both satisfying and rewarding.
Mental Models, Sentential Reasoning, and Illusory Inferences

Abstract This chapter describes how individuals reason with sentential connectives, such as “if,” “or,” and “and.” They do not have a “truth functional” semantics for these connectives, but rather they construct models of the possibilities compatible with sentences in which the connectives occur. Human working memory has a limited processing capacity, and so individuals aim to construct only a single model at a time, and to represent only those clauses in the premises that hold in each possibility. One unexpected consequence of the theory emerged from its computer implementation. Certain inferences should yield systematic fallacies if reasoners use mental models. The chapter explains this prediction and reports some studies corroborating the occurrence of these “illusory” inferences. No one has yet devised an account of them on the basis of another theory.
Phase 1 evaluation of EZN-2208, a polyethylene glycol conjugate of SN38, in children adolescents and young adults with relapsed or refractory solid tumors.

Background EZN-2208 is a water-soluble PEGylated conjugate of the topoisomerase inhibitor SN38, the active metabolite of irinotecan. Compared to irinotecan, EZN-2208 has a prolonged half-life permitting extended exposure to SN38. EZN-2208 has demonstrated clinical tolerability and antitumor activity in adults with advanced solid tumors. This Phase 1 study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor activity of EZN-2208 in children with relapsed or refractory solid tumors. Procedure EZN-2208 was administered as a 1-hour intravenous infusion once every 21 days at five dose levels (12–30 mg/m2). Filgrastim or pegfilgrastim was administered 24–48 hours after treatment with EZN-2208. The rolling-six design was used for dose determination. Results Thirty eligible patients (15 females; median [range] age 11.5 years [2–21 years]) were treated with EZN-2208. Dose-limiting diarrhea occurred in one patient receiving 16 mg/m2 and dose-limiting dehydration was seen in one patient receiving 24 mg/m2. At dose levels above 16 mg/m2, Grade ≥3 myelosuppression was demonstrated in the majority of patients. Additional adverse events included nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. The maximum tolerated dose was identified as 24 mg/m2 due to dose-limiting thrombocytopenia in two patients receiving 30 mg/m2. Two of nine patients with neuroblastoma who were evaluable for response had partial responses. Five patients (four with neuroblastoma) remained on study for ≥8 cycles. Conclusions EZN-2208 was generally well-tolerated and was associated with clinical benefit in patients with neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014; 61:1792–1797. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TeV Gamma-Ray Astronomy, Galactic Sources

There is strong evidence for the detection of two galactic sources at TeV energies: the Crab Nebula and PSR1706-44. Both contain pulsars but are detected primarily as unpulsed sources. There is also evidence for emission from a variety of binaries and pulsars.
Effect of atherosclerosis on lysosomal cholesterol esterase activity in rabbit aorta.

Radiolabeled cholesteryl oleate, when incor- porated into phospholipid vesicles, was hydrolyzed at acid pH by an enzyme present in rabbit aortic homog- enates. In contrast, cholesteryl oleate presented as an acetone dispersion was not effectively hydrolyzed at acid pH under identical conditions. Using the vesicle prepara- tion as substrate, a sensitive assay system for the acid hydrolase was developed in which hydrolysis was propor- tional to protein concentration and incubation time, and was independent of substrate concentration. The physical state of the vesicles was apparently not altered by the assay conditions, and no hydrolysis of the vesicle-associ- ated phospholipid was detected. Acid cholesterol esterase activity in atherosclerotic aortic tissue was 2.5-fold greater than that of control tissue, and even greater increases were observed in the activities of other lysosomal enzymes (N-acetyl-p-d-glucosaminidase and p-glucuronidase). Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was also increased in aortas from cholesterol-fed animals while 5' nucleotidase activity remained unchanged. Labeled triolein also was incorporated into phospho- lipid vesicles and was hydrolyzed by an acid lipase in aortic tissue. Similarities between triolein and cholesteryl oleate hydrolysis existed with respect to pH optimum and the effect of cholesterol feeding on activity, suggesting that a single enzyme may hydrolyze both lipids.
Development of sex-specific equations for estimating stature of frail elderly Hispanics living in the northeastern United States

Background: The accurate measurement of stature is not possible in many frail elderly persons because of problems affecting their ability to stand straight. In such cases, knee height may be used to estimate stature. Objective: This study was designed to explore the applicability of published regression equations to estimate stature of Puerto Rican and other Hispanic elderly persons living in the northeastern United States and to formulate ethnicity-specific equations for these persons. Design: The study subjects (60-92 y of age) included 569 Hispanics and a comparison group of 153 non-Hispanic whites. Equations to estimate stature of Hispanics and Puerto Ricans living in the northeastern United States were developed with regression models in a randomly selected subgroup of the Hispanics. These equations were tested with the remaining Hispanic subgroup. Results: The published equations significantly overestimated stature of our Hispanic subjects. Equations developed for Massachusetts Hispanics and Puerto Ricans provided estimates of stature that did not differ significantly from measured stature. We found further that equations for non-Hispanic whites published in 1985 predicted statures of our relatively low-income, non-Hispanic white subjects better than did newer 1998 equations developed from a national sample. Conclusions: The stature of elderly Hispanics from the northeastern United States can be estimated by using equations derived from the same population. These, or similar equations, should be used to estimate stature of frail elderly persons for whom standing height cannot be taken accurately. Socioeconomic status as well as ethnicity may affect results when knee height equations are used.
USE OF A LYOPHILIZED SERUM ENZYME PREPARATION IN QUALITY CONTROL.

A purified preparation of alkaline phosphatase added to standardized lyophilized serum has been used by the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Reference Laboratory to evaluate the routine alkaline phosphatase method in use in the 10 laboratories in its reference area. Evidence of a marked need for investigation of the routine method for alkaline phosphatase determination was found in 3 of the 10 laboratories. A semiquantitative phosphatase method proved to be useful as an independent procedure for use in evaluation of the different laboratories.
Achievable rates for reduced-complexity receivers on nonlinear satellite channels with memory

We study achievable information rates for nonlinear channels with memory, in the context of satellite communication with QAM modulation. The complete channel model can be described by a Volterra expansion, but large alphabet size and/or large channel memory length may prohibit optimal soft-output demodulator processing, say with the BCJR algorithm. Thus we focus on reduced-state receivers and their achievable information rates as a function of state complexity, amplifier backoff, and receiver input sampling rate. These achievable rates for mismatched receivers are known to be attainable with powerful error control codes and optimal decoding.
Histology and morphometry of Strongylus vulgaris-mediated equine mesenteric arteritis.

Summary Histological and morphometric evaluation of equine cranial mesenteric arteries was performed on 239 and 89 arteries, respectively. Histological examination revealed that thrombosis and the severity of inflammation varied on a seasonal basis and were directly associated with larval presence. Intimal and adventitial fibrosis were generally of greater severity than medial fibrosis. Fibrosis of the vasa vasorum was less frequent than fibrosis of the artery itself. Morphometry revealed a significant increase in intimal, adventitial and, to a lesser extent, medial area in affected as compared with normal arteries. This change was due to the accumulation of collagen and was considered to result in decreased arterial elasticity. The luminal area varied widely among affected arteries.
Growth of Muskellunge in a Power Plant Cooling Reservoir

Because there were no known sources of brood stock muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) in South Dakota at the time of the present study, fingerling muskellunge were introduced into the heated water of a power plant cooling reservoir, to determine whether a brook stock coud be developed there. Described here is the growth of the fish during the first 2 years in the reservoir, which considerably exceeded that in other North American waters.
Tailoring biocontrol to maximize top‐down effects: on the importance of underlying site fertility

The degree to which biocontrol agents impact invasive plants varies widely across landscapes, often for unknown reasons. Understanding this variability can help optimize invasive species management while also informing our understanding of trophic linkages. To address these issues, we tested three hypotheses with contrasting predictions regarding the likelihood of biocontrol success. (1) The biocontrol effort hypothesis: invasive populations are regulated primarily by top-down effects, predicting that increased biocontrol efforts alone (e.g., more individuals of a given biocontrol agent or more time since agent release) will enhance biocontrol success. (2) The relative fertility hypothesis: invasive populations are regulated primarily by bottom-up effects, predicting that nutrient enrichment will increase dominance by invasives and thus reduce biocontrol success, regardless of biocontrol efforts. (3) The fertility-dependent biocontrol effort hypothesis: top-down effects will only regulate invasive populations if bottom-up effects are weak. It predicts that greater biocontrol efforts will increase biocontrol success, but only in low-nutrient sites. To test these hypotheses, we surveyed 46 sites across three states with prior releases of Galerucella beetles, the most common biocontrol agents used against invasive purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). We found strong support for the fertility-dependent biocontrol effort hypothesis, as biocontrol success occurred most often with greater biocontrol efforts, but only in low-fertility sites. This result held for early stage metrics of biocontrol success (higher Galerucella abundance) and ultimate biocontrol outcomes (decreased loosestrife plant size and abundance). Presence of the invasive grass Phalaris arundinacea was also inversely related to loosestrife abundance, suggesting that biocontrol-based reductions in loosestrife made secondary invasion by P. arundinacea more likely. Our data suggest that low-nutrient sites be prioritized for loosestrife biocontrol and that future monitoring account for variation in site fertility or work to mitigate it. We introduce a new framework that integrates our findings with conflicting patterns previously reported from other biocontrol systems, proposing a unimodal relationship whereby nutrient availability enhances biocontrol success in low-nutrient sites but hampers it in high-nutrient sites. Our results represent one of the first examples of biocontrol success depending on site fertility, which has the potential to inform biocontrol-based management decisions across entire regions and among contrasting systems.
Knowledge net shell (KNS): Petri net based development tool for expert systems

Abstract Starting with various design and implementation issues of rule-based expert system, this paper discusses the use of Petri net as an effective and efficient tool for shell based development of expert systems. Petri net approach provides high level interaction with domain expert for automating the construction and maintenance of expert systems. The proposed approach is simple and provides user-friendly environment for query processing and knowledge manipulation.
Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome Associated with Disseminated Toxoplasmosis

Diffuse lung injury may result as a complication of disseminated toxoplasmosis in patients with AIDS. We report the case of an AIDS patient who had multiple organ failure associated with disseminated toxoplasmosis. The patient died because of ventilatory failure, and at autopsy findings in regard to the lungs were consistent with adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Management of Pediatric Acute Appendicitis in the Computed Tomographic Era

Background/Purpose The treatment options for complicated appendicitis in children continue to evolve. Optimal management of complicated appendicitis relies on an accurate preoperative diagnosis. We examined the accuracy of our preoperative diagnosis including computed tomography (CT) and the influence on the management of children with perforated and nonperforated appendicitis.
Molecular Imaging Without Radiopharmaceuticals

The limitations on the sensitivity for detecting small changes in MRI, CT, and ultrasound pulse-echo images are used to estimate the practical requirements for molecular imaging and targeted contrast enhancement for these modalities. These types of imaging are highly unlikely to approach the sensitivity for detecting molecular processes of radionuclear methods, and the prospects for achieving sufficient concentrations of appropriate agents in vivo are poor for several types of applications such as small-molecule targeting of specific receptors. However, using relatively large carrier systems such as particles and liposomes, sufficient concentrations of paramagnetic agents may be delivered to achieve MR-signal changes adequate for detection. The use of higher-resolution MR images will aid the prospects for molecular imaging in small animals. Theoretic considerations also predict that a similar approach, using rather large particles or carriers of materials with a high atomic number, may also be successful for CT, especially with additional developments such as the use of monochromatic x-rays. The prospects of molecular imaging by x-ray imaging may not be as bleak as has been predicted. For ultrasound detection, gas-filled bubbles can provide a sufficient backscattered sound intensity to be detectable at concentrations and sizes not much different from agents designed for these other modalities.
Scalable queries for large datasets using cloud computing: a case study

Cloud computing is rapidly growing in popularity as a solution for processing and retrieving huge amounts of data over clusters of inexpensive commodity hardware. The most common data model utilized by cloud computing software is the NoSQL data model. While this data model is extremely scalable, it is much more efficient for simple retrievals and scans than for the complex analytical queries typical in a relational database model. In this paper, we evaluate emerging cloud computing technologies using a representative use case. Our use case involves analyzing telecommunications logs for performance monitoring and quality assurance. Clearly, the size of such logs is growing exponentially as more devices communicate more frequently and the amount of data being transferred steadily increases. We analyze potential solutions to provide a scalable database which supports both retrieval and analysis. We will investigate and analyze all the major open source cloud computing solutions and designs. We then choose the most applicable subset of these technologies for experimentation. We provide a performance evaluation of these products, and we analyze our results and make recommendations. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of technologies for scalable data processing and an in-depth performance evaluation of these technologies.
Attributing awareness to oneself and to others

This study tested the possible relationship between reported visual awareness (“I see a visual stimulus in front of me”) and the social attribution of awareness to someone else (“That person is aware of an object next to him”). Subjects were tested in two steps. First, in an fMRI experiment, subjects were asked to attribute states of awareness to a cartoon face. Activity associated with this task was found bilaterally within the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) among other areas. Second, the TPJ was transiently disrupted using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). When the TMS was targeted to the same cortical sites that had become active during the social attribution task, the subjects showed symptoms of visual neglect in that their detection of visual stimuli was significantly affected. In control trials, when TMS was targeted to nearby cortical sites that had not become active during the social attribution task, no significant effect on visual detection was found. These results suggest that there may be at least some partial overlap in brain mechanisms that participate in the social attribution of sensory awareness to other people and in attributing sensory awareness to oneself.
Bacterial Safety of Reconstituted Continuous Drip Tube Feeding

Chemically defined diets require reconstitution and transfer to a delivery system. When reconstituted High Vivonex was noted in our Medical Center to be bacteriologically contaminated, we instituted a series of control procedures. We then reevaluated bacterial growth in reconstituted High Nitrogen Vivonex and diluted Isocal under ward conditions. The mixtures were prepared with sterile water versus tap water, using a hand washed blender versus a machine washed blender. We also investigated the bacteriological effect of blast freezing reconstituted High Nitrogen Vivonex. All preparations of the nonfrozen High Nitrogen Vivonex showed occasional low level contamination, although quantitative cultures did not show logarithmic growth over eight hours of observation. No growth occurred in the blast frozen High Nitrogen Vivonex or in the Isocal. We conclude that reconstituted High Nitrogen Vivonex and diluted Isocal may be prepared and hung safely for eight hours, and that blast freezing of High Nitrogen Vivonex is bacteriologically safe. As a result of our initial findings of bacteriologic contamination, we believe a program for bacterial monitoring of the tube feeding is desirable.
The Development of Global and Local Processing: A Comparison of Children to Adults

In light of the adult model of a hemispheric asymmetry of global and local processing, we compared children (M age = 8.4 years) to adults in a global-local reaction time (RT) paradigm. Hierarchical designs (large shapes made of small shapes) were presented randomly to each visual field, and participants were instructed to identify either the global or the local level in each of two blocks. We obtained evidence of a global-local processing asymmetry, with stronger effects for children than for adults. In both children and adults, responses were faster and more accurate for global identification in the right hemisphere and for local identification in the left hemisphere. Similarly, a significant asymmetry of global and local interference was obtained in children but not in adults. Interference reflects the RT cost of conflicting information at the nonattended level. For example, local interference indicates the degree to which inconsistency at the local level slows global identification. Stronger evidence f...
Generation of Proline-Specific Maillard Compounds by the Reaction of 2-Deoxyglucose with Proline

The proline-specific Maillard products including 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolizines, hexahydro-7H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-7-ones, and cyclopent[b]azepin-8(1H)-ones were generated by both 2-deoxyglucose/proline and glucose/proline model reactions at 180 °C for 2 h. The amounts of these products generated in 2-deoxyglucose/proline reaction were far less than (<12%) those generated in the glucose/proline model reaction at both pH 9.0 and 4.0. The pH effect on the formation of these products in the 2-deoxyglucose/proline model was not significant, while a lower pH favored the generation of these products in the glucose/proline reaction. The generation of the active precursors of these proline-specific Maillard products from 2-deoxyglucose is proposed. Keywords: Maillard reaction; proline, aroma generation; 2-deoxyglucose; pH effect