cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential radioprotection of cultured human diploid fibroblasts and fibrosarcoma cells by WR1065.

Abstract The present studies were performed to determine whether WR1065, the dephosphorylated, free-thiol active metabolite of WR2721, could provide differential radioprotection of normal and tumor cell lines in vitro and secondly to investigate potential mechanisms for the selective nature of the radioprotection at the cellular and molecular level. When 4 mM WR1065 was administered 30 min prior to and during irradiation, a protection factor of 1.9 was obtained in clonogenic assays performed with normal human diploid fibroblasts (AG1522) while no protection of fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080) was observed. Some radioprotection of fibrosarcoma cells was observed with higher drug concentrations (10–40 mM), but the increase in survival was considerably less than the plateau level reached with the diploid fibroblasts (3-fold vs 24-fold at 6 Gy). The observation of such a selective effect in vitro with WR1065 indicates that differences in tissue-specific variables such as blood flow, pH, pO 2 , and drug dephosphorylation cannot solely account for the selective nature of the radioprotection afforded by WR2721 in vivo . Incubation of nucleoids with increasing concentrations of the DNA intercalating dye propidium iodide was used to titrate the ability of DNA to undergo supercoiling changes. The relaxation and rewinding of supercoiled DNA loops in isolated nucleoids serves as an indicator of both the presence of DNA damage and inherent differences in DNA loop characteristics. Fibrosarcoma cells had a much larger propidium iodide-relaxable DNA loop size than fibroblasts. The rewinding phase of the DNA supercoiling response is impaired by the presence of radiation-induced DNA strand breaks. Four mM WR1065 resulted in a significant reduction in the amount of rewinding inhibition observed after a dose of 10 Gy in diploid fibroblasts (protection factor=1.43) but did not alter the response of irradiated fibrosarcoma cells. These results, indicating that WR1065 had a preferential radioprotective effect in vitro on both survival and the manifestation of DNA damage at the nucleoid level, are consistent with the hypothesis that cell type differences in chromatin organization and DNA-drug associations could play a role in the selective radioprotection.
Simplifying the configuration of multifunctional distribution protection and control IEDs

The last ten years have seen significant changes in the development of multifunctional Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) with primarily protection functions. The number and complexity of the protection and non-protection elements, as well as the availability of multiple setting groups allows the implementation of advanced and adaptive distribution protection schemes. The main problem with the advancements in the functionality of modern protective relays is the increased complexity of the setting of the IEDs. The protection engineer has to configure hundreds of settings and the user programmable scheme logic in order to ensure the optimal performance of the relay under different system conditions. The paper analyses the different functions in state-of-the-art numerical relays, as well as their functional hierarchy from the point of view of the configuration requirements. Three main levels of this hierarchy are identified and described: Functions, Sub-functions and Functional elements Tools that significantly simplify the configuration of protection relays include visibility control and automatic setting calculation based on the protected equipment nameplate data. Examples of the configuration of complex transformer protection relays are presented. Programmable scheme logic in advanced distribution protection relays usually requires a multistep process with increased complexity and probabilities for errors at the different steps. Graphical tools that significantly simplify that development are described later in the paper. The status of development of a common IED configuration data file format by a working group in the IEEE Power Systems Relaying Committee based on XML and the object models defined in IEC 61850 is discussed also in the paper. This will allow the development of universal IED setting tools and will significantly simplify their configuration process.
IR spectrometer using spectral pattern recognition: a feasibility study

The application of a neural network for processing of the output signal of an infrared (IR) emission mode spectrometer is investigated in this paper. A set of spectral patterns representative of 16 different compounds has been simulated using normal distribution line profiles. These data have then been combined with atmospheric transmittance and path radiance. The network, following training, has been presented with a test set consisting of perturbed versions of the spectra. Perturbations analyzed were line width, peak height, and center variations. The last effect is due to slit image curvature caused by a finite length slit in our hypothetical spectrometer. The purpose of the atmospheric and optical analysis was to insure a realistic estimate of phenomena expected in a field application. The network was found to recognize the input patterns correctly over a broad range of perturbation parameters. We propose that once a satisfactory set of connection weights is established, these should be transferred to a parallel processor (electronic or optical). The network considered in this paper proved capable of generalization under all but the most extreme conditions. Such performance allows by passing of intermediate signal processing for spectral analysis. Consequently, this sort of a system would form a fast and accurate spectral recognition instrument capable of operation under unpredictable conditions.
The Problem of Media Habits

To what extent is repeated media consumption behavior a matter of habit rather than continuing and active self-instruction? The physiological and cognitive origins of habits are examined in the context of current research in neurology and social psychology. The result is a reconceptualization of media habits along a continuum from consciously enacted behaviors to those that are activated automatically by external stimuli. Communication research perspectives of the role of habits in media consumption are critically reviewed. From this analysis, habits emerge as automatic thought processes that are powerful predictors of media behavior and a model of habitual media consumption is proposed.
Behavioral momentum in academics: Using embedded high‐p sequences to increase academic productivity

The use of high-probability (high-p) request sequences has enjoyed support in the applied behavioral literature as a method to increase compliance. Based on the theory of behavioral momentum, high-probability sequences increase the rate of responding, and subsequent rate of reinforcement, within a response class. This increase in density of reinforcement results in increased responding for the response class as a whole. Early research in this area had focused mainly on compliance issues for individuals with developmental disabilities. However, more recently the utility of high-p sequences has been examined within the context of academics. The purpose of these two experiments was to examine the use of high-p sequences with two academic tasks—letter-writing and mathematics problem completion. The results of these studies suggest that high-p sequences can be used to increase academic productivity. Moreover, the addition of experimenter-delivered reinforcers to existing high-p sequences enhances overall behavioral persistence. Theoretical and applied implications of persistence and behavioral momentum are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 789–801, 2004.
Primal-Dual Active-Set Methods for Large-Scale Optimization

In this paper, we introduce two primal-dual active-set methods for solving large-scale constrained optimization problems. The first method minimizes a sequence of primal-dual augmented Lagrangian functions subject to bounds on the primal variables and artificial bounds on the dual variables. The basic structure is similar to the well-known optimization package Lancelot (Conn, et al. in SIAM J Numer Anal 28:545---572, 1991), which uses the traditional primal augmented Lagrangian function. Like Lancelot, our algorithm may use gradient projection-based methods enhanced by subspace acceleration techniques to solve each subproblem and therefore may be implemented matrix-free. The artificial bounds on the dual variables are a unique feature of our method and serve as a form of dual regularization. Our second algorithm is a two-phase method. The first phase computes iterates using our primal-dual augmented Lagrangian algorithm, which benefits from using cheap gradient projections and matrix-free linear CG calculations. The final iterate produced during this phase is then used as input for phase two, which is a stabilized sequential quadratic programming method (Gill and Robinson in SIAM J Opt 1---45, 2013). Obtaining superlinear local convergence under weak assumptions is an important benefit of the transition to a stabilized sequential quadratic programming algorithm. Interestingly, the bound-constrained subproblem used in phase one is equivalent to the stabilized subproblem used in phase two under certain assumptions. This fact makes our choice of algorithms a natural one.
Gadd45 in the response of hematopoietic cells to genotoxic stress.

Abstract Gadd45 genes have been implicated in stress signaling in response to physiological or environmental stressors, which results in either cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, cell survival and senescence, or apoptosis. Evidence accumulated implies that Gadd45 proteins function as stress sensors is mediated by a complex interplay of physical interactions with other cellular proteins that are implicated in cell cycle regulation and the response of cells to stress. These include PCNA, p21, cdc2/cyclinB1, and the p38 and JNK stress response kinases. Recently we have taken advantage of gadd45a and gadd45b deficient mice to determine the role gadd45a and gadd45b play in the response of bone marrow (BM) cells to genotoxic stress. Myeloid enriched BM cells from gadd45a and gadd45b deficient mice were observed to be more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation (UVC), VP-16, and daunorubicin (DNR)-induced apoptosis compared to wild-type (wt) cells. The increased apoptosis in gadd45a and gadd45b deficient cells was evident also by enhanced activation of caspase-3 and PARP cleavage and decreased expression of cIAP-1, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL compared to wt cells. Reintroduction of gadd45 into gadd45 deficient BM cells restored the wt apoptotic phenotype. Both gadd45a and gadd45b deficient BM cells also displayed defective G2/M arrest following exposure to UVC and VP-16, but not to DNR, indicating the existence of different G2/M checkpoints that are either dependent or independent of gadd45. Additional work conducted in this laboratory has shown that in hematopoietic cells exposed to UV radiation gaddd45a and gadd45b cooperate to promote cell survival via two distinct signaling pathways involving activation of the Gadd45a-p38-NF-kB-mediated survival pathway and Gadd45b-mediated inhibition of the stress response MKK4-JNK pathway [O. Kovalsky, F.D. Lung, P.P. Roller, A.J. Fornace, Jr. Oligomerization of human Gadd45a protein. J Biol Chem. 276 (42) (2001) 39330–39339]. These data reveal novel mechanisms that mediate the pro-survival functions of gadd45a and gadd45b in hematopoietic cells following UV irradiation. Taken together, these findings identify gadd45a and gadd45b as anti-apoptotic genes that increase the survival of hematopoietic cells following exposure to UV radiation and certain anticancer drugs. This knowledge should contribute to a greater understanding of the genetic events involved in the pathogenesis of different leukemias and response of normal and malignant hematopoietic cells to chemo and radiation therapy. These observations set the stage to evaluate, in clinically relevant settings, the impact that the status of gadd45a and gadd45b might have on the efficacy of DNR or VP-16 in killing leukemic cells.
A comparison of modeling modalities in the observational learning of an externally paced skill.

Abstract This study contrasted prepractice modeling with either the perceptual component (perceptual modeling) or the motor component (movement pattern) of a coincident-timing task to determine whether experiencing the modalities singly or in combination enhanced timing performance on initiation of active practice. The motor component was a 60-cm right-to-left arm movement coincident with the illumination of lights on a Bassin timer runway to displace a barrier as the final runway light was illuminated. Four groups were compared (n = 12 per group). A perceptual modeling group passively viewed stimulus runway lights prior to attempting the task. A motoric modeling group viewed a videotape prior to practice of a model performing the motor component of the skill with zero timing error. A perceptual modeling plus motoric modeling group experienced both modeling modalities prior to performance. Finally, a no modeling group simply initiated practice on the task without modeling. Results indicated that the group...
Analytical solution for embedded elliptical cracks, and finite element alternating method for elliptical surface cracks, subjected to arbitrary loadings

Abstract The complete solution for an embedded elliptical crack in an infinite solid and subjected to arbitrary tractions on the crack surface is rederived from Vijayakumar and Atluri's general solution procedure. The general procedure for evaluating the necessary elliptic integrals in the generalized solution for elliptical crack is also derived in this paper. The generalized solution is employed in the Schwartz alternating technique in conjunction with the finite element method. This finite element-alternating method gives an inexpensive way to evaluate accurate stress intensity factors for embedded or elliptical cracks in engineering structural components.
Perturbation Method for Boundary S-Matrix in 2D Quantum Field Theory

We develop a perturbation theory for evaluating the boundary S-matrix in 2D quantum field theory. We apply this approach to calculate the one-loop boundary S-matrix for the elementary particle of the sine–Gordon model with a boundary interaction. Our perturbative result agrees with the exact expression of the S-matrix conjectured by Goshal; it also allows us to derive the perturbative relation between the parameter ϑ in the S-matrix and the free parameter M in the boundary action, in the particular case in which its other free parameter φ0 is zero.
Special Issues Regarding Obesity in Minority Populations

Special attention must be given to obesity as it occurs in and affects ethnic minorities (that is, black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians) in the United States. In most of these groups, the prevalence of obesity is substantially higher than in whites, especially among women. Poverty and lower educational attainment, which are associated with higher than average rates of female obesity (independent of ethnicity), affect proportionately more persons in these minority populations than in white populations. Diabetes mellitus and certain other obesity-related conditions occur to a markedly greater than average extent in many minority populations. A high-risk body fat distribution (upper body or central obesity) occurs to a greater extent in some minority populations than in whites. Because of situational and cultural factors, effective obesity prevention and treatment approaches may need to be defined on an ethnicity-specific basis. Increased attention to obesity as it occurs in and affects diverse ethnic groups can help to address critical minority health issues. Such efforts can also broaden and enrich aspects of obesity research for which models based on white populations are inappropriate or limited.
Design automation and engineering organization structures

Design automation over the years has taken many forms. Engineering projects of every description have been targeted by computer specialists as systems which might benefit from automation. Today, several major firms are marketing CAD/CAM systems in a big way. Electrical design workstations and mechanical part workstations and data bases have been most successful and these companies are continually refining and improving their systems looking towards the future. Though there are many consulting firms available to assist in the automation of an interested engineering organization, many project managers still resist the automation tide. This paper is an exploration of several areas which will need to be addressed in the years to come if automation is to be successfully applied to even the most complex of engineering undertakings. The exploration is facilitated through the elucidation of important structures which appear in engineering organizations. The hope is that through the understanding of these implicit structures, computational systems can be built which reflect these structures and thereby provide additional project coherence. The primary areas affected are management, verification, inter-module communication and integration. This work is continuing under the leadership of Dr. F.B. Thompson at the California Institute of Technology.
Novel techniques for image computation and a concomitant reduction of the x-ray dose in transmission tomography

Conventional tomographic imaging techniques are nonlocal: to reconstruct an unknown function f at a point x, one needs to know its Radon transform (RT) {cflx f} ({theta},p). Suppose that one is interested in the recovery of f only for x in some set U. The author calls U the region of interest (ROI). Define the local data as the integrals of f along the lines that intersect the ROI. He proposes algorithms for finding locations and values of jumps (sharp variations) of f from only the local data. In case of transmission tomography, this results in a reduction of the x-ray dose to a patient. The proposed algorithms can also be used in emission tomographies. They allow one: to image jumps of f with better resolution than conventional techniques; to take into account variable attenuation (if it is known); and to obtain meaningful images even if the attenuation is not known. Results of testing the proposed algorithms on the simulated and real data are presented.
Documentation of parathyroid carcinoma fifteen years after resection of a parathyroid ‘adenoma’

Summary This report describes a 40-year-old man in whom the diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma was made almost 15 years after resection of the primary lesion. The case emphasizes the importance of recognizing pre and intraoperative factors that differentiate between parathyroid adenoma and carcinoma and illustrates that surgical palliation is feasible in selected patients with parathyroid carcinoma.
New explicit spike solutions—non-local component of the generalized Mixmaster attractor

By applying a standard solution-generating transformation to an arbitrary vacuum Bianchi type II solution, one generates a new solution with spikes commonly observed in numerical simulations. It is conjectured that the spike solutions are part of the generalized Mixmaster attractor.
Mechanistic studies in combustion synthesis of NiAl–TiB2 composites: Effects of gravity

Combustion synthesis (CS) of NiAl-based materials reinforced by TiB2 particles was investigated under both terrestrial and microgravity conditions. The synthesized metal matrix composites (MMC) are characterized by very fine (<1 μm) reinforced particulates, which have strong bonding along their entire surface with matrix (NiAl) and are distributed uniformly in it. It was found that microgravity leads to a decrease in the average TiB2 particle size, while higher volume fraction of NiAl component in the material leads to the formation of coarser reinforced particulates. The mechanism of structure formation of different MMCs during CS was identified by using the quenching technique. For example, it was shown that TiB2 grains appear due to crystallization from the complex (Ni–Al–Ti–B) liquid solution formed in the combustion front. An overall decrease of microstructural transformation rates was observed under microgravity.
Funding nutrition software development: The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

Abstract The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a set-aside program designed to support innovative research conducted by small businesses in the U.S.A. Innovation and the potential for commercialization are included in the review criteria. Ten U.S. federal agencies invite grant applications from small businesses in research areas described in their solicitations. Support under the SBIR program is normally provided for 6 months/$100,000 for NIH Phase I grants and for 6 months/$70,000 for USDA Phase 1 grants. Support is available for 2 years/$750,000 for NIH Phase II and 2 years/$275,000 for USDA Phase II projects. The NIH Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program is a similar but smaller set-aside program also designed to support innovative research with commercialization possibilities. STTR projects must be conducted cooperatively by a small business and a research institution in the U.S. Innovation and the potential for commercialization are two of the review criteria. At least 40% of the research project is to be conducted by the small business concern and at least 30% of the work is to be conducted by the single, “partnering” research institution. These grants have supported the development of numerous applications expanding the use of nutrient data.
The k-in-a-row procedure in selection theory

Ak-in-a-row procedure is proposed to select the most demanded element in a set ofn elements. We show that the least favorable configuration of the proposed procedure which always selects the element when the same element has been demanded (or observed)k times in a row has a simple form similar to those of classical selection procedures. Moreover, numerical evidences are provided to illustrate the fact thatk-in-a-row procedure is better than the usual inverse sampling procedure and fixed sample size procedure when the distance between the most demanded element and the other elements is large and when the number of elements is small.
Atopic disease, rhinitis and conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract infections, and insect stings and snake bites

In this section we review four broad topics in pediatrics: atopic disease, rhinitis and conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract infections, and insect stings and snake bites. The first three topics comprise three of the most commonly encountered problems in pediatric practice. Although the fourth topic accounts for a relatively small number of office visits, it generates a great deal of concern among our patients and their parents. There have been significant contributions to the pediatric literature in each of these areas over the past year and we review those of particular interest here. The papers that we have chosen to review were selected for both their scientific significance and practicality. Both review articles and original research are included, but all should be relevant to the care of your patients.
Views on Parent–Child Connectedness Among English- and Spanish-Speaking Parents of High-Risk Youth

This study highlights findings from focus groups on parent–child connectedness conducted with English- and Spanish-speaking parents of high-risk youth in the southern United States. The primary aim of the study was to extend research on parent–child connectedness, a broad protective factor for adolescent risk behavior. In addition to describing strategies and obstacles for enhancing closeness between parents and children, parents in Spanish-speaking focus groups also raised issues related to immigration, acculturation, and bicultural stress. Findings provide valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers seeking to improve parent–child connectedness and reduce adolescent risk behavior, with special insight about Mexican-origin, Spanish-speaking families.
Set of binary sequences of length eight applied to reducing OFDM PMEPR

A set of 16 binary sequences of length eight, applied to reducing the peak-to-mean-envelope-power-ratio (PMEPR) of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, is reported. The reported result can be used in conjunction with the existing 48 binary Golay sequences of length eight.
Toward Improving The Reliability Of Anchor Chain And Accessories

This paper will present an approach for improving the reliability of mooring systems for ships and mobile offshore drilling units. An analysis of damage surveys indicates that the most cost-effective way of increasing reliability would be by improvement of selective components. To increase reliability will involve considerations beyond those in existing specifications.
Thwarting Control-Channel Jamming Attacks from Inside Jammers

Coordination of network functions in wireless networks requires frequent exchange of control messages among participating nodes. Typically, such messages are transmitted over a universally known communication channel referred to as the control channel. Due to its critical role, this channel can become a prime target of Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. In this paper, we address the problem of preventing control-channel DoS attacks manifested in the form of jamming. We consider a sophisticated adversary who has knowledge of the protocol specifics and of the cryptographic quantities used to secure network operations. This type of adversary cannot be prevented by antijamming techniques that rely on shared secrets, such as spread spectrum. We propose new security metrics to quantify the ability of the adversary to deny access to the control channel, and introduce a randomized distributed scheme that allows nodes to establish and maintain the control channel in the presence of the jammer. Our method is applicable to networks with static or dynamically allocated spectrum. Furthermore, we propose two algorithms for unique identification of the set of compromised nodes, one for independently acting nodes and one for colluding nodes. Detailed theoretical evaluation of the security metrics and extensive simulation results are provided to demonstrate the efficiency of our methods in mitigating jamming and identifying compromised nodes.
Total Synthesis and Immunosuppressive Activity of (−)-Pateamine A and Related Compounds: Implementation of a β-Lactam-Based Macrocyclization

The asymmetric synthesis of the potent immunosuppressive agent (−)-pateamine A isolated from the marine sponge Mycale sp. is described. A key strategy employed in the synthesis was a β-lactam-based macrocyclization to form the 19-membered dilactone macrolide. The synthesis confirms the relative and absolute stereochemistry as 3R,5S,10S,24S and sets the stage for studies into the mechanism of action of pateamine A. Other studies and findings made in the course of the synthesis and described herein include the following: (1) a Stille coupling can be competitive with π-allyl formation, (2) SmI2 effects a mild N−O cleavage of N-benzyloxy-β-lactams, (3) the synthesis of a pateamine A-dexamethasone hybrid molecule for use in a yeast three-hybrid assay was accomplished, and (4) IC50 values were determined for synthetic and natural pateamine A and related compounds in the interleukin 2 reporter gene assay.
Effects of oxygenation and upflow liquid velocity on a coupled anaerobic/aerobic reactor system

Abstract By supplying a small amount of oxygen to a UASB (upflow anaerobic sludge bed) reactor and thereby supporting aerobic metabolism in an otherwise anaerobic environment, a coupled reactor system was evaluated at a laboratory scale. In order to determine the optimal delivery of oxygen to the coupled reactor systems, two principal operating variables were investigated: the oxygenation rate and the liquid recycle rate. Two UASB and four coupled reactor systems, each 1 litre and operated continuously at a one day hydraulic residence time (HRT) at 35°C, were employed in order to meet these objectives. The oxygenation rate increased the dissolved oxygen concentration to a maximum of 2.9 mg/L and the redox potential up to −9 mV (Eh). Methane was formed even under these conditions, indicating that the aerobic and facultative microorganisms limited the O2 penetration and maintained a reduced microenvironment which was necessary for the methanogens to function. Oxygenation substantially decreased the methane yield and the ratio of methane:carbon dioxide in the biogas. Oxygenation also led to a decrease in the mean particle size of the biomass and lower volatile suspended solid (VSS) levels retained in the reactors. Liquid recirculation aided in maintaining a low redox potential. In spite of the effects of the increased upflow velocity removing the smaller diameter biomass particles from the reactors, more biomass was retained in the reactors at these higher liquid flow rates. No significant impact of oxygenation could be observed on the specific anaerobic activities of the granules, up to the oxygenation mid-range. High oxygenation levels, obtained by combining both high aeration (highest flow of pure O2) and higher liquid recycling rates are necessary to substantially impair the methanogenic activity.
Calculation of reaction rates and kinetic isotope effects for dissociative chemisorption of H2 and D2 on Ni(100), Ni(110), and Ni(111) surfaces

Abstract We have applied canonical variational transition state theory with multidimensional semi-classical transmission coefficients to examine the dynamics of the dissociative chemisorption of H 2 and D 2 on the (100), (110), and (111) faces of a Ni crystal and to calculate rate constants for these reactions. We have used the modified four-body LEPS potential energy function of Lee and DePristo [J. Chem. Phys. 85 (1986) 4161] in which the diatom-solid potential is based on an effective medium form plus empirical pairwise interactions. We found that for their potential function the lowest-energy dissociative chemisorption process on the (100) face of Ni occurs over the bridge site with a small classical barrier of 2.8 kcal/mol, on the (110) face over a long-bridge site, yielding atoms on neighboring long-bridge sites, or over a center site, yielding similar products, in either case with negligible barrier, and on the (111) face with a classical barrier of 3.2 kcal/mol. Dynamics calculations were performed by variational transition state theory with a semiclassical ground-state transmission coefficient that accounts for six-dimensional tunneling effects. These calculations indicate that, despite the higher barrier on the (111) face, low-temperature tunneling is far more important in the dissociation of H 2 and D 2 on the (100) face than on the other two low-index faces of Ni. Consequently, the kinetic isotope effect is larger for dissociation on the Ni(100) face than on the other two faces. The characterization of reaction paths and dynamics for this potential surface should be useful for designing more accurate potential surfaces.
Peculiar Temporal Structure of the South China Sea Summer Monsoon

Beijing located at the junction of four major components of the Asian-Australia monsoon system (the Indian, the western North Pacific, the East Asian subtropical, and the Indonesian-Australian monsoons), the monsoon climate over the South China Sea (SCS) exhibits some unique features. Evidences are presented in this paper to reveal and document the following distinctive features in the temporal structure of the SCS summer monsoon: (1) pronounced monsoon singularities in the lower tropospheric monsoon flows which include the pre-onset and withdrawal easterly surges and the southwesterly monsoon bursts at Julian pentad 34-35 (June 15-24) and pentad 46-47 (August 14-23); (2) four prominent subseasonal cycles (alternative occurrences of climatological active and break monsoons); (3) considerably larger year-to-year variations in convectiye activity on intraseasonal time scale compared to those over the Bay of Bengal and the Philippine Sea; (4) the redness of the climatological mean spectrum of precipitation / deep convection on synoptic to intraseasonal time scales in the central SCS; (5) a remarkable asymmetry in the seasonal transitions between summer and winter monsoons and an extremely abrupt mid-May transition (the outburst of monsoon rain and the sudden switch in the lower troposphere winds from an easterly to a westerly regime); (6) the bi-modal interannual variation of summer monsoon onset (normal and delayed modes). In addition, the monsoon rainfall displays enormous east-west gradient over the central SCS. Possible causes for these features are discussed. A number of specific science questions concerning some of the peculiar features are raised for the forthcoming SCS monsoon experiment to address.
DEATH OF AN ABUSER: DOES THE MEMORY LINGER ON?

Although the fields of bereavement and traumatology regarding childhood physical and sexual abuse have developed simultaneously, little information exists regarding the issues of bereavement for a sexual abuse survivor when the decedent was the abuser. This article is a case study that examines the reactions, themes, and attributions that individuals experience regarding the loss of a relative who was sexually abusive to them during childhood and discusses the impact of that abuse on the bereavement process.
Multiple-Exponential Electron Injection in Ru(dcbpy)2(SCN)2 Sensitized ZnO Nanocrystalline Thin Films

We have studied the electron injection dynamics of Ru(dcbpy)2(SCN)2 sensitized ZnO nanocrystalline thin films by femtosecond mid-IR absorption spectroscopy. Upon 400 nm excitation of the sensitizer, nonexponential electron injection kinetics from the sensitizer MLCT excited state to ZnO were observed by probing the absorption of injected electrons in the 2000 to 1900 cm-1 region on the <1 ns time scale. A three-exponential fit to the data yields the following rise time constants and amplitudes (in parentheses): < 1ps (18%), 42ps (46%), and 450ps (36%). For films with increasing coverage of sensitizer molecules (optical density at 500 nm of 0.7, 2.3, 2.6), similar electron injection times were observed, while the injection yield decreases. This result suggests that aggregation or multilayer formation of sensitizer molecules reduces the quantum yield of electron injection to ZnO on the <1 ns time scale, and the observed multiexponential injection kinetics are attributed to the distribution of injection rat...
Investigating Social Ecological Contributors to Diabetes within Hispanics in an Underserved U.S.-Mexico Border Community

Hispanics bear a disproportionate burden of diabetes in the United States, yet relations of structural, socio-cultural and behavioral factors linked to diabetes are not fully understood across all of their communities. The current study examines disparities and factors associated with diabetes in adult Hispanics of Mexican-descent (N = 648) participating in a population survey of an underserved rural U.S.-Mexico border community. The overall rate of diabetes prevalence rate in the sample, based on self-report and a glucose testing, was 21%; much higher than rates reported for U.S. adults overall, for all Hispanic adults, or for Mexican American adults specifically. Acculturation markers and social determinants of health indicators were only significantly related to diabetes in models not accounting for age. Older age, greater BMI (>30), greater waist-to-hip ratio as well as lower fruit and vegetable consumption were significantly related to increased likelihood of diabetes when all structural, cultural, behavioral, and biological factors were considered. Models with sets of behavioral factors and biological factors each significantly improved explanation of diabetes relative to prior social ecological theory-guided models. The findings show a critical need for diabetes prevention efforts in this community and suggest that health promotion efforts should particularly focus on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.
Transparency of Thin Metallic Films in the Ultraviolet

A technique for investigating the transparency of metallic films from the visible down to 1300A is described and results are given for ten different metals investigated. No new strong regions of transparency were discovered.
Wave optics simulation of atmospheric turbulence and reflective speckle effects in CO 2 lidar

Laser speckle can influence lidar measurements from a diffuse hard target. Atmospheric optical turbulence will also affect the lidar return signal. We present a numerical simulation that models the propagation of a lidar beam and accounts for both reflective speckle and atmospheric turbulence effects. Our simulation is based on implementing a Huygens-Fresnel approximation to laser propagation. A series of phase screens, with the appropriate atmospheric statistical characteristics, are used to simulate the effect of atmospheric turbulence. A single random phase screen is used to simulate scattering of the entire beam from a rough surface. We compare the output of our numerical model with separate CO(2) lidar measurements of atmospheric turbulence and reflective speckle. We also compare the output of our model with separate analytical predictions for atmospheric turbulence and reflective speckle. Good agreement was found between the model and the experimental data. Good agreement was also found with analytical predictions. Finally, we present results of a simulation of the combined effects on a finite-aperture lidar system that are qualitatively consistent with previous experimental observations of increasing rms noise with increasing turbulence level.
Computer-generated psychological reports: a look at the modern psychometric machine.

The proliferation of computer-generated psychological reports prompts an examination of the presuppositions of such reports and what they offer in the way of understanding individual clients. This topic is approached primarily through a review of some basics of psychological testing and psychological assessment. Major differences are noted between these two approaches to evaluating clients: They are different processes, and they yield different products. Assessment is a complex set of activities that seeks solutions to specific problems, whereas testing fits a straightforward actuarial paradigm. Testing is readily adapted to an automated data processing system, whereas the complex of assessment procedures cannot be so managed. Serious questions about the validity of computer reports are raised, however, and ethical concerns are expressed over the use of these reports by persons without adequate psychological training to understand them correctly. Limited uses for computer reports are suggested along with ...
A spectrin membrane skeleton of the Golgi complex.

Abstract The existence of a Golgi-localized membrane cytoskeleton has been revealed by the identification of two major components of the spectrin membrane skeleton, spectrin and ankyrin, that associate with the Golgi complex. Golgi spectrin was identified with an antibody specific for the β-subunit of the erythroid isoform of spectrin (β1Σ1). This antibody recognizes a 220 kDa polypeptide that localizes to discrete regions of the Golgi complex and associates with Golgi membranes in a Brefeldin A sensitive manner. Two isoforms of Golgi ankyrin have been identified: a 119 kDa form (Ank G119 ) which represents a truncated, alternatively spliced isoform of a recently cloned novel ankyrin of the nervous system Ank G , and a larger 195 kDa ankyrin (Ank 195 ) that cross-reacts with antibodies to erythrocyte ankyrin. A Golgi localized membrane skeleton composed of these unique membrane skeleton isoforms could serve a variety of important functions, including the maintenance of Golgi structural organization and the formation of discrete membrane domains within Golgi compartments.
Imaging the living retina at the cellular level with AO parallel spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

We investigate a novel camera that incorporates adaptive optics (AO) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to determine if it can achieve the necessary 3-D resolution, sensitivity, and speed for imaging individual cells in the living human retina. An AO spectral-domain OCT system was constructed that is based on a free-space Michelson interferometer design. The OCT sub-system consists of a broadband superluminescent diode whose beam passes through an astigmatic lens to form a line illumination pattern on the retina, which is then imaged onto the slit of an imaging spectrometer. The detector of the spectrometer is a scientific-grade areal CCD. Conventional flood illumination, also with AO, was integrated into the camera and provided confirmation of the focus position in the retina. Short bursts of narrow B-scans (100x560 microns) of the living retina were subsequently acquired at 500 Hz during dynamic compensation that corrected the most significant ocular aberrations across a dilated 6 mm pupil. Camera sensitivity (up to 94 dB) was sufficient for observing reflections from essentially all neural layers of the retina. The 3-D resolution of the B-scans (3.0x3.0x5.7 microns) is the highest reported to date in the living human eye. It was sufficient to observe the interface between the inner and outer segments of individual photoreceptor cells, resolved in both lateral and axial dimensions. The waveguiding nature of the photoreceptors is suggestive at multiple reflective sites. Micro-movements of the retina during short burst imaging allow averaging to reduce speckle contrast, but they appear insufficient for significant speckle reduction.
An algorithm for rapid image segmenting

As a first step in image processing applications it is often required to identify pixels above a threshold intensity level which contact one another. Sorting marker particles when the particle images cover many pixels is an obvious fluid mechanical application. With the present procedure, the image is scanned line by line once. The procedure is rapid, and can be continued across the boundary of the domain, for example, when the data is a long time series which must be artificially broken into “image” blocks for computer processing. The use of the algorithm is demonstrated on a variety of complex shapes, and estimates of speed of execution are given. The timing results show that the incremental time per bright region scales roughly as the square root of the number of bright regions. In addition, if bright regions fill more than (roughly) ten per cent of the total array space, the execution time per additional bright region becomes negligible.
Developmental changes of ferret tracheal mucin composition and biosynthesis

We characterized the chemical composition of mucins secreted by ferret tracheal explants and the activities of key mucin glycosyltransferases in ferret tracheal epithelium during a period of rapid postnatal maturation of the mucin-secreting structures. Ferret tracheal explants secrete three major groups of high molecular weight glycoconjugates: (1) those susceptible to bovine testicular hyaluronidase; (2) those resistant to hyaluronidase and exhibiting high density (p greater than or equal to 1.60 g/mL); and (3) those resistant to hyaluronidase and exhibiting low density (1.45 less than or equal to p less than 1.60 g/mL). The hyaluronidase-resistant, low-density glycoconjugates have typical mucin properties and constitute 36% of total glycoconjugates released in newborns but only 8% in adult ferrets. Mucin secretory rate per unit surface area of trachea progressively decreases with age. Mucin amino acid and total carbohydrate contents do not vary; however, the sialic acid content increases, and fucose content as well as blood group A activity of the mucins decreases with age. Four glycosyltransferases involved in mucin biosynthesis [Gal beta 3GalNAc:(GlcNAc-GalNAc)beta 6 N-acetylglucosaminyl-, GalNAc:beta 3 galactosyl-, Gal:alpha 2 fucosyl-, and GalNAc alpha 2----6 neuraminyltransferase] are present in tracheal epithelium of ferrets at all ages. Activities of all but the neuraminyltransferase decrease with age. The relatively greater neuraminyltransferase activity is consistent with increased incorporation of sialic acid into secreted mucins over the same age span. Conversely, diminution of fucosyltransferase relative to galactosyltransferase activity may contribute to the lower fucose content and lower blood group A activity of mucins secreted by mature ferret tracheas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Behavioral responses to stress are intact in CRF-deficient mice.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) has been implicated in endocrine and behavioral responses associated with stress. We have now studied the behavior of mice lacking the CRF gene (CRFko), comparing them to wild-type (WT) mice. Behaviors were observed in untreated mice, as well as following restraint or intraperitoneal administration of mouse interleukin-1β (mIL-1β). In the multicompartment chamber (MCC), the behaviors of CRFko and WT mice were very similar, and prior restraint and IL-1β induced similar decreases in stimulus-contact times in both genotypes. In the elevated plus maze (EPM), restraint decreased the number of open arm entries but the behavior of both genotypes was very similar. In the open field (OF), the changes in locomotor activity in response to restraint were similar in both genotypes, although CRFko mice displayed slightly increased locomotor activity compared to WT mice. In both the MCC and the EPM, grooming behavior was increased by restraint, and was higher in the CRFko than in the WT mice. Compared to WT mice, CRFko mice had lower basal plasma concentrations of corticosterone which did not increase significantly following footshock. Thus, CRFko mice showed a clear dichotomy; the stress-related activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis was absent, whereas the stress-related behavioral responses thought to be mediated by brain CRF were unaffected. These results suggest that when mice develop in the absence of CRF, another factor (or factors) assumes the behavioral functions normally ascribed to brain CRF, but not activation of the HPA axis. Alternatively, the natural modulator of behavior may not be CRF, but some other molecule that can act on receptors sensitive to CRF. Thus, redundant CNS mechanisms appear to be involved in stress-related behaviors.
Training the child athlete for prevention, health promotion, and performance: how much is enough, how much is too much?

In recent years, there has been a global trend toward more systematic, sport-specific, high-intensity training in younger children. Despite this increasingly common practice, there is little scientific knowledge regarding the potential benefits of highly focused, intensive training for the participating child, and perhaps more worrisome, little systematic study of the possible hazards this type of training might present to the child’s developing mind and body. At the same time, there has been an exponential ncrease in the number of children worldwide who are overweight and frankly obese. Increasing physical activity levels in this cohort of children and adolescents has been a cornerstone of many public health interventions designed to fight the epidemic of obesity, yet not all have been successful. Sadly, despite this dichotomy of potentially hazardous behavior patterns affecting the world’s youth—too much or little training— there is a paucity of science-based information guiding our decision making about training children and the child athlete. Guidelines for physical activity in children were first established by the American College of Sports Medicine in 1988 with the goals of optimizing bone health, uscular strength, flexibility, and general health. The initial recommendation of the onvened expert panel was for 20 to 30 minutes of vigorous exercise daily. ubsequent recommendations established in 1994 by the International Consensus onference on Physical Activity Guidelines for Adolescents were also based largely n expert opinion. With their dual goals of promoting physical and psychological ealth and well-being during adolescence as well as enhancing future health, this