cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Receptor-mediated actions of renin and prorenin.

Renin can induce renal disease by generating angiotensin II and, thereby, increasing fibrosis. Huang et al describe a new mechanism of action whereby the renin–angiotensin system can also exert this effect. Direct activation of the renin/prorenin receptor in mesangial cells induced synthesis of TGF-β and profibrotic proteins. Hence, like other proteases such as thrombin, renin and prorenin are capable of receptor-mediated cellular signaling.
Are Femoral Broviac Catheters Effective and Safe?: A Prospective Comparison of Femoral and Jugular Venous Broviac Catheters in Newborn Infants

Study objectives Patients with femoral venous catheters are commonly believed to be at higher risk of infectious complications as compared to patients with jugular catheters. Although reports have suggested that femoral venous Broviac catheters (Davol; Cranston, RI) are safe, no comparisons with jugular catheters were presented. Thus, we compared our efficacy and complications of femoral and jugular venous Broviac catheters in newborns. Methods We prospectively recorded demographic data, cannulation requirements, duration of catheter use, and complications. Setting Special-care nursery. Patients Newborns. Interventions Insertion of tunneled single-lumen Broviac catheters into vessels of the femoral triangle or the internal jugular, external jugular, or facial veins by surgical cutdown. Measurements and results Sixty infants had 2,503 catheter-days with 111 catheters. Twenty-six infants had 47 femoral catheters, and 34 infants had 64 jugular catheters. All insertion attempts were successful. The median durations of catheter use were 24.0 days and 17.0 days for femoral and jugular catheters, respectively (p = 0.021). Group characteristics, insertion variables, incidences of complications, and deaths were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions We conclude that compared to jugular catheters, femoral venous Broviac catheters are an effective means to vascular access, with similar incidences of complications in newborn infants.
Stimulus-based versus performance-based measurement of auditory backward recognition masking.

Estimates of the time required for the extraction of pitch information from auditory memory have been made using the auditory backward recognition masking (ABRM) technique. With this technique, the ability to recognize the pitch of the first of two sequential tones is determined for various delays between the tones. Most investigators have used fixed stimulus values and have measured performance in terms of P(C), the proportion of correct responses. Use of this measure, proportion correct, as the dependent variable is shown in the present studies to yield, for ABRM, duration estimates that are different from those obtained when the same data are evaluated in stimulus terms for a fixed level of performance. The time course of information extraction from auditory memory was found to extend over approximately 100 msec when measured in stimulus terms, in contrast to the 250 msec that has been reported from data expressed as a proportion of correct responses to a fixed stimulus value. The apparently disparate results previously reported are shown to be mutually consistent if monotonic psychophysical functions are assumed to provide an adequate description of performance in ABRM tasks. Several reasons are proposed for preferring the stimulus-based measures of ABRM.
Selectivity and strategy in early search

Abstract Early information-processing strategies were examined in a study of very young children's search for hidden objects. Sixteen younger children (mean age: 1 year; 11 months) and sixteen older children (mean age: 2;6) received search problems in which observational and/or verbal information about an object's location was provided. The question of primary interest was how they would respond when given two conflicting sources of information, which differed in modality (observational vs verbal) and in currentness. Both younger and older children showed some use of an appropriate strategy of relying on the more current information, although they did not follow it consistently. Children also showed preferential use of observational over verbal information and response biases favoring the middle location. Age differences were found in children's use of verbal information, in the degree to which they benefitted from practice, and in response biases. These results suggested a distinction between two aspects of the development of search: the acquisition of new search skills and the establishment of appropriate priorities among skills already in the child's repertoire.
Controlling hydrogen-bond preferences in bipyridines with competing binding sites

Abstract The design and synthesis of a family of supramolecular reagents (SRs) based on ethynyl-spaced substituted bipyridines are described, and their potential use as molecular ‘hubs’ for the predictable construction of binary and ternary co-crystals is explored. Each SR was synthesized in good yields through consecutive Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. Crystal structures of three binary co-crystals are presented with each structure clearly illustrating how accurate supramolecular assembly control can be achieved by increasing/decreasing the strength of the participating hydrogen-bond interactions.
Identification of the Functional Domain in the Transcription Factor RTEF-1 That Mediates α1-Adrenergic Signaling in Hypertrophied Cardiac Myocytes *

Cardiac myocytes respond to α1-adrenergic receptor stimulation by a progressive hypertrophy accompanied by the activation of many fetal genes, including skeletal muscle α-actin. The skeletal muscle α-actin gene is activated by signaling through an MCAT element, the binding site of the transcription enhancer factor-1 (TEF-1) family of transcription factors. Previously, we showed that overexpression of the TEF-1-related factor (RTEF-1) increased the α1-adrenergic response of the skeletal muscle α-actin promoter, whereas TEF-1 overexpression did not. Here, we identified the functional domains and specific sequences in RTEF-1 that mediate the α1-adrenergic response. Chimeric TEF-1 and RTEF-1 expression constructs localized the region responsible for the α1-adrenergic response to the carboxyl-terminal domain of RTEF-1. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to inactivate eight serine residues of RTEF-1, not present in TEF-1, that are putative targets of α1-adrenergic-dependent kinases. Mutation of a single serine residue, Ser-322, reduced the α1-adrenergic activation of RTEF-1 by 70% without affecting protein stability, suggesting that phosphorylation at this serine residue accounts for most of the α1-adrenergic response. Thus, these results demonstrate that RTEF-1 is a direct target of α1-adrenergic signaling in hypertrophied cardiac myocytes.
Fine Scale Spatial Urban Land Cover Factors Associated with Adult Mosquito Abundance and Risk in Tucson, Arizona

It is currently unclear what role microhabitat land cover plays in determining the seasonal spatial distribution of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus, disease vectors of dengue and West Nile Virus, respectively, in Tucson, AZ. We compared mosquito abundance to sixteen land cover variables derived from 2010 NAIP multispectral data and 2008 LiDAR height data. Mosquitoes were trapped with 30–49 traps from May to October of 2010 and 2011. Variables were extracted for five buffer zones (10–50 m radii at 10 m intervals) around trapping sites. Stepwise regression was performed to determine the best scale for observation and the influential land cover variables. The 30 m radius buffer was determined to be the best for observing the land cover-mosquito abundance relationship. Ae. aegypti presence was positively associated with structure and medium height trees and negatively associated with bare earth; Cx. quinquefasciatus presence was positively associated with pavement and medium height trees and negatively associated with shrubs. These findings emphasize vegetation, impervious surfaces, and soil influences on mosquito presence in an urban setting. Lastly, the land cover-mosquito abundance relationships were used to produce risk maps of seasonal presence that highlight high risk areas in Tucson, which may be useful for focusing mosquito control program actions.
Diffusion of nucleoside triphosphates and role of the entry site to the RNA polymerase II active center

Nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) diffuse to the active center of RNA polymerase II through a funnel-shaped opening that narrows to a negatively charged pore. Computer simulation shows that the funnel and pore reduce the rate of diffusion by a factor of ≈2 × 10–7. The resulting limitation on the rate of RNA synthesis under conditions of low NTP concentration may be overcome by NTP binding to an entry site adjacent to the active center. Binding to the entry site greatly enhances the lifetime of an NTP in the active center region, and it prevents “backtracking” and the consequent occlusion of the active site.
Evolution in a context of an model-integrated tool environment

Model-transformation tools are a central part of model-integrated computing (MIC): they enable the mapping and refinement of models into other forms, such as documentation and code. The tools supporting language and translator evolution are not isolated: they interact with other tools of the model-based environments. In previous work, we found that several tools supporting key tasks in the MIC process, such as model migration and model synchronization, are readily implemented as specialized instances of general-purpose transformation languages. However, the integration of such specialized tools is complicated chiefly due to language evolution and traceability. This paper describes the integration of evolution tools into a tool suite performing common MIC tasks and the challenges that we faced during this integration. By describing our toolchain applied to a case study, we describe additional requirements demanded by context of the evolution tools. Moreover, our experiences lead us to believe that although domain-specific transformation tools that concisely describe a subset of commonly occurring problems are more useful to industrial partners with domain-expertise than general purpose transformation tools, designing for evolution turns out to be critical.
HIV-Infected Adolescent, Young Adult and Pregnant Smokers: Important Targets for Effective Tobacco Control Programs

Tobacco use is inextricably linked to a number of health risks both in the general and HIV-infected populations. There is, however, a dearth of research on effective tobacco control programs among people living with HIV, and especially among adolescents, young adults and pregnant women, groups with heightened or increased vulnerability secondary to tobacco use. Adolescents and young adults constitute a growing population of persons living with HIV infection. Early and continued tobacco use in this population living with a disease characterized by premature onset multimorbidity and chronic inflammation is of concern. Additionally, there is an increased acuity for tobacco control among HIV-infected pregnant women to reduce pregnancy morbidity and improve fetal outcome. This review will provide an important summary of current knowledge of tobacco use among HIV-infected adolescents, young adults and pregnant women. The effects of tobacco use in these specific populations will be presented and the current state of tobacco control within these populations, assessed.
Welfare Spending and Poverty: Cutting Back Produces More Poverty, Not Less

The “New Consensus” on welfare expresses the idea that the major problem in social welfare is dependency, not poverty Much of the evidence for this perspective has come from trend line data indicating that over time poverty did not evaporate in the face of increases in social welfare spending Using various measures of the “dependent” poor, the empirical analysis presented suggests that reducing welfare expenditures relative to need does not produce less poverty and dependency
Kinetics of Citraconic Anhydride Formation via Condensation of Formaldehyde and Succinates

Formation of citraconic anhydride via condensation of succinic acid and its derivatives with formaldehyde is carried out over γ-alumina catalyst in a continuous fixed-bed reactor. Dimethyl succinate and Formalin (37 wt % formaldehyde, 10 wt % methanol in water) are the preferred feed materials for the reaction; catalyst activity is sustained with Formalin relative to that with other formaldehyde sources such as trioxane or Formcel, because the water in Formalin inhibits coke formation. With this feed combination, a total citraconate yield of 31% of theoretical with 72% selectivity is achieved at a weight hour space velocity of 0.9 kg of succinate/kg of catalyst/h, a succinate to formaldehyde molar feed ratio of 1:2, and a temperature of 380 °C. The reaction is free from mass transfer limitations at these conditions. A kinetic model is presented that describes product distributions and reactant conversion as a function of space velocity and temperature. The reaction system is part of an overall process to ...
Bringing the Grandmother Back into the Picture: A Memory-Based View of Object Recognition

We describe experiments with a versatile pictorial prototype based learning scheme for 3D object recognition. The GRBF scheme seems to be amenable to realization in biophysical hardware because the only kind of computation it involves can be effectively carried out by combining receptive fields. Furthermore, the scheme is computationally attractive because it brings together the old notion of a ``grandmother'''' cell and the rigorous approximation methods of regularization and splines.
Symmetric receiver operating characteristics

Abstract For receiver operating characteristic curves to be symmetric the signal distribution must be an orientation-reversing involution of the noise distribution on the strength axis.
An empirical classification of drinking patterns among alcoholics: Binge, episodic, sporadic, and steady☆

Steady (daily, continuous) versus nonsteady (binge, episodic, bout, intermittent) drinking pattern have been influential Jellinek's (1960) formulation of delta and gamma drinkers, and are used as variables in various typological systems and drinker profiles. However, definitions of drinking patterns vary widely across studies, and most studies rely on one self-report item to establish a subject's pattern. To systematize and empirically test drinking-pattern schemas, we developed detailed definitions of binge, episodic, sporadic, and steady drinking patterns. A computer algorithm was written in SAS to classify 94 male alcoholics participating in outpatient conjoint therapy, using 6-month pretreatment drinking data from the Timeline Followback Interview. The final classification was: 3 (3%) binge, 33 (35%) episodic, 12 (13%) sporadic, and 40 (43%) steady drinkers. Six (6%) were unclassifiable (due to too few drinking days or too many interruptions to the pattern) by the computer. Episodic, sporadic, and steady drinkers did not differ in demographics, alcohol-related consequences, global psychological distress, or marital satisfaction. Steady drinking was associated with later onset of drinking problems (> 25), while episodic and sporadic drinking were associated with earlier onset. These results are contrary to current use of "binge drinking" as a variable associated with Type 1 alcoholism. Predictive validity analyses indicated that steady drinkers continued to drink more frequently than episodic and sporadic drinkers during treatment and 6 months posttreatment. Also, preliminary data indicate that pretreatment drinking pattern may be predictive of similar within-treatment urge-to-drink patterns. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.
Size-selection initiation model extended to include shape and random factors

The Feit-Rubenchik size-selection damage model has been extended in a number of ways. More realistic thermal deposition profiles have been added. Non-spherical shapes (rods and plates) have been considered, with allowance for their orientation dependence. Random variations have been taken into account. An explicit form for the change of absorptivity with precursor size has been added. A simulation tool called GIDGET has been built to allow adjustment of the many possible parameters in order to fit experimental data of initiation density as a function of fluence and pulse duration. The result is a set of constraints on the possible properties of initiation precursors.
Oncogene RNA expression in three human lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines lymphocytes.

We have explored the RNA oncogene expression by three human acute lymphoblastic leukemia lines, NALM-6, MOLT-3, and REH. We compared such expression with that of normal human lymphocytes. Marked differences in the RNA expression of the third exon of c-myc, v-myb, v-Hras, N-ras, v-fes, and v-fos were found. We noted minimal or no differences in the RNA expression of v-abl, B-lym, v-erb-B, c-ets, v-fms, v-has, v-mos, v-raf, and v-sis.
A Study of the Crystallization of Amorphous Indium (Tin) Oxide

The crystallization of amorphous indium oxide thin films with zero to 9.8 wt% SnO 2 , was studied using a combination of in situ MOSS (multibeam optical stress senor) and in situ resistivity measurements. We report that amorphous indium oxide deposited using electron beam evaporation undergoes crystallization in a two part process of amorphous structure relaxation followed by crystallization. MOSS measurements show that the relaxation process corresponds to a densification of the amorphous structure while crystallization results in a molar volume increase.
GAPDH is conformationally and functionally altered in association with oxidative stress in mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract It is proposed that conformational changes induced in proteins by oxidation can lead to loss of activity or protein aggregation through exposure of hydrophobic residues and alteration in surface hydrophobicity. Because increased oxidative stress and protein aggregation are consistently observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we used a 4,4′-dianilino-1,1′-binaphthyl-5,5′-disulfonic acid (BisANS) photolabeling approach to monitor changes in protein unfolding in vivo in skeletal muscle proteins in ALS mice. We find two major proteins, creatine kinase (CK) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), conformationally affected in the ALS G93A mouse model concordant with a 43% and 41% reduction in enzyme activity, respectively. This correlated with changes in conformation and activity that were detected in CK and GAPDH with in vitro oxidation. Interestingly, we found that GAPDH, but not CK, is conformationally and functionally affected in a longer-lived ALS model (H46R/H48Q), exhibiting a 22% reduction in enzyme activity. We proposed a reaction mechanism for BisANS with nucleophilic amino acids such as lysine, serine, threonine, and tyrosine, and BisANS was found to be primarily incorporated to lysine residues in GAPDH. We identified the specific BisANS incorporation sites on GAPDH in nontransgenic (NTg), G93A, and H46R/H48Q mice using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Four BisANS-containing sites (K52, K104, K212, and K248) were found in NTg GAPDH, while three out of four of these sites were lost in either G93A or H46R/H48Q GAPDH. Conversely, eight new sites (K2, K63, K69, K114, K183, K251, S330, and K331) were found on GAPDH for G93A, including one common site (K114) for H46R/H48Q, which is not found on GAPDH from NTg mice. These data show that GAPDH is differentially affected structurally and functionally in vivo in accordance with the degree of oxidative stress associated with these two models of ALS.
Tissue specific esterase and malathion carboxylesterase activity in larvae of malathion-resistant Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)☆

Abstract Conditions were optimized for measuring esterase activity in midgut and fatbody of single fifth instar larvae of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) using α-naphthyl acetate as a substrate. Specific activities in midgut and fatbody from Savlab, the susceptible strain, were equal when α-naphthyl acetate, α-naphthyl butyrate, β-naphthyl acetate, and β-naphthyl butyrate were the substrates. Activity in midgut preparations from resistant insects was generally equal to midgut activity from susceptible individuals, while activity in fatbodies from resistant individuals was significantly lower toward all four naphthyl esters. Metabolism of malathion to the carboxylesterase products, α- and β-malathion monoacid, was higher in midgut than fatbody of resistant insects. Both tissues from resistant insects metabolized malathion at higher rates than comparable tissues from susceptible larvae. These findings are discussed in terms of the altered aliesterase theory of insecticide resistance.
A highly conserved region within H2B is important for FACT to act on nucleosomes

Histone N-terminal tails play crucial roles in chromatin-related processes. The tails of histones H3 and H4 are highly conserved and well characterized, but much less is known about the functions of the tails of histones H2A and H2B and their sequences are more divergent among eukaryotes. Here we characterized the function of the only highly conserved region in the H2B tail, the H2B repression (HBR) domain. Once thought to play a role only in repression, it also has an uncharacterized function in gene activation and DNA damage responses. We report that deletion of the HBR domain impairs the eviction of nucleosomes at the promoters and open reading frames of genes. A closer examination of the HBR domain mutants revealed that they displayed phenotypes similar to those of histone chaperone complex FACT mutants, including an increase in intragenic transcription and the accumulation of free histones in cells. Biochemical characterization of recombinant nucleosomes indicates that deletion of the HBR domain impairs FACT-dependent removal of H2A-H2B from nucleosomes, suggesting that the HBR domain plays an important role in allowing FACT to disrupt dimer-DNA interactions. We have uncovered a previously unappreciated role for the HBR domain in regulating chromatin structure and have provided insight into how FACT acts on nucleosomes.
Identity congruency effects on donations

Abstract This article describes several field and laboratory experiments that investigate an identity congruency effect on donations. Experiment 1 is a field experiment showing that consumers give more money to a public radio station if they are told that a previous donor who shares their identity also made a large contribution. This effect is more likely to occur when consumers have high collective-identity esteem (measured in Experiment 2a) and when attention is focused on others (manipulated in Experiment 2b). The authors measure these two moderators simultaneously and observe and replicate a three-way interaction. Again, the identity congruency effect is the strongest when consumers have high collective-identity esteem and when attention is focused on others (Experiment 3a and Experiment 3b). These results provide a novel understanding of the causes of the identity congruency effect on donations. The authors conclude with a discussion of the theoretical and substantive implications of these findings.
Neutron star models including the effects of hyperon formation

A new series of neutron star models has been computed. The equation of state used included the effects of nuclear dissolution, nuclear forces, and the presence of hyperons. The nuclear forces were introduced through use of a generalized form of the Levinger-SimmonsVα andVγ potentials. The maximum stable masses obtained were 2.28 and 2.37M⊙, respectively. Details are given of the structure of the outer layers which are expected to be crystalline. Expressions are given for the angular momentum and rotational energy of a neutron star and the relevant moment of inertia is tabulated for the models.
Biography: Sister Elizabeth Kenny: A controversial participant in the war against polio ☆

Abstract Elizabeth Kenny, better known as “Sister Kenny” is the subject of a myth of sorts that developed around her, a myth that she herself helped create. She developed a controversial therapy for patients with poliomyelitis. Charged by some people with being a tireless propagandist and by others with having manipulated, if not falsified, her results, Kenny and her treatments were and remain enigmas. She was once the subject of a Hollywood movie, and for many years she ranked second only to Eleanor Roosevelt in the U.S. women's popularity stakes. An unregistered, independent practitioner nurse, she used trained nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, and lay personnel as “technicians.” Although they actually achieved some measure of success in treating patients with poliomyelitis, in the process they also attracted vitriolic opposition from certain quarters of the medical profession. The accounts about Sister Kenny vary, as do the testimonies regarding the efficacy of her treatment, but one matter is consistent: she often is linked with the history of poliomyelitis and her legacy remains. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company
Calcium-Induced Degeneration of the Cytoskeleton in Monkey and Human Peripheral Nerves

Biopsy specimens of human and monkey peripheral nerves, when incubated in calcium containing media, showed a loss of neurofilaments and microtubules with replacement by granular debris. Cytoskeletal structures remained intact when incubated in calcium-free media. Disruption of neurofilaments and microtubules in calcium containing media was inhibited by the thiol protease inhibitor, leupeptin. Similar incubations of excised Pacinian corpuscles revealed evidence of early terminal axon degeneration in the presence of calcium. These data substantiate the hypothesis that neural cytoskeletal degradation in primates and in man is calcium-mediated.
Negative Absolute Temperatures

Ramsey's criteria for systems capable of negative absolute temperatures are justified. This is done by showing that a thermodynamic proof that the temperature must not be negative breaks down for systems satisfying Ramsey's conditions.
Radial Head Fractures

Treatment of radial head fractures centers around the distinction of stable, nondisplaced or minimally displaced fractures, and those with significant displacement, which are usually part of a greater pattern of injury. Treatment of stable injuries is aimed at achieving osseous union while preventing stiffness and can usually be accomplished with nonoperative means. Operative treatment of isolated radial head fractures is indicated if significant displacement or mechanical block to motion is observed. Options for surgical treatment include open or arthroscopic techniques as well as a myriad of other options including fragment or whole-head excision, internal fixation with headless compression screws, or plate-and-screw constructs as well as prosthetic replacement. Treatment of displaced or unstable fractures centers on restoration of the radiocapitellar contact and repairing other soft tissue injuries, which are necessary to stabilize the elbow. Radial head arthroplasty should be considered in situations where 3 or more fragments of the radial head exist, with the use of various intraoperative methods to ensure restoration of the lateral elbow anatomy.
Catalyst design using nanoporous iron for the chemical vapor deposition synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been synthesized via a novel chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach utilizing nanoporous, iron-supported catalysts. Stable aqueous dispersions of the CVD-grown nanotubes using an anionic surfactant were also obtained. The properties of the as-produced SWNTs were characterized through atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy and compared with purified SWNTs produced via the high-pressure CO (HiPCO) method as a reference, and the nanotubes were observed with greater lengths than those of similarly processed HiPCO SWNTs.
Sem Analysis of the Nucleation of Tin Oxide Films on Glass Surfaces

Fluorine-doped tin oxide films were produced by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) from the reaction of tin tetrachloride, water, and difluoroethanc. Tin oxide films deposited on glass substrates containing high sodium concentrations tended to be of lower quality with higher resistivities than films deposited on low sodium glass. Scanning electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to study the differences in film nucleation on the high and low sodium containing glass substrates. Eiarly in the nuclcation process, individual grains of tin oxide crystals arc observed to be distributed discontinuously over the substrates. As the deposition time was increased the number of nucleation sites increased and the individual grains became larger. The number of nucleation sites was consistently higher on the high sodium glass. However, numerous inclusions of sodium chloride crystals were observed by EDX in the tin oxide films deposited on the high sodium glass. SEM cross sections revealed how the film growth converted from the grains, which initially nucleated on the glass surface, to columns in the direction perpendicular to the substrate surface. Results for tin oxide grown on sodium-containing glass over coated with silica are also be presented.
Wrestling the Angel of Death: Form and Meaning in Rabbinic Tales of Death and Dying1

Les recits sur la mort et l'agonie contenus dans la litterature rabbinique peuvent etre divises en deux groupes : les histoires relatives a la douleur de la mort et celles concernant le marchandage avec la mort. Apres avoir presente chaque groupe, l'A. analyse la structure et la signification de ces histoires
Local structure learning and prediction for efficient image compression

One major challenge in image compression is to efficiently represent and encode high-frequency structural components in images, such as edges, contours, and texture regions. To address this issue, we propose a scheme to learn local image structures and efficiently predict image data based on this structure information. We prove that, using singular value decomposition, we can find a small number of basis vectors whose linear combinations are able to closely approximate local image patches. By extrapolating these linear combination coefficients, we can efficiently predict neighboring pixels of the local image patch. We find that this structure learning and prediction procedure is very efficient for image regions with significant structural components. However, because of its large overhead and high computational complexity, its performance degrades in other image regions, such as smooth areas. Therefore, we propose a classification scheme to partition an image into three types of regions: structure regions, non-structure regions, and transition regions. Structure regions are encoded with structure prediction. With image in-painting, the non-structure and transmission regions are extended into a maximally smoothed image which can be efficiently encoded with conventional image compression methods, such as JPEG2000. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperform the state-of-the-art JPEG2000 image compression.
Plasma fatty acid composition and incidence of coronary heart disease in middle aged adults: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Abstract Background and Aim: To prospectively investigate the relation of plasma cholesterol ester (CE) and phospholipid (PL) fatty acid (FA) composition with incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods and Results: 3 591 white participants in the Minneapolis field center of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, aged 45–64 years, were studied. Plasma FA composition of CEs and PLs was quantified using gasliquid chromatography and expressed as percentage of total FAs. Incident CHD was identified during 10.7 years of follow-up. In both CE and PL fractions, the proportions of stearic (18:0) acid, dihomo- γ -linolenic (20:3n6) acid and total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were significantly higher while arachidonic (20:4n6) acid and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were significantly lower among participants who developed incident CHD (n=282). After adjusting for age, gender, smoking, alcohol drinking, sports activity, and non-FA dietary factors, the incidence of CHD was significantly and positively associated with the proportion of dihomo- γ -linolenic acid but inversely associated with arachidonic acid. The multiply-adjusted rate ratios (RRs) of CHD incidence for the highest versus the lowest quintile were 1.31 in CE and 1.44 in PL for dihomo- γ -linolenic acid ( p for trend: 0.05 and 0.017, respectively), 0.59 in CE and 0.65 in PL for arachidonic acid ( p : 0.016 and 0.024, respectively). Also significantly and positively associated with incident CHD were PL stearic acid and CE linolenic (18:3n3) acid. Only a borderline significant positive association was observed for total SFAs in CE (multivariate RRs across quintiles: 1.00, 1.15, 1.40, 1.62, 1.32; p =0.07). Total PUFAs or monounsaturated FA were not independently associated with CHD. Conclusions: Our study found a weak positive association of SFAs with incident CHD. Our findings also confirm that FA metabolism in the body, such as the activity of Δ -5 desaturase, which converts dihomo- γ -linolenic acid to arachidonic acid, may affect the development of CHD.
Far-field measurement of ultra-small plasmonic mode volume

Light-matter interaction can be greatly enhanced in nano-scale plasmonic cavities with tightly confined optical mode, where the mode volume determines the interaction strength. The experimental determination of the mode volume of plasmonic elements is therefore of fundamental importance. Mapping the electric field distribution using near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) may disturb the field distribution hence prevent a reliable measurement of the mode volume. Here, we develop a non-pertubative technique to experimentally determine the mode volume of plasmonic resonators in the far field through a unique optical force method.
Temperature compensation in two centrarchid fishes: Do winter-quiescent fish undergo cellular temperature compensation?

Abstract Cellular temperature compensation of green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus, a species active in cold water, was compared to that of the cofamilial smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieui, a species quiescent in cold water. It was hypothesized that there would be a correlation between degree of cellular temperature compensation and degree of coldwater activity for these two centrarchids. Fishes were acclimated to 5, 15, or 25°C in the laboratory for 10 weeks. In both species, red muscle citrate synthase activity was elevated in fish acclimated to 5 and 15°C relative to those at 25°C. Red muscle area per body cross-sectional area was elevated in both species acclimated to 5°C relative to those at 25°C. Heart ventricle citrate synthase activity and ventricular weight showed temperature compensation in the smallmouth bass but not in the green sunfish. These data do not suggest a correlation between degree of cellular temperature compensation and degree of coldwater activity for these two centrarchids. Winter...
Effects of Different Payoff Matrices on Arithmetical Estimation Tasks: An Attempt to Produce “Rationality”:

5 experiments were conducted in an attempt to produce a shift in the decision pattern in a forced-choice arithmetical estimation task. The expected shift was related to a change in the payoff matrix attached to the possible outcomes of the decision. The experiments varied in the amount of payoff, clarity of the explanation of the payoff matrix, difficulty of the task, feedback after decision and the length of decision time. None of these manipulations produced the expected rational shift. The role of payoff matrices in decisions in tasks involving skill is discussed.
A Comparative Study of Optimal Design for an Inkjet Printer Tube With and Without Performance Variations

As a new generation of printing technology, thermal inkjet (TIJ) has been widely adopted to meet the increasing demand for high printing quality and efficiency at an affordable price. High air barrier tubes play an important role in the reliable operation of the printhead in a commercial thermal inkjet printer. Desired tube qualities include low stiffness and low pressure drop, along with others. Tube stiffness and pressure drop can be lowered through the selection of proper tube layer configuration, geometry and material properties. However, the existing tube design practice is highly heuristic and design results are not optimal. Furthermore, there is no robust design consideration in the current design, and it is hard to trace and compare the tube quality from different groups of designers. In this work, a comparative study using industrial examples is conducted to search for a reusable robust design methodology for TIJ tube design. Two cases using different optimization strategies are investigated. In case A, a performance based optimization strategy is used, and the design objectives are the target performances without variation consideration. In Case B, a robust design based optimization strategy is used, and the variations of the target performances are incorporated in the design objectives. A comparison of their results with the current practice shows that the optimization strategies can greatly improve the efficiency of the current tube design process. More important, the optimization strategy with variation consideration yields robust results and provides much richer design knowledge to support designers with various experiences to make better decisions.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Vertical flow in the Thermoelectric Liquid Metal Plasma Facing Structures (TELS) facility at Illinois

Abstract Flowing liquid metal PFCs may offer a solution to the issues faced by solid divertor materials in tokamak plasmas. The Liquid–Metal Infused Trenches (LiMIT) concept of Illinois Ruzic et al. (2011) is a liquid metal plasma facing structure which employs thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamic (TEMHD) effects to self-propel lithium through a series of trenches. The combination of an incident heat flux and a magnetic field provide the driving mechanism. Tests have yielded experimental lithium velocities under different magnetic fields, which agree well with theoretical predictions Xu et al. (2013). The thermoelectric force is expected to overcome gravity and be able to drive lithium flow along an arbitrary direction and the strong surface tension of liquid lithium is believed to maintain the surface when Li flows in open trenches. This paper discusses the behavior of the LiMIT structure when inclined to an arbitrary angle with respect to the horizontal.
Are males and females sexually abused as children socially anxious adults

It is well documented that childhood sexual abuse is associated with deleterious outcomes in the areas of anxiety, depression, and sexual functioning. However, very little research has been conducted to specifically investigate childhood sexual abuse's relationship to adult social anxiety in both males and females. Participants included 250 undergraduate students from a large metropolitan university. Results indicated that almost one-third of males and a little over a third of females reported being sexually abused as a child or adolescent. Although a large portion of the sample exhibited socially anxious symptomology, childhood sexual abuse did not place males and females at increased risk for social anxiety. The use of a nonclinical, college student sample may provide researchers the opportunity to investigate resiliency in individuals with a history of childhood sexual abuse.
Posttraumatic stress disorder in children: a review of the past 10 years.

OBJECTIVE: To review current knowledge about the clinical presentation, assessment, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children. METHOD: The literature on PTSD in children is examined. RESULTS: Over the past 10 years, PTSD has been described in children exposed to a variety of traumatic experiences. Little is known about the epidemiology of the disorder in children. Partial symptomatology and comorbidity are common. A variety of factors influence response to trauma and affect recovery. They include characteristics of the stressor and exposure to it; individual factors such as gender, age and developmental level, and psychiatric history; family characteristics; and cultural factors. Since the condition is likely to occur after disaster situations, much of the literature describes the child's response to disaster and interventions tend to include efforts within schools and/or communities. A number of clinical approaches have been used to treat the condition. CONCLUSIONS: While assessment has been studied extensively, the longitudinal course of PTSD and treatment effectiveness have not been. Biological correlates of the condition also warrant greater attention. Language: en
Sociotechnical requirements analysis for clinical systems.

Summary Objective: We explore sociotechnical requirements by examining the use of a computerized patient record system in an intensive care unit of a U.S. hospital and present two sociotechnical requirements, awareness and coordination, embedded in the users’ work. Method: The study is based on observation during seven months of the use of a computerized patient record system in a surgical intensive care unit. During that period semi-formal interviews, informal interviews were held. Results and Conclusions: A key step in the design of clinical systems is the development and analysis of requirements. However, traditional requirements analysis is based on a set of assumptions that break down in the highly collaborative, exception-filled clinical domain. Sociotechnical requirement analysis enabled the designers to gather a much richer description of the environment surrounding the computer system, highlighting awareness and coordination, embedded in the users’ work.
Heading Toward the New Normal: A Contemporay Postpartum Experience

Objective To describe Contemporary women's postpartum experience. Previous descriptions, especially Rubin's taking-in and taking-hold , may no longer apply in this era of 24- to 48-hour hospital stays. Design Qualitative descriptive, using grounded theory methodology. Participants were interviewed about their postpartum experiences. Constant comparative analysis of the interview transcripts was concurrent with data collection. Setting Interviews were conducted iv participants' homes during the 1st week after childbirth and again 1 to 2 weeks later. Participants Thirty-two first-time mothers, who vaginally delivered a full-term infant, were recruited through childbirth education classes. Results The major theme that emerged was Heading toward the new normal , a process through which the participants began to reorient their lives as mothers. The supporting categories were Appreciating the body, Settling in , and Establishing a new family. Conclusions The participants' postpartum psychosocial development was a continuous process without discrete stages and phases. This finding differs from Rubin's puerperal change theory. With this new theoretical description, nurses can develop more effective care for contemporary child-bearing women.
Experimental alteration of the human ovarian cycle by estrogen.

THERE are relatively few studies of the effect of estrogen on the human ovarian cycle. Sturgis and Albright (1) and Sturgis and Meigs (2) demonstrated that ovulation was inhibited in women when estrogen was administered in the early part of the menstrual cycle. This inhibition evidently depended upon early administration of the estrogen (before the sixth day) as well as upon the dosage employed. Their primary interest was in the relief of dysmenorrhea which was obtained by eliminating the luteal phase from the cycle. They found that bleeding usually occurred from twelve to fourteen days following a single 10 mg. dose of estradiol dipropionate. However, if the dose were repeated in ten days the expected bleeding would be delayed and by suitable timing of the estrogen administration, bleeding could be delayed for as long as three months. Thus, by alternating intervals of ten or fourteen days between doses, it was possible to bring about bleeding at predictable intervals of two weeks, four weeks or eight weeks.
Super-resolution via enhanced evanescent tunneling

We propose the concept of enhanced evanescent tunneling. We show that this process can be used to probe both the amplitude and phase of the evanescent portion of the angular spectrum, thereby allowing target superresolution.
Modeling battlefield sensor environments with an object database management system

The Visual Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Simulation (VIEWS) Workbench software system has been developed by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to enable Army intelligence and electronic warfare (IEW) analysts at Unix workstations to conveniently build detailed IEW battlefield scenarios, or “sensor environments”, to drive the Army's high-resolution IEW sensor performance models. VIEWS is fully object-oriented, including the underlying database.
Capsaicin-induced reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus type 1 in sensory neurons in culture

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) produces a life-long latent infection in neurons of the peripheral nervous system, primarily in the trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. Neurons of these ganglia express high levels of the capsaicin receptor, also known as the vanilloid receptor-1 (VR-1). VR-1 is a non-selective ion channel, found on sensory neurons, that primarily fluxes Ca(2+) ions in response to various stimuli, including physiologically acidic conditions, heat greater than 45 degrees C and noxious compounds such as capsaicin. Using an in vitro neuronal model to study HSV-1 latency and reactivation, we found that agonists of the VR-1 channel - capsaicin and heat - resulted in reactivation of latent HSV-1. Capsaicin-induced reactivation of HSV-1 latently infected neurons was dose-dependent. Additionally, activation of VR-1 at its optimal temperature of 46 degrees C caused a significant increase in virus titres, which could be attenuated with the VR-1 antagonist, capsazepine. VR-1 activation that resulted in HSV-1 reactivation was calcium-dependent, since the calcium chelator BAPTA significantly reduced reactivation following treatment with caspsaicin and forskolin. Taken together, these results suggest that activation of the VR-1 channel, often associated with increases in intracellular calcium, results in HSV-1 reactivation in sensory neurons.